Hello Fellow WhiskeyLovers – 

The 2012 Drammie Awards nominations are in..over 1,200 nominations from 14 countries around the world…and they’re counted.  And now, we need you to vote on the finalists.   

The mission of the Drammie Awards is to put the power of “recognition” in the hands of the whiskey consumer.  That means YOU…and you YOUR VOTE!  So in the name of all things whiskey, let your voice be heard and vote now!  The voting is open until midnight on Sunday, April 15th.    

As many of you know, I spent this past Saturday at the Whiskies of the World Expo in San Francisco, and what an event it was.  The show was extremely well attended, and there were over 200 whiskies poured.  Many of the major brands were there, but what makes the WoW Expo a real pleasure every year is the opportunity to try some of the worlds leading artisanal spirits. 

This year, one of my favorites whiskies hailed from Texas, which brings me to this weeks Whiskey Wedneday featured whiskey: Balcones Baby Blue Texas Whiskey.

Balcones Baby Blue Whiskey is the first legal Texas whisky since Prohibition.  It is a highly awarded aged corn whisky made from 100% roasted artisanal blue corn, a corn varietal that adds a unique nuttiness and freshness to the well-balanced spirit.   After the the spirit is distilled, it’s aged in new American oak barrels that have been lightly charred so as to not over-oak the whisky but rather accentuate the blue corn’s unique flavor qualities. There is never any chill filtering or caramel coloring added to the whiskey.

Balcones Baby Blue Corn Whiskey was awarded a Double Gold at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition and a Gold, “Corn Whisky” by the American Distilling Institute in 2010. The awards continued in 2010 with F. Paul Pacult’s Spirits Journal giving the whiskey 5 STARS, “Highest Recommendation”. In 2011 the whiskey won a SILVER, “Best of Category” Corn Whisky, from the American Distilling Institute.   

So I’m thrilled to be able to offer you a bottle of  Balcones Baby Blue Texas Whiskey for $49.95/bottle.  This is a great spring-time sipping whiskey, and a great whiskey to pour over a couple of ice cubes.  If you want to try something totally different, give this a try. I promise you  wont be disappointed.  

Finally, for those of you lucky enough to be living in the greater NYC area, NEXT WEEK is WhiskyLiveNYC 2012,  the Must Attend Whisky Event of the year for New Yorkers.  There are phenomenal Master Classes, hundreds of whiskies to sample, wonderful food and music. If you’re a whiskey lover, you really owe it to yourself to attend this event.  

This years show is on Wednesday, April 11th at Pier 60/ Chelsea Piers in Manhattan.  ForWhiskeyLovers will be there with a booth, and we have an amazing deal on tickets to the show.  Just enter the code “doug” in the promo /coupon field when checking out, and you’ll receive a 20% discount on the price of admission.   

And until next week…have fun!

Doug StoneFounder

ForWhiskeyLovers.com 

Got a question about whisky? Ask Richard!

We did this on the previous blog and it seemed to go down quite well, so if you’ve got a question about whisky, feel free to ask it below and the guys will make sure I get you an answer as and when time permits. I’ve included some q’s from the past below so people don’t need to ask them again!

Alastair at The Whisky Barrel reports that they have a  new blog post which you made read at … http://www.thewhiskybarrel.com/blog/post/id/visit-islay-scotch

The Whisky Barrel
www.thewhiskybarrel.com

Whisky Magazine’s Online Retailer of the Year Award 2009, 2010 & 2011

Twitter!: www.twitter.com/whiskybarrel
Facebook: www.facebook.com/whiskybarrel

Whisky Live London 2012 – The Report

There was a strong TWE presence this year at London’s Whisky Live show, held in the formidable surroundings of the Honorable Artillery Company just a stone’s throw from Shoreditch High Street, home to the majority of the city’s most tragic tryhards … Continue reading >>

Spring arrivals at the Park Avenue Liquor Shop.

Spring has sprung.

However, if you had a winter like we did here in the northeast you’d feel like we went from Fall right to Spring.

With respect to mother nature, this isn’t why we’re emailing you today. Instead of the strange weather – we’d like to tell you about some great new bottles that have made their way into our store. There’s something here for everyone.

So kick back, soak in your Spring fever and take a look.

Cheers!

Jon & Eric
Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442
info@parkaveliquor.com
http://www.parkaveliquor.com/

Whisky Live New York returns to the spectacular Pier Sixty on April 11, 2012 creating a magnificent evening of great whisky, fine food and wonderful entertainment in the heart of New York. Our 2011 show was our most successful edition attracting great whiskies and a fine crowd of whisky lovers and of course newcomers to a fantastic evening. Whether, the seasoned whisky lover or novice you can expect to experience an incredible and in-depth insight into the world of whisky drinking and producing. This is your chance to become closer to the industry, taste rare and sought-after whiskies, increase your knowledge and meet the whisky experts!

Special promo code for Park Avenue Liquor Shop customers:

Use the code parkaveliquor (case sensitive) to receive 10% off your ticket purchase.

Redbreast: Cask Strength

Made from a mash of malted and unmalted barley and then triple distilled in copper pot stills. This latest release from Redbreast displays the characteristic full and complex flavor of pot still whiskey. Matured in Sherry casks, the legendary Redbreast style is a sheer joy.
The very special cask-strength expression gives a rare glimpse of Redbreast 12 in its natural, full flavored state.

Aroma: A fruit explosion. Figs, dates, ripe banana, sultanas, red apple and lime abound. Pot still spices combine with the sweet vanilla and pine from the casks.
Taste: Deep, dried fruit, a touch of citrus with aromatic oils and spices. Vanilla sweetness leads to toasted oak and barley.
Finish: Exceedingly long, rich complexity of spices and fruit, slowly fading through to sweet butterscotch and barley.

Our Price: $68

Glenrothes: 1988

Vintages from the 1970’s and 1980’s are increasingly hard to come by. The Glenrothes 1988 is of that rare breed. This never before bottled the vintage has benefited from more than two decades maturing in a combination of Spanish and American oak; previously seasoned with both sherry and whisky. The combination gives the citrus notes a delicious cooked orange flavor and plenty of fruit as well which are evident on the nose and the palate.

Appearance:

Copper gold, clear and bright

Bouquet: Rich, spicy: ripe, dark, berry fruits

Palate: Rich, full flavor: candied orange peel, fruit compote

Finish: Very long, medium sweet

Our Price: $155

Labrot & Graham Woodford Reserve:

Doubled Oaked

As Brown-Forman Master Distiller Chris Morris said, “How do you make the best bourbon even better? you double the wood exposure.” This brings us to Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. After 15 years, Woodford has added a new name to their line and it does not disappoint.

Double Oaked takes fully matured Woodford and then ages it in a second barrel for 6 to 12 months in a heavily toasted barrel. This approach creates a rich and colorful flavor with a nice amount of soft, sweet oak character.

Our Price: $57

On June 14th from 3-6pm at Park Avenue Liquor Shop, Woodford Reserve will engrave any purchased bottles of Woodford Reserve and Woodford Reserve Double Oak.

Please note that due to ever-changing inventory, we cannot guarantee bottle availability. Customers making online orders that cannot be fulfilled for any reason will be notified. Park Avenue Liquor Shop is not responsible any typographical errors. Please contact us with any questions you might have.

Bruichladdich 10 year old “The Laddie” Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($52.99) Finally, ten long years after re-opening the distillery, Bruichladdich has reached the finish line – a ten year old malt composed entirely of whisky made after the resurrection. The wait has been worth it. Many of us at K&L feel that Bruichladdich’s post-2001 whiskies are some of the best distillates in the world – they’ve always just been a bit too immature. The quality of the spirit coming off their pot stills is simply jaw-dropping (their Botanist gin is also delicious), and we’ve been excited to see what it can do after a decade in the barrel. That time is finally here. Recently voted “Best Islay Whisky of 2011” by the Whisky Advocate, the Bruichladdich 10 has finally reached the American west coast where at last we can revel in its glory. The malt is ultra smooth, creamy with citrus notes, stone fruits, and the trademark saltiness that makes it an Islay whisky through and through. The price is also right. For a small independently-owned distillery, the boys at Bruichladdich have struggled at times, but they’ve always landed on their feet. The 10 year is one of the most anticipated whiskies of all time and for about $50, it’s one of the best single malt deals we’ll see this year. For those lamenting the rising cost of good whisky, make sure you take home the Laddie 10 and savor each drop. This is true handcrafted whisky. -David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer

1990 Clynelish 21 Year Old Chieftain’s K&L Selection Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($129.99) While many single malts are blends of different types of barrels, some are known to be more sherried than others. Macallan for example is widely enjoyed for its Oloroso sherry character, while something like Ardbeg is decidedly less rich. That being said, it’s not that Ardbeg doesn’t use sherry-aged whisky in its single malt, it’s just that there are far fewer barrels in their recipe. Clynelish, perhaps the most respected single malt in the world by whisky insiders, is a whisky renowned for its light, fruity, Highland character. However, what would happen if one of the few sherry-aged Clynelish barrels were isolated from the recipe and bottled as a single cask selection? The answer is here at K&L. An absolutely stellar, 21 year old sherry cask of Clynelish was sitting right next to our Brora cask at the Chieftain’s warehouse so we pulled the trigger. The heather now mingles with raisined fruit, the citrus fruit now turns candied, the wax turns into dripping oil. The complexity of this whisky is simply astounding and collectors everywhere should rejoice at the price. Clynelish is easily on my top five distillery short list and this is one of the best and most unique I’ve tasted. A single cask of this quality from Clynelish at full proof should easily retail for $150 or more. Grab this one while it lasts. – David Driscoll

Glenglassaugh 26 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($269.99)

Ireland

Wild Geese Irish Soldiers & Heroes Limited Edition Irish Whiskey 750ml – 6 available ($65.99)

Wild Geese Irish Soldiers & Heroes Rare Irish Whiskey 750ml – 6 available ($47.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection “Oat” Bourbon Whiskey 375ml – 6 available ($69.99)

Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection “Rice” Bourbon Whiskey 375ml – 6 available ($69.99)

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

Bourbon and Rye

Old Overholt Rye Whiskey 1Liter – 12 available ($19.99)

Single Malt Scotch

Dalmore 12 year old Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $50) – 10 available ($29.99)

Dalmore 15 year old Single Malt 750ml (Elsewhere $96) ($55.99)

Dalmore Grand Reserve Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $75) ($49.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

High West Rendezvous Rye Whiskey 750ml – 11 available ($47.99)

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

Paul was chatting to Willie Tait, of Jura Distillery.

Willie, Many thanks for agreeing to our interview, much appreciated.

Q; You are not Distillery manager any longer at Jura, but can you give us a wee insight into what it was like when you were?

A; I lived on Jura for 25 years and I was the manager for 15 years, still the longest serving Manager. Being the Manager was the best thing that ever happened to me and my family. Making the Jura whisky was a real pleasure and just being a part of the Jura history was the greatest part of my career.

Q; How was it passing over the manager role to Willie Cochrane?

A; Sorry I didn’t pass the role too Willie, but Mickey Heads who is now at Ardbeg, he was my successor. Willie is now the Manager and is doing such a fantastic job.

Q; You now travel the world on behalf of Jura, what a hard job you have, but is it so hard?

A; Tasting and telling the world about Jura whisky is certainly not hard work, but the travel can be hard at times.

Q; What is most the enjoyable thing you do in your work?

A; I enjoy the pleasure people get from tasting whisky that I have made, not many can say that.

Q; Travelling worldwide, what has been the most exciting country?

A; I love working in the USA, saying that I find all countries exciting.

Q; Do you always look forward to returning to Scotland?

A; Home is always home and it’s always great to get back.

Q; In the Whyte & Mackay portfolio there are many drinks, not just whisky. Do you have to taste these also?

A; I have tasted some wonderful whiskies, saying that I always return to my Jura 16yr, best dram for me.

Q; Is there a favourite of yours in all these drinks?

A; I laid down a cask in 1989 and put into bottle last year, and yes it’s a wonderful dram.

Q; Finally, how do you see the whisky industry advancing in the coming years?

A; I have been in this business for 38 years now and I think its in good hands for the future.

Many thanks for the chat Willie, hopefully we shall meet up again at a whisky festival somewhere! – slainte!

Jura distillery can be found at; www.isleofjura.com  www.whyteandmackay.com

Diurachs is the Gaelic word for the people of Jura. Proud of their land and their whisky, they will gladly bend the ear of anyone willing to take the time to listen. They are a small and close-knit community of less than 200, united by the island we love and the warmth of its people. With a dram of the good stuff in hand, they toast the health of friends near and far. Life doesn’t get any better. So why not become an honorary Diurach and join their community?

Paul is already a Diurach and many of the people he takes to the isle are also, why not become one yourself? www.isleofjura.com/diurachs.aspx

Paul McLean

www.angelswhiskyclub.com

www.ralfy.com is happy to help … with Whisky Review #262 – Laphroaig 18yo

A Taste from the Past – Grant’s Classic 18 Years Old (bottled in the 1990s).

Good afternoon all,

‘A Taste from the Past’ is becoming a bit of a classic feature on my blog as today marks my 10th review of a rare, discontinued bottle of Grant’s. What could be more suited than this 18-year-old blend of ours called ‘Classic’?

I’ll admit I chose this one because of its name more than…(please click on the link to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Kind regards,
Ludo

The A-Z of the World’s Best Bars: M and N as compiled by the Master Blender Richard Paterson

Posted: 30 Mar 2012 03:05 AM PDT