A Taste from the Past – Grant’s Royal 12 Years Old (bottled in the 1970s)

Good afternoon all,

Frequent readers of this blog will be familiar with Grant’s Royal after I reviewed two versions of this old blend (one from the 80s and one from the 90s). This week I’m going even further back in time with this bottle of Grant’s Royal from the early 1970s.

After doing a bit of research, I…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

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Kind regards,
Ludo

Hello Fellow WhiskeyLovers – 

I hope you all had a wonderful day of festivities celebrating the Celtic holiday Beltane this past weekend (who was paying attention to last weeks email?), and that this Hump-Day finds you already pondering this weekends mischief. 

As you may recall about a year ago I had the pleasure of spending an afternoon with my now good friend Ben Ellefson, one of the fantastic chaps who run MasterofMalt, the “other winner” of the Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky award Online Retailer in the UK. We spent most of the afternoon talking and wrangling and passionately negotiating…and finally shaking strong hands on a way we all could work together on our Whiskey Explorers club. 

In celebration of our coming to terms, Ben excused himself from the room we were meeting in for a few moments, then returned with a wooden box, and a smile on his face that threatened to crack his head wide open if it got any wider. 

He placed the box on the table, then opened it to reveal what appeared to be shredded packing paper, and a very old looking bottle… 

YIKES….THIS WAS IT!!! I’d heard about this…on the news…everywhere. But here it was in front of me…and Ben was opening the bottle for me to have a dram…. 

In 2006 a team from the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust was restoring the hut used by Ernest Shackleton during his 1907-1909 South Pole expedition. The expedition came to an abrupt halt when, due to rather unpleasant conditions and the onset of winter, the Shackleton team was forced to hurriedly abandon the expedition…leaving behind many of their possessions thought to be unnecessary for the return journey. 

The restoration team discovered several cases of spirits lodged in ice under the hut. Three of these cases were found to contain Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky, but they could not immediately dislodge them because they were too deeply embedded in the ice. So Whyte & Mackay, who now own the Mackinlay’s brand, launched a bid to recover the whisky for samples to test, and potentially use to relaunch the once popular Mackinlay’s Scotch whisky brand. 

In 2010 the New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust used special cutting tools to carefully remove the cases of spirits from the ice. Then in January 2011 three bottles of the Mackinlay’s “Shackelton” whisky were returned to Whyte & Mackay for analysis. 

The liquid was considered so rare and valuable that the Antarctic Heritage Trust and New Zealand authorities refused to let it travel to Scotland unaccompanied and in the hold of any plane. So Whyte & Mackay owner and renowned Indian business mogul Dr Vijay Mallya stepped in to personally collect and fly the bottles back to Scotland on his private jet. 

Whyte & Mackay’s master blender Richard Paterson then spent a painstaking eight weeks marrying and blending a range of malts to get an exact replica of this 100 year old rare taste of whisky history. Whyte & Mackay then the released exactly 50,000 bottles of the whiskey worldwide. 

Which brings me to this weeks Whisky Wednesday featured whiskey (and 2012 Drammie Award Winner for Best Packing Design: Mackinlay’s “Shackleton” Rare Old Highland Whisky. 

The replica Mackinlay’s “Shackleton” Rare Old Highland Malt is a blended malt containing whisky from a range of Highland malts, including Glen Mhor, which was the original Mackinlay’s distillery before it closed in 1983. It was bottled at 47.3% ABV, is non chill-filtered and has had no added caramel coloring. 

And it comes in the coolest replica bottle and wooden box.  

According to renowned whisky writer and independent expert Dave Broom, the only other person in the world to taste both the original whisky and Whyte & Mackay’s new liquid, Patterson got the copy exactly right. He said: “The Shackleton whisky is not what I expected at all, and not what anyone would have expected. It’s so light, so fresh, so delicate and still in one piece – it’s a gorgeous whisky.” 

And so, with the help of our man Nicky “The Neck” – himself no stranger to making “things disappear in the ice ” – we’re able to offer you the opportunity to acquire a limited quantity of Mackinlay’s “Shackleton” Rare Old Highland Malt Whisky for $159.95/ bottle (limit 3 bottles per customer please). 

I urge you to move quickly on this if you are interested. This is a once in a lifetime chance to acquire a bottle of truly historic whiskey…but then hide it when you get it. Because once it’s gone… 

And until next week…have fun!

Doug StoneFounder

ForWhiskeyLovers.com 

Milroy’s of Soho May Newsletter

We have a lot to look forward to in May, including our latest Single Cask Bottlings. We also have plenty more of our hugely popular tastings. Be sure to follow our blog full of our thoughts, reviews and tasting notes.

MILROY’S OF SOHO SINGLE CASK BOTTLINGS COMING SOON!

