GEORGE T. STAGG BOURBON NAMED TOP SPIRIT IN THE WORLD FOR SECOND YEAR IN A ROW!

American Bourbon’s Dominance Over Scotch Whisky Continues!

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (May, 2012) – For the second year in row, George T. Stagg, the iconic uncut, unfiltered bourbon released annually from Buffalo Trace Distillery, has been named the number one spirit in the world by noted spirits reviewer F. Paul Pacult.

The list, compiled annually by Pacult, will be released in his June 2012 issue of The Spirit Journal. Last year, George T. Stagg was the first American Whiskey to ever be named number one in The Spirit Journal’s 13 years of tabulating. Stagg knocked off the perennial favorite Highland Park 18 Scotch Whisky for the first time ever, and this year the Stagg beat out a Northern Highlands Single Malt Scotch.

Notes Pacult about this year’s winners, “Spirits are continually getting better and more sophisticated each year. It’s no surprise to us that three of the top five spirits in the world hail from Kentucky, which right now is one of the hotbeds of distilling prowess.”

The George T. Stagg Bourbon Whiskey is part of the Antique Collection that is released each fall from Buffalo Trace Distillery. Long considered the frontrunner of the Collection, the Stagg has collected numerous awards over the years, including the 2012 Bourbon of the Year; the 2012 Second Finest Whiskey in the World from Jim Murray’s 2012 Whisky Bible; 2012 Gold Medal, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; 2011 Ultimate Spirits Competition Chairman’s Trophy Winner; 2011 Double Gold Winner, Best Bourbon, San Francisco World Spirits Competition; the 2010 American Whiskey of the Year from Jim Murray’s 2010 Whiskey Bible; 2009 Bourbon of the Year and Best Bourbon Aged 13-17 Years from Jim Murray’s 2009 Whiskey Bible; among others.

The 2012 version of the George T. Stagg will be released later this fall with the Antique Collection. Suggested retail pricing of the Stagg is $69.99.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotrace.com

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers, 

I’ve had a hard time keeping this quiet, but now I can finally spill the beans, Kensington Wine Market has been granted Canada’s First Ardbeg Embassy, we’re going to celebrate! We have two events coming up this Saturday, June the 2nd to coincide with International Ardbeg Day: a free drop in tasting from 2-4PM and a whisky dinner at Buchanan’s Chop House starting at 7PM. For more details on the events see below! 

And thanks for helping make Kensington Wine Market Canada’s first Ardbeg Embassy! 

International Ardbeg Day Calgary Events on June 2nd 

1. Free Drop in Tasting – Drop by the Kensington Wine Market, 1257 Kensington Road NW, between 2 and 4PM this Saturday June 2nd for the opportunity to sample the Ardbeg range and get a great deal on Ardbeg single malts. We will have the Ardbeg 10 Year, Blasda, Uigeadail and Corryvreckan all open for sampling and for just two hours they will be available for purchase at a 15% discount! No need to RSVP, just drop in and help us celebrate with a dram…
2. Ardbeg Dinner at Buchanan’s Chop House – The second event, a dinner at Buchanan’s Chop House will take place at 7PM the same evening, Saturday June 2nd. This dinner will feature a flight of Ardbegs, including a bottle of the now sold out Ardbeg Alligator, carefully paired with food by the maestros at Buchanan’s. Tickets for this event are $100. Please send me an email if you would like to register for the event. At last count there weren’t many tickets left! – $100 

Kensington Wine Market Spring Whisky Week is Coming Up – June 12th – 14th  

Our Spring whisky week is just around the corner, with three incredible events:

1. Lost in Translation – Tuesday June 12th 7PM – A special Japanese whisky tasting featuring six Japanese whiskies all exclusive to the Kensington Wine Market in Alberta. Four of these whiskies are exceptionally rare single cask bottlings: Nikka Coffee Malt 1998, Nikka Coffee Grain 1997, Nikka Yoichi 1991 and Nikka Miyagikyo 1988. It will be a great tasting and an opportunity to learn a little bit about the Japanese whisky industry which is very nearly 100 years old. – $60
2. Spring Single Malt Festival – Thursday June 14th 7PM – 100 or so of the best whiskies in the province in Canada’s Best little whisky festival. Tickets are limited very limited. – $60 – Sold Out
3. The Ultimate Dalmore Tasting – Friday June 15th 7PM – Quite simply put the most exceptional tasting of Dalmore whiskies ever put on in Canada. The tasting won’t feature just one, but two different 40 year old distillery bottlings of Dalmore, plus a 45 Year, and a number of vintage releases. Prepare to be impressed! – $250

Slainte!  

