Benromach adds hat trick of expressions to range

Speyside’s smallest whisky distillery, Benromach, has added three new expressions of the famous, single malt whisky to its range.

The hat trick of expressions adds to the range of ages, styles and strengths of the malt available in the Benromach portfolio, demonstrating the creativity and innovation synonymous with the boutique distillery.

Benromach Wood Finish Hermitage is a subtly smoky single malt Scotch whisky with a distinctly French flavour. The malt was matured in sherry and bourbon casks, before being transferred into oak casks for 22 months that had been used to produce wine from the Hermitage Appellation d’Origine Controlee, in the northern Rhone wine region of France.

Matured in first fill bourbon barrels, Benromach Cask Strength is a mouth warming and smooth single malt with hints of spice.  Containing earthy influences it also has a delicate peaty edge and is bottled at 59.9% ABV.

Benromach 30 Years Old is a smooth and creamy single malt whisky with warming festive hints of sherry and spices.  Matured in sherry casks the bright gold, medium malt also has hints of peat emerging.

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Benromach Distillery and owners of Gordon & MacPhail, said:

“The Benromach portfolio now offers an expansive range – something for a variety of palletes.  These latest expressions really demonstrate the skill of our master distillers in maturing and distilling the single malt.  While different in taste, they all have that recognisable Benromach quality which comes from our unique whisky making process, which includes using the finest Scottish malted barley and pure spring water from the Romach Hills.

“We are also pleased to be able to extend the international flavours in our Wood Finish range with the Benromach Hermitage following on from last year’s launch of Spanish Wood Finish, Benromach Pedro Ximenex.”

Benromach single malt whiskies are available from whisky shops and fine wine and spirits retail specialists.

For more information about Benromach Distillery and the Benromach range of Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskies go to www.benromach.com.

About Benromach

Benromach distillery is Speyside’s smallest. Based in the attractive Moray town of Forres, the gateway to Scotland’s famous whisky producing region, just two expert distillers make this, golden malt whisky.

Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by family firm Gordon & MacPhail in 1993. Drawing on generations of whisky expertise, the company carried out a painstaking refurbishment and the distillery was officially re-opened by Prince Charles in 1998.

Tasting Notes and UK recommended retail prices.  Prices will vary from market to market with currency fluctuations and local taxes:

Benromach Wood Finish Hermitage, 2001, 45%

Colour: Golden amber

Undiluted

Nose: Initially a subtle smokiness with sweet cured bacon influences. A fruity note of ripe red berries and citrus elements emerge. A creamy toffee element lingers.

Palate: Citrus notes are initially evident – lemon and limes. A subtle hint of peat smoke, with a warming spice – ground black pepper. A pleasant smooth and creamy element lingers.

With water

Nose: Initially fresh, malty notes are present. Hints of freshly bailed hay, with some citrus notes emerging – reminiscent of fresh pink grapefruit and lime zest. A rounded sweetness lingers.

Palate: An initial burst of sweetness, with a toasted malt edge. A very delicate hint of smoke becomes evident. Smooth and balanced.

Body: Medium

Finish: Long

Cask types: The whisky is initially matured in 1st fill sherry and bourbon casks. Finished in Hermitage casks.

Recommended retail price: £31.25

Benromach Cask Strength, 2001, 59.9%

Colour: Dark straw

Undiluted

Nose: Fresh with subtle esters and toasted malt.  Sweet vanilla flavours with hints of cream toffee, with a fresh pear note emerging.

Palate: An initial burst of chilli spice, mouth warming, yet very smooth and creamy.  A hint of liquorice and earthy influences linger.

With water

Nose: Fresh with a subtle hint of smoke and some subtle esters.  A defined poached pear nose with sweet, nutty notes (fudge and almond).

Palate: An initial hint of spice, mouth warming and smooth.  A delicate peaty edge develops.

Body: Medium

Finish: Long

Cask types: First fill Bourbon barrels

Recommended retail price: £40.50

Benromach 30 Years Old, 43%

Colour: Bright gold

Undiluted

Nose: Initial rum and raisin notes, with a delicate vanilla edge.  Smooth peach and nectarine fruit flavours mingle beautifully with toasted malt.

Palate: Hints of rich Sherried Christmas cake, with a touch of marzipan.  Some mixed spices emerge.  Smooth and creamy with mouth warming qualities.

With water

Nose: Subtle ripe green apple notes, with a delicate touch of smoke (charred oak) coming to the fore.  Some malty notes become apparent.

Palate: An initial burst of Sherry sweetness, with a hint of peat smoke emerging.  Some hints of black pepper.  Smooth and moreish.

Body: Medium

Finish: Long and warming

Cask type: 1st fill and refill Sherry casks

Recommended retail price: £149.99

Other Benromach expressions include:

Benromach Ten Years Old

Benromach Ten Years Old is created from the finest Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. After being matured for at least ten years, it emerges golden in colour and displays rich fruit, sweet chocolate and delicate spicy aromas. With a rich sherry influence, the mouth-watering palate coats the senses with exotic fruit flavours, toasted malt and a delicate hint of smoke.

Benromach Traditional

A rich and mellow single malt with fruit and malty tones, balanced with a hint of smoke.

Benromach Peat Smoke

Full bodied, intense and challenging with a smoky character, yet balanced with the fruity elegance of Speyside.

Benromach Origins

A series of special bottlings crafted to highlight how small changes in the art of whisky-making can help to shape the character of the final single malt. The first batch release in the series is produced using Golden Promise barley, grown in the heart of Speyside. Matured in first and second fill sherry casks, this full bodied single malt displays rich, fruity notes, intertwined with peat smoke a soft spicy flavours.

Further Benromach expressions are also available. Please visit www.benromach.com for details.

Glenmorangie offers a Father’s Day gift to remember

— Iconic Scottish brand will inscribe the names of 1843 special fathers on their new ‘Founders Wall’ in a tribute to year the distillery was opened —

Glenmorangie is offering the ultimate Father’s Day gift this year with the chance for whisky lovers to create their own legacy.

The iconic Scottish brand will inscribe the names of 1843 people on the ‘Founders Wall’ of the Glenmorangie Distillery in a tribute to the year of its foundation. By receiving a bottle of the award-winning Glenmorangie 18 Years Old, whisky lovers can enjoy their own slice of history.

The unique opportunity to make your father part of a ‘Living Legacy’ by having his name engraved on the wall of the Glenmorangie Distillery visitor centre is a timeless gift for Father’s Day.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Head of Distilling and Whisky Creation at The Glenmorangie Company, said: “The ‘Living Legacy’ initiative means that whisky aficionados can become part of the Glenmorangie story. When they visit our distillery in Tain they can enjoy seeing their own name up on the Founders Wall and feel part of our proud history. This is the ultimate timeless gift for Father’s Day.

“Glenmorangie 18 Years Old is a rare, unnecessarily well made single malt whisky of distinction. It has a silky smooth texture, a long enticing finish. It is an intriguing contrast of the Glenmorangie house style balanced with the flavours of 18 years of ageing which include sweet dried fruit, melting honey and nuttiness.”

Glenmorangie has carved out its reputation as a pioneer, marrying traditional techniques with innovative processes, including using Scotland’s tallest stills. The running of the Distillery is entrusted to the ‘Men of Tain’ – the skilled craftsmen charged with perfecting Glenmorangie’s spirit.

Glenmorangie 18 Years Old is seen as the brand’s ‘Living Legacy’ due to its combination of heritage and modernity, and its flavour balance of maturity and vibrancy. It was recently awarded a ‘Double Gold’ medal at the 2011 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

A limited edition sleeve has been added to the Glenmorangie 18 Years Old outer packaging with an envelope inside detailing the information of how to apply to be a part of this special piece of history. But for those who do not make the first 1843, they are still in for a treat. Full details can be accessed at www.glenmorangie.com/1843

Notes
 
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.

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.

Father’s Day Gift

Malt Whisky Tasting

Friday 17th June

Amrut Distillery Showcase

with Ashok Chokalingam 

Drams : Amrut Fusion (Voted World Whisky of 2011 by Malt Advocate  + Jim Murray 97 pts/100), + full range including peated cask strengths, unpeated marvels alike, international awards have flowed a pace for Amrut distillery and we have been remis to take so long before showcasing them in Stourbridge…until NOW!!!  with Cheese selection + biscuits. Ticket :£25. Held at Nickolls and Perks Private cellars in Stourbridge ,West Midlands.

Time : 7:30 until 9:30
Tickets cost : £25
Phone 01384 394518 to book remaining seats.
Printed tickets can be posted out.

Visit Nickolls and Perks at www.nickollsandperks.co.uk

Father’s Day – Sunday 19th June 2011

This Father’s Day, make it fun for him to remember. Single Malt Whisky with a personalised label. 

Select your bottle of Single Malt whisky and then personalise it by adding a photograph of your own choice and using a selection of different backgrounds and a message to the label. Our online label design is fun, quick and produces amazing results at the click of a button.

Here are a few we did to show you.

Click here to go to begin…………….

Great news for customers from Germany and Sweden…

Two bits of good news today, but in short: We are now delivering to Germany again Orders to Germany and Sweden will only get charged local duty – ie. they’re now even cheaper than before Since we had to stop sending orders to Germany four months ago we have been looking for ways to legally …(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

WHISKY A GO-GO: GLENDRONACH’S “CASK IN A VAN” TO TOUR BELGIUM AGAIN IN JUNE
 
FOR the last two years, GlenDronach malt whisky has selected a rare single cask from its Aberdeenshire distillery…and toured it around Belgium in the back of a van!
 
The unusual tasting tour – called “Cask in a Van” – has proved so successful that it’s being repeated again later this month.
 
The quirky Roadshow starts in Kampenhoudt on June 20 and ends in Waremme on the night of June 25.
 
Regional Sales Manager Donald MacLellan said: “Belgium is one of our fastest-growing markets, and we’re delighted to take this exceptional cask on this tasting tour. So if lovers of GlenDronach have difficulty getting to a liquor store that stocks it, we’ll bring it to them!
 
“With our specially-liveried van, we’re offering Belgians the chance to savour and purchase a truly excellent GlenDronach single cask whisky – this time it’s a 2002 release at 55% vol which has been matured in a Pedro Ximinez Butt. In addition, we’ll be offering tastings of our award-winning 12, 15 and 18 year-old core range.
 
“Like last year, people will be given the opportunity to fill their own bottle of GlenDronach straight from the cask and, as it’s a limited edition, it’s going to be a highly collectable item.”
 
The 8 year-old’s tasting notes suggest it’s a classic GlenDronach with a spicy sherry twist:
 
Nose: sweet oak and spiced fruit cake intermingle with honey and walnut notes. Fresh and clean with plenty of life.
 
Appearance: rich deep gold with a fantastic mahogany glow.
 
Palate: a spicy sherry concoction with balanced toasted oak notes and brown sugar. Vanilla beans and roasted nuts. Bold earthy notes add lovely depth and body. A real heavyweight for the vintage and plenty of maturity for such youth.
 
The tour dates and locations are:
 
Monday June 20 – Tasttoe, Kampenhoudt
Tuesday June 21 – Hardies, Mol
Wednesday June 22 – Crombe, Kortrijk
Thursday June 23 – Verloo, Antwerpen
Friday June 24 – W&P, Liege
Saturday June 25 (afternoon) – Barrique, Charleroi
Saturday June 25 (evening) – PDV, Waremme
 
GlenDronach’s core range is available in over one hundred specialist stores throughout Belgium.

Tennants Auctioneers of Leyburn, North Yorkshire, are to hold their inaugural Rare and Collectable Whisky, Wine and Spirit sale on Saturady 18th June, starting at 11am. 

There are almost 400 bottles of single malt, to be sold in around 70 lots.  Alongside modern classics such as Macallan 25 year old, bottled 1957 (estimate £300-550), Laphroaig 1976 (£150-250), and Ardbeg 1975 (£150-250), there are also a number of vintage bottlings from the 1970’s. 

The vintage bottles include a Springback 22 Year Old (£250-350), a 1970’s Laphroaig 10 Year Old (£250-350), two bottles of Glen Flagler, and a bottle of Sherriff’s Bowmore “Ship” label with box (£300-500).

The fully illustrated online catalogue is available at  http://www.tennants.co.uk/Catalogue/Sales/161.aspx starting at lot 1000. 

For those that cannot make the auction telephone bids can be arranged, or alternatively commission bids can be left.  Please contact Mark Littler on 01969 623780 for further information on the sale or consigning your own items to an auction.

Kindred Spirits
June 2011      
 
 Dear Friend,

Without the craftsmanship passed down through the generations, I know The Glenrothes wouldn’t be the exceptional creation that it is.

In a similar way, with Father’s Day round the corner on June 19th, it’s a time when many of us turn our thoughts to the attitudes, skills and characteristics that have been passed on to us by our Fathers.

Maybe now’s the time to give something back in return. The Glenrothes has always been a malt that you share with likeminded friends, and who better to share it with than your own Father?

I’d like to invite you to visit our online shop to see the gifts you could select this Father’s Day. Just click here to go to our shop. Significant times deserve a significant whisky, and many distinctive and memorable years are captured forever in a Vintage expression of The Glenrothes. Of course our Select Reserve, while not a vintage, similarly captures the essence of The Glenrothes in a perfect expression of subtle sweetness, spice, oranges and vanilla.

Whatever gift you choose this Father’s Day, I trust it will provide a memorable moment, not to mention a number of memorable drams together all through the year.

Raise a glass,

Ronnie Cox
Brand Heritage Director
www.theglenrothes.com

Ronnie Cox

A communication from Glengoyne Distillery
   
Last chance to order a 10% Off Personalised Bottle of Glengoyne for Father’s Day!

The cut-off time for Father’s Day orders is 11 am tomorrow (Wed 15th June) for UK orders.

We are still offering our loyal newsletter readers a 10% Discount on Glengoyne personalised bottles for Father’s Day!

Follow the link below to get a 10% discount on all personalised bottles – discount will be automatically applied.

Buy Personalised Bottles of Glengoyne with 10% discount >

Note: The discount will be valid until Father’s Day, however, UK orders placed after 11 am Wed 15th June will not be delivered in time for Father’s Day. 

Ardbeg Embassy Launch Tasting at TWE Vinopolis

As mentioned a few posts ago we ran a tasting at the end of May to celebrate our shop’s ascension to the rank of Ardbeg Embassy. We were joined by Distillery Manager Mickey Heads and an audience of peat fans eager to try the Ardbeg range. Over to Toby from the shop for a report …(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK