A wee drop o’ the Irish for yer!

Paul McLean of MCLEANSCOTLAND recently made a wee trip across the water to the land of his mum, Ireland. Why? To arrange as many events as possible for the week long series of events in Dublin at next years whisky live. www.mcleanscotland.co.uk/DUBWHISKYLIVE.asp

As part of the trip, Paul “just had to visit distilleries”!!! It’s a hard life eh! Arriving in Dublin, staying a couple of days here, he had previously made appointments all over the city and beyond. First call was to Clontarf Castle Hotel, where he set up an extra special masterclass for next May; Clontarf whiskey at Clontarf Castle, is there any better way to sample these Irish drams? The session will include nibbles and at least 4 drams at the castle. Thanks to Gillian at Clontarf whiskey and Bronagh at the castle.

Next on the list; meeting up with the lovely Linda from Cooley’s distillery. Sharing a few drinks in the Palace Bar downtown Dublin, with owner Willie and pal Dave, a good evening had by all and some really good notes on another special tasting here at the Palace. This will include a very sspecial tasting direct from a cask specially made for the occassion, watch this space!

Day two saw Paul travel to Kilbeggan, where he had a superb tour of the distillery, setting up another tour trip and visit for next year. Leaving a happy man (with gifts) he headed back to Dublin. A few more drams to settle back into Dublin followed.

Day three – travel north by train to Dundalk and then taxi to Cooley’s distillery. A grand tour here with Raymond, he has been there over 20 years! Both malt, blend and grain whiskey produced here, a fascinating tour, not what you would call a normal distilelry tour, no visitor centre and not spik and span (re; Glenfiddich or Diageo) and not a tourist visit, so much the better for our group trip next year! Upon leaving we were given a bottle of Tyconnel each, not only that, at the distillery pub (just doon the road) we were given more drams and a set of miniatures each, good man at Martins pub!!! Continued north to Belfast for two days of pipe bands!

A return to Dublin, met up with Mike at O’Neills pub, another event arranged here. Also in the bag for next year, a whisky special, a tasting session, followed by a 3 course meal and Irish dancing and entertainment, what a end to the day! With a couple of other whisky events still in the chat stage, it was a huge success in Ireland, we are all looking forward to whisky live next May in Dublin.

More info on Whisky Live Dublin soon.

Paul McLean is the owner of WWW.MCLEANSCOTLAND.COM  

The World Whisky Map

Good evening,

There’s a Mandarin proverb which says that the Chinese will eat anything with legs, except for tables, and anything with wings, except for planes. The world is a diverse place indeed and when your job involves weekly international trips for a global whisky such as Grant’s, it’s important to understand how whisky drinkers around…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Kind regards,
Ludo

LAGAVULIN™ ISLAY JAZZ FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES 2011 PROGRAMME

The programme has been announced for this year’s Lagavulin™ Islay Jazz Festival, and tickets have gone on sale via the website and direct from promoters Jazz Scotland.

The 13th Lagavulin™ Islay Jazz Festival, which this year will take place from 16-18 September, is again expected to attract hundreds of jazz lovers to the world-famous whisky island on Scotland’s west coast.

And the BBC have announced that they will be recording some sessions at Lagavulin Distillery for BBC Radio 3‘s Jazz Line Up and BBC Radio Scotland’s Jazz House programmes for broadcast at a later date.

A special limited-edition bottling of Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky will be on sale to Festival ticket holders during the Festival. The bottling is from a single bodega sherry wood cask of Lagavulin, filled in February 1993 and matured at the historical warehouse at Caol Ila distillery, also on Islay.

Viktoria Tolstory will open the Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival

This year, one of Europe’s major vocal stars, Viktoria Tolstoy, visits Islay for the first time. Highly musical, and exuding charisma, she’ll sing her own special arrangements of many great standards along with interpretations of pop tunes. Her first concert, at Lagavulin Distillery, inaugurates the Festival on Friday 16 September.

The Festival also features the world premiere of Tom Bancroft ‘s Red Trio with English piano star, Tom Cawley, and Norwegian bass sensation Mats Eilertsen, while Brian Kellock and Jacob Karlzon front two piano trios at different edges of the jazz spectrum.

The sensational brass quartet, Brass Jaw, play two concerts, mixing magnificent musicality with humour and an unbridled imagination.

Otis Grand

Subie Coleman fronts the late night jazz/soul dance at Bowmore Hall with Philadephia and New York tipped raw soul grooves, while Otis Grand and Sandy Tweeddale deliver exceptional vintage driving-blues. Mario Caribe fronts two bands new to the Festival – one focusing on the music of his homeland: Brazil, the other an all-star homage to the Jazz Crusaders.

Nick Morgan, for the Lagavulin Scotch Whisky brand, says “The Jazz Festival is a great advertisement for Islay and a great advertisement for Lagavulin Scotch Whisky. The brand is now really at the heart of the Festival, with its strong personality, big heritage and plenty of intensity. Not a bad analogy for jazz.”

The Festival is co-promoted by jazz specialists Jazz Scotland, and the island’s premier arts promoters, The Islay Arts Association.

Jazz Scotland Director Fiona Alexander pointed out that “ The magic of the Jazz Festival in Islay is partly created by Lagavulin. Without their funding, we would not be able to present so much high quality jazz.”

Diageo announced in February that it was renewing the sponsorship of the Festival by the quintessential Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky Lagavulin, following the highly successful and widely welcomed sponsorship of the event last year.

The events of the Festival are spread over three days. Concerts are presented across the island, in a mix of unique settings: village halls, distilleries, bird sanctuaries, and small bars and inns. Several sessions are held at Lagavulin Distillery, in the acoustically excellent Malt Mill.

Notes

Programme details
Islay Jazz Festival website: www.islayjazzfestival.co.uk/

The Islay Jazz Festival
The Festival has been running since 1999; this year’s is the 13th.. Since then the Festival has promoted musicians from over 25 countries and presented fifteen world premieres and is today regarded as a significant jazz event in the UK calendar.

Diageo’s famous Islay single malt whisky Lagavulin™ first sponsored the Festival in 2010.

Special Festival bottling of Lagavulin™ This will be priced at £79.95 UK RRP per bottle.

2000 Bowmore 11 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sovereign Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($72.99) This one took quite a while to secure, but we finally landed another slam dunk cask: a sherry-aged barrel of delicious Bowmore single malt! I’ll never forget looking at David OG’s face as we sat in the tasting room of the Sovereign offices tasting this whisky – “Tennis ball can?” we both said, nosing the complex whirlwind of aromas emanating from the glass. Vanilla, rich raisined fruit, creamy sherry, and yes a bit of tennis ball can! The palate is where the Bowmore campfire smoke and peat moss creep in and lead one’s mouth to a succulent, savory finish. However, the nose is the real jewel of this whisky and David OG sat for more than twenty minutes just smelling it and smiling. Who doesn’t love sherry-aged Islay whisky, especially when it’s from Bowmore? -David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer

1965 Caledonian 45 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sovereign Single Barrel Cask Strength Grain Whisky (Pre-Arrival) ($149.99) Closed forever in 1988, Caledonian was a Lowland grain distillery that was once famed for having Europe’s biggest patent still. The nose is salted caramel and sticky Sauternes with rich and enticing aromas of sweet goodness. The palate however is grain all the way – lean and herbal, odd and exciting, crazy cool and super fun – truly a difficult malt to truly explain. Knowing this was going to be for the true whisky nerds out there, we originally decided to pass on this cask even though we loved it. However, when the owners let us deal via our own importer, we were able to work out a ridiculous price for such an ancient collectable (the closest comparison we could find was a 45 year Caledonian selling in the UK for more than $200). Similar grains of this age have sold at K&L in the past for over $300. While this bottle isn’t for everyone, it is meant for the curious collector looking to branch out and understand the various styles of Scotch. Grain whisky has always been an important element of blended whisky and continues to provide the backbone to legends like Johnnie Walker Blue and Chivas Regal. While it has recently fallen out of “style,” there is a strong grain whisky revival festering once again and we’re glad to be, as usual, at the forefront of all whisky movements. -David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer

1980 Caol Ila 30 Year Old K&L Exclusive Sovereign Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($174.99) If you can’t believe your eyes at the price of this Caol Ila 30 year old single barrel, cask strength bottle, we can’t blame you. Is it a close out? No. Is it just not good? Sorry, we don’t buy bad whisky. How is it that K&L is able to get an entire barrel of elegant, smoky, mature Islay whisky and sell it for $175? We’ll let you in on a secret – we worked very hard to get these casks imported directly and we’ve enlisted the help of a few friends to get these incredible prices. Do a Google search and you’ll find that the official Caol Ila comes in at about $350 while other expressions bottom out at around $280. This new relationship we’ve started with Sovereign from our recent trip to Scotland is the beginning of something very big – top level whiskies, all at cask strength, all at wholesale prices for our retail customers! -David Driscoll, Spirits Buyer

Oban 18 Year Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Elsewhere $149.99) ($99.99) We only got a few bottles! BUY, BUY, BUY, ASAP! This is a limited edition bottling for the US only. As the cannister states, “only so much can be made, it is never enough.” John Hansell writes, “I really like this whisky. Drier, less toffee and fruit, more dried spice and oak when compared to the standard Oban 14 year old. A beautiful combination of rich, nutty toffee balanced by polished oak, salt, pepper, seaweed, distant smoke and dried fruit. Somewhat oily in texture. Wonderful depth too! An improvement on what is already the biggest selling Diageo single malt scotch in the U.S. Very exciting and dynamic.” -Malt Advocate

Johnnie Walker Blue Blended Scotch Whisky 750ml ($179.99)

W. L. Weller 12 year old Bourbon 750ml – 11 available ($24.99)

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

2011 Fall Extravaganza Schedule

Ladies and Gentlemen are cordially invited to enjoy a connoisseur’s evening featuring over 110 rare & exceptional single malt and Scotch whiskies. The evening includes a delicious dinner buffet as well as a selection of premium imported cigars for our guests’ later enjoyment. The Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza brings the discerning enthusiast the opportunity to sample the participating whiskies in a sophisticated and elegant environment with genuine camaraderie and knowledgeable representatives from each participating distillery. 

All events from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Registration begins at 7:00pm. Business casual, Jackets preferred. Jackets are required at the Chicago & Philadelphia venues. No denim or athletic attire may be worn to the events. Members tickets to the Extravaganza are $120 each (for the first two) and Non-member guest tickets are $135.00 each. Whisky Intelligence readers will receive the first two tickets at $120.00 each and thereafter each ticket is $135.00.

The Whisky Intelligence promotional code (ie a discount!) is WI2011 available at Ticket Purchase

Chicago Wednesday
October 5, 2011 The Union League Club of Chicago
65 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604
Jackets Required (No Denim or Athletic Attire)

Boston Thursday
October 13, 2011 The Taj Boston
15 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116

Washington, DC Wednesday
October 26, 2011 JW Marriott Hotel
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004

Philadelphia Friday
October 28, 2011 The Union League Club of Philadelphia
140 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Jackets Required (No Denim or Athletic Attire)

San Francisco Wednesday
November 9, 2011 The Intercontinental San Francisco
888 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

Los Angeles Friday
November 11, 2011 Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
1700 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401

Fort Lauderdale Thursday
December 1, 2011 The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
1 Seminole Way
Hollywood, FL 33314

GHOSTLY SPIRITS OF BARDSTOWN

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival Inc. invites you to Ghostly Spirits of Bardstown. The walks are Thursday -Saturday, September 15-17, 2011 from 8 p.m. until 10 pm, with a final walk on Saturday, September 17th from 10 p.m. until midnight.

Join certified Ghost Hunter Patti Starr for a historic walking tour and ghost hunt on the shadowy streets of Bardstown. You’ll hear true stories of ghostly activity at the locations on the trek. Bring your cameras, audio recorders and camcorder, if you wish.

The tour starts at the Bardstown Welcome Center. Tickets are $20 per person and available by calling 800-638-4877 # 4 or 502-348-3623 # 4. Reservations are recommended.

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival Inc. is a non-profit organization

One of the world’s most unusual whisky festivals is coming up in a few weeks. MaltStock doesn’t take place in a hotel or convention center, but at a former Scout camp in the Belgian woods. MaltStock co-founder Bob Wenting joins us on this week’s episode to discuss what makes MaltStock unique. In the news, Abhainn Dearg releases its first official single malt, Catto’s celebrates 150 years, and Buffalo Trace releases the second edition of Col. E.H. Taylor Bourbon.

www.whiskycast.com

Whisky Israel publishes its 300th post, and celebrates its two year birthday with a ‘Balvenie’ 3 sample set Raffle

As a token of their appreciation to their readers , Whisky Israel is giving you a chance to win a wee prize. A Balvenie 3 sample kit (3X50ml) containing the : 12 double wood, 12 year old ‘Signature’ and a 15 year old single cask.

To enter the competition you have to be a friend of whisky Israel whether on FB, or on twitter, and send an email with the following answers to : competitions@whiskyisrael.co.il

1. Your name
2. Your FB/twitter name you’re following us with (if you are not, then indicate that)
3. A short (100 words max) story telling us which whisky got you hooked, and where and when you got the chance of drinking it.

Mail it over to : competitions@whiskyisrael.co.il

The deadline for submitting your answers is September 1st.

Good Luck!

Alberta Premium 30yo (40%, OB, 2011)

On the nose there is some hard flinty rye, however this is fleeting; the resulting descriptors are ‘soft’ with some really good oily & fruity notes. Earthy, loam, very much all in that vein but backed by the ever present rye; fragrant and soft. While the aromas are very gentle there is still a lot activity and it’s all very good. Sensational actually. Whisky doesn’t always have to slap you in the face with a wet kipper to be sensational. Time in the glass only improves the collection of aromas. The taste is all Alberta Premium and it does not disappoint; good fruit, oak spice (quite lively), some welcome unsweetened Fry’s cocoa, some rye but not over whelming. The taste keeps on evolving, very complex, multi faceted and very drinkable. The finish is very much of ginger, oak spice and latterly the rye and then the oak spice while both being very, very long.

A beautiful vibrant whisky that any distiller would be damned proud to have in their portfolio. Not an off moment to be found affirmed but the lack of shady characters jumping up unrepentantly and shaking their tainted fists at you.

$50 (However esentially sold out…pity)

Score 91 points

RARE AND AFFORDABLE ALBERTA PREMIUM 30 YEAR OLD LIMITED EDITION® WHISKY TO BE RELEASED THIS JUNE

Toronto, ON  – Starting this June, in time for Father’s Day, Canadian whisky lovers in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan are in for a rare and special treat. Calgary, Alberta-based Alberta Distillers Ltd., the producer of Alberta Premium®, will release a limited amount of its rare Alberta Premium 30 Year Old Limited Edition® – a must-have addition to any whisky lovers’ collection.

What makes this a unique whisky is both its age and limited availability. Developed by Alberta Distillers Ltd., owned by Beam Global Spirits, Alberta Premium 30 Year Old Limited Edition has been aged for 26 years in charred oak casks until its smooth and unique taste emerged, decanted and then casked again for four more years.

According to Rob Tuer, Director of Operations at Alberta Distillers, whisky fans can expect Alberta Premium 30 Year Old Limited Edition to deliver a unique blend of wood, spice, chocolate and a hint of smoke. Tuer describes the rare liquid as having rich, full- bodied, extremely smooth and mellow taste with distinctive rye notes.

“Alberta Distillers is proud and excited to introduce this rare, top quality whisky to Canada,” says Tuer. “This small batch 30 Year Old Limited Edition is an exceptional opportunity for Alberta Premium lovers and whisky connoisseurs to enjoy.”

Whisky connoisseurs consider Alberta Premium a top quality rye whisky. It is heralded for its flavour, bouquet and value, and is one of the few 100 per cent rye whiskies still made in North America. Accolades for the brand are global.

In his 2011 edition, whisky expert Jim Murray, author of the Whisky Bible, calls Alberta Premium a “throbbing, pulsing rye on a variety of levels: full and juicy, dull and dusty, firm and flinty. Unique and unmistakable; the first whisky of my day – and it needs to be.” Alberta Premium has been awarded “Canadian Whisky of the Year” by Murray in his 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 Whisky Bibles. The 25 Year Old Limited Edition bottling won “Canadian Whisky of the Year” in the 2008 version. Alberta Premium also won the 2010 San Francisco World spirits competition Gold Medal.

Availability

Alberta Premium 30 Year Old Limited Edition will be available in Ontario, British Columbia (in July), Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan at a retail price of $49.95 / 750 mL bottle.

About Alberta Distillers Ltd.

Calgary-based Alberta Distillers Ltd. is one of the few remaining 100 per cent Canadian rye whisky producers in North America. They have produced quality whisky for over 50 years. The Alberta Premium brand has a strong focus on heritage and western rural values, and has won numerous prestigious awards for its excellent quality. As of 2010, Alberta Premium is owned by Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc., a unit of Fortune Brands.

About Beam Global Canada Inc.™

Beam Global Canada is building brands people want to talk about. Inspiring conversations in Canada and around the world, our brands include Canadian Club® Canadian Whisky, Jim Beam® Bourbon, Sauza® Tequila, Courvoisier® Cognac, Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, Laphroaig® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Cruzan® Rum, Banff Ice® vodka, and Alberta Premium® Canadian Whisky. Distribution partnerships in Canada include: The Macallan® and Highland Park® Single Malt Scotches, The Famous Grouse, Brugal® Rum, Russian Standard® vodka and Bols® Liqueurs.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc. is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), a leading consumer brands company. For more information on Beam Global Spirits & Wine, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.