The Whisky Exchange Blog at Spirit of Speyside: Pt 3

This is the third part of Tim’s over-written journal from The Spirit of Speyside festival. Brave readers happening on this post for the first time may want to read Part 1 & Part 2 first.  Proper breaks should be taken between posts for refreshment and the avoidance of headaches. Saturday proved to be another beautiful day with the sun ..… (please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article) …

THE LINK

Summer Sipping Recommendations: Bottled Sunshine!

The mouth-watering flavours in our single casks have our tongues wagging like a puppy at the best of times but all this mention of tutti-frutti ice-cream, puff candy and the likes (in this heat*) is making us simply melt….

Take it easy at a slow slow pace:

2.79 Puff candy on a tropical island
Speyside Spey
£71.10 inc free p&p
Wafts of barley sugar and puff candy come and go, as if on a warm breeze, then some light herbal scents (basil or nettles), with chocolate and almond oil. The taste at this stage is sweet and slightly cooling

18.30 Hippie dram (Can’t believe this laid-back bottle is still available!)
Speyside Spey
£77.50 inc free p&p
Luscious and syrupy: grapes and apple skins coated in golden syrup; lemon bonbons and Crabbie’s green ginger wine, salted honeycomb

64.22 Spring meadows and honey
Speyside Spey
£54.20 inc free p&p
Journey through spring meadows while tucking into white chocolate cookie dough ice cream and heather honey

125.43 Dancing dolls in flower meadows
Highland Northern
£71.20 inc free p&p
Little wooden dolls danced in the mouth, leading parades of bright, delightful flavours (chocolate, mint, lemon, ice cream, caramel, coffee)

Very limited bottling:
Of course if the weather takes a turn for the worst, you’ll need something to keep you warm, we found a very small quantity of this not-seen-in-a-while bottling…

55.21 Coastal storms and autumn leaf-fall
Highland Northern
£48.40 inc free p&p
The nose caressed us with sweet warmth (toffee, caramel, fudge, honey, syrup, vanilla, barley malt) then citrus developed (cranberry and cherry cereal bars, Ribena); finally hints of leather and brown sauce

JULY SUMMER SIPPING SAVINGS (stock running low):

SPORTY PAIR: 1.158 & 76.83 only £89.90 (save £10)
1.158 Cricketer’s Dram
76.83 Cocktails after rugby

Za Za Zoom Trio:
125.45, 36.53 & 29.101 for £135.40 (save £15)
125.45 Complex and thought-provoking
36.53 Syrupy zestiness
29.101 Tarred, feathered and set on fire

Harmonious six: All of the above PLUS 7.66 for
£283.70 (save £30)
7.66 Harmonious co-existence of flavour

Browse all bottlings  (63 single casks online)

*At the moment of sending the sun is shining brightly over The Vaults

Society Tastings & Events (66 Society tastings online)
Steak & Chips Tasting – The Vaults, Fri 15 July
Wokingham Preview Tasting – Cantley House, Fri 22 July
Falkirk Wheel Tasting – Queen Street, Thu 28 July
New Members Tasting – London, Thu 28 July
Greenock Prevew Tasting – The Tontine Hotel, Fri 29 July
Tunbridge Wells Preview Tasting – Hotel du Vin, Fri 29 July
Stirling Preview Tasting – Golden Lion Hotel, Fri 29 July
Blind Man Bluff – The Vaults, Fri 29 July

More Society tastings

Edinburgh Festival Fever: Extra tickets added
We’ve just added more tickets to our Big Malt Hitters events with Jim McEwan of Bruichladdich & John Campbell, Distillery Manager at Laphroaig. And your taste-buds are in for a treat; the casks we’ve squirreled away for our three-dram Tutored Tastings are fantastic!
Don’t miss out…. More

Whisky For A Year: Free Tasting Glasses ends Friday!
Get whiskyed away on a tide of ultimate single cask single malt Society bottlings..

Over the course of the year we’ll send you bottlings, hand-picked by The Tasting Panel, of the highest quality and intrigue.

Sign-up before Fri 15 July and we’ll include a pair of free tasting glasses with your first bottling (77.25 Notes of floral & tobacco)

More

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. 

Announcing the first online Google+ live whisky tasting

Who fancies a dram with me? As I mentioned the other day I’m on Google+ and one of the features on there is being able have a group video chat with other people, so I was thinking why not get together, have a dram and talk whisky?

So here’s what’s being proposed. We’ll do one or two video hangouts on August 15 and 16 at around 7pm UK time.

Now, I’m told that Google isn’t allowing brands and businesses onto Google+ yet so to avoid accusations that we’re doing this to push just one brand, we’ll do drams from across the ranges:

Whyte & Mackay 13 year old
Whyte & Mackay 19 year old
Jura Superstition
Jura Prophecy
Dalmore 15 year old

Here’s how you can take part:

Leave your details in the comments section – name, email, country you are from and Google+ address

State if you can do either night or have a preference

We’ll then get in touch to send you samples of all the drinks – seems only fair – and get ready for a drink on the night.

Now, we’re going to restrict these first two events to people in the UK and mainland Europe. If they prove popular, we’ll try and roll events out for whisky fans in other continents.

So who fancies a dram then?

Three Days of Eades Double Malts THIS Weekend

We’ve had a tremendous response so far for our Eades Double Malt Whisky Weekend this Friday through Sunday in Richmond!

There are still a couple seats left for our elegant Whisky Dinner at TJ’s Restaurant this Friday at 7 p.m. inside the beautiful Jefferson Hotel. Contact Jonathan Kibiloski at 804-649-4672 or by email at jonathan.kibiloski@jeffersonhotel.com  as soon as possible to make your reservation! Space is very limited, and you do not want to miss this gourmet whisky dinner.

The Sunday Funday Whisky Brunch at Julep’s New Southern Cuisine is virtually full, but call Julep’s at 804-651-8621 and you might just be able to grab that last spot.

Thank you all for the great response, and we’ll see you this weekend.

Oh, and don’t forget to follow Dan on Twitter @VADistilleryDan to find out where you can meet up with him Saturday night!

________________________

Friday-Elegant Whisky Dinner at TJ’s Restaurant

Join us Friday, July 15th at 7 p.m. for an elegant Eades Double Malt Whisky Dinner at TJ’s Restaurant inside Richmond’s historic Jefferson Hotel. Don’t miss Eades Speyside paired with house-cured bacon wrapped Scallops, Eades Islay paired with artichoke and oxtail stuffed quail, and for dessert Eades Highland paired with Scotch-spiked lemon pound cake. Cost for the dinner is $65 per person (not including tax and gratuity). Contact Jonathan Kibiloski at 804-649-4672 or by email at jonathan.kibiloski@jeffersonhotel.com for more information.

Saturday-FREE Eades Double Malt Tasting at Carytown ABC Store

Stop by the ABC store in Carytown (10 N. Thompson St) July 16 from 2-4 p.m. for FREE samples of Eades Double Malts. Meet up with VDC’s Dan FitzHenry later that evening at the best whisky bars in Richmond. Follow Dan on Twitter @VADistilleryDan to find out where he’ll be hanging out. No tickets or reservations required, just come out and enjoy!

Sunday-Whisky Brunch at Julep’s New Southern Cuisine

Finally, kick back for a relaxing, stress-free Sunday Funday Whisky Brunch at Julep’s New Southern Cuisine on Sunday, July 17 from 1-4pm. Enjoy an all-you-can eat brunch buffet featuring Julep’s modern Southern flavor while you sip Eades Double Malt Whiskies. Brunch buffet and tasting experience is $25 per person ($15 for restaurant industry professionals). Call 804-651-8621 for reservations.

Yamazaki 1984 Single Malt Whisky.

Gold Medal Winner and “Supreme Champion Spirit” at the International Spirits Challenge 2010 and the  “Best Single Malt Whisky in the World” at the 2011 World Whisky Awards.

After being announced as the Gold Medal Winner within the “Whiskies” category, this extraordinary single malt went on to become the Supreme Champion Spirit, an accolade given to one single product among all Gold Medal Winners of every category. As the finest of some 1,000 brands entered into the ISC this year, the Yamazaki 1984 was cited for its “depth of flavour and maturation, together with the remarkable syrupiness of its texture. It is absolutely outstanding in every respect.”

Yamazaki is the most-popular single malt whisky in Japan and is enjoyed by whisky connoisseurs the world over. Yamazaki was ranked the world’s eighth bestselling single malt whisky in terms of cases sold in 2009 and is currently exported to around 25 countries, including the United States.

Only 200 bottles were released in Europe and only 300 released in the USA, so very rare indeed! Expensive…..? Very! Worth it…..? Absolutely Yes!

Visit the Highlander Inn at www.whiskyinn.com

Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers –

As you know, my goal with these emails is to offer you exciting whiskies at great prices, or access to limited production whiskies. This weeks its all about an extremely limited production whisky: Glenmorangie Pride 1981.

The culmination of 28 years of passion, patience and artistry, Pride 1981 is the most luxurious and longest ever extra-matured Glenmorangie. When the original whisky was distilled in 1981, it was selected to mature in the finest oak casks with the intention of creating an exquisite 18 Year Old whisky.

However, in 1999, Dr. Bill Lumsden, Master Distiller, acquired an extremely limited number of Sauternes barriques from the Chateau d’Yquem vineyard. He saw the perfect opportunity to create an even more outstanding single malt scotch whisky: the ultimate expression of the art of extra maturation.

Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is 28 year old whisky that is matured in the finest oak casks for 18 years before being aged exclusively in Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes casks for a further ten years – the longest period any current Glenmorangie whisky has undergone extra maturation. It is then bottled at cask strength (56.7% ABV)

The whisky comes in an exquisite Baccarat crystal decanter designed by renowned glassware artist Laurence Brabant. Each decanter is individually numbered and personally signed by Dr. Bill Lumsden, and is housed inside an elegantly-crafted wooden coffret designed by emerging Dutch designer Wouter Scheublin.

This is an extremely rare, limited edition bottling with only 1,000 bottles available worldwide; 100 of which will are available in the US (and only a few in the hands of Nicky The Neck). The ForScotchLovers price for a bottle of Glenmorangie Pride 1981 is $3,600 for a 1-Liter bottle, so if you want one, get it NOW!  Availability of this spectaular whisky is EXTREMELY limited…and once it is gone, it’s gone.

At $3,600 for a bottle, and with less than 100 bottles in the U.S., Glenmorangie Pride 1981 clearly isn’t for everyone. But for the lucky few with the means, and the smarts to act fast, this whisky will be prized and enjoyed for many tears to come.

Doug Stone
Founder
www.ForScotchLovers.com

GLENMORANGIE PRIDE 1981

I’m on Google+ and there’s whisky chat there already! Are you on it?

The social media team have signed me up for Google+ and you can find me talking whisky via the link. or http://www.gplus.to/richardpaterson

I would loved to have had http://www.gplus.to/whisky as my name instead of Richard Paterson but it looks like I was beaten to it by this little pooch!

But I want to know if you are on there, talking all things drams…

It’s great to see that there’s already been some whisky chat on Google+ by the likes of Gal Granov, Blair Bowman, Whisky2.0, Scotch Hobbyist, Sjoerd de Haan-kramer, Scotch Hobbyist, Armin Grewe and many others, but let’s see who else is on there – let’s build a list of all the whisky fans on Google+.

If you are on it, leave your details below so I can add you to whisky drinking circles – and also let me know what country you’re from in case I do circles by country. What we’ll do is by the end of the week (hopefully) is publish a full list of all whisky fans on Google+ so we can all chat (and dram) together!

och, another crammed packed tour; Three day express whisky tour – taken by Paul and Tim (Angels Whisky Club Moscow Ambassador). 3 days, 6 distilleries, 1 art studio, Duncan Taylor, Rosslyn Chapel, McTears and a Police station.

Thursday; met Tim at 08.30 Edinburgh airport. Immediately drove to Glasgow where we had an appointment with Stephen at McTears auction house. Er well, we got lost, my fault! Junction 23 on the motorway was closed off, we drove around a while looking for a way off, ended up at Junc 25, stopped at a police station and asked how to find McTears? as Junc 23 closed. We were no far away actually, there in 5 minutes. So in we go, looking around the new layout of whisky room and taking a closer look at many auction offerings for later in the month (Paul’s amongst them). We then headed off north to Loch Lomond distillery, where Gavin Durnin (Sales Director) took us around. This distillery is closed to the public. An unusual place this, it has grain and malt in one distillery, the stills use towers/columns for 4 stills and is really unusual, the SWA call them Lomond towers but we were assured they are not. A really good tour here of everywhere, distillery, cooperage, warehouse etc with a cup of tea!!! After this superb tour we had (I wont say enjoyed) a Big Mac each, eeek. Drove to the A9 and headed north. We were trying for Cardhu but ran oot of time. So at Findhorn (aye, that far north) we ate a hearty meal, then paid a visit to artist Jonathan Wheeler, where Tim enjoyed the artwork so much he bought some! Retreating to Banff now and our hotel, a pint of cider and bed to watch telly, knackered!

