Ardbeg 14yo 1994/2008 (55.3%, MMcD Mission, Bourbon, 270 Bts.)

A bottling that escaped finishing. The nose is of peat smoke, pears (warmed), juniper, burnt twigs, mildly vegetal, some malt dust, oats/porridge (cooked) and bourbon (vanilla & oak spice). A very good nose; perhaps this is why it escaped finishing. With water a bit more of the juniper pops out and a little less of the peat smoke which is a shame. The taste is warming and gently peated at first whit some dark chocolate and then the some of the burnt twigs and vegetal notes but then a huge dry peaty taste comes roaring out of the back ground. Very nice indeed. Loads of peat here but it has the good manners to bring along other flavours and this only enhances the taste which is very good. With a good dollop of water it is much tamed but still good, don’t add too much. However, don’t despair, if you do, you can always add a bit more whisky to correct the mistake. The finish is malty and peated which quickly becomes oily dry, very mouth coating and big but quickly changes to gentle and consistent. Prawn chips (the ones you find in Chinese restaurants) It is very long (like a Toyota on a long and straight highway; unlikely to stop) and persistent and reflects the nose and taste.

Bravo, what an excellent Ardbeg.

C$93

Score 89 points.

(Sample Bottle)

JOHNNIE WALKER GREEN LABEL

SCOTCH VATTED MALT OF THE YEAR – 95 POINTS – Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010

PRICE: $69.99

CSPC: +196188

STATUS: Specialty

SIZE: 12 x 750 ml per case

NOTE: Four signature malts provide the key taste influences giving this 15 year old whisky its status as a malt of substance.  TALISKER™ introduces power and depth of character, CAOL ILA™ contributes mystery and intensity, at its heart, CRAGGANMORE™ provides a sweet overt maltiness and LINKWOOD™ touches it with finesse.  Blending the whisky entirely from malts produces a smooth whisky in which the flavours of individual components are more distinctive.

Of rich gold amber appearance, this medium full malt summons up a multiplicity of complex natural aromas.  It starts on the seashore, then drifts inland over moist moss and through evergreen forest.  Next come the exotic notes of Seville orange peel, stewed peaches, cooked black fruits and sour cherry.

Ever-changing on the palate too, JOHNNIE WALKER GREEN LABEL has a soft rich core with suggestions of heather honey, banana chips, loganberry baked apple and butterscotch.  Sweet spices touch the sides and a nutty note allows intense flavours to filter through.  All this is framed by subtle oak and finished in spice, cocoa, cedar and smouldering tobacco.

http://www.johnniewalker.com/

The Brandy Library will be holding their Single Malt Saturdays the 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th of  June from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Highlander Inn Scottish Breakfast at Maltstock!   
  
Fellow whisky enthusiasts,

It is our great pleasure to announce that Duncan Elphick and his chef from the Highlander Inn will be coming to Maltstock to prepare a Scottish breakfast. All ingredients will be brought from Scotland so you can enjoy a real taste of Scotland at Maltstock!

The Highlander Inn

Many of you probably already know the Highlander Inn. Or perhaps have met Duncan and Tatsuya at one of the whisky fairs. Those of you who have visited the Highlander Inn know what a great little place it is. We are very proud that Duncan and his chef will travel from Craigellachie to Overasselt to prepare a great Scottish breakfast for us at Maltstock. It will be a perfect start of the day.

The Highlander Inn is a very well known and respected place in the heart of Speyside, Craigellachie. It is a place every whisky enthusiast should visit when visiting Speyside. It is perfect place to discover Speyside. There are only five bedrooms, so booking in advance is strongly recommended.
In the bar you are very likely to meet fellow whisky enthusiasts and is also popular with the locals. You won’t be disappointed by the tremendous selection of whiskies. There are over 200 whiskies to choose from (amongst them some great Japanese whiskies!).

It is also possible to enjoy a meal, either in the bar or in the restaurant. From own experience I can tell you the food is also excellent, both in the bar and in their à la carte restaurant. They serve one of the best Haggis you will ever try.

Plenty of excellent reasons to stop in Craigellachie at the Highlander Inn on your travels through Scotland.

More information about the Highlander Inn and for bookings please visit www.whiskyinn.com.

Or come to Maltstock and talk to Duncan in person.

Free masterclasses at Maltstock

We know many of you are eagerly awaiting the free masterclasses at Maltstock. It will be possible to book tickets for these free tastings around mid June. We will inform you by e-mail as soon as they can be booked online. Remember, the free tastings are only for people who already have bought their Maltstock tickets. So get your Maltstock tickets now. Click here to go to the Maltstock shop.

See you in September, see you at Maltstock!

Slainte!

Arthur, Bob, Eline, Rogier & Teun
www.maltstock.com

BenRiach 15yo 1994/2009 (57.1%, OB, for Kensington, Madeira HHD, C#4810, 250 Bts.)

Some people start to experience breathing difficulties when the term ‘finished’ is mentioned in relation to scotch whiskies. If you’re such a person, it’s time to strap on the oxygen mask because here’s an example of a finished whisky. This one strikes all the bells in the tower; single cask, cask strength, non chill filtered, natural color, Madeira finish and bottled exclusively for Kensington Wine Market in Calgary, Alberta Canada.

The first sniff (nose) into the top of the glass reveals some strength and a very slight sourness (like sour cherries) and then a rich sweetness comes roiling up for the depths of the glass. Thick of warm fruit in the bowl, sun dried raisins, brown sugar followed by some malt and then moments of something dark and even richer, earthy, slightly over cooked (reduced not burnt) marmalade and the slight hints of sour cherries. Simply put a stunningly good collection of aromas. With water the aromas become slightly less fruity and more earthy/malty/woody but the rich fruit is still very much in evidence. The taste is once again rich and much like the undiluted aromas, rich concentrated fruits and now some leather and tobacco enter into the fray roiling around in the mouth; after a moment or tow it becomes almost creamy. Excellent. With water the taste is much gentler with loads of the fruit, malt and the earthy notes. The finish is malty, dry and oaky with the afore mentioned fruit and some of the leather and tobacco. It is very long, warming and quite good. After a number of minutes raisins and malt are still present.

Try it neat for nosing and with water for drinking but quite simply any combination works. Finishing can work… Another excellent pick from the Kensington team. Well done Andrew.

C$110

Score 88 points

For the Whisky fans in Orange County there is a Glenfarclas Scotch Dinner coming up at Villa Nova in Newport, June 23, 6:30-9:30

Glenfarclas, Single Malt Scotch Whiskey and the wonderful food and atmosphere of Villa Nova Restaurant.

To lead the tasting of his fine Scotch will be George Grant of Glenfarclas Distillery.

Featured in the tasting will be the 107 10yr, 12yr, 17yr, 21yr and 25yr Old iterations of Glenfarclas.

The cost for everything is only $40.00

RSVP’s are required. To make one cal Villa Nova at (949) 642-7880.

http://www.villanovarestaurant.com/

3131 West Coast Highway
Newport Beach,

California 92663-4082

(thanks Forrest)

… whisky review 134 at www.ralfy.com (whisky reviews) concludes a wee Islay run of Vlogs to coincide with the Feis Ile Festival on Islay.

It’s “the Ileach” Cask Strength single malt from an unspecified Distillery somewhere near Bowmore.

The Port Ellen Maltings supplies malt for many of Islay’s distilleries, and I’ll wrap up the special series of Feis Ile episodes from Islay with a rare tour inside the Maltings led by native Ileach manager Graham Logie. There’s music from Robin Laing and some final thoughts as I wind up coverage of the 25th Islay Festival of Malt & Music.

www.whiskycast.com

The 1st Sheffield Whisky Lounge Festival
Cutlers Hall, Church Street, Sheffield, S1 1HG
Saturday June 5th 2010, 12.00pm

£16.00 / ticket

Come and meet the distillers and distributors who make it all happen. The great and the good of the whisky world converge on the beautiful setting of Cutlers’ Hall. You will have the opportunity to taste their wares, pick their brains and listen to their stories – all for the paltry sum of £16! As you wander in, you will be presented with a complimentary whisky tasting glass, worth £4, and a guide to the festival. You are then free to go from stand to stand chatting with the exhibitors as you sample drams from the following…

Ardbeg
Auchentoshan
Bowmore
Suntory
Benromach
Gordon & MacPhail
Glenmorangie
Berry Brothers
Four Roses Bourbon
The Classic Malts of Scotland
Glenlivet
Longmorn
Scapa
Chivas Regal
Amrut Indian Whisky

Further exhibitors are to be announced as we receive their confirmations.
Tickets may be available on the door but we can of course make no guarantee of this.

Masterclasses (£5 each)

To be confirmed

Tickets may be purchased at http://www.thewhiskylounge.com/

Sample the World’s Most Expensive Whiskies (on a Budget)

Online retailer and independent bottler, Master of Malt, have launched a revolutionary whisky sample service called ‘Drinks by the Dram’
For the first time ever, whisky lovers and drinks connoisseurs will be able to purchase inexpensive 3cl (30ml) samples of a rapidly growing range of Scotch whisky and other spirits from across the globe.

The inability to sample high-end drinks like Scotch whisky before making a purchase has been a clear stumbling block for online off-licenses since their emergence in the late 1990s. “Drinks by the Dram” neatly solves this problem allowing by connoisseurs and beginners alike to ‘try before they buy’ on a huge range of whiskies and other spirits.

Master of Malt’s Sales Director, Ben Ellefsen, explains that the idea originally grew out of an informal sample service for friends and staff:

“As pretty serious whisky fans ourselves, we wanted a way that we could sample new releases from our favourite distilleries and bottlers without the expense of committing to a whole bottle of each before we’d even tried it.

Drinks by the Dram started life as a way of allowing our staff and friends to compare and contrast a range of whiskies safe in the knowledge that the investment required was not one that was likely to land them in the dog-house on a semi-regular basis.”

He continues “We soon found the friends we gave samples to often came back and bought the rest of the bottle! When we showed the idea to the distilleries and brand owners, the reaction was so unequivocally positive we decided make the service available to our customers as well.

A few months down the line, and we’re starting to see excellent results, grateful customers, and slightly more haggard-looking employees… We hope to have several hundred drams available soon, and are currently working tirelessly to offer an even bigger selection for whisky fans everywhere.”

Try before you buy

One of the most exciting parts of the service is the wide range of samples available. The selection is vast, and numerous styles of spirits and whiskies are available; from 10 year old Bourbon, to 40 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

The range isn’t just high end malts though; there are samples of “everyday” whiskies, with prices starting from only GBP 1.95.

The drams are labeled with handmade paper, and each bottle individually wax dipped to seal it.

The initial range includes samples from many world famous brands including Glenfarclas, Bruichladdich and Edradour whisky distilleries, and several outstanding independent bottlers, including Murray McDavid; Renegade Rum; Alchemist; Signatory and The Vintage Malt Whisky Company.

The range is expanding rapidly, and there will be several hundred more samples available by the end of May, with over a thousand expected by Christmas. A full list of samples is available at: http://www.masterofmalt.com/drinks-by-the-dram

About Drinks by the Dram

• Inexpensive 3cl (30ml) samples to try before you buy
• Revolutionary new concept in online drinks retail
• 100 drinks currently available as “drams” with over 200 expected by the end of May
• See a list of available drams at: http://www.masterofmalt.com/about-drinks-by-the-dram

About Master of Malt

• Award winning Independent Bottler
• Online Whisky and Spirits retailer with over 25 years of experience.
• Website: http://www.masterofmalt.com

Follow Master of Malt on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/masterofmalt.com
Keep up to date with whisky and spirits news on the Master of Malt blog: http://www.masterofmalt.com/blog
Contact Ben Ellefsen, +44(0)1892-888-376, contactus@masterofmalt.com