The Valentine gift to capture a whisky lover’s heart

London January 2012: If your Valentine likes whisky this is your answer to the problem of what to give on 14th February. The reputation of Suntory for producing some of the world’s finest malt and blended whiskies is at an all time high, with over 60 major international awards gained for the quality and excellence of their Japanese whiskies since 2003. Whether your friend or partner prefers whisky neat, over ice or with water a Yamazaki or Hakushu 12 year old single malt or 17 year old blended Hibiki will enhance your discerning taste in their eyes and make for a memorable Valentine’s Day.

Should either of you like cocktails try a seasonal Yamazaki Risshun, created to welcome spring by Suntory’s UK Brand Ambassador, Zoran Peric. With a calendar of 24 seasons the Japanese have got 24 reasons to celebrate. Try this simple recipe for a sensational Valentine’s Day tipple.

Yamazaki Risshun – Spring will soon be in the air (4 February)

Recipe:

35mlml Yamazaki 12 year old single malt whisky

25ml Ume honey blended with umeshu (Japanese plum liqueur)

Finely shaved ginger

Build in an Old-fashioned glass over ice

Here’s to my Valentine – here’s to Spring!

Suntory world beating Japanese whiskies are firm favourites here in the UK and Europe. There is something about their subtle aromas and delicate flavours which appeals to the palate whether taken neat, over ice or in cocktails.

Enjoy them and the warm glow that comes with other gift giving occasions.

Note: Pronouncing Suntory names

Yamazaki – (Ya-ma-zarkee)

Hakushu – (Ha-koo-shoe)

Hibiki – (Hi-bi-kee)

Yamazaki and Hakushu single malt whiskies are available from: Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, The Whisky Exchange, independent specialist retailers and drinkon.com priced from:

Yamazaki 12 year old £42

Hakushu 12 year old £49.95

Hibiki 17 year old £70

The Suntory range of Japanese whiskies is distributed in the UK by Cellar Trends. For all sales enquiries contact: sales@cellartrends.co.uk

Ralfy ‘releases’  Whisky Review 249 – Whyte and Mackay 13yo . . . for perusal by all those whisky-buffs who care about such things!

Abhainn Dearg 3 Year Old Cask Strength

TheWhiskyBarrel.com Exclusive

The historic first release from Abhainn Dearg distillery on the Isle of Lewis available for the first time at full strength 58% ABV.

Single first fill ex-bourbon cask distilled 2008 and bottled January 2012 at natural cask strength. 5cl Miniature.

£11.99 (£9.99 ex VAT)

Here is a book review

Here is a link to buy it on Amazon

Here is a review from Whiskey Forge

A whiskey cook book of all their crazy recipes and experimental techniques we have been working on over the past 4 years at the Corsair Distillery. It’s called “Alt Whiskeys” or alternative whiskeys, which is any whiskey that is outside the norms of North American whiskey production.

They have roughly 4 categories of Alt Whiskeys:

* Smoked whiskeys
* Whiskeys inspired by craft beers — they have a Russian Imperial Stout whiskey called Rasputin
* Whiskeys that use alternative grains/adjuncts – they have a 12 grain bourbon, and our Quinoa whiskey just won   medal @ NYC Spirits competition
* hopped whiskeys or whiskeys flavored by some kind of botanical

HIGHLAND PARK UNVEILS NEW GLOBAL BRAND ADVOVATE

Highland Park, the best spirit in the world, has made a significant new addition to its central brand team with the appointment of Daryl Haldane to the newly created role of Global Brand Advocate.

Daryl joins the team from Diageo’s Reserve Brands where he worked as a brand ambassador for over four years, specifically focused on cross category training around the UK. This covered a variety of functions from brand education to product development predominantly in the UK on-trade.

Commenting on his new role, Daryl said, “This is a very exciting time for me, having worked on all spirit categories before, whisky is where I always wanted to be. There are few brands who can boast the heritage, credentials and accolades that Highland Park achieves so consistently. I am very proud to become a part of that”

This new role reflects the ambition and focus of Highland Park in its drive to build brand awareness and distribution across the globe and also gives greater weight to the commitment to brand education in key markets.