Milroy’s of Soho Single Cask Royal Lochnagar 2002, 10 Years Old
To coincide with the up coming Jubilee we will be bottling a deliciously delicate Royal Lochnagar. We’re told that Queen Victoria regularly nipped round to the distillery from Balmoral Castle and our in depth research ie Google Maps: http://g.co/maps/u7wny   shows that it would cost our Jubilant Queen Elizabeth II just 34p in fuel to visit the distillery (turn right, then right and right again Ma’am, you can’t miss it). £35 Pre-order now.

Milroy’s of Soho Single Cask Longmorn 1999, 12 Years Old
Like the Royal Lochnagar, this Longmorn is drawn from a single Ex-Bourbon barrel, creating a wonderfully delicate aromatic whisky. Our Longmorn will be launched to coincide with the August Sports Day events that we daren’t mention by name. What purer way to celebrate the pinnacle of sporting achievement than with a dram of whisky. Well it makes sense to us. £35 Pre-order now.

SO WHAT ELSE IS IN?

BRUICHLADDICH Octomore 4.2 Comus
The latest Octomore release named Comus after the ‘God of wine’, looks to be a worthy successor to the incredible Orpheus. Like Orpheus, Comus is wine cask matured, although this time in super sweet Sauternes casks from top estate Chateau d’Yquem. £100

GLENFIDDICH Age of Discovery – 19 Year Old Madeira Cask Finish
The second release of Glenfiddich Age of Discovery is due for release in March, the whisky is a homage to the Portuguese discovers of the 15thCentury. There will be limited availability pre-order now to save disappointment. £90

GORDON & MACPHAIL Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, Glen Grant 60 Year Old
Filled almost 60 years to the day before Queen Elizabeth acceded the throne, there are only 85 bottles of this incredible whisky. £8,000

Brora, 1981 30 Years Old, Chieftains Bottling
One of our favorite distilleries and this bottling reinforces that love. A single Sherry Butt bottling, showing typical saline qualities, rich dried fruits and a touch of earthy peat. £250

Bunnahabhain 1974, 37 Years Old, A.D Rattray
We’ve been enthusiastic for mature bottlings from the Bunnahabhain Distillery for some time. Our Single & Single Bunnahabhain Aged 31 Years remains one of the greatest bottlings we’ve ever tasted. Now we’re excited to try a new old Bunnahabhain, and thankfully it is splendid. Dry savoury aromas lead to a full lemony palate that has hints of roast nuts and even a touch of green tea. Incredible! £120

UPCOMING TASTING EVENTS
“I’ll be late home dear, I’ll be at my evening class…” For education and entertainment nothing beats a Milroy’s of Soho whisky tasting.

Whisky and Cheese Matching 23rd May 2012
The joy of cheese…Discover the ephemeral pleasures of pairing rare whiskies with exotic cheeses. A truly delectable evening. £45

Great Monsters: Peated Whisky 29th May 2012
Islay is not the only peat…Expect to taste some of the best rare editions as well as quirky alternatives to old favourites from Islay and the rest of the world. £45

Fine and Rare Whisky Tasting 28th June 2012
There is nothing quite like drinking a whisky in the knowledge you may never see it again, let alone taste it. With whiskies from long closed distilleries and those which come and go once a year, this tasting of the finest and rarest of whiskies will be a night to remember. £100

Until next month, cheers!

To place an order please visit www.milroys.co.uk  , call Lee on 020 7437 2385 or email Lee.Tomlinson@jeroboams.co.uk

Our mailing address is:

Milroy’s of Soho
3 Greek Street
London, England W1D 4NX
United Kingdom

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

1995 Glenrothes Distillery Bottle Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($65.99)

Highland Park 19 Year Old Alchemist Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 12 available ($115.99)

Mortlach 22 Year Old Alchemist Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 11 available ($129.99)

BACK IN STOCK… (items we’ve carried in the past that have just arrived again)

Scotland –  Blended

Buchanan’s 12 year Scotch Whisky 750ml ($39.99)

Chivas 18 year old Blended Scotch Whisky750ml ($74.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

High West “The 36th Vote” Barrel Aged Manhattan 750ml – 5 available ($44.99)

Rittenhouse Rye 100 Proof, Bottled in Bond 750ml (3 bottle limit) ($21.99)

Willett 5 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml ($49.99)

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

The Party Source is pleased to announce that the full line of Van Winkle whiskeys will go on sale Friday, May 11th, at 8:00 a.m. The whiskeys include:

Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old 90 Proof
Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old 107 Proof
Van Winkle Family Reserve 12 Year Old Lot B
Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old 107 Proof
Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Old
Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old
Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye

To distribute these coveted whiskeys to as many Bourbon lovers as possible, sales of the Van Winkle collection are limited as follows:

You may purchase one bottle of any Van Winkle whiskey. That can be any Van Winkle you choose, but only one bottle per person/household.

Sales of Van Winkle whiskeys are first come, first serve. There is no waiting list, and The Party Source cannot hold or sell bottles in advance, or take sales by phone

Don’t forget to visit aisle 10B for our extensive selection of bourbons, including our latest addition: Willett Private Barrel Selections, Buffalo Trace Experimental Wheat on Rye II

The Party Source, 95 Riviera Drive, Bellevue, KY 41073.

Gordon & MacPhail Generations nominated for industry Oscars

An exclusive Single Malt from Gordon & MacPhail’s Generations range is the only whisky to be shortlisted in this year’s Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards.

The Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old has been shortlisted in the Drinks category of the awards, widely regarded as the Scottish food and drink industry’s ‘Oscars’.

The Glenlivet 70 Years Old was released by Gordon & MacPhail in 2011 as an addition to its ‘Generations’ range, which features the world’s oldest and rarest Scotch single malt whiskies. It is the second 70 year old single malt to be released by Gordon & MacPhail and jointly the oldest single malt Scotch whisky in existence.

This cask of The Glenlivet was laid down on 3rd February 1940, on the instruction of John Urquhart, grandfather and great-grandfather of company’s current owners. Since then, successive generations of the Urquhart family waited for the day when it would be ready to share with fellow whisky lovers. 70 years on, the whisky was bottled at cask strength (45.9%).

David Urquhart, joint managing director of Gordon & MacPhail, commented: “This nomination is recognition of the Glenlivet 70 Years Old’s superb quality, luxury and its rarity.

“The cask this whisky came from was laid down by my grandfather in 1940 and it was carefully watched over by successive generations of the Urquhart family until we decided to bottle it ourselves 70 years later.

A limited number of bottles were released by Gordon & MacPhail in 2011, creating excitement among whisky connoisseurs across the world. Only 100 70cl decanters were released, selling in the UK at £13,000. The smaller, 20cl decanter sold at £3,500 in the UK. All large decanters have been sold to countries throughout the world including Japan, Taiwan, France, UK and USA.

Each bottle is beautifully presented in a tear-shaped hand-blown crystal decanter with an elegant British Hallmarked silver stopper. The decanter nestles in a sterling silver base and is framed in a handmade box, crafted in Scotland using Scottish elm.

The Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards will be held on Thursday 24 May in Dunblane, Stirlingshire.

Notes:

About Scotland Food and Drink’s Excellence Awards

Scotland Food and Drink is the not-for-profit organisation, supported by the Scottish Government, which was founded in 2007 to build Scotland’s international reputation as ‘A land of food and drink’.
For more information on the Scotland Food and Drink Excellence Awards, or to view the full shortlist for each category, visit: http://www.scotlandfoodanddrink.org/news/article-info/3639/scotland-food-and-drink-excellence-awards-shortlist-announced.aspx

About Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old

Tasting note (by Charles MacLean, www.whiskymax.co.uk)

Appearance: Deep amber, with tawny lights.

Aroma: A mild nose-feel. The first aroma is of an old cocktail cabinet, with Sherry notes predominating; polished wood, soft leather and a trace of candle wax. Behind this are fruity notes, lightly baked apples (even Tarte Tatin), but also fresh orange juice, and just a thread of smoke or ash in the distance. Adding a drop of water suppresses the fruity notes and slightly enhances the sweetness (now tablet) and smokiness.

Taste: A waxy, teeth-coating mouthfeel; smooth and voluptuous. The taste is sweetish to start, then savoury, with a trace of salt – might this be a rare example of ‘umami’ in whisky, the elusive fifth primary taste? The finish is long, with a faint smokiness in the aftertaste. Drinks well at natural strength. With a drop of water the flavours remain intact.

Development: Fades gracefully towards vanilla fudge and sanded wood.

Comment: A stupendous whisky! Although it resonates with aged character – and, indeed, characteristics from another era – it retains vitality, both on the nose and on the palate.

About Gordon & MacPhail:

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant which has been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 55 countries. It offers more than 450 presentations of own-bottled single malts and has a stock-holding of more than 700 whiskies. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

In 1993 the company purchased Benromach Distillery in nearby Forres. After extensively re-equipping the distillery over a five year period, Benromach was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in October 1998. The award winning range includes Benromach 10 Years Old and Benromach Organic – the world’s first single malt to be certified by the Soil Association.

Having sat silent for over twenty years, Glenglassaugh Distillery in the far north-east of Scotland began distilling again in December 2008. After 30-months maturing in refill ex-bourbon barrels and a final 6-months maturing in fresh oloroso sherry butts the first single malt Scotch whisky under the new ownership from this famous old distillery, established in 1875, is ready for your appreciation. …(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

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Glenglassaugh Distillery

Dewar’s Discovery gift set

Dewar’s Blended Scotch Whiskies introduced a specially designed limited edition Dewar’s Discovery Gift Set. The set included the then newest family member of the Scotch whisky maker, Dewar’s 18. The Dewar’s 18 was flanked by the two other premium Dewar’s brands, Dewar’s 12 and the … Continue reading →

www.ralfy.com takes the low road with Whisky Review #270 – Glenkinchie 12yo (Lowland Region)