July 1st is the birthday of Canada

The World’s Most Luxurious Single Malt Whisky Samples at Master of Malt

Glenmorangie and Ardbeg now available as 3cl samples from Master of Malt

One of the world’s largest luxury goods companies, LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy), has joined Master of Malt’s whisky sample service, Drinks by the Dram. Whisky drinkers can now order 3cl samples from the Glenmorangie and Ardbeg range of single malts, including very rare, hard to find expressions.

Master of Malt, a UK online whisky retailer, launched its whisky sample service in May and, since then, connoisseurs and beginners alike have flocked to the site to try out all sorts of spirits at just a fraction of the price of full-sized bottles.

For many whisky drinkers, Ardbeg is the pinnacle of single malt Scotch whisky. Its whisky is the peatiest in Scotland, and it offers exceptional balance and complexity. Because of this, and its inherent collector’s value, the rarer Ardbeg editions command very high prices.

Now, though, anyone can afford to sample any whisky from the Ardbeg collection. You can try anything from the 2009 Whisky of the Year, Ardbeg Uigeadail, (a sample of which is available for £3.35) to the ultra rare Ardbeg 1977 – a whisky described by top critic Jim Murray as “simply one of the greatest experiences”. A 3cl sample of the 1977 costs £16.25, which is considerably cheaper than the £299.95 bottle price.

This also means that you can now taste the year’s most talked about single malt, Ardbeg Supernova 2010, for just £4.95. Supernova is one of the peatiest whiskies in the world with over 100 phenol parts per million (four times more peaty than Ardbeg 10 Year old).

Glenmorangie, on the other hand, is known for its creamy, fruity style of single malt. Since LVMH acquired the distillery in 2004, it has been positioned as a high-end, luxury brand; the packaging has become far more lavish and the marketing flaunts the whisky as being decadent and chic – a strategy which thoroughly suits the sumptuous style of Glenmorangie whisky.

Anyone wishing to buy the recently released Sonnalta PX, a Pedro Ximenez dessert sherry finished single malt, can try a 3cl sample before they buy for just £3.95. For £4.85 you can sample the stunning Glenmorangie 18 Year old – highly rated by whisky critics and drinkers, or for £10.75, Glenmorangie 25 Year Old – a whisky redolent of creamy tropical fruit, fruitcake and stewed plums.

A full range of Ardbeg single malt is available at Master of Malt: http://www.masterofmalt.com/distilleries/ardbeg-whisky-distillery/

A full range of Glenmorangie single malt is available at Master of Malt: http://www.masterofmalt.com/distilleries/glenmorangie-whisky-distillery/

About Drinks by the Dram

– Hundreds of inexpensive 3cl (30ml) samples to try before you buy
– Revolutionary new concept in online drinks retail
– See a list of drams at: http://www.masterofmalt.com/drinks-by-the-dram/

About Master of Malt

– Established in 1985
– One of the UK’s leading online whisky and spirits retailers (www.masterofmalt.com)
– A highly rated independent bottler, all of whose single cask whiskies scored over 90 points in the Jim Murray Whisky Bible 2009.
For further information please visit www.masterofmalt.com
Read the Master of Malt blog: www.masterofmalt.com/blog
Or follow Master of Malt on Twitter: www.twitter.com/masterofmalt

Stronachie – Lost in time, not in spirit…

Stronachie is “The Lost Distillery” no more – we have found it!  We are delighted to disclose that Stronachie is distilled at Benrinnes Distillery in the heart of Speyside.  The ex-Mystery Malt has an avid following and many had already guessed correctly the whisky source.  So it was time for A.D.Rattray to remove the ambiguity with clear labelling that complies with the SWA regulations.  And at the same time introduce a new Stronachie 18 Year Old as a permanent addition to the portfolio.

New Whisky Source

Benrinnes distillery was chosen after sampling many single malts across Speyside and Highland Distilleries.  The flavour and profile of Benrinnes was the closest match to the original Stronachie whisky sampled from our bottle distilled in 1904.  Only four bottles of the original Stronachie from the actual distillery still exist.

Benrinnes was also chosen because it is a hidden gem in the multitude of Speyside distilleries mostly used for blending.  It is categorized as a First Class Malt on a Masterblender’s secret list of malts for blending.  On this list all Speyside and Highland malts are ranked into 1st Class (16 distilleries), 2nd Class (13 distilleries) or 3rd Class (46 distilleries).  As Jim Murray says in the Benrinnes section of the Whisky Bible 2010, “It’s great to see this distillery coming out of the shadows at last.” And “great whisky is made there day in day out by its very talented team.”

Small Batch

Stronachie is produced from a vatting (blending under new terminology!) of a small batch of 6-10 Benrinnes casks.  Each batch is numbered to identify the particular vatting and the batch number is shown on the tube.  The first 18 Year Old batch was a vatting of 8 selected casks:  6 x 18 year old hogsheads (bourbon casks) + 2 x 19 yr old butts (sherry casks).  The result is a unique, rich and complex whisky.

The 2009 batches for the Stronachie 12 yr old included the award winning Benrinnes 1996 sherry hogsheads (Malt Maniacs Best Sherry Cask Award 2009-Daily Dram category).

Stronachie is a new style of whisky:  very small batch production with specially selected casks that vary for each batch.   This results in a varied flavour journey that represents the individuality of casks while still representing the distillery character at its best.  So it is not about consistency of taste or product but all about maximising the flavour in each batch (the opposite of standard distillery offerings).

Awards

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010:  Double Gold

International Wine & Sprits Competition 2006, 2007, 2009:  Silver Medal

Scottish Field Whisky Challenge 2008:  Gold-Winner for Bottling of the Year <£30

Visit Stronachie at http://www.stronachie.com/ourwhisky.asp

MEDIA RELEASE
June 2010

CAOL ILA  – NEW, BUT OLDER

A new member of the Caol Ila™ family of single malt Scotch whiskies has been announced by Diageo.

A 25 year old single malt Scotch Whisky is now joining this highly popular and award-winning collection. Caol Ila has been distilled on the eastern shore of Islay since 1846.

Tasters have described the 25-year-old Caol Ila (bottled at 43% ABV) as majestic, sweet, smooth, slow-burning  –  and with an elegant, lightly smoky profile that brings to mind the faint yet resolute outline of the distillery itself, silhouetted in the soft moonlight of a still winter’s night. Yet it is welcome as an authentic example of that Caol Ila character first seen in the early years of Queen Victoria’s reign. Here are all those spicy sea-air aromas and sweet smoky-dry flavours, but with the subtlety of expression that comes only with age.

It will be the most mature member of the dynasty, standing alongside a 12 year old, an 18 year old, a natural cask strength bottling, a Distillers Edition™, and some limited edition younger expressions.

The new bottling is presented in a strengthened version of  the same striking black and grey cartons as the regular series, but with a pull-off  front-facing lid. The distillery looks to the east: the evening darkness falls early here at Caol Ila. So the pack image for the 25 year old hints at the vestiges of daylight fading behind Cnoc Dubh, the Black Hill behind the distillery.

Notes

Distribution

The Caol Ila 25 year old will initially be available in the UK, the Nordic markets, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Japan, Taiwan and in travel retail channels in Europe.

The UK Recommended Retail Price is £135.

Caol Ila, Islay.

Built in 1846, the distillery sits locked away on a small hidden cove near Port Askaig  on the eastern shore of Islay overlooking the fast-moving Straits of Islay and the Paps of Jura beyond. It uses its own supply of water from nearby Loch Nam Ban.

International awards for Caol Ila

Caol Ila 12 year old has been awarded numerous medals at international competitions, including IWSC Gold Medals, 2004, 2005; IWSC Gold – Best in Class 2008; IWSC Silver Medal 2006, San Francisco Double Gold 2006 and 2010, Silver 2007, Gold 2008, 2009; The Scotch Whisky Masters 2010 – Master.

Caol Ila 18 year old has won IWSC Gold Medals 2004, 2005, Silver 2007, Gold – Best in Class 2008; San Francisco Double Gold 2006.

The Caol Ila Cask Strength expressions won IWSC Silver Medal, 2005, 2007, 2008; Silver-Best in Class 2006. San Francisco Double Gold 2006.

Caol Ila Distillers Edition™ (Moscatel Cask Wood Finish) won IWSC Silver – Best in Class 2007, 2008; San Francisco – Gold Medal 2010; The Scotch Whisky Masters 2010 – Gold.

The range grows

It was back in 2002 that the core Caol Ila range (12 year old, 18 year old  and cask strength) was relaunched in the current livery at that year’s Islay Festival. Although Caol Ila was a notable 19th century distillery, its malts, despite their classic provenance and great ancestry, had not been widely available before then.

The Distillers Edition expression joined them in 2006.

There have also been younger and unpeated versions of Caol Ila, issued annually as part of the Classic Malt Selections™ Special Releases series.
In 2004 and 2005, limited editions (6000 bottles) of 25-year-old Caol Ila were released in the same series, but none have been available since then.

The Classic Malts Selection, Caol Ila, and Distillers Edition words and associated logos are trade marks. © 2010

Straight from the still

Dear friends,

Well, we are less than six months from our inventory situation improving with the release of Batch 4. We continue to send product to Iowa and Illinois at the beginning of each month and I plan to keep you all informed on Facebook when the product goes out. Scott also wrote a detailed overview of our allocation plan, which you can see below (Iowa allocation forecast).

In the meantime we are really excited about our 3rd Annual Rock and Rye Celebration with the Templeton Community Betterment Association on Saturday, July 31st. Our friends the Nadas will be headlining and we are excited to have them back in Templeton. We will be hosting free distillery tours for ticket holders from 4-6 pm and local favorite Aged Spirits will be the opening act.

Something new for this year is charter buses to and from Des Moines. They are air-conditioned motor coaches with restrooms, and folks can bring their own beverages on the trip. The buses will take you to and from the distillery and there will be cabs available in Des Moines when the buses return. So basically there is no excuse not to join us in Templeton for one of the best nights of the summer!

For additional details and to purchase tickets, please visit http://rockandrye2010.eventbrite.com. We look forward to seeing you on July 31st and showing you some Templeton hospitality.

Rye crop update

Last year we planted and harvested our first crop of rye on the distillery property in Templeton. We used a portion of our home-grown rye to make our last batch and are working to increase the quality and size of our crop. This year’s crop is about three feet tall right now and is a beautiful blue/green. We will analyze it after harvest and hopefully use some in upcoming batches.

Sincerely,
Kevin Boersma, Distillery Manager, Templeton Rye

Iowa allocation forecast: The light at the end of the tunnel

Dear friends,

Greetings from Templeton. We are a ways into a long winter here in Iowa, but spring is in sight and it is officially 2010, the year when our expanded inventory starts to come on-line.

As many of you know, our product is aged in oak barrels for more than four years so we are only able to sell today what we distilled in 2006. We refused to rush our product or sacrifice quality, which has led to a long game of hurry-up-and-wait.

We started to expand production at the end of 2006 and that product begins to come on-line late this year. The bad news is that inventory will continue to be very lean until then. The good news is that we hope and expect to have a much larger and more stable inventory in place for Iowa and Illinois in time for Christmas and after the first of next year.

Until then, we will continue to ask for your patience. We currently sell about 70% of our product in Iowa and will continue to send product to the State Liquor Warehouse each month. You can see our actual Iowa case allocation for 2010 and early 2011 below. And, yes, we’ll be giving thanks in November that December and beyond looks much better.

Thank you all for your continued support. We are just getting started and are very excited about the future of Templeton Rye.

