Inbox > November 4, 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. Here we go with this week's whisky news ...

Bespoke Post > Launches with a whisky theme

Bespoke Post is a new venture hat has just been launched in New York.  The company is aimed at the discerning gentleman who want to learn about some of the finer things in life and discover about innovative products.  You can sign up to be part of this and for a small fee will receive a monthly 'Box of Awesome' - a specially selected box of awesome products that relate to the monthly theme.  The theme will change each month and the first theme is whisky.  We have teamed up with Bespoke Post to write a 'Whisky 101' beginners guide to go in this month's package, which includes two hand blown whisky glasses, a set of whisky stones (these are chilled in the freezer and replace ice in your drink) and a couple of other cool surprises. 

In return, Bespoke Post have offered our readers a special discount code if you sign up for the first three months of boxes.  The whisky 'Box of Awesome' retails at $45, as do the other two, and our discount code gets you $10 off each one.  Go to the Bespoke Post website, click on 'Join Now' and enter your details.  When you get prompted for the discount code enter WHISKYFOREVERYONE and you will automatically save $30.  Simple.

Glenmorangie > New Nectar D'Or released

Going for gold

The famous Highland distillery of Glenmorangie has announced that its popular Nectar D'Or single malt has been increased in age. The decision sees the whisky still matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks for 10 years before being moved to ex-Sauternes dessert wine barriques for five years - an addition of three years to the previous 12 years old release. The new version is non-chill filtered, bottled at 46% ABV and should cost around £45 - it will be available in specialist whisky retailers and larger supermarkets. According to Dr Bill Lumsden, the whisky's creator, “The result of extra-maturing for an additional three years has improved an already outstandingly voluptuous whisky; Nectar D’Òr 15 Years Old is characterised by rich flavours of luscious desserts and spicy oak tannins". 

Jameson > Special bottling for the USA

Black is back

The best selling Irish whiskey in the world has announced the launch of a new exclusive bottling for the USA.  The new whiskey is part of the Jameson Select Reserve series and is named Black Barrel.  The new expression is made from specially selected grain whiskies which have been produced in small batches - this happens only once a year at the Midleton distillery (where Jameson is made) and then only for a very short time.  The name Black Barrel refers to the fact that these special whiskies have then been matured solely in heavily flame charred ex-bourbon oak casks, before being blended in to the final product.  This creates a rich and luxurious taste experience.  The product was launched in Brooklyn last weekend.

Talisker > Sponsor the the world's 'most difficult' race

The famous single malt from the Isle of Skye on Scotland's west coast has continued its recent nautical theme but announcing a sponsorship deal for what is regarded as the 'world's most difficult' race.  The Woodvale Atlantic Challenge is a biennial event and the sponsorship covers this years race, which starts on 4 December, and the one in 2013.  The race begins in the Canary Islands and finishes in Barbados, following the mid-Atlantic route taken by Christopher Columbus.  The route is 2,933 miles (4,720 km) long and is expected to take around six weeks to complete. Teams from Canada, Denmark, France, Norway, Sweden, the UK and the USA are entered for this year's race, named The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Whisky 4 Movember > Glenfarclas & Master of Malt join in

It’s November, so that means it's time for Whisky For Movember - the official and fun UK charity that raises money during November through people growing moustaches (or a 'mo' - get it?) for the whole month. The group is made up of people from across the whisky industry - writers, bloggers and drinkers. For more details or to donate can be found at the official website or on Twitter.

Whisky For Movember is part of the larger Movember charity group, which was started in Australia. Movember aims to raise awareness and money for a series of male health issues, primarily The Prostate Cancer Charity and testicular cancer charities. For further details or to donate to Movember, then check out www.movember.com.

Each year there is a special whisky bottled for the cause.  This year's offering sees the Speyside distillery of Glenfarclas team up with online retailer Master of Malt.  The single malt was distilled in Spetember 2002 and has been bottled at nine years of age.  It has been made from just two ex-Oloroso sherry casks and has been bottled at the cask strength of 53% ABV.  Each bottle will cost £39.95 and can be purchased from the Master of Malt website. £10 from each sale will be donated to Movember.