The Dalmore Introduces New Packaging

The Dalmore is introducing new packaging across its core range designed to reinforce its luxury credentials and give the bottle and packaging greater prominence “on shelf”.

Each and every bottle of The Dalmore will now feature a solid silver stag, which proudly represents the distillery’s iconic heritage and links with the notable Mackenzie clan, who were awarded the use of the 12-point royal stag emblem upon saving the life of King Alexander III in 1263.

Clean and contemporary lines, labels and communication feature heavily in the new range which increases clarity and brand stand out, meaning consumers can easily identify with the brand, the expression and its maturation statement.

The cartons will have a textured dimension to add a sensory experience to purchase and the King Alexander III expression will be in a front reveal style carton which can be opened up to display the bottle on shelf. The colour palate used across the new designs are deep heritage inspired colours chosen to reflect the rich history of the brand and also the colours in the famous painting ‘Fury of a Stag*’ which depicts the event in which the Mackenzie clan saved the King.

The new pack design will be applied across the core Dalmore range – 12, 15, 18, Cigar Malt Reserve and King Alexander III – and will demonstrate a clear progression of a luxurious look and feel between the core range and the prestigious rare Dalmore range, which includes gems such as Trinitas, Aurora and Candela.

Packaging will be rolled out across markets from May 2012.

* The ‘Fury of a Stag’ painting by Benjamin West which depicts Colin Mackenzie (Fitzgerald) saving the King’s life can be viewed in the National Gallery of Scotland, Edinburgh.

Chris Watt, The Dalmore Head of Brand:

“Our distillery has been producing exceptional single malts since 1839 and we have some of the rarest aged whisky stocks in the world. Our malts exude quality, craftsmanship and liquid excellence and we feel that the new packaging introduction brings our image proudly in line with that.”

About The Dalmore

The Dalmore is home to some of the rarest and most exclusive whiskies in the world, including The Dalmore Trinitas which was the first whisky to break the £100,000 barrier. Situated on the banks of the Cromartie Firth, Scotland, the distillery has been producing exceptional single malts since 1839.

The legend that surrounds The Dalmore harks back to 1263 when a member of the Mackenzie clan saved King Alexander III from being gored by a charging stag. The grateful King granted the Mackenzie clan the right to bear the 12-point royal stag in their coat of arms. The Mackenzie clan was long owned by The Mackenzie family which is why every bottle of The Dalmore is adorned with the proud stag emblem, reinforcing its royal pedigree.

www.thedalmore.com 

Scapa 16yo (40%, OB, 2010) 

The replacement for the official bottling of the much loved 14yo (which was priced some what lower). None the less on the nose there is some very nice maltiness (lots of grain notes and very much the malt barn memories or even sweeping up split grain at Springbank; up on the top floor where the pigeons roost). There’s also a herbaceous note behind the malt and some nice sweetness, perhaps from some ex- American cask influence? The sweetness is quite fruity; lychee and marmalade. The taste is much like the nose but leans a little more to leather and tobacco with the ever present malt, the sweetness has vanished some what but what’s left is very good. All in all very enjoyable. The finish is an even mix of the malt and the leather and tobacco with some good black pepper and what not towards the end. Lots of mouth smacking malt and some bourbon notes and even a few hints of juniper. Long. 

Very nice, much drier than the 14yo which was very sweet but no complaints. 

C$110 (in some markets) 

86 Points

Whisky Ramblings Via Video #11

In his 11th Whisky Rambling on video, Belgian whisky blogger Mark Dermul takes us to an iconic movie location from Star Wars in Tunisia (which he has just restored with some friends), where he tasts the Highland Park Leif Eriksson. May the Malt/Force be with you!

http://youtu.be/a5LL0u3WwUE

PARK AVENUE LIQUOR SHOP HELPS YOU PICK

THE BEST SINGLE MALT WHISKY FOR DAD ON FATHER’S DAY

New York, NY (June , 2012) – June is just around the corner and you may be asking yourself – what in the world am I going to get dad? Another tie? Swim Trunks? Fancy razor? No, no not this year!  This year give him something that will make you both happy (because you hope he’ll share) – Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The experts from iconic spirits and wine retailer Park Avenue Liquor Shop have put together a little checklist to help you navigate the special world of single malt scotches and get dad what he really wants for Father’s Day (June 17).  Park Avenue Liquor Shop boasts one of the largest collections of single malt whiskies at retail in the country and they are happy to make delivery arrangements for dad.  All you have to do is decide on the bottle(s) and either visit the store or place your order online or via phone (212.685.2442; http://www.parkaveliquor.com/).

There are a number of questions you have to consider before zeroing in on that special bottle for Dad.  From Jonathan Goldstein, Park Avenue Liquor Shop proprietor, single malt expert and a Keeper of the Quaich, here is your checklist:

1.    Does he even like Scotch? Have you seen him drink it before? You would be surprised how many people come in and ask for a Single Malt because their Dad drinks Wild Turkey. Well this is nice but Wild Turkey is Bourbon and this is a different animal entirely (no pun intended).

2.    Do you know what brands he drinks? This will help your ‘expert’ determine what area(s) of Scotland to select from. An Islay whisky like Bowmore is very different from a Speyside whisky like Balvenie. The names of even a few of the labels will help greatly. It might even help to know what he doesn’t like.

3.    Budget. How much are you willing to spend and how many bottles do you want for your money. Do you want one super bottle? Do you want a variety of bottles to start a collection? Again, something to think about in advance. Your ‘expert’ should be able to find excellent choices in all price ranges. In addition, he or she should be able to offer something new. Distilleries are always trying to keep things exciting with new offerings. Highland Park just released THOR – part 1 of a 4 part Valhalla series. Glenmorangie has a line-up of malts in all price ranges.

4.    Is Dad a serious collector of Single Malt Whisky? Many distilleries create investment worthy bottles. These can get quite expensive. A recent bottling of Dalmore Sherry Finesse retails for $785. A great alternative for collectors are “exclusive” bottlings.  Here at Park Avenue Liquor Shop we have more that a dozen exclusives, like casks of whisky that we have purchased for the shop. These bottles cannot be purchased anywhere else. For example, we have a Glen Garioch 13 year old for $100 a bottle, a 35 year old Single grain bottled by Clan Denny from Cambus distillery at cask strength for $190 a bottle, and a 42 year old Strathisla bottled by Gordon and MacPhail for $400 a bottle.

All of the above questions are meant to help you and your ‘expert’ determine the best choice for dear old Dad. Do your homework now and feel confident that the bottle Dad receives is the one he really wants.

For the ultimate hard-copy guide to single malts, ask Park Avenue Liquor Shop to send you THE LIST – their all-encompassing brochure of more than 300 single malt Scotches available at retail.  THE LIST is a jaw-dropping selection of Scotch, arranged by region (Speyside, Eastern Highlands,NorthernHighlands, Southern Highlands,WesternHighlands, Lowland, Campbeltown, Islay, Orkney, Arran, Jura, Mull and Skye) that includes exact age statements, proofs and prices.  For single malt aficionados, this list is worthy of a long meditative moment, most likely while sipping a Scotch and perhaps having a double corona size cigar.  

ABOUT PARK AVENUE LIQUOR SHOP (http://www.parkaveliquor.com)

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 was named 2010 Retailer of the Year by Whisky Magazine because of its knowledgeable staff and extensive selection of single malt whiskies (close to 400 bottlings currently in stock; more than any other retailer in the U.S.).  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. 

 Park Avenue Liquor Shop                  EM: info@parkaveliquor.com           WEB: http://www.parkaveliquor.com/       

292 Madison Avenue                          FACEBOOK: http://bit.ly/b9ClrN     TWITTER: @ParkAveLiquor

New York, NY 10017                          PHONE: 212.685.2442 

Store Hours: Monday thru Friday 8am – 7pm; Saturday Closed in the summer; Sunday Closed 

Nomination close for the all-time 2012 design contest

The all-time 2012 nominations are now closed. There are still 3 months left to give your star-ratings for the best 10 finalists in every category. For those who like statistics. In total we have 114 nominees assigned as follow: 62 … Continue reading →

THE GLENROTHES EXTENDS FAN BASE WITH NEW UK LISTINGS

The Glenrothes Select Reserve single malt whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, has bolstered its UK presence by securing a Multiple Grocer listing in Asda as well as being awarded a space in the Top Ten Malts within The Whisky Shop, the UK’s largest whisky specialist retailer.

These new opportunities will extend the Speyside brand’s presence with The Glenrothes Select Reserve becoming available in 189 Asda stores from May as well as securing additional exposure in The Whisky Shop stores and their online business at www.whiskyshop.com. This adds to the brand’s current availability in Sainsbury’s and specialist whisky retailers.

The Glenrothes Select Reserve is a non-Vintage specific selection carefully chosen and typifies the distillery house character of ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and hints of spice. Introduced in 2005, and produced to the same exacting standards as the Vintages, The Glenrothes Select Reserve is presented in the iconic Glenrothes bottle and is the very essence of The Glenrothes range.

Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director for Maxxium UK commented: “These new opportunities are testament to the success of our award winning single malt whisky. Once a truly hidden gem, The Glenrothes is increasingly being put in the spotlight and increased exposure through these new outlets will aid the brands coverage. We are able to reach more of our established fans and also introduce The Glenrothes to newcomers. This increased presence will help to continue to drive growth going forward.”

The Glenrothes also recently announced the winners of The Glenrothes Vintage Maker 2012, following on from the huge success of the 2011 Whisky Maker competition, which attracted close to 5,000 entries. The 12 lucky winners from the UK, USA and the rest of the world will work as The Glenrothes Vintage Makers in the heart of single malt production, Speyside, Scotland, culminating in the creation of The Glenrothes Vintage 2012, to be released when it reaches its peak of maturity.

The Glenrothes is also available in a limited range of Vintages. Rare and finite, Vintages are selected on their own unique personality and include Vintages 1988, 1995 and 1998. The Glenrothes Vintages are available from www.theglenrothes.com and specialist whisky retailers.

Notes:

1. The Glenrothes was founded in 1879
2. Little more than 2% of the distillery capacity is bottled as Single Malt to ensure exceptional quality
3. Of the 16 Vintages released to date, 12 have entirely sold out
4. It is matured in a combination of Spanish and American oak casks – the best of both worlds
5. The Glenrothes Select Reserve won a Gold Medal at the The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2012
6. The Glenrothes Select Reserve was voted Best in Class at the World Whiskies Awards 2008 and won two Double Golds at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2007
7. The Glenrothes 1972 was awarded a Trophy at the 2005 International Spirits Challenge
8. The Glenrothes 1978 Vintage was voted Best Speyside Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2008
9. The Glenrothes 1975 won a Double Gold award at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2008
10. The Glenrothes 1991 won a Gold Medal at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010
11. The Glenrothes 1994 won a Gold Medal at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010
12. The Glenrothes Alba Reserve won a Double Gold at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010
13. “I have always felt that Glenrothes deserved to be more widely appreciated. Beautifully rounded…sophisticated after-dinner malt.” Michael Jackson’s Malt Whisky Companion
14. 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 tastebuds with rare tenderness” and scores it 24 out of 25

1 June 2012 

Dear Client 

This month we have selected  three (3) PROVENANCE bottlings. 

PROVENANCE Tasting Notes follow: 

PRV0788 AUCHROISK 10 YEARS 

Opens fresh and sweet on the nose carrying a floral style plus vanilla fudge and a malty quality. The palate opens with a sweet vanilla aspect and runs to spiced caramelised peaches. The finish is long and spicy and carries a soft chewed leather quality plus late honey. (J)

PRV0802 DAILUAINE 12 YEARS

Distinctly Sherried on the nose from its cask heritage – with mixed spice, clove studied orange, dark macerated fruit and chewy raisins all there before its late barley.  The palate is smooth and all too easy – with dark fruit spices, puff candy, and soft gristy qualities apparent – then the finish is cough drop and candy floss driven  (F) 

PRV0803 CRAIGELLACHIE 12 YEARS

Barley, citrus, aromatic floweriness and honey all appear on the nose plus late warm gingery type spices.  On the palate detect more sweet barley, with spiced and macerated dark fruits – crunched sugar – perhaps a little camphor?  …… and all are softly now replicated on its subtle finish.  (F) 

As our Winter Promotion proved very popular with our PROVENANCE Importers we will offer a similar but improved version for these potentially slower summer months.  This offer is now based on: 

BUY SEVEN (7) CASES FROM OUR PRICE LIST AND SELECT THE 8^TH CASE FREE OF CHARGE FROM THE SELECTION YOU MAKE (WHILE STOCKS LAST AND EXCLUDING ANY/ALL ISLAY MALTS).  

Just as these are enjoyable Tasting Notes to write – so we hope they are of interest and validity to you when reviewing stock requirements.  We believe this month we have offered you a truly wide range of noses/palates and finishes which will intrigue you and your clientele.  We hope to be of service to you and look forward to hearing from you after review.  

Yours faithfully 

Fred Laing

Managing Director

www.douglaslaing.com

Malt Madness by Johannes van den Heuvel has published Liquid Log Entry #400

You can find it on http://www.maltmadness.com/malt-whiskey/liquid-whisky-blog-400.html.  In the article he  explains in a little more detail some of the reasons, circumstances and considerations that led to him drastically changing his lifestyle, reduce his malt whisky consumption and step back as editor of Malt Maniacs.

www.ralfy.com likes to help out the less-experienced whisky drinker with Whisky Review #277 – Three best malt whiskies for beginners…. happy to help!