This month Cutty Sark is 92. Ninety-two years since its very humble beginnings in 1923, when the Cutty Sark blend was brought to life by the vision of two wine merchants and their illustrator companion, James McBey, who drew the image of the ship featured on the yellow label…

Cutty Sark’s popularity grew immensely during the Prohibition era of the 1920’s and 30’s, when cases used to be smuggled into the States from the Bahamas. It came to be known as a high quality, easy drinking whisky. By the 1960s, Cutty was the biggest selling whisky in the US. Part of its success was down to maverick advertising director, George Lois, who was responsible for the iconic Cutty Sark advertising during the 1960s and 70s. Some say that George inspired the character of Don Draper in the hugely popular TV series Madmen. Since then, the Cutty family has grown to include Storm and Prohibition Edition. Today, you can enjoy a Cutty in cool bars across the globe.

So, join us in a toast to this exciting history and an even better future!

Here’s a little cocktail inspiration,

That’s our kind of Cutty.

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #106

Poitin or poteen is sometimes also referred to as moonshine. It was a practice that was banned in 1661, but nowadays quite a few distilleries market their new make. This Teeling Poitin is a mix of 80% triple distilled maize spirit and 20% double distilled malt spirit. The result is quite astounding.

http://youtu.be/TKJu1W3yev4

Whisky sailing trips Tall Ship Thalassa 2015 and 2016

Make the once in a lifetime trip and sail with tall ship Thalassa! Sail along with us to the best single malt distilleries and visit the famous Islay Whisky Festival. During our whisky sailing trips you will discover Scotland’s coastal distilleries, enjoy the company of whisky lovers and learn from whisky professionals!

Do you prefer a rather unique combination of pure sailing pleasure with the most famous whisky distilleries of Scotland? Decide to join our whisky expeditions on board of tall ship Thalassa!

Would you like to experience such a special adventure in 2015 or 2016? Take your chances and make your reservation immediately!

Whisky sailing trips 2015 and 2016

For the third whisky trip the Thalassa will make in 2015, we still have some places available: Saturday May 30th till Saturday June 6th 

Price: € 995,- per person

The dates for the journeys in 2016 have been released:

Whisky trip 1: Saturday May 14th – Saturday May 21st 2016

Whisky trip 2: Saturday May 21st – Saturday May 28 th 2016 (during ISLAY-Whiskyfestival)

Whisky trip 3: Saturday May 28th – Saturday June 4th 2016

Sailing schedule:

Day 1: Embarkation in Troon, head towards Bruichladdich

Day 2: Sail to Port Ellen

Day 3: Leave to Bunnahabhain

Day 4: Visit distillery, sail to Port Ellen

Day 5: Port Ellen, in the afternoon sailing to Jura

Day 6: Visit distillery of Jura, leave for Campbelltown

Day 7: Visit Springbank distillery, sail to Arran, visit distillery, leave for Troon

Day 8: Disembarkation in Troon

Prices from € 995,- per person

Click here to book your journey online!  

Whisky expedition 2015 and 2016

Beside the popular whisky journeys mentioned above along the Westcoast of Scotland the Thalassa will sail a most unique whisky expedition in 2015 and 2016, starting from the rugged Westcoast, passing by the Northern treasures of Scotland and ending at the more quiet Eastcoast.

Decide to join our newest whisky expeditions and visit within one week not only the West of Scotland (Islay), but also the beautiful North (Skye and Orkney) to end this spectacular holiday at the Eastcoast, Buckie. A journey that cannot be made with regular means of transportation is within reach by ship for you.

Whisky-expedition 2015: Saturday June 6th – Saturday June 13th

Whisky-expedition 2016: Saturday June 4th – Saturday June 11th

Sailing schedule:

Day 1: Embarkation in Troon, leave for Islay

Day 2: Port Ellen, visit numerous distilleries, at evening head towards Bunnahabhain

Day 3: Visit distillery of Bunnahabhain, leave north to Skye

Day 4: Visit Tallisker distillery, sail towards Orkney

Day 5: Prolong journey to Orkney, sleep over in Stromness

Day 6: Orkney, visit distilleries of Highland Park and Scapa

Day 7: Sail to Buckie

Day 8: Disembarkation in Buckie

Price: € 995,- per person

NB: All definite sailing routes depend on wind and weather conditions. Because of this the ship’s captain has the right to change this schedule if necessary. 

The ship

During the trip the guests are facilitated on board of tall ship Thalassa in one of the 15 high quality double cabins, each with a priviate shower.

With her 14 sails, altogether 800 square metres, tall ship Thalassa makes an impressive appearance. Rigged according to century-old traditions and equipped according to the latest security regulations, tall ship Thalassa is extremely seaworthy.De Thalassa combineert uitstekende zeilprestaties met hedendaags comfort. De enthousiaste bemanning zorgt ervoor dat het u aan niets ontbreekt.

Information and online booking

More information about the whisky sailing trips and whisky expedition can be found on our special website: http://www.whiskyzeilreizen.nl/index_uk.php. For further questions please contact us by email or phone: +31 – (0)10 – 4156600

Welcome on board!

HOLLANDS GLORIE

Liesbeth Wammes – de Graaf

Brigitte Beckers

This week Joe Ellis reviews BenRiach 18 Year Old Albariza.

https://youtu.be/pGDptHyvcLA

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 Islay Blended Duncan Taylor Bottling Malt Scotch Whisky

This Islay Blend is a “teaspoon” of some of our favorite Islay malts. Distilleries use this method to keep independent bottlers from using the term Single Malt.

$174.99 Buy Now

Wathen’s Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon 

Made with a high corn, low rye and high malted barley mash bill, the D&M Wathen’s possesses aromas of soft caramel, cardamom spice and white pepper.

$36.99 Buy Now

High West Double Rye D&M Barrel Select Whiskey 

The first hit in the nose is of a younger rye with butter pickle, spice, and cinnamon. With time in glass notes of the Scotch barrel emerge with smoke and peat spice and light fruit. 

$49.99 Buy Now

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Glenlivet 12 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $37) ($27.99) 90 points Wine Enthusiast: “Vibrant gold with orange highlights, fruity scent of apples and pears plus a whiff of vanilla. Soft, velvety feel. This is a pleasant and drinkable Scotch, but the flavors are relatively muted. It mixes well with other flavors, making it a good contender for cocktails. Good value.” (12/2011) Whisky Advocate: “As with the ‘Fiddich (reviewed in this issue), here’s a malt where an improved wood policy has brought a dram to life and added complexity. The Glenlivet has always been about lightness, but the trick is to have sufficient solid base to allow its flower to blossom, so as well as lily, orchid, and pineapple, there’s a thick creaminess that gently beds all of these flighty flavors down. With water, there’s mandarin and rose petal, and a sneeze of white pepper. Simply lovely. Value Pick.” K&L Notes: The Glenlivet was the first legal distiller in Scotland (1824) and the only one allowed to be called “The Glenlivet.” What Grande Champagne is to Cognac, the glen of the river Livet is to Speyside–the most famous Speyside highland malts. For shipping orders these ship as a bottle only, no gift box or packaging will be included.

• Glenmorangie 12 year old Quinta Ruban Extra Matured Range Port Cask 750ml ($47.99) 91 points Wine Enthusiast: “While “extra finished” for two years in ruby Port casks, the impact on the spirit is minimal, imparting a rose-gold hue and a shadow of red berry flavor. Though it lacks the “wow factor” of the Nectar d’Or, it’s still quite good: Expect a warm, fruity scent with a hint of cedar and a smooth caramel-honey flavor with baking spices on the finish. ” (12/2011) Wine Spectator: “Pink in color from its ruby Port finish, this whisky is like biting into a chocolate-covered cherry. Deep, ripe, dark fruits announce themselves on the nose, with some spice, honey and cocoa. A blast of chocolate is followed quickly by creamy cherry notes and a snap of licorice on the palate, and the finish turns quite spicy with cinnamon. Finished in Port casks. Non-chill filtered.” (02/2011) Whisky Advocate: “Finished in port casks. Like the Nectar D’or above, this expression adds lushness, body, and a sweet complexity (but with darker fruit and spice than the Nectar D’or) while still allowing Glenmorangie’s complexity to shine through. (Vol. 17, #2) ” K&L Notes: A Double Gold Medal winner in the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The Quinta Ruban is an intense, incredibly dark whisky in the extra matured range from Glenmorangie. It first spends 10 years in in American oak, then another two in Port pipes. A non chillfiltered bottling, the Quinta Ruban has a citrusy nose, with undercurrents of incense, walnuts, spice and Andes dark chocolate mint. The nose carries gracefully over to the palate, which is velvety, sweet and long.

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Mosswood Espresso Barrel Aged American Whiskey 750ml ($39.99) Mosswood is a new line of re-casked MGP whiskies; a project started by Jake Chevedden and Therese Agnew who used to work booze retail in downtown SF. Unlike most non-distiller producers, however, Jake is actually going out and doing something unique with cask maturation. He’s reconditioning used barrels with apple brandy, cold brew coffee, and sour ale to make three different selections for Mosswood. The espresso is shockingly delicious. I don’t normally associate whiskey with coffee, but if it works in an Irish Coffee then why wouldn’t it work as a cask enhancement? What matters is that it does.

• Noah’s Mill Bourbon 750ml – 3 available ($54.99) Wine Spectator: “A fiery oak nose eventually yields sweet corn, herbal grass notes and light vanilla. Laser-intense flavors of mint, rye and eau-de-vie-purity corn spirit heat up the mouth. Break it with a bit of water and you’ll get corn pudding, boozy vanilla and a drying oak finish. It’s a great example of deep flavor hidden in overproof whiskey. ” (02/2012) K&L Notes: Noah’s Mill is a handmade, small-batch Kentucky Bourbon with unique character and a smoothness rarely found in young whiskies. Awarded a Gold Medal at the 2005 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. This received 91 points in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, with the following review: “Stunning small grain, the rye in particular starring…This is one of Kentucky’s most complex whiskies by far. Small grains, big heart.”

• Wild Turkey 101 Rye 1L – 12 available ($39.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com/
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Jack Teeling – Teeling Whiskey Company (Ireland)

NEW ARRIVALS

Irish Whiskey

• Mosswood Sherry Aged Irish Whiskey 750ml ($55.99)

Canadian  Rye

• Wiser’s 18 Year Old Canadian Whiskey 750ml ($54.99) While I feel the Lot 40 continues to be a great crossover or gateway whisky for American whiskey fans looking to explore something new, the Wiser’s 18 year is Canadian through and through—and that’s a good thing. People who change their personality to fit what others want them to be are uninteresting and boring. That being said, I would be disappointed if 200 years of whisky tradition were changed and altered to capitalize on the current cask strength American whiskey fad. The Wiser’s 18 is full of pencil shavings and rye spice on the nose. It begins with soft oak on the palate, and quickly moves into a peppery, spicy, rye-dominated flurry of flavor that finishes with accents of baking spice and lots of tingly, tangy goodness. If you’re looking for a replacement to that 18 year old Stitzel-Weller Bourbon you drained two years ago, then look elsewhere. If you’re looking to try one of Canada’s legendary 18 year old whiskies for the sam e price as a 10 year old Springbank, then this is definitely up your alley. It’s as good as anything I’ve had from Canada thus far, which I’ll admit isn’t much, but it has me very excited for what else may be lying in wait. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

United States Bourbon & Rye

• Jim Beam Bonded 100 Proof Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey 750ml ($18.99) The beast is awakening! Finally, Kentucky’s largest Bourbon distillery is using its size and scale to create a fantastic, value-oriented, high-quality whiskey that anyone can enjoy. For less than $20, this is my new go-to for mixing cocktails and making rocks drinks. It’s Beam flavor through and through-creamy corn, sweet vanilla, and that spicy, grainy finish-just turned up to 100 proof. It’s a no-brainer for the money.

• Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Style 90 Proof Straight Kentucky Rye Whiskey 750ml ($18.99) The beast is awakening! Finally, Kentucky’s largest Bourbon distillery is using its size and scale to create a fantastic, value-oriented, high-quality whiskey that anyone can enjoy. The new 90 proof rye formula is definitely going to make a splash in what is still a rather desolate rye market. The spice is turned up a notch and the pepperiness of the grain really comes through, while maintaining richness. For a few dollars less than Bulleit, it should cause many a discerning drinker to ponder switching over. A must for Manhattans.

• Lost Republic Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml ($32.99) One of the more interesting and intriguing independent bottlings of bourbon since Black Maple Hill went out of production, the Lost Republic whiskey is made of three different bourbons from three different states: Indiana, Tennessee, and California. Matt Weese and his team in Healdsburg are contracting spirit and aging the barrels separately in their Napa warehouse, using them to create a fruity, grainy, and gritty style of American whiskey. The fruity, young whiskey aromas are potent on the nose, but the woody, vanilla notes balance out the youth on the palate and the spice really comes through on the finish. The packaging is fantastic and the price more than reasonable, so we’re expecting this to be a big hit. California has long been the home of American craft distillation, and now that passion is crossing over into creative blending. Those looking for a substitute to Black Maple Hill may not quite have found their replacement, but it’s as close as anything we’ve seen in years. And as the stocks at Lost Republic continue to age, we may get closer with each consecutive batch.

• Prichard’s Double Chocolate Bourbon 750ml – 5 available ($65.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com/
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

No Age Statement (NAS) Single Malt Non Chill Filtered Scotch Whiskies;

Proof that a divine Entity loves you and wants you to be happy.

Years ago at the infancy of my journey into the world of Scotch whisky I read of a supposed basic rule; that No Age Statement (NAS) single malts were generally too young and immature for quality enjoyment. Essentially this conventional ‘wisdom’ pointed directly at any whisky under a stated age of 10 years, for a time I accepted this notion. Happily over the ensuing years I have learned differently, however I suspect that there are many, at any stage of their journey, who still believe that NAS whiskies are not a quality dram. Discussed in this epistle are four NAS single malts that completely disprove this outdated and incorrect notion; as an added bonus these single malts are usually well priced for everyday enjoyment. They are vibrant, full of flavour and are sure to please your palate and will be welcome additions to your collection and bar.

1) Aberlour a’bunadh Batch # 14 59.5 % A.B.V. Score 92 Points

This stunning whisky from Aberlour was made to recreate the style of whisky produced at the distillery in the 19th century well before the introduction of ex-bourbon American casks into the Scotch whisky industry. Batches of a’bunadh are made up of specially selected butts that have previously held Spanish Oloroso sherry wine and the batches are made up of 80 to 100 butts each.

A’bunadh is bottled at cask strength, the strength of which varies from batch to batch, and without the addition of spirit caramel or chill filtration. The distillery actually prefers that there to be some slight color variation from batch to batch; this is more authentic to the original style of whisky. Since the whisky is bottled at cask strength without the addition of water the whisky possesses a greater aromatic complexity.

A’bunadh batch # 14 has earthy notes on the nose mixed with huge sweet sherry & spice. The taste is a well balance combination of malt & grape that always delights me. The finish is filled with sweet notes, brown sugar and is medium long. There is a lot in this whisky that is quite perfect and for those who love a malt filled with overwhelming sherry, this is it.

2) Benromach Organic 43% A.B.V. Score 87 Points 

This is the newest whisky from Gordon & MacPhail, the owners of Benromach distillery, and they proudly (& quite rightly so) announce it is the only single malt on the market that can claim to be organic in compliance and fully certified by the UK’s Soil Association.

Gordon & MacPhail have gone to great lengths to ensure that the whole process from the raw ingredients through distillation, maturation and bottling is certified organic to the high standards set by the Soil Association. To ensure the highest quality distillate spring water from the Romach Hills, Scottish organic barley and organic yeast are used as well as using virgin American casks for maturation. Additionally Organic is bottled without chill filtration, at natural colour (without the addition of spirit caramel) and at 43% A.B.V.

Golden brown in colour, Benromach Organic is a fresh vibrant whisky with a strong oak influence. The nose reveals sweet, charred oak aromas with fresh fruit notes (bananas and pineapples). An earthy, toasted aroma also present. The palate exposes sweet, vanilla and toffee flavours. Hints of green apples and orange peel with a rich resinous note.[1]

I recently tasted this exceptional malt at the Highlander Inn in Craigellachie and was both delighted and surprised at the nose, taste and finish of this very fine dram. The famed bar manager of the Highlander, Tatsuya Minagawa, advised our group to drive to Gordon & MacPhail’s shop in Elgin and buy two bottles each, such was is his respect for this dram. As interesting back up to this whisky is its stable mate Benromach Traditional 40% (NAS), the first whisky to be released after the reopening of the distillery in 1998 and released in 2004.

3) Laphroaig Quarter Cask 48% A.B.V. Score 91 Points 

This is the single malt that has taken the Islay whisky world by storm and for many of us our first in depth look at Laphroaig Quarter Cask was in Dave Broom’s article in Whisky Magazine[2]. In the article Robert Hicks, then Allied Domecq’s master blender reveals to Dave how Laphroaig commissioned the Speyside Cooperage to make 50 quarter casks from first fill oak, each with a capacity of 105 liters. A vatting of different ages from standard size casks was then matured for a further period in the quarter casks. The increased whisky to wood ratio and increased contact of charcoal with the whisky resulted in a faster maturation and increased vanilla notes. The overall effect has produced a stunning whisky with lots of smoky and sweet flavours that is vibrant but not over whelming in any one area, magic!

The nose is full of peat, peat and some more peat thrown in for good measure yet is still vibrant and fresh. My first nosing of this whisky reminded me of my first taste of Laphroaig 10 many, many years ago. The taste is very peaty and yet malty sweet (vanilla) at the same time, truly an exceptional experience for those who adore peat. The ending is long and full of more sweet peat with some wood notes.

Happily in my part of the world Laphroaig Quarter Cask is only available in one liter bottles!  

[1] Credit http://www.benromach.com/

[2] Issue 42

This article was originally published as a Malt Maniacs E-pistle on the mighty Whisky Fun in September 2006 and was written by Lawrence Graham.

Whisky Intelligence recently held a NAS whisky tasting, details can be viewed in Twitter #weloveNASwhisky

BenRiach 18 Year Old Albariza

Peated expression double matured in PX Sherry casks from the Andalucia region of southern Spain.

Benriach Albariza $82.88