A great gift for Valentine’s day, buy a SMWS membership now on-line and receive over and above the fantastic new members package a “A lady of the Night” bottle of single cask single malt with the code no. 85.22, which is a fabulous Glen Elgin, a grand Speyside dram.

The members package includes your membership card, handbook and notebook, 4 x 10cl Single Cask Bottles plus a society 70cl single cask bottle and all this for only £100 plus P&P.

So all you have to do is go to www.smws.co.uk follow the join now and buy a membership, add to basket enter ‘LOVE WHISKY’ as your promo code at the checkout and click redeem and your free bottle should appear, click to checkout and complete your order. You will quickly receive you confirmation e-mail.

How easy is that and what a deal it is, this offer is limited, DO IT NOW.

Related posts:

1. The Essence of Christmas at Scotch Malt Whisky Society – Edinburgh
2. Free Whisky from Scotch Malt Whisky Society
3. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Rolls out Hotel Partnership UK Wide

As all our regular readers know, Nicola is still struggling with heavily peated single malts, so it falls to Jim to taste these two peated drams, and for Jim this will not be a problem. Tonight it is about 7.30 pm on Wednesday the 1st of February, Jim is sure he will enjoy these two expressions.

In 2008, The BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd ,purchased the GlenDronach Distillery, located in Forgue by Huntly in Aberdeenshire.

GlenDronach is world famous for producing richly sherried single malt Whisky and has a longstanding history dating back to 1826.

Today both the BenRiach and GlenDronach Distilleries are once again producing single malt Whiskies as independent distilleries and a bright and exciting future lies ahead for both.

The BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd.
Queen Anne Drive
Lochend Industrial Estate
Newbridge,
EH28 8LN
Scotland.

telephone - 0131 456 2611
fax - 0131 456 2688
info@benriachdistillery.co.uk

The BenRiach Distillery,
By Elgin,
Morayshire,
IV30 8SJ

t:elephone - 01343 862888
fax - 01343 862999
website www.benriachdistillery.co.uk

We would suggest to everyone to check out the website and take in all that is BenRiach, their story and all their expressions.

The first dram for tonight is:-

BenRiach Speyside Single Malt – 13 Year Old Heavily Peated Madeira Cask – 46% Alc/vol 70cl

Colour…Pale lemon marmalade

Jim’s Tasting

Nose…Strong full peat, heavily fruited cake, way in the background is some pear notes

Taste…Fully rounded, peat is a delight, some woodiness, some coal fire sootiness, after all this it is still smooth as expensive rich dark chocolate with some chewy Caribbean fruits.

Finish…Long and very complex, still sweet with some toasted marshmallows and love the lingering peat/smoke, just how I love my peated malt.

Score…4 Corks

That was an absolute delight, Jim can only say that he loves his peated malts and this whisky must rate up there with some of the fantastic Islay malts that Jim loves so much.

Well done  keep up the good work this is one grand dram.

Well Jim now must move onto his next tasting and that is:-

BenRiach Speyside Single Malt – Septendecim 17 Year Old Peated 46% Alc/vol 70cl

Septendecim is Latin for seventeen.

Colour…Fresh whole barley grain

Jim’s Tasting

Nose…Peaty freshness, leather workshop, citrus and nutty wood.

Taste…Peat is the highlight, robust but smooth, stewed apples and a wee touch of tar, a delightful honey sweetness, almost chewable a delight.

Finish…Peat is long and coats the palate, here comes the spice, quite drying, the finish just goes on and on, this is one great peaty dram.

Score…4.5 Corks
If Jim thought the first one was good then this 17 year old is outstanding, this dram has now been put into our shortlist for the best Single Malt of 2012 (and it is only February).

The Whisky Boys cannot stress highly enough that our readers should go out and buy one each of these two excellent expressions.

We still have a couple of other BenRiach expressions to taste and after tonight they have just moved way up our list of soon to be tasted drams.

We must give Nicol a BIG THANKS for sending us these fine drams, the Whisky Boys are hoping later in the year to visit Speyside, and BenRiach is now high on our list.

Related posts:

1. BenRiach Whisky - 10 Year Old, Single Peated Malt Speyside Scotch Whisky, Curiositas Peated Malt
2. BenRiach New Expressions - The Solstice and The Horizons
3. Penderyn Whisky - Double Welsh Whisky Tasting

Tullamore Dew is produced by William Grant & Sons, an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the global premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch Whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich, The Balvenie range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s fourth largest blended Scotch Grant’s® as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick’s Gin, and Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum. For more information about Tullamore Dew, visit their website.

This dram is produced in the heart of Ireland, in County Offaly, this distillery is going on our wish list when we travel over to Ireland in July/August when we intend to visit Bushmills, Middleton plus hopefully Kilbeggan (again) and Tullamore.

The Tasting.

Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old Special Reserve, Triple Distilled, Matured in Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry Casks – 40% Alc/vol 100cl

Colour…Rich amber

Jim’s Tasting

Nose…Vanilla oakiness sweet fruit cake notes.
Taste…Quite full bodied and smooth lightly toasted vanilla and sherry is all around, a wee citrus note, a pot still beauty.
Finish…Medium to long, rich and a wee bit malt a lemony dry and caramel finish.

Score…3.5 Corks

Nicola’s Tasting

Nose…Sherry soaked raisins, sweet citrus, lemon meringue pie, or maybe lime milk shake.
Taste…Sherry and spice, a little complex, rubbery with lots of heat jumping out, coats my palate with loads of great flavours, still the sweet citrus fruit .
Finish…Toffee apples, lovely gentle long and sweet lingering finish.

Score…3 Corks

Overall score….3.5 Corks

We both enjoyed our first Irish dram of the year and it will not be our last. This lovely sweet Irish dram is sure to be short listed for our non Scotch Blend of the year.

You can buy a 100cl bottle  at your specialist Whisky shop and certainly on-line where you can receive a couple of quid change from a £45.00  (see our shop window below).

Related posts:

1. Tasting an Irish Gem – Redbreast 12 Year Old
2. Double Irish Tasting from Irish Distillers, Pernod Ricard
3. An Irish Blend and an Irish Single Malt Tasting

Day1:

“In the beginning was the rain beating its relentless tune into the elemental Scottish isle. The storm that will bring him is coming”

Day2:

“Hail lashes the mightly Orcadian mountains.  The wind howls its name. The weather darkens.  The elemental spirit is not for the faint hearted”

Day3:

“Lightening strikes.  He is amongst us. The earth trembles as it yields to his hammer.  Only the brave remain.”

Day4:

“…….” (will post tomorrow)

The anticipation… the nose and taste from the Highland Park Thor must be pretty substantional / special with its grand name and dark descriptions included in these notes.  However I must confess I am scared to death with these messages…  I certainly hope they are not directed at me personally, and he’s not coming for me… lol

Can’t wait for tomorrows installment, hopefully I’ll still be here…..

If you have already tasted Thor, please comment below your notes and let me know what you thought.

Nic

Related posts:

1. Highland Park - 16 yr Old Thor Has Been Released
2. Highland Park Releases Final Edition in Magnus Series
3. Highland Park Launches Third Bottling from the Orcadian Vintage Series

A very intriguing parcel arrived for the Whisky Boys this morning, and after a read through and a look at the cryptic clue, we deduced that we had in our hands some fabulously coordinated material from Highland Park (nice work).

This new limited release is available from today (30th Jan) and is retailing from between £115 and £125 - but be quick… only 23,000 bottles have been released.

HP say….

“Thor is the first release in the Highland Park Valhalla Collection and like its namesake, shares many of the legendary Norse god’s larger-than-life characteristics.

The most renowned of all the Norse gods, Thor was the protector of Asgard and was feared by his enemies and other gods alike. His powerful hammer, Mjolnir, which we have depicted on the bottle, was said to create a thunderous and terrifying sound when used in battle; legend has it that Thor’s handiwork can be witnessed first hand on Orkney.

Distilled where sea turns to ocean, Highland Park Thor is a meeting point of nature’s forces, resulting in a perfect marriage of classic fragrant Highland Park smoke, balanced with a beguiling inner complexity and natural strength. Aged for 16 years and bottled at 52.1% abv, Thor is limited to 23,000 bottles worldwide.”
We will be sure to post our tasting notes in the next couple of weeks.

Please feel free to let us know what you think of this new edition.

Nic

Related posts:

1. Highland Park Thor | Day 2 & 3
2. Highland Park Releases Final Edition in Magnus Series
3. Highland Park first Scotch whisky to enter The Spirit Journal Hall of Fame

Isle of Jura Distillery,
Craighouse,
Isle of Jura,
Argyll,
PA60 7XT.

telephone – 01496 820385

website – www.isleofjura.com

The Tasting.

Isle of Jura 1976

Feith A’ Chaorainn, Island Single Malt Scotch Malt Whisky, 46% Alc/vol 70cl. Bottled 2011 – Only 500 Bottles.

Its gaelic name, Feith A’ Chaorainn, means “The lands around the Rowan Tree”

‘Willie Cochrane, Jura Distiller comments on this new release: ‘There has always been a link between the rowan tree and the islanders over the generations so what better way for us to commemorate that bond than bringing out a whisky. It is a special whisky that was first laid down in 1976 and has since been quietly matured in three fresh-run hogshead American White Oak casks which give us the continuity in spirit and taste that we are looking for’

Colour…Pale lemony gold

Jim’s Tasting

Nose…Soft runny honey, zesty citrus notes, spicy cinnamon and plenty of wood.
Taste…Elegance in a glass, Dark chocolate, tropical fruit cakes, just the slightest hint of salty sea spray and peat.
Finish…Spices all over the place, sweet oranges a medium finish leaving your palate quite dry.

Score…4.5 Corks

Nicola’s Tasting

Nose…The aroma’s tell me I am going to love this one, Sweet fudge and honey, some oak and delicate spice.
Taste…Stewed fruits, lovely spice hangs in there, vanilla, milky cappuccino, don’t get any smoke or peat ( thank goodness )
Finish…Subtle and sweet, green apples and chocolate with some Christmas pudding with vanilla custard over the top, a delight.

Score…4 Corks

Overall score 4.5 Corks

This is a diamond from the Isle of Jura and at just under £500.00 a bottle it is not cheap by any means, is it worth it? yes it is. This is an elegant and full flavoured dram, sure to be in a collectors cabinet.  You can maybe obtain one from your specialist Whisky shop but it is available on-line (see our shop window below).

The Whisky Boys loved this dram and after tasting this one we finished for the evening, an enjoyable evening was had by both of us.

Related posts:

1. Jura Elixir – 12 Year Old - A Tasting of the Ultimate Water of Life
2. New Distillery Visitor Centre Opens on Jura
3. Cask Strength & Carry On, Isle Of Arran, Single Cask Bottling

It could not be a better tasting than going over to the fabulous Isle of Islay for this special tasting.

This distillery was founded over two centuries ago in 1779, Bowmore is the first recorded distillery on Islay (pronounced ‘eye-la’) and one of the oldest in Scotland. Islay Single Malts are renowned for their peaty smokiness and Bowmore is no exception. Bowmore carefully smoke their malt in a peat-fired kiln, just as their ancestors did over 200 years ago.

Bowmore Distillery,
Shore Street,
Bowmore,
Islay,
Argyll PA43 7GS

telephone 01496 810441

website www.bowmore.com

Owners, Morrison Bowmore Distillers, (Suntory)

Bowmore Tempest Small Batch Release No. 3, 10 Year Old Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, 55.6% Alc/vol 70cl

The tasting

Colour…Freshly cut straw

Jim’s Tasting

Nose…Islay peat smoke is first on the nose followed by some Dundee marmalade, sea mist, and right at the back is a wee bit of vanilla.

Taste…Drying peat, quite full bodied, spicy, oranges are still evident, a little floral but only a little, the aroma of a freshly opened Loch Gruinart oyster.

Finish…Warming and long, citrus zest, and the quite peaty smoke roll’s over the palate and a touch of sweet vanilla hangs on in there.

Score…4 Corks

What a great start to 2012 with this fabulous Islay dram.

This Islay is non chill-filtered and has been nursed for ten years in first-fill Bourbon casks.

There has only been 1,850 cases released worldwide and is priced at less than £50.00 and well worth every penny.

As you can see from the tasting it is only Jim that has tasted this fine malt, but as our regular readers will know, Nicola is still trying to appreciate peaty/smoky malts, Jim just adores all that is Islay and peaty/smoky.

This bottle is available at your specialist Whisky shop and certainly on-line via our shop window below:

Related posts:

1. Auchentoshan & Bowmore Limited Edition – Whisky Tastings
2. Bowmore Unveils Two Limited Edition Luxury Whiskies
3. BenRiach Tasting – A Double Peated Sensation

It is not easy but we have chosen our favourites, hopefully they are yours also, if not let us know what your favourites for 2011 were.

Gold Cork – Aberlour A’Bunadh

Silver Cork – Bruichladdich, The Laddie Ten

Bronze Cork – Dalmore 15 Year Old

Gold Cork – Naked Grouse

Silver Cork – Monkey Shoulder

Bronze Cork – Whyte & Mackay, The Thirteen

Gold Cork – Redbreast 12 Year Old, Cask Strength

Silver Cork – Yamazaki 10 Year Old

Bronze Cork - Connemara 12 Year Old Peated Single Malt

Gold Cork - Hibiki 12 Year Old

Silver Cork – Kilbeggan, Distillers Reserve

Bronze Cork – Bushmills, Black Bush

That is our 2011 Whisky Awards and when we both look at the ones that either did not make the shortlist or were a winner you may agree that this is a hard one to call, but here is hoping that 2012 gives us as much satisfaction as 2011 gave us when we enjoyed some fabulous drams.

We have some other awards to give out and these are:-

The Whisky Exchange – www.thewhiskyexchange.com

The Good Spirit Co. Bath Street, Glasgow

Isle of Arran Distillery

In the Castlecary House Hotel is The Poachers Lounge & Wee Bar

The Glasgow Whisky Festival, www.glasgowwhiskyfestival.com

These are winners of all the bars, shops, distilleries and festivals that Jim and Nicola visited over 2011, hope that you may have visited these or maybe you will in 2012.

We finish of our awards with the Whisky Man and the Whisky Woman of 2011.

Whisky Woman of 2011 – Helen Stewart, UK Brand Manager of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, www.smws.com

Jim and Nicola have met Helen on several occasion over 2011 which included tastings at SMWS Edinburgh and recently at 1 Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow. Helen was also in charge at the SMWS Whisky stands at Whisky Live in Glasgow and at The Glasgow Whisky Festival, we both found that Helen has a fantastic enthusiasm for all things whisky and is always a joy to be in her company.

Whisky Man of 2011 – John Lamond, Author and Lecturer, Keeper of the Quaich and winner of the Master of Malt in 1987, www.johnlamond.com

Jim and his son-in-law Scott have completed successfully John’s two Whisky Trail courses, the basic one and the advanced and enjoyed every Tuesday night learning more and more about Whisky and some very enjoyable tastings.  Some of John’s books include, The Malt Whisky File, The Whisky Connoisseur’s Companion and most recently Le Snob Whisky, and of course we have a signed copy in our tasting cabin.

Jim and Nicola, The Whisky Boys have had a great year of distillery visits, festivals and many tastings and we hope that 2012 can match it, we both also are looking forward to meting old friends again and meeting some new.

This just leaves Jim and Nicola to try and make a timetable of visits to as many distilleries we have yet to see and re-visit some we have visited and loved, so many distilleries and Whiskies so little time, but we shall endeavour to make the best of the spare time we have, to all our readers and friends we have met over 2011 have a great ad prosperous 2012.

Related posts:

1. 2011 – Whisky Boys – Whisky Awards – Our Shortlist
2. 2011 – The Whisky Boys Whisky Awards
3. Yamazaki and Suntory are the winners !!

So last night, Thursday 8th of December we managed to get round to having a wee tasting of this special malt, Nicola came round to Jim’s at around 8 pm and we both sat down and poured a wee glass of this fine Jura dram.

On the 17th of November 2011 the distillery launched this new expression which will be an addition to it’s core range.

Here is a quote from the distillery manager, Willie Cochrane.

“We have a tradition of drawing upon the island’s myths and legends as inspiration for our whiskies. And Elixir is no exception. We would never say that drinking whisky can make you live longer, but it’s not called the water of life for nothing you know!

“There’s something very special about how whisky complements the bracing cold of winter, and Elixir’s fruitiness and spicy tones make it an ideal whisky companion for the festive period. So why not see if Elixir rings true to its name this Christmas and join me in a toast for long life?”

Isle of Jura Distillery,
Craighouse,
Isle of Jura,
Argyll,
PA60 7XT.

telephone – 01496 820385

website – www.isleofjura.com

Lets get down to the main event.

Jura Elixir – 12 Year Old Single Malt, 40% Alc/vol 70cl

Colour…Rich honeyed gold

Jim’s Tasting

Nose…Christmas and sherried fruits, vanilla oak and coffee.

Taste…Oranges, lemons and lime citrus notes, very sweet with toffee and the slightest hint of delicate smoke, sherry is very evident and elegant.

Finish…Medium to long with the sherry and some dried fruit caressing your palate, a touch of dark chocolate pops up.

Score…4 Corks

Nicola’s Tasting

Nose…Orange peel and sweet sherry.

Taste…Sherry and soft fruit gums, some wood and spice a tingle on the tongue.

Finish…Medium finish, chocolate coffee creams.

Score…3.5 Corks

Overall score…4 Corks

A grand dram tonight, Jim will ensure that soon he will have a bottle in his cabinet, as many of our readers know we have many articles on this website about Jura and the Superstition expression is one of the Whisky Boys favourites, also if you check our award lists for 2011 you can see that a Jura dram has not been left out of the shortlist.

So we recommend that you buy yourself a bottle, before Christmas and enjoy a wee sip over the festive period, so when you buy a bottle remember to tell them The Whisky Boys sent you.

Related posts:

1. Jura Tasting – Isle of Jura 1976
2. New Distillery Visitor Centre Opens on Jura
3. Tasting an Irish Gem – Redbreast 12 Year Old

Cooley to bring Poitín out of the Shadows

Cooley Distillery, the European Distiller of the Year, has launched a new range of Poitín products to showcase the traditional Spirit of Ireland.

The origin of distilling in Ireland dates back over 1,000 years. Before there was Irish whiskey there was Poitín – a clear Irish spirit famous for its alcohol strength. In homage to this ancient Irish Spirit, Cooley Distillery, Irelands only independent whiskey distiller, has released an Origin series of Poitín products to revive the traditional Spirit of Ireland.

Poitín was traditionally distilled in a small pot still and the term is a derivative of the Irish word pota, meaning “pot”. Normally distilled from barley grain or potatoes, it is one of the strongest alcoholic beverages in the world and for centuries was classified as illegal in Ireland. Poitín is one of the most long-established spirits in the world with a rich and varied history and is exclusively associated with Ireland.

Jack Teeling, Managing Director of Cooley Distillery, commented, “Poitín is at the origin of Irish Spirits and Irish whiskey in particular. Over the years it has been demonised because it was illegally produced and the end product lacked consistency, quality and credibility. We have produced a quality Poitín product using ancient techniques in our award winning distillery allowing consumers of today try this ancient Irish spirit with confidence as they are getting a high quality product.”

Cooleys’ first Poitín release is triple distilled in small copper Pot Stills from a traditional Irish Pot Still recipe of malted and unmalted barley. Bottled straight from the still with no maturation produces a surprisingly smooth spirit even for one that is bottled at 65% abv. Poitín like any quality white spirit lends itself to be consumed in a variety of ways, neat, with water, with mixers and as a component of cocktails but due to its alcohol strength it should be enjoyed in moderation.

“As Poitín is basically un-aged Irish whiskey spirit and we hope to revive the Poitín as a national product. A lot of other countries around the world celebrate and market their national high alcohol spirits. Brazil have Cachaca, Greece Ouzo, Bulgaria Rakia and the Czech’s have successfully revived Absinthe after it was effectively outlawed for over 75 years. We want to bring Poitín out from the shadows and let Irish people have a national white spirit they can be proud of,” continued Teeling.

Consisting of only 1,800 bottles this small batch release will be initially available through the Celtic Whiskey Shop and Dublin Airport as well as through good independent off-licenses.

Related posts:

1. Cooley in US Gold Rush
2. Highland Park first Scotch whisky to enter The Spirit Journal Hall of Fame
3. Blended Whisky of the Month – October 2011