The sale includes around 300 bottles of Whisky divided into 63 lots. The full catalogue can be found here and as ever I will send out a complimentary catalogue to those who want one.

Some of the highlights in the sale for me include the immaculate bottle of 1930’s Johnnie Walker Red Label which I personally took out of its original ‘Merry Christmas from Johnnie Walker’ wooden packing crate before the sale.

There is also a good selection of Macallan including the Royal Marriage, a few variants of their Over 25 Year Old Anniversary Malt (including a miniature), and even a bottle and matching miniature of Private Eye.

There is also a Highland Park 1967 Distillation, Bowmore Bicentenary 1964 Edition, Laphroaig Unblended 10 Year Old, etc.

There are also very large quantities of good vintage and drinking whisky, and as ever, many lots are sold without reserve so please make sure you leave bids even if they are cheeky ones; sometimes they win!

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

Macallan 13 Year Old Hart Brothers Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 11 available ($75.99)

Samaroli Evolution 2011 Multi Vintage Pure Malt Scotch Whisky 750ml – 2 available ($314.99)
Well this is an outrageous one from the preeminent Italian bottler, Samaroli. This is a vatting of incredibly old single malt from Scotland’s artisan distilleries chosen exclusively for their traditional production methods. The blend of single malts is allowed to mellow harmoniously over the years with each bottling new malts are added. The oldest whisky in the vatting clocks in well over 40 years old and it includes many of Scotland’s hardest to find malts. This is truly a special whisky representing a style no longer being produced by most blenders. While each is only represented in small portions, the single malts within this vatting are unprecedented in their rarity. The blend includes: ’57 Mortlach, ’59, ’62, ’65 Springbank, ’64 Bruichladdich, ’67 Laphroaig Sherry, ’68, ’71 Glenlivet Sherry, ’70 Laphroaig, ’71 Glen Garioch Sherry, ’73 Longrow, ’74 Longrow Sherry, ’74 Ardbeg, ’75 Glen Garioch, ’76 Ardbeg, ’77 Ardmore, ’77 Caol Ils, ’78 Talisker Sherry, ’79 Springbank Sherry, ’79 Glen Grant Sherry, ’80 Highland Park Sherry, ’81 Port Ellen, ’84 Highland Park, ’85 Springbank Sherry, ’87 Longrow, ’88 Lagavulin, ’89 Bowmore.

Back in Stock

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Sazerac 90-Proof Straight Rye Whiskey 750ml – 8 available ($26.99)
The K & L Sazerac Cocktail: 1/2 oz Kubler absinthe, 2 oz of Sazerac Straight Rye, 1/2 oz simple syrup, 2 dashes of Peychaud bitters, Lemon – twist as garnish. Fill an old fashioned glass with ice. Add the absinthe to the glass. Combine all other in a shaker and mix over ice. Discard the ice and absinthe from the old fashioned glass, letting the absinthe coat the glass. Strain shaker ingredients into prepared old fashion glass. Garnish with the lemon twist.

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

DEFIANT SPEYSIDE SPIRIT INJECTING ‘WATER OF LIFE’ INTO MALT WHISKY COUNTRY

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival kicks off in stunning style today (Thursday, 3rd May) smashing previous records with ticket sales already exceeding those of last year’s end-of-event total.

The five-day ‘dramfest’ is defying the national double-dip, as well as depressions in the global economy, by attracting the biggest potential audience to date. Organisers recorded the busiest first 24 hours in the event’s thirteen year history when the festival programme went live online earlier this year; within hours dozens of the Festival’s most popular tours, tastings, masterclasses and workshops were sold out and whisky fans had spent a staggering £50,000+ to secure spots at a range of the festival’s exclusive and hugely sought after events.

Bookings have continued apace since then and the Festival, which has grown in both size and reputation over the years to become one of the most important whisky festivals in the world, is bracing itself for the influx of thousands of international whisky aficionados eager to base themselves in the world’s premier whisky destination.

As interest in Scotland’s national drink and the value of Scotch whisky exports has continued to increase, defying global economic uncertainty, advance bookings have proved particularly attractive to visitors from Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and the UK. But the organisers report interest from as far afield as Japan, Australia, Russia, South Africa, Canada and the USA.

A varied and quality programme of over 300 events has tempted loyal whisky fans to Speyside to enjoy exclusive events such as the opening dinner at The Macallan Distillery featuring entertainment from three times Brit Award wining Scottish songstress Eddi Reader. The renowned Spirit of Speyside Whisky School, ‘ultimate’ distillery visits, whisky and food pairing workshops, as well as the Speyside ‘Mystery Bus’ and ‘Seven Stills’ tours have proved popular with regular visitors.

However, festival organisers are keen to point out that whisky fans are still able to book or just turn up to a wide range of more than 200 events over the five-day festival.

This year the Festival is set to breathe ‘water of life’ into a wider catchment area, as events have been expanded into Badenoch and Strathspey.
Last year the Festival recorded 47,000 visits, which generated £613,000 within Speyside and £722,000 across the country, excelling in its aim to boost the area in what was previously perceived as the ‘off season’.

As the launch date approaches, Festival organisers are in high spirits. Jim Royan, Festival Chairman, said: “The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival puts Malt Whisky Country on an international stage. We have much to be proud of – a higher concentration of distilleries than any other region on earth and 7 of the 10 top selling single malt whiskies in the world.

“Our visitors come from all over the world to share our passion for Speyside’s landscape, history, culture, music, people and, of course, its whisky. We know they enjoy the experience and our hospitality because they are inspired to return to Speyside year after year.”

Mary Hemsworth, Festival Manager, has been delighted at the number of whisky fans heading for the Festival. She said: “This is my first year organising the Festival, and the anticipation is huge. We have literally thousands of whisky fans descending on Speyside this weekend, and we want their experience of Speyside and the Festival to be authentic, inspiring and spirited.

“Everyone involved in staging an event has been working very hard to show, once again, that Speyside can rise to the occasion, and put on a world class festival to showcase our world class product and environment.”

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is one of the highlights on Scotland’s events calendar, and we have seen in recent years that its popularity is continuing to grow.

“Whisky is one of the country’s most iconic products, and the Festival’s 2012 programme will once again attract visitors from all over the world. Scotland is the perfect stage for events, and Speyside provides the ideal location for the Festival with its beautiful landscapes and world-renowned distilleries.”

Notes

– Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs from Thursday, 3rd May – Monday, 7th May. Check out www.spiritofspeyside.com for up-to-date news and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside

– The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors needing to travel to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options including a taxi voucher scheme (sponsored by Diageo) providing festival goers with a 25% reduction on fares with participating operators, various pre-bookable dedicated bus shuttles and even a “Dram Line” off-road Argocat taxi for a day long distillery tour or Saturday night whisky-country-crawl.

– The Festival also runs several competitions and awards including the prestigious Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards as well as the Photographic Competition

– Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from EventScotland and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners

– EventScotland: EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org.

– About the Year of Creative Scotland 2012: The Year of Creative Scotland began on January 1, 2012 and is a chance to showcase, celebrate and promote Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage. Through a dynamic and exciting year-long programme of activity celebrating our world-class events, festivals, culture and heritage, the year puts Scotland’s culture and creativity in the international spotlight with a focus on cultural tourism and developing the events industry and creative sector in Scotland. More information about the programme can be found at: www.visitscotland.com/creative. The Year of Creative Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL.

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart to go stateside with Benromach

Benromach Single Malt Whisky is set to go overseas with the National Theatre of Scotland as it continues to sponsor an international tour of the Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart in America.

Building on its successful partnership with the National Theatre Scotland and following its support of the production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe last year, the production will tour Scotland, England and internationally in 2012 and 2013.

Some US dates are sponsored by Benromach Single Malt Whisky, with American audiences being offered the opportunity to share a dram of the Speyside Scotch Malt during the show. This sponsorship will cover all US venues where state legislation allows and is part of Benromach’s venturing into the arts and their first foray into international arts touring.

In keeping with the site-specific origins of the show, the production will be staged in taverns, breweries, and community spaces and studios with bars built in, where stories are told, re-told, sung and passed on. It’s an evening of supernatural storytelling, music and theatre inspired by the Border Ballads, Robert Burns and the poems of Robert Service.

