TOMATIN DISTILLERY UNVEILS SUPER PREMIUM 44 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT 

Highland based Tomatin Distillery unveiled last night at the RSA Vaults in London, an extremely rare single malt whisky, distilled in 1971.  This 44 year old single cask release is the first of the luxury Warehouse 6 Collection which will include some of the most refined spirits from the Highland distiller.

The unique malt was revealed at the London event by Distillery Manager, Graham Eunson who was joined by journalists, specialist drink retailers, bartenders and bloggers to toast the new limited edition expression.  Just 252 bottles of the spirit, matured in hand selected Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, are available.

Bottled at a strength of 45.8% volume, the whisky is described as having aromas of almond, plum, ginger cake and marzipan merged with warm flavours of caramel, dark chocolate, coffee and winter fruits before a rich, refined, lingering finish.

The complex malt is encased in a crystal decanter decorated with solid copper along with two crystal tumblers, inside an impressively ornate box comprising of varnished wood laminate, plexiglass and rose gold metal to reflect its exclusivity.

Sales Director, Stephen Bremner commented: ‘We are thrilled to launch our 1971 single malt today, the first rare and limited expression in our Warehouse 6 Collection.  We have spent decades perfecting this delicate spirit that reflects our dedication to producing whisky of exceptional quality.  The single malt evokes the soft house character of Tomatin with an intricate medley of rich tones and flavours which are truly unique.’

This exquisite creation will be available at specialist retailers and establishments worldwide, retailing at £2,500.

Notes

The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends.

Website: www.tomatin.com/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tomatin1897 – a live recording from the event is available on this page

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tomatin1897

The presentation packaging was designed by Pocket Rocket Creative Ltd – award-winning design agency

Press Kit can be downloaded here: http://www.tomatin.com/contact/

The distillery was established in 1897, and while historically the whisky produced was primarily sold for use in other brands of blended whisky, the company is now very focussed on growing the Tomatin single malt brand in its own right.

Tomatin Distillery produces Tomatin Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Cù Bòcan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo: http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/index.htm

Which whisky sounds best?

This July, Kansas Smitty’s will play host to an unusual whisky experiment from renowned whisky brand, The Glenrothes, where the question ‘Which whisky sounds best?’ will be answered in a unique tasting and listening experience.

As part of this interesting residency, every Wednesday in July will see a relaxed evening of whisky tasting accompanied by specially selected jazz music played on vinyl. Guests will receive a welcome The Glenrothes julep, followed by the opportunity to taste three whiskies from the award-winning The Glenrothes Speyside distillery. Each dram will be paired with music specially chosen by Giacomo Smith, one of the Kansas Smitty’s house band’s eight founding members. The aim of the tastings is to measure the effect music has on the way people taste whisky.

Amanda Baxter, from Berry Bros & Rudd, brand owners of The Glenrothes commented “the idea was born from the two team’s mutual passions for fine whisky and jazz; we are trying to create a unique tasting and listening experience that is both instructive and also a lot of fun. We think it’s the best way to learn and share a dram!”

In previous studies, relating to wine and other spirits, pitch, tempo and melody have all demonstrated notable effects on our perception of flavour. Assisting with the research is Bjorn Thorleifsson, who is currently studying a MA in Consumer Behaviour at Goldsmiths University, focusing on how music and sound affect consumption. After completing the month of tastings, results will be compiled and studied for correlation.

Kansas Smitty’s has become renowned for bringing its signature combination of jazz and juleps to their intimate bar on Broadway market, Hackney. Thanks to regular appearances on the jazz circuit, swing octet Kansas Smitty’s opened the bar last year, inviting in new talent and established acts alike. From May 2016, Kansas Smitty’s have been partnering up with a collection of exciting drinks brands for a series of monthly julep collaborations.

The Glenrothes distillery, founded in 1879, is located in the town of Rothes in Speyside – Scotland’s whisky heartland. Their vintage single malt is slowly distilled in tall copper pot stills and casked in oak until peak maturity, character and flavour has been reached. The Glenrothes distillery team then carefully marry selected vintages together as reserves, or bottle as Single Vintages. Malt whisky matures at its own pace and at Glenrothes, maturity is valued over age with each cask nosed and tasted many times before bottling to ensure the flavour is perfect.

Each residency is highlighted with a Julep special, July’s collaboration see’s ‘Joe’s Julep ft. The Glenrothes’ Speyside Single Malt’ grace the Kansas Smitty’s bar. Paying respect to the late, great Joe Temperley, a Julep as sweet as the music he played has been developed using The Glenrothes’ Single Malt, infused with vanilla, cloves, dark cherries, demerara cane, topped with a fresh cherry. Joe, a Scottish born, Glasgow raised jazz musician who made a big impression playing alongside the luminaries of the New York scene, played amongst the likes of Buddy Rich, Joe Henderson and even performed in the Duke Ellington Orchestra. This trans-Atlantic, improvisation fuses together his homeland and the place he made his name, all in one drink.

