Graduate Distiller

Dornoch Distillery is looking for an enthusiastic and hardworking individual to join our team as a graduate distiller. Based in the North Highlands of Scotland, Dornoch Distillery is a small crowdfunded start-up distillery who began production of organic gin and whisky last year.

Dornoch Distillery is a compact, manual and versatile operation which has released 10 experimental batches of gin made entirely in house and is laying down casks of Single Malt Whisky.

Working Week: 40+ hours per week

Location: Dornoch, Sutherland

Duration: Permanent

Job Duties

➔ Learn to distill exact recipes to specification

➔ Learn efficient cleaning, management and usage of distilling and bottling equipment and facilities

➔ Conduct all tasks in a punctual and time efficient manner

➔ Check and sign for relevant deliveries

➔ Take responsibility and maintain the highest quality of product output

➔ Follow Health and Safety regulations in accordance with HACAP folder

➔ Be a good team player and treat all work colleague with respect and professionalism

➔ Be flexible to the needs of the business

➔ Carry out any additional duties as required to the needs of the business

Skills Required

➔ Must be physically fit and able to carry out labour demanding tasks

➔ Have ability to manage own workload and work unsupervised productively

➔ Take first hand responsibility for own development and learning within the role

➔ Work well as part of a team and individually

➔ Follow given instructions correctly

➔ Have a problem solving attitude

Personal Qualities

➔ Genuine interest in making craft spirits

➔ Enthusiasm to learn new skills

➔ Willingness to go the extra mile to get the job done and progress own development within the company.

Qualifications Required

➔ MSC Brewing & Distilling or related degree

This vacancy is to start immediately therefore you must be available to start before applying. The closing date, interview date and start date are subject to change. Applicants must be willing to relocate to the remote highlands. For more information visit our website

www.dornochdistillery.com

The San Jose and San Francisco events were a huge success! Both sold out shows brought over 300 different expressions from which our attendees were able to choose! They sipped and savored, learned about terroir and Speyside, enjoyed fine food and even had a cigar or two! Check out the San Jose and San Francisco Photo Albums on Facebook! Thought tickets are not yet on sale for next year, we are pleased to announce the dates so you can mark your calendars and start making plans! San Jose is scheduled for Thursday, March 22, 2018 and San Francisco is Saturday, March 24, 2018!

San Jose Whisky Dinner

You have been asking for it, so we have brought back the Whiskies of the World Whisky Pairing Dinners! We are partnering with Hayes Mansion, 200 Edenvale Rd, San Jose, on June 15th, to offer you a fine selection of whiskies and food. Tickets are $85 and can be purchased here.  The event is from 6-8pm.

The menu for the evening includes: A chef’s selection of international and domestic cheese; Grilled fois gras on toast with caramelized and smoked pearl onions; A salad of heirloom tomatoes, baby frisee and mache, pistachio, goat cheese crumble with a mango and white balsamic vinaigrette; Charbroiled Mediterranean rubbed lamb chops, accompanied with grilled duo-diver scallops served with fennel and mashed sweet peas, and port wine porcini mushroom sauce and pancetta béarnaise; Chocolate marquise with a sauce made of wild berries. If this were not enough, there will even be an after dinner cigar social! Oh My!

We have these fabulous whiskies to pair with this incredible menu: Do  Good Distillery Cherrywood Smoked Malt Whisky Glengoyne 18 Single Malt Spirit Works Straight Wheat Whiskey Lost Spirits Abomination – Sayers of the Law Malt Redemption Rye Michter’s Small Batch Bourbon Mosswood Sherry Barrel Aged Irish Whiskey

BULLEIT BARREL STRENGTH DEBUTS!

We had a great time at our Hard Water event with Tom Bulleit last night, celebrating the launch of the new barrel strength Bulleit edition. For those of you who couldn’t make it out for the party, you can still secure your bottle here while supplies last!

In what was once only available as a limited edition bottling from the Bulleit Experience at the defunct Stitzel-Weller distillery in Kentucky, Diageo is now bringing Bulleit Barrel Strength to the metropolitan market! Bottled at 62.7% cask strength, this is a punchier, more powerful expression of Bulleit than what we’re used to. At over 120 proof, the whiskey really benefits from a few drops of water that help to coax out the softer vanilla and barrel oak flavors lying underneath all that heat. Drink with care!

Bulleit “Barrel Strength” Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) ($54.99)

Irish Distillers’ Prestige Range of Irish Whiskeys Scoops Ten Top Tasting Awards – including Best Irish, Best Single Pot Still and Best Blended Irish Whiskeys 

The Irish Distillers family of prestige Irish Whiskeys has been awarded 10 gold or above medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and International Spirits Challenge 2017. Top honours were awarded to Redbreast 15, Best Single Pot Still Whiskey and Best Irish Whiskey, and Midleton Very Rare, Best Blended Irish Whiskey, at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

In addition, Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength claimed its third Double Gold medal in a row at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition – a testament to the consistency in quality of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey craftsmanship at the Midleton Distillery. The array of gold medals, around half of the 22 decorations awarded to Irish Distillers across the two prestigious tastings, cements Redbreast as the most awarded Single Pot Still Whiskey in the world.

Yellow Spot 12 Year Old followed up a near-perfect 99/100 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge with a Gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge, whereas Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy was honoured by the same competition with the sixth Gold medal since its release in 2011.

In total, the prestige range from Irish Distillers secured four Double Gold and six Gold medals across the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) and International Spirits Challenge (ISC):

• Redbreast 15 Year Old: Best Irish Whiskey, Best Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey and Double Gold medal (SFWSC)
• Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength: Double Gold medal (SFWSC)
• Midleton Very Rare: Best Blended Irish Whiskey and Double Gold medal (SFWSC)
• METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Chestnut: Double Gold medal (SFWSC)
• Midleton Dair Ghaelach: Gold medal (SFWSC)
• Redbreast 21 Year Old: Gold medals (SFWSC and ISC)
• METHOD AND MADNESS Single Malt Irish Whiskey Enhanced with French Limousin Oak: Gold medal (SFWSC)
• Yellow Spot: Gold medal (ISC)
• Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy: Gold medal (ISC)

Billy Leighton, Head Blender at the Midleton Distillery, County Cork, commented on the awards: “We are delighted with the continued success of Redbreast and the breadth of Midleton’s prestige Irish Whiskey family in global spirit tasting competitions – our whiskeys continue to achieve great things and we are incredibly proud of them. The quality of our whiskeys is testament to the hard work and dedication of the production team at Midleton Distillery, past and present. Lest we forget the skilled distillers and blenders that laid down and observed these whiskeys mature over the years, in the hope that they would be enjoyed years later – it’s great to see that they certainly are being enjoyed!”

Now in its 17^th year, the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge is one of the most influential spirits competitions in the world and is judged by a line-up of esteemed drinks journalists, producers and experts. Run each year in partnership with respected drinks trade bible, Drinks International, the International Spirits Challenge is one of the most authoritative and influential spirits competitions in the world and celebrates its 22^nd anniversary this year.

Notes

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish Whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish Whiskey. Jameson is the world’s fastest-growing Irish Whiskey, experiencing 27 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 5.7m cases in 2016. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 60 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Powers & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. In 2015, we completed a €220m investment which doubled our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.

We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin. 

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier‐ Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

www.pernod-ricard.com

Big & Beautifully Balanced

We’ve released four preview bottlings from June Outturn, an opportunity to buy before next month’s First Friday.  Big and beautifully balanced, explore sweet and smoky sensations, layers of dark toffee and chocolate and a realm of tropical fruit salad. Be quick to order, only a limited number of bottles are available ahead of the full Outturn release on Friday 2 June, 9am.

June Outturn Previews

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

https://youtu.be/KzhR6P-vD-k 

I LOVE DAILUAINE!!! I really do, it’s such an underrated distillery. All the balls and elegance of Mortlach, but without the modern pricing…..This, now, old school example of their style is something that I’ve had love and gratitude for, since i bought my first bottle of it about I’ve years ago. I’ve got a few more tucked away for my latter drinking years. It’s got colouring in it, it’s chill-filtered, but as always, when it tastes this good, who cares!

A true showcase of distillery style, from rich and fruit nose, through to spicy and slightly savory/smokey finish. A true icon in my eyes and a few others as well, i imagine. Cheers!

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday
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Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 163: Paul John Single Cask #1051 for Belgium

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries an Indian whisky. When thinking of India in terms of whisky, Amrut is probably top of mind. But since a few years, there is a new distillery that is conquering the hearts of whisky aficionados all of the world: Paul John Whisky. Let’s check out a single cask that was bottled exclusively for Belgium.

https://youtu.be/Yt2z6p1yMUc

Site visit to Forsyth’s in Rothes, Speyside. Potty about Copper!

I was lucky enough to tour the Rothes plant with Ingvar Ronde and was amazed at what I saw! Copper everywhere, flat and made up ready to go, bits for stills and pipes all over the place, this company is really busy, so thanks to them for allowing us in to spoil their day … I could have stayed there all day taking photos every few minutes, with items wrapped and labelled going around the world, or just up the road to Glenfiddich, also a pile destined for my local area, to Lindores distillery (I will be there soon). Aye you can see my photos, obviously I am no in them as I took them! Thanks go to Forsyth’s and Ingvar’s group. This was just one visit on a packed itinerary for Ingvar, on tour with us again. More blogs will follow re the whole tour.

Alexander Forsyth served his time as a coppersmith in Rothes in the 1890’s. The owner of the brass and copperworks at the time was Robert Willison. After finishing his apprenticeship Alexander remained with Willison as a tradesman and then foreman until 1933. It was at this point that he bought the business from the retiring Willison. Forsyth and Son was born. The son was Ernest (better known as “Toot”) and after returning from service in the Second World War he took over the running of the business. Toot quickly introduced new welding techniques to replace the traditional riveting process which helped keep the business moving with times.Today fourth generation Richard Ernest carries on the mantle as Managing Director.

Their engineers have experience in the process design of pot and column still plants, mashing to final distillation. During the design phase they can size plant, specify equipment, produce flow schematics and P&ID’s, size piping and specify automation as required, all handcrafted and hand shaped pots to any contour or size that clients desire. In the last 20 years Forsyths have been exporting all over the globe – pots from 50L to 25,000L charge capacity using direct flame firing, steam coil, steam jacket, electric element or electric hotplate as the heat source, still heads in any shape with the main three styles being ogee, lamp glass and boil ball all of which are finished with a sweeping swan neck. Their two main areas of business are the oil and gas industries. Typical fabrications include structural steelwork, piping, pressure vessels, umbilical/pipe reels and tanks. Alcoholic industries (we know them for better I think) from the supply of distillation equipment only to turnkey distillery design and build, plant upgrade or expansion projects.

Distilleries take great pride in their stills, no two have the same shape or size. But why? Is there more to their design than meets the eye? The Whisky Professor tells all. Does size matter? the shape and size of a still has a significant effect on the character of the spirit being produced – and it is all to do with copper. Copper was first used to make stills because it is malleable and can be worked into shape easily. This longer the contact between vapour and copper, the lighter the spirit will be. A taller still is more likely to produce a light spirit – hello Glenmorangie – the tallest stills in Scotland, with long necks measuring nearly 17 feet high. They say only the lightest and purest vapors make it all the way up and out. A smaller still is more likely to make a heavy spirit because that conversation is a short one. Think Macallan. The angle of the lyne arm also has an impact. If it points upwards that copper contact and reflux is extended. A downward-angled lyne arm stops the contact in its tracks and helps to gather robust flavours. Distillers choose the shape of the still and manage the way it is run in order to produce the distillery’s unique character. One of the things Forsyth’s offer is a design service, they offer many types, size and shape of still to the client, who then can pick and mix to design their own unique still. So, shape does matter, Macallan have small stills – 3,900 litres, they believe the shape offers rich, fruity characteristics.

The difference between pot stills and column stills is that pot stills operate on a batch by batch basis, while column stills are/cab be continuously. With column distillation, the mash enters near the top of the still and begins flowing downward bringing it closer to the heating source, once heated enough to evaporate the vapor rises up through plates. At each plate the vapor ends up leaving behind some of its heavier compounds. Most pot stills are made entirely from copper, column stills may be part stainless steel.

Did I enjoy my visit to Forsyth’s? Aye, can you no tell?

Paul McLean, on tour with Ingvar Ronde, Scotland, May 2017

http://www.whiskytours.scot/

Dumbarton 30 Year Old 1987 10th Anniversary

Hot on the heels as our Irish single cask we’re delighted to present the next bottling of our 10th Anniversary series. A 30 Year Old single grain from the lost Dumbarton distillery. Selected by our friends at Hunter Laing & Co. in Glasgow and bottled May 2017 from a single barrel yielding 197 bottles. Dumbarton distillery closed in 2002 and demolition was completed in early 2017. A little bit of history in a bottle.

SHOP – £86.59

Feis Ile, the yearly Islay Festival of Music and Malt, is a fixture of the Scotch malt whisky scene. Every year, the population of the isle of Islay doubles for a week at the end of May, as whisky fans from around the world descend on the island. Hotel bookings are made more than a year in advance and you even need to get in months early to get a pitch at one of the island’s campsites. Suffice to say, it’s a big thing in the whisky world.

The Islay Festival of Music and Malt

It started in the 1980s, growing out of a drama festival. At first it focused on music and local culture, but since 1990, the year of the first festival whisky tasting, Islay distilleries have become more involved and now dominate the week.

Bowmore’s famous round church – built with no corners for the devil to hide in

Each distillery on the island is assigned a day of the festival week, so staying from Saturday to Saturday is a must if you want to experience all of the festivities. They also each produce at least one special festival bottling, usually launched at the open day, so if you’re trying to catch them all, you’ll need to hang around for the whole week.

• Saturday 27 May – Lagavulin
• Sunday 28 May – Bruichladdich
• Monday 29 May – Caol Ila
• Tuesday 30 May – Laphroaig
• Wednesday 31 May – Bowmore
• Thursday 1 June – Kilchoman and Jura
• Friday 2 June – Bunnahabhain
• Saturday 3 June – Ardbeg

You can find full details on the Islay Festival website.

The Whisky Exchange Islay Pop-up Bar

Along with the distilleries, there are a few whisky companies who make their way up to the island. This year we are joining the throng and will be opening a pop-up bar in Port Ellen. We’ll be at Ramsay Hall on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights, open from 6pm to 11pm.

The plan is simple: we’re providing a laid-back bar to escape from the hectic rush of the festival. There’ll be whiskies from every distillery on Islay, both current releases and some incredible drams from their back catalogues – TWE director Sukhinder has raided his stash to find us some very special bottles. We’ll be selling whisky by the 1cl measure, and prices start at £2.

You can find a list of many of the drams we’ll be pouring on this page, But here are a few of Sukhinder’s highlights:

• Bowmore 1966 Duncan Taylor
• Caol Ila 1969 Dark Sherry Gordon & MacPhail
• Lagavulin 1978 Cadenhead’s (a whisky I’ve lusted after for years)
• Port Ellen 1969 Connosseurs Choice

We’ll also have beer from Loch Fyne, The Botanist gin from Bruichladdich, and a big bucket of ice for making highballs and G&Ts. There’s no entry fee, so come along, say hello and have a relaxed evening of great drams.

Elements of Islay and Port Askaig

During the day, Ramsay Hall will be filled with whisky from our friends at Elixir Distillers, producer of Elements of Islay and Port Askaig. They’ll be pouring samples all day, as well as running tastings throughout the week. Head over to the tickets page to book:

1. Daily Port Askaig masterclass
2. Daily Elements of Islay quiz
3. Port Askaig Pilgrimage walk
4. Port Askaig tasting at Port Ellen lighthouse

They’re also selling bottles and merchandise, so whether you need a bottle of Port Askaig 100° Proof or an Elements of Islay T-shirt, pop in and have a dram while you wait.

Elements of Islay Ar9

And finally, there’s a special festival bottling – Elements of Islay Ar9. It’s a heavily sherried whisky from a cult south-coast distillery. We’ll leave it as an exercise to the reader to guess which one…

Elements of Islay Ar9. Feis Ile 2017 Release. 51.6% ABV

Nose: Dark chocolate and sappy pine lead to a core of salted caramel and treacle toffee. Spiced, stewed apples mingle with tar and creosote, with a seaside bonfire burning underneath – salt spray, burning driftwood and layers of rich, smoky peat.

Palate: Singed raisins, sweet liquorice and charcoal ash start things off, with a dive through bitter liquorice pastilles and blackcurrant wine gums into a pool of bittersweet dark chocolate for afters. Sharp mineral notes flicker around the edges before toffee apples and salted caramel burst through. Smoke is intertwined with the other flavours: burning citrus peel, sweet peat and rich wood smoke dive in and out.

Finish: A bright explosion of mint and menthol fades away, leaving earthy peat, fruity chocolate, bitter ash and touches of sweet pastry.

Comment: A monster of a dram that doesn’t forget its origins. Beneath the layers of sherry-cask fruit and dark chocolate are the clear fingerprints of this cult Kildalton distillery.

It’ll be exclusively available from the Elixir Distillers gang at Ramsay Hall on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of the festival. If there’s any left, The Whisky Exchange has first dibs and it’ll be on the website when we get back from the island. Click here to sign up to receive an email if and when it goes on sale.