All the best,
Scott Bush
President, Templeton Rye

http://www.templetonrye.com/

About Basil Hayden’s Bourbon

Basil Hayden’s small-batch bourbon impresses with notes of pepper balanced by slight citrus overtones and a spicy, warming finish. The unique flavor is derived from a family recipe that dates back to 1796, which uses twice as much rye as traditional bourbons to create a smooth, balanced blend. Aged eight years, Basil Hayden’s has a relatively mild 80 proof making it equally enjoyable served neat or as the base to a contemporary or traditional cocktail.

Family Secret

Following its eight years in new charred American white oak barrels, Basil Hayden’s is charcoalfiltered and then chill-filtered. This process produces an incredibly approachable, sophisticated and luxurious bourbon.

Heritage

Basil Hayden’s is part of The Small Batch Bourbon Collection!, a celebrated group that also includes: Booker’s, Baker’s, and Knob Creek.

For more information, visit: www.smallbatch.com.

Tasting Notes

Admire the color: Golden amber
Nose the aroma: Spice, tea, hint of peppermint
Savor the taste: Spicy, peppery, honey, light-bodied, gentle bite
Appreciate the finish: Dry, clean, brief

Proof: 80
Age: 8 years
Price: Suggested Retail Price is $36.99 per 750ml bottle.

Basil Hayden’s Manhattan 2.0
1½ parts Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
½ part Sweet Vermouth
½ part Dry Vermouth
½ part Maple Syrup
2 dashes of Bitters

Stir together the Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, maple syrup and bitters over ice in a rocks glass, garnish with a cherry and serve.
 
Basil Hayden’s Last Stand
1 1/4 part Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
1/4 parts Absinthe
4 dashes of Bitters
1 Lemon Wedge
Splash of Soda Water

In a pint glass, add absinthe to thoroughly coat the glass and drain, pouring off the excess. Add Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon and bitters to the glass. Squeeze and drop in the lemon wedge. Fill the glass 3/4 full with ice and stir contents swiftly for 20 seconds. Top with soda water. 

Basil Hayden is a Super-Premium small-batch bourbon with a distinct flavor profile. Basil Hayden features a mild 80 proof and twice the rye of traditional bourbons, making it extremely smooth and approachable. With citrus overtones and a spicy finish, Basil Hayden’s balance of taste and flavor make this spirit a great choice for both bourbon novices and connoisseurs.

Below is a brand new cocktail recipe developed to toast global soccer mania. Combining Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon with Amarula Liqueur, a South African spirit made from the fruit of a Marula tree, makes this drink the perfect cocktail for toasting your favorite country’s team. With this cocktail in hand, your readers will feel like you are right in the action, all while watching the games from the comfort of their home!

Basil Hayden’s Victory Sip
1 part Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon
1 part Amarula Liqueur
½ part Peppermint Liquor
Cherry 

Stir all ingredients over ice in a rocks glass.  Garnish with a cherry and serve.

 EPISODE 267

Dave Pickerell has been keeping a low profile since leaving Maker’s Mark in April of 2008. Turns out he was doing research into rye and microdistilling, and discovered a 10-year-old rye that just begged to be bottled. Dave and his partners are now selling WhistlePig Rye Whiskey, with plans to build a distillery on a farm in Vermont’s Green Mountains. Dave explains his new whiskey and his research in this week’s episode. In the news, George Washington’s Rye goes on sale this week, results from the Bonhams auction in New York, and more new whiskies.

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com

July Outturn Previews:

Save £40 on all six with our Holiday Case Offer

We’ve packed your Summer Holiday Case for you, all you have to do is enjoy the sunshine.  Buy all six previews this July and save a massive £40.

93.39 Master and commander
Campbeltown
£42.20 inc. Free P&P
 The full bodied taste had crème caramel, onion chutney, raisin and cake mix; cherry pie, blueberries and prunes came later
                                                                              
121.35 Simple yet complex
Highland Island
£39.20 inc. Free P&P
Surprisingly mellow; reminiscent of Madeira or mulled wine (with spices), then a dried fruit complex (figs, sultanas, raisins, dates)

77.20 Honeysuckle, jasmine and fern
Highland Northern
£65.40 inc. Free P&P
The nose had elements of putty, plasticine and poster paints, then perfumes of honeysuckle, jasmine, fern and sweet

3.159 Tic-tacs and tar-mac
Islay
£65.40 inc. Free P&P
PVA glue, waxed paper and soor plooms; then a tsunami of liquorice, tar, burnt heather and the string from Arbroath smokies or kabanos

35.40 Horse lick whisky
Speyside Lossie
£70.40 inc. Free P&P
Scrumptious and lively, offering polished leather, orange oil, molasses, coffee and toffee – with impressively swelling heat

2.78 Kissed up by sweet promises
Speyside Spey
£65.40 inc. Free P&P
Plum blossom, cherry wood shavings, lilac and candied angelica; then lovely sweet promises kissed up – vanilla, honeycomb, Ferrero Rocher

Summer Holiday Case Offer: Buy all six for £308

Enjoy all six July Outturn Previews (and our Summer Holiday Case Offer) at our venues: The Vaults, 28 Queen Street, 19 Greville Street

Dare to be different: Sample four July Previews @
Aberdeen Malmaison, Birmingham & Brighton Hotel du Vin
Enjoy 125.35 & 3.159 along with 39.76 & 7.58 (we’ll say no more).

SMWS Whisky Tasting & Events
Pan-Asian Curry Experience – London, Sat 26 Jun
A night with Richard Paterson – London, Mon 28 Jun
Glenmorangie Tasting – Queen Street, Thu 1 July
World Cup Quarter Final Viewing – Queen Street, Fri 2 July
World Cup Quarter Final Viewing – Queen Street, Sat 3 July
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Sat 3 July
New Outturn & Sunday Roast Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 4 July
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Mon 5 July
World Cup Semi Final Viewing – Queen Street, Tue 6 July
World Cup of Drams – Queen Street, Wed 7 July
World Cup Final: Viewing & BBQ – Queen Street, Sun 11 July
World Cup Final Viewing – London, Sun 11 July

Visit www.smws.co.uk to join the Society

Part Interview/chat with Mark Gillespie from whiskycast.com covering a few whisky-related topics.

Easily found at www.ralfy.com  ‘whisky reviews’ 140a + 140b. ….. hope you enjoy this humorous Vlog

I always say consistency is a wonderful thing. Especially in whisky; you want to be sure every time you buy a bottle of Highland Park that it was just as delightful as the last one. We go to extreme lengths to make sure that happens; it is one of the reasons we are the world’s most respected single malt. Another reason is that we make single malt as traditionally as possible. Discerning consumers (that’s you) and the drinks press seem to appreciate that.

Take F. Paul Pacult for example, the world respected US-based spirits and wine journalist behind the independent, subscription-only quarterly Spirit Journal. Paul famously published a list of his top spirits in 2005 and Highland Park 18 year old was named Best Spirit in the World. He repeated the exercise in 2009 with the same result.

In the June 2010 issue, rather than publishing a simple list as before, Paul has divided the spirits into sub-categories: the best Scotch whisky was Highland Park 18 year old. For the third time running…
 

          
  
According to Paul: “This classic continues to be a stupendous work of distilling art that, I believe, is one of the greatest beverage alcohol liquids ever produced and is assuredly the finest of the last 20 years. Graceful on the one hand; might and fathomless on the other. Delectably salty/peaty/maritime on the one hand; intensely malty on the other. If I could only select but one Scotch whisky, Highland Park 18 year old would remain that very special singular choice. A masterpiece to savour many times before one dies.”

Paul also published a list of the five spirits he and his partner Sue couldn’t survive without if trapped on a desert island. Number one is Highland Park 18 year old. You see; consistent.

Click on the link below to watch me taste Highland Park 18 year old; http://www.youtube.com/user/HighlandParkWhisky#p/u/25/InM4xZdCJns

For further information and to subscribe to Spirit Journal visit www.spiritjournal.com

For information on The Best Spirit in the World visit www.highlandpark.co.uk

Yours sincerely
Gerry Tosh
Head of Brand Education Whisky Ambassador of the Year