The show opens at the Wicked Wolf Tavern, Festival of New Ideas, New Haven in Connecticut on 20th June before moving on to North Carolina, Chicago, Massachusetts, Ohio, Purdue, Washington DC, Michigan, Texas and California. The production will also be visiting Vancouver, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand and Brazil.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Michael Urquhart Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, owners of the Benromach Distillery in Forres, said: “We’re proud to be supporting this tour as it goes international. Scotland has many world-class artists and this individual and artistic performance deserves to

be shared with the UK and people internationally. The US already enjoys one of Scotland’s other fine traditions being one of the largest export markets for Scotch whisky so we hope the audience enjoys sharing a free dram of Benromach with this great performance.”

The tale of Prudencia Hart, an uptight academic, follows her as she sets off to attend a conference one wintery morning in Kelso in the Scottish Borders. As the snow begins to fall, little does she know who or what awaits her there. Her wild journey through the night takes her into and out of different supernatural and natural realms looking for folk songs.

Elly Rothnie, Development Director, National Theatre of Scotland said: “The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart was a huge success at the Fringe last year and our audiences loved sampling one of Scotland’s finest malt whiskies as part of the experience. We are thrilled to continue this important partnership in 2012 where we will take the production and Benromach whisky to new audiences across the globe.”

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart originally toured Scotland in February 2011 subsequently playing at a number of top venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh. The production has won two awards, a CATS Award for Best Music and Sound and a Herald Angel.

Notes:

About Benromach

Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993. Drawing on generations of whisky expertise, the company carried out a painstaking refurbishment, and the distillery was officially re-opened by Prince Charles in 1998.

Just two men hand-craft Benromach using the finest Scottish barely and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. They fill new spirit into the highest quality casks before being left to mature at the distillery for many years. The Benromach portfolio includes the award winning Benromach 10 Years Old and the first fully certified organic single malt – Benromach Organic.

Benromach expressions include:

Benromach Ten Years Old

Benromach Ten Years Old is created from the finest Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. After being matured for at least ten years, it emerges golden in colour and displays rich fruit, sweet chocolate and delicate spicy aromas. With a rich sherry influence, the mouth-watering palate coats the senses with exotic fruit flavours, toasted malt and a delicate hint of smoke.

Benromach Traditional

A rich and mellow single malt with fruit and malty tones, balanced with a hint of smoke.

Benromach Peat Smoke

Full bodied, intense and challenging with a smoky character, yet balanced with the fruity elegance of Speyside.

Benromach Origins

A series of special bottlings crafted to highlight how small changes in the art of whisky-making can help to shape the character of the final single malt.

Please visit www.benromach.com for details.

About the National Theatre of Scotland

The National Theatre of Scotland is supported by the Scottish Government. Since its launch in February 2006, the National Theatre of Scotland has been involved in creating over 160 productions in 125 different locations. With no building of its own, the Company takes theatre all over Scotland and beyond, working with existing and new venues and companies to create and tour theatre of the highest quality. It takes place in the great buildings of Scotland, but also in site-specific locations, airports and tower blocks, community halls and drill halls, ferries and forests. The company has performed to over 710,000 people, across three continents. www.nationaltheatrescotland.com

The Society will present 5 of its rare and unique single cask, single malt Scotch whiskies. Dinner will be prepared by Executive Chef Bill Morris and Executive Sous Chef Jim Campbell and paired with our select expressions.

DATE: Thursday, May 17, 2012
TIME: 7:00pm – 9:00pm. Registration begins at 6:30pm.

The Rainier Club
820 Fourth Avenue
Seattle, WA

TICKET PRICE: $100.00 per person
Business Casual. Jackets Preferred. No denim or athletic attire.

To purchase tickets call 800.990.1991

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America, Ltd.
10210 NW 50th Street
Sunrise, Florida 33351
800-990-1991

www.ralfy.com launches a short examination of Scotland’s Whisky Regions with Whisky Review 268 – Oban 14yo (Highland Region).