The tastings will take place on the 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th July between 6.30pm – 8.00pm.

Tickets here: £8 or £15 including Basement Tapes

Kansas Smitty’s
63-65 Broadway Market,
London
E8 4PH

500 Barrels of Fun:

It’s been just over 7 months since we fired up our copper stills to produce the very first batch of Virginia Single Malt, and although that incredible moment still feels like yesterday, we’re so proud to announce that we filled our 500th barrel this month! Our distillery team has been hard at work making whisky and filling barrels – judging by the beautiful spirit running off the still, Virginia Single Malt is going to be well-worth the wait.

See for yourself what all the fun is about. Join us for the Virginia Whisky Experience to learn more about Virginia Single Malt and our production process. Tours are offered daily on a variable schedule. For more information and to book a tour (and tastings), visit us online at http://vadistillery.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=bc7abbe9bcccc654437ea6d18&id=44e09f5611&e=4ead9d863b.

Hooray for Virginia: Cocktails Now Being Served!

Virginia’s new law takes effect today, which means we can now serve full-sized cocktails at the Visitors Center. This is in light of a new law that increases the tasting limit to 3 ounces per person, per day. We’re adding a full-sized version of our seasonal, the Shenandoah Peach.

We’ve put a summertime twist on the classic whisky sour by adding a hint of peach, the perfect use for all of the delicious local peaches coming from Chiles Family Orchard. Better start planning your trip!

If you can’t make it in to see us, try the recipe at home. It is sure to please friends and family, just in time for the holiday weekend.

This recipe makes one cocktail: 1.5 ounces of Virginia Highland Malt 1 ounce of lime juice 1 ounce of lemon juice 1 ounce of peach simple syrup (see recipe below) Slice of fresh peach from a place like Chiles Family Orchards and a sprig of mint to garnish Combine the ingredients in a glass. Fill the glass with ice and stir. Garnish with a peach slice and mint sprig. Sit back and enjoy! To make peach simple syrup: Bring 3 cups distilled water to a boil in a 2 to 3 quart heavy saucepan over moderately high heat. Add 3 cups of sugar and stir until dissolved. Remove from heat and add 4 peach tea bags. Let steep for 20 minutes and then remove the tea bags. You may put leftover simple syrup into a container and refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Now Accepting Private Event Requests:

We’re excited to start sharing the Visitors Center and grounds with guests for private event rental requests. We offer flexible use based on party size and event style, between our interior space and our outdoor patio and porch. In addition, we have room for tent set-ups for larger groups. We can work with caterers and provide assistance with cocktails and the bar elements. If you have a small wedding, family celebration or corporate event coming up, shoot an email to events@vadistillery.com with event details to get rate information.

Updated Hours:

Today, we introduce a slightly modified tour schedule. Tours will run daily at 11:30AM (except for Sundays), 1:30PM and 3:30PM. On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, we’ve added a 4:30PM tour. Starting July 17th, we’ll be opening the Visitors Center at 12PM on Sundays. That’s an extra hour to enjoy Virginia Highland Malt!

Upcoming Events:

Midsummer Drams and Jams, July 16, Visitors Center: Get out of the sun and under the shade of our outdoor patio umbrellas  for some whisky, music and fun to celebrate midsummer! Enjoy sipping on our award winning Virginia Highland Malt Whisky while listening to the regionally praised talent Willie DE play guitar from 2-5PM.

Two Brothers Food Truck will be on site from 12-5PM.  Farm Country Feast, July 16, 6-9PM, Richmond: This all-inclusive inaugural event will be held in the beautiful ballroom of John Marshall Hotel in downtown Richmond from 6PM to 9PM. Tickets include tastings of Virginia Highland Malt Whisky along with dozens of other Virginia craft beverages and a full menu of smoked, southern, soul & Cajun cuisine from some of RVA’s finest chefs. Don’t miss this!

Central Virginia Blues Society Festival, July 23, 4 – 10PM, RVCC: We’ll be serving our Virginia Highland Malt Whisky at Central Virginia Blue Society Blues Festival. Join a wonderful group of talented musicians for the CVBS’s, 1st Blues festival at Rockfish Valley Community Center. This will be the first of hopefully many festivals from the CVBS. There will be local food, beer, wine, spirits and vendors on hand.

Wintergreen Summer Music Series,  July 26, 7 – 8:30PM, RVCC: Bring a blanket and a picnic dinner, and enjoy the festive sounds of Albemarle Pipes and Drums, a traditional Scottish and British Isles-style pipe and drum corps from Charlottesville, Virginia for “No Plaid Required”. We’ll be serving our Virginia Highland Malt Whisky from 7PM-8:30PM to top off this Scottish-themed event, one of several included in the Wintergreen Summer Music Series. Donations will be shared between Wintergreen Performing Art’s and Albemarle Pipes’ educational initiatives and Rockfish Valley Community Center’s community work.

