Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Marcus Foster, The Staves, General Fiasco and David C Clements Join the Line Up for ‘Bushmills Live’

Bushmills Irish Whiskey has announced that Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Marcus Foster, The Staves, General Fiasco and David C Clements will join Snow Patrol, Foy Vance, Iain Archer and Elijah Wood on the bill for ‘Bushmills Live’, the handcrafted whiskey and music festival taking place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on 20^th and 21^st June.

The exciting line up brings together some of the best emerging talent from the UK, Ireland and America to play at the whiskey distillery located on Ireland’s north coast.  

Singer-songwriters Marcus Foster and Benjamin Francis Leftwich are two of the most exciting UK based performers today. The Staves are a sisterly trio, who have received huge critical acclaim for their unique song-writing and mesmerising harmonies. They and Northern Irish rock acts General Fiasco and David C Clements complete the impressive line-up.

 “I'm delighted with how the line up has come together for the event”, commented Festival Curator for ‘Bushmills Live’, Graham Brown.

“Both ticket winners and the artists are in for a special few days”, said Brown. “Not only will they get to experience world class whiskey and discover how it has been handcrafted in the Bushmills area for centuries, but they'll be privileged enough to see some of the best live music possible within the intimacy of the old distillery buildings - whiskey and music, it doesn't get much better than that!"

‘Bushmills Live’ will be a handcrafted festival of whiskey and music and will be the first such event of its kind ever staged in an Irish Whiskey distillery.

More than six thousand people entered the competition to win tickets to ‘Bushmills Live’ via the Bushmills Facebook page - facebook.com/bushmills1608. Up to ten pairs of friends in each participating country have been shortlisted to go through to the next stage of the competition – a public vote on Facebook.

The pair of friends in each country that gets the most votes will make it to Bushmills Live. Voting closes on 25^th May 2012.

As well as listening to great music, those fortunate to win a ticket to the festival will also have the opportunity to make their own blend of BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey.

Colum Egan, Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery said: “The list of artists that will be performing at ‘Bushmills Live’ is amazing. We already have the world-renowned Snow Patrol playing right here at the distillery. Now we have also have a brilliant line-up of critically acclaimed artists from Ireland, the UK and America that will make ‘Bushmills Live’ a truly landmark event.

“The festival will be a unique occasion and will bring the best of handmade music and the best of handmade Irish whiskey together under one roof – it’s going to be brilliant!”

Snow Patrol’s performance at ‘Bushmills Live’ will go some way to help establish a legacy for new music in Northern Ireland with their fee being donated in full to the Oh Yeah Music Centre in Belfast, which was co-founded by lead singer Gary Lightbody to help to support up-and-coming local musicians. 

To find out more about ‘Bushmills Live’, visit facebook.com/bushmills1608. Voting closes at 23:59 on 25^th May 2012. Terms and conditions apply.

Broadsided by the Spirit of Adnams!

Adnams basically make a great beer called Broadside which John has distilled. Now, because of the hops present this could never be called whisky, it's an eau de vie of sorts.

Back last year I tried the unaged spirit and it was great straight off the still, the depth of flavour was amazing and I keenly awaited another oportunity to try the spirit once aged.

John said recently "It's amazing what you can do with wood as a distiller, we're testing spirit in new french oak and have introduced American oak hogsheads too...". I personally have to agree and the Spirit of Broadside is testement to that! It's due into the shops in May and would recommend it to anyone looking for a spirit that challanges the misconseption that hop spirits would never distill well.

Tasting notes

Product: Spirit of Broadside

Distillation: Date: January 2011

Spirit Type: Eau de Vie

Cask type: New European Oak

ABV: 43%

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Product Launch - Top Gun with The Famous Goose (Man)

Updated on Sun, April 1, 2012 by Darren

The first day of April sees the launch of our brand new product, The Famous Goose.

It's a product which has caused excitement for all of us at The Famous Grouse, as we welcome a new breed into our Famous Family. 

The Famous Goose gets its name from the celebrated Canada Goose, a migrant that ousts the Red Grouse as Scotland's favourite game bird, once a year in early April.  Its smooth taste comes from the blend of fine malt whiskies - including The McGonagall and Highland Snark - and sweet grain whiskies. 

We're sure it will become another one of Scotland's Favourite Whiskies, if only for a day. So why not open a bottle with a  gaggle of friends and see what all the fuss is about? Just be careful. The Goose can be an even more difficult breed to find than The Grouse.

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Multi-Platinum Selling Band Snow Patrol to Headline 'Bushmills Live'

Snow Patrol announced as the first of a number of artists who will perform at ‘Bushmills Live’ – a handcrafted whiskey and music festival taking place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on the north coast of Ireland on 20th and 21st June 2012.Bushmills™ Irish Whiskey has announced Snow Patrol as the first of a number of artists who will perform at ‘Bushmills Live’ - the handcrafted whiskey and music festival taking place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on the north coast of Ireland on 20th and 21st June 2012.

Snow Patrol, who are from Northern Ireland, are one of the world’s most popular bands, selling more than 11 million albums since their breakthrough record Final Straw debuted in 2003.

The two-day handcrafted festival will be the first ever staged in an Irish Whiskey distillery. The artists will play a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings around the distillery. Other performers announced at this stage include renowned musician Foy Vance, who along with David Holmes composed the music for the OSCAR®* winning short film, ‘The Shore’, and award-winning singer songwriter and producer Iain Archer.

Snow Patrol’s Jonny Quinn, commented: “Playing live on a bill of great artists and friends, in the Old Bushmills Distillery that's been around for centuries - it doesn't get much better than that!"

‘Bushmills Live’ will be a truly ‘money can’t buy experience’. Tickets for the event will not go on general release, instead fans of Bushmills Irish Whiskey can win the chance to attend the festival by entering a competition on the Bushmills Facebook page – facebook.com/bushmills1608 <http://facebook.com/bushmills1608>.

To stand a chance of winning they will have to submit a photo of themselves and friend and explain why they and their friend should be in the audience for ‘Bushmills Live’.

As well as listening to great music, those fortunate to win a ticket to the festival will also have the opportunity to make their own blend of Bushmills Irish Whiskey.

Commenting, Colum Egan, Master Distiller, Old Bushmills Distillery said: “The line-up for ‘Bushmills Live’ so far is truly remarkable. Snow Patrol, Foy Vance and Iain Archer are known and loved around the world - much like our whiskey.

“What excites me is they, like all the artists who are coming to play, are fans of our whiskey. Bushmills and music have always gone well together. Handcrafted whiskey and handcrafted music – it just makes sense!”

To win tickets to ‘Bushmills Live’ or to find out more, visit facebook.com/bushmills1608 <http://facebook.com/bushmills1608>. Entry opens at 16:08 GMT on St Patrick’s Day and closes at 23:59 GMT on 27th April 2012. Terms and conditions apply.

*OSCAR® and ACADEMY AWARDS® are registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Press Release: GLENFIDDICH 21 YEAR OLD IS RELAUNCHED IN NEW PACKAGING

Glenfiddich 21 Year Old now features the sub-branding, ‘Gran Reserva’ which alludes to the single malt Scotch whisky’s exceptional quality.  The new presentation’s deep burgundy theme is embellished with an intricately designed filigree pattern on the bottle label and box, which also houses a display plinth and a booklet highlighting the Glenfiddich 21 Year Old heritage and story.  The bottle also bears the signature of Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich Malt Master.

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What is a good food pairing with whisky like Lagavulin 16?

Last year on Islay Ben Ellefsen from Master of Malt made some pretty damn fine BBQ ribs for myself and the Chaps at Caskstrength.net, which we drank with the 2011 port aged Ardbeg feis Ile bottling. On returning home I was inspired to challenge my catering consultant/private chef wife to a rib off.

Being a chef she was pretty confident of winning already, but we set a time for some friends to come over and judge the results. To cut a long story short, when the day finally arrived I ultimately won hands down. The comparison made was Heaston Blumenthal versus Carol Brady.

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ARRAN WHISKY LAUNCHES NEW LIMITED EDITION BOTTLESARRAN WHISKY LAUNCHES NEW LIMITED EDITION BOTTLES

Award-winning* Scotch whisky producer Isle of Arran Distillers have launched a limited edition of 6,000 bottles; The Eagle. The bottling will be released in the UK and worldwide in March.

The single malt Scotch whisky was drawn from a combination of 14 Ex-Bourbon Barrels and 7 Ex-Sherry Hogsheads carefully selected by Master Distiller James MacTaggart from the 1999 distillation. The result is a powerful dram which has hints of tropical fruit salad, vanilla pods and caramel coated hazelnuts to the nose and, to the palate, leaves a buttery lemon drizzle cake sweet and citrus taste. 

The Arran Eagle has been named and dedicated to the pair of Golden Eagles who nest in the mountain above Lochranza, just behind the distillery. They have been an integral part of the Arran story since it opened its doors in 1995.

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GLENMORANGIE AND THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP – THE PERFECT PARTNERSHIP

Glenmorangie single malt whisky has teamed up with golf’s most famous competition in a three year partnership which sees them become the Official Whisky of The Open Championship.

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Cutty Sark - Tam o' Shanter

This evening we've been recording a new episode of Village of the Drammed and in the process I was given a sample of the newest 25year old release from Cutty Sark called Tam o' Shanter.

For those not familiar with the actual tea clipper Cutty Sark its figurehead is the witch called "Nannie" from the Burns poem "Tam o' Shanter", so the name of this blend is  pretty apt.

The only information I currently have is that it's a limited edition blend of 5000 bottles at 46.5% abv. It was created master blender Kirsteen Campbell

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Hitting it out of the Park! Orcadian 1971 & 1976 Vintages.

I'm a big fan of the Highland Park distillery and was really excited to have the opportunity to try the new 1971 and 1976 Orcadian Vintages. Around 2009, Highland Park started the release of exclusive Vintage limited editions each inspired by the myths and legends of Orkney.

These two new whiskies are adding to the exsisting range of the 1964, 1968 & 1970 (sadly I'm yet to try the 64 & 68). Sometimes, it feels like the seventies was a peak time in many ways for what is seen as a 'golden age' of whisky production. Most seasoned whisky drinkers know of an elusive dram from this period and more than once I've heard geeks talk with reverence for the barley strain of both the 70's & mid 80's, "Golden Promise"! (whether it was used at HP is another question)

Golden promises aside...

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Want Something Special? Try Diageo Special Release Whiskies 2011

Updated on Mon, September 12, 2011 by Diageo Whisky PR

Once again, it's that time of year where Diageo announce their special release bottlings. A selection of rare and unusual whiskies, which have been superb in previous years.

I'm positive the 2011 offering will be no different as it includes a 32 year old Brora, limited to only 1,404 bottles, and a Port Ellen, also at 32 years old (both are priced at approx. £300). These two iconic whiskies alone will undoubtedly sell out before retails have even received stock. Although I feel a majority are destined to linger in cupboards and on the shelves of collectors internationally, gathering dust, and rapidly increasing in value.

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Movember 2011: Who would you like to see grow a Mo? My vote is for the guys at Diggnation!

It's getting close to that time of year again, yes, I mean Movember and the release of the Whisky 4 Movember whisky!

What is Movember? It's a charity asking men to grow facial hair for November to raise awareness, and money for men's health issues. See the video below:

Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.

On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face and then for the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November and through their actions and words raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health. 

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and their female supporters (known as Mo Sistas) celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.  

Wouldn't it be cool? 

Now, if you're a tech geek, you might know of the guys from Diggnation (you can find the show on itunes here). They do a regular show for revision3.com, and was part of the inspiration for myself, Billy and Jason to do Village of the Drammed.

In episode 323, posted on Sept 7th, 2011, the guys agreed to grow beards for the next 3 months.

If one of them is unsuccessful the forfeit is to buy 3 bottles of Johnnie Walker Blue for the other participants, but don't you think it would be cool to see them grow Mo's for Movember?!

Host's Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht, both in their 30's are well known in the tech world and regularly set challanges that veiwers get involved in. However, this one may be too big, as no offense to Kevin, but it looks like he may struggle and end up with a top lip from Michael Schumacher's mullet days. It would be great to see the Rev3 shows all in support of Movember, especially as they appeal to the prime age group testicular cancer can effect.

Cool? or not?Eitherway, this year we'll see a bunch of whisky fans, professionals and myself growing some fine Mo's to promote this worthy cause.

To find out more about Movember visit there site here, and the Whisky 4 movember bottle by Master of Malt will be releaved over the coming weeks.

Pioneering Spirits: Glenfiddich Whisky Invites You to Reach the Summit!

Updated on Tue, September 6, 2011 by Darren

If like myself, you grew up climbing and reading books by adventurers such as Joe Simpson, Chris Bonington and Pen Hadow, you'll be excited to know that Glenfiddich Distillery is hosting a summit for 21^st century pioneers.

The "ONE DAY YOU WILL Summit 2011", will feature motivational talks from key pioneers, such as the above mentioned writer, and Polar explorer, Pen Hadow. The two day forum will also include inspirational seminars, exclusive nosing and tasting sessions and a celebratory dinner.

Running from October 18th - 20th, 2011, it will be a great networking opportunity for anyone attending. 

An Inspirational Two-Day Event

I'm sure you'll also agree the incredible determination, strength and passion it takes to do these sometimes unimaginable feats, undoubtedly end's with great motivational stories. 

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Timed To Perfection: Balblair Scotch Whisky & WIRED Magazine Competition

Yesterday WIRED magazine and Balbair single malt whisky announced the launch of an exciting photography competition.

The prize is a 1965 vintage of Balblair, which is part of a limited release of just 350 bottles, this rare single cask edition, distilled in 1965 was aged in an American oak, sherry cask (potentially from Ardbeg?)

I've been lucky enough to try this whisky in the past, and I have to say it's a great dram, and a very rare opportunity to own a £1250- £1500 bottle of whisky!

The theme of the competition is the Highland whisky distilleries motto: "Timed to Perfection".  

Running from September 1st to October 14th the competition will be encouraging talented amateur photographers to submit their work to the WIRED team.  Entries will be judged by WIRED picture Editor Steve Peck and Editorial Photographer of the Year 2010 – Edmund Clark.

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Not a Whisky Riot, but a Smooth Jazz Experience!

Those who are fans of Islay whiskies may be familiar with the Feis Ile (also know as the Islay Whisky Festival).  An annual whisky festival in May, which dedicates individual days over the space of a week to the distilleries of Islay, Jura and Arran.

However, you might not be as familiar with the Lavavulin™ Islay Jazz Festival. Currently in it's 13th year it looks like it won't disappoint! 

Although the festival started in 1999, Lagavulin only started sponsoring the event last year (2010). Over it's thirteen years the festival has grown to become a staple in the UK Jazz scene. I guess the combination of fantastic whiskies and amazing musicians can't but help draw people from all over the UK and Globe.

The Festival covers the weekend of Friday 16th September to Sunday 18th September. It will be opened by vocalist Viktoria Tolstoy. She’ll sing her own special arrangements of many great standards along with interpretations of pop tunes.

The Festival also features the world premiere of the sensational Scottish Drummer Tom Bancroft ‘s Red Triowith English piano star, Tom Cawley, and Norwegian bass sensation Mats Eilertsen, while Brian Kellock and Jacob Karlzon front two piano trios at different edges of the jazz spectrum.

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La Fête Nationale! A Whisky Celebration with Auchentoshan 1999 Bordeaux Cask.

It seems last month I missed the launch of the new limited edition Auchentoshan. Aged for the entirety of it's life in a Bordeaux Cask.

These French oak casks from the region that produces extraordinary wines, such as Chateau d'yquem and Château Lafite Rothschild, generally offers up big spiced elements, cream, hints of woodiness and a depth of caramel sweetness not always attributed to whisky.

Released on Bastille day (July 14th) this dram has been recieved well by some of the blogs which have reviewed it already.

Earlier this evening myself, Billy and Jason B Standing had the opportunity to try it while recording the second offering of "Village of the Drammed".

In retrospect, I think this is the sort of dram I'd personally have to revisit or spend a little more time with. Initially I wasn't won over, but have found it to be the case with most other caskstrength Auchentoshan's I've tried! 

The Vital Statistics

Age: 11 years old

ABV: 58% ABV (Caskstrength),

Non-Chillfiltered

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Who is Number One? Karuizawa Whisky Stock Sold!

The second whisky tasting I ever organised was a Japanese night called "Lost in Translation", back in 2007.  

The idea was simple!

I managed a small restaurant in Newcastle upon Tyne, which had a 50 seater Cinema attached, so we decided that a Japanese film (Lost in Translation) and whisky combo would be fitting.  In the lead up to the actual evening I discovered a set of Japanese whiskies sold as Ichiro’s Malt Card Series, being distributed by a drinks company called Number One Drinks.  I ended up buying a bottle of the Ace Of Spades, a thick heavily sherried 1985 Hanyu, bottled at 55% Abv. It left me hooked to most things Japanese!   

Since then Number One has continued to release and distribute amazing Japanese whisky, and has in my opinion really opened the European market to companies like Suntory and Nikka. 

Then a couple of weeks ago I heard rumours that the gents at Number One might have got their hands on all the remaining stock of Karuizawa whisky. This proved to be true as 10 mins ago the following press release popped up in my mailbox:

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"Brown Drink"! The Ultimate Whisky Cocktail?

"We got a little rule back home: if it's brown, drink it down; if it's black, send it back".

Homer Simpson - Homerpalooza

I'm sure you'll agree that the name "Brown Drink" may not be the most appealing, but it does make you think what is it and should I really drink that?! Well... that's what I thought back in July when I saw them eagerly in the process of product development.

In true Master of Malt style they are continuing to do whisky things a bit different.

"Brown Drink" is a cocktail of different spirits taken from the leftovers of their "Drinks by the Dram" production. Rather than pouring the dregs away they decided from the start to gathered them. Over the last 12 months they managed to accrue 37 bottles. This is a vatting of 500 individual spirits.

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Bramble, Edinburgh, launches barrel-aged Glenmorangie Cocktail

The vogue for barrel-aged cocktails gains momentum with the launch of Glenmorangie ‘Affinity’ at Edinburgh’s leading bar, Bramble. Glenmorangie, pioneers of the concept of extra maturation, is perfectly-suited to play a lead role in this on-trade phenomenon.

The success of Bramble, Class Magazine’s Classic Bar of the Year 2010, is largely down to the innovative approach of co-owners Mike Aikman and Jason Scott, who have created a barrel-aged, single malt whisky cocktail using Glenmorangie 10 Years Old.

Glenmorangie Head of Distilling & Whisky Creation, Dr Bill Lumsden, produced four bespoke 5-litre casks for Bramble, each with a different level of toasting to allow for experimentation. The cocktail has been in barrels for a minimum of six weeks. Bottling will be done by hand at Bramble, with labels indicating the date the cocktail was poured into the cask and date of bottling. When a Glenmorangie Affinity is ordered at Bramble, the well-chilled wax-sealed bottle is presented with a frozen glass, garnished with a twist of lemon zest and a fresh cherry, in which to pour the cocktail.

Dr Lumsden observes; “As with malt whisky, the key is to gauge the perfect length of time in wood, and the Bramble team have done just that with their cocktail, giving the perfect balance of flavours between the other ingredients and the wood.”

Tasting notes: Batch #1 Glenmorangie ‘Affinity’ Cocktail

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Press Release IWSC - Cooley on a Gold Run.

Cooley Distillery, the multi-award winning Irish whiskey distiller, continued its phenomenal success at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) by claiming a further 8 IWSC Gold medals in London yesterday.

Cooley’s medal haul included a record 4 Gold Medals for its Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish whiskey range including two Best in Class honours reaffirming its place as the most honoured Irish Single Malt of all time at International Spirits Competitions.

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