Andrew Ferguson 

PS-Don’t forget to check out my tour blog at http://fergusonwhiskytours.com/?page_id=10 or that you can follow me on twitter at www.twitter.com/scotch_guy .

Sample Image

Isle of Arran 14yo 1996/2011 (56%, OB, Premium Single Cask, Sherry, C#1785, 165 Bts., D. 06/11/96, B. 31/03/11) 

A bottling for the new Premium Single Cask line from Isle of Arran Distillery and this particular bottling was only available in the United States.  On the nose there is Christmas cake, oak spice (black pepper, some light chilies & other assorted wood notes). After some small amount of time in the glass the alcohol clears for some truly excellent first class sherry notes with a hints of coffee in the back ground. This is what people dream of in sherry casks and such quality is certainly not ubiquitous today with the prevalence of so many tainted casks. Some classic and characteristic Isle of Arran malty notes lay lurking just below the sherry layer and add to the aromas very nicely. The taste is of dry sherry that quickly becomes a tussle between the Christmas cake and the oak spice dryness however the Christmas cake wins in the end (with a little help from the oak spice if one is to be honest; they work very well together). It’s a very big taste and there’s the malt hiding in the back ground once again. Sensational! The finish is a mirror image of nose and the taste with a little cold tea notes in the later moments of the finish which is very long and sweet and sour dry after some time.

Only 165 bottles and only available in theUSA? Oh my, those lucky Americans. Many thanks to Robert & Barbara Townsend for the sample.

$105 

Score 91 points

Loch Fyne Whiskies post a new item, ‘From Our Gossip Corner’

Last night in Glasgow, LFW.co.uk’s overstressed CelebWatch department went along to the UK Premier of the Cannes Award winning, whisky themed film “The Angels’ Share”, by director-provocateur Ken Loach.  A dram studded audience revelled in scenes of fermentation, malt whisky sampling and bottle-spotting in this gritty yet ultimately heart-warming tale of Glasgow’s finest Neds mouthing-off and […please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article…]

THE LINK

Best regards,
Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

Last remaining bottles of Jubilee Whisky…

Jjust a heads up that we now have less than 100 bottles of our commemorative Diamond Jubilee whisky left to sell. If you would like to own one of these rare bottles, order today and we will endeavour to get this to you by the Bank Holiday weekend.

Click here to order.

www.englishwhisky.co.uk

United States – Bourbon and Rye – New Arrivals

1512 Aged Wheat Whiskey 375ml – 11 available ($55.99)

Four Roses 2012 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon 750ml (ships as 1.5L) – 6 available ($86.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

Caol Ila 12 years “Unpeated Style” Special Release Islay Single Malt 750ml (Previously $75) – 11 available ($79.99)

Glen Garioch 12 year old Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($49.99)

United States – Bourbon and Rye – Back in Stock

Willett 7 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml ($64.99)

Willett 9 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml ($74.99)

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Ian Macleod Distillers Unveils New Look for Isle of Skye Blended Scotch Whisky

28.05.12, Edinburgh: Independent bottlers and distillers, Ian Macleod Distillers, has revealed a new design for the core expressions of its award-winning Isle of Skye Blended Scotch Whisky range.

Reconnecting the brand with its historic home, the new packaging for Isle of Skye 8 Years Old and 12 Years Old takes direct inspiration from the majestic scenery and romance of Scotland’s famous ‘Misty Isle’.

With a new standout colour palette on the label and bottle top that reflects the Red and Black Hills of the Cuillin Mountains, the new label design introduces a striking watercolour sunset over the Isle of Skye, perfectly showcased by a new premium distinctive bespoke bottle.

Based on a family recipe that blends distinctive peaty Island and mellow Speyside Malts, Isle of Skye was created by the company’s founder Ian Macleod, whose signature appears on the label and bottle top.

The new age-roundel on both the red and cream label of the 8 Years Old and black and gold design of the 12 Years Old adds greater prominence to the age statement, emphasising the premium quality of Isle of Skye. While the majority of Blended Scotch Whiskies are un-aged, Isle of Skye is unusual in its guarantee that all the Single Malts used in its blend recipe are matured in oak casks for at least 8 or 12 years.

This commitment to excellence has led to Isle of Skye being favoured by whisky expert Jim Murray in the 2012 Whisky Bible, rating Isle of Skye 8 Years Old as a ‘superstar whisky that gives us a reason to live’.*

Iain Weir, Director of Marketing for Ian Macleod Distillers commented: “We wanted the new brand design to create an authentic representation of Isle of Skye’s core values – the values that are embedded in its age statement and island heritage. The new packaging will also ensure better shelf-standout and reinforce its position as a premium quality, award-winning Blended Scotch Whisky.

