Glenmorangie celebrates being ‘The Best of the Best’

Over the past five years Glenmorangie has achieved more prestigious accolades than any other single malt Scotch whisky at the International Wine and Spirits Competition

Glenmorangie is toasting a record run of gold medals at the 2011 International Wines and Spirits Competition (IWSC).

Glenmorangie whiskies have now won a remarkable total of eighteen ‘Gold Best in Class’ medals over the past five years at the IWSC – the most internationally-recognised awards body.

This is more than any other single malt Scotch whisky, making Glenmorangie the best of the best.

Beating off stiff competition, this consistent display of top class awards reflects the uncompromising commitment to the art of whisky creation at Glenmorangie. It also cements the Company’s reputation for being creators of ‘Unnecessarily Well Made’ single malt Scotch whiskies.

It does this by using the tallest stills in Scotland and the finest oak casks, and by pioneering the now widely used technique of extra maturation to provide additional rich and intriguing layers of flavours to the house style of Glenmorangie.

This year, after blind tasting and professional analysis, the independent judges awarded five of their ultimate prizes – the highly regarded ‘Gold Best in Class’ – to Glenmorangie Original, Nectar D’Or, 18 Years Old, Quarter Century and Signet.

Paul Skipworth, President & Managing Director, The Glenmorangie Company.said: “We are absolutely delighted to win these distinguished awards. Accolades from the IWSC are a credit to our Glenmorangie Whisky Creation Team, which continually strives to create new, innovative single malt Scotch whiskies with an intriguing variety of tastes, textures and aromas.

“Using unique creation techniques they deliver the rounder, smoother taste that has set Glenmorangie apart.”

Dr Bill Lumsden, Head of Distilling and Whisky Creation at The Glenmorangie Company, said: “Winning these awards is an honour in acknowledgement of all the work that goes in to crafting each Glenmorangie expression. I am thrilled that such a respected awards body as the IWSC have recognised this and have consistently bestowed on us their most prestigious awards.”

Notes:

About Glenmorangie

Glenmorangie single malt Scotch whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation to create Unnecessarily Well Made single malt whiskies.

About The Glenmorangie Company

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH). Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay malt. It also owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

About The International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC):

The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. The IWSC Awards mark out of a possible 100, with Gold medals going to whiskies within the top ten percentile. Gold Best in Class is bestowed upon the top whisky within the top ten percentile. Silver medals are given to spirits ranging within 80 – 89.9 and bronze medals are appointed to products between 75 – 79.9 marks.

IWSC 2011 Gold Best in Class Wins
Glenmorangie Original – Gold Best in Class
Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or – Gold Best in Class
Glenmorangie18 Years Old – Gold Best in Class
Glenmorangie Quarter Century – Gold Best in Class
Glenmorangie Signet – Gold Best in Class

Responsible Drinking
The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Welcome to a Laphroaig review, TripleWood in fact ! Not making a big impression on Ralfy compared to others in the range, but that’s opinions for you. www.ralfy.com Whisky Review 211 – Laphroaig Triple Wood.

Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers –

This email will be the last of the summer of 2011, as I head off to Maine next week for two weeks of rest and relaxation. But before I left I wanted to send off one last email to you…and so with very few new or exciting whiskies debuting in the summer, I rang up our friend Nicky “The Neck”, and challenged him to find a spectacular deal for you.

Well, The Neck came though as he always does, and so it is with great excitment that I am able to offer you this summers last Whisky Wednesday special: Aberfeldy 21YO Single Malt Whisky.

Built by the Dewar family in 1898 on the edge of Highland Perthshire, Aberfeldy Distillery produces a fine and sophisticated Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Reserved for years as the heart of DEWAR’S blends, limited quantities of Aberfeldy single malt whisky are now available. Launched in October of 2005, Aberfeldy 21 is the core of the Aberfeldy range and is something of a flagship for the brand.

The whisky is described by the folks at Aberfeldy distillery as a “deep golden whisky with a pleasing heathery honey aroma and a full flavour with touches of Seville oranges, which linger on the tongue.” This bottling was heralded as the Best Mainland Single Malt at the World Whisky Awards 2007.

Our regular retail price is $179.61 for a botttle, but thanks to Nicky-The-Neck, and his powers of pricing persuasion, We’re able to offer you Aberfeldy 21 YO for the amazing price of $147.95.

I hope you will take advantage of this great offer, and will enjoy the rest of your summer. I’ll be back in touch with more exciting whisky news in early September.

Doug Stone

Founder

www.ForScotchLovers.com

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ABERFELDY 21YO HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT WHISKY

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ABERFELDY 21YO HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT WHISKY – TASTING NOTES

Colour: Deep gold with amber highlights

Nose: A pleasing aroma of heathery honey, followed by a fruity softness, hints of vanilla and burnt wood.

Palate: Full flavoured with touches of Seville oranges lingering on the tongue like a good liqueur.

Body: Full bodied

Finish: Long, spicy with a decidedly dry finish

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On Thursday (8-4), CNBC Titans will present Jack Daniel’s, a documentary on the past and present of the famous whiskey brand. It airs at 10pm and 1am ET. For more information, see CNBC’s website, http://www.cnbc.com/id/43882466

This is one of our most exciting times of the year! The Mega tasting is only 4 days away!! Do you have your reservation yet?? The tasting is this Sunday (August 7th) @ 4 p.m. & Thursday (August 11th) @ 7 p.m. The price this year is $125.00 per person with an additional 20% for the lovely ladies working it. This tasting is some of the rarest single malts on our beautiful wall, let me share 9 of them: Talisker 25, Tamdhu 30, Highland Park 30, Port Ellen 24, Brora 30, Glenfarclas 1981, Glenmorangie 1971, Macallan Gran Reserva 18 and Balvenie 30!! We are making this tasting a stellar experience so make sure to email (patg@dundeedell.com) or call us 402.553.9501 to make a reservation because spots fill up fast for this one.

5007 Underwood Ave, Omaha, NE 68132 www.dundeedell.com 402.553.9501

International Beverage Holdings Enjoy a Medal Streak at Major Global Competition

International Beverage Holdings are celebrating an extraordinary haul of honours in the 2011 International Wine & Spirits Competition. The Airdrie-based distiller won a phenomenal sixteen awards across their portfolio of Scotch whiskies, which includes Old Pulteney, anCnoc, Balblair and Speyburn single malts and Hankey Bannister, MacArthur’s and Catto’s blended Scotch whiskies.

In total, the company picked up three gold awards, all of which were ‘Best in Class’ and a further thirteen silver awards, of which two were ‘Best in Class’. International Beverage Holdings own five distilleries across Scotland (Pulteney, Balblair, Speyburn, Knockdhu and Balmenach) and manage the production, distillation and maturation of a broad portfolio of drinks brands in markets across the globe.

This unprecedented array of results is significant for the forward thinking company whose brands continue to go from strength to strength both in the international and domestic markets. Old Pulteney Scotch Whisky is one of the fastest growing single malt brands in the UK off-trade, with sales increasing 62% in the twelve months to June. *

Karen Walker, Marketing Director at International Beverage Holdings says:

“We’re absolutely thrilled with our wins from this inaugural competition. Scooping sixteen awards is a great reflection of the quality and craftsmanship of our whiskies and the passion and enthusiasm of the team behind them.”

Each of these globally respected international awards follow a rigorous two-stage judging process of blind tastings and detailed technical analysis by a panel of industry experts. The awards received are a testament to the quality of the products and the great work of each of the distilleries

The International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. With entries from over 80 countries worldwide, it aims to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs.

-Notes

*Figures supplied by A C Neilson.

International Beverage Holdings (www.interbevgroup.com) was established in 2005 as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in over 80 countries and territories.

Inver House Distillers (www.inverhouse.com) is globally integrated into International Beverage Holdings and drives the distillation and maturation of Scotch through its five distilleries.

International Beverage brands include:

 Chang Beer: Thailand’s iconic beer brand
 Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
 Blended Whiskies: Hankey Bannister
 Mekhong: ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
 Caorunn – a small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals

The company’s success is built on the combination of a strong understanding of local cultures and markets with the creation of a truly global operational network. Brand building pays respect to heritage, provenance and craftsmanship whilst delivering innovative and highly effective strategies at global level. A skilled and dedicated team of more than 12 nationalities speaking over 14 languages delivers the highest standards of customer service and attention to detail across all aspects of the business.

The Full List of Awards Placed for International Beverage are:

Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 1978 GOLD (BEST IN CLASS)
AnCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 YO GOLD (BEST IN CLASS)
Hankey Bannister Blended Scotch Whisky 40 YO GOLD (BEST IN CLASS)
Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky 17 YO SILVER (BEST IN CLASS)
Drummer Blended Scotch Whisky 5 YO SILVER (BEST IN CLASS)
Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 2000 SILVER
Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky 21 YO SILVER
Balblair Highland Single Malt 1989 Vintage (2nd Release) SILVER
Old Pulteney WK209 Single Malt Scotch Whisky SILVER
AnCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky 16 YO SILVER
Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky 12 YO SILVER
Hankey Bannister Blended Scotch Whisky Original SILVER
Hankey Bannister Blended Scotch Whisky 12 YO SILVER
Hankey Bannister Blended Scotch Whisky 21 YO SILVER
Catto’s Blended Scotch Whisky Rare Old Scottish SILVER
Speyburn Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky SILVER

GlenDronach 31yo (45.8%, OB, ‘Grandeur’, 1013 Bts., Batch #1)

On the nose it is very richly sherried with a slew of descriptors centering around richness; Christmas cake, dark marmalade, vanilla bean, fruit tarts and some really nice spiciness including some hints of cocoa. This is a really sensational collection of aromas. Heavy on the fruit. The taste is a departure from the aromas at first; more of leather and tobacco (some what dry) and show much more influence from the time spent in the cask. The fruit is secondary to the wood notes however they are not over whelming but actually very good. A bit of a grizzled old gruff gentleman…The finish is aligned to the taste with some good dry notes but once again not over whelming and in many ways quite gentle. It’s medium long to long and not dramatic but it is there. After a few minutes some really good gentle oak notes stand alone…the whisky but a memory.

An interesting whisky to be sure.

$525

Score 88 points

A trip to Pulteney

Leg 2 of my Inver House distilleries tour started off with a bit of a drive. Our departure point was Edderton, home of Balblair, and our destination was Wick, site of the Pulteney distillery. Scotland is a lot longer than you might expect (as the inhabitants pointed out when the BBC switched to a weather …(Please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)… 

THE LINK

Master Blender back in America – fancy a dram?

Miami! Boston! Old Saybrook! Providence! It’s quite the tour I’m on over the next few weeks in the USA – hopefully I’ll be able to meet up with a few of you for a dram…

My kilt’s getting a fair bit of exercise over the next few weeks, kicking off tonight (August 2nd) at Cork & Bottle Fine Wine and Spirits, 12180 SW 88th Street in Miami and then tomorrow (August 3rd) is all about Dalmore tasting at Town Kitchen and Bar

Orlando is next up on Wednesday with a teatime event at Lizzy McCormack’s, 55 North Orange Drive before heading back to Miami for an event at Shula’s Steakhouse, 6915 Red Road Coral Gables.

Sunday sees me heading over to Boston for an event on the Monday for a select group before I’m back in the thick of things on the Tuesday at Julio’s, 140 Turnpike Road, Westborough, MA.

Wednesday sees me lunching at The Grist Mill in Old Saybrook before taking parts in tastings at Amity Wine & Spirits, 95 Amity Road, New Haven, CT.

If it’s Thursday, it must be Providence (according to my timetable anyway!) with tastings at Agawam Hunt Club, Roger Williams Drive.

Friday sees the final fling for the kilt (this time round) at Fat Belly’s, Providence, RI

Of course, I’ve got some free time, so is there anyone I should pop in to see like I did a few years ago with Twitter?

Cooley Continues IWSC Gold Run

Cooley Distillery claims 8 Gold Medals at 2011 International Wine & Spirits Competition

Cooley Distillery, the multi-award winning Irish whiskey distiller, continued its phenomenal success at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) by claiming a further 8 IWSC Gold medals in London yesterday.

Cooley’s medal haul included a record 4 Gold Medals for its Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish whiskey range including two Best in Class honours reaffirming its place as the most honoured Irish Single Malt of all time at International Spirits Competitions.

Other repeat winners for Cooley at the IWSC included the Lockes 8 Yr Old Single Malt and Tyrconnell 10 Yr Old Madeira Finish Single Malt. Two recently launched products, the Kilbeggan 18 Yr Old Deluxe Blended Irish whiskey and the Greenore 18 Yr Old Single Grain Irish Whiskey also both claimed Gold medals in their maiden IWSC competition.

Jack Teeling, Managing Director of Cooley Distillery, commented, ““The Irish whiskey industry is in rude health. There are opportunities in many markets around the world where Irish whiskey exports are benefitting from the industry’s collective success. The International awards we receive each year for the quality of our products will enable us to take advantage of this opportunity.

This latest success at the International Wine & Spirits Competition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our staff. It is a further ringing endorsement on the International stage of the quality and consistency of the whiskey being produced by Cooley”.

Founded in 1987, Cooley Distillery has won a total of 40 IWSC Gold medals over the last 5 years. This year on year success has resulted in Cooley Distillery being named European Distiller of the Year by the IWSC for the last three years running and is shortlisted for the 2011 European Distiller of the Year Award, the results of which will be announced at the 2011 IWSC Competition Banquet that will be held in the Guildhall in London on the 16th November 2011.

List of Gold Medals at the 2011 IWSC

Gold Medal & Best in Class, Connemara Peated Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Connemara Turf Mór Peated Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Tyrconnell 10 Year Old Madeira Finish Single Malt
Gold Medal & Best in Class, Lockes 8 Yr Old Single Malt
Gold Medal, Connemara 18 Year Old Single Cask Peated Single Malt
Gold Medal, Connemara 12 Year Old Peated Single Malt
Gold Medal, Kilbeggan 18 Year Old Blended Irish whiskey
Gold Medal, Greenore 18 Year Old Single Grain Irish whiskey

About the IWSC
IWSC medals are awarded on a strict points system by a panel of international judges. They are the most prestigious honours bestowed to the drinks industry as they are judged solely on the quality of the wine or spirit.
The 2011 IWSC Competition Banquet will be held in the Guildhall in London on the 16th November 2011 when specific product and producer trophies will be awarded.

About Cooley Distillery
Cooley Distillery is the only independent Irish whiskey distillery. Established in 1987, Cooley takes its name from the location of its distillery, situated at the foothills of the Cooley mountains, in Co. Louth. Cooley has an award winning portfolio of Irish whiskeys including Kilbeggan Irish whiskey, Tyrconnell Single Malt, Connemara Peated Single Malt and Greenore Single Grain Irish whiskey. To learn more about Cooley Distillery visit www.cooleywhiskey.com.