Shelter Point Distillery Releases Inaugural Cask Offer

Vancouver Island (November 2011) Shelter Point Distillery is making history this month as it releases its inaugural Cask Offer to the public on November 1, 2011.

Shelter Point Distillery is extremely pleased to be offering a limited number of casks from its annual production to whisky connoisseurs who want to be part of this West Coast Whisky adventure from the very beginning.

Three years in the making, Shelter Point Distillery began its maiden voyage to sow, grow and distill barley when distilling commenced in June 2011. Under the guidance of well known Master Distiller, Mike Nicolson, the spirit is distilled batch by batch in traditional copper pot stills and will utilize waters drawn from our own aquifer, which is glacier fed by nearby snowcapped mountains.

Whisky is matured in the highest quality oak casks, each individually numbered and marked with the owner’s name. Cask Owners will be involved in a close relationship with their barrel through annual cask samples, opportunities to visit the Distillery as well as input into deciding at which stage in the maturation they would like to bottle the single malt and at what strength. Shelter Point will take care of the bottling and owners will
have the option to create personalized labels for their unique product.

“So far, Shelter Point’s new make character is developing between the ‘green’ and ‘fruity’ categories. The American oak will complement this with further layers of vanilla/coconut leading to what we hope will be a light but subtly complex mature spirit.” Says Master Distiller Mike Nicolson regarding the flavor profile of the new make spirit.

Contact us for information on this opportunity.

Contact: Rebecca Berry
Phone: 778-420-2200
Email: info@shelterpointdistillery.com
Web: www.shelterpointdistillery.com

Diageo Special Releases 2011

At last the time has come for this year’s Special Releases from Diageo. The line up is more exciting than ever: not only are we blessed with the ever better Port Ellen and Brora and old favourites Lagavulin and Caol Ila but we have a new entry from recently closed Port Dundas, the return of the much missed Rosebank and a surprising performance from Knockando.

For the first time we are offering all seven Special Releases 2011 as a complete set at a very special one-off price. Due to the tiny quantities available of Port Ellen we are only offering it as part of the Special Releases 2011 Complete Set. We are unable to allocate more than one Special Releases 2011 Complete Set per person.

Brora 32 Year Old
This is Diageo’s oldest ever bottling of this closed distillery, at 32 years old and with only 1,404 bottles, less than half the quantity of recent releases it is sure to sell out quickly. A maritime character on the nose – perhaps more so than previous releases, with grapes, wood smoke and sherbet lemon. The palate is drying with a saltiness and notes of icing sugar. The finish is long and had a distinct mintiness with faint smoke lingering. Really rather elegant. £300

Knockando 25 Year Old
Matured in first fill ex-sherry casks, the whisky is unusually rich and deep in flavour. The first limited release from this distillery has less than 4,500 bottles. Not for everyone – this one’s strictly for fans of opulent, bitter sherry aged whisky. Heaps of burnt caramel on the nose, with raisins superseding the toffee notes. This leads to Demerara sugar and red fruits on the palate, with a short espresso like finish.£135

Rosebank 21 Year Old
Gathered from some of the oldest stocks held by the original distillers, Rosebank 21 was aged in a combination of refill American oak and refill European oak casks. The whisky is a testament to the now closed Lowland distillery. Smells of roses! Very light floral nose with citrus fruit complimenting. A silky palate, with peaches and other stone fruit followed by a soft and elegant finish. Astonishing that a whisky of 53.8%ABV could be so light on its feet. £159

Port Dundas 20 Year Old
A first ever single grain Diageo Special Release, this whisky is the sum of just three casks from the closed Glasgow distillery. Cherry and dark chocolate on the nose with an underlying grassy quality. Delicate sweetness dominated by pepper and vanilla. The finish has anise notes with gentle toffee lingering. A dram that grows and grows. £115

Lagavulin 12 Year Old
This is the tenth Special Release 12 year old Lagavulin, and has always been favourite here at Milroy’s, a stunning cask strength reflection of this great distillery. Classic peat on the nose with sweet wood smoke. Intriguing: powerfully herbal with brilliant (but weird) combination of raspberry, meat and herbs. A great dram with plenty more peat and olive oil notes. £62.95

Caol Ila 12 Year Old
This is the sixth un-peated Caol Ila release, and second at twelve years old. A fantastic example of Caol Ila produced in similarly small amounts of around 6,000 bottles.Distinctly Islay but without resorting to any peat influence. Lots of citrus fruit and chlorine on the nose. Creamy palate with buttery rich texture, fresh fruits and vanilla, finished with a slight chocolatiness. £54.95

Port Ellen 32 Year Old
The oldest release of Port Ellen to come from the distillers. Sweet and gentle on the nose with marzipan and quiet smoke. The palate is light and honeyed and does not betray its great age. Pepper and spicy smoke flavours gather pace and escalate to a crescendo then ebb away very, very slowly. Glorious. Best Port Ellen in years.

Available as part of the Special Releases 2011 Complete Set.

Special Releases 2011 Complete Set Only 4 Available!

Seven bottles – including Port Ellen!

Port Ellen 32 Year Old
Brora 32 Year Old
Rosebank 21 Year Old
Port Dundas 20 Year Old
Knockando 25 Year Old
Lagavulin 12 Year Old
Caol Ila 12 Year Old

£1,050

Available for delivery or collection late November 2011.

To place an order please visit www.milroys.co.uk
call Lee on 020 7437 2385
or email Lee.Tomlinson@milroys.co.uk

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

‘Art of Glengoyne’

The second in the range of special collectible 10 Year Old 70cl tins is now available just in time for Christmas.

The limited edition tin, featuring a bold and contemporary interpretation of our SLOW distillation has been designed this year by renowned artist and graduate of The Glasgow School of Art, Simon Laurie.

Priced at the same price as our standard 10 Year Old at £31.49 (Or £26.77 with your exclusive 15% discount!) you can appreciate the artist’s unique vision of the magical process of malt whisky production as you sip your dram.

Art of Glengoyne

Our regular tasting evenings are always very popular and recently we’ve been getting numerous enquiries asking if we would organise a tasting that pairs whisky with food so on Thursday 24th November we are combining with critically acclaimed restaurant Wesley House in Winchcombe to present a Whisky Tasting supper. The event will be held in the relaxed atmosphere of Wesley House’s Bar & Grill (www.wesleyhouse.co.uk), and Arkwrights will introduce 5 different whiskies which have all been carefully chosen to match with Wesley House’s mouth watering bowl food.

Wesley House is renowned for its outstanding food and exemplary service, with the team of internationally acclaimed chefs presenting an exciting menu, sourcing local produce wherever possible, and the whiskies we will present are a diverse range of 5 quality drams matched to the following dishes:

Chicory, Walnut, Celery and Stilton Salad Thai Chicken Curry Slow Braised Scottish Oxtail with Roasted Root Vegetables Salmon Fishcakes with Lemon Mayonnaise Orange and Dark Chocolate Mousse

Tickets cost just £25 per head, including 5 whiskies, and the evening will commence at 7pm for 7.30pm. To book just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com and place an order for the number of tickets you require, or telephone us on (01793) 765071, or call in and see us at Arkwrights, The Dormers, Highworth, Wiltshire.

This will be a lovely way to start the festive season. Come along and join us!

Slainte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

Single Malt Tasting November 10th
The Last Single Malt Event of the Year!

Double Feature Single Malt Tasting

1st Feature: Kilchoman

Presenter: Anthony Wills, owner of Kilchoman

The first new distillery built on Islay in over 125 years. We will be tasting his first two releases of Kilchoman in which the barley was grown, distilled, and bottled on his farm on Islay. You will among the first to taste this new and exciting release.

2nd Feature: Cheiftain’s Range of Single Malts

Presenter:Ed Kohl, Managing Director of ImpEx Beverage

Ed previously developed the independent bottler Signatory and brought Edradour to the US market. Ed now represents the Chieftain’s Range of Single malts in America. We will be tasting many malts that are both well know, like Glenrothes, to rarities, like Allt-A-Bhainne. Allt-A-Bhainne has never had an official distillery bottling and is only available through independent bottlers. This will be an incredible adventure into rare and esoteric malts.

With both the depth and range of the malts being poured and the excitement of tasting new and exciting malts, this tasting should not be missed. Anybody that has been to our previous Single Malt events know that our events are fantastic and worth every penny and every minute.

Wannamoisett Country Club
96 Hoyte Avenue
Rumford, Rhode Island

6:30PM
Thursday, November 10th
$30.00 per person
Paided reservation required by November 10th

The Malts to be tasted:

Kilchoman 100% Islay
Kilchoman Spring Release

1995 Allt-A-Bhainne, Speyside 16yr
1990 Rosebank, Lowland 20 yr (cask strength)
1995 Auchroisk, Speyside 16 yr
Isle of Skye, Island 12 yr
1998 Glenrothes, Speyside 12 yr
1984 Benrinnes, Speyside 26 yr (cask strength)

To book your reservation please contact;

Elliot Fishbein
malt@townwineri.com 
www.townwineandspirits.com 
401-434-4563
Town Wine and Spirits
179 Newport Ave.
Rumford, RI 02916

Compass Box Whisky Co. helps usher in new era in Scotch Whisky

Takes a lead in education around new whisky laws
Releases valedictory Last Vatted Malt limited edition

Compass Box Whisky Co. is to take a lead in the educational drive around the new laws on Scotch whisky that come into force from Wednesday 23rd November 2011.

To mark the occasion, Compass Box will release a limited edition bottling, the Last Vatted Malt, made from a marriage of fine, old single malt whiskies from Islay and Speyside distilleries, that will be the last whisky to be labelled legally as a Vatted Malt.

As Compass Box founder and whiskymaker John Glaser explains: “At midnight on November 22nd, 2011, an era ends. After that point, it will be illegal for whiskymakers to use the term Vatted Malt to describe a Scotch whisky made from the combination of two or more single malts. From 23rd November 2011, this style of whisky will by law have to be labelled as a Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. Vatted Malt is a term that has been in use since at least the 19th century. It represents a style of whisky in which Compass Box specialise, so it has special meaning for us. Therefore we have decided to take a lead in the education of whisky drinkers about the new legal definitions of the 5 styles of Scotch whisky. We feel that this is an important change to the law that needs to be explained to whisky lovers. As the new laws come into effect, we want to take this opportunity to educate, to look to the future and to help the industry as a whole.”

The new legislation is all encompassing and was introduced by the UK Parliament as The Scotch Whisky Regulations in 2009. However, the five new legal definitions of Scotch whisky styles, as well as some other areas, will become enforceable by law from 23rd November 2011. The new definitions will be:

Blended Scotch Whisky: a blend of one or more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies with one or more Single Grain Scotch Whiskies.

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky: a blend of two or more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies that have been distilled at more than one distillery. (previously known as Vatted Malt or Pure Malt Scotch Whisky)

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky: a blend of two or more Single Grain Scotch Whiskies that have been distilled at more than one distillery. (previously known as Vatted Grain Scotch Whisky)

Single Malt Scotch Whisky: a Scotch Whisky that has been distilled in pot stills in one or more batches at a single distillery from water and malted barley, without the addition of any other cereals.

Single Grain Scotch Whisky: a Scotch Whisky that has been distilled at a single distillery except Single Malt Scotch Whisky or a Blended Scotch Whisky.

Full details can be read here:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2890/introduction/made

Commemorating this transition into a new era, The Last Vatted Malt Limited Edition from Compass Box will be on sale from 23rd November 2011 onwards at www.compassboxwhisky.com  and from whisky retailers. It will be bottled at cask strength, and each bottle will be personally signed by John Glaser. Only 1323 bottles will be produced. The recommended retail price will be £175.00 per 70cl bottle. Compass Box will organise a number of activities through November to help promote awareness of the new laws, supported by a programme of communication on Facebook, Twitter and by email. These will include:

• A Twitter Q&A with John Glaser @CompassBox at 8pm GMT on Tues 15th November

• The Compass Box potted guide to all you need to know about the new Scotch Whisky laws at www.facebook.com/CompassBox

• Last Vatted Malt Day on Tues 22nd November encouraging whisky fans worldwide to bid adieu to Vatted Malt by raising a glass wherever they are.

• A ceremonial bottling of the last bottle of Vatted Malt at a mystery location in Central London by John Glaser at 11.59 on the night of Tues 22nd November – accompanied by a select Vatted Malt flash mob.

ABOUT THE LAST VATTED MALT
“The Last Vatted Malt is a testament to the high merit of blending single malts—to create a whisky flavour profile that no single distillery can produce. This whisky combines intense aromas and flavours of dried fruits and maltiness underscored by a subtle, sweet smokiness, all robed in the revealing signs of whiskies of antiquity. It is composed of two single malts: approximately 22% of the recipe is whisky distilled at the younger of the two distilleries in the village of Aberlour in 1974 (36 years-old), aged in a first fill sherry butt. The balance is from the famed distillery in the village of Port Askaig on Islay, made in 1984 (26 years-old), aged in an American oak hogshead.” – John Glaser, Whiskymaker

ABOUT COMPASS BOX (www.compassboxwhisky.com)
The Compass Box Whisky Company is a boutique Scotch whiskymaker and craft blender, started in 2000 by John Glaser. Compass Box produces and bottles a range of Scotch whiskies, available in over 25 countries around the world. A four-time winner of the Whisky Magazine Innovator of the Year award, Compass Box is known throughout the whisky world for quality, innovation and passion for great whisky. The Compass Box signature range of whiskies includes Asyla, Oak Cross, The Peat Monster, The Spice Tree and Hedonism. They also produce limited release whiskies annually, and Orangerie, a Scotch whisky infusion.

ABOUT JOHN GLASER
American ex-pat John Glaser started Compass Box Whisky Company from the kitchen of his west London home in 2000. Having started his career on a path to become a winemaker, then re-routing himself through the corporate world and ending up as marketing director for Johnnie Walker in London, Glaser has a unique perspective on both the creation and the marketing of Scotch whisky.

Glaser established Compass Box based on his commitment to evolving practices in the industry to make great Scotch whisky more approachable and relevant to more people. From the beginning, his vision has been to create one of Scotland’s finest and most exciting whisky companies, re-establishing the standards for quality and style in the industry.

Holiday Outturn Offerings

Balmy evenings in hot tubs

Cask No. 35.55
Highlands, Speyside (Lossie)

Silence descended on the Panel as we discovered Demerara rum, buttermilk pancakes drenched in maple syrup, aged bourbon, mincemeat, figs, boozy prunes, woody spices, pink Calpol, paint (both spray and poster) and crumble topping. The taste didn’t disappoint as we were transported to balmy evenings in hot tubs under eucalyptus and rosemary munching on aged Balsamic covered figs and Parma ham drizzled in extra virgin olive oil. With water (we really didn’t want to add any) we found pomanders, peaches, spices, curry leaves, vine tomatoes, rum, bourbon, figs in Balsamic reduction; soft, juicy and voluptuous to taste. From Elgin’s only distillery.

Drinking tip: For following dusk around the globe

Colour: Demerara caramel
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 39 years
Date distilled: October 1971
Alcohol: 50.3%

$265

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Spicy marmalade

Cask No. 7.68
Highlands, Speyside (Lossie)

Rich notes of leather, cinnamon & nutmeg dusted apple pie, banana bread, treacle tart, pecan pie, saddle soap, fresh apricot and crème brûlée; spicy tastes of light fruitcake, ginger biscuits, leather, Dundee marmalade and tea chests made for a fantastically well-integrated first impression. The addition of water (be careful, it doesn’t need much) with aromas of fresh pipe tobacco, well-used furniture, Seville oranges & black pepper, fresh leather, floral notes (gorse flowers, carnations) and school satchel, books and all. Now on the palate we found spicy marmalade, cinnamon sticks, orange curd, thyme with a wonderful woody aftertaste. Highly prized as a top dresser for blends.

Drinking tip: This deserves to be appreciated so take your time as; try with a cigar

Colour: Amber
Cask: Second-fill hogshead
Age: 21 years
Date distilled: December 1989
Alcohol: 55.1%

$145

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Rum toffees and water wings

Cask No. 27.93
Campbeltown, Argyll

A classic, old-fashioned example of the iconic Campbeltown malt. After a sweet start featuring cheap rum toffees, we were plunged into a public outdoor swimming pool (chlorine and carbolic, with traces of rubber water wings) – fresh and somewhat tart scents. The taste at natural strength is sweet, maritime (complete with salt) and lightly smoky, with some ginger in the finish. Water continues the swimming images: wet swimming costume, rubber flip-flops – now joined by Chinese rice wine and charred driftwood, with the toffee note remaining. A smooth texture and a sweet and salty taste, with new plimsolls in the finish.

Drinking tip: In a communal shower with a rugby team

Colour: Vin gris
Cask: Refill barrel
Age: 11 years
Date distilled: March 2000
Alcohol: 51.5%

$105

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A league of its own

Cask No. 29.100
Islay, South Shore

Wet peat, raw oysters, almond oil, smoked mussels, crispy duck, heather smoke, hot diesel engine, earthy dunnage floors and a whiff of perfumed new make made a diverse first nose. Diesel, dirty like a burnt pan, white pepper, rock salt and grilled mackerel or sardines to taste; while water made it sweeter and perfumed. There were mentions of Brylcreem, cinder toffee, flake (Australian gummy shark) and one Panellist was ice fishing with Grumpy Old Men Jack Lemmon & Walter Matthau. To taste this was ‘easy drinking’, smoky, salty, sweet, earthy; one Panellist had radicchio or red chard. Prince Charles’ favourite whisky.

Drinking tip: A brilliant Islay and a very interesting example of the make

Colour: Platinum gold
Cask: Refill hogshead
Age: 12 years
Date distilled: April 1998
Alcohol: 58.5%

$115

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Sinister yet swoony

Cask No. 59.40
Highlands, Northern Highlands

Deep, rich, unctuous, heady: Armagnac soaked sultanas, fried Christmas cake, Crêpes Suzette, buttered malt loaf, sticky toffee pudding stuffed with dates, treacle buns and Fry’s orange cream had the Panel in raptures. Wonderful tastes of leather (Chesterfields and bound books), tobacco, treacle, Terry’s dark chocolate orange, waxy honeycomb, old polished wood all interwoven with a delicate trace of smoke. Fresher with water – yew topiary, marmalade on sultana scones, mandarins & cream, orange groves; to taste it was deliciously woody, with Dundee cake, Selkirk Bannock, marmalade and tobacco – one Panellist called it ‘sinister yet swoony’. This distillery draws its water from the Dairywell Spring.

Drinking tip: While on a murder mystery weekend in a country manor

Colour: Orange oil
Cask: Second-fill hogshead
Age: 27 years
Date distilled: November 1983
Alcohol: 55.0%

$165

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Please click on the LINK to read further and visit the SMWS of America at www.smwsa.com  for information on how to join.

The perfect gift – £7,500 bottle of rare single malt

November 2011 Looking for the ultimate gift for a whisky lover? It has to be a limited edition bottle of 50-year-old Dalmore Candela single malt – for £7,500 from boutique whisky shop Arkwrights. Only 77 bottles have been released. Created by master blender Richard Paterson, it includes single malts from 1868 with the youngest malt being from 1951.

It tastes of ginger cake, spiced toffee, butterscotch, roasted coffee and thick cut marmalade – the hallmark of this classic malt.

The Dalmore Distillery, on the shores of the Firth of Cromarty in the Scottish Highlands, has been producing single malt whisky since 1839

www.whiskyandwines.com

Arkwrights is a boutique whisky shop based in the Cotswolds. It is run by husband and wife team Ken and Fran Thomas who are passionate about whisky. The company has been running for 15 years and has a thriving online business. Arkwrights delivers whisky around the world – from London to Taiwan.

They can provide a wealth of whisky information – from what whisky to serve with what sort of food to cocktail recipes.

Scotch Lover’s Delight

Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Prestige Range Paired Dinner hosted by Master Brand Ambassador David Blackmore
Rowe’s Wharf Bar
Boston Harbor Hotel

Tuesday Nov 15th
Reception 6:30 – Dinner 7:00 – 9:00

Joe writes,

An email from Chef Daniel Bruce at the Boston Harbor Hotel really got me excited. He has an amazing ability in pairing scotch and food with this top Glenmorangie and Ardbeg lineup of single malts this will be a gastronomic extravaganza.

David Blackmore the Global Ambassador for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg will take you through Glenmorangie’s portfolio including the The Pride. The Glenmorangie Creation team is very proud of The Pride. Iif you’re a foodie or a scotch fan, This is an event that will show you an evening that you really can not put a price on. I am excited and I will be there and Bill Lumsden will wish he was able to attend. This will be as close to heaven on earth as you can get.

There will be a special five-course dinner featuring the cuisine of Chef Daniel Bruce paired with the Glenmorangie Company’s prestige range. The dinner will include Glenmorangie Nectar d’Or, Glenmorangie Extremely Rare 18 Years Old, Glenmorangie Signet, Glenmorangie Quarter Century 25 Years Old, Ardbeg Corryvrekan and Ardbeg Uigedail.

The dinner will conclude with Pride 1981 – Glenmorangie’s most luxurious expression to date. Pride 1981 is a 28 Year Old Whisky matured in the finest oak casks for 18 years before being aged exclusively in Chateau d’Yquem Sauternes Casks for a further ten years.

Price $155 per person
RSVP: Courtney McCall (cmccall@bhh.com) at the Boston Harbor Hotel

Email: info@federalwine.com
Phone: (617) 367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com

Ichiro Akuto is a maverick among Japanese whisky distillers, creating traditional whiskies with a style that’s anything but traditional. When his family sold their Hanyu Distillery, he not only bought the remaining stocks of Hanyu, but built his own Chichibu Distillery next to the family’s sake brewery. Ichiro shares his family history and his philosophy with us this week as we mark the end of WhiskyCast’s 6th year.

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com