Macallan Lalique 55 Year Old Crystal Decanter

Macallan Lalique 55 year old is an exceptional malt whisky that has matured for 55 years in Spanish oak, Sherry casks.

This beautiful Lalique decanter draws its inspiration from Macallan’s natural colour, with the design based on a perfume bottle design by René Lalique from the early 1900’s.

Only 420 crystal decanters of this exceptionally rare malt have ever been released.

£15,000

www.abbeywhisky.com

enquiries@abbeywhisky.com

07890 983 844

MASTER DISTILLER ANNOUNCES GLOBAL FINALISTS FOR ‘WHISKEY WORLD GAMES’

Colum Egan, Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery, has today announced the eleven pairs of friends who will represent their countries at ‘Bushcamp’, the global final of ‘Make it 2 Bushmills’, a competition hosted by BUSHMILLS™ Irish Whiskey.

The eleven pairs will be taking part in the final, dubbed the ‘Whiskey World Games’, on Ireland’s north coast this August. The competition offers two friends the chance to win two weeks working at the world-famous Old Bushmills Distillery, where they will make their own unique blend of BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey, live in luxury penthouse accommodation and get £5,000 spending money. Then, the winning friends will get VIP access to the ultimate BUSHMILLS party back in their home country.

The Bushcamp finalists are:

· Representing Belgium – Johan Lolos, a Student (23) and Mathias Gilles, a Student (24)

· Representing Bulgaria – Marin Aganderov, a Student (22) and Kiril Todorov, a Student (22)

· Representing Czech Republic – Ondřej Šimeček, a Hospitality Product Manager (27) and Jiří Tlach, an Insurance Officer (28)

· Representing Germany – Patrick Seidel, a Bartender (27) and Andreas Andricopoulos, a Bartender (27)

· Representing Great Britain – Keeley Sutcliffe, a Junior and Infant School Midday Supervisor (34) and Tom Lawrence, a Telesales Manager (39)

· Representing the Netherlands – Richard Beatty, an IT Consultant (36) and Michael Weijzig, a Social Worker (36)

· Representing Northern Ireland – Richard Roberts, a Customer Service Assistant (59) and Carol Roberts, a Home Care Worker (55)

· Representing the Republic of Ireland – Peter Majernik, a Hotel Concierge (32) and Vladimir Majernik, a Hotel Porter (31)

· Representing Russia – Nikolay Fedoseev, a Graphic Designer (28) and Ilya Rybalsky, a Chemical Engineer (26)

· Representing South Africa – Sean Tickner, a Orthotist and Prosthetist (30) and Jonathan Oliff, a Brand Strategist and Marketing Consultant (27)

· Representing the United States of America – Curt Neeb, an Inventory Specialist (40) and Paul Kowalski, a Graphic Design Business Owner (49)

The duos were selected to represent their countries by public vote on Facebook and will compete against each other in a number of challenges to find the ultimate winners of Make it 2 Bushmills. Some of the challenges they can expect to face include barrel-rolling, coopering and beach golf.

The final will be judged by the BUSHMILLS Master Distiller Colum Egan and some famous fans of BUSHMILLS, including Kevin Baird of Two Door Cinema Club, Jonathan Galkin of DFA Records and Rob Allanson of Whisky Magazine.

Colum said: “Bushcamp is going to be the World Games of Whiskey, played out in true Bushmills style. Kevin, Jonathan, Rob and I will be challenging the finalists to try out some of the things that the team at the Old Bushmills Distillery do on a daily basis as well as some of the things that we like to do in our spare time…all with a Bushmills twist.

“But of course, being the Old Bushmills Distillery, we’ll not be forgetting the whiskey itself. A couple of the challenges will test how passionate the friends are about BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey. All will be revealed when we welcome them here in August!”

Bushcamp will take place from 16th – 18th August at the Old Bushmills Distillery, in Bushmills village and the surrounding area, with the winning pair of friends being announced on the evening of the 17th.

Visit facebook.com/bushmills1608 to follow the finalists’ progress and for more information on Make it 2 Bushmills.

Notes

Colum Egan Biography

Colum has been Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery since April 2002. He’s responsible for all the critical stages of whiskey production – all of them carried out at the distillery itself. That’s very handy when your job is to ensure that the production of the whiskies is done to perfection – as Colum likes it to be. It is Colum’s knowledge of whiskey and his attention to the finest details that makes BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskies consistently the best. Colum lives in the little coastal town of Ballycastle with his wife and two sons and says that he has found his dream job.

