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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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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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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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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"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: Glenfiddich Ambassadors select distilleries vatted 1974 Vintage Reserve.

Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich Malt Master, today unveiled this year’s Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve, a 1974 Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky. The whisky is Glenfiddich’s first ever vatted Vintage Reserve and celebrates the pioneering spirit and adventurous career paths of Glenfiddich’s highly skilled Brand Ambassadors, who joined Brian as part of the selection panel.

Chairing Glenfiddich’s largest ever Vintage Reserve selection panel, Brian Kinsman was joined by 13 of Glenfiddich’s Brand Ambassadors, Glenfiddich’s Global Brand Ambassador and the owner of the world’s largest collection of Glenfiddich whisky – with participants coming from all corners of the world, including South Korea, USA, China and R.S.A. 

The panel nosed and tasted three exceptional vatted vintage casks dating from 1973, 1974 and 1975, marking an adventurous change to the selection process.  After careful consideration and in-depth debate, the panel selected Vatting Number 2 – a 1974 Glenfiddich.

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Update: Glenrothes Whisky Makers Comes To A Glorious Close!

The World Cup of the whisky world - also known as The Glenrothes Whisky Maker contest - reached its thrilling conclusion in June, with amateur whisky aficionados from Taiwan, England and the USA coming together in Speyside, Scotland, to tough it out in a series of challenges and tastings that would have tested the nerves of famed Scottish outlaw Rob Roy, let alone a malt expert.

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Grant's Takes to the Global Podium

Oldest family owned Scotch becomes world’s third largest.

Grants world famous blended Scotch whisky has turned a new chapter in its 124-year success story as it takes to the podium of standard Scotch whiskies, becoming the world’s number three in retail value.

The move onto podium, confirmed by IWSR results released last week, reaffirms Grant’s’ credentials as a key player on the world whisky stage.  Over the last five years, Grant’s has consistently grown ahead of the category, achieving in 2010 worldwide sales of 4.8 million cases and retail value of over $1bn.

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Isle of Mull Whisky- Press release.

Updated on Thu, July 28, 2011 by Isle of Mull Whisky

OUR STORY SO FARImage from Made on Mull

Isle of Mull Whisky was born in August 2010 by Neil Morrison and Calum Maclean. There were months of organising, maxing out credit cards and lengthy tasting sessions. The idea came to them one night when Neil and Calum were out for a few drams. Mid-session they hatched their plan:

to bring out their own unique whisky, a perfect blend which would be smooth enough for any palette and not just another bottle for gathering dust. Their whisky needed to be eye-catching and superior quality however still sensibly priced.

They toured the country and were successful in finding the best of Scottish nectar. Their good friend and local designer, Ewan Leckie (my creative), then helped them develop a prominent and unique branding. They were almost there.

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Coming of age at Kilchoman with a 100% Islay whisky.

Updated on Mon, June 20, 2011 by Kilchoman Distillery

Some of you may rightly argue that Kilchoman had already came to age two years ago.

However, the aspirations of Distillery Founder and Director Anthony Wills were only fully realised last week with Caskstrength bottle (Distillery only)the release of the first of Kilchoman 100% Islay whisky, which opens the question is this the true Kilchoman single malt whisky?

Before the small farm distillery opened in 2005 Anthony had a simple dream to make a whisky that was 100% made on Islay. A single malt produced from barley, grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled at the distillery.

Prior to 2005 it took four years of chasing investment and hard work to get things going. Followed by the move to an Island of only 3000 people it was a journey he shared with his family, so much so that on graduating University Peter Wills (Anthonys son) will become Kilchomans' first official brand ambassador, and newest member of the team from September 2011.
Inaugural Tasting notes:
Retails at 69.00 and 11,300 bottles have been released.

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A Whisky Rollercoaster ride to Success for Ardbeg

Ardbeg fans celebrate in style at the Ardbeg Rollercoaster party.

The iconic Islay malt whisky, Ardbeg invited hundreds of fans to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of its worldwide fan club – the Ardbeg Committee, at two funfair-inspired events in Edinburgh and London in July 2010.

In 1997, when the Ardbeg Distillery on the shores of the remote island of Islay re-opened after years of closure, the Distillery appealed to loyal fans to help them spread the word about its re-awakening. Such was their enthusiasm that in 2000 the Distillery decided to form the Ardbeg Committee; its evangelical mission: “To ensure the doors of the Ardbeg Distillery never close again”. 

Ten years on and there are 50,000 members in 120 countries and in the UK members and guests enjoyed an authentic fun fair themed evening, with games such as 10 Dram Alley and ‘Shortie’ Shooter Gallery, while savouring the latest limited edition, Ardbeg Rollercoaster.

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