Pipes & Drams. Once again a fantastic blend of pipes and drams, this time up in Forres, Moray in the Scottish highlands.  2013 European Pipe Band Championships The event sponsors are Forres’ own Benromach Whisky . Over 100 pipe bands from all over Europe competed in the natural amphitheatre of Grant Park, a beautiful highland setting.

 Paul and Dave drove up on the Friday 28 June, evening from Perth, staying in Elgin – a dangerous thing, as their hotel had over 100 whiskies behind the bar! Afraid not enough time to sample them all, but some notables were BeRiach, Glendronach, Oban, Ardbeg and a very nice wee Caol Ila 12 years. Fresh Islay whisky –  complex flavour, a fruity nose, salty and a peaty kickback. Favourite of the Friday night.

Saturday, “headed doon the road to Forres into the event grounds, as they do, made right for the Benromach”,  as Paul said;  “Benromach Cask Strength Distilled 2002, Strength 60.3%  Matured in first fill Bourbon barrels, bottled at cask strength and unchillfiltered, a burst of black pepper, white chocolate and hints of lime zest. We allowed it to slide doon! Benromach 30 Years Old, Strength 43%  Matured in first fill and refill Sherry casks. Single Malt from Speyside’s smallest working distillery. This was awarded the Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky 28-34 Years (Multiple Casks), scoring 95.5 points out of 100, in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2012 (but then again, everyone knows what I think about Jimmie’s book!). Dave and myself loved this one”.

“Back to the piping; great bands on of all grades, even a band From Oman and another from Australia (er, are they in Europe?), overall winners grade 1; Field Marshall Montgomery from Ireland. Re  – enter the drams! And I may say a few good real alebeers!” Paul.

Saturday at the hotel; eventually reached our hotel, could we manage another dram? Daft question really. But first we headed the wee way to the Highlander Inn, so many whiskies here, spolit for choice.

Sunday, sleep in late (9.30) before heading back to Perth, good trip!  See all the bands – and more – at Glasgow 3^rd Saturday in August for the World pipe band champs!

Paul and Dave represented Angels whisky club at Forres.  www.angelswhiskyclub.com   www.mcleanscotland.com

A blend of whisky and golf.

Two American couples for a Scottish tour of golf and whisky, a fine blend to be enjoyed here in Scotland. Starting with Oban and Tobermory  distilleries, Tobermory golf course, Paul then set about collecting the special Maclean 18 year old Adelphi (Tobermory) whisky at Duart Castle, moving on later to Ballachulish, to Dragons Tooth golf course.  On the way east to Inverness came the Ben Nevis distillery and a tasting at Spean Bridge woollen mill (whisky shop), ending the day at Inverness, where once again the nectar was sampled in the local pubs.

Golf at Nairn next day for the 4 golfers while Paul called into Benromach and Dallas Dhu.  News that Benromach will increase production tempted Paul to call in, no new stills but aye, production rising this family owned distillery is doing really well and increasing supply due to demand. The also were the majo sponsor of the European Pipe Band Championships in Forres, end of June 2013,  G&M/Benromach single malt. By the way, we attended that one also, grand whisky!

Dallas Dhu, owned by Historic Scotland; we have all seen the PR about reopening and re starting distilling, chatting to the manager, no firm agreement has yet made, they are still in the “shall we or won’t we” meetings and financial reports.

As the guests were not dining with us (Paul and Liz in Inverness) we gave them a bottle of mcleanscotland SPECIALLY BOTTLED Mortlach to enjoy!

Paul and Liz departed this tour once St Andrews was reached, nae more whisky for a while, though Lynn and Jim will be going for a day visit to Edinburgh – whisky experience included.

A brief encounter with golf for the angels!

www.mcleanscotland.com

www.angelswhiskyclub.com

Mackmyra Swedish Single Malt Whisky

The story of Mackmyra, Sweden’s first whisky distillery, famously began with a ski trip in 1998, when eight friends from Stockholm’s Royal Institute of Technology went on holiday together and all brought bottles of whisky to share. In conversation during … Continue reading >>

Select Scotch Whisky – 21YO Gran Reserva by Glenfiddich review. 

Simon has a look at The Gran Reserva by Glenfiddich. Bitter, yet sweet packing a punch of spice.

The Link

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Aberlour 16 Year Old Speyside Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($64.99)

• Glenmorangie 18 year old Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($84.99) Whisky Advocate: “43% abv. When compared to the 10 year old, this one’s richer, with darker fruit and more caramelized sweet notes, paired with accentuated dried wood spice, while the 10 year old is more vibrant and floral. Like the 10 year old, there’s good balance here. (Vol. 17, #2) ” K&L Notes: If I had to pick my favorite whisky from the LVMH line up, including all the Ardbeg expressions, I’d easily choose the 18 year old from Glenmorangie. It’s the best whisky they make for the price and everybody likes it: beginners, casual sippers, experts, whisky geeks. It’s so gentle, supple, rich, and full of flavor. The problem for me at K&L was getting a competitive price. I’ve got plenty of $115-$140 options that are more exciting to many of our serious whisky fans, but at $84.99, now we’re talking! Removing $32 from the price tag makes a world of difference. All of a sudden we’re talking serious deal! It’s not that the Glenmorangie isn’t worth $115, because it is. It’s just that it’s really worth $84.99. Kyle and I both agree that this is currently the hottest deal in the store. Soft stone fruit, caramel, creme brulee, vanilla, all the way to the finish. We won’t be able to sustain the pricing past this order, so when we sell through we have to raise it back up. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

Irish Whiskey

• Bushmills 10 Year Old Irish Whiskey 750ml ($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

www.ralfy.com suggests a good value option with Whisky Review 374 – Isle of Arran 14yo

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #53

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, wishes all his American friends a Happy Independence Day and raises a glass of the 1792 Ridgemont Reserve in salute. It is the official toasting bourbon at the yearly Kentucky Bourbon Festival. And a fine bourbon it is. Enjoy!

THE LINK

Use coupon code “mora1776” at www.moraswines.com for a 10% discount on the great American Whiskeys below! Coupon code Discount good through Sunday, July 7 2013.

Smooth Ambler 14 Year Old Very Old Scout Straight Bourbon 100 Proof – $99.99 10 bottles available

James E. Pepper 1776 15 Year Old Straight Bourbon 92 Proof– $99.99 Limited availability

Peach Street Distillery Colorado Straight Bourbon 92 Proof – $68.99 Limited availability

Koval Distillery Single Barrel Bourbon Chicago 94 Proof – $49.99 12 bottles available

Balcones Distilling True Blue 100 Texas Corn Whisky 100 Proof – $65.99 Limited availability

Corsair Triple Smoke American Single Malt Whiskey 80 Proof – $51.99 Limited availability

Mora’s Fine Wine & Spirits

www.moraswines.com

631-941-4458   sev.clemens@moraswines.com

Ardbeg Masterclass at TWE Whisky Show

If there’s one thing The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show is famous for it’s the standard of our incredible Masterclasses.  We’ve already announced three brilliant classes for this year’s show and our final tasting puts the tin lid on it: yes, … Continue reading >>

UK vlogger Joe Ellis a.k.a Whisky Wednesday reviews the Glenfarclas 2003 W Club Edition

http://youtu.be/d4GLWKIRl80

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