Last weeks email featured this years 2012 Drammie Award Winner for Packaging Design, Mackinlay’s “Shackleton” Rare Old Highland Malt, and those of you who acted quickly were able to secure what may have been the final inventory available in the US, certainly at that price. 

This week we’re featuring an even rarer whisky…the one that was the first runner up to the Shackleton whisky for the 2012 Drammie Award: Highland Park “Thor” 16 YO Single Malt Whisky.    

Thor represents the first spectacular offering for Highland Park’s stunning Valhalla Collection.  This collection will be a range of four unique whiskies, to be released annually, that all take inspiration from the Nordic gods of legend.  In honor of the great Norse warrior Thor, and in celebration of its own unwavering Norse heritage, Highland Park has produced what is unequivocally a phenomenal whisky….but then again, have you ever had a Highland Park you didn’t like?     

With a natural strength like its namesake, and drawing influence from the environment unique to Orkney, Thor is a truly elemental spirit. Distilled where sea turns to ocean, this 16YO single malt is a meeting point of nature’s forces, exuding a dynamic and bold character on the surface, but with an unexpected softer side at its heart.    

Our friend Chris Hoban of the Edinburgh Whisky Blog described Thor as “a smoky whisky, but very very drinkable…Frighteningly tasty. It would be 120 pounds well spent, but get ready to buy another bottle, as this is really really good. Not my most eloquent description. I am just enjoying it too much. It’s lovely. Now I just need to find 120 notes...”  

Fortunately for us all, our man Nicky “The Neck” has a bit of a Norse god thing going on, and was happy to use his hammer-technique to secure what could be the last few bottles available in the US.   

And so, I’m thrilled to offer you the opportunity to acquire a bottle Highland Park “Thor” 16 YO Single Malt Whisky for $250/ bottle (limit 1 bottle per customer please). 

I urge you to act swiftly on this if you are interested. This is another once in a lifetime chance to acquire a highly collectable bottle of whisky…but then hide it when you get it. Because once it’s gone… 

Doug StoneFounder

ForWhiskeyLovers.com 

LAPHROAIG UNVEILS DIAMOND JUBILLEE COMMEMORATIVE EDITION

To celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s 60th year on the throne, Islay single malt whisky Laphroaig, is launching a special Diamond Jubilee commemorative edition. Bearing Prince Charles’ Royal Warrant, the 3,000 Jubilee cartons and bottles are set to become collector’s items. Laphroaig has also pledged to make a donation of £3000 to The Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust (QEST).

Each limited edition carton will display that it is only one of three thousand in existence and will contain the Double Gold Medal * winning Laphroaig 18 Year Old single malt (48% abv). Bright gold in colour, the Laphroaig 18 Year Old offers a toffee sweet flavour, accompanied by its trademark peat smoke taste.

Laphroaig’s Diamond Jubilee bottling is especially fitting given their Royal Warrant, appointed personally by HRH Prince Charles when he visited the distillery in 1994. He also returned again in 2008 as part of his own 60th birthday celebrations.

Distillery manager John Campbell said; “With Laphroaig’s royal connection to HRH Prince Charles, and as our most famous patron, we thought it only right to create a special pack to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne. As proud bearers of a royal warrant Laphroaig is delighted that our 18 Year Old has become part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in its beautifully designed, premium Jubilee packaging.”

Reinforcing its special royal connections, Laphroaig is donating £3,000 to QEST. The charitable arm of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, the funds will go towards awarding craftsmen throughout Britain to help them further their careers, celebrating the excellence of British Craftsmanship as symbolised by the Royal Warrant of Appointment.

The 3,000 bottles are available to buy in the UK only from June in selected whisky specialists and retailers (RRP £77).

www.laphroaig.com

Laphroaig 18 Year Old Tasting Notes

Colour: Bright gold

Nose: At bottling strength, a soft toffee sweet, faintly spicy flavour counterbalances the trace of delicate phenols and fruit. There is an all-encompassing smoothness when these are all brought together. Adding a touch of water allows the seaweed and salt to come through but not enough to overpower the vanilla and honey sweetness with just a trace of new mown hay and peat at the finish.

Body: An intense depth that is exceptionally balanced and warming.

Taste: An instant warming tang of smoke that fades into smooth floral scents and blends seamlessly into an oaky nuttiness and leaves a lasting sweetness on the taste. With a touch of water the peaty warmth fills the mouth but does not overshadow the sweet chocolate smoothness. This is balanced by the rich toffee taste and slowly fades into a delicate hint of heather and peat smoke.

Finish: Full bodied, long with a luxurious oily smoothness.

*2011 SF World Spirits Competition

Notes:

Laphroaig is the No.1 selling Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky globally and in the UK. Laphroaig has won an incredible array of awards at the biggest spirit competitions in the world – most recently taking double Gold medals for 10 Year Old, Cask Strength, 18 Year Old and Gold medal for Quarter Cask at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2011. Unmistakably peat-smoke flavours are delivered by burning local Islay peat, containing unique traces of seaweed and heather. One of only a few distilleries that still uses traditional malting floors and dries and infuses its own malt with the thick blue smoke from old peat-fired kilns. Laphroaig has a strong presence online through the Friends of Laphroaig, recently breaking through the 500,000 FOL barrier and the brand is frequently the subject of blogs. It has recently topped the first ever Whisky 100 Brand Index (www.mepath.com) which is an online survey designed to track positive words associated with whisky brands. Laphroaig has an outstanding range from the classic 10 Year Old through to the lovingly created 25 Year Old – Full range, 10 Year Old, Quarter Cask, Triple Wood, 18 Year Old and 25 Year Old.

LAPHROAIG® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky. D Johnston and Co, Isle of Islay.

Third Annual Convocation of Companions

The Great Gathering of The Quaich

September 7 – 9

Cairn Croft Hotel

6400 Lundy’s Lane
Niagara Falls

Check in Friday 12 Noon ~ Check out Sunday 11 am

Full package includes: 2 nights accommodation in Courtyard guestrooms;
6 meals (Friday dinner; Saturday breakfast, lunch, dinner; Sunday breakfast, lunch); complimentary drinks in the Hospitality Room before and after dinner Friday and Saturday; use of heated indoor pool, hot tubs and recreation areas.
An optional Master Class with Macallan & Highland Park Ambassador
Marc Laverdiere is also planned. Details to come.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Cost per person (including taxes)

Single: $502 Double: $315
Triple: $261.99 Quad: $234.99
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To make your reservation for this wonderful weekend break, call the Cairn Croft at 1-800-263-2551 and quote “Quaich Group.” Names of guests, address and a valid credit card number will be required.

*Note: The hotel will not collect the payment for whiskies with dinner. Cost is $15 per evening, total $30 per person. This should be sent in advance to:

Ed Patrick,
206 – 19 Dundonald St., Toronto, Ont.
M4Y 1K3

Loch Fyne Whiskies stocks  ‘Lagavulin 12yo 57.5% Bottled 2011’

Lagavulin 12yo 57.5% Bottled 2011

£59.90 inc vat (£49.92 ex vat)

The Joynson speaks “Tried this at the end of a marathon tasting session and my notes merely say ‘Nice”.

Here’s the official blurb on it:

A limited edition, natural cask strength single malt whisky. From the essential Islay distillery, Lagavulin, on Islay’s rocky south coast. Ninth of a series of special 12 year old releases from the original distiller’s stocks. Vatted from refill American Oak casks, each at least 12 years old. Official Tasting Note: Appearance: Pale gold. Light beading. Nose: Mild nose-feel. Immediate and complex, with butter toffee to the fore and fragrant wood smoke on the breeze behind. As with a well-made vinaigrette dressing on peppery salad leaves, eaten with smoked mackerel. After a while, the honeyed wood-smoke develops hints of newly polished brogues and distinctly medicinal carbolic soap and bath salts, laced with creamy vanilla. Sharper and more savoury with water: clean and fresh, with seaweed, and lightly oily. Like eating fresh cooked chips, with a splash of vinegar, straight from the bag on a cold day. Body: Light. Palate: Sweeter than expected, with a pleasant texture, then vinegary, then very smoky indeed. Drying at first with smoky wood-ash, then tart notes of citrus and pine come in to create a kind of carbonic fizz. Very savoury and appetising with water. Fish grilled on a beech-wood fire; hot baked potatoes. Like chewing on a charred stick and finding it unexpectedly delightful! Finish: Long and toasted. Later, with water, more charred and savoury notes emerge (liquorice root, fennel, some mushrooms and truffle oil), thrown into fine relief by the deliciously insistent, smoky and medicinal backdrop.

Flavour Map Ref: D10 Smoky / Light & Smoky

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

Ireland – Irish Single Malt

Knappogue 17 Year Sherry Butt Single Malt Irish Whiskey – 4 available ($89.99)

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

1990 Samaroli Bunnahabhian Single Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($199.99)

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

Glenmorangie Master class on Monday 11th June with Global ambassador Karen Fullerton

An experienced whisky tutor with a highly trained nose Karen looks forward to traveling the world, enticing global audiences on the delights of Glenmorangie, ‘Scotland’s Favorite Malt’.

Launch of the Glenmorangie Artein – 3rd Edition in the ‘Private Collection Wood’ series. To be assessed alongside the best of the current core range expressions : –

Glenmorangie Artein, Signet , Nectar D’Or, Astar, 18yo, 25yo

Start – 7.30pm.

Cost £25

Venue: Stourbridge.
RSVP : 01384 394518

Slainte

David

david@nickollsandperks.co.uk

1792 RIDGEMONT RESERVE AND KENTUCKY TAVERN WIN SILVER MEDALS IN SAN FRANCISCO COMPETITION

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (May, 2012) – Two Kentucky favorites from the Barton 1792 Distillery won Silver Medals from the 12th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), held in March. A newer favorite, 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon Whiskey is made at its namesake Barton 1792 Distillery and becoming increasingly popular. This 8 year old small batch Bourbon, introduced in 2003 has a deep amber color, aromas of honeyed fruit cake and chocolate covered cherries, followed by a rich taste and full body. Long-time favorite Kentucky Tavern also won a Silver Medal. This classic has a burnished copper color with caramel raisin aroma, medium body and spice accents.

A record number of entries – 1,218 products from 65 countries – were evaluated by 33 of the finest palates and spirits experts in the industry. Judging is based on a blind, consensual procedure to ensure competitive integrity. Complete results of the 2012 competition can be found at http://www.sfspiritscomp.com/results.html.

The 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon Whiskey is 93.7 proof and suggested retail for 750 ml is $29.99. Kentucky Tavern is 80 proof and suggested retail is $10.99.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands of Kentucky, with facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, a family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the only fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” 1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This small batch Bourbon whiskey is the recent winner of a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. To learn more about the Distillery visit www.1792bourbon.com.

We need your help!

On the Diamond Jubilee weekend our home city of Perth will attempt to break the world record for the most kilted runners – a record that currently belongs to our twin town of Perth, Ontario in Canada.

The 8 kilometre run will take place in Perth’s city centre on Saturday 2nd June and in order to beat the world record we need more than 1,089 kilted runners.

Given that Scotland is the home nation of the kilt it really is a matter of national pride that we take this record from our friends in Canada but to do so we need your help.

All you need to do is sign up by visiting www.perthkiltrun.co.uk and if you’re not a big runner don’t worry, as long as you run the first 100m it is entirely acceptable to walk the rest. You can even hire a kilt and get kitted out on the day.

We are sponsoring Perth Kilt Run and all money raised will go to PKAVS and The Soldiers Charity.

Sign up, get your kilts on and break a world record.

Yours Famously,
The Famous Grouse team

WHISKI ROOMS LAUNCHES SUMMER WHISKY TASTING SCHEDULE

The innovative whisky shop of the WHISKI Rooms in Edinburgh has launched it’s full program of whisky tastings till the end of August. All of the tastings are bookable online and feature a great mixture of distillery tastings with bespoke offerings.

“I feel we have lined up a great program of interesting and affordable whisky tastings and offer daily tastings every day during the Edinburgh Festival” said Anne Still, Director of the WHISKI group.

All of the whisky tastings are listed on the WHISKI Rooms site and already some have sold out. £5 is redeemable against any 70cl whisky purchase with every ticket http://www.whiskirooms.co.uk/whiskytastings.html

“We have some favorites back from last year like our Blending Game and Introduction to Whisky as well as a great lineup of distillers keen to show off their range and some new tastings like Whisky and Cheese. I think there will be something for everyone to enjoy” said WHISKI Shop manager Gareth Van Rooyen.

Background

WHISKI Rooms is the sister venue to the multi award winning WHISKI Bar & Restaurant on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Launched in June 2011 it is an innovative hybrid venue comprising a bar, all day dining bistro/restaurant and an adjoining specialist whisky shop. The whisky shop stocks over 500 whiskies and every whisky in both venues is available to buy hence a “try before you buy” concept is in operation. WHISKI Bar & Restaurant is currently Whisky Bar of the Year 2011/2012, Dram Awards winner.

WHISKI Rooms
4 – 7 North Bank Street
Edinburgh
EH1 2LP

http://www.whiskirooms.co.uk/whiskytastings.html

Visit our online whisky shop – worldwide delivery

http://www.whiskishop.com/

Link to images http://www.whiskirooms.co.uk/gallery.html

Loch Fyne Whiskies ‘Loch Fyne Food Fair’

We’re not taking part (shop’s too busy anyway) but the Food Fair organised by Loch Fyne Oysters is this weekend (19 & 20th) at their shop and smokery in Cairndow at the head of the loch. Pop in for platters of seafood, venison burgers and then shuffle along to Inveraray (another 8 miles) and come and see us.

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