Whisky Magazine’s July issue throws a spotlight on Canada, investigating some of the exciting new directions being taken by Canadian distillers and profiling the country’s top five whiskies. Moving to Scotland, we explore the islands of Islay and Jura, revealing the little known connections that these islands’ notable distilleries have to George Orwell, The First World War and Jazz, and providing a guide to the best places to stay and visit. Also included with the July issue is our annual guide to the Great Whiskey Bars of the World – an essential pocket book to help whiskey-lovers find the best drams wherever they go.

It will be followed on the 12^th September by our US Special, drawing the attention of Whiskey connoisseurs the World over to the latest developments in US distilling, ageing and drinking. Reviews include a look at a wide range of whiskies from the US, providing plenty for readers to explore. From the other side of the Atlantic, we also take a look at Scandinavian whiskey and how the country has become one of the World’s key producers. 

Editorial Features

 Issue No.120

Special Features

Canadian Whiskies

Whisky Travel: Islay and Jura

Whisky Bars of the World supplement

Publication Date: 25^th July

Issue No.121

 Special Features

Whisky Travel: Scandinavia

Special Features: A focus on a wide range of whiskies from across the US.

Special Distribution from the Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Publication Date: 12^th September

TOMATIN MAKES CHANGES TO ITS CORE RANGE 

Port finishes added to Tomatin Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky range 

The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd has announced a change to the line-up of its core range of single malts. A 14 year old Port Wood Finish and a batch release 1988 vintage are being introduced, while the 15 year old and 30 Year Old expressions will be removed. 

The 14 Year Old Port Wood Finish has spent around 13 years in the finest Bourbon oak barrels, with a further year in specially selected Portuguese port pipes which had previously held Tawny port for between 30 and 40 years. The result is an excellent dram which is soft and smooth with a port-influenced sweetness. 

The 1988 vintage also takes on an element of port with its contents having been vatted from ex-bourbon and ex-port casks, resulting in a sweet yet surprisingly fresh dram. Presented in a wooden box with its own certificate, this expression will be released in batches, the first batch offering 2500 bottles. 

These two new expressions join the brand’s non-aged “Legacy” – matured in a combination of Bourbon and Virgin Oak casks – and the 12 and 18 Year Olds, both finished in Spanish Oloroso Sherry Casks. The 12 Year Old is now being sold at 43% alc./vol. in all markets (increased from 40%). 

Stephen Bremner, sales director, said: “In recent years we have really started to make our mark in the single malt market with recognition for the high quality whisky on offer from the Tomatin Distillery. Most recently in March 2014 we were awarded Gold for Legacy and our 12 Year Old, and Double Gold for our 18 Year Old at the San Francisco Spirits Competition. I am confident these two new expressions will sit nicely within the range and, most importantly, will be enjoyed by our customers.” 

A short film with Graham Eunson talking about the effect of port on our whisky: http://youtu.be/-Eg3yvLHuTo

Notes 

1. 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.
2. Website: www.tomatin.com   Download our Press Kit from the Contact Us page
   Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tomatin1897  Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tomatin1897
3. 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.
4. The company’s most popular blends are The Antiquary, The Talisman and Big ‘T’.
5. The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo: http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/index.htm

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

The Tomatin Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky range has always offered a wide range of flavours with its variety of wood finishes including Sherry, Bourbon and, more recently, Virgin Oak.

We are delighted to introduce a new flavour to the range; Port Wood Finish. Having spent around 13 years in the finest Bourbon oak barrels, this whisky has spent a year in specially selected Portuguese port pipes which had previously held Tawny port for between 30 and 40 years. The result is an excellent dram which is soft and smooth with a port-influenced sweetness.

THE WHISKY

Cask Type: Matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Port pipes

Strength: 46% alc./vol.

Availability: April 2014, permanent addition to core range

Distribution: Worldwide

Price: RRP £48.99 per 70cl bottle / $55 per 75cl bottle

This whisky is soft and smooth with significant sweet influence from the port casks. After spending time maturing in traditional oak casks, it spends the last year of its maturation exclusively in port pipes. 

AROMA; Honeydew melon, red berries, baked apples. Rich toffee, butterscotch. Sweet honey and bitter dark chocolate.

PALATE; Fruit and nut. Peaches, apricots, mango and plum. Mixed Walnut and Pecan.

FINISH; Smooth fruit salad which lingers on the palate.

NOTES

• LAUNCH DATE: April 2014

• LAUNCH DETAILS: The launch will be supported by competitions on the brand’s social media channels and a Product Film on You Tube.

• 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

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

The Tomatin Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky range has always offered a wide range of flavours with its variety of wood finishes including Sherry, Bourbon and, more recently, Virgin Oak.

Along with our new 14 Year Old Port Wood Finish, we are delighted to announce the addition of a 1988 Vintage expression to our core range. This expression will be released in batches.

The contents have been vatted from a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Port casks.

THE WHISKY

Cask Type: Matured in a combination of Bourbon casks and Port pipes

Strength: 46% alc./vol.

Availability: Batch 1 (2500 bottles) available worldwide from April 2014, permanent addition to core range.

Distribution: Worldwide

Price: RRP £159.99 per 70cl bottle / $250 per 75cl bottle

This whisky is sweet and fresh – a delicious whisky which, on the nose, smells like breakfast in a glass!

AROMA; Strawberry jam, honey glazed ham, Cantaloupe melon, freshly squeezed orange juice.

PALATE; Sweet with buttery notes; candy floss, Victoria sponge. Red fruits, eucalyptus, mint, coconut. Fading smoke.

FINISH; Fresh with lots of depth.

NOTES

• LAUNCH DATE: April 2014

• LAUNCH DETAILS: The launch will be supported by competitions on the brand’s social media channels and a Product Film on You Tube.

• 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: facebook.com/Tomatin1897

Twitter & Instagram: @Tomatin1897

YouTube: youtube.com/user/tomatin1897

The Good Spirits Co. To Launch Scottish Referendum Blended Scotch Whisky

Independent Glasgow spirits store, The Good Spirits Co., will be launching their own ScottishReferendum whisky on Friday 2nd of May 2014 at 1pm. There will be only 140 bottles of this 23 year old blended Scotch whisky available to buy. Customers will be able to choose one of two labels featuring either a Yes vote or a No vote giving a poll result when the bottles have sold out.

Green MSP Patrick Harvie and Labour MSP Jackie Baillie will be attending the launch to represent both sides of the vote.

Director Mark Connelly described the whisky as, “A well balanced blend with both a rich, fruity sweetness and a zingy spiciness battling it out for prominence. It’s very tasty and for a great drink for any occasion it gets my vote.”, adding, “This whisky was created to highlight the forthcoming referendum whilst having a bit of fun and enjoying a dram. We’re matching this historic event to our national drink and one of our biggest exports which seems entirely appropriate. Perhaps it will be used to toast the result or drown sorrows, come September.”

The bottles will be on sale from 1pm on Friday 2nd and will retail at £69 per bottle. Bottles will be limited to one per person. It is bottled at 52.5%.

The whisky has been bottled by regular collaborators The Creative Whisky Co. , a Scottish bordersbased independent bottler.

Notes 

The Good Spirits Co. opened in 2011 in Bath Street and stocks Glasgow’s biggest range of spirits, as well as craft beer, Havana cigars, fortified wines and fizz.

Owners Mark Connelly, Matthew McFadyen and Shane Goodbody previously worked for the retail chain Oddbins before going into business themselves. They now employ five staff.

The Good Spirits Co., 23 Bath Street, Glasgow G2 1HW.

www.thegoodspiritsco.com

World Whisky Day Shop Now LIVE!

World Whisky Day – Saturday 17th May 2014
Not long now!

We are delighted to welcome our friends at The Glenlivet, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Bruichladdich, Compass Box, Douglas Laing & Co, Kilchoman Distillery, Wemyss Malts, Kingsbarns Distillery, Tomatin Distillery and The Tweedale who are all celebrating World Whisky Day with us this year…more to announce soon.

Find out here how they will be celebrating!
________________________________________
World Whisky Day Shop NOW LIVE!

Click here to see the new World Whisky Day Shop!
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Still time to register your World Whisky Day event

It only takes a few seconds to register your event.

Click here to register your event for free.

Event ideas:
Host at an event at your local bar.
Host an event in your own home.
Get your local whisky shop to arrange a special tasting.
It’s easy to get involved.

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Donate to Just a Drop and to help give people safe and clean drinking water.

We are proud to be supporting Just a Drop, an international water aid charity. We hope that you can help us raise money for them. Each time you have a whisky on World Whisky Day why not donate £1/$1/€1 to Just a Drop.

To learn more and donate to Just a Drop click here.

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Help #worldwhiskyday become a global trending topic!

By joining our ThunderClap twitter/facebook will automatically send out a message on World Whisky Day and it can help spark a global trend.

It only takes a couple clicks! Click here to join in!
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In other news

World Whisky Day Whisky 2014 Edition available soon – to register interest click here We’ll let you know when they are available to buy! Still time to get a World Whisky Day Event Pack sent out to you! To register for one click here. Get in the spirit, mark the date in your diary and lets raise a dram to World Whisky Day 2014. Visit the website now to find events that are happening near you or to register your own event: http://www.worldwhiskyday.com

In the meantime if you want to discuss your plans or find out more about getting involved then please email info@worldwhiskyday.com or call +44 (0)131 208 2582.

Kind regards,
Blair Bowman

Founder
World Whisky Day
www.worldwhiskyday.com

New! Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2014

2nd edition of the sherry cask matured Scotch from Islay’s farm distillery.

Limited release 2009 vintage matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry butts.

Kilchoman Loch Gorm $81.51

Sunday, May 4 (Scotch Tasting) @ 4 p.m.

This is ALWAYS one of my favorite tastings (from Pat at the Dell) b/c the “boys” just got back from WhiskyFest and there are always many fun stories to hear about!  Amanda and Chris have been planning this tasting all week and can’t wait to see everyone!  $50 per person 

Dundee Dell | 5007 Underwood Ave | Omaha | NE | 68132

BALLANTINE’S RELEASES 17 YEAR OLD SIGNATURE DISTILLERY GLENTAUCHERS EDITION
TO COMPLETE SET OF FOUR UNIQUE BALLANTINE’S BLENDS

Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky, has today announced the release of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Signature Distillery Glentauchers Edition. This special blend completes a set of four limited editions, each of which has been created to demonstrate the unique structure of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old and how this is achieved.

Of all of the malt and grain whiskies used in Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, four stand out as ‘signature’ malts – Scapa, Miltonduff, Glenburgie and Glentauchers. Each of these plays a unique and crucial role in the creation of the final masterpiece that is Ballantine’s 17 Year Old.

Building on the successful global release of the Scapa, Miltonduff and Glenburgie Editions, Glentauchers is the last of the signature malts to be showcased in the Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Signature Distillery Editions. Located in the heart of Scotland’s celebrated Speyside whisky region, the Glentauchers Distillery is one of Scotland’s few remaining manually operated distilleries, where centuries of knowledge and traditional methods of Scotch whisky making are passed down to new generations of craftsmen.

The integrity of Glentauchers malt whisky is safeguarded by three generations of the same family, who have worked at the distillery since 1920. The whisky itself has a light citrus character, which is present after distillation as a result of the production process unique to the distillery. Its soft berry notes are the product of a fusion of influences from both distillation and maturation, while the spirit’s signature nutty character and warm, lingering finish are the result of long maturation in American oak casks.

The premium packaging for the Glentauchers Edition takes its inspiration from the lightness of the tasting notes: a burgundy colour from the lingering taste of soft berries, and an elegant blush sheen from the sweet, citrus fruit flavours. Staying true to the style of the previous Signature Distillery Editions, the use of metallic paper stock highlights the edition’s exclusive positioning within the Ballantine’s range, while differentiating itself from the original Ballantine’s 17 Year Old with an illustration of the Glentauchers Distillery, ‘limited edition’ script and unique colour scheme.

Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s Master Blender, comments: “We are proud to provide whisky enthusiasts with another opportunity to experience the single malts that shape the taste profile of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, and to showcase the high quality of the single malt produced at the Glentauchers distillery.

“Lighter and more delicate in style, the Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Signature Distillery Glentauchers Edition highlights some of the more subtle flavours within the original blend, whilst showcasing the key contribution of the Glentauchers malt with a lingering finish of soft berries.”

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, adds: “The release of the Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Signature Distillery Glentauchers Edition completes the picture of how Ballantine’s 17 Year Old achieves its signature style through the art of our skilled Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop. As with the other Ballantine’s 17 Year Old limited editions, the Glentauchers Edition is a highly collectible and giftable expression, and will appeal to whisky lovers looking for something unique, as well as to loyal followers of Ballantine’s.”

Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Signature Distillery Glentauchers Edition is launching within a number of Ballantine’s key markets including Asia Travel Retail, China and Japan, from May, with a retail price of $78 (USD). It was first unveiled in Korea in November 2013.

Notes:

Tasting Notes
Nose: Bursting with sweet citrus fruit flavours (tangerine and sweet clementine) with hazelnut notes and a hint of delicate floral heather coming through in the background.
Taste: Coats the mouth with smooth, soft berry flavours of raspberry and blackcurrant, combined with a tantalising taste of barley sugar sweets.
Finish: Incredibly long and luscious.

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No. 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky by volume, and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 120 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.
www.ballantines.com

About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.
www.chivasbrothers.com

New Irish Whiskey Museum Gets Green Light to Build €2m Project

After two years in the making the Irish Whiskey Museum has finally been given a green light to start construction works on a €2m museum.   With investment secured and all planning applications granted this new visitor attraction will occupy the beautiful Gothic Revival style building across from the main entrance of Trinity College on College Green.  

It will be a first ever Irish Whiskey Museum.  A new concept, that brings the intriguing tale of Irish whiskey and its impact on the global whiskey market to life.  Bringing all of the Irish whiskey brands together, both old and new, its vision is to reclaim Ireland as the original home of whiskey.  This interactive, ultra modern experience will depict the rise and fall and current renaissance of Irish whiskey.   With a contemporary bar and guided tour this project will provide employment for full team of construction workers and 25 full time jobs when its doors open. 

CEO Keith McDonnell says ‘…we are delighted to be progressing with this project.  We saw an opportunity to bring a vacant building in the heart of the city centre back to life.  Our tour concept is unique, unlike the current whiskey tours, we differ by focusing on the wider intriguing history of Irish whiskey, incorporating all Irish whiskey brands, both new and old.’ 

Construction works are due to commence this month and it is due to launch towards the latter end of the summer season.  The Irish Whiskey Museum will be Dublin’s newest and most centrally located visitor attraction.  Situated at the start of the new Dubline, which stretches from Trinity College to Thomas Street, Failte Ireland have welcomed this new development.  Whiskey distillers such as Diageo, Pernod Ricard, Bushmills, Tullamore Dew and Teeling have also endorsed the project. 

What was once a vacant building in the heart of the city centre will now welcome domestic and international visitors as well as true whiskey connoisseurs through its doors.