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Whisky Show Tickets Now On Sale!! – Scotch Whisky News

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Whisky Show Tickets Now On Sale!!

Hi Folks, Just a quick heads-up that tickets for The Whisky Exchange  Whisky Show are now on sale from ticketsource.co.uk! Click here to get yours: http://www.whisky-show.com/whisky-show-2011-tickets  Don’t hang around, as advance interest has been very high for these.  The TWE Whisky Show is the UK’s No.1 premium whisky tasting event and is being held at Vinopolis near London Bridge on 7th-8th October 2011.  For more details on the show, including a list of all our exhibitors and a breakdown of just what you’re getting for your cash, please visit www.whisky-show.com.

Happy Bank Holidays,

Tim F (at the Whisky Exchange)

 

Bruichladdich New Releases For 2011 – Scotch Whisky News

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Bruichladdich Releases 2011

Bruichladdich have announced some details of their forthcoming releases:

10yo

Micro Provenance

Islay Barley 2004 – A series of limited edition vintage releases – single batch, single farm, single vintage, single barley, single malt etc, due September.

40yo Bourbon Cask – limited to about 75 bottles

Port Charlotte PC9 – limited to about 6000 bottles

Octomore 4_167 – 18000 bottles due soon

Octomore 4.2 – 18000 bottles

Visit Bruichladdich Distillery at www.bruichladdich.com

English Whisky Company Update – English Whisky News

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What  a month of celebrations. 1 royal wedding, 4 bank holidays, Easter, Spring, sunshine.  How are you celebrating?

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We hope there will be some English Whisky in the house so we wanted to remind you that here at the English Whisky Co. we have kept our prices the same as before the VAT increase and the recent increase in excise duty, this won’t last forever.  Stock up on Chapter 6 and Chapter 9  while offer lasts.

Just to remind you that all our whisky is colour and additive free and non-chillfiltered single malt whisky.  A great addition to any bank holiday celebrations

Visit our shop today http://www.englishwhisky.co.uk/acatalog/home.html Or visit our website for Easter opening times and tour information.

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Behind the Blend with Ludo – Grant’s Live in Paris – Scotch Whisky News

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Hi everyone,

I am particularly busy this week, supporting Grant’s events in Paris, Philadelphia and New York. I actually woke up in the US this morning feeling surprisingly refreshed after a few hours sleep and it did cross my mind that perhaps I had overslept and the time may be 6pm not am. Thankfully, it wasn’t…(click on the link below to read the rest of the post)…

http://blog.grantswhisky.com/2011/04/grant%e2%80%99s-live-in-paris/

Kind regards,
Ludo

Glengoyne Newsletter April 2011 – Scotch Whisky News

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Fiona’s Secret

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This February saw the start of Glengoyne’s Shop refurbishment project. Things have progressed rather smoothly, with no major hiccups.

According to Glengoyne Retail Manager, Fiona McManus, “we’ve worked with our designers to create what we think might just be the WORLD’S GREATEST WHISKY SHOP. That is quite a boast, but it’s one I am happy to make. There are some wonderful features, which you won’t see anywhere else and I am convinced the overall effect will be stunning. The work is now very close to completion, but we are not revealing any further details at this stage. You’ll just have to await your next newsletter, or better still, visit Glengoyne in mid April to see for yourself.”

Well folks, that’s our Fiona for you, she always did play her cards close to her chest.

Duncan’s Long Walk

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Glengoyne Stillman Duncan McNicoll has talked his family into walking The West Highland Way to raise money for a very worthy cause.

Five of them will step out at the end of April on the four-day, 95 mile walk that passes Glengoyne on its way to Glencoe and Fort William. Duncan, his brother John and John’s son Craig will be raising money for charities that help sick children.

Duncan volunteered for the walk after a chance discussion with a couple visiting Glengoyne, who were keen to raise funds for their grandson who had been very ill. They will set off early on April 29th and will pass Glengoyne around midday. We’ll cheer as they pass, perhaps you could raise a dram of Glengoyne to help them on their way. If you’d like to know more, or how to contribute directly, please contact yvonne@glengoyne.com

500,000,000 Drams

Life at sleepy wee Glengoyne will be changing; just a little bit.

For decades we have stored as much of our whisky here as possible, but have been sending a few Glengoyne casks for storage with some of our friends in the industry too. We have now augmented our traditional Dunnage warehouses with some shiny new, modern ones, which will mean we can now house around 50,000 casks on site, a tenfold increase. Glengoyne will still make the worlds slowest distilled Single Malt Whisky, but the pace of life for our Warehousemen (and Warehouselady – sorry Steph) will never be quite the same again.

Robbie, our distillery manager believes that our new warehouses will “make things easier and more efficient for the company and will represent a significant saving on transport and third party warehouse rent. This will secure current job expenditure and has created three full time posts. The warehouses have given the Glengoyne site a real boost of activity. Do you realise that 50,000 casks equate to half a billion drams? My goodness, you are a thirsty lot!”

Glengoyne Ahoy!

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Next month sees the start of our new partner-ship with Cruise Glasgow, the Greenock Ocean Terminal which attracts some of the finest vessels afloat to visit Scotland’s sun-kissed shores.

What better way to be welcomed ashore than with a healthy dram of Glengoyne.

During their two day stay, a goodly portion of the passengers will visit Glengoyne, to see for themselves Scotland’s slowest distilled whisky trickle out of our Stills. The Glengoyne crew really know the ropes and will be happy to show them around our tightly run little ship. Full steam ahead.

10% Off for Father’s Day

We are offering our loyal newsletter readers 10% Off Glengoyne Personalised Bottles in the run up to Father’s Day (19th June). This discount is in addition to the existing promotion of Personalised Bottles for the price of Standard Bottles. Use the discount code DAD10 at the Glengoyne Online Shop.   Visit the Glengoyne Online Shop >

And finally…You’ll Be Flocking Here Now

We are building a new car park.

Let’s be honest, this isn’t the most exciting news for you, but it’s a big thing for us – you try sharing your work car park with 200 whisky casks, a tractor, two diggers and a flock of sheep and you’d soon see why we are so excited.

The car park will have separate areas for coach and visitor parking, which will make parking at the distillery more accessible. Sheep will now be banned, but you are more than welcome to come try it out.

Visit Glengoyne Distillery at www.glengoyne.com

New Arrivals at K&L Wines in California – Scotch Whisky News

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Scotland – Single Malt Scotch

  • 1976 North Port – Brechin 28 Year Old Malt Cask Single Malt 750ml – 1 available ($219.99)

 

  • 1982 Port Ellen 25 year old, Old Malt Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml – 3 available ($324.99)

Scotland – Spirits Pre-Arrival

  • 1994 Glendronach K&L Exclusive 17 Year Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($99.99) While ensconsed deep in the countryside of the Eastern Scottish Highlands, David OG and I sat at a small table in a low-lit guesthouse and marveled at the quality of the Glendronach single malts. I immediately blogged via the K&L Spirits Journal website that the 12 year old was the “best single malt that no one is drinking!” Very much like Springbank whiskies sans the peat smoke, Glendronach has an unctuous, chewy mouthfeel that isn’t overly cloying or too saturated with sweet sherry. We knew that if we could find a single barrel that tasted similiar to the amazing 12 year, we would have a real winner on our hands. The next morning we scoured the warehouses in search of the perfect expression and we found it in a 1994 barrel that had been briefly finished in PX sherry cask. Earthy notes from the warehouse aging permiate the rich, oily flavors of vanilla, raisined fruit, and cakebread. The cask strength proof really keeps the sweetness at bay and the result is a fabulously balanced malt that should appeal to just about everyone. This is the barrel everyone will overlook, but I’d bet my salary it’s the one that will get the best reviews. -David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer

 

  • 1998 Springbank K&L Exclusive 13 Year Single Bourbon Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($84.99) We purchased this amazing bourbon cask of Springbank directly from the distillery during our 2011 visit to Campbeltown. Both David OG and I wanted something that exemplified the true character of Springbank – that unmistakable dense mouthfeel, brimming with chewy, gum-smacking texture and viscosity. Springbank whisky from a straight bourbon cask is one of the true pleasures in life. While the heavily sherried versions of the malt are wonderful in their own way, the sweetness from the sherry tends to mask some of qualities we love so much. We tasted this 13 year straight out of the barrel and loved the rich tannins provided from the wood, the intense vanilla aromas, and the nutty flavors that intermingled with salty accents. Seeing that Springbank was one of the true highlights of our trip, we really wanted to pick a cask that faithfully represented just what we loved so much. This whisky does exactly that. -David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer

 

  • 1997 Springbank K&L Exclusive 14 Year Single Madeira Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml (Pre-Arrival) ($89.99) Upon our 2011 visit to Springbank, we knew we wanted to purchase a single bourbon cask, but we were open to other options were we to find another very special barrel. Of course, that’s exactly what happened. One of the most beloved whiskies in K&L customer history was a 2000 Springbank that was finished in Chateau d’Yquem barrels, giving a sweet highlight to the chewy textures of the malt. This 1998 Madeira-finished cask is bottled at cask strength, and is the more muscular, more mature cousin of that lovely 2000. Golden fruits, a rich, oily mouthfeel, and a long, supple finish all merge together and make this one of the easiest drams we’ve tasted in sometime. We can’t imagine anyone not loving this, so we decided to go deep and buy the whole thing. Like the 2000, we expect people to talk about this whisky for some time to come. -David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer.

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Scotch Malt Whisky Society – A VERY GOOD Friday: Easter Finale 15% Off – Scotch Whisky News

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A VERY GOOD FRIDAY: 15% off orders

Of course every First Friday of the month is a good Friday with the release of the Society’s monthly Outturns but this Friday is A VERY GOOD FRIDAY indeed

As part of our Easter Sale Finale, enjoy a massive online saving of 15% off your order.  The only bottles that aren’t part of the offer are those already discounted.  And the sale doesn’t end until Easter Monday.

LAST CALL FOR EASTER SALE BOTTLES:

Majestic Malt:
35.54 Bubbly, buoyant and up-beat
Speyside Lossie
ONLY £40.00 inc free p&p (SAVE £8.50)

The Royal ‘We’: 76.80 & 9.61
ONLY £82.50 inc free p&p (SAVE £18.70)

Mystery Malt Hoilday Pack
ONLY £105 inc free p&p (SAVE £40+)

ALL offers available online & telephone

Society Tastings & Events (34 Society tastings online)
Easter Chocolate Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 24 Apr
Society Whisky Dinner – Winchester HDV, Thu 28 Apr
Newcastle Preview Tasting – Northern Counties Club, Thu 28 Apr
Glasgow Preview Tasting – Radisson Blu, Fri 29 Apr
Whisky & Cheese Tasting – Queen Street, Fri 29 Apr
Music with Andy Johnstone – The Vaults, Sun 1 May (FREE EVENT)
New Outturn Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 8 May
Champagne Cocktail Masterclass – Queen Street, Thu 12 May
Stewart’s Beer Tasting – The Vaults, Fri 13 May
New Members Tasting – London, Mon 16 May
Champagne Tasting – Queen Street, Sat 21 May

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Society Whisky Tastings

Whatever and wherever our tasting or event, the main focus is to give members an informal, enjoyable and relaxed night out..with a taste of the single cask good stuff!

Events range from step by step instruction in how to get the most from tasting single cask, single malt whisky to more adventurous couplings of whisky with food.

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. 

Johnnie Walker Black Label 12yo JOHNNIE WALKER DOUBLE BLACK – Scotch Whisky Head to Head Tasting Note(s)

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Johnnie Walker Black Label 12yo Blended Scotch Whisky (40%, OB, -+/1 2010)

One the nose it’s some what clean and restrained with some hints of some smoke and a little time hand warming brings out further aromas one often associates with blends, quite distinctive; grains and malt. After some time in the glass some honey notes emerge however while it’s good it’s a little restrained. The perils of 40% ABV versus 46% ABV one is forced to conclude. The taste is as one would expect from Johnnie Walker Black Label, some really good grains and some peat smoke, really lovely. Big and vibrant. The finish is a continuation of the taste, the vibrancy stays put for the whole ride, lots going on and very good.

Sometimes you just want to have a quiet whisky and not think about it too much; Johnnie Walker Black Label is such a whisky. The tipple of the author Christopher Kitchens, by the case allegedly.

$50

Score 87 points

JOHNNIE WALKER DOUBLE BLACK BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY (40%, OB, +/- 2010)

Much bigger on the nose when compared to the Black Label 12yo however it presents many of the same aromas, but just ‘bigger’. It noses as if it has a slightly higher malt content, still it’s all very nice. The taste is gentle at first and then there’s some malt and grain (but more malt) and then some gentle peat smoke arrives. Very mature and grown up but certainly not over the top with the Islay influence, it’s still quite restrained but present. Good balance. A little more rounded flavour profile than the 12yo offering a slightly sweeter taste. Certainly not a dramatically higher peat smoke delivery. Again the finish follows through from the nose and taste and the malt, grain, sweetness and gentle peat smoke are all present.

Score 86 points.

€35

Many thanks to Duncan for the sample of Johnnie Walker Double Black.

The 12yo presents as a blend and a very good one at that. The Double Black is kissing cousins nearer to a malt however the peat smoke is not significantly bigger but it all melds together nicely. Still the Double Black is a very good dram but the 12yo has the slight edge with the vibrancy. For those that want a blend the 12yo and for those that lean towards malt then the Double Black.

More on the Johnnie Walker Double Black at; https://www.whiskyintelligence.com/2010/10/diageo-launches-johnnie-walker%c2%ae-double-black%e2%84%a2-blended-scotch-whisky-scotch-whisky-news/ 

Glenfiddich Rolls Out the “Cask of Dreams” – Scotch Whisky News

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Glenfiddich Rolls Out the “Cask of Dreams”

Iconic Single Malt Scotch Whisky Launches Nationwide Campaign to Foster the New American Pioneering Spirit

NEW YORK, – Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky, today announced the launch of Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams – an exciting new campaign designed to inspire people across the nation to pursue their pioneering dreams, and help them to achieve them.  An extension of the groundbreaking Glenfiddich “One Day You Will” advertising campaign, Cask of Dreams will combine a series of activities, including a global survey, high profile stunts, celebration events and a partnership with a likeminded charity, to bring the spirit of a pioneer to life in the U.S.  Starting in April, this nationwide initiative will see Glenfiddich travelling across the country, visiting major cities, where Glenfiddich Ambassadors Heather Greene, Freddy May and Mitch Bechard will roll actual casks around the streets, encouraging people to write their dreams and aspirations on them, and offering people the chance to win one of a series of trips to help them achieve their pioneering goals.

This nationwide campaign is inspired by the results of an international survey detailing global attitudes to innovation and what it means to be a pioneer in the 21st Century. Performed by leading London-based research company The Future Laboratory, the survey highlights numerous surprising findings, most significantly the fact that a small but dedicated segment of society (17%) considers itself pioneering, and that perceptions of what it means to be a pioneer have shifted to include a variety of new disciplines and attitudes, including a focus on philanthropy (87%) and innovation (85%).  In addition, the survey, which also contains a dedicated description of “The American Dreamer”, found that, despite their overwhelming desires to be pioneer, people in the U.S felt that there were numerous obstacles – most notably economic constraints (62%) and fear of failure (23%) – in the way of them achieving their pioneering goals.  The Cask of Dreams campaign exists to encourage, inspire and assist people in realizing those goals with a combination of prizes, incentives and philanthropic pursuits.

At the end of the campaign, the written on casks will be sent to the storied Glenfiddich distillery in Scotland, where they will be used to finish a special limited edition expression of Glenfiddich, which will then be sold in the U.S in early 2012.  This exclusive bottling will be performed in conjunction with Glenfiddich charity partner, the National Geographic Explorer’s Program, which, like the campaign, supports uniquely gifted adventurers, scientists, photographers, and writers by helping them accomplish their pioneering goals. As part of this partnership, Glenfiddich will also be using the campaign to fund several National Geographic expeditions, by donating $1 every time somebody shares their dream via a dedicated web site, www.caskofdreams.com.

“We are extremely happy to see that the spirit of a pioneer is still very much alive and well in the U.S.,” said David Bitran, Senior Marketing Manager for Glenfiddich. “Since our founder William Grant first set out on his own, and built our distillery with his bare hands, nurturing self belief , innovation and our unique “One Day You Will” spirit has been extremely important to us.  Whether it is our establishment of the Single Malt category or our constant drive to innovate and pioneer within the category, we have proudly carried our founder’s philosophy through the years.  With the Cask of Dreams campaign, we are offering people across the United States the opportunity not only to achieve their dreams, but to help realize the dreams of others and delight in life’s adventures.”

In addition to the Cask of Dreams campaign, Glenfiddich will also be giving out a series of dream trips to people interested in exploring their adventurous and culinary pursuits.  To find out more about the Glenfiddich Cask of Dreams campaign and become involved, please visit www.caskofdreams.com. 

For additional information about Cask of Dreams, including survey results, and for the opportunity to interview a Future laboratory representative about the survey, please contact:

Ashley Wallace
Maloney & Fox
646-356-8332
awallace@maloneyfox.com

www.caskofdreams.com

About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the luxury spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distills some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s fourth largest blended Scotch Grant’s® as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey and the award-winning Milagro® Tequila.

Among the most recent accolades for the well-awarded company, William Grant & Sons was honored as the “Distiller of the Year” for the fourth time in five years by the prestigious International Spirits Challenge.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Milagro Tequila, Stolichnaya Vodka, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Lillet, Licor 43, Art In The Age, The Knot and BOLS cordials. The company has offices in New York City (sales and marketing) and Edison, NJ (bottling and warehouse facilities). For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.

Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt (Shackleton, 47.3%) – Scotch Whisky Tasting Note

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Mackinlay’s Rare Old Highland Malt (Shackleton, 47.3%)

The eagerly anticipated recreation of the whisky that Shackleton took on his journey to the Antarctic. The nose is honey with a waft of peat smoke in the back ground, there also some green notes (not to imply immaturity) but heather or roses. A really nice interplay between the peat smoke, the honey notes and the heather and rose although after a few minutes in the glass the ‘greener’ notes fade to the back ground. It’s all very good and the honey is more defined now, like warm honey comb. Vanilla bean and toffee. All very rich and very good. The taste is actually a little strong and the heather and rose is more to the fore now with the peat smoke and the honey taking a back seat. Some good moments of leather and tobacco along with some cereals, perhaps some Weetabix. Oak spice also. The finish is as the taste but a shade different with more of the heather and rose followed by the leather and tobacco. It’s quite long and very active, not a quite fade into the distance here. Very malty and more of the Weetabix after a while

This is very good whisky, if it tastes anything like the original it’s a wonder they ever left the hut let alone leave 3 cases unconsumed. Many thanks to the kind person at W&M who forwarded the sample to Whisky Intelligence.

£100 with £5 of each sale going to the Antarctic Heritage Trust.

Score 88 points


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