News 355
Whisky News From Glen Scotia Distillery
MSP Drops By For a Dram At Glen Scotia
Michael Russell MSP visited Glen Scotia Distillery as part of a new campaign to position Campbeltown as the “whiskiest place in the world.”
The Argyll & Bute member was presented with a unique bottling as the distillery prepared for the annual Campbeltown Malts Festival, which gets underway tomorrow [Tuesday 21 May].
During the visit the MSP, who is also Cabinet Secretary for Constitutional Affairs, had an opportunity to see some of the oldest parts of the distillery, which date back to the 1830s and to meet some of its staff.
He also bottled his own whisky, choosing an 18 Year Old Single Malt from Cask 560, a first fill ex-bourbon cask stored in Glen Scotia’s historic dunnage warehouse.
The one-off bottle is dedicated to the MSP and his visit to Glen Scotia, with Campbeltown described on the label as “the whiskiest place in the world” in honour of the region’s illustrious past. In the Victorian era Campbeltown was home to more than 30 distilleries and known as ‘whisky capital of the world’.
Iain McAlister, distillery manager, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Michael Russell MSP to our distillery. We’re very proud of our exceptional single malts and their contribution to both Campbeltown and Scotland’s world-leading whisky industry. Research suggests that Campeltown was the predominant Scotch whisky for almost 100 years.
“Whisky is in our DNA in Campbeltown. After being at the forefront of production distilling has become a way of life here and we’re looking forward to sharing our passion for whisky with visitors to this year’s malts festival.”
Michael Russell MSP, said: “It was great to meet the team at Glen Scotia Distillery and learn more about their award-winning single malts.
“It’s very encouraging to see how Glen Scotia is helping to attract visitors to the Campbeltown and boost recognition of its role in Scotch. I wish it well with its new campaign.”
The 57.4% ABV Scotch gifted to the MSP is among several whiskies due to be sampled straight from the cask by visitors taking part in Glen Scotia’s dunnage tastings during the Campbeltown Malts Festival.
The festival, which runs from 21-23 May showcases the region’s distinctive single malts.
As part of the event, Glen Scotia is set to host two sold-out whisky dinners, a distillery open day, tours and a variety of tastings. New to its programme this year is the Glen Scotia Coastal Connection Tasting session with Master Blender Michael Henry, who will explore Campbeltown’s history, explaining how it has shaped and influenced the town’s whisky heritage to this day.
To find our more visit www.glenscotia.com
Laphroaig® Unveils the Latest Release in Càirdeas Series
Introducing Laphroaig Càirdeas Triple Wood Cask Strength
14th May 2019: Beam Suntory’s Laphroaig has announced the 2019 annual release of its Càirdeas series, Càirdeas Triple Wood Cask Strength. This exclusive bottling celebrates the Friends of Laphroaig and marks the annual Feis Ile festival on Islay.
The unique expression is a special triple maturation, first matured in ex-bourbon barrels, then in quarter casks and finally in European oak casks which previously held oloroso sherry. It is then barrier filtered and bottled at cask strength to create a punchy dram with Laphroaig’s signature richness of flavour and smoky taste.
Friends Only
On Islay there is a saying; We don’t make friends easily but the ones we do are for life. Launched in 1994, Friends of Laphroaig are fans, friends and followers of the distillery from all over the world. Never short of an opinion or two they help Laphroaig explore new expressions, attend tastings and sometimes even visit the distillery at Laphroaig’s home on Islay. To reward the loyalty of its following, each year Laphroaig launches exclusive bottlings within the Càirdeas series.
Càirdeas means ‘friendship’ in Gaelic and, each year, a limited-edition bottling is crafted by distillery manager and fifth generation Islay native, John Campbell, available exclusively to Friends of Laphroaig.
Feis Ile Festival
The unique edition is launched to coincide with the Feis Ile festival, which transforms Islay for seven days each summer into a global hub of whisky lovers. Some 3000 visitors descend on the Islay distilleries to enjoy exclusive tastings, talks from key figures in the industry, and revel in a shared passion amongst likeminded strangers. Laphroaig is one of the largest and most famous distilleries on the island, and the Càirdeas release is a celebration of the people who visit.
John Campbell, Laphroaig distillery manager, comments: “Our friends are very important to us at Laphroaig. It’s a polarising whisky, so it means a great deal that our fans remain loyal to our liquid and continue to push for newer expressions. Friends of Laphroaig gives us a great opportunity to engage with our supporters and give back to them with this exclusive Càirdeas whisky.”
The whisky is available online exclusively to Friends of Laphroaig and at the distillery now for an RRP of £77
Tasting Notes
Nose:
Polished leather and tobacco leaves with spicy lemon and clementine zest. Subtle notes of golden syrup and rich heather honey, with autumn leaves, hazelnuts, vanilla fudge and a touch of white pepper and nutmeg. Dried camomile flowers and a touch of passion fruits.
Palate:
Sweet with rich toffee, with dates, maple syrup, praline and crème caramel. Grilled chestnuts with tarte Tatin, marzipan and strong black pepper. Cedar wood, a touch of furniture polish and beeswax.
Finish:
Sweet, long with caramel and spicy buttery fudge.
Colour:
Burnished gold.
Best served neat, with ice or water, given the higher ABV of this cask strength dram.
ABV:
Bottled at 51.4% ABV.
Benromach Wins Spirit of Speyside Whisky Award
The World’s Only Whisky Award Chosen by the Public, Industry
Experts and Festival Visitors
Benromach 10 Years Old has been crowned the winner in the 12 Years & Under category at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards 2019. The annual competition seeks out the best whiskies from Scotland’s most prolific whisky-producing region.
Just two finalists are selected in each category during a blind taste challenge held by the judging panel, which is composed of nine leading industry experts and whisky writers. Benromach was the only distillery to have two expressions in the final eight whiskies, including Benromach 15 Years Old which was recognised as the runner up in the 13 – 20 Years Old category.
In the only whisky competition of its type, the shortlisted expressions are then sampled by the public at judging sessions held in cities including New York, Cologne, Rome, Belfast and London.
Visitors and locals to the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival in May then cast the deciding vote on the shortlist, with the results revealed at the Festival’s closing ceilidh.
Keith Cruickshank, Benromach Distillery Manager, said: “We are immensely proud that Benromach 10 Years Old, our flagship whisky, has been recognised in these prestigious awards. It is particularly special because such a breadth of audiences from all over the world have had the opportunity to try two of our whiskies and have recognised them for their quality and taste.
“At Benromach, we are one of only a few Scottish distilleries to craft all our whiskies by hand. Our methods take a little longer, but we believe this extra attention is reflected in the depth of the flavours of our whiskies. We manage the process by sight, sound and touch and use only traditional techniques to create our distinctive expressions – beautifully balanced with a light touch of smoke.’’
For more information, images or interview requests, please contact Fiona Reyner or Annie Diamond on benromach@mucklemedia.co.uk
Gordon & MacPhail Releases Rare Coleburn Single Malt
Whisky Creator Gordon & MacPhail Releases Rare Coleburn Single Malt in Spring Collection
The 38-year-old Whisky is The Latest Addition to The ‘Private Collection’ Range
Single malt whisky creator Gordon & MacPhail has announced its Spring Collection, unveiling a series of stunning whiskies which draw upon the unrivalled depth and breadth of knowledge the company has gained from maturing spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries.
One of the highlights of the Spring Collection isthe Gordon & MacPhail 1981 from Coleburn Distillery which is the latest edition to the ‘Private Collection’ range. This exceptional whisky has been maturing in the company’s specially selected cask at its warehouse in Elgin for 38 years. Spirit from Coleburn Distillery – mothballed in 1985 – was traditionally used in blending but Gordon & MacPhail carefully matched the spirit with a first fill Sherry hogshead to create this extraordinary and very rare single malt.
Hidden from sight behind a rich green landscape, Coleburn Distillery was founded in 1897 in Longmorn, five miles south of Elgin in Speyside. Designed by renowned architect Charles Doig, who also designed the Gordon & MacPhail retail shop in Elgin, the distillery was one of many that closed its doors during a challenging period for the whisky industry in the 1980s.
Laid down on 11th March 1981 to mature in cask 476, Gordon & MacPhail 1981 from Coleburn Distillery was bottled at 55.9% ABV on 14th March 2019. With a distinct mahogany hue, the new release has rich flavours of Sherry-soaked fruit, liquorice, and dark chocolate, and a long finish brimming with toffee notes and a hint of smoke.
Only 101 bottles will be available for purchase worldwide, representative of the unique nature of all ‘Private Collection’ releases.
Established in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail has a worldwide reputation for creating exquisitely rare single malts that have featured spirit from over 100 distilleries across Scotland. Due to the foresight of four generations of the Urquhart family, owners of Gordon & MacPhail, the company is currently maturing spirit from 26 mothballed or closed distilleries, including Coleburn Distillery, in its fabled warehouse.
Stephen Rankin, Gordon & MacPhail’s Director of Prestige and member of the fourth generation of the Urquhart family, said: “Our mantra has always been to ‘do right by the whisky’; recognising when it has reached its ultimate peak and then bottling it regardless of commercial pressures or notable birthdays. Brought to you as a rare single malt, this 38-year-old release exhibits the true spirit of the Coleburn Distillery. My grandfather, George Urquhart, was always keen to champion the quality of the new-make from previously unheralded distilleries and this remarkable whisky perfectly exemplifies his vision. It’s one to celebrate and savour.”
Gordon & MacPhail 1981 from Coleburn Distillery will be available for purchase worldwide from selected specialist retailers* (UK RRP £1,250**).
Two more notable whiskies from the 2019 Spring Collection include Connoisseurs Choice 1998 from Glenburgie (UK RRP £136). With just 245 bottles available, this whisky offers a unique opportunity to own a 20-year-old whisky which is rarely bottled as a single malt. Connoissuers Choice 2006 from Ledaig Distillery offers a striking whisky which has been carefully crafted using peated new-make spirit, expertly paired with a specially selected first-fill Sherry hogshead (UK RRP £73).
For more information on the Spring Collection, please visit***
#GordonandMacPhail
Benromach Adds Cask Strength to Its Range
Benromach Adds Cask Strength Vintage 2008 to Its Classic Range
New Benromach Limited Batch Release to be Available Across Multiple International Markets
Family owned Benromach Distillery has announced a new addition to its Classic Range, Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1, a rich and full-bodied, limited-batch single malt whisky.
The batch release which will be sold across multiple international markets, was matured in First-Fill Sherry and Bourbon casks. Just 5,500 bottles will be available to purchase worldwide from 24th April 2019*.
Laid down in 2008 before being bottled in 2019, Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 is a 10-year- old whisky. The golden amber dram has notes of cracked black pepper, fruits and milk chocolate, with a delicate smoky edge on the palate. The whisky has a long, deep finish with subtle smokiness and bonfire embers.
Bottled at cask strength (57.9% ABV), Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1 will replace Benromach 100° Proof in the Classic Range. The new expression will provide single malt Scotch whisky fans with subtle variations on the flavour profile of Benromach 100° Proof with small strength and natural colour variations reflecting different batches.
Keith Cruickshank, Benromach Distillery Manager, said: “By offering the opportunity to own and enjoy batch releases, we are able to further showcase the expertise of our distilling team while determining the right time to bottle each batch to take full advantage of the remarkable single malt whiskies we produce. We believe this expression will allow Benromach drinkers to understand more about the provenance of the whisky they are drinking.
“Every whisky we release has been carefully handcrafted by our close-knit team of distillers. While retaining the overall flavours that Benromach consumers have enjoyed in Benromach 100° Proof, the new Cask Strength Vintage release will differ subtly in both strength and flavour profile, reflecting the specific casks chosen from the vintage year.”
Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1 is presented in an elegant bottle with shapes and textures inspired by the Speyside distillery. The copper cut medallion on the packaging signifies the moment in time when the distillers cut to the sweet heart of the spirit run. Each bottle will detail the vintage year, batch number and age.
Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1 will be available in selected markets worldwide with a recommended retail price (RRP) of €69.95 (£59.95). Prices in local markets may vary depending on local taxes and duty.*
Benromach is one of only a few distilleries in Scotland to use traditional methods, without any automated machinery. The small team of distillers employ all their senses when crafting the classic Speyside single malt Scotch whiskies, managing the process by sight, sound and touch to create the unique, handcrafted and authentic Benromach taste.
For more information on Benromach single malt Scotch whisky, and to explore the Classic Range, please visit: www.benromach.com.
*Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1 will be available worldwide with the exception of China and the US. These countries will receive Cask Strength Vintage market exclusives later this year.
