Four Roses white dog at Maltstock

We are very excited to have all ten different white dog they make at Four Roses at Maltstock! White dog is what they call new make spirit in the US. Four Roses is unique: they use two different mash bills an five different kinds of yeast, thus creating ten different kind of white dog. At Maltstock you can have a first experience to find out yeast does matter! We hope to have Jim Rutledge, master distiller at Four Roses on video to explain all about the way they work and the differences.

BenRiach and GlenDronach at Maltstock

BenRiach and GlenDronach distilleries have confirmed they will be present at Maltstock again. Stewart Buchannan, operating manager at BenRiach will come over from Scotland.

So again there is a very nice program at Maltstock with the presence of Balvenie, BenRiach, GlenDronach, GlenGlassaugh (with Stuart Nickerson himself) and Tomatin distilleries. As well as independent bottlers like Douglas Laing, Single Malts of Scotland, Daily Dram, Wemyss, Adelphi, Berry Brothers & Rudd, David Stirk, Chieftains and Dewar Rattray. And of course the whisky quiz, the campfire and the free tastings.

Free tastings

BenRiach, Balvenie, Glenglassaugh and Tomatin will do a free masterclass. We also have a blending competition, the white dog tasting and a unique new make tasting. At the new make tasting you will be able to compare about 15 different new makes. Including a couple of new makes from some highly regarded distilleries.

Buy your Maltstock tickets now!

Tickets for the white dog tasting, as well as for all the other free tastings will be available soon through the Maltstock website. But only for those of you who already bought their Maltstock tickets. So go to the Maltstock website and visit the shop to get your ticket for an unique weekend of relaxed whisky fun!

See you in September, see you at Maltstock.

Arthur, Bob, Eline, Rogier & Teun
info@maltstock.com

www.maltstock.com

Whisky Intelligence has reproduced (with permission) The Gauntleys Whisky Newsletter for October 2003; a small sample of scotch whisky archeology. The author, Chris Goodrum, has some excellent insights of whisky, which makes for excellent reading on a Sunday.  However as you may have noticed we are nearing the end of the series of his excellent newsletters. Enjoy one of the final installments!

Dear Whisky customers

The big news this month is a series of new releases from Bruichladdich. As you will all be aware that I have the greatest respect and admiration for Jim McEwan. He is passionate about his whisky and has a nose for a superb cask of whisky.

JIM McEWANS CELTIC HEARTLANDS

This year, the master distiller celebrates his 40th year in the whisky business, which he joined at the age of 15 as an apprentice cooper. Over four decades he has put his heart and soul into the making of Scotch Whisky and has brought a taste of Scotland and the magic of Islay to thousands throughout the world.

In commemoration of this, he has selected some very special casks which he feels reflect the Celtic heritage of his homeland and convey the passion he feels for it.

The Celtic Heartlands whiskies are 100% Bourbon Cask matured, are caramel free, have not been chill-filtered and are bottled at their natural strength. Each are presented in a specially commissioned decanters featuring one of the most endearing Celtic symbols, the Birds of Friendship. Limited to just 722 bottles of each expression, each one is individually numbered.

As Jim says “These are the finest single malts from the heartlands of the Celts”

THE RANGE

1968 Bowmore  40.6%
1967 Highland Park 40.1%
1968 Macallan 40.2%

The recommended retail price is £249.95 per decanter. However for orders placed before 31st October we are offering them at £222.95 per decanter. For orders of two or more of these stunning decanters the price drops to £209.95 each.

LEGACY SERIES 2

The Bruichladdich Legacy Series is the second release of their oldest and best casks which were inherited when the distillery was bought in December 2000. Jim has made this personal selection of casks dating back to 1965 and has carefully vatted them together to create an exceptional limited edition of 1500 bottles.

The label has been specially commissioned by the celebrated artist Frances McDonald, whose work depicts the scenery of Scotland’s Hebridean Islands entitled “Loch Indaal from Port Charlotte”.

Like all their bottlings, it has been bottled without chill-filtering and at the natural strength of 41.8%

Bruichladdich Legacy Series 2 37 Year Old

50% American Oak, 50% Refill Sherry.
Luscous, silky, mellow fruit exudes from the glass. Sublime in the mouth, full of Amontillado laced oak, dried tropical fruit, a dash of vanilla, hints of glorious coconut milk, brandy butter, marshmallows and a tingle of lively lemon and Islay air have melded together beautifully to offer an extraordinary dram.

The recommended retail price is £189.95 per bottle. However for orders placed before 31st October we are offering it at £177.95.

THE 1973 VINTAGE LADDIE

Finally the last new offering is this superbly crafted 30 year old whisky. Limited to 4200 bottles, each of which is hand numbered and bottled at the natural strength of 40.2%. It demonstrates the complexity and depth of flavour found in the sophisticated Islay malt.

Bruichladdich 30 Year Old 1973 Vintage

65% American Oak, 35% Refill Sherry.
A lovely, mellow, sherry tinged aromas with that classic, complex, Bruichladdich signature  of vanilla sweetness and a touch of briny sea air. Initially the quality, mellow oak engulfs the palate, leaving a complex array of flavours on the tongue, sweet  gingerbread, almond cake, stewed pears, honey glazed marmalade oranges, and finishes with a very long quiet warmth that denotes its elegant maturity.

The recommended retail price is £114.95 per bottle. However for orders placed before 31st October we are offering it at £107.95.

CONTACT

We would welcome any comments you would like to make about this newsletter,  any of our products, or how we can improve our service. Please feel free to  contact us on rhone@gauntleywine.com

Sincerely
Chris Goodrum

Visit Gauntleys of Nottingham at http://www.gauntley-wine.co.uk/

Edinburgh & St.Andrews

Wanted!

Old & Rare Whiskies!

Competitive Prices Paid…In Cash!

Ardbeg, Port Ellen, Macallan, Laphroaig, Glenmorangie, Hazelwood, Dalmore and many more wanted.

Bottles or full collections…Auction prices paid!

Email us now with details of any Whisky you might be looking to sell, along with detailed pictures.

enquiries@abbeywhisky.com

Sláinte

Abbey Whisky

www.abbeywhisky.com

Specialist supplier of rare, collectable and exclusive malts.

Grant’s Scotch Whisky have launched their newly redesigned website, take a moment and explore the new site at http://www.grantswhisky.com/ 

Whisky Visitor Numbers Up Again in 2009

New figures announced today by ScotlandWhisky – the national Whisky Tourism Organisation – reinforce the importance of Scotch Whisky to Scotland’s tourism sector. 

Visitor numbers grew by 2.6% in 2009, with 1,268,553 tourists visiting a distillery in Scotland. 

Consumer spending at distilleries increased by nearly 13%, contributing £28.4* million  to the local economy. 

Chris Conway from ScotlandWhisky said:

“These latest figures clearly show the continued attraction of Scotland’s national drink to tourists.   Visitors have a real desire to find out more about Scotch Whisky, and visiting a distillery remains a ‘must-do’ activity.  In fact, approximately 8% of visitors to Scotland tour a distillery**.” 

The increase in distillery visitors was in line with provisional figures for the wider Scottish tourism sector, with the growing average spend at distilleries outperforming the market.  

Conway continued:

“The on-going growth of visitor numbers to distilleries is a testament to the investment and innovation distillers continue to make.  More distilleries are investing in improved visitor facilities with a real emphasis on education and entertainment.  Many distilleries now offer additional connoisseur tours, masterclasses and opportunities to bottle or even blend your own Whisky – as well as participating in Whisky Festivals.” 

“Moreover, with many of Scotland’s best known distilleries situated in the Highlands and Islands the increase in spend gives a particular boost to rural economies.” 

Today’s figures come ahead of an important month in the whisky tourism calendar.  This year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs 29th April to 3rd of May with events at distilleries throughout the region (more details can be found at www.Scotlandwhisky.com).

It will be followed later in the month by the Islay Malt and Music festival: 22nd to 30th May.

ENDS

* This figure includes sales of tour tickets, retail sales from distillery shops and café sales.
 **Based on the latest full year figures from VisitScotland (2008).  Tourist that spend an overnight stay in Scotland

Notes

• ScotlandWhisky is supported by The Scotch Whisky Association, The Scotch Whisky Experience, Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, VisitScotland and its membership.

• 90 hotels, golf courses, bars and restaurants are now officially recognised as Scotch Whisky ‘Embassies’, having met specific quality criteria, including staff trained in Scotch Whisky appreciation.   Further information about ScotlandWhisky and its Embassy network is available at www.scotlandwhisky.com.

Ooops….a bit of a time delay but Ralfy reviews Balblair 1989  (20yo) in review #128…take a moment to visit Ralfy at www.ralfy.com

EPISODE 250

Back from Scotland, and plenty to talk about. This episode features highlights from the World Whiskies Conference in Glasgow, as well as a rare interview with retired Suntory master blender Dr. Koichi Inatomi. In the news, Springbank’s distillery manager heads north to take over Duncan Taylor’s new distillery project in Huntly, along with a new 40-year-old single malt from Glenfarclas, Highland Park’s plans to phase out two travel retail releases, and new travel retail expressions from The Balvenie and Grant’s.

Catch up with WhiskyCast at http://www.whiskycast.com/

May Top-up Tipplers:  Stop to Re-fuel with 39.75 & 95.11 
Save £5 on pair or BUY 121.33 for only £29.50

39.75 Cuban memories
Speyside Lossie
£46 inc. Free P&P
Rich and sweet, with traces of gunpowder, but more of cinder toffee, maple syrup and nut oil. Water brings Tropical thoughts: cigar boxes, limes, coffee, baked pork with pineapple.
Age: 13 years            Cask:  Refill ex-sherry butt

95.11 Punched in the face with happiness
Speyside Spey
£56.50 inc. Free P&P
A bigger nose than Cyrano de Bergerac! cherries, flambé bananas and pineapple with a drop of balsamic; cinder toffee, maple syrup, leather, vanilla, pencil boxes and cookie dough – seemingly endless.
Age: 13 years            Cask:  First-fill ex-sherry butt
Buy 39.75 & 95.11 together and SAVE £5 OR
Buy 39.75 & 95.11 together and BUY 121.33 for ONLY £29.50

121.33 Gunpowder on lemon meringue pie
Highland Island
£39.50* or £29.50 with 39.75 & 95.11 inc. Free P&P
The nose had sweetness (Caramac, custard, barley sugar, white chocolate) and tropical fruit (pineapple, orange, lemon, Juicy Fruit)
Age: 9 years                    Cask: Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

£5 Top-up Tippler Pair ends: Thu 6 May
Buy 121.33 for £29.50 offer ends: Thu 29 Apr

SMWS Whisky Tasting & Events

Society Sensory Masterclass – The Vaults, Fri 23 Apr
Durham Preview Tasting – Oldfields Restaurant, Sun 4 Apr
Ladies Only Pampering Night – 28 Queen St, Wed 5 May
New Outturn Tasting – London, Sat 8 May
New Outturn Sunday Roast tasting – The Vaults, Sun 9 May
Birmingham Preview Tasting – Brighton Hotel Du Vin, Fri 14 May
Cafe Spice Nameste – Cafe Spice London, Tue 18 May 

Cardiff Preview Tasting – Novotel Cardiff Centre, Fri 21 May
Islay and Island Tasting – 28 Queen Street, Sat 22 May

Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

This week only $19.99 Regular Price $30.00

Nose

Distinctively fresh and fruity with a hint of pear. Beautifully crafted single malt with a delicately balanced fragrance.

Taste

Characteristic sweet, fruity notes. Develops into elements of butterscotch, cream, malt and subtle oak flavor.

Finish

Long, smooth and mellow.

About the Distillery

Glenfiddich is little changed since 1886, when William Grant and his nine children rolled up their sleeves to build the  Distillery with their bare hands. These same silent warehouses and  steamy mash rooms produce the world’s favorite single malt Scotch whisky today.

This whisky has matured for at least 12 years in American and European oak casks. The quality of these casks is   exceptional as all are individually tended by their experienced team of coopers, ensuring that the whisky develops complex, elegantly rounded flavors with notes of fresh pear and subtle oak. 
 
This special price is available now till Tuesday May 4, 2010.  Don’t miss this special offer, order your bottles today. Visit D&M at http://www.dandm.com/
 
 

EPISODE 249: APRIL 19, 2010

I had a great experience today, and decided it warranted a special mid-week episode recorded on board a First ScotRail train from Aberdeen to Glasgow. Michael Urquhart gave me a private tour of the Gordon & MacPhail warehouses and sample room in Elgin, along with a tasting of several G&M bottlings, including the new 70-year-old Mortlach! Along the way, we talked about the family’s history in the whisky business, nosing and tasting, and much more!

EPISODE 248: APRIL 17, 2010

This episode comes from the Highlander Inn in Craigellachie, Scotland…the heart of Speyside! We’ll hear from Highlander co-owner Duncan Elphick and the manager of the Highlander’s world-class whisky bar, Tatsu Minagawa, about the Highlander’s history and its whisky selection. In the news, Scotch whisky exports hit a new high despite the economy, a mothballed Speyside distillery will be sold and closed forever, new distillery tours, and a new GlenDronach. I’ll also go to whisky school with Donald Renwick and the faculty at Royal Lochnagar!

EPISODE 247: APRIL 12, 2010

The whisky business is in good shape despite the global recession. That’s the view of Sir Gavin Hewitt, CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association. I sat down with Sir Gavin during his visit to New York for Whisky Live and a seminar for trade professionals to discuss whisky exports and the impact of the new Scotch Whisky Law. I’ll also have highlights from Whisky Live New York, and word on new whiskies from Early Times, Caribou Crossing, an ultra-rare Macallan, and the results of the Alzheimer’s Association Chocolate Symphony Scotland tour auction!

Catch up with WhiskyCast at http://www.whiskycast.com/