NEW ARRIVALS

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Smooth Ambler Old Scout 7 Year Old K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #791 Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml (3 bottle limit) ($54.99)

BACK IN STOCK

Canada – 

• Forty Creek Confederation Oak Reserve Canadian Whisky 750ml (ships as 1.5L due to bottle shape) ($54.99)

Ireland – Irish and Blended Scotch

• Redbreast 15 year old Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey 750ml – 6 available ($69.99)

Japan – Single Malt Scotch

• Nikka 17 Year Old Taketsuru Pure Malt Japanese Whisky 750ml ($139.99) Named for Nikka’s founding father Masataka Taketsuru, the 17 year old has long been coveted by the American market, which could only read the bombastic tasting notes from international travelers and whisky fans living abroad. The Nikka 17 is one of the most celebrated of the available portfolio and really brings the goods flavorwise — round and soft with dried fruits and an earthy, meaty flavor on the profile, this is not only of the best Nikka whiskies we’ve ever carried, but one of the best Japanese whiskies period.

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Bowman Bros Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon 750ml (Elsewhere $40) – 8 available ($29.99)

• Cyrus Noble Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey 750ml – 11 available ($24.99)

• John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon 750ml – 7 available ($49.99)

• Tuthilltown Hudson Baby Bourbon (375ml) – 12 available ($42.99)

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

Compass Box celebrate their 15th anniversary with the release of two excellent new limited editions; Peat Monster Cask Strength Magnum & Hedonism Quindecimus.

PEAT MONSTER 57.3% Magnum £119.95

A cask strength beast of a whisky in a monster 1.5 litre magnum bottle. This is by no means a one dimensional creature, it has great smoky sweet complexity.

HEDONISM Quindecimus £128.95

Compass Box 15th anniversary special limited edition of the wonderful blended grain whisky that started it all off. Worthy of celebration and great praise.

FOR ALL GENERAL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL: 0131 524 9380 or email: contact@royalmilewhiskies.com

HOLLYWOOD ELITE CELEBRATE THE 20^TH ANNUAL JAMESON EMPIRE AWARDS

Jameson Irish Whiskey welcomed the Hollywood elite to London this week, where the best films and filmmakers of the past year, as voted for by readers of Empire magazine and global film fans, were honoured at the 20^th Jameson Empire Awards on Sunday 29^th March.

Science-fiction box office smash Interstellar, featuring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, was the big award winner of the night, scooping Best Film, Best Director and Empire Inspiration Award for director, Christopher Nolan. McConaughey and co-star Jessica Chastain were in attendance at the ceremony, alongside other notable guests including Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Simon Pegg and Liam Neeson.

The Empire Awards form part of Jameson’s innovative and longstanding film marketing platform alongside its other film properties, including Jameson First Shot and Cult Film Club. Through film, Jameson engages with cinema fanatics in more than 30 countries as it seeks to maintain the momentum of Irish whiskey around the world.

NOTES

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers, John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company. In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the company decided to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility alongside the existing distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork. Irish Distillers was bought by Pernod Ricard in June 1988 and today, Jameson is the No.1 Irish whiskey in the world, selling over 4 million 9L cases worldwide and contributing more than any other Irish whiskey brand to the phenomenal global growth of the category. Irish Distillers is committed to driving continued, sustainable growth of the Irish whiskey category.

Irish Distillers’ portfolio of whiskeys is comprised of Jameson, the world’s no.1 Irish whiskey; Irish favourite Paddy; Powers, the robust super premium whiskey for discerning drinkers; and the much-acclaimed brands that comprise the Irish Distillers’ Prestige Collection – the Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton which includes the Spot range (Green Spot, Yellow Spot) and Redbreast, Ireland’s most awarded single pot still whiskey brand – and the pinnacle of the Prestige Collection, Midleton Very Rare.

http://www.irishdistillers.ie/

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €7,945 million in 2013/14. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin & Spirit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector and employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people, operating through a decentralized organization with 6 ‘Brand Companies’ and 80 ‘Market Companies’ established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is a member of the CAC 40 index.

http://www.pernod-ricard.com/

Early April Outturn Offerings 

Cask No. 53.207                     $170 

Cod wrapped in Parma ham

Islay

The smell of sweet peat smoke greeted the Panel; aromas of singed heather and a fresh sea breeze mixing with battered sausages and grilled cod wrapped in Parma ham. In the taste we have moved inside a beach hut sheltering from the rain; lamp oils with sandalwood fragrance are being lit, some are smoking pipes with aromatic tobacco, others cigars. With water the aromas are back outside; the salty sea breeze and over the white embers of the barbeque, glazed honey and mustard sausages as well as king prawns are waiting to be eaten. The taste is now sweet, fried honey bananas, fruit kebabs and grilled pineapple skewers.

Drinking tip: At a beach party

Colour: Harvest moon

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 20 years

Date distilled: July 1993

Alcohol: 58.7%

Flavour profile: Peated

USA allocation: 180 bottles 

Cask No. 1.180                       $115

Bitter-sweet complexity

Speyside, Spey

The nose presented interesting layers – firstly in the undergrowth – wood sap, tree bark, laurel, meadowsweet and shrubberies (by the Spey?); then IKEA flat-pack wooden furniture; next some fruity notes (apricot jam, lemon drizzle cake) – and last, intense, deep sweetness (toffee, honeycomb, tablet, chocolate caramels, sugar-coated almonds). With water, pot-pourri and liquorice joined in the fun. The palate was bitter-sweet and complex – lemon sorbet, blackcurrant and waxy laurel against tinned pear, honey, fudge and chocolate – all under-pinned by a pleasant pepper, chilli and nutmeg heat. The reduced palate found perfumed wood, pineapple, fruit loaf, chocolate and ginger. Whisky from John and George.

Drinking tip: Not typical of the make – but curious and complex enough to be drinkable and enjoyable.

Colour: Pine gold

Cask: First-fill barrel

Age: 11 years

Date distilled: June 2002

Alcohol: 56.4%

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet

USA allocation: 120 bottles

Cask No. 35.104                     $205

Just Add Water and Watch it Grow!

Speyside, Lossie

At full strength the aromas were fully concentrated. The panel encountered a mixture of stewed black tea, thick toffee sauce, and charred orange peel. Scent was equalled by flavour as almond covered Dundee Cake was washed down with Camp Coffee. The addition of water failed to dilute any intensity on the nose as orange and honey still lingered. However then additional notes of Tropical Fruit Mix, and first-aid kits. To taste the panel experienced the unusual but delicious mixture of chocolate cake and Hoisin Sauce. The mouth-feel was wax filling as the finish offered well-aged fruit cake.

Drinking tip: At a pheasant shoot

Colour: Fools Gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 26 years

Date Distilled: May 1987

Alcohol: 45.9%

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet

USA allocation: 64 bottles

Cask No. 46.27                       $125

Italian chestnut cake

Speyside, Lossie

This dram had plenty to say on the nose neat therefore give it time and you will be rewarded. Comments were; almonds, roasted cashew nuts, warm leather in the sun, chocolate and pear cake, Marsala wine, beeswax and crispy deep-fried aubergine slices coated in honey. Great mouth-feel accompanied by a noticeable Vermouth kick with flavours of banana, coconut and dried apricot. Water brought out more nutty aromas; walnuts, hazelnuts and chestnuts made into that Italian cake ‘Torta di Castagne’. The taste not too sweet, a moist texture and the delicate taste of a Cadbury fruit and nut bar without the chocolate.

Drinking tip: With a bowl of quality mixed fruit and nuts

Colour: Sauternes sweet wine

Cask: Refill butt

Age: 12 years

Date distilled: May 2002

Alcohol: 60.5%

Flavour profile: Spicy & dry

USA allocation: 150 bottles

Cask No. 55.23                       $170  

Chow mein on a workbench

Speyside, Findhorn

Despite cut grass, herbal notes, citrus, pineapple and water-melon, we could not describe the nose as clean – an almost grubby fascination kept drawing us back – we found toasted oak and pistachios, nutmeg, ghee, an engineer’s workbench, burnt eucalyptus and chow mein noodles. The palate was concentrated and intense (‘an espresso of a dram’) fizzy, mouth-watering and impressively textured – with hits of anise and fennel seeds, plus oily, nutty, peppery elements; sweetness appeared as liquorice allsorts, white chocolate and agave syrup (especially with water) but savoury undertones, even salty, seaside suggestions and medicinal intimations made it a slightly challenging but satisfying experience.

Drinking tip: Whether you have been renovating an old motorcycle or performing brain surgery – job well done and you deserve a dram of this.

Colour: Vintage champagne

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 20 years

Date distilled: February 1994

Alcohol: 55.1%

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet

USA allocation: 84 bottles

www.smwsa.com

Going for Gold at San Francisco 

Tomatin Distillery has won a record number of Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its range of single malt Scotch Whiskies, with one Double Gold and four Gold medals.

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the largest, most influential international spirits competition in America, is judged by a prestigious panel of nationally recognized spirits experts. Judging is based on a blind, consensual procedure, ensuring competitive integrity as it remains the nation’s most respected spirits competition.

This year’s shining star is one of the distillery’s latest additions to the range, the 1988 vintage batch release, which scooped a Double Gold medal. Matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Port casks, this edition is limited to just 2500 bottles per annum and was introduced to the range in April 2014.

Launched at the same time as the 1988 was the 14 Year Old, also matured using Bourbon and Port casks. This, along with the distillery’s 12 and 18 Year Old expressions, all won Gold medals in this year’s competition.

Cù Bòcan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a lightly peated single malt also produced at the Tomatin Distillery – production switches to peated malt for just one week per year. The standard edition, using peated whisky matured in Bourbon, Sherry and Virgin Oak casks, also won a Gold medal at this year’s awards.

Stephen Bremner, Sales Director, commented on the win: “These latest medals are testament to our commitment to producing a world-class product here at the Tomatin Distillery. Our wood policy is second to none; we produce a high quality spirit which develops into great whisky through maturation in the right casks. The result is a varied range of whiskies providing whisky consumers with a choice of flavours and styles.”

Notes

• Award information and results are available here: http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/overview
• 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: http://www.tomatin.com/   Download our Press Kit from the Contact Us page Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tomatin1897     Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tomatin1897
• 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.
• The company’s most popular blends are The Antiquary, The Talisman and Big ‘T’.
• The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo: http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/index.htm
• Images are available on request.

Please join the award winning Victoria Gaelic Choir on April 18^th for an evening’s enjoyment of the finest Scottish presented by the very knowledgeable members of the Pacific Whisky Society. The tariff for the evening is a reasonable $50.00 per person and the tasting includes appetizers plus Scottish singing by the Choir members. The Pacific Whisky Society will be presenting whiskies from Aberlour, an Cnoc, Ballantine’s, BenRiach, GlenDronach and Laphroaig distilleries (the final line–up has yet to be finalized).

The tasting will be held at the famed The English Inn at 429 Lampson St, Victoria, BC V9A 5Y9 and tickets are available by email guthnaneilean@gmail.com

The evening will start at 7PM.

French Oak is back!

The wait is finally over, click below to get your bottle of the world’s best single malt whisky.

Please note that once the current available stock is sold, the shop will flick over to a pre-order system where you can pre-purchase from our next batch. All pre-orders will receive an email within 10 days confirming the delivery date.

SHOP NOW

Glenmorangie and Ardbeg expressions praised at prestigious whisky awards

We hope you have had/are having a fantastic Easter! There are only a few days now to one of our most exciting events of the year! The London Whisky Weekender returns to East London and The Oval Space on April 11th and 12th. We thought we would just run you through a few of the very special tastings we have lined up for this year’s events – just in case you were wavering, or if you’re already coming!

Meet the Maker – Phil Brandon Rock Town Distilling, £10 Saturday 12pm Ever wanted to know how craft Bourbon or Rye is created? Fancy tasting some amazing stuff with the man who made it? Well now’s your chance! Phil Brandon, now an award-winning distiller, is here in the UK to talk to YOU about his whiskey and his attitude to making it. An amazing opportunity that might not come around again.

Skye Diving – Colin Dunn, Diageo £20 Saturday 1.30pm The living legend that is Colin Dunn takes you through a sextet of whiskies from this most extraordinary distillery. A peaty puzzle wrapped in a malty mystery embalmed in a peppery poser. Talisker has it all – and so does this tasting as Colin takes you through the core range up to, and including, the amazing 30 Year Old…

Meet the Maker – Kent Fleischmann, Dry Fly Distilling, £10 Saturday 5pm A second opportunity to meet and be entertained by an award-winning US craft distiller on one day? You betcha! Kent is regarded by many to be a trail blazer for the US craft distilling movement. His attitude is one of fun and innovation and it shows through in his whiskies. Come and find out for yourselves what all the fuss is about.

Vintage Single Malt Whisky – Scotch Whisky Auctions Team £40 Saturday 6.30pm For those who like their single malts old fashioned and hard to find. We have talked the guys at Scotch Whisky Auctions into bringing a handful of trinkets from their collection for your delication. To try any of these whiskies is a priviledge – to try them all in one amazing sesson is a dream come true.

Six of the Best – Colin Dunn & Eddie Ludlow £20 Sunday 1pm Colin and Eddie separately are entertaining and, some might say, enlightening. However, when they are together ‘it was murder’! (look it up kids!) Two people who don’t take themselves too seriously, presenting to you six of their current favourite whiskies. Expect fireworks both on the stage and in your glass as the enjoyment level of your day is turned up to 11…

Blending Workshop – Joe Clark, TWL £10 Sunday 3.30pm We have always championed the ‘humble’ blend – good whisky is good whisky, right? Blended whisky is literally the bedrock of the whisky industry and can – at its best – compete with any single malt. This class is designed to show you how challenging, but rewarding, blending whisky is. Joe Clark, newly published author and key member of team Whisky Lounge, shares industry secrets and challenges you to make your own blend worthy of being bottled – for you to take home! Sound good? Well the only way to get involved is to be there this weekend and to have an entrance ticket for the relevant session.

Advanced Tickets for Saturday are £35 per session, and £30 for the Sunday and include sampling of all whiskies apart from any ‘Under the Counter’ drams or masterclasses.  The sessions are; 11am-3pm Saturday 11th April 4pm-8pm Saturday 11th April 12pm-5pm Sunday 12th April You can buy tickets and get more information by clicking HERE. Tickets for the special classes can be booked on the same page. It’s going to be a great weekend and we hope to see many of you there.  For those of you unable to make it for whatever reason, don’t forget to checkout the website for an event near YOU!

Slainte, Eddie, Amanda and Joe The Whisky Lounge Team.

Ladies and Gentlemen are cordially invited to enjoy a connoisseur’s evening featuring rare & exceptional single malt, Scotch and unique whiskies from around the world. The evening includes unlimited tastings, epicurean food, a selection of premium imported cigars for our guests’ later enjoyment, souvenir snifter glass and much more. The Whisky Extravaganza brings the discerning enthusiast the opportunity to sample the participating whiskies in a sophisticated and elegant environment with genuine camaraderie and knowledgeable representatives from each participating distillery.

The Whisky Extravaganza has kindly offered Whisky Intelligence readers a 10% discount on tickets to the Extravaganza.

Please the promotional code “EXTD2015″.  You man purchase tickets directly from the link here and by visiting www.thewhiskyextravaganza.com or by calling 800.990.1991.

All events from 6:30pm-9:00pm. Registration begins at 6:30pm.

Houston – Wednesday, April 29, 2015

The Royal Sonesta Houston

2222 West Loop South

Houston, TX 77027

Dallas – Friday, May 1, 2015

The Intercontinental Dallas

15201 Dallas Parkway

Dallas, TX 75001

Denver – Wednesday, May 6, 2015

The Brown Palace Hotel

321 17th Street

Denver, CO 80202

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE