Inbox - December 20, 2013

Welcome to this week's Inbox.  For those that have recently discovered us, 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.

Inbox will take a short break over the festive period and will return on Friday 3 January 2014, news permitting.

Have just tried - Clynelish Distillers Edition

Clynelish (pronounced kline-leesh) is a distillery that is located in the town of Brora on the north eastern Highland coast. It is a modern distillery that was opened in 1967, however the history goes way back beyond that date. There has been a distillery in Brora since 1817 and this was also called Clynelish. The current distillery was built next to the old one and they were run simultaneously under the same name until the old one was closed in 1983.

Inbox > October 22, 2010

Inbox is a weekly round up of whisky news and PR type material that has found its way in to our email inbox. Sadly, we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece that we receive, so Inbox has been born! It will feature items from around the world of whisky and will be published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we will write a couple of lines about 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 grab a dram and we hope that you enjoy ...
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Amrut – Limited release announced
Amrut, the innovative Indian single malt whisky distiller from Bangalore, has released another limited edition – Amrut 100. This whisky has been matured in handmade 100 litre casks, bottled at 100 proof (57.1% ABV) and is presented in 100cl bottles. There will only be 100 numbered bottles rleased in to five specific markets (Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK). The 100 is a peaty expression of the award winning Amrut single malt.

Classic Malts – Claim Your Share promotion
The range of single malt whiskies promoted under the Classic Malts banner are offering Friends of the Classic Malts the opportunity to sample a free dram. The whiskies in the promotion are Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Singleton of Dufftown and Talisker. If you are not a Friend of the Classic Malts already, then you can join up at www.malts.com and take part. Being a Friend gets you various benefits such as regular product updates, offers and similar promotions. Hurry though as they only have 125,000 drams to give away!

Laphroaig – Triple Wood is back!
The famous Islay distillery has announced that a batch of 400 bottles of their limited edition Triple Wood expression has arrived at the distillery. Further stock has been distributed to various Duty Free/travel retail markets around the world. The Triple Wood is so named as it has been matured in three different types of casks – firstly in regular ex-bourbon, then in small quarter ex-bourbon casks and then in Oloroso sherry casks. All bottles are in the one litre size and can be ordered through the www.laphroaig.com website for £49.50. Duty Free prices around the world may vary.

Whyte & Mackay – Special promotion
Next time that you buy a regular bottle of Whyte & Mackay Special blended whisky, you may get more than you bargained for. The famous whisky company has filled 250 bottles, labeled as Special, with their award winning 30 years old blend to celebrate the launch of their new website. These 250 bottles have been randomly placed in cases of regular Special and have their true identity revealed inside the cap. The regular Special retails at around £15 a bottle, while the 30 years old is worth £150! The bottles could be anywhere in the UK, so good luck. Visit www.whyteandmackay.co.uk for further details.

Have just tried (Speyside edition) ... Cragganmore 12 years old

Cragganmore is a distillery that is located close to the village of Ballindalloch in the heart of Scotland's Speyside whisky region. The distillery was founded in 1869 by John Smith, who owned two other local distilleries - the now defunct Ballindalloch and Glenfarclas. It is currently owned by drinks giant Diageo and has an annual production capacity of 1.5 million litres. Cragganmore has long been sought after by blenders and today supplies large amounts of whisky for the hugely popular Old Parr and White Horse blends.

Cragganmore is best known as being the representative whisky of the Speyside region in Diageo's Classic Malts series. The series showcases six distilleries, one from each of Scotland's whisky producing regions, that Diageo feel best represent the classical flavours and style of whisky from each of those regions. The other five are Dalwhinnie (central Highlands), Glenkinchie (Lowlands), Lagavulin (Islay), Oban (west Highlands) and Talisker (Islands). Being part of the Classic Malt series has helped boost sales and awareness of Cragganmore, with approximately 350,000 bottles sold each year. The core range consists of this 12 years old and the more limited Distiller's Edition, which is part matured in Port casks. These are occasionally joined by older versions and independent bottlings are relatively hard to find.

The colour of this 12 years old is pale gold and the nose is soft and inviting. There is a subtle mixture of aromas - sweet vanilla, some honey, dried fruits (think of pears and apricots) and dried grasses. On the palate, this is velvety and smooth with some sweet vanilla and malty cereal grains up front and then the honey, dried pears, apricots and grassiness from the nose comes through. Other subtle notes are detectable, such as a nuttiness (imagine hazelnuts), a sweet buttery biscuit-like character that is reminiscent of shortbread and a hint of citrus (think of orange zest or oil especially). The finish is fairly short with a lovely buttery sweetness (imagine that shortbread again) and some creamy vanilla and oaky wood. This 12 years old is a lovely balanced whisky that combines all of the classical bourbon cask matured Speyside whisky characteristics. It is easy drinking and smooth and would be a perfect dram to offer a beginner or someone who thinks that they don't like whisky. This is not the most complex or over complicated whisky but that is what makes it good, enjoyable and popular. Cragganmore can be found in specialist whisky retailers and a bottle of 12 years old should cost £30-35.

In the whisky cupboard ... Lagavulin 16 years old

Lagavulin (pronounced lagga-voolin) is a distillery on the western Scottish island of Islay. The majority of distilleries on Islay produce rich, smoky and complex single malt whiskies and Lagavulin is renowned as giving some of the best examples of these. The distillery is located on the south eastern coast of the island and is very close neighbours with two other well known Islay distilleries - Ardbeg and Laphroaig. Lagavulin was founded in 1816 and currently has a production capacity of just under three million litres per year. They have unusual pear shaped stills and they believe that a combination of these stills, a slightly lower peating level in their malted barley and one of the longest spirit distillation times in Scotland, give Lagavulin its own unique character and quality.

Lagavulin release a very limited core range of three whiskies - a 12 years old cask strength, this 16 years old and a 'Distiller's Edition' (a special release that is finished in specially selected Pedro Ximenez sherry casks). This 16 years old forms part of the 'Classic Malts' series. Diageo, the current owners, have chosen one distillery from within their portfolio to represent each Scottish production region and highlight whiskies that typify the style of each of these six regions. Lagavulin is the 'Classic Malt' representative for Islay.

The colour is a gorgeous golden amber and the nose just blows your mind, making you want to try the whisky. It offers a sumptuous and complex mix of sweet peat smoke (think of dried earth and moss), a hint of woodiness, something meaty (think of old leather) and some dried fruit (imagine sultanas and a bit of candied peel). There is also some vanilla and a burnt, almost antiseptic quality (many people say lapsang souchong tea but it reminded me more of cloves). On the palate, this is creamy, smooth, rounded and full bodied. The initial massive blast of smokiness (cross between thick bonfire smoke with a meaty barbeque) then gives way to other flavours. There is a distinct herbal element (like dried grass or maybe moss again), some sweetness (a bit fruity but mostly vanilla I think), hints of something oily, a refreshing saltiness and a menthol quality. The finish is long and dry in comparison to the sweetness and saltiness elsewhere, with the powerful peaty smokiness (think of wood ash this time) dying away very very slowly, leaving you warm inside.

This is a truly fantastic example of a smoky Islay whisky. It is easy to see why it has such a following of whisky drinkers around the world and why Diageo chose Lagavulin to represent Islay in their 'Classic Malts' series. This 16 years old retails at around £40-45 and can be found in specialist retailers and some larger supermarkets. A true 'try before you die' single malt whisky and an essential addition to any whisky cabinet.

Have just tried ... Dalwhinnie 15 years old

Dalwhinnie is Scotland's highest malt whisky distillery and is also one of the remotest. It is located in the small village of Dalwhinnie in the central Highlands and stands at 326 metres (1070 feet) above sea level. The distillery was founded in 1897 by a trio of local businessmen and and many thought they were mad to choose the remote location in the Grampian mountains. Infact, they built Dalwhinnie at the crossroads of the two major trading routes in Scotland at that time - one running from Inverness to Edinburgh and the other running from Fort William to Aberdeen. The village grew up around the distillery and today attracts 25,000 visitors a year, despite its remoteness.

The current owners are Diageo, the global drinks company. They have placed Dalwhinnie in their 'Classic Malts' range, which showcases a definitive whisky from each of the whisky producing regions of Scotland. Dalwhinnie represents the central Highlands in the range and this has helped push the single malts in to the world's top 15 for sales, despite its small annual production of only one million litres a year. The core range reflects this and is limited to this 15 years old and a 'Distiller's Edition' which is 17 years old and has been matured in Oloroso sherry casks for the last two years.

The colour is golden and the nose is very promising and aromatic. It is packed with honey and vanilla with some sweet cereal grains coming through. On the palate, this is liquid gold - heaps of honey, a touch of something floral (think of heather), gorgeous vanilla, a hint of citrus (imagine orange and orange oil especially), something herbal (think of fresh green grass) and a lovely grainy maltiness. The finish is long and rounded with the sweet honey and vanilla becoming more sugary (imagine caramel) with just a hint of some heathery peat at the end. This is an extremely good dram that is sweet but without being over sweet and cloying in the mouth. It has a succulent yet refreshing quality that balances the sweetness and it would be a great whisky to have if you enjoy sweet dessert wines such as Sauternes or Tokaji. A bottle should cost around £30. I think Diageo were right - this really is a 'Classic Malt'. An excellent malt whisky.

Have just tried ... Lagavulin 1991 'Distiller's Edition'

Lagavulin is a distillery on the island of Islay and like the majority of distilleries on the island, Lagavulin produces smoky and complex whiskies. It is renowned within whisky circles as being one of the best examples of a smoky whisky. The distillery is located on the south coast of Islay, close to the town of Port Ellen, and was established in 1816. It is currently owned by drinks giant Diageo and is one of their smaller capacity distilleries, producing around two million litres of whisky per year. Lagavulin is released as a limited core range - a 12 years old at cask strength, a 16 years old and this Distiller's Edition. By doing this, they concentrate on what they do well and maintain their very high standards. the 16 years old is the Islay representative in Diageo's 'Classic Malts' series and is the most popular bottling from the distillery. It is the third highest selling smoky malt whisky behind the Laphroaig 10 years old and Bowmore 12 years old. This 'Distiller's Edition' is also released at 16 years of age but for the last two years it is matured in a Pedro Ximinez sherry cask.

The colour is a dark, golden amber and the nose is a complex mix of sweetness coming from the sherry influence and the peat. Pedro Ximinez is a very sweet, dark and thick sherry and this means that it is not overpowered by the intense, pungent smokiness of the Lagavulin spirit. On the palate this is liquid gold. The earthy and bonfire smoke hits you first but then the rich, sweet dried fruits (imagine raisins and candied citrus peel) come through. There is further sweetness that reminded me of molasses or treacle and also a slightly salty note (think of seaweed). The finish is long, rich, smoky and gorgeous with a slight dryness and bitterness (imagine iodine, a classic south Islay whisky characteristic). This is a great whisky and is richer and sweeter than the regular 16 years old bottling. It would be a very good after dinner whisky and would go well with a strong or blue cheese. The price is higher also, as Pedro Ximinez casks are very expensive to buy and as it is a limited release. It is available from specialist retailers only and should cost between £45-55.

Have just tried ... Glenkinchie 12 years old

Glenkinchie is the nearest distillery to Edinburgh. It is currently owned by multi national drinks company Diageo and is the lowland region's representitive in their 'Classic Malts' range. The distillery is located 15 miles from Scotland's capital city and it's visitor centre is one of the most visited. Glenkinchie has thrived while so many other lowland distilleries have been closed or mothballed, due mainly the proximity to Edinburgh and Diageo's involvement and promotions. Whilst, Glenkinchie is not one of the most well known distilleries in Scotland, the whisky produced there is held in high regard and some is used in the blending of Diageo's world famous Johnnie Walker range. The single malt range is small, consisting of a 10 years old, this 12 years old and a 'Distiller's Edition' that is finished in an Amontillado sherry cask. There is also a limited release of a 20 years old. Independent bottlings are very rare.

The colour is rich and golden and the nose is aromatic. The two prominent notes are something floral (like heather) and a toasted nuttiness (like almonds). These are joined by some vanilla and a citrus note (imagine lemon zest). On the palate, this is light, smooth and creamy. The vanilla and zestiness is present and these marry well with some gorgeous honey, brown sugar and heather notes. The feeling is buttery in the mouth and is heavier than most lowland whiskies that I have tasted to date. They are generally lighter and fresher than this. The finish is slightly dry and short with just a hint of aniseed at the end. This is an enjoyable whisky and would be good as an aperitif or to introduce someone to a good whisky. It should cost between £25-30 from all independent shops and some larger supermarkets.

Have just tried ... Cragganmore 1993 'Distiller's Edition'

The Cragganmore distillery is situated in the heart of the Speyside region, near to the village of Ballindalloch. It has a capacity of just over 1.5 million litres per year and was opened in 1869. Cragganmore is currently owned by multi national drinks company, Diageo and much of the whisky produced there is used in a number of Diageo's different blends. The Cragganmore single malts have a good reputation and there are two main distillery releases - the 12 years old, which is one of Diageo's six 'Classic Malts' representing Speyside in that collection and this 'Distiller's Edition'. Other bottlings are occasionally released and independent bottlings are fairly common. This 'Distiller's Edition' is bottled at 14 years old and is the regular 12 years old that has then been transferred into a Port wine cask and matured for a further two years.

The colour is dark and golden, like caramel and the nose is really good. It is rich with lots of fruit present (it reminded me of stewed fruits like figs, apples and prunes) plus dried fruit (imagine raisins and sultanas) and a hint of burnt sugar coming through. It also became more woody and herbal (grassy almost) with time. The taste was slightly disappointing following the promise of the nose, which was sweeter. Again, there are the dried and stewed fruits, the burnt sugar/ caramel and these are joined by alot of vanilla and fresher red fruit and grapes that must be coming from the influence of the port cask. Considering that this whisky is quite creamy and rich, the finish is quite short. The flavours are intense but disappear quite quickly and right at the end, it leaves you mouth feeling dry and something bitter comes through (similar to the woody, herbal element from the nose). This is a decent whisky and it is interesting to try different cask finishes and see how they influence the final product. It would be very good as an after dinner drink or as a replacement for dessert. This is a limited release and is available in specialist retailers only for between £35-40.

In the whisky cupboard ... Dalwhinnie 1990 'Distiller's Edition'

Dalwhinnie is one of the most remote distilleries in Scotland. Located at the furthest most south westerly point of the Speyside region in the middle of the Grampian mountains, it is commonly regarded as a Highland whisky rather than a Speyside. The distillery is owned by Diageo and forms part of their six 'Classic Malts' series and represents the Highlands region. It is Scotland’s highest operating distillery and the village of Dalwhinnie holds the enviable honour of having the coldest average annual temperature of anywhere in the mainland UK (a chilly 6 degrees centigrade!). Despite producing only 1 million litres of whisky per year, Dalwhinnie has climbed in to the top 15 for world single malt sales. There are two core bottlings, a 15 years old and this ‘Distiller’s Edition’ which is 17 years old and finished for the extra two years in an Oloroso sherry cask. Independent bottlings are pretty much non existent.

The colour of this is dark and golden with a hint of dusky red. It smells great on the nose with a blast of fruitiness (dried fruit like raisins and sultanas) marrying with rich honey and loads of heather (it is almost like being in the middle of the Highlands). On the palate, this is rich and full bodied, feeling thick in the mouth. There is a lot of sweetness and this comes from the mixture of sherry cask influence (that dried fruit again), some maltiness, something candied (like candied orange peel or marmalade) and a big dollop of honey. The finish is long, warm, rich and very enjoyable. This is a really superb whisky, although it is also one of the sweetest and richest that I have tasted to date so may not be to everyone’s taste. It is definitely more reminiscent of a Highland whisky than of a Speyside, which are normally lighter and fresher. We received this as a wedding present and would be very pleased to receive another bottle sometime. It is a limited release but is reasonably available, although the batches may be different, and retails between £35-40 depending on where you go.

Have just tried ... Oban 14 years old

Oban is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland having opened in 1794. It is also one of the smallest with production of only 650,000 litres per year. This is partly due to the restrictions of it's location. The distillery is situated in the heart of the town of Oban, on the west Highland coast, and is surrounded on all sides by other buildings which makes any expansion impossible. Despite this, Oban is in the world top 20 for single malt sales and is especially popular in America. This is due, in no small part, to owners Diageo selecting Oban to be the representative of the west Highlands region in it's 'Classic Malts' series. The small production volume dictates that the only bottlings are the 14 years old and a limited release 'Distiller's Edition' which is partly matured in Amontillado sherry casks. Independent bottlings are virtually impossible to find.

It is pale and golden in colour with a pleasant, light nose. There is a subtle blend of vanilla, honey, some dried fruit (imagine candied orange and lemon peel) and malted barley. The palate is again light and very smooth with all those elements from the nose present and mixing with some caramel, a small salty tang and maybe a hint of peat smoke. The caramel, vanilla and saltiness especially come through on the finish, which is light, short and pretty dry. This is a light and enjoyable whisky that is not particularly complex or challenging, but good and very easy drinking. I can see why this is popular and it would be very good as an aperitif, on a hot day or to have with seafood, as the slight saltiness would compliment that well. Retail price is around £35-£40 per bottle.

Have just tried ... Glenkinchie 20 years old

Glenkinchie can be found just 15 miles from Edinburgh and is one of only three distilleries currently in operation in the Lowlands region. Maybe it is this close proximity to Edinburgh and the resulting tourist trade that has allowed the distillery to survive, while so many others in the Lowlands have perished. It is owned by multi national drinks giant Diageo and is one of their 'Classic Malts'. Large amounts of Glenkinchie whisky also go into the blending of the world famous Johnnie Walker brand. This particular whisky is a limited release (only 5000 bottles) and is bottled at cask strength (58.4% ABV). It has been matured for the first 10 years in a bourbon cask and then for the next 10 years in a cask that has previously held a German brandy called Asbach.

The colour is deep gold and the intense nose is old, woody and slightly musty. The presence of the brandy is prominent with hints of fruit coming through (dried pears and apples). After five minutes or so, the nose opens up well to reveal more complexity of candied orange peel, caramel and something bitter like coffee beans. On the palate, it is full bodied, which is unusual for a Lowland whisky as they are normally very light and fresh. This one is creamy and sweet offering an obvious brandy influence mixed in with raisins, spices (cinnamon and nutmeg) and rich vanilla. There is a burn from the alcohol as the level is so high, so I would recommend adding water. Once I added a dash of water this becomes a very, very good whisky with the flavours and the level of alcohol becoming more balanced and it feels great in your mouth. The finish is reasonably long with just a hint of liquorice at the very end. This is a really good whisky that shows how a different cask, can influence and enhance the final product. The brandy influences are there but are not overpowering. The limited release, quality and age of this means that if you are lucky enough to get your hands on a bottle, then it will cost around £65.