Counting down to #youranCnoc Day 17th June

With #youranCnoc Day fast approaching, it’s time to get your smart phones primed to take the picture that could win you a bespoke bottle of anCnoc – and an unforgettable four-night trip to New York.

The #youranCnoc campaign – launched to celebrate the third limited edition Peter Arkle release for anCnoc – is already making its mark and Monday June 17th is shaping up to be a day to savour for whisky fans around the world.

That’s when we’ll be asking you to tweet us a pic which sums up how you savour your dram. In return, the 10 we like best will provide the spark for Scottish-born, New York- based illustrator – and anCnoc partner – Peter to design you a personalised bottle. Our overall winner will then be flown, with a friend, to have their bottle presented to them by Peter in Manhattan.

It’s easy to enter. Snap a picture that sums up your ideal anCnoc experience and Tweet it to @anCnoc_whisky using #youranCnoc between 00.00 (GMT) on Monday June 17th and 09.00 (GMT) on Tuesday June 18th.

Peter enjoys his best while relaxing on his New York roof terrace, but whatever your inspiration – be it an uplifting country landscape, a beach barbeque, or even a night in front of the fire – we’d love to see it. So remember, think, snap then tweet on June 17th.

Visit http://ancnoc.createsend4.com/t/j-l-jujkjik-ddyhiidkd-u/ for more information and terms and conditions or watch the video to see how it works.

Slainte!
anCnoc

New Arrivals, Pre Arrivals & Back in Stock 

• Mackinlay’s “The Journey” Rare Old Highland Blended Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($172.99)
(NOTE: bottle ships with all packaging, but cannot be consolidated with orders) Whyte & Mackay’s first attempt to recreate the frozen Antarctic whisky of explorer Ernest Shackleton was so successful, they’re back with a second batch to feed the frenzy. Unlike most attempts to capitalize on successful momentum, however, the Scottish producer has upped both the packaging and the quality this time around. Each bottle is wrapped in heavy straw and tagged with a label faithfully replicated from the excavated relics. Whyte & Mackay are also revealing the contents of the whiskey this time, to the extreme delight of whisky geeks everywhere: 1980 Glen Mhor (one of the rarest whiskies in the world), Glenfarclas, Mannachmore, Tamnavulin, Ben Nevis, Aultmore, Fettercairn, Pulteney, heavily-peated Dalmore, and Jura aged in Limousin oak casks. The result is wonderfully balanced blended single malt whisky without any grain component.. The smoky, peaty component play s center stage this time around, much more dominant than last year’s version, but balanced by rich vanilla and a soft fruited palate. The Journey is like a far-tastier version of Johnnie Walker Blue, but made only with single malt whisky and designed specifically for Islay fans. If you’re looking for a gift for the whisky lover who has everything, this is as fun, cheeky, delicious, and serious as it gets. I couldn’t have been more surprised by utter drinkability of this whisky. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

 • 2000 Aberlour 12 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Exclusive Malts” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($59.99)
After the success of last year’s 21 year Aberlour, we weren’t planning to buy a repeat from this lovely little distillery. That all changed in David Stirk’s little warehouse south of Glasgow. This lovely hogshead was just singing to us. Its rich and warming style will delight any lover of Speyside whisky. On the nose we get powerful toasted grains, biscuits, honey (some exotic type, tilleul?) and pears. The palate is super soft and rich, which more of the oak spice evident than on the nose, but the similar blend of sweet floral and grainy flavors. On the end those spices come back with a heavy dose of that biscuit (I’m thinking Walkers). Maybe this is not the most exciting whisky on paper, but it will certainly be several peoples’ favorite this year. (David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer)

• 2006 Island Distillery 7 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Exclusive Malts” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($54.99)
This little mystery malt was a favorite of ours from the moment the bung popped out of the cask. Both David and I are huge fans of young, smoky whisky, and this is one of the best under-10 year olds that we’ve found. It’s vibrant, salty, supple, with all the intense that you’d want out of the best young peaters, but beautifully restrained as well. Now this whisky was distilled on one of Scotland’s numerous Isles, that’s about all I can tell you regarding the specifics of the distillery. I can tell you that it is not from the Island of Islay, I can tell you that this blows the young Caol Ila that we loved out of the water and I can tell you that our price for this whisky is well below what we’d expected to pay, not to mention well below the cost of that Caol Ila. One thing that struck us about this cask was how different it was from others that we’d seen from this distillery. This whisky is powerful, but with a great deal of nuance at this age. A subtle fresh rubber quality transitions to subtle fruit (maybe light red berries). Altogether a wonderfully idiosyncratic whisky and the first of what we hope to be several young peaty mystery malts to come. (David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

• Tomatin 30 Year Highland Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 6 available ($229.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

• Smooth Ambler Old Scout 10 Year Old Bourbon 750ml – 2 available ($52.99)

• 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

A note from Angus at Mulberry Bank Auctions;

Hello All

Happy summer, the sun is with us here at last in Glasgow, all the more reason to take a break from the toil of your daily lives and come on up for our rare whisky auction on Tuesday June 18^th.  It’s quite a gargantuan sale this time around so take your time sifting through the catalogue and I hope you all find plenty that catches your eye. Our pre-sale tasting is just as extravagant as our sale this time with ten incredible bottles to taste. There are still a few places available so if you’d like to come along then please get in touch. I hope to see many of you at the sale and best of luck to those of you who are bidding.

Kind regards

Angus MacRaild

Whisky Specialist

Mulberry Bank Auctions

Mobile: +44 77301 31533

Loch Fyne Whiskies ‘New in Stock: Macallan Ruby’ 

Macallan Ruby

43%abv

£116.00 inc vat £96.67 ex vat

Best regards,

Loch Fyne Whiskies

david@lfw.co.uk

This June (2013) Auchentoshan, Scotland’s only triple distilled Single Malt Scotch whisky, will reveal exciting new packaging for its iconic core brands – Auchentoshan Three Wood and 12 Years Old. The refresh, which takes inspiration from the hugely successful travel retail range launched in 2012, will highlight Auchentoshan’s premium qualities and increase stand out on shelf. The new pack will also educate the consumer about Auchentoshan’s unique triple distillation process, wood maturation and tasting notes.

All three sides of the pack are maximised in the new design and illustrations are used to bring to life the story of the whisky. Auchentoshan’s premium quality and brand heritage is reflected in the prominence of 1823, the year of the brand’s establishment, and the traditional bronze foiling which highlights the three copper stills used in the distillation process.

The iconic and unique Auchentoshan bottle will not change its shape and will remain the same easy to handle bottle. The expression name will appear on the bottle’s label in white stylised traditional font which stands out clearly against the dark grey background of the label and provides an additional nod to the brand’s heritage.

Jennifer Meenan, Auchentoshan Brand Manager says, “We are delighted with the new pack design and feel it will provide consumers with a greater understanding of how we make our whisky, and most importantly, how it will taste. The introduction of illustrations on pack is new for Auchentoshan and we feel it brings to life the story of this wonderful triple distilled single malt whisky”.

Established in 1823, Auchentoshan triple distils every drop meaning the spirit produced reaches 81.5% ABV, significantly higher than most distilleries in Scotland. The lightness of the liquid enables it to absorb every characteristic it is exposed to in the cask. It is this smooth distillate paired with the carefully selected oak casks that gives Auchentoshan an unmistakably light and fruity flavour.

For more information visit www.auchentoshan.co.uk

Notes:

Auchentoshan – The Modern Classic

A traditional and authentic single malt, distilled three times and matured in the finest wood

–          A whisky produced with passion and enriched with heritage

–          Favours the classic but with a nod to the contemporary

–          It’s a combination of two worlds; old and new

–          It’s a throwback to the future

–          It’s style not fashion

–          The very best of the past with the very best of the present…

As Glasgow’s closest Distillery, Auchentoshan is truly unique as it is the only distillery to use a third still in the whisky making process. It means Auchentoshan is the only Single Malt Scotch whisky to triple distil every single drop. This third distillation takes the new spirit to 81.5% ABV (not 70% which is achieved through only distilling twice) making it the highest distillate of any Scottish distillery. The result is a light and delicate single malt of unmistakable smoothness.

Awards 2011

IWSC

Gold Medal, 1975 Bourbon

Best in Class Silver, 18YO

Best in Class Silver, Classic

International Spirits Challenge

Silver Media, 1975 Bourbon

Silver Medal, Valinch

Silver Medal, Three Wood

Scottish Design Awards

Best Packaging – Auchentoshan Travel Retail Award

Awards 2012

San Francisco Spirits Competition

Double Gold Medal, Three Wood

Silver Medal, Classic

Silver Medal, 12YO

World Whiskies Awards:

Best Lowland – Auchentoshan 1999 Wine Matured

Ultimate Spirits Challenge:

94 points/Excellent-Highly Recommended  – Auchentoshan Three Wood

Ultimate Cocktail Challenge:

Chairman’s Trophy – Best Scotch Whisky in a classic Rusty Nail cocktail – Auchentoshan Three Wood

Elegant Oldies Tasting with Tim & Billy

Elegant Oldies, what’s that all about then? Well, if you’re reading this you’re probably already vaguely aware of two things: 1) The Whisky Exchange is the best online resource on the planet for affordable old ‘dusty‘ whiskies; and 2) Billy and I are geeks of the most clichéd kind imaginable, spending our days hunched over our keyboards, blinking like  shrivelled moles in the Sahara when exposed to daylight and dissolving into sweaty blobs of hot shame when required to talk to an audience any larger than a handful of our closest fellow whisky nerds. Continue reading >>

A golden moment for our 1997 Vintage

We’ve always felt our 1997 Vintage was a very special whisky. And it seems people agree. We’re delighted to announce that we’ve just been awarded a Gold Medal in this year’s International Spirits Challenge.

This event is the most prestigious spirits competition in the world, acknowledging quality spirits from across the globe. Awards are given for a number of areas – and we’re proud that Balblair has won Gold in the one that matters most to us: tasting. I’m sure we’ll raise a dram of something appropriate to toast this success!

And with Father’s Day coming up soon, do you know someone who might appreciate a bottle of our Gold Medal winner? It’s a golden opportunity.

Slainte!
John MacDonald
Distillery Manager

With next day delivery for the bulk of the UK*

you can still get your present there in time!

Still stuck for that perfect present? Fed up of giving socks, CDs, books and jumpers? Whisky is the answer! Even for the novice drammer we have a great range of choices and will deliver with a £3.50 discount on orders placed until Thursday at 2pm (TODAY) – use code FD350 to claim your discount! (For mainland UK this means delivery for only £5!). Choose from our vast range (and it’s not just whisky!) at

www.drambusters.com

*Highland, Islands and Northern Ireland may take longer to arrive

www.ralfy.com shows off a value-for-money option malt with Whisky Review 367 – Tomintoul 16yo

TOMATIN DISTILLERY SPONSORS SCOTTISH NINE‐HOLE OPEN

Inverness‐shire Whisky Company to Sponsor Local Golf Event for 3rd Year Running

Inverness – 05/06/13 – Tomatin Distillery is to continue its headline sponsorship of the Scottish Nine‐Hole Open held at Carrbridge Golf Club on Saturday 6th July 2013. The Highlands‐based whisky company is also extending its support this year by sponsoring the inaugural Scottish Nine‐Hole Ladies Open, held at the same venue the following day.

The competition, now in its third year, is played the same week as the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open held at nearby Castle Stuart Golf Links, allowing participants to be an Open Champion the same week as the Scottish Open.

John Walker, Club President at Carrbridge Golf Club, said: “We are delighted that Tomatin Distillery has continued their sponsorship for the third year of this tournament. Since 2011, the Scottish Nine‐Hole Open has grown in popularity as we welcome golfers from around the UK. The course is not easy; it is an exciting challenge and a test of golfing nerves with fewer holes to recover from errant shots. Located in the Cairngorms National Park, it is one of the most scenic courses in the UK and we know participants will not be disappointed.”

“We are delighted to not only maintain but also extend our support to Carrbridge Golf Club with these two events in 2013” said Stephen Bremner, Tomatin Sales Director. “As a Highland company we strive to support local events and initiatives and it’s undeniable that golf and whisky are an ideal partnership.”

Golfers interested in participating in the Scottish Nine‐Hole Open or the Scottish Nine‐Hole Ladies Open on the 6th and 7th July 2013 should visit www.scottishnineholeopen.co.uk.

2012 Scratch Winner Laurie Chancellor (R) and runner up Gordon Hay

TOMATIN DISTILLERY CO LTD

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. Sponsors of local golf events at Kingussie, Carrbridge & Boat of Garten Golf Clubs, as well as the Highland Golf Links Pro Am. Website: www.tomatin.com 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

CARRBRIDGE GOLF CLUB

Located in the Cairngorms National Park, just 2 miles off the A9 and 7 miles north of Aviemore. The Club has 300 members and attracts almost 2500 visitors per annum. Carrbridge golf course is one of the most scenic courses in Scotland, having been established over 100 years ago. Website: www.carrbridgegolfclub.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/CarrbridgeGolf Twitter: www.twitter.com/CarrbridgeGolf. Sheltered by a pine forest to the north, golfers enjoy spectacular views of the Cairngorms and Cromdale Hills to the south and west. Natural hazards present challenges on every fairway ‐ streams, hillocks and heather test the best. Sharing the fairways with deer, hare, oystercatchers and red squirrel. The Clubhouse café offers light snacks. 2012.