The Glenlivet® is proud to announce the launch of The Glenlivet® XXV in Canada. The single malt whisky whose incomparable pedigree dates back nearly 200 years will be available in select Canadian markets from the end of October 2009.  
     
The initial release of The Glenlivet® XXV is a 1980 vintage selection created by four expert whisky–makers and has been ‘finished’ in first–fill Oloroso sherry butts for a period of nearly two years. Presented in a crafted wooden box reinforced by limestone, the exquisite packaging perfectly reflects the quality of its contents. Each batch bottle numbered is a testimony to the care and craftsmanship that go into the making of
The Glenlivet® XXV. The use of the wax seal on the bottle reinforces the precious nature of the contents within.  
     
After taking the United States by storm last year, The Glenlivet® XXV will be launched in Canada by International Brand Ambassador Ian Logan, who will visit key cities Vancouver and Toronto. Priced in the region of $350 (price varies by province) and available in limited quantities, The  Glenlivet® XXV is a leader of deluxe whisky and a luxury legend. 
 
For those who would like the chance to  meet Ian Logan and sample this newest addition to  The Glenlivet Family, you can visit Whisky Live in Toronto on October 23rd 2009, where Ian will host a Masterclass and be available to meet with attendees at  The Glenlivet booth.

Alternatively, why not stop by the Summerhill LCBO (10 Scrivener Square) store in Toronto on October 24th 2009 between 11:30 am and 3:30 pm, where you can sample The Glenlivet® Nádurra and The Glenlivet® 21 Year Old. Ian will also be signing bottles and The Glenlivet® XXV will be available for purchase.   

 
The Glenlivet® XXV received a Gold Medal at the 2008 International Spirits Challenge,  a Silver Medal at the 2007 International Wine & Spirit Competition and a Silver Medal at the 2009 San Francisco Wine and Spirits Competition.  
     
Kindest Regards
The Glenlivet

PRIVATE CHRISTMAS EVENTS

What makes a Christmas to remember?
Catching up with old friends, celebrating with colleagues or spending time with family? How about indulging in sensational seasonal comforts whilst being pampered as well as entertained?

Christmas at the Society is when we shine. From the twinkling lights and roaring fires of our venues to the warmth and depth of our single cask, single malt whiskies. For us Christmas is the delight of making your event a truly memorable occasion.

For an unforgettable Christmas, indulge in the very best of the Society:

Festive Private Dining at Society’s venues in Edinburgh and Leith. This Christmas, a discreet occasion from £40 incl. View our delicious menu http://tinyurl.com/ygotbxn

High-Spirited Private Receptions at Society venues in Edinburgh and Leith. This Christmas, a relaxed occasion from £30 incl.

‘Festive-Spirit’ Private Whisky Tastings at Society venues in London, Leith and Edinburgh. This Christmas, a spirited occasion from £35 incl.

Bringing the Society ‘Festive-Spirit’ to YOU. This Christmas  entertain clients and guests at a location of your choice and receive a complimentary whisky tasting for your staff. Conditions apply.

SPECIAL OFFER… Book before Sat 31 Oct and receive complimentary wine and whisky for your event. Conditions apply.

More details (and earlier-bird offers):  www.smwsevents.co.uk  

Events Teams:

Edinburgh       0131 555 2266 or email events@smws.com
London              0207 831 4447 or email london@smws.com
 

Spirits…but not as we know them

With Halloween lurking just round the corner we have just the thing to make you scream (for more!).  Join us in the subterranean vaults beneath our very own Society Vaults for a terrifyingly good evening of superb single cask single malts, a sensational three-course dinner and tales of the unexpected with Mercat Tours of Edinburgh. 

Find out more  http://tinyurl.com/yftf2dt

Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd, one of Scotland’s most dynamic whisky companies, is seeking an Export Sales Manager to join their team based in Stirling. The role is focused on rapid growth of sales of the Arran Single Malt in our key markets around the world, primarily the USA and Canada, and will involve extensive overseas travel. The succesful candidate will have a background in the Scotch whisky industry and a proven track record in export sales. Excellent presentation skills are required and fluency in at least one foreign language is preferred.
Closing Date:     15-Nov-2009

http://www.arranwhisky.com/

14th October 2009

Jim Murray’s World Whisky Awards 2010

Straight Rye Whiskey, the spirit of choice in pre-prohibition America and immortalized in Humphrey Bogart films, has been given top billing in the coveted Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible World Whisky Awards for 2010.

International whisky authority Jim Murray has named Sazerac Rye 18 year old as the finest whisky in the world after tasting almost 1000 new whiskies since April. It scooped the World Whisky of the Year title by gaining 97.5 points, only the second time such a score has been achieved.

Announced to coincide with the publication of the 2010 edition of ‘Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible’, which contains tasting notes on over 3,850 of the world’s whiskies, Sazerac’s success marks the return of a whiskey style that all but disappeared from the marketplace. Following the repeal of Prohibition, American drinkers had developed a taste for lighter spirits, resulting in a boom for bourbon and Canadian whiskies, while straight rye fell by the wayside.

Jim Murray comments, “A decade ago I wrote that it was likely that there would be a renaissance in rye whiskey.  I recognised that the combination of big, bold flavours and subtle, delicate fruity notes would be appreciated by connoisseurs, especially those who prefer smoky Islay single malts. Now American distillers can’t make enough of it. And in this particular bottling of Sazerac 18, we have a rye that is not just at the top of its game, but reaching previously unknown heights. In beating all other world whisky types, Sazerac 18, has set the bar for rye whiskey and it will be fascinating in forthcoming years to see what is bottled to try to at least match it.”

Distilled at Buffalo Trace distillery Kentucky, Sazerac 18 pipped into second place one of the smokiest whiskies ever produced, from the Ardbeg distillery on Islay.

Another Award winner likely to cause a surprise was an Indian Single Malt, which was awarded the title of World’s Third Best Whisky.  Distilled in Bangalore, Amrut Fusion scored an outstanding 97 points. “It makes no matter where in the world a whisky is made. If it is magnificent, then it stands a chance of being recognized in the Whisky Bible Awards. Amrut have been bottling astonishing whisky for a few years now. But this particular bottling just made my hairs stand on end. It is hard to find a whisky with better balance. India has unquestionably arrived as a whisky nation” added Murray.

Category winners:

Scotch Whisky of the Year – Ardbeg Supernova

Single Malt of the Year (Multiple cask) – Ardbeg Supernova

Single Malt of the Year (Single cask) – Glenfarclas 1962 (3rd release)

Best Scotch New Brand – Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX

Scotch Blend of the Year – Ballantine’s 17 Years Old

Scotch Grain of the Year – Duncan Taylor North British 1978

Single Malt Scotch

No Age Statement (Multiple cask) – Ardbeg Supernova*

No Age Statement (runner up) – Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX

10 Years and Under (Multiple cask) – Octomore 5 Years Old*

10 Years and Under (Single cask) – SMWS 77.17 (Glen Ord)

11-15 Years Old (Multiple cask) – Tomintoul 14 Years Old

11-15 Years Old (Single cask) – Isle of Arran Sherry 353*

16-21 Years Old (Multiple cask) – Glen Grant 1992*

16-21 Years Old (Single cask) – Glendronach 1992 Cask 401

22-27 Years Old (Multiple cask) – Brora 25 Years Old 7th Release*

22-27 Years Old (Single cask) – Cadenhead’s Benriach 23YO

28-34 Years Old (Multiple cask) – Highland Park 30 Years Old*

28-34 Years Old (Single cask) – Douglas Laing Glencadam 32YO

35-40 Years Old (Multiple cask) – Glenglassaugh 40 Years Old*

35-40 Years Old (Single cask) – Whisky Fair Glen Grant 36 YO

41 Years and Over (Multiple cask) – Glenfiddich 50 Years Old*

41 Years and Over (Single cask) – Glenfarclas 1962 Release III

Blended Scotch

No Age Statement (Standard) – Ballantine’s Finest*

No Age Statement (Premium) – The Last Drop*

5-12 Years – Johnnie Walker Black Label*

13-18 Years – Ballantine’s 17 Year Old*

18 & Over – Chivas Regal 25 Years Old*

Irish Whiskey of the Year – Redbreast Aged 12 Years*

American Whiskey

Bourbon of the Year – George T Stagg (144.8)*

Rye of the Year – Sazerac 18 Years Old (Fall 2008)*

Bourbon

No Age Statement (Multiple barrel) – Parker’s Golden Anniversary*

No Age Statement (Single barrel) – Blanton’s Single Barrel 316

9 Years & Under – Jim Beam Black Aged 8 Years*

10-12 Years – Wild Turkey Russell’s Reserve*

13-17 Years Old (multiple Barrels) – George T Stagg (144.8)*

13-17 Years Old (Single Barrel) – Buffalo Trace Experimental Course Grain

18 Years & Over – Evan Williams 23 Years Old*

Rye

10 Years & Younger – Jim Beam Rye*

11 Years & Older – Sazerac 18 Years Old (Fall 2008)*

Canadian Whisky of the Year – Wiser’s Red Letter*

Japanese Whisky of the Year – SMWS 116.4 (Yoichi)*

European Whisky

European Whisky of the Year – Santis Malt Highlander Dreifaltaigkeit*

European Single Cask Whisky of the Year – Penderyn Port Wood Single Cask*

World Whiskies

Indian Whisky of the Year – Amrut Fusion*

(* denotes category winner)

To mark the sheer quality and standard of whisky making around the world Jim Murray has created a new Liquid Gold Award for all whiskies scoring 94 points and above.  Representing 10% of all the whiskies featured in the ‘2010 Whisky Bible’ they are, says Murray “the elite; the very finest you can find on whisky shelves around the world. Rare and precious they are liquid gold”.

A full account of the 2010 World Whisky Awards can be found in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010 published today (5th October 2009).  And with nearly 4000 tasting notes, including 946 of the very latest releases, the ‘Whisky Bible’ remains the definitive and most up to date guide available.

Published by Dram Good Books priced at £10.99, the ‘2010 Whisky Bible’ is available through good book shops.  Signed copies by the author can be obtained from www from www.whiskybible.com.

~Ends~

For more information please contact:

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

SITUATION(S) VACANT!

As we approach ‘that’ time of the year we are looking to recruit one (or possibly two) part-time staff to work in our retail outlet near London Bridge.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN YOU?

We need to find someone who has a keen interest in all spirits with a leaning towards whisky. You need to be reliable, customer service focussed and eligible to work in the UK from late October – early January (possibly longer). As Friday’s and Saturday’s are our busiest days they will be the principal shifts that we need to cover, however, as we move closer to Christmas there may be an option for you to increase this towards a 4 or 5 shift week. Our hours of opening are as follows and, although we may be able to consider a ‘part-shift’ in some circumstances, in general the ‘shift’ would be for the whole of the relevant day.

Monday – Thursday       11.00am – 6.30pm

Friday                           11.00am – 7.30pm

Saturday                       10.30am – 7.30pm

Sunday                         12.00pm – 6.00pm

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

As a member of The Whisky Exchange ‘team’ you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the drinks industry as well as working in a specialist luxury retail outlet. As we’ve just added the International Spirits Challenge 2009 ‘Independent Spirits Retailer of the Year (UK) to the trophy cabinet, we’d suggest that the work experience would look very useful on the C.V. of anyone who’s considering a career in the spirits/luxury/FMCG industry

Competitive remuneration will be based on an hourly rate and you’ll also be entitled to the same benefits that apply to the full time staff.

HOW DO I APPLY?

Please send us a copy of your current c.v. accompanied with a brief letter which should include your current employment/study status and possible starting date.

ALL APPLICATIONS SHOULD BE RECEIVED BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS ON MONDAY 19TH OCTOBER 2009

Kind regards

The Team

The Whisky Exchange

Vinopolis

1 Bank End

London

SE1 9BU

Tel:-  +44 (0) 207 403 8688

Fax:- +44 (0) 207 403 8788

e-mail:-   vinopolis@thewhiskyexchange.com

website:- www.thewhiskyexchange.com

Benrinnes™ 23 Year Old 1985 ABV 58.8%
23 Years Old Natural Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Speyside

Tasting Guide

Appearance: Rich, deep mahogany with good beading.

Nose: Classic, muscular Benrinnes with an added and immensely seductive sweetness rippling through it. Crème brulée with a highly caramelised surface. Intense black fruits (prunes), Christmas cake and dates, laced with rich sherry. Behind, a beefy note with some allspice, like a touch of gravy left in the meat pan. Water (just a splash) initially brings the toffee-apple
sweetness even more into focus above such meatiness. As it becomes waxier the fruity notes withdraw, yet some moist Christmas cake remains – much later, the meatiness reasserts itself. Superb balance and complexity.

Body: Heavy. Full. Immediate grip.

Palate: Big, powerful and immediately assertive. Sweet, then mouth drying, yet not astringent because that concentrated sweetness remains. Waxy-viscous texture; slight traces of brimstone. Raisin and lots of date. Softens as it moves slowly across the tongue. Water lightens the grip and introduces a lightly smoked character. The voluptuous texture is countered by tannic dryness. Sweet to start and beefy, in all senses. Very, very good.

Finish: Exceptionally long, dry and warming, leaving a mellow, lingering aftertaste of treacle and sandalwood.

This mouth-watering menu of award winning Christmas drams offers a range of gifts to suit every budget, guaranteed to delight both whisky connoisseurs or newcomers to ‘the water of life’ this festive season.   

Gifts under £25

The Famous Grouse is unveiling a limited edition gift box for this Christmas. Scotland’s favourite whisky has partnered with renowned Scottish designers, Timorous Beasties, to create a unique collectors item sure to be a hit with whisky lovers. The illustration takes the style of the iconic Timorous Beastie toile designs, and depicts a visual history of the brand and its home, Bordeaux House, along with the famous bird itself. The gift box contains a bottle of  The Famous Grouse (70cl) and will only be available from selected retailers or online at www.thefamousgrouse.com (RRP £15.29).

Thousands of people each Christmas enjoy a dram of  The Famous Grouse, Scotland’s No.1 whisky.  This fantastic quality blended whisky, contains a blend of fine single malts including Highland Park and The Macallan. Why not make a gift or your bottle even better by personalising the label?  Choose up to 13 characters on the front label and customise the back label with your own message.  The bottle will then be posted direct to your door in a standard gift box or with the option to display in a special presentation box. (Special Label RRP £19.99 + P&P. Additional £2 supplement for presentation box. Available online at www.thefamousgrouse.com)

The latest addition to The Famous Grouse family – The Black Grouse – is a unique blend of The Famous Grouse mixed with Islay malts to create a rich smoky, peaty taste. To date, this special whisky has raised £30,000 to help save its namesake, the black grouse, from extinction through its unique partnership with the RSPB which sees 50p from the sale of each bottle go to the charity. The perfect gift for bird lovers and whisky fans alike! (RRP £15.66, available at Sainsbury’s stores or online at www.black-grouse.com).

Gifts up to £60

Balanced with oak and fruit flavours and hints of fruit and heather honey, the soft and malty The Macallan Fine Oak 10 years old makes an ideal introduction to the range. The award winning Fine Oak range was heralded to be “by far the best range of non-vintage whiskies to be launched by any one distillery for possibly the last decade.”1 (RRP £26.67, available at multiple retailers including Asda, Tesco, Co-op, Oddbins or online at www.themacallan.com)

Laden with notes of ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and hints of spice, The Glenrothes Select Reserve typifies the Speyside distillery house style.  A vatting of casks distilled in different years, Select Reserve is presented in the iconic Glenrothes bottle and is the very essence of The Glenrothes range (RRP £32.20, available at Oddbins, House of Fraser, Harrods, Harvey Nichols, Wine Rack, specialist whisky retailers or online at www.theglenrothes.com).

“Christmas cake in a glass” is how the distillery manager on Orkney describes Highland Park 18 year old single malt, which boasts a rich full flavour with hints of honey and peat with a soft, long rounded finish.  This year it was named ‘The Best Spirit in the World’ for the second consecutive time by American drinks expert Paul Pacult2, making this an impressive Christmas dram (RRP £60.94, available at multiple retailers including Asda, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-op, Somerfield and Oddbins or online at www.highlandpark.co.uk).

Special gifts from £290

The Macallan Sherry Oak 30 years old is slowly matured in exceptional sherry oak casks to create a satisfyingly complex single malt often referred to as ‘the Rolls Royce of whiskies’.  Characterised by its rich dark mahogany colour, this rare whisky is deliciously smooth with dried fruits, orange and wood smoke flavours and ends on a long, rich note with lingering hints of spice and orange (RRP £290, available at Harrods, Selfridges and House of Fraser, specialist whisky retailers or online at www.themacallan.com).

The Glenrothes John Ramsay Legacy is a limited edition bottling from their long-serving Malt Master to mark his retirement and long-standing relationship with the distillery.  Ramsay personally selected 30 casks to create an impressive single malt. Bursting with aromas of spice, blood orange and vanilla, this whisky has a rich palate of fruit and mango with a long, mature unmistakably American oak finish.  Only 100 Legacy bottles are available in the UK (RRP £699, available at specialist whisky retailers or online at www.theglenrothes.com).

The ultimate indulgence this Christmas comes from Highland Park, with the launch of the first two expressions from an exclusive range of Highland Park single malt Vintages.  The 1964 and 1968 Vintages each offer balance, character and provenance with their own unique flavours and complexity (1964 RRP £3,750 and 1968 RRP £2,250, available at specialist whisky retailers or online at www.highlandpark.co.uk).

-Ends-
Notes to editors:
1 Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2005
2 Highland Park 18 year old was named Best Spirit in the World by American drinks expert Paul Pacult in Top 115 Spirits, Spirit Journal 2009 and 2005
For further information or images, please contact:
Pamela.wils@bigpartnership.co.uk or Mhairi.deluca@bigpartnership.co.uk
Tel 0131 555 5522
Please enjoy our brands responsibly
http://www.drinkaware.co.uk

From Richard Paterson:

Double blended! Double Winner! Whyte and Mackay’s 30 year old is the world’s best whisky – OFFICIAL

I have always said it’s one of the best whiskies in the world and now others agree with me. The Whyte and Mackay 30 year old has won two of the most prestigious whisky awards in the world.

We won the Best Blended Whisky at the International Spirit’s Challenge tonight. But that’s not the only win for it. On the 26th of November we will also be receiving the  William Grant Independence Trophy for Best Blended Scotch Whisky.

To me , this is a fantastic validation of what we do and it’s a praise for every single person involved in making the whisky, in selling it and spreading the word of of it.

In a period when we’ve announced a new Jura, some charity whiskies and other expressions to Dalmore including Sirius as well as seeing high praise for the Dalmore, this is what touches me the most because it’s recognition by your peers and by the experts of something that is truly special, of something with quality – and that’s praise to every person who worked on the drink. This isn’t about me, it’s about everyone who put a little bit of themselves into making this whisky the success that it is. For their time, their efforts and their work, I thank them all.

And the marketing guys won’t be chuffed, but to hell with that, it’s a special night – let’s celebrate by providing a sneak peek from the upcoming podcasts where I talk about the Whyte and Mackay 30 year old – the world’s best blended whisky. OFFICIAL. (click on http://tinyurl.com/ydb6755 to see the video)

SLAINTE!

(From John Campbell)

Well I’m back in Islay at the Distillery now doing my day job of running the distillery! I really hope the many thousands of you that watched the live webcast we did from Kentucky enjoyed it as much as I did – but I got to eat the food as well!

The show was a little different this year so I hope you thought it was good. I’m told we had viewers from all over the World watching, including lots from Europe so any of you who had to stay up late to watch I really do appreciate it. Also a big thank you to all of you who sent in your questions, I’m sorry I couldn’t answer all of them.

For those of you that weren’t able to watch the show live then don’t worry, you can now watch it whenever you want on the Laphroaig site. Just go to this address http://www.laphroaig.com/live/ and click on the ‘watch now’ link.

I’d love to hear your feedback so feel free to drop me an email at info@laphroaig.com or for any of you on Twitter you can leave me a message there www.twitter.com/laphroaigwhisky.

Oh, one more thing. Many of you have written in to us asking for the recipes from the show. I have now posted them on the video page, I hope you enjoy them.

Sláinte,

John Campbell

Charles MacLean is thought by many to be Scotland’s finest whisky writer. His tireless promotion of Scotch over the years has resulted in Charlie very recently being elected to the prestigious rank of Master by Scotch whisky’s very own secret society, the Keepers of the Quaich. I know because I was there, sitting opposite him, at the Highland Park table.

Charlie is an authority on our favourite subject and, as you might imagine, a great story-teller. His latest book, Whiskypedia, takes an entirely new approach by exploring whisky flavour and character with reference to how it is made.

Of course, distillery traditions and location are important but the key premise in Whiskypedia is that each individual distillery’s unique character is primarily influenced by the distilling equipment itself, how it is operated and how the spirit is matured. This is arguably a less romantic approach than myths, legends, regionality and terroir but it makes a lot of sense.

In Whiskypedia introductory sections explain the contribution made by each stage of production and maturation, working in tandem with the detailed notes about how malt whisky is made at each distillery.

The 352-page hardcover book also features beautiful, specifically-commissioned photography and is available from Amazon. Copies signed by the author are available from www.whiskymax.co.uk at £16.99.

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

Gerry
Head of Brand Education, Highland Park

PS. Charlie, we know you receive and read these emails, we look forward to receiving that signed book you promised us for our library at the distillery!
Find me on Facebook at Highland Park Whisky or follow me on Twitter; www.twitter.com/bestspirit

WI is pleased to report that the prestigious Keepers of the Quaich have named Charles MacLean Master of the Quaich,  their highest honor. Charlie was first inducted into the Keepers of the Quaich in 1992.