Whisky Review #245 – Black & White . . . www.ralfy.com gives a helping hand to a decent Blended Scotch ( a wee change from malts!)

So what’s the best whisky or scotch for Burns Night?

It’s that time of year when the haggis gets brought out and wee, sleeket, cowran, tim’rous beastie’s everywhere panic and the age-old question is asked: what’s the best whisky for Burns Night?

In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with either the Whyte & Mackay 19 year old whisky or the Whyte & Mackay 22 year old whisky (without water even) because the age and the weight of these fine drams along with the sherry styles involved make them go just fine with haggis, neeps and tatties (and if anyone’s wondering how they should drink their whisky with the haggis, let them watch this video) – in fact, you can even add the whisky when cooking the haggis or just after it’s ready, as well as using it for the toasts.

There’s a wee bit more about both these fine whiskies in the videos below – and at the end there’s a wee treat for anyone looking to cook something a little bit different with haggis.

And for the more modern amongst you looking for a bit of help with a Burns Supper, I’m told that there’s an app for phones out there complete with autocue for reading the toasts and even tells you which way to face so you’re looking at Burns homeland – regardless of where you are!

Whatever you get up to – and I see a few people are holding off until the weekend – have a great night. I see there’s already plenty chatter on the Twitters about it with #burnsnight, #burnssupper & #robertburns – great to see people coming together from all over the globe celebrating this fine Scottish poet and more importantly, having a great time.

We are pleased to announce our events for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which this year runs from the 3rd to the 7th of May.

Friday 4th May 2012
10.00 – 13.00
Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery
With Ian Buxton and George Grant
Published by The Angel’s Share to commemorate the 175th anniversary of the Glenfarclas Distillery in 2011, Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery, by renowned whisky writer Ian Buxton, is both a biography of the family owned distillery and a record of a remarkable year in the distillery’s long history, preserved for the future. Delving deep into the character and provenance of the Ballindalloch distillery, this book has been carefully presented by designer Jules Akel with original material from the distillery’s archives and newly commissioned photography by John Paul.

After a tour of the distillery join Ian Buxton and George Grant for a Glenfarclas tasting, during which Ian Buxton will share with you his experiences of researching Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery. Included in the price of the event is your personal copy of Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery, signed for you by Ian Buxton and George Grant.
£50.00
To book please visit http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/event_detail.php?event=830

Saturday 5th of May 2012
14.00-16.00
Glenfarclas Chairman’s Reserve Tasting
With Kate Wright
Consider this the post-175th Anniversary wrap party and an excuse to try 4 fantastic Glenfarclas, all over 40 years old! After the obligatory tour of the distillery with Kate Wright, Sales & Marketing Executive, you will try the Chairman’s Reserve, bottled in 2011 to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the Glenfarclas Distillery, along with single cask offerings from each of the three years that went into this limited edition – 1969, 1966 and 1965.
£40.00
To book please visit http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/event_detail.php?event=952

Sunday 6th of May 2012
19.00-22.00
Glenfarclas Dinner at Cragganmill Restaurant, Grantown-on-Spey
With Graham Harvey and Robert Ransom
Enjoy a four course Glenfarclas Whisky Dinner at Craggan Mill Restaurant, Grantown-on-Spey. Graham Harvey and Sheila McConachie, chef/patrons of Craggan Mill, and co-authors of the award winning book The Whisky Kitchen, will present a four course dinner, with each course inspired by an expression of Glenfarclas. To start, the Velouté of Haggis with Glenfarclas 15 Years Old, which featured in Graham’s winning menu for the 2007 Spirit of Speyside Chef Competition. Robert Ransom, Director of Sales & Marketing, of family owned Glenfarclas, will introduce an expression of Glenfarclas to accompany each course.
£65.00
NB: Only 2 places left
To book please visit: http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/event_detail.php?event=492

Monday 7th of May 2012
10.00-12.00
The Family Casks – Help Choose the 1997 Bottling
With George Grant
The Family Casks are a unique collection of single casks whiskies, with at least one cask bottled for every year from 1952 to 1996. To select the casks for each year, George Grant has nosed over 200 different casks. Now he would like you to assist in selecting the cask for the 1997 vintage to add to the collection. After a tour of the distillery, and a tasting of a selection of The Family Casks, George Grant will introduce a short list of 1997 cask samples, for you to nose, taste, comment on and then vote on. The chosen cask will then go forward for bottling, to be released for sale later in the year.
£40.00
To book please visit http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/event_detail.php?event=708

Glenfarclas
Email: info@glenfarclas.co.uk
Website: www.glenfarclas.co.uk
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/glenfarclas/
Tel: +44 (0) 1807 500257
Fax: +44 (0) 1807 500234
Address: Glenfarclas Distillery, Ballindalloch, Banffshire AB37 9BD, UK

On 7th of March Malmaison Aberdeen will host what promises to be a truly unforgettable night of outstanding whisky and stunning food. Come along and join Richard Paterson from Whyte &Mackay for a Masterclass and Whisky Dinner for only £65.

Allow Richard Paterson 3rd Generation Master Blender, winner of “Blender of the year”, “Distiller of the year”, “Keepers of the Quaich” and many more awards to excite and enlighten you with a great selection of personally created whiskies for Whyte & Mackay including Dalmore, Fettercairn, Isle of Jura and Mackinlay’s Rare and Old Shackleton.

7.00pm start.

Love Whisky? Come along, We Dare You!

Please ask any of our bar staff or contact us on: bstaber@malmaison.com

Bernd Staber
Bar Manager
Malmaison Aberdeen
49-53 Queens Road
Aberdeen
AB15 4YP

After the success of our very first whisky and chocolate tasting collaboration with the famous chocolatier Paul A Young, we thought we’d better put another in the diary, please join us!

Whisky and Chocolate Tasting
1st March 2012, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Milroy’s of Soho, 3 Greek Street, London W1D 4NX

Price per ticket: £50

Be taken through an extravaganza of chocolate and whisky matchings with Paul A Young’s himself and his famous chocolates. The evening will leave taste buds tantalised and chocolate lovers satisfied.

 To place an order please visit milroys.co.uk, call Elizabeth on 020 7437 2385 or email Elizabeth.Williams@jeroboams.co.uk

Our mailing address is:

Milroy’s of Soho
3 Greek Street
London, England W1D 4NX

Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

1995 Highland Park 16 Year Old A.D. Rattray Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whiskey 375ml ($55.99)

Talisker 30 year old 2011 Limited Edition sle of Skye Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($399.99)

Scotland – Blended Scotch

Johnnie Walker Black Blended Scotch Whisky 750ml – 1 available ($29.99)

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

Whisky Live Dublin is back – building on the fantastic success from its debut in 2011. The world’s premier whisky tasting show will make a welcome return to The Round Room at The Mansion House in the heart of Dublin’s city centre on Saturday 26th May 2012.

NEW FEATURES FOR 2012 – mcleanscotland are the official tour agents for Whisky Live Dublin – and are offering the Grand Tour; 4 night’s accommodation Dublin City, 4 fully cooked Irish breakfasts, coach trips to Kilkenny Town, Cooley & Kilbeggan Distilleries and a ticket to Whisky Live! Even a castle hotel is available for those with a liking for luxury… www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/4nightwhiskylivetour.asp

Tuesday 22 May Café en Seine – whisky and food evening – whisky tasting with a wee bit of food to drive you insane! See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/enseine.asp

Wednesday 23 May Clontarf Castle Hotel sample drams from the Castle Brands range, Celtic Crossing, Clontarf, Knappogue Castle single malts. See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/clontarfmasterclass.asp

Thursday 24 May Palace Bar – whisky evening 5 Irish whiskey’s from the Cooley’s range. Not a masterclass, rather an experience with Willie and friends with humour, whiskey and of course; the craik! See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/dublinpalace.asp

Thursday 24 May 10am coach to The Old Kilbeggan Distillery See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/halfdaytrips.asp  

Friday 25 May A morning coach trip to Cooley’s Distillery, Dundalk. Unlike any other distillery, a rare chance to see into the workings of this gem with all its rough edges and non tourist tour! See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/halfdaytrips.asp

Friday 25 May Whiskey Tasting, Dinner & Irish Show A superb whisky tasting, 3 course dinner and a night of Irish entertainment held at the Arlington Hotel, O’Connell Bridge. See more www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/fridaydublin.asp

To book tickets for Whisky Live Event on Saturday 26th May, simply visit www.whiskylive.com .

Tickets are limited so don’t forget to book now to avoid disappointment and we very much look forward to seeing you at Whisky Live Dublin.

VIP tickets also available – hurry for these, limited supply.

Some exciting news in Australia:

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (Australia) is delighted to announce an exciting new collaboration with The Royal Exchange of Sydney.  The Royal Exchange is a private Members’ Club in central Sydney offering fine dining in the restaurant and the opportunity to enjoy a drink in the adjacent bar…and herein lies the connection.
 
From Monday February 6th 2012, Members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (worldwide) will be able to buy Society whiskies by the dram at the bar of The Royal Exchange. Members may take up to two guests at a time to the venue. Some of the bottlings on offer will be exclusive to the Royal Exchange Whisky Bar and will not be available through Outturn (Aust) nor featured at any tasting events around the country.  All that is needed to gain entry to the club is your Society membership card. A whisky ‘menu’ will be available for you to peruse the drams on offer and you will also be able to dine at the venue.
 
More details about this exciting new collaboration will follow prior to the opening in February. This is the first SMWS “bar-in-bar” venue in Australia, and it is intended to follow suit with similar whisky bars in other cities around the country in the near future. 

www.smws.com.au

The whisky has been inspired by the character of Thor. Being the god of thunder and sky, the god of war and warden of Valhalla, Thor is a powerful, strong and fierce character. Not known for his subtlety, he commands respect.

Like its namesake this whisky has a natural strength, drawing influence from the environment unique to Orkney, to create a truly elemental spirit. Distilled where sea turns to ocean, Highland Park is a meeting point of nature’s forces, resulting in single malt which exudes balance, complexity and character.

The whisky is a 16 year old 52.1% abv strength whisky. It delivers powerful smoky notes reminiscent of Thor’s Hammer smashing against the Orkney’s Mountains of Hoy, carving the great wall of stone. The underlying sweet notes are his inner strength and show that although his exterior warrior façade, there is still the caring, humble god that makes him a much loved legendary character.
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This whisky is not for the faint hearted. Only people brave enough to face the wrath of Thor can ever be rewarded with the experience which is the whisky. Making Highland Park Thor truly a whisky of the gods.

click here to buy

January 2012 – New Arrivals

Wow…How quickly has January flown in? It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating Christmas & New Year!

We kick off 2012 with a fine new selection of whiskies including 7 new malts from The Dimensions Collection by Duncan Taylor, an outstanding limited range of single malt & single grain whiskies. We’ve some very rare & elusive Port Ellen’s back in stock along with batch 5 Glendronach single casks and several cracking international bottlings.

We’ve listed a few of our favourites below. To view all new arrivals follow this link…

Sláinte

Abbey Whisky

Abbey Whisky
enquiries@abbeywhisky.com
http://www.abbeywhisky.com/
07890 983 844