Gerry Tosh, Global Marketing Manager, Highland Park, “Daryl is a great addition to the team, bringing a strong mix of marketing and educational experience to this new, pivotal role. The creation of this position and Daryl’s appointment mark a step forward for us in terms of driving forward our longer terms plans. It’s definitely going to be an exciting few years for us and what a great way to start!”

GLENTAUCHERS 1991

£10 OFF PER BOTTLE – NOW ONLY £25.99

TASTING NOTE

Colour: Dark straw.

WITHOUT WATER:
Nose: Delicate esters – very fresh and fragrant. Fruity influences with a sweet honey edge.
Palate: Mouth warming with a delicate hint of spice. Sweet with influences of freshly cut grass. 
 
WITH WATER:
Nose: A distinct freshness dominated by a sweet influence, soft and rounded edge with hints of butter toffees.
Palate: Initially sweet with delicate hints of cereal notes – malt. Mouth warming and fresh.
Body: Light.
Finish: Long and balanced.
Cask Type(s): Refill Sherry casks.
Whisky Style: Sweet, fruity and well balanced.

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW   

 
Highland Park Thor 16 Year Old

Valhalla Collection

Nose: Concentrated and forceful, with an explosion of aromatic smoke, pungent fresh ginger, antique copper, stewed plums, and golden syrup. With water, earthy notes emerge, like a garden after a heavy rain shower.

Palate: Thor’s high strength grabs the palate and refuses to let go. Initially dry, with fiery gingerbread then vanilla, blackberries, fresh mango, peach and hints of cinnamon. As its big flavours swirl around the mouth, some softer, sweeter notes develop, giving Thor and unexpected layer of complexity and depth.

Finish: The finish thunders on, leaving behind lingering notes of sweet vanilla and an intense spiciness.
 
£124.99

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW   

 
Octomore 4.2 Comus

THE MOST HEAVILY PEATED WHISKY IN THE WORLD

TASTING NOTES –
 
BODY: MEDIUM WEIGHT AND WELL DEFINED FOR A YOUNG ISLANDER. THE TEXTURE IS RICH, SWEET AND MELLOW AND THE VISCOSITY OF THE SAUTERNE BRINGS BALANCE TO THE POWER OF THE PEAT. THIS IS A MOST SOPHISTICATED OCTOMORE AND IT’S KIND OF UNBELIEVABLE TO SEE “THE BEAST” TAMED A LITTLE! 
 
NOSE: THE OPENING IS A BEAUTIFUL COMBINATION OF PEAT SMOKE, BRACKEN, LEATHER, TOBACCO POUCHES, BOG-MYRTLE & BRINY WAVES. THEN LITTLE TWISTS OF HOME-MADE MINT TOFFEE ENTER THE SYSTEM AS DO THE NUTTY NOTES FROM THE OAKS – BOTH FRENCH AND AMERICAN. AND SO  THE DANCE GOES ON BUT WHERE IS THE FRENCH BEAUTY? SHE WAITS PATIENTLY ON THE FRINGES THEN AT EXACTLY THE RIGHT MOMENT SHE MAKES HER ENTRANCE FROM THE EPICENTRE OF THE SPIRIT BRINGING AROMATICS AND FLAVOUR THE YOUNG ILEACH COULD ONLY DREAM ABOUT. IT’S A BRILLIANT ENGAGEMENT TO EXPERIENCE. FROM  DEEP IN HER SOUL SHE COMMITS TO THIS AMAZING  RELATIONSHIP, THE AROMATICS RELAY THE MESSAGE TO THE WAITING TASTE BUDS TO EXPECT A WHOLE NEW EXPERIENCE. THE GRAND CRU SAUTERNE FLAVOURS OF PEAR SYRUP, PLUMP BURSTING GRAPES, GUAVA, PASSION FRUITS AND CANTALOUPE WITH A DUSTING OF ICING SUGAR; YOU HAVE TO WONDER JUST HOW SURREAL THIS IS, A SUPER HEAVY PEATED SPIRIT BEING SEDUCED BY THE DELECTABLE CLASSIC FRENCH BEAUTY – PASSION CHANGES EVERYTHING! 
 