“Famed for its breathtaking scenery and historical legend, Skye has an infinite romantic appeal that we wanted to capture in the Isle of Skye re-packaging. The imagery of the sunset over the Cuillin Mountains suggests a sense of relaxation and contentment. Whether you are toasting your success conquering a Munro or enjoying a reviving dram at the end of a hard day, we want Isle of Skye to be the Blended Scotch synonymous with that sense of achievement, satisfaction and reward.”

The Isle of Skye 8 Years Old is available in a range of sizes (1.5 litre, 70cl, 35cl and 5cl). UK stockists include Scottish Tesco and Asda stores and all good specialist drinks outlets. Isle of Skye 8 Years Old can also be purchased online www.isleofskye.com.

Isle of Skye 12 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky is currently only available in international markets including the USA. Other expressions in the range include limited editions 21 and 50 Years Old available in the UK and internationally. The repackaged Isle of Skye range will launch in the USA later this year.

For further information visit: www.isleofskyewhisky.com

Tickets Now Available to 2012 Kentucky Bourbon Festival Events

(Bardstown, KY). Tickets for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival are now available. The 21st annual festival is set for September 11-16, 2012.

Tickets are available for the following events:
• All Star Sampler, (a KDA members Bourbon tasting event) September 12, 2012, $40 each
• Any Way She Like It, review the different aromas and flavor bourbons to pair with food, September 14, $35 each.
• Boots and Bourbon, (come to the Wild Turkey “Sit and Sip” saloon for games, dancing, great food and more) September 13, $45 each.
• Bourbon Cocktail Mixology, Sample an array of Bourbon-based cocktails created by the Bad Girl of Bourbon Joy Perrine. September 13, 14, and 15, $50 each.
• Culinary Art Bourbon-Style Cooking School, enjoy foods prepared with Jim Beam products, September 13, $50 each.
• Let’s Talk Bourbon, breakfast and a detailed seminar on the history and process of making Bourbon at Four Roses Distillery, September 14, $30 each.
• Sip and Savor in the Spirit of Old Kentucky, a food and Bourbon pairing presented by Nick Sullivan from the well known 610 Magnolia Restaurant, Sept 15, $40 each; Learn how and why they pair with the different offerings of food.
• Bourbon Cigars and Jazz, a taste of New Orleans Kentucky style. Cajun foods and Heaven Hill Bourbons while dancing under the stars, September 14, $90 each.
• The Great Kentucky Bourbon Tasting and Gala, our signature black-tie event with a Bourbon tasting, appetizers, meal and dancing, September 15, $140 each.
• Ghostly Spirits of Bardstown, experience another of Bardstown’s spirits, September 13, 14 and 15, 2012, $20 each.
• Backstreets of Bardstown, a horse drawn trolley tour of historical Bardstown, September 14 and 15, 2012, $20 each.
• KBF Poker Run, (ake a motorcycle ride through the countryside while collecting your poker hand with lots of door prizes, and T-shirts, September 15, 2012, $30 per person.

Applications are also available for the following events:
• KBF Golf Tournament to be held at Bardstown Country Club, September 15, 2012 – $125 per person.
• KBF Horseshoe Pitch the Distillery Division to be held on September 9. 2012 – Open Pitch September 15, 2012, $15 entry fee.
• Kentucky Bourbon Shots, photography contest held during festival – free to enter.
• Mixed Drink Challenge to be held on September 12, 2012 – $15.
• Spirit 5K Run and Walk to be held on September 15,2012

Tickets and entry forms are available at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival office, One Court Square, Bardstown or call 800-638-4877 # 4 or 502-348-3623 # 4 or online at www.kybourbonfestival.com

Hi all, 

KILCHOMAN LAUNCHES MACHIR BAY

ImpEx Beverages, Inc. is delighted to announce the release of Kilchoman Machir Bay, the first general release from the distillery. Machir Bay is one of the most beautiful and most visited beaches on Islay. It will be available throughout 2012 and is a vatting of 60% of 3 year, 35% of 4 year and 5% of 5 year old single malt, matured in fresh bourbon barrels from Buffalo Trace, Kentucky. The 4 year old portion was finished in Oloroso Sherry butts for 2 months. It is bottled at 46% unchillfiltered, no artificial color added.

Anthony Wills, Founder and Managing Director of Kilchoman Distillery, commented, ‘Machir Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches on Islay, is close to the distillery and this single malt will give continuity of supply to our customers around the world. Each year, more mature malts will be added to the vatting’.

RRP: $ 54.99