Where have all the ‘Fiddich’s gone?

Check out the original article

.

New Glenmorangie “Private Collection” exclusive to Travel Retail

I just got this information today from my U.S. Glenmorangie contact. In a couple months, there will be a new Glenmorangie exclusive to Travel Retail (formerly known as Duty Free). I have an advanced press release on it, which I have included below.

Glenmorangie reveals new PRIVATE COLLECTION with Sonnalta PX

Glenmorangie’s NEW Private Collection is a range of rare, limited edition expressions from Glenmorangie’s award winning Whisky Creators. Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX is the first delicious expression in this Private Collection and is exclusive to global travel retail.

Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX takes its name from the Gaelic translation of “generous” (Sonnalta) and PX (Pedro Ximenez) where the elegant fruity, floral complexity of mature Glenmorangie is transferred to “PX” ex-sherry casks from Jerez in Southern Spain for a period of extra maturation.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Head of Distilling and Whisky Creation, comments;  ‘Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX is an extraordinarily rich, dark and absording malt whisky.  I take the twice yearly trip to Spain to select the very best PX casks to use alongside our mainstay bourbon barrels from the US. This is our first release for Glenmorangie’s Private Collection, with more rare, delicious releases to come in the future.’

No picture is available yet, and I still don’t have any more information or pricing on it. For those not familiar, PX sherry is incredibly rich, sweet, “raisiny” and dark. (For reference, the Lagavulin Distillers’ Edition is finished in PX sherry.) I’m looking forward to trying this one.

Check out the original article

.

Review: Gordon & MacPhail Strathisla 1963 Vintage

Considering that I recently rated a whiskey on this blog a 69, I thought I would end the work week on a happier note. This whisky was poured at our charity table at WhiskyFest New York last November and was very popular.

Gordon & MacPhail (distilled at Strathisla), 1963, 40%, $275
Some of these old G&M Strathisla whiskies are quite lovely, and this is one of them. It’s gently sherried, soothingly oily in texture, and complex, with notes of maple syrup, candied fruit, plum, roasted nuts, polished leather, and old oak, along with some damp earth, coffee bean, cinnamon, mint, and subtle, teasing kiln smoke. It’s soft, rounded and still holds up nicely for a 44 years old whisky. If you like old, sherried Speysiders that aren’t overly oaked or sherried, you’ll like this one. If only it was bottled at 43% or 46% (or at natural cask strength of it was less than 43%). It would give the whisky a little more backbone, and I might have bumped my rating up to the mid-90s.

Advanced Malt Advocate magazine rating: 92

Check out the original article

.

Two Littlemills

Check out the original article

.

Whisky sales in Norway, 2008

Check out the original article

.

WWOP? (What would Obama Pour?)

I try to avoid politics when writing about whisky, but I found this one too interesting to pass up. I’m reading this article by Ian Evans for Decanter magazine. He says that online magazine Slate.com:

“has slammed the White House wine policy - and urged President Obama to act swifty to redress the ’shocking’ situation.”

He goes on: 

Describing the need for change as ’shockingly clear’, Slate journalist Mike Steinberger said the White House’s current stock of 500 bottles was ‘a pathetic example of how America’s infrastructure has been allowed to deteriorate’…The preference for ‘juvenile behemoth’ fruit bombs over wines with delicacy, finesse and ageing potential, is similar to the ’shock and awe’ tactics of the Bush regime’s foreign policy, Steinberger says. ‘The White House needs a new wine policy. Wine service during the Bush era has been hostage to a profoundly misguided strategy that has turned wine into an unnecessarily crude instrument of statecraft’.

Wow! Puts a whole new spin on Bruichladdich’s “Weapons of Mass Destruction.”  Maybe, in the name of world peace, the Obama administration should make sure there are no Rittenhouse Ryes 100 proof or Laphroaig Cask Strengths on the after dinner drinks list, but rather a much mellower Maker’s Mark or perhaps a nice, soft Dewar’s 12 year old?  ;)

Check out the original article

.

Miyagikyou 1998

The Yoichi 1988 has now arrived in Europe. Two hundred bottles have been shipped by Nikka to La Maison du Whisky.

Meanwhile, the Yoichi`s sister tipple, Miyagikyou 1988, hit the shelves in Japan this week. It costs 21,000 yen a bottle. 1,500 bottles available. 50 per cent alcohol.

Check out the original article

.

Kilts, cummerbunds and kimonos at Whisky Live

Congratulations to the organisers of the Whisky Festival for a really great occasion. We now roll on to the biggest of all Japan`s whisky conclaves, Whisky Magazine Live! 2009.

This year`s event is a must for any Japanese whisky enthusiast within striking distance of Tokyo`s Big Sight (how to get there?) on February 22. There are more Japanese whisky focused master classes than ever before.

I should apologise to readers for not getting this up before the Yoichi and Chichibu talks sold out, but there are still tickets for Suntory`s Yamazaki and Hakushu master classes at the time of writing (Update: only a few seats left in the Yamazaki). Suntory is Japan`s biggest distiller but it is also one of its most innovative. I would recommend those sessions without reservation. If last year is a guide, however, you will need to understand Japanese if you want to do more than just sample Suntory`s excellent drinks.

Of course, there are also loads of fascinating non-Japanese whisky classes, some of which will be in English. One of the great things about Whisky Live is that it is largely bilingual. In line with this, their website is in both English and Japanese. This page explains in English how to buy tickets and master class passes.

Ulf Buxrud [1,2] will be signing copies of his new book Japanese Whisky - Facts, Figures and Taste at the Whisky Magazine Shop in the foyer. If you want to expand your knowledge of Japanese whisky just go and pick Ulf`s mind for a few minutes. I know I will be.

There is also a signing by master blender Richard Paterson of his book "Goodness Nose". Nonjatta has mentioned before that Paterson is a manga superhero in his spare time. Millions of people know of him only through this comic book alter ego. I have never met a manga character in real life before!

Event organiser David Croll says: "I guess also of interest to lovers of Japanese whisky would be the announcement of the heat winners of the 2009 World Whiskies Awards. As you remember, Yoichi 1987 and Hibiki 30 year old won the global awards in their categories last year.

"There will also be some interesting news about Whisky Magazine Japan, to be announced by editor-in-chief Dave Broom, and a Live! debate about the relative merits of official and independent Bottlers."

Finally, by way of justification of my clumsily alliterative headline, the organisers were so taken with the couture on show at last year’s Whisky Live (looks better in the high quality version) that they have decided to offer prizes to the best turned out drammers. Dust of the kilts, cummerbunds and kimonos and dress to impress!

Check out the original article

.

How valuable are “expert” reviews?

I know that many of you enjoy reading my reviews of new whiskies coming on the market, so you might be a bit surprised when I tell you this: Don’t just take my word for it!

My reviews should just be one of several resources you use when making a decision on what whisky to buy. Let me give you some examples to prove my point.

I rated the new Canadian Club 30 year old 150th Anniversary bottling a “93.” Paul Pacult, in his Spirit Journal, gave it “Two Stars/Not Recommended.” Similarly, I rated White Bowmore a “94,” while he gave it “One Star/Not Recommended.” I rated “The Last Drop” blended scotch a “95″ and Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible gave it a whopping “96.5. Paul rated it “Two Stars/Not Recommended.” I could give examples going the other way, where Paul likes a whisky more than I do.

Jim Murray and I also differ on some whiskies. There are some very young American whiskies where Jim Murray rates in the mid 90s (Triple Eight’s Notch, Stranahan’s Colorado whisky, etc.) , where I rated these same whiskies in the high 70s or low 80s. I like the whiskies but can’t imagine calling them “Classics.”

I could cite similar examples between Dave Broom and Martine Nouet or Dominic Roskrow. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Nobody! I respect all of these people. They are great whisky writers. Each of us has our own opinions of the whiskies we taste. Sometimes we agree. Sometimes we don’t.

Now, if every one of us likes a whisky, there’s probably a good chance you will too. But only if you like that style of whisky. Nothing will ever replace you actually tasting the whisky before you buy.

 Whisky reviews are merely tools to use when you don’t have the opportunity to “try before you buy.” My advice is for you to find a whisky reviewer who you feel comfortable with–someone who has similar likes and dislikes. If that’s me great. If not, that’s great too. Maybe it’s a whisky buddy you trust. Maybe it’s they salesman at your local retail shop. Maybe it’s your dog! Hey, whatever works for you.

Just have the right tools to help you make informed, educated decisions when buying whisky. Then you’ll be more satisfied with the purchases you make.

Check out the original article

.

Three Indie Auchroisk

Check out the original article

.