Forget going ‘Doon the Waater’; Arran’s coming to town!

‘Arran in the Square’ will be one of the final events in Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink and over the weekend of the 14th and 15th of May Glasgow’s George Square will be transformed into a ‘virtual’ Isle of Arran!

The Isle of Arran lies in the Clyde just off the Ayrshire Coast. Despite being just 20 miles long but has more artisan producers than anywhere else in Scotland and boasts a diverse range of food and drink –from traditional dairy ice cream to single malt whisky, oatcakes, cheeses, mustards and fabulous fresh salads and herbs, and award winning real ale – this island has something to suit all tastes!

‘Arran in the Square’ will be a showcase for island producers and visitors will have plenty of opportunity to sample Arran food and drink throughout the two days, and can also get some inspiration at the Cookschool Scotland Cookery Theatre where Head Chef Phil Lewis will demonstrate some exciting ideas for using Arran produce in the kitchen.

As well as the great food & drink, there will be lots of going on to delight all your senses and keep the whole family happy – just like being on your favourite island: Radio Clyde will be on hand to keep the party going and you’ll get a sneak preview of the Arran Folk Festival with some great Arran bands lined up over the weekend. Why not have a go at rock climbing or what about trying your hand at golf and with lots going on to entertain the kids, you can relax with an Arran Aromatics massage and enjoy some retail therapy Arran-style.

To top all that, VisitArran will be giving away more than a dozen short breaks to the island and there will be plenty of chances to win with competitions running online and throughout the event itself.

Scotland really is a land of food & drink and this event will encourage people in Glasgow to experience the great produce, and the wonderful island destination, they have on their doorstep. 

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer, EventScotland said “Arran in the Square’ is an exciting event which we are delighted to be supporting as part of Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink initiative that showcases the diversity and quality of Scotland‟s larder. It is a fantastic example of the Isle of Arran‟s contribution to making Scotland the perfect stage for events. ”
 
We can’t wait to welcome you all to the Isle of Arran Distillery tasting bar!
For more information about Arran in the Square find us on facebook and for your chance to win a trip for two to Arran, visit http://www.visitarran.com/.

This event is supported by EventScotland, Caledonian MacBrayne, Scotland Food and Drink ,  LEADER ,  North Ayrshire Council   

THE ARRAN MALT SHOP

From the Isle of Arran web shop web site;

“We are pleased to let you know that we are now able to ship orders to the USA, Canada and Australia!  Please contact our Mail Order Department on 01770 830 264  for postage and packaging costs.

Should you require any assistance with your order, please contact our Mail Order Department. Email: mailorder@arranwhisky.com Tel: +44(0)1770 830264 Open 10am-6pm Monday to Saturday”

Visit the web store at http://www.arranwhisky.com/ShopHome/

Isle of Arran ex-Bourbon Cask #94

Another single cask offering from the Isle of Arran distillery and from an ex American bourbon cask (the scotch whisky industry would be very different without American casks…). The undiluted nose shows some really good biscuity malt and it’s very clean and vibrant. Some mild citrus (hints of grapefruit and lemon) along with hints of varnish, a little marzipan, a little pear and apricot. Very complex (the word ‘complex’ is the last refuge of the over whelmed so use it sparingly) along with some good wood notes, some time in the glass opens it up a little. Still for 57.3% is quite gentle. With a little water there is the predictable rounding out of the aromas and some sweetening. The undiluted taste is strong (shock) and very malty with really good moments from the cask influence (both from the former contents and the oak). Sweet and then quite dry right afterwards. Very, very good. With water there is a significant departure from the diluted nose and it improves with the addition of water, a little less aggressive but still has lashings of character. The finish is a continuation of the malt, then the bourbon influence and then the dryness along with the biscuits all in that short order. The finish goes on forever with some good interplay between the malt ad the dryness of the oak.

Another cracker from the Isle of Arran distillery.

$85

Score 88 points

Isle of Arran 'McCulloch' 8yo Cask #772

Isle of Arran 8yo McCulloch (49%, OB, C#772 B’ 01/09/2010)

A single cask bottling only available from Chester Whisky located in Chester, Cheshire in the United Kingdom www.chesterwhisky.com  The colour is a deep red tinge with dark brown highlights (WI rarely comments on the colour of whisky however this is quite pleasignt o the eye). The nose is blasts of really good dried fruit (think of prunes, raisins and cherries), sensational oak spice, warm toffee, sherry and yes, Christmas cake (the really good dark kind aggressively introduced to some really good alcohol) and some citrus. There are also some hints of malt and wet cotton, much like some Springbank single malts. The total effect is quite fantastic. The taste is very fruity in a strong fashion along with some really good spice and the malt and wet cotton. Some good dryness and hints of cocoa powder (unsweetened). It’s all very, very good. The fruit, oak spice and the malt (a little shy at this point), all work very well together to produce a phenomenal combination and a sensational dram. The finish is warming, quite dry and now tobacco and leather notes arrive but nicely intertwined with the sweetness from the fruit. It’s quite long and very consistent.

Buy a bottle or two while they are still available…

£45

Score 90 points

CAOL ILA™ DISTILLERS EDITION™ Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled in Islay, has taken the top Single Malt Scotch Whisky honours at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, whose results were announced on 28 March. (WI is playing catch up today)
 
After three days of judging against dozens of single malt Scotch whiskies, it was awarded the accolade of “Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky”.

This stylish, richly flavoured and complex expression of Caol Ila has  –  after many years maturation in oak casks  –  been double-matured in dark Moscatel caskwood, hand-selected to complement the whisky’s sweetly fruity, smoky intensity.

Caol Ila™ Distillers Edition™ is not new to expert praise. It won Gold – Best in Class at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2009, Gold at the International Spirits Challenge in 2009 and 2010, and Gold at the Scotch Whisky Masters in 2010.

The supreme “Best” award, won this year by Caol Ila Distillers Edition, is given after an extensive multiple-round judging process running over three days.

The limited number of bottlings that qualify for a Double Gold Medal (which happens when the judging panel is unanimous in its assessment of a Gold Medal award) may, if the judges unanimously agree again, progress further to compete for honours in a wider super category.

This “super panel” of judges then re-assess the selected Double Gold winners with a view to deciding the “Best of” category awards: a process that takes the better part of the final day, nosing, tasting, evaluating and voting the best of the best in each category.

Notes
 
About Caol Ila™

Caol Ila Distillery is one of Diageo’s 28 Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distilleries and is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. It was established in 1846 near Port Askaig on Islay by Hector Henderson, and borrows its Gaelic name from the sea sweeping past its dramatic and almost secret location, squeezed tight between the steep cliff and the sea, hard on the eastern shores of the Sound of Islay with its fast and challenging currents. It was a spot originally chosen in 1846 partly because of the fresh water which still provides its main supply, rising from limestone in nearby Loch nam Ban, then falling to the sea just behind the distillery.

As a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Caol Ila has enjoyed huge popularity and success since its relaunch in 2002.

Caol Ila is distributed in many markets in four complementary expressions in addition to the Distillers Edition™:

–        a 12 year old, that has won numerous Gold Medals including most recently the supreme prize, the Trophy for the best single malt whisky under 15 years old at the IWSC in 2010. It also won Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2009, Master at the Scotch Whisky Masters 2009, Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010 and Master at the Scotch Whisky Masters 2010.

–        An 18 year old.

–        A Natural Cask Strength expression (with no age statement).

–        Moch [Gaelic for Dawn] – a new expression with no age statement, recently launched for the Friends of the Classic Malts

Enthusiasts have also enjoyed the unusual unpeated 8 year old and later 10 and 12 year old expressions of Caol Ila, figuring regularly among the annual Classic Malts Selection Special Releases.

About Caol Ila™ Distillers Edition™

Each Distillers Edition expression undergoes a second (or ‘double’) maturation in casks that have previously held a fortified wine.

This extraordinarily stylish and complex expression of Caol Ila has been double-matured in carefully selected Moscatel casks. The wood is not over-evident and instead balances perfectly with this richly flavoured single malt.

STRENGTH : 43% ABV

APPEARANCE : Clear gold

NOSE : Wonderfully concentrated pure, clean Caol Ila – peaty and medicinal, with rich fruit, spicy and fragrant. With water, the fragrant smokiness comes singing through.

BODY : Medium.

PALATE : Sweetness and maltiness strike first, then are quickly overwhelmed by peat smoke and intense, clean, crisp flavours. The signature smoky bonfires are here, and build to quite a size. Overall, drying, in a beautifully balanced, complex, elegant development, complemented with cinnamon spice.

FINISH : Long, rounded, robust and multi-layered.

About the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, now in its 11th year, is the oldest, largest, and most recognized spirits competition in the United States. Entries were evaluated by 33 spirits experts from noted restaurants and hotels, well-known spirits journalists from major US media, spirits buyers, and spirits consultants. Judging is based on a blind, consensual procedure ensuring competitive integrity.

Hello Fellow Scotch Lovers –

I’m back…ten glorious days spent with my father tearing our way through the Scottish Highlands, taking in the spectacular countryside and touring every distillery that would see us. It was, in short, one of the most beautiful countries I’ve ever visited, inhabited by some of the friendliest and most hospitable people you’ll ever meet.

And the whisky ain’t too bad either.

One of my favorite distilleries we visited was The Balvenie, in Dufftown, just outside of Speyside.  Balvenie is the only distillery in the Scottish Highlands that continues to operate their own floor maltings, with four men in shifts turning the barley three times a day, seven days a week. The distillery also grows its own barley, and employs a full-time Coppersmith to care for thier unique stills and a team of Coopers to care for their casks.

At the end of the tour we indulged in the byproduct of their efforts as you would expect. The entire tasting was one piece of candy after another….but the really extra special treat was the taste of Balvenie 21 Year Old Portwood.

So the minute I got out of the tasting, I placed a call to our friend Nicky “The Neck”, directing him to do whatever it takes…and as always, “The Neck” came through. 

Which brings me to this weeks Whisky Wednesday incredible opportunity: one of the most delicious whiskies you will ever taste, at an unbeatable price:  Balvenie 21 Year Old Portwood Finished Speyside Whisky for $125 (reg $172.90)

As usual, the product supply at this price is very limited…and once it’s gone, it’s gone.  So please purchase your bottle(s) ASAP if you are interested.

Finally, keep a very close eye on these emails…over the next few weeks I’ll be making some exciting announcements…including really great news about our Whisky Explorers Club…so STAY TUNED!

Doug Stone
Founder
www.ForScotchLovers.com

THE BALVENIE 21 YEAR OLD PORTWOOD FINISH

To create The Balvenie PortWood Aged 21 Years, a marriage of rare Balvenie is transferred to port casks, or pipes, which have held fine port wines. Here it is sampled regularly by The Balvenie Malt Master to ensure that just the right amount of character is imparted by the port casks, enhancing and developing the single malt whilst preserving its original characteristics.

“A single malt of refinement and remarkable character, it is creamy and silky with fruit, honey and spice notes, and has a long and gentle nutty finish.” – distillery

TASTING NOTES – DAVID STEWART, BALVENIE MASTER BLENDER

NOSE – A perfume of fruity and ripe raisin notes, backed by a nutty dryness.

TASTE – Refined with remarkable character, it is creamy and silky with fruit, honey and spice notes.

FINISH – Long, gentle, nutty.
 
PHOTOS OF THE DISTILLERY – by Doug Stone 

SCOTCH WHISKY EXPORTS UP – DIAGEO COMMENTS

Single Malts Exports up by 18%

The Scotch Whisky Association announced this week (WI is palying catch up!) that 2010 was a record year for Scotch Whisky. Global shipments were valued at £3.45bn, a 10% increase on 2009. Scotch Whisky exports  have increased by 60% since the turn of the century, adding an extra £1.29bn in value.

Single Malt exports increased by 18% (to £577m) and bottled Blended Scotch Whisky shipments rose by 5% (to £2.6bn).

There was a comment from David Gates, Diageo’s global category director for  Whiskies. He said:

“As the largest Scotch whisky producer, today’s SWA’s figures on the increase in Scotch exports come as no surprise.

In the last financial year, we’ve seen our Scotch portfolio grow by 6% with the key driver of this growth being through Johnnie Walker in emerging markets where net sales grew 23%. Where economies are growing, Scotch is growing and sometimes spectacularly in markets such as Mexico, Eastern Europe, duty free and South East Asia through blended Scotch brands such as Johnnie Walker, J&B and Buchanan’s.

Together these markets have driven almost an additional million cases of Scotch versus the same period last year.

Diageo continues to invest in Scotch production and late last year opened the first major new malt distillery for 30 years – Roseisle – as part of a capital investment programme in Scotland of £600 million announced over the past 6 fiscal years.”

Straight from the Still

Hello everyone,

We have some very exciting and can’t-miss events coming up at the distillery this summer and fall. Hi, this is Keith Kerkhoff co-founder and distiller at Templeton Rye. Mark your calendar for Rock & Rye in conjunction with the historic RAGBRAI event passing through Templeton on Monday, July 25th. Whether you are a spectator, support person, or rider, we would love to have you stop by the distillery. We will be conducting tours of the distillery and the town will be hosting a big party adjacent to the distillery with a beer garden, food, misters to cool you all down, and of course entertainment. Our team is anticipating a barrel of fun and the town of Templeton could grow a hundred fold that day. We will be taking a group picture at 1:00 pm in front of our large distillery sign for everyone wearing a Templeton Rye bike jersey. Speaking of that, for those of you who have not yet purchased one, but would like to, follow this link to get yours today. Get them ordered soon as the cutoff day is approaching.

Back by popular demand, we will be having our second volunteer bottling campaign in late November or early December. Be sure to watch our website for scheduling and sign up. We have kept in touch with many of our participants from last year and they have requested that we do this again so stay tuned.

This is a super busy time of the year for folks in the agricultural industries. I personally, along with my son Kody and extended family, are in this discipline. As our distillery manager Kevin Boersma likes to say, “It’s Go Time” around here. I currently have about 75% of my corn acres planted which is about average in our part of the state. Many other areas and states are struggling to get planting accomplished so hopefully it will dry up for them soon. Always remember “safety first” as accidents can be prevented only if we concentrate on what we are doing.

My last comment is that freedom is not free. This past week the war effort hit very close to home. James Justice, from nearby Manilla, lost his life in Afghanistan. He was a young man who had a magnetic personality that everyone admired. I personally have been friends with all the Justice family for years and want to share my condolences to them for this tragic and unfortunate loss. I would like to remind all of our friends, whether you encounter a military man or woman in an airport or on the street, to approach them and let them know we are thankful for what they are doing. Hope to see you all this summer!

Sincerely, Keith Kerkhoff

Visit Templeton Rye at www.templetonrye.com

Ben Nevis OB 25yo 54.0%alc.

A single cask bottling of 526 bottles, distilled in 1984 and re-racked from bourbon casks to a sherry cask in 1998, bottled in 2010.

Cask # 98/35/12

Another Atlantic storm from The Ben, an expression of West Coast solidity, bigger than the elements and I don’t mean earth and wind and wot-not but bigger than the whole periodic table of the elements.

It’s big in the glass, raising anticipation with a rich, bitter, sherry-wood aroma, dried fruit; sultanas, dates, figs… And a little bit of sherry wood match-head.

Soft on the tongue, especially considering the degree of prickle in the nose. Sweet and sour and a lovely stimulating swallow that I can only describe as acrid – but a good acrid. There is a juicy start to a very long finish with a haaar (exhale back into the nose & mouth arena) of matchbox striking surface. That finish is still as strong now as was to begin with. An ace.

Distilled 20 December 1984 and put in Bourbon barrels

Transferred to Sherry butts 14 October 1998

Bottled 2010

Limited to 526 bottles having spent almost 14 years in fresh Bourbon casks and then the remainder in fresh Sherry butts.

Visit Loch Fyne Whiskies at www.lfw.co.uk

Master of Malt Launch the World’s Oldest Whisky Liqueur

Online Retailer and Independent Bottler, Master of Malt ( http://www.masterofmalt.com/), has launched the world’s oldest whisky liqueur. Based on the very finest 40 year old single malt Speyside whisky from one of Scotland’s most legendary distilleries!

From a Secret Distillery

The 40 year old single malt at the heart of this liqueur hails from a Speyside distillery, and whilst the exact origins remain a closely guarded secret, it is reputed to be one of the world’s most famous, and one known for its rich, sherry-matured whiskies.

“The key part for us was that the whisky shone through,” says Master of Malt’s Sales Director Ben Ellefsen, “this is a liqueur for single malt connoisseurs, so we spent an incredible amount of time picking subtle flavours which highlighted the malt, rather than creating something that was just sweet and overpowering. We’ve used top quality, authentic ingredients including cinnamon bark, cloves and orange peel, and we couldn’t be more proud of the results.”

The 40 year old joins Master of Malt’s range of single malt Speyside whisky liqueurs, and the prices range from £26.95 for the 10 year old, up to £219.95 for the 40 year old.

The Liqueurs 

– Master of Malt 10 Year Old Speyside Whisky Liqueur – £26.95
– Master of Malt 15 Year Old Speyside Whisky Liqueur – £39.95
– Master of Malt 21 Year Old Speyside Whisky Liqueur – £59.95
– Master of Malt 30 Year Old Speyside Whisky Liqueur – £109.95
– Master of Malt 40 Year Old Speyside Whisky Liqueur – £219.95
– Tasting Set of all 5 – £29.95

About Master of Malt

– Established in 1985
– One of the UK’s leading Online Spirits Merchants
– A highly rated independent bottler, all of whose single cask whiskies scored over 90 points in the Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2009

Master of Malt Twitter @masterofmalt
Master of Malt – http://www.masterofmalt.com/

The Tolbooth Tavern

Thursday May 12th:- P/O/U/R/S £20/17*

Thursday May 26th:- non-Scottish peaty drams £tbc
India: Amrut 62.8%
U.S.A.: McCarthy’s
Japan: t.b.c.
England: St. Georges
Ireland: Cooley

Thursday June 9th:- P/O/U/R/S £20/17*

Thursday June 23rd:- Arran £tbc
Machrie Moor peated 46%
‘Oran Mor’ 56.4% sherry cask 236 bottles
10yo 57.1% Bourbon cask 219 bottles Loch Fyne Whiskies bottling
Cadenheads 1998 12yo 57.4%
plus another one to be confirmed

Thursday July 7th P/O/U/R/S £20/17*

Thursday July 21st Lagavulin £tbc
LG2
Distiller’s Edition 1994 – 2010 43%
16yo 43%
1995 12yo European oak 48% Friends of Classic Malts
and a fifth expression to be confirmed

Future Themes:

18yo- ‘Us’ and ‘Them’: comparisons of distillery bottlings with independant expressions – Highland Park, Glendronach and Tamdhu, Ben Nevis: Cadenheads 1996 – 03/2009 12yo 57.1% Bourbon hogshead 256 bootles, 10yo 46%, single blend, single grain, Cadenheads ‘dumpy’ 06/1965 – 12/1981 16yo 46%, Bladnoch: Rare Malts 23yo, Cadenheads 17yo 55.1% Bourbon hogshead, peated, sherry cask plus one other example

Peaty blends 40%: Islay Mist, Islay Hallmark 8yo, Black Bottle 10yo, Black Grouse, Black Bottle, plus a special guest (Brora or Port Ellen) Template design by Web-Kreation.

Visit the Jolly Toper at http://www.jollytopertastings.co.uk/