Drink

Perhaps the saddest thing (in a vale of mirthful tears) about the ongoing Franschhoek Fiasco of the non-award of the Franschhoek Wine Writer’s Prize is the admission by Franschhoek Literary Festival strongly silent director Jenny Hobbs that when it comes to judges “no payment is involved. The judges are thanked for their work with the [...]

The Glenlivet has launched a "mystery malt" of their own. No age statement, no cask information, no tasting notes and a black bottle hiding the color of its contents. I wrote about the release here but I was also fortunate to participate in a Twitter Tasting of Alpha, this new mystery malt, with Ian Logan, International Brand Ambassador at Chivas Brothers and Guardian of Malt with The Glenlivet.Limited to 3350 bottles (50% Alc.) worldwide and retailing for £95 in the UK and $120 in the US the UK's 650 bottle allocation didn't hang around long. Given that The Glenlivet is the US's top selling whisky I don't expect the US allocation to be available for long, either.C: Light amberN: The fruit is to the front before leading into toasted marshmallows, lemon curd and vanilla custard with cotton candy (candy floss) and warm tropical fruits coming in behindP: Has the texture of maple syrup with notes of ripe pineapple, desiccated coconut, and lightly salted cashews - no hint of bitterness anywhereF: Finish is long and unctuous with lingering salt, barbecued pineapple, and melting toffee, some wood spice on the very tail end.In conclusion: This would be perfect over some vanilla ice-cream! I noticed that the longer I sat with the finish, the more wood spice I got. This little wrinkle does a nice job of complimenting this otherwise fruit bomb.Sincere thanks to AG and IL for the official sample.

Bowmore 11 yo 2001/2012 (53.6%, Maltbarn, sherry, 175 bottles) - Bowmore 12 yo 2001/2013 (52.9%, The Whisky Agency, Liquid Library, refill butt, 484 bottles) - Bowmore 14 yo 1998/2012 (50.9%, The Whisky Cask, bourbon barrel) - Bowmore 15 yo 1997/2013 (52.5%, The Whisky Agency, The Perfect Dram, barrel, 153 bottles) - Bowmore 17 yo 1996/2013 (52.7%, The Whisky Agency, hogshead, 307 bottles) - Bowmore 1995/2012 (58.9%, Malts of Scotland, sherry hogshead, cask #MoS 12057, 185 bottles) - Back Porch Blues

Curiously, maybe better known for their championing of Austrian grape varieties rather than our same old same olds.

From a 50 acre vineyard established in 2003. Winemaker Fiona Turner is a known entity in ‘quality’ NZ winemaking circles.

Please consider voting for steveheimoff.com for the Wine Blog Awards’ Best Overall Wine Blog. Voting is open until Friday. Thank you. * * * Trading down from Gucci to J. Crew may not seem like the toughest sacrifice in the world, but even the top 2 percent of upper-income Americans is “thinking twice” about spending their money on über-expensive goods, says Bloomberg News. “These ‘2-percenters,’ unnerved by the most recent recession, are trading down to less-expensive” apparel and other items, the article says. It quotes the president of a luxury research firm: “The rich have lost their exuberance.” Of course, “a small cadre of ultra-high net-worth individuals…is insulated and not cutting back,” but unless you’re in the yacht business, you’re not really concerned about these 1 percent of the 1 percent. The article names names: On “the way down” in clothing and accessories are Prada, Armani, Gucci, Hermes and Gianni Versace. On “the way up” are Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Banana Republic and Urban Outfitters. In other words, brands that offer cachet and style, without the high price. So the HENRYs (“high earner not rich yet”) are scaling back. What does it mean for luxury wine brands, particularly California Cabernet Sauvignons that have hit triple digits? Unless you’re the owner or the winery’s banker, you can’t really know what the bottom line is. Is Screaming Eagle hurting? Harlan? How about Bryant, Colgin, Dalla Valle, Schrader, Abreu, Sloan? If these are the Armanis and Guccis of wine, then we have to expect that things are not quite as solid as they were pre-2008. The HENRYs are “thinking twice” about spending their hard-earned cash on them, and there’s no indication they’re going to return to their free-spending ways anytime soon. Nor are there enough “ultra-high net-worth individuals” to absorb all of these expensive wines. I have to believe, based on what I’ve seen and heard, that the cults are hurting–although some of their owners are so rich that they can afford to ride out what they hope is a relatively brief soft period following the Great Recession. What are the alternatives to the cults–the winery equivalents of the Banana Republics and J. Crews of California that the 2 percenters are turning to? Here’s my list of Cabernet Sauvignon producers whose wines are pretty much near as good as anything from the cults, but whose prices are more aligned with reality: Stonestreet, Von Strasser, Vine Cliff, Goldschmidt, Krutz, Hall, Sequoia Grove, Duckhorn, Conn Creek, Kendall-Jackson Highlands Estates, Long Meadow Ranch, Piña, Macauley, Stephen & Walker, Kuleto, Yates Family, Renteria, Creo, Snowden, Laird, Moone-Tsai, Hunnicutt, St. Supery, La Jota, Frank Family, Prime, Rubicon Cask Cabernet, Signorello, Trinchero, Stag’s Leap Artemis, Monticello, Charnu, KaDieM, Venge, Terra Valentine and Hidden Ridge. I’ve given scores of 95 points or higher in Wine Enthusiast to bottlings from each of them over the past few years, and none costs more than $90 retail.

ARDBEG UNEARTHS ITS LATEST LIMITED EDITION Ardbeg, the world’s smokiest, peatiest award winning whisky is set to launch its latest limited edition called Ardbog, on ‘Ardbog Day’ – 1st June and will be available exclusively at New Zealand Ardbeg embassies. To be the first in the country to enjoy a wee dram of the 2013 Ardbog Limited Edition, whisky connoisseurs can either head to Whisky Galore in Christchurch or Sam Snead’s House of Whiskey in Auckland on 1st June where Ardbog will launch for sale. These Ardbeg Embassies will also host special tastings during Ardbog Day as well as some peaty instore events to celebrate the worldwide launch. Rai Banbury, senior brands manager, says, “The Islay Ardbeg Festival has become a key date in the calendar of malt whisky lovers worldwide. Every year Ardbeg creates a unique and fun way for our Ardbeg fans to celebrate Ardbeg and the much anticipated limited edition release.” The name Ardbog was chosen to highlight the peat bogs of Ardbeg’s island home Islay and the part they play in the whisky making process. The unique peat bogs contain highly aromatic plants that when used to dry malted barley gives Ardbeg whiskies their distinctive smoky flavour. Ardbog has deep, enticing waves of pecan nuts, salty toffee & caramels, fudge, leather and a distinct whiff of herbs, lavender and violets. The smoke is soft and aromatic, and is interwoven with savoury notes, like Iberico ham (de bellota) and olives. The release of Ardbog follows the highly acclaimed Ardbeg Galileo, awarded as the World’s Best Single Malt at the World Whisky Awards earlier this year. To find out more about ARDBOG Day and becoming a committee member, visit http://www.ardbeg.com/ardbeg/members/public/index/register. Notes NZ Ardbog Day Events on Saturday 1st June: • Whisky Galore, 66 Victoria Street, Central City, Christchurch. 11-5pm • House of Whiskey, 50 Courthouse Lane, Auckland, CBD. 11-5pm Tasting Notes: Colour Deep ochre Aroma Deep, enticing waves of pecan nuts, salty toffee & caramels combine with fudge, leather and with a distinct whiff of herbs, lavender and violets. The smoke is soft and aromatic and is interwoven with salty, savoury notes, such as berico ham and olives. The addition of water brings forth herbal, perfumed notes, smoked rhubarb, aged balsamic vinegar and some salty, ‘graphite’ notes reminding you of the Manzanilla cask element. Taste/Texture A full, oily/tingly mouth feel leads into a powerful, salty, savoury burst of flavours including salted cashews and peanuts, clove, aniseed flavoured toffee, green olives and a curious hint of anchovy. A long, lingering aftertaste, in which the classic Ardbeg sweetness (like a hint of maple syrup) is kept in check by oak tannins, clove and coffee grounds. RRP $160 About Ardbeg: Ardbeg prides itself on being the ‘Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky’. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by whisky connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite this, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.

Jura Launches Travel Retail Exclusive Jura distillery has released a new expression – Turas-Mara – for sale exclusively through travel retail. Gaelic for long journey, Turas-Mara is inspired by the travels of the many Diurachs who were forced to emigrate during the 18th and 19th centuries, in what became known as “The Clearances”, to countries including the US and Canada. Turas-Mara is an expression that honours those who carried Jura in their hearts, as they travelled and migrated across the globe. Jura Turas-Mara allows travellers to experience a little bit of Jura as they embark on their own journeys. Each pack is adorned with a compass to help steer the traveller home, and a poem written by a former resident of Jura, Jessie Scott. Jessie lived on the island during the 19th century and witnessed many of its inhabitants depart Jura by boat for the shores of North America. The poem is an ode to her homeland and has been immortalised on a plaque which currently stands on Jura’s Corran Sands beach. Jura Turas-Mara is bottled at 42% ABV and available to buy in selected travel retail stores throughout 2013, with a RSP of £40 or €50. Jura Distillery Manager, Willie Cochrane said: “The spirit of travel is reflected in this whisky as it takes its unique and exotic flavour from casks sourced from America, Spain, France and Portugal. Its fleshy notes of vanilla and toffee and black cherries on the palate will make duty free travellers long to visit our wonderful island.” Francesco Scaglione, Whyte & Mackay Travel Retail Director commented: “For a whisky inspired by those Diurachs who set off around the globe, it’s fitting that this expression will only be available for sale through selected travel retail outlets. Over the past five years, the brand’s sales within this channel have grown more than any other top single malt, and this year we aim to build on that momentum and continue to work closely with our partners to create innovative brand exclusives.” Taste Notes Colour: Velvet Mahogany Nose: Vanilla, coconut and sweet toffee Taste: Honeyed vanilla, succulent black cherries, fleshy grape pulp and juicy raisins About Jura Off the west coast of Scotland lies one of nature’s best kept secrets, the Isle of Jura. Populated by a community of less than 200, known as Diurachs (the Gaelic name for the people of Jura), the island is home to Jura distillery and an award-winning range of single malt whiskies. There are four classic bottlings in the Jura Collection, each with their own distinctive flavour profiles: the light and delicate Origin 10; the rich and full bodied Diurachs’ Own 16 year old; and Superstition and Prophecy, which are lightly and heavily peated respectively. Jura whisky, as we know it today, was born in the late 1950s when two local estate owners – Robin Fletcher and Tony Riley-Smith – took the bold decision to rebuild the Jura distillery following decades of neglect, employing architect William Delme-Evans. By 1963 their work was complete, providing much needed economic support for an isolated island community. The story of the distillery’s rebirth is one of many that define the unique character of Jura, the islanders and their whisky. From the Writers’ Retreat to the annual Music and Whisky Festivals, Jura continues to generate stories worth telling. www.jurawhisky.com

Ladies only Balvenie Whisky Tasting with Alwynne Gwilt (Miss Whisky) – Thursday 6th June – Delightful Drams & Delicious Nibbles! Just a quick reminder that on Thursday 6th June we are holding our next Ladies only whisky tasting.  Alwynne Gwilt is a lady who has a real passion for whisky and through her website (misswhisky.com) is helping to spread the word that whisky is as much a drink for women as it is for men so we’re delighted that she will be joining us to present some of the delicious honeyed drams from the Balvenie distillery on Speyside, and to give us a unique perspective on the whisky world. We will be starting with a whisky cocktail then move through a selection of drams that will include such luscious lovelies as the new Single Barrel 12 year old and (perfect for a summer’s evening) the Caribbean Cask 14 year old. Along with the whiskies we will be tasting some dainty nibbles specially selected by Alwynne to enhance the flavours of each dram so the evening has all the perfect ingredients for a great girls night out with a difference. Come by yourself (we’re a really friendly bunch of ladies) or get some friends together and join us.  See below for all the details and if you have any queries just contact us Sláinte! Fran Arkwrights Whisky and Wines Ladies only Balvenie Whisky Tasting with Alwynne Gwilt Date Thursday 6th June 2013 Time 7pm for 7.30pm Venue Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren SN6 7SD Details Balvenie is still a family owned distillery, having been established in 1892 by William Grant. It retains it’s own maltings and cooperage, and production of its smooth, rich whiskies is overseen by David Stewart, who has over 50 years of experience. Excellent use of different cask types produce some delicious variations in the range and the whiskies that have been selected for the night will give you the chance to find your own particular favourite(s). Tickets are £13.50 per person, and this also entitles you to a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting. Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and as these tastings sell out very quickly it is best to book ASAP. To buy tickets just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com  and place an order for the number you require. Admission to the tasting is by ticket only, and the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared. N.B. We have negotiated special rates at the hotel for anyone who wants to stay overnight after the tasting – click here for further details.

anCnoc builds on Peter Arkle partnership Once-in-a-lifetime competition launched to celebrate latest release anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has unveiled its third Limited Edition Peter Arkle release. The striking and distinctive packaging from the New York-based Scottish artist takes its inspiration from the thick, brick walls of anCnoc’s Knockdhu Distillery’s dunnage warehouses. Internationally-acclaimed illustrator Peter Arkle said: “I have loved working with anCnoc and am very proud of our latest limited edition. The distillery at Knock is such a great place and I had a fantastic time visiting there. This particular illustration for me really shows a complex thought in a very simple way. On one hand it’s just a drawing of the bricks that make up the walls of the distillery and the warehouses with a yellow sign stuck on. But, on the other hand, those bricks are so old and so soaked with the essences of anCnoc –absorbed over the years – that they are not just any old bricks. They are bricks with real character and history. And the sign is there to remind people that anCnoc is not something you can take for granted. One must handle something remarkable with care.” The liquid has anCnoc’s signature honey and lemon notes and has a spicy taste with notes of citrus, sherry and dark chocolate. Strictly limited to only 1000 cases, this Limited Edition will be available online and through specialist retailers in the UK as well as across the globe in the USA, Germany, Russia, Japan, Taiwan and Canada. To mark this unique collaboration, anCnoc is offering 10 fans the chance to win a personally illustrated bottle of anCnoc in a Twitter contest. By Tweeting in a picture of how they enjoy their whisky, 10 of the entries will be chosen by Peter and hand-drawn before being transposed onto a label and tube of anCnoc. Gillian Gibson, Brand Manager for anCnoc, said: “anCnoc has long had a close relationship with visual art and we are delighted to not only be continuing with this fantastic series with Peter which we are sure will become instant collectors’ items like its predecessors, but that we can also offer truly personalised art with a mighty fine dram with our #youranCnoc campaign.” The campaign, called #youranCnoc, will go live on June 17th when people all over the world will have a single day to Tweet in their perfect way to enjoy a dram of anCnoc – whether that be at the beach, by a roaring fire with a dog or looking at the countryside from their window. One of the 10 winners will be flown to New York to meet Peter and be presented with their personalised bottle. Peter added: “I have been so inspired designing for anCnoc and I’m really excited for people to get the chance to be inspired themselves and have their own personal anCnoc moment immortalised onto their very own bottle. It’s such a fun opportunity.” For more information on the anCnoc range or the #youranCnoc campaign please visit www.anCnoc.com