Auld Reekie £10.00 OFF A BOTTLE

Edinburgh has long been associated with smoke, whisky and royalty. It is reported that in 1777 there were no fewer than 400 illicit distilleries in Edinburgh. These easily went undetected in the thick smoke that filled Edinburgh. The smoke was such an issue in Edinburgh that the capital affectionately became known as “Auld Reekie”. In more modern times Edinburgh has lost its reputation as being the smoky capital of Scotland with the island of Islay now more synonymous in whisky circles with smoke than Edinburgh.

Duncan Taylor’s Auld Reekie is a 10 year old bottling of Islay Malt whisky. Each cask is specially selected for the pungent smoky character unique to Islay whisky. Auld Reekie is bottled at 46%, natural colour, without the aid of chill-filtration.

WAS £41.99 – NOW £31.99 SAVE £10.00

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW

Single Malts Limited | 36 Gordon Street | Huntly | Aberdeenshire | AB54 8EQ

Rebecca Creek Texas Whiskey

Rebecca Creek Fine Texas Whiskey is whiskey distilled in San Antonio Texas and is a whiskey that can be enjoyed straight or mixed. First released in August of 2011 and produced from a proprietary blend of domestic malted barley and … Continue reading →

STARS SHOW ‘TRUE CHARACTER’ IN BALLANTINE’S CHAMPIONSHIP PHOTO CALL

British Open champion Darren Clarke and YE Yang, the first Asian to win a Major, headlined a gallery of stars at the official photo call ahead of this week’s €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship, which teed off today at the Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Korea.

Flamboyant Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, last year’s runner-up, world number 11 Adam Scott, Englishman Ian Poulter and young Korean stars Bae Sang-moon and Kim Kyung-tae also featured in a selection of photo opportunities, which took place ahead of the Gala Dinner at Grand Hyatt Seoul.

Photo captions:

[Image1] Australian star Adam Scott (left), YE Yang (middle), the 2009 US PGA Championship winner, and British Open champion Darren Clarke (right) in a photo call at Grand Hyatt Seoul ahead of this week’s €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship, which will be held at Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon from April 26-29. All three players are trying to win the trophy for the first time along with other top golfers including Ian Poulter, Bae Sang-moon, Kim Kyung-tae and Miguel Angel Jiménez, last year’s runner-up. Photo: James Cheadle/Ballantine’s.

[Image 2] Australian star Adam Scott (left), YE Yang (middle), the 2009 US PGA Championship winner, and British Open champion Darren Clarke (right) in a photo call at Grand Hyatt Seoul ahead of this week’s €2.2 million Ballantine’s Championship, which will be held at Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon from April 26-29. All three players are trying to win the trophy for the first time along with other top golfers including Ian Poulter, Bae Sang-moon, Kim Kyung-tae and Miguel Angel Jiménez, last year’s runner-up. Photo: James Cheadle/Ballantine’s.

[Image 3] Ballantine’s Championship contenders Ian Poulter, Bae Sang-moon and Miguel Angel Jiménez tend the bar in a photo call at Grand Hyatt Seoul ahead of this week’s €2.2 million tournament, which will be held at Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon from April 26-29. All three players are trying to win the trophy for the first time along with Australian star Adam Scott, British Open champion Darren Clarke, Kim Kyung-tae and Korean legend YE Yang, the 2009 US PGA Championship winner. Photo: James Cheadle/Ballantine’s.

[Image 4] Ballantine’s Championship contenders (left to right) Bae Sang-moon, British Open champion Darren Clarke, Ian Poulter, Kim Kyung-tae, YE Yang, Adam Scott and Miguel Angel Jiménez relax at the tournament’s Gala Dinner at Grand Hyatt Seoul. All seven players are trying to win the trophy for the first time. Photo: James Cheadle/Ballantine’s.

Notes:

Ballantine’s

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  and www.ballantines.com

Angels on Tour with friends from the Netherlands

THE TOUR; just a quickie whisky trip! The guys arrived Thursday 26 April at Edinburgh, Paul was there to meet them and all set off for Speyside. Calling in first at Perth to Greggs for some food, then away again to Speyside, first real stop; GLENFARCLAS DISTILLERY. Wet and windy today but the tour went ahead and the lads really enjoyed it, also the drams at the end! A good start to the trip – ready for more now.

Next stop was at the superb Speyside Cooperage. Watching the coopers work is a real eye opener for many people, you just don’t imagine how fast they work or how they do it, a skill for sure, the lads enjoyed it here, Rolf had a go at building a cask, say no more on that score. Next – GLENFIDDICH distillery. A coffee before the tour, a quick hello and begging for freebies from Bert, then away on the tour. Paul met them at the tour end and helped them enjoy their drams (3). It was still raining! Checking in now at the hotel, another drink (beer this time) before wandering over to the Highlander Inn for dinner. The guys enjoyed a few of the drams on offer, all had dinner and sat back satisfied with the day. As Paul headed back to the hotel – aye, more work to do – the lads had another dram.

Friday 27 April; the day started in more rain! A 40 minute trip to KNOCKDHU distillery, a bloody grand tour taken by Ally, good man, good tour and great craik. A viewing of all aspects of this distillery from old to new, a tour they were not expecting, its so unlike Glenfiddich or any other distillery, warts an all! Dust an dirt, great! Drams followed of two aged drams and a new spirit dram, it was Gordon who joined us for this, a few things to collect by paul, thank you’s and goodbyes as we departed for the next section of the day. DUNCAN TAYLOR … a tour of the warehouse, bottling plant and of course a taste! All enjoyed the Black Bull blend, so much so bottles came away with us, thanks to Mark, Duncan and Euan for their time here, the lads found the visit interesting. From here to food, Deans was full of senior citizens on a day oot, so we drove to the CO OP in Dufftown for butties as a carry out. Now back to Perth, but no before another distillery, this one; DALWHINNIE. A tour and triple taste here before arriving in Perth, check in – see you later in the pub lads. Paul was meeting up with Liz tonight for a drink and to meet up with the lads again … for some reason we never saw them! So Liz and Paul just shared a few drinks, she stayed at Pauls place in Perth making it easy for tomorrow’s tour.

Saturday 28 April; Trying to get Liz moving was a struggle! Once the monster was up it was easier, met the lads at their hotel and set out for Crieff. We arrived at GLENTURRET Distillery, ah… cracked open a bottle of the Black Grouse Alpha Edition for a wee taster. All agreed it was a really good blend and one they liked, even Liz! Off they went on the tour, Paul headed up for a cuppa tea (he was still driving) and a chat to Pat (she is lovely), after a brief shopping spree Liz and the lads headed up to Paul, where we had a further 4 drams and a Ginger Grouse waiting. A good visit. Before we left, we enjoyed a brief dabble with Clontarf Irish Whiskey (Paul has a bottle with him and everyone had an expanding dram cup/key ring). As we drove onwards through the Perthshire countryside, we stopped at St Fillans at the loch for another couple of drams Alpha and Clontarf again! Then lunch at Killin, great food and aye, you guessed another drink. Moving on … we drove to Dewars and enjoyed another Grouse in the car park, sorry lads at Dewars! From here to EDRADOUR Distillery, where Andrew and his wife (and kids) welcomed us in, a very brief tour followed a tasting session, I can actually say no one liked the Chardonay finish much. Then back to Perth for a spruce up. As the lads cleaned up, Liz fell asleep at Pauls! Waking the divel again, collected the lads and headed up to Broughty Ferry. It was Rolf’s birthday, Liz had set up a dinner with a few friends in her local pub, so after drinks at the Fishermans pub, we moved to the Ship for more and our dinner. You had to be there to know what went on, a good few laughs, good grub and all watched Liz slowly sinking after too much lemonade! Paul drove the group back to Perth.

Sunday 29 April; away to Edinburgh at 10am. A quick tour by car of the old and new towns, dropped off the boys and Paul headed to go see the Old Firm game on telly. Celtic were robbed! rather than 7 nil they ended up with a 3 nil win. Och well, a great end to the game, some Glasgow humour for yer; as the Rangers fans were leaving the ground, the Celtic Park tannoy came on with “when will we see you again?” by the Three Degrees, if you dont get it, we cannee tell you, what a laugh! All met up at 3.30 and headed back to the airport, farewells and haste ye backs all over the place. Another grand tour done and dusted.

www.angelswhiskyclub.com  www.mcleanscotland.com