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Arran- The Devil’s Punchbowl 52.3%
Limited release of 6,660 bottles
Cask strength vatting of 24 casks including ex-bourbon, sherry and peated malt.
Named after a stunning landmark on the Isle of Arran.
Dare to meet the devil?
Ralfy publishes Whisky Review #283 Lochside 1981 30yo Malt (BB&R)
MORRISON BOWMORE DISTILLERS CELEBRATES AWARD-WINNING YEAR
Further underpinning its vision of becoming the Single Malt specialist
June 2012: Morrison Bowmore Distillers, the leading producer of Single Malt Scotch Whisky, has further exemplified its company vision as the Single Malt Specialist, by winning a series of prestigious industry awards for its remarkable spirits this year.
The Glasgow-based company is the producer of four major brands of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies – Auchentoshan, Bowmore, Glen Garioch and McClelland’s – and possesses over 200 years of whisky making experience combined. This year, these exceptional whiskies have won the following awards:
World Whiskies Awards:
San Francisco World Spirits:
The Spirits Business Scotch Whisky Masters:
Since leaving the blended scotch market in 2006, Morrison Bowmore Distillers has focused solely on the development of its world class Single Malt brands. As a close-knit company of only 200 individuals, the company is passionate about all aspects of Single Malt production, from investing in the best quality wood, to quality control, to its globally sought-after limited editions portfolio. The strategy has seen the firm invest £5.4m in an ambitious project to upgrade and expand its Glasgow based bottling, blending and office facilities.
The idea of maintenance of traditional values and innovation in the marketplace is also directly behind the creation of its new corporate logo, which sees them rebrand as MBD to clarify their desire to be seen as The Single Malt Specialist. The copper still signifies its adherence to time-honoured traditions yet the overall logo retains a contemporary look and feel.
As further evidence of the company’s confidence in the Single Malt market, they have repackaged and extended the Bowmore and McClellands ranges as well as launching a new range of Auchentoshan, Scotland’s only triple distilled Single Malt, exclusively for the global travel retail market. All done in the first half of 2012.
Mike Keiller, CEO of Morrison Bowmore Distillers, comments: “We’re delighted to have received these awards and proud that the fruits of our labour have been internationally recognised. We’re a small company, with a dedicated team who give our all to realise our vision of being the Single Malt specialist. As anyone in the industry will understand, Single Malt production requires care and patience, and the investment we’re putting in is reaping its rewards.”
For further information on Morrison Bowmore Distillers please visit www.morrisonbowmore.co.uk and www.suntory.com
The Relaxed Whisky Weekend 7 – 9 September 2012
Fellow whisky-enthusiasts,
Can you believe it’s just over 10 weeks until Maltstock? It’s about time for an update. We have some great new additions to this years program.
Sam Simmons returns
We don’t known how but somehow he found time for a relaxing weekend in his very busy agenda. He will host a special Balvenie tasting at Maltstock. We don’t know what the line-up will be, but we know it will be entertaining.
Barrel Race
As always we like to do something new, something different at Maltstock (remmeber the barrel-pinata from last year?). This year we’ll have a Barrel Race! Everyone can compete. And there will be a fantastic prize for the fastest barrel-boy or girl. So you better start practicing! Roll out your barrel. If you don’t have a barrel, get out your bin, your milk-can, your water-butt or your mother-in-law and start rolling!
Special Glenfiddich with Tony
We’re very proud to welcome back one of the most enthusiastic whisky ambassadors we’ve ever seen: the one, the only, the Tony! He always gets a thumbs up. This time he will host a special virtual distillery tour of Glenfiddich. A distillery some of the whisky enthusiasts tend to oversee sometimes. But it really is one that’s worth a visit. At this masterclass you will virtually visit the distillery and feel like you’ve actually been there. And there will be some very special Glenfiddich along the tour as well. Highly recommended!
Club Bottle Battle
You’ve heard it before, but just a small reminder: we will be selecting the best club bottling at Maltstock. So if your whiskyclub has done one or more own bottlings bring over a bottle and enter it into the Club Bottle Battle. It’s also possible to send over a bottle to enter this unique battle.
Masterclasses
When can you book your masterclasses? We will inform you about that in one of our next newsletters. We’re currently waiting for the last ones to confirm. As soon as we have the full program we will send out a newsletter with the booking inforamtion.
Tickets
If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, make sure you do so as soon as possible. We do currently still have a few tickets available. Remember last year we sold out, and it looks we’re going that way again this year! Click here to go straight to the Maltstock shop and get your tickets.
See you in September, see you at Maltstock!
Arthur, Bob, Eline, Rogier & Teun
www.maltstock.com
www.ralfy.com takes a Vintage perspective of a dead-Distillery with Whisky Review 283 – Hillside 1981 30yo Malt (BB&R)
The Devil’s Punch Bowl Chapter No.01
“I have selected the casks for the Devil’s Punch Bowl with a view to creating a special release of The Arran Malt where the sum is even greater than the wonderful parts. The Sherry Butts act like the rhythm section of a band; setting the tone and driving the character of the malt. Deep in colour and rich on the palate these casks are the heartbeat of this whisky. The 1996 Bourbon Barrels add a wonderful honeyed sweetness to proceedings whilst the Sherry Hogsheads imbue a perfect harmony of aroma and flavour. As a unique twist I have added some of our 2006 Peated Arran, in combination with regular un-peated Arran for the very first time, giving the finish a subtle smoky edge. They say the Devil has all the best tunes but here he has the perfect whisky too”.
– James MaTaggart (Master Distiller)
Devil’s Punch Bowl
The Devil’s Punch Bowl is a limited edition expression of The Arran Single Malt inspired by the glacial hollow Coire na Ciche whose sinister presence dominates the north-east coast of Arran. Our Master Distiller, James ‘Lucifer’ MacTaggart, has been to hell and back to select only the finest casks for this demonic masterpiece. Each cask has been chosen to contribute a specific characteristic and through the dark art of blending these whiskies have conspired to create an elixir of exceptional complexity and finesse.
Bottled at natural strength and without chill-filtration, The Devil’s Punch Bowl is a testimony to the consistent superior quality of The Arran Malt across each year of production. For your elucidation the numbers of every cask, hand-picked for this bottling, have been listed on the inside of this box. Dare to meet the devil and savour the astonishing array of aromas and flavours on display.
• Multi-Vintage release of The Arran Malt
• Named after a stunning landmark on the Isle of Arran
• Limited Edition of 6,660 Bottles Worldwide
• Bottled at Natural Cask Strength 52.3%
• Unique vatting of 24 Arran casks – Full details (Cask Number, Year of Distillation & Cask Type) printed on the inside lid of the gift box
• Based around stunning 1996 Sherry Butts
• Includes 2006 Peated Arran Barrels
• First-ever combination of peated & un-peated Arran
• Non Chill Filtered & No artificial colouring
Ben Nevis 15yo 1996/2011 (55.4%, C of Q, C#911, 231 Bts., HHD)
A private bottling of a cask with a history of being embroiled in a massive fraud in the UK, the owners had thought they had lost it in the ensuing legal wrangling. However all was well in the end; the cask was quietly maturing in the Ben Nevis warehouses along, their ownership of the cask never in question. Now it’s been safely bottled for the Companions of the Quaich to enjoy. So with the legalities safely behind it on the undiluted nose there is some good creaminess with some small showing of malt but there is a very good showing of vanilla creams with a hint of mocha. Delicious! With water the creaminess evolves and reveals some very pleasant malt, some good notes from the oak (spiciness & unlit cured tobacco) and some sweet citrus (slightly over ripe orange perhaps). The undiluted taste is solid and very active, some good cask influence along with the malt and a little of the sweetness in the back ground but all in all quite excellent and very drinkable. Luscious. Hints of root beer in there some where. With water a some what tamed dram and perhaps a little less fun but still all the solid bullet points as previously described are present. The finish is bang on with the nose and the taste with good sweet malt and some tobacco, some light fruit and some dried liquorice root.
Ben Nevis at its best but a departure from the official bottlings.
$85
Score 90 points
Park Avenue Liquor Shop, the iconic spirits retailer in NYC, has received two exciting new exclusive whiskies in time for the summer and we wanted you to be the first to know!
WILLETT 9 YEAR OLD BOURBON
Aged in American White Oak barrel #2504 and limited to 164 bottles, this bourbon is extremely smooth at 113.2 proof. The Willet family brought their distilling knowledge with them from England to the American colonies in the early 1600’s and became “The Willet Distilling Company” in 1935. Today, it is the home of “Kentucky Bourbon Distillers, Ltd.” and is still headed by a member of the same family as its originators.
“It was a no-brainer to bring in this Willet 9 Year Old as a Park Avenue Liquor Shop exclusive,” says Jonathan Goldstein, senior vice president of Park Avenue Liquor Shop. “They have been the force behind many great bourbon brands.”
Park Avenue Liquor Shop price: $65.00
MILTONDUFF 15 YEAR OLD SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY BOTTLED BY GORDON AND MACPHAIL (SPEYSIDE)
Aged in first fill Bourbon barrel #9461 and limited to 198 bottles, this non-chill filtered whisky was distilled on June 24, 1996 and bottled in August 2011. The result is golden amber in color with a nose that is sweet with a honey edge and includes aromas of tropical fruit, fresh pineapple, and floral notes. Flavors of mixed spice with a defined sweetness and hints of citrus conclude with a long finish.
“We have a few ‘go-to’ providers for unusual distilleries,” says Jonathan Goldstein. “So, when I reviewed a list of casks available through Gordon and Macphail and saw a Miltonduff, I knew that we had to take a look.”
Park Avenue Liquor Shop price: $97.00
These are two very unique bottlings from this iconic spirits retailer. Please contact me if you’re working on a story where you would include Savona Communications client Park Avenue Liquor Shop – whether in the story or as the retail source or would like to speak with Jonathan Goldstein to find out more about the Willet 9 Year Old Bourbon or Miltonduff 15 Year Old. And an added benefit of shopping Park Avenue – they have the largest selection of bourbons, ryes and whiskies at retail in the entire USA. Free shipping is offered within Manhattan and if you don’t live in NYC, don’t worry – just give Park Avenue a call and delivery arrangements can be made.
ABOUT PARK AVENUE LIQUOR SHOP
Considered by many to be one of the most respected spirits and wine retailer in the United States, Park Avenue Liquor Shop opened its doors in 1934 on Park Avenue in New York City, not long after Prohibition was repealed in December 1933. In 1955, Herman J. Goldstein took over as owner and it has been with the Goldstein family ever since. In 1975, the family relocated the store to its current address at 292 Madison Avenue and today, the second and third generations of Goldsteins are at the helm – father Michael is president and sons Jonathan (whisky expert and member of The Keeper of the Quaich) and Eric run the operations, along with manager/part owner Scott Abramson who has been with the company since 1988. Park Avenue Liquor Shop is also one of the world’s premier wine shops, carrying a vast and enviable inventory of Bordeaux and Burgundies, many of which are very rare and hard to find.
292 Madison Avenue, between 40th & 41st Streets, New York, NY 10017
(212)685-2442
FACEBOOK: Park Avenue Liquor Shop
TWITTER: @ParkAveLiquor
Store Hours:
Mon thru Fri: 8am – 7pm
Saturday: Closed between Memorial Day and Labor Day
Sunday: Closed
Loch Fyne Whiskies reports ‘Expressions to be replaced soon…’
Word form the bottling halls is that OB Inchmurrin 12yo and OB Glen Scotia 12yo are soon to be replaced by new expressions in a new livery. We still have stock available for the regular price if you want to include a discontinued version.
You may read the remainder of the article here
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk
