Whiskey

With the football season finished, vague signs of weather improvement and the longest day coming up (no really), our thoughts turn to picnics and, on a sporting front, to the summer of tennis and cricket ahead before the Premiership grinds … Continue reading >>

The Top Spirits List rates all HIGHLAND PARK 25 YEAR OLD IS THE ‘BEST SPIRIT IN THE WORLD’ Highland Park 25 year old, distributed by Maxxium UK, is the ‘Best Spirit in the World’* according to Paul Pacult’s Top Spirits List in the June 2013 edition of Spirit Journal. five star distillates from all spirits categories and Highland Park 25 year old is ranked number one on a list of 120 outstanding spirits from around the world. Highland Park Loki, the second limited edition bottling in the Valhalla collection, also features in the list at number 31. Highland Park has held the coveted title of Best Spirit in the World on three separate occasions. Gerry Tosh, Global Marketing Manager for Highland Park, said: “We are honoured to be named ‘Best Spirit in the World’ for the third time across our collection. We are delighted that our 25 Year old expression has secured this top spot and can share the accolade with Highland Park 18 year old which has held the title on two separate occasions. The Top Spirits list is widely regarded in the industry and to receive the top spot amongst such strong competition really is testament to the quality of Highland Park 25 Year Old. In Paul’s own words it has ‘ethereal quality’, and with the accolades being bestowed upon it this year, we would be hard pushed not to agree with that. We are also delighted that Loki, another great expression from Highland Park, ranks in the top 35. “At Highland Park we have an award winning reputation and we are proud to add this new title to our list of accolades, which shows we are consistently the best in the world at what we do.” This is the second major accolade for Highland Park 25 year old this year, as it was recently awarded the first ever 100-point score, along with the Chairman’s Trophy for Best of Category, at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. For more information on Highland Park, visit www.highlandpark.co.uk *Highland Park 25 Year Old is joint number one ‘Best Spirit in the World’; this is the first time ever that there has been a tie for the number one position in the World’s Top 120 Spirits. http://www.spiritjournal.com/tastenote.htm Notes: About Highland Park Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world. For over 200 years, the distillery has combined time old tradition and the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection. Its range of 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 30 and 40 year old single malts is consistently acclaimed by connoisseurs and experts. Highland Park has won a string of prestigious awards across its portfolio, most recently including category winner at the 2011 World Whisky Awards for its 25-year-old single malt and ‘Best Whisky in the World 2009’ for its 21-year-old expression in the World Whisky Awards, as well as four double gold awards in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2009. Highland Park 18 year old was named Best Spirit in the World by American drinks expert Paul Pacult in Top 115 Spirits, Spirit Journal 2009 and 2005. Five keystones contribute to making Highland Park: * Hand-turned malt adds to the deliciously succulent, balanced layers of aromatic character found in Highland Park * Aromatic peat gives a delectably seductive, luxuriant floral sweetness to Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky * Cool maturation enhances the smooth character of Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky * Sherry oak casks contribute to the distinctive richness and multi-dimensional complexity of Highland Park * Cask harmonization ensures consistency and balance in Highland Park

Kensington (KWM) Calgary Spring Whisky Festival 13th June, 2013 The Kensington Spring Whisky Festival is so popular that it’s sold out months in advance and a second ‘emergency’ mini Festival was scheduled the following week to deal with the extra demand. Whisky Intelligence was fortunate to be invited and flew to Calgary to attend the Thursday evening event. KWM is not a physically large store but its foot print on the Canadian whisky scene is far out strips its diminutive size. The whisky team is led by their in house ‘scotch guy’ Andrew Ferguson who has a passion for whisky that is infectious. KWM seeks out many varieties of whiskies and works relentlessly to expand their whisky selection, as an example their selection of Japanese whisky is showing rapid growth, many of which are exclusive to KWM. They also bottle around 6 to 8 single casks a year which are exclusive to the store and many customers are consulted in during the selection process which KWM describes as ‘whisky democracy’. They are run an astonishing array of tastings throughout the year and these tastings are jam packed with all types of highly sought after whiskies. Customers are kept up to date by Andrew’s popular and detailed Malt Messenger (which is often published on Whisky Intelligence). They are also the retail home of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in Alberta and they host the very popular 1st Friday Outtrun Tastings which have expanded to two events on the 1st Friday and then a third on the Saturday evenings, such is the demand for Society whiskies. The Festival is supported by local agents and their tables are arranged throughout the store and amongst the racks of wine and spirits. Most tables feature between 6 and 8 different whiskies from all over the world although the malts from Scotland predominate. The Festival lasts for 2 hours however WI was able to gain access 30 minutes prior to the opening; time spent in reconnaissance is seldom wasted! A count of the whiskies on offer topped out at 110 which is pretty amazing selection. W.I. sampled Glenglassaugh 26yo, Dalwhinnie 25yo, W&M Port Ellen 30yo, Hammer Head Czech whisky, two single 2005 casks exclusive to KWM which are due to arrive in a month or so, the new Macallan Ruby, SMWS Laphroaig 20yo 29.124, the very recently released Ardbog, Laphroaig 18 (a dram or two it must be confessed), Arran 16yo (again, a dram or two – a point not lost on the hyper observant lady behind the table), Tomatin 25, Tomatin 30yo, G&M 1979 Dallas Dhu and a 1980’s vintage G&M Glen Albyn. The W&M North British 50yo was also on offer however the pours were microscopic so it was impossible to achieve any sense of the whisky however the pours were adequate if one merely wanted to say they had tried a 50yo whisky; as a sales tool such a small pour was a failure. Naturally a purchase or two was made; a SMWS Laphroaig 29.124, a 16yo Isle of Arran (see, those extra pours did the trick), Ardbog and a Wilson & Morgan Port Ellen 30 Year (Exclusive to KWM, only 12 bottles of this whisky have been made available to Canada. From sherry butt 2031, distilled in 1982 and bottled in 2012 at 57.7%. This is one of just 420 bottles.) Enough is good as a feast as they say and soon time was up, the pourers were packed away and it was time to call it an evening for the following evening was the Ultimate Ardbeg Event…details to follow. If you plan on attending one of Kensington’s Whisky Festivals (held in the spring and the fall) then sign up for the Malt Messenger via their website (www.kensingtonwinemarket.com) and purchase your tickets early!

A note from our friends at Scotch Whisky Auctions; Hi folks. Due to essential building works we will be closed on Friday June 21 and Saturday June 22. No bottles will be accepted on those days and no collections will be possible. We apologise for any inconvenience. Kind regards from Glasgow The SWA Team

While the history of whisky is long and proud, with legend telling of Saint Patrick bringing the craft of distillation to Scotland, the history of the Quaich is no less long or illustrious.  The word Quaich comes from the gaelic “cuach” which means cup and they have been used for centuries to welcome or bid farewell to guests, or as a mark of comradeship or friendship. Sharing a dram of whisky from a Quaich has long been symbolic of binding people together in love, friendship or comradeship or to welcome or bid farewell to favoured guests. Today quaichs are often given as a gift to someone held dear. This two handled Scottish drinking cup may have originated with the practise of drinking whisky from a scallop shell and progressed to forming these shallow cups from wood, stone or horn. Over the years the cups became more elaborate and highly skilled craftsmen fashioned wooden quaichs with beautiful celtic designs. From the 17th century, as metals came to be more commonly used, quaichs have been made of  brass, pewter, silver or a combination of all three. The original outer shape was retained but the thick bases were thinned to reduce the the weight. Quaichs originated in the Highlands and weren’t used in Lowland Scotland until the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie when the quaich travelled south in the canteens of the Prince’s army. The quaichs of the army were reputed to have glass bottoms enabling the drinker to keep an eye on those around him; a sad reflection on treacherous times. Alex Scott & Co Ltd, a long established Aberdeen based company would like to offer you the chance to win a beautiful quaich so you may sup your dram in the traditional way and our gift set even provides a miniature of MacAllan Gold single malt whisky for the first filling. To enter simply email the answer to the following question along with your name and address to sales@kiltmakers.co.uk using the subject line Quaich Competition, and we will draw the winner, at random, from the correct answers. Closing date June 19th, 2013…….. Please don’t forget to title your email Quaich competition. What is the Centenary Quaich? Quaich which resides in the Scottish Parliament building and is used for ceremonial occasions. An international rugby union trophy contested annually by Ireland and Scotland. A annual flat race run at Ayr races each September with the Centenary Quaich also being the name of the trophy. A quaich presented to Queen Victoria by her loyal Scottish Subjects at the turn of the twentieth century. Terms and Conditions:-  The winner will be notified of their win by email and the prize sent by post. No further correspondence will entered into and the judges decisions are final. The prize cannot be substituted or exchanged for cash. The competition is open to all except employees or relatives of Alex Scott & Co (kiltmakers.co.uk) or employees and relatives of Red Evolution. Important – entries will only be accepted from those who are 18 years old or over. This contest will run until Wednesday June 19th, 2013.

UK vlogger Joe Ellis a.k.a Whisky Wednesday reviews the Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy Single Pot Still Whiskey http://youtu.be/HhoF0AM4Rgk http://Facebook.com/whiskytube http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

All Glenburgie 1966 is said to be good, some truly outstanding. Most of the legends are sherried, but the colour of this recent 46 years old bottling by Gordon & MacPhail doesn’t indicate heavy sherry, at least not the Glenfarclas or Macallan level. I was pleasantly surprised to see this was scheduled for the recent Fulldram Supertasting. Glenburgie 1966 (43%, Gordon & MacPhail 2012) Nose: juicy and fruity but quite delicate. Certainly not first fill sherry. Cut apples, apricots, red berries. A little mint and eucalyptus. Hints of pollen. Very subtle wax. All of these flavours are right up my alley, but on the whole it’s quite light and not very expressive. It gets better after fifteen minutes, but still. Some tea and nutmeg as well, precursors for an oaky palate? Mouth: yes and no. Lots of crystallized oranges. Peaches and berries again. Candied ginger and soft chilli. A little resin and some tannins indeed. All quite graceful though. Fades on smooth dark chocolate. Finish: long, with some lingering sweetness and spices. Hints of mint. Not the absolute stunner I was hoping for, but elegant and sophisticated whisky nonetheless. It held on by the skin of its teeth, let’s just hope they’re not planning to bottle casks like this as a 50 years old. Around € 300, still available in some places. Score: 90/100

  Ambivalence personified (#168. 64/100) *** Ever since I sampled Traveller’s Liquors 1-barrel expression, I’ve wanted to move up the chain – that rum, for its youth and antecedents, was a pleasure to drink, and I really appreciated its ten year old cousin, the excellent Don Omarios Vintage Rum. As with the latter, it was a bottle which “Rum [...]

An Alluring Soldier BELUGA Vodka is perhaps one of the most exclusive Vodka brands in the entire world. The Beluga line-up includes two Super-Premium Vodka brands (Beluga Russian Noble and the Beluga Transatlantic Racing Vodkas), as well as two Ultra-premium Brands (Beluga Gold Line and the Beluga Allure Vodkas). All of the Vodka is produced in a remote area of Siberia located in the town of Mariinsk which is situated in the Kemerovo Oblast of southwestern Siberia, where the West Siberian Plain meets the South Siberian Mountains. It was apparently constructed in this remote area for a very special reason, the Getreidemalz Siberian spring water which is pulled from an aquifer 250 meters below the ground. The special properties of this water (the aquifer contains quartz) are said to make it ideal for making vodka. I have been fortunate enough to have been given samples of all four of the Vodka brands for review upon my website, and today I have come to the final review for the Ultra-premium Beluga Allure Noble Russian Vodka. (Thanks to the assistance of Thirsty Cellar Imports, who are the local distributors of Beluga Noble Vodka, I was able to receive each sample in good order). You may click on the following link to read my latest review: Review: Beluga Allure Russian Vodka “… When I brought the spirit to my nose I had a hard time finding any aroma. I was hoping to catch a little wiff of maple syrup, but instead the air above the glass seemed to carry only a delicate hint of fresh bread. Perhaps there was also a vague sort of maltiness as well which gave the breezes above the glass a little sweetness …” As part of the review I have provided two cocktail suggestions, the Russian Soldier, and my new decadent cocktail, Fulfillment! Please enjoy my review! Tagged: Allure, Beluga Vodka, Cocktails, Fulfillment, Noble Vodka, Recipes, Russian Soldier, Ultra premium Vodka, Vodka, Vodka Review

This might look like Neil (top) and Joel (bottom), but really it's the movie poster. Honest.There are elements to writing where, sometimes, inspiration just doesn’t hit. Reporting fact, you can’t go too wrong: you already have a narrative of facts set out in front of you, the skill is ordering it for the reader, to make it make sense, even if there is no conclusion. With creative writing, you’re faced with a blank page and off you go. If there is nothing there, then there is little else you can do than wait. And wait. And wait some more.How does one get around this blank slate, this empty void, this deserted page? Well, if you’re the brilliant Coen brothers, the movie writers/makers/producers (and a second nod in as many weeks for one of the Coen brothers, Joel, who is also a writer on The Simpsons) then, when faced with this situation, you write a movie about it. Which is exactly what happened when, mid-way through writing their film Miller’s Crossing, the pair were hit with writers block. To clear the creative dam, they wrote Barton Fink, a story about a holywood scriptwriter inflicted with the same problem."We're only interested in one thing, Bart. Can you tell a story? Can you make us laugh? Can you make us cry? Can you make us want to break out in joyous song? Is that more than one thing? Okay!" – Jack Lipnick, Barton FinkOften, it can feel a little like this, when sitting down to write this blog. We’re lucky- we have facts we can report. But who wants a repetition of what’s written on the label of a bottle? If you want that, go and read the label on the bottle. We have tasting notes- that’s always a help. But writing the rest... that can be a real challenge at times. However, let’s face it, the best stories told are by the whiskies from the casks. Be they three years and a day old, or somewhere approaching four decades of age, these are the true story-tellers of the business; they’re the raconteurs who will leave you wanting more, posing questions and generally leaving you thinking that you’ve had a wonderful time. They are the true marketers, the true brand ambassadors, the stars of any tasting. Simple, yet complex at the same time, it is their richness of experience which you have paid for, their headline slot the turn for which you wait.The release of the new Balvenie Tun 1401 seems to have become an annual staple in the whisky calendar, and what a good thing that is. Not a duffer yet in the already eight strong line of releases, it started with just 300 bottles of the Batch 1 (now an true ‘investment grade’ whisky, whatever that means) which we reviewed here (even looking at each of the invidivual casks which went in to it) and this week saw the release of the latest batch.The Tun holds around 2000 litresand each batch is created my their Malt Master, David Stewart. As this is made up of 12 casks, the most yet (ranging from the 1970’s up to 1991), with three of the casks being European oak and the rest coming from America, it’s outturn is around 2500 bottles worldwide. The Balvenie – Tune 1401 – Batch 8 – 50.2% abv - £220 available hereNose: A big nose crammed with rich apricot jam, honey, freshly cut ginger, toffee, cinnamon and liquorice. It is a heavy nose; big and rich and befitting of a well aged whisky.Palate: Ginger cake, very rich and oily honey. Hints of Four Roses single barrel bourbon coming through (big red cherries and hot strawberry jam) with fresh vanilla pods. Some cinnamon.Finish: Toffee apples, spices and that honey note again.Overall: This is not a slugger of a dram. The Balvenie makes some very quaffable whiskies (their doublewood is a whisky you can pretty much throw the cork away on, and their new 15yo single barrel release, reviewed here, isn’t far behind) but this is a totally different beast: still very much The Balvenie, but it is big and rich and demands you take time over it. The sort of dram you want to take a lot of time over. It also develops well with water, so if you do get hold of