Park Avenue Liquor Shop is proud to announce the pre-arrival of Old Pulteney 40 Year Old.

Old Pulteney is about to unveil to the U.S. their oldest and most exclusive official expression of single malt to leave its warehouses since its establishment in 1826. The spirit of Pulteney (the northernmost distillery on Scottish mainland) is influenced by its environment like no other. The windswept and rugged Caithness Coast and the remote fishing port of Wick provide the background for one of the most intriguing whiskies in the world. This new, stunning Old Pulteney was shaped by the land and the sea for over four decades and is the ultimate expression of the Maritime Malt.

THE LOOK:
Old Pulteney 40 Year Old is an important chapter in the history of Pulteney Distillery. As such it calls for bespoke presentation; a real show of fierce pride, strength of the community and stunning craftsmanship.
The whisky is presented in unusual deep-blue bottles crafted by The Tudor Crystal Design company and its sister company Plowden and Thompson’s Undertaking. Hand blown from melting silica, soda ash and special additions each bottle is then finished with solid silver melted blown across the glass to form a wave pattern. This gives the familiar ‘Smuggler’s Kettle’ Old Pulteney bottle elegance and flair that pay respect to the liquid inside.

Each bottle of Old Pulteney 40 Year Old is topped with a stone closure whittled, polished, fine-pressure jetted, milled and polished again by the famous local Caithness Stone Industries. The bottles are finished with a Scottish hallmarked silver medallion stating the age of the whisky. The high-gloss lacquered wooden box that encases the bottle has the iconic Old Pulteney herring drifter silver-etched into it to complete the stunning presentation.

In addition every bottle of Old Pulteney 40 Year Old comes with a hand-signed book by whisky expert Charles MacLean.

THE WHISKY:
Old Pulteney 40 Year Old came from four casks. They include three Spanish ex-sherry hogsheads and one American oak ex-bourbon barrel. The casks yielded 493 bottles of whisky at a natural strength of 51.3% ABV. This unique single malt has been bottled at cask strength, has not been chill-filtered or colored. Despite the age the spirit shows remarkable freshness and intensity and boasts an unmistakable Pulteney character. Pulteney Distillery Manager, Malcolm Waring, explains:

“Old Pulteney begins its life as spirit already full of character. Then we mature it on site, here in Wick, we think its hugely important. With each passing year the whisky takes on a little bit of Caithness, the initial charisma is there but it develops more and more complexity. To see that so clearly in a whisky matured for over four decades is extraordinary; we are overwhelmed by the quality of this liquid and by how firmly it’s anchored here. The people, the process, the land and the sea are all in there.”

This item is highly allocated for the U.S. with less than five bottles expected in the NY market this month. If you are interested, please contact the store directly. Ask for Jonathan, Marlon or Eric. PH: 212-685-2442 email: info@parkaveliquor.com Our price: $2,500

Our first term of Whisky Schools is half-way through and running strong, with students leaving us with smiles as well as a much rounder knowledge of the good stuff. There are still a few to come at the intro price of £70 a ticket, which includes 2-course lunch at the hotel it is running in (Malmaison or Hotel Du Vin)…

DATES & VENUES

9TH FEBRUARY LIVERPOOL
9TH FEBRUARY LONDON – Sold Out
16TH FEBRUARY EDINBURGH – Sold Out
16TH FEBRUARY MANCHESTER – Sold Out
17TH FEBRUARY GLASGOW
23RD FEBRUARY BIRMINGHAM

Don’t worry those of you in cities where the events are sold out, more dates will be announced shortly…

#loveBowmore

Valentine’s Day is traditionally a time for flowers and chocolate. This year, however, we would like to change that. We would like to invite you to a very special pre-Valentine’s ‘whisky date’ with our own Master Blender, Rachel Barrie, and a selection of the great and the good from the world of whisky.

Our lucky winners will receive a very special Valentine’s whisky bouquet and an invite to a special Twitter tasting with Rachel. The bouquet will include four mystery Bowmore whiskies including a special work in progress Bowmore that has not been released.

On the night, Rachel will guide you through tasting each of these lovely drams as well as answer some of your questions.

For your chance to win one of two places up for grabs, simply enter your details on the Bowmore Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/bowmore.

We will notify winners by Monday 11th February.

For those who want to follow the tasting, it will take place on Thursday 13th February at 7pm. To join in, just use the hashtag #Bowmorelove. Hope to see lots of you there sharing the Bowmore love.

Diageo has announced plans to invest £1.5 million in expanding and enhancing the company’s global brand archive in Clackmannanshire.

The Diageo Archive at Menstrie is the largest collection of its kind in the world, consisting of more than half a million items. The collection includes documents, advertising material, bottles, books and memorabilia relating to global brands such as Johnnie Walker, Bell’s, Smirnoff, Gordon’s and Tanqueray.

The expansion project will include a new storage facility and a new reception and library area for hosting visitors to the archive. Each year hundreds of Diageo employees from around the world visit Menstrie to learn about the history and heritage of the brands for which they work. The archive is also a key source of inspiration for innovation and the development of new products and marketing campaigns.

Christine McCafferty, who has managed the Diageo Archive for the past 15 years – and who oversaw the relocation of the archive to Menstrie in 2001 – said the plans marked an exciting new phase for the flourishing facility.

She said: “The Diageo Archive is has been carefully and lovingly built over many years and is a living record of the tradition and heritage of brands which are famous around the globe.

“Diageo has the world’s leading collection of premium drinks brands and with new marketing campaigns, new bottles and new packaging being developed all the time our collection is continually expanding. I am absolutely delighted that the company is prepared to invest in developing and expanding our home here in Menstrie, securing the future of this global facility in central Scotland.”

Over 400 years of history

Although the Diageo Archive is 23 years old it holds more than 405 years of history and heritage on Diageo brands, companies, people and sites – including Diageo’s 28 malt distilleries in Scotland.

It contains material on more than 1500 brands, 200 Production Sites and 150 markets and includes more than 10,000 bottles and 12,000 adverts, all of which record the evolution of the brands.

The Archive is currently served by a team of five professional Archivists who are recognised experts not just in the care of materials, but the history and heritage of the company’s brands and they remain committed to expanding their collection of material from around d the world.

“Diageo’s ongoing commitment to the history and heritage of our brands is hugely encouraging and further demonstrates the integral role we have in terms of increasing brand knowledge and passion within the business, to inspiring innovation and design,” added Christine.

“As the demand for our brands grows worldwide and there is an increasing requirement to protect brand identities and trade-marks, the work we do here in Menstrie remains as relevant and essential as it did when we started in 1990.”

The Diageo Archive facility in Menstrie opened in June 2001 and although it is not open to the general public, a selection of the archive material is always on display at the company’s distillery visitor centres around Scotland. The archive also contributes regularly to public displays, including a recent exhibition at the Scottish Parliament to mark the centenary of the Scotch Whisky Association.

Diageo has submitted a planning application to Clackmannanshire Council for permission to extend and re-develop the archive, which is part of the company’s Technical Centre complex at Menstrie.

Balvenie Distillery Whisky Tasting – Thursday 7th March 2013

For our next whisky tasting evening we are really pleased to announce that we will be joined by the Balvenie UK brand Ambassador, Dr Andrew Forrester.

Balvenie is one of our favourite Speyside distilleries (and we’re not just saying that because our mate Phil works there…). The distillery is owned by William Grant and Sons and is a ‘family’ concern in the very best sense of the word. It still retains it’s own maltings and cooperage, and production of its fabulous rich, smooth and honeyed whisky has been overseen by David Stewart, who recently celebrated 50 years with the company. Excellent use of different cask types produce some delicious variations in the range and we’re sure you’ll find lots to enjoy in this tasting.

See below for all the details and if you have any queries just contact us.

Sláinte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

UPCOMING EVENT

Balvenie Whisky Tasting

Date Thursday 7th March 2013

Time 7pm for 7.30pm

Venue Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren SN6 7SD

Details The whiskies we will be tasting range from the Balvenie 12 year old Doublewood through to the 21 year old Portwood, and you’ll be able to hear from Andrew all about how this handcrafted whisky is made and some of the stories of the craftsmen involved in its production.

Tickets are £13.50 per person, and this also entitles you to a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting. Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and as these tastings usually sell out within hours it is best to book ASAP. To buy tickets just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com and place an order for the number you require.

Admission to the tasting is by ticket only, and the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared.

N.B. We have negotiated special rates at the hotel for anyone who wants to stay overnight after the tasting – click here for further details.

