www.ralfy.com shares some old-timers knowledge with Whisky Review 325 – Laphroaig 1998 12yo BB&R (Indi bottling)

Our final despatch date for guaranteed delivery in the UK is Thursday 20th December. 

Single Malts Limited | 36 Gordon Street | Huntly | AB54 8EQ | United Kingdom

Deanston

Just doon the road from where Paul lives.

DEANSTON DISTILLERY VISIT 12 DECEMBER 2012 Paul made a trip doon the road from Perth to Doune (doon to Doune; see?)

Paul’s report on his visit; “I was really surprised (pleasantly) as soon as I arrived, apart from the baltic cold weather, I wandered into the new (May 2012) visitor centre and was greeted by the Distillery Brand Heritage Manager Fiona Sinclair, a wee girl but really nice and friendly. In the actual shop (I was still in the hallway) there are the usual bottles to buy from Burn Stewart , clothing, books and many “nik naks” which I found interesting just happy Liz wasnee with me, the credit card would have been hot! Liz is on the way to India shortly, so packing!

I introduced myself, handed over a card as you do, next minute Fiona asks me if I would like a private guided tour? Now me being me, am I really going to refuse a private tour from a nice girl? Nope. She donned her duffle coat, it was cold out there and we set out, I stopped first to watch the 5 minute or so video, really good by the way, lots of history there from the building as it was when a mill. Off outside where I found something really interesting, and unique, they have a room generating their own electricity! Water power from the River Teith just outside, a left over from the mill. They even sell electric to the National Grid. A quite unique image running on the back wall also – see photos. Next across the yard to the mash room and still room, nice and compact, couldnee see too much going on as the distillery will stop production in a few days for the holiday period.

Warehouses and filling station, aye they were filling Ledaig today – another of my favourites. In fact a couple of very shy workers here who featured in the film Angels Share, our Patron Charlie has been here scaring people methinks! (see his interview with myself). We then tried out the tasting room, another really nicely done room, before heading upstairs to the VIP area, dinners, tastings, bar and lounge area. Fiona was really interesting to listen to, she knows her stuff and is happy chatting about this distillery.

After a dram and a final look around, I sadly bade farewell to Fiona. Outside back in the cold, I took a few glances aboot checking this unique location, besides the River Teith. We were only 8 miles from Stirling and a long stones throw from Doune. This is a highland distillery only 45 minutes from Edinburgh, and now that there are tours all the time – and many of them, with various options – you have no excuse to go and visit. Situated at the start of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, not too much trace of the cotton remains of this old mill, whisky is definitely the product nowadays. A distillery since the 1960’s one using only traditional methods, result; a sweet, fruity dram, malty and honey with some spice in there. A few varieties await your taste buds inside, my advice? Try them all.

I couldnee resist, I went back in to the new bothy and enjoyed haggis neeps and tatties, served with a Deanston whisky sauce. I tell you what at under £7 it was a really grand plate of tradition, swallowed doon by a hot chocolate (well it was a winter day), the menu is huge, even full breakfast served until noon. I had my beady eyes on a desert of home – made apple pie, but I resisted – honest!

So, what did I think? Well, I am so glad I went, a totally new experience from my previous visit, warm and friendly staff, a manager who knows her stuff, so nice of Fiona to take me round, I appreciated that, so much better than whiskery big fella in dungarees as you get in some other distilleries – no names mentioned to protect the innocent – I was made to feel special, as I am sure everyone will, when they visit. And to round off with food and drink, even better and aye, they have a kids menu! I am writing this because I enjoyed my visit, the whisky was good and I will be making this a part of the events in 2014 the “Gathering of the Drams!” see website. All in all, a great visit, happy I went along. Plus, the distillery has it’s own sheep!

Even made a new friend, I’ll be back Fiona!”

www.burnstewartdistillers.com

A Taste From The Past – Grant’s Deluxe Crock 

Hello,

This week I took delivery of a new addition to my collection of old Grant’s whiskies – a rare crock from the 1970s. There is something authentic about these old crocks – the wax seals, heavy weight and rough branding all add to the sense of going back in time I get, every time I open…(please clcik on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Kind regards,

Ludo

Call us freephone: 0800 107 1936

Orders with us before THURSDAY afternoon delivered in time, but please don’t wait till then!

www.lfw.co.uk

(LWF says it how it is without embellishment – WI)

Christmas Countdown: 15% Bottle Savings
We’re counting down to Christmas with special single cask treats for members…yesterday our Cask Ends Sale and today (all weekend and Monday) we’re offering a massive 15% off all our individual bottles of whisky.

15% Bottle Sale ends: Mon 17 Dec 
Last Orders for Christmas Delivery: Wed 19 Dec (midday)

Spreading Christmas Cheer…

1.97 Orange syllabub 
Speyside Spey, WAS £134 NOW £113.90 * with gift box
We settled on the comforting notion of orange syllabub, with a significant quantity of zest grated on top. The taste at cask strength has the bitterness of Seville Oranges subsiding to leave toasted cereals. BUY 

7.76 A broad canvas of fruity flavours
Speyside Lossie, WAS £75.20 NOW £63.92
Blackcurrant jam, peach, bramble, cherry, apple, banana, strawberry hubba-bubba and ‘luxury spangles’; also pencil shavings, Bakewell tart, marzipan and rose perfume. BUY 

26.89 An exotic tearoom experience
Highland Northern, WAS £87.60 NOW £76.46
Adding water led to notes of vanilla ice cream and toffee sauce, lemon sorbet, spiced apple tea and an indulgent orange spiced soap!  BUY

3.190  Heather honey and burnt toast
Islay, WAS £62.10 NOW £52,79
Gentle smoke on the nose was burnt heather and combined seductively with savoury and sweet aromas – rye bread, pastrami, apricots, heather honey and cough mixture. BUY

35.71 Like a hug from your mum
Speyside Lossie, WAS £280 NOW £238
The nose gave us happy, homely feelings – ‘like a hug from my mum’; mellifluous sweetness of maple syrup, marzipan and heather honey – but also marmalade on toast, jaffa cakes, leather and polished wood. BUY

Pick a dram for Santa…Browse all bottlings
15% Bottle Sale doesn’t include packs and parcels that have already been discounted – Christmas Parcels, Cask Ends, Mighty Minis, Whisky for a Year.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers.

Christmas Gifts Ideas from Glengoyne Distillery

The  Glengoyne elves are busy  stuffing the Stillmen’s stockings with bottles of our new cask strength, 15 Year Old and 18 Year Old, plus trinkets and curiosities of the finest kind; a selection of which are featured below. Remember, Christmas is a time for giving Glengoyne. To a loved one, or better still, yourself, but hurry – if you want to receive your Glengoyne gifts in time for Christmas, we will need to receive your order by Tuesday 18th December for UK Delivery. 

Shop Glengoyne Christmas Gifts Online >

Discounted postage, discontinued whiskies, toasts, a Christmas gift finder and more…

It’s been a rather busy few months at TWE and that’s before we’ve hit the Christmas rush. We like to show off some of the things we’ve done from time to time, so here are some things. Firstly, we’ve been … Continue reading >>

www.ralfy.com presents a re-review with Whisky Review 324 – Glenfiddich 12yo Scotch re-reviewed and offers few opinions on a Billionaire Property Tycoon demanding a boycott of Glenfiddich!