Loch Fyne Whiskies has stocked a new item, ‘Singleton of Dufftown 15yo’

Singleton of Dufftown 15yo
40% abv
£33.50 inc vat
£28.51 ex vat

Official Tasting Note:

‘Appearance: Deep amber or burnt orange.

Nose: Slightly spicy nosefeel and drying, overall. Toffee apples. Hints of honeycomb balanced by remnants of youthful zestiness – linseed oil and scented tea. Becomes fruitier: ripe autumn fruits combined with red berry sharpness. Malt and cereal notes. Some golden syrup sweetness. Reassuringly well balanced. Adding water brings up a waxier note initially, with traces of sweet chestnut and glace angelica, and then a whiff of smoke or charred wood.

Body: Medium, coating. Pleasing.

Palate: Without water, the flavour is sweet to start then drying in the finish. Warming, light and smooth; tending to delicate. Malty and oaty base notes. Fresh fruit salad, with spicy and floral top notes. With water added there’s a pleasant mouthfeel. Some sweetness, though the overall effect remains balanced and dry.

Finish: Drying. Pears and digestive biscuits, then delicately, and sweetly, spiced. Some lingering high notes of aniseed.’

Flavour Map Ref: H6
Complex / Rich

Loch Fyne Whiskies
david@lfw.co.uk

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

Ralfy reviews in whisky review 162 – George Dickel No: 12     …. a good Whisky, and not from Scotland.

Visit ralfy at www.ralfy.com

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

It’s time for our annual fall Super Sale! This one always creeps up on me; I can’t believe its November already, and time for some bargains on single malts and other whiskies.  All in-store whiskies are 5% off, some are 7% and a select few and all of our exclusives are 10% off, with a couple at 20%. It’s time to stock up and look for those early Christmas presents.

The sale begins tonight at 7PM on the web, and in store Friday morning (Nov 5th). With the exception of our exclusive products the sale applies to only in stock items. Sale items can be purchased in store, online at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com or requested by e-mail: scotchguy@kensingtonwinemarket.com. All sales are final.

Also, the Finlaggan Old Islay Reserve and the Finlaggan Cask Strength are back in stock. Finlaggan Old Islay Reserve is the Kensington Wine Market’s best whisky bargain and has been one of our best selling whiskies over the last few years. The regular bottling at a little over $50 is quite possibly the best buy in Canada and scored 94pts in the Whisky Bible. The Finlaggan Cask Strength which I prefer is $85.99 is a little sweeter, a bold rich, chocolaty dram. Both are back in stock… more info will be available in the next Malt Messenger!

Slainté!

