The Whisky Barrel have published a two part series on their recent visit to Daftmill Distillery.

The articles may be read here;

PART ONE

PART TWO

Spirit of Toronto returns Saturday May 7!

Winter may be in high gear but hopefully this dispatch finds you in good health and good spirits as we count down to the 12th annual Spirit of Toronto on Saturday, May 7 at Roy Thomson Hall.

Tickets for this year’s Spirit of Toronto Annual Gala go on sale after the Easter long weekend on Tuesday, March 29 at 10:00am sharp. Once again tickets will be sold through Roy Thomson Hall’s box office online, by telephone and in person at 60 Simcoe Street. Those of you subscribed to this list will receive an automatic email notification the night before.

The full schedule of tastings for our 2016 Masterclass Series is almost complete, and will be published online in the next few weeks. Seats for these tutored tastings may be reserved when purchasing tickets to the show. Stay tuned for full details in the next update.

Macallan 19 Year Old 1995 Cask Collection

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

$224.12

Imperial 20 Year Old 1995 Signatory

Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky

 $98.00

Imperial 20 Year Old 1995 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whiskey. Single cask hogshead #50154 bottled January 2016 by Signatory Vintage for the Cask Strength range. 257 numbered bottles. Imperial Distillery was designed by Charles C. Doig and established in 1897 by Thomas Mackenzie at Carron in the heart of Scotland’s Speyside whisky region. Queen Victoria celebrated her Diamond Jubilee in 1897 and a huge golden crown was placed upon the pagoda roof of one of Imperial Distillery’s two malt kilns to commemorate the occasion. Imperial Distillery was equipped with four huge stills but closed in 1998 and is now a closed Scottish malt whisky distillery.

“Stairway to Heaven”

7.00 @ Mansion House Hotel, Elgin, Wednesday 27 April 2016

Mr. Vic Cameron (ex Diageo) Distillery Manager, Maltings Manager, Laboratory and Cereals Manager Diageo plc. UK Malt, the Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain. Malting Barley Committee http://www.ukmalt.com/ 29 April 2012

19:00 Presentation on “Stairway to Heaven” Barley breeding, varieties & Testing & Evaluation – micro & macro scale, who does what and when? differences, a history & timeline of varieties.

20:00 Questions and Comments

20:15 Tasting of Indian Whisky with Krish Kumar

Limited tickets £45 each available from http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/events

Event sponsored by http://www.mcleanscotland/ & http://www.whiskytours.scot/

YUMI (CHICHIBU DISTILLERY CONFIRMED)

At Maltstock 2014 we had a Japanese Whisky Battle Masterclass between Tatsuya (then Suntory brand ambassador, now owner at the Highlander Inn) and Yumi (Chichibu brand ambassador ). The battle between Japanese biggest and smallest distillery was a fierce one and certainly one to remember. Tatsuya is still licking his wounds but Yumi will be back with a relaxed Japanese Masterclass this year.

www.passievoorwhiskyy.nl Stefan thank you very very much for sponsoring our international promo tour again!

Are you browsing for a relaxed dram? Try passievoorwhisky.nl or visit them in their shop in Rijswijk.

MALTSTOCK IN THE PRESS
Articles:
– Hans Offringa (Whisky Mag. 128 – 2015)
– Whisky Speller
Film:
– Nederland Whiskyland

Agenda (Maltstock visiting other festivals):

Hielander Whisky Festival Alkmaar 12-13 Feb. 2016 International Whisky Festival Gent 12-13 Mar. 2016 Whisky Festival Noord Nederland 18-20 Mar. 2016 Whisky Weekend Twente 9 Apr. 2016 Whisky in Leiden 16 Apr. 2016 Limburg Whisky Messe 23-24 Apr. 2016 Speyside Whisky Festival 28 Apr. – 2 May 2016

www.ralfy.com heads off to Japan for an alternative malt-moment with Whisky Review 573 – Nikka Miyagikyo single malt

Springbank 22 Year Old 1993 Old & Rare

Campbeltown Single Malt Scotch Whisky

$519.20

Springbank 22 Year Old 1993 vintage Campbeltown single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask refill hogshead bottled January 2016 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare Platinum series. 212 numbered bottles. The nose contains fresh and fruity notes of oranges and apricots, with a dash of pepper and coconut. The palate has underlying notes of vanilla, coupled with toffee, a touch of smoke, and more oranges. The finish is long and fruity, with warming oak notes.Springbank Distillery was established in 1828 in Campbeltown at the foot of the Mull of Kintyre on the west coast of Scotland. Springbank produces three different types of single malt whisky Hazelburn which is non-peated and triple distilled, Longrow which is highly peated and double distilled and Springbank which is medium peated and partially triple distilled having been distilled two and a half times. Barley is spread across traditional malting floors at Springbank where it germinates and is then dried on the perforated floor of the malt kiln. Springbank Distillery welcomes visitors and offers distillery tours.

This week Joe Ellis reviews DYC 10 Year Old Spanish Single Malt.

https://youtu.be/Y5zpAVUdZkY

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

Whiskey Obsession Festival Panel and Classes Announced

The Fourth Annual Whiskey Obsession Festival will be held in Sarasota, Florida from March 30 to April 1, 2016.  The three day event is one of the largest whiskey festivals in the U.S. and features a dance party, interactive panel discussion, master classes, VIP pours, on site package sales, cigar pairing, culminating with a grand tasting with 250 whiskies from around the world.  Dozens of master distillers and professional ambassadors participate, sharing their knowledge and passion for fine spirits from Japan, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, France, and the United States.

Fourth Annual Whiskey Obsession Festival Schedule of Events

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

The Dram Dance @ The Gator Club

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm

Enjoy our special chillwave musical guest Brothertiger at a private Whiskey Obsession Festival event upstairs at the Gator Club, featuring a performance by Black Diamond Burlesque.  $10 ticket includes one Old Forester cocktail.

Thursday, March 31, 2016

The Panel of Whiskey Experts Interactive Tasting and Discussion @ The Francis

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm

Join four master distillers and four brand ambassadors for this unique interactive panel and tasting as they share and discuss sixteen of their favorite spirits.  Tickets are $45 and seating is limited to 75 guests; please reserve early.  Panelists are:

Chris Morris, Woodford Reserve Master Distiller & the Chairman of the Kentucky Distillers Association

Pam Heilmann, Michter’s Distiller

Brendan Coyle; High West Distiller

Rob Dietrich, Stranahan’s Distiller

Bernie Lubbers, Heaven Hill Ambassador and Whiskey Professor

David Blackmore, Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Master Ambassador

Gardner Dunn, Yamazaki Ambassador

Philip Pepperdine, Bowmore Ambassador

Friday, April 1, 2016

Grand Tasting and Master Classes, Michael’s on East

• 6:30 pm VIP Admission
• 7:30 pm General Admission
• 8:00 pm Class I, II, and III
• 9:15 pm Class IV, V, VI
• 10:30 pm Last Pour
• 10:45 pm After Party at Made Restaurant

Session 1, 8:00 pm to 8:45 pm

• Class I The History of North American Whisk(e)y History One Sip at a Time with Michael Ring, Brown Forman Brand Champion
• Class II Michter’s: It’s All About the Whiskey with Pam Heilmann, Distiller
• Class III The Art of Japanese Whisky with Gardner Dunn, Yamazaki Ambassador

Session 2, 9:15 pm to 10:00 pm

• Class IV Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey with Jess Graber, Founder of Tincup Whiskey
• Class V Glenmorangie: Finishes and More with David Blackmore, Global Brand Ambassador
• Class VI: Cigar and Whisky Pairing with Montecristo cigars presented by Atul Solanki, owner of the Cigar Castle in Tampa and Philip Pepperdine, Bowmore Ambassador.

With 250 whiskies available to sample, the Grand Tasting features dozens of the world’s premium global brands as well as many emerging craft distillers.  Taught by industry professionals, our six seminar-style master classes present an opportunity for in-depth learning and interactive tastings with distillers and brand ambassadors.

Ticket levels are available:

VIP $195:

• VIP admission is limited to 150 guests and includes one commemorative Glencairn glass and one hour early entrance at 6:30 pm.
• VIP hour pours of ultra-premium, fine, expensive, and rare spirits (details will be available on the event website).
• One $50 retail voucher for purchases and special orders placed on Friday, April 1, 2016 during the Whiskey Obsession Festival grand tasting.
• Greater opportunity to interact with distillery ambassadors and industry professionals.
• Unlimited tasting of over 200 spirits.
• Priority seating at small group seminar classes (first come first served).
• Wine, soft drinks, buffet and hors d’ oeuvres.

General Admission $95:

• General admission is limited to 500 guests and includes one commemorative Glencairn glass and entrance at 7:30 pm
• Unlimited tasting of over 200 spirits.
• Seating as available at small group seminar classes (first come first served).
• Wine, soft drinks, buffet and hors d’ oeuvres.

Companion $45:

• Companion admission is limited to 75 guests and includes entrance with VIP or general admission ticket holders.
• Wine, soft drinks, buffet and hors d’ oeuvres.

For Information Please Contact

Turner C. Moore

President, Whiskey Obsession LLC

Turner@WhiskeyObsessionFestival.com

941-400-9889

Video:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=effaR6VmB6g (2016)

and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVwmQOkOVfs (2015)

Photos: https://www.instagram.com/sarasota_whiskey_obsession

Website: www.whiskeyobsessionfestival.com

Facebook events:

Dram Dance: https://www.facebook.com/events/1522059821428001/

Panel: https://www.facebook.com/events/816724438437560/

Grand Tasting: https://www.facebook.com/events/1825168421043341/

Addresses of Venues

Gator Club, 1490 Main Street, Sarasota, Florida  34236

The Francis, 1289 North Palm Avenue, Sarasota, Florida 34236

Michael’s on East, 1212 East Avenue, Sarasota, Florida 34239