Kevin Baird Biography

Kevin is the bass player and vocalist in Northern Ireland indie rock band Two Door Cinema Club. Their debut album Tourist History has gone Gold in the UK, selling over 100,000 copies and recently they’ve made a splash by picking up both the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year and the award for Best New Band at the 2011 mtvU Woodie Awards. Kevin is a big Bushmills fan and is looking forward to meeting some others at Bushcamp.

Jonathan Galkin Biography

Jonathan Galkin is the co-founder and head of operations for DFA Records worldwide, an independent record label that he launched in 2001.

Rob Allanson Biography

As the Editor of renowned Whisky Magazine, Rob a vast knowledge of all things whisky, from the science to the romance. He travels to distilleries and major whisky conventions around the world, reporting on the latest news in the industry on his blog and in the magazine, which is published worldwide eight times per year. In his spare time, Rob is a keen biker, charity advocate, husband and dad.

About BUSHMILLS

BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey is made at Ireland’s oldest working distillery in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The brand portfolio includes six multi-award winning whiskeys: BUSHMILLS Original, BLACK BUSH, BUSHMILLS 10 Year Old Single Malt, BUSHMILLS 16 Year Old Single Malt and BUSHMILLS Malt 21 Year Old Single Malt and BUSHMILLS 1608. BUSHMILLS is the only distillery in Ireland to make triple-distilled Malt Whiskey. This is at the heart of all BUSHMILLS Whiskies and creates a unique combination of smoothness and richness.

Douglas Laing & Company have launched a Single Cask bottling of their finest Old Malt Cask – chosen to commemorate Scotland’s long association with the Gurkhas – Nepal’s legendary fighting men. Gurkhas first fought alongside Scottish soldiers in 1817 and have continued to do so with courage and professionalism to this day. Their 13 Victoria Crosses bear testament to their unfailing valour and loyalty to the British crown.

As with our Allt-a-Bhainne Highland Malt, the Gurkhas also come from wild and high places.

Fred Laing the company’s MD says:”Every year we select a charity for which we will bottle a Single Cask from our stock. This year we have chosen the Gurkhas. Their famous war cry “Ayo Gorkhali!” translates as “The Gurkhas are here!”, and whilst Douglas Laing & Co has no such famous war cry, we are proud and happy to send all proceeds of this bottling to the Gurkha Welfare Trust.”

Only 298 bottles have been filled of this 20 years old Allt-a-Bhainne, with a rrp of approximately £75.

For any questions on availability – contact info@douglaslaing.com

Dear Whisky Friends,

Bowmore and Rob Allanson, editor of Whisky Magazine, are hosting a very special whisky tasting in Glasgow on Friday the 15th of July 2011 in aid of the Bowmore Ben Nevis Challenge.

Participants will enjoy a tailored whisky tasting including some very unique limited edition whiskies from Auchentoshan and Bowmore, plus a few other special drams! Canapés will be served before the tasting, which will be followed by a raffle and silent auction featuring some rare whiskies signed by Bowmore distillery manager Eddie MacAffer.

The Bowmore Ben Nevis Challenge supports Capability Scotland and sees teams of disabled and non-disabled people work together to take on the challenge of scaling the UK’s highest peak, Ben Nevis on Saturday 20th August.

Money raised by the challenge will go to Capability Scotland to support them in their work campaigning with and supporting disabled people of all ages in Scotland at home, at work and at school.

Bowmore Ben Nevis Charity Whisky Tasting will take place at

Thistle Hotel Glasgow,
Cambridge Street
Glasgow, G2 3HN

Friday 15th July 2011
Guests to arrive at 6pm
£30 per ticket

Available via http://www.singlemaltwhiskyshop.com/store/bowmore/whisky-tasting/ben-nevis-whisky-tasting.aspx

For more information on the Bowmore Ben Nevis Challenge visit www.bowmore.com/ben-nevis

Royal Mile Whiskies Smokin’ New Whiskies!

We think it’s great what Kilchoman has achieved so far. Considering that it is already producing fantastic whiskies at just 3 years old makes it exciting to think about what is coming in the future. Kilchoman 100% Islay 

This peaty wonder from Campbeltown is released under strict and severely limited allocation. It is unlikely this will change until 2015 at the earliest, as there is simply not enough aged stock to add it permanently to the Longrow range. Longrow 18 Year Old

Still a work in progress and progressing well. The third bottling from Springbank’s most recent distillery, Glengyle, shows much promise and bodes very well for the future. Kilkerran – Work In Progress 3

Signatory continue to out do some of the Islay distilleries at their own game, by releasing these great value, ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’ type peaty drams. Laphroaig 1999 Signatory

There is something in the water and it will soon be making it’s way over from Islay…

Never cry over spilt milk. It could’ve been whiskey.

~ “Pappy” Maverick, in Maverick (the TV series)

Slainte!
Royal Mile Whiskies
Whisky Magazine’s ‘Retailer of the Year 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011’

FOR ALL ENQUIRIES PLEASE CALL 0131 524 9380

or email contact@royalmilewhiskies.com

Edinburgh Shop:
379 Royal Mile
Edinburgh EH1 1PW
Tel: 0131 225 3383

London Shop:
3 Bloomsbury Street
London WC1B 3QE
Tel: 0207 436 4763

*All bottlings subject to availability, prices inclusive of VAT and subject to change.

Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers –

If you’re reading this email, then you deserve a hearty slap on your sunburned back for having successfully navigated your way through a weekends worth of explosives, missiles and drunk boaters. I commend each and every one of you.

This weeks Whisky Wednesday email takes us on a trip to the far east…Japan to be precise….where they are producing what is generally regarded as some of the finest whiskies in the world. “They”, of course, are Suntory…the Japanese distiller that has been producing amazing spirits since 1899. In 1989, Suntory launched Hibiki, their premium line of blended whisky.

If you think the Japanese know how to make a car, you ought to try their whisky. And if you have been wanting to try a great Japanese whisky, there is no time like the present. Our normal retail price for a bottle of Hibiki 12 Year Old blended Japanese Whisky is $63.85…not a bad price if you look around. But Niki-the-Neck, who dabbles in the art of Sumo Wrestling when he isn’t shaking down liquor distributors, was able to parlay his contacts in the Japanese Underground to get us a great price on the whisky, which allows us to offer it to you foronly $57.85/ bottle.

I hope you will take advantage of this great offer, and try a whisky from the other side of the world. Your perception will definitely be turned upside down.

Doug Stone

Founder

www.ForScotchLovers.com

_______________________________________________________________________
SUNTORY HIBIKI 12 YEAR OLD BLENDED JAPANESE WHISKY

_______________________________________________________________________

HIBIKI 12 YO BLENDED JAPANESE WHISKY – TASTING NOTES

A wonder of fruity, clean, rich, pure taste.

Color: shiny amber

Nose: pineapple, plum, raspberry, honey, custard

Palate: soft, mellow and smooth, sweet

Finish: long and sweet, spicy-fruity, hint of sourness

_______________________________________________________________________

ABOUT SUNTORY HIBIKI

The legendary Hibiki represents true harmony. The enigma of perfection, the paragon of the art of whisky and the art of Japan’s artisans. Hibiki, meaning resonance in Japanese, speaks to the soul and emotions of the most discerning whisky lover.

Hibiki resonates from nature, and all the subtleties found from the twenty four seasons of the old Japanese lunar calendar. Numerous types of pure single malt whiskies ageing in various types of casks, including Mizunara, a very rare Japanese oak, all combine to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas.

Seductive, blossoming and enigmatic, Hibiki celebrates the unrivaled art of blending, fine craftsmanship, and sense of luxury of the House.

Shanghai Whisky Live 2011, September 2 & 3

The Luxury Interactive Experience
 
Mainland China’s biggest whisky festival returns to Shanghai on September 2 and 3.  Whisky Live & Fine Spirits Shanghai, now in its third year, promises to be fun and educational with an interactive twist in new, luxurious surroundings.

The festival has a name for interaction, giving everyone from complete novices to experts, the chance to learn more about the huge range of whiskies on offer and cut through baffling terminology. This year the event has a new, five star venue and there will be more single malt whiskies than ever before along with ultra deluxe blends such as Royal Salute & Ballantine’s

Show Director, Stephen Notman, said: “Mentorship lies at the very centre of slowly introducing and sustaining a foreign drinks culture in China. With more single malts being showcased at the event than ever before, it is important we empower consumers with the right tools to continue their journey into the world of whisky.”

