WHISKEY BURN: THE DISTILLERIES OF IRELAND BY VESPA

Why are so many distilleries popping up in Ireland at the moment? One man and his Vespa set off to find out.

Birdsall takes us on a 3-week camping tour around the island of Ireland to visit the established, newly established and yet-to-be-established distilleries.

Travelling on his trusty, 1979, classic Vespa 50, touring the whiskey distilleries, painting, sketching, sampling the produce back at the campsites, this already established travel writer opens the doors to a new generation of Irish whiskey distilleries.

It is a travelogue, a pictorial record, a guide to the new faces and new landscapes of distilling in Ireland, and an amusing, engaging read that no whiskey enthusiast’s bookshelf should be without.

“Delightful and enjoyable read. If you want to know about the renaissance in Irish whiskey this is the book” – John Teeling

 “This is a book well worth having” – Séamus Ó Drisceoil, Cape Clear Distillery

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Born into an English/Irish family in 1967, artist and writer Ben Birdsall grew up between the two countries before moving to Italy to study painting. His literary works began with an Irish novel, Blue Charm, followed by a series of Vespa-tour books including Tuscany by Vespa, Umbria by Vespa, and Whisky Burn – Distilleries of Scotland by Vespa: the Highlands and Islands.

ISBN: 978-94-93066-00-7 Date Published: 8th November, 2018

Publisher: Wittenborg University Press Format: 365 pages, Illustrated Price: €29.99

Website: www.whiskyburn.com

Take a relaxed whisky tour. Sample fabulous drams whilst we drive you around distilleries

Scotland & Ireland, stress free •Knowledgeable & friendly drivers •See the real Scotland & Ireland •Tasty local cuisine in friendly places •Luxurious and homely accommodation

Whether you feel like a weekend sampling drams or a tour getting right into the heart of our whisky, we’re the people for you. We work with you every step of the way to create a bespoke whisky tour.  We take you to distilleries, arranging tours to suit from beginner to the connoisseur. Have fabulous tastings, whisky dinners and whisky schools.  All transport and accommodation is prearranged, from lovely local guest houses, to 5 star castles – booked by us, with care. With over twenty years of experience and our extensive contacts within the whisky industry ensure you enjoy the best of Scottish & Irish hospitality, from the moment you arrive until your final dram. You drink, we drive!

A review by Ingvar Ronde, authour of the Malt Whisky Year Book

“Paul and Liz put together a record breaking program for the trip, visiting 43 distilleries – nine full whisky tours and the rest stopping for photos. Thanks to Paul we also managed to get quite a bit of history and culture. Already planning a new visit for next year. Cheers for now!” – Ingvar 

We’re a bespoke tour company, you give us your ideas and we design a tour for you, here are some examples….

PRIVATE WHISKY SCHOOL and TOUR (new for 2019) – A discerning malt whisky nosing & tasting experience for serious whisky lovers, who don’t mind paying for a superb experience.

FIVE DAY SUPERB SCOTTISH WHISKY TOUR  – a small group tour of Speyside, Perthshire and Glasgow, including a couple of distilleries not open to the general public.  A chance to blend your own whisky, a great experience!

SPEYSIDE DISTILLERIES – a short tour that can be adapted to suit YOU.  A great way to see the best.

DISTILLED WHISKY FESTIVAL TOUR –  a four day tour taking a blending tour at Strathisla, an educational and humourous evening with Vic Cameron, 6 Distilleries and the Whisky Festival.  A really, really fun tour!

EXCLUSIVE, LUXURIOUS, SHORT TOUR This four day whisky tour blends luxury with 5 distillery visits, superb scenery, fine food and whisky, all fully guided. Go on, pamper yourself whilst sampling excellent drams in Scotland.

WHISKY and HISTORY ON THE WESTERN ISLES – a busy tour, 7 distilleries and five islands.

OBAN, CAMPBELTOWN and ISLAY – a wonderful, west coast tour.  Come and see why west is best!

