Tamdhu 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

£31.99 – £38.99

Highland Park has caught the imagination in recent years with their effective use of Norse legends and the integration into Orkney’s heritage and culture. The Valhalla Collection, which we’re focusing on here specifically is the most recent themed set from Highland Park. This built upon the achievements and experience gained from the Earl Magnus Editions although it’s not a recipe for success as the Warrior series demonstrated. 

It was this trio celebrating local nobles that inflamed the collector and investor market thanks to the heritage styled labels, bottle design and wooden boxes that protected the whisky. These can be a real pain to unlock and no doubt assisted the team when they moved onto the Valhalla concept. An additional learning point was the release numbers for each of the Magnus releases, as these varied hugely and caused an avalanche of demand and bitterly disappointed enthusiasts unable to secure a bottle.

The Valhalla Collection debuted with the release of Thor in 2012. For those of you who weren’t interested in whisky back then, this release caused a huge debate with many criticising the pricing and packaging. The argument was that Thor was all presentation and little else. Priced at £120 for a 16 year old whisky also came under fire and for a while it seemed many turned their back on the concept.  

I can recall being at the distillery around this time and Thor’s were in ….. Read more at Just Whisky’s Blog.

BENROMACH 10 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
£29.99 – £34.99

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THE MACALLAN Rare Cask
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This week Joe Ellis reviews the new Arran White Stag bottling.

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Whisky Ramblings Via Video #114

Mark Dermul, Belgian Whiskyblogger, tries an independent Blair Athol. Blair Athol is a lesser-known distillery in the Highlands, which produces primarily for the famous Bell’s blend. There are barely any official bottlings, so if you want to try this whisky, you will need to look at independent bottlers. I tried a single cask from 2002, bottled under the Hepburn’s Choice label, a subsidiary of Hunter Laing.

http://youtu.be/ET-1BI3aBpA

Once again we had a bunch of 28 loveable whisky freaks come to Scotland with us from Finland! In fact, The Malt Whisky Association of Finland, who visit us twice a year, from their 500 strong whisky membership. We are always pleased to see them, led as usual by the Club President Mika Jansson, who arrived a day early, staying in Perth with us, sharing drams at Paul’s hoose.

The MCLEANSCOTLAND crew for this tour was Liz Gillespie and Paul McLean (Partners/owners) and Mark Burgess, driver and drambassador from Belfast, where our coach also came from. We named this tour “The Viking Raid” for obvious reasons. When we designed this tour and sent it to Finland, it was advertised in the Association – it completely sold out in 60 seconds, we had to almost double the planned group size.

Tuesday 30 June saw us departing Perth for Aberdeen airport. Collect our group followed by a transfer to Elgin for a pre booked lunch! From there to Golspie and the Golspie Inn, just for drinks you understand. Finally to the Wick hotel – checking in, relax in the bar before a whisky dinner. At the airport we had 3 who arrived late (2 hours), so Paul hired a car from the airport, stayed around with Mika to meet them, then tried very hard to catch up the coach at Wick – we passed the coach at Golspie! A good first day, we all caught up and met up for the whisky dinner! Thanks to Andrew and his staff.

Wednesday 1 July we started the day at 8.45am sharp departing for the Old Pulteney distillery. Paul took the car to drop at Wick airport whilst pal Ian (whisky on tour fame) brought him back to the distillery. Malcom did a grand job for us there, thanks to him and the staff. Departing the distillery 11.30 for a 45 minute drive to the ferry in Gills Bay for the 1pm sailing. Please – if you ever use this ferry, avoid the burgers like the plague, ughh, worse than a piece of old carpet! We arrived at St. Margaret’s Hope 2pm and headed to the Scapa distillery for a 3pm tour. We split into two groups and had a good tour and set of drams, thanks again to all concerned. This evening Dinner at hotel where we had a special guest; Martin Markvardsen Brand Ambassador for Highland Park. Paul had pre arranged this with Martin, also for the tour tomorrow. Great to see him again.

Thursday 2 July all onboard for the 10.00am visit to Highland Park Distillery, I must say a brilliant tour here (in 2 groups), another Martin took our second group. The group was split into two for the tour & taste. Martin did the guiding – as arranged, but then somehow we ended up with BOTH Martin’s on the coach, guiding us around the mainland. A 1 hour drive to Skara Brae for a visit to this outstanding historic site. At Yesnaby cliffs Martin had brought drams of Thor and the 1987 edition. We all enjoyed these drams with Odins hammer before our eyes – a rock formation sticking out of the sea. Then the peat bog, where we were told about the significance of different peat layers. Return to the Hotel – a great day thanks to the Martin’s!

Friday 3 July; We left the hotel At 9.30 for Stromness, some free time here before the 11am ferry. Lunch on ferry – great this time, grand ferry, very smart. We had amazing views from this sailing back to the mainland. Wolfburn Distillery, a tour, warehouse visit and two drinks of new spirit, departing at 2.30pm for Clynelish distillery, where I was a wee bit annoyed they hadnee told me of the work going on. They had decorators in so the visitor centre was moved to Brora, doon the hill, then back up the hill for a tour of the distillery, then back (again) doon the hill for a tasting. Oh well. Departing distillery at 5pm ish we headed south to Inverness. A good hotel overlooking the river, food and drams tonight? We all split up doing our own thing – Liz, Mark and myself had a wee pub crawl and food at the Italian, others moved around the city, many doing beers at the Castle Tavern.

Saturday 4 July; We left Inverness 8.30 and headed to Elgin, where we did a wee town tour (wasting time actually) – then arriving at 9.50 at Glen Moray distillery. Iain and the gang did wonders here as we knew they would. I had arranged this one (Mika arranges most via distributers back in Finland) and I can honestly say it was one of the tour highlights. The distillery shop took a battering ! Many whisky lovers dragged out of the shop asked if we could do the tour again ! Words like awesome, superb were used. Well done Iain in the tasting stakes, the 30 year old flew from the shelves.

With 4^th July being a Saturday we managed the 6 Pillars tour at Macallan. Can I just say to Mark (driver) you did a great job getting us there on time. As it is such a large group we split into 3 smaller groups. The final distillery tour of the whole tour, but – one final stop we had arranged; Duncan Taylor Whiskies of Scotland. Many thanks Andrew for coping so well on your own mate! Finally heading to Aberdeen – loaded down with whisky purchases, the Holiday Inn in the city centre. Everyone headed out for those final drams/food, Brew Dog bar took a big hit. The tour ended at the hotel after breakfast.

All in all, another successful tour, hard working crew and a happy bunch of Fins (mostly), but with a large group as this we couldnee please everyone all the time. Thanks to everyone on board, crew and guests, thanks Mark for grand driving and a clean coach everyday, looking forward to the next tour now !

Some comments…

“Excellent Viking Raid! It was very much to Your credit Paul, Liz and Mark!”

“Thanks Paul/Liz/Mark! (as well as all the old and new finnish faces on the trip). Great tour once again”

“Thank you for all the arrangements again to you and Liz!! This trip was a dream come true to many who come on the tour. For me, it was great to see you two again, and Mark as well! Many thanks for all the arrangements and kind help!”

“Back at home. Out standing trip, incredible views, mind blowing whiskies, hilarious company, phenomenal distilleries, stupid flight company (KLM), and magnificent new contacts! Thank you again Scotland!”   Authors note; the photo – Guitar made from casks presented to Highland Park made in Finland by Jani Bergström.

“Hello Paul and Liz, you are awesome people! Nicely organized program. The weather was great! I have no idea how you managed to arrange that! This Norseman is going to bed, and will continue the whisky raid tomorrow.” 

“On ferry to Orkney even seen a killer whale as we came into port” 

“The wee traveller is finally home after a very bumpy ride over Germany…thank you all who was on the trip, it was awesome!!!”

The Viking Tour. Malt Whisky association of Finland completed a tour in Scotland 30.6 – 5.7.2015. Our group consisted of 28 whisky enthusiasts. We visited 7 distilleries. Some highlights from the tour.  

In Old Pulteney we could get own bottling of 25 yo OP! In Highland Park we were shown almost every corner of the distillery. In HP peat field we were told about the significance of different peat layers. At Yesnaby cliffs we got drams of Thor and the 1987 edition. In the Wolfburn distillery we were offered two of their new makes. In Glen Morays warehouse we got to taste port wine finished GM and Madeira finished GM. Both from 1988. Oh my! In the visitor centre we had a nice tasting. The highlight was of course a 30 yo GM. Stunning. Trying to recover from the tour!

Scots need not to worry when it comes to whisky. Tasted some mind blowing stuff e.g. Old Pulteney 25, Talisker 1956, Scapa 16, Highland Park 1987, Glen Moray 30, Balvenie 22, Balblair 1990…only few to mention.

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Glenfarclas £511.19s.0d – I call that a bargain

A lot of distilleries talk about their history, but there are few still in operation who can point to generations of family ownership. One of the best known distilling families in that exclusive club are the Grants of Glenfarclas, owners of the distillery for 150 years. To celebrate this milestone, they have released a new whisky, the cryptically named Glenfarclas £511.19s.0d.

John and George Grant: the first and second generations of the family

The story behind the name is actually simple: On 8 June 1865, 29 years after its founding, John Grant bought Glenfarclas for the princely sum of £511.19s.0d. A bit of digging on the Bank of England’s website suggests that this was equivalent to about £57,000 in today’s money, quite the bargain for a working distillery. The distillery was only part of the purchase, as the family were actually buying the tenancy of Rechlerich farm, and the distillery came along with it – the total bill was £1224.19s.7d. The Grant’s leased out the distillery but when their tenant, distant cousin John Smith, resigned in order to found Cragganmore, John and his son George took over. Since then, the family have run the distillery.

John L S and George S Grant: the fifth and sixth generations

As George S Grant, son of current director John L S Grant, has said at tastings, it’s unnerving to visit the family graveyard and see your name on so many gravestones – the Grants have been quite conservative when naming their children and over the years they’ve almost all been called John or George. However, it does mean that now, 150 years after the family bought the distillery, a John and a George again run the company as a father and son team.

Filling the celebratory casks

Along with the release of £511.19s.0d, the distillery celebrated the anniversary by filling 10 sherry butts and 10 sherry hogsheads, ready for the future generations. The family are still planning for the long-term, laying down stock now to ensure that years down the line they’ll have all of the whisky they need.

Glenfarclas is well known for its heavily sherried whisky, and this celebratory dram starts off down the same path, consisting mainly of first-fill sherry butts. However, there’s more to it than just a blast of dried fruit:

GLENFARCLAS £511.19S.0D FAMILY RESERVE, 43%

Nose: Honey and raisins with gentle charred-cask bitterness hidden behind. Stewed apples and pears develop in the glass, along with golden sugar, Portugese custard tarts, buttered fruit cake, nutmeg and clove. Despite those heavier notes, it’s still quite fresh, with freshly sliced Golden Delicious apple and hints of candied lemon.

Palate: Soft and rounded, with delicate sherry-cask spice and fruit to start. The flavours get darker as it develops, moving on through raisins and dark fruit cake to gentle notes of char and mixed spice. Just before the death, fresh apple pops up, accompanied by damp leaves and forest floor earthiness.

Finish: Nutmeg and cinnamon toast, soft and lingering with tart apple sauce and a hint of liquorice.

Comment: A game of two halves, with fresh fruit and weighty sherry-matured flavours balanced carefully, with each taking their turn on the nose and palate.

Lighter and more elegant than some of Glenfarclas’s drams, but still with the classic sherry cask punch hidden underneath. It is available now from The Whisky Exchange.

Auction is now live folks. Enjoy.

The 52nd Auction

Kind regards from Glasgow – The SWA Team

Heaven Hill Brands Celebrates its 80^th Anniversary by Giving Back

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Brands, the country’s largest family-owned and -operated distilled spirits company, is celebrating 80 years of success this year by giving back. To thank the community for being a valued partner over the last eight decades, Heaven Hill is planning a philanthropic effort, with the help of its employees.

Starting July 17, Heaven Hill will draw names of employees each Friday, for a total of 80 names, all leading up to an Employee Appreciation event on Sept. 12 at Heaven Hill corporate headquarters in Bardstown, Ky. Heaven Hill will donate $80 to a charity of those people’s choosing. In total, 80 employees will give $80 each to 80 charitable causes.

“We wanted to thank our employees for their hard work, as well as thank the community for 80 years of support,” said Max Shapira, Heaven Hill Brands President.

Additionally, the company is asking each employee to bring a canned good or other food item to the Employee Appreciation event. The collected items will be weighed with the goal of reaching 380 pounds of food that will be donated to a local food pantry serving those in need.

“This is another way for all of us here to celebrate all our achievements so far by giving back,” Shapira said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the company and how far we’ve come since my father and his brothers started it. Eighty years of success is just the beginning.”

The company kicked off its yearlong 80^th anniversary celebration by unveiling a new corporate name, Heaven Hill Brands, and a new logo that captures the company’s evolution from a leader in American Whiskey production – a position it continues to hold today – to the nation’s sixth-largest distilled spirits supplier.

Through internal product development and strategic brand acquisitions, Heaven Hill has built on its foundation of American Whiskeys to become a broadly diversified supplier of whiskeys, liqueurs, vodkas, rums and other spirits.

Heaven Hill’s portfolio includes the world’s second-largest selling Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, and category leaders Christian Brothers Brandy, Burnett’s Vodka and Admiral Nelson’s Rum. The portfolio also includes a growing line of leading imported brands from around the world, such as Hpnotiq and Domaine de Canton liqueurs. Likewise, the company has a stable of innovative brands including PAMA Liqueur, Blackheart Spiced Rum and Evan Williams Flavors.

About Heaven Hill Brands: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons, Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila; Cinerator Hot Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky.