From our friend Ian Buxton of Classic Expressions;

Dear Supporter,

First of all, thanks for your support of Classic Expressions; it’s much appreciated.  For those of you who have reserved a copy of Nettleton, it is coming soon.  Real progress is being made.

I’m writing this quick email just to make you aware of a new title we’ve published.  Beer Hunter, Whisky Chaser is not a limited edition facsimile, rather it’s a volume of exciting new writing on beer and whisky to honour Michael Jackson.

It’s available now from our website at £12.99 + p&p and all publishing profits will go to help the Parkinson’s Disease Society of the UK.

I’m not going to bang on about it.  Just check it out at www.classicexpressions.co.uk/cart.cgi?action=search&pageid=34

Thanks.

 Ian Buxton

Scapa reborn thanks to precious Chivas Brothers stocks

Neil Macdonald, Brand Director for Malts at Chivas Brothers, explains: “Scapa has long held a special place in the whisky drinker’s heart and this new expression represents another opportunity to experience the beguiling whisky which is Scapa. Like the natural harbour of Scapa Flow where the distillery is located, this malt is a ‘safe haven’ for those wishing to explore the intriguing world of island malts thanks to its light, unpeated, approachable style.”

He adds: “Since Chivas Brothers acquired Scapa in 2005, we have taken great care to improve the stock profile which means we are now in a position to release this very rare, precious new expression that perfectly showcases Scapa’s unique personality.”

While the stunning new packaging is inspired by the natural beauty and colours of the Orcadian landscape, the brand name has been carefully crafted to add a sense of movement and strength that is evocative of the island itself. As Scapa means ‘boat’ in Norse, a traditional Orcadian ‘yole’ is used as the brand icon.

The tall elegant bottle conveys the graceful and alluring nature of the whisky inside and will appeal to both a younger, more style-conscious consumer as well as traditional malt aficionados and experts who have long espoused the virtues of Scapa.

Master Distiller Stuart Pirie is passionate about Scapa and immensely proud of the new 16 Year Old creation: “There are just three other people who work at the distillery with me and we are all thrilled at the opportunity to launch Scapa as a 16 Year Old. The malt is very limited and therefore we expect huge demand for this special whisky which tastes even better as an older expression. The new Scapa remains true to its roots but will appeal to an even wider audience.”

Scapa 16 Year Old is the ultimate expression of provenance and is indelibly linked to the remote Orkney isle where it is made. The island boasts an awe-inspiring landscape and a bounty of some of the country’s most delicious fresh ingredients including excellent seafood and cheese.

The Scapa distillery was founded in 1885 and uses a rare Lomond pot-still. Scapa has won seven top industry awards in the last three years including an International Wine and Spirits Competition gold medal – best in class in 2007.

The new expression will initially be available in the UK, Scandinavia, France, the US and Travel Retail with a price point of £50 (circa €60, US$70-80).

Neil Macdonald concludes: “Drinking Scapa is the whisky equivalent of a walk along the beach on a bright summer’s day – a delight for all the senses.”

DADS WOULD BE PLEASANTLY SURPRISED TO GET YAMAZAKI SINGLE MALT WHISKY ON FATHERS’ DAY

London, – International award winning Yamazaki Single Malt Whiskies from Suntory have a habit of creating pleasant surprises with their smoothness, flavours and consistently high quality. They would certainly surprise most dads who are given a bottle on Father’s Day.

Yamazaki whiskies are among the most honoured single malt whiskies in the world with fifteen gold, silver and trophy awards won since 2003. Whisky experts like Dave Broom and Neil Ridley have long recognised the excellence of Japanese whisky and as whisky judges have singled out Suntory whiskies like Yamazaki for top honours.

With intriguing flavours and a smoothness true whisky lovers can appreciate, Yamazaki will open new horizons for dads who know and like their whiskies and help make this a memorable Father’s Day.

Yamazaki 12 year old is Japan’s leading single malt whisky, much prized for its delicate and elegant taste. The nose of green apple, pine, cedar, honey and orange peel becomes spiced wood, orange marmalade and honey on the palate. The finish has a lingering woody character. This whisky won a Gold Award at the recent San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2011.

Topping this is the Double Gold Award and the title Best Other Whisky (non Scotch) in the World won by the Yamazaki 18 year old single malt whisky.

The premium Yamazaki 18 year old is all richness and depth. The nose of sherry, raisins, maraschino cherries and coffee cream chocolate rewards the palate with dark chocolate, rum, raison toffee and dark coffee beans. As you might expect, the finish is long, rich and dark. 
    
While the inspiration was Scotland, Yamazaki single malt whiskies have developed their own unique style and position within the world of whiskies over the years.

Long maturation in wood such as the local Japanese oak called Mizunara – it imparts aromas of incense – and American oak help to create complex aromas and tastes much sought after by whisky connoisseurs.     

Yamazaki is a whisky with a long heritage which dates back to the 1920s when Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii built Japan’s first and now oldest distillery. Using copper pot stills the Yamazaki distillery was the first of its kind outside Europe. The distillery is situated in the green and wooded Vale of Yamazaki on the outskirts of Kyoto in a calm and natural environment with an exceptional source of pure water.

Yamazaki is the most popular malt whisky in Japan and is now increasingly appreciated in Europe and the USA as reflected in its international honours.

Yamazaki single malt whiskies are available from:  Selfridges, Harvey Nicols, The Whisky Exchange, independent specialist retailers and drinkon.com priced from:

Yamazaki 12 year old – £42
Yamazaki 18 year old – £105.00

The Yamazaki range of single malt whiskies from Suntory is distributed in the UK by Cellar Trends. For all sales enquiries contact: sales@cellartrends.co.uk