Archives for October 2015

The English Whisky Co release another Limited Edition first for England!

October 13, 2015 by Gary Leave a Comment

The English Whisky Co release another Limited Edition first for England!

The English Whisky Co will release a Triple Distilled Single Malt Whisky on Thursday 15th October.

This is the 1st Triple Distilled English whisky to be bottled and released in their Chapter Range. A wonderfully light and gentle style of whisky that is normally the preserve of Irish whiskey makers.

Our triple distilled whisky, known as Chapter 17 is a very limited release of 900 bottles from one of our first batches. We wanted to try a triple distilled to see how different it would be from our double distillation whiskies; the result has been a lighter, more delicate whisky that still retains the glorious taste profile normally associated with our whiskies.

We are delighted with the result and look forward to releasing further batches in the years to come.
– Andrew Nelstrop: The English Whisky Co distillery owner

The English Whisky Co. has had another successful year picking up several awards: It has been awarded 2 Great Taste Gold Awards for it’s Chapter 15 and Nelstrop’s PX. It has also been awarded 15 Liquid Gold awards by Jim Murray as well as being named as producer of European Whisky of the Year 2015.

Tasting notes: Triple Distilled Single Malt Whisky

Aroma: Vanilla custard, slightly citrus with a hint of orange, spotted dick and rich dark chocolate. Creamy toffee and butterscotch. Subtle notes of liquorice.

Taste: Vanilla, light citrus fruits. Slightly dry, dark chocolate, light honey. Again the subtle liquorice is there.

Paul John Whisky: The Tweet Tasters Get Bold!

October 12, 2015 by Gary Leave a Comment

Barley from the Himalayas & peat from Islay – who could ask for more?!

Paul John Indian Whisky is soon to release a Peated expression called Bold and thanks to Steve from The Whisky Wire, I was given a chance to sample it as part of a Monday nights Tweet Tasting.

The unusually named Paul John Whisky takes its name from the chairman of John Distilleries based in Goa, India and in 2012 the Paul John Whisky brand launched in the UK.

Using barley from the foothills of the Himalayas, which is harvested in the summer, they double distil their spirit in traditional copper pot stills where it is then filled into hand selected American oak barrels for maturation.

If you want to catch up on what all the tasters had to say you can view the tweets by searching for the hash tag #PaulJohnWhisky on Twitter.

Tasting Notes – Paul John Whisky – Bold (46%)

No age statement, non-chill filtered. Made using peat from Islay & matured in American Oak Bourbon barrels for at least 4-5 years. It is due to be released soon with a RRP of £45.00.

Nose: Warm sweet peat, not too heavy fruit, leather & new plasticine! Add a hint of smokiness … but not much and a few little green apples & that’s quite a nose!

Palate: Woo! That packs a bit of a punch! Sweet, syrupy fruits, pepper & a little tobacco. After a time I started to get some fiery peat – most invigorating!

Finish: Smidge of liquorice, some serious pepper, fire and charred wood. My insides are glowing nicely! A long finish with tannin and tobacco lingering.

Overall: Bit of an un-tamed beast is the Bold but then I do like my wildlife so that’s alright! It comes across as a little un-balanced but there’s plenty of flavour and if it fails to warm your cockles then you must be a snowman!

Many thanks to Steve at The Whisky Wire (@TheWhiskyWire) for a great dram evening.

And of course, Paul John Whisky (@PaulJohnWhisky), for sending the samples and without whom!

My fellow Tweeters were:-

@WhiskyDiscovery @DrinksEnthusist @Whisky_Magazine @AlpacaJo @WhiskyQuarterly @TheWhiskyphiles @raithrover @WhiskyCorner @cowfish @GreatDrams @tabarakRazvi @whiskyrepublic @kizzsmyth @kaskwhisky @NeilMacKinnon1 @abbeywhisky @angelshareglass @msykesjones @cache1337 @PWulf @MashtunandMeow @steveprentice @TheGreenWelly @Jamie_Rowley @adam2c @bobsta1975 @WhiskyMattY @julie_gwc @rodbodtoo @mnshanbhag @GeorgeHHutton @Smokiechops @TheWhiskyKiwi @pimpleandblotch @B_R_74 @Jassys1961 @JoeFHolmes @Andrews_Share @WhiskyFriends @WhiskySpeller @Girl_Whisky @sjoerd972 @LaCaveDeCobalt

Paul John Whisky is available to buy from these Whisky Merchants:-

Edencroft Fine Wine & Spirit Specialists
Abbey Whisky
Master of Malt
The Whisky Exchange
Whisky Online
The Whisky Barrel
The Green Welly Stop

That Boutique-y Whisky Company New Arrivals From Abbey Whisky!

October 12, 2015 by Gary Leave a Comment

Paul John Batch 1 – That Boutique-y Whisky Company
£ 98.40

New Arrivals

GlenDronach Revival / 15 Year Old
£ 46.90
Country: Scotland
Region: Highland
Age: 15 Years Old
Strength: 46%
70cl

Paul John Batch 1 – That Boutique-y Whisky Company
£ 98.40
Country: India
Region: Indian
Age:
Strength: 55.5%
50cl

Heaven Hill Batch 1 – That Boutique-y Whisky Company
£ 84.12
Country: America
Region: American
Age:
Strength: 50%
50cl

Port Charlotte Batch 1 – That Boutique-y Whisky Company
£ 73.68
Country: Scotland
Region:
Age:
Strength: 52.4%
50cl

Lagavulin Batch 1 – That Boutique-y Whisky Company
£ 129.60
Country: Scotland
Region: Islay
Age:
Strength: 54.5%
50cl

FEW Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye Whiskey
£ 89.88
Country: America
Region: American
Age:
Strength: 58.7%
75cl

Chivas Unveils New ‘Art of Hosting’ Limited Edition Pack!

October 8, 2015 by Gary Leave a Comment

Chivas Art of Hosting pack

Chivas Regal has partnered with Apolis, the socially motivated lifestyle brand, for the latest instalment of Chivas Art of Hosting. The new limited edition pack will inspire today’s gentlemen to share the brand’s spirit of generosity and will be available globally from middle of October.

As part of the iconic Scotch’s ongoing dedication to social initiatives, Chivas Regal approached Apolis to design a new and bespoke set of glass tumblers to be included in the Art of Hosting gift pack. The companies worked to take the partnership further and have joined forces to create an inspiring new social initiative that will empower existing craft communities.

The collaboration provides surplus glass from the manufacture of the Art of Hosting tumblers to Studio Xaquixe – an artisan glass-blowing collective from Mexico – for upcycling into luxury glass items. The resulting handcrafted wares will then be made available to purchase on the newly created platform, the Apolis Global Citizen Exchange.

Hosting is all about sharing, and the Chivas Art of Hosting tumbler pack is for socially conscious modern gentlemen who recognise the spirit of generosity in more ways than one. Chivas is delighted to have partnered with Apolis to help a community achieve a fairer and more sustainable future.
– Richard Black: Chivas Regal Global Brand Director

The Chivas Art of Hosting pack contains two Apolis-designed tumblers and a bottle of Chivas 12 Year Old Scotch whisky.

Macphails & Old Pulteney New Arrivals From Abbey Whisky!

October 6, 2015 by Gary Leave a Comment

Old Pulteney 1989 Vintage – Lightly Peated
£ 129.84

New Arrivals

Macphails 10 Year Old
£ 75.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Speyside
Age: 10 Years Old
Strength: 40%
70cl

Old Pulteney 40 Year Old Miniature
£ 398.00
Country: Scotland
Region: Highland
Age: 40 Years Old
Strength: 51.3%
5cl

Old Pulteney 1989 Vintage – Lightly Peated
£ 129.84
Country: Scotland
Region: Highland
Age:
Strength: 46%
70cl
Vintage: 1989
Bottler: Distillery Bottling

Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection Launched!

October 1, 2015 by Gary Leave a Comment

Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask

Chivas Regal has launched the Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection, a limited edition series that reinterprets the brand’s celebrated Chivas 18 expression. The Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak Finish will introduce the series, and is available exclusively in travel retail from this month.

Each limited edition ultra-premium whisky will be finished in varying types of casks to magnify a selection of the 85 flavour notes of the original Chivas 18. For the first limited edition release, Chivas 18 has been gently rested for a period of time in first fill American Oak casks, giving the expression more indulgent vanilla and caramel notes with a deep golden hue. Preserving all the essence of its rich taste, Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak Finish has been non-chill filtered.

Matching the ultra-premium nature of the liquid, each whisky is presented in luxurious packaging, textured in deep, dark Chivas 18 blue and embossed with Chivas design motifs. In a design nod to the golden hue of the whisky, a golden ribbon adorns the front of the box, embossed with the respective name of each expression in the Ultimate Cask Collection series.

For the first edition of the Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection we wanted to create a unique blend that accentuates the most iconic notes of Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, through a special finish in hand-selected First Fill American Oak casks. Designed for the sophisticated palate, the whisky provides a truly balanced taste and a velvet smooth finish.
– Colin Scott: Chivas Regal Master Blender

The Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak Finish presents an exciting opportunity for ultra-premium whisky drinkers to explore further tasting experiences from an iconic and well-loved brand. The collection taps into the increasing demand from travellers looking for unique products that can be offered as a luxury gift or shared back home during special moments and will be an exclusive addition to retail channels in airports around the world.
– Richard Black: Chivas Regal Global Brand Director

The Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection is bottled at 48% ABV and exclusively available in global travel retail. The first launch will be followed by two further expressions, to be released every 18 months.

The Glenlivet Releases The Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish!

October 1, 2015 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish

The Glenlivet has launched a third expression for its celebrated Nàdurra range, as it continues to honour the historic traditions of making single malt whisky through new and innovative cask finishes. The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish is the first release to have a subtle, smoky taste profile, having been finished in American oak casks that have previously held heavily-peated Scotch whisky.

Bottled at 61.5% ABV cask strength

Bottled at 61.5% ABV cask strength, The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish is inspired by the authentic production processes used at The Glenlivet Distillery by its founder, George Smith, who originally used peat smoke to dry the malted barley. Finished in peated casks, the classic, smooth and fruity house style that has made the range so famous has been enriched with gentle, aromatic smoky notes, to offer a brand new The Glenlivet experience to whisky enthusiasts. The expression will also be available in Global Travel Retail at 48% ABV.

Available in nine domestic markets, including USA and France, and Global Travel Retail from October 2015, the release follows the launch of The Glenlivet Nàdurra Oloroso and The Glenlivet Nàdurra First Fill Selection in 2014. The Glenlivet craftsmen individually nosed each cask to ensure the perfect balance between fruit and smoke in the whisky, which has been bottled in small batches with no chill-filtration to offer the complexity, full body and distinctively creamy texture of a whisky that has just been drawn from the cask.

I’m delighted to present the purest expression of The Glenlivet, which pays homage to the distillery’s legendary past. Nàdurra captures the original passion behind George Smith’s distillery, which inspires us to create new flavour journeys for consumers so his spirit remains alive today. The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish demonstrates this beautifully, with its warming mouthfeel, swirls of vanilla cream and subtle traces of tangy smoke, and I hope that whisky enthusiasts now and in the future enjoy this rare taste that echoes of the past.
– Alan Winchester: Master Distiller at The Glenlivet

Interest among whisky fans for new, original and well-made single malt Scotch has continued to grow in recent years, and we at The Glenlivet are proud to have set the benchmark for quality and innovation. The Glenlivet Nàdurra range has enjoyed a cult following due to its rich craftsmanship story and commitment to traditional 19th Century production methods, and with releases such as The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish we hope to inspire more and more increasingly discerning drinkers to learn about the craftsmanship, provenance and heritage of ‘the single malt that’s started it all’.
– Nikki Burgess: Global Brand Director for The Glenlivet

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish is presented in packaging which emphasises the artisanal nature of the range. The design includes a prominent batch number, cask-like stamps and a more visible translation of the Gaelic word, Nàdurra – meaning natural – to illustrate the essence of the brand.

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish Cask Strength (61.5% ABV) tasting notes:

Colour: Amber gold
Nose: A burst of soft red apples, citrus zest and aromatic smoke
Palate: Rich tangy marmalade, creamy vanilla toffee and a distinct toasted smokiness
Finish: Complex, lengthy and spicy, with layers of subtle smoke

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish (48% ABV) tasting notes:

Colour: Amber gold
Nose: A perfect balance of fresh, ripe orchard fruit, sweet vanilla cream and delicate wood smoke
Palate: Notes of rich honey and subtle vanilla, with a sweet, tangy smokiness
Finish: Long and developed, with vibrant notes of fresh fruit and spicy smoke

The Girvan Patent Still Tweet Tasting!

October 1, 2015 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Girvan Single Grain Malt Whiskies!

The star of last Wednesday nights Tweet Tasting was The Girvan Patent Still and they had some fantastic Single Grain Malt Whiskies for us to sample.

Steve from The Whisky Wire was our MC for the night and if you want to catch up on what all the tasters had to say you can view the tweets by searching for the hash tag #GirvanGrain on Twitter.

The malts sampled were:-

Girvan New Make

Girvan No.4 Apps

Girvan 25 Years Old

Girvan 30 Years Old

Built in 1963, under the direction of Charles Gordon, the great-grandson of William Grant, Girvan was the most advanced distillery in the world at the time.

In the 70’s chemist G. Wilkin isolated the perfect yeast strain from local flora for use in the whisky production. They still use the same strain now: Lallemang.

They were also the first to use multi-pressure distillation for production of grain Scotch whisky in 1992.

Distilling at various pressures and under vacuum in particular allowed them to vapourise and distill at lower temperatures. Resulting in a sweeter, fruitier, cleaner and purer spirit.

To reflect this, the tall slender packing of The Girvan Patent Still Single Grain was designed to reflect the tall shape of their column stills.

On average 36 trucks arrive at Girvan every day. Each truck contains about 25 – 28 tonnes of wheat. The Girvan distillery produces about 115 million LPA (litres of pure alcohol) per year. This is equivalent to 46 Olympic Pools!

About 33% of Girvans flavour comes from the distillate, 67% influence of the oak. The oak they use is 100% American oak, rich in vanillin. The oak reacts very well to lighter grain spirit, adding fantastic flavours.

So, what did I think?

Here are my tasting notes … and the one which was my favourite on the night!

Tasting Notes – Girvan New Make (42%)

Nose: A strong moonshine is my first impression. Wafts of nail varnish hit the nose straight away. There’s popcorn, white rum with added fruit & hints of banana smoothie.

Palate: Quite an oily mouthfeel, the banana continues on the palate. Creamy and sweet with a tasty rumness.

Finish: Full on strong finish – hints of raw spice.

Overall: Surprisingly tasty for a new make but with a raw edge that is strangely attractive!

Tasting Notes – Girvan No.4 Apps (42%)

No. 4 Apps (short for apparatus) is named after their 4th. still.

Nose: Vanilla & cream, slight toffee popcorn & oak wood in there. Lovin’ the apples fragrances – it’s harvest time!

Palate: Sweet tropical fruits, pineapple et al & sherbet! Creamy vanilla & spice.

Finish: Smooth spicy, peppery finish. Dry with a little grapefruit.

Overall: A superb, warming dram for sure! Lovely balance of flavours & perfect for Autumn evenings.

Tasting Notes – Girvan 25 Years Old (42%)

Nose: Oak wood & vanilla straight off with creamy, spiced green apples, butterscotch & coconut.

Palate: Smooth vanilla & orange with creamed apples.

Finish: Spicy and Oh! so smooth with a lingering creaminess – divine!

Overall: Truly heaven in a glass! Rich, long and satisfying.

Tasting Notes – Girvan 30 Years Old (42%)

This 30YO is unique as it was the last year (1984) to use maize. From 1963 to 1984 Girvan used maize. From 1984 onwards they have used wheat. Bottled without the addition of caramel and non-chill filtered.

Nose: This needs some time to develop … after all it is 30 years old. There’s vanilla, banana, hints of dark chocolate, apple and oak wood.

Palate: Xmas cake mixture, plump raisins, tropical fruits (mango & pineapple) – a feast! Topped with rich vanilla, a hint of mint & orange and a gentle spice.

Finish: Rich tannin with a spicy finish that’s long and glorious!

Overall: Smooth beyond belief and an amazing set of flavours. If you get the chance to sample, grab it with all your tastebuds!

My Favourite On The Night

Out of the 5, I think it’s got to be the Girvan 30 Years Old. Money can’t buy me love but it can buy me this!

Many thanks to Steve at The Whisky Wire (@TheWhiskyWire) for a great dram evening.

And of course, Girvan (@GirvanGrain), for sending the samples and without whom!