Friday; an early start again, first call Glenglassaugh. Tim has a cask here (so do other recent tour groups we have taken here) so we had to see it, in fact, taste it to see how it’s coming along. Graeme Morrison took us into the cask house, Graeme is now Maturation Manager and a grand man he is. A quick chat with Stuart and we departed to Sandend for a few quick pix, before heading to Duncan Taylor, Huntly, where Tim took samples for casks he is considering. I seem to be almost a local here, called in so many times recently. We then flew off to Cragganmore for a tour, a really lovely lass Claire showed us round, a typical Diageo place but nevertheless a decent tour here. Then another closed to the public distillery; Tomintoul, where Tom took us round, excellent! Really enjoyed this tour, many thanks to Tom, with a great look around and tasting, perfect! We headed into the village for some grub and a look at the worlds largest whisky bottle! Oh and a brief call in a Glenlivet. Then drove through thunder and typhoon like rain all the way to Perth. Checked Tim into the hotel and went home myself. Liz came through and we three went for a superb meal at Kerachers restaurant. Tim went back to his hotel, Liz and myself to my hoose for a few drinks and relaxing.

Saturday; oh did I enjoy my bed this morning!!! A lie in as I met Tim at 09.00, sent some whisky away via the post office before heading to Rosslyn Chapel, very nice! Then to Glenkinchie distillery. No the best tour to be honest. Then into the city and a visit to the Vintners Rooms where they have over 1300 whisky bottles. Finally to South Queensferry for a meal and check Tim into his hotel (pre next day flight). A short tour but crammed, drove home to Perth tired and knackered, had a cup o tea, saw some telly and hit me bed!

Tomintoul Stills

Tour designed, driven and guided by Paul McLean www.mcleanscotland.com and www.angelswhiskyclub.com

… test out those taste-buds with Whisky Review 209 (4/7) – Whisky Masterclass (Tasting) .. with compliments from Ralfy!

Visit Ralfy at www.ralfy.com

Dear Customer

This month we have eight (8) new PROVENANCE releases:

PRV0712 MORTLACH SHERRY FINISHED 8 YEAR OLD
Opens with a sweetly spiced character running to a warming, coffee & chocolate praline quality. The palate is spicy and carries a dried raisin sweetness, reminiscent of old fortified wines. The finish is long, still spicy with a soft anise style. (J)

PRV0689 FETTERCAIRN 10 YEAR OLD
Opens with a fresh hay like and fruity (peaches) character on the nose and develops to a green malt quality. The palate is sweet and carries a strawberry jam,macerated fruit, and elderflower style. The finish is short but sweet and remains pleasingly fresh & light. (J)

PRV0713 CRAGGANMORE 11 YEAR OLD
The sweet nose carries a fresh vanilla’d character with a creamy, home baked quality. The palate is still sweet, now spicier plus a rich malty character. The finish is medium long, barley sugared and runs drier towards the end. (J)

PRV0668 ROYAL BRACKLA 11 YEAR OLD
Fresh and clean on the nose, runs to a sweet fruity style –just like opening a bag of wine gums! Still sweet on the palate, now honeyed, and carries to a gristy quality. The finish is round and mellow with a ripe pear style. (J)

PRV0705 ARRAN 12 YEAR OLD
On the nose – detect its full malty goodness with citrus and even some crème caramel tones! The palate has a smooth entry into barley, oak, Scottish tablet and clove studded orange –which all runs into a finish full of liquorice, vanilla, oak and more barley all being apparent. (F)

PRV0655 GLEN GRANT 12 YEAR OLD
Opens fresh and sweet on the nose – running to an alcoholic fruit salad style – plus a home baked biscuit quality. The palate is full and round, sweetly spiced, still fruity, carrying a grist and honey style. The finish is long, with an attractive butterscotch character running to a toffee sponge finale. (J)

PRV0706 GLEN ORD 12 YEAR OLD
The fresh and sweetly fruited nose runs to an attractively light, grassy character. The palate replicates the nose with poached pears in a spicy vanilla syrup style. The finish remains fruity now with orange pith and a spicy tang. (J)

PRV0716 MACALLAN 13 YEAR OLD
The nose is fresh & clean, carrying a freshly ground malt character plus some golden syrup. The palate opens sweetly and runs to a fruit jelly and vanilla’d (custard style) quality. The finish remains fruitily sweet throughout, now with a tangy citric character. (J)

We hope you will appreciate these latest releases!

Best regards,

Fred Laing
Managing Director

Visit Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. at www.douglaslaing.com