Tickets on Sale Monday, April 4th!

After an excellent start to 2011, Spirit of Toronto is excited to announce that tickets for this year’s show go on sale Monday, April 4th at 10:00am. As in years past, tickets will be available from Roy Thomson Hall’s box office online, by phone or in person. Tickets for the show are $129 HST included and a reminder will go out on April 3rd for those of you subscribed to this list.

Planning for this year’s Masterclass Series is well underway and will be published by mid-March. Last year’s scheduling of pre-show masterclasses at 5:30pm was a resounding success and will be repeated again in 2011. Updates will be emailed as new details for both the show and masterclasses are confirmed.

In the meantime, please read on to find out more about two very special guests for 2011.

Special Guest: John Glaser, Compass Box

I’m not sure what’s more incredible: that it’s been 10 years since John Glaser founded Compass Box Delicious Whisky… or that it’s been 4 years since he last graced Spirit of Toronto in person.

To commemmorate ten years of blending small batch Scotch whiskies, it seems only fitting to have John return to Spirit of Toronto and host a retrospective tasting of the Compass Box range from past to present.

John’s visit will also give him a chance to launch his latest magnum opus in person, The Spice Tree, a blended malt whisky being released in Ontario stores this month, not to mention a redux of the controversial whisky that found him at loggerheads with the venerable Scotch Whisky Association in 2005.

For those interested in learning more about John Glaser and how he breaks with convention to create fabulous Scotch whisky, an excellent video interview can be found online at www.connosr.com

Special Guest: Willie Tait from Isle of Jura

Spirit of Toronto is honoured to be welcoming one of Scotland’s most distinguished master distillers to this year’s show, the affable and inimitable Willie Tait from Isle of Jura. Fans of island whisky, distillery lore and devillish charm will not want to miss the opportunity to sample this growing range with one of Scotch whisky’s most respected statesmen.

Like the island itself, Jura’s whisky is singular and one of quiet appeal, “a Highland malt made on an island” according to Willie, and a whisky converting its accolytes one at a time without pomp or fanfare. In addition to the fantastic Jura Superstition, a few cases of the recently launched Jura Prophecy still remain on store shelves and provide an excellent counterpoint for those who enjoy gentle depth and complexity in their peated whisky.

Now I have yet to meet Willie in person, but am told that to know him is to love him. With this in mind, please continue for a brief introduction…

Q&A with Willie Tait

What is the first whisky you remember tasting?

Well, like most young people it was from my dad’s collection, sorry to say it wasn’t Jura!

What is your fondest memory from the distillery? Do you miss the hands on work of making whisky on a daily basis?

Fondest memory is walking home from doing a night shift—that walk along the sea shore was like heaven itself. And yes, I miss the chat from the boys every morning.

Where have your travels with Whyte & Mackay taken you so far and what has been your favourite location?

I have travelled all over Canada, the US and Europe, but my favourite location is where I am at the time.

Islay gets all the attention these days but what sets Jura apart from its Hebridean neighbour?

Well, I tell people the nicest thing about Islay is the view over to Jura—Jura is much more remote and I like it that way.

Have you ever actually climbed the Paps of Jura?

Yes, many times, and not always in the best of weather. Like all mountains they draw you to them.

Best whisky being made outside of Scotland at the moment in your opinion?

I love Bourbon and Forty Creek. I say to people we showed them how to make it and they still got it wrong!

If you had to choose: haggis or black pudding?

I like both but at different times.

New York or New Zealand?

Never been to New Zealand; I do love NY but my heart says New Zealand.

If you were stranded on a desert island and a case of Jura washed up on shore… which expression do you hope it would be?

Oh, I thought you said woman! I would love to find a case of Jura 16 Year Old… and a woman to help me drink it.

www.spiritoftoronto.ca

www.ralfy.com WhiskyReview 183 – Caol Ila 30yo Mackillops Choice      ….. runs on for over 14 minutes, bnut the reason is to discuss more fully the benifit of extended tasting notes and how very old Whiskies can offer more of a ‘conversation’ to the malt-fan.

New Packaging for Ale Cask Reserve

Hi all,

Thanks to everyone who said they liked the photos on Facebook  and commented on the blog.  It’s great to see so many of you sharing your thoughts and opinions.

As promised, here is a first glimpse of the new packaging for Grant’s Ale Cask Reserve.

Cask Edition No1 is the only Scotch whisky matured in…

Follow the link below to see the latest blog post on Behind the Blend from Ludo

http://blog.grantswhisky.com/2011/02/new-packaging-for-ale-cask-reserve-2/

Where can I find a bottle?

As explained above, once we sell a bottle to the ABD we do not have any information where it will end up so we can not really help find a retailer that has product in stock. Retailers can only sell what they get allocated from the State, which is limited by the amount of product we send to the ABD, so please do not get frustrated with retailers. They are doing the best they can in a tough situation and would obviously be happy to sell you a bottle if they could. The only option is to search various stores the first week or two of each month and hopefully find a bottle in stock. We have also noticed a lot of our fans helping others find bottles on our Facebook page and through the Twitter hashtag #TRspottings, so be sure to watch those channels as well.

Do you sell Templeton Rye at the distillery?

We have legally been able to sell product at the distillery since July 2010. We chose not to sell at the distillery because we did not think it was the right thing to do with our retail partners in such short supply. We thought the Dec ’10 allocation would go a long way towards filling the Iowa pipeline and we had planned to start selling at the distillery Jan 1st. Because the December ’10 allocation went so quickly, we have since decided not to start selling at the distillery Jan 1st. We honestly do not know if or when we will start to sell Templeton at the distillery. Please watch our newsletter for any updates on this subject.

Visit Templeton Rye at www.templetonrye.com

Winter Whisky Wonders 2011 at the Park Avenue Liquor Shop.

Brrrrrr!

Winter has hit its stride and is hammering much of the country with snow, sleet and mind-numbing cold on a consistent basis. So we at the Park Avenue Liquor Shop thought we’d warm your hearts with a look at some fantastic new whiskies.

You’ll find some new entries from different countries as well as our latest Park  Avenue Liquor Shop exclusive bottling.

There’s lots to look at so take your time. As always we please contact us with any questions you might have. Hopefully it isn’t snowing where you are but if it is let us remind you – we ship!

Stay warm.

Cheers!

Jonathan & Eric
The Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Ave
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442
info@parkaveliquor.com
www.parkaveliquor

Bruichladdich Micro-Provenence Series:

Port Charlotte – 7 Year Old

Park Avenue Liquor Shop Exclusive.

PC7-PALX Our newest exclusive is full of heat (126.8 proof) and peat. Aged for 7 years in a Bourbon cask, our Port Charlotte open up with aromas of sweet citrus fruits that entrance you before you get walloped by notes of peat smoke and salt. (Think campfire!) Adding just a drop of water keeps some the heat at bay and reveals moreof sweet, honeyed fruit.

Just 218 bottles were made.

Our Price: $120

Port Charlotte ~ PC8 Ar Durthchas

Port Charlotte 8

This is the last of the 2001 vintage ‘age numbered’ Port Charlotte expressions. PC8 come with the nickname ” Ar Duthchas” which is Gaelic for “Land of our heritage”. It is well peated at 40ppm and has matured in American oak at cask strength (121 proof). This bottling in limited to 30,000 numbered bottles and comes in one of  six different tin designs.

Our Price: $130

Octomore 2.2/140 ~ Orpheus

Octomore Orpheus

The world’s most highly peated whisky is back with a new twist. In addition to packing 140ppm at 122 proof, this 5 year old now has a secondary maturation. After the classic bourbon maturation, Orpheus gets a secondary maturation in rare, super-premium Chateau Petrus casks.

Master Distiller Jim McEwan’s (Edited) tasting notes:

“The aromas explode from the glass. It’s peat smoke, wet seaweed all the Islay character is on the flood tide, then with time and a little water the wonderful sweet red fruit notes from the Petrus wine casks emerge; cherry, cranberry and pomegranate, Turkish delight, the sweetness of oak and barley slipstream, together they bring  a sensational contrast to the phenolic maelstrom.  It’s a journey of discovery  for the senses, which are on full alert coping with physical heat, but they are loving it.  It’s something you have never experienced before and will never forget. It’s Beauty and the Beast, Islay style.”

Our Price: $165

Bowmore Claret / Bordeaux Wine Cask

Bowmore Claret

A rare find! The cask strength, claret finished bottling is no longer available  – but we have it!  The nose is very aromatic. A robust struggle between the claret’s fruit-and-cedar notes and a confident Bowmore smokiness.

Bowmore and the Bordeaux battle on your palate bringing warm honey, dates, soft fruit, oak, smoke and sea salt along the way.

There’s Toffeeish (port-like) finish with fruit fighting its way back among the every present oak.

Our Price: $200

Cabin Fever ~ Maple Whisky

Cabin Fever

Cabin Fever is an amazingly smooth and aromatic whisky that has been infused with authentic Vermont Maple. The rye-based whisky is aged for three-years in non-charred barrels. This truly unique whisky has won multiple awards and draws a crowd at Whisky conventions across the country.

Our Price: $26

Glenmorangie: Finealta – Private Edition

Glenmo Finealta

Finealta is Gaelic for ‘elegant’. With that being said – we believe Finaelta is appropriately named.

Crafted from a 1903 recipe, lightly peated beauty has been partially aged in Oloroso and American Oak casks. There are distinctive vanilla and citrus notes. The subtle amount of peat creates a touch of smoke among this many layered malt.

This is the second release (the first was Sonnalta PX) from the Glenmorangie Private edition range of limited edition whiskies.

Our Price: $85

Benromach 10 Year Old

Benromach 10

Benromach 10 year old uses the finest Scottish malted barley before being matured in hand selected Sherry & Bourbon casks, it is then returned to sweet Oloroso sherry casks for a final marrying period.

The nose has rich sherry influence with fruit & nut chocolate as well as delicate cinnamon spice. There are also notes of fresh green apples, with a malty and light peat smoke in the background.

On the palate are delicious forest fruits – raspberries, blackberries, sherry, malt creaminess and a stronger peat influence.

Our Price: $45

Knob Creek: Single Barrel (9 year old)

Knob Creek SB

Master Distiller Fred Noe (seventh generation distiller and great grandson of Jim Beam) ensures that the best barrels in the Claremont, Kentucky distillery don’t  get lost in a blend; instead, superior barrels are hand-selected to be bottled at nine years for this Single Barrel Reserve, with the standard that each barrel contain “a unique expression of Knob Creek’s rich, mature flavor.” The result is a super-premium, natural spirit with strong vanilla notes and a deep, smoky finish. It’s easy to sip and holds its own in a cocktail and packs an unexpected punch at 120 proof.

Our Price: $58

The Hot Irishman: Coffee Liqueur

Hot Irishman

Technically this could qualify as a whiskey. Plus the fact that the award winning Hot Irishman is back in-stock IS big news. It’s still hand crafted from the finest Columbian Coffee, dark brown sugar and mellow Irish Whiskey. To make the very best Irish Coffee just add boiling water and top with cream. Yum.

Our Price: $29

The Universal Whisky Experience

March 18th & 19th at the Winn Encore in Las Vegas you can mix and mingle with whisky aficionados, high-end connoisseurs, and collectors. Attend master classes taught  by brand leaders and sample the rarest, finest premium whiskies from the top-tier brands.

USE PROMO CODE: PA247456

18th Annual Single Malt & Scotch Whisky  Extravagnaza

A gala evening featuring over 110 rare and unique single malt & Scotch whiskies,  along with a gourmet dinner, a selection of premium imported cigars, souvenir glasses and much more! Brought to you by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

(Visit https://www.amerisurf.com/singlemaltextravaganza/form_tickets.html to purchase your tickets and remember to quote WI11 to recieve your discount! – Whisky Intelligence)

Due to ever changing inventory we cannot guarantee bottle availability. Not responsible
for typographical errors. Please contact us with any questions regarding shipping.

The Park Avenue Liquor Shop | 292 Madison Avenue | Between 40th and 41st streets | New York | NY | 10017

This Valentine’s Day, make it an occasion to share and remember. Forget the ring, the chocolates, the flowers give him/her what they really want!! Fine Malt Whisky with personalised label.

Select your bottle of Single Malt whisky and then personalise it by adding a photograph of your own choice from a selection of different backgrounds and then a message to the label. Our online label design is fun, quick and produces amazing results at the click of a button.

Try it and see CLICK HERE http://www.singlemaltsdirect.com/design-your-own-designer

VALENTINE’S DAY OFFERS at http://www.singlemaltsdirect.com/special-offers.html

Jim Murray isn’t one to hold his tongue when he doesn’t like something, and the man behind the Whisky Bible shares some of the things that are bothering him these days in this episode, along with some of the whiskies that surprised him this year. We’ll also hear from Andrew Ferguson of Calgary’s Kensington Wine Market about his hotbed of whisky in the middle of the cold Canadian prairie, along with the rest of the week’s news and much more.

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com

This week, I am thrilled to offer you all the opportunity to pre-order the newest Limited Edition Glenmorangie: Finealta

Finealta, a triumphant recreation of an original Glenmorangie recipe dating from 1903, is a Limited Edition Glenmorangie with only 600 cases/3,600 bottles shipped into the USA in January of 2011.

This exceptional whisky is a celebration of how Glenmorangie whisky used to be made, and a representation of the decadent spirit of the age. It is lightly peated and matured in American white oak and Oloroso Sherry casks.

The price for Finealta is $79.00, plus S+H

If you want a bottle, please purchase your Finealta ASAP. As you would expect with a whisky like this, we have a very limited supply. Once it’s gone, it’s gone!

Enjoy!
Doug Stone
Founder
www.ForScotchLovers.com

TASTING NOTES

AROMA: Caramelized orange, peaches soaked in liqueur, sugared almonds, raisins, lime and a hint of distant wood smoke

TASTE: Initially rich and spicy with mandarin segments and lime which slowly build on the palate to flavors of powdered sugar, chewy meringue and violet

FINISH: Full-rounded aromatic smoke with chalky minerals linger to create a single malt of both finesse and richness

The original spirit from 1903 would have been made with malted barley dried over a peat-fuelled fire. The peat was originally dug on the Orkney Islands and delivered to the Glenmorangie Distillery by steamship. The lightly peated malt added a distinctive layer of smoky flavor to the whisky.

London’s Savoy Hotel ordered multiple casks of this Glenmorangie spirit in 1903, during the height of La Belle Epoque period, when the wealthy and titled freely socialized with artists, writers and the great actors of the day. The Savoy came to represent the ‘joie de vivre’ of the era, and Glenmorangie epitomized its elegant spirit.

Follow the link below to see the latest blog post on Behind the Blend from Ludo

The Whisky Top 10

Hi everyone,

Further to my recent post about France being the biggest market for Scotch whisky, I keep being asked about other countries’ affinity with whisky. Specifically, there have been a few requests for a top 10 list. So here it is, Scotch whisky’s 2009 top 10 markets by volume (as compiled by the IWSR –…

http://blog.grantswhisky.com/2011/02/the-whisky-top-10/

Kind regards,
Ludo

www.ralfy.com welcomes you to whisky review 182 – Mortlach 12yo OldMaltCask 57.2% of un-chilled, non coloured jucy-ness !