We support IWD every year because for us, like the day itself, women drinking whisky represents a development of strength and independence; drinking on your own terms. We’ve been running activities all this week to mark the occasion, from specially-created IWD cocktails to IWD competitions. So pop onto our Facebook page, post a picture from your whisky-inspired IWD day, or get on Twitter and celebrate IWD and whisky #womenwhowhisky #iwd2014.

Help shape the future of whisky and above all, share & enjoy!

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #80

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, sips the new Auchentoshan 1975. Two and a half years ago, Auchentoshan launched a 1975, a 35 Year Old at the time. Only 500 bottles were released and it was simply a stunning malt. Now, they have released a second batch of 500 bottles, but it is a 38 Year Old at this point and even better. This is an elegant and very fruity Auchentoshan that brings a smile to the Toshan Man’s face. 

http://youtu.be/oR2XOZBEt4k

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• 1993 Laphroaig 20 Year Old Sovereign K&L Exclusive Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($179.99)

• Samaroli Evolution 2011 Multi Vintage Pure Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($319.99)
• Aberlour 12 Year Old Non Chillfiltered Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($49.99)

• Glenmorangie “Signet” Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($199.99)

• Kilkerran “Work In Progress” #5 Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 8 available ($62.99)

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

CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the winner of our recently run label design competition: Emma Garner.

We had a fantastic response from the competition and some really great entries, making the job of choosing one design very hard. Taking into consideration the packaging and theme, we are delighted with the result and very pleased to award Emma the £500 cash prize.

Emma’s design will be the label of the very special, limited edition spring bottling of Chapter 13 and will be available early April. This is a celebration of England and it’s launch will be just in time for St.George’s day.
We will post the short list of entries on our blog and facebook shortly.

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #79

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, visited his favourite distillery in Glasgow which is always a pleasure. In February 2014 he got the opportunity to fill another beauty in Auchentoshan’s Bottle Your Own programme, in which they offer a choice of two excellent casks. He got a bottle of both, but wants to share his experience with the Auchentoshan 17 Year Old 1996 Bourbon Cask #11030 at a strength of 56,0% ABV. A cracker! 

http://youtu.be/prYeNA4EiJI

ENGAGING FACEBOOK CAMPAIGN FROM THREE SHIPS WHISKY – 5 MINUTES FOR 5 YEARS 

The proudly South African and pioneering whisky brand, Three Ships, will launch a new creative Facebook campaign on March 13th which will see a bottle of Three Ships 5 Year Old Premium Select whisky awarded every second, live and within only 5 minutes (a total of 300 bottles) to loyal consumers who know the brand inside out. 

The competition will only be open for 5 minutes and consumers using this time to answer a set of 15 questions will be rewarded by Three Ships matching each second with a bottle of Three Ships 5 Year Old Premium Select to those who are the quickest to show their smarts about the brand. 

A 10 day build-up on Facebook will offer consumers information, facts and insights into the Three Ships brand, the James Sedgwick’s Distillery where the whiskies are crafted and Three Ships 5 Year Old Premium Select. This whisky was named World’s Best Blended Whisky at the 2012 World Whisky Awards, ahead of whiskies from traditional whisky producing countries such as USA, Scotland and Ireland.

Consumers can sharpen their knowledge of Three Ships prior to the competition by visiting http://www.threeshipswhisky.co.za/

www.ralfy.com wonders if this iconic Malt is losing it’s Mojo – Whisky Review 435 – Lagavulin Distillers Edition 2013 @ 43%vol

“ClassicDram-2014”  Whisky Festival in Moscow, Russia. 

In February 2014 there were 2 major spectacular events in Russia. One of them was the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi. But the first (and by far the most important for every whisky lover!) was The 3rd  Independent whisky festival “ClassicDram-2014”– that took place on Saturday, February 15th 2014 in central Moscow.  

Oh, aye – with more than 420 bottles of malts offered to festival guests by 16 various whisky stands. Most important – the ClassicDram- 2014 festival has proved once again (for the third time in a row!) – that a non-commercial whisky event may be a very successful, most interesting and undeniably impressive celebration of a true passion of dedicated people to their favourite liquid nectar. The festival remains truly independent – for the simple fact – it is organized and carried out without any influence or command by any whisky (or spirits) distributor, wholesale or retail whisky sales agent. It is independent from any specific whisky producing company, from marketing budgets, from distribution bias, and from any sales targets. The main aim was to gather the true whisky lovers across Russia and let them meet each other in a warm and friendly atmosphere with sophisticated and collectable whiskies accompanying their communication. ClassicDram-2014 was organized for every person passionate with malt whiskies, for all newbies and experienced connoisseurs, for our friends and everyone interested in culture and traditions of Scotland – the land closely associated with whisky. 

The organizers of the festival wanted to let the guests feel and understand the history of making, drinking and appreciating the malts – which are an essential part of the Scotland’s history, that over the centuries was enveloped with various true stories and fables, legends and anecdotes. Whisky is an integral part of the Scottish image, that was formed by the best examples of the prowess and courage of Scottish soldiers, the silent beauty of the Scottish virgin nature, herds of sheep and the sounds of bagpipes, highlanders kilts and Burns’ poetry. Whisky flows in the veins of Scotland, warming one’s body and soul. It was really nice and reassuring to know that in Russia there are many true connoisseurs of whisky – specifically the malt whisky – which is that very traditional product, the vast variety and the highest quality of which allows connoisseurs to express the admiration for the subtleties of the bouquet. There was no need to repeat once again the axiom of a ‘wee dram’, according to which even the smallest bit of malt can get you a great deal of incredible pleasure, savoring and finding more and more nuances of aroma and taste in it. 

The festival allowed a live communication and exchange of ideas with peers and experts, unique master classes by leading experts of the whisky world (3 internationally renowned whisky gurus were giving their master-classes), cheerful live Scottish music and traditional costumes, an intriguing raffle and a charity auction. The whisky festival had charged it’s guests with the most positive emotions (for the entire year?!) and given them a great opportunity to stock up on the best examples of “water of life” to maintain their good mood until the next year’s Moscow  festival –  ClassicDram-2015 !

_____________________ 

The author of this report; Tim Prokopov, Angels Whisky Club Ambassador Russia, and one of the Founders of “ClassicDram”  Whisky Festival (appears in pic 56 – top picture far left) – The Whisky Man!

UK vlogger Joe Ellis from Whisky Wednesday reviews Bailie Nicol Jarvie!

http://youtu.be/BR8Bqq2f-oU

http://Facebook.com/whiskytube

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

NEWSFLASH – THE CAMPBELTOWN MALTS FESTIVAL!

Good afternoon Society Members,

Just sending you all a quick newsflash with some exciting information about THE CAMPBELTOWN MALTS FESTIVAL!

For those of you who aren’t aware, we have been running the Springbank Open Day since 2009 and the event continues to attract more and more visitors to Campbeltown each year. On the day, activities usually include free distillery tours, masterclasses, local craft stalls, live music, special bottlings and much much more!

Inspired by the Explore Campbeltown initiative, this year we are extending the celebrations and from Wednesday 21st May to Friday 23rd May 2014, Campbeltown’s three distilleries will be working together to create The Campbeltown Malts Festival where the whiskies from Springbank, Glengyle and Glen Scotia are all celebrated.

During the day on Wednesday 21st of May we will be mainly focusing on Glen Scotia. There will be free tours of Glen Scotia Distillery running at 12 noon and 2.30pm. At 4pm, a representative from Glen Scotia will be holding a masterclass where you will get to taste some of the range. The masterclass will be held in the Tasting Room at Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop and will cost £25 per person which includes a branded Glen Scotia Glencairn glass.

On the Wednesday we will also be doing something extra special for you lovely Society Members. Some of you may already be aware but in April this year it will be the 10th birthday of the Springbank Society which is the perfect excuse to treat you to a tasting! We will hold this at 1.30pm in the Tasting Room at Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop. The focus of the tasting will be “The best of 10 years” where we will carefully select some of our favourite bottlings from over the years. This tasting will be exclusive to Society Members and numbers will be limited to 40. If you would like to come along then please let me know as soon as possible to ensure you don’t miss out.

Details on the Wednesday evening events are still being finalised at the moment but I have a sneak preview of what we are planning: We will be holding a special dinner at Glengyle Distillery to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the re-opening. This will be a similar idea to the Kiln Dinner at Springbank last year but will take place in the Still House at Glengyle. After the dinner we will hold a ceilidh at Glengyle so remember to bring your dancing shoes with you! More information on both these events will be sent to you in the coming weeks. Customers who have pre-purchased the 10 year old Kilkerran sets and single bottles will be able to collect them from the Wednesday onwards.

On the Thursday it will be the Springbank Open Day – much the same idea as in previous years. The following masterclasses and tastings will be available:

11.30am / Cadenhead Masterclass with Mark Watt & Grant Macpherson

12 noon / The Distillery Manager’s Warehouse Tasting (3 drams)

1.30pm / Glengyle Masterclass with Jenny Karlsson

2pm / The Distillery Manager’s Warehouse Tasting (3 drams)

2.30pm / Springbank Masterclass with Ranald Watson

4pm / The Distillery Manager’s Warehouse Tasting (3 drams)

Masterclasses cost £25.00 each and include a ‘Springbank Open Day’ Glencairn Glass / Manager’s Warehouse Tastings cost £15.00 each.
If you would like to book onto any of the masterclasses/tastings on the Wednesday or Thursday then please email my personal email address mairi@springbankwhisky.com which will make it easier to keep all festival emails together!

On the Friday we will be holding our annual Golf Competition which this year will be re-named The Campbeltown Malts Open Golf Competition to be inclusive of all the distilleries in the Campbeltown region. We are still in the planning process for this but again, as soon as this is finalised I will let you know.

Our whisky celebrations will kick off a busy weekend of events within the town when it will play host to both the Kintyre Songwriters Festival and the Mull of Kintyre 10k and Half Marathon. Each of the different events will be a great opportunity to attract visitors to the town and there is sure to be a great buzz and excitement around the place that week – I can’t wait!

To finish, this is just a summary of the events announced so far….

Wednesday 21st May

12 noon / Free tour of Glen Scotia Distillery

1.30pm / ‘The best of 10 years’ Society Tasting – exclusive to Springbank Society Members

2.30pm / Free tour of Glen Scotia Distillery

4.00pm / Glen Scotia Masterclass – £25 per person & includes Glencairn glass

Thursday 22nd May

11.30am / Cadenhead Masterclass with Mark Watt & Grant Macpherson

12 noon / The Distillery Manager’s Warehouse Tasting (3 drams)

1.30pm / Glengyle Masterclass with Jenny Karlsson

2pm / The Distillery Manager’s Warehouse Tasting (3 drams)

2.30pm / Springbank Masterclass with Ranald Watson

4pm / The Distillery Manager’s Warehouse Tasting (3 drams)

Masterclasses cost £25.00 each and include a ‘Springbank Open Day’ Glencairn Glass / Manager’s Warehouse Tastings cost £15.00 each

Hopefully that is enough information to keep you going for the time being and as soon as I have more to share with you I will be in touch!

Have a great weekend when it comes!

Best regards,

Mairi

Mairi Paterson

For the Springbank Society

To join the Springbank Society please contact them at society@springbankwhisky.com