Within Inbox we 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. So what has grabbed our attention this week? Find out below ...
Friday, August 31, 2012
Inbox - August 31, 2012
Within Inbox we 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. So what has grabbed our attention this week? Find out below ...
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society app
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Diageo Special Releases 2012
Friday, August 24, 2012
Inbox - August 24, 2012
Within Inbox we 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. So what has grabbed our attention this week? Find out below ...
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The award winning Islay distillery has announced the forthcoming release of a new expression. A new Ardbeg is always one of the most highly anticipated new releases in the 'whisky calendar' and the Galileo (named after the famous astronomer) is no different. As ever, it is expected to sell out very quickly, with some retailers reporting that their pre-ordered stock has already been allocated to customers.
The whisky used in the Ardbeg Galileo was distilled in 1999 and it was bottled recently at 13 years of age. The final whisky is a mix of casks, combining first fill ex-bourbon casks with some ex-Marsala casks from Sicily. It has been bottled at 49% ABV, is non chill-filtered and will retail around the £70 mark. It should be available from September 1 in the UK, Europe and selected Asian markets. There will also be plenty of supporting activity for the launch on the Ardbeg website and a special Galileo Facebook page - keep any eye on these for further details.
Our fellow London whisky bloggers and good friends Neil and Joel of CaskStrength have announced their second single malt release. Their aim is to work through the alphabet and release series of whiskies with one distillery from each letter. Roughly this time last year, they released a very limited Arran and now they have moved on to Benriach for the second bottling.
They have selected a single cask which was distilled at Benriach in 1996 and was initially filled to an ex-bourbon hogshead. In 2008 it was transferred to an ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry cask and it has spent the last four year maturing in that. There are just 296 bottles and it has been bottled at the natural cask strength of 55.2% ABV. The bottling is being sold via online retailer Master of Malt for a price of £54.95. Rumour has it that it is selling fast, so if you fancy a bottle then don't hang around - click here to buy.
The popular blended whisky has broken the world record for the largest bottle of whisky. The 228 litre bottle of The Famous Grouse was filled in front of Guinness World Record adjudicator Jack Brockbank and an assembled crowd of VIPs and fans at The Famous Grouse Experience on 12 August. The Experience is located at the Glenturret distillery in the Highlands and has been celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
The record beats that previously held by Jack Daniels of 184 litres. The Famous Grouse record breaking bottle holds a staggering 9,120 pub measures of whisky and took three hours to fill. The hand blown bottle (pictured, above) was made by Czech glass manufacturer Bomma and stands an impressive 1.75 metres tall. The bottle will stay at the distillery and be on permanent display to those visiting The Famous Grouse Experience.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
New release - Benriach 17 years old Virgin American Oak Finish
In a unique twist, the final whisky was chosen by a selected group of The Whisky Shop's customers in the form of a panel of W Club members (the W Club is The Whisky Shop's own private members club for customers). To join or for details on how to join, visit one of their 21 stores or www.thewclub.co.uk. It has been at the natural cask strength of 53.1% ABV and is retailing in The Whisky Shop's stores or via www.whiskyshop.com for £73.99.
Benriach is a small independently owned distillery which is located in the Speyside region of Scotland, just to the south of the city of Elgin. It was founded in 1897 by John Duff & Co, who built it to help with production at the adjacent Longmorn distillery. They named it (rather unimaginatively) Longmorn 2. The distillery is currently owned by the Benriach Distillery Company, who took control from previous owners Pernod Ricard in 2004. The distillery had been closed for a few years but the company invested heavily and the Benriach single malt brand has since gone from strength to strength, winning countless awards. The annual production capacity is approximately 1.8 million litres.
Our tasting notes
The colour is a vibrant golden yellow and the nose is immediately intense and spicy. There are powerful aromas of vanilla, freshly sawn oak, coconut oil, burnt brown sugar and plenty of wood spices (think of cinnamon bark, nutmeg and cedarwood). Underneath are softer aromas of honey, stewed apple, toffee, toasted almonds and a whiff of spiced orange. It is very oaky and has a bourbon-like quality.
On the palate, this whisky is equally as intense as on the nose. The drying wood spices instantly grip the taste buds and hang on - think again of coconut, cinnamon and nutmeg. Other notes start to penetrate and add some sweetness and balance. These include a lovely honey-like characteristic, which is joined by further notes of vanilla, crumbly brown sugar and a hint of tangy spiced orange zest. With time the apple note from the nose can be detected, although now it is more reminiscent of dried apple. The finish is long, intense and drying with plenty of the woody notes and accompanying spices on show. This gives the whisky a mouth watering quality with some creamed coconut, honey and that hint of orange coming through right at the end.
With a few drops of water, the whisky instantly feels creamier, softer and rounder in the mouth. The intense spices are dampened and the other notes are allowed to flourish, while maintaining their own intensity. An interesting floral note is also detected - imagine something like honeysuckle.
What's the verdict?
This whisky is very interesting but throws up some challenges. The intensity is clearly driven by the combination of the virgin oak casks and the high alcohol strength. This will mean that it may not be to everyone's taste. However with water it becomes more approachable and has greater balance, as some of the subtle aromas and flavours are allowed to shine. We would recommend adding water and it can take quite a lot, while still maintain its intensity and interest.
We also like the idea of allowing customers/whisky enthusiasts to select a whisky for release - naturally this is potentially fraught with danger or problems for the retailer, but the panel have not made a bad start with this Benriach. We look forward to the next such release from them ...
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Have just tried - Grand Old Parr 12 years old
Monday, August 20, 2012
New release - Macallan Diamond Jubilee Edition
Macallan is one of the most well known names in the Scotch whisky industry and their single malts have many fans around the world. The distillery was founded in 1824 by Alexander Reid and was originally called the Elchies distillery. It did not become known as Macallan until 1892 and is located in the heart of the Speyside region of Scotland, close to the village of Craigellachie and overlooking the River Spey. Macallan is currently owned by the Edrington Group and is one of the largest distilleries in Scotland with an annual production capacity of eight million litres.
The Diamond Jubilee Edition is bottled at 52% ABV (to commemorate 1952, the year of the Queen's accension to the throne) and there are just 2,012 bottles. It has been produced using a marriage of ex-sherry casks which were hand selected by Macallan's Head Whisky Maker Bob Dalgarno. The whisky is presented in a bespoke purple package, which has been designed by art director David Holmes. It includes a ceramic brooch showing a retro design of the Queen's head, which was designed by Arnold Machin, which was later used on postage stamps by the Royal Mail. Each bottle will cost £350.
Our tasting notes
The colour is a dark golden amber and the nose is packed with rich, sweet aromas - caramel, butterscotch, dark brown sugar, dried fruits (especially raisins, sultanas and candied orange peel), malted cereals, plus whiffs of vanilla and dark chocolate. It is a very promising start and one that makes you want to take a sip.
On the palate this immediately feels a bit prickly due to the high(ish) alcohol strength. Once the taste buds get used to that feeling, the 'prickle' subsides and the characteristics begin to reveal themselves in layers. First come some lovely notes of butterscotch, vanilla and chocolate, which are followed by some dark dried fruits (the raisins and sultanas again) and toasted almonds, plus an increasingly prominent note of candied orange peel/zest. As things progress the sweeter notes begin to be taken over by some drier and spicier elements, which create a good balance. These elements include notes of coffee granules, bittersweet cereals and wood spices, like cinnamon and nutmeg.
The finish is long, warm and intense with the lovely balance of sweet and spicy notes that combined so well on the palate, particularly the butterscotch, chocolate, cereals and zesty oranges. A dash of water livens up this whisky even more - the 'prickle' of the nose and early palate is dampened and the orange and coffee notes are heightened and come to the fore.
What's the verdict?
This is exceptionally good stuff. The expertise and sympathetic use of the ex-sherry casks are evident and the whisky has a wonderful depth and complexity. It is a whisky that is great taken neat, but it really comes alive when a few drops of water is added. There is a lovely juiciness that develops and this only adds to the complexity.
There seems to have been numerous Diamond Jubilee whisky releases in the last few months, but this has to be the best to date. The price tag (£350) is higher than most of the other releases and may put many off purchasing this. However, we would urge anyone that has that sort of money to get a bottle of this, especially if you enjoy your whiskies on the richer and sweeter side.
Friday, August 17, 2012
Inbox - August 17, 2012
Within Inbox we 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. So what has grabbed our attention this week? Find out below ...
________
The award winning independent Isle of Arran distillery have appointed their latest 'Ambassador of Arran'. Keiko Manni (pictured, left) from Japan has been appointed to help drive sales of Arran single malts in the country. Manni is the Spirits Buying Leader for Isetan, a prestigious department store in Tokyo, and has helped establish the brand and increase sales significantly during the last five years in Japan.
Manni was awarded her 'Ambassador of Arran' title during a recent trip to the distillery. She was accompanied on the trip by Sueko Yamada, a colleague at Isetan. During their visit, they selected a single cask to be sold exclusively in Japan through Isetan. With the help of Arran's Master Distiller James McTaggart and Senior Brand manager Louisa Young, they selected an ex-bourbon cask which was distilled in 2001.
Louisa Young, the Senior Brand Manager at Isle of Arran Distillers said, “Our export sales to Asia are significant and Japan is a key market for us. Keiko has long been a champion of our wonderful range of single malts, so we were delighted to host them as our guests on this trip organised by our Japanese distributor Whisk-e. It is great to see that the role of females within in the whisky industry has increased on a global level and they are more than making their mark in highly regarded, influential positions.”
The owners of the multi-award winning Kilbeggan and Cooley Irish whiskey distilleries, Beam Golbal, has hired five Irish graduates to promote its Irish whiskey brands in the USA. The graduates - Emily Duffy from Limerick, Joanne Ryan from Waterford and Ruth Dunne, Michael Egan and Jennifer Graham (all from Dublin) - will each be based in one of five US cities - Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco.
The graduates have been immersed in all aspects of Irish whiskey during a training session at the Kilbeggan distillery and tutored on how to market Irish whiskey to an overseas audience. They will work with the Kilbeggan distilling team on every aspect of whiskey production from distillation to maturation and received a whiskey master class from Beam’s Irish Whiskey Global Brand Ambassador John Cashman.
Beam’s Senior Global Marketing Manager for Irish Whiskey, Stephen Teeling, commented, “These talented graduates will be supported by Beam’s US marketing and distribution infrastructure as they promote our portfolio of Irish whiskeys in five major cities in the US. This program has huge potential for producing highly skilled people, who possess the talent and ability to successfully market Irish products overseas. There is scope to roll this program out across Europe and in other international markets.”
The popular Chivas Regal blended whisky brand has announced a new annual collaboration programme and details of the first participant. The scheme will see the Chivas Regal 12 years old expression presented in uniquely designed packaging by a series of modern craftsmen. The first edition is called Made For Gentlemen and has been designed by leading footwear designer Tim Little, the Creative Director and owner of iconic luxury British shoe brand Grenson.
Little's packaging features a deconstruction of the pattern pieces of leather needed to make a classic brogue style of shoe and will be available to buy from selected retailers from the beginning of September. The Chivas Regal 12 years old Made For Gentlemen will retail for a special price of £25.39. For further information, visit the Chivas UK Facebook page.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
New release - Bowmore 1985 Vintage
Well, shortly after that a small sample of the 1985 Vintage popped through our letterbox. The whisky has been created by combining an ex-sherry and an ex-bourbon casks, both distilled and casked in 1985. It has also been released at the natural cask strength of 52.3% ABV and is limited to just 727 bottles with a recommended retail price of £300. This release is presented in the regular Bowmore bottle but with an accompanying wooden casket which includes features such as a leather strap with a copper buckle and a certificate signed by Eddie MacAffer.
The Bowmore distillery is located on the famous whisky making island of Islay (pronounced eye-la), which lies off the west coast of Scotland. It is the oldest distillery on the island, having been founded in 1779 by John Simpson. This also makes it one of the oldest distilleries in the whole of Scotland. Bowmore is currently owned by Morrison Bowmore, who have been in control since 1963. They are a subsidiary of the larger Suntory drinks company from Japan, who acquired Morrison Bowmore in 1989. The core range of Bowmore single malts is extensive and the annual production capacity of the distillery is two million litres.
Our tasting notes
The colour is a vibrant golden yellow and the nose exhibits some very promising initial aromas. There is a wonderful combination of sweet vanilla, icing sugar and honey, delicate fresh fruits (think of pear, apple and a hint of peach) and soft peat smoke (imagine dry dusty earth and grass). With time a distinct aroma of parma violet sweets comes through, as does a hint of coal tar soap and salty brine.
On the palate, this whisky feels superb and mouth coating. It feels opulent and has a vibrant edge. The fresh fruit notes from the nose are immediately evident, especially the green pear and apple ones. These combine well with some notes of soft brown sugar, sweet runny honey and plenty of vanilla, which particularly enhances the soft creamy feeling on the palate. The distinctive note of parma violet sweets is there and again increases with time - this particular note is a characteristic almost unique to Bowmore whiskies above a certain age. The soft, earthy peat smoke is the last thing to reveal itself and has a pleasant hint of bitterness to it. There is also the tiniest hint of salty tang right at the end.
The smokiness may appear towards the end of the palate but it is during the finish that it really comes alive, outlasting nearly everything else. The sweeter and the fruity elements lead the way, but as they fade the smokiness shines through wonderfully and extends the drinking experience beyond expectations.
What's the verdict?
The Bowmore 1985 Vintage is an excellent whisky and one that maintains the award winning high standards of the previous releases in this series. The 1980s were clearly a good decade at Bowmore! The nose is gorgeous and highly perfumed, the palate delivers what the nose builds up and more, while the finish is deliciously long with the smokiness coming to the fore. It is a whisky that reminds us why Bowmore is one of our favourite distilleries. We would say that it is worth every penny of £300 for a bottle of whisky of this undoubted quality ... now we just have to start saving up!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Have just tried - Blair Athol 12 years old
Blair Athol is located next to Blair Castle, which is home to the current 11th Duke of Atholl and is the most visited private residence in the UK. Interestingly, the Duke has his own army called the Atholl Highlanders and they are the last remaining private army in Europe. The distillery is regarded as 'the spiritual home' of the Bell's blended whisky, which is one of the UK's top sellers. The whisky produced their has been an important component of the blend since 1933 when Arthur Bell & Sons took over. This fact is reflected at the distillery which is home to the Bell's Visitor Centre and opened in 1987.
The current owners are Diageo and they continue to use Blair Athol whisky heavily in the Bell's blend. The current production capacity is 2.5 million litres per year and as a result of demand for blending, only one single malt is consistently released - this 12 years old. This whisky forms part of a larger range called Flora & Fauna, which showcases some of Diageo's lesser known or closed distilleries, and all are released in relatively small quantities each year. This Blair Athol 12 years old is bottled at 43% ABV and should cost around the £40 mark from specialist retailers.
Our tasting notes
The colour is golden yellow with a hint of amber and the nose is rich with two obvious initial aromas - orange and malty cereals. The orange aroma has a zesty edge, while the malty cereal grains hint at a bittersweet character. Other aromas come through to offer some much needed sweetness, especially some lovely vanilla, honey, caramel and soft dried fruits (think of sultanas, raisins and apple). There is also a pinch of cinnamon-like spice in there too.
On the palate this feels rich and viscous, and has a slightly oily feeling. The zesty orange note (think more spiced orange now) and bittersweet malty cereals dominate again initially, perhaps even more so than on the nose. Both notes contribute to a mouth watering feeling as the whisky grips the taste buds. Underneath are further sweeter flavours which come through to balance this zesty, bittersweet edge. These notes include the rich caramel, honey and soft dried fruits from the nose, plus some further fruitiness which has a stewed element to it - imagine stewed apples and pears with a good dose of cinnamon and nutmeg.
The finish is almost the reverse of the nose and palate experiences - it begins sweetly with the dried fruit and caramel prominent, before the spiced zesty orange and malty cereal notes return with a vengeance to give a pleasant dryness towards the end. This drying quality is heightened by further cinnamon and nutmeg spice, plus a hint of dusty earthiness.
What's the verdict?
We always enjoy sampling whiskies from distilleries that we have never had, or rarely had, anything from. In the past, we have only ever tried a couple of independent bottlings. It is always good to try the distillery bottling, as this is essentially what the people that make it think that it should taste like.
The Blair Athol is an interesting single malt, although one which is not particularly complex. The prominent bittersweet orange and cereal notes were enjoyable to us, but may not be to everyone's taste. As with anything, it is always worth trying something new and we can now tick another distillery off our ever dwindling list of distilleries that we have not tasted.
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