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Whisky Ramblings Via Video #25
Mark Dermul, Belgian Whiskyblogger, tries a young rum finished Laddie (Bruichladdich 8 Year Old 2001 Rum Cask), bottled especially for the Belgian market. Not a big fan of finishes, he has to admit that this one gets it right!
We are delighted to announce the release of the first in a series of one-off, regional Scotch whisky blends under the Great King Street label: the “New York Blend”. Created for the 2012 New York Whisky Fest, the whisky is dedicated to Patrick J. Duffy, the man who legend has it was responsible for the first branded and bottled Scotch whisky to arrive in New York in 1894. The blend is based on an actual recipe from the 1890s.
John Glaser has created only 1,800 bottles of this unique, smoky, full-flavoured Blended Scotch whisky. The New York Blend uses lots of peaty single malts, plenty of sherry cask-aged single malts, and a much higher proportion of malt to grain whisky (80%/20%) than is typically used today. Just as the finest blending houses would have done in 1894.
Bottled at a higher strength of 46%, Great King Street – New York Blend will only be available in the US, primarily in the New York Metropolitan area, following its launch on Saturday 27th October. However, we are also offering a few bottles for sale on an exclusive basis from our UK-based web shop so if you would like to pick up a bottle, don’t delay!
www.ralfy.com tackles the confusion surrounding Blended Scotch and Blended Malt, both being blended Scotches, but only one is a blended Malt.
Whisky Review 315 – AD Rattray’s 19yo malt-blend Batch No: 1
Trio of tinned malts a tempting tipple
Speyside’s smallest distillery, Benromach, has launched a gift pack which will allow whisky lovers to sample three of its most popular expressions.
The gift pack, with contemporary tin plate packaging and Benromach’s sophisticated branding, contains three 20cl bottles of the distillery’s flagship single malt, Benromach 10 years Old, along with the Benromach Peat Smoke and the Benromach Organic, which was the first certified organic single malt Scotch whisky.
Michael Urquhart, joint managing director of Gordon & MacPhail, the family-run company that owns Benromach, commented: “Gift packs are the ideal present to introduce people to whisky or for whisky lovers to try different expressions.
“The three malts included in the gift pack showcase the finest qualities of Benromach and all are award winners. The 10 Years Old has an excellent mellow character, while the Organic has a delicious oak influence and soft fruit flavours. Peat Smoke is a seriously smoky experience, balanced with the elegance of Speyside.
“Benromach is Speyside’s smallest distillery but we produce a range of whiskies that each offer a unique tasting experience. This gift pack will give people who aren’t yet in on the secret of Benromach a chance to discover how special and varied our single malts are.”
The Benromach Distillery, nestled in Speyside, employs just two men who make Benromach by hand, using the finest Scottish barely and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. They fill new spirit into the highest quality casks before being left to mature at the distillery for many years.
The Benromach gift pack is on sale now, RRP £34.99. For more information about Benromach visit www.benromach.com
Notes
Benromach 10 Years Old
Tasting note
Benromach 10 Years Old is created from the finest Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. After being matured for at least ten years, it emerges golden in colour and displays rich fruit, sweet chocolate and delicate spicy aromas. With a rich sherry influence, the mouth-watering palate coats the senses with exotic fruit flavours, toasted malt and a delicate hint of smoke.
Awards
Benromach 10 Years Old was awarded gold at the 2011 and 2010 Great Taste Awards and in November 2011 it gained gold at TheFiftyBest.com awards in New York. For the full list of Benromach 10 Years Old’s awards, visit: http://www.benromach.com/benromach/benromach-10-years-old-strength-43-14-benromach.html
Benromach Peat Smoke
Tasting note
Full bodied, intense and challenging with a smoky character, yet balanced with the fruity elegance of Speyside.
Awards
The Peat Smoke won gold in the Scotch Whisky Masters 2012.
Benromach Organic
Tasting note
A fresh, vibrant whisky with strong oak influence. The Benromach Organic was the world’s first bottled single malt to be fully certified as organic when it was launched in 2006. The whole process, including the use of the raw ingredients, distillation, maturation and bottling, is certified to the rigorous standards set by the UK Soil Association.
The whisky is matured in virgin American oak casks from environmentally managed forests which has added a unique robustness and depth which complements the traditional Benromach spirit.
Awards
The Organic won silver at the Scotch Whisky Masters 2012.
Caol Ila 10yo 2009 (58%, SMWS, Refill Hogshead, 53.157, +/-2012)
Peat smoke rockets out of the glass. Actually the tasting note could end right here. Need one say more? However discipline must be maintained, also on the nose is nice cocoa, more of the peat smoke and some subtle hints of the cask. It’s very good, not massively complex but very good. With water the chocolate malt which has suddenly appeared changes to coal smoke and us deep and foreboding which of course for a peat lover is great news. The taste is big, citrusy, aggressive, slightly violent and well continues in the theme of being very good and very much in the classic style of the distillery needs some water added. Water allows he whisky to become significantly approachable and the coal smoke is very much in evidence. The finish is big and filled with cocoa, chocolate, malt and peat smoke although the peat smoke and chocolate are pretty well intertwined. The finish is very large and very long with mouth smacking malt; don’t over do the water!
Well balanced (even if the notes don’t reflect this) with lashings of coal smoke and good malt. Great vibrancy and enjoyable
$95 and 120 bottles for the US branch of the Society
Score 90
Part 4 of 4 featuring the excellent single cask single malts of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. Samples kindly provided by the SMWS of A.
Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/ for further information on their single cask bottlings.
Meet Our Ambassador in Poland
Hi everyone,
Following John in Ecuador, Valentina in Russia and Cruz Mario in Venezuela, I would like to introduce another member of our team of ambassadors. Mateusz Zabiegaj has been working with us in Poland for the past three years. His background is a little different from our other ambassadors; he’s an experienced mixologist. I asked him…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…
Kind regards,
Ludo
We are looking for a pro-active and focused General Manager to join our vibrant team here at WHISKI Rooms. Joining a young but already award winning venue – this is a high profile position. Dedicated to offering the highest levels of service to our customers and ensuring the venue runs smoothly to company standards. You will report to the directors of the business and have full accountability for all aspects of the business and all staff.
You
Experienced Restaurant manager essential
Friendly outgoing personality a must with the ability to inspire staff
Financially driven with strong business acumen
Excellent written and spoken English
Computer literate and Social Media savvy
Confident with staff and the ability to train and inspire a team
Bar experience with a knowledge and passion of whisky a bonus
Personal Licence Holder
Duties
Management and Training of all staff
Meeting and exceeding targets and working to budgets
Controlling the venue and all communications
Focusing on offering the highest levels of service to our customers
Driving the business forward
Managing all events and dealing with customers
Us
New concept venue with restaurant and bar operations
Open less than 18 months and already award winning
High profile venue specialising in whisky and fine Scottish food
Good rates of pay, share of tips and staff benefits.
If you want to take over the reins here at WHISKI Rooms, please email your CV with recent photo if possible and we look forward to hearing from you.
WHISKI ROOMS BAR & BISTRO
4 – 7 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LP
Tel: +44 (0)131 225 7224
Email: bar@whiskirooms.com
Web: www.whiskirooms.com
Wild New Whiskies at the Park Avenue Liquor Shop
WhiskyFest is upon us, so we thought we should update you on some new and interesting whiskies that have found their way into our store.
This is just a sample of what has hit our shelves, so feel free to ask us about any product you might be looking for.
Take a look below. We’re sure you’ll find something to your liking. And if you live in the Northeastern US we hope you stay safe as “Sandy” approaches.
Cheers!
Jonathan & Eric
Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442
parkaveliquor.com
Black Dirt Bourbon
Three year old Black Dirt Bourbon takes its name from the dark, fertile soil left by an ancient glacial lake that once covered Thousands of acres in upstate New York. Perfectly suited for growing crops such as corn, this Black Dirt has never been used for Bourbon production – until now. Hand-crafted in Warwick, NY. Our Price: $40
Brenne ~ French Single Malt Whisky
Brenne starts in new Limousin oak barrels before being finished in Cognac casks, giving Brenne a hint of perfumed fruit that sets it apart from other whiskies. Each bottle of Brenne comes from a single barrel selected at its peak. They don’t blend barrels. Using cool fermentation and small batch production, Brenne is twice distilled in copper alembic stills for a smoother finish. Brenne also uses 100% organic barley grown and harvested by their third generation distiller. Bottled at 40% abv (80 proof) Our Price: $56
Lost Spirits: Leviathan 1 Bourbon
Lost Spirits is a small distillery dedicated to making expressive whiskey – inspired by Islay. In making whiskey, they bottle at cask strength, release only single cask bottlings, and do not chill-filter. At 110 ppm, Leviathan I is by far the most heavily peated whiskey ever made outside Islay. The Late Harvest Cabernet casks used to mature Leviathan I came from a spectacular family winery located on the Silverado trail in Napa. The botrysed dessert wine was soaked into the walls of the French oak before they added the new make whiskey. The wine soaked wood intensifies the chocolate notes from the peat and sweetens the fruity/caramel opening of the distillate. The French oak adds just a touch of spice to the mix. Each release is bottled at cask strength so you can experience them as nature intended (usually between 54 – 57%). Our Price: $58
Hillrock: Solera-Aged Bourbon
(Estate Barrel #1)
Hillrock Estate Distillery is located in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley, two hours north of New York City, overlooking the distant Berkshire Mountains. Prime farmland, crystal clear water, and a favorable climate create a unique terroir which is profoundly expressed in Hillrock’s artisanal whiskey. Proud to be one of the few “field-to-glass” whiskey producers in the world, Hillrock is also the first U.S. distillery since before Prohibition to floor malt and hand craft whiskey on site from estate-grown grain. Led by Owner Jeffrey Baker and renowned Master Distiller Dave Pickerell, Hillrock’s commitment to quality embodies the rich history of craft distilling in the Hudson Valley. Tasting Notes for the world’s first Solera Aged Bourbon:
COLOR: Golden Amber
NOSE: Sweet caramel and vanilla, floral and fruity notes,
oak, spice (slight cinnamon notes)
TASTE: Sweet, yet slightly spicy. Full bodied. Warm with maple syrup, brown sugar, molasses, rock candy and toffee. Spicy notes include clove and cinnamon. Well balanced with roasted corn, toast and raisin. The sherry nose and taste are in perfect balance.
FINISH : Medium to long warm finish with sweet caramel and butterscotch. Characteristic Oloroso sherry flavors of walnut, fig and candied fruit balance the spicy rye undertones.
Our Price: $82
John E Fitzgerald “Larceny”
~ Very Special Small Batch ~
The story goes like this~ “John E. Fitzgerald’s weakness was fine Bourbon and he faced temptation every day. As a treasury agent with the only set of keys to the rickhouses, taking from barrels was easy. But, he didn’t just take from any barrels, he took from the best barrels. Some say he was a thief. Others claim he was a man of great taste. This is the legend of Larceny. Unlock the smoothness and decide for yourself.” Bottled by Old Fitzgerald – from Heaven Hill Larceny Bourbon continues the Old Fitzgerald tradition of using wheat in place of rye as the third or “small” grain in the whiskey’s grain recipe, or mashbill as it is commonly known. The use of winter wheat replaces the spicier, fruitier flavor notes that rye provides with a softer, rounder character that is the hallmark of Old Fitzgerald & other “wheated” Bourbons such as Maker’s Mark & the Van Winkle line. Our Price: $35/Liter bottle
Hochstadter’s “Slow and Low”
~ Rock & Rye ~
Rock and Rye is almost as old as the country it was born in and its history is just as vast and curious. Its humble beginnings can be traced back to the saloons of the burgeoning nation, where stern-faced bar-keeps would pour a shot of rye and let the customers add their own rock candy, thereby creating a drink similar to the granddaddy of all cocktails: the Old Fashioned. As a pharmaceutical drink, it was used to snuff coughs, colds, sore throats, bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia and many other ailments. Later, as men reacquired a taste for it and began drinking it for pleasure again, it became an American standard, prepared and bottled by distillers and bootleggers alike as it migrated back from the pharmacy to the bar.
Slow and Low was inspired by the original Hochstadter’s Rock and Rye recipe and a few other 19th century recipes we happened to unearth. It’s made strong; using the best aged whiskey and matured slowly. Our exclusive 6 Year-Old Straight Rye Whiskey is then macerated to perfection with three citrus peels: lemon, grapefruit and orange, pure cane rock candy, honey and a hint of horehound. (From the Hochstadter’s website.) Our Price: $31
Not responsible for typographical errors. Prices are subject to change. Due to ever-changing inventory, we cannot guarantee bottle availability. Please contact the store with any questions regarding shipping.
SILVER LINING FOR SPEYBURN AS NEW 25 YEAR OLD UNVEILED
Speyburn Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has today (24th October) unveiled a luxurious new version of its 25 year old expression, featuring a premium silver design and a personal signature from the distillery manager to reflect the quality of this exceptional award-winning scotch.
Every aspect of the packaging has been redeveloped. The elongated proprietary bottle features an etched version of the Speyburn logo – a leaping Salmon, symbolic of the water at the heart of the whisky which is drawn from the Granty Burn, a tributary of the River Spey, famous for its purity and world-class salmon fishing.
A new metallic silver label gives enhances premium cues and shelf presence, with each bottle presented in a striking silver-toned wooden box – complete with two engraved tasting cups and the boxes are hand-signed by Distillery Manager Bobby Anderson.
The whisky is matured for a quarter of a century in American white oak Fino sherry and bourbon casks and the end result is a malt of rare depth, complexity and balance.
Light Sauternes in colour, Speyburn 25 Year Old delivers a vibrant aroma that is rich with lime honey and lemon peel notes, accentuated by fragrant tropical fruit. The taste is rounded and smooth, sweet to begin with then opening up with toffee, creamy vanilla and pink grapefruit flavours that drift gently towards a long and warming finish. It is un-chill filtered and bottled at natural colour at 46% ABV.
Pamela Stewart, Brand Manager for Speyburn is delighted to be revealing the new 25 Year Old to the market after many months of development. She commented: ‘We have always known that our 25 Year Old whisky was very special and that it needed an equally special presentation to reflect that quality and distinctive character. I am extremely pleased with the finished result of our redesign which uses our classic Speyburn motifs but in a fresh, modern and luxurious way. This will be a whisky that catches the eye as well as the taste buds of those who love fine whisky all over the world.’
Founded in 1897 and often described as the most photographed distillery in Scotland, Speyburn sits nestled in a glen on the northern edge of the town of Rothes. It remains much the same as it was 100 years ago with many of its original features still used in the whisky making process today.
The new Speyburn 25 Year Old joins the 10 Year Old and Bradan Orach expressions in the Speyburn portfolio. It will be available from November 2012, RRP £195.00
Notes
International Beverage Holdings
International Beverage Holdings Limited is one of the industry’s most dynamic global drinks businesses. Established in 2006 as the international arm of ThaiBev, the company specialises in developing distinctive, premium local brands for global growth, with a portfolio that is led by a range of high quality Scotch whiskies and includes some of the fastest growing and most prestigious beers, spirits and whiskies on the market today. These high quality brands are enjoyed by consumers in over 85 global markets and include:
• Chang, Thailand’s iconic global beer brand
• Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
• Blended Scotch Whiskies: Hankey Bannister, Catto’s, MacArthur’s
• Caorunn, a super premium small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals
• Thai spirits: Phraya, Mekhong
International Beverage’s international operation is headquartered in Hong Kong, with two major bases in China and Scotland and a growing number of regional hubs around the world. The business is focused on the delivery of winning investment, sales and marketing strategies, International Beverage is committed to producing brands of character, representing the care and craftsmanship of the people that make them – from the brewers of Chang Beer in Thailand, to the distillers of the fine single malt Scotch whisky Old Pulteney in Scotland. Crucially, the global development of every brand continues to be rooted in its home territory, supporting the company’s mission to build authentic brands of outstanding character.
International Beverage is investing in ambitious growth across its global operation, employing over 850 highly skilled people across production, sales, marketing and finance, together forming an effective and expert international team. In 2011 the International Beverage portfolio outperformed the market with outstanding sales across all categories.
Speyburn (Portfolio: 10YO, Bradan Orach)
Often described as the most photographed distillery in Scotland, Speyburn Distillery sits nestled in a glen on the northern edge of the town of Rothes. The resulting whisky is perfectly-balanced single malt, created using fresh spring water from Speyside which gives our whisky its distinctive character and unique flavour. Gaelic for ‘Golden Salmon’, Bradan Orach is classic, easy drinking Speyside malt, matured exclusively in ex-bourbon casks. Speyburn’s focus market is the USA.
Old Pulteney (Portfolio: 12YO, 17YO, 21YO)
Old Pulteney – the Maritime Malt – is the company’s flagship whisky brand and holds the coveted title of ‘World Whisky of the Year’ for 2012 in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible – one of the industry’s highest accolades. The Pulteney Distillery by Wick’s historic harbour is the most northerly on mainland Scotland, and since 1826 it has crafted a Single Malt Scotch Whisky that is the very essence of its remarkable location. Matured in hand-selected oak casks, Old Pulteney achieved top ten status in the UK single malt market in 2012 and is renowned for its long standing support of sailing and maritime adventure across the globe. Key markets are the UK, USA, France and Travel Retail.
Balblair (Portfolio: 1965, 1975, 1978, 1989, 1995, 2001)
Balblair is the company’s premium malt brand: a Highland Single Malt whisky that has been carefully crafted in Dornoch since 1790 at one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries. Balblair whiskies are uniquely Vintage, named for the year they were made, not with an age statement. Every year, Balblair Distillery Manager John MacDonald, tastes, judges and selects straight from the cask, bottling at exactly the right moment, when the balance between the age and the character of the whisky is just right.
Mortlach 21yo 1989 (57.8%, SMWS, First–fill Sherry Butt, 76.84, +/-2012)
On the nose there is some ‘sparkle’ or fizziness followed by a flash of ‘industrial’ or solvent quickly surpassed by crème brûlée and an intriguing slightly sour moment (think sour candies) but not unpleasantness like sour milk. Or a fizzy sour martini or such…in any case enough with the sour notes. There is scant sight of the sherry until a few minutes in when it makes a welcome appearance. Very good so far. The taste is very good and the sherry does show up nicely and everything pops into place with some good meatiness and the sherry working in sync to deliver a first rate taste experience. Lovely, lovely, lovely. All hands on deck this is really very good. The finish is more of the sherry and more of the meatiness with a little bit of the fizziness and then some leather and tobacco. The finish is not overly long but this can be resovled by simply having another sip.
Really very good, find one if you can.
$145 and 239 bottles for the US branch of the Society.
Score 90 points
Part 3 of 4 featuring the excellent single cask single malts of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. Samples kindly provided by the SMWS of A.
Please visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America at http://www.smwsa.com/ for further information on their single cask bottlings.
