Inbox > October 7, 2011

Welcome to Inbox - our weekly round up of whisky news and PR type material that has recently found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece that we receive. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we will write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information if you want to. It's been a busy one this week, so here goes.

Chichibu > The First bottling

The first of many?

Japan’s youngest distillery has released its first single malt – The First. Chichibu started production in 2008 and was the first new distillery to be built in Japan since the 1970s. This three years old whisky follows on from occasional releases of new make spirit. The First is constructed from just 31 ex-bourbon casks, which have yielded 7,400 bottles at a cask strength of 61.8% ABV. These will be sold through selected specialist whisky retailers in Japan, the UK and France for £90/€115. The product was launched at Whisky Live, Paris a couple of weeks ago and will be launched in Japan on 10 October.

Dalmore > New visitor centre opens

The impressive tasting room

The iconic distillery in the north Highlands, which is owned by Whyte & Mackay, has opened its new visitor centre. The Dalmore Visitor Experience is a £1million investment that gives whisky fans a different type of distillery tour. It was opened by Distillery Manager Ian Mackay and Master Blender Richard Paterson. The Experience takes guests on a sensory journey - they can embrace the unique atmosphere, sounds and smells of Dalmore and will be able to smell the spirit, hear the sound of the grain being milled etc. There are numerous bespoke features and furniture, plus special lighting to change mood and atmosphere. Tours can be booked for 11am, 1pm and 3pm and can be made in advance online at www.thedalmore.com.

Glendronach > Add to core range 

Going for gold

The independently owned Aberdeenshire distillery of Glendronach has announced an addition to its award winning core range – a new 21 years old. Named ‘Parliament’, which refers to a parliament of rooks that have lived at the distillery for over 100 years (who knew that the collective name for a group of rooks was a parliament?), this single malt whisky is bottled at 48% ABV and has been matured in a combination of ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximinez sherry casks. It joins the 12, 15, 18 and 31 year olds in the core range. Sales Director Alistair Walker said, “The Parliament was released after listening to our customers, who identified the opportunity for a premium Glendronach positioned somewhere between our 18 year-old and our iconic 31-year old. It’s a major release for the distillery”.

Glenglassaugh > First cask comes of age

Cask no.1

The Glenglassaugh distillery, which sits on the north east Highland coast, has announced the first single malt bottling of whisky made by the new ownership. Previous releases have been from stock inherited from the former owners. The distillery had been closed for over 20 years before Glenglassaugh was restored and re-opened by an independent group. The first distillation took place on 16 December 2008 and the whisky will be bottled on 16 December 2011, when the spirit reaches the minimum legal age for single malt. Cask 1 is an ex-sherry cask and the whisky will retail for £90 a bottle. They expect around 650 bottles from the cask and these will be bottled at the natural cask strength. To pre-order a bottle or get more information, contact first.bottling@glenglassaugh.com.

Jameson > Celebrate London Film Festival

Jameson + BFI = cool

The world’s best selling Irish whisky have teamed up with the BFI (British Film Institute) to celebrate the 55th London Film Festival. Part of the collaboration is the opening of a pop-up 1920s speakeasy style bar for the duration of the festival, which runs from 12-27 October. The Jameson Apartment will offer film and whiskey enthusiasts the chance to sample some classic Jameson cocktails made by a selection of leading bartenders from the London scene, plus Jameson’s specialist mixologist Ed McAvoy. The Apartment will be open from 5.30pm until ‘late’ every night and further information can be found by visiting www.jamesoncultfilmclub.com.

The Whisky Lounge > Manchester Whisky Festival

One of the biggest whisky festivals in the UK, outside of London, is taking place on Saturday 15 October. The Whisky Lounge’s Manchester Whisky Festival takes place at The Lowry Hotel in the heart of the city’s rejuvenated canal side area and features an impressive list of exhibitors, including a first European whisky show appearance for Kavalan Taiwanese single malt. The event takes place over two sessions (11am-3pm and 4pm-8pm) and there are over 200 whiskies on show, plus a series of consumer master classes. Whisky Lounge founder Eddie Ludlow commented, “One of our commitments is to bring new followers to the ‘flock’ and show them that whisky is not just about lairds, tartan and stags. It’s about the moment and learning how to enjoy it – there is something for everyone at our show”. Tickets can be purchased via www.thewhiskylounge.com.

Suntory > A cocktail for every season

The Hakushu Ritto

The Japanese whisky company of Suntory have created a series of cocktails to celebrate the change of season. Brand Ambassador Zoran Peric has produced a cocktail for each of the 24 Japanese seasons and has launched the Hakushu Ritto in the UK, where we are turning autumnal and the nights are drawing in. The Ritto is made with 50ml of Hakushu 12 year old whisky, 75ml of hot green tea, a teaspoon of honey, a pinch of powdered ginger and a squeeze of lemon juice - pour the Hakushu and green tea into a mug, add the honey, ginger and lemon juice and stir until the honey is dissolved, then add the ginger slice and serve. Sounds great for a cold, damp Autumn evening.