www.ralfy.com goes higher-end with a marketing-lite Whisky Review 492 – Glenlivet 21yo Archive Single Malt

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Springbank 15 year old, Distillery Bottling Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99)

• 1993 Springbank 20 Year Old Sherry Cask “The Single” Duncan Taylor Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($449.99)

• Tomatin 30 Year Highland Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($229.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Blanton’s Original Single Barrel Bourbon 750ml (oversized bottle, ships as 1.5L) ($46.99)

• Bulleit 10 Year Old Bourbon Whiskey 750ml (Previously $45) ($31.99)

• Russell’s Reserve Single Barrel Kentucky Bourbon 750ml – 5 available ($53.99)

• Sazerac 90-Proof Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml (1 bottle limit) ($29.99)

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

We are delighted to introduce you to our brand new website.

The new look website benefits from superior functionality and navigation, presenting information in an engaging way to help demystify whisky and unlock the mystery surrounding it. Designed to appeal to all, both whisky novices and connoisseurs alike, it takes you on a whisky journey of discovery and celebrates the heritage and craftsmanship of the product.

http://www.whiskyshop.com/

This week Joe Ellis takes a look round , the UK’s new largest whisky shop. He then reviews a Port Ellen 1978 20yo.

http://youtu.be/oMWNV37ZuMY

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube
https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

The perfect start to our story. Sitting comfortably? Then we’ll be begin. 

The Balvenie DoubleWood is our 12 year old single malt, and embodies the culmination of natural alchemy and age-old craftsmanship that distinguishes all our expressions. 

THE BEGINNING
Created in the 1980s by our Malt Master, David Stewart, The Balvenie DoubleWood was his first expression to be finished in a sherry cask. A technique that has since been emulated by other distilleries across the globe.

THE MIDDLE
The DoubleWood gains its distinctive character from being matured in two very different casks: a traditional oak whisky cask from which it is transferred to a first fill European oak sherry cask. While the traditional oak softens, sweetens and adds character and produces vanilla and honeyed notes, the sherry wood lends depth and fullness of flavour characterised by dried fruit and spice

THE END
Nose – Upon nosing this expression, you’ll detect sweet fruit and Oloroso sherry notes, layered with honey and vanilla.
Taste – Smooth and mellow, it combines a certain nutty sweetness with cinnamon spiciness and a delicately proportioned
layer of sherry.
Finish – Long and warming.

For the ultimate words of wisdom, follow the link below and see what our Malt Master, David Stewart and Global Ambassador,
Sam Simmons have to say about this unique expression. Slainte Mhath,

David Mair
The Balvenie Distillery Ambassador

WATCH THE VIDEO

www.ralfy.com goes to the blend-end of scotch with Whisky Review 491 – Bank Note 5yo Blended Scotch @43%

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($99.99)
• The Lost Distillery Company “Gerston” Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($64.99)

• The Lost Distillery Company “Gerston Vintage” Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 3 available ($299.99)

• The Lost Distillery Company “Stratheden Vintage” Blended Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 3 available ($299.99)

• Berry Bros & Rudd Blue Hanger 7th Release Blended Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($99.99)

• Macallan 62 Year Lalique Decanter Single Malt 750ml – 1 available ($31,999.00)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Henry Mckenna 10 Year Old BIB Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey 750ml ($26.99)

United States – Single Malt Scotch

• Clear Creek McCarthy’s 2014 Release Oregon Single Malt Whiskey 750ml ($54.99)
  Whisky Advocate: “3 year old peated malt whisky, aged in Oregon oak. Rich nose of peat—burning leaves, a touch of sweet diesel—and fresh oak. There’s no stinting on the peat; it’s young, it’s in your face. Whiskey to stand toe-to-toe with Portland’s hopped-to-blazes beers. Not just peat: creamy malt makes a solid floor and an exit that may be the most complex part of the experience. Refined for a 3 year old. Limited annual release. (Vol. 22, #4)” K&L Notes: The new Fall 2014 release of McCarthy’s is here! Highly anticipated and sure to sell fast. Whereas the last batch carried more new oak richness and little smoke, the peat is back this time around, but with another dose of big oak. Both are equally in check and work together quite lovely. One of the best batches we’ve tasted yet. Much improved over the last one for sure.

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

Malt of the Month – Glenmorangie Lasanta

October’s Malt of the Month is Glenmorangie Lasanta 12 Year Old, an oloroso-sherry-finished whisky that is part of the extra-matured range that also includes Quinta Ruban (ruby port finish) and Nectar D’Or (Sauternes finish). The Highland distillery is regarded as a pioneer of wood finishing, having introduced a range in the mid-1990s, although The Balvenie had been finishing their Classic in sherry butts since the early-1980s (without mentioning it).

A whisky Mudslide

Timeline; Wednesday 17 September 2014, 5pm.

Location; Craobh Harbour, west coast Scotland.

I had dropped of my guests at their lodgings for the night, superb by the way! And drove the mile and a bit to my cottage (thanks Julie for this), fiddled aboot, changed and made ready for my pick up. Sure enough at 5pm Julie and Ty dropped by to collect me. There started the wacky races to Oban in the batmobile. Julie does have her own way of driving, my foot was pressed on the floor at the imaginary brake all the way!  Arriving in Oban ten minutes later (takes any normal driver 30 minutes) we stopped off for a fish supper. Took these to the recording studio/rehearsal rooms and munch em doon. There followed a band practice session – Mudslide; a five piece blues band based in mid Argyll, with a set list that covers all styles of blues. To say it was enjoyable would be an understatement, it was superb – and this is a rehearsal! Go see Mudslide if at all possible before they fill the Glasgow Hydro. If I closed my eyes – far too many drams – I would have thought the Stones, Fleetwood Mac or John Mayall were playing, it was that good.  I had taken along a few samples for the band (and myself), poor Julie was driving. A good Aberlour Abunach, Glendronach, Ben Riach peaty, Laphroaig Select, Glen Moray peated and a wee Angels Envy for Julie to take home. The band played on.

Abunach; oloroso galore! big notes of raisins, chocolate, cherry liqueur, powerful but not undrinkable.  Glen Moray peat; a new style from Glen Moray – peated. This is the first batch to be released, in a 20cl bottle, and isn’t yet whisky, having not been aged for 3 years. A whack of peat –with fruitiness to leave warming iodine notes. The others we all know about! My own favourite dram tonight was the GlenDronach – as usual. A 1990 I think.

Blues, rock, blues-rock the band were driving me to drink (in the very best of ways). The images do not do the night justice. Best dram? Depends on who you talked to, Ty likes everything, Julie liked the Angels (when home), I liked it all, the band looked on as some were driving.

The session (music) ended, a few drams then load up the van, Evil Kinievel then drove us back to the bothy, 10.30, pitch black, wee winding roads at a speed! During the ride back poor Julie got in around 10 words! Myself and Ty were yappin on music the whole way, myself; Deep Purple and Creedence, Ty; a Zepplelin freak! Zeppo!  I cannee believe all the music he has from Zep, I wanted to murder him and take it all!  Another time Zeppo. They dropped me at the track to my cottage, dark as the inside of a coffin, I took out my mobile phone as a light and started doon the track, suddenly an owl flew out, frightened me to death!  After reaching safety I needed a large dram, so I did and again, and again. What a night, great music, laughs, great friends and some good whisky.

My last thought on the night; when will they write a song – sufferin midgie blues? 

 Paul was enjoying the evening with Mudslide in Argyll, a half hour south of Oban.

www.mcleanscotland.com  www.angelswhiskyclub.com   www.whiskytourscotland.com