Andrew Ferguson

Exclusive Single Malts and Whiskies on Sale

1.       G&M Glen Grant 1966 41 Year – Regular $449.99 – Save 20%

2.       Springbank 1996 KWM Oloroso Cask – Regular $109.99 – Save 20%

3.       Amrut Double Cask – Regular $124.99 – Save 10%

4.       BenRiach 15 Year Henriques Madeir Finish – Regular $82.49 – Save 10%

5.       BenRiach 15 Year Jamaican Dark Rum Finish – Regular $82.49 – Save 10%

6.        BenRiach 15 Year Tawny Port Finish – Regular $82.49 – Save 10%

7.       BenRiach Arumaticus Fumosus 12 Year – Regular $57.99 – Save 10%

8.       BenRiach Heredotus Fumosus 12 Year – Regular $57.99 – Save 10%

9.       BenRiach Importanticus Fumosus 12 Year – Regular $71.99 – Save 10%

10.   Bowmore Tempest 10 Year = Regular $81.99 – Save 10%

11.   Brora 30 Year 2009 – Regular $459.99 – Save 10%

12.   The Dalmore MacKenzie – Regular $189.99 – Save 10%

13.   Duthies Auchroisk 20 Year – Regular $96.99 – Save 10%

14.   Duthies Bowmore 17 Year – Regular $90.99 – Save 10%

15.   Duthies Caol Ila 13 Year – Regular $87.49 – Save 10%

16.   Duthies Clynelish 14 Year – Regular $91.99 – Save 10%

17.   Duthies Cragganmore 15 Year – Regular $94.99 – Save 10%

18.   Duthies Glen Scotia 17 Year – Regular $101.99 – Save 10%

19.   Duthies Hazelburn 9 Year – Regular $84.99 – Save 10%

20.   Duthies Laphroaig 11 Year – Regular $98.99 – Save 10%

21.   Duthies Ledaig 13 Year – Regular $79.99 – Save 10%

22.   Duthies Longmorn 19 Year – Regular $96.99 – Save 10%

23.   Edradour Cask Strength Decanter – Regular $96.99 – Save 10%

24.   Finlaggan Old Islay Reserve – Regular $ – Save 10%

25.   Finlaggan Old Islay Reserve Cask Strength – Regular $ – Save 10%

26.   Glendronach 14 Year Virgin Oak Finish – Regular $82.49 – Save 10%

27.   Glendronach 14 Year Sauternes Finish – Regular $82.49 – Save 10%

28.   Glendronach 15 Year Moscatel Finish – Regular $84.99 – Save 10%

29.   Glendronach 20 Year Port Finish – Regular $124.99 – Save 10%

30.   Glendronach 1996 KWM PX Sherry Puncheon – Regular $114.99 – Save 10%

31.   Jack Daniels KWM Cask – Regular $49.99 – Save 10%

32.   Kilchoman KWM Fresh Bourbon Cask – Regular $114.99 – Save 10%

33.   OMC Probably Speyside’s Finest 41 Year – Regular $275.99 – Save 10%

34.   Signatory Bowmore 1972 – Regular $634.99 – Save 10%

35.   Signatory Dufftown 1984 – Regular $209.99 – Save 10%

36.   Signatory Glencraig 1976 – Regular $252.99 – Save 10%

37.   Signatory Glenlossie 1984 – Regular $209.99 – Save 10%

Single Malt 10% Off

1.       Amrut Single Malt Peated Cask Strength – Regular $102.49 – Save 10%

2.       Compass Box Oak Cross – Regular $57.49 – Save 10%

3.       Glenglassaugh 21 Year – Regular $256.49 – Save 10%

4.       Mackmyra Special ’03 – Regular $91.49 – Save 10%

5.       Pittyvaich 20 Year – Regular $289.99 – Save 10%

6.       Port Ellen 30 Year – Regular $449.99

Single Malts 7% Off

1.       Arran 100 Proof – Regular $74.99 – Save 7%

2.       Arran Moscatel Cask– Regular $77.49 – Save 7%

3.       Caol Ila 10 Year Unpeated – Regular $103.99 – Save 7%

4.       Glen Elgin 16 Year – Regular $99.99 – Save 7%

5.       Glendronach 12 Year – Regular $61.99 – Save 7%

6.       Glenkinchie Distillers Edition – Regular $98.49 – Save 7%

7.       Glenmorangie Lasanta – Regular $67.99 – Save 7%

8.       Glenrothes Select Reserve – Regular $58.49 – Save 7%

9.       Hazelburn 8 Year – Regular $79.99 – Save 7%

10.   Macallan 12 Year – Regular $69.99 – Save 7%

11.   Macallan 18 Year – Regular $174.99 – Save 7%

12.   Macallan Cask Strength – Regular $71.99 – Save 7%

13.   Macallan Fine Oak 10 Year – Regular $54.54 – Save 7%

14.   Provenance Port Ellen 25 Year – $218.49

15.   Oban Double Matured – Regular $143.49 – Save 7%

16.   Royal Lochnagar Distillers Edition – Regular $85.99 – Save 7%

Other Items On Sale

Black Grouse – Regular $28.99 – Save 7%
Famous Grouse – Regular $29.49 – Save 7%
Tullamore Dew 12 Year – Regular $39.49 – Save 7%
Crown Royal Cask No. 16 – Regular 102.49 – Save 7%
Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon – Regular $39.99 – Save 7%
Bulleit Bourbon Frontier Whiskey – Regular $36.49 – Save 7%
Amrut Old Port Deluxe Rum – Regular $26.46 – Save 7%
Cadenhead Laphroaig Cask Demerara Rum – Regular $83.99 – Save 7%
Cadenhead Panama Green Label Rum – Regular $65.99 – Save 7%
El Dorado Single Barrel EHP – Regular $94.99 – Save 7%
 ——————–

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. Feel free to forward me any whisky news you feel should be included in a future issue of The Malt Messenger; it might just get included.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com.. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change!

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
KWM Scotchguy

403-283-8000
888-283-9004
1257 Kensington Rd. NW
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2N 3P8

Far Flung Flavours show the Society’s pioneering side
 
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has always done things differently, from the dogged determination to uncover the most fascinating whiskies for its members to the curious and distinctive tasting notes that accompany each bottling. It’s adventurous, brave and, most of all, pioneering.
 
To reflect this pioneering spirit, the Society is making three outstanding single cask malts available for its members around the world to buy, each of which takes inspiration for its names and labels from particularly playful tasting notes. These rare and unusual bottlings are part of the Far Flung Flavours series, a celebration of the unique nature of the Society.
 
They’re still single malts and they’re still single casks but the Society feels that these are bottles that embody the enormous diversity of flavours that members can discover. So, this year the Society has created three wonderful bottles that are just a little more pioneering than all the rest; Clint Eastwood, Sweet Innocence Sacrificed on the Bonfire (Joan of Arc) and Hansel and Gretel.
 
Available for UK Society members to buy from November 5 this collection focuses on the pioneering characters hidden in the tasting notes. Clint, Joan and the witch-baiters – adventurous characters one and all, just like each whisky.
 
The bottles will only be sold as sets of three and stocks are limited. 209 full sets are available world-wide with only 30 of those destined for the UK. The trio of bottles will sell for £220. The three bottlings/casks come from distilleries in Islay (53.142 ‘Sweet innocence…’), Campbeltown (27.84 ‘Clint Eastwood’) and Speyside (76.77 ‘Hansel & Gretel’).
 
Paul Miles, Managing Director of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, said: “We don’t release many Far Flung Flavours but when we do we know they’ll cause much debate with our members. We’ve put a few cats amongst the pigeons with Far Flung Flavours before but the cats have grown sharper claws and the pigeons should be looking worried.  Far Flung Flavours will provide whisky lovers the chance to sample something new, exciting and truly unique.  We can’t wait to hear feedback from our thrill seeking members.”

TASTING NOTES
 
Springbank 1997 (cask no. 733)
27.84 Clint Eastwood in the saddle
The nose was meaty (lamb with lemon and herbs) and medicinal, with tar, treacle, tobacco pouches and ropes on a boat. We also got some chocolate, heather and vanilla. The palate was fantastic – big, sweet, salty, citric, spicy and smoky, “like chewing a lit cigarette”, with pleasant brown sugar after-tastes. The reduced nose evoked figs, green grape, machair, honey, lanolin, leather – we imagined a meerschaum-smoking fisherman’s woollen jumper, after one inadequate wash. The reduced palate had enough masculine weight (leather, tobacco, wool) to guarantee interest; “Clint Eastwood in the saddle” someone said. This 1828 distillery is still in private hands.
 
Colour – deep honey gold
Cask – refill barrel
 
Drinking tip
An ideal Father’s Day dram
 
Bottle note
The nose is meaty and medicinal, with tar, treacle, tobacco, hints of vanilla and chocolate. Figs, honey and leather appear later. The palate is big, spicy, smoky and sweet, (chocolate, brown sugar) with enough weight (leather, tobacco) to command respect
 
Caol Ila 1989 (cask no. 5427)
53.142 Sweet innocence sacrificed on bonfires
The complex nose suggested seashores, smoked fish, bacon, space hoppers, mouthwash, Elastoplasts, pine-resin, lemon, herbs, barley sugar and toffee. The palate drew particularly positive comments; “A class act!” and “Scotland in a glass – the bottom line!” The balance, between nutty toffee sweetness and smoke, tar, ash and soot, was impressive, with touches of mint and spice rounding it off. The reduced nose was salty, lemony, floral and waxy (one panellist imagined a girl wearing a PVC coat, smoking in a bar). The reduced palate – honey, vanilla and ashes – sweet innocence sacrificed on bonfires. The distillery was built by Hector Henderson.
 
Colour – august sunset on corn fields
Cask – refill hogshead
 
Drinking tip
A sipping whisky for special moments
 
Bottle note
The nose is definitely complex – seashores, bacon, Elastoplasts, lemon, pine-resin, toffee and barley sugar; salty, floral and waxy with water. The palate impressively balances nutty toffee, honey and vanilla against smoke, tar, ashes and soot; sweet innocence sacrificed on bonfires.
 
Mortlach 1994 (cask no. 4848)
76.77 Hansel and Gretel
The panel enthused about autumn scents on the nose: an oak forest with wet leaves and mushrooms; yet there was sweetness throughout – orange marmalade and candy, Oddfellows dipped in butterscotch, spiced Madeira cake and dark chocolate.  The neat palate was rich with sweet and spicy combinations; Terry’s chocolate orange and clove oil, Nepalese tea and cinnamon, gingerbread and Demerara.  The reduced nose was of dried fruit (raisin and sultana), and there was a toasted aroma, perhaps cinnamon toast, a chocolate pop tart and burnt caramel.  The reduced taste reminded the Malt-meister of Mon Cherie chocolates (dark cherries dipped in chocolate). Cherry blossom brought a floral and elegant finish to the taste. The distillery was the first to be licensed in Dufftown in 1823, and was completely rebuilt in 1963.
 
Colour – amber jewel
Cask – 1st fill sherry butt
 
Drinking tip
One to savour in the late autumn sun – on a romantic walk in the woods.
 
Bottle note
The nose has deep oak and orange (marmalade and fudge), with candy, butterscotch and chocolate; more sherry-like with water (raisin and sultana, cinnamon toast). The palate is sweet and spicy (cloves and tea, gingerbread and Demerara); later, cherry blossom and chocolate.
 
Notes:
 
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society began 26 years ago when a group of discerning friends shared the price of a single cask of fine malt whisky.
 
The Society has over 26,000 members around the world with branches in 14 countries. It bottles over 300 single casks a year for its members from a range of more than 125 distilleries.
 
Members can choose from the world’s widest selection of single cask, single malt whiskies with only the very best selected and approved by the Society’s respected Tasting Panel.
 
Exclusive Members’ Rooms are located in Edinburgh and London for tastings, dinners, meeting and presentations.  www.smws.com

Tobermory 10yo (46.3%, OB, 2010)

The new presentation for the Isle of Mull distillery and wisely now bottled at 46.3% and “un-chillfiltered”. The higher bottling strength and the lack of chill filtration are significant move in the right direction and demonstrated that they have been listening to their customers.

The nose has a depth and heaviness to it right away with some richness and sweetness working well together. There is also lime, vanilla, wood spice, fruit cake (not Christmas cake), warm bananas with buttered brown Demerara sugar. This is very nice so far and still has other oak notes and some cold unsweetened black tea. The taste is lemony (like the icing on a lemon cake) along with some sherbet fizziness along with the oak spice and the heaviness (think of brandy and coal) and in the back ground some smoke is just identifiable which gives added depth to the whole taste. The finish is malty (finally!) and then the lemon zestiness along with some bitter dark chocolate and it’s very long, the malt struggles back from behind the lemon and bitter dark chocolate but never actually dominates.

This is a dramatic improvement over the previous Tobermory 10yo (in the dumpy green bottle with the name stenciled on with white paint). However the lemon zestiness might be too much for some people but others will love it. A great summer time dram and appreciated here.

£27

Score 81 points

Visit Tobermory Distillery at http://www.tobermorymalt.com/

MILROY’S OF SOHO NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

We dedicate much of November’s newsletter to the 2010 Diageo Special Releases.   As always, these releases are eagerly anticipated.  This year is no different, with some very high quality whiskies.  Having tasted them for the first time last week, I can personally vouch for them!  Read on for full tasting notes and details of prices and availability.   We also feature a couple of exciting new releases from Suntory-owned Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries in Japan, as well as a bottling to celebrate the 170th anniversary of Glen Grant distillery. 

For those that have been waiting for the Balvenie 17 year old Peated Cask to appear, please be aware that it should be with us by the end of this week.

We round out the newsletter with a competition, giving Milroy’s of Soho mailing list members an exclusive opportunity to win tickets to a wonderful art exhibition at London’s Royal Academy of Arts featuring works from the “Glasgow Boys”.

DIAGEO SPECIAL RELEASES 2010

Details of this year’s releases are set out below.  It was great to see a couple of Speysiders in good form; both the Glen Spey and Cragganmore are quite superb.   The Glenkinchie displayed real elegance and refinement, and Caol Ila 12 year old Unpeated showed extremely well. 

GLENKINCHIE 20 Year Old, 55.1% ABV

This Glenkinchie is wonderfully delicate and elegant.  The nose is lifted and aromatic, with honeydew melon and pear drops leading the way, followed by freshly baked madelines and honey.  A very “pretty” whisky, the theme of elegance follows through on the palate.  A touch of water brings out fruitier notes.  The finish is long and warming.

£135 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £125 per bottle

AUCHROISK 20 Year Old, 58.1% ABV

This is the first mature official bottling of Auchroisk we have seen since the Rare Malts release several years ago.  It’s a lovely honey laden malt; shortbread, sponge drenched in syrup and butterscotch provide its structure.  Best enjoyed with a judicious dash of water, which reveals marzipan and a touch of ginger.

£125 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £115 per bottle

GLEN SPEY 21 Year Old, 50.4%

The use of new American oak, some of which held Sherry, has worked very well here.  Without water, the nose delivers an enticing mix of raisins, toffee, polished timber and even a suggestion of rum.  It drinks well neat, with a gently prickle on the tongue.  Water (just a few drops) opens up the spirit to reveal a fruity core of plums and damsons.  An unexpected gem!

£130 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £120 per bottle

CRAGGANMORE 21 Year Old, 56.0% ABV

Cragganmore proved to be the star of the Speysiders (pushed all the way by the Glen Spey), with a lovely exotic nose of egg custard, banana and brandy-soaked Victoria sponge.   There is no spirity edge when tasted neat, but it holds up well with water, maltier notes emerging, including cocoa, dark chocolate and gingerbread.   All in all, this is a very complete, fine and elegant Speyside malt.

£145 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £135 per bottle

BRORA 30 Year Old, 54.3% ABV

Without a doubt, Brora was the highlight of the evening.  This is a whisky to nose and pontificate over (as we did last night).  The nose is complex, yet not easy to describe; faint peat smoke is interwoven with toffee, linseed, almonds, dried herbs and pipe tobacco.  The palate is uncompromising and takes no prisoners, sweet fudge meets dry smoke like a clash of cymbals, yet there is delicacy too.  Brora mightn’t be the easiest of malts to come to terms with – it’s a rather intellectual malt, bordering on aloof – but the effort is worth it.  If you treat yourself just once this year, make it a bottle of Brora!

£280 per bottle retail price

TALISKER 30 Year Old, 57.3%

There is only the one Talisker amongst the Special Releases this year.  This 30 year old possesses more up-front creamy sweetness than those of previous years.  Behind this veil lurks the Talisker we know and love; brine, fish rope and dry peat and a suggestion of cracked pepper.  Notwithstanding its considerable strength, it drinks extremely well neat or with just a few drops of water.

£235 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £220 per bottle

CAOL ILA 12 Year Old Unpeated, 57.6% ABV

We have loved the unpeated expression of Caol Ila since its inception in 2006.  Now almost an adolescent at 12 years of age, it continues to deliver the goods.  The nose alone is just about worth the asking price; it boldly leaps out of the glass; brioche, oatcakes, brine and seaweed.  The palate is similarly multi-dimensional and packed full of flavour.  Butterscotch and toffee vie with coastal notes of salty brine.  If you like your whisky with a distinctive coastal edge, this Caol Ila is for you!

£50 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £47 per bottle

LAGAVULIN 12 Year Old, 56.5% ABV

Big peat….big peat….big peat…..balanced by lovely creamy sweetness and orchard fruit.   For me, the 12 year old is the best of the Lagavulin bottlings, and as good as anything from Islay.   There’s peat in spades, but multiple layers of flavour; seaweed, smoked kippers, old boot leather, bath salts, something slightly medicinal that I can’t quite describe.  What makes this Lagavulin exceptional is its silken texture, reinforcing Lagavulin’s status as the veritable iron fist in a velvet glove.

£57 per bottle retail price

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £53 per bottle

PORT ELLEN 31 Year Old, 54.6% ABV

At 31 years of age and bottled from 1979 distillate, Port Ellen comes over as a tamed monster.  Peat, brine, smoke and salt are evident, but toned down from younger expressions.  The smoky core is nestled in a cradle of sweet honeycomb and creamy vanilla.   In our view, this is a Port Ellen best enjoyed neat so you can enjoy the full impact.

As quantities of Port Ellen are even smaller than usual this year, we will have had to allocate our available stock to customers who have bought from us in previous years.

£250 per bottle retail price – Limit 1 bottle per customer

TWO NEW LIMITED RELEASES FROM JAPAN

Japanese whisky has been a “hot” item for a good 2-3 years now.  Thankfully, this is not just down to chic packaging, but also to the quality of the spirit in the bottle.  Without a doubt, the very best whisky from Japan is world class.

HAKUSHU HEAVILY PEATED, 48% ABV

Matured in American white oak, this peated malt from Hakushu distillery delivers an enticing combination of peat, iodine and tobacco, interwoven with dates, plums and red apples.  I would describe this malt as moderately, rather than heavily peated, but it has real elegance and complexity.  Do act quickly as it won’t be around for long.

£65 per bottle RRP

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £61 per bottle

YAMAZAKI PUNCHEON, 48% ABV

This special edition Yamazaki was matured in an American oak puncheon, making it an interesting contrast to the Yamazaki Sherry Cask and 18 year old.  It is a vibrantly fruity whisky, with sweet apricot, pineapple and pear, overlaid by vanilla oak and butterscotch.  We were really impressed by this whisky when tasted last week; class in a glass!

£65 per bottle RRP

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £61 per bottle

GLEN GRANT DISTILLERY TURNS 170

Glen Grant distillery seems to be on a roll.  We love the superb Glen Grant 1992, a wonderfully elegant and seamless Speyside malt. To celebrate the 170th anniversary of Glen Grant distillery, manager Dennis Malcolm has selected some of the best Glen Grant whiskies over the past few decades and vatted them together. 

GLEN GRANT 170TH ANNIVERSARY, 46% ABV

The result is a soft, elegant and fine malt whisky that marries sweet raisins together with fresh stonefruit, Madagascan vanilla and a gentle hint of peat-smoke.  It is bottled at 46% ABV, natural colour and without chill-filtration.

£79.99 per bottle RRP

Exclusive Newsletter Offer Price – £74.50 per bottle

COMPETITION – WIN 2 TICKETS TO SEE THE “GLASGOW BOYS” EXHIBITION AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ARTS

The Royal Academy of Arts presents the first major exhibition in London for over 40 years to celebrate the achievement of the Glasgow Boys, a loosely knit group of around 20 young painters who created a huge stir at home and abroad in the final decades of the 19th century. They produced some of the most revolutionary painting from Britain, drawing praise in London, Munich, Vienna and further afield.

The exhibition runs from 30 October 2010 through 23 January 2011.  Tickets are available to book now.

We are offering two tickets for one lucky mailing list member (and a friend) to attend this exhibition.   For a chance to win, simply answer the following question.

What is the closest currently operating malt whisky distillery to the city of Glasgow?

Please email your answer to competitions@royalacademy.org.uk.  The winner will be announced on Friday November 12.
 
Until next month, slàinte!
 
Best regards

Philip

Philip Shorten
Milroy’s of Soho

3 Greek Street

London, W1D 4NX

T: 020 7437 2385

F: 020 7437 1345

W: www.milroys.co.uk

THE SINGLETON OF GLENDULLAN

92 POINTS – Beverage Testing Institute

CSPC: +139170

PRICE: $48.99

STATUS: Available at BCLDB

SIZE: 6 x 750 ml / case

Available now and this week at a BCLDB store near you.

ABOUT GLENDULLAN

There is a local saying in Dufftown: “Rome was built on seven hills and Dufftown stands on seven stills.” Glendullan is the seventh and last distillery built in the town and began production in 1898.

The town of Dufftown was founded by the 4th Earl of Fife to provide employment after the Napoleonic Wars. Thanks to its naturally pure water, it soon became the centre of the distilling industry. Today, the town lays claim to the title of malt whisky capital of the world and the Glendullan distillery continues to thrive on the original site where it was built in 1897.

Production began in 1898 and in 1902 the Glendullan single malt was supplied by royal request to King Edward VII. In 1972, the distillery was expanded to meet demand, with a further six stills added.

Today, Glendullan produces more whisky than most of the distilleries in the Classic Malts selection. Given that The Singleton of Glendullan has been so well received, we can’t imagine there’ll be any let up soon.

The Singleton of Glendullan has a rich, smooth character that is derived from the combination of spirit matured in European Sherry Oak casks and American Bourbon Oak casks.

American Oak brings subtle, honeyed hints of sweet vanilla while European Oak brings lush fruit and balancing dryness. It’s this blend of American Bourbon Cask and European Sherry Cask aging that provides the unique balance and character.

This round, elegant and finely balanced malt comes from the heart of Speyside. Malted barley, often locally grown, is carefully selected, and pure water is drawn from the high, wooded hills above the distillery glen. We bring them together slowly to ensure the spirit’s round, elegant and beautifully balanced nature.

We take longer still to prepare each distillation, pausing to find the most fragrant, rich fruit flavors.

THE SINGLETON TASTING with MASTER DISTILLER – MICHAEL NICOLSON

Join Mike, a 36 year veteran of scotch whisky distillation, as he walks us through the Singleton of Glendullan, and brings to life the Singleton in a can’t miss event during the BCLDB’s PREMIUM SPIRITS RELEASE! Catering by Joe Fortes.

DATE: Saturday, November 6th, 2010

TIME: 1PM – 4PM

LOCATION: 39th & Cambie BC liquor store. (5555 Cambie Street, Vancouver)

WIN A CASK Competition: 37 one-of-a-kind bottles

48.21 Sunshine on a rainy day
We’ve discovered we have a bit of a leaky cask. Of course, the contents are just way too precious not to enjoy.  “What to do?” we thought.  The answer came as natural as the whisky itself.  “Spread a little joy to our members”

Buy any 70cl bottle from NOW until Mon 13 Dec and we’ll automatically enter you into our Win a Cask Competition where you and your loved ones could be enjoying 37 one-of-a-kind single cask bottles (delivered straight to your doorstep before Christmas). 

Here to tempt you (ready and waiting in our online shop)…

2.76 Cola and shea butter  (£61.30)
4.131 An artists’ retreat  (£82.00)
18.30 Hippie dram (£71.50)
19.47 Dried roses in a shoe-box (£58.30)
27.83 Time warp (£50.70)
35.34 Moraccan tea-room masculity (£49.70)
93.40 Clay and pork sausages  (£42.20)
121.34 Pears in a satchel (£42.20)

Also don’t forget our Nov Preview Pair:
121.39 & 44.47 for £77.90 and save £9 (offer ends Thu 4 Nov)

SMWS Whisky Tasting & Events

New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Sat 6 Nov
New Outturn & Sunday Roast Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 7 Nov
New Members Tasting – Queen Street, Mon 8 Nov
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Mon 8 Nov
Penderyn Tasting – London, Wed 10 Nov

Some Competition T&C’s: The competition ends at midnight on Mon 13 Dec 2010.  Entry to the competition is on the basis of any 70cl SMWS bottle purchase (via Mail Order, Society Venues or Tasting Events). No alternatives are available. The winner will be picked randomly and notified by SMWS after the competition closing date.  The prize will be delivered to one UK address. The competition is not open to SMWS employees, their family or suppliers.  Prize: 37 single cask bottles from cask 48.21.

Join the Society today at www.smws.co.uk

Woodford Reserve Releases Limited Edition Maple Wood Finished Bourbon

Industry’s First Bourbon Finish Aged in Maple Wood Barrels Available November 1

November, 2010, Louisville, Ky. – Woodford Reserve announces the latest extension of its acclaimed Master’s Collection which will be released on November 1. Called ‘Maple Wood Finish,’ it is the fifth in the series of limited edition bottlings and continues Woodford Reserve’s tradition of crafting rare whiskeys that extend the category in bold new directions.

This whiskey is one of the most unique Master’s Collection’s to date as it is the industry’s first bourbon to be finish aged in barrels made from sugar maple wood. Barrels play a key role in producing bourbon, with approximately 70 percent of the spirit’s flavor and aroma and all of its color provided by the barrel. Woodford Reserve’s new offering features bourbon finish-aged in uniquely crafted barrels made of maple wood, something never before done in the industry.

“Sugar maple trees have a complex natural chemistry, rich in calcium, potassium and other minerals, but they are best known for their flavorful sap which contains as much as 3% sugar,” said Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Chris Morris. “Though it was thought that whiskey barrels could not be crafted from sugar maple wood, our Brown-Forman Cooperage has done just that. Of all the distillers in our industry, we are the only bourbon company that crafts its own barrels, giving us unique knowledge and control of the process. The Master’s Collection Maple Wood Finish uniquely finish-ages Woodford Reserve in a toasted, not charred, maple wood barrel, resulting in a whiskey enhanced with hints of maple, honey and cinnamon.”

Ever year, one of the five sources of flavor is changed for the Master’s Collection expressions. These five sources – grain, water, fermentation, distillation, and wood-aging – are unique to bourbon whiskey, and altering just one of them creates a totally new flavor profile.

“Bourbon must be matured in new, charred oak barrels, and in our quest to fully understand the contribution oak wood makes to bourbon, we have studied other Kentucky hardwoods as well,” said Wayne Rose, brand director for Woodford Reserve. “This has led to some exciting discoveries and innovative barrel finish concepts. One of these – Maple Wood Finish – is a first for the spirits industry and has resulted in an amazing, elegant whiskey.”

Maple Wood Finish is the fifth in the Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection series following the Four Grain, Sonoma-Cutrer Finish, Sweet Mash and Seasoned Oak offerings. Released periodically at the master distiller’s discretion, the Master’s Collection whiskeys are extremely limited in quantity and bottled only once, in a proprietary package inspired by the copper pot stills of The Woodford Reserve Distillery.

The inspiration for the Master’s Collection is rooted in the rich history and tradition of what is today known as The Woodford Reserve Distillery. In the mid-1800s distillery owner Oscar Pepper and Master Distiller James Crow studied and recommended use of key processes like sour mashing and charred barrel maturation at the historic Woodford County distillery. These practices are still maintained in the bourbon industry, and today the distillery receives more than 100,000 visitors annually and is the only one in America to use bourbon triple distilled in traditional copper pot stills.”

Woodford Reserve Maple Wood Finish will be sold in 45 U.S. markets, and a limited quantity will be available in Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, New Zealand and Australia. Each bottle is individually hand-numbered and presented at 94.4 proof. Available in major metro markets, only 1,676 cases are available with a suggested retail price of $89.99 for a 750ml bottle.

Tasting Notes for Woodford Reserve Maple Wood Finish

Color:            Golden brown.

Aroma:         Rich and sweet with hints of brown sugar glazed baked apricots, milk chocolate and fresh toasted oak.

Taste:            Warm with cinnamon spice, faint hints of maple syrup, berry fruit and a touch of nuttiness.

Finish:          Crisp with delicate maple syrup notes lingering on with a touch of warm fruit.

Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, a producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands such as Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Fetzer, Korbel, Tequila Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, Tuaca, and Bonterra. Please enjoy your bourbon responsibly. For more information on Woodford Reserve, visit www.woodfordreserve.com.

Woodford Reserve Distiller’s Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 45.2% Alc. by Vol., The Woodford Reserve Distillery, Versailles, KY ©2010.

All wrapped up for Christmas

Hi everyone,

Yes it’s coming up to that time of year already and as you can see below, we are prepared!

Our new Gift Carton will start appearing in the shops soon and will be available during the festive season in the following countries – Angola, Colombia, Germany, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, Russia and South Africa.

I’d certainly be pleased to see one under my Christmas tree, but as usual, please let me know what you think of our latest seasonal design.

Merry Christmas!

Ludo (Visit Ludo’s blog at http://blog.grantswhisky.com/ )