PALATE:IT’S ABSOLUTELY OUTRAGEOUS, THE COMING TOGETHER OF FLAVOURS SO FAR REMOVED FROM EACH OTHER YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD BE A DISASTER BUT ONCE AGAIN WE STAND IN AWE OF IMAGINATION AND THE COURAGE TO TAKE THE CONSUMER ON THIS INCREDIBLE JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY. THE KALEIDOSCOPE OF AROMATICS TRANSCENDS BEAUTIFULLY ONTO THE PALATE WHICH IS GOING CRAZY WITH EXCITEMENT. THE SMOKE IS THE PERFECT FOIL FOR THE SAUTERNE; THIS IS BRUICHLADDICH AT ITS BEST, WALKING ON THE WILD SIDE, BRINGING PLEASURE AND EXCITEMENT TO THOSE WHO HAVE THAT SENSE OF ADVENTURE AND PASSION THAT COMES ONLY FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE TOTALLY COMMITTED TO TRADITION, YET FEARLESS IN THEIR SEARCH FOR THE ULTIMATE DRAM. 
 
FINISH: THIS LOVE AFFAIR SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED BUT IT HAS AND WE ARE WITNESS TO ITS ENCHANTMENT, PASSION AND JOYFULNESS AS THE FLAVOURS LINGER LONG INTO THE NIGHT, ENDING ON A DRIFT OF PEAT SMOKE AND THE MARINE MAGIC THAT IS TRULY ISLAY.

£99.99

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW   

Single Malts Limited | 36 Gordon Street | Huntly | Aberdeenshire | AB54 8EQ |  

Whisky Ramblings Via Video – Scotch Whisky News

Check out the second of Belgian whisky blogger Mark Dermul’s Whisky Ramblings on video: Glenmorangie Lasanta. Please click on the link below to view the viedo.

http://youtu.be/yYaDbB8dtKk

A visit to Holyrood

Hello,

Last night I was invited to join the Scotch Whisky Association and several Members of the Scottish Parliament to celebrate the global success of Scotch whisky and in particular, the 10,000 or more people who are directly employed by whisky distillers all around Scotland.

People are often regarded as Scotch whisky’s fourth ingredient. So I was…(please click on the link to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Kind regards,
Ludo

While Distillers release mega-expensive Malts, Ralfy releases mega-cheap Whisky Reviews, just like this one,  Whisky Review 248 – White Horse 12yo.

Good things need not be expensive.

Loch Fyne Whiskies Stocks ‘Highland Park Thor’

Highland Park Thor  52.1% abv  £111.00 inc vat  £92.50 ex vat 

Highland Park Thor OB 16yo 52.1%alc.

Official blurb:

“This is the very first bottling in the Highland Park Valhalla Collection, a series of four truly elemental whiskies, which draw their influence from the Norse gods themselves.

First up is the mighty hammer-slinging heavyweight himself – Thor. Thor, undoubtedly the most legendary of all the Norse gods, Son of Odin, the ruler of Asgard, was avidly worshipped by Viking warriors as the defender of mankind and gods alike. In fact, it was said that you can see Thor’s handiwork on Orkney, at the roughly hewn cliffs of Yesnaby on the far western shore. An epic piece of stone masonry if ever there was!

Highland Park Thor is a unique single malt, aged for 16 years and bottled the natural strength of 52.1%. Like its namesake, Thor is a meeting point of nature’s forces, exuding a dynamic and bold character on the surface, but with an unexpected softer side at its heart. This limited edition bottling comes housed in a carved wooden frame, which echoes the fearsome contours of a traditional Viking long ship.”

Official Tasting Note:

Appearance:

Rich amber, with an iron ore glow

Nose:

Concentrated and forceful, with an explosion of aromatic smoke, pungent fresh ginger, antique copper, stewed plums, and golden syrup. With water, earthy notes emerge, like a garden after a heavy rain shower.

Palate:

Thor’s high strength grabs the palate and refuses to let go. Initially dry, with fiery gingerbread then vanilla, blackberries, fresh mango, peach and hints of cinnamon. As its big flavours swirl around the mouth, some softer, sweeter notes develop, giving Thor and unexpected layer of complexity and depth.

Finish:

The finish thunders on, leaving behind lingering notes of sweet vanilla and an intense spiciness. For more information about Thor and the rest of The Valhalla Collection (some big surprises are yet to come) head on over to www.whiskyofthegods.com