Welcome to WhiskyIntelligence.com where we'll be gathering information on the whisky industry and scotch whisky news in the form of press releases, newsletters, events, tasting notes and comments.
Named after a few things really, the angel’s share; the amount of alcohol (whisky) that is lost to evaporation when the liquid is being aged in oak barrels. Up to 2% (in Scotland) of the volume of the cask can be lost each year through evaporation, called the angel’s share. Paul’s dad; he has been an angel for some 60 years or so, liked a dram when he was with us (I was told by my Uncle Harry) and I believe he is still taking his share in that distillery in the sky. No, not Heaven Hill, that is American and worldly, the other heavenly distillery with a unique membership policy. Our Paul; he writes almost all of the whisky blogs, with a few being from friends around the whisky world now and then. Club Patron (It did used to be a club) is another Maclean, this time of the Charlie variety; Charles Maclean. We know Charlie well (cousin) early on Paul (McLean) asked Charlie did he wish to become a club member, his reply; Yes, I will be your Club Patron. And so it came to pass … you can find him here; https://whiskytours.scot/charlie
Our blogs https://whiskytours.scot/blog are a blend of interviews, product launches and information, stories and observations, many of which are Paul’s views, good or bad, Paul is no literary giant, mostly he struggles with grammar etc, so Liz often amends his work. He writes as if he is talking to you, we have had so many people on tour and email, saying they prefer it this way, so – he carries on! This is quite ironic when he numbers amongst his friends authors Charlie Maclean and Ingvar Ronde – who DO write whisky books (Very well). Not only does he continually write these whisky blogs (and whiskey blogs), but also does every blog for our McLeanScotland web; http://mcleanscotland.com At the top of this blog you will see an angel reading a whisky book … or is it Paul’s blog?
So, if you like this drivel he writes, carry on logging in every week, as Liz will place another online, sometimes monthly when he is away on tour. Afraid there is no stopping him, maybe it’s something to do with being a west coast child of Scottish/Irish blend? They do tend to chat a bit.
BrewDog, Compass Box, Duncan Taylor and Zuidam have huddled together to release a new range of ‘boilermaker’ whiskies. The launch has been timed to coincide with the renaming of the brewery’s LoneWolf distillery as BrewDog distillery. The three whiskies in the new series have been created to bespoke recipes designed to pair with BrewDog’s beers as a boilermaker or hauf and hauf serve. Transistor, a blended Scotch by Compass Box’s John Glaser, is designed to partner with BrewDog’s flagship beer, Punk IPA. A blend, the whisky contains a ‘good proportion’ of grain from Cameronbridge, as well as malts from Linkwood, Teaninich, Dailuaine and Clynelish, with some maturation in French oak? Bottled at 43% abv, described as ‘pineapple, orange and lychee’ notes, with a sweetness that is cut through by the ‘spiky, tropical, hoppy bitter notes of the beer’. Who writes these notes?
Torpedo Tulip is a 100% rye whisky from Millstone, made at the Netherlands’ Zuidam distillery. Matured exclusively in ex-oloroso Sherry casks and bottled at 46% abv, the whisky is described as ‘rich stone fruit’ and ‘underlying spice’, and has been chosen to pair with BrewDog’s American pale ale, Dead Pony Club.
Skeleton Key is a blended Scotch whisky created in collaboration with Duncan Taylor to pair with BrewDog’s Jet Black Heart stout or Zombie Cake porter. Containing a proportion of peated Bunnahabhain and a high ration of single malt, including whisky from Glentauchers distillery, Skeleton Key (46% abv) is described as having ‘bold, maritime and peat smoke aromas’ which pair with the chocolate and coffee notes in the beers.
All three no-age-statement expressions are available to purchase in all BrewDog bars as well as through its online retail site for £52 for a 70cl bottle – a wee bit high if you ask me. The brewery recently appointed ex-Johnnie Walker boss David Gates as its managing director of BrewDog Distilling Co., the company’s spirits arm. BrewDog opened its own distillery at its Ellon site in 2016, and following years of barley, yeast, distillation and maturation trials, has now settled on a recipe for its flagship single malt. Now known as BrewDog distillery, the site is set up to produce a number of spirits, including vodka and gin. The LoneWolf brand will continue to be used for BrewDog’s gin. How will Diageo etc react to this news re their drams? Paul McLean, Perth.
Bulleit Celebrates 18th Annual Tribeca Film Festival With A Bulleit 3D Printed Frontier Lounge
Bulleit Frontier Whiskey will unite next-generation technology, film, music & cocktails through its latest Frontier Works project – Bulleit 3D Printed Frontier
NEW YORK, April 23, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Bulleit will return to this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, for the second year, bringing the brand’s latest Frontier Works project — The Bulleit 3D Printed Frontier Lounge — to one of New York City’s hottest cultural events. Film, technology, music, art and design will converge in the space to create an immersive and intimate 3D printed whiskey experience unlike anything anyone in the Big Apple has ever seen before.
Bulleit 3D Printed Frontier Bar at its previous stop in cultural hotspot Oakland, CA.
Robotic arm printing the Bulleit 3D Printed Beta Test Cocktail.
Bulleit 3D Printed Beta Test Cocktail at the Bulleit 3D Printed Frontier Lounge.
Close-up shot of the Bulleit 3D Printed Bar.
In collaboration with the architecture and design practice FAR frohn&rojas, the 3D fabrication team at Machine Histories, popular bartender Melissa Markert, and robotics pioneer from Print A Drink Benjamin Greimel, Bulleit brings its 3D Printed Frontier experience to Tribeca Film Festival. During a series of private invite-only events at Studio 525, Melissa, along with a team of other well-known New York bartenders will serve some of the world’s first 3D printed cocktails. The space will be further brought to life with music from cutting-edge New York-based DJs, Odalys and Angel and Dren, as well as a series of high-tech lighting projections featuring content from some of the films debuting at this year’s Festival.
At the 3D Printed Frontier Lounge, Bulleit will host actors, filmmakers, and celebrities, for post-film screening after parties for films including Crown Vic, Plus Oneand the 25th anniversary celebration of Emmy Award-winning cultural sensation, In Living Color. In addition, all fans and festival-goers 21 years of age and older can visit https://guests.bulleit.com/for a chance to experience the space from 7-10pm ET beginning Wednesday, April 24th through Friday, April 26th. Please note that space is limited and therefore confirmed RSVPs will be accepted on a “first-come, first-serve” basis.
In addition, as the official sponsor of this year’s New York Shorts Film program, Bulleit will support 63 diverse and engaging shorts, and the pioneering international and U.S. filmmakers who created them. Continuing the brand’s dedication to empowering those on the frontier of culture, Bulleit is proud to be a part of Tribeca’s tradition of discovering talent and encouraging filmmaker development.
“Cultivating cultural partnerships and making friends on the frontier is at the heart of Bulleit and our Frontier Works projects,” said Sophie Kelly, Sr. Vice President of Whiskey at Diageo North America. “When you think about Tribeca Film Festival, it’s a celebration that goes beyond filmmakers. It’s a massive cultural program and we’re thrilled to bring the Bulleit 3D Printed Frontier to this iconic moment in this iconic city, giving people an amazing social and cultural experience, which is at the core of what we do.”
The Bulleit Frontier Works Experience previously made stops in cultural hotspots Oakland, CA at the city’s historic Sixteenth Street Station, and Austin, TX ahead of this year’s SXSW conference and Festival. For more information about the Bulleit 3D Printed Frontier, adults 21 years old and older can check out @Bulleit on Instagram.
We know the top shelf bartenders in our 3D printed lounge are among the best in our craft, but adult consumers who join Bulleit on the frontier are always encouraged to drink responsibly.
About Bulleit Frontier Whiskey Bulleit is one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in America, founded in 1987 by Tom Bulleit, who attributes that growth to bartenders and cultural partners who’ve adopted it as their own. The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey portfolio is distilled and aged in the Bulleit family tradition, using a distinctive high rye recipe, which gives them a bold, spicy taste. Most recently, Bulleit Barrel Strength Bourbon won a Double Gold medal and Best Straight Bourbon at the 2018 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Now ranked as one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in America, Bulleit Distilling Co. calls Shelbyville, Ky. home since the 2017 opening of its state-of-the-art distillery and the much-anticipated spring 2019 opening of its high-tech and sensory-rich Visitor Experience. Guests will have the opportunity to learn more about the past, present and future of Bulleit when visiting this latest addition to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. For more information, visit www.bulleit.com or follow @Bulleit on Instagram.
About the Tribeca Film Festival The Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, brings visionaries and diverse audiences together to celebrate storytelling in all its forms, including film, TV, VR, gaming, music, and online work. With strong roots in independent film, Tribeca is a platform for creative expression and immersive entertainment. The Festival champions emerging and established voices; discovers award-winning filmmakers and creators; curates innovative experiences; and introduces new technology and ideas through premieres, exhibitions, talks, and live performances.
The Festival was founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal, and Craig Hatkoff in 2001 to spur the economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan following the attacks on the World Trade Center. Now in its 18th year, the Festival has evolved into a destination for creativity that reimagines the cinematic experience and explores how art can unite communities. The 18th annual edition will take place April 24 – May 5, 2019. www.tribecafilm.com/festival
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.
Follow us on Twitter for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo_NA.
After an astonishing 46 years service, mashman Alistair Miller has officially retired from Glenfarclas. He is pictured here with John and Ishbel Grant, who presented him with gifts including a bottle of 1972 Family Cask (distilled just before he started with us) and a framed picture of the distillery. Many thanks for all your years of hard work, Ali!
Keepers of the Quaich Spring 2019 Banquet which was held at Blair Castle.
(In the picture on the left – Shareen Yew of Single Malt Sdn Bhd, with her husband, Ben Lip and in the picture on the right George Grant of Glenfarclas, Michael Urquhart of Gordon & MacPhail, Ian McWilliam of Glenfarclas)
Sunday, 3rd March saw the official “handing over” of a special 3 litre Glenfarclas bottle which John Grant donated to the CairnGorms Branch of The Gillies Club (Australia). The bottle will be the perpetual trophy for the ‘Norman Case Whisky Of The Year Award’.
Norman Case was the first person to import Glenfarclas to Australia, so it was our honour to contribute to this memorial award in his name.
Since its inaugural release back in 2013, Heaven Hill’s Elijah Craig Barrel Proof has grown into an easy favorite among collectors. But collectors weren’t the only ones thrilled with this very special bottling, as the previous release earned Whisky Advocate’s top title of “Whisky of the Year.” “Batch C918” very much follows in this tradition of excellence. A seductive mélange of sweet caramel, brown sugar, baking spice, pepper, and woodsy notes all work together in perfect harmony. Clocking in at 131.4 proof, this is no timid beast. Nonetheless, it is surprisingly approachable even without a splash of water. Coveted bourbon releases often are priced upwards of $100, as demand remains at an all-time high. So it’s nothing short of remarkable that we have it here for only $60. This coupled with its irresistible profile means our allocation won’t last long. For fans of bold, unbridled Kentucky bourbon, you can’t go wrong here.
93 points Whisky Advocate: “When complex spice meets complex caramel, it makes for a wonderful American whiskey experience. That’s exactly what happens here with a cadre of baking spices over fruit, such as cinnamon baked apples, nutmeg sprinkled over pears, and peaches dusted with clove, followed by butterscotch, vanilla custard, and crème brûlée. The balanced and brilliant finish stays true to its complexity. (FM, Spring 2018)”
K&L Notes: The exceptional full strength version of Elijah Craig has become one of the most well regarded new releases in years. Luckily they’ve been able to offer it at a very reasonable price and while it continues to be allocated, it is not as elusive as some of the other high proof limited releases on the market today. An exceptional bottle that should be on most whiskey lovers’ bucket lists.
Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 250: Auchentoshan 27 Year Old 1990 Single Oloroso Cask for CWS
Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries an Auchentoshan for… China! CWS is short for Chief Whisky Society, a whisky club from China. They selected this single oloroso sherry cask as an exclusive to their members. If it were not for his new friends in Taiwan, Mark does not believe he would ever have gotten hold of it. Luckily he got his hands on two bottles. One for the Toshan Temple and one to savor.
IRISH DISTILLERS WINS ITS STRONGEST-EVER HAUL OF MEDALS AT THE
SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION 2019
– Strong start to the awards season underpinned by success at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge –
Irish Distillers, the makers of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, has scooped a remarkable 11 Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019 – the strongest-ever haul for the family of Irish whiskeys crafted at Midleton Distillery, County Cork.
The prestigious competition honoured the Jameson family with six Double Gold medals – including for new release, Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength – while the Redbreast and Midleton ranges collected three and two Double Gold medals respectively. Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength claimed its fourth double gold medal in a row, continuing the Redbreast legacy as the most decorated single pot still Irish whiskey in the world.
Success in San Francisco followed stand-out performances for the Midleton portfolio at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge earlier this month, where new whiskeys Red Spot and Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength stole the show – scoring 98 and 97 points respectively. Following a near-perfect score, Red Spot – which was re-introduced in November 2018 after 50 years – was awarded the Chairman’s Trophy for the single pot still Irish whiskey category.
Commenting on the strong start to the 2019 awards season, Master Distiller Brian Nation commented: “We are delighted to see such excellent results for Irish Distillers, with recognition at the highest level right across the portfolio. The results are a true reflection of the passion, innovation and determination of the talented team at Midleton and hopefully signal the beginning of an exciting awards season. We look forward to further success throughout 2019!”
Founded in 2000, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition is one of the oldest spirits tasting competitions of its kind. With nearly two decades of experience, they have fine-tuned their operation blending passion and professionalism. A blind tasting process guarantees that every entry is judged fairly and given equal consideration.
The Ultimate Beverage Challenge is one of the definitive spirits and wine evaluation companies in the world. Its two world-class competitions, Ultimate Spirits Challenge and Ultimate Wine Challenge, provide unparalleled value, offering results that are reliable and easily understandable in today’s marketplace.
Notes
Full results from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019:
Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition – Double Gold Medal
Jameson Crested Irish Whiskey – Double Gold Medal
Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey – Double Gold Medal
Jameson 18 Year Old Irish Whiskey – Double Gold
Jameson Bow Street 18 Year Old Irish Whiskey – Double Gold
Midleton Very Rare 2018 Irish Whiskey – Double Gold
Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Single Pot Still – Double Gold
Redbreast Lustau Single Pot Still – Double Gold
Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength – Double Gold
Redbreast 21 Year Old Single Pot Still – Double Gold
Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition – Gold Medal
Jameson Signature Irish Whiskey – Gold Medal
Jameson Blender’s Dog Irish Whiskey – Gold Medal
Red Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – Gold Medal
Redbreast 15 Year Old Single Pot Still – Gold Medal
Powers John’s Lane 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey – Gold Medal
Jameson Irish Whiskey – Silver Medal
Jameson Distiller’s Safe – Silver Medal
Green Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – Silver Medal
Yellow Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – Silver Medal
Redbreast 12 Year Old Single Pot Still – Silver Medal
Powers Three Swallow Release Single Pot Still – Silver Medal
Powers Gold Label Irish Whiskey – Silver Medal
Full results from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2019:
Red Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – 98 Chairman’s Trophy
Redbreast Cask Strength 12 Years Old Single Pot Still – 97 Tried & True Award
Jameson Bow Street Cask Strength (Batch 1) 18 Years Old – 97 Chairman’s Trophy
Jameson 18 Years Old – 96 Tried & True Award
Redbreast 21 Years Old Single Pot Still– 96 Tried & True Award
Redbreast 15 Years Old Single Pot Still– 95 Tried & True Award
Powers John’s Lane 12 Years Old Single Pot Still – 95 Finalist
Jameson Black Barrel– 94 Finalist
Green Spot Chateau Montelena Single Pot Still – 94 finalist
Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition – 94 finalist
Redbreast Lustau Edition Single Pot Still – 94 Tried & True Award
Powers Gold Label Blended – 93 finalist
Midleton Dair Ghaelach Bluebell Forest Single Pot Still – 93
Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton Single Pot Still – 93
Yellow Spot Single Pot Still – 93
Jameson Signature Blended – 92
Jameson Cooper’s Croze – 92
Jameson Blender’s Dog – 92
Midleton Very Rare 2018 – 92
Powers Three Swallow Release – 92
Jameson Crested – 89
Jameson Distiller’s Safe – 89
Jameson Blended Irish Whiskey – 89
Redbreast 12 Years Old Single Pot Still – 87
Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition – 86
About Irish Distillers
Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s fastest-growing Irish whiskey, experiencing 29 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 7.3m cases in 2018. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 80 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.
Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €250m to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.
We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.
About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of €8,987 million in FY18. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,900 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 86 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.
Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.
Stuff Brexit – who knows what’s going to happen??? At no other time in history have the good people of the UK been in more need of dram than right now! So we are here to help soothe and comfort you, with our unique experiences. Together we can truly enjoy the last days of Babylon!
Read on for festival updates, masterclass tickets and all things whisky…
London-folk; are you ready for The Whisky Lounge’s biggest and most ambitious event to date? The legendary London Whisky Weekender takes place over the weekend of the 10th-12th of May and we’re flat out here at TWL HQ making absolutely sure this year’s whisky weekender is the biggest and best Whisky consumer show ever!
Tickets are already sold out for the Saturday early session, so don’t miss out on the last tickets available for our other sessions. You won’t want to miss this!
As well as the usual shenanigans, this year the Whisky Weekender will see a few new additions to the festival – plus a series of featured tastings, masterclasses, workshops + more. Tickets for these are now available online so check out what’s on offer below and get booked in!
First come, first served…
The Founder’s Tasting
with TWL’s Eddie Ludlow
The Art of Blending
with Chivas Regal
Whisky Cocktail Workshops
with The Whisky Lounge
BenRiach & GlenDronach
with Matt Chambers
Berry Brother’s & Glenrothes
with Ronnie Cox
The Ultimate ‘GOT’ Tasting
with Tam Gardiner and Eddie Ludlow
Amazon’s ‘Three Drinkers’ do Glenmorangie
with the show’s stars, Colin, Helena and Aidy
We’ll be welcoming our friends at Scotch Whisky Auctions as they host London’s legendary ‘Whisky Heaven’; an area with drams that one can only dream of. Escape the main hustle and bustle of the festival and join the SWA team as they talk you through an incredible line-up of carefully and selected bottlings, most of which are long out of ‘print’.
With entry costing just one black token (£10), and drams ranging from 1-3 black tokens, this is truly an unmissable opportunity for festival-goers to experience the finer drams in life. Tam and his SWA Ambassadors will be on hand to offer their vast knowledge and recommendations; well-worth taking advantage of.
Black tokens are available to purchase once inside the festival from one of The Whisky Lounge stands. Both orange and black tokens can be redeemed against ‘Under the Counter Drams’, whilst only black tokens can be used in Whisky Heaven.
Join us as we sample some of the finest whiskies from Fèis Ìle 2019!
After celebrating all things Islay in May, we’ll be bringing back an array of our favourite festival bottlings from some of the island’s most recognisable and treasured distilleries! We welcome you all to these special tasting series, in which you’ll get to taste through these truly rare and exciting drams. Find your nearest venue below and get booked in!
Dates and Venues:
Wednesday 5th June –
York – Brigantes, YO1 6JX
Friday 7th June –
Newcastle – Blackfriars, NE1 4XN
Wednesday 12th June –
London – Green Man, NW1 3AU
Wednesday 19th June –
Leeds – The Northern Monk, LS11 9YJ
Thursday 20th June –
Manchester – The Briton’s Protection, M1 5LE
The Springbank Team are delighted to announce the release of the new Springbank UK Single Cask, available to buy from tomorrow (1st May 2019). The Springbank 24yo 46.2% has been matured in a Fresh Sherry Hogshead and there will be 294 bottles available. This new UK Single Cask will be available from tomorrow – contact your preferred Springbank retailer or visit the Where To Buy section of our website for help finding where you can get your hands on a bottle.
The Campbeltown Cadenhead Shop will be selling the Springbank 24yo for £390.00.
This is not a core range product
There will be no Society discount offered for this bottling
