Ralfy has some reservations about the experience with Whisky Review 607 – Glendronach 23yo cask 564 @ 58.9%vol

TENNESSEE CALLING 

JACK DANIEL’S TENNESSEE WHISKEY ANNOUNCES THREE WINNERS TO EMBARK ON CAREER-CHANGING TRIP TO THE USA

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey is proud to announce the three winners of Tennessee Calling – a competition that has seen the cutting edge of bartenders from across Scotland battle it out for a place on a career-changing trip to the U.S.A. Launched at the Glasgow Sessions this October, Tennessee Calling set out to find the most creative bartenders in Scotland. Bartenders were tasked with creating a cocktail using Jack Daniel’s that demonstrated their creativity, passion and flair. A panel of judges including Stuart McCluskey and Erik Lorincz toured the country to select three winners from hundreds of entries.

The three talented winners include Grant Murray of Bar One, Inverness, for his cocktail ‘The Usual’ – using a cherry balsamic and cola reduction, Ryan Mowat of The Finnieston, Glasgow, for his recipe ‘Full Circle’ – garnished with a sprig of dill and Caitlin Tulloch of Lucy Liquor Company, Edinburgh for her drink ‘Jack’s Rising’ which combined Old No. 7 with an Islay whisky.

The three finalists now have a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with their bartending heroes and to hone their craft on a trip to Tennessee and New York, designed to help them reach their full potential. Working with the best mentors in the business, the three winners of Tennessee Calling will create, plan and host an event at The Dead Rabbit in New York City – the world’s best cocktail bar. After leaving New York, the winners will then travel to Lynchburg, Tennessee for the ultimate distillery experience, to see for themselves how Jack Daniel’s whiskey is made first hand with Master Distiller Jeff Arnett. 

Nidal Ramini, Head of Brand Advocacy in Northern Europe for Brown-Forman, explains: ‘Back in the 1860’s, Lynchburg Lutheran Minister and part time distiller, Dan Call taught a young Jasper ‘Jack’ Daniel the secret of making great whiskey. With Dan’s mentorship, Jack went on to build the famous brand we know today. To celebrate Jack’s own mentorship, Jack Daniel’s has set out to inspire the next generation of bartenders with the launch of Tennessee Calling. This competition has shown us what fantastic talent there is across Scotland alone – the standard was exceptionally high and we are extremely excited to see this through to the next stage of the journey with the mentorship program in the U.S.A’.

The entries to the competition can be seen using the hashtag #TNcalling

Notes: 

About Tennessee Calling

Tennessee Calling was launched at the Glasgow Sessions to find the most creative bartenders in Scotland. 11 finalists were chosen from hundreds of entries from across the country. Bartenders were tasked with creating a cocktail using Jack Daniel’s that demonstrated their creativity, passion and flair. Jack Daniel’s visited the 11 finalists in their bars to taste their drinks, selecting the best three to take part in the trip of a lifetime to the USA.

The Glasgow Sessions are part of the ‘London Sessions’, the brainchild of Rebekkah Dooley – a drinks industry professional with over 12 years experience in the hospitality industry who wanted to re-position “education” within the bar world. The event featured inspirational talks from acclaimed bartender Stuart McCluskey, Head Bartender at The American bar in The Savoy, Erik Lorincz and Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller, Jeff Arnett.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails.

JACK DANIEL’S and OLD NO. 7 are registered trademarks. © 2016 Jack Daniel’s. Tennessee Whiskey Alcohol 40% by Volume (80 proof). Distilled and Bottled by JACK DANIEL DISTILLERY, Lynchburg, Tennessee.

For more information, visit http://www.jackdaniels.com/ 

Your friends at Jack Daniel’s remind you to drink responsibly.

New Milroys Own Bottlings

A Selection of Our Exclusive range

All Available from our website http://www.milorys.co.uk/

Buy Now

This has been an excellent first quartet from the new-look Milroy’s. Hie thee to Greek Street!

David Broom scotch whisky.com

Blair Athol 28 year old  Single cask, Cask Strength at 53.6% Limited to 208 Bottles Nose: Sourdough bread interplays with vanilla richness, there is a small hint of thyme when left to open in the glass. Palate: Buttery orchard fruits, combined with savoury notes. Finish: Creaminess is dominant with hints of green apples and pears, followed by a soft lemongrass undertone. £149.95

Glentauchers 2008  Single Cask, Sherry Cask, Cask Strength 65.1% Limited to 768 Bottles Nose: Powerful nose reminiscent of Christmas. Think dried fruits and chocolate, with soft cloves. Palate: Intense and powerful, fruit forward. Finish: The initial fruit sweetness evolves to the spicy, chocolate notes seen on the nose. Lingering cinnamon spice. £64.95

Ardmore 2010 Single Cask, Cask Strength 60.8% Limited to 275 Bottles Nose: Expect gentle smoke and earthy undertones, coupled with a soft caramel base and ripe tropical fruits. Palate: Soft hint of salinity, gentle smoke with overtones of honey, sweet, earthy barley notes and vanilla. Finish: Intense malty notes interplay with peat reek. The finish is semi-sweet with floral and smoky richness. £49.95

Milroys Exclusive 8 year old Blend, 40% Nose: Rich and powerful dark fruits with hint of vanilla. Palate: Initial sweetness is dominant. Notes of clotted cream are then apparent, followed by rich sultanas with a touch of kiln embers to finish. Finish: Smooth with a good balance of European oak spice and sweet barley notes. £39.95

Buy Now

Milroy’s of Soho

3 Greek Street

London, England W1D 4NX

United Kingdom

Back in early October we offered a trio of K&L selected single malt whiskies from Signatory. As with previous such offers these bottles flew off the shelf, because as serious collectors know, Signatory has some of the best quality driven and unique expressions of Single Malt scotch in the market. By working directly with Signatory’s manager Des McCagherty, we’ve been able to cull through their tremendous stocks of reserves and find the expressions we feel our customers will love the most. It is an arduous (yet, rewarding) task sampling through through literally hundreds of whiskies and winnowing them down to a select few that we feel offer that ideal nexus of quality, price, and individuality.

The quartet of single malts below each with their own unique profile are a sure bet. Whether you like your whiskey subtle and refined or bold and bombastic there is an expression here that will fit the bill. As with all of Signatory selections, the prices here are remarkable when you take into consideration their rarity. Quantities are, as you might expect, very limited, so we don’t expect these will last long.

1997 Dufftown 18 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Signatory” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($69.99)

Dufftown is more famous for being the home of Glenfiddich, rather than for the distillery that carries the town’s name, but there is indeed an eponymous facility making whisky there. Dufftown distillery is a Diageo-owned plant that produces “The Singleton” single malt whisky for European release. “The Singleton” we see here in the states is made at Glendullan, but the styles are similar. Dufftown makes a classic Highland style malt, albeit with a bit more grit. A comparison in styles would definitely include its neighbor Glenfiddich, but Dufftown’s mash has a longer fermentation time coupled with an incredibly-low distillation speed, resulting in the maximum copper contact inside the still. The result is a heavier whisky, loaded with a malty character, that becomes spicy and gritty once put into oak barrels. This single cask edition, aged in a refill hogshead, picks up the oak spices and the cask strength proof accentuates what is already a bold and forthcoming whisky. Imagine the vanilla, the biscuity flavors, and the richness of Glenfiddich, but then add a few brush strokes: polished wood, toasted barley, and baking spices. It finishes with accents of resin, sawdust, and dried fruits.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2016

I’m all about bringing in new distilleries for our customers to try, mainly because David OG and I try so many interesting whiskies that never make it back across the Atlantic with us. Dufftown is a working man’s whisky from the Speyside town of the same name, normally an ingredient in the Johnnie Walker blends, but in this case bottled on its own. There’s a robust spiciness and intense oaky richness on the first sip that slowly dissipates into sweet barley and classic Highland Scotch flavor. This is the first time we’ve ever bought a cask of Dufftown and, because of the fact it’s not a household name, the price is a right.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2016

Good old over looked Dufftown, this is the first time we’ve bottled this fun little distillery as a single cask for exclusive offer. This one starts more on the oak than the old casks, that subtle saw dust, cocoa powder and pepper. With a little water the sweet oak comes through, but also some bitter roots, angelica and gentian. The powerful and slightly unusual nose is totally belied by the rich malty palate, which shows subtle cocoa bean, sweet oak and a long juicy finish. A real work horse malt here, but something that will likely be unique in the cabinet and ultimately is really fun to drink!

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2016

Tasted alongside the other new Signatory bottlings this Dufftown is distinctively “malty”…almost rye bread like savory qualities are complemented by baked orchard fruit, spicy oak nuances and a stiff cut of slightly briney tones on the finish. Interesting stuff from a distillery I’m not so familiar with and what a steal for an 18 year old single malt?!

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2016

This little known gem is brimming with oak spice and the salt of the earth. There is a distinct salty/mossy note that I find extremely intriguing and enjoyable. Bottled at 54.8% it’s a big boy, but with a little touch of water it’s imminently approachable and has a beautiful viscous finish.

1997 Linkwood 19 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Signatory” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($89.99)

Because of its role in Johnnie Walker Blue and it’s renowned reputation abroad, Linkwood always demands a high price wherever its sold. Fine and finessed in a way that few other Highland malts demonstrate, the Diageo-owned distillery can often taste like a finalized blend straight from the cask! That’s definitely the case with this graceful and easy-drinking 19 year old hogshead from the Signatory warehouse, even at the relatively high 56% ABV. The 25 year old Linkwood sells at K&L for $250 a bottle, so when we saw the chance to offer a similar whisky for less than half the price, we jumped all over it. Adding in a few drops of water is essential to unlocking the complexity in this particular selection. Tempering that alcohol just a bit allows you to take in the sweet cereal grains, the citrus and vanilla, and the long finish of malted barley with just hint of fresh pine. It’s truly an elegant malt, one that continues to unfold the more time attention you give it. Try it as alternative to Johnnie Blue if you’re looking to save a few bucks!

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2016

Linkwood is such a great whisky and it’s so dependable. I’ve never really had a bad version of it, be it from Gordon & MacPhail or elsewhere. What’s paramount, however, is that you give the whisky its due. Linkwood is incredibly delicate, nuanced, and precise. You almost need to sip it in the absence of any other sensory distractions. Doing that will allow you to hone in on the brilliance of the spirit itself. There’s citrus, cereal grains, shortbread, and ginger spice lying in wait for those who make the effort to coax all the beauty out of the glass. This is yet another fantastic example of the elegant Scotch whisky.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2016

There’s no doubt that stocks in Scotland are getting tight. At Signatory, which was once our secret weapon, it’s become more and more difficult to find special casks. It’s not that the whisky isn’t there per say, but simply that the whisky we want is so far out of the price point that we’re willing to pay. But we occasionally stumble a few casks that haven’t been subject to the incredible price increases of the rarities around them. This Linkwood would falls solidly in that category. This fabulous Linkwood exhibits the wonderful malty character of this lovely distillery beautifully. The nose is sweet vanilla, bold citrus, bright apple and creamy malt. The palate exhibits tons of delicate fruit and has a rich texture that goes on for ages. The finish brings the barrel spices and a warming sweetness. At this silly price it won’t likely last long.

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2016

Just so soft supple and creamy. Even at its cask strength 56% alc this is sipple straight up. Golden fruit, toasted grains, vanilla oak; this has almost a Sauterne like honeyed richness to it. Delicious and a great value.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2016

If you’ve ever had the experience of walking into the cellar at a winery, you’ve tasted part of this malt already. That perfect combination of wood, humidity, earth, alcohol, and perhaps candlelight all hit your senses right at the same time and create the picture of elegance. If you take the time to tune in to the individual components you’ll find bright stone fruit, baked apples, butterscotch, and hard candies. The delicate oak spice meshes perfectly with the sweet malt. It’s supple, and with a little water, dangerously easy to drink.

1995 Glenburgie 21 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Signatory” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($99.99)

This is the second cask of Glenburgie we’ve grabbed from the Signatory warehouse and it’s another winner. The whisky is nothing flashy or wildly exotic, just smooth, rich, and delicious from front to back. Any time we can sell delicious 20+ year old cask strength single malt for under a hundred bucks, we’re probably going to take that deal. Glenburgie is known more for its role in Ballantine’s blended than it is as a stand-alone single malt, but these single casks should help change that perception. Once again we’ve got creamy malt flavor on the palate, a rich layer of oak from the two decades in wood, and a lovely finish of baked apples and other Highland fruit flavors. The 54.8% ABV lifts the finish into a flurry of baking spices and malty notes that continues to linger for minutes. This is tasty, classically-flavored Scotch whisky, pure and simple.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2016

This 21 year old Glenburgie achieves exactly what its predecessor did (that 20 year old cask we bought last year): it provides high quality, no frills Scotch whisky goodness with maturity and punch for a hot price. There’s nothing out of the ordinary here, just rich vanilla, oak, malted grains, stone fruits, and a nice smooth finish. Chalk up another win for no-name single malt whisky and those who trust in it.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2016

Another stunning value from one of our favorite suppliers. 21 year old single malt for under $100 is a real rarity these days add that it’s a delicious single barrel bottled at cask strength and we’re down right rare air here. This is a true Speysider in every respect. Subtle herb, shrubby flowers and fruit notes open with some air into aromas muscovado and candied apple. A pleasing mineral earthiness, like a fresh stream in the forest, balances the wonderful pop of fruit on the palate. The finish turns up the spice with a bit of dryness on the long lingering finish.

