The 16th annual Malt Advocate Whisky Awards were recently announced on Malt Advocate magazine Publisher John Hansell’s blog, What Does John Know?
 
The categories and award winners are:
 

Best Buy Whisk(e)y of the Year:
The MacPhail’s Collection (Tamdhu 8 year old,
Glenrothes 8 year old, Highland Park 8 year old)

Artisan Whiskey of the Year (operating 10 years or less):
Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey (Batch #49)

American Whiskey of the Year:
Parker’s Heritage Collection “Golden Anniversary”

Canadian Whisky of the Year:
Crown Royal Cask No. 16

Irish Whiskey of the Year:
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2009 release)

Scotch Whisky: Blend of the Year:
Compass Box, “The Peat Monster”

Scotch Whisky: Single Malt of the Year:
Ardbeg Corryvreckan

Industry Leader of the Year:
Mark Brown, President and CEO of Buffalo Trace Distillery

Distillery of the Year:
Cooley

Pioneer of the Year:
Whisky bloggers

Lifetime Achievement Award:
John Ramsay & Robert Hicks

Also announced were the Top Ten New Whiskies for 2009
(listed alphabetically):
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Brora 30 year old (2009 Release)
Dalmore 50 year old
Gold Bowmore, 1964 Vintage
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2009 Release)
Laphroaig 25 year old
Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve (Bottle B1986)
Parker’s Heritage Selection Golden Anniversary
Rittenhouse Rye 25 year old (Barrel #1)
William Larue Weller (2009 Release)

The Malt Advocate Whisky Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in their sixteenth year, these awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. They honor the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. To be eligible for this year’s awards, products must have been sold in the U.S. during the 2009 calendar year.

A complete write up of each award winner will be published in the Spring issue of Malt Advocate magazine, out March 1st. You can see this in advance, with a lively discussion about each winner, on John’s blog (www.whatdoesjohnknow.com).

The 16th St Liquor Store in West Vancouver has just ordered a double vertical (52-94) of the Glenfarclas Family Cask series.  Chris Funnell, the Manager, will have amassed the entire collection from Glenfarclas when it arrives . The store actually has a substantial collection of whisky overall.

The Purchase Order is only just being processed now with delivery expected in May, fingers crossed. The store currently has a decent range of Glenfarclas as well as an extensive collection of other whiskies. Enough to get the collecting bug going every time! 

Chris Funnell, Manager
16th St Liquor Store
220 16th St
West Vancouver, BC
V7V 3R5
Ph 604 926-1339
Fax 778 279-4630

Ok, time is short, so I’ll keep this brief! Here is your last chance to win a Winter White trip to Edinburgh.

We have teamed up with VisitScotland as part of their Winter White Campaign, created to showcase the many wonderful Winter White things to see and do in Scotland. Enter now to discover Scotland’s enchanting capital with a two-night stay for two at the 5-star boutique hotel, The Glasshouse. Then perhaps relax with a glass of Highland Park in the luxurious surroundings of an award-winning suite and take in the view of the bright white lights of this captivating city.

You can indulge your whisky enthusiasm by studying the world’s largest collection of Scotch whiskies, visiting The Scotch Whisky Experience (with a dram of 21-year-old whisky), enjoying a barrel ride through whisky production and you’ll receive a gift-boxed whisky glass and miniature. The prize includes £250 spending money so you can go shopping for a Highland Park 30 year old and an 18 year old.

The lucky winner will also receive two Winter White Explorer Passes which offer discounts on some of the country’s top attractions. Explore the white sights of the capital, including the magnificent snow-dusted Edinburgh Castle, which houses the Crown Jewels and The Stone of Destiny.

Round-off your trip at Edinburgh’s most stylish restaurant, The Living Room on George Street, where you can linger over a glass of sparkling-white champagne before a delightful three-course meal.

Enter now at: www.visitscotland.com/whitehighlandpark

For more information on the Best Spirit in the World visit www.highlandpark.co.uk

 
Gerry
Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year, 2010

TRY THE NEW AND IMPROVED WHISKY SHELF

Whilst the snow has kept us all indoors here in the UK, we’ve been busy behind the doors of Warehouse 24 improving the Whisky Shelf. We have made significant improvements to how well it works, while making sure to keep the essence of what made the original so popular.

EASIER AND QUICKER TO USE

It’s now much easier to add malts, rate malts and apply your own notes and comments. You should also find it easier to search for malts and see what others have said about them.

If you’re just in for a quick visit you can now add a number of malts to your shelf at one time without needing to rate them immediately. When you do come to appraise them for your records, we have made the Sensory Evaluation section easier and quicker to use – so you can now enjoy fuller details on your malts and learn a bit about nosing and tasting too.

Remember you can also create a wish list of malts you want to try, and share it with your friends by email… very handy as your birthday approaches 😉

MAKE YOURSELF KNOWN

Among the new features is the ability to create some on-screen profile text about yourself and upload a picture to represent you. To do this, login to Warehouse 24 and click on My Details: remember to click UPDATE PROFILE in the bottom right-hand corner when you’re finished.

The Whisky Shelf is a great companion for your malt whisky journey, and it just got even better… why not try it now?

Slainte

David Mair
The Balvenie Ambassador

Cooley Named Distillery of the Year by Malt Advocate

Cooley Distillery honoured as 2010 Distillery of the Year by Leading US Publication

Cooley Distillery, Ireland’s only independent whiskey distiller, has been named Distillery of the Year at the 16th Annual Malt Advocate Whisky Awards.

The Whisky Awards run by the Malt Advocate, North America’s leading whisky magazine, recognise excellence in the world of whisky. Now in their sixteenth year, these awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. They honour the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote whisky around the world.

John Hansell, Editor of the Malt Advocate, commented, “The most compelling justification for selecting Cooley for this award isn’t just the variety of the whiskeys they make. It’s the quality. They are now putting out the best whiskey they have ever produced. In an era where hundreds of small distilleries are starting up across the globe, Cooley can be an inspiration to them all.”

Cooley has now made a clean sweep of all major whisky awards.  The 2010 trophy sits beside World Distiller of the Year 2008 (IWSC), European Distiller of the Year 2008, 2009 (IWSC), Irish Distiller of the Year 2007 (Icons of Whisky), and World Best Whiskey 2009 (IWSC). 

The award confirms Cooley’s role and reputation as a world class whiskey distiller. 

Jack Teeling, Managing Director of Cooley, commented,

“The US is now the biggest market for Irish whiskey. Being honoured as Distillery of the Year by the Malt Advocate will elevate the profile of our portfolio of whiskeys right across the US.  This prestigious award is testament to the skill, dedication and hard work of the entire Cooley team.  We will continue to build Cooley’s reputation for being the world’s best distiller of Irish whiskey.”

ENDS

Additional Information:

The Malt Advocate Whisky Awards

The Malt Advocate Whisky Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in their sixteenth year, these awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. They honour the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. Malt Advocate magazine is America’s leading whisky magazine. It’s the number one source for whisky information, education and entertainment for whisky enthusiasts.

For Additional Information:

 Jack Teeling, Managing Director, Cooley Distillery  

Tel: +3531 8332833

 David O’Siochain, Pembroke Communications

Tel: +3531 649 6322

In this issue, I am highlighting a product from the Lonach label (Duncan Taylor) that is simply outstanding, and I think you all should know it’s available. I put the Longrow CV in the spotlight section. If you like peaty whisky and haven’t tried this one, you’re in for a treat.
 
Cheers,
 
Ken Young
Preiss Imports
ken@preissimports.com

What A Deal, You Say

Strathisla? 1967? For $199 or less ?!? Can’t be!  

From our good friends at Duncan Taylor & Co. we are able to offer a great value whisky – Lonach Strathisla 1967 42 Year Old. The Lonach label was created to showcase those rare and old whiskies that were too low in alcohol volume to be bottled as a single cask, so instead many barrels were married together to provide a deliciously old dram at a great price!  

Tasting Notes:

Color: Pale Straw Hue
Nose: Dried bark and cinnamon, with developing fruitiness and buttered crumpets, and evolves into treacle sponge. Also present are vanilla pods, dried spices and mahogany tables.
Palate: Quite creamy notes of authentic vanilla ice cream and jelly sweets.
Finish: Hard toffee, a touch of shortbread and a little dried fruit.
41.1%ABV

Single Malt Spotlight  – Longrow CV 
  
The brilliant minds at Springbank Distillers longed to make an uber-balanced Longrow Single Malt…they wanted all of that peat and smoke, while maintaining a superior balance of complexity and maturity. After months of experimenting, Longrow CV was released as a combination of 6, 10, and 14 year old Longrow Single Malt. 
 
CV stands for Curriculum Vitae (meaning Resume) which describes the variety of ages contained in the expression. 
 

 
Bragging Rights
F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal :: 5 STARS, HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION
F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal :: 2009 115 Best Five-Star Spirits
2009 Whisky Bible :: 95.5 Points!
Whisky Magazine :: Highest Recommendation
~Available Nationwide~

 
GlenDronach, Anyone?

We reintroduced GlenDronach in 2009 and currently have 12, 15, and 18 year old in stock. We would like to make sure you can get your fix of this WONDERFUL sherried single malt.  Please contact me directly at ken@preissimports.com if you have any issues obtaining GlenDronach in your market. 

Worldwide Travel

Currently Euan and Mark are both out of the country on business trips, Euan is in the US till the end of this week and Mark is in Amsterdam.  So far this year Mark has already been to Paris and has a trips planned to Tokyo, Denmark and Italy in the coming weeks. Lin plans to travel to Shanghai and Hong Kong at the end of February.

New Release

Black Bull 40 Year Old

Black Bull 40 Year Old, the flagship of the Black Bull range is a superior blend of the finest Single Malt and Single Grain whiskies available from Scotland’s premium Distilleries. The spirit in this very first bottling of Black Bull 40 contains whiskies ranging from 40 to 44 years old from the following distilleries: Bunnahabhain, Glenfarclas, Glenlivet, Glenburgie, Highland Park, Miltonduff, Springbank, Tamdhu and Invergordon.

Black Bull 40 Year Old joins the illustrious Black Bull 30 Year Old and Black Bull 12 Year Old in this award winning stable of blended whiskies.

Tasting Notes
Colour: Tawny
Nose: Sweet, Grapefruit, vanilla, iced buns, apples and mint
Taste: Mild, juicy fruits, slight touch of oak and a soft coastal note. Raisins and cinnamon, exceptionally smooth
Finish: Vanilla, some kiwi fruits, freshly cut grass and a faint hint of aniseed
Comment: The best Bull yet! An exceptionally good whisky

Reviews of Black Bull 40

Although Black Bull 40 has only been available for a week, we have already received some great reviews, scoring a fabulous 91 points from Whisky Fun, maybe even the highest scoring blend ever from Serge: http://www.whiskyfun.com/#250110

Matt from Whisky For Everyone also gave the new blend a great review, to view his comments please follow this link: http://whiskyforeveryone.blogspot.com/2010/02/new-releases-black-bull-40-years-old.html

Just Bottled

We have had a number of new bottlings so far this month which I’m sure will be of interest to you all, a selection of these bottlings are listed below with some tasting notes to wet your appetite.

Rarest of the Rare Port Ellen 1983 26yo 54.6% Cask 674
Colour: Polished Mahogany
Nose: Sweet, dry smoke, smoked cheese, sandalwood.  Black cherries, a little creamy – antiseptic cream and pepper
Taste: Initial hit of ash, then big blood orange notes. Marzipan, dry smokiness. Cocoa, raisins, figs and a soft creaminess
Finish: Long lingering dry smokiness, giving way to big rich red fruits, white pepper and wet ash
Comment:  Like eating fruit in a Sauna! An exceptional whisky!

Rare Auld Royal Lochnagar 1986 54.5% Cask 949
Colour: Pale Gold
Nose: slight smoke, aromatic spices, mild cappuccino, cedar wood
Palate: Citrus, slight smoke, touch of melon, pear, grassy
Finish: dry, citrus, lightly spiced oak, medium length

Rare Auld Glenesk, Sherry Finish 1983 56.4% Cask 1288
Colour: Amber
Nose: Sherry spice, sandalwood, orange zest, caramelised brown sugar, burnt oak
Palate:  Predominantly sherry with dark chocolate, dark fruits, cherries, slightly leathery
Finish: Smokey, burnt wood

For further information, please contact:
Duncan Taylor & Co Ltd
Whisky Merchants and Brokers,
4 Upperkirkgate, Huntly,
Aberdeenshire, Scotland AB54 8JU
  website: www.duncantaylor.com
email: info@duncantaylor.com
Phone: +44 (0) 1466 794055
Fax: +44 (0) 1466 794618
 

Purveyors of the worlds most exclusive range of Scotch Whiskies

The big reveal continues…..

The 16th Annual Malt Advocate Whisky Awards winners are being announced one per day through February 11th.  John has been busy posting and receiving comments on each of the categories.  Come on in, take a look around What Does John Know and be sure not to leave without sharing your thoughts.  And the winners announced to date are:

Scotch Whisky: “Single Malt of the Year”: Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Scotch Whisky: “Blend of the Year”: Compass Box, “The Peat Monster”
“Irish Whiskey of the Year”: Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve (2009 release)
“Canadian Whisky of the Year”: Crown Royal Cask No. 16
“American Whiskey of the Year”: Parker’s Heritage Collection “Golden Anniversary” Bourbon
“Artisan Whiskey of the Year”: Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey
“Best Buy Whisky of the Year”: The MacPhail’s Collection
“Pioneer of the Year”: Whisky Bloggers!
“Industry Leader of the Year”: Mark Brown (Buffalo Trace Distillery)

Visit the Malt Advocate at http://www.maltadvocate.com/

Batch 6 of the Award Winning
Islay Blended Malt

A shovelful of single malts distilled at Ardbeg, Coal Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen bottled unchill-filtered.

The ideal Valentines gift, Big Peat!

Let us wrap it up for you, gift wrapping now available at the checkout.

£31.99 (£27.23 ex VAT)

Visit the Whisky Barrel at www.thewhiskybarrel.com

5th February 2010
WHISKY BIBLE DOES FACEBOOK

Internationally acclaimed whisky writer and author Jim Murray has today confirmed the creation of a Whisky Bible page on social network forum Facebook.

Bowing to pressure and requests from whisky fans all over the world, the Whisky Bible page will provide on going commentary on the life and times of Jim as he circles the world in search of great whisky.  Containing event details, pics and video the page will grow into a living diary of Jim’s travels.

To access the page and become a fan simply type Whisky Bible into the Facebook search bar.
~Ends~

For more information please contact:

Mark Hunt
Director of Communications
Dram Good Books Ltd
Email: mark@whiskybible.com
Tel:  07768 145583