Inbox > November 25, 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. So here we go with this week's news ...

Aldi > 40 year old single malt for £50

The discount supermarket chain Aldi have announced two UK exclusive additions to their single malt whisky range. And they are sure to raise a few eyebrows!  The first is a 40 year old single malt and makes Aldi the first supermarket to offer such an 'own brand' product.  Named GlenBridge 40, the whisky is from a "famous Speyside distillery" according to the Aldi PR team and has been aged in European oak ex-sherry casks.  There are 3,000 bottles which will go on sale in Aldi's 450 UK stores on 8 December for the staggeringly low price of £49.99.  In addition, there is the Glen Marnoch 24 years old which will sell for just £24.99.  Details of this are a little sketchy but our friends over at CaskStrength have reviewed both, with tasting notes - click here to read.

Bowmore > Team up with Savile Row tailor

The iconic Islay single malt of Bowmore has joined forces with a leading Savile Row tailor to offer 'the ultimate Christmas gift for the whisky loving gentleman'. Leading establishment Malcolm Plews and Bowmore have created the premium gift - a bespoke tailoring session including fitting of a made-to-measure Bowmore Tweed jacket followed by a one to one whisky tasting with a Bowmore expert. The package also includes first class travel to London from anywhere in the UK, a night’s stay for two at the Malmaison hotel in Clerkenwell, and lunch for two at the Sartoria restaurant in Savile Row. A bottle of Bowmore 15 year old single malt plus whisky glasses complete the package. The Bowmore Tweed Savile Row Experience can be purchased for £3,000 from the website www.singlemaltwhiskyshop.com.

Cutty Sark > New book released

The famous Cutty Sark blended whisky was first launched in 1923 and a new book has just been released that charts its rise to become one of the best selling brands of whisky in the world. The book, titled The Making Of A Whisky Brand, has been edited by whisky writer Ian Buxton and he has assembled a number of leading whisky experts, each of whom have written a chapter. Ian was granted exclusive access to the historical archives and met with some of the former Master Blenders of Cutty Sark when researching the book. Each chapter explores the brand, its influence on society and popular culture around the world and what has made it so successful.  The book also includes both classic and newly invented cocktails using Cutty Sark.  It can be purchased from specialist book and on-line retailers now.

Glengoyne > Free entry for St. Andrew's Day

The Glengoyne distillery, which is located just 30 minutes drive north of Glasgow, is opening its doors for free over this coming weekend. This is to celebrate St. Andrew's Day, which is Scotland's national day and is on 30 November.  Entry will be free on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th and the distillery is open from 10am-5pm (the last tour is at 4pm).  The tour (usual price £6.75) includes a short film about the history of the distillery and Glengoyne brand, a guided visit around the distillery and a dram of their 10 year old single malt at the end.  For directions to Glengoyne and for further details of the event, please visit www.glengoyne.com.

Master Of Malt > Blend your own whisky

Innovative online retailer Master Of Malt have created an interactive new product which allows you to make your own whisky.  The Home Blending Kit comes with a selection of 3cl sample miniatures, which contain a variety of grain and single malt whiskies, and some measuring equipment. 

The idea is that you can then construct your own blended whisky to your own personal taste.  The process is similar to The Blogger's Blend that we took part in earlier this year (the final product for this will be released shortly).  For a full list of the samples and equipment and to order your own kit (priced £49.95) - click here.  There is then another page where you fill in the quantities of each sample in your 'final blend' and the cost is calculated - that can be viewed by clicking here. Good luck, it's plenty of fun.