Whisky Intelligence has added a new category called ‘Vignettes – Moments in Whisky’ which will feature whisky moments as experienced by the readership. If you have a whisky moment please feel free to submit your moment and we’ll do our best to publish it. The very first Vignettes – Moments in Whisky was published on Monday May 30th and was submitted by Joe Barry of South Africa.

In the last episode, I mentioned the Balcones Brimstone blue corn whiskey from Balcones Distillery in Waco, Texas…and how the corn was smoked over Texas scrub oak. Turns out I was wrong, and there’s an even more interesting story behind this whiskey and the distillery. In the news, Jack Daniel’s neighbors want to tax the distillery’s whiskey barrels, Ireland could have a fourth distillery two years from now, new whiskies from Glen Garioch and The Macallan, and tasting notes for craft whiskies from Arkansas and Washington.

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com

Yamazaki

The Pioneer of Japanese Whisky

From Yamazaki was born the surprising, delicate yet profound experience of a Japanese single malt. Spiritual and deep, its signature multi-layered taste is highly praised by whisky connoisseurs all over the world.

Today, Yamazaki is not only the “number-one” single malt whisky in Japan, but is enjoyed in more than twenty-five countries. From www.suntory.com

Yamazaki 12yo (43%, OB, +/-2010)

The nose presents some smoke like aromas along with wet cotton, a good heaviness and nice oak spice. The taste is spicy with some tea leaves, marmalade, lashings of black pepper and it’s surprisingly strong. The oak spice comes through quite quickly but it does not take over the short, it is all complimentary. This is a very nice whisky. Some fruit of disguised origin lurks in the back ground. The finish is very much of chocolate (unsweetened dark), more of the oak spice and black pepper and finally towards the end some really good chewy malt.

Yet another excellent whisky from Japan.

$35 in some US markets

Score 87

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.

Bearing the seal of the House of Suntory, this majestic blend is its rightful paragon. From http://www.suntory.com/

Hibiki 12yo Japanese Blended Whisky (43%, OB, +/-2010)

On the nose there is some good sweetness backed by lots of oak note however the oak does not dominate. There is also some tinned fruit cocktail and lychee fruit, it’s all rather lovely and verges on sensational. This is a blended whisky? No matter, it’s very good. The sweetness is simply rather lovely. The taste is a tussle between the sweetness, the oak spice notes and some really good leather & tobacco moments tinged with some really excellent cocoa. Brown sugar and furniture polish, cold unsweetened black tea (but in a good way); good influence from the casks and very tasty. The finish shows some malt and all the other characteristics as previously described. It’s quite long and does not veer off on a tangent. 

……… all combine to create a full orchestra of flavors and aromas….quite right!

$40

Score 88 points

A PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN THANK YOU TO DAD

Salute your dad this Father’s Day with the proudly South African, award-winning Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky. Distilled and matured at the James Sedgwick Distillery near the foothills of the Bain’s Kloof Pass in Wellington, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is South Africa’s first 100 % single-grain whisky.

Awarded gold and best-in-class at the 2010 International Wine and Spirits Challenge, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is the perfect gift to show your dad just how much you value him. Inspired by the pioneering pass builder Andrew Geddes Bain who created the Bain’s Kloof Pass amidst its natural beauty, Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is crafted from the finest South African grain. The whisky is quite uniquely double-matured in specially selected first-fill oak casks. After the initial three years’ maturation the whisky is transferred to a second set of first-fill oak casks to age for a further two years. Its double-maturation imparts flavour and complexity, resulting in a smooth and distinctive whisky.

The whisky shows an exceptional interaction between spirit and wood to produce a mix of toffee, floral and vanilla aromas and flavours with a hint of spice softened by sweet undertones. The result is a warm and extended mouth-feel with a smooth finish.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is available, with or without a tin, from leading liquor outlets and retails for around R175 per 750 ml bottle.

Tasting Notes: Port Ellen 1982 Royal Wedding Whisky

Just arrived – our very special single sherry cask 1982 Port Ellen Royal Wedding Reserve!  We mentioned this in our earlier guide to Royal Wedding whiskies, so let’s try and give you an idea of what it’s all about with double tasting notes from myself and Billy. Port Ellen 1982 Royal Wedding Reserve Cask #2290, …(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK

June Outturn: An angel fallen to earth
This June Outturn welcomes TEN charming cherubs, fallen to earth and playing with our hearts…

CLOSED DISTILLERY
104.13 An angel fallen to earth
Speyside Lossie
£155.oo inc free p&p
There is no tasting note for this whisky our pathetic scribblings could not do it justice. In any case the Panel were dumb-struck (unlikely as that may seem) – this whisky closed down the logical, language side of the brain in favour of the more primitive pleasure receptors

31.22 An island worker’s dram
Highland Island
£60.10 inc free p&p
Very interesting – slightly sugary and salty – herbal, lemon grass, west coast machair, perfumed cigarettes, tar, iodine and ‘an old school satchel

23.69 Dusty muesli and green bananas
Islay
£61.30 inc free p&p
Big and tasty, with zesty marmalade and honey, tobacco leaf and mint, then a suggestion of spice – perhaps cinnamon toast.

33.105 Sweet and savoury
Islay
£56.40 inc. free p&p
Runny honey, Golden Syrup, Lindt chocolate, and toffee but a meaty note – uncooked cured smoked gammon and heather soap showed-up

June Recommendations:
PAIR: 121.45* & 28.23 for £93.50 (save £16.30)

TRIO: 5.30, 9.60 & 23.69 for £129.50 (SAVE £23.00)

CASE: Take the June PAIR & TRIO and ADD 37.47
only £279.00 (save £60.30)

*121.45 is an alternative bottle

Society Tastings & Events (66 Society tastings online)

Whisky Dinner  – Bistro du Vin, London, Sat 18 Jun
Enjoy three-courses of simple classic dishes complimenting five-unique Society whiskies served in the beautifully rustic ‘Whisky Snuggle’

Edinburgh ‘Ghost Tour’ Tasting – 28 Queen Street, Thu 28 Jun
A swift Dutch courage dram then our own private Ghost Tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town.  We finish with two more drams and supper

Vaults Botanic Tasting – RBGE , Thu 28 Jun
Enjoy four drams in the beautiful John Hope Gateway in the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh.  Profits are donated to RBGE.  Exclusive RBGE Membership offer: Society members can enjoy a 10% saving on RBGE membership, call 0131 552 5339 for details

UK-wide Preview Tastings, Fri 24 June
Your chance to explore future bottling lists with a spot of supper
Inverness:           Kingsmill Hotel
Belfast:                   Hilton Belfast Hotel
Newcastle:           The Northern Counties Club
Glasgow:               Radisson Blu Hotel

Father’s Day up-ahead: Sun 19 Jun
Don’t forget to treat Dad – there are over 50 single cask bottles in the online shop waiting for a new home.  Or indulge him with a visit to the William Bros Brewery with The Vaults

Of course Society membership is the gift that keeps on giving, buy membership now until Wed 22 June and get a free four dram tasting at our London Members’ Room .  More details  (terms & conditions do apply).

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ
Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers. 

VILLEROY & BOCH RAISES THE BAR WITH NEW FINE FLAVOUR COLLECTION 

Whisky aficionados and epicures everywhere will delight in the sensory experience now made possible by Villeroy & Boch’s new Fine Flavour collection with two distinct lines—American Bar and Scotch Whisky.

By embracing the complexity of origin, the elegant crystal glassware complements the distinct flavors of various whisky varieties and is destined to be applauded by both connoisseurs and the occasional enthusiast.

Each line boasts exclusive Villeroy & Boch quality and optimum design, which carefully considers the variations in ingredients, production process, storage and origin of the whisky to be enjoyed from the superior crystal glassware.

The American Bar line features seven elegant pieces in a variety of sizes and was created to serve whiskey (with an “e”) distilled in America or Ireland.  The simple design boasts a narrow mouth and thick base to keep ice cold and is the perfect accessory for serving whiskey cocktails straight or “on the rocks.”

The Scotch Whisky line has been specially created for more exclusive varieties. With four product groups, including Single Grain, Single Malt, Blended Scotch and Decanters, the classic contour and optimum shape enable the nose to fully absorb the aroma of the whisky.

Designed to complement the taste of any distinctive spirit, the Fine Flavour collection – available as a gift box set of two – will be available in stores and online in November.

June 2011

Dear Client

Being released in March we have one (1) Old CLAN DENNY GRAIN.

Tasting Note for CLAN DENNY GRAIN

DEN 0066 STRATHCLYDE 23 Year Old Bourbon (ex- bourbon cask)
Soft, chewy toffee! Massively vanilla’d (plus clean fresh emulsion) on the warehouse wall with a good dark Italian espresso steaming all throughout the nose as well. On the palate the vanilla and toffee are way to the fore – with crème caramel and dark burnt sugar enhancing matters. The finish is – as customary – short, sweet and sugary. Great with a good coffee. (F)

And after all that – maybe you will need one of these fine Malts! Meantime – as always –we send you our

Best wishes

Fred H Laing

Visit Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd. at www.douglaslaing.com

Sample Image

Sazerac Offers Two Canadian Whisky Suggestions

For Father’s Day 

The “Comeback Category” has a Single Barrel and Small Batch Offering Fit for any Budget

NEW ORLEANS, lA.  – With Father’s Day just around the corner, it’s time to get dear ol’ dad some amazing new whisky from a long forgotten category.

Until recently, Canadian whisky had deteriorated in prestige as consumer tastes moved to products like Bourbon and Scotch.  But that is changing and Canadian Whisky is now enjoying a renaissance of sorts as distillers like Sazerac have come out with premium offerings such as Caribou Crossing, the world’s first single barrel Canadian whisky, and Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian whisky. 

“We introduced Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian Small Batch last Spring and both brands are really starting to gain traction,” said Kevin Richards, Canadian Whisky brand manager at Sazerac, “Consumers are starting to become interested again in the Canadian whisky segment and with both of these brands picking up some very nice awards and ratings in the last year, consumers are becoming curious about rediscovering this once very popular segment of the liquor store.” 

In the past year, Caribou Crossing has received a 93 rating from John Hansell at Malt Advocate; was named “2010 Canadian Whisky of the Year” by canadianwhisky.org; won a double gold medal at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; a gold medal and “90” rating from Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute); a gold medal and “90” rating at the 2010 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; a silver medal and best in class at the 2010 International Wine and Spirits Competition; and a bronze medal at the 2010 Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition. Whisky buffs can expect to taste radiantly-hued nectar with a nod to the tantalizing silky texture provided by the barrel. The rye grain cuts through the wood flavors making its spicy presence known without risking the creamy vanilla custard smoothness. The finish is oak with an orangey tang.

Not to be outdone, Royal Canadian Small Batch won a gold medal and “90” rating from Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute); a “90” rating from Wine Enthusiast; a silver medal in the 2011 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; and a bronze medal at the 2011 World Spirits Competition. Royal Canadian is sweet and smoky like a Memphis BBQ. The initial sip is velvety smooth with huge flavors. There is a nutty praline sweetness that slides through the creamy rich sensations. The finish is a bold reminder that this is whiskey and the citrus-spicy conclusion just leaves you with the desire for the next notable sip.

“Both Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian are leading the comeback for the Canadian whisky category. When you can offer something new and different such as a single barrel or small batch, consumers are starting to realize that the category has merit and has changed from what their parents used to drink,” said Drew Mayville, Sazerac’s master blender who created both Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian Small Batch. “The whole Canadian whisky market has so much potential right now and it’s really an exciting time to be in on it.”

It was Mayville himself who hand-selected the barrels used for Caribou Crossing, choosing the most mature and flavor-rich samples available and overseeing the bottling of each individual barrel.

The Royal Canadian Small Batch underwent the same stringent selection process under Mayville’s watchful eye.

The two Canadian whiskies make ideal gifts for Father’s Day, and are at price points for discriminating budgets. The Caribou Crossing retails for $49.99 for a 750 ml and the Royal Canadian Small Batch is $24.99 for a 750 ml.

As an extra bonus, Caribou Crossing comes in an elegant gift box, taking care of the gift wrapping for you. But no matter which one you choose, dad will know you think he’s hip too with a gift of this fine Canadian whisky.

 
About The Sazerac Company

Sazerac is one of New Orleans’ oldest family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California and Baltimore, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.sazerac.com.

Second Saturday Scotch Sipping at Six

2nd Saturday    each month    6 – 9 p.m.    no reservation required

Enjoy 5 half-ounce samples 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 73 single malts

Peruse our whisky library. Learn about our single malts in our menu book: distillery info, tasting notes, & more.  Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres. Non-whisky drinkers welcome.

Featured malts:

* 10% off bottles of the Malt of the Month

June 11 , 2011

Laphroaig 10 yo *

Aberlour 12 yo

Edradour 10 yo

July 9, 2011

Our 3-year anniversary of monthly single malt Scotch tastings. New Beginnings featuring whisky from 2 new distilleries and 1 under a new owner.   (6 – 9 p.m).

3 is a big number in Scotland. By Scottish law, a spirit distilled in Scotland must mature for 3 years in oak barrels before it can be called “whisky.” Join us to celebrate our 3rd anniversary of monthly single malt whisky tastings, where we pour from Wyoming’s best single malt Scotch menu.

Still $20, which gets you:

♦  five half-ounce samples, including our 3 featured malts and two of your choosing:

♦  Kilchoman Summer 2010 Release (Islay’s newest distillery in 125 years, began distilling in 2005) Malt Advocate magazine’s 2010 “Artisan Whisky of the Year” [July’s Malt of the Month, 10% off a bottle]

♦  Edradour 2003 Port Cask Matured (Scotland’s smallest distillery: a Highland distillery, began distilling under a new owner in 2002)

♦ Kilkerran Work in Progress 2010 (Campbeltown’s newest distillery in 124 years, and Scotland’s first new distillery of this millennium, began distilling in 2004)

♦  You roll a die then pick your choice from one of the six Scotch regions

♦  You pick your Connoisseur’s Choice from our menu of 73 single malts

♦  hors d’oeuvres

♦  a coupon for 5% off a bottle (not including the Malt of the Month)

♦  entered into a drawing for door prizes (yes, you must be here to win)

August 13, 2011

Glenfiddich 15 yo *

Dalmore 12 yo

Deanston 12 yo

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

Bob at work...