www.ralfy.com continues with Springbanky-stuff in the shape of whisky review 177 Part 5  of  7 – Springbank Distillery with Peter (part 5)

Live Old Pulteney Tasting on Twitter 20th January, 2011 at 7:30PM GMT (That’s TODAY!).

The hashtag is #wk209

Old Pulteney WK209 ‘Good Hope’

• Follows a highly successful WK499 ‘Isabella Fortuna’ as Old Pulteney’s travel retail offering
• Limited to only 1,600 cases (of 6 x 1 litre bottles)
• Unchill-filtered, natural colour
• Bottled at 46% ABV
• Matured entirely in European sherry casks
• Named after a steam Herring Drifter WK209 ‘Good Hope’ built in Wick in 1948, first boat in Wick to use echo sounder

Official tasting notes:

Colour: Dark copper with bronze highlights

Nose: Smooth and spicy with aromas of toffee and chocolate; traces of hazelnut and vanilla.

Taste: Sweet to start with hints of citrus notes; full bodied with overtones of raisins, chocolate and warm spices leading to long lasting finish.

The tasting will also include Old Pulteney 12yo and the Old Pulteney 17yo. The photo of the WK209 is a mock up so you’re having a sneak peek at what it will look like on the store shelves. Distillery Manager Malcolm Waring will also be taking part along with an undetermined number of eager bloggers who are always willing to guzzle free whisky for a good cause. Unfortunately Whisky Intelligence will only be able to take part in two thirds of the tasting as the sample of Old Pulteney17yo suffered a catastrophic failure during the journey across the Atlantic.

Visit Old Pulteney Distillery at www.oldpulteney.com

Whisky aficionados around New Zealand, Australia and the world are gearing up for next year’s premier whisky festival, DramFest ’11.

This popular biennial event takes place in Christchurch from 25-27 February 2011 and organiser Michael Fraser Milne of Whisky Galore says the show will be bigger and better than ever before. There’s even a rare chance to sample the world’s oldest Scotch single malt ever bottled, the Mortlach 70 year old/1938.

“We have obtained two 200ml bottles of the 70-year old whisky and will be offering an exclusive tasting for a very limited number of people,” says Fraser Milne.

Don’t worry if you miss out on that, there are still over 36 distilleries showcasing their whiskies, including six new exhibitors as well as several new expressions of whisky from some of Whisky Galore’s favourite establishments.

“Visitors will be able to savour a dram or two from around the world, including a range of premier single malts.”

The three day event kicks off with a once-in-a-lifetime chance on Friday, 25 February to see the original 1948 film, Whisky Galore. The film tells the story of the sinking of the SS Politician off the Scottish coast and how a group of islanders raided the shipwreck for its consignment of 24,000 cases of whisky. February is the 70th anniversary of the sinking in 1941 and Whisky Galore is flying out the original film from Ealing Studios in the UK. There’ll be spot prizes for great period costumes as well as the chance to have a whisky or two.

The main event on Saturday, 26 February at the Christchurch Convention Centre is the chance for visitors, whether whisky virgins or fully fledged devotees, to really experience the world of whisky to the fullest. Highlights include the presence of the reborn Glenglassaugh distillery that has fired up its sills again after 22 years in mothballs, reviving a 100-year-old classic spirit character and the new kid on the block, Kilchoman.

“Since its first appearance at DramFest ‘07 Kilchoman has wowed the whisky world with its single malt expressions,” says Fraser Milne. “This year the distillery will be presenting its Spring and Summer 2010  bottlings and a look at some future efforts.”

On Sunday, 27 February tickets are available for members of public to take part “DramFest Sessions “ (tutored tastings) with experts from some of Scotland’s leading distilleries.

“These workshops allow you to ask questions from the masters of whisky, to gain an insight into the secret of how malted grain and water stored in oak casks turn over time into liquid gold,” says Fraser Milne. “These sessions are always popular and some have sold out already.”

The “Sessions” workshops include the world first tasting with Derek Hancock KQ, of Gordon and MacPhail of the Mortlach 1938, and sessions with Susan Colville from Wemyss Vintage Malts, Stuart Nickerson KQ, Managing Director of Glenglassaugh and Alex Bruce, KQ from Adelphi Distillery.

A full programme of workshops and exhibitors is available at www.dramfest.co.nz. Tickets for the event are available from Whisky Galore or on line at whiskygalore.co.nz or dramfest.co.nz

Michael Fraser Milne
Whisky Galore

Yes, the Shackleton whisky is coming to Scotland

Posted: 14 Jan 2011 (WI apologizes for the delay in publication)

The reports are true, the whisky buried beneath the ice for more than 100 years near the South Pole is coming back to Scotland. As we speak I’m in New Zealand looking at the whisky and next week I’ll be bringing it home in a very special way.

There’s not too much to say at this point – this article has the main details (http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hp4sgI2g14l3LFi43kjQO65rOKXg?docId=CNG.9650afa9caad1d48954137324971ea04.821) – but I’ll be back next week to begin a lengthy period of examining the whisky.

So come back then and I’ll reveal a lot, lot more.

(and yes, for those who follow me on Twitter, this is what the handcuffs were for.)

And thank you everyone who has been interested in this since we mentioned it on the first podcast back in 2009.

BRUICHLADDICH PROGRESSIVE HEBRIDEAN DISTILLERS

1977 DNA: THE ULTIMATE ESSENCE OF BRUICHLADDICH.

DISTILLED TOWARDS THE END OF AN ALTOGETHER MORE INNOCENT WHISKY ERA, BEFORE TODAY’S INDUSTRIALISATION, DISTILLERY RATIONALISATION AND CORNER-CUTTING THAT HAS DOMINATED WHISKY PRODUCTION EVER SINCE.

THIS SMALL BOTTLING, FROM THE CUSP OF THAT GOLDEN AGE, REPRESENTS SOME OF THE VERY LAST OF OUR SIXTIES AND SEVENTIES CASKS, A HANDFUL OF LITRES OF WHISKY FROM NEAR-EMPTY BARRELS MARRIED TOGETHER CREATING THE VERY ESSENCE OF BRUICHLADDICH: OUR DNA.

Distilled in two lots on 1st July & 26th October 1977 – the year Elvis died – it was matured on Islay for over 32 years in 100% American oak Bourbon casks. Such was the purity of this spirit when tasted from cask that legendary distiller Jim McEwan decided that such was the elegance, complexity and fruit of this noble spirit it was impossible to improve any further; consequently it has been bottled straight, “as is”.

MCMLXXVII IS EDITION TWO IN THE DEFINITIVE BRUICHLADDICH DNA SERIES.

SELECTED CASKS OF OUR RARE 1977 SPIRIT PROVIDE A GLIMPSE IN TO THE SOUL OF BRUICHLADDICH SINGLE MALT. THIS IS A SATISFYINGLY EXTRAORDINARY COMING TOGETHER OF RARE OLD SPIRIT AND FRESH AMERICAN OAK.

1977 – AGED 32 YEARS WHEN BOTTLED. MYSTERIOUS BLACK PRESENTATION WITH ROMAN NUMERALS (MCMLXXVII) TO ELICIT CURIOSITY. 2ND IN THE DNA SERIES EXPLORING THE VERY SOUL OF BRUICHLADDICH. A UNIQUE ONE-OFF RELEASE – UNREPEATABLE COMBINATION OF SPIRIT AND AGE. CLASSIC AMERICAN OAK MATURATION. ONLY 844 SEQUENTIALLY-NUMBERED BOTTLES. BOTTLED SEPTEMBER 2010 AT CASK STRENGTH OF 47.4% THE ULTIMATE INDULGENCE IN AN ERA OF AUSTERITY. NATURAL WHISKY: NON CHILL-FILTERED AND COLOURING-FREE. BOTTLED AT BRUICHLADDICH DISTILLERY USING ISLAY SPRING WATER. MCMLXXVII – A RARE LIMITED EDITION RELEASE.

Visit Bruichladdich Distillery at www.bruichladdich.com

The Famous Grouse has been a supporter of Scottish rugby for over 20 years, and this year we want to invite you to take part in our campaign to get behind the Scottish team.

We are creating a giant Saltire which will be displayed by The Famous Grouse at Haymarket, Edinburgh, from 14th March and we need your help!

We are inviting all our fans, and fans of Scotland’s rugby team, to send us a picture of themselves which will be used in a montage forming the famous Saltire flag. If you want your face to appear on the flag all you need to do is send a picture of yourself to famousfans@framecreates.co.uk by Friday 21st January. Any images submitted need to be a minimum resolution of 300 dpi. We will try to use as many images as possible, but please note that we may not be able to use all images supplied if the image resolution does not meet our requirements or if the content is deemed unsuitable.

If you aren’t going to be around Haymarket during the 6 nations don’t worry, we’ll post a picture of the Saltire on our The Famous Grouse Official Facebook page for you to see.

 
Yours famously,
The Famous Grouse Team

Yes, indeed Rafly jumped the gun and published this episode a little early, see for yourself at www.ralfy.com

THE DNA OF FOUR ROSES

Thursday, January 20, 6:30-8:30pm

Four Roses produces 10 different Bourbon styles utilizing 2 mash bills and 5 proprietary yeast strains – and Binny’s has them all! Long time Distillery Manager and Brand Ambassador Al Young is making a trip to Chicago to demystify the process. Al will be covering the history of Four Roses while sampling and explaining the 10 pieces that are combined to make some of America’s greatest whiskies. $10 W/Binny’s Card / $15 non-members. Limited seating. Paid reservations required.

Call 312-664-4394 for more information. Visit Binny’s at www.binnys.com
Chicago – Lincoln Park
1720 N. Marcey St. | Chicago | 312-664-4394

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010 was an extraordinary year for the Virginia Distillery Co. as we completed Phase One of construction, launched the Second Edition of Eades Double Malt Whisky and met so many of you. Thanks for your support at festivals, in restaurants and sharing your thoughts on Facebook and Twitter. And of course by buying a bottle for yourself and to share with friends.

Best wishes to you for a happy and prosperous 2011.

The Virginia Distillery Takes Shape as the steel tanks are in place peeking over the mezzanine level where visitors will view the operation. The second picture shows the ground floor perspective. When in final position, the tanks will be jacked up about two feet to allow for easier access for distillery crew.

The third image shows the stills moving into place with forklifts on steroids. They are now awaiting the installation of their swan necks.

Virginia Distillery Company
299 Eades Lane P.O. Box 509 Lovingston, VA 22949 
www.vadistillery.com

As you know, last summer Maker’s Mark released Maker’s 46, the historic distillery’s first new bourbon in 52 years. With rich, creamy caramel and vanilla flavors that linger on the front of the palate, a touch of spice and a nutty nose, Maker’s 46 is an alluring drink to toast with over a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner. I would like to share with you an outstanding Maker’s 46 cocktail created just for Valentine’s Day by Ryan Goodspeed, head bartender at the acclaimed Miami restaurant Michael’s Genuine Food & Wine. The Maker’s Heart is a tantalizing mix of our new bourbon with pomegranate juice, blackberries, lemon juice and an aromatic orange zest sugared rim.  Light some candles, turn on a Marvin Gaye album and enjoy with the one you love! Here’s the recipe with a photo to share with your readers.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

AC

The Maker’s Heart

Recipe by Ryan Goodspeed, Head Bartender

Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink (Miami, FL)

Shake and strain up or over ice. Garnish with an orange peel. Dash of Fee Bros. Orange Bitters. Rim with navel orange-zested sugar.

In a mixing glass combine:

3 Blackberries

1 oz POM 100% Pomegranate Juice

¼ oz Lemon Juice
 
Muddle. Add ice and:

2 oz Maker’s 46

¾ oz Sweet Vermouth (preferably Carpano Antica)

1 oz Simple Syrup

For sugar rim: Take one ounce of plain white sugar and zest it with four peels of orange.