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2016

Darker edged than the other Speyside bottlings in this recent flock of Signatory casks. Toasted oak, more brooding, savory, almost rancio tones although I’m told there is no sherry influence here. It’s a complex whisky; burnt caramel, char, baking spice and pie crust. A good warming “winter malt”.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2016

The hits just keep on coming. Another wonderful deal in the Signatory line up for this year. 21 years of goodness showing beautiful stone fruit, caramelized cereals, and a touch of wet earth and mineral. There is a lovely richness here. With the addition of a little water, the sweet cereal notes really show through, it reminds me of tasting the wort while brewing your own pale ale. All for under $100? Thank you, Sir, may I have another?

1995 Imperial 20 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Signatory” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) ($119.99)

This is the fourth (and final) cask of 1995 Imperial single malt whisky we’ve purchased from the Signatory warehouse, and we’ve definitely saved the best for last. The now-demolished facility will never make spirit again, so consider this cask one of the last goodbyes for a whisky we’ve come to love dearly over the years. Closed in the late 1990s and wiped completely off the face of the earth in 2013, each drop of Imperial consumed means there’s that much less left in the world. The first sip is a like butterscotch and biscuits with an earthy resin note and a light coating of vanilla. Fans of Clynelish will love the waxy, floral, and soft fruited nature of the malt. Fans of Bunnahabhain will recognize that ghostly texture and hint of honey on the finish. Fans of higher proof whiskies will appreciate the drinkable and natural 49% ABV. You don’t need to add water. It’s perfectly proofed right where it is. Enjoy it while it lasts because this will be the final hurrah for this beloved series of single casks, one upon which we’ve built a number of adoring customers.

David Driscoll | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2016

If you’re someone who’s interested in tasting whisky from one of Scotland’s many “lost” distilleries, don’t let your hunt for Port Ellen and Brora distract you from this remarkable Imperial. Once owned by Pernod Ricard, the distillery was demolished a while back to make room for a new distillery called Dalmunach: a new state-of-the-art facility with all the bells and whistles. While I’m sure the new whisky will be delicious, it’s pretty tough to beat this 20 year old Imperial, especially if you like Clynelish with that waxy, oily, lemony core that’s wrapped in sweet malt goodness. A fitting goodbye to a lost friend!

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2016

This gorgeous cask of Imperial was bottled just 10 days before it’s 21st birthday. This casks shows off that wonderful old school quality that Imperial has, less on the fruit that previous casks have and more on the big mineral note. Almost austere on the nose before water, it could be a high end riesling from a far. With water, more fruit, yellow plums, sweet herbs, sea beans. BIG sweetness coming out on the palate after water, more plums and lemon rind. A monster of a malt, that loves both air and water and proves that you don’t need a big cask influence to get world class whisky. This is magic, totally in love.

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 11, 2016

Perhaps the most complex of the recent Signatory bottlings but requiring more “study” than the more quaffable, instantly lovable Linkwood. Here I get subtle iodine hints, salt, dry malt, baked bread then some floral, honeyed, richer notes come through as it warms in the glass. At 20 years of age the vessel is more evident here than the primary malty characters. The evolution of this whisky is beautiful and captivating. Enjoy.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 15, 2016

Gentle and fresh. Bright citrus tones and a delicate creaminess. There is a sweet herbal note as well, like a great Chinon from the Loire. Not overt green pepper, but a hint of something green, a little sweet, a little savory. The distillery may be lost forever, but the malt will not be long forgotten. This is the perfect holiday gift for the whisky drinker who has everything.

Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637) Email: wine@klwines.com K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

The Glengoyne gift collection

Five drams – the full taste 

Call off the search. This is the present you’ve been looking for: give the whisky lover you know the perfect introduction to Glengoyne. Five 20cl bottles of our Single Malts, each one packed with bold and complex flavours.

Start with the green apples and toffee of our 10 Year Old. Then work your way up to the Christmas cake, honey and rich fruit of our 21 Year Old – it’s practically made for this time of year.

BUY THE 5 BOTTLE GIFT SET

Three drams  – 12, 15 and 18

Forget charades – put your palate to the test with three character- packed 20cl drams.

Look out for the 12 Year Old’s perfect balance of oak and sweetness. Or the 15 Year Old’s candied lemon and pineapple. And the knockout? The 18 Year Old, with its spicy vanilla fruit, ripe apples and a rich, luxurious mouthfeel. So – who’s for the first taste?

BUY THE 3 BOTTLE GIFT SET

Glengoyne Distillery,Dumgoyne, Near Killearn, Glasgow G63 9LB

Tel. +44 (0)1360 550 254

The last part of the series! Apologies for the rather abrupt ending to this video, I got a bit over enthusiastic about what’s coming up in the next few weeks for you all! Islay, big, smokey, robust and renowned for it’s no-holds-bard approach to flavour and style. However, I have chosen to sample whiskies that aren’t the usual suspects. Bruichladdich are the definition of punk rock for me, they stick to the rules but they experiment with whatever they can and however they can. Bunnahabhain is a softer and richer approach to west coast whisky, tasting like a Highland or Speyside rather than that of a salty, smokey, renegade nomad from a rough cut west coast Island.  Enjoy folks!

Tamdhu Batch Strength No. 002

Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky has unveiled the second edition of its multi award-winning Batch Strength expression.

Matured exclusively in hand-selected sherry oak casks, Batch Strength 002 at 58.5% ABV continues to capture the complex richness and intensity of sherry cask-matured whisky. The whisky is bottled un-chillfiltered at natural colour.

Commenting on the new Batch Strength 002, Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “Since its initial launch last year, our Batch Strength expression has been an extremely popular addition to the Tamdhu range, winning a number of high-profile industry awards.

“We are incredibly proud to now launch the second edition of our Batch Strength which continues to be the malt of choice for whisky connoisseurs. It is the closest you’ll get to sampling a dram of whisky straight from a Tamdhu cask!”

Each batch is unique and varies slightly in style and strength but always captures the complex richness and intensity of sherry cask matured whisky.

Tamdhu Batch Strength 001 took home a Double Gold Medal at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was also named Speyside Single Malt of the Year at the 22^nd Annual Whisky Advocate Awards in December 2015.

Tamdhu is owned by one of Scotland’s leading, independent family-owned distillers, Ian Macleod Distillers. Tamdhu was born on the banks of the River Spey in 1897 – an era when anything seemed possible. When obstacles were there to be overcome, an age of the Can-Dhu-Spirit. Its quality is defined by the hint of peat in its malted barley, the natural Speyside water that is drawn directly from the Tamdhu spring and the 100% exclusive use of only the finest sherry oak casks. 

Tasting notes:

Nose:  Warming golden syrup, brown bread with peanut butter, cinnamon, white pepper and cocktail cherries.

Palate:  Mouth coating sherry oak, lightly heated berries and creamy vanilla – adding water brings out cookie dough, gentle spice and fresh fruit.

Finish: Spicy notes continue long into the finish with dried fruits, hazelnut and vanilla.

www.tamdhu.com

What brings Russians, Greeks and Scots together? St Andrews Day! While here in Great Britain we most commonly associate St Andrew with the flying Saltire and use the national day as a chance to toast to all things Scottish, he is also the patron saint of diverse nations around the globe.

To honour this international saint’s day on 30th November, new and award-winning Scotch whisky brand R&B Distillers have created a cocktail that brings together ingredients several of these nations in one St Andrew’s Day tipple.

The St Andrew’s Martini features a dash of R&B Distillers’ own Scotch whisky Raasay While We Wait, potent Stolichnaya Blue Vodka from Russia, a Greek Kalamata black olive and is garnished with a vibrant twist of zingy Amalfi lemon, to honour the fact that the relics of St Andrew are preserved in Amalfi cathedral.

Recipe:

10mls of Raasay While We Wait

40mls of Stolichnaya Blue Vodka

20mls of dry vermouth

Method

Stir and serve in a martini glass

 Garnish with a Kalamata Olives and a twist of Amalfi lemon.

Universal Whisky Experience, 1621 Central Avenue, Cheyenne, WY 82001

Bruichladdich: The Progressive Hebridean Distiller

Three new limited editions have just arrived at Loch Fyne from each of Bruichladdich’s three whisky labels: Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore. Ranging from unpeated to super heavily peated, these second limited editions showcase every side of Islay’s whisky-making. Only available while stocks last!

Bruichladdich The Laddie Ten Limited Edition

Port Charlotte 10 Year Old Limited Edition

Octomore 10 Year Old Limited Edition

Pre-order now – stock arriving this week

Loch Fyne Whiskies
tel: 0141 427 2919
info@lochfynewhiskies.com
www.lochfynewhiskies.com