FLYING FROM OBAN TO AN ISLAY WHISKY TOUR  Two days/nights on Islay, returning to Oban day three – unless we stay longer, your choice. A flight back to Oban so you have time for more Islay whisky!

ask liz@mcleanscotland.co.uk for details or visit the website whiskytours.scot

JANUARY AUCTION ENDS SOON!
(ends Sunday 27^th January)

…place your bids at www.whiskyhammer.co.uk

With an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits there is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest, enjoy!

Saturday, February 2nd, 2:30-5:30PM:

Indian Whiskey: Paul John

Take a sip of the soul of India! The Great Indian single malt whisky John Paul will be featured at this tasting, presented by whisky expert Koray Kaan Ozdemir. Distilled in the valley of Goa, India, John Paul whiskey is traditionally made in copper-pot sills without artificial colors, flavours, or chill-filtration.  Their whiskies have received multiple international awards, receiving Gold from both World Whisky and Wizards of Whisky Awards.

More Details & RSVP

It’s arrived! It’s open! A whisky that summarises big sherry like nothing i’ve come across in a long time. We all know how good GlenDronach is, there’s no need to praise it more than is needed. This though, one off single barrel, cask strength, a combination of sweet, almost Bourbon-esque flavours; custard, nutmeg, oak spice and caramel. After this though, the sherry comes through; cinnamon, raisins, sweet, dark sherry and dried fruits that pile up as if they’re actually layered throughout the bottle. Unbelievable. Cheers!

https://youtu.be/BaYzh3CEFS8

Whisky Reviews every Wednesday ~ Facebook.com/whiskytube ~ Twitter.com/whiskytube ~ Youtube.com/whiskywednesday

Raise a dram with the Cotswolds Distillery this Burns Night

Fancy trying something different this Burns Night? For most people, Scotland is, and always has been the home of whisky. However, why not try something different and celebrate with something from south of the border with one of the Cotswolds Distillery’s award-winning offerings?

The Cotswolds Distillery Single Malt

The Cotswolds Distillery Single Malt is the first ever whisky to be created in the Cotswolds ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ and is created using only Cotswolds-grown barley. The inaugural whisky is rich and fruity in style and has been matured in a combination of first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and specially shaved, toasted and re-charred red wine casks. The young expression bursts with notes of honey and butterscotch, layered with light fruits (peaches, apricots) and a hint of marzipan. To taste, the whisky is rich with malt, oils and dark sugar. Spice and caramelised bitter orange lead into a long, resinous finish with dark red fruits and a hint of treacle.

Perfect For: A whisky enthusiast looking for something different to toast Burns Night with friends. 

RRP: £44.95

Stockist: www.waitrose.com

The Cotswolds Distillery Founder’s Choice

The award-winning Cotswolds Distillery recently launched its first cask strength single malt whisky expression, the Founder’s Choice. The whisky is aged in their shaved, toasted and re-charred American oak red wine barrels and has a rich and intense maturation. The cask has a fruity spirit, with toffee, oak and red fruit notes as well as a beautiful deep colour.

Perfect for: Something special to commemorate this age-old Scottish tradition.

RRP: £64.95

Stockist: www.cotswoldsdistillery.com  

Notes

The Cotswolds Distillery

Located in Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, the distillery has become a premier local attraction, offering tours and tastings daily, and now receives 30,000 visitors a year.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky was launched in October 2017. Each bottle lists the barley variety, harvest year and local Cotswolds farm it was grown on. It recently won Gold at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and took 2 stars (one of only two whiskies to do so) in the 2018 Great Taste Awards.

In Jim Murray’s 2019 Whisky Bible, the Cotswolds Distillery received 5 ‘Liquid Gold’ awards. Three of Cotswolds’ whiskies scored 95 points, with all of the distillery’s samples scoring over 88 out of 100.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky is available nationally and in 26 countries across the world. Key UK retailers include Waitrose & Partners, Majestic Wine, The Whisky Exchange, Harrods and Laithwaites.

 The distillery also produces Cotswolds Dry Gin, which was named Best London Dry at the 2016 World Gin Awards and received the top Gold Outstanding award in the 2017 International Wine and Spirits Competition. Difford’s Guide recently ranked the Gin as one of the top 20 Gins available in a survey of 450 brands.

Cotswolds Dry Gin is on sale nationally and in over 25 countries.  Key national accounts include Waitrose & Partners, Majestic, Oddbins, Laithwaites, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Fortnum & Mason.

For more information, please visit www.cotswoldsdistillery.com.

JUVENILES

Can a whisky be jovial?  We’ve tried to make one with our latest Juveniles limited edition. Made in collaboration with whisky lover Tim Johnston of Juveniles Bistrot à Vins, one of the iconic wine bars of Paris.  We’ve tried to reflect the good-humoured nature of Tim and his restaurant in this whisky, right down to the bell in the punt of every bottle!

LEARN MORE

Saturday, January 26th, 11AM-4PM:

Mystery Scotch with Sam Filmus

Master of all things Scotch and guiding light of JVS Imports, our friend Sam Filmus returns to The Whisky Shop with a selection of world-class single malt! Sam Filmus’ previous tastings have included some of the rarest and oldest drams ever tasted at The Whisky Shop. Whether you’re looking for a unique new scotch experience or simply thirsty for a taste of whisky, this tasting is sure to delight and surprise.

More Details & RSVP 

Where to drink whisky this Burns Night (25th January) 

Drama cocktails at Beaufort Bar at The Savoy 

In the autumn of 2018, The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar launched a new menu entitled Music, Magic & Drama. Alluding to the Beaufort Bar’s previous incarnation as The Savoy’s cabaret stage, and its jet-black and burnished gold décor, the ‘Drama’ section of the menu explores dark and atmospheric drinks that take guests late into the evening and includes a section of Scotch whiskies, divided be region.

The whiskies at the Beaufort Bar range in style, age, region and complexity, pleasing both malt connoisseurs and curious neophytes alike, and Head Bartender, Elon Soddu would be happy to advise drinkers which Scotch to sip on Burns Night.

Balancing the whisky component in each serve with aperitifs, liqueurs and Champagnes, the mixed drinks in this section are not all merely stirred down and brown and guests can choose from both lighter long and strong short mixed drinks including Birnham Wood (£40) Lagavulin 12 Year Old Whisky, Chartreuse Verte VEP liqueur, Seedlip Garden non-alcoholic spirit, sugar. 

Alberlour at The Gallery | West Hampstead

The Gallery in West Hampstead has become synonymous with two things: Whisky and Beer. With over 101 whiskies behind the bar – including many impressive and lesser-known scotches – and a strong beer list, it is the go to West London bar for a boilermaker. To celebrate Burns Night, The Gallery has created a specialist menu to commemorate Scotland’s greatest wordsmith, Robert Burns, using quintessentially Scottish ingredients.

From Thursday 24^th to Sunday 27^th The Gallery will be serving a dedicated drinks menu which showcases some of the team’s favourite whiskies and Scottish beers expertly paired to create the ultimate boilermakers such as 10-year old Aberlour with Gipsy Hill Hepcat (£7.50). The Gallery will also be serving an eccentric Haggis Tortellini with preserved tomato ragu and crisp sage followed by a cranachan mille feuille. Wash this down with the drink of the hour ‘The Antidote’ which combines 10 year old Aberlour Whisky with zingy lemon and ginger syrup.

Glenfiddich at Skylight Rooftop | Wapping

On Friday 25th January, Glenfiddich whisky will be taking over London’s most imaginative rooftop destination, Skylight at Tobacco Dock for London’s biggest Burns Night celebration. This evening will also kick off the closing weekend of Skylight’s winter season.
In honour of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns, the rooftop will undergo a boozy makeover from the multi award-winning distillery, bringing with them signature whisky tipples. Entertainment, aside from the rooftop ice rink, will come from traditional Scottish musicians alongside the spectacle of a highly-anticipated rooftop ceilidh. Expect music, singing, whisky tastings and dance.

Guests will be greeted with a Glenfiddich cocktail on arrival and will then be able to cosy up under the heated pergola or grab a table and settle in on the lower floor, equipped with DJ to dance the night away. Skylight’s rooftop igloos will also be available to book – the perfect place to pull up a blanket and sip on mulled drinks to warm the cockles. Street food will also be on offer.

Founded in 1887 and situated in Dufftown, the Glenfiddich Distillery is one of the worlds best known whisky brands and is home to the world’s most-awarded single malt.

Tickets available here.