tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41111666857243553902024-03-13T17:54:29.924+00:00For Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley's writing work, please visit www.worldsbestspirits.comFor Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley's writing work, please visit www.worldsbestspirits.comJoel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comBlogger657125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-22005824585352677902016-03-30T19:47:00.002+01:002016-05-09T23:56:29.037+01:00The Trojan is Here!<div style="text-align: center;">
The wait is almost over folks... </div>
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Tomorrow (Thursday 31st March) sees the release of <b>The Trojan</b>- our first whisky from the <b><a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/exile-casks-our-new-project.html" target="_blank">Exile Casks</a></b> project that we've been working on.<br />
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The Trojan was distilled on 19th June 1990, and filled into cask 3110. It's been maturing for 25 years now and its finally ready for the world to taste!<br />
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To get your hands on <b>The Trojan</b>, which is bottled at 57.1% and available in 306 limited edition 50cl bottles, priced at <b>£65,</b> visit <a href="http://www.exilecasks.com/" target="_blank">www.exilecasks.com</a> The whisky is only available from there and we envisage it to go on sale around <b>1pm UK time tomorrow</b>. <br />
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Until then- here's a nice picture of the bottle!!</div>
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Discover. Liberate. Enjoy.</div>
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Joel & Neil x</div>
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<br />Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-56086158865278380432016-03-14T13:52:00.000+00:002016-03-14T22:34:03.326+00:00EXILE CASKS - OUR NEW PROJECT!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WE'VE RISEN FROM THE GRAVE! </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kind of anyway! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes, Caskstrength has been dormant for nearly a year now, in readiness of our brand new website, <b><a href="http://worldsbestspirits.com/">WorldsBestSpirits.com</a></b>, which is officially launching on <b>1st April 2016</b>. It's been a long time coming, but we promise the wait will be worthwhile.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the meantime - until the 1st April, we bring you new news! <b>GENUINE NEW NEWS!! </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Joel and I are really really super-god-damn-'riffic excited to announce the next in a long line of Alphabetic whisky releases that we embarked upon nearly six years ago. Some of you may remember that we got to the <a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/its-arrived-3d-whisky-hits-shops-cinema.html" target="_blank">letter 'E' back in 2013</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then all went quiet. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That's because we've spent the past three years trawling round warehouses, meeting fascinating people and trying some truly incredible single casks of whisky. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Such was the magnitude of what we were trying, that we decided to go off at a slight tangent.. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.exilecasks.com/" target="_blank">Exile Casks</a></b> was born, with the very simple premise of three words that ring true with both of us:</span></div>
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<b><a href="http://www.exilecasks.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Discover. Liberate. Enjoy </span></a></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Great whisky deserves to be discovered - and tasted. Not coveted, cosseted and covered up in a cabinet gathering dust. It deserves to be uncorked, liberated, liberally poured and enjoyed with friends. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So that gave us the idea of <a href="http://www.exilecasks.com/" target="_blank"><b>Exile Casks</b>:</a> Exceptional single cask whiskies of real genuine age, each with a story attached to them, delivered direct to you. </span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f4_-02xXS1g/Vua-Xr3X5hI/AAAAAAAAIdE/aBxpQP4kSawu_iEiH5CohDi27kDdfLbjQ/s1600/IMG_8021-Edit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f4_-02xXS1g/Vua-Xr3X5hI/AAAAAAAAIdE/aBxpQP4kSawu_iEiH5CohDi27kDdfLbjQ/s320/IMG_8021-Edit.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Each release will be different from the last. A limited run of bottlings, starting with the very first one, which will be available to buy from the <b>31st March 2016</b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Only from <b><a href="http://www.exilecasks.com/" target="_blank">ExileCasks.com </a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We're incredibly proud of the first release. We'll be telling you more about this one next Monday, including the name and the incredible story behind the cask, so stay tuned, but for the time being we can let you into a secret... it's going to blow your mind. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b style="text-align: center;">There will only be 190 bottles of the first release. </b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's 25 years old. It's only £65+P&P</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sign up to the <a href="http://mailmarkscot.us12.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=b80478f64cb49f2677e914852&id=ec0766848d" target="_blank">Exile Casks List</a> now - each release is only available from <a href="http://exilecasks.com/">Exilecasks.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Follow us on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/ExileCasks" target="_blank">@Exilecasks</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Speak again next Monday folks! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Neil & Joel </span></div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-67573476728413304952015-04-01T09:42:00.005+01:002015-04-01T10:52:02.572+01:00That's Shallot...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thank you. It's been Emotional. </b></span></div>
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As posts go, this one will certainly go down as one of the most memorable ones that we have ever written on this humble website. </div>
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As many readers know, we began <a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2008/03/hello.html" target="_blank">Caskstrength.net back in January 2008</a>. We were fresh faced, wide eyed, particularly thirsty and in possession of a drinks cabinet stocked mainly with ubiquitous Scotch brands. We took it upon ourselves to seek out the most interesting whiskies we could lay our hands on.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once-upon-a-time we looked like this...</td></tr>
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Hard to believe really. Here we are in 2015 and we're just perusing the sidebar and a few of our old posts, over <b>650</b> of them, reviewing over <b>1,000</b> different whiskies and occasionally other spirits. To click back and look at how our tastes have changed in that time is as fascinating for us as it is to witness just how much the whisky business has changed in a little under a decade. </div>
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When we started Caskstrength.net, there was barely a handful of online blogs or webpages dedicated to the spirit. Our influences came from inspirational spaces like <b><a href="http://whiskyfun.com/">Whiskyfun.com</a></b> and <b><a href="http://drwhisky.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">DrWhisky</a></b>, who began to deliver a voice loudly proclaiming that whisky wasn't just the domain of the over serious, wizened, ageing bore, but an accessible, engaging and, as we have seen in the passing years, spirit that offers something that almost everyone can enjoy in one way or another. </div>
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As Caskstrength.net evolved, it became something much greater than either of us had ever imagined. It has taken us to different continents and allowed us to try some truly mind blowing, once-in-a-lifetime liquids. In short, it has helped to give us a career in spirits. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVAaa8FtqZM/VRsgV2O-vhI/AAAAAAAAIaw/HkI5Ro4hkrY/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oVAaa8FtqZM/VRsgV2O-vhI/AAAAAAAAIaw/HkI5Ro4hkrY/s1600/Unknown-1.jpeg" height="200" width="146" /></a>But more importantly, it has been the conduit enabling us to forge some incredible friendships with people all over the world, many of them stemming from kind words and support from our readership.</div>
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in 2014, Caskstrength.net hit just under <b>900,000</b> views, around <b>70,000</b> a month, which is a figure that makes this post all the more important.</div>
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We now find ourselves in a totally different arena. Today, there are literally 100's of 'whisky blogs' and the landscape of writing about the spirit has changed in our opinion. To use a crude car analogy for a second, this once gleaming, perky sports car has now hit a very high mileage indeed and is starting to cough a little on cold mornings. </div>
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We could take it for a tune up at the garage, but in our minds, that's not the answer. In essence, we need to trade in Caskstrength.net for something brand new, fresh and with a much better, bigger, more efficient engine, capable of delivering not only the malt mileages we intend to travel, but also encompassing our huge passion for every spirit, which we realised when writing our recent book, <b>Distilled</b>.<br />
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<b>So here is it then. Caskstrength.net as you are seeing it now will, after this post, be no more. Gone to the great retirement home in the sky for hard working drinks blogs. </b><br />
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<b>Its replacement is going to be very exciting indeed. Over the coming weeks, we'll be introducing a brand new website: <a href="http://worldsbestspirits.com/">WorldsBestSpirits.com</a> </b></div>
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It will be an informative curated drinks website, with news and views about everything from <b>Absinthe to Whisky</b>. As always, it will be packed with plenty of the original Caskstrength character, commentary and up to date news on <b>gin, brandy, Tequila, rum, Armagnac, mezcal, vodka</b> and as much else as we can possibly cram in. The notion of simply 'blogging'- and indeed the phrase 'blog' is, in our opinion, something that now feels tired and quite saturated- and we like energy, not tiredness. </div>
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What's more, <b><a href="http://worldsbestspirits.com/">WorldsBestSpirits.com</a></b> will grow from simply the two of us penning articles into a dedicated team of international contributors from all over the world - more on them later.<br />
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Writing this blog has been a pleasure. Moving up a gear to curate, choose and deliver to you the <b>World's Best Spirits</b> with the same verve and vigour we have approached Caskstrength.net will be an absolute pleasure. Hopefully we'll end up looking as young again as we did the photo on page one of this journey, minus the obvious wide-eyed naivety. <br />
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To celebrate the full stop on this story, we have each chosen to link to a couple of our favourite posts from the last seven-and-a-half years, and to review one final dram with which to toast our goodbye...<br />
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<a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/you-put-spell-on-me-springbank-rundlets.html" target="_blank">Joel's Top Post: Springbank Rundlets & Kilderkins</a></div>
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<a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/none-more-black-glenlivet-alpha-arrives.html" target="_blank">Neil's Top Post: The Glenlivet Alpha</a></div>
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And so, in rather timely fashion, we reach the end of our very last post. </div>
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<b>Our last review on Caskstrength... </b> </div>
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We thought long and hard about what would be the whisky to sign of with and there it was, sitting on our desk staring us in the face. It's arrival was remarkably timely in fact...<br />
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So for the Last Post, we bring you.... <b>The Last Drop</b>.<br />
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This bottling project has now become the stuff of legend: Thee industry stalwarts, led by James Espey OBE decided that rather than retiring, they would locate and bottle some of the oldest and best whisky - and other spirits- that they could lay their hands on. The concept of The Last Drop was born in 2008 and the previous releases including a blend from 1960, a 50 year old blend and now, a 48 year old blended whisky have all been released to critical acclaim. The company is now in the hands of a younger generation of the founders, but the ethos remains the same. <br />
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This 48 year old blend is limited to 592 bottles and is priced at an RRP of £2600. It even comes with a miniature of the whisky too and a leather bound box. But that doesn't really concern us. <br />
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Question is... will it be a truly fitting send off for Caskstrength? No pressure. <br />
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<b>The Last Drop - 48 Year Old Blended Scotch Whisky - 48.6% - 592 Bottles</b></div>
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<b>Nose: </b>A hugely complex nose, the likes of which we've only recently found in a few old Armagnacs and very old grain whiskies: Meaty, waxy foundations, lead into rich vanilla sponge cake, clean linen, raspberry jam, with polished wood surfaces and Manuka honey rounding out the top notes. It would be sad to lose such a complexity with water, but a small drop releases some more tannic notes, sweeter vanilla and creamy toffee.</div>
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<b>Palate: </b>Broad shouldered and oaky, with a backbone stave of tannic Orange Pekoe tea, leading into chopped Brazil nuts, hints of the sponge cake again and very old grain: that unusual bittersweet toasted note that tends to emerge with this type of aged blend. It certainly isn't a polite, unconfident blend: it's powerful and uncompromising on the palate, with some dark oaky notes, just tempered with enough sweetness to bring the whole thing together perfectly. </div>
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<b>Finish:</b> Extremely warming, but with no overtones of spirit: just pure, rich dryness, the kind of tongue coating unctuousness that 'serious' whiskies bring. Put simply, this is as serious as Jeremy Paxman grilling a hopelessly out-of-their-depth, incompetent Cabinet Minister on Newsnight.</div>
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<b>Overall: </b>A remarkable whisky, that not only highlights the intricacies of blending at this age, but also the concept of longevity. Sometimes, new (old) whiskies pop up with a huge fanfare but are quickly revealed as being jaded, one-dimensional and just that little bit over-egged. One wonders the reasons why they weren't bottled sooner, but we'll put this down to simple economics. Here, we have a superb integration of old grain and malt. But alongside its experience, it brings a refreshing vibrancy to the party too. </div>
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It's a whisky that we could probably all learn a lot from. </div>
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And with that, there's nothing more for us to say than simply, adios, slante and see you all when the next phase in our plans is fully online. Thanks for making Caskstrength such a successful and fun place to work from and we very much hope you'll stick with us at <b><a href="http://worldsbestspirits.com/">WorldsBestSpirits.com</a></b></div>
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<b> So, charge your glasses and raise a toast: The Blog Is Dead! Long Live WorldsBestSpirits!</b></div>
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<b>Neil & Joel - April 1st, 2015 x</b><br />
<b><br /></b><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Like Us On Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/WorldsBestSpirits">facebook.com/WorldsBestSpirits</a></span></b><br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Keep Following Us On Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/worldofspirits" target="_blank">@WorldOfSpirits</a></span></b></div>
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Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-87363716806056324322015-02-23T12:00:00.000+00:002015-02-23T12:00:10.547+00:00Come Fly With Me: The Redbreast Mano a Lamh, Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cl6ExhMugms/VOjvS2sb33I/AAAAAAAAIYk/8Kou9C8LbiI/s1600/IW-Midleton-Singlepotwhiskey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cl6ExhMugms/VOjvS2sb33I/AAAAAAAAIYk/8Kou9C8LbiI/s1600/IW-Midleton-Singlepotwhiskey.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we speed away from Burn’s
night and head towards St Patrick’s Day, it’s time to start cracking open some
Irish whiskey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Once long forgotten, the rise of
Irish whiskey has seen a plethora of new distilleries opening up, with plenty
more in the pipeline. In our recent visits to Ireland to see either
brand-spanking new facilities or those out in the market drumming up support,
one thing has made itself very clear: Ireland will become more serious about
Pot Still than any other style of whiskey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scotland is a fairly simple place
when it comes to whisky-making. You’ve got your single malts, with only one distillery
fully triple distilling (<i>nb: </i>Springbank
occasionally utilising their three still to triple distil, and Mortlach using
bamboozing marketing terminology to say they distilled more than twice).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then you’ve got your grain
whisky, mainly matured in bourbon casks. Add them together and you’ve got your
third type, blends. Simple, hey?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over in Ireland, it isn’t quite
so simple. With a much smaller pool of distilleries, the fame of Irish whiskey
grew up around their main ideal of triple distillation. But there is so much
more to Irish whiskey than the third still, for across this tiny network of
distilleries they make single malt twice distilled (peated and unpeated),
single malt thrice distilled, grain whisky, pot still whiskey (from a malted
and unmalted barley mix), and of course blends... but blends not just of grain
and malt whiskeys, but blends of all of these. Jameson Black Barrel even takes
some whiskey from a pot still and runs it through the column still before
maturation... I mean, what kind of voodoo is that?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Currently the fastest growing
category of dark spirit in the world, Irish whiskey is on a roll (driven by the
popularity of Jameson in markets such as the USA) and with each new release
from across the countries different distilleries, clarity is beginning to fall
on the various production styles and flavour profiles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the most sought-after
releases, and a real favourite of ours here at Caskstrength HQ, is Redbreast. A
wonderfully well matured whiskey, we have always been a fan of the 12 Year Old.
When the 15 Years Old appeared, fleetingly, at the start of the last decade, we
got very excited indeed (in fact I seem to remember nearly an entire bottle
being consumed at one of the Toucan pubs in London with a group of writers and
employees of some of London’s finest whisky shops) and even more so when it
came back as part of the permanent range.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the addition of a Cask
Strength 12 Year Old and then the fantastic 21 Year Old, the range seemed to be
taking shape with a real personality and DNA of its own. And now the folk at
Irish Distillers, producers of Redbreast, have just launched a limited edition
version. A No Age Statement, although in answering questions on their social
media outlets had it pegged at carrying an age statement of 13 years old, if it
were to have one) the whiskey has been solely matured in ex-Oloroso sherry
butts. This one sounds right up my street.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I heard that this whiskey
was available, but only 2000 bottles were being released, I headed over to the
Redbreast website to buy a bottle. And the verdict?</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X4vfcKYn7LY/VOjvEdPSufI/AAAAAAAAIYc/RK48NpHqmSo/s1600/Redbreast%2BMano%2Ba%2BL%C3%A1mh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X4vfcKYn7LY/VOjvEdPSufI/AAAAAAAAIYc/RK48NpHqmSo/s1600/Redbreast%2BMano%2Ba%2BL%C3%A1mh.jpg" height="200" width="94" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Redbreast – Mano a Lamh – Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey – All Sherry
Limited Edition – 2000 bottles only – 46% abv – 65 euro <a href="http://www.singlepotstill.com/">here</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nose:</b> Marzipan and Battenburg Cake rise from the glass with a
surprisingly large amount of vanilla for an ‘all-oloroso’ offering. This has
some spirituous notes but this is one of those occasions where this is a positive as it provides a platform for the lovely, sweet flavours to play.
Light and airy but with hidden depth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Palate:</b> This is a smooth whiskey with a sweet back palate, some frozen
red berries and hot vanilla sauce on top. It is terribly easy to drink, as you
would expect from a Redbreast, but a block of ice really takes this up a level
to a longer, more sipping whiskey. The flavours from the nose deliver on the
palate too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Finish: </b>Sweetened vanilla custard, almonds and some milk chocolate praline.
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall: </b>Well, there we have it folk... the rise of Single Pot
Still Irish Whiskey doesn’t seem fleeting, or limited to core expressions. It
seems to be strong, and rising.</span></div>
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Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-70520722520739029112015-02-21T20:29:00.000+00:002015-02-21T20:29:05.492+00:00Great Odin's Ravin'<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ke9RA-M1vvI/VOdhgqzMDBI/AAAAAAAAIX0/DUyioRNT8ZU/s1600/BN23dg2CYAA1409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ke9RA-M1vvI/VOdhgqzMDBI/AAAAAAAAIX0/DUyioRNT8ZU/s1600/BN23dg2CYAA1409.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></div>
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The history of <b>'Truly Great Limited Edition Whiskies' </b>is few and far between really. </div>
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Odd ones pop up getting consumers frothy and excited, then every other brand decides to follow suit in some way, before we all end up gazing forlornly at an overpriced Whisky Auction Site: either regretting missing out on a sold-out purchase, or regretting drinking and finishing a matured investment. Sad really. </div>
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It's like the words <i>'Landfill Indie'</i>, a phrase that we bring with us from our time in the music business. One band would spring out of nowhere, redefining a stagnant music scene.<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
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Then every company would rush out something that sounded similar and looked vaguely the same. <b>Arctic Monkeys?</b> True Game Changers. <b>Milburn</b>... Hmmm maybe not so much. </div>
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But when it comes to a limited edition series, the search for excellence becomes even more difficult. </div>
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The difficulty faced by whisky companies is keeping the attention of the whisky consumer. <b>Balvenie </b>and the <b>Tun 1401</b> series started off rather splendidly, before a few fans and collectors began to trail away, disappointed they either couldn't afford or find the editions they wanted, as they were spread across the global network of off-trade and Global Travel retailers. </div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GTyjqvmX_As/VOjoo3Uw8PI/AAAAAAAAIYE/47FGnoqYETQ/s1600/magni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GTyjqvmX_As/VOjoo3Uw8PI/AAAAAAAAIYE/47FGnoqYETQ/s1600/magni.jpg" height="160" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">Magnus Series. Pic courtesy of The Whisky Exchange</td></tr>
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Conversely, when Highland Park released the <b>Magnus Trilogy</b>, they got everything right: The liquid was excellent, the price points spot on and the outturn, not too outlandish to make fans feel like they were being taken for a limited edition ride. </div>
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Then came the <b>Valhalla Collection</b>: Four whiskies, over four years, each one representing a different norse god - the liquid being tailored to the supposed personality and character of the god or goddess. </div>
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The initial release, <b>Thor</b>, was quite a stunner. Bold, powerful, smoky and muscular, it was a whisky that had everything you could want in a bottle of HP. </div>
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Next up was <b><a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/may-nose-be-with-you-highland-park-loki.html" target="_blank">Loki</a></b>: the trickster, the shapeshifter. Unusually fruity and fragrant upfront, with a totally different profile on the palate, which lived up to the unhinged genius of its namesake.</div>
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The fairer, more gentle side of the brand was explored with <b><a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/northern-lights-highland-park-freya-15.html" target="_blank">Freya</a></b>: Etherial, light and floral. It perhaps didn't have the same impact as the first two releases from a liquid perspective and in our opinion, was the least likely Highland Park to be recognised as a true HP. Still, it adhered perfectly to the character profile.</div>
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This week saw the release of <b>Odin</b>, the conclusion of the series. As the leader of the gods, Odin demands respect - especially given that he supposedly fathered the mighty Thor. Will this be a reflection of his namesake whisky? </div>
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<b>Highland Park - Odin - 16 Year Old - 55.8% - £180</b></div>
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<b>Nose: </b>Initially a little closed and quite one sided, but given a few minutes in the glass, you're immediately in HP territory: Fragrant fruity smoke, honeyed malt, some citrus notes and a little waft of dry sherry wood. So far, so good. It's powerful and the you can definitely tell that the palate will be quite a challenging experience. </div>
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<b>Palate: </b>Super lively and spirity - in fact as fiery as they get at this strength. But then it dies down and you're into lemon and lime zest, a wonderful malty backbone, a little rubber note (not that off-putting though) and a huge swathe of smoke. Not perhaps as smoky as the last Hp release, <b><a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/hug-hoodie-quick-fire-ramblings.html" target="_blank">Dark Origins</a></b>, but certainly bolder than any of the regular expressions. </div>
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<b>Finish: </b> The finish sees lingering notes of sherry, some very dry sherry cask wood and a little sweet honey, but a surprising absence of the smoke... as if the great god himself has disappeared in a majestical puff of the stuff. </div>
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<b>Overall: </b>A solid conclusion to the series. In our opinion, the bar was set stupendously high with <b>Thor</b> and as a result, it's hard to outshine that particular expression purely from a liquid perspective, but what this proves is that once again, Highland Park are the real thought leaders in presenting innovative, creative bottlings. A fond hurrah to a great, consistent series. </div>
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Mere mortal companies would have fallen hard and fast after the first two, but HP? Well, they must have Valhalla on speed dial, with Gerry Tosh and whisky maker Max McFarlane sitting in a car with the engine running, waiting to kidnap another unsuspecting member of the Underworld. We look forward with excitement to the next series. </div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-90808999439639379822015-01-26T12:08:00.000+00:002015-01-26T17:22:59.810+00:00The First of The Last Great Malts: Craigellachie Single Malt Scotch Whisky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmVljHOcce4/VMYtC59VSoI/AAAAAAAAIW4/hR33mK73Cpo/s1600/BB1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rmVljHOcce4/VMYtC59VSoI/AAAAAAAAIW4/hR33mK73Cpo/s1600/BB1.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The relationship
between beauty and functionality is one I struggle with. I'm Scandinavian and
subscribe to the ideal that, as far as you can make it, everything should be
"<i>both<b> beautiful</b> and <b>functional</b></i>". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">There are plenty of
excellent examples of this, from <a href="http://hario.co.uk/products/coffee-syphon-3-cup" target="_blank">coffee makers</a> through to <a href="http://www.coolhunting.com/food-drink/malle-w-trousseau-oyster-kit" target="_blank">oyster shucking kits</a>,
but every so often in life there is an example of extreme functionality <i>without</i> beauty, and the embodiment of
this has to be a certain Mr Dean Windass. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">A builder by trade,
Dean Windass is what we humble chaps in the pub would call '</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">an ugly f*cker</i><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">'. Dean signed as a professional footballer for Hull City (a place itself of questionable beauty...) before moving to Aberdeen where he became somewhat
of a legend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Moving back south to English football, Windass signed in
1998 for Oxford United at a sum that is still counted a club record fee for the University city team, and when he arrived
in the City of Dreaming Spires he came with a warning- for Deano, as he was
known, had been much loved by the supporters of the football clubs he had played for previously. But a genius on the pitch, he was also dogged by a fierce temper and Oxford
United fans received warning of this via our weekly football fanzine (kids- this was like a
blog but in paper form, before the Internet existed). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The story goes that
Dean, the man with the face of a boxer but the feet of an angel, had once been
sent off THREE TIMES in one game, whilst playing for Aberdeen: firstly for some
on the pitch footballing offence; secondly for verbally abusing the ref who
sent him off and thirdly (and brilliantly in my eyes) for "<i>using the corner flag as a weapon</i>".
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Wow. Just wow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In what would be
considered a long career on the pitch, Windass’ final act was a simply amazing
goal, which you can watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ODr0co5Zw" target="_blank">here</a>, while back at his home town club of Hull City in
a match which is still the biggest financial prize in sport- scoring the
winning goal to take Hull into the Premier League. At Wembley. It must be noted
that Dean Windass was nearly 40 when he performed this piece of utter magic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">As you can see from
the footage (if you've bothered to watch it) Dean Windass has cropped bleach/blond
hair, looking like a washed up D.J. in a local nightclub, trying to relive his
days as a headline act in Ibiza. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But whatever his
look, his ability shined through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Speyside (local club:
Aberdeen) is a forest of beauty and functionality. Distilleries such as Aberlour,
The Balvenie, and Benromach stand as stunning examples of architecture,
churning out some of the best single malt on the market. Top this off with The Macallan,
which is about to go under the surgeon’s knife with a £120m new distillery,
this should make their site as beautiful as the liquid in its bottles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But there are some
distilleries where function takes over from form. We recently visited a 'new to
market' distillery, which has been churning out malt whisky for a long time,
but due to its long history is now somewhat of an ugly child of mid-1960’s architecture,
but with a result that would grace the grass at Wembley stadium.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Craigallachie
Distillery sits in a wonderful location, just down the hill from Dufftown
before the banks of the Spey river rise to meet the Macallan, Knockando and
Cardhu distilleries. The spawn of mid-century architecture, aside from a quite
stunning walk along the top of their worm tub cooling vessels, is a functional
production facility, part of the team of distilleries producing whisky for the
Dewar’s blend. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The team behind the
malt distilleries (owned by Barcadi) have decided to have a go at replicating
the umbrella group of malts that Diageo successfully launched under their
'Classic Malts' banner in the 1990s.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Using the term ‘The
Last Great Malts’ it covers Craigellachie, GlenDevron (the distillery known as
MacDuff), Aberfeldy, Royal Bracklar and Aultmore - all well regarded juice in their own right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">The Last Great Malts;
an odd name. It comes across as something of a final sigh from a collection of
excellent distilleries, not a new collection of vibrant malts. It seems almost like
an acknowledgement that there is a wave of newer distilleries to take their
place, steal their crown and melt it down into cooler jewellery for a new
generation- like the Rolling Stones doing a 'last great tour' before giving way
to Jack White or the Arctic Monkeys. But instead of £450 a ticket, it is £330.00
for a 23 year old whisky...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xm9UOI32PcU/VMYzOqL0DhI/AAAAAAAAIXg/E0g6OSI_eOM/s1600/Craigeelachie%2BDistillery%2BWhisky%2BStill%2BROom.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xm9UOI32PcU/VMYzOqL0DhI/AAAAAAAAIXg/E0g6OSI_eOM/s1600/Craigeelachie%2BDistillery%2BWhisky%2BStill%2BROom.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">But enough about the
marketing, let’s look at the distillery itself. A wonderful still room, housing
four large pot stills, despite its utilitarian feel has one very unusual
aspect: a large window which can be opened to let in the natural Speyside air.
If you’ve been to Caol Ila, you would feel very much at home in this still
room, save for the view which isn’t of the mist covered Paps of Jura but of the
A941. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">In terms of
production, Craigellachie is one of the few distilleries left in Scotland to
use Worm Tubs as their method of condensing, something to applaud. And it makes
for a wonderful spirit (show me a distillery using worm tubs, that doesn’t...).
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Their new range encompasses
Craigellachie bottled at 13, 17, (a sneaky 19 year old for Duty Free) and 23
years old the maths geeks among you will notice that these are all prime
numbers. Aside from that one fact, all these releases are quite excellent, with
the real stand out being the 23 year old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm_2jHZX9lE/VMYuxLWNU2I/AAAAAAAAIXM/Z5ukWtHDn00/s1600/Craigellachie%2B23%2Byear%2Bold%2Bsingle%2Bmalt%2Bscotch%2Bwhisky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Jm_2jHZX9lE/VMYuxLWNU2I/AAAAAAAAIXM/Z5ukWtHDn00/s1600/Craigellachie%2B23%2Byear%2Bold%2Bsingle%2Bmalt%2Bscotch%2Bwhisky.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Craigellachie - 23 Year Old – Single Malt Scotch Whisky –
46% abv – £330.00 <a href="https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-26057.aspx" target="_blank">here</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Nose: A real depth of complexity with large dose of oak
spiciness, some candied orange zest and just a hint of blood orange. There are
red apples and pear drops too. Very inviting. Not over oaked but a wonderful
balance of spice and meaty, oily tones.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Taste: Blood orange develops on the palate with an
addition of toasted marshmallows and a hint of lime pickle. Big and unctuous,
this has the age to give it good body, but still maintain as vibrant and
energetic flavour profile. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Finish: Long and oaky, but without being too dry, this
has a great balance of wood in it. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">Overall: An excellent dram which has seemingly lasted
well in cask given the meaty nature of the spirit. It’s a shame it can’t all be
at this age, but with a lower price point...!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">All round, this is a
great start to The Last Great Malts which, I think, should be given a far more
positive name if they are all this good...<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-21202982608263860212015-01-01T18:15:00.000+00:002015-01-01T18:15:00.533+00:00Party Like It's 1985<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZrW2lNIbXs/VKWJHS0ipmI/AAAAAAAAIV8/TuLEeAG7aFE/s1600/IMG_2659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zZrW2lNIbXs/VKWJHS0ipmI/AAAAAAAAIV8/TuLEeAG7aFE/s1600/IMG_2659.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Orville Piñata, shortly before his celebratory new year thrashing </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello one and all. We're back from our relaxed Christmas breaks now, heading into all manner of excitement in the new year. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x0UfdjFlG7Q/VKWJ-Y43HXI/AAAAAAAAIWE/MdqBCeIRYoc/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x0UfdjFlG7Q/VKWJ-Y43HXI/AAAAAAAAIWE/MdqBCeIRYoc/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" height="200" width="146" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We look back fondly on 2014. It was a year that bought some truly exceptional spirits, many many journeys and friendships: From <b>Baijiu</b> in China, <b>Cachaca</b> in Brazil, <b>Armagnac</b> in France and some wondrous drinks in-between, both of us can definitely say it was an enlightening year. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2014 also saw us bring out <b>Distilled</b>, our first book together which is shaping up really nicely for 2015. Expect to see us popping up in a few unusual locations next year, as we travel around, hopefully continuing our spirits exploration around the globe. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">However, there is a new year and a new dawn coming (keep your eyes peeled </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">here folks...) so let’s kick off with our predictions for 2015:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Joel:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Continued Growth of Grain</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AeCHH9p4Efs/VKWKAEdxjkI/AAAAAAAAIWM/pCTtmksyUSA/s1600/1413539085729_wps_25_Welcome_to_HAIG_CLUB_1_jp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AeCHH9p4Efs/VKWKAEdxjkI/AAAAAAAAIWM/pCTtmksyUSA/s1600/1413539085729_wps_25_Welcome_to_HAIG_CLUB_1_jp.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We already tipped grain as a new category in its own right back in 2012 and 2014 saw the launch of Haig Club, a single grain Scotch whisky</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> developed in partnership with major drinks producer Diageo and megastar </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ex-footballer David Beckham. There aren’t many other single grain whiskies </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on the market, with just one other official global release, three </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">expressions from the Girvan distillery in the Lowlands of Scotland. However, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grain whisky has always been highly sought after by connoisseurs and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">experts, who know that the lightness of the spirit gives excellent flavours </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of vanilla and lemongrass, making it ideal for mixing or sipping with a</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">couple of blocks of ice. With only Haig Club and Girvan available around the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">world at the moment, and the considerable weight that a celebrity such as </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">David Beckham adds to this category, expect to see others jumping in and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">wanting to be part of the grain whisky party. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>High Value Brands Offering Experiences:</b></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">As we see more and more highly valued single malts and blends, such as The </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Macallan and Johnnie Walker pushing their prices up with rarer, older and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">more extravagantly packaged items, the focus will shift onto 'experiences'. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">They could be high-end, exclusive trips to the distilleries, more branded ‘houses’ (like The House </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">of Johnnie Walker) or shops. Either way, we think the immersive experience of taking </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">consumers on a literal journey will become more of a focus in 2015. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Look out </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">for more bespoke blends from big whisky companies too, for those who can </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">afford it.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jh27FLP0dSs/VKWKtvJI_yI/AAAAAAAAIWU/LIcjNYOASPo/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jh27FLP0dSs/VKWKtvJI_yI/AAAAAAAAIWU/LIcjNYOASPo/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>My Top Tipple From 2014: The Glenlivet Nadurra Oloroso</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">We haven’t got around to reviewing this one, yet </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">but the new Nadurra Oloroso offering from The Glenlivet at 60.7% is </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">stunning and priced at a bonkers £45. Take Aberlour’s A'bunadh and soften it </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">slightly and you’ve got this. It packs a punch and is worth every penny.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Neil:</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Craft: This Party Is Getting A Little Crowded...</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span></span></b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vAVayAzQxlM/VKWLDmWSiHI/AAAAAAAAIWc/j6sdH7fqZ70/s1600/images-1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vAVayAzQxlM/VKWLDmWSiHI/AAAAAAAAIWc/j6sdH7fqZ70/s1600/images-1.jpeg" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The term ‘craft’ has taken over in the world of spirits, particularly in </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">whisky. In the USA, ‘craft’ distilling is a huge movement with small </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">producers making tiny amounts of their own rye, bourbon and single malt. As </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">these distillers gain more sales, they’ll be able to afford to export their </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">products and see them (if they are good) take hold in markets far from where </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">they are made. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">But there won't be room for everyone. It feels like 'Craft' is a term that is thrown around without prejudice now, with some distillers - be it big or small, exhibiting little or no craft. There are some genuinely brilliant well-crafted products out there: be it well-known Scotch blends (hey - blending is the original <i>craft</i>, when you really start to think about it) or tiny distillers with equally small spirit batches. But when corporate boardroom decisions interfere with the distillation process (i'm looking at you, <b>Balcones</b>) you kind of get the feeling that the money-making-machine and the sound of the cash registers are the predominant sounds echoing around a few distilleries, whose reputations are now damaged as a result. In 2015 and beyond, we think craft will become less about being <i>handmade</i>, more about using technology in new and innovative ways to create or 'craft' new products. Think less wicker chair, more MacLaren F1. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>Other Spirits Stealing Whisky Drinkers:</b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">The idea of ‘occasion’ is going to be focused on more and more in 2015. Why drink a fairly boring vodka, when you can enjoy a grain whisky before the party really kicks off? Similarly, do you really need to be paying through the nose for super premium aged single malts, when you could be getting the same after dinner experience with an extraordinary Armagnac, vintage Tequila or rum for a fraction of the price? </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Whisky still has an enormous cache internationally, but there are signs that other spirits - particularly Armagnac and Mezcal are beginning to draw a few connoisseurs away from whisky. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>My Top Tipple from 2014: Chateau Laubade 1983 Vintage Armagnac</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">As I mentioned above, Armagnac is perhaps the most underrated and unexplored spirits category in the world at the moment, (aside to that of Cachaca and mezcal) with some exceptional expressions available for a fraction of their equivalent Scotch vintages. Having explored the Gers region in November during La Flamme De l'Armagnac (an amazing experience when all the distillers light their stills to mark the start of the distillation season) it reminded me of the Feis Ile experience on Islay, before it became a too overcrowded and commercialised. It was here at the Laubade estate where I discovered their 1983 bottling: a rich, resinous and spicy beast-of-an-Armagnac, full of tannic oak, liquorice and anise, alongside some sweeter vanilla notes and juicy citrus fruit. All this complexity for around £75. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">We're very much looking forward to tackling 2015 and all the intriguing spirits on offer. Expect to see a fair few changes here over the coming months- we'll be focusing on a much broader scale of drinks, rather than just whisky, so here's to a cracking vintage year! </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Don't forget to follow us at <b>@WorldOfSpirits</b> on Twitter.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Neil & Joel</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span>Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-29402431118151848602014-12-04T15:31:00.001+00:002014-12-05T12:20:58.154+00:00Guest Post: The Science of Drinking and Shopping this Christmas by Tim RidleyHello festive friends. This week, our good friend <b>Tim Ridley</b> (no relation) has penned this superbly constructed discussion on the science of flavour and the psychology of choosing the right thing to buy this Christmas. Tim has made considerable waves in the artisanal coffee world is a founder of Department of Coffee and Social Affairs. If you have yet to explore the world of coffee like you have your spirits, Tim is your sherpa through the world of beans, blends and single estates.
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaOT'; font-size: 14.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">QUALITY AND ALL THAT CARRY ON: A GUIDE TO CHOOSING YOUR CHRISTMAS
DRINKS
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 13.000000pt; font-style: italic;">As the festive season a</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: MetaSerifOT; font-size: 17px; font-style: italic;">rrives we’re preparing to eat, drink and be merry. Regular readers
of Caskstrength quite possibly pride themselves on choosing their whiskies on the basis
of ‘quality’. While this is potentially true, I doubt it. I think something else is driving our
decision-making. Here’s why - as well as my ideas to help you be merry this Christmas.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNoN6_NhNwc/VIBlKO0Mf6I/AAAAAAAAIUw/drYBzpLc-Xc/s1600/coffee-beans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNoN6_NhNwc/VIBlKO0Mf6I/AAAAAAAAIUw/drYBzpLc-Xc/s1600/coffee-beans.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Before presenting some attributes that I think are now shaping our beverages choices, I want to start
by dissuading you from the notion that quality is the driving factor in your drinks decision-making.
It’s become so commonplace to say that it’s the sole criterion, it’s now offensive or a risk to one’s
reputation to voice otherwise. I can already hear the sound of sharpening knives from people who are
going to question my commitment to quality! Read on before you judge...
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">So let me start with this challenge. If you benefit from exquisitely developed whisky taste (buds), the
quality criterion forces you to apply the same stringent criteria to other spirits, for example, tequila
shots or Irish cream. Or other beverages, such as tea and coffee. And what about food? How was that
lamb kebab you enjoyed on the way home at the weekend? Or that High Street sandwich you had for
lunch? The reality is that even the best tasters I know don’t apply their skill set far beyond their area
of expertise. I’ve eaten greasy chicken wings with winners after spirits awards ceremonies, know
brilliant sommeliers who drink instant coffee, baristas who drink builders tea, and chefs that heat
ready meals at home.
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Some of you will be prickling already. But calm done laddie, there’s no criticism here, it’s just
an observation. However, it seems to me that we actually understand these choices to be inconsistent
if we pay creed to the idea of ‘quality’ being the driving criterion, so we sweep the crumbs of our
takeout dinners under the mat or worse, us foodie types go out of our way to be outright
condescending of mass-market food and drink. Furthermore, all the tasters I know have at least one
unrefined food or drink indulgence. Mine is Pringles. Buy me a can, I’m yours.
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">BUYING THE BEST WE CAN AFFORD?
</span><br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1o6xG_k7Kc/VIBnEro6xUI/AAAAAAAAIVU/-zTdVFvaY5k/s1600/Speakeasy700-298x206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G1o6xG_k7Kc/VIBnEro6xUI/AAAAAAAAIVU/-zTdVFvaY5k/s1600/Speakeasy700-298x206.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Moving on, I also need to unpick the notion that people buy the best that they can afford. To do this,
I’m going to cantankerously propose that judging beverage quality is actually quite easy. High quality
beverages are those that are deemed to have 1) many distinct and clearly identifiable </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">flavours, </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">2) those
</span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">flavours </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">have plenty of reach, life or depth and, 3) the </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">flavours </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">and tastes - salty, sweet, acidic, bitter
and umami - have ‘balance’. Accepting that the contentious bit is the consistent assessment of these
attributes, I’m just going to move on and point out that these attributes have traditionally been the
basis of pricing. And here we introduce the concept of ‘value’. It works out nicely that good
ingredients (which are costly), made carefully (by skilled people, who are expensive) and left to
mature (time is money) typically benefit from the above </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">flavour </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">attributes and command a
corresponding price point. This has become so ingrained that even uneducated consumers accept the
logic. Just say something like ‘quality ingredients’, ‘skilled craftsmen’ or ‘maturation’ and people nod
their heads with an appreciation of the price. Of course, quality and price don’t always match, and
where there’s a gap, we blame marketing.