Veritas Wine and Whisky Dinner, at the Farmhouse, July 29: Join Virginia Distillery Company along with the team at  Veritas for a fun and delicious evening of  wine and whisky. The dinner will be at the Farmhouse at Veritas, and each course will be paired with a Veritas wine or a Virginia Highland Malt cocktail, or poured neat. Ticket information will be posted soon – check the events section of our website soon for booking information.

Barrels, Bottles & Casks, July 29 & 30, Thomas Jefferson’s Poplar Forest: We’re venturing to Popular Forest’s Barrels, Bottles, and Casks for a second time this year by popular demand! This event returns with a focus on the beverages and spirits Thomas Jefferson and the plantation’s enslaved community consumed during the hot summer months. These guided tours begin in Jefferson’s kitchen and progress through the house with stops along the way to sample different 19th century beverages and share insights into the types of foods enjoyed on the plantation during Jefferson’s time. We will be serving up our version of the historic Cherry Bounce, a favorite cocktail among our founding fathers.  Tours are available Friday, July 29 and Saturday, July 30 at 6:00 and 7:00 p.m. each night. Admission is $25 per person and can be purchased here or by calling the Museum Shop at 434.534.8120.

NADURRA 16 YEAR OLD BATCH 1214E

70cl / 60.2%

£49.95 WAS £59.95

Nadurra is Gaelic for ‘natural’, and this bourbon-cask matured whisky from Glenlivet is a pure reflection of the elegant, fruity whisky made at this Speyside distillery. Bottling at cask strength with no chill filtration allows the whisky’s fruity character shine through, while the cask adds richer notes of vanilla.

GlenDronach 12 Year Old Sauternes Finish

This 12 year old expression from the GlenDronach Distillery in Speyside has been matured in European oak casks before being finished in a very small batch of Sauternes wine barrels imparting a unique flavour to this single malt.  The nose has torrents of fresh fruits with apricots, nectarines, honeydew melon and over-ripe banana. The palate offers floods of wildflower honey with sweet sultanas and green apples, a dusting of ground almonds, vanilla and creamy toasted oak, while the finish is sweet, fresh and fragrant.

£48.99 Pre-Order Now

This week Joe Ellis reviews Noah’s Mill Bourbon Whiskey

https://youtu.be/B9eacbNC_FY

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International Sales Director recruited as sales continue to grow

Whisky specialists Gordon & MacPhail has recruited an International Sales Director as demand continues to grow for their products across the globe.

David King has joined the company after more than twenty years in the drinks business, working across five continents. He will help the company continue to build sales of Gordon & MacPhail’s whiskies globally, with a particular focus on the growth of Benromach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The family-owned company revived the distillery and re-opened it in 1998. The classic single malt, handcrafted in a style that draws its influence from pre 1960s Speyside whiskies, is now in demand around the world.   Over the last twelve months alone sales grew 36%.

And as Ewen Mackintosh, Chief Operating Officer at Gordon & MacPhail explained, appointing an International Sales Director is the latest step in a planned programme of investment for the company: “Benromach is an enormous success for us and we continue to invest in our infrastructure and resources in order to meet demand.

“We’ve increased the size of the production team and trebled our distilling capacity, recruited new colleagues in international sales, built new warehouses and created a suite of tasting rooms at the distillery and this is already paying off in our ongoing growth.

“The appointment of an International Sales Director is the next step on this journey. David has the perfect credentials for the task, combining extensive knowledge of Scotch whisky with experience of working in some of our key markets, including the USA. We’re delighted to have him on board.”

The classic Benromach 10 Years Old is popular with both expert whisky lovers and those who are discovering Scotch malt whisky for the first time. The award winning range also includes Benromach 15 Years Old, Benromach 100 Proof and Benromach Organic, the world’s first fully certified organic Single Malt.

David will also work to drive sales globally of the extensive range of products in the Gordon & MacPhail portfolio. The company is one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, exporting to more than 60 countries. It offers more than 300 presentations of own-bottled single malts.

David King commented: “It’s a great privilege to join Gordon & MacPhail, a renowned and respected family owned business, known around the world for its extensive portfolio of high quality, unique and rare Scotch whiskies. I am very much looking forward to working with my colleagues and customers to develop our business and grow sales internationally.”

The company made history in 2010 by bottling the oldest cask ever released – a 70 Years Old Mortlach, distilled in 1938. The first product in the Generations range, this was followed by a 70 Years Old Glenlivet in 2011 and most recently a 75 Years Old Mortlach, launched in 2015 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Notes

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned Scotch Whisky specialist which has been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch Whiskies.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 60 countries. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade; an honour that was bestowed on the business again in 2013 with a visit from HRH The Princess Royal.

Benromach Distillery

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was revived by Gordon & MacPhail who purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five-year period before it was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, Gordon & MacPhail decided to create a classic Speyside single malt – a style that draws its influence from Speyside whiskies pre-1960s.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A four-star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world famous malt whisky trail.

Pre-orders and pre-eminent whiskies!

This week we have two brand new releases available to pre-order at Loch Fyne. The first is the much anticipated Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 3, a highlight of the whisky-lover’s calendar, while the second is a special single cask edition of the Springbank 21 year old. There’s also a Blended Scotch made with some very exclusive whisky from the Rare Cask Reserves, an Octave expression from Glenglassaugh, and a sweetshop dram from Glenmorangie.

 Worldwide shipping available
Next day delivery on UK orders

Balvenie Tun 1509 Batch 3

The third batch from the eponymous Tun 1509 at the Balvenie distillery in Speyside, this expression is limited to just 8,850 bottles worldwide. Composed of 31 casks hand-selected by Malt Master David Stewart and married together for a period of months, this release is always highly sought-after.  Described by Stewart as “a whisky of rich coimplexitywith elegant oaky notes and dried fruits balanced by mellow cinnamon spices and ginger. It also has lovely layers of vanilla oak, rich woody spices, dark fruits and a definite sherry character interspersed with elegant honey.”

£280 Pre-Order Now

Springbank 21 Year Old Single Cask

Hailing from Campbeltown’s oldest remaining distillery and our friends down the road, this Springbank expression has been matured for 21 years in a single Oloroso sherry butt. Bottled at a strength of 49.6% abv, this release is limited to just 702 bottles so pre-order now to make sure you get your hands on a bottle!

£229 Pre-Order Now

Rare Cask Reserves Ghosted Reserve
21 Year Old

The 2015 release from William Grant & Sons of the Rare Cask Reserves Ghosted Reserve is a 21 year old Blended Scotch that contains some incredible rare whisky from long-closed distilleries such as Inverleven, Ladyburn and Dumbarton.  With fresh fruity notes inherited from the Dumbarton grain whisky, light oaky notes and hints of floral blossom from the Inverleven component, while Ladyburn adds its own unique flavour profile.

£120 Buy Now

Glenglassaugh Octaves Peated

Another dram produced in Octaves from Glenglassaugh, this variant uses peated malt barley to give a character not usually associated with Speyside whiskies.  The nose offers clotted cream over apple crumble with delicious waves of sweet heather burning on a hillside. The palate has the warmth of cracked black pepper contrasting with apricot jam and plums. The finish is delicate and sweet from the interaction of the Highland peat with the oak casks.

£68 Buy Now

Glenmorangie Milsean

Matured in a bourbon cask, this expression would have already been sweet as is, but determined to replicated the flavours of traditional sweet shops Glenmorangie finished this expression off in flame toasted Portuguese wine casks.  Truly remarkable this expression has a hint of tingling spice and chilli, which gives way to a sweet boastful flavours. Candy, citrus zest, tart, plummy fruits, cherries, nectarines, plums and melons to name but a few of the flavours present in this whisky… this is a whisky with a difference.

£76 Buy Now

Exclusive Springbank 21 y/o Single Casks

Dear Society Members,

Nathan is currently on annual leave, however, we have some exciting news that can’t wait. Please see poster for more information. As mentioned, Society will not be taking orders for this one-off bottling so please contact your local retailer to get your hands on one.

Sláinte

The Springbank Team

To join the Springbank Society please contact Mairi at mairi@springbankwhisky.com

Blanton’s Original Single Barrel Bourbon (750ml)

($49.99) 95 points Wine Enthusiast: “Pour it, and let it sit awhile; this one opens up and gets more aromatic, rich and flavorful, like wine. It starts off with a candied sweetness and touches of coconut and tea on the nose, then opens up to deeper caramel tones. Orange and caramel flavors, mellow, smooth, linger on the finish. Light-bodied, despite the bold, luxurious flavors. And oh, that pretty bottle, like an oversized perfume flask. Add this one to your gift list.” (09/2010) Wine Spectator: “Custard, pepper, orange peel and grassy rye fill the nose. In the mouth, it’s a breakneck ride: an initial rush of dry corn and grassy rye, a broad wave of sweeter corn in the middle, and a finish of sugar and rough spearmint. One of the first specialty Bourbons, and still one of the best. ” (02/2012) K&L Notes: The nose is very deep and satisfying. The taste has a masterful start with powerful dry vanilla notes in perfect harmony with strong hints of honey and caramel. The long, creamy caramel holds the fort until some late soft peppers arrive to spice things up. The underlying dryness amid the spice and honey really makes for a bourbon that should suit all tastes. “Double Gold Medal” winner at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA