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The Whisky Shop
Talisker Isle of Eigg
Talisker Distillery was founded by two brothers from the Isle of Eigg – Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill who has settled on Skye in 1825. The millennium bottling has been prepared for the Isle of Eigg Heritage Trust to mark its historic purchase of the Island. Bottled at 60% volume. Click here to read the full article
The Whisky Shop
www.whiskyshop.com
Shackleton
Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt
Limited edition bottling
Special commemorative bottling of a truly unique blended whisky liquid.
Faithful reproduction of the actual Mackinlay’s whisky taken on the ill-fated Shackleton Antarctic expedition to the South pole in 1907.
Presented in a replica bottle and wooden case – just as Shackleton left it.
“The most exciting find of scotch whisky since days began”
Tasting notes:
Colour – Light honey, straw gold with shimmering highlights.
Nose – Soft, elegant & refined. Delicate aromas of crushed apple, pear and fresh pineapple arouse the senses. The spirit is exciting and vibrant with attractive notes of oak shavings that release hints of buttery vanilla, creamy caramel and nutmeg. A whisper of marmalade, cinnamon and even a tease of smoke, ginger and muscovado sugar completes this spectrum of delight.
Taste – With a generous strength of 47.3% this gives the spirit plenty of impact on the palate but in a mild warming manner. Harmonious and exhilarating. Whispers of gentle bonfire smoke slowly give way to spicy rich toffee, treacle and pecan nuts. These enticing flavours linger lovingly on the palate but are soon combined by a sensual, complex array of creme brulee, orange rind and freshly baked bread. It is a remarkable tapestry of tantalising taste sensations which truly rewards the palate
£97.99 inc VAT
Hello Fellow WhiskeyLovers –
An enthusiastic, if somewhat belated, “Happy May Day” to you all.
As any of you may are probably aware, “May Day” is related to the Celtic festival of Beltane and the Germanic festival of Walpurgis Night. Despite considerable time spent in consternation yesterday afternoon, I was unable to find a finer way to celebrate the day than to raise a glass of whisky…and so I did.
Feeling in the mood for a “local” whiskey, a few moments of thought culminated in my snatching a bottle I acquired this past February when Ian Buxton, in the US for a few distillery visits and Burns Nights, and I hopped in my car and drove a couple of hours north from my home to visit with distillery founder Ralph Erenzo and the team at Tuthilltown Spirits.
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| Ian and Ralph and a Chuckle |
For those of you not familiar with Tuthilltown, the distillery is located in the exquisitely beautiful Hudson Valley region of NY state, and was the the first whiskey distillery to open in New York since prohibition. The distillery is located adjacent to the Tuthilltown Gristmill, a 220 year old landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, that used waterpower to render local grains to flour.
In 2001 Ralph Erenzo and Vicki Morgan acquired the property and with the help of partner Brian Lee, converted one of the mill granaries to a micro-distillery. Two and a half years later, Tuthilltown Spirits produced their first batches of vodka from scraps they collected at a local apple slicing plant.
The distillery now produces a whole range of spirits, from fruits grown at orchards less than 5 miles away and grain harvested by farmers less than 10 miles away, that include a rum and vodka, Baby Bourbon, Manhattan Rye, and of course a Single Malt. Which brings me to this weeks Whiskey Selection featured whiskey: Tuthilltown Spirits Hudson Single Malt Whiskey
Hudson Single Malt Whiskey is made with whole ground malted barley and nothing else and is aged in small new oak casks. The new oak contributes a deeper woody affect to the spirit, and aging this way is a departure from traditional single malt “Scotch”. But what is truly amazing and innovative is the use of sound to expedite the aging process.
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| The Ceiling and Speakers in the Aging Room |
The aging room has four large speakers in the corners. At night, as Ralph explained to us, they pump a steady stream of the loud, bass-resonating-cask-vibration-causing music into the room. This causes the liquid in the barrels to vibrate and ripple, thereby exposing more liquid to more wood….faster.
The result is single-malt whiskey that is an American reinterpretation of traditional Scottish and Irish whiskies. Bottles at 92 proof, Hudson Single Malt stands up nicely to a splash of water, which releases aroma and softens the spirit on your lips. Produced in very small batches, Hudson Single Malt is a terrific whisky that should be a proud American addition to your bar.
And with the help of our man Nicky The Neck” – who has a friend who’s got a friend – we’ve been able to acquire a limited quantity of the whiskey at a phenomenal price: Tuthilltown Spirits Hudson Single Malt Whiskey for $39.95/ bottle.
I urge you to give this wonderful American interpretation of single-malt whiskey a try. You will be very glad you did.
And until next week…have fun!
| __________________________________________________________ TUTHILLTOWN SPIRITS HUDSON VALLEY SINGLE MALT WHISKEY
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_______________________________________________________________ TASTING NOTES – courtesy of our good friend Dr. Whisky Warm, gravy-textured aromas that are sweet, woody, and grainy. Red delicious apples, kimmel seeds, wet cardboard, mushrooms, carrot cake, tree sap, sourdough. Very interesting stuff. Spicy fresh wood flavours, some sweetness, but mainly driven by earthy flavours. Grass, oak, root vegetables, candlewax, pumpernickel, fennel, new leather, malty beer-like chewiness. SUMMARY: This is no big city “outta my way, I am really important and in a effing rush” whiskey, this stuff was made to be sipped, shared, and enjoyed among friends. Slowly. And maybe smuggled across borders in those adorable 375ml bottles. |
The Dalmore Constellation Collection Shines Light On The Distillery’s Brightest Stars
The launch of a new collection of the some of world’s rarest single malts has encouraged an even rarer partnership between a duty free retailer, an airport owner and a luxury brand.
The Dalmore has released a collection of its very best whiskies – created at the Highland distillery between the years 1964 and 1992 – through World Duty Free Group’s main tax and duty free store at Heathrow Terminal 5.
The exclusive arrangement lasting four weeks, along with the appeal of the collection, encouraged Heathrow to get involved by offering additional promotional space and allowing the use of the Royal Suite for the launch.
The Dalmore Constellation Collection initially consists of 21 individual expressions, which have spent their lives finessing in the finest casks from around the world before being bottled at natural cask strength and at natural colour.
The plan is to release approximately 20,000 bottles – 4,000 a year – under the Constellation Collection banner.
Prices range from £20,000 RSP for a bottle of the Vintage 1964 to £2,000 for a bottle of Vintage 1992. The entire collection will sell for £158,000 and World Duty Free Group has been allocated two complete collections; all the number 1 bottles from each year and all the number 8 bottles from each year.
QUOTES
The Dalmore Master Distiller, Richard Paterson
“In selecting these casks, we have identified our brightest stars from our darkest warehouses. Although much has changed since 1964, what has not is the consistency of quality inherent in each and every Dalmore expression. We’re very proud to share the shining lights of our Distillery with whisky lovers the world over.”
Global Head of Liquor & Tobacco for World Duty Free Group, David de Miguel
“The approach taken by The Dalmore to release and market a range of luxury whiskies as a collection which can grow year on year is inspired. We have a fantastic reputation for identifying and selling the finest whisky that money can buy. We are therefore delighted to be an exclusive partner for this prestigious launch, which ensures we are able to give our valued customers first access to this magnificent range.”
Retail Director for Heathrow, Muriel Zingraff
“Heathrow’s Terminal 5 is a renowned premium shopping destination and has become a powerful showcase for the very best in luxury brands. We pride ourselves on being able to offer our customers exclusives and we are very proud to be part of Dalmore’s launch at the airport.”
NOTES
The Dalmore is the third fastest growing malt in the world, and the distillery owns some of the rarest and oldest stocks in Scotland.
Dating back to the days of King Alexander III, The Dalmore gained its iconic 12-point stag emblem in 1263 when one of the Mackenzie clan saved the king from being gored by a stag.
The Dalmore has also adopted a version of the Mackenzie clan motto ‘I Shine Not Burn’, which highlights in a relevant way the brand’s commitment to illuminating the brilliance in everything that it does.
Unlike other whiskies The Dalmore is produced in very limited quantities. Due to the distinctive distillation process no two batches will be exactly the same, ensuring that each release of the The Dalmore is unique.
A bottle of The Dalmore 62 Sinclair sold last year in Changi Airport, Singapore, for £125,000, making it the most expensive bottle ever sold in retail. The first whisky to break the six figure barrier, The Dalmore Trinitas was launched in 2010 with the final bottle acquired by Harrods and subsequently sold for £120,000.
In the last two years The Dalmore has sold a number of rare and precious whiskies in record time. Dalmore’s Sirius peaked at £10,000 a bottle, and with only 10 available worldwide in 2009, the bottles sold out in four days and now change hands for twice that price.
The global whisky market is currently undergoing a significant boom in sales and as part of this growth Dalmore is seeing a real appetite for rare, luxury stocks.
Instructor Jordan Via with students at Stillwater Spirits in Petaluma, CA
Hands-on Whiskey Class: Grain selection, fermentation, distillation, barrel aging, proofing & bottling
Class Includes:
Denver International Airport shuttle to and from Breckenridge
Sunday night welcome BBQ
Five nights lodging in Breckenridge
Breakfasts and lunches
Hands-on instruction with Master Distiller Jordan Via (Monday through Thursday)
Demonstrations and presentations by industry professionals and suppliers
Optional morning walk with ADI President, Bill Owens
-Jordan Via and the staff at the American Distilling Institute
For more information, call Bill Owens at 510-886-7418
Bill’s Warning: consuming alcoholic beverages at high altitude can get you drunk fast, so limit your drinks to 1 per hour. Bottom’s up!
Location: Breckenridge Distillery, Breckenridge, CO
Dates: Sunday, June 3 through Friday, June 8, 2012
Sign up today!
Send a check for $35,00 to:
ADI
Box 577
Hayward, CA 94541
or… visit distilling.com to pay online
Glen Garioch, Single Malt Scotch Tasting on Tuesday, May 15th: you’re invited!
Join us for a vertical tasting of Glen Garioch Single Malt Scotch (with cheese pairings) hosted by Morrison Bowmore Distillers and directed by Master of Malts Iain McCallum.
The tasting will include Founder’s Reserve, 12 years old and three special vintages: 1994 Small Batch Release, 1997 Single cask exclusive to Park Avenue Liquor Shop and 1998 Single cask exclusive to Astor Wines and Spirits. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Please RSVP by May 10th to Ashley@savonacommunications.com
A few words from the Dundee Dell;
“Scotch Tasting on Sunday, May 6th @ 4 p.m. Scott has been planning this tasting and is so excited to give it! It is $50 per person (plus tax and gratuity) Hope to see you there!”
Next scotch tasting will be:
Sunday, June 3
Sunday, July 1
MEGA TASTING = August
Pierre Hermé Paris & La Maison du Whisky present a gift coffret
Pierre Hermé Paris & La Maison du Whisky composed a gift box in December 2008. Holiday periods are an opportunity for brands to partner to offer gift-boxes and the like. The French pastry chef Pierre Hermé released a whisky and … Continue reading →
WIESBERGER TOASTS MAIDEN VICTORY WITH RARE BALLANTINE’S 2012 CHAMPIONSHIP BLEND
Austrian, Bernd Wiesberger sealed a dominant maiden European Tour victory in style at the Ballantine’s Championship yesterday, holing a 20 foot birdie on the final hole to finish five shots clear of Richie Ramsay at the Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Korea.
Wiesberger left Korea with the Ballantine’s Championship trophy, a winner’s cheque for €367,500 (about US$487,000) and a rare bottle of Ballantine’s 2012 Championship Blend (pictured), co-created by 2011 champion Lee Westwood and Ballantine’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop. Wiesberger received the first of only 10 bottles produced, none of which will be sold.
“I’m going to bring back a couple of bottles of Ballantine’s so they will be opened, I’m sure,” said a delighted Wiesberger. “I’d be lying if I say I’m not going to have a nice celebration when I get home”.
The Austrian closed with a nerveless round of 68 to consolidate his overnight advantage and never looked like relinquishing his stranglehold, producing a faultless display of front running.
“Every sportsman dreams about winning, especially a tournament that was so well organised and has such great players in the field,” he said. “To play the way I did this week is very special.”
The 26-year-old had already stocked up on Ballantine’s earlier in the week after receiving two bottles of Ballantine’s 21 Year Old for shooting the lowest rounds on days two and three – two successive bogey-free 65s.
That seven-under-par score was equalled by Paul McGinley and Kiradech Aphibarnrat in the third round and by Adam Scott and Richie Ramsay in the fourth – but it was never bettered.
That meant that Wiesberger – along with McGinley, Scott, Kiradech and Ramsay – also received a bottle of Ballantine’s 30 Year Old as his share of the prize for setting the course record at Blackstone Golf Club.
“I think to win a tournament, you need to have your ‘A Game’ and especially at a tournament here, the Ballantine’s, where such a great field was present.”
Ballantine’s Championship 2012 took place from 26th – 29th April 2012 at the Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Korea.
Photo caption: Bernd Wiesberger with the trophy and a bottle of Ballantine’s 2012 Championship Blend after winning the 2012 Ballantine’s Championship. Photo: James Cheadle/Ballantine’s.
Notes:
Ballantine’s is the number one ultra-premium whisky in Asia Pacific and the number one Scotch whisky in Europe, selling more than 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 80 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past ten years for quality as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.
• Ballantine’s has been title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship since 2008 and has committed to the event until 2013.
• Ballantine’s has been an official sponsor of the Scottish Open since 2007. The 2012 event will be held at the Castle Stuart Golf Links, Inverness, from July 12-15.
• The first Ballantine’s sponsored golf tournament was played in 1960 at Wentworth Golf Club, England.
• Ballantine’s was the official sponsor of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in 2009 and 2011.
For further information visit: www.chivasbrothers.com
From David at Nickolls and Perks: Thanks goes out to all who attended the wonderful Benriach/Glendronach tasting last week, for making the event a success. Stewart was I felt a welcome presenter of the Scotch dram for us, he delighted us in the detail of production methods without overstretching our tolerances and we will be seeing him again.
Perhaps by way of a contrasting style we look forward now to receiving Colin Dunn (Diageo) on Friday 18th into the Stourbridge cellars.
Diageo Spirits with Colin Dunn
Friday 18th May
at 7:30pm
Colin is a consummate performer who handles all types of occasions from festivals
to major drinks brand launches, always keeping the audience in touch and smiling.
Event Drams : Dufftown Singleton 15, Talisker 18, Rosebank 21
, Glen Spey 21, Johnnie Walker Gold Label 18, Lagavulin 12.
+ Colin may bring some extra accompaniment along !
Tickets £25
Slainte!