NEW Black Bull 40 Year Old 4th Release

Black Bull 40 Year Old, the flagship of the Black Bull range is a superior blend of the finest Single Malt and Single Grain whiskies available from Scotland’s premium Distilleries. The spirit in this, the fourth bottling of Black Bull 40 year old contains whiskies from the following distilleries: Glenlivet, Bunnahabhain, Tamdhu, Glen Grant, Invergordon & Port Dundas.

Black Bull 40 Year Old Scotch Whisky is part of a multi award winning stable of blended scotch whiskies

£222.00 inc VAT

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

Is it February already?! Where did January go?!

We are big fans of getting out there to see our favourite whiskies being made, whether it be in Ireland, Scotland or wherever. However, one place really encapsulates most of what makes whisky good. We are lucky enough to have been to Islay a few times but now we want to share our experiences with you. We have therefore decided to take a handful of customers with us on a ‘backstage’ Islay tour on the weekend of the 15th-18th June (okay it’s not quite just a weekend). The cost per person will be £300, which includes travel from Glasgow, self-catering accommodation and tours of all distilleries we visit. Interested? Email us at info@thewhiskylounge.com to get booking or for more info. Places will be limited to 10 people so you’ll need to be quick! If you’ve got 5 minutes to yourself, grab a tea or coffee (or a dram, time of day dependent) and click here to see the video of our last trip across for a flavour of what to expect…

Calling all Whisky enthusiasts, connoisseurs and believers that the best things in life come in small packages!

Having traveled directly from the high seas of Scotland, a message in a tiny bottle has landed ashore.

Thanks to Paul from The Whisky Shop SF, for the first time ever, the release of forty eight miniatures of Key to the Clans Single Malt Scotch Whisky has arrived in the US.

These spirited minis make a great gift for your loved ones, associates, or better yet – for yourself. They will allow you to sample and savor the finest that Scotland has to offer.

Each miniature features the tartan of a clan, representing the exciting voyage one embarks on when tracing their family tree back to its roots, allowing them to claim their heritage!

Enjoy Key to the Clans Single Malt Scotch Whisky Miniatures, brought to you by ImpEx Beverages Inc.

Cheers!

The ImpEx Beverages Team

www.impexbev.com

MASTER DISTILLER BARRY CROCKETT TO RETIRE AFTER 47 YEARS 

– Brian Nation to take over as Master Distiller – 

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard today announced that Barry Crockett, Master Distiller of Jameson Irish Whiskey, will retire this March, bidding a fond farewell to the Midleton Distillery in Cork after 47 years; 31 of which he spent as Master Distiller. The announcement comes, fittingly, in the week in which Crockett was honoured by Whisky Advocate with its Lifetime Achievement award*. Brian Nation, who has been mentored by Barry Crockett for the last ten years, will take over the role of Master Distiller. 

Born in the Distiller’s cottage that sits on the grounds of the Old Midleton Distillery, Barry Crockett has been immersed in the craft of whiskey distilling for almost 50 years.  At the age of seventeen, Barry began learning his craft as a young apprentice to his father and Midleton Master Distiller, Max Crockett, eventually succeeding him as Master Distiller in 1981. 

During his time as Master Distiller, Barry has seen the success of Irish whiskey, and in particular Jameson, grow on an unprecedented scale. In 1984, Barry developed the award-winning flagship blend from the Distillery, Midleton Very Rare, and in 2011 oversaw the launch of the Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton.  Launched to rejuvenate the popular style of whiskey to its former glory, the pinnacle of the range, Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy, marks the first time since John Jameson that an Irish Distillers product has been named after a Master Distiller. 

Commenting on his retirement, Barry said: “Midleton Distillery may correctly be described as important in the industrial history ofIreland; it is unique in the context of Irish Distilling. Its success is a direct consequence of an ongoing openness to innovation and development. I am fortunate to have been part of the ongoing progress from an early age. The lessons learnt from so many committed people were vital in providing the foundation essential to an appreciation of the necessity to adopt ongoing technical advances. Advance also made by a thoroughly professional work team has seen Midleton Distillery distil the most remarkable whiskey distillates in the world. As I now step down from the position of Master Distiller I am struck by what an incredible honour it has been to oversee the wonder that is the Midleton Distillery. This is especially the case as the Distillery is currently undergoing even more investment. I am particularly happy to see my successor Brian Nation take on the role of Master Distiller. I know that with his guidance the future of the Distillery will see the balance between the heritage of the Distillery and the ongoing need to constantly evolve well secured.” 

Peter Morehead, Irish Distillers Production Director, commented: “The Crockett family has dominated Irish distilling for more than 70 years, so Barry’s retirement truly marks the end of an era. We are really going to miss Barry – his passion for quality and his kind, gracious nature set him apart from the rest, as do his outstanding achievements. The success of Jameson, Midleton and the great whiskey brands it produces has not been a surprise to the people who know Barry and his high standards of excellence, so we are immensely grateful for everything he has done for Irish Distillers and of course the Irish Whiskey category. We wish him all the very best in his retirement.”

Brian joined the Midleton Distillery,Corkin December 1997 and is currently a Distiller and global brand ambassador for Jameson. He received the Worshipful Company of Distillers Award for achieving the highest IBD distilling exam results in the world in 2006, whilst also becoming the first Irish Distiller to receive this award. 

Commenting on how it feels to be the new Master Distiller, Brian Nation, said: “It’s an incredible privilege to be Barry Crockett’s successor. Barry has dedicated his life to Midleton and is a well-known figure in the global whiskey industry, so it has been a great honour to be mentored by him over the last ten years. Barry has been an inspiration to me and I am looking forward to continuing the traditions that have gone before me and to ensuring the whiskeys of Midleton continue to be enjoyed and recognised as the best Irish Whiskeys in the world.” 

Peter Morehead added: “I am particularly pleased to introduce Brian as our new Master Distiller. He has learnt his craft from Barry and played a major part in the design of the Midleton expansion. He brings the perfect blend of traditional craft and modern technology. Our future is in safe hands.” 

To mark Barry’s retirement, he will be honoured with an intimate dinner party on 3^rd September 2013 at ‘The Housewarming’ – a special event that will be held in Midleton to officially launch the new expansion amongst other things.  Many of the close friends Barry has made during his time at Irish Distillers are expected to attend, where he will be presented with a special gift from his peers.   

Notes

*Now in its 19^th year, Whisky Advocate’s Annual Whisky Awards honour the whiskies, distilleries and people which have made significant contributions to the whisky industry. Whisky Advocate isAmerica’s leading whisky magazine and the premier source for whisky information, education and entertainment for whisky enthusiasts Since its debut, more than 20 years ago, Whisky Advocate’s influence reaches an ever-increasing audience of enthusiasts, press and trade around the world. 

Photo Captions:

1: Barry Crockett, Master Distiller at the Midleton Distillery with his successor Brian Nation. Barry, who has worked at the Distillery for forty-seven years will be retiring from the Distillery in March. 

2: Barry Crockett, Master Distiller with his successor Brian Nation, outside the Distillers Cottage at the Midleton Distillery,Cork. Barry, who was born in the cottage, has worked at the Distillery for forty-seven years will be retiring from the Distillery in March. 

3: Barry Crockett, Master Distiller with his successor Brian Nation, outside the Distillers Cottage at the Midleton Distillery,Cork. Barry, who was born in the cottage, has worked at the Distillery for forty-seven years will be retiring from the Distillery in March. 

About Barry Crockett

• Joined Cork Distilleries company in 1965 at age 17
• Worked in old Midleton Distillery and Power Distillery prior to their closure
• Appointed Master Distiller in 1981
• Developed Midleton Very Rare 1984 

About Irish Distillers – http://www.irishdistillers.ie/

Irish Distillers Group was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company. In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the board of directors decided to close the existing distilleries in Corkand Dublin, and to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility.
 
A site alongside the existing distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork was chosen as the location for the new distillery, as there was no room for expansion in Dublin. Both the Old Jameson Distillery and the Old Midelton Distillery currently operate as visitor centres attracting over 330,000 visitors annually. Following an early unsolicited takeover offer and one of the most protracted battles in Irish corporate history made by GrandMet, Allied-Lyons and Guinness, Irish Distillers was taken over by Pernod Ricard in June 1988 with the support of the management and employees. 

anCnoc, Peter Arkle Limited Edition

This is number 2 in the Peter Arkle Limited Edition series. Also in 2012 in this series, a travel retail edition became available. Bottled at Alc/Vol 46%. This series is created in collaboration with the renowned Scottish illustrator Peter Arkle. … Continue reading →