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Now many of you have sufficiently good enough palates to taste through marketing. If you can do this
(and I’ve kinda made the assumption that most Caskstrength readers can), I’m primarily talking
about consumers like you. I’ve got no market data to support my idea but I’m inclined to think that
we’re probably not the largest market segment, nor are we probably the highest spending, but my observation is that there are a significant, informed and quickly growing number of us and if you’re
like my friends you’re rather vocal about your opinions. Caught between super-premium luxury
products and commodity grade, we’re the ‘squeezed middle’ of beverage Britain. I also think that
we’re a really interesting demographic because we’re the early and middle stage adopters and our
opinions end up shaping the trends that go into the mass market. If you know what I am talking
about, then you’ll also know that buying the best you can afford is a desperately disappointing
experience. In short, you’re too well informed about what’s out there to be satisfied with the thing
that is a pale comparison of the original or the best.
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: MetaSerifOT; font-size: 15px;">So if quality, price and marketing are not driving our decision-making, what is?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">AN EXAMPLE FROM COFFEE
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QiTGNb45rw/VIBnFuZwHnI/AAAAAAAAIVc/2uUBR4TUhU0/s1600/Drip-Decanter-in-use-298x206.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QiTGNb45rw/VIBnFuZwHnI/AAAAAAAAIVc/2uUBR4TUhU0/s1600/Drip-Decanter-in-use-298x206.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Before I take a stab at answering this, I’m going to shift to a beverage that I know more about: coffee.
While I largely select coffees on the basis of the breadth and vitally of the </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">flavours, </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">you might be
interested to know that ageing provides no benefit to coffee; in fact, it’s a </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">flavour </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">killer. Once coffee is
harvested and processed, everything is in decline. This is true for pretty much every aspect of a coffee
post-pick. Few coffees last well more than 12 months; all last just a few days after roasting (or around
16 days for espresso); and just seconds after grinding (despite what those hawkers of ground coffee
might tell you). This is depressing news for the coffee professional as well as the enthusiast. I’ve long
been jealous of (and inconvenienced by) my spirits friends who crack open a good bottle and </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">fill </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">my
glass. It has been necessary to reciprocate their generosity by demonstrating the intricate coffee-
making process at a location where I have sufficient equipment to precisely weigh the coffee, measure
the water temperature, </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">filter </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">the water and time the extraction. Making coffee is delicate and hard
work (oh, and this is all for a cup of coffee that retails between £2.50 - £3.00 compared to pouring a
dram at £8 plus. Well done whisky, you have the margins and the ease of service sorted. Coffee has a
lot to learn, but that’s another story).
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Having had the privilege of walking a number of incredible people in the spirits industry through the
coffee-making process, my observation is that they’re all bored to tears - until they actually get to
drink some coffee. At this point, I have their full attention. The strange thing is that despite having
some of the best tasting palates in the world, they can’t definitively say that the coffee is good as it’s
typically outside of their reference points (this ties in with my point above about the transferability of
tasting skills). However, so far, they’ve universally been won over and I want you to understand that
while initially they can’t judge it accurately, they’re sold because the beverage gives them a sense of
‘it’s just right’ or ‘something interesting is going on here’. And this is where I introduce my concept of
’pleasure’. A google search defines pleasure as ‘a feeling of happy satisfaction and enjoyment’.
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">PLEASURE
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">To further test my theory and demonstrate my point, I presented the awarded and qualified owners of
this site with a modification of the <b>Desert Island Disc</b> conundrum: ‘Which single whisky would you
take to a solitary existence on a desert island, of course, along with your eight music tracks, the Bible
and the complete works of Shakespeare?’
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKgjjUFDM8Y/VIBn_sNPTiI/AAAAAAAAIVk/Q1Bn1f6I_lc/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dKgjjUFDM8Y/VIBn_sNPTiI/AAAAAAAAIVk/Q1Bn1f6I_lc/s1600/images.jpeg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnlBj3Ts3MM/VIBn_kHLXCI/AAAAAAAAIVo/E_yljvvdONw/s1600/blend_whi24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnlBj3Ts3MM/VIBn_kHLXCI/AAAAAAAAIVo/E_yljvvdONw/s1600/blend_whi24.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Interestingly, both responded with a shortlist of two and they both had a whisky in common. Neil
Ridley (for the sake of clarity, no direct relation of mine) chose a Lagavulin 16 or White Horse blended
whisky and Joel Harrison also selected Lagavulin 16 or Balvenie Double Wood. These are whiskies you
can pick up at a good bottle shop. If I could only have one coffee for the rest of my life it’d probably be
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<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">a high-grade Kenya or high-altitude Colombian coffee. Neither are cheap, but similarly they’re
regularly available and far from luxury products.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Now, truth be told, I could have used pretty much anyone with a half-decent palate for the above two
examples. I just wanted to bolster the credibility of my argument by referencing your captains of
industry and the Caskstrength crew.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">My thesis is that despite all the talk amongst us foodie types about quality and how it is achieved, we
are more fundamentally hardwired to pursue and choose ‘pleasure’. My theory is that people don’t
move from mass-market to quality, they move from commodity and brand, with the help of
knowledge, to hedonism. If this is the case, how can we have a clear framework for judging a
beverage’s quality, but not its pleasure-inducing attributes.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">DEVELOPING A FRAMEWORK TO JUDGE THE PLEASURE-INDUCING ABILITIES OF A BEVERAGE
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">So, here’s my starting point for developing a framework for what makes beverages pleasurable, and
therefore what we should be buying this Christmas to be happy:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><b>They are made for you
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">I can make better coffee than most, but my favourite coffee of the day is usually the one made for me.
The same goes for food and is part of the reason why restaurant dining can be so enjoyable. There is a
difficult to define but easy to recognise ‘generosity of spirit’ that has to be at the heart of good
hospitality and food and drink, whether that’s in a commercial establishment or at home. Creators of
beverages need to make them for others to enjoy, not just for themselves or at the dictates of their
production line. If you’re in doubt, go talk to the producer and hear their motivations. Also, you can
show generosity of spirit and lift someone else’s enjoyment by serving them a beverage.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><b>A shared experience
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Drinking should be a social experience. I like to point out that pretty much all beverages are
historically made in volumes to serve a group of people. A one glass wine cask? A Chinese tea
ceremony for one? It sounds wrong, and for good reason. Drinks should bring people together. I think
that you should choose drinks that the entire table can enjoy.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><b>A true and simple story
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Of course, most simple stories are not true, but the point is we need straightforward narratives to be
able to grapple with unfamiliar things. The details of the coffee-making process are too intricate for
even inquisitive beverage professionals from other sectors. So, I’ve learnt to serve </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">first, </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">pique interest
and then explain. I’m still looking for a simple, but true, story on coffee-making.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><b>There are way markers
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">There is a trend in art galleries for less information to be provided about the artworks because the
idea is that people should be free to experience whatever the art speaks to them. I’m all for this, but
many of us lack the vocabulary and framework to explain - and therefore meaningfully share or
understand - our experience. If you’ve ever felt lost standing in front of a painting, then apply this
feeling to how many consumers feel about beverages. We need to provide the right level of
information, background, context whilst retaining sufficient room for individual discovery and
personal preference.
</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="section" style="background-color: rgb(100.000000%, 100.000000%, 100.000000%);">
<div class="section">
</div>
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><b>It’s difficult, but not too difficult
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">I’m sure you all know the story about Betty Crocker’s failed introduction of instant cake mix and
subsequent success once the formula and marketing was amended to require “women” (<a href="http://www.bettycrocker.co.uk/the-betty-story">sorry, their story not mine</a>) add an egg to the box mix before baking the cake. Adding effort is rewarding. We need
to </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">find </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">ways to get involved. Start with something basic like serving your drinks at the right
temperature.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><b>Knowing when to serve clarity, comfort or complexity
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">I have an idea that people default to one of three camps when tasting for pleasure. Some people like
clarity, which I define as a clear expression of </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">flavours, </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">ideally showing a correlation between
production and palate. Some people default for beverages that provide a sense of reassurance and
comfort. And some people lean towards drinks that emotionally energise and excite them. I can think
of malts in each of these categories. A slightly more nuanced approach is to say that it depends on the
occasion, but my experience suggests people have deep-seated defaults. I generally prefer complexity
and clarity. I ideally want to be inspired by what I drink and if it’s less than inspirational I at lease
want to be drinking a clear expression of the style. Know yourself, know the room and serve
accordingly.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><b>It’s of quality
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">I’m not trying to reduce the importance of quality, rather I’m saying that it’s not enough and nor is it
the sole driving factor in the selection of beverages for an important and growing section of the
population. Not everything I enjoy is technically brilliant, and neither is everything that scores high
points enjoyable for me. I can already hear a debate about whether Scotch or Japanese whiskies are
more enjoyable.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><b>Is good for you
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">I have all sorts of ideas about various forms of production, the use of pesticides and chemicals and
how beverages are stored. This is not the place to impose my ideals, but it is fair to point out that food
and drink should nurture, not damage, our bodies. Do your own research, get your own ideas and
choose things that your body responds well to.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><b>Think that it’s expensive
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">You’ve probably seen Benjamin Wallace’s TED talk on super-premium items and how our bodies
actually register greater pleasure from items we believe to be expensive. It’s yet more evidence of just
how </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">fickle </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">we are as a species, but it’s good news if you turn the logic on its head. Just thinking it’s
good can lift your enjoyment. You could even do the Christmas dining table a service by giving them
the impression that the beverages are more expensive than they really are. Just be wary of using the
‘was’ price at the wine merchant or supermarket as your reference point over the festive season.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-style: italic;"><b>The retention of context
</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">This is tricky in a globalised world both because of the variety of what’s available and we are quickly
losing our reference points for traditional and seasonal pairings. Living in London, I drink coffee from
the Americas, wine from France, tea from Japan and whisky from Scotland on a regular basis.
However, something magic happens when food and drink that evolved together are paired together.
That said, I’m not against fusion, but throwing things together - no matter how good they individually
are - never works.
</span></div>
</div>
<div class="section">
<br /></div>
<div class="section">
<img alt="page4image29080" height="0.385000" src="file:///page4image29080" width="51.810000" />
</div>
<div class="section">
<img alt="page4image29352" height="0.385000" src="file:///page4image29352" width="68.717000" />
</div>
<div class="section">
<img alt="page4image29624" height="0.385000" src="file:///page4image29624" width="136.631000" />
</div>
<div class="section">
<img alt="page4image29896" height="0.385000" src="file:///page4image29896" width="2.860000" />
</div>
<div class="section">
<img alt="page4image30168" height="0.616388" src="file:///page4image30168" width="19.096388" />
</div>
</div>
<div class="section" style="background-color: rgb(100.000000%, 100.000000%, 100.000000%);">
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'MetaOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; font-weight: 700;">A SEMI-SCIENTIFIC FORMULA FOR CHOOSING A DRINK
</span></div>
</div>
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">With a framework in development, we now need a formula to help us rank and choose the most
pleasure-inducing drinks. I propose:
</span></div>
</div>
<div class="section">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Mc1ingWrZg/VIBmXjsF3cI/AAAAAAAAIU8/ZOMJuUowaBk/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-04%2Bat%2B13.48.27.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Mc1ingWrZg/VIBmXjsF3cI/AAAAAAAAIU8/ZOMJuUowaBk/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-04%2Bat%2B13.48.27.png" height="135" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="section">
<br /></div>
<div class="section">
<br /></div>
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Where:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><b>P</b> = Pleasure. Scores between 1 and 100 are possible. You should aim to be higher than 5 and things
get really interesting over 10.
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Calculate P by giving values to:
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><b>Ip</b> = Individual pleasure. Estimate the pleasure you’d get from a particular drink, using the above
framework on a scale of 0 to 10. (e.g. a bit below average is a 4 and above average is a 7)
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><b>Gp</b> = Group pleasure estimate. Estimate the pleasure the group would get from a particular drink,
using the above framework on a scale of 0 to 10. (e.g. above average is a 7 and below average is a 4)
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><b>Pr</b> = Rank the beverage’s price on a scale of 0 - 10, where 0 is free and 10 is expensive* (e.g. an
average price is 5 and slightly expensive is 7)
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt; vertical-align: -1.000000pt;">* </span><span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Obviously, free drinks are off the scale! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">Using the examples:
</span></div>
</div>
<div class="section">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hoo4fj6Gtc/VIBmlC-oypI/AAAAAAAAIVE/LZColtCOpI4/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-04%2Bat%2B13.48.43.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4hoo4fj6Gtc/VIBmlC-oypI/AAAAAAAAIVE/LZColtCOpI4/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-12-04%2Bat%2B13.48.43.png" height="83" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="section">
<br /></div>
<div class="section">
<br /></div>
<div class="layoutArea">
<div class="column">
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">So, you’re better to buy a drink that the group moderately enjoys that you don’t like so much at a
middling pricing than buy something you really like that the group doesn’t like (unless it’s cheaper).
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'MetaSerifOT'; font-size: 11.000000pt;">But if this theory is any good, then you already knew that right? And that’s my point, there’s definitely
something going on here - and we all know it. May you have a very Merry Christmas. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-84447461203671079592014-12-01T10:57:00.002+00:002014-12-01T11:03:49.979+00:00The Ultimate Christmas Spirit - Part 1<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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Apologies for the lengthy absence. Both of us have been
travelling extensively, all in the name of Spirits Exploration and we have come
out the other side, blinking in the December sunlight, filled with knowledge
from the world of fine, well crafted spirits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YR9XzX1VuOo/VHxINaymEeI/AAAAAAAAIUg/42go7LLqspE/s1600/whisky-advent-2014.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YR9XzX1VuOo/VHxINaymEeI/AAAAAAAAIUg/42go7LLqspE/s1600/whisky-advent-2014.png" /></a>As it’s the first of the month (assume you all have your
<a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/drinks-by-the-dram/the-whisky-advent-calendar/" target="_blank">Master Of Malt Advent calendars</a>… if not, get cracking and play catch up!) we’ve
decided to take a leisurely look at the spirits you should be drinking this
Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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We start off with a definitive winter warmer; something to
ease you into the month helping banish any chills you may be experiencing and
set up your palate firmly for the numerous log-fired, lazy family filled
holiday dates that are coming later this month.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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The spirit in question is a whisky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s name is <b>Glendronach</b> and for those in-the-know, it’s a distillery that in recent years has begun to excel at producing
hugely powerful-yet complex sherry cask monsters - but for a fraction of the
price of a 'Marque' brand like <b>Macallan</b>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This particular bottling was selected by our friend <b>David Margulies</b>,
owner of the <a href="http://www.kosherwineuk.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=glendronach&pfrom=1&pto=20000&sort=2a&page=3" target="_blank">Grapevine retail website</a> and it’s an absolute cracker…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>GlenDronach – 1994
Vintage – Pedro Ximinez Sherry Puncheon – 52.1% - Cask No: 279 (£80)</b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Nose:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>An initial hit
of rich caramel toffee, some woody spice and then a syrupy fig/raisin laden
fruit cake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The spices are amplified
with a little water and the sherry notes become slightly sweeter – more like
bonfire toffee, with a Manuka honey topping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
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<b>Palate:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Much like the
nose, the dried fruit, spice and drying oak come through on the first wave,
with a very sticky, unctuous mouthfeel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With water, the sherry becomes more dominant and the spice a little more
pronounced, but for us, this is absolutely superb straight, at its full 52.1%.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Finish:</b> Lingering notes of toffee, oaky spice and raisins.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<b>Overall:</b> A stellar sherry cask choice, highlighting that for
the money, there’s plenty more options out there than just diving in with the
big bucks for a massively well known brand costing twice the price.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-79760307547946072412014-11-07T14:00:00.001+00:002014-11-07T14:10:36.768+00:00Salud! TequilaFEST Is Coming To London - Win Tickets!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NtioNm_dSVU/VFzKGKsRR4I/AAAAAAAAITo/mOLBMDcEFGU/s1600/logos_TF-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NtioNm_dSVU/VFzKGKsRR4I/AAAAAAAAITo/mOLBMDcEFGU/s1600/logos_TF-04.jpg" height="128" width="320" /></a></div>
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Wow, what a month for spirits November is turning out to be...</div>
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This week has seen us already attend the launch of a brand new gin from French masters <b>G'Vine</b>, (more on this next week) as well as the expansion of <b>Sipsmith</b>, one of London's finest craft gin distillers. </div>
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In addition we had our whisky hats on for the launch of Diageo's <b>Special Releases</b> (which you can read about <a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/objects-of-desire-diageo-special.html" target="_blank">here</a>) and Neil was in action on the <b>BBC's International News</b> programme, discussing the state of world whisky making today. You can watch the broadcast below if you haven't already seen it. </div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/111105674" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </div>
<a href="http://vimeo.com/111105674">Neil Discussing World Whisky On BBC World News</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/caskstrengthcreative">Caskstrength Creative</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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We're also especially pleased to announce that later this month we're partnering with the organisers of <b><a href="http://www.tequilafest.co.uk/" target="_blank">TequilaFEST</a></b> for what is the UK's very first expo of Mexican spirits. <b><a href="http://www.tequilafest.co.uk/" target="_blank">TequilaFEST</a></b> will be running over two days on the<b> 22nd and 23rd of November</b> at the <b>Grange Tower Bridge Hotel</b> in London and promises to be a great way to explore the changing face of Tequila, as well as lean more about the rustic brilliance of Tequila's brother-in-arms, <b>mezcal</b>. </div>
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For both of us, Tequila and mezcal have been flying high on our spirits radars over the past year and feature heavily in our new book, <b><a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Distilled-absinthe-artisan-unearthed-explained/dp/1845339118/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1415368202&sr=8-1&keywords=distilled+neil+ridley" target="_blank">Distilled</a></b>, which has plenty of suggestions for great expressions to try, alongside interviews with a number of highly passionate spirits producers. Tequila and mezcal are truly vibrant spirits and <b>TequilaFEST</b> will be a unique opportunity for anyone passionate about spirits to begin to understand their different personalities and try some exceptional examples of both. </div>
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Alongside the line up of leading brands, food pairings and cocktails there will be seminars and masterclasses on both spirits and we'll be hosting a discussion each day with renowned bartenders and brand ambassadors on the main differences of Tequila and mezcal, so keep an eye out for more details on the complete programme, by clicking <a href="http://www.tequilafest.co.uk/?page_id=1519" target="_blank">here: </a></div>
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<b>But that's not all! We're giving away three pairs of tickets to the event. </b> </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7DFE90s-jY/VFzKN48L27I/AAAAAAAAIT4/aCJ4x0KMAKY/s1600/Campo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7DFE90s-jY/VFzKN48L27I/AAAAAAAAIT4/aCJ4x0KMAKY/s1600/Campo2.jpg" height="246" width="320" /></a>All you need to do is simply send us a Tweet to <b><a href="https://twitter.com/weheartwhisky" target="_blank">@weheartwhisky</a></b> with the hashtag<b> #tequilafest</b> and we'll enter you into a prize draw to win a pair. The competition will close at 8pm UK time on <b>Wednesday 19th November </b>and we'll be notifying the winners shortly afterwards. If you haven't got a Twitter account, you can simply email us your details (name, age and location, plus contact details) to <b><a href="mailto:Tequilafest@Caskstrength.net">Tequilafest@Caskstrength.net</a></b></div>
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<b>Usual rules apply:</b> Only enter if you're over 18 and can definitely attend on the 22nd and (or) the 23rd November. Also, UK residents only please. You'll need to make your own way to the event too...</div>
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For more info about TequilaFEST, visit the website <a href="http://www.tequilafest.co.uk/">www.tequilafest.co.uk</a> and hope to see you there!<br />
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Follow <b>TequilaFEST</b> on Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/tequilafestUK" target="_blank"><b>@tequilafestuk</b></a> On <a href="https://www.facebook.com/tequilafestuk" target="_blank"><b>Facebook</b></a> On Instagram: <b>TFUK2014</b></div>
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Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-16965836345633864372014-10-31T14:25:00.000+00:002014-10-31T14:33:12.869+00:00The Ardmore Legacy: A (slight) Return of the Unsung Smoky Hero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--BoCYcs-q-0/VFOdfVyq12I/AAAAAAAAITI/OjWaCPL6F5o/s1600/photo-2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--BoCYcs-q-0/VFOdfVyq12I/AAAAAAAAITI/OjWaCPL6F5o/s1600/photo-2.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Caskstrength.net</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everyone loves an underdog, don't they. Be it the minnows in the World Cup, or the most unlikely victors (recently Leicester City, known as the Foxes, beat the once mighty Manchester United 5-3, after coming from 3-1 behind) there's something to truly celebrate when a small time player comes from nowhere and trounces the competition. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, without patronising a clearly great distillery, <b>The Ardmore</b>, one of only a handful of malt distilleries on the mainland of Scotland to use peated barley in its production, never seems to be on anyone's radar when discussing the best smoky whiskies on the market. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Think Smoke - Think <b>Laphroaig</b>/<b>Ardbeg/Caol Ila/Lagavulin/Bowmore</b> etc and you begin to see a very clear picture of just how Islay has a major stranglehold on the world of peated Scotch whisky (not forgetting Skye's <b>Talisker</b> of course) </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All this is fine and whisky makers, marketeers and everyone connected with promoting whisky likes to play on the obvious relevance of 'terroir' when it comes to peated whiskies. The harsh island climates, the lonely peat bogs - in essence - it's all encoded deep into the DNA of every Islay/Island whisky story. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But in all the swirls of mist, bottomless black lochs and 110 year-old peat cutters, we seem to have forgotten that great peated whisky can pretty much be made anywhere - not even just in Scotland- look at the mighty <b>Hakushu</b> in Japan and <b>Connemara</b> in Ireland for a global picture. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ardmore</b> is one such distillery who has been making<span class="Apple-style-span"> a whisky unlike any
of their Highland neighbour’s wares. <b>Ardmore Traditional Cask</b> has long been on our list of undiscovered gems and a whisky that we often use to highlight the breadth of flavour when considering a 'peaty' whisky. It very much has its own style and as a result, counterpoints some of the more medicinal beasts from Islay. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently, Ardmore Traditional Cask has been retired, in favour of a brand new whisky, <b>The Ardmore Legacy</b>, taking its place as the Highland challenger to the Islay-dominated smoky crown. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Legacy continues on a fairly lightly peated trajectory, but don't let this put you off, if you are a fan of the bolder stuff. There's something unique about this whisky that allows it to sit comfortably next to its more medicinal Island brothers, highlighting a whole different world within the concept of peat. What's more, it sits nicely at under £30 here in the UK....</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hVtJ5OIY6N8/VFOVF08rP8I/AAAAAAAAISs/L4mMWnJbFKI/s1600/The-Ardmore-Legacy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hVtJ5OIY6N8/VFOVF08rP8I/AAAAAAAAISs/L4mMWnJbFKI/s1600/The-Ardmore-Legacy.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Ardmore - Legacy - 40%</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nose: </b>Fresh pine wood shavings, a hint of coal tar soap, some dry coal dust embers and then something altogether more floral: a sweet, incense note, candifloss and freshly laundered cotton sheets. It's fresh, youthful, but still full of complimentary aromas. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Palate:</b> A touch of dry oak, some creamy toffee, before the smoke delivers a fresh, almost fruity </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">flavour - think slightly smoked/charred citrus fruit and you're on the right way. There's a good helping of something a little dryer too, with a woody/bonfire note developing, but any overly dry notes are kept nicely in check here. Given time, some more floral, lavender notes develop, with a milky coffee note. Very well balanced indeed.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Finish: </b>The slightly smoky/creamy coffee notes linger, with a hint of lemon zest returning as your palate dries.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall:</b> A cracking introduction to peat if you are new to whisky, but with enough complexity going on to still put a smile on any peat head's face too. At under £30, it also represents a departure to where other whisky companies seem to be heading at the moment, so much so that we'd consider this a cabinet essential. </span></div>
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<br />Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-809969765554688822014-10-16T14:55:00.001+01:002014-10-17T12:45:00.926+01:00The Sound Of Aberlour (or 'Aberlou(de)r')<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFk7nS51Xg8/VD_B_6DXJXI/AAAAAAAAIRc/jnes9DOb4EQ/s1600/ablob1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tFk7nS51Xg8/VD_B_6DXJXI/AAAAAAAAIRc/jnes9DOb4EQ/s1600/ablob1.jpg" height="177" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey hey! Both Joel and I find ourselves at an unusual point this month. Our new book, <i><b>Distilled</b></i> is finally out and we're really delighted with the reaction so far. It's been a hugely rewarding ride into the world of spirits and we look forward to many more years to come, writing about and enjoying great spirits in the company of great friends. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week, we had a slight return to our roots back in the music business, albeit as part of a fun and engaging tasting masterclass for <b>The Whisky Show</b>. In fact, it was a superb opportunity to reminisce about 'the old days' of making records and generally revisit what was a fun chapter in our lives. </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1R6EsZ-v8w/VD-7s8dRLcI/AAAAAAAAIQE/es-FYH7m-kc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1R6EsZ-v8w/VD-7s8dRLcI/AAAAAAAAIQE/es-FYH7m-kc/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-X1R6EsZ-v8w/VD-7s8dRLcI/AAAAAAAAIQE/es-FYH7m-kc/s1600/photo.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5w0bjv-ZZ5A/VD_CB1ZY_7I/AAAAAAAAIRk/5xlEO7WiM1k/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-10-16%2Bat%2B14.02.22.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5w0bjv-ZZ5A/VD_CB1ZY_7I/AAAAAAAAIRk/5xlEO7WiM1k/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-10-16%2Bat%2B14.02.22.png" height="133" width="200" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Together with an old friend of ours, record producer <b>Danton Supple</b>, the man who produced <b>Coldplay's X&Y</b> album, as well as working with a host of highly successful artists from around the globe including <b>Amy MacDonald</b> and <b>Natalie Imbruglia</b>, we devised an experience for 30 passionate whisky and music fans, who were in attendance at the Whisky Show. For all three of us, there is an undeniable link between whisky and music. It has been said that whisky and rock ‘n roll are the ultimate
bedfellows and that the creative energy flowing through many of the greatest
and most enduring classic blues and Rock ‘n Roll songs can be attributed to the
‘spirit of the spirit’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the raw
emotion laid bare in Robert Johnson’s seminal recordings of the late 1930s,
through to the hedonistic, hell-raising antics of Led Zeppelin and beyond,
whisky, of some kind, seeps with abundance from virtually every pore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">But not only is there a creative link. There are also parallels between the production of classic whiskies and the creation of classic albums and our tasting sought to highlight a number of these similarities. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l9uF9nlGQCQ/VD--eKmDyoI/AAAAAAAAIQg/9VVXXjzMY00/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-10-16%2Bat%2B13.34.51.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l9uF9nlGQCQ/VD--eKmDyoI/AAAAAAAAIQg/9VVXXjzMY00/s1600/Screen%2BShot%2B2014-10-16%2Bat%2B13.34.51.png" height="226" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">We chose the classic Speyside malt, <b>Aberlour</b> as a perfect example of a liquid laid bare, ideal for pairing with music. The concept was to find five unusual e</span>xpressions of Aberlour, each with its very own personality to match with five similarly characterful pieces of music. Working alongside Danton, we rattled through our combined record collections with each whisky in tow, until we felt confident that we had mirrored the individual nuances of the liquid. No easy feat, as it turned out, given that music - and tasting notes are so damned subjective. But our collective thinking was that certain styles of whisky have very distinct character traits and it was these that we hoped to highlight with each piece of music. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Are you still with us? - honestly, it will become clearer, we promise!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; mso-spacerun: yes;">Assembling a fairly high-end stereo in the huge arched tasting rooms down in Vinopolis, the location of The Whisky Show, we laid out our plans - and the whiskies. Had we succeeded in capturing the essence of each liquid in song form? </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cNEQ5UGyU6w/VD_APxLbQKI/AAAAAAAAIQ8/Rld3C5B0TBw/s1600/cash__78835_std.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cNEQ5UGyU6w/VD_APxLbQKI/AAAAAAAAIQ8/Rld3C5B0TBw/s1600/cash__78835_std.jpg" /></span></a></div>
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zLKLO-sgKW0/VED_harBKYI/AAAAAAAAISM/okhe6c-ZXgs/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zLKLO-sgKW0/VED_harBKYI/AAAAAAAAISM/okhe6c-ZXgs/s1600/photo%2B2.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">First up was a real cracker: a </span><b>16 year-old single cask Aberlour</b> matured in a wonderfully rich sherry cask, only available at the distillery and bottled at <b>59.1%</b>. In fact, if you pay the distillery a visit, this is one of a pair of releases that you can bottle yourself, so a very special whisky indeed. As a prime example of a characterful Speyside spirit filled into a clearly very active sherry cask, this whisky is powerful and brooding- rich in body and complexity. It has a mighty spiciness, which develops alongside a highly resonant fruitiness. To us, a single cask whisky is about as near to completely immersing yourself in the spirit as possible and our idea was to pair this with a stark acoustic recording: something where you hear a song - and the vocal - in its rawest form, with every nuance of the performance on show. After much discussion, there was only one artist who could truly take on such a mighty whisky and that was 'The Man In Black' himself, the late <b>Johnny Cash</b>. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The song we chose was <b>The Man Comes Around</b>, taken from his beautifully recorded <b>American IV</b> album, released in 2002. Here, Cash's voice is arguably at its finest: As resonant and cavernous as a 300ft sinkhole, yet still in possession of a rich, spicy character. A voice that has truly lived, if you like. For us, this simple, honest recording was the perfect backdrop to the Aberlour sherry cask. We hit play and stood back. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5y47_IAII3M/VD-9ywxN6yI/AAAAAAAAIQY/_0OzWLiPguY/s1600/photo-16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5y47_IAII3M/VD-9ywxN6yI/AAAAAAAAIQY/_0OzWLiPguY/s1600/photo-16.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4IuZL-lZ07Q/VED_t662_II/AAAAAAAAISc/4D2ZLNehp7g/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4IuZL-lZ07Q/VED_t662_II/AAAAAAAAISc/4D2ZLNehp7g/s1600/photo%2B1.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With our palates still tingling from such a complex whisky, our next pairing was almost the antithesis of both sherry cask maturation and the fearsome pipes of Johnny Cash. As mentioned above, there is a pair of single casks available at the Aberlour distillery and we were lucky enough to get a bottle of the sister to the brooding sherry bomb: A wonderfully light, zesty, fruity and buttery first-fill <b>Bourbon Cask 16 Year Old Aberlour</b>,<b> </b>bottled at<b> 54.5%.</b> Here, we wanted to try and demonstrate the contrasting <i>lightness</i> against the <i>shade</i> of the sherry release - the ethereal, soft, sweet vanilla/ tropical fruit notes of a first fill bourbon cask. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O9xyCLUUkEQ/VD_APN_VYcI/AAAAAAAAIRQ/DgwJhtBLvsQ/s1600/220px-Carole_King_-_Tapestry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O9xyCLUUkEQ/VD_APN_VYcI/AAAAAAAAIRQ/DgwJhtBLvsQ/s1600/220px-Carole_King_-_Tapestry.jpg" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This initially proved to be a little tricky. We were convinced that a simple, beautiful acoustic track sung by a timeless female vocalist was the way to go, but finding something uplifting and confident, yet syrupy smooth caused a few disagreements. In the end, after several reaffirming drams at Danton's studio in Shoreditch, we hit on the perfect match: <b>Carole King</b> and her timeless piano led classic, <b>You've Got A Friend</b> from the 1971 masterpiece, <b>Tapestry</b>. The warm, analogue notes of this recording really helped to counterpoint the unctuous notes of the whisky. So far, so good!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The third pairing was perhaps the most interesting to explore and gave Danton a chance to demonstrate just why he is one of the most in demand record producers in the world. Our task was to find a way of articulating the perfect balance of cask types found in an <b>Aberlour 17 year old Double Cask </b>release, bottled exclusively for the French market at <b>43%</b>. As we have previously seen, both first fill sherry and bourbon cask styles have very different flavour profiles and too much of either one can change the balance of light and shade- potentially in the wrong direction. </span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M8aUZLwzWds/VED_ieidSeI/AAAAAAAAISU/XlfhY-pDEZM/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M8aUZLwzWds/VED_ieidSeI/AAAAAAAAISU/XlfhY-pDEZM/s1600/photo%2B3.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a>
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ZxXqjDvZMU/VD_APwuW8sI/AAAAAAAAIRA/wjuL1N70j6M/s1600/images.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ZxXqjDvZMU/VD_APwuW8sI/AAAAAAAAIRA/wjuL1N70j6M/s1600/images.png" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was here that Danton likened the practice of mixing a song to that of the whisky maker obtaining that perfect balance of flavours in a finished recipe and to highlight this, he bought along something you simply wouldn't get to hear every day: The multitrack recordings of one of <b>Coldplay's</b> biggest hits, <b>Fix You</b>. Using his laptop to highlight individual tracks he began with the song's simple organ part and stark vocal, building to a crescendo of instruments and emotions. Too much of one aspect (the organ and bass parts) gave the track a darker feel. Too much lead vocal and guitar, coupled with vocal harmony parts produced a mix that was sweeter and lighter, but lacked the solidity and foundations of the finished, balanced recording. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In tandem, the 17 year old Aberlour hit that sweet spot of rich, darker notes, whilst building to a wonderfully balanced, sweet fruitiness. </span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_SYzCcMMxDw/VD_APMA9FsI/AAAAAAAAIQ0/JRepsyRfbuY/s1600/220px-Dark_Side_of_the_Moon.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_SYzCcMMxDw/VD_APMA9FsI/AAAAAAAAIQ0/JRepsyRfbuY/s1600/220px-Dark_Side_of_the_Moon.png" height="200" width="200" /></span></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1fHt5ET4nyA/VD-7q03U2QI/AAAAAAAAIP8/WS4xZLH9aiY/s1600/ablob.08yov6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1fHt5ET4nyA/VD-7q03U2QI/AAAAAAAAIP8/WS4xZLH9aiY/s1600/ablob.08yov6.jpg" height="200" width="150" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For the forth pairing, we wanted to really push the boat out and thanks to the almost archive-like inventory of the Whisky Exchange, we managed to locate a dusty bottle of <b>Aberlour/Glenlivet 8 Year Old</b>, bottled in the middle of the 1960's. This time capsule of a whisky was unlike any modern whiskies on the palate and made us wonder about the difference of production methods back then. Today's whisky business centres on practices that deliver consistency, with a greater understanding of wood management and maturation, so you can pretty much guarantee that the bottle you open today will taste pretty similar to the one you open in a decade. However, back in the 1960's things were a little different. Aberlour Ambassador <b>Phil Huckle</b> gave us some background on the distillery at the time, pointing to the idiosyncrasies that might affect the differing flavour profiles of a whisky, such as coal fired stills and less of a scientific approach to understanding the maturation process. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For these reasons, we wanted to find a classic track made roughly around the same era, which despite the limitations of technology at the time, is arguably regarded as a groundbreaking piece of music. We didn't have to think too hard about this - <b>Pink Floyd's </b>Breathe from their seminal <b>Dark Side Of The Moon</b>. </span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RD9o3o0HRRQ/VD-_SdSm8XI/AAAAAAAAIQo/8UKx1R35qgk/s1600/AberlourAbun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RD9o3o0HRRQ/VD-_SdSm8XI/AAAAAAAAIQo/8UKx1R35qgk/s1600/AberlourAbun.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the room feeling particularly chilled out and no doubt drifting off into a dreamy whisky/progrock-induced haze, it was time to bring things back to life. Our final pairing was the most lively of all, a given, when you consider the whisky we decided to finish on. <b>Aberlour A'Bunadh</b> is arguably the distillery's most well known and highly regarded expression and has developed an almost cult following since it was first released in 1997. For us, this is the most extreme style of Aberlour (<b>batch 48 is bottled at 59.7%</b>) and our pairing needed to reflect this. In fact, it made us think of the concept of seeing your favourite band play live: You know the songs, but everything is so much more lively, loud, driven and direct. All in all, everything is turned up to 11, with everyone on stage delivering a visceral and incendiary performance. There was no disagreement as to which track would perfectly articulate this: <b>Can't Explain</b> from <b>The Who</b>'s incredible '<b>Live At Leeds</b>' album, rated by many music critics as the best live album of all time. The recording is brutally honest, leaving Townshend, Entwistle, Moon and Daltery no room to hide, each one at the top of their game and performing out of their skins. It's the sound of a band so accomplished, they can strip open the songs at ease and allow the listener to understand what each instrument really adds. </span><br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jm7o8FMxaXI/VD_APEBMI0I/AAAAAAAAIQw/7MpRHsqFTDo/s1600/LAL-LP-UK-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jm7o8FMxaXI/VD_APEBMI0I/AAAAAAAAIQw/7MpRHsqFTDo/s1600/LAL-LP-UK-1.jpg" height="200" width="197" /></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Aberlour A'Bunadh</b> has the same simplistic and powerful heart, but there are also layers of complexity amongst all the extremes. It's a whisky that transports you right back to the beginnings of the distillery with each passing sip (for those who don't know, it was a recreation of a very old bottle front he late 1800's that was found at the distillery)- much in the same way that listening to 'Live At Leeds' gives even those listening today that feeling of "I Was There'. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What a way to finish. For those of you who would like to try and recreate the same experience at home, we've created a <b>'Sound Of Aberlour' Spotify playlist </b>which you can listen to here. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://spoti.fi/1rJ2i3Y" target="_blank">The Sound Of Aberlour</a> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #292f33; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 22px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a class="twitter-timeline-link" data-expanded-url="http://spoti.fi/1rJ2i3Y" dir="ltr" href="http://t.co/Xdt72iwqfL" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #009999; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; text-decoration: underline; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank" title="http://spoti.fi/1rJ2i3Y"><span class="js-display-url">spoti.fi/1rJ2i3Y</span><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"></span><span class="tco-ellipsis"><span class="invisible" style="font-size: 0px; line-height: 0;"> </span></span></a></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But why not try creating your own pairings? Of course, each listener and drinker has a deeply personal relationship with their music and whisky; this was ours and we're willing to bet that given half the chance, you can find your own perfect Sound Of Aberlour. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Writing is a
wonderful thing. But, as with the apocryphal ‘<i>tree in the woods</i>’, if no one
reads your words, have you really written anything at all?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When, in 2008 we decided to start <b><a href="http://caskstrength.net/">Caskstrength.net</a></b>, it was to create a journal wherein we
could keep a record of all the whiskies which had been shared with us, and we
were sharing with other people... little did we know of the journey that it
would take us on. The blog was not designed for mass readership nor praise, but
a simple account of the joys of whisky, wrapped up in some irreverent
ramblings.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we approach
our <b>8<sup>th</sup> year</b> of writing this blog, we are constantly humbled by the
figures we see when we check our stats. To have a monthly readership which
would fill every seat at <b>Old Trafford</b> and still leave queues outside is always
mind-boggling, and makes us want to dedicate our entire time to writing posts. </span></div>
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<br></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, the
rigours of everyday life always get in the way and, being self-employed and
full-time in the drinks business, writing our blog (which carries <b>no
advertising</b> and therefore no income) can often slip down the priority list, in
favour of actual, real work.</span></div>
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<br></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But writing is
very much in our veins (along with a sizeable proportion of alcohol too,
usually...) and about 18 months ago we decided we wanted to <b>write a book</b>
dedicated to the wider world of distilled drinks. After working up a concept we were commission by <b>Octopus Books</b> to start writing, and it gave us a
wonderful opportunity to explore and visit some of the world’s finest spirits
producers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>As a result we
are pleased to announce that today is the official publication date of our new
book, ‘Distilled’, a guided tour around the wonderful world of spirits.</b></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></o:p></div>
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<br></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Broken down into
chapters on <b>gin</b>, <b>vodka</b>, <b>tequila & mezcal</b>, <b>rum</b>, <b>brandy</b>, <b>whisky</b> and a host of
other spirits, the book is akin to a Lonely Planet Guide: think of distilled
spirits as a city, and the different styles as the suburbs. The book gives a
history of each of the different suburbs, as well as an idea of the production values
involved. It references some of the major brands in the overviews, but focuses
on smaller, undiscovered producers. Each section comes with an interview (or
two) with a ‘<i>maverick</i>’, someone making interesting expressions of their chosen
distillate, and a ’<i>10 To Try...</i>’ of unusual offerings from that category. Oh,
there are also a few nice cocktails in there to make as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Out on <b><a href="https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/books/detail.page?isbn=9781845339111" target="_blank">MitchellBeazley</a></b>, the fab publisher which also releases <b>Dave Broom’s</b> wonderful books,
you’ll get change from fifteen quid in the UK for a copy, and you can buy it:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1qEuHdG" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1oPAuYj" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://bit.ly/1y6KHZK" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="http://bit.ly/1nXp3gN" target="_blank">here</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">or simply head down to your local book shop where
you should find it in stock. If you’re outside the UK, you can still order it
from your local webstore, and do look out for it in the shops too as different
territories have different release dates.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But we couldn’t
leave it there. We like to try and do things a little differently here at
<a href="http://caskstrength.net/">Caskstrength.net</a> so in the lead up to the release of the book, we made some short
videos (very short...) of the magic of making drinks. From grain magically
appearing as liquid in the glass, to ‘<i>three click cocktails</i>’, you can check out
the videos <a href="https://vine.co/u/1122099252034674688" target="_blank">here</a>, with an example of one (magic maturation) below:</span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iYcmra6bBuo/VDJw4xaMMhI/AAAAAAAAIPk/WR3KMQaerXI/s1600/Distilled%2BGif.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iYcmra6bBuo/VDJw4xaMMhI/AAAAAAAAIPk/WR3KMQaerXI/s1600/Distilled%2BGif.gif" height="200" width="200"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All that remains
for us to say is ‘<b>thank you</b>’. If no one reads these posts, we might have well
not have written them. And if no one reads our book, then the tree which fell
in the forest to make it, might as well have not have bothered making all that noise. We hope
you enjoy reading Distilled as much as we enjoyed writing it.</span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cheerio,</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Joel & Neil</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-20558084623321171382014-09-15T12:00:00.000+01:002014-09-15T12:19:14.055+01:00Objects of Desire: The Diageo Special Releases 2014 Single Malt Scotch Whiskies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLxw85WKX0w/VBIvKJQMFbI/AAAAAAAAIOg/neJ-VSiM-PM/s1600/Full%2B2014%2Brange.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLxw85WKX0w/VBIvKJQMFbI/AAAAAAAAIOg/neJ-VSiM-PM/s1600/Full%2B2014%2Brange.jpg" height="120" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">There are many things in
life that I’d like to have, but simply can’t afford. I think that must be true
for all of us. But in my list of ‘objects of desire’, most are items that I
already own. For example, I have a watch. I’d like a nicer one. I own a car,
but would bite your hand off to trade in a seven year old Volvo estate for a
Bentley Continental. Quite frankly, I can still tell the time as accurately as
the next man, and I get stuck in the same traffic jams as the chap in the posh
car next to me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">None of this quenches the
thirst for ‘want’, however. And once again the carrot of desire is being
dangled in front of the Scotch drinker with the annual release of Diageo’s ‘Special
Releases’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">This year, eleven different single
malts have been chosen from the rare stocks of casks across Diageo’s
warehouses, some from closed distilleries, others from ones very much alive and
kicking. So let’s have a look at the list of releases and, as we attended a
pre-release tasting of all eleven single malts on offer last week, have a look
at which of these are 9 carat gold and which are simply just 9 carrots...<span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center">
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 19.6pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-insideh-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insideh-themetint: 166; mso-border-insideh: .5pt dotted #595959; mso-border-insidev-themecolor: text1; mso-border-insidev-themetint: 166; mso-border-insidev: .5pt dotted #595959; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-table-layout-alt: fixed; width: 633px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td style="border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">DISTILLERY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">AGE
AT BOTTLING<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">YEAR
DISTILLED<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">UK
RRP<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">%
ABV ON BOTTLING<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">VOLUME
RELEASED (BOTTLES)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">THE
SINGLETON</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> OF GLENDULLAN <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">38<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">1975<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£750<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">59.8%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">3,756<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 27.5pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; height: 27.5pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">CAOL
ILA </span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">UNPEATED <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.5pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">15<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.5pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">1998<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.5pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£75<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.5pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">60.39%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 27.5pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">10,668<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">CAOL
ILA</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">30<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">1983<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£425<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">55.1%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">7,638<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">CLYNELISH</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">SELECT
RESERVE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">1999* (apparently youngest whisky in vatting)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£500<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">54.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">2,964<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">CRAGGANMORE</span><span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 1.65pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -1.65pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">1988<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£299<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">51.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">3,372<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">LAGAVULIN</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">12<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">2002<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£80<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">54.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">31,428<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">PORT
ELLEN</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">35<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">1978<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£2,200<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">56.5%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">2,964<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">ROSEBANK</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">21<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">1992<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£300<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">55.3%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">4,530<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 3.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 9;">
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; height: 3.25pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">BENRINNES</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 3.25pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">21
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 3.25pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">1992<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 3.25pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£240<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 3.25pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">56.9%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 3.25pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">2,892<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">BRORA</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">35
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">1978<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£1,200<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">48.6%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">2,964<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: dotted #595959 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 120.5pt;" valign="top" width="161"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">STRATHMILL</span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 84.8pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">25<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 67.5pt;" valign="top" width="90"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">1988<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">£275<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 58.5pt;" valign="top" width="78"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: xx-small; line-height: 115%;">52.4%<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: dotted #595959 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: text1; mso-border-bottom-themetint: 166; mso-border-left-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-left-themecolor: text1; mso-border-left-themetint: 166; mso-border-right-themecolor: text1; mso-border-right-themetint: 166; mso-border-themecolor: text1; mso-border-themetint: 166; mso-border-top-alt: dotted #595959 .5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: text1; mso-border-top-themetint: 166; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 85.1pt;" valign="top" width="113"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">2,700</span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Quite a line up, when you
sit back and look at exactly what has been chosen to go into glass this year.
Turning up at the tasting was a mind-boggling affair, faced with 11 cask
strength single malts is always a challenge, no matter how used to flights of
that nature you are. But kicking off with a quick nose of the range, there were
certainly some stars emerging from the pack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DhU3ZSNCUS8/VBIvWvI0plI/AAAAAAAAIOo/i1NpmLGxu4U/s1600/Craggeanmore%2Bbottle%26box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DhU3ZSNCUS8/VBIvWvI0plI/AAAAAAAAIOo/i1NpmLGxu4U/s1600/Craggeanmore%2Bbottle%26box.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">The first one to call out,
is the <b>Cragganmore</b>. At 25 years old, this carried an unusually buttery and
sweet nose, with red apple, orchard fruits and popcorn. The palate was sweet
with a big marmalade hit and the vanilla (from the new ends attached to the
casks, perhaps?) gave it a vibrant finish for such an old whisky.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">For those of you that love a
heavy malt, the <b>Benrinnes </b>21 year old was all Bovril and steak pies (<a href="https://twitter.com/ollywehring" target="_blank">not far off the one I had the night before</a>) and delivering venison in a chocolate sauce
on the palate. Very odd. Not for me, but I can see fans of this heavier style of
whisky really going bonkers for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">Of the rarest selection of
closed distilleries, there was a return to <b>Rosebank</b>, with another 21 year old
release, a step back in age from the 25 year old of a few years ago. This gave
everything you want from a triple distilled Lowlander, matured in refill
American oak casks: a palate of upside cake, vanilla marshmallow and candied
orange peel showed well on the night, punching hard for such a light spirit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">There was the traditional
<b>Brora</b>... a distillery over which an extreme fuss is always made, but
personally, I just don’t know why. Like Morrissey and The Smith for me: I can
see why people love ‘em, but I just don’t get it (oh, don’t let Morrissey
anywhere near that Benrinnes by the way- too much beef in it for even him!) Yes,
Brora is closed and yes, there have been some amazing releases from certain
years in the 1970s, but overall, I’ve always felt my money (for my taste) could
be better spent. This year’s Brora release will no doubt delight those
Broraphiles, and I marked it down as one of my top drams of the night, but my
two headline acts for the evening were...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2anxxDdI3ac/VBIvks_Z9YI/AAAAAAAAIOw/It4eFq6evdQ/s1600/Port%2BEllen%2Bbottle%26box.tif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2anxxDdI3ac/VBIvks_Z9YI/AAAAAAAAIOw/It4eFq6evdQ/s1600/Port%2BEllen%2Bbottle%26box.tif" height="200" width="141" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">...the latest <b>Port Ellen
</b>release (of course) and the fantastic <b>Caol Ila 30 Year Old</b>. Let’s start with
the PE. Oh, my it is good. We are finally seeing some increased use of European
oak casks here, giving a wider flavour range than we have seen in the past.
This is moving away from the peated grapefruit we know and love so well, to
actually nodding in the direction of its ‘still alive sister’ <b>Lagavulin</b>, up the
road. The nose was bacon bits, the palate giving almost light rum tones and
mossy peat. Fantasy stuff, really.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">But cracking on from the
north of the same island is an amazing offering from Caol Ila. A 30 year old
matured in refill American oak casks, the stock from 1983 is incredibly light
with peat, toffee and peaches. One of the best for taking water, as well
opening up to reveal that wonderful Caol Ila coal dust and bigger toffee notes.
Simply wonderful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; line-height: 115%;">The big question as always
is over price and this year the big hitting single malts come with big hitting
price tags (over £2k for the Port Ellen, for example) but they do have some for
under £100, and you can pick up both the Caol Ila unpeated and the Lagavulin 12
for a combined cost of less than a flight to Scotland in the week of the referendum.
I vote yes for staying at home with bottle of each.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-apFp-rujZgk/VBIvtbqXj8I/AAAAAAAAIO4/a1M2RwFowH8/s1600/Caol%2BIla30%2Bbottle%26box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-apFp-rujZgk/VBIvtbqXj8I/AAAAAAAAIO4/a1M2RwFowH8/s1600/Caol%2BIla30%2Bbottle%26box.jpg" height="200" width="141" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">As much as these are shiny
desirable jewels, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">with some absolute
corkers in there, I just can’t afford the two I really loved. Never mind, my
watch still works and it tells me it’s time for a whisky: someone pass the
<b>Johnnie Walker Black label.</b> Bloody good stuff, you know. And less than £30 a
bottle. What’s not to like about that?</span></div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-9428326780096568262014-09-09T11:43:00.001+01:002014-09-10T09:12:47.181+01:00Yes Or No? Glenlivet Single Cask Scotch Whisky 1974<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CQFdJY3Vfug/VA7ZoihslOI/AAAAAAAAIOQ/9WA8ouOKCYI/s1600/Rose%2Band%2BThistle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CQFdJY3Vfug/VA7ZoihslOI/AAAAAAAAIOQ/9WA8ouOKCYI/s1600/Rose%2Band%2BThistle.png" height="200" width="144"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is hard in a job writing about
spirits, to not write regularly about Scotch. And, living in England and
visiting Scotland on a regular basis, it is difficult to ignore the
bagpipe-like noise of nationalism currently floating through the air, this time
not coming from a kilt-wearing man standing on the corner of Princess Street in
Edinburgh, but from the trunk of the rather large ‘elephant in the room’ that
is the upcoming Scottish independence vote.</span></div>
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<br></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I live in England, I don’t get
an official say as to the outcome of the situation, as I don’t have a vote. But
I have been watching with interest (as someone who holds a Norwegian passport, born
in Oxford to an English father and Norwegian mother, I often feel Scotland is geographically
my natural home) as the debate has unfolded. And something odd has happened...</span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For as far as I can make out, the
‘Yes’ vote is arguing that Scotland is a rich country, full of great natural
resources and untapped potential. It is a ‘sleeping Norway’, if you will which
can stand on its own two feet and create a utopia of a country with a huge oil
fund. The ‘No’ vote seems to have taken the stance that Scotland is a country
leaning financially and politically on Westminster; that it takes more money from
the Union coffers for free university education and other luxuries, not to
mention the skew of an ageing population who draw their state pension from a
joint pension pot, that leaving the Union would be a bad idea, as ‘we’
(Westminster), fund ‘you’ (Scotland).</span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So what is it that is odd about these
arguments for those of us living south of the border? Well, if you live in the
other areas of the Union, you might be swayed by these headline ‘facts’ into the very
strange political stance of supporting one side’s argument in the hope that the
vote goes the opposite way. </span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For example, if you live in
England and you believe the line of the ‘No’ party that Scotland costs Westminster money, then you might think “OK then, if we fund your lifestyle, then off you go” and want a Yes vote to win. On the other hand, if
you live in England and think “Salmond is right, Scotland is rich in so many ways and makes a huge positive
contribution to the UK finances, not to mention the political power having oil
in any form brings” then you would want the opposite of what Salmond wants: a 'No' vote to keep the Union together. </span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a result, it is all very odd living outside
of Scotland and watching the debate happen, with the divided idea that you may end up supporting the
ideals of one side, in the hope the vote goes the opposite way. I’ve never
known politics like it, in this regard. </span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, I haven’t done the research
into the facts on offer by both sides. I don’t need to, I don’t have the vote.
But if I did have the vote I would make the time (I’m too busy working hard to pay
off my University fees, but if you got your Uni education for free, you’ve
got more time on your hands for this sort of thing...) to really dig into the
ideals of each option, as this vote is simply too important to ignore. </span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So if you do have the vote,
whichever way you think you might choose, just make sure you turn up on the day
and use it. </span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now, on to the reason we write this blog: whisky. And something
which reflects the handshakes which happen regularly across the border: a single malt Scotch bottled by a non-Scottish company. In this case, Berry Brothers and Rudd (BBR), in London. Famed for their fantastic selection of
whiskies, BBR consistently choose fantastic liquid to mature and bottle, mostly
all single cask single malts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JZSoseBBXqY/VA7VFvIelSI/AAAAAAAAIOI/qYssR-psAgI/s1600/Glenlivet%2B1974%2BSingle%2BCask%2BSingle%2BMalt%2BWhisky%2Breview%2Btasting%2Bnotes%2BThe%2BWhisky%2BExchange%2BBerry%2BBrothers%2BRudd%2BWhisky%2BShow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JZSoseBBXqY/VA7VFvIelSI/AAAAAAAAIOI/qYssR-psAgI/s1600/Glenlivet%2B1974%2BSingle%2BCask%2BSingle%2BMalt%2BWhisky%2Breview%2Btasting%2Bnotes%2BThe%2BWhisky%2BExchange%2BBerry%2BBrothers%2BRudd%2BWhisky%2BShow.JPG" height="320" width="320"></a></div>
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<br></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glenlivet – 1974 Single Cask 8211 – bottled 2013 – Berry Brothers &
Rudd x The Whisky Exchange – 55.1% abv<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nose:</b> Hot blueberry pie, plum chutney, blackcurrants and other
summer fruits. There is just so much delicious fruit on the initial nose, which
is underpinned with old leather, hazelnut and dark chocolate. Some wood spices
of cinnamon and nutmeg appear, but not so as to overpower the fruits.</span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Palate:</b> The mix of oak, fruit and spice is almost perfect. The
three dance around the palate with the fruit becoming more vibrant the longer
this sits, with blood orange developing as the dominant flavour. Of course
there are the key touchstones of great old whisky in there too (some fruit
cake, chamois leather, cardamom) but this shows that old whisky does not have
to be tired.</span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Finish:</b> More blood orange, strawberry licorice laces and a hint of
vanilla, too.</span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall:</b> At last year’s whisky show, a little beauty was on the BBR
tasting stand. Bottled in conjunction with The Whisky Exchange, the combination
of expert palates from BBR’s Doug McIvor and TWE’s Sukhinder Singh means that
you simply can’t go wrong and indeed this turned out to be one of my top drams
of 2013. </span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having bought myself a bottle,
which didn’t last very long at all, I returned to The Whisky Exchange shop in
London Bridge earlier this year to restock my cabinet and came away with more than one bottle of this...
something to eke out over the next few years. </span></div>
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<br></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unlike the current level of
political noise, this whisky is simple: a harmony of flavours from Scottish new
make, foreign oak casks, bottled by two London-based establishments, which leaves me clear on my Yes/No decision: Yes, you can have a dram. No, you can’t
keep the rest of the bottle.</span></div>
<br>Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-47052107593096116062014-09-04T15:59:00.002+01:002014-09-04T16:03:23.500+01:00A Quick Post: Spey Royal Single Malt Scotch Whisky<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtL4dQ8E4Ts/VAh9-3-vFiI/AAAAAAAAIN4/xrvqlPyDXO4/s1600/Spey%2BRoyal%2BChoice%2BWhisky%2BSingle%2BMalt%2BReview%2BTasting%2BNotes%2BTHe%2BQueen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FtL4dQ8E4Ts/VAh9-3-vFiI/AAAAAAAAIN4/xrvqlPyDXO4/s1600/Spey%2BRoyal%2BChoice%2BWhisky%2BSingle%2BMalt%2BReview%2BTasting%2BNotes%2BTHe%2BQueen.jpg" height="140" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">The Queen with a pint of Spey Royal Choice single malt whisky. <br />Or beer, we're not quite sure which.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s rushing
towards the end of the week and despite the seasons taking a very clear turn
from summer into autumn the sun has crept out again to warm our backs here at
</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Caskstrength HQ</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With an early
start this morning to send off some bits of work and generally get our house in
order for the weeks ahead, we find ourselves with a rare moment of calm; a
peaceful oasis in the middle of a busy few weeks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So while we have this comma
in the middle of a long sentence, it gives us a chance to pick a sample off our
review table and write a brief post on something that, quite frankly, probably
should have been reviewed a while ago. Thanks goodness this isn’t a film blog,
or some of the samples on our ‘To Be Reviewed’ list would have gone from the
cinema, to DVD, to <b>Netflix</b> and then Channel 4 already...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The stand out
offering on our table of drams is a rather unusual one; a quite majestic bottle
from the <b>Speyside Distillery</b>. Bottled in limited quantities, it simply known as <b>Spey</b> <b>Royal Choice</b> and is only available for purchase at <b>Historic Royal Palaces</b>,
which includes the <i>Tower of London, Hampton Court Palace, the Banqueting House,
Kensington Palace</i> and <i>Kew Palace</i>. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having decamped
from my Central London apartment to the Royal Borough of Windsor late last
year, I’m a little put out that this isn’t available at Windsor Castle (which
does stock their own selection of wines and spirits), but the idea appealed to
me nonetheless. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>The Speyside
Distillery</b> is a distillery that you don’t see a whole lot of malt from. Only
starting production in 1990, it took from the early 1960’s to lay all the
stones and install the stills. The bottle itself comes in a huge wooden and
leather box, with a certificate of authenticity. Not styled to my taste, to be
honest... but then their focus seems to be on the Asian market with a new
partnership with ex-footballer <b>Michael Owen</b>, announced earlier in the year to
promote their products in the Far East. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R0B0DKSe-Ao/VAh93PK9-DI/AAAAAAAAINw/7OyjP8yPnzA/s1600/Spey%2BRoyal%2BChoice%2BWhisky%2BSingle%2BMalt%2BReview%2BTasting%2BNotes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-R0B0DKSe-Ao/VAh93PK9-DI/AAAAAAAAINw/7OyjP8yPnzA/s1600/Spey%2BRoyal%2BChoice%2BWhisky%2BSingle%2BMalt%2BReview%2BTasting%2BNotes.JPG" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Royal Choice - Spey from The Speyside
Distillery – Single Malt Scotch Whisky – Bottle No. 92 of 3194 bottles. 46% abv - £150.00<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nose:</b> The initial aroma on this screams
youth, with some light notes of honey nut cornflakes and vanilla and rose petal
marshmallow. Some ginger and herbal notes (green veg steamed) develop into oaty
creaminess (think porridge with whisky on top).</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Palate:</b> A world away from the nose,
which isn’t too inviting, this does give some honey, heather and ripe banana
notes. It isn’t overly complex or powerful, and isn’t trying to be too clever.
Rather large and mouthfilling, after the honey the herbaceous notes attack
giving it a rather oaky tone. A pretty simple whisky but at least the palate
isn’t following in the footsteps of the nose.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Finish:</b> More herbs, honey and delicate
spices (cinnamon/nutmeg) but a slightly bitter after taste.</span></div>
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</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall:</b> This whisky feels youthful and
over coloured. The construction has probably done the best it can using the
whiskies available, but this might have been better as a blend and not a single
malt. Not adventurous enough for me, this sits on the fence from a flavour
perspective.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Time to move on, and move on quickly, we think.</span></div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-88934762318260501632014-09-01T14:23:00.000+01:002014-09-01T18:46:31.448+01:00The A.L.S. Challenge (that's Ardbeg's Latest Supernova)<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sNYLCcM7rs0/VARqoMv-0fI/AAAAAAAAINI/Qk3EEzRbV7E/s1600/marshawn-lynch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sNYLCcM7rs0/VARqoMv-0fI/AAAAAAAAINI/Qk3EEzRbV7E/s1600/marshawn-lynch.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miniature collectors mob the Ardbeg Promo Bus, <br />
in search of a 2014 Supernova. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<i>'Hello Neil, my name is F*******'</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Started the random Facebook message, as I was idly playing with my phone last Saturday. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'Can you help me for obtain these mini only for bloggers please?'</i> was the next, slightly garbled line. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Fortunately, it was accompanied with a picture of a small miniature Ardbeg bottle, a sample of the latest release from the Islay distillery - Supernova. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'Can you obtain one for me please?' </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'Please Neil.' </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'Help me friend.' </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'Please my friend.' </i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'I'm desperate for obtain these mini for my collection minis whisky.'</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'Is it possible obtain please?'</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'??'</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
By now I was starting to get a little irritated and slightly unnerved by the persistence of said collector, but also, my sense of playful deviousness began to kick in. I wondered how far and to what lengths this chap would be willing to go to get hold of a bottle. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
What proceeded was another 38 direct messages, increasing in desperation every time. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'I Suplicate' (sic)</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'I'm desperate'</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'please my friend, help me'</i>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
When I finally fired off what I thought would end the conversation, it only got worse:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>'Sorry, F*******, it is not for sale - I shall be opening it for review later today.' </b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'You know any person in Ardbeg?'</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'Please'</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'??'</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<i>'Accept 150€?'</i></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Having realised I had kicked the proverbial hornets nest, I decided to beat a hasty retreat. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now I daren't open my Facebook Messenger application for fear of how many more notes I may have received.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bl30u4b-YRs/VARrhF92FoI/AAAAAAAAINQ/F22vs3maQNA/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bl30u4b-YRs/VARrhF92FoI/AAAAAAAAINQ/F22vs3maQNA/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smoky jewel, which attracted<br />
so much unwanted attention.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What's highly surprising here is that no where had I previously published any notification that I even had a bottle, let alone that I would be daft enough to offer it for sale. <br />
You see, Ardbeg have decided to follow the music industry's response to a similar scenario - which I am particularly familiar with.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
On the side of the bottle is a sticker with what looks like a unique code. In my previous days as an A&R executive at Warner Brothers, we used to individually number each promo record to specific journalists (even going as far as to digitally 'watermark' each copy) so if in the event the promo made its way onto Ebay, or worse, onto the file sharing sites before it was released, it could be traced back to the culprit. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I suppose one could simply peel off the sticker here, if one so desired (pretty lame 'security tag' Ardbeg, if this was your intension) but it is the concept itself of security tagging whisky promos that I find even more unnerving.<br />
<br />
<br />
Is there such an inherent distrust of whisky reviewers these days? If that's the case, would it not be better to simply send out unsealed plain sample bottles, with no collectable value? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
in any case, let's just remind ourselves of some of the language used in the previous conversation:<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>'I suplicate'</b> (sic) </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>'I'm desperate'</b>... </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Have we really reached a time in the whisky business where certain brands are no longer whisky companies; once selling a high quality, world class spirit to enthusiasts, Bon Vivants and social drinkers - now effectively becoming limited edition promo art dealers? </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I have no doubt that collecting is indeed a joy for the collector. I happen to have a collection of vintage Star Wars figures as a reminder of my childhood enthusiasm for the films (yes - I know it's slightly sad to admit this.) But when something scarce and highly desirable comes onto the market, people begin to display an almost addict-like level of desperation if they don't get what they want. Surely, that type of collecting really has no appeal at all. It certainly doesn't to me. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
With serial whisky collectors - particularly miniature collectors it seems, the liquid is no longer important; the simple ownership and possible residual value of the bottle (full and untasted of course) becoming the sole, all consuming pleasure factor. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So here is my challenge to the whisky business and other writers/bloggers and journalists, (should you see fit to disclose your professional credentials): </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Let's call it the ALS* Challenge (*Ardbeg's Latest Supernova)</b></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
If you have been sent a bottle of this miniature- and you know who you are - I challenge you to:<br />
<br />
1. Open it.<br />
2. Review it.<br />
3. Publicly dispose of the bottle in the most imaginative way possible.<br />
<br />
Hey presto. No Supernova miniatures to appear on auction sites and then make their way to dusty cabinets at absurd prices. <br />
<br />
No more preposterously pleading messages on Facebook. <br />
<br />
No more - 'well, can I just have the empty bottle then...' </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Oliver Klimek, who writes the very witty <a href="http://www.dramming.com/2014/08/28/ardbeg-supernova-sn2014-committee-release/" target="_blank"><b>Dramming</b></a> has already started the ball rolling with shattering precision, using a mallet. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Now let's see what you can come up with...</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here's my attempt: Alas - I started filming just after the damn thing decided to shatter, but you get the idea.... It's not like I have another one to destroy for a second take...<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="888" mozallowfullscreen="" src="//player.vimeo.com/video/104918380" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://vimeo.com/104918380">The ALS (Ardbeg's Latest Supernova) Challenge</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/caskstrengthcreative">Caskstrength Creative</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So what of the whisky itself? Arguably more important than any of the above frippery. <br />
<br />
Well, it's a real surprise.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zGOdF1OfkOc/VASwRKZWzdI/AAAAAAAAINg/s8rL287h-88/s1600/Ardbegs-Dr-Bill-Lumsden-toasts-the-space-experiment-copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zGOdF1OfkOc/VASwRKZWzdI/AAAAAAAAINg/s8rL287h-88/s1600/Ardbegs-Dr-Bill-Lumsden-toasts-the-space-experiment-copy.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dr Bill Lumsden attempts the ALS Challenge. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Ardbeg - Supernova - 2014 Edition - 55%</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Nose:</b> Surprisingly floral, with fresh pine, sweet golden syrup and a slight touch of medicinal peat. It has a waft of youth about it, but not overpowering. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Palate: </b>Ok, there's the smoke. It isn't monstrous, like the original version (that, or maