Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (June 30, 2017)

Welcome to Inbox.  For those new to WFE, Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday.

Review - Craigellachie 31 years old

This is the oldest and rarest of the single malts in the core range of the Craigellachie distillery in Speyside. The Craigellachie 31 years old was released in 2016 and has recently won the prestigious title of Best Single Malt at the World Whisky Awards 2017. Craigellachie's whiskies are part of a wider programme of single malt releases that were launched three years ago by owners John Dewar & Sons, part of the Bacardi group. This programme aims to showcase the Scottish distilleries owned by the group - Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Macduff and Royal Brackla, plus Craigellachie.

Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (June 23, 2017)

Welcome to Inbox.  For those new to WFE, Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday.

What is the Future of Whisky?

It seems that everyone is constantly trying to predict the next big thing? What is the next trend? It is human nature to seek constant change and development, and this urge covers all walks of life.

The whisky world generally works at a somewhat slower pace than most industries. However, it is not averse to evolution and innovation. This was recently brought in to focus at an event, hosted by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, looking at the future of whisky.

Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (June 16, 2017)

Welcome to Inbox.  For those new to WFE, Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday.

Father's Day Gifting - Our Top 5 Spirits

* This article originally appeared on the Huffington Post Uk on 7/6/17.

Father’s Day is fast approaching on June 18 and spirits are always a good present on the day. Here I pick five of my favourite spirits from around the world that offer something a little different for the special day and hope that it gives you a few ideas.

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Belvedere 
40% ABV, £35.
Belvedere is crafted in Poland and is regarded as the world’s first luxury vodka. It is also regarded as one of the purest and is made exclusively using Dankowskie rye. The bottle features the Belweder, the Polish presidential palace, after which the vodka is named.

This vodka has a lovely creamy softness with a hint of fresh citrus and bittersweet cereals. It is great when taken cold and straight from the fridge, but really comes to life when mixed. My choice is great for the Summer – the Belvedere Spritz – a refreshing mix of Belvedere, Lillet Blanc, tonic and soda water, plus a slice of pink grapefruit and sprig of rosemary for garnish.

Glenmorangie Original
40% ABV, £40.
Glenmorangie is one of the best known names in Scotch whisky and the north Highland single malt is great for a gift. Glenmorangie is a particularly good choice if your Dad is a golfer or golf fan, as the brand once again are sponsoring The Open championship at Royal Birkdale in July.

The Original is bottled at 10 years of age and is all matured in ex-bourbon casks that are only ever used twice. This gives wonderful aromas and flavours of vanilla and honey to Glenmorangie’s light and delicate spirit. Add to that some lovely notes of green fruit, lemon zest and a pinch of baking spice and cocoa. One of the world’s classic single malts.

Balcones Baby Blue 
46% ABV, £80.
Balcones, the whisky distiller at the forefront of the fledgling Texas craft spirits movement, have a number of innovative whiskies in their portfolio. Almost the most unique of these is the Baby Blue. It was the first expression ever released by Balcones and is made from roasted blue corn.

The corn used in production gives the whisky a soft and slightly oily feel. This is accompanied by delicious aromas and flavours of toffee, butterscotch and vanilla, along with hints of cinnamon, almond and wood spice. This is the true taste of Texas that uses a special local ingredient. It is also perfect for the Dad that likes American whisky but wants to explore something different.

Ardbeg Kelpie 
46% ABV, £98.
For those Fathers that enjoy a smoky single malt, this limited edition from the cult Islay distillery of Ardbeg could be the answer. Just a few thousand bottles of this exist and it is a ‘must try’ for peaty whisky fans. Ardbeg, which has just celebrated its 200th anniversary, has a cult following of fans around the world.

The Kelpie, named after a mythical Gaelic beast that rises from the Atlantic Ocean, has been part-matured in Black Sea oak sourced from the Adyghe Republic in Russia. It offers a powerful hit of peppery acrid smoke that combines beautifully with honey, vanilla and hints of savoury notes such as tobacco leaf and leather.

Hennessy XO 
40% ABV, £140.
The famous Cognac house of Hennessy was the first to ever bottle a special XO (or Extra Old) expression in 1880 and they led the way for the luxury category that we know today. Now the 8th generation of the Fillioux family has crafted this gem using over 100 eaux de vies, some aged up to 40 years.

This exquisite Cognac has multiple layers of aroma and flavour, and the combination is very classy – sweet caramel, milk chocolate, dark dried fruits, delicate wood spices and toffee, plus hints of nuts and white pepper. Why not get your father to try the suggested serve for Hennessy XO – pour over some ice and it brings everything to a new level.

Review - Mackmyra 10 years old

This whisky is the first major release from the Swedish distillery of Mackmyra that carries an age statement. The Mackmyra 10 years old has been matured in a combination of ex-bourbon casks and new American oak casks that have previously held sherry. These have been stored 50 metres under ground in Mackmyra's unique Bodås warehouse at the distillery, which is the site of an old mine. There are just 20,000 bottles available of this release. Half are going to the Swedish market, with the remainder going to selected world markets including Belgium, France, Germany and the UK. It is bottled at 46.1% ABV and will cost £65 each.

Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (June 9, 2017)

Welcome to Inbox.  For those new to WFE, Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday.

Review - Glen Scotia 25 years old

This whisky is the new super premium bottling from the Campbeltown-based distillery of Glen Scotia. The Glen Scotia 25 years old is the oldest expression in the current single malt range from the distillery and was launched at the recent Campbeltown Festival. The core range also includes the Double Cask, 15 years old and Victoriana expressions. The whisky has been matured in American oak casks that were then hand selected by Michael Henry, the Master Blender of Glen Scotia, and then transferred to first fill ex-bourbon casks.  It has been bottled at 48.8% ABV and is available through selected specialist whisky retailers worldwide. A bottle should cost £250.

Review - The Feis Ile 2017 bottlings

For the last week, I have had the pleasure of being on Islay for my first taste of the annual Feis Ile festival. The festival is a celebration of the island's culture and music, but most importantly its whisky. Whisky is engrained in to Islay life and its distilleries are known the world over, mostly for their unique smoky and peaty flavours.

Every year at the festival each of the Islay's eight single malt distilleries have an open day. Part of this involves releasing a special limited edition bottling that are only available to those attending the distilleries during the festival.Demand is normally very high and sees whisky fans queuing up at distillery gates in the early hours of each morning to make sure they secure a bottle.