Thursday, January 11th, 5-7 PM:

Aberlour 

Founded in the heart of Speyside in 1879, Aberlour is reknowned as one of the world’s great malt whiskies. A variety of Aberlour’s new and award-winning drams will be presented, with distillery representatives and whisky experts available throughout for all your whisky questions. 

Click Here to RSVP 

This is one of two Aberlour tastings in January. Our second is:

Saturday, January 20th, 

2:30-5:30 PM.

Click Here to RSVP

STUDENTS AWARDED £4,500 AS PART OF CHIVAS BROTHERS BURSARY

Four students are set to take their talents to the next level after being awarded a total of £4,500 in funding as part of Chivas Brothers’ national bursary scheme. Held in partnership with the Scottish International Educational Trust (SIET), the sought-after scheme offers financial support to ambitious employees and their family members, helping them to realise their aspirations through further education or vocational training.

Announced today, this year’s successful recipients are Claire Park, who is studying Applied Science at Moray College; Lauren Evans, a Forensic and Analytical Chemistry student from West Dunbartonshire; Paul McFadden, an aspiring programmer from Glasgow; and Eilidh Ross, a Human Rights and International Politics student at the University of Glasgow.

26-year-old Elgin resident Claire Park first heard about the bursary opportunity from her step-father Fenton Perrie, who works as a Project Engineer at Chivas Brothers. Awarded a total of £1,000, this bursary will help her to fund a higher mathematics course and allow her to purchase study materials for her HNC in Applied Sciences.

Claire said: “I worked as a healthcare assistant from the age of 15 and then last year I decided to go to college to help boost my skills and grow my career prospects. I’m absolutely over the moon to have been selected for this year’s bursary as it means I will now be able to focus on my studies and not worry about any extra costs. Ultimately, I want to move on to study for a degree in Applied Sciences or Pharmacy, and I’m really thankful to Chivas Brothers for helping me to take the next step on my education journey.”

Lauren Evans from Alexandria is currently studying a Forensic and Analytical Chemistry degree at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow. She was encouraged to apply for the bursary by her father Raymond, who works as a Team Leader at Chivas Brothers’ Kilmalid site. She said: “I can’t believe that I’ve been accepted. The £1,000 will go a long way in helping to alleviate some of the travel costs I face commuting from Alexandria in West Dunbartonshire to my university in Glasgow. My ultimate career goal is to work for the Forensic Department of Police Scotland, and now I’m determined to make this dream a reality.”

Meanwhile, Paul McFadden, from Glasgow, has been awarded £1,000 to put towards his HNC Games Development Course at West College Scotland in Paisley. With aspirations to become a programmer in the gaming industry, the funding will help him to purchase the latest coding and software development programmes. He said: “I feel very privileged to have been selected as one of this year’s bursary recipients. It has already given me a huge confidence boost and I’ll be able to buy everything I need to develop a career in the games industry. I can’t thank Chivas Brothers enough for supporting me.”

Finally, Eilidh Ross, whose father Bryan works as a Distillery Operations Technician at Chivas Brothers’ Scapa Distillery in Kirkwall, has been awarded £1,500. She is currently working to complete her Masters degree in Human Rights and International Politics at the University of Glasgow, and will use the funding to support with the cost of travel from her home on Orkney. She said: “This bursary will have a massive impact on my studies and also on my career. With the support of Chivas Brothers, I will now be able to attend an important study trip to the United Nations in Geneva. This is something I never thought would be possible, and it will be an important factor in helping me to pursue a career within politics or the humanitarian sector.”

Chivas Brothers’ national bursary scheme launched to great acclaim last year, and has already contributed towards the studies of an aeronautical engineer, a budding actress and a Classics student at Cambridge University. The scheme is open to all 1,600 of Chivas Brothers’ employees and direct family members, providing them with the opportunity to secure funding of up to £5,000 a year. The scheme will run for three years, this being its second.

Jennie Norrish, Global Communications Director at Chivas Brothers, added: “We’re really proud to be able to support our employees and their family members to realise their ambitions. Our 2017 bursary recipients have so much talent and each of them has a real passion and determination to achieve their dreams. This entrepreneurial mind-set is something we really champion at Chivas Brothers, so it’s fantastic to be able to relieve some of the financial pressures that come with studying full time. We can’t wait to see how the funding helps them over the next year.”

Michael Ewart, Director of SIET, a body which provides talented individuals with grants to complete further education studies, added: “This bursary is such a worthwhile initiative and we’re delighted to be able to support a second cohort of students on their education journey. The scheme shows Chivas Brothers’ dedication to championing the success of its employees and their family members.”

About Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is a global drinks producer and exports company steeped in Scottish heritage. It is the only Pernod Ricard business dedicated entirely to Scotch whisky and comprises a prestigious range of single malt and blended whiskies. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet. With a multitude of awards and accolades for its quality, craftsmanship, industry-leading sites and award-winning campaigns, its brands are at the heart of moments of connection across the globe.

The company comprises 1,600 employees, 14 Scotch distilleries, two bottling facilities and over 300 warehouses across its 26 sites including Orkney, Scotland and London.

www.chivasspirit.com

For further information, please contact Chivas Brothers’ press office team: chivasbrothers@text100.com or 02079086594 About the Scottish International Education Trust The Scottish International Education Trust (SIET) was set up by Sir Sean Connery and Sir Jackie Stewart in 1971. Sir Sean donated his $1m fee for the film “Diamonds are Forever” – at the time the largest fee ever commanded by an actor for a single film. Both Sir Sean and Sir Jackie are Patrons of the Trusts and take an active interest in the Trust’s work. SIET’s principal aim is to give awards to mainly young Scots who have shown particular promise and who need help to take their education or professional training further – usually at post-graduate or equivalent level.

www.scotinted.org.uk

With Christmas and New Year fading fast in our memories, we can’t wait for the next special occasion. This year brings the Society’s 35th anniversary and we’re looking forward to sharing some good times with our members.

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EXCLUSIVE BURNS BOTTLING

Indulge in a sophisticated soirée with our celebratory bottling 7.195 If Rabbie Burns did afternoon tea. Sweet, fruity and mellow, let this charming whisky captivate your senses with delicious banana bread, crystallised ginger, spiced apricot chutney and the aroma of a red, red rose.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Welcome to 2018

So 2017 has dribbled away, have all the drams run out? Not by any chance, in fact so many new distilleries opened in ’17 here in Scotland,and more are planned. In October Ian Macleod Distillers announced it is to reopen Rosebank in 2019, Diageo to reopen Port Ellen and Brora by 2020. In 2017 – 10 new whisky distilleries opened. August; Twin River distillery, at Deeside Brewery became the first whisky distillery to open locally for almost 200 years. Friends of ours and very local, Aberargie opened November, GlenWyvis began distilling on St Andrew’s Day (30 November). BrewDog’s Lone Wolf, started the first rye spirit seen in Scotland for a hundred years or so, unsure on rye whisky myself. This year 10 new whisky distilleries could follow on.

The 2018 Islay Festival (25 May – 2 June) could also include a visit to Hunter Laing Ardnahoe distillery, I took a few folks there last year, just to see the start … the first Borders distillery for almost 200 years is running schedule, possibly to start producing in January, in Hawick, the £10m distillery is said to aim at 1.8m litres of spirit, for both single malt whisky and gin. Why is everyone producing gin? OK easy, fast money but – come on whisky producers, stay with whisky please. Burnbrae Distillery in East Kilbride, one to keep an eye on maybe. J&G Distillers, who also own Hart Brothers, has been extending bottling warehouses in East Kilbride, a malt whisky distillery is expected operational early this year, is not expected to open to visitors. Douglas Laing & Co.’s £10.7m distillery opens at Pacific Quay, Glasgow, city’s fourth whisky distillery, joining the Strathclyde grain plant, Glasgow and Clydeside malt distilleries. Meanwhile in the capital; Liverpool drinks company Halewood Wines & Spirits (I had family living in Halewood 40 odd years ago), will produce 165,000 litres of spirit each year, bringing the John Crabbie & Co. name back to the capital. Now owned by Halewood (Liverpool), John Crabbie & Co was one of the six founding partners of Edinburgh’s North British distillery in 1885, with John Crabbie the conglomerate’s first chairman, today a ginger beer, John Crabbie & Co was a distilling and blending Scotch whisky. This summer, the Granton Harbour development will finally see the company return to its roots. “crabit” When some one is in a bad mood. (Scots Slang) as in, God, I’m feeling crabit today, we look forward to the Crabit drams! Edinburgh’s Engine Shed malt whisky distillery and visitor centre at Holyrood Park is expected to open, and will produce about 100,000 litres of spirit each year we are told, making it among the smallest distilleries in Scotland. Meanwhile a whisky fact; Scotland has built only two grain distilleries in the last half century – Loch Lomond in 1993, and Starlaw in 2010. This year, the eighth grain distillery is looking to open in the borders. Reivers is the first distillery complex being built by Mossburn Distillers, near the River Jedwater, Reivers is a small, distillery designed to produce a range of spirits, including malt whisky in pot stills and grain whisky in columns. Looking forward to this one also, is expected to be open by June. Meanwhile, its sister distillery, the larger Mossburn complex, won’t be here until at least 2020.

Up in the Highlands – Toulvaddie distillery is thought to be nearing completion, near Tain, it will be the first whisky distillery to be founded solely by a woman – television producer Heather Nelson – and will produce 30,000 litres of a whisky once running. Toulvaddie is entering all Friends of the Distillery into a prize draw to win the first bottle of single malt whisky produced by the distillery, FAB! More should be doing this rather than some crazy price for bottle one, as we have seen recently. With all this new distillery talk, don’t forget all the existing distilleries, aye we shall be taking our tours at the usual, the unusual and some new ones – look out for news.

One of my favourites bands Runrig, are to take a final bow after 45 years, the Skye-born band (originally) are to create a whisky to commemorate their last stand. Runrig’s Final Mile farewell tour this year will end in August with The Last Dance concerts at Stirling City Park. They have partnered Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky in Huntly to produce several special bottles of whisky for different tours in the past, so they called for one more Runrig whisky called – One For the Road. Calum dropped by Duncan Taylor’s to oversee production, it will be distributed alongside their merchandise on their final tour. Moji Shand, chief executive of Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky, said: “When Runrig announced they were pulling down the curtain on their 45 years in music, it was only apt that we would collaborate with them again on a whisky. The whisky is on sale at £69 from The Spirits Embassy website www.thespiritsembassy.com “my favourite band and good pals DT are collaborating, Liz, we should get in here!”

What put Perth on the whisky map? As you may know, we are based here in Perth, so here are a few Perth dramfacts; Bell’s, Dewar’s, Famous Grouse and, for a time, Beneagles, were all blended and bottled in the town before being exported and enjoyed across the world. John Dewar & Sons was based at Inveralmond. Its bonded warehouse was on the junction of Glasgow Road and Glover Street, now the Dewar’s curling rinks. Nowadays whisky has gone fae Perth, but should you wish to recollect or delve into the past, try a bottle of Old Perth – Old Perth Scotch Whisky was originally created in the early 1900,s by the Thomson family, well known grocers in the City. By late 1970 the brand disappeared. Brought back to life as a blended malt in 2013 by Morrison & MacKay, the brand is the only whisky now blended in Perthshire. I wholly recommend these drams of Old Perth, easy to find and easy to drink.

Have a dram happy 2018!

Paul and Liz, mcleanscotland.com and whiskytours.scot

Check Out These Fantastic Whisky Advocate Reviews!!

If you thought the previous email had all the achievements we received this year, you were mistaken. 

This year, Whisky Advocate compiled a list of their Top 20 Whiskies of the year.  Below are a couple of really distinguished highlights from that list which we’re especially proud of.  

Earning 93 points, Tamdhu Batch Strength #002 came in at #8!!

Check out Susannah’s tantalizing description below the tantalizing image.

“Historically used for blending, Tamdhu flies under the radar of many scotch aficionados. But this underappreciated Speyside whisky compares well with more famous sherry bombs by offering a sweet, savory, slightly funky depth. At first sniff, Tamdhu seems like it might knock you out with one blow—but this gentle giant is a lover, not a fighter. Viscous and meaty, this cask-strength stunner reveals dried fruit, dark chocolate ganache, ginger spice, and saline minerality, thundering softly into a long finish.” ~ Susannah Skiver Barton

Coming in at #20 with 90 points, Fukano Japanese Whisky – 2017 made the list! 

In fact, this is the only Japanese whisky to make it to the list!! If you like Japanese whiskies you must try Fukano; it’s unlike anything else!  If you haven’t tried Japanese whiskies yet, you must; it’s unlike anything else!   Check out Jonny’s mouth-watering review below the image. 

“Japanese rice whiskies enjoy a cult following for their delicate flavors. This Fukano stands out with its ethereal fruity delights, the result of meticulous vigilance to preserve the spirit’s subtle nature. It brings a supple nose of lychee, ripe peaches, Smarties, watermelon, allspice, and white pepper. A light, slightly syrupy texture is underscored by watermelon and raspberry as it unwraps peach, nectarines, rhubarb, and custard candy, fruit Life Savers, stewed fruits, red berries, and light citrus. Fukano promises to broaden our whisky horizons.” ~ Jonny McCormick

Thanks again for being part of our family and enjoying these fine whiskies with us. We look forward to bringing you more excellent whiskies in 2018!

Happy New Year!

Please feel free to reach out for more details on the bottlings: office@impexbev.com

1983 Port Ellen 32 Year Old “15th Edition Special Release” Cask Strength Scotch Whisky (750ml) SKU #1235921

Whisky Advocate

Matured in refill European oak sherry butts, this year’s Special Release has more weight than many previous expressions and a fascinating smokiness that comes across like a just-lit fire: fire lighter, burning paper, fire grate, and wood smoke. The more active oak adds walnut skin notes and rich dried fruits before the smoke returns. All very sophisticated with enough sweetness to balance. Excellent, but, ouch, that price! (DB, Winter 2015)

K&L Notes

The exceptional Port Ellen distillery has recently been tapped to be reopened, but it’s unlikely that the new facility will replicate the incredible heights that were achieved there before the closure in the year that this special whisky was distilled. One of the most celebrated modern bottlings of Port Ellen, the 15th release is also the year Diageo really jumped the shark. Suggested retail for this bottle was well above $4000 when it was originally offered to us. It continues to trade world wide for around $3000. We are extremely lucky to get a small amount at this unthinkably low price. It’s still very expensive, but it’s easily the best price for any Diageo-bottled Port Ellen in the United States and perhaps even the world. This legendary whisky has garnered praise from critics and cognoscenti and represents some of the final stocks distilled before the tragic closure of this special distillery.

$2100

POETIC PAIR

Wax lyrical with this poetic pair of single casks, the unique character of each whisky is sure to spark conversation and debate. Be transported to a lunch beach party with 10.136 West coast feast or enjoy some medicine for the soul with the deep, rich and dried fruit flavours of 63.44.

60 Available – £ 109

DISCOVER MORE

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Ring in the New Year with WhiskyFest Tickets

What’s on your 2018 bucket list? Attending WhiskyFest in one of four great cities (Chicago, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, New York) should definitely be on it! Don’t miss out of this one-of-a-kind experience to taste fantastic whiskies, chat with the best in the business, attend unique seminars, and enjoy a fabulous buffet. Early bird pricing is in effect, while supplies last.

Buy your tickets today at WhiskyFest.com.

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