News 231
Famous Whisky Bars – The Curly Coo Bar Stirling
As you would expect visiting the home of single malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland has among the finest whisky bars anywhere in the world today and it is one of these famous bars that we have featured in Malt Marketing’s whisky bar directory. Curly Coo Bar in Stirling boasts one of the largest and most carefully selected ranges of whisky seen in any bar in Scotland, or anywhere for that matter.
Now with over 130 individual bottling’s The Curly Coo has established itself right up there among any award winning whisky bar. Indeed The Curly Coo Bar received a 5 star rating from Trip Advisor for 2012 and 2013, won the Drammie Award in 2013 being voted The Best Whisky Bar in The World as well as featuring in Lonely Planet Travel Guide in 2013. On top of this, The Curly Coo Bar was voted best whisky bar in Scotland in 2015 in the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge.
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Proprietor Mandy Silver prides herself in having sampled each and every one of her whiskies and it is this passion and attention to detail that is ever apparent when enjoying a drink in The Curly Coo Bar in Stirling. With a warm, friendly and engaging atmosphere you can’t help but settle in and enjoy not just the vast array of whisky that is on offer but also a selection of locally brewed craft beers and of course a rather fine selection of gins as well. Where would the world be without gin? Buying more whisky I suspect… So when next expanding your whisky surroundings, taking in a distillery visit or catching up on your historic sites in Scotland, be sure not to miss out on this little hidden gem of a bar.
The Making of Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky
It would be fair to say that as far as single malt Scotch whisky goes, Highland Park is well just that little bit special. With its roots on the island of Orkney and with a heritage as much Viking as it is Scottish, the Highland Park distillery continues to produce some of the most remarkable whisky seen out of any Scottish distillery. Indeed Highland Park’s 25 year expression has triumphed on many occasion and no less so than when it was awarded the first ever 100-point score, along with the Chairman’s Trophy for Best of Category, by judges at Ultimate Beverage Challenge’s fourth annual Ultimate Spirits Challenge in New York in 2013. The film below looks at the underlying core principles that make Highland Park whisky the success story that it is today.
Wonderful Whiskies for Your Father’s Day Gift Guide
Forget crummy ties and rubbish socks, get Dad a gift that he’ll really appreciate this Father’s Day. Whether it’s a bottle of his favourite single malt whisky, or something he’s never tried before, we’ve put together a collection of great liquid presents for him.
THE MACALLAN EDITION 4 – £79.00
Is Dad a whisky enthusiast? A guy who appreciates the intricacies of flavour, get him a bottle of The Macallan Edition 4.
Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the worlds most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. This particular liquid has been made in collaboration with esteemed architects to reveal the structure of the whisky, drawing parallels on how brand new £140m distillery was created. It has been crafted from a combination of American & European oak casks giving it a zesty, vibrant and invigorating single malt that brings to the fore notes of rounded honey, sweet toffee and citrus fruits.
BOWMORE 15 – £50.00
Does Dad like a decorated whisky? Look no further than Bowmore 15, which was voted Whisky of the Year 2018 by The Whisky Exchange. Matured in an incredible combination of both bourbon and sherry casks, it spends its final three years in Oloroso sherry casks, which give Bowmore 15 the rich, deep colour and warming finish.
Notes of toffee, treacle and chocolate make this delicious liquid a great gift someone looking to taste the best of the legendary Islay distillery’s millennial output
Available to buy from The Whisky Exchange
LAPHROAIG 10 YEAR OLD – £36
Is Dad a traditionalist? Does he like whiskies with pedigree and heritage? Well, Laphroaig 10 Year Old is what you’re looking for. It is the only single malt Scotch whisky to be awarded the Royal Warrant by HRH The Prince Of Wales, the ultimate seal of approval
Notable for its high levels of peat, Laphroaig 10 has a very distinct and unique flavour profile, with an earthy, tangy taste detailed with elements of sweetness. Unforgettable.
Wonderful neat or with a drop of water, but it’s also perfect in The Penicillin with lemon, ginger and honey.
Available to buy from Waitrose
HIGHLAND PARK 18 YEAR OLD – £105.00
Is Dad a Viking? Does he think he is? Because Highland Park 18 Year Old may be the gift for him. Highland Park was founded by the descendants of Vikings, whose influence can be seen on the bottle’s incredible design.
The 18 Year Old is one of the most consistently excellent malt whiskies of the past 10 years. Gentle peat, soft toffee, floral notes, and honey on the nose. It is fantastic neat or over ice, but it can also be great in an Orcadian Cooler, which includes lemon, elderflower and soda water.
Available to buy from Waitrose and Master of Malt
https://www.highlandparkwhisky.com/
But if Dad isn’t a single malt fan, fear not. One of these fabulous bottles will be perfect for him…
MAKER’S MARK KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON – £30.00
Maker’s Mark is a small-batch Bourbon handmade in Loretto, Kentucky using the same principles Bill Samuels Sr., first used in 1954. Made from red winter wheat it has a sweeter taste than most traditional Bourbons giving it a distinctive taste. With notes of oak, caramel, vanilla and spice it is best served on its own, or as part of an Old Fashioned, Moscow Mule or hot Apple Cider.
Maker’s is distilled for six years before being bottled and sealed with red wax to give it a distinctive look, it is a great gift for a bourbon-loving father.
Available to buy from Tesco and Waitrose.
COURVOISIER VSOP, CONGNAC – £35.00
Founded in 1809 by Emmanuel Courvoisier, Courvoisier is the only Cognac house to still control the entire process from grape to glass. Made from a blend of several crus it has a more delicate taste than most Cognac’s giving it a distinctive taste. With notes peach, toasted almonds and jasmine it is the ideal spirit to enjoy this winter. Best served neat, or mixed with ice and water or as part of a long drink, such as the Courvoisier Espresso Martini.
Available to buy from Sainsbury’s
https://www.courvoisier.com/uk/
BRUGAL 1888 – £40.00
During the latter half of the 19th century, Andrés Brugal Montaner — a Spanish expatriate who had emigrated to Cuba — uprooted his family moved to Dominican Republic. Today, the fourth and fifth generations of Brugal’s direct descendants honour his name as personal guardians of the entire rum-making process at Brugal & Co.
Made from fresh, raw sugar cane, which is hand-cut from plantations across the Dominican Republic’s countryside, Brugal 1888 Ron Gran Reserva Familiar Rum has a dark, amber hue, along with an aroma of milk chocolate, roasted coffee and dried apricots.
It is crafted to be a sipping rum, best enjoyed at Dominican room temperature, a delicious 26 degrees which really unlocks the complexity of this incredible drink.
Available to buy from the Whisky Exchange.
WHEN WORLDS OF MASTERY UNITE: UNVEILING THE MACALLAN 72 YEARS OLD IN LALIQUE – THE GENESIS DECANTER
The Macallan has introduced The Macallan 72 Years Old in Lalique – The Genesis Decanter – a remarkable new limited edition whisky to celebrate the new Macallan Distillery and Visitor Experience.
An exceptionally rare Macallan 72 Years Old single malt, The Genesis Decanter is the oldest whisky ever released by the Distillery to celebrate a seminal moment in the history of The Macallan.
The Genesis Decanter is inspired by and honours a new dawn, defined by a truly magnificent architectural masterpiece. Presented in a bespoke crystal decanter handcrafted by Lalique, it is a celebration of the collaboration of masters from across the fields of whisky, crystal, architecture, construction and craftsmanship and marks a new beginning in The Macallan story.
For nearly two centuries the mastery of exceptional whisky making has been at the heart of The Macallan Estate and the new Distillery and Visitor Experience, designed by internationally acclaimed architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, embodies the care, passion and superior craftsmanship that goes into every drop of The Macallan.
Distilled back in the 1940s, The Macallan 72 Years Old is a peerless spirit which began its journey to maturation during the optimistic post Second World War period and this atmosphere of reinvention inspired the new Distillery and the whisky and design of The Genesis Decanter.
For its seventy-two years of maturation, the deceptively light colour hints that this is not an ordinary single malt. Reminiscent of a time gone by, it carries an exquisite balance of strong, sweet oak with the peaty spirit shaping its refined character. The whisky delivers surprise after surprise as aromas of fruit follow distinctive hints of peat, all the way through to the back of the mouth where it is finished off with a lingering hint of rich fruit and oak.
Nick Savage, The Macallan Master Distiller, said: “The Macallan 72 Years Old is an incredibly rare single malt defined by years of dedication and craftsmanship. As the oldest whisky we have ever bottled, this is a truly momentous occasion to commemorate our remarkable new Distillery. Although delicate throughout all aspects, it provides an intense experience which acknowledges the distinguished history of The Macallan.”
Lalique has captured the character of the new architectural wonder in crystal, incorporating the clean lines and natural curves of the new Distillery. The smooth curvature of the unique roof structure defines the decanter’s design, suggestive of the building rising and falling from the ground. Marrying together modern techniques with traditional skills, each decanter is handcrafted by master craftsmen who elevate the complex crystal making process to create a stunning art piece.
Ken Grier, Creative Director for The Macallan, said: “Our wonderful new Distillery is both a tribute to the traditions of our whisky and its natural Speyside environment, and a future-facing vision, looking forward to the next chapter of The Macallan. Lalique have a deep and true understanding of The Macallan, having been our partner for over a decade. Their interpretation of this design masterpiece in crystal is beyond exceptional. Their mastery and creativity never ceases to amaze and inspire us and our extraordinary collaboration is reflective of the highly meaningful part Lalique have played in the story of The Macallan.”
Silvio Denz, Chairman of Lalique, said: “Lalique is very honoured to be associated with such an important moment in the story of The Macallan, with the creation of this commemorative decanter. Our long-term partnership with The Macallan, which started over a decade ago, is based on shared values of excellence, craftsmanship and creativity; and the truly spectacular and never-before-seen architecture of the new Distillery & Visitor Experience has been highly inspiring for the design of the decanter.”
The Genesis Decanter is housed in a bespoke presentation case, designed by Burgess Studio and inspired by the interior of the Distillery, with a curved wooden roof over the decanter, and a footprint taken directly from the circular layout of the three new stillhouses. Handcrafted from the finest materials by The Royal Warrant holding cabinet makers, NEJ Stevenson, using only sustainably sourced timbers, the exterior is waterfall bubinga, with each bowl carved from mahogany layered with light maple. All drawer linings and fitments are hand-applied in pure suede and fabric, with latches and hinges in solid brass.
The Macallan 72 Years Old single malt will be rolled out globally from August 2018 and will be limited to 600 decanters worldwide, priced at US$60,000 per 70cl decanter.
For further information visit www.themacallan.com
Whisky Online – May Auction of Rare and Collectable Whiskies and Spirits
Whisky Online Auctions is a world leader in the valuation and sale of rare and collectable whiskies and spirits. Monthly dedicated auctions regularly feature bottles not to be found in any other auction with world record prices often being achieved. There is truly a benefit to both the buyer and seller with Whisky Online. Offering worldwide shipping, free valuations, home collections, low commissions, unrivaled knowledge and unparalleled variety, so, whether you’re looking for quirky every day drinking drams, top end rarities or to maximise your profit on a few bottles or a whole collection, why not get in touch today or take a look at their May Auction.
