The second in our series of videos about Alan Winchester is now online*. In this episode Alan talks about the distillery expansion and what it means for the future of The Glenlivet, following the historic expansion of The Glenlivet Distillery. The re-opening ceremony was an enormous success that was presided over by His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales. Attendees reached 300 including representatives from Pernod Ricard markets around the world, international press, The Glenlivet VIPs and residents from the local community.

“It was great being involved in the opening of the new expansion. I was lucky enough to be in the line up to meet Prince Charles, which was a great experience. The whole day went really well and there was an amazing buzz to the whole place – wherever you looked there was something fun happening, from the sampling of the casks in Warehouse One to the helicopter rides over the Distillery. I’m now looking forward to the 200th year celebrations in 2024!”
Lesley McIntosh, Distillery Visitor Centre Deputy Supervisor

“It was surreal! My first royal encounter! Got to shake Prince Charles’s hand and joke with him about the new way of drinking whisky! With a cup of tea?”
Shuhui Lim, Pernod Ricard Travel Retail Europe

“Thank you again for an exciting, informative and memorable two days at The Glenlivet. The pride and passion shown by all was inspirational and it was a real privilege to be part of the experience.”
Graeme White, World Duty Free

“Extensive use of glass brings the outdoors inside and, in a way, takes the production process outside, it feels very natural and I can’t imagine it being done in any other way. Full marks. “Their brave future outlook, their ‘think globally, act locally’ marketing approach, their product range, the actual whisky, the hospitality, they got it right.”
Lucas Dynowiak Edinburgh Whisky Blog

Covered in the interview, Alan answers some of the questions that the Guardians of The Glenlivet recently asked him on his web page. Thanks to everyone who sent a question and remember to come back to the site to be sure to catch the whole series. We hope you enjoy watching the latest video.

 
 Slàinte mhath, 
 The Glenlivet 

* http://tinyurl.com/3486abx

MILROY’S OF SOHO AUGUST NEWSLETTER

It might be holiday time, but there’s plenty to report on the whisky front.  We have news of a forthcoming masterclass with Whyte & Mackay Master Blender Richard Paterson.  This promises to be a superb evening, not to be missed.    We have an exclusive offer for mailing list members on selected bottlings from the Diageo Manager’s Choice portfolio.  There are some huge savings to be had, but quantities are limited.   We also feature three new releases from the Whyte & Mackay owned Fettercairn distillery.  Read on for further details.

WHISKY OF THE MONTH – GLENDRONACH 15 YEAR OLD
GlenDronach 15 year old Revival continues as our Whisky of the Month throughout August.  This superb Oloroso Sherry cask-matured whisky is a wonderful after dinner dram, perfect for sipping with a cigar or the finest dark chocolate
£38.50 per bottle – and receive a free miniature of GlenDronach 18 year old with every bottle bought.

GLENDRONACH SINGLE CASK – 2010 RELEASES HAVE LANDED
The 2nd batch single cask releases featured in July’s newsletter have landed at Milroy’s of Soho.  Please be aware that quantities are limited and whiskies are selling quickly.  Do act now if you are interested.

“THE ART OF BLENDING” – WHYTE & MACKAY MASTERCLASS WITH RICHARD PATERSON – 6.30PM MONDAY SEPTEMBER 20
Raconteur, entertainer, bon viveur and whisky guru, Richard “The Nose” Paterson is one of the whisky industry’s great characters.  A master blender at just 26, there is little that Richard doesn’t know about whisky.   Anyone who has attended one of Richard’s tastings knows that they are well worth the price of entry for their entertainment value alone.

Richard will be joining us on the evening of Monday September 20 to impart his immense knowledge of the art of blending.   We will taste several premium whiskies from the Whyte & Mackay portfolio and end the evening with a blending competition.  Make sure your noses and palates are razor sharp!
£60 per ticket – limit 28 tickets – BOOK NOW!

DIAGEO MANAGER’S CHOICE WHISKIES – EXCLUSIVE OFFER FOR MAILING LIST MEMBERS
For the next seven days we are running an offer on selected whiskies from the Diageo Manager’s Choice portfolio.  This offer is exclusive to Milroy’s of Soho mailing list members on a first come first served basis.  Please quote the offer when you make your purchase. 

CARDHU 1997 12 year old, 57.3% ABV, Bourbon American Oak
Seldom seen in the UK, this cask strength single cask Cardhu is silky smooth, rich sweet and malty.
£250 per bottle RRP
Exclusive Offer Price – £185 per bottle

LINKWOOD 1997 12 year old, 58.3% ABV, Refill American Oak
Intense, malty and vibrant Linkwood.  Best enjoyed with a judicious dash of water.
£200 per bottle RRP
Exclusive Offer Price – £150 per bottle

MORTLACH 1997 12 year old, 57.1% ABV, Refill American Oak
Rich, butterscotch Bourbon wood-matured Mortlach.  One of the best of the first tranche releases, and very different to the standard Mortlach 16 year old.
£250 per bottle RRP
Exclusive Offer Price – £185 per bottle

TEANINICH 1996 10 year old, 57.1% ABV, Refill American Oak
A robust and full flavoured malt from one of Diageo’s lesser known malt whisky distilleries.
£200 per bottle RRP
Exclusive Offer Price – £150 per bottle

FETTERCAIRN DISTILLERY – NEW LIMITED RELEASE WHISKIES
For many years, Fettercairn has played a secondary role to the two blue chip distilleries in the Whyte & Mackay portfolio, Dalmore and Jura.  However, investment from Whyte & Mackay’s Indian owners has elevated the status of Fettercairn, reflected in these three new limited release bottlings.

FETTERCAIRN 24 Year Old, 44.4% ABV
Just 6,000 bottles of this 24 year old whisky are to be released.  Matured in American white oak casks, it is elegant and fruity, with characters of apple and pear, overlaid by caramel and brioche.
£125 per bottle
Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £112 per bottle

FETTERCAIRN 30 Year Old, 43.3% ABV
This mature Fettercairn delivers a veritable cornucopia of tropical and citrus fruit; mango, pineapple, pink grapefruit and Navel oranges.  So vibrant and fruity it demands a lilo, pair of Bermuda shorts and some sunscreen!
£199 per bottle RRP
Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £185 per bottle

FETTERCAIRN 40 Year Old, 40% ABV
Matured in Oloroso Sherry butts from Gonzalez Byass, this extremely rare whisky (just 463 bottles) is bursting with Sherry-derived flavours, including dark chocolate, crème brulée, Seville oranges, raisins and hazelnuts.
£750 per bottle RRP
Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £700 per bottle

SPRINGBANK DISTILLERY 2010 RELEASES
A quick update on the 2010 releases from the much-loved Springbank distillery.   The Kilkerran and Hazelburn sold quickly last year and are likely to do so again.

Kilkerran Work in Progress 2                  £32.50 limited stocks

Hazelburn 12 year old                               £46.95 due end August 2010

Springbank 12 year old Claret Wood    £39.95 limited stocks

Springbank 18 year old, 2nd Release    £67.50 limited stocks

Until next month, slàinte!

Best regards
Philip

Philip Shorten
Milroy’s of Soho
3 Greek Street
London, W1D 4NX

T: 020 7437 2385
F: 020 7437 1345
W: www.milroys.co.uk

Meryl Kerkhoff, 1929-2010

Dear friends,

It is with a heavy heart that I reach out to tell you that we have lost Templeton Rye Master Distiller Meryl Kerkhoff. Meryl died at Manning Hospital, surrounded by his family. I really struggle to put into words how much we all admired this great man. He will be missed dearly.

Meryl was a child of the Depression, born a mile from our current distillery in Templeton in 1929 to Alphonse and Frances (Bluml) Kerkhoff. He attended Sacred Heart School in Templeton and graduated in 1946. Meryl fought in Korea for two years and went on to a successful career as a farmer and auctioneer. He and his wife Imelda had seven children and 14 grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are being handled by Ohde Funeral Home in Manning, Iowa.

Meryl had a presence that was unmistakable. He was a true gentleman and a man of great stature, both in size and in character. I will always remember how his huge hands, strengthened by a lifetime of farming, would totally engulf those of anyone who would shake them. He dressed well, yet modestly, and had his signature Templeton Rye cap slightly tilted, or “a little cocky” as he would say.

Meryl had a sense of humor and his own language that greatly amused the rest of our team. A nice place was “Uptown” and when things were going well we were “Cadillacing.” He was a caring man who was always excited to see you and would ask, “So, how’ve things been going?” Meryl was a patient man and was more likely to listen than to talk. He gave Keith and I great advice over the years and was always very thorough about issues that impacted our company.

Obviously things will continue at Templeton Rye and Keith has been handling the day-to-day duties for sometime. Genetics are a powerful thing I guess, as I look at what I have written about Meryl, I could very well be describing Keith.

Please keep Meryl, Imelda, Keith and all of the Kerkhoff family in your thoughts and prayers.

At Meryl’s request, we got together a couple of weeks ago to record Meryl, Keith and I reminiscing about some of our experiences with the company. We video taped a portion of the discussion which can be seen below.

Scott Bush, President, Templeton Rye

Meryl

The Irishman The Movie…The Irishman The Whiskey

Did you know….

…that a big budget Hollywood gangster movie called The Irishman is to be released in early 2011?

… The Irishman chronicles the rise and fall of infamous Cleveland gangster Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson), who engaged in a power struggle with the Italian mob.  Greene was as an upstart longshoreman union rep and later became a cocky, legendarily difficult-to-kill troublemaker in the world of organized crime in the 1970’s. Based on the real story of mobster Danny Greene, Christoper Walken will play the loan shark and nightclub owner Shondor Birns and Val Kilmer is a Cleveland police detective who befriends Greene.

Source: www.movieset.com/theirishman

An offer you can’t refuse….

Let us know what other famous Irish gangsters you have heard of!

Simply e-mail the names of 3 famous Irish gangsters you have heard of to madaboutwhiskey@hotirishman.com and enter a draw to win a bottle of “The Irishman” 70 Superior Irish Whiskey – a unique blend of pure pot still and single malt whiskeys. All correct entries will be entered in the draw with ten winners chosen at random.

Sláinte!

www.hotirishman.com

Cooley Collects 10 Gold Medals at IWSC Two Years Running

Latest win brings Cooley’s total Gold Medal haul to over 100

Cooley Distillery, Ireland’s only independent Irish whiskey distillery, has matched the record it set in 2009 by winning 10 Gold Medals at the 2010 International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC).  The results were announced yesterday at the IWSC Awards ceremony in London.

IWSC medals are awarded on a strict points system by a panel of international judges.  They are the most prestigious honours bestowed to the drinks industry as they are judged solely on the quality of the wine or spirit.

The 2010 IWSC Competition Banquet will be held in the Guildhall in London on the 17th November 2010 when specific product and producer trophies will be awarded. Cooley Distillery has been named European Distiller of the Year for the last two years and is in the running to make it three in a row.

Cooley Distillery collected a total of 20 medals at the IWSC in 2010 making it by far the most successful Irish whiskey distiller at the IWSC and brings Cooley’s overall haul of Gold Medals to over 100 in all International Spirits Competitions.

Jack Teeling, Managing Director of Cooley Distillery, commented, “The latest haul of IWSC Gold Medals brings us over the landmark of 100 Gold Medals in all competitions and justifies our continual investment in innovation and quality. At a time of resurgence in Irish whiskey we are delighted to continue to build on both Ireland’s and Cooley’s reputation for being a world class producer of whiskey.”
 
List of Gold Medals at the 2010 IWSC

Gold Medal & Best in Class, Kilbeggan 15 Year Old Blended Irish Whiskey
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Madeira Finish Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Connemara Peated Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Connemara Cask Strength Peated Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Connemara Sherry Finish Peated Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Greenore 8 Year Old Single Grain
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Greenore 15 Year Old Single Grain
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Dún Léire 8 Year Old Single Malt
Gold Medal, Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Sherry Finish Single Malt
Gold Medal, Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Port Finish Single Malt

Visit Cooley Whiskey at http://www.cooleywhiskey.com/

Award Winning Cookbook Authors Sheila McConachie and Graham Harvey to ShareWhisky and Food Pairing Knowledge on SipSmokeSavor.com website.

San Diego, California, July 25, 2010 – The creators of www.SipSmokeSavor.com are delighted to announce that Sheila McConachie and Graham Harvey have agreed to guest author a series of articles for their website. These masters of scotch pairing co-wrote “The Whisky Kitchen – 100 ways with Whisky and Food”. This book, a culinary love letter to Scotland and its native spirit, won the prestigious Gourmand World Cookbook Award in 2009 for Best Book in the World for Cooking with Beer, Wine and Spirits.

McConachie and Harvey’s passion for their Scottish heritage, its countryside and dishes “terroir” is also evident in the inspired menu that puts their Craggan Mill Restaurant on the “short list” for best Highland dining experience. Craggan Mill won Eat Scotland’s 2010 Silver Award for excellence in food and service and has been awarded 2 Rosettes from AA Dining Awards for three consecutive years. In 2007, Graham Harvey was named Spirit of Speyside Chef of the Year. In 2009 Graham was admitted as a Master Chef of the Association Culinaire Française and earlier this year Sheila was awarded the title Master Chef of Great Britain. The couple recently was asked to judge the Scottish Heat of The Escoffier Challenge 2010, one of the world’s most prestigious culinary competitions.

