Tormore 29 Year Old 1988

Single cask refill hogshead bottled by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old Malt Cask series. Just 62 bottles from the Speyside distillery. Tormore 29 Year Old 1988 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single refill hogshead #15352 bottled August 2018 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old Malt Cask series. Only 62 bottles.

Flavours of raspberry jam, strawberry fondant and plums.

Tormore Distillery was established in 1958 in the Speyside whisky region to supply malt whisky to blending houses. It was designed by Sir Albert Richardson, President of the Royal Academy and is set in stunning landscaped gardens. Resplendent with green-coppered roofs, decorative pagoda roofs, a clock tower and clock which still chimes Scottish tunes, a rectangular curling pond, topiary and houses for the staff. Tormore Distillery is now operating with eight stills in its tall still house and Tormore malt whisky is still mostly flowing into scotch blends. Whilst official bottling are sparse it features amongst the ranges of a number of independent bottlers including Signatory Vintage and Connoisseurs Choice.

Shop – Tormore 29 Year Old – £129.95

MAIN COURSE

Asian slow cooked ham hough with slaw & brioche coupled with Tomatin 1988 

1 smoked ham hough
100ml apple juice
50ml soy sauce
50 ml runny Scottish honey
25ml rice wine
1 red chilli de seeded
1 Clove garlic

1. Half full a deep pot with cold water
   2.    Pour in apple juice and add other ingredients
   3.    Slowly simmer ham for 2-3hrs
   4.    Remove hough check water not too salty
   5.    Then reduce In a high heat until a sticky glaze
   6.    Brush the sticky glaze all over the ham
   7.    Allow to sit

Slaw

1 carrot peeled & cut into julienne
1/4 Chinese cabbage finely shredded
1/2 red onion finely sliced
1″ ginger cut into julienne
1 red chilli de seed & finely chop
2 lime zest & juice
2tbs toasted sesame seeds

To serve slice some brioche bread and toast, Flake the ham hough over the brioche and serve the slaw on the side

DESSERT

Scotch raspberry and dark chocolate chilli tart with a clotted cream ice cream paired with Tomatin 14 year old 

Pastry case
250g of plain flour
100g of icing sugar
35gr ground almonds
125g of unsalted butter, plus more for greasing
1 egg & 1 egg yolk
Chocolate and chilli filling
400g of 70% dark chocolate, roughly chopped
350ml of double cream
3/4 tsp chilli flakes
150ml of milk
2 eggs, beaten

1.  To begin the chocolate tart, prepare the pastry case. In a mixing bowl, crumb the flour, icing sugar, ground almonds and butter together
   2.    Add 2 eggs and blend together, handling as little as possible, until just mixed. Wrap in cling film and rest the pastry in the fridge for 1 hour
   3.    To begin the filling, heat the double cream and milk to the boil, then add the chilli flakes. Remove from the heat and leave to infuse for 1 hour
   4.    Grease and line your tart ring. Roll out the pastry to 3mm thick. Push the pastry into the corners evenly and then line with baking parchment before filling with baking beads.  Blind bake at 190˚C/gas mark 5 until the pastry is lightly golden, around 10 minutes. Remove the baking beads and return to the oven in order to colour the base until the pastry is golden brown, around 10-15 minutes
   5.    After removing the pastry from the oven, use a pastry brush to glaze it with the remaining egg yolk. This will seal the case for the chocolate mixture
   6.    To make the chocolate mixture, place the chocolate in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Strain the infused chilli cream and bring back to the boil. Once boiled, pour the hot cream over the chocolate and stir until the chocolate has fully melted. Slowly add the beaten eggs and mix well
   7.    Preheat the oven to 150ºC/gas mark 2. Pour the mix into the prepared pastry case and carefully transfer to the oven. Bake until the mix is just set, approximately 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool but do not refrigerate
   8.    Served with Clotted cream ice cream & Scottish raspberries with Honeycomb spikes

CHEESE

Barwheys cheddar with homemade oatcakes with celery, apple & a pear chutney coupled with our Tomatin 18 year old

200gr Barwheys cheddar
225gr Oats
60gr wholewheat flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
60gr butter
1tsp salt
60-80ml boiling water

1. Mix all ingredients together and shape into large rounds or squares for oatcakes
   2. Bake at 180c Gas 5 for 20-25 minutes. They will come out of the oven crisp
   3.  Serve with celery sticks apple & pear chutney and a big chunk of Barwheys cheddar

ralfy.com like this Mortlach !

https://youtu.be/KTWPR6_sgmI

thanks Lawrence !

SCARABUS ISLAY SINGLE MALT LAUNCHES, ‘A WHISKY FOR THOSE WITH A CURIOUS MIND AND EYE FOR DETAIL.’

Hunter Laing & Co reveals newest brand from the famed whisky island

The family owned Scotch whisky distiller, blender and bottler Hunter Laing & Co. releases Scarabus Specially Selected at Feis Ile 2019, the Islay Festival of Music and Whisky held at the end of May. The Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is bottled at 46% ABV and will be available worldwide from mid June. In the UK it has an RRP of £38 (70cl).

The first drams of Scarabus will be poured at a number of tours and tastings throughout the festival at Hunter Laing & Co.’s newly opened distillery on the island, Ardnahoe. It will also be available exclusively for purchase there until next month.

Scarabus, meaning ‘rocky place’ in Nordic, is named after a mystical area of Islay and is described as a whisky for those with a curious mind and an eye for detail. The Scarabus Specially Selected tasting notes read: “Aromas of Islay peat smoke and sea salt, followed by warming leather notes, stewed rhubarb and a wonderful vanilla sweetness on the palate, leading to a rich lingering finish.”

The whisky creates a sense of mystery and discovery through the mantra “Only those who seek shall find”, with the symbols found on the bottle being intentionally ambiguous. The look and feel drew inspiration from the work of Islay born John Francis Campbell, who created the sunshine recorder, a device that tallies the hours of sunshine in a day, as well as creating a vast collection of Celtic folklore tales.

Commenting on the release of the new expression, Stewart Laing, Managing Director, said: “We’re extremely proud of the Scarabus whisky and the Feis Ile Festival is the perfect place to release the first bottling. We aimed to produce an expression that showcases a traditional Islay whisky style, and the unmistakable Islay smoke matches wonderfully with the rich, sweeter notes that linger on the finish.”

Adding to his father’s comments, Andrew Laing, Export Director said: “Our new brand is mysterious, which we know will create intrigue with the ever-loyal following of Islay whisky fans. Our family has such a strong connection with the island and we can’t wait for people to discover Scarabus at Feis Ile.”

“Our new release is bottled at 46% and will be available in 70cl, 75cl & 1L in the UK and international markets as well as in selected travel retail and duty free stores. We are very proud of the first release from the Scarabus range and are confident we will receive a positive reaction at the festival,” said Scott Laing, Business Development Director.

Facebook: @scarabuswhisky
Instagram: @scarabus_whisky

Notes:

• Hunter Laing & Co is an independent distiller, blender and bottler based in Glasgow and run by the Laing Family – father Stewart with sons Andrew and Scott
• Hunter Laing has been operating since May 2013 and owns a portfolio of much-loved whisky brands including Kinship, Old Malt Cask, Old & Rare, Hepburn’s Choice and Sovereign.
• It distributes to 65 markets around the world in Europe, Asia, the Americas and Australasia.
• Hunter Laing & Co reported pre-tax profits of £2.3m on a turnover of £8.4m for its last full year of trading (end April 2018).

BBQ pioneer teams up with Johnnie Walker Black

Introducing Berber & Q’s Johnnie & Ginger  –

“Celebrate National BBQ Week with a Johnnie & Ginger at Berber & Q Grill House”

Get down to Berber & Q this National BBQ Week to experience their Johnnie Walker Johnnie & Ginger; the perfect pre-dinner drink for your BBQ banquet!

The limited edition cocktail was crafted by Josh Katz, founder of London’s trendy BBQ joint, Berber & Q, to celebrate National BBQ Week. Expertly designed to complement Berber’s famous Joojeh Chicken Kebab, the charred and smokey notes of the chicken are perfectly countered by the light and summery cocktail.

Available at Berber & Q Grill House from 27th May – 2nd June and priced at £9 the Johnnie Walker, Johnnie & Ginger is a smooth start to your barbecue and works wonderfully well for al fresco dining and summer sunshine.

No fear if you miss the rush to get a table at Berber & Q, the Johnnie Walker, Johnnie & Ginger is easily recreated at home with every day, store bought items – please find the recipe below.

Josh Katz, founder of Berber & Q commented: “What a taste experience, the Johnnie Walker Johnnie & Ginger is the perfect start to a barbecue and pairs perfectly with our house Joojeh Chicken Kebabs. The smokeyness of the charred chicken is offset by the smooth whisky and is given a spicy lift by the inclusion of ginger ale. You’ll have to move quickly if you want to sample the Johnnie Walker, Johnnie & Ginger in its true home, although, it’s a cinch to make at home if you can’t make it to our restaurant.”

Berber & Q Grill House is an East London BBQ restaurant by barbecue pioneer Josh Katz. Inspired by the ingredients and flavours of the Middle East, North Africa and across the Ottoman, Berber & Q is flourishing in the ever popular BBQ market.

Berber & Q

338 Acton Mews

Haggerston

London

E8 4EA

Johnnie Walker – Johnnie & Ginger (2 units):

The recipe:

50ml Johnnie Walker Black

15ml lime juice

35ml pressed Granny Smith apple juice

35ml ginger ale

And a little pinch of Zaatar for that Berber touch

The method:

Shake the mix with one ice cube for no longer than 5 seconds

Place the mix in a High-ball glass filled with ice

Top it all up with ginger ale

Garnish with a dehydrated apple wheel and mint sprig

Please drink responsibly and do not forward to anyone under the age of 18.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere

A Taste of the Islay Festival

Festival season is in full swing and the biggest of them all kicked off this week on Islay. Every year, the Queen of the Hebrides sees its population swell with whisky lovers from around the world, all eager to get their hands on the highly sought-after festival bottlings from each of the island’s distilleries.

Didn’t make the trip? Not to worry – we’ve got the limited edition Ardbeg Drum available to pre-order now so you can get a taste of the festival from the comfort of your own home!

Ardbeg Drum

70cl / 46% abv

Every year Ardbeg release a limited edition to celebrate Ardbeg Day at the Islay Festival and 2019’s release is Ardbeg Drum, inspired by Islay’s history of carnivals. In a first for Ardbeg, this release has been matured in ex-bourbon casks and then rested for a time in ex-rum casks from the Americas.

£99

Expected w/c 3rd June

Pre-Order Now

Friday, June 7th: 

Double Tasting Day! 

3:30-7PM:

Cotton Hollow with 

Master Distiller Darren Lincoln

More Details & RSVP 

4-7PM: 

SIA Blended Scotch Whiskey

More Details & RSVP 

Try popular scotch blend SIA and award-winning bourbons & ryes by Cotton Hollow, with a special visit from Cotton Hollow distillery’s founder and master distiller.

Highland Park launches Søren: a limited edition 26-year-old whisky

Created in collaboration with renowned Danish photographer Søren Solkær, Søren is available to purchase from 23 May

(23 May 2019, London) Highland Park today announces the launch of Søren Solkær 26 Years of Photography – a limited-edition single malt whisky that’s been created in honour of Danish photographer, Søren Solkær.

Best known for his portraits of world-famous musicians including Björk, The White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, David Lynch, The Arctic Monkeys, R.E.M. and U2, Søren has worked with Highland Park since 2016 to capture the brand’s Viking Soul – taking over 250 images of the people of Orkney, the distillery and the island itself.

Matured in sherry seasoned American oak casks and first fill Bourbon casks, the limited-edition liquid has a spicy nose with a rich heathery peat smoke. The packaging is inspired by a traditional, vintage square shaped box camera and contains a 230-page book featuring a selection of Søren’s work split into three key themes: men, women and places.

The whisky will be available to purchase globally from 23^rd May 2019. UK retailers include The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop and Harrods. RSP £499.

Jason R. Craig, global brand director, Highland Park, said: “We are delighted to be working with Søren on this very special project. He truly embodies a modern day Viking Soul through his unique photographic style and how he gets the best out of all his subject matters.

“Whilst he is best known for his distinctive images of musicians and movie stars, he has worked with us to develop a collection of over 250 images capturing our people at the distillery, our location in Orkney and of course, our whisky.”

Søren Solkær, said: “My journey began 26 years ago when I decided to leave my literature studies and pursue my passion for photography. From my homeland in Denmark, I travelled many thousands of miles with my camera, exploring some of the world’s most fascinating places, absorbing each new environment I found myself in and photographing the people I met which helped me grow into the visual storyteller that I wanted to be.

“During those 26 years, the whisky that now bears my name stayed in just one place, sheltered from the same world I was so busy exploring. A contrast perhaps, but in its quiet warehouse in the remote Orkney Islands, this whisky too was absorbing the environment around it and slowly acquiring rich nuances of flavour and character to mature into the fine spirit it is today.

“We shared a similar journey of honesty and integrity, of patience and craftsmanship to arrive here together, 26 years on.”

For more information visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com   

Notes

About Søren Solkær 26 Years of Photography

RSP: £499

ABV: 40.5%

Tasting notes

Appearance: Natural cask driven colour, bright

Nose: Cloves, cardamom and raisins

Palate: Rich and spicy, light heathery peat smoke

Finish: Long and lingering

About Edrington-Beam Suntory Distribution UK

Edrington-Beam Suntory Distribution UK is one of the UK’s biggest sprits sales, marketing and distribution companies. It is a joint-venture company jointly owned by Edrington and Beam Suntory.

Edrington-Beam Suntory UK represents leading whiskies brands in categories including:

• Blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse, Naked Grouse and Teacher’s)
• Malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, The Macallan and Ardmore)
• Japanese whiskies (Yamazaki, Hibiki and Hakushu)
• Bourbon (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek)
• Imported whiskies (Canadian Club and Kilbeggan Irish whiskey)

It also handles UK sales and distribution for Courvoisier cognac, Snow Leopard and EFFEN vodkas, Roku gin, Sauza tequila, Brugal 1888 rum and a portfolio of liqueurs and specialities (including Sourz, Bols liqueurs, Galliano and After Shock).

About Highland Park, the Orkney Single Malt with Viking Soul:

Whisky has been distilled at Highland Park in Kirkwall, Orkney since 1798.  Founder Magnus Eunson, was a direct descendant of Vikings who settled in Orkney over 1,000 years ago. A butcher and church officer by day and a bootlegger and smuggler by night, he set up an illegal whisky-making operation at a little bothy (a stone hut) at High Park, overlooking Kirkwall.

It is still the site of the distillery today and although we say Highland Park was founded in 1798, that’s actually the year the authorities finally caught up with Magnus.

Few trees survive the gale-force winds on Orkney, this makes the island peat woodless and rich in heather. This helps create the trademark Highland Park flavour profile of aromatic smoky peat and sweet heather honey.

About Søren Solkær:

Søren Solkær is a Danish photographer best known for his distinctive portraits of musicians. He is most recognised as the man responsible for various iconic images of Björk, The White Stripes, Franz Ferdinand, David Lynch, The Arctic Monkeys, R.E.M. and U2

Søren’s photography is characterised by finding a tension point between intimacy and edginess. His portraits are often regarded as cinematic in tone with a distinctive colour palette. The inspirations for his style as a photographer is ranging from filmmakers David Lynch and Wong Kar-Wai through to the works of photographer Philip-Lorca diCorcia and painter Caspar David Friedrich.

Søren has released five fine art photography books: Beat City (2006), CLOSER (2011), SOULS (2011, SURFACE (2015) and Portraits 1993-2018 (2018). His works have been exhibited globally and are featured as part of the permanent collection in The Royal Danish Library and The National Portrait Collection in Frederiksborg Castle, Denmark.

Father’s Day Gift: Bespoke 30 litre casks from Raasay Distillery

Looking ahead to Father’s Day next month (Sunday 16th June), Raasay Distillery‘s bespoke 30 litre casks of Raasay Single Malt which would make a thoughtful gift for whisky-loving Dads.

Proud to chart its own course, Raasay Distillery has launched its bespoke 30 litre casks of Raasay Single Malt. The 30 litre ex-Speyside Scotch whisky oak casks are available to purchase on Raasay Distillery’s website and in person at the distillery.

The smaller casks make the island’s first expression more accessible to whisky lovers and will sit proudly alongside the 190 litre first-fill ex-American whiskey casks currently offered by Raasay Distillery and maturing in the island warehouse. Wood from ex-Speyside casks has been carefully chosen for the smaller casks to ensure the flavours of the final whisky are finely balanced.

All Raasay spirit is produced and distilled on the island, using only Scottish barley, distillers’ yeast and mineral-rich water sourced and filtered directly from a Celtic well on site. A long fermentation period brings a rich, characterful flavour to the Raasay spirit before it even touches the oak of a cask. Once the spirit is ready, both large and small casks are filled by the distillery team and left to age into the first ever Raasay Single Malt.

While the whisky matures, cask owners can come and visit their cask, staying in Raasay Distillery’s four-star accommodation: Borodale House. After the whisky is bottled, owners can also keep their empty cask as a treasured memento.