Compass Box Whisky Tasting
at Nickolls and Perks Cellars

  Friday 13th December
Another pre-Christmas treat from N&P!

A tasting of Compass Box Special Blends with Chris Maybin,
Commercial Director of Compass Box.
On offer for your delectation, these rare and valuable editions:

Delilah’s (matched with a small glass of fine beer!)
Great King Street
Oak Cross
Spice Tree
Hedonism
Peat Monster 10th Anniversary Limited Edition
The General

Starts 7.30 p.m Friday 13th December, tickets just £25.00 each (Buy here) 
Contact David  for further details

WORLD FIRST FOR ARGENTINE OPEN FINAL AS ALEGRIA IS SET TO TAKE ON LA DOLFINA 7^TH DECEMBER 2013, PALERMO POLO OPEN 

This year’s 120^th Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (The Argentine Open) will be contested between Alegria and La Dolfina on Saturday 7^th December. Alegria caused one of Polo’s biggest upsets in recent years by knocking out Ellerstina, 19-15, in what was a thrilling display of high goal polo.

The world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, Royal Salute, is celebrating its second year as sponsor of world polo’s most prestigious tournament.  The power and passion of the game of polo, the skill of the players, integrity and honour are values which are also inherent to Royal Salute whisky, making it the perfect sponsorship blend.

To further mark the brand’s commitment to polo, Royal Salute is also launching a new blend to coincide with The Argentine Open. The Polo Batch Limited Edition whisky, which will be available worldwide form December 2013 is a 21 Year Old Whisky which has been specially developed by Royal Salute’s Master Blender Colin Scott, who aimed to create an “exquisite taste, for an exquisite sport.” 

Royal Salute has also asked celebrity German model and photographer Johannes Huebl to capture the pure sportsmanship of the game and the essence of an afternoon at the polo, both on and off the field, in spectacular images. Johannes was inspired by the skill and passion involved after seeing the exhilarating display at the Sentebale Royal Salute polo Cup in Greenwich, USA, earlier this year, which he attended with his fashion blogger and stylist girlfriend, Olivia Palermo. With his discerning taste and artistry, Johannes has been tasked with capturing imagery that will salute the Game of Kings. Johannes will tweet images live from the event to his 100,000+ followers on social media channel Instagram.

The tournament is the penultimate fixture in the Royal Salute World Polo Series for 2013, showcasing the brand’s commitment to the most prestigious international polo events across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. Neil Macdonald, Global Brand Director for Royal Salute, commented:

“This is the second year the prestigious Argentine Open has been included as part of the Royal Salute World Polo activities and it is a great privilege to support the greatest polo tournament in the world.

We are also excited to have Johannes Huebl on board who will be helping Royal Salute uncover the skill, courage and craftsmanship behind the game though his photography. There’s no better event to capture all these elements than the Argentine Open, so we expect some striking and inspiring imagery as a result.”

Notes:

About Royal Salute

Polo is a game of honour and respect, two values at the heart of Royal Salute. The greatest players are masters of their craft whose sublime horsemanship and respect for their mount allows them to play the noble sport according to the purity of its code. 

Royal Salute truly believes and takes pride in the values of integrity and honour; the whisky is laid down to mature for at least 21 years, the unique bottle is meticulously handcrafted from the finest hand-selected porcelain, ensuring that the utmost attention to detail is paid to every element during its creation

Royal Salute is a leading international supporter of polo, ‘the king of sports and the sport of kings’. Royal Salute World Polo is truly international with a presence in every major region globally:

• Argentina Campeonato Abierto De Polo Argentina, Beunos Aires
• Columbia Copa Uribe, Bogota, Columbia
• China Royal Salute China Open, Tang Polo Club,  Beijing
• India Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur, Golden Jubilee Cup
• Italy Polo Gold Cup,  Cortina d’Ampezzo
• Korea Royal Salute Polo Club, Jeju Country Club, Jeju
• Singapore Japanese Cup, Singapore
• Spain Landrover International Tournament, Santa Maria Polo Club, Sotogrande
• UAE Royal Salute Nations Cup, Desert Palm Resort,  Dubai
• UK Westchester Cup, Guards Polo Club, Windsor, UK
• USA Royal Salute Jubilee Cup, Greenwich Polo Club, Connecticut 

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, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport. 

For further information please visit http://www.chivasbrothers.com/ and http://www.royalsalute.com/

http://www.maltmaniacs.net/awards/

Here are the whiskies that won an award grouped by price category:

Ultra Premium (over €150)
Supreme Winner: Karuizawa 1973/2013 (67.7%, Number One Drinks, Ex-Sherry Oak, C#1607, 138 Bts.)
Best Sherried Whisky: Glenfarclas 1989/2012 (56.6%, OB The Family Casks, C#11046, 591 Bts.)
Best Peated Whisky: Benriach 27yo 1985/2013 (48.9%, OB, C#7188, 257 Bts.)
Best Natural Casks: Karuizawa 1983/2012 (62.1% Number One Drinks for LMDW, Hogshead, C#8597, 282 Bts.)
Thumbs Up Award: Teeling 21yo ‘Vintage Reserve’ (46%, Teeling Whisky Co., 2013*)

Premium (€50 to €150)
Supreme Winner: Kavalan ‘Solist’ (57.8%, OB, NAS, Sherry Cask, C#S06082, 2013*)
Best Sherried Whisky: Glendronach 18yo 1994/2012 (56.6%, OB for Kenny Hsu – Taiwan, Oloroso Sherry Butt, C#68, 621 Bts.)
Best Peated Whisky: Amrut ‘Peated’ (63%, Blackadder Raw Cask, NAS, C#BA18/2013, 268 Bts., 2013)
Best Natural Casks: Clynelish 1996/2013 (57.1%, Berry Bros. for LMDW, C#6421)
Thumbs Up Award: Celtique Connexion Islay 1999/2013 ‘Sauternes Finish’ (58.7%, Celtic Whisky Compagnie, 332 Bts.)

Daily Drams (up to €50)
Supreme Winner: Aberlour ‘A’Bunadh Batch #45’ (60.2%, OB, NAS, Oloroso Sherry Butts, 2013*)
Best Sherried Whisky: Glendronach 10yo 2002/2013 (52.8%, OB for The Whisky Fair, C#710, 665 Bts.)
Best Peated Whisky: Benriach 10yo ‘Curiositas’ (46%, OB, Peated, 2013*)
Best Natural Casks: Springbank 12yo ‘Cask Strength’ (50.3%, OB, 2013*)
Thumbs Up Awards: Benriach 10yo ‘Curiositas’ (46%, OB, Peated, 2013*)

GlenDronach 1994 / 19 Year Old / Single Cask #67 Bottled Exclusively For The UK

Single cask #67 from GlenDronach distillery, the final UK exclusive for 2013! (honestly!)

“A full-bodied, robust sherry character holds a balance of dark dried prunes, raisins, sultanas and rich toasted spices. Roasted coffee bean and dark chocolate infuse with delicate herb notes in a long earthy finish.”

£86.95 (£72.46 ex vat)

Click here to buy GlenDronach Single Cask #67 UK Exclusive

Christmas Day 1887, the first drop of whisky fell from the distillery’s cooper-pot stills, celebrate Christmas 2013 with a wee dram.

Discounted Items

Glenfiddich 12 Year Old Distillery Bottling
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$24.99

Glenfiddich 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$40.99

Glenfiddich 18 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$79.99

Glenfiddich “Cask of Dreams” 2012 Limited Release
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$109.99

Glenfiddich Age of Discovery 19 Year Old
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$159.99

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Gran Reserva
Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$159.99

Glenfiddich 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
$3200.00

www.dandm.com

Kilbeggan Distillery to Undergo Additional Renovations to Further Enhance its Heritage Centre

Kilbeggan, Ireland, – During November and December, the 256-year-old Kilbeggan Distilling Company in Co. Westmeath will close to the public for important restoration work on the magnificent tourist attraction and working distillery. The latest renovations reflect the continued investment Beam is making to further upgrade the visitors’ experience at Kilbeggan.

The distillery, owned by Beam Inc., one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, will close on the 11th November, and work will get underway immediately.  There will be no disruption to the availability of Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey during this period, and the distillery will re-open to visitors again in mid-December in time for the festive season.

While the restoration work is taking place, the team located at the distillery will carry on work as normal in the bar and office area and will also undertake professional training.

Rachel Quinn, Global Brand Manager for Scotch & Irish for Beam, commented, “The number of visitors to Kilbeggan has grown in the past two years thanks to the significant investment Beam has made to enhance the visitor experience. This next phase of renovation work will focus on replacing the courtyard roof and updating the fixed electrical onsite. These improvements will ensure that the distillery experience is further enhanced for the thousands of visitors who enjoy the distillery and its surroundings each month.”

Quinn continued, “Whiskey is all about heritage, and no other country in the world can compete with Ireland’s whiskey heritage. Kilbeggan has put considerable effort in transforming the global upsurge in interest in Irish whiskey into tourists visiting Ireland to experience first-hand the heritage and craftsmanship of Irish Whiskey.”

The latest renovations at the Kilbeggan distillery follow Beam’s last year investment of €70,000 to fully restore the historic waterwheel as well as to enhance the visitor tour, tasting bar, gift shop and overall experience.

About the Kilbeggan Distilling Company

The Kilbeggan Distilling Company (KDC) operates Ireland’s oldest licensed distillery, the Kilbeggan Distillery which dates back to 1757.  The KDC also operates the Cooley Distillery at Riverstown in Co Louth.  KDC’s portfolio of Irish whiskeys includes Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Tyrconnell Single Malt, Connemara Peated Single Malt and Greenore Single Grain Irish Whiskey.  The KDC is part of Beam Inc, one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies. 

About Beam Inc.

As one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher’s Scotch Whisky, Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC and DeKuyper Cordials.  Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,400 passionate associates worldwide generated 2012 sales of $2.5 billion (excluding excise taxes), volume of 38 million 9-liter equivalent cases and some of the industry’s fastest growing innovations.  

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index.  For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

WHISKY TASTINGS

at The Kilderkin, 65/67 Canongate, Royal Mile, 7.30pm, 07757434694

TOMATIN Thursday 05.12.13 £18/15*

Price includes £5 off one of the bottles at Cadenheads

Cu Bocan 46% (lightly peated)

Antiquary 12yo 40%

Legacy 43%

12yo 40%

15yo 43%

18yo 46%

*£3 off for first timers & members, membership = £10 for 13 months. Entry by pre-paid ticket only

http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk/

2013 Yamazaki Cask Collection

It’s that time of year again, Yamazaki have released their ever popular Cask Collection. Designed to show the whisky building blocks that go into the various Yamazaki single malt whiskies.

These are as limited as ever, and are restricted to one expression per customer, while stocks last.

The Bottles are –

Yamazaki Bourbon Barrel £100

Yamazaki Sherry Cask £100

Yamazaki Puncheon £100

Yamazaki Mizunara £250

Please contact lee.tomlinson@milroys.co.uk or call 0207 437 2385 for more information.

The 2013 Whisky Design Awards medal winners

The final votes for the 2013 World Wide Whisky Design Awards have now been counted and were announced today. From a total of 26 nominees in the 2 categories, 10 in each category where shortlisted. During the subsequent 3 months … Continue reading →

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #71

Mark Dermul, Belgian Whiskyblogger, is also a huge Star Wars fan. He recently came back from a project in Tunisia in which his team restored the Lars Homestead, the iconic movie set location from Star Wars. To celebrate, they bottled a Save Lars Whisky, a 20 Year Old Laddie. But all good things come in three. The second release of the Save Lars Whisky is a single cask of Auchentoshan 24 Year Old 1989. Knowing that Mark is in fact the Toshan Man, you can imagine this release has special significance for him. 

http://youtu.be/QmRkxwKKdWg