Beginning in July these award winning chefs will showcase Scotch whisky as both an accompaniment to a fine meal, as well as an ingredient to add depth and flavor. You will find their series of articles in the “Food Section” of www.SipSmokeSavor.com, a website devoted to the pursuit of the perfect single malt pairing.

“The Whisky Kitchen – 100 ways with Whisky and Food” is available online through a link on the SipSmokeSavor.com website (see section Malts/Bookshelf) or in book stores ISBN 978 0 9554145 7 2.

Graham and Sheila’s Craggan Mill Restaurant is on the web at www.cragganmill.co.uk.

Malt Master Experiments

I’m pleased to bring you early news of an intriguing new release from The Balvenie Distillery.

Over the last few months, Malt Master, David Stewart, has been working with different combinations of fine, aged stocks of The Balvenie, and has discovered one marriage in particular that has excited him.

Read our Special Feature* on what will be a first for The Balvenie ~ and watch my interview* with David as he marries six casks to create the first ever batch of this new single malt.

Until next time, slainte mhath,
David Mair
The Balvenie Ambassador

*you must be a member of Warehouse 24 and log in to view both

THE BALVENIE DISTILLERY COMPANY LIMITED
Registered in Scotland. Registered Number SC138003
Balvenie Maltings, Dufftown, Banffshire, Scotland AB55 4BB
www.thebalvenie.com

EVAN WILLIAMS HONEY RESERVE TO RELEASE NEW SIZES

Sales growth drives addition of 1.75 liter and 750ml “Carry-Pack” sizes

BARDSTOWN, KY—Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the country’s largest independent family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer, announces the release of two new sizes of Evan Williams Honey Reserve Kentucky Liqueur, a product launched last Fall that marries extra-aged Evan Williams Bourbon with natural honey.  Bottled at 70 proof, and previously available in only a 750ml and 50ml size, Evan Williams Honey Reserve will now be available in a 1.75 liter and a 750ml Carry-Pack bottle.

The remarkable sales success of Evan Williams Honey Reserve, has led to consumer and trade demand for an economical 1.75 liter and a convenient, shatter-proof 750 ml Carry-Pack, both of which carry the same clear label, black cap and black and gold honeybee graphics as the existing sizes.  The 1.75 liter and 750ml Carry-Pack are also packaged in the same physical bottle as the Evan Williams Black Label 1.75 liter and 750ml Carry-Pack, further leveraging the remarkable sales success of the country’s second-leading selling Kentucky Straight Bourbon.

The 1.75 liter, with a suggested retail price of $28.99, and the 750ml “Carry-Pack”, at a $14.99 suggested price, are both bottled at 35% alcohol/volume or 70 proof.  Evan Williams Honey Reserve is now available in nearly every national market, and is quickly gaining a large following of loyal consumers.  In addition to its remarkable sales success, it has won critical acclaim as well, winning a Silver Medal in the prestigious 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

“The launch success of Evan Williams Honey Reserve has necessitated that we look at additional sizes, and the 1.75 liter and 750ml Carry-Pack were the most logical extensions,” stated Susan Wahl, Brand Manager for Evan Williams at Heaven Hill.  “Aside from giving the consumer more convenient options at the shelf, the additional sizes help create more facings and improve our display power.”

Evan Williams Honey Reserves takes advantage of established trends in the distilled spirits industry in general and the American straight whiskey category in particular.  First is the ongoing success of flavored spirits, whose growth is more than double that of unflavored spirits; and second is the continued popularity of Bourbon, especially Evan Williams, which according to A.C. Nielsen Scantrack 2010 data is the fastest growing top volume Domestic Whiskey.

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.”

Only 88 Chances Left to Win a Once in a Lifetime Irish Whiskey Experience

Master of Malt are offering a once in a lifetime opportunity to win a free trip for two to the Cooley distillery in Ireland. The prize includes flights; wining and dining in Dublin; and two nights stay at a luxurious hotel.

Following the competition’s unprecedented success, there are only 88 remaining chances to enter, and only a few days left (the competition closes at 6pm on the 1st August 2010).

The lucky winner and a friend will be flown out to Ireland from any UK airport. They will be treated to an exclusive tour of the Cooley distillery, a whiskey tasting, two nights stay at a luxurious hotel, wining and dining for both nights, as well as a very special personalised bottle of Tyrconnell whiskey, and a bottle of the brand new Kilbeggan Distillery Reserve. It’s incredibly simple to enter; all entrants must do is buy any full-sized (70cl) bottle of Cooley whiskey from the Master of Malt website (www.masterofmalt.com).

The Cooley distillery has a large range, made up of some astonishing whiskeys, including Tyrconnell, Connemara, Kilbeggan, Greenore and Locke’s. Entrants will receive one entry for every bottle they buy, and the cheapest eligible whiskey is Kilbeggan, at just £17.95. Great value for money for a whiskey that tastes of creamy, sweet malt, and one that offers the chance to win a once in a lifetime prize!

The draw will close at 6pm on the 1st August and the lucky winner will be named on or before the 7th August 2010. This really is the ultimate Irish whiskey experience, and one not to be missed.

Thanks to the limited number of chances to enter, participants have a very high chance of winning the competition. Because of this, the draw is likely to sell out before the closing date.

Read more about the competition on the Master of Malt Whisky Blog or browse the full range of Cooley Whiskeys.

About Master of Malt

– Established in 1985

– One of the UK’s leading online whisky and spirits retailers

– A highly rated independent bottler, all of whose single cask whiskies scored over 90 points in the Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2009.

Follow Master of Malt on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/masterofmalt

Read the Master of Malt blog: http://www.masterofmalt.com/blog

Diageo has announced that its iconic Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Lagavulin™ is sponsoring this year’s Islay Jazz Festival.

The Islay Jazz Festival is a well-established annual event that takes place over a weekend in September, attracting hundreds of jazz lovers to Islay from Scotland, the rest of the United Kingdom, and overseas. The dates of this year’s Festival are 17 – 19 September.

The event will now be known as the Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival http://www.islayjazzfestival.co.uk/

The events of the Festival are spread over three days and many venues on Islay. In 2010 the Festival programme features the lyrical pianism of Zoe Rahman; the feel-good saxophone of Jesse Davis; the Blue Note inspired Mercy, Mercy, Mercy; award-winning Scottish guitarist Graham Stephen; the commanding tenor of John Burgess; and a new take on 1920s and 30’s jazz from Nova Scotia Jazz Band. Concerts are presented across the island, in a mix of unique settings: village halls, distilleries, bird sanctuaries, and small bars and inns. Three of the events will be staged at Lagavulin Distillery.

Commenting on behalf of Lagavulin™ and Diageo’s Classic Malts Selection™, Nick Morgan (Diageo’s Scotch Knowledge and Heritage Manager) said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be able to sponsor this world-class festival, which brings so many discerning jazz lovers to venues throughout Islay, which has to be one of the world’s most seductive islands. Crafted with skill, love and inspiration, live jazz and fine Malt Whisky are the best of partners, enhancing enjoyment, relaxation, community and good companionship.”

Fiona Alexander of promoters Assembly Direct in Edinburgh welcomed the new sponsorship by Lagavulin:

“The Festival is delighted to be supported by such a fine Islay Whisky and iconic brand. Its virtues of quality character, complexity and rootedness in its landscape are ones which the Festival aspires towards”.

THE ISLAY JAZZ FESTIVAL

The Festival has been running since 1999, and until this year was sponsored by Black Bottle, the brand of blended Scotch Whisky that incorporates seven Islay Single Malts.

The Festival began when Stuart Todd of Islay Arts Association called Fiona Alexander of Assembly Direct to get a phone number for a musician he wanted to book. In the following conversation the seed of the Festival was germinated.

In its twelve year history the Festival has promoted musicians from over 25 countries and presented fifteen world premieres and it today regarded as a significant jazz event in the UK calendar.

LAGAVULIN™

Lagavulin is one of Scotland’s “essential” distilleries, and a place of pilgrimage for many adorers of this definitive Islay Malt, for which demand heavily exceeds supply.

Here on the coast of Kildalton, the south-eastern edge of Islay, the distillery works its magic on a cramped, chaotic, wildly romantic site by the sea, looking across a small tight bay to the ruins of Dunyvaig Castle, a 13th century base of The Lords of the Isles.

It was in 1816 that John Johnston founded the first legal distillery at Lagavulin Bay: there had been many other illicit stills before that. As with all Scottish distilleries, it passed through the hands of different owners, including the celebrated Sir Peter Mackie, whose company became White Horse Distillers, forever associated with Lagavulin. White Horse Distillers joined The Distillers Company Ltd. (eventually Diageo) in 1927. In 1989, Lagavulin, now bottled at 16 years rather than the original 12, became one of the six Classic Malts™ of Scotland.

Among the highly successful variants of the regular 16 year old Lagavulin are the much-praised Lagavulin™ Distillers Edition™, finished in Pedro Jimenez Cask Wood.

Limited editions of 12, 21 and 25 year old expressions have also been released.