30ltr & 50ltr Casks of whisky for sale!!!

Dear Friend

Thank you for taking an interest in our company and for signing up to receive advanced warning of new releases from St George’s Distillery.

First things first, you may or may not have heard that we recently had a fire here at the distillery. No need to panic though as no one was hurt and most importantly none of the whisky was damaged! You’ll be pleased to know everything is running as normal, we are still open 10:00am until 5:30pm for the shop and tours and we are still making our whisky.

The reason we are writing to you today is that we have a limited number of 30 & 50 litre casks for sale, filled with our 3 year old single malt whisky. These will be sold at cask strength and will be both un-chillfiltered and have no artificial colouring. The price for the 30ltr cask will be £1200 and the 50ltr cask will be £1800, this works out to be less than £20 per bottle @46% and you get to keep the barrel. On a first come, first served basis, customers will have the option of these casks containing peated or unpeated whisky. These prices include the cask, contents, all taxes paid and delivery to mainland England which means these are exceedingly good value.

Our 30ltr cask is already on our website to buy www.englishwhisky.co.uk and our 50ltr cask will be following shortly. Please note that these won’t be ready for delivery until November 2010.

We strongly recommend that you collect your cask, whilst we are very cautious choosing the couriers we use – you will definitely take more care on the journey home than even the best courier.

Kind Regards
Andrew Nelstrop
English Whisky Co. Ltd
St George’s Distillery
Harling Road
Roudham
Norfolk
NR16 2QW
Email: info@englishwhisky.co.uk
Web: www.englishwhisky.co.uk
Tel: +44 1953 717939

BUSHMILLS MASTER DISTILLER ANNOUNCES FINAL NINE IN GLOBAL CHALLENGE
 
Bushmills Master Distiller Colum Egan today announced the names of the nine contenders who will represent their countries in the international finals of a Bushmills Irish Whiskey® competition that has attracted the interest of tens of thousands of people around the globe.
 
The finalists from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, South Africa, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Bulgaria will be competing for their chance of glory in the Make it at Bushmills finals later this month. The overall winner will be announced on Thursday 26 August at an awards dinner in the village of Bushmills on Ireland’s stunning north coast.
 
The line-up for the finals was decided by votes, cast by members of the public, on Facebook, for the hundreds of contenders who originally entered the competition. Launched in the New York Stock Exchange on St Patrick’s Day, it offers a prize of a 30 day stay in Bushmills, a chance to be the first person ever from outside the distillery staff to create a new blend of one of the world’s best loved Irish whiskeys, a month’s luxury penthouse accommodation in Ireland and £5,000 spending money.
 
The overall winner will be selected following a two-day ‘Bushcamp’ later this month when contestants will face the Master’s Challenge – a test of skill set by Master Distiller Colum Egan. The performance of the contenders will be judged by a panel that includes Irish rugby legend, Keith Wood and Foy Vance, one of Ireland’s most respected singer-songwriters.
 
Congratulating the shortlisted contenders, Colum Egan said:
 
“All of the finalists have done a fantastic job to make it this far – they have already won their place at Bushcamp. Their character, sense of humour and passion for life are what inspired people to vote for them. I have no doubt these qualities will be tested at Bushcamp when all nine contenders attempt to prove to us they have what it takes to make it at Bushmills.
 
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the interest Make it at Bushmills has generated and it’s been fantastic to see the competition talked about in blogs, magazines, newspapers and TV shows all around the world.
 
“The strong international interest in Bushmills is further reflected in the fact that since creating our first official Bushmills Global Facebook page earlier this year, it has attracted more than 30,000 fans, making it the world’s second biggest Irish Whiskey Facebook site,” adds Colum.
 
The finalists’ progress at Bushcamp will be charted on-line from 25-26 August at the Bushmills Facebook page – facebook.com/bushmills1608.
 
NOTES 
 
The nine finalists for the Make it at Bushmills Challenge are:
Ivan Ivanov – Bulgaria
Koen Cassiers – Belgium
Loïk Tavernier – France
Sietse Offringa – Netherlands
Allister Brown – Northern Ireland
Kevin O’Sullivan – Republic of Ireland
Lance Ralph – South Africa
Nick Ord – United Kingdom
Joshua Wortman – United States

The Old Bushmills Distillery: The Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim.

World Premiere at Maltstock 2010 with Four Roses

The fledgling “festival” Maltstock will have its second edition this year. It isn’t a festival really, it’s more of a worldwide gathering of whisky-lovers who come together for a weekend of fun, whisky and stories with the known and unknown.  Maltstock is different from the many whisky festivals. At Maltstock people come together for a whole weekend. We eat, drink, sleep and have fun all at the same venue. Visitors take their own bottles and share the contents with likeminded people, but there are importers too, presenting special bottlings that are difficult to obtain. All in a very unique, relaxed atmosphere.

Maltstock is the brainchild of Teun van Wel and Bob Wenting, aka The Bruichladdies. Whisky aficionados themselves, they act as guides to the uninitiated at the Dutch whisky festivals and organise whisky trips to Scotland for small groups who want to taste the cratur at its origin: the distillery.

Last year Maltstock welcomed Jim McEwan as honorary guest, among others.  He captures the essence of Maltstock in this statement about the first edition:

“I think it is a totally unique event, there is nothing like it in the world. It is inexpensive, the venue is perfect. The people who attend are really into malts and they were happy to share their whisky and their stories with complete strangers. And when the time came to say goodbye, there were no strangers, only friends, and they will remain that way for a long time.

This is when the Magic of Malt comes alive, when it is shared willing with people who share the same passion. This event provides the perfect stage for it all to come alive. Slainte.” 

For Maltstock 2010 the founding fathers wanted to create an original experience with bourbon, not limiting their scope to single malts. This spring, Teun and Bob attended the Four Roses “white dog” tasting at the Groningen Festival (WFNN) conducted by master distiller Jim Rutledge and whisky writer Hans Offringa. For those who do not know, Four Roses uses five yeast strains and two different mash bills with which Jim Rutledge and his crew create 10 different “white dogs” (new make spirit as it is called in the USA). No other distillery does this.

In April this year Hans was in Chicago judging a whisky competition and met Brett Pontoni of Binny’s, who happened to be on the jury as well. Brett told Hans that Binny’s – the largest wholesaler and retailer of whisky in Illinois – stocks the 10 different single barrel Four Roses, made out of the 10 different recipes.  When Hans informed them, Teun and Bob knew how to create an unique experiment at Maltstock 2010:

Organize a tasting where the participants could not only taste the 10 white dogs, but also the 10 mature versions, bottled after having been in the barrel for several years! Something which has never been done before anywhere in the world. It will be an unique opportunity to find out if yeast really does matter!

Jim & Hans

The Bruichladdies asked Hans if he could arrange white dog for Maltstock and Jim consequently supplied Bob and Teun with 10 sample bottles. With the help of Jim, Hans, Brett and Pernod Ricard NL (the importer of Four Roses in The Netherlands), Maltstock was able to obtain the 10 different single barrel bourbons and will present them on Saturday September 4 in a special tasting.

This has never been done before and Jim Rutledge is very enthusiastic about it. Since he cannot be in Europe at the time, he asked Hans Offringa to conduct this unique tasting. The two have known each other for years and enjoy working together.  Jim recently assessed Hans’ manuscript “Bourbon & Blues” and says about it: “I read Hans’ book on a plane and I think it is fantastic. A very ‘easy’ flow and read.”

The book is scheduled for publishing Spring 2011 and no doubt Four Roses plays an important part in it. Hans says about it: “I have been a devotee of Four Roses straight bourbon since my late teens and I can truly tell there is a lot of Four Roses in this book … and in its writer! I am honoured to host this unique tasting at Maltstock 2010.”

Don’t miss out on a unique event and register for Maltstock 2010 now. Simply go to www.maltstock.com, register first and then go to the online web shop to order your tickets. Hope to see you at Maltstock!

Slainte,

The Maltstock Crew
Arthur, Bob, Eline, Rogier and Teun

HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES, INC. APPOINTS STEVEN E. FELLER VICE PRESIDENT OF NORTH AMERICAN SALES 

Elected Officer of Company After Guiding Sales Efforts for 18 Years

LOUISVILLE, KY—Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. announced today that current Director of North American Sales Steve Feller has been elected as a Vice President, recognizing his 18 years of service to the company and his last five years leading sales efforts in the U.S. and Canada.

Heaven Hill Distilleries, the largest independent family-owned and operated distilled spirits supplier, is the producer of such renowned category leading brands as Evan Williams Bourbon, Christian Brothers Brandy, Burnett’s Vodkas and Hpnotiq Liqueur, and under Feller’s guidance has leveraged strong sales growth to become the nation’s seventh largest spirits supplier.

Feller, who will continue to lead the company’s overall sales efforts in North America and report to Heaven Hill President Max L. Shapira, joined Heaven Hill in 1992, progressing in the sales organization to become Director of North American Sales in 2005.  Prior to coming to Heaven Hill, Feller was with Glenmore Distilleries and United Distillers.  He is a graduate of the University of Louisville and holds an MBA from Bellarmine University. 

“In his new position, Steve will continue to provide the leadership that has driven our robust growth during his tenure,” commented Heaven Hill President Shapira.

Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams and Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Hpnotiq Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul and Two Fingers Tequilas, and Dubonnet Aperitif.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

Untouchable taste – proof is the hottest new whisky on the market this summer!
 
Toronto, On – August, 2010: As early autumn approaches, proof brands inc. proudly announces the launch of proof whisky. To commemorate this event, proof brands inc. is inviting you to join us for a media launch at the Bloor Street Roots Store on Wednesday, September 1st  6-9pm. The evening will include an introduction of our new brand of Canadian whisky, a taste of Canadian-inspired foods, an exclusive VIP shopping experience at Roots and an intimate performance by one of Canada’s hottest acts.

proof whisky, comes in a hip new 500 ml size!

The blend of Canadian prairie rye and wheat is distilled with pristine spring water from the Canadian Rockies. It is aged to perfection in charred oak barrels, creating its sophisticated sweet and smoky flavours. proof is bottled at 42% alc./vol., to give it that extra edge. Enjoy it on the rocks or in our swanky signature cocktail – the Urban.

proof whisky is now available at the LCBO, for only $19.95 a bottle.

Great things DO come in small packages.

For more information or to set up an interview:

Please RSVP Karine Delage by Friday, August, 27th, 2010 at 416-876-3329 or karine@karyzmaagency.com

Hi All,

Well that was it then.

The summer that was and then wasn’t. A summer of mixed sports results – a poor world cup (for any nation other than Spain), a good run at Wombledon by Murray and an unbeaten England cricket team. Some good weather, some not so good… Well I hope that you managed to have a great one whatever you did!

Whisky on the other hand waves goodbye to the hot weather with the promise of an exciting program of autumn and winter events here at The Whisky Lounge. We would be foolish to disappoint…

Festivals

The York Whisky Lounge Festival 2010
Saturday 18th September
The Guildhall, St. Helens Square, York
12-4pm, 5-9pm
£15 per session

The Manchester Whisky Lounge Festival 2010
Saturday 2nd October
The Castlefield Rooms, Castle Street, Manchester
11am-4pm
£18 per ticket

Both of these fantastic events return for more whisky-related fun than ever before! Both have new and old friends in attendance and both have a fantastic roster of masterclasses for you to choose from.

I won’t waste email space going on about exhibitors here – instead why not pop to the website to find out for yourself and to buy tickets. You will not be disappointed by the line-ups we have for you, with representatives from Scotland, England, Ireland, Japan, India and the USA!

Springbank Tastings

It has taken me a while, but I have finally talked the most staunchly independent of distilleries into doing a series tastings with us – a big seal of approval! For those of you who have never experienced Springbank, you are in for a treat. The only distillery in Scotland to malt all of its own barley also produces three different variations from the same site – Hazelburn, Springbank and Longrow. These are produced using differing barley peat levels and distillation styles. They have also opened another distillery and will be sampling with us some of the newly matured Kilkerran from this! We will be welcoming Iain Scott, a very humorous and friendly character, to spill the beans on Springbank…

This is a great and truly iconic distillery and the whiskies are of the highest quality, so make sure you are at one of the tastings below to enjoy!

Friday 3rd September – Blackfriars, Newcastle
Friday 10th September – Britons Protection, Manchester
Friday 8th October – City Inn, Leeds
Saturday 9th October – The Hilton, Tower Bridge, London SE1
Sunday 24th October – Meltons Too, York

Tickets to all of these are £20, and Springbank are kindly offering one of their tastefully branded tasting glasses for everybody who purchases a bottle on the night! Again, go to the website to buy tickets or for further info.

I will have further news on our final tastings of 2010 very shortly, but that should keep you going for now!

I hope to see you at one or more of these events but in the meantime take care of you and yours and speak soon…

Slainte!
Eddie

PS. Don’t forget you can follow us more closely from the comfort of your own computer/phone/internet capable device on either or both Twitter and Facebook. See you there!

Eddie Ludlow
Whisky Evangelist

thewhiskylounge
www.thewhiskylounge.com
eddie@thewhiskylounge.com
Twitter me up
Facebook Group

07515 854210

IWSC Spirit Panel Judge 2009-present

WHISKY GALORE BOTTLE MAKES £4,200 AT BONHAMS SCOTTISH SALE

NEAR SELL OUT SALE MAKES £92,000

A bottle of whisky salvaged from the “Whisky Galore” ship, The SS Politician, was sold today for £4,200 on the second day of Bonhams annual Scottish Sale in Edinburgh.   It was retrieved from the wreck of the ship in the 1950s or 1960s and was estimated to fetch £1,200 – 1,800.  The sale made a total of £92,000 and practically every bottle was sold.

The story of the SS Politician and its cargo of whisky is known round the world thanks to the novelist Sir Compton MacKenzie who based his book ‘Whisky Galore’ on the real life events.  The novel was later made into a very popular Ealing Comedy film.

In 1941, the ship set sail for Kingston, Jamaica with a cargo which included pianos, motor parts, bedding and 28,000 cases (264,000 bottles) of whisky. It ran aground in a gale off the Outer Hebrides near the island of Eriskay.  Islanders, from Eriskay and beyond, starved of whisky by war time rationing, systematically salvaged around 24,000 bottles before the authorities caught up with them.  Some of the looters were fined; some ended up in jail; few of the stolen bottles were recovered.  The hull of the ship was blown up by a frustrated local customs officer to put the whisky beyond temptation, prompting one anguished islander to exclaim, “Dynamiting whisky! You wouldn’t think there’d be men in the world so crazy as that!”

Whisky from the Politician rarely appears at auction.  In 1987, 8 bottles were retrieved from the wreck which still lies submerged off the coast of Eriskay and sold for £4,000. Despite extensive salvage efforts in 1989 only 24 more bottles were recovered.

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

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 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 (Feb 2010)

Bonhams, 101 New Bond Street, London, London W1S 1SR United Kingdom

Whisky World – 25th and 26th August

Love Whisky?

We do, and on August 25th and 26th The Oak Barrel will be immersed in the ‘water of life’ with Whisky World – a celebration of unique whiskies from Australia and around the world. Come into our ‘cave’ where an exhibition will showcase a variety of whiskies for your tasting pleasure. If you still want more, join us in the tasting room where each night will feature two master classes, each with a unique focus.

The ‘Cave’ Exhibition will feature a variety of whiskies such as Sheep Dip Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Tobermory 15yo Isle of Mull Single Malt Scotch Whisky as well as distilleries including Glenmorangie and Talisker. If you are passionate about whisky, join us on Wednesday night as we explore award-winning whiskies from Victoria in our Bakery Hill Master Class. Presented by owner and distiller David Baker, Bakery Hill produces classic single malt whiskies with exceptionally fine flavour and aroma. Wednesday night will also feature a rare opportunity to sample not only the Classic Malts but also the “Boutique Barrels” from Isle of Jura distillery in Scotland. With a live Skype crossover to Scotland for the presentation, it promises to be a class to remember! Thursday night will kick off with Limeburners presented by Cameron Syme. Limeburners Whisky is made by the Great Southern Distilling Company on the picturesque Princess Royal Harbour in Albany, Western Australia. Cameron will be showing four Whiskies and a Whisky Liqueur from his stable of fine International Award Winning Whiskies. Last but not least is a family affair as we sample traditional, hand made whiskies from Springbank in Scotland. The oldest independently owned family distillery in Scotland, Springbank uses traditional methods at all stages of the distillation process and carries out the full production process on the one site.

So join The Oak Barrel team as we host this unique event dedicated to the worlds best whiskies. With a range of tickets available, Whisky World has something for everyone – whether you’re a whisky connoisseur or a new found lover, you will be sure to leave with a warm feeling inside!

NOTES

Quick Facts

Time: 6.00pm – 9.00pm


Date: Wednesday 25th & Thursday 26th August

Location: Oak Barrel, Tasting Room

Tickets: 
Platinum: $70 or $60 for members, includes: 2 Master Classes, entry to the   exhibition area over 2 nights.

Gold: $50 or $40 for members, includes: 1 Master Class, entry to the exhibition area for 1 night.

Silver: $20 includes: entry to the exhibition area for 1 night.

Book: events@oakbarrel.com.au

ROB RUBINSTEIN JOINS HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES, INC. AS NATIONAL SALES OPERATIONS MANAGER

Industry veteran to fill new role at nation’s largest independent family-owned and operated spirits supplier

LOUISVILLE, KY—Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. announced today that distilled spirits industry veteran Robert F. Rubinstein has joined the company, effective August 9th.  Rubinstein was named to the newly-created position of National Sales Operations Manager, reporting to and working with Heaven Hill Director of North American Sales Steve Feller to optimize the company’s growing sales infrastructure.

Heaven Hill Distilleries, the largest independent family-owned and operated distilled spirits supplier, will be utilizing Rubinstein’s sales management experience to further the company’s ongoing alignment of sales processes and resources with short and long-term performance goals.  Heaven Hill is the producer of such renowned category leading brands as Evan Williams Bourbon, Christian Brothers Brandy, Burnett’s Vodka and Hpnotiq Liqueur, and has leveraged strong sales growth to become the nation’s seventh largest overall spirits supplier.

Rubinstein joins Heaven Hill after 13 years with Sidney Frank Importing Company as Director of Sales Analysis and Planning.  Prior to that, he served as a Senior Business Analyst for Bacardi USA’s Eastern and Mid-Atlantic Divisions.  Originally from the New York area, Rubinstein is a graduate of Binghamton University/State University of New York, and holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut.  He will be relocating from New York with his wife Jennifer and two children to Louisville, where he will be officed.

“We are extraordinarily pleased to have an executive with Rob’s track record join us at this time of such robust growth for the company,” commented Heaven Hill Distilleries Director of North American Sales Steve Feller. “He and I, along with our Sales Division Managers, will be refining and building our sales organization for even greater success in the ever-changing distilled spirits landscape.”

Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams and Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Hpnotiq Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul and Two Fingers Tequilas, and Dubonnet Aperitif.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.” 

Whisky Connosr at The Whisky Show 2010

The Whisky Show, the UKʼs foremost luxury whisky tasting event, returns thisyear in spectacular style in a larger more spacious venue and, this time, the experience will offer a truly unique new dimension thanks to an exclusive digital partnership with connosr.com – the independent social networking website devoted entirely to whisky.

This yearʼs expanded Whisky Show will once again present the finest examples of whisky from around the world, providing recommendations and tastings to suit every palate. As digital partners, connosr.com will be bringing the show to life online as well as providing a unique interactive consumer experience at the event itself.

Our exclusive digital event will enable everyone at the show to take part. Weʼll be asking whisky fans to take centre stage as we elevate whisky critiquing to new heights. Watch this space and look out for more details on connosr.com

connosr.com at The Whisky Show – we hope to see you there!