www.ralfy.com presents an affordable practical option with Whisky Review 408 – Glen Moray Original

Jura Launches Search for the World’s Best Stories 

Jura Whisky has launched a search for the world’s best stories, with the chance to win two all-expenses paid trips to the 2014 Jura Whisky Festival.

Starting today (31 October), Jura Whisky is calling on all budding storytellers to submit a story in 1,000 characters or less. Every fortnight for ten weeks Jura Whisky will provide a different story theme for inspiration. The themes kick off this week with Travel Adventure, followed by Day Dreams, A Brush with Death, Into the Wild and Happily Ever After.

Art Wednesday will provide further inspiration by producing a series of videos which tell the stories of interesting, influential creatives and their work. The first two videos will feature writer Marcel Theroux and musician Nick Mulvey (previously of Portico Quartet), with more to follow.

From the competition entries, three stories will be chosen each week and turned into bespoke illustrations by creative agency Holler which will be posted on to jurawhisky.com.  At the end of the ten weeks, each of the 30 winning stories will be put to the public vote to find the favourite. Voting will remain open for two weeks.

The winner with the most votes will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Jura for the 2014 Whisky Festival to help select the new special edition festival bottling which will be launched at the 2015 Festival. Staying in the luxurious Jura Lodge, the winner will be treated to a VIP tour, taking in all of Jura’s ‘must sees’, including a speedboat trip to the Corryvreckan whirlpool, tea on the beach and a visit to Barnhill where Orwell wrote 1984.

Gemma Parkinson, Brand Manager at Jura Whisky, said: “As the nights draw in, the residents of Jura like to settle down by the fire, pour a dram and swap a story or two. In that spirit, we have launched a season of storytelling to celebrate tales worth sharing. Some of Jura’s best and most loved stories, both real and mythical, are those that have been handed down through generations of islanders over the years. That’s why we’re on the hunt to find the world’s best stories, to celebrate and reward the art of great storytelling.”

The competition, which opens today, Thursday, 31 October, and will run right through until Friday, 10 January 2014, is part of Jura Whisky’s new ‘Story Season’ campaign. The competition is open to entrants from all countries.

For more information on Jura Whisky’s search for the world’s best stories, including detailed terms and conditions, visit www.jurawhisky.com.

About Jura

Off the west coast of Scotland lies one of nature’s best kept secrets, the Isle of Jura.  Populated by a community of less than 200, known as Diurachs (the Gaelic name for the people of Jura), the island is home to Jura distillery and an award-winning range of single malt whiskies.

There are four classic bottlings in the Jura Collection, each with their own distinctive flavour profiles: the light and delicate Origin 10; the rich and full bodied Diurachs’ Own 16 year old; and Superstition and Prophecy, which are lightly and heavily peated respectively.

Jura whisky, as we know it today, was born in the late 1950s when two local estate owners – Robin Fletcher and Tony Riley-Smith – took the bold decision to rebuild the Jura distillery following decades of neglect, employing architect William Delme-Evans. By 1963 their work was complete, providing much needed economic support for an isolated island community.

The story of the distillery’s rebirth is one of many that define the unique character of Jura, the islanders and their whisky. From the Writers’ Retreat to the annual Music and Whisky Festivals, Jura continues to generate stories worth telling.

To find out more visit www.jurawhisky.com

Richard Paterson, Master Distiller for The Dalmore and caretaker of Scotland’s most precious and rare whisky stocks, is taking to Reddit for a special whisky “Ask Me Anything” from today.

Richard, who is affectionately known as “the nose”, has been the Master Distiller at the Dalmore distillery for over 40 years and has created inspiring and memorable whiskies, which include King Alexander III, Ceti and The Dalmore Constellation Collection to name but a few. Whisky distilling is in Richard’s blood having followed in both his father and grandfather steps into the whisky industry and he knows everything there is to know about the water of life.

To ask Richard a question, simply post your questions on the Whisky Reddit pages http://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/ and Richard will reply to as many as he can next week.

Glenfarclas Distillery with George Grant – Sat Nov 6 – 6:30PM – $50 

Featuring whiskies from 2005, 2004, 1974, 1973, 1969 and more! 

What can you say about the enigmatic George Grant, other than if you’ve never been to one of his tastings, and heard his tales, you owe it to yourself to come and hear him out! On top of that, I can give you another, even more compelling reason, because we’ve going to be pouring a fabulous lineup of whiskies from the distillery, including a number of Family Cask vintage expressions, the new 25 Year Quarter Cask, and the 105 Cask Strength 25 Year:

1. Glenfarclas      Family Cask 1994 – $341.49
2. Glenfarclas      Family Caks 1993 – $385.99
3. Glenfarclas      Family Cask 1984 – $507.49
4. Glenfarclas      Family Caks 1983 – $473.49
5. Glenfarclas      Family Cask 1972 – $783.99
6. Glenfarclas      105 20 Year – $314.99
7. Glenfarclas      25 Year Quarter Cask – $337.99

Call 403-283-8000 to purchase tickets or visit: kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php

Fine and Rare

Thursday 21st November 2013

There is nothing quite like drinking a whisky in the knowledge you may never see it again, let alone taste it. With whiskies from long closed distilleries and those which come and go once a year, this tasting of the finest and rarest of whiskies will be a night to remember.

£100.00

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #68

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries a new releases from Auchentoshan. The Virgin Oak is fruity and spicy to say the least. He is always a happy camper when he can try a new release from his favourite Lowland distillery.

http://youtu.be/JcJEuq9QxeI

More November “Sparklers” to light your fire!

Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old
46.3% 70cl. Was £39.98. Today’s offer price – £31.99 (save £7.99)

anCnoc 12 Year Old
40% 70cl – Was £35.75 Today’s offer price – £29.50 (save £6.25)

Glen Moray Classic
40% 70cl – Was £22.99. Today’s offer price – £18.99 (save £4.00)

Glenmorangie 10 Year Old The Original
40% 70cl. Was £35.49. Today’s offer price – £29.99 (save £5.50)

Highland Park 12 Year Old
40% 70cl. Was £37.00. Today’s offer price – £28.99 (save £8.01)

Cardhu 12 Year Old
40% 70cl. Was £43.99. Today’s offer price – £35.99 (save £8.00)

Tweeddale 12 Year Old Blend
46% 70cl. Was £31.50. Today’s offer price – £29.50 (save £2.00)

Dalmore 12 Year Old
70cl. Was £42.00. Today’s offer price – £36.99 (save £5.01)

Speyburn 10 Year Old
40% 70cl – Was £32.99. Today’s offer price – £24.99 (save £8.00)

The Teeling Whiskey Company Goes With The Grain

Unique bottling of Irish Single Grain Whiskey is Launched 

The Teeling Whiskey Company, Ireland’s award winning independent Irish whiskey company, has released a new bottling of Single Grain Irish whiskey, one of only a handful of such expressions in the world.

Single Grain bottlings are very rare as it is typically blended with heavier styles of Irish whiskey to create many of the well-known brands on the market today. Grain whiskey is made through the combination of unique ingredients, predominately maize/corn which is distilled through a modern technique of column distillation. This produces an exceptionally clean, smooth and sweet Irish whiskey. The smooth, sweet nature of Grain whiskey provides a natural canvas which allows the Teeling Whiskey Company to create a very unique style of Irish whiskey.

To add a depth of character, Teeling Single Grain is exclusively fully matured in Californian Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels. This creates a very distinctive rich amber colour while imparting strong spicy notes, lush red berry and grape flavours. This proprietary maturation technique produces a very unique Irish whiskey of distinctive character while still being remarkably easy to drink. Like all the Teeling whiskeys it is bottled at 46% with no chill filtration allowing for all the natural flavours of the whiskey to be retained.

Jack Teeling, founder of the Teeling Whiskey Company, commented, “It’s a little known fact that the majority of Irish whiskey sold is actually Grain whiskey so we feel it is interesting to have expressions of Single Grain whiskey in its own right.  Our new Teeling Single Grain is representative of our aim to help drive the expansion of the Irish whiskey category through unique bottlings and expressions.”

The Teeling family whiskey heritage in distilling dates back to 1782 in Dublin when Walter Teeling  set up a distillery in Marrowbone Lane in the Liberties. Today, Jack and his brother Stephen, Sales & Marketing Director, are the latest generation of Teelings involved in the Irish whiskey industry. While initially starting out as an independent bottler, their aim is to bring Teeling Whiskey home by establishing the first new whiskey distillery in Dublin in over 125 years.

Benromach/Gordon & MacPhail Dinner w/ Michael Urquhart – Fri Nov 8 – 7PM – $125 

Featuring whiskies from 2005, 2004, 1974, 1973, 1969 and more! 

The scotch whisky industry’s gentleman statesman, Michael Urquhart, will be hosting a whisky dinner featuring whiskies from Benromach Distillery, the Speyside’s smallest, as well as Gordon & MacPhail, Scotland most respected independent bottler. Our lineup will feature the Benromach 1969 & 30 Year, as well as the two KWM casks. On the Gordon & MacPhail side we have vintage expressions from Dallas Dhu (1979), Glenlivet (1974) and Longmorn (1973). The whiskies will be paired with a 3 course meal at Buchanan’s Chop House 738 3rd Ave SW, only 3 tickets left!

1. Benromach 2005 KWM Cask – $84.99
2. Benromach 2004 KWM Cask – $87.49
3. Benromach 30 Year – $341.99
4. Benromach 1969 – $1169.99
5. G&M Rare Vintage Dallas Dhu 1979 – $289.99
6. G&M Rare Longmorn 1973 – $359.99
7. G&M Smith’s Glenlivet 1974 – $344.99

Call 403-283-8000 to purchase tickets or visit: kensingtonwinemarket.com/tastings/register.php

TOP PICKS

• Old Weller Antique 107 proof Straight Bourbon Whiskey 750ml ($19.99)
Buffalo Trace distillery’s classic wheated-bourbon formula, substituting wheat for rye as the flavor grain in addition to the corn. The result is the same creamy, full-bodied whiskey that made the Van Winkles so famous. Now that all the Pappy is made at Buffalo Trace distillery, it’s actually all made from the same formula. This one just happens to cost $19.99 instead. Our official house Bourbon here at K&L.

NEW ARRIVALS

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• 1997 Arran 16 Year Old Single Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($124.99)
• Balvenie 40 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($3,999.99)
• Berry Bros & Rudd Blue Hanger 7th Release Blended Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($99.99)
• 1990 Bladnoch 22 Year Old Duncan Taylor Lowland Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 4 available ($129.99)
• Kilchoman Machir Bay (2013 edition) Islay Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($54.99)

BACK IN STOCK

Japan – Single Malt Scotch

• Nikka 21 Year Old Taketsuru Pure Malt Japanese Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($169.99)

Scotland – Irish and Blended Scotch

• Sheep Dip Blended Malt Scotch 750ml ($39.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Balvenie 30 year old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 3 available ($749.99)
• Glenfiddich 30 Year Old Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($459.99)
• Kilchoman 100% Islay 3rd Edition Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($84.99)

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