… whisky review 193 – Glenlivit Nadurra 16yo (ralfy @ www.ralfy.com introduces a big Producer’s ‘craft’ version of a globally available Malt,    … and a decent result too!)

Due to a high demand of you looking for this very collectable whisky, we have managed to get our hands on more. Don’t miss out this time………..

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Light, delicate and subtle. Floral, grassy armoas developing into a sweet malted barley. A hint of almonds (think marizipan, amaretto biscuits). Delicate liquorice as well as raisins and sultanas. Slight hint of vanilla and tropical fruits; bananas and mangos. A waft of peat smoke in the background.

Palate: Starts very soft and creamy with notes of vanilla, honey and sultana; then peppery chilli-like spice kicks in followed by caramel, toasted almonds and liquorice. Light smoke again present. Palate runs from sweet to spicy and then dry.

Finish: Hot, spicy and long. Tangy and refreshing with prominent notes of sweet barley, peppery bonfire smoke and woody vanilla oak dryness. Very moreish!

£70.00 inc VAT

http://www.singlemaltsdirect.com/royal-wedding-commemorative-bottle.html

April Previews: 30.65 & 36.52
Be well-prepared for the holidays with our April Outturn previews releases.  Buy 30.65 & 36.52 together for £85 and save £15

30.65 A well-made Cosmopolitan
Speyside Spey
£58.10 inc free p&p
Lion’s Golden Syrup on toast, with traces of maple syrup and stale wine or pommace, on the nose, but the taste at natural strength has dark chocolate-orange

36.52 Cheeky and beguiling
Speyside Spey
£42.10 inc free p&p
The nose delighted us with raspberry, apple, lemon sherbet, vanilla custard, barley fields, rice paper, tea, pencil shavings and
abundant tobacco

March Recommendations:
Heavenly Pair
Buy 121.40 & 7.63 for £85 (save £17.50)

Transcendental Trio:
Buy 4.149, 29.96 & 9.59 for £125
(save £24.90)

Spiritual Six:
Buy 121.40, 7.63, 4.149, 29.96, 9.59 & 26.76
for £241.30 (save £50.00)

March Offers End: Thu 31 Mar

Society Tastings & Events (31 Society tastings online)

New Outturn Open Tastings – London, Sat 2 Apr
Mother’s Day Carvery & Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 3 Apr
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Mon 4 Apr
London Eye Society Tasting – London, Thu 7 Apr
Hidden Treasure Tasting – Queen Street, Thu 7 Apr
All things whisky wth Annabel – The Vaults, Tue 12 Apr

Society Whisky Tastings
Whatever and wherever our tasting or event, the main focus is to give members an informal, enjoyable and relaxed night out..with a taste of the single cask good stuff!

Events range from step by step instruction in how to get the most from tasting single cask, single malt whisky to more adventurous couplings of whisky with food.

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. 

Five generations of the William Grant family have been making Grant’s Scotch whiskies, and we’ll look at the entire Grant’s range with Ludo DuCroq in this episode. In the news, Decanter #1 of Gordon & MacPhail’s Glenlivet 70 goes on the auction block for Japanese earthquake relief, the UK government sticks whisky lovers with the annual tax increase, and much more!

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com

Liz and Paul have been away to Islay (March 2011.) It’s a must for us to catch up on the local gossip, news and new events. Says Paul “A long overdue trip we are making “just for our members” – honest! We need sample drams and places so we can pass on all this glorious info to you.  It’s a hard thankless job, but some one has to do it, dinnae worry, we will struggle through”. Liz; “it’s a first for me and I am really looking forward to it, hope there isn’t too much peat!”  THE BLOG/DIARY of our ROAD TRIP goes like this; we started the trip from Perth, after an Angels corporate whisky tasting, taken by Willie and Don (we couldnee join in – driving y’know).

Leaving Perth approx 7.30pm Wednesday driving to Inveraray where we stopped overnight, a dram or three here in a friends hotel! Early start to Kennacraig … to catch the ferry to Islay … with 8 distilleries to check and several other “must do” not to mention meeting people and, trying to get to Jura, it was a whistle stop trip! WELL, WE ARE HOME AGAIN IN ONE PIECE. It was a grand trip, over two nights, three days on the island we visited all 8 distilleries (Bowmore twice) and Jura making 9 in all. Staying at Bowmore distillery was a good idea, fall asleep and awake to the sweet niff drifting in the slightly open windees… Lagavulin was shut when we got there, but, we were there and its their loss they were shut! Apart from distilleries, we were checkin oot accommodations, visits, historic sites, shops, grub and of course meeting people! Wait for the photos! Kildalton Cross and Kirk were immense, we ate at Holy Coo in Bowmore and a couple of take – away’s!

The ferry to Jura is a landing craft but we just had to have a go! There will soon be some new faces near the distillery, girls, it must be something in the air! Our very best wishes to all the “expecting” mums to be. Back on Islay we met our pal big Lamie, who drove us in his bullet proof Merc, bullet proof on Islay? must be a story there (aye there is), shared a few drinks and stories with him, a few good belly laughs too (if you have seen Paul and Lamie you’ll know how big belly laughs can be!). Just goes to show what whisky can do; a Campbell and a McLean getting on very well and best o friends! While the TV coverage of the darts in Glasgow SECC carried on relentless, we drank with Peter the younger and his lovely mum Linda exploring the wood in the bar, no to mention their own personal collection of excellent bottles.

So many nice people and a special hello to our man at Calmac on the way out of Port Ellen, made us a special place on the ferry. Hello also to the lovely lass at Spar in Port Ellen (from Mull and Dalmally!). Thanks for the butties.  S’funny isnee it, all except Kilchoman are on the water and all with a pier or slip, did they get deliveries by sea? Who is out there who knows?  Now then, who agrees with Liz and Paul, Islay needs a chip shop, a clothes shop (where do they buy socks, undies and jeans?) and a travel agent. We also need start trying to get all restaurants to lower their food costs a wee bit. We are no saying put in a KFC but something needs be done guys.  We also thought (rightly or wrongly) that after doing our best and spending money actually getting there ( no cheap ), that everyone should be made to accept a free bottle of their choice upon arrival or departure! Just as a thanks y’see.  Angels would be very happy to take you to the isle any time you wish. With our tour company MCLEANSCOTLAND you get so much packed in, real value for money and a great experience.

ARDBEG; Current owner: Glenmorangie plc.  Distillery Manager: Michael Heads  www.ardbeg.com What a clean and tidy place this is! Our first call right off the ferry, well, after Kildalton. Our first “spend!” here. Some work going on at the centre, grand wee place, lovely stuff to buy and great views, drams are no bad either! Their marketing and overall packaging matches the drink.

LAGAVULIN Current owner: Diageo. Distillery  www.discovering-distilleries.com Manager: Graham Logie.  Shut!!!

CAOL ILA Current owner: Diageo. Distillery www.discovering-distilleries.com Manager: Billy Stitchell. Doon by the water, chatted with other distillery tourists (on bikes). I would say, the least attractive distillery, big is no always beautiful. Come on Diageo.

LAPHROAIG Current owner: Allied Distillers Ltd. Distillery Manager: John Campbell www.Laphroaig.com Loved it! Big Lamie’s look – alike looked after us! Liz is now a land owner like Paul, enjoyed this distillery and its visitor centre with  museum and so on, enjoyed our drams, we left with gifts.

KILCHOMAN Current owner: Privately. Distillery  www.kilchomandistillery.com Manager: Malcolm Rennie. Eventually got there after our Dutch comrades, we detoured to see the ruined Kirk (Paul wanted this), back at the distillery; past the coos and horses into the barley floor, small but well formed. Our Canadian group coming in May, have a cask here. Some chattin and photos etc before we left for Bowmore.

BRUICHLADDICH Current owner: Bruichladdich Distillery Co. Ltd. Distillery Manager: Duncan McGillivray www.bruichladdich.com Chatted with Mary, shared a dram or several, bought the t shirt and enjoyed it all! Mary; we will be back! But – Dinnae carry on wi that gin! You get a nice feeling here, you know its not a big corporation who owns it and it shows, in a nice way, staff very happy!

BUNNAHABHAIN Current owner: Burn Stewart Distillers plc. Distillery Manager: Vacancy www.bunnahabhain.com A real “workin distillery” dirt an all, its what we thought  and much more, some purchases here at the Barlinnie of the isles. As a wee note Liz and Paul both thought this reminded them of prison, er, that’s another story. A nice drive doon a winding road that leads you to their door, all the time we were there one happy chap was whistling away driving his fork lift, a sign of a good happy workforce and aye, we would go back.

 
BOWMORE Current owner: Suntory, Japanese Whisky Co. Distillery Manager: Eddie McAffer www.bowmore.co.uk what can we say? we stayed there, enjoyed there, drank their drams there, laughed with the lassies there, had a special tour which we both appreciated thank you, and felt at home! Great relax area and bar overlooking the water to Port Charlotte. I tended to favour this one, probably as we were staying with them, wanderin aboot at 7am, the distillery is quiet, you can peep into places, its good to be the only person around at times, och the weather was good too!
 
AYE WE KNOW, Jura is a different isle altogether, aye but it’s nearby and we shall do our best! Jura Prophecy is the fourth of Jura’s classic bottlings and the first to be ‘profoundly’ peated. The whisky takes its name from one of the island’s most famous legends. In the early 1700’s the hated Campbells of Jura evicted a wise old seer. Bristling with resentment, she prophesised that the last Campbell to leave the island would be one-eyed with his belongings carried in a cart drawn by a lone white horse. Was the old seer a Maclean? wouldn’t surprise us. 1938, Charles Campbell, blind in one eye from the Great War, fell on hard times and led his white horse to the old pier for the last time. Ha!  Prophecy is bottled without chill filtration for an authentic taste of 1938. Flavours of peat, smoke, cinnamon and sea spray with bonfire notes give way to soft liquorice and nutmeg.

 http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc and info@angelswhiskyclub.com

Loch Fyne Whiskies News has posted a new item, ‘SALE OF ICONIC WHISKY AT BONHAMS EDINBURGH TO AID JAPANESEQUAKE AND TSUMANI VICTIMS’

Gordon & MacPhail has had trading relationships with Japan for over thirty years and members of our family owned business felt it was important to show our support and raise funds to aid the relief.  We all feel helpless in the face of a tragedy so we are looking to do something practical.

My brother, Michael, was due to fly to Japan to take part in a series of events to launch Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old when the disaster struck. 

We have decided to donate bottle No. 1 of Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old to a special charity auction to raise money for the relief effort.  All funds will be paid to the Red Cross who will use them to help the Japanese people recover from this devastating natural disaster. 

Bonhams Edinburgh, who are giving their services for free, will deliver the special charity auction on Tuesday 29 March 2011 at 7.00pm GMT.  The auction will be held at Bonhams 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh and online at

http://www.bonhams.com/eur/auction/19503/lot/1/ 

As I am sure you are aware Gordon & MacPhail launched Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old at a special event at Edinburgh Castle on 8 March 2011.  Distilled in 1940 only 100 full sized decanters have been released for sale in 2011.  Whisky connoisseur Charles Maclean describes the single malt: “The Glenlivet 1940 opens a door into a different time, another country. To smell and taste this exquisite whisky is to experience the past in a unique way – layer upon layer of flavour, profound and evocative.” 

The whisky 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.

David Urquhart, Joint managing Director, Gordon & Macphail

You may view the latest Loch Fyne Whiskies post at;

https://www.lfw.co.uk/blog/2011/03/22/sale-of-iconic-whisky-at-bonhams-edinburgh-to-aid-japanesequake-and-tsumani-victims/

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers –

We scour the world looking for decidedly different whiskies to offer you. You know…the stuff your local liquor store guy probably has never heard of…and probably cant get even if he has.

Well, this week we scored large…as in “Best Grain Whisky for the 3rd consecutive year at the Worlds Whiskies Awards 2011” large: Greenore 15 YO Irish Grain Whiskey

Originally launched as a limited batch of just 5,000 bottles in 2008 the Greenore 15 YO claimed its first World Best Single Grain Whiskey award in 2009 and has continued to dominate the Single Grain whiskey field with repeat wins in 2010 and now 2011. To date the Greenore 15 YO has won two Gold medals and two Best in Class commendations at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and three World Whiskies Awards World Best Single Grain Whiskey titles.

Single Grain whiskeys are very rare, as most are mixed with malt whisky to create blended whisky. Produced at Cooley Distillery, Irelands only independent distillery, the raw ingredients for Greenore are simply maize, water and yeast with a small amount of malted barley to start the fermentation process. Greenore 15 YO is matured in first fill ex-bourbon casks. The result is a delicate whisky that is light in flavor. If you’re the adventurous type, I think you’ll be quite pleased with this whiskey.

Also, for those of you in the New York City or who are looking for a great reason to visit, I urge you to attend this years Whisky Live New York 2011 on April 6th at Pier 60/ Chelsea Piers. ForScotchLovers will be there again this year, and we offer you great discounts on tickets (see below).

I hope you’ll give the Greenore 15 YO whisky ($85.95) a try, and if you attend Whisky Live New York, please stop by our booth.

Doug Stone

Founder

www.ForScotchLovers.com

  
GREENORE 15 YO IRISH GRAIN WHISKEY

GREENORE 15 YO REVIEW – by JOHN HANSEL of   THE MALT ADVOCATE 

Cooley distillery’s oldest grain whiskey to date, and marketed as a limited edition. Similar in personality to Greenore 8 YO-rather light and gently sweet-but deeper, more oily in texture, not as crisp, with enhanced spice notes. You’ll also find soft creamy vanilla, lemon meringue, cut hay, orange rock candy, teasingly subtle bitter chocolate, and a dry, spicy finish…I find them equally pleasant in personality.

Malt Advocate magazine rating: 84

 
 
Whisky Live New York 2011, during New York Tartan Week, in its 7th year, returns to the spectacular Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers, 23rd Street on the Hudson River, in the heart of the city, on Wednesday, April 6, 2011.  

Whether you are a seasoned whisk(e)y lover or a novice, you can expect to experience an incredible and in-depth insight into the world of Scotch, Bourbon and Whiskies (Irish, Kentucky, Japanese, Canadian and American) along with great food and fantastic entertainment. Whisky Live New York will bring the world of Scotch, Bourbon and Whiskies to life, increasing your knowledge of whiskies and a chance to meet the whisk(e)y experts.

Book your tickets in advance, and use the special ForScotchLovers discount code “fsl2011” to receive 10% off normal ticket prices for Whisky Live New York 2011

Hello whisky fans,

It’s been a busy start to the year at Abbey Whisky. We have sourced some wonderful new additions to the Abbey Whisky collection.  The Abbey Whisky team have celebrated some special birthdays recently and a dram or two of our wonderful ‘Scottish water’ has been raised in celebration!

We consider Abbey Whisky a unique online supplier in choosing to only stock very rare and exclusive malts…so when searching for that extra special dram, make your first port of call abbeywhisky.com

We believe that we hold the best range of Port Ellen available online and with reported stock levels at Port Ellen decreasing daily, the precious malts won’t be around for long.

Port Ellen makes for great investment, especially in the current climate. These bottles are in great demand, and increase in value by the day.

Sláinte!

Mike & Peter

Remember! We still are offering  free postage to UK mainland. £16.00 to most of Europe. Great Prices to the USA.

Port Ellen 1978, 24 Year Old

2nd Annual Release

£495.00

Port Ellen 1978, 24 Year Old

3rd Annual Release

£345.00

Port Ellen 1979, 25 Year Old

5th Annual Release

£495.00

Port Ellen 1978, 27 Year Old

6th Annual Release

£305.00

Port Ellen 1979, 28 Year Old

7th Annual Release

£360.00

Port Ellen 1978, 29 Year Old

8th Annual Release

£255.00

Port Ellen 1979, 30 Year Old

9th Annual Release

£450.00

Port Ellen 1978, 31 Year Old

10th Annual Release

£500.00

Glenglassaugh, 50 Litre Octave Cask Ownership

Have you ever wanted to own your own cask of whisky?  You can now own your very own cask of Glenglassaugh spirit, for only £500!!!

For more information follow this link. http://www.abbeywhisky.com/proddetail.php?prod=Glenglassaugh50LitreOctaveCaskOwnership

Abbey Whisky is currently buying….

Full Collections… Rare Malts series, Complete Bottles, empty boxes & tasting notes…Ardbeg 1965, Port Ellen Annual Releases, Port Ellen Maltings, Port Ellen Feis Ile, & many more. Are looking to sell?  Get in touch, auction prices paid!

enquiries@abbeywhisky.com

Abbey Whisky

www.abbeywhisky.com

Specialist supplier of rare, collectable and exclusive malts.

Johnnie Walker Black Label $24.99
Dewar’s White Label 1.75L $26.99
Jack Daniels Black 1.75L $33.99
Johnnie Walker Red label 1.75L $25.99
Canadian LTD 1.75L $10.99
Chivas Regal Scotch $17.99
Canadian Club 1.75L $16.99
Seagram’s 7 Crown 1.75L $14.99
House Of Stuart 1.75L $14.99

*Prices valid W/Binny’s Card March 23 through March 29, 2011. Not responsible for misprints or typographical errors.  Sizes 750ml unless otherwise stated. Advertised items limited to quantities on hand.
 
Don’t forget to use your Binny’s Card! Get discounts on mixed case wine purchases and work towards a 2% rebate on every $500 of eligible purchases. Get your free card at a Binny’s near you.

Visit Binny’s at www.binnys.com

SALE OF ICONIC WHISKY AT BONHAMS EDINBURGH TO AID JAPANESE QUAKE AND TSUNAMI VICTIMS

The sale of a £13,000 bottle of Gordon & MacPhail Generations Glenlivet 70 Years Old, launched earlier this month, is to be auctioned at a special evening at Bonhams, Edinburgh on 29 March in aid of the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Family owned whisky specialists Gordon & MacPhail unveiled the iconic Single Malt Whisky at Edinburgh Castle on 8 March. Distilled in 1940, only 100 full sized decanters have been released for sale in 2011. Decanter number 1 of 100 has been presented for this special event.

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, had been due to fly to Japan to launch the whisky when the tragedy struck. He had the idea of auctioning the bottle in Scotland to raise much needed money for the relief effort. The proceeds will be donated to the British Red Cross Japan Appeal. The special, single item, charity auction will be held at Bonhams, 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh on Tuesday evening 29 March at 7.00pm GMT to allow buyers in the USA and the Far East to take part. Bonhams are giving their services for free.

Michael Urquhart said, “Gordon & MacPhail has had trading relationships with Japan for over thirty years and members of our family-owned business felt it was important to show our support and raise funds to aid the relief. I think we all feel helpless in the face of a tragedy like this so it is good to be able to do something practical. I hope people will respond generously.”

Bonhams Managing Director in Scotland, Miranda Grant, who lived in Japan as a child, said, “We’re just pleased to be able to help Everyone has been shocked by the scenes of devastation and the loss of life and we’re all hoping to raise a good sum.”

Norman McKinley, director of the Red Cross in Scotland, said, “This is an extremely generous gesture by Gordon & MacPhail and Bonhams. The massive earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan have caused widespread destitution and suffering.

“The costs of the relief effort and of rebuilding the homes and lives of those affected will be immense. Donations to the British Red Cross will be used towards helping the Japanese people recover from this devastating natural disaster over the coming months and years.”

The charity auction itself will be preceded by a reception at 6.00 and a talk at 6.40 by the renowned whisky connoisseur Charles Maclean.

For further sale information please go to www.bonhams.com/scotland

For further press information please contact Andrew Currie on 0207 468 5871 or andrew.currie@bonhams.com or press@bonhams.com

NOTES 

Bonhams

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son and Neale UK. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street, and Knightsbridge, and a further five throughout the UK. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Boston in the USA; Toronto, Canada; and France, Monaco, Hong Kong, Australia and Dubai. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 57 specialist areas. By the end of 2009, Bonhams had become UK market leaders in ten key specialist collecting areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, go to www.bonhams.com (February 2010).

Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant who have 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 40 countries. It offers more than 450 presentations of own-bottled single malts and has a stock-holding of more than 700 whiskies.

British Red Cross: in the event that the British Red Cross receives more donations to the Japan Tsunami Appeal than the Japanese Red Cross and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement can reasonably and efficiently spend, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to humanitarian disasters both here in the UK and overseas.