The Education Zone returns where you can discover what whisky is and how to taste it. You also have the unique opportunity to create your very own blended whisky in the Blending Zone.

New to this year’s festival is the Whisky Live Passport. Find out which single malt region of Scotland the dram you are trying is from, and receive a stamp in your passport- the ideal souvenir.   
Also at this year’s show, the winners of the Shanghai Icons of Whisky Awards 2011 will be announced. Judged by industry professionals, the awards are for those driving awareness, educating consumers and increasing the profile of whisky. This year there’s an extra category- Best Newcomer.

And there’s live entertainment too guaranteeing a fun, educational day out.

Notes:

-Whisky Live is the world’s premier whisky tasting and sampling show, taking place everywhere from London to Tokyo, Paris to Glasgow.

-Whisky Live provides whisky enthusiasts of all levels the opportunity to taste the finest whiskies the category has to offer. With industry experts on hand using simple and easy to understand whisky terminology, this is the ideal way to start your journey into the world of whisky. 

-Whisky Live & Fine Spirits will be held at the Intercontinental Hotel Puxi, 500 Hengfeng Lu, near Tianmu Xi Lu, Zhabei District, Shanghai, on September 2 and 3. Tickets: Consumers 150RMB, VIPs 900RMB.

Follow Show Director Steve Notman on Twitter for the latest updates from the Far East: @Whiskyasia

Maltstock Hotel

Fellow whisky enthusiasts,

We know that some people do want to come to Maltstock, but prefer not to stay in one of the small dorms at Maltstock. For all of you who appreciate a little bit more privacy we now have special Maltstock rates at hotel Umberto in Wijchen. Hotel Umberto is the hotel nearest to the Maltstock venue (it’s just over 4 kilometers away). The hotel offers free parking and gets good ratings (8,1 out of 10 on average).

Special Maltstock room prices, excluding breakfast:
Double room = € 74,- per room per night
Single room = € 60,- per room per night

Breakfast is available in the hotel at an extra € 10,- per person per night. But there’s of course also the full Scottish breakfast at Maltstock.
Additional costs: Tourist tax à € 0,65 per person per night, to be paid at the hotel.

To make a reservation simply send us an  e-mail.

For more information on the hotel, please visit their  website.

Only 10 more weeks until Maltstock. Hope to see you all there!

Teun van Wel

www.maltstock.com
the relaxed whisky weekend

Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six

2nd Saturday   every month   6 – 9 p.m. No reservation required for tastings.

Taste 5 half-ounce pours of single malt Scotch whisky: $20 

    ♦ We feature 3 single malts, including a Malt of the Month *

    ♦ You roll a die, then pick a whisky from one of the six Scotch regions

    ♦ You pick your Connoisseur’s Choice from our menu of 77 single malts

Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres to cleanse your palate between pours. Non-Scotch drinkers are welcome to enjoy something from our non-whisky menu.

Featured malts:

* 10% off bottles of the Malt of the Month 

July 9, 2011

Our 3-year anniversary of monthly single malt Scotch tastings. Click for details.

Thanks to the following for publishing our 3rd anniversary news:

Lander Area Chamber of Commerce

Wyoming Business Report

Wyoming PBS

August 13, 2011

Glenfiddich 15 yo *

Dalmore 12 yo

Deanston 12 yo

September 10, 2011

anCnoc 12 yo *

Cragganmore  12 yo

Arran Machrie Moor

Visit the Miner’s Delight Inn at http://www.minersdelightinn.com/

Bob at work...

Welcome to part two of my epic jaunt around the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.  Click  here  if you missed Pt. 1 (or if you just fancy reading it again).

By Tim F.

The following morning, after a fine fry-up in Linn House’s impressive dining room, our destination was Longmorn distillery, where we were accompanied on a tour of the equipment by the delightful Ann Miller from Chivas and the (somewhat unconventionally) English distillery manager Neal Corbett, a charming Midlander (stop laughing at the back) who dealt amiably with our interminable silly questions..…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

Note to distillery managers: Never remove an unmarked bottle of whisky from your pocket while your colleague is talking