Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 158: Glenrothes 20 Year Old 1996 North Star Spirits

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a release from the new independent bottler North Star Spirits. This company, led by Iain Croucher (of A.D. Rattray fame) has in its first year released 5 malts and 1 grain. All of them are great, but Mark’s favorite is their Glenrothes 20 Year Old 1996, matured on a sherry cask.

https://youtu.be/KAxyMoQnasE

Hi folks. We are live with the 72nd auction – our biggest ever and with something for everyone.

Enjoy – and remember: Don’t Lose Your Bottle!

Andy at Malt Box reviews the Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon @maltbox

Please click HERE to view.

History in the making

Strathearn’s Cask Ownership Scheme Returns

One of Scotland’s Scotland’s smallest distilleries, Strathearn, has revealed they will reintroduce their elite Private Cask Ownership Scheme, giving customers the chance to own their own whisky or rum cask.

Whisky aficionados can purchase a 40 litre cask or a 100 litre oak cask with a variety of types on offer including Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry, Maderia, Portuguese Brandy and more. Strathearn’s Cask Aged Golden Rum will also be available to purchase in 30 litre casks.

Working on a single cask basis has allowed Strathearn to experiment with different wood types and finishes, as well as learning to appreciate the natural variations that occur throughout spirit production, influenced by the climate and ingredients.

Tony Reeman-Clark, Founder of Strathearn Distillery said: “We are excited to reintroduce our ‘club’ which allows our customers from around the world to own a little piece of our distillery history. Being VisitScotland’s Year of History and Heritage, our ownership scheme couldn’t come at a better time.

“So far, we’ve only released the first batch of our Single Malt Scotch Whisky and are yet to unveil our Scottish rum so it is great to be able to offer a huge variety of finishes, catering to all tastes. We believe rum is the next big thing in the Scottish spirits scene so there’s no better way to allow people to get their hands on a whole cask of a true pioneering Scottish spirit.”

Originally the Private Ownership Scheme was introduced by Strathearn to pay homage to The Wash Act of 1784, where simplified rates of duty were applied to small scale distilleries north of the Highland line. The Scheme embraces the ethos and the simplicity of the 1784 act.

The casks are exclusively available through the Strathearn Distillery website and will vary in price according to spirit, finish and size. The casks will be limited and offered on a first come, first fill basis.

For more information on Strathearn Distillery or the Private Cask Ownership Scheme please visit www.strathearndistillery.com/.

Notes

• Strathearn Distillery was established in 2013 by Tony Reeman-Clark who has a passion for whisky and small scale distilling.  Production began in the October of 2013, with their first cask being filled with Strathearn new-make spirit. After three years of maturation, the first bottles of Scotch Whisky were auctioned off in December 2016.
• Strathearn produces a range of highly acclaimed Scottish gins, experimenting with innovative production techniques and flavour profiles.
• Strathearn has created a range of spirits, their soon to be released Golden Rum is being distilled now.

(WS1)
Saturday May 20th 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Whiskies of the World
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Roberto Roberti & Fountana Beverage

Join Roberto Roberti on a tasting of whiskies from around the world, highlighting classic regions as well as some “off the beaten path”. This around-the-world flight will showcase the wide array of possibilities employed by global whisky producers.

(WS2)
Saturday May 20th 1:45 – 2:45 PM
Tullibardine/Kilchoman
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Roberto Roberti & Fountana Beverage

Classic Highland malts meet the newest offerings from Islay in this sampling of whiskies from Tullibardine and Kilchoman. Roberto Roberti will lead you through a tasting of whiskies from both distilleries, and will preview a dram brand new to BC.

(WS3)
Saturday May 20th 3:30 – 4:30 PM
Amrut/Kavalan
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Roberto Roberti & Fountana Beverage

Climate has an effect on the production and ageing of whisky. Roberto Roberti will guide you through a tasting featuring premiere whiskies produced in distinctly warmer regions of the globe.

(WS4)
Sunday May 21st 12:00 – 1:00 PM
Regions of Scotland, The Beautiful Myth
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Andrew Campbell Walls & Macaloney Distillers

A discussion of the regions of Scotland and their flavour profiles. Leading into the prevalent myth of terroir and the reality that still shape and production methods are more important that water source and terroir.

(WS5)
Sunday May 21st 1:45 – 2:45 PM
The Douglas Laing Scottish Regional Malt Collection
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Stacy Kyle of Rare Drams

Remarkable Regional Malts; Containing some of the very best Single Malts from their respective regions, Timorous Beastie from the Highlands, Scallywag from Speyside, Rock Oyster from the Islands and Big Peat from Islay, Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts deliver the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky regions

(WS6)
Sunday May 21st 3:30 – 4:30 PM
Nature vs. Nurture, the Oak Masterclass
Price $35 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Andrew Campbell Walls & Macaloney Distillers

With 50-70% of a whiskies flavour profile coming from the cask it is matured in, it is important to understand the differences between oak types and fill types.

(WS7)

Monday May 22nd 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Whisky and Local Food Pairing
Price: $45.00 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Bill Jones

Join Deerholme Farm owner, Cookbook Author and Celebrity Chef, Bill Jones as he guides you through a sensory journey pairing single malt whiskies with delectable local food choices. Bill will lead you through a variety of local food choices paired with outstanding whiskies. For more information on Bill, visit www.deerholme.com.

(WS8)
Monday May 22nd 2:45PM – 3:45 PM
Whisky and Local Charcuterie Pairing
Price: $45.00 – 45 attendees. Buy Now!
with Corey Pelan.

New to the whisky school this year, join The Whole Beast Owner Corey Pelan as he leads you through a selection of local made charcuterie paired with outstanding single malt whiskies. For more information on Corey and The Whole Beast, visit www.thewholebeast.ca.

Tickets on sale (TODAY) Monday March 27 at 10:00am

This is your reminder: tickets for Spirit of Toronto 2017 go on sale this morning, Monday March 27, at 10:00am!

These may be purchased as follows:

• In person at Roy Thomson Hall’s box office at 60 Simcoe Street
• By calling Roy Thomson Hall’s box office at (416) 872-4255
• Online through Roy Thomson Hall’s website

Buying tickets online for several people? Please keep reading!

Masterclasses: the more, the merrier?

May we make a suggestion based on feedback from our regular guests?

If this is your first time coming to the show, one masterclass will be plenty, leaving you with ample time to explore the tasting halls, take in some live jazz and see why everyone is queuing for the prime rib and Yorkshire pudding.

For those determined to attend masterclasses at both 7pm and 8:30pm, please allow enough time to check-in, check your jacket, collect your glass and event programme, and queue for the class itself. But please keep in mind that attending two classes leaves little time to enjoy the event itself

Buying Multiple Tickets Online

If you are buying multiple tickets and wish to attend different masterclasses than your fellow ticketholders, please note that you will be required to build these different selections as separate packages before proceeding to the checkout to pay for the full order.

Furthermore please note that masterclasses cannot be purchased without including a ticket to Spirit of Toronto as part of your package.

For example…

Buying tickets to the show for yourself and a friend, but planning on attending different masterclasses? Purchase your tickets as follows…

Select the following as Package #1 and and click ‘Continue’:

Sat 5/6/17 6:30PM Spirit of Toronto 2017 Sat 5/6/17 5:30PM Balvenie Malt Master Memories Sat 5/6/17 7:00PM Bowmore’s Hidden Depths

You will then be prompted for the number of tickets being purchased for Package #1, after which you may either “Go to Cart” to pay for your purchase, or “Build Another Package” to select a different grouping of masterclasses as Package #2:

Sat 5/6/17 6:30PM Spirit of Toronto 2017 Sat 5/6/17 5:30PM Legends of Bourbon Sat 5/6/17 8:30PM Bunnahabhain: Islay’s HIdden Gem

When finished building all your packages you may now select ‘Go to Cart’ to review your order and proceed to the checkout page.

There’s always standby…

Didn’t get the classes you wanted? Not much of a planner? There may still be hope: any empty seats courtesy of no-shows will be assigned to those waiting on standby. Note that this only applies to the classes at 7pm and 8:30pm; please review the About section of the website for more details.

Springbank Society 

How are we all?

Feels like we haven’t spoken in ages. Don’t worry, you will hear from me a lot more in the next few months. For today, however, I am very happy to drop you all this quick, little email to tell you about Spirit of Freedom which is available in the UK Cadenhead shops now. Containing 62 different Scotch Whiskies, this blend is the perfect dram for the 62% ahead of Article 50.

Tasting notes:

Nose – A lovely introduction to this whisky; sweet and fresh with a minty background. It then becomes really fruity with apricots, bananas and pears.

Palate – A light and easy-drinking dram.The fruity theme continues with melon and raspberries, combined with vanilla cream; a Scottish malty panna cotta.

Finish – You’ll want to share it with your pals or then again, maybe better to keep it to yourself, it’s very moreish and buttery.

Please see the advert above for full details or check out our website.

It will likely retail at about £25.00; please contact your preferred retailer or stockist if you would like a bottle.

And although I am sure you will know this, please be aware of the following:

• This is not a Society bottle
• This is not a core range product

Swedish Society Members

Our Springbank Burgundy and Hazelburn Barolo are being launched in Sweden today (Thursday 23rd March 17). The Springbank Burgundy 12yo has been matured in Fresh Burgundy Casks and bottled at cask strength 53.5%vol. The tasting notes for this (as included in the newsletter back in June):

Nose:  Bold and rich with mineral and dunnage warehouse notes combining with maple syrup, pancetta, cranberry and red currants.

Palate:  A soft velvet like texture with buttered brown toast and chocolate shortbread complimenting light herb & oak notes.

Finish:  A medium dry finish gives up liquorice and mint accompanied woody tannins

The Hazelburn 9yo Barolo (57.9% abv) spent 6 years in a fresh bourbon cask and then 3 years in a refill Barolo wine cask (which had previously contained Springbank).

Nose: The dram begins with perfume and confectionary, then the essence of sugared almonds is revealed, complimented by the sweetness of sherbet

Palate: Peppery with light tannins and the sweetness is continued with dry fruits and the subtle hint of coconut shavings

Finish: Sugary, with dark chocolate guiding us throughout the pineapple custard combined with vanilla

Please click on the link here for all the details you need.

I will be speaking to you all again very soon, in fact I will be in touch so often you will be tired of hearing from me.

Until then,

Slainte

Nathan

For the Springbank Society

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/officialspringbankwhisky/

Twitter –  https://twitter.com/Springbank1828

Instagram –  Search Springbank Whisky (@springbankwhisky1828)

CLICK HERE TO BUY

Ralfy gets busy about barley with Ralfy Review 636 – Springbank Local Barley 11yo @ 46%vol

Oban: West Coast Whisky Feis 

A new whisky festival to be held in Oban, written by Paul McLean of MCLEANSCOTLAND

Gather your strength and gather your pennies … there will be a superb new whisky festival in Oban this July, we will be there and it would nice to see as many friends as possible, to support this new festival.  So where? When? What? And Who?

Where? My hometown, Oban, gateway to the isles and the capital of seafood in Scotland.  It’s only a few hundred yards from Oban Distillery, where you are surrounded by great pubs, food outlets, shops and of course – accommodation, our advice, stay the night, or like Liz and myself, make it a weekend! Just over the water on Mull is another distillery; Tobermory, with an excellent pub within spittin’ distance, owned by a pal of ours, Macgochans Bar.

When? From 12pm – 6pm on Saturday, 22 July, at Oban’s Skipinnish Cèilidh House.

What?  West Coast Whisky Feis, the brainchild of local drinks retailer, Oban Whisky and Fine Wines, good pals of ours by the way (I think everyone in the drinks industry are friends!).  Skipinnish Ceilidh House will host a range of exhibits from west coast distilleries and food stalls highlighting local producers.

And who? Scotland’s west coast distillers. Distilleries such as Isle of Arran, Caol Ila and Ben Nevis. The local Diageo-owned Oban Distillery will also hold on-site master classes a couple of hundred yards away, based around their world famous whiskies.

Euan Finlayson, owner of Oban Whisky and Fine Wines, said, “We wanted to create an event that shows off the incredible whiskies that the west coast has to offer. The aim is to offer a range of whiskies and master classes that can appeal to newcomers and aficionados alike.”

Ticket holders will receive a dram glass and will be able to take samples from all of the exhibitors. There will also be a nosing competition where attendees can attempt to identify various whiskies by smell alone, with a bottle of single malt whisky up for grabs. Samples are included in the event ticket price and master classes are available for an additional fee. Tickets cost £30, available; www.westcoastwhiskyfeis.co.uk/ – the official website, go and soak up the aromas of this new dramfest. The good news just got better, they are offering subsidised UK & worldwide shipping from the Fèis shop within the venue, so no need to be stuck carrying bottles around with you when the shows over.  www.whiskyfix.com/  Whisky Fix is a company specialising in single malt scotch whisky, for whisky lovers, connoisseurs and collectors alike. Working closely with distillery partners to offer very rare and collectable whisky along with your everyday whisky needs. So if you have been looking for a certain bottle to complete that collection, get in touch, you never know.

For any help with this new fest or interested in whisky tours around Scotland and Ireland,

ask Paul and Liz; info@mcleanscotland.com  We can certainly assist with add on dates before/after this event.

http://www.mcleanscotland.com/     http://www.wwhiskytours.scot/