Dear Companions, Friends & Fellow Whisky Enthusiasts:

Many of us have had a passion for seeing how Scotch or Irish whisk(e)y and real ales are made, and even dreamt about participating in or becoming a founder-owner of a distillery or brewery.  Well, a new full-scale distillery is now being planned — not in Scotland or Ireland but right here in Canada. Graeme Macaloney, an experienced fermentation engineer and a Scotsman, is launching the Victoria Caledonian Distillery and is conducting a series of “Show & Tell” presentations including whisky tastings in Ontario (see dates below), BC., and Alberta.

Sun., 9th Jun., Newmarket:- 7:00pm,  Newmarket Masonic Temple, 441 Millard Ave., Newmarket, ON, L3Y 2A4

Mon 10th Jun., Ottawa:- 5:30pm,  Media-X’s boardroom at 1825 Woodward Drive, Ottawa, ON, K2C 0P9

Tues., 11th Jun., Cornwall:- 6:45pm, Quinns Inn, 17329 Kings Road & Highway 138, St. Andrew’s West (near Cornwall), ON, K0C 2A0

Wed., 12th Jun., Kitchener:- 6:15pm, Rum Runner Pub, 1 King St. West, Kitchener, ON, N2G 1A1

Thurs., 13th Jun., Oakville:- 7:00pm, The Oakville Club, 56 Water Street, Oakville, ON, L6J 2Y3

June, July & August:- Various locations in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton & Calgary

 Founder-Owners receive a range of whisky and real ale benefits, including:

 + A five-day hands-on brewing and distilling academy;

+ Founders Reserve whisky (bottles or cask) or real ale keg(s);

+ Founder-Owner branded jacket and branded glassware;

+ Annual maturation party with meal, real ales & whisky, etc.

The new distillery plan has the full support of highly experienced whisky industry experts, including Mike Nicolson (Master Distiller who worked at 18 Scottish distilleries) and Dr. Jim Swan, who is an acknowledged global leader  in cask maturation. If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity to get in on the ground floor, Graeme will be presenting information and answering questions at the above Ontario locations as well as in Victoria, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary during June, July & August.

The information sessions will, of course, include tastings of two very appropriate whiskies. If you would like to attend and you are genuinely interested in this program, please RSVP by email to Graeme@MacaloneyDistillers.com with your preferred date and Canadian location.

Slàinte!

Ed Patrick

Founder & President

The Companions of the Quaich

Ed examines a bottle of Benromach Traditional....

P.S. Graeme, in his consummate professionalism, has asked me to include the following:

This communique is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy any securities in MacMhaol-onfhaidh (‘Macaloney’) Brewers & Distillers Ltd (MBD). This document is not an offering memorandum and should not be construed as such. Anyone who wishes to invest in MBD should refer to MBD’s Offering Memorandum and should carefully consider the risk warnings and disclosures contained therein before making an investment decision. You may request a copy of the Offering Memorandum by contacting MBD at Graeme@MacaloneyDistillers.com.

At the recent Beverage Tasting Institutes International review of Spirits Awards PVI’s Brands went 3 for 3 with Gold Medals – Exceptional.

The English Whisky Co. English Peated Single Malt Whisky $64.99.
Pale golden color. Aromas of smoked nuts, peat, and honeyed biscuit with a silky soft, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a very earthy white cigar ash, peppery spice and honey cream finish. A civilized balance of delicate malt and robust smokiness. Delicious, drink neat and at room temperature.
International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
RATING: 94 points (Exceptional)
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 46.0%
CATEGORY: English Whisky, Whisky
TASTING LOCATION: In Our Chicago Tasting Room
TASTING DATE: May-22-2013

Sullivans Cove Double Cask Single Malt Whisky $99.99.
Golden yellow color. Aromas of salty butter roasted nuts, nougat, suede, and golden raisin with a supple, fruity-yet-dry medium-to-full body and a sourdough pastry, cedar, chestnut honey, vanilla bark, and pink peppercorn accented finish. A nice range of nutty flavors make this a pleasant sipping whisky.
International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
RATING: 91 points (Exceptional)
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 40.0%
CATEGORY: Australian Whisky, Whisky
TASTING LOCATION: In Our Chicago Tasting Room
TASTING DATE: May-29-2013

Amrut Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky $79.99.
Old gold color. Aromas of honey toasted nuts, vanilla fudge, dried alfalfa, and buttered raisin bread with a rich, fruity medium-full body and a long, toffee, mocha cream, mossy earth, green tobacco, and peppery spice finish. Nice vibrancy and layers of flavor. Add a little water for more honeyed fruit and smoothness.
International Review of Spirits Award: Gold Medal
RATING: 91 points (Exceptional)
ALCOHOL BY VOLUME: 61.8%
CATEGORY: Indian Whisky, Whisky
TASTING LOCATION: In Our Chicago Tasting Room
TASTING DATE: May-22-2013

As a special treat, we are offering dads our personalised whisky for the same price as our 10 Year Old, making a bottle just £33.49 (usual price £38.49). However for members of the Family, we are offering an additional 10% discount making a bottle just £30.14. The offer ends June 16th, so don’t delay – the last order for delivery before Father’s Day is June 10th.

£30.14 – Buy Online Now >

MACKINLAY’S SHACKLETON

The Journey Edition Bottle + FREE Book

We’re delighted in presenting you this fantastic offer of the NEW Shackleton bottle with FREE Book which tells the story behind the bottling! Tasty Father’s Day idea!

The Sensory Experience
Colour: Light honey, straw gold with shimmering highlights.
Nose: Soft, elegant and refined. Delicate crushed apple, pear and fresh pineapple. Notes of oak shavings and smoke. Hints of vanilla, creamy caramel and nutmeg.
Taste: Plenty of impact on the palate; a tantalising array of flavours,harmonious and exhilarating.

The Presentation
Box: A unique, stand-out hexagonal “shipping case” with an open “see me” window on the front panel. The raffia-encasing of the product is reminiscent of the original straw-bound bottles discovered in the Antartic. A holographic badge issues authenticity.
Bottle: A painstaking process was followed to ensure all bubbles and imperfections in the original were replicated. In effect, the glass manufacturer turned off all the modern-day quality controls.
Label Set: All lettering was meticulously drawn by hand to ensure a perfect match to the original. Paperstocks were selected to perform as the original stocks of over a century ago.

AVAILABLE NOW – £99.99

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #51

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, was able to secure his bottle of the much coveted Ardbog, this year’s release for Ardbeg Day. This is a peaty Ileach that matured for 10 years in American White Oak and Manzanilla sherry casks. And to be honest…it’s a good one!

http://youtu.be/6ON0jysIoRc

Kilchoman Launch New Loch Gorm

ImpEx Beverages, Inc. is glad to let you know that Kilchoman have announced the launch of an entirely new range called Loch Gorm. Named after a famously peaty loch at the end of the Kilchoman drive, Loch Gorm will be the only fully ex-sherry cask matured release from Kilchoman.

As with the two other ranges in Kilchoman’s portfolio, Loch Gorm will be periodically re-released as a more mature version with each bottling differentiated by distillation and bottling years printed on the label.

This, the first release of Loch Gorm was matured in Oloroso sherry butts for over 5 years and finished in Oloroso sherry hogsheads for six weeks to give added depth of colour and character.

Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Managing Director “’previous sherry matured Kilchomans have been very popular with our customers and I’m sure this will be as equally well received. It shows wonderful balance between the peat smoke and spicy rich flavours typical of sherry cask maturation.”

Loch Gorm is bottled at 46% ABV and RRP is $ 89.99. This is a limited release of 10,000 bottles worldwide, only 200 cases are allocated for the US market.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: soft peaty aromas and a blend of soft fruits and spice
• Palate: an initial sweetness is followed by soft peat smoke, mixed fruits and spice
• Finish: a long clean finish with a depth of character and richness that belies its tender age

www.ralfy.com has an Independent moment with Whisky Review 366 – Clynelish 16yo (Signatory)

Glenmorangie’s Men of Tain set to share the secrets of Scotland’s favourite malt whisky 

— Glenmorangie’s free, family-friendly Open Weekend will offer 170 years of history, Scotland’s tallest whisky stills, special tours, barbecue and tastings on June 15 and 16 — 

Members of the public will be able to witness the magic of Scotland’s tallest stills in action when Glenmorangie’s distillery in Tain puts on a special Open Weekend on June 15 and 16.

The weekend-long programme of free tours, tastings and events will lift the lid on the production process behind Scotland’s favourite single malt.

Visitors will be able to meet and talk with the Men of Tain – the select group of craftsmen who are entrusted with the secrets of the Glenmorangie Distillery. Their dedication and skill has been handed down from generation to generation since the founding of the distillery in 1843.

They can also see the distillery’s 12 copper-necked stills in operation, the necks of which stand at over 16ft – the same height as a fully grown adult giraffe. This guarantees a smoother finish as only the lightest and purest vapours ascend to the top.

Paul Skipworth, President and Managing Director of The Glenmorangie Company, said: “We’ve been part of the Ross-shire landscape for 170 years when William Matheson first established the distillery. We are delighted to have this Open Weekend and to share some of the secrets that go in to making our famous whisky.

“Glenmorangie is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, and we’d encourage as many people as possible to experience the special ‘cathedral-like’ atmosphere of this beautiful still house, and the tranquil surroundings of the distillery for themselves.”
As a family-friendly weekend, complementary activities include a barbecue, crêperie, hot chocolate, falconry and performances by the Tain Pipe Band.

Doors open from 10am until 4.30pm on Saturday and Sunday and there are two types of free tours available.

Tour A lasts three hours and starts at 10.15am and 12.30pm. There are only two of this very select type of tour per day. Ten lucky people on each tour will, as well as touring the distillery, also visit the Hilton of Cadboll Stone, Glenmorangie House, Tarlogie Spring and enjoy a very unusual sonic tasting. Those interested must pre-book this tour and places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

Tour B will take place every half hour from 10am. Booking is advisable but not essential. Visitors will see the mash house, still house, warehousing, and enjoy a whisky tasting and be given a tasting glass to take away as a memento.

Annette Mackenzie, Visitor Centre Manager at the Glenmorangie Distillery, said: “The Glenmorangie success story is as much about people as it is about whisky. We want as many visitors to see first-hand the artistry and dedication of the Men of Tain and what goes in to producing the perfect dram time and again.

“We will also be offering visitors the chance to join in the selection and design of a special, limited edition Glenmorangie through our unique Cask Masters programme, which we launched earlier in the year.”

Members of the public interesting in attending the Open Days should telephone 01862 892477 or email tain-shop@glenmorangie.co.uk

The Glenmorangie Distillery Open Weekend is part of a wider initiative being run by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the owners of The Glenmorangie Company. During the course of June 15 to 16, 40 of LVMH’s brands across Europe including Krug, Bulgari and TAG Heuer, will also throw open their doors to the public in a programme called Journées Particulières www.journeesparticulieres.com

NOTES:

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation to create ‘unnecessarily well made whiskies.’

About Cask Masters:

To find out more about Cask Masters www.caskmasters.glenmorangie.com

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption. 

About LVMH:

LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton is represented in Wines and Spirits by a portfolio of brands that includes Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Krug, Ruinart, Mercier, Château d’Yquem, Hennessy, Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, Numanthia, Vodka Belvedere, 10 Cane, Chandon, Cloudy Bay, Terrazas de los Andes, Cheval des Andes, Green Point, Cape Mentelle, Newton.

The Fashion and Leather Goods division includes Louis Vuitton, Céline, Loewe, Kenzo, Givenchy, Thomas Pink, Fendi, Emilio Pucci, Donna Karan, Marc Jacobs, Berluti and StefanoBi.

LVMH is also prominent in the Perfumes and Cosmetics sector with Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, Parfums Givenchy, Parfums Kenzo, Perfumes Loewe as well as other cosmetic companies (BeneFit Cosmetics, Make Up For Ever, Acqua di Parma and Fresh).

LVMH is also active in selective retailing through DFS, Sephora, Le Bon Marché, la Samaritaine and Royal Van Lent.

LVMH’s Watches and Jewellery division comprises Bulgari, TAG Heuer, Chaumet, Dior Watches, Zenith, Fred, Hublot and De Beers Jewellery, a joint venture created with the world’s leading diamond group.

New Release: Ardbog

The 1st of June was the second Ardbeg, or Ardbog Day, as it is known this year.

Ardbog will be available from Milroy’s in the coming days and with demand expected to be high we thought we would do a mail out, so you don’t miss out!

£79.95 – LIMITED TO ONE BOTTLE PER CUSTOMER

Delivery is £9.95 within the UK and charged at cost to the rest of the World.

Please email lee.tomlinson@milroys.co.uk  or call 0207 437 2385.

Our mailing address is:
Milroy’s of Soho
3 Greek Street
London, England W1D 4NX
United Kingdom

Miss Whisky has been busy (as usual) and here’s a synopsis of her efforts this week;

Ardbog Day event & whisky review: LINK

Paul John interview & whisky review: LINK

Wemyss Malts review: LINK

Balvenie Masters of Crafts update: LINK