CHAPTER 14 WINS BEST EUROPEAN WHISKY 2017!
We are thrilled to announce that Chapter 14 has once again been named Best European Whisky 2017 by the world famous Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. Managing Director, Andrew Nelstrop says, “We are honoured to have received this accolade yet again. It is a true tribute to the team at St Georges Distillery”
CHAPTER 14 46%ABV
GlenDronach Batch 14
GlenDronach Batch 14 now available at Abbey Whisky. 12 new single casks ranging from 1985 to 2004. Interest for all casks has been incredible, we’re expecting stock sell very quick, so if you’re looking for a set, don’t delay…
Strictly one per person.
Clicking the link above will take you through to our New Arrivals section. If you don’t see a particular cask via here or our GlenDronach page, it looks like it has sold out. The site is live, once stock has depleted the item is removed, so that the site is not cluttered with out of stock items…
The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2016 – 200 Years of Lagavulin
Diageo’s Dr Nick Morgan has spoken about Lagavulin many times this year, with the distillery celebrating its 200th anniversary. But what really came through at The Whisky Show’s 200 Years of Lagavulin masterclass was how much he is in love with the place. He took us through five Lagavulin bottlings, as well as an extremely old and rare White Horse, of which Lagavulin is a key component.
Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo’s head of whisky outreach
‘Lagavulin is one of the most special places in the world. There is something magical about it’
‘The reason we have Lagavulin today is because of Peter Mackie. He was obsessed about the quality of single malt whisky because he was obsessed with the quality of blended whisky. He set up a laboratory at Hazelburn in Campbeltown and introduced the screwcap closure in 1925’
‘It’s Lagavulin’s bicentenary this year, but we don’t actually know how old Lagavulin is!’
‘My first experience of Islay was Kilnave Chapel, the Kildalton Cross, Kilchoman Bay and Finlaggan. I don’t like Lord of the Rings, but it’s like stepping into Lord of the Rings land’
‘I went to Islay and used peat on our fire. This is not what people do on Islay, as I realised when it took six months to get the smell out of the kids’ clothes…’
‘When I look at it from the sea, Lagavulin is just a crazy jumble of buildings’
‘Lagavulin 16 Year Old is one of the most special whiskies in the world. It’s just perfect. It has richness, sweetness, burnt Christmas cake, and an overwhelming phenolic smokiness’
‘Some Lagavulins have a quote from William Black on the label in which he describes it as “just as fine as new milk” – that took about three months to get past the lawyers…’
‘We’re launching a 1991 (25yo) Lagavulin later in the year. All proceeds will go to the legacy fund on Islay. We’ve taken a lot out of the island over the years, so it’s only right that we put something back’
Lagavulin 16 Year Old Beautifully balanced between honeyed fruit and smoke, with oily notes of smoked fish – a classic Islay single malt.
Lagavulin 8 Year Old/200th Anniversary Launched earlier in the year to mark the 200th anniversary, this is all about evocative woodsmoke, tobacco and peppery spice.
White Horse 1938 I’m a big White Horse fan, and had never tried one as old as this before. The closure was in perfect nick, and once opened, the whisky delivered aromatic notes of peach, vanilla and tropical fruit with a touch of smoke. Absolutely beautiful.
Lagavulin 25 Year Old/200th Anniversary Rich and sherried, this was a sublime combination of tobacco, peat smoke, orange peel and cured meat.
Lagavulin 12yo (1980s) Surprisingly sweet, with rich toffee and chocolate orange. There’s some smoke there to balance the rich fruit and sweeter notes. Very classy indeed.
Lagavulin 1991 25 Year Old (charity bottling) For me, the spiciest whisky of the tasting, this balanced citrus and tropical fruit with robust notes of cinnamon and incense.
Thanks to Dr Nick for a fascinating insight into what is one of the best-loved Scotch whisky distilleries around. Lagavulin wins plaudits from all sides of the industry, and its 16 Year Old bottling is, for my money, one of the best bang-for-your-buck whiskies out there.
The Story Behind The Dram:
Years and years ago, the story goes, Archibald Macphunn of Drip – a local rogue – was hanged ’till deid’ for sheep-stealing. On the way back across the water with the corpse, his wife, who was nursing an infant bairn, noticed her husband’s body twitch. Putting the baby aside, she raised the man up, and plied him with mother’s milk laced with a wee dram of whisky she had on board. The colour began to return to his cheeks, and Macphunn of Drip revived. Since, by law, he could not be hanged twice for the same crime, Macphunn lived on to a ripe old age.
Sir Fitzroy Maclean handpicked a whisky good enough to commemorate ‘Half-hung Archie’ (as he was known locally) and his son Sir Charles continues the tradition to this day. A 16 year old Speyside Single Malt at cask strength, The Macphunn trumpets taste and excellence in a manner that would surely wake the dead. Sir Charles takes his dram with a little burn water, he says, “to loosen the noose and set the spirit free.”
A single cask expression from Ardmore distillery in the far southeast of Speyside, this cult classic whisky has been matured for 16 years in a sherry cask before being bottled at a natural cask strength of 56.8% abv.
Only available while stocks last
95 points Wine Enthusiast: “Amber-hued and bright in the glass, this delivers big caramel and toffee, interwoven with drier leather, espresso, cigar wrapper and cocoa. It’s best with a little dilution, which coaxes out rounded almond notes on this pleasing sipper. (KN)” (09/2016)
K&L Notes: Maxim called the Rhetoric 22-Year-Old a “top-shelf triumph,” saying, “The mash bill for Rhetoric Whiskey is 86% corn, 8% barley and 6% rye. Beginning with hints of toasted grains, cherries and oak wood, Rhetoric 22-Year-Old tastes of toasted oak and dark chocolate with ripe banana and baking spices of clove and anise, while the finish is long and woody ending with dark chocolate notes. In other words, you’ll want to sip this one slowly….” (JPS, 5/2016)
Whisky Wednesday publishes a Haig Club Clubman Review
Blog. Balmoral invites Paul to a whisky tasting
How do I turn this down? I didn’t. I wafted along there looking forward to tasting a few drams, maybe meeting a few known whisky associates. Welcomed in by Fraser (who invited me in the first place), then introduced to G&M drams and a quick nose around to see who/what was here. A nice lassie with Highland Park and Auchentoshan beckoned, so I duly obliged taking a dram of Three Wood Auchentoshan to start the evening off. A nice chat and a dram of HP Origins, a good start. I turned around and Ally fae Tomatin was there, I know him from a few tasting before, good man so he is and offered me anything he had! So I took a slug of Tomatin 1995 (excellent value at £99.99) it was superb by the way. A chat and a promise to return (or was it a threat?), I dondered over to Bunny Heaven man, where there was a dram waiting for me; Ceobanach @ 46.3%, this was savoured and needed another just to be sure, the second was as good as the first. It was just about here Fraser came back for a chat, a good evening, many American guests here having a great time, Fraser introduced me to G&M Private Collection; 4 bottles worth £24 the set – he reckons this is the only bar in UK (the world?) with this set.
Mortlach 1951, 63 year old; Glenlivet 1952, 62 year old; Linkwood 1953, 61 year old; Strathisla 1957, 57 year old. I wished I could have sampled these, but they were not available this evening (will need go back for a private tasting soon), there are no too many of these bottles to be found anywhere, it reminds me of a Dalmore collection, BUT BETTER! After a nibble on some cheeses to refresh my palate I wandered back to Ally for a Cu Bocan 1988, peaty, but no too much so, grand! So what else attracted my taste buds? Raasay distillery were there with a sample or two which hit the spot again, their stills are in, All the way from Tuscany. Something to see here in early 2017. Benromach quenched my thirst also with a nice wee 35 year old.
The evening drams were interrupted with a cake cutting ceremony, which I fell for, as you do. I ended my dramming with a Glen Scotia Double cask from Gary, well, after having been there recently it would be rude not to eh? It was a delightful couple of hours dramming away, munching cheeses and cake, a chat with Fraser, Ally, my wee lassie pal at HP and I was off away to bed. It was a great night, am looking forward to next year – 4th birthday dramfest.
Paul McLean http://www.mcleanscotland.com/ http://www.whiskytours.scot/
We are delighted to welcome Charles to the Dornoch Whisky Festival and you can be assured of some entertaining and informative company over the weekend! Charles Maclean was trained in ‘the sensory evaluation of potable spirits’ by the Scotch Whisky Research Institute in 1992 and has presented numerous tastings and talks in the U.K. and abroad for whisky companies, corporations, universities and clubs, and on radio and TV. He is a member of the Judging Panel (Spirits) of the International Wines & Spirits Competition, and was runner-up as ‘Communicator of the Year’ in the 2003 IWSC Awards.
See below to find out what events Charles will be attending!
Friday 28 October
The Dornoch Whisky Festival opens this year on the 28 October at 5pm with a tasting at Balblair run by well known whisky writer and taster, Charles MacLean. He starred in the film ‘The Angel’s Share’, based at Balblair Distillery. You are invited to take part is the unique opening event with Charles leading a welcome tasting prior to the viewing Angel’s Share! See the Angel’s Share trailer here. This exclusive event is limited to 16 places. Booking in advance is essential. The costs is £80 per person, which includes transport from Dornoch.
After the tasting and film, Charles will be hosting a dinner at Links House in Dornoch. This has now sold out but there are other venues around the town who are holding opening night dinners including the Royal Dornoch Golf Club and the Dornoch Castle Hotel.
Saturday 29
On Saturday 29, Charles will be attending the Gala Tasting event at the Dornoch Castle. He will be drawing the tombola for the Chocolate and Whisky Paring Masterclass and be around all afternoon to chat to the attendees and join in with the fun! Charles has described the Gala Whisky Tasting as a ‘rolling party’! See Charles talk about the Gala Tasting here and come along and join in the fun!
After the Gala Tasting, Charles will be doing a Taste of the Highlands masterclass at the newly opened Carnegie Whisky Cellars in the old Courthouse building. The atmospheric tasting room is housed in the 200 year old original court record vault – complete with steel security door and Caithness slab flooring. 16 places are available at this exclusive event, at £150 per person
For all of the above events and more: www.dornochwhiskyfestival.com
Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2017 – the winners
Jim Murray knows how to surprise. Two years ago, he named Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 as his World Whisky of the Year, while last year saw that honour go to Canada, with Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye taking the top gong. And now, the 2017 winner has just been announced. Jim Murray’s best whisky in the world is: Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old. Jim described it as having a ‘brain-draining, mind-blowing’ nose with a finish of ‘amazing depth’, adding that it is a ‘staggering example of a magnificent rye showing exactly what genius in terms of whiskey actually means’, scoring it 97.5/100 points.
Producer’s Tasting Notes An intense flavour profile with pronounced, well-balanced notes of wood and oak from the longer ageing process. The deep amber liquid offers a complex aroma with spicy notes from the rye in the mash bill. This uncut rye has a big bold flavour, but is not overpowering. It can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
The other big news of the 2017 Whisky Bible is that a Scottish whisky has made Jim’s World Whiskies of the Year shortlist for the first time since 2014. The runner-up is Glen Grant 18 Year Old – here is the top three:
Scotch Whisky of the Year Glen Grant 18 Year Old
Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks) Glen Grant 18 Year Old
Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask) That Boutique-y Whisky Co Macallan 25 Year Old Batch 5
Scotch Blend of the Year The Last Drop 1971
Scotch Grain of the Year Whiskyjace Invergordon 24 Year Old
Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year Compass Box Flaming Heart 2015 Edition
No Age Statement (Multiple Casks) Glenlivet Cipher
No Age Statement (Runner Up) Port Askaig 100 Proof
10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks) Glen Grant 10 Year Old
10 Years & Under (Single Cask) Kilchoman Guze Cask Finish
11-15 Years (Multiple Casks) Lagavulin 12 Year Old
11-15 Years (Single Cask) The Single Cask Glentauchers 2002 14 Year Old
16-21 Years (Multiple Casks) Glen Grant 18 Year Old
16-21 Years (Single Cask) Scyfion Choice Mortlach 1996 19 Year Old (Berry Bros & Rudd)
22-27 Years (Multiple Casks) Dalwhinnie 1989 25 Year Old Special Releases 2015
22-27 Years (Single Cask) The Boutique-y Co Macallan 25 Year Old Batch 5
28-34 Years (Multiple Casks) Port Ellen 1983 32 Year Old Special Releases 2015
28-34 Years (Single Cask) Cadenhead Caol Ila 31 Year Old
35-40 Years (Multiple Casks) Brora 37 Year Old Special Releases 2015
35-40 Years (Single Cask) Cadenhead Glentauchers 38 Year Old
41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks) Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1952
41 Years & Over (Single Cask) Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1950 65 Year Old
No Age Statement (Standard) Ballantine’s Finest
No Age Statement (Premium) Ballantine’s Limited
5-12 Years Johnnie Walker Black Label 12 Year Old
13-18 Years Chivas Regal 18 Year Old Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak
19 – 25 Years Royal Salute 21 Year Old
26 – 50 Years The Last Drop 1971
Irish Whiskey of the Year Redbreast 21 Year Old
Irish Pot Still Whiskey of the Year Redbreast 21 Year Old
Irish Single Malt of the Year Bushmills 21 Year Old
Irish Blend of the Year Jameson
Irish Single Cask of the Year Teeling Single White Burgundy Cask 2004
Bourbon of the Year William Larue Weller 2015 Release
Rye of the Year Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old
US Micro Whisky of the Year Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2009
US Micro Whisky of the Year (Runner Up) Koval Four Grain
No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels) William Larue Weller 2015 Release
No Age Statement (Single Barrel) 1792 Single Barrrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
9 Years & Under Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon 2009
10 Years & Over (Multiple Barrels) Blade & Bow 22 Year Old
No Age Statement Thomas H Handy 2015 Release
Up to 10 Years Pikesville 110 Proof 6 Year Old Straight Rye
11 Years & Over Booker’s Rye 13 Year Old
Wheat Whiskey of the Year Bernheim Original
Canadian Whisky of the Year Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye
Japanese Whisky of the Year Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 Release
Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Barrels) Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 Release
European Whisky of the Year (Multiple) English Whisky Co. Chapter 14 Not Peated
European Whisky of the Year (Single) Langatun 6 year Old Pinot Noir Cask
Asian Whisky of the Year Kavalan Solist Moscatel
Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year Heartwood Any Port in a Storm
