KEENS TASTING

Alternative Masters Series Winter 2017

Join us for a tasting featuring “The Alternative Masters” of wine and spirits

as chosen by another of America’s foremost spirits authorities,

Spike McClure, Senior Master of Whisky.

Monday, March 27th, 7:00 p.m.

THE BLIND TRUTH 

Please join us to unravel the mysteries of how both age and barrel finishes affect and perfect the personalities of single malts.

Let the Keeper of the Quaich and credentialed distiller, Spike McClure lead you through a blind tasting of:

                    Singleton 12 Year Old vs 18 Year Old              

Mortlach Rare Old vs. 18 Year Old

   Lagavulin 8 Year Old  vs 16 Year Old

Dalwhinnie Distillers Edition vs 15yo

 $95 per person For reservations call Keens Steakhouse (212) 947-3636 – Please register early as we expect this event to sell out –

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD REGISTRATION FORM

Please fax back to us at (212) 714-1103

or email to banquets@keens.com

For further information

please visit our Upcoming Events page

Or Call (212) 947-3636.

It’s that special time of year everyone! Perhaps the most exciting day of the Scotch whisky drinker’s schedule is the annual release of Ardbeg’s new committee bottling, a tradition at K&L that never gets old. We never know for sure what new concoction Ardbeg’s head of whisky creation Dr. Bill Lumsden will dream up, but that’s part of what makes the anticipation so much fun! The 2017 Ardbeg Committee Release is called “Kelpie” and it’s named after a mythical beast from the Corryvreckan, but it also alludes to the idea of “kelp” or seaweed. Aged in Russian oak barrels made from Adygea, near Georgia along the Black Sea, the whisky exudes a whirlwind of dark fudge, earthy peat, and of course a healthy dollop of seaweed and salt water flavors.

As if one new release from Dr. Bill Lumsden wasn’t exciting enough, we’re pleased to announce that Ardbeg’s sister distillery Glenmorangie has also allocated its new limited release for 2017 on the same day! The new Glenmorangie “Bacalta,” a Madeira-finished delight that captures the richness and the decadence of the supple Malmsey dessert wine. For those of you who enjoy the “Nectar d’Or” expression finished in Sauternes, the “Bacalta” dials that experience up just a bit, finishing with a candied note that’s as hedonistic as it is heavenly.

Glenmorangie “Bacalta” (750ml) $109.99

A RARE RELEASE OF A QUIXOTIC BLEND FROM HIGH WEST

High West’s latest batch of Bourye, a marriage of Bourbon and rye adorned with the elusive jackalope – a cross between a jack rabbit and an antelope, is back for another limited run. The Park City, Utah outpost only releases the Bourye when they have sufficient quantities of the necessary ingredients, which are getting more and more difficult to secure in today’s market. This latest batch is bottled at 46% ABV and consists of rye and Bourbon whiskies aged 10 to 14 years from MGP Distillery in Indiana, formerly known as LDI and Seagrams. Considering that a simple ten year old American rye whiskey seems to be worth its weight in gold, the fact that High West has included casks of a much older heritage is no simple task. The balance between both the richness of the Bourbon and the spiciness of the rye is quite wonderful here. There are no rough edges, the flavors meander from mellow oak to toasted with vanilla, all with a backbone of peppery rye goodness. We never have the Bourye in stock for long and we’re always handling questions about when we’ll get more. David Perkins continues to captivate us with his American whiskey blends, now considered the gold standard of the industry.

High West Bourye Bourbon/Rye Whiskey (750ml) $69.99

WEST CORK FINISHES WITH A FLOURISH

The West Cork distillery started as a pet project by John O’ Connell, Denis McCarthy and Ger McCarthy in 2003 in Union Hall, West Cork. In 2013 after much expansion WCD moved to a larger distillery in Skibbereen, West Cork where it now resides. It now operates as only one of the few independent distilleries in Ireland. A trio of limited 12 year old releases has just trickled into the U.S. and we’ve been told this will be it as far as inventory until late in 2018. Each finished in a different type of cask (port, sherry, and rum), the soft and creamy Irish whisky takes on just a bit of the character from the barrel it was matured in.

West Cork 12yr “Rum Cask Finish” Limited Edition Single Malt Irish Whiskey $59.99 The rum cask release has a creamy and textural palate of sweet grains with just a bit of that sweet molasses that you would associate with a Caribbean rum.

West Cork 12yr “Port Cask Finish” Limited Edition Single Malt Irish Whiskey $59.99 The port cask release offers a subtle tinge of red fruit and sweet dessert flavor on the finish, but the influence is very delicate and refined.

West Cork 12yr “Sherry Cask Finish” Limited Edition Single Malt Irish Whiskey $59.99 The sherry cask finish takes the subtle sweetness of Oloroso and melds it into the easy-drinking character of the whisky, adding just a bit of chewy richness to the soft vanilla.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mWp3BH1nM4

GlenDronach 1992 – 22 Year Old Single Cask

Such an awesome distillery and such an awesome selection of casks and standard releases. The special releases are fairly spectacular in their own right as well. This one is natural cask strength, natural colour, non-chill filtered and rather special to me. After having picked it up on a spectacular trip up to some of my friends and I’s favourite distilleries, it will always hold memories of camping in forests north of Inverness and all of the laughter that accompanied every moment. That’s enough of me rabbiting on about my whimsical view of this bottle, check out the review and tell me what you all think, especially if you happen to have tried whisky from this particular single cask! Or just a particularity special whisky to yourselves. Enjoy! Also, i gave this whisky both an 8.5 and an 8, let’s just call it an 8, it was the end of a very long but great day of filming.

http://thewhiskeyjar.com/

http://www.flagtimefilms.com/

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Whisky Reviews every Wednesday

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A. SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY AWARDED for the SECOND YEAR IN A ROW

John J. Bowman Single Barrel Takes Honors

“WORLD’S BEST BOURBON” 

            Fredericksburg, VIRGINIA (March 8, 2017) – For the second year in a row A. Smith Bowman Distillery was awarded the honor of “World’s Best Bourbon” by Whisky Magazine. However, this year’s award was given to a different A. Smith Bowman bourbon, and was presented to John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The Distillery’s Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon was awarded “World’s Best Bourbon” in 2016.

           The Distillery received this award Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2017 at the Whisky Magazine Awards America presentation in New York City where Master Distiller Brian Prewitt accepted the award.

            “We could not be more excited to receive this honor for the second year in a row,” Prewitt said. “For our small distillery in Virginia, receiving the title of “World’s Best Bourbon” two years in a row for two different bourbons is something truly special for us. We’re very thankful for this recognition.”

            Whiskies in each category were subject to rigorous blind taste testing to determine the very best.

            For more information about the World Whiskies Awards visit www.worldwhiskiesawards.com/.

About A. Smith Bowman

1. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  In response to the rapid rise of taxes in Northern Virginia, the Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

           As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com/.

Glen Scotia offers dinner and a dram with Charles MacLean  

Dinner and a dram with world famous whisky writer Charles MacLean is on the menu for a handful of lucky Scotch enthusiasts at this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival.

Campbeltown, once regarded as the “Victorian Whisky Capital of the World”, is one of Scotland’s five malt producing regions. The independent Glen Scotia distillery, founded in 1832, is one of three surviving distilleries located in the town.

The exclusive event, organised by Glen Scotia, kicks off this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival and will also introduce the Limited Edition Glen Scotia 2017 Campbeltown Festival Bottling.

The cask was hand-picked by a panel including Iain McAlistair, distillery manager at Glen Scotia, and Charles MacLean, regarded as one of the industry’s foremost experts, from casks matured in the distillery’s refurbished dunnage warehouse, which dates from the 1830s. Just over 200 bottles of the Limited Edition malt are available.

The Glen Scotia Whisky Dinner takes place at Ardshiel Hotel on Tuesday 23rd May. The hotel’s award-winning whisky bar is acknowledged as one of the best in the industry and is thought to have the world’s largest selection of single malts, with over 700 varieties stocked.

The ticketed event, for 55 guests, will feature the finest local foods, including seafood from local producers and locally sourced venison. Each course of the dinner will be accompanied by a specially selected Glen Scotia dram and attendees will receive their bottle of the 2017 Campbeltown Festival whisky a day before general release.

Following the meal guests will have the opportunity to question author Charles MacLean, who has been researching and writing about whisky for over 35 years, conducting talks and tastings internationally.

Iain McAllister, Glen Scotia distillery manager, said: “It is a real honour to have Charles MacLean leading our first Glen Scotia Whisky Dinner, which also kicks off this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival.

“His participation is testament to how iconic the Campbeltown region is to the whisky world. One of the original five Scotch regions, Campbeltown was the epicentre of whisky making in the Victorian era and was known for its distinctive character and maritime influences.

“Our Whisky Dinner offers a chance to get to know Glen Scotia better and savour the wonderful whisky experience that is available here in Campbeltown.”

Charles MacLean said: “Campbeltown and Glen Scotia are undergoing a renaissance. Its people have a real passion for the place and its distilleries, and the fantastic work being done by Iain and the wider team at Glen Scotia is part of the spark that is reigniting the town.

“Whisky fans who attend the Whisky Dinner will have a chance to discover for themselves the fine malts that are being produced at Glen Scotia and gain a unique insight into why Campbeltown is such an important part of Scotland’s whisky map.”

Tickets are available from glenscotiashop@lochlomondgroup.com at a cost £150 including a bottle of the Limited Edition Glen Scotia 2017 Campbeltown Festival Whisky.

SECOND WAVE

In another colourful explosion of flavour, we’ve just released a second wave of dazzling drams for March online. Taste and explore eight fresh and vibrant single casks from a broad range of flavour profiles. Each of these new whiskies comes in our striking new look bottle.

SHOP NEW RELEASES NOW

Browse on smws.com

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

Jura Tastival celebrates flavour with inspiring new ways to enjoy single malt whisky. Each year, we invite whisky fans from across the world to join us for a full schedule of exciting events.

Kicking off on Thursday 1st June on the Isle of Jura, we will also be bringing Tastival to cities across Europe – keep an eye on our social channels for updates.

Nestled just off the west coast of Scotland, accommodation fills up fast on the Isle of Jura during the celebrations. However, neighbouring Islay offers a range of alternatives, with our complimentary ferry and shuttle bus service from Port Askaig making it easy to combine a trip to Tastival with a visit to Feis Ile. See here for more information to help start planning your journey now.

We look forward to raising a dram with you soon.

The Team at the Jura Distillery

Ralfy has a complex relationship with Whisky Review 632 – Macallan 12yo Sherry @ 40%vol

An award winning dram from Benromach, created from 80% bourbon barrels, 20% sherry hogsheads with the final year spent in first fill Oloroso casks. Superb value for money, so complex & developed for an entry level dram. If you’ve not tried Benromach 10 year old, you really should, it’s stunning! Free Benromach branded tasting glass with each bottle purchased.

RRP £34.49

Abbey Whisky – £29.94!

IRISH SINGLE MALT WHISKEY CROSSES ANOTHER FINISH LINE WITH THE RELEASE OF THE TYRCONNELL® 16 YEAR OLD LIMITED EDITION 

Named in honor of an Irish racehorse victorious against all odds, The Tyrconnell® whiskey places a bet on its newest offering 

Chicago, IL (March 7, 2017) – In 1876, people gathered at The Curragh, considered Ireland’s most important thoroughbred racecourse, to watch the 10^th running of the National Produce Stakes Horse Race. A beautiful, chestnut brown two year old colt took his place at the starting gate. Nose flaring, jockey set to go, the colt was ready to run.

The name of this chestnut colt was Tyrconnell and, as he ran down the home stretch to incredulous cheering, history was made. Tyrconnell crossed the finish line in first place, victorious against all odds. The surprise win captured the imagination of the assembled crowd, which included the Watts, a local family who had built a thriving whiskey distillery. They choose to commemorate the occasion by creating a limited edition, small batch whiskey that bore the name of the champion. Now, more than 140 years later, The Tyrconnell brand continues to push the boundaries with the special release of The Tyrconnell® 16 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey.

The Watts intended to make The Tyrconnell just once, but it ended up becoming their most popular whiskey, even claimed to have been the best-selling Irish whiskey in America before Prohibition. Today, The Tyrconnell is still running strong and this release marks a new chapter of innovation and imagination for the brand. Due to its age and rarity, only a limited quantity has been produced.

“Just as Tyrconnell, the racehorse, galloped to victory with unwavering concentration, the same focus and attention is given to creating every bottle of this unique Irish single malt whiskey,” says John Cashman, Global Brand Ambassador. “When looking for a new single malt expression to raise the bar for Irish whiskey, we knew right away that The Tyrconnell 16 Year Old would showcase the magic of the brand’s signature double distillation and expertise in aging, providing fans with a rich, complex spirit.”

The Tyrconnell is made of just two ingredients – the finest Irish barley and pure Irish spring water. These two simple materials are transformed by experienced hands into an Irish whiskey like no other. Produced in traditional pot stills, The Tyrconnell is one of a rare few Irish whiskeys that utilizes double distillation, allowing more of the rich and natural flavors of The Tyrconnell to remain. This creates a whiskey that carries a delicate flavor atop a creamier, more viscous presence.

The Tyrconnell matures in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels in the mild Irish climate. The agreeable environment allows for a consistent maturation which results in an approachable rich, malty whiskey with a round and lingering finish. The Tyrconnell 16 Year Old showcases the benefit of extra aging which exaggerates its trademark notes of green fruit and pear and emphasizes the aroma of stewed pear, coupled with light citrus and green apple skin. The best way to enjoy this sipping whiskey is on the rocks or neat to showcase the fruit on the nose, its rich flavor and spicy finish.

THE TYRCONNELL 16 YEAR OLD TASTING NOTES | 46% ABV

NOSE | Plenty of fruit, melon, green fruit, candied pear, vanilla custard and coconut

TASTE | Initially oily and viscous followed by the inevitable fruit explosion, finishing with a dry almond coating

FINISH | A very long, herbal spice-rich finish

The Tyrconnell 16 Year Old joins The Tyrconnell family which also includes award winning expressions created to elevate the Irish whiskey sipping experience. The portfolio includes The Tyrconnell and a collection of three 10 Year Old Cask Finishes (Madeira, Port and Sherry). This limited release expression is now available in select U.S. markets with a suggested retail price of $100.00 (750ml).

About The Tyrconnell® Single Malt Irish Whiskey

The Tyrconnell is produced at the Cooley Distillery, nestled in the foothills of the Cooley Mountains in County Louth. The Cooley Distillery, part of the Kilbeggan Distilling Company, has been the driving force behind the Irish Single Malt evolution. Most Irish malt whiskey has traditionally found its way into blended whiskeys, thus it is rare to find Irish malt whiskey bottled in its single malt form. The award-winning Tyrconnell portfolio includes The Tyrconnell, The Tyrconnell 16 Year Old Limited Edition and a trio of 10 Year Old cask finished expressions: Madeira Cask, Sherry Cask and Port Cask. The Cooley Distillery also produces the award-winning Kilbeggan Blended Irish whiskey and Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish whiskey.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com/ and www.drinksmart.com.