This morning a bottle of Whisky arrived, it was a bottle of Glenfarclas 1953 Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. And we couldn’t be happier!

Its a 58 year old whisky, and the oldest Glenfarclas has ever released. Bottled at cask strength and non-chill filtered, this is actually a piece of history more than a bottle of Whisky. Thank you to Glenfarclas for digging deep into there Dunnage warehouse and dragging this ancient Whisky out for the world to enjoy.

More to come on this historic Whisky Later… there is a book written by Ian Buxton, and a wealth of literature that came with it too.

UPDATE: Press Release

I got around to opening the press release which came on a fairly impressive brushed aluminium card shape USB Pen. The gist of it was this:

Glenfarclas launches limited edition single malt – the oldest whisky in its history
The Glenfarclas distillery has launched a 58-year-old whisky – the oldest spirit ever to leave its walls. Only 400 numbered single cask bottles will be put on the market.

The single cask whisky launched by Glenfarclas is the oldest spirit released so far by the distillery. The privilege of exclusive access to the distillery’s rarest and oldest stock, the remaining 4 casks distilled in 1953, were given by George Grant, of Glenfarclas to a panel comprised of Serge Valentin, a whisky connoisseur and a key member of the internationally renowned Malt Maniacs, Ben Ellefsen, Sales Director for Master of Malt (Whisky Magazine’s ‘Global Online Retailer of the Year’ 2012), Michał Kowalski of Wealth Solutions and George Grant himself. The panel was unanimous in their selection, and cask #1674 was selected to be bottled.

The carefully chosen cask began its life in Spain, where it was used to mature and then transport fine sherry to Scotland. It was bought by Glenfarclas and filled with whisky on 20 November 1953. After 58 years of slow maturation in Glenfarclas’ traditional Highland Dunnage warehouses, the 1953 cask yielded only 400 full 70 cl bottles. The whisky was bottled at cask strength of 47.2% abv and, of course, is naturally coloured and non-chill filtered.

Layer upon layer of flavour. A splendid old whisky; still lively, and not displaying any woodiness. Much influenced by the American oak cask, but wholly beneficially. Best enjoyed unreduced. Cheerful and
friendly at natural strength, said Charles MacLean, a writer and whisky connoisseur, summarising his appraisal of the spirit. This exceptional whisky deserves a special setting. Each bottle is accompanied
by a special book written by Ian Buxton, a well-known Scotch whisky enthusiast and writer, the author of the official history of the Glenfarclas distillery entitled Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery. The whole set is enclosed in a plain oak box.

For more information contact:
Ben Ellefsen: Telephone: +44 (0)7816 661657. E-mail: ben@masterofmalt.com.

The book which comes with the whisky is authored by the prolific whisky writter Ian Buxton, and is a very nifty letter box shape hardback. The images, as you would expect, are beautiful featuring various aspects of the distillery, and a rather nice two page spread of a snow covered distillery. Other contents are a tasting notes section written by Charles Maclean and some nice historical information.

Glenfarclass 1953 Tasting notes
by Charles MacLean
WHISKY AUTHOR & EXPERT

Appearance: The colour of Golden Syrup: ex-Sherry U.S. oak refill ? Oily legs and moderate beading.
Aroma: (straight) A mild nosefeel. Very clean, fresh and highly perfumed — the scent fills the room: hair lacquer, shampoo, face cream, almond oil (and pounded flaked almonds). I was reminded of an oldfashioned barber’s shop. Beyond this, a fruity complex which includes fresh apricots and dried figs, and the gradual emergence of sweet tablet. (@ c40%) Even a drop of water reduces the aroma. After a while some rich vanilla sponge emerges — even steamed syrup pudding, very slightly burnt. The latter develops into scorched brown paper.
Taste: (straight) Smooth and fresh; not as sweet as expected. Centre palate and quite tannic/mouth drying, with some spice. A long, rounded, warming finish. (@ 40%) Still smooth, fresh and lightly sweet; a trace of ginger in the warming aftertaste.
Development: Warm sand and sand-dunes, with sun-tan oil.
Comment: Layer upon layer of flavour. A splendid old whisky; still lively, and not displaying any woodiness. Much influenced by the American oak cask

You can see from this video that the Whisky is Being aimed at polish Investors, watch the video to learn more.

Bowmore is launching a new 40%ABV expression in the UK called “Bowmore Small Batch Reserve”.

Aged in 1st and & second fill bourbon casks, and married for an extended period of maturation, this expression is Bowmore’s most delicate and best balanced yet.

The combination of the Bowmore spirit and ex Bourbon casks is widely regarded as the perfect marriage as demonstrated by the layers of sweet vanilla that are said to live within this whisky. Bowmore Small Batch Reserve is available from May at around £30.

As Bowmore’s lightest and most delicate expression to date, Small Batch Reserve has been developed especially for the discerning whisky drinker wishing to explore the Islay Single Malt category.

Launched in response to increased consumer demand for limited edition, collectable and small batch whiskies, Bowmore’s new proposition is just that. Small Batch Reserve is vatted in restricted quantities and is created from a careful hand selection of North American Oak casks brought together to produce a unique expression.

First-fill bourbon casks offer vanilla sweetness, subtle spices and bourbon oak smoke to complement Bowmore’s gentle peaty smokiness, while the second-fill casks enhance Bowmore’s fresh fruity complexity and showcases its trademark honey and creamy malt character. During the marrying period, they combine to create an exceedingly complex expression.

Rachel Barrie, Master Blender of Morrison Bowmore Distillers, says:

Bowmore Small Batch Reserve encapsulates the perfect harmony of nature’s elements on a summer’s day on Islay. The sweetest smoked barley and highest quality bourbon oak casks have created a vanilla elixir with ripe orchard fruits, honeycomb and teasing wispy smoke. Relax, take it easy and enter Islay time with the harmonious taste of Small Batch Reserve.

Experience the delicious, if not unusual, combination of Bowmore Small Batch Reserve accompanied withsome high-quality vanilla ice cream drizzled with olive oil and a sprinkling of sea-salt. See how the vanilla ice cream brings out the sweet vanilla from the first- and second-fill bourbon casks, the olive oil complements the Bowmorepeat smoke, while the salt highlights the trademark Bowmore sea-salt tang.

Small Batch Reserve Tasting Notes:
Colour: warm gold
Nose: Breathe in vanilla fudge, sea air and peat smoke, balanced beautifully by honeycomb and cinnamon spice
Taste: Sip mouth-watering citrus, gentle saltiness and vanilla with flakes of coconut
Savour the wispy smoke, bourbon vanilla and lime finish

Whisky Fest 2012 is a yearly festival that world duty free holds to show off new whiskies old some classics too nd to give some very nice discounts. The festival revolved around discounts and Experienced staff who are regularly involved in tasting and training sessions to give you some goood advice.

You can receive 20-35% off the high street price of a bottle of whisky at the festival which is run/organised by the travel retailer www.worlddutyfree.com. Looking at their site I can see 37% off the Aberfeldy 21 Year Old for £58.99, which is pretty decent. The biggest discount I found was 69% on the Canadian Club.

Here is what they say:

Following on from previous festivals, we’ll once again be introducing you to the world’s most exciting releases, from fine single malts, single grains and bourbons to great blended whiskies.

Whether you’re a long-time connoisseur or you’ve just begun to develop an appreciation for the noble spirit, we have plenty to excite your palate, arouse your interest and reward your good taste.

In fact, with every bottle at least 20% less than the Average UK High Street price – and many 35% off during WHISKY FEST ’12 – the savings on offer (calculated by surveying over 50 stores including the leading supermarkets, high street and department stores), will prove as satisfying as the whiskies.

If you want to keep up with world of whiskies, being the modern social media animals we all are: you can follow them on Twitter and on Facebook.

Trying to remember the last whisky I bought at an Airport, I remember buying Tomintoul 16 (The Gentle Dram) on teh way back from islay and being very happy with it when I got it home.

Looking around I also found this competition for the chance to win an awesome sounding world whisky tour.

Also reading A PDF I see they are doing a cheap hip flask too with every purchase, if you like that sort of thing. Nice.

Sponsored post

Suit the occasion: For a man to have just one suit in his wardrobe is like a woman having just one dress. If your budget will only stretch to three, then choose a formal, tailored, single-breasted suit in a dark, muted colour for work; a formal dinner jacket ensemble for evening events and weddings; and a well-cut but more casual suit in a lighter fabric such as linen for daytime weddings, garden parties, and other events where you need to look smart without going over the top.

Tailor made or off the shelf?: Some men maintain that a suit has to be tailor made to truly fit properly, but if you choose a quality make then that isn’t necessarily the case. Shopping on a budget? Check out the Next range of mens suits, UK. A good tip if you’re buying off the shelf is to pair up seperates – particularly if you’re athletic, you may find that a correctly fitting jacket will be the size up from your trouser measurement.

Black Tailored Fit Shawl Collar Suit from Next

Consider hiring: Unless you’ve got a penchant for terribly formal parties or are a member of the diplomatic service, you’re unlikely to wear a tuxedo more than four or five times in your life. Rather than splashing out on a custom mad tux, therefore, you may want to consider hiring one. The same goes for occasions which demand the kind of suit that you wouldn’t normally wear. There are several online suit hire companies that offer a good range of suits at reasonable rates.

What to look for: Whether buying or hiring a suit, there are three things you need to look for: fabric, style and cut. When it comes to fabric, 100% wool is generally the best option – it breathes well and looks stylish. Other options include linen, usually used for summer suits and polyester. The style of the suit will be dictated by the occasion, but to make sure a suit fits correctly check that the collar hugs the back of your neck without buckling your shirt, the sleeves end where your wrist meets your hand, and the waistband isn’t too tight to fit a finger into.

Berry Bros. & Rudd has bottled a limited edition of just 100 bottles from a Sherry Cask of The Glenrothes 1998 Speyside, Single Malt Whisky to commemorate the centenary of the heroic efforts of the Countess of Rothes aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic.

The Whisky replicates the stock lost by Berry Bros when the Titanic foundered a century ago. 69 cases of wine, Champagne and Whisky destined for the US didn’t make it.

Berry Bros. & Rudd released limited edition Single Cask Malt Whisky to commemorate heroism of Countess Rothes, the Titanic’s “Plucky Little Countess” and commemorates centenary of the sinking of RMS Titanic, April 15, 1912.

The Countess of Rothes, the title originating from the Speyside town where this Malt Whisky was distilled, was aboard the ship when it struck the iceberg. She took the tiller and later to the oars of life boat No. 8 during the life-threatening moments and it is said that her efforts contributed to the survival of the boats occupants.

She was given the additional title of the “Plucky Little Countess” following the 33 year old’s action. A contemporary account at the time relates “The countess is an expert oarswoman,” said Dr. Leader. “She practically took command of our boat when it was found that the seamen who had been placed at the oars could not row skilfully. Several of the women took their place with the countess at the oars and rowed in turns while the weak and unskilled stewards sat quietly in one end of the boat.”

Just 100 bottles of the special edition whisky will be released, priced at £100 each. Every bottle in the edition is individually numbered on replica labels from the early-1900s. The bottles used replicate the Edwardian style of those lost to the depths of the Atlantic.

Ledgers in the Berry Bros. & Rudd archive show that of the 24 bottles lost, 10 bottles of Berrys’ Best malt whisky were destined to be delivered to an Esmond Ovey Esq at the British Embassy in Washington. Later Sir Esmond Ovey, the gentleman in question had a glittering diplomatic career serving as an envoy to Mexico and ambassador to Moscow, Belgium, the Argentine Republic and Paraguay. Esmond was uncle to Michael Palin – where our latter-day Phileas Fogg perhaps inherited his travelling genes.

Douglas McIvor, Berrys’ Spirits Manager chose the 13 year old single cask matured in Oloroso barrels for its distinctive vanilla, deep citrus, dried fruits, figs, coffee and spice nose together with the characteristic deep fruity notes and honeyed texture of The Glenrothes on the palate. He adds that the whisky shows the aromas of Brazil nuts with a liquorice edge and a lingering sweet fruitiness balanced with soft oak tannins on the finish.

Simon Berry, Chairman of Berry Bros. & Rudd, who commissioned the making of this unique whisky, said:

“Berrys’ has a long tradition of vatting as well as selling the finest whiskies. One hundred years ago, we lost some of our finest malt when the RMS Titanic struck an iceberg. It is 100 years since the tragic loss of this iconic ship but the launch of this bottling from The Glenrothes is our way to commemorate that fateful night as much as the achievements The Countess of Rothes – undoubtedly of one of the night’s heroines.”

Whether thsi is your kind of thing or not, you will have to keep your eyes peeled if you want to grab a bottle, as its sold out (as these things tend to). You will have to aquire your titanic whisky another way, which tends to get expensive.

We are giving away a copy of “Cutty Sark: The making of a Whisky Brand” worth £25 (at least that’s the price on the back.).

Our own James Dawkins is a huge fan of the branding and style of Cutty Sark, and so this book really apeals to him and we think it will apeal to you to.

Here is a description of the book pinched from amazon:

Cutty Sark – the whisky, not the ship – was launched in 1923 and went on to become one of the most popular whiskies in the world. The first Scotch whisky to sell more than 1 million cases annually in the USA it was noted for its light colour and easy mixability. In this unique, full colour volume, editor Ian Buxton has assembled a top team of whisky experts to tell the colourful story behind ‘the real McCoy’. With exclusive access to historical archives we meet the blenders behind the whisky, explore its rise and rise through Prohibition and post-war recovery, and discover new and exciting cocktail recipes specially created for the book. Contributions from Helen Arthur, Dave Broom, Ian Buxton, Charles MacLean, Marcin Miller, Martine Nouet, Paul Pacult, Gary Regan, Neil Ridley and Gavin D Smith.

– http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cutty-Sark-Making-Whisky-Brand/dp/1780270267

There is Loads of other cool branded Cutty Sark stuff here: http://www.cutty-sark.com/shop/catalog.asp?class=cool-branded-stuff

Anyway, if you want a copy you have to work for it! Go to Facebook by clicking here…and share our picture of the book, or leave an interesting comment on this article.

Terms and Conditions

• Entry is open to residents of the UK except employees (and their families) of WhiskyTimes and its parent company, DNR Commerce.
• The entrant(s) must be aged 18 or over.
• Use of a false name or address will result in disqualification.
• All entries must be made directly by the person entering the competition.
• Entries made online using methods generated by a script, macro or the use of automated devices will be void.
• Entries close at Midnight, 30th April 2012 and a lucky winner will be picked on 1st May 2012.
• No responsibility can be accepted for entries lost, delayed or corrupted, or due to error in transit.
• The prizes are as stated, are not transferable to another individual and no cash or other alternatives will be offered.
• The promoters reserve the right to amend or alter the terms of competitions and reject entries from entrants not entering into the spirit of the competition.
• Unless stated otherwise the winner will be drawn at random from all correct entries received by the closing date stated.
• Reasonable efforts will be made to contact the winner. The winner must respond within 7 days. If the winner cannot be contacted, or are unable to comply with these terms and conditions, the promoter reserves the right to offer the prize to the next eligible entrant drawn at random.
• The winner agrees to the use of their name and will co-operate with any other reasonable requests by WhiskyTimes relating to any post-winning publicity.
• Competitions may be modified or withdrawn at any time.
• The Promoter is WhiskyTimes, Contact us here.

Branding is massively important in the consumer Whisky world, if you mess with the brand you can do long lasting damage to not only sales, but also the public perception of your brand. So any change in packaging is a BIG deal, and especially when changing an element in an already highly recognisable visual brand.

So it’s important. “Yes we get it already” I hear you say, “why did they change in that case?”.

Well I will let them answer that, in the press release Bowmore say:

The changes are also in response to consumer demand for a greater level of education on the taste experience and the history of the whisky and as such the new packaging communicates the brand’s unique status as the first Islay Single Malt and its 200 years worth of experience and heritage.

The new look reinforces Bowmore’s ‘gift-ability’ as it features a greater level of foiling and gloss embossing thus creating shelf stand-out. The updated distillery illustration has a warmer and more emotive look and feel that strongly conveys the whisky’s roots, that is the magical island of Islay, giving category differentiation and shelf appeal. The design of the bottle has also been enhanced, with the label featuring a sleeker look to ensure back bar stand-out and differentiation.

So you might read that as, Bowmore are moving with the times. The Whisky market is becoming much more educated through social media, brand outreach and blogs like this one, so Bowmore are responding to its customers demands by providing more info on a flat easy to read box rather than a cyclinder. You may also read into that that they are being smart with the design to help increase sales in retail with a better looking box for consumers and a more ‘easy to spot in a crowd’ bottle label to help sell more in bars.

There is of course the obligitory Green, Eco side to this move which we commend:

Bowmore’s recent modifications have also improved the brand’s environmental credentials considerably. The new bottle is made of a lighter weight glass and the new cartons are completely recyclable, all of which significantly reduces the brand’s carbon footprint.

I think you can see the old branding coming through into the new Design, but in an evolved and updated format. The old Branding was a bit tired, but when I visited the distillery last year it still looked fantastic, perhaps that was just because so much Whisky in once place always looks good ;o)

What do you think of the new packaging/branding?

New Bowmore Expressions

Bowmore 100 Proof

The term ‘proof spirit’ was first coined by British sailors during the 18th century who would check that their rum rations hadn’t been watered down by mixing it with gunpowder and lighting it. If it would still light, this proved it was 100% proof. There is no need to verify Bowmore’s authenticity or strength; the new small batch release Bowmore 100 Degrees Proof is cask-strength and non-chill filtered.

Tastings notes:

• Colour: Rich auburn
• Nose: Fresh Islay sea air, subtle sweet malt and oak smoke
• Palate: Rich luscious smokiness, balanced with sweet caramelised sugar, vanilla and citrus notes
• Finish: Powerful and warm
• RRP: £49.99

Bowmore Springtide

The new expression takes its name from the high tide of spring, when the earth, sun and moon are all aligned. Predominantly matured in first-fill Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, this beautifully rich expression is packaged in a super premium gift pack, the perfect purchase both as a gift and for the whisky enthusiast.

• Colour: Warm bronze
• Nose: Abound in chocolate and sticky figs, which balance perfectly against the classic sea-salt peatiness
• Palate: Rich in treacle toffee with raisins and dark sherry
• Finish: Lingering smoky finish
• RRP: £120.00
  

Bowmore 1983

The new expression takes its name from the high tide of spring, when the earth, sun and moon are all aligned. Predominantly matured in first-fill Spanish Oloroso sherry casks, this beautifully rich expression is packaged in a super premium gift pack, the perfect purchase both as a gift and for the whisky enthusiast.

• Colour: Brilliant bronze
• Nose: Just a touch of fresh Atlantic sea-salt followed by Bowmore’s signature peat smoke with a hint of delicious ripe blackberry
• Palate: Captures the essence of Bowmore – earthy peat balanced by a gentle fruitiness
• Finish: Lingers on with fresh fruit and peat notes at the very end
• RRP: £500.00
  

What do you think of the new expressions?

One of the hottest most talked about topics of late has been the new startup website, whisky blender. Personally we love the concept, the design and the execution of this venture, we can see the aspiration and the spirit of adventure in the site that reminds us a lot of what the whisky blog-o-sphere and enthusiast community is capable of.

As with all commercial ventures and concepts though, we quickly lose interest; it’s not a insult or even a nod towards any negativity, it’s just the nature of attention and people. We all see something new, evaluate its merits, discuss the idea and then often lose interest as the topic/idea/paradigm becomes old news.

However what I personally will never lose interest in is… a story, and especially an ever on-going story with great characters, adversity, success, failure and all the other things associated with an Epic. Having spoken with the chaps behind Whisky Blender I quickly realised that is exactly what was going on and I was desperate to help get that story shared with the world (or at least our little world!).

So here for you, is a story. A story about two guys, whisky, dreams and a thirst for success! Written in the format of an interview, here is the whisky blenders past, present and future and why it has came to be.

Tell us about Whisky Blender

Quite simply, it’s a brand new website which allows its visitors the opportunity to blend their very own personalised bottle of Scotch whisky. You visit the site and start your blending adventure in our virtual lab. Here you are presented with an empty bottle and the ability to cycle through the seven different whisky options available to pick from in order to fill up your bottle. These quality whisky options were handpicked by our expert John Lamond – who is a Master of Malt, published whisky author and all-round guid lad – who sampled them before writing up a very brief (but descriptive) tasting note, as well as an evocative title, for each one. Once the bottle is full there is an opportunity to check the blend and make any last minute tweaks before proceeding to name it and crown yourself as the blender on the bottle’s handwritten and stylish label. Each bottle blended is recorded in our database and given a unique bottle code. Feeding this code into a field on our Bottle Store will bring up your blend again. So even if you didn’t want to buy it there and then, you can return to the site without having to go through the whole procedure again (but also with the opportunity to tweak it once more) before checking out. That’s about the gist of it to be honest.

Why did you set up the website?

There’s a few reasons for this I guess. We wanted to create something to allow people a simple way to own a unique bottle of blended Scotch whisky (or blended malt Scotch whisky); one which they’ve not only had a say into how it tastes and what it’s called but also to have a little bit of fun in the process. Or at least, that’s the idea we had for the site which made us set it up. How the idea came about is probably more relevant. Basically we just wanted to do something. Anything. Being huge whisky fans for years now we have attended festivals, watched reviews, taken classes, visited distilleries and enjoyed their tours… but we weren’t part of it. Or more accurately, no part of it was ours. Around two years ago, after getting fairly well lubricated at the Whisky An’ A’ That Festival in Ayr then grabbing some scran, touring the local pubs and napping on the train back to Glasgow only to hit another watering hole, we started talking. Drunkenly brainstorming (as we often do) what kinds of things we felt would be cool to do; more importantly, that two plebs from the Glasgow area could do. Then, EUREKA!

What was the inspiration?

First and foremost, the inspiration was undoubtedly whisky. We’d been drinking it all afternoon and were most definitely “under the influence”. I’m not saying that beer didn’t have a part to play here but it’s far more poetic to give credit to the whisky. In all seriousness though we’ve been ‘into’ whisky our whole adult lives and this in itself inspired the project. I’d say that being Scottish was a big element too, without sounding overly patriotic, I guess we had a sense of ownership over Scotch or perhaps it has ownership over us and we feel the need to pay something back. Whatever the relationship actually is there’s a feeling of pride. We’re proud of Scotland for producing such an incredible, inspiring, mysterious and all-out quality drink. Also we were inspired by the fact that on several occasions we’ve been known to blend our own bottles (using the dregs of near finished ones) and were often very impressed with the results. This is something we would recommend anyone with a few ‘less-than-half-full’ bottles to try too. It’s  fun!

What’s your best blend so far?

We don’t taste the blends that come in, however we have ‘reblended’ a few out of our own curious natures and are pleasantly reminded of what a great idea this is. Hahahah! So as for the best blend, I’m not sure. Personally I’ve always had trouble rating whisky. I know a lot of people score whisky and I think that’s great. I guess I’m not strict enough for that and consider myself more of a casual whisky fan and tend not to review them too intensely. If I like it I’ll recommend it to someone and if I don’t I’ll say so – but all too often I’ll try something again and have an entirely different opinion; this phenomenon does not bode well for a scoring system in my book (certainly not one which I am prepared to curate myself). It all seems a little too definitive for something so unpredictable. Especially in the case of our blends as the whisky is getting thrown together and then immediately corked. Different whiskies are often left in a cask to marry together. The cask breathes and the air helps this process. This is not the same in the bottle. So the blend will change over time as the bottle is opened, poured, left; open, poured, left; open, poured and so on and so forth. As oxygen and time is introduced the whisky grows and finds its balance. Your first dram will be unrecognisable compared to the last… another reason we find whisky so exciting (is that sad?) and Whisky Blender so awesome!

What does the future hold?

Who knows? That’s the short answer. We get emails all the time asking us if we’re going to do this, introduce that, etc… it’s all very exciting and we love the suggestions. The site has only been operating about two months and we’ve still not included all the features that we’d originally planned to (a lot was omitted from the ‘launch version’ of the site in order to get it out before Christmas) and we’re now working to get as much of this in as possible. Things which we are currently working on are an HTML version of the site (for devices such as iPad) as well as a mobile version of the site. We also want to allow people to submit video reviews of their blends to us to assist future customers when deciding how best to go about blending their bottle. We’re also going to begin filming short videos ourselves to educate people and make the whole experience more involved, clear and fun! Ideas we’re throwing about are limited edition whisky options, alternative bottle sizes, competitions and additional ‘add-on’ products (like gift box, whisky glasses, etc..) so stay tuned.

What is your favorite whisky memory?

I’m confident that some of my favourite whisky ‘memories’ never quite made it as memories, haha! I guess I need a story though… um… we were over in Paris visiting our good friend, Nick, who moved there a few years ago. We coordinated our visit to coincide with Whisky Live and had a good old ‘sample’ before hitting the streets of Paris to see what the pubs were like. Well, it’s no Glasgow, I can tell you that! Either Paris has very little to offer for a good night out or Nick is a horrible guide (I am inclined to blame Nick entirely). We drank the night away and had a fantastic time despite not really feeling all that comfortable in any of the bars he took us to – which in turn transformed the night into some kind of French pub crawl. The company was good, that’s all that mattered. After exhausting all Nick’s horrible haunts it was time to get the Metro back to his flat to raid his whisky cabinet. Feeling fu’ from the predominantly alcohol-themed day we relied on Nick to get us home safely (given he lived there and we couldn’t even speak French). After being on this train for what felt like forever it suddenly dawned on me that Nick mentioned he was only six or seven stops away… and something did not feel right. Suddenly the train stops in a dark tunnel which was definitely not a station. No sooner had we realised there were was nobody other than us the lights went out and we were in complete darkness. Drunk, confused, frightened and alone. We see a shadowy figure pass by the window. The driver? He’s left his cabin and walked straight passed the three pished Scotsmen sitting in the locked carriage. We say nothing, our minds scramble and then we roll around laughing in the empty, silent, foreign prison of a carriage. Hahahahah! All was fine though and apparently the Metro does this at the end of the line. The driver gets out and moves to the other side of the train, starts it up again and makes his way down the line again. Nick had taken us to the wrong side of the station and we travelled away from his stop instead of towards it. We were underground for about four times the amount of time it should have taken because Nick is a nightmare. The rest of the night was spent drinking more whisky and discussing a parrot who imitated the doorbell.

If you could change one thing about the whisky world what would it be?

The whisky world is a delicate balance of many elements and it extends much farther than I have explored yet. Because of this I would be frightened to change even one element of it in case it disturbed that balance and somehow affected all the things I currently love about it. Things I really love in the “whisky world” are enthusiasm, banter, adventure and honesty. The energy that some of the whisky fans have, and the genuine love for whisky they display to their readers/viewers, is absolutely outstanding. Blogs like this very one here in fact; born out of sheer enjoyment and then carried by mutual appreciation. Love that! Videos like the ones Ralfy puts out there in YouTube land; sharing his own findings and interpretations to help, guide and evoke discussion with fellow malt-muppets (or whatever his most recent shout-out might be). Great whisky shops like the Good Spirits Co. on Bath Street, Glasgow; where it’s not about bargains, or a quick sale and instead they are there to actually chat to the customer and genuinely help them find what they are looking for. Writers like John Lamond, a man who holds one of the best courses on Whisky you could ever wish to be on (someone who will tell you straight up what the score is and exactly what he thinks of it). The whisky fans tweeting all day because they just love the stuff. Festivals like Glasgow’s Whisky Festival or Whisky An’ Ai That in Ayr. All the People who don’t do it for the money (sure, perhaps they get money but it’s certainly not the reason behind it). The little people are what I love about the whisky World – the ones on the forums and at the festivals having a good time. People who save a nice bottle specifically to share it with their friends. People with a passion who go out and do stuff; and when I hear about something whisky-related that sounds really interesting, it’s made all the more awesome when it’s not some big faceless corporation. When you find out that behind it all it’s just two wee plebs from the Glasgow area. Yes, I did just bring it back to us and say that I think we’re awesome… again. So what I would change, I guess, would be very little.

Vistit the site: www.whiskyblender.com

A big thanks to Andrew Nicolson for help putting this together and being a sport. We wish you every success in the venture and hope your whisky dreams come true.

I read somewhere that Jim Murray, of whisky bible fame, liked to cleanse his pallet with coffee before a tasting, and since his answer to fiona beckets question “what type of coffee”, was “any” I gargled down a starbucks pouchy instant thing and say down to a big ol’ glug of Nectar D’or.

Glenmorangie Nectar D’or Review

Glenmorangie’s Nectar D’or is on of a trio of expressions I know including the Quinta Ruban and the Lastanta. Each of these expressions are finished in different maturation casks to become “extra matured”.

• Quinta Ruben – Port cask finished
• Lasatnta – Sherry Cask Finished
• Nectar D’or – Sauternes wine cask finsihed

So with a few recomendations i’ve heard about it before and a open mind to trying a new whisky expression I would like to try to introduce you to the Glenmorangie Nectar d’or.

Nose/smell:
Having opened this and let it breathe a little at room temp it is sweet, white grape, vanilla and honey coconut. It maybe just slightly takes me back to late eighties holidays in Spain and remember piña colada in a nice way. coconut, citrus in drinks and a childish easy going nature. That’s the nose.

Taste:
Jim Murray says:

“Great to see French casks that actually complement a whisky – so rare! An exercise in outrageously good sweet-dry balancing”

http://www.glenmorangie.com/our-whiskies/nectar-dor

Thin upfront flavours gradually break over into more tastey american nought flavours like a wave of taste breaking on the coast before releasing their true flavours. Coconuts > ginger spices > limes > more spice.

Finish:
The finish is long, and has an edge of white dryness which never oversteps the line but is always there along side a sweet side which never take control either. The influence of the grapes on the whisky are very nice and though I’m not a big white wine drinker, this whisky seems to conjure the bits I do like about white wine in the finish leaving out all the stuff I don’t.

Whisky Review conclusion:

This is the first Sauternes finished whisky I’ve tried, and its likely I would have shyed away from them for a lot longer if a nice chap called Mr Miller had not send me a odd looking little sample. You see, finishing a whisky in a cask that used to be home to a drink I would not normally drink makes me less inclined to buy it, however the magic that happens in the wood means you don’t just get an amalgam of the two drinks, you get something completely new, and I am glad i tried this because I now will try more of this whisky breed. And if you have not tried a Sauternes finished whisky the I suggest you do too.

Also: keep an eye out for our nectar d’or review coming out soon.

Here is what thier press release says:

Glenmorangie is proud to announce the launch of Artein, the third release in the award-winning Private Edition range. Scots Gaelic for stone, Artein is an assemblage of 15 and 21 year old single malts, extra matured in Super Tuscan wine casks.

Stone has always been at the heart of the making of Glenmorangie; unusually, the distillery uses hard water from its own source – the Tarlogie Spring – which slowly filters through layers of limestone, adding rich minerals that contribute to the whisky’s complex fruity aromas. The Hilton of Cadboll Stone, an ancient stone of symbolic significance, stands close to the distillery and has been used as a motif for the whisky.

Widely regarded as an innovator and pioneer in extra maturation, Dr Bill Lumsden, Head of Distilling and Whisky Creation, felt strong affinity with a highly-talented group of Super Tuscan producers, celebrated for breaking with Italian wine tradition. Tuscany’s rugged, stony coastal hills seem an improbable area for vineyards. However, the stones play an important role in the development of these fine wines as the vines delve deep into the soil seeking nourishment; the intense flavor of the grapes is a result of this terroir.

Dr Lumsden comments:

“Wine is one of my huge passions and I was fascinated by the role stony ground played in cultivating the vines – therefore influencing the flavour profile of the famed Super Tuscan wines. I was inspired to experiment with extra maturing Glenmorangie in these wine casks and was thrilled with the result – a rich, outstandingly fragrant whisky – born of stone.”

Glenmorangie Artein has been crafted from hand-selected American white oak ex-bourbon casks of 15 year old and 21 year old whiskies (in the ratio of 2:1) subsequently extra-matured in Super Tuscan wine casks.

Glenmorangie Artein has a nose of ripe red berries, honeysuckle and fresh mint. On the palate, ripe apricots, peaches and plums harmonise gracefully with hints of spearmint and cherries in milk chocolate. Glenmorangie Artein has a long finish with high notes of zesty, lemon sherbet and a flourish of creamy cappuccino.

Bottled at 46% ABV, Glenmorangie Artein will be available globally, and in the UK at specialist retailers at £69.99.

Glenmorangie Artein joins the Private Edition range, comprising the highly-esteemed Finealta and Sonnalta, named Best Single Malt Scotch* by Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible 2012.

* No Age Statement (Multiple Casks) category

www.glenmorangie.com