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Whisky Ramblings Via Video #13
For the 13th Whisky Rambling on video, Belgian whisky blogger Mark Dermul tries the highly anticipated and already sold out Ardbeg Day. No Islay-limpics for Mark, just great Scotch. Enjoy!
New York, June 2012 – In between the rolling Mannoch Hills, the Rothes river, and barrels upon barrels of vintage whisky, four ordinary Americans made a little bit of dram history this month by sniffing, slurping, swirling, blending, extracting, and finally laying to rest The Glenrothes 2012 vintage. Jason Miller and Heather Wuelpern from Arizona, Bill Kiel from Wisconsin, and David Bocchino from Maryland, ousted 10,000 other Americans with their winning interpretations of a vintage moment. The winning quartet was chosen as part of The Glenrothes’ second annual Vintage Maker contest. What did they have to do? They were simply asked to share their thoughts or anecdotes on what makes for a vintage moment.
For the four lucky Americans, first on the list of things to do as part of their pilgrimage to Speyside was making the 2012 The Glenrothes vintage. The final cask was only filled with whisky from 2012, as the Glenrothes vintage system implies. A balance of first-fill American and Spanish (Sherry-prepared) wood was used, as well as refill casks from The Glenrothes’ ‘gene pool’. Bill Kiel, one of the Vintage Makers, commented, “the group decided that the 2012 vintage should have a ‘conversational’ style about it. However, until the casks are deemed mature, we cannot be totally certain of the flavor profile or the quantity that will be selected. What we can be sure of is that the maturity will be there, no matter what the age. Each of the 2012 Vintage Maker casks will develop in a slightly different way, but within the forecast parameters”.
With the distilling completed, the makers put their signatures on what is only the second ever cask to be signed at the distillery. Heather Wuelpern remarked “I’d pay my own way back from Arizona to revisit that cask! In the meantime, we all came home with a full bottle of Single Cask 2012 vintage Glenrothes, which we filled and labeled ourselves. A valuable treasure!”
It wasn’t all work and no play. When not tasting their way through the vintage back catalogue, the budding whisky makers went fly-fishing in the rivers flowing out of the Cairngorm mountains, toured the historic Ballindalloch Castle, and sampled local Scottish foods, including Achiltubuie smoked kippers, dill cured salmon, Stornoway’s black and white puddings, steak pies and brie-ish Muckle Wummel cheese from the Isle of Mull.
The Glenrothes Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the preeminent vintage distilled single malt whisky. At The Glenrothes, whisky making is about the perfect combination of time, place, people and occasion, or when everything comes together to create a vintage moment that will stay in the memory forever. The Glenrothes only releases vintages when they are deemed to be at the optimal level of maturity – not in response to a pre-determined 12 or 15 year-old age statement. “It is far more important what happens to the whisky in the cask than the length of time spent in it”, notes Ronnie Cox, Brand Heritage Director for The Glenrothes.
And what were the quartert’s winning vintage moments? Scroll down to see the winning entries in full.
Jason’s Vintage Moment
Jason went on a trip to Scotland for his 30th birthday in 2010, where he worked his way through a session of drams in a small back-street Glasgow bar. The moment he left the bar was the beginning of a love affair with whisky that he hasn’t been able to shake since.
Heather’s Vintage Moment
Heather had been taking care of a terminally ill man in 2008. After the patient passed away, a stunning looking dragonfly landed in Heather’s courtyard. She saw it as a sign that the patient’s spirit and love of whisky would live on.
Bill’s Vintage Moment
Bill took a road-trip with four life-long friends from the frozen tundra of Wisconsin to South Padre Island, Texas in 1987. The memories created on their trip have shaped them into a life-long brotherhood, which now – 25 years later – they still reminisce about while enjoying wee nips of The Glenrothes.
David’s Vintage Moment
David and his brother had both been deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Desert Storm in 1990. Just before Christmas, his brother surprised him with a visit to his base and hand-delivered mail, goodies from home and a bottle of The Glenrothes – the best Christmas present ever.
Notes
1. The Glenrothes Select Reserve, the House Style, was voted Best in Class at the World Whiskies Awards 2008 and won two Double Golds at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2007
2. The Glenrothes 1972 was awarded a Trophy at the 2005 International Spirits Challenge
3. The Glenrothes 1978 was voted Best Speyside Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2008
4. The Glenrothes 1975 won a Double Gold award at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2008
5. The Glenrothes 1991 won a Gold Medal at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010
6. The Glenrothes 1994 won a Gold Medal at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010
7. The Glenrothes Alba Reserve won a Double Gold at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010
8. “I have always felt that Glenrothes deserved to be more widely appreciated. Beautifully rounded…sophisticated after-dinner malt.” Michael Jackson’s Malt Whisky Companion
9. Jim Murray, in his Whisky Bible, refers to The Glenrothes Select Reserve; “One of the softest deliveries on Speyside, the silky barley and citrus caress the taste buds with rare tenderness” and scores it 24 out of 25
About The Glenrothes
The Glenrothes is an award-winning Speyside Single Malt Whisky of exceptional quality, from the town of Rothes in Speyside – Scotland’s whisky distilling heartland. Established in 1879, the distillery was known only to Master Blenders until the early 1990s, and revered as, a Class-A quality enhancer for their premium blends. Today, only 2% of annual production, becomes The Glenrothes single malt scotch whisky. Each vintage is, by definition, rare, and finite. Currently available expressions in the U.S. include: The Glenrothes Select, Reserve – The House Style, Alba Reserve, Vintages 1998, 1994, 1985, 1975 and the limited edition John Ramsay.
Join the conversation at www.Facebook.com/TheGlenrothes or www.Twitter.com/TheGlenrothes
About Anchor Distilling Company
Anchor Distilling Company aims to provide the bridge between discerning buyers and world’s finest spirits. A privately owned distiller and importer, Anchor boasts an artisanal portfolio with over 300 specialty products from nearly 20 countries. All products are from multigenerational family-owned companies, and are sought by connoisseurs for their superior handcrafted artisanal qualities. From a distilling perspective, Anchor Distilling is dedicated to creating very small batches of traditionally distilled spirits. http://www.anchordistilling.com/
Invergordon 18yo (65.6%, Scotch Malt Whisky Society, G5.4, 247 bts., +/-2011)
“Sweet Treats” and a bottling for the UK hence the £ in the price! Aged in new toasted oak hogshead, distilled May 20th, 1993. Scottish grain Whisky. On the nose it is some what ‘American’ and also at the same time very, very Canadian; bourbon notes, high sweetness with a rich syrupiness in the back ground. Hints of subtle grains and moments of strong grains, also coffee grounds all taken together and it’s a heady mixture and it’s really quite excellent. The taste is sweetness, the coffee and some really sensational rich notes with fruit and bourbon. With water it becomes very ‘dusty’ and the syrupiness increases but don’t drown it; too much only lessens the impact and this is best taken with as little water as possible. Having said that it holds together very well. The finish is intense, powerful and quite frankly also very good. It’s also long and filled with sherbet and cream soda.
Not an off note to be found and very well balanced.
£58
Score 90 points
Many thanks to Rich L. for the sample…
A shoveful of Islay Single Malt Scotch Whiskies including malts distilled at Ardbeg, Caol Ila, Bowmore and Port Ellen.
Big Peat carries a big peaty (often called “phenolic”), beachy, oceanic, slightly ashy selection of Malts from the island of Islay. Ally these lusty and robust Malts selected for Big Peat with the fact that no chill filtration takes place – a more old fashioned traditional approach – and you will detect a massive amplification of the anticipated sea-fairing qualities on the nose, palate and finish. These are particularly appreciated when consumed leisurely in the same style these Malts have waited for you in the cold, dark and windswept warehouses of Islay.
Glen Garioch Tasting at TWE Vinopolis
We had a great tasting of the full delights of Glen Garioch at TWE Vinopolis the other week. Iain McCallum, Morrison Bowmore’s Malt Master, regaled us with tales of traumatic hangover breakfasts, an unfortunate incident with a boiler, and how he … Continue reading >>
June 2012, Edinburgh: Olly Smith, one of the UK’s most popular and charismatic TV drinks experts, teamed up with Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Whisky at the Ideal Home Show Scotland 2012 in Glasgow earlier this month, to host a number of special tasting sessions across Glengoyne’s award-winning core range.
As Celebrity Drinks Ambassador for the Ideal Home Show, Olly joined the Glengoyne team in the Celebrity Chef Theatre to offer whisky aficionados, as well as complete novices, an entertaining Masterclass on the Glengoyne range and to learn something new about Scotland’s national spirit.
Olly also made a special visit to the Glengoyne Distillery to experience the home of the leading malt whisky for himself, meeting Distillery Manager Robbie Hughes and to get a taste for Glengoyne at its source. Glengoyne is one of Scotland’s most accessible distilleries, located just 30 minutes north of Glasgow in a beautiful wooded glen overlooking the breath-taking West Highland Way.
The mouth-watering journey started with the delicate sweet nose of fresh apples from the Glengoyne 10 Years Old, before the enjoying the more bourbon influences of Glengoyne 12 Years Old. A Single Malt which can’t help improving with age, the nutty, spicy flavours of the Glengoyne 17 Years Old were the perfect predecessor to the riot of toffee, spice and sherry that the Glengoyne 21 Years Old is famous for.
Distilled in the heart of The Trossachs for nearly 200 years, Glengoyne Highland Single Malt is one of the leading malt whiskies in the world. Using methods passed down for generations, Glengoyne is made with knowledge, passion and craftsmanship.
Commenting on his partnership with Glengoyne, Olly said: “The Glengoyne range has a vibrant fruity character across the board with delightful purity in every sip, whether it’s light and refreshing or deep and rich. The casks impart complexity and depth as the whiskies gently develop with age.
“I loved visiting the intimate Glengoyne Distillery and it was a great opportunity to share these brilliant drinks with visitors at The Ideal Home Show Scotland too.”
Olly hosts a variety of live events around the UK including the BBC Good Food Show, Tapas Fantasticas, and previously Masterchef Live, Love Cooking, Taste of London and the F-Word Live for Channel 4. Olly is also a Wine Editor for The Mail on Sunday’s Live Magazine, writes weekly for Waitrose Weekend, monthly for Waitrose Kitchen, as well as features for numerous other publications.
For more information on Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Whisky visit www.glengoyne.com
Notes
Photocaption:
1. Olly Smith at the Glengoyne Distillery Shop
2. (L-R) Glengoyne Distillery Manager, Robbie Hughes; Business Development Manager, Ian MacLeod Distillers & Olly Smith at Glengoyne Distillery
3. Olly Smith at the Glengoyne Distillery
Glengoyne
The Glengoyne portfolio consists of the 10 Years Old, 12 Years Old Cask Strength, 12 Years Old at 43%, 17 Years Old, 21 Years Old as well as special limited edition bottlings released every year.
Glengoyne is available to purchase from the Glengoyne Distillery, online at www.glengoyne.com and from Selfridges, Milroys, Oddbins, Sainsbury’s Royal Mile Whiskies, and other leading Specialists.
Glengoyne Distillery Tours start from just £6.50, call 01360 550 254 or visit www.glengoyne.com for more details and to book.
Summer Sale 2012 Offerings – July 2012
Cask No. 73.45 is President’s Choice
Kissing a freshly perfumed woman
Cask No. 73.45
Highlands, Speyside (Islay)
The interesting nose had peardrops and polished wood, then cloves and iced cinnamon swirls, also marmalade, orange oil and chocolate oranges; finally Marsala and strawberry syrup. The unreduced palate seemed amazingly mature – orange liqueur, beeswax polish on expensive furniture, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, orange peel, red Chewits (or Campinos) and peach with traces of mint – surprisingly lively. The reduced nose discovered tobacco, scented wood, sherbet, coconut oil and eventually Kummel. The reduced palate, complex, rich and pleasing, had the woodiness of old bourbon and floral perfume – ‘like kissing a freshly perfumed woman’. This 1897 distillery is a ‘sister’ establishment to Craigellachie.
Drinking tip: For a warm summer evening, with appropriate music and floral perfumes
Colour: Orange honeycomb
Cask: Refill ex-Sherry butt
Age: 19 years
Date distilled: March 1992
Alcohol: 56.1%
$135
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lively and explosive
Cask No. 1.159
Highlands, Speyside
An unusual and intriguing wee dram on the nose – hard peaches, wood sap, nutty notes, quince, juniper, flint, Evo-Stik and green ginger – quite clean but was it floral or soapy? The palate was fizzy, lively and tooth-stripping, with explosive ginger heat, granny smith apples, vanilla and mint humbugs. The nose seemed smoother and sweeter with water – cocoa butter, sherbet fountains (with liquorice), ginger beer and lime – quite summery in character. The reduced palate became well-rounded and easy-drinking with some of the deeper botanical ingredients of gin coming through – liquorice, aniseed, angelica and cassia. The distillery sits north of Ben Rinnes.
Drinking tip: Could be a summery drink, maybe even with ginger ale
Colour: Sparkling mica gold
Cask: First-fill barrel
Age: 11 years
Date distilled: May 2000
Alcohol: 56.2%
$100
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Barbequed haggis
Cask No. 10.75
Islay, North Shore
The first impression is not too impressive: solvent, washing up liquid and Coal Tar soap; dried meat, smoked mackerel and charred fish skin, but a pleasant taste of boiled sweets and runny honey on burnt toast, with a trace of fennel and rosemary in the finish and ‘the burnt end of overdone roast beef’. With water the aroma is of dried out haggis, and some allspice: dry overall. The taste is still sweet, then burnt and slightly peppery. Still some haggis, with a thyme-like herbal note and charcoal in the finish. This distillery on the Sound of Islay usually makes un-peated malt.
Drinking tip: A Burn’s night Barbie on a beach
Colour: Tarnished silver with pale green lights
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 13 years
Date distilled: December 1997
Alcohol: 55.9%
$110
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Rich, sweet and comforting
Cask No. G5.5
Grain
A treat for the nose – buttered toast with honey and creamy custard to start. Then pencil shavings, airfix glue and marzipan got the mouth watering. The taste was very sweet (honey, vanilla and syrup) with some mild spiciness (pepper) which was warming and comforting. Adding water seemed to dull down the aromas but the sweetness returned with fudge, honey, cereals and then fruits – banana flavoured sweets, orange oil – and demerara sugar. Fresh oak, ginger, orange oil and boiled sweets were on the palate and rounded off a satisfying finish. This Highland grain distillery was built in 1959 to create employment in the local area.
Drinking tip: For quiet contemplation, but be careful with the water
Colour: Light copper with pink highlights
Cask: Virgin toasted oak hogshead
Age: 18 years
Date distilled: May 1993
Alcohol: 65.4%
$130
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
*Members receive $10 off every Society bottle purchased in the month of July 2012.
Visit http://www.smwsa.com/ for more Society information.
Our Shop is Moving! (temporarily)
The summer is upon us and with it there is an unnamed sporting event happening in our capital. That, along with a chunk of serious building work, means that Vinopolis, the home of our shop these last 7 years, will … Continue reading >>
Recreating Grant’s Stand Fast
Hi all,
A year ago I wrote about a fascinating discovery our archivist, Paul Kendal, made in one of the Distillery Cottages, home to the Grant’s family archives.
He’d uncovered the company’s first blending book. Within it, a record of the exact whiskies our first Master Blender, William Grant himself, selected to create the original Grant’s Stand…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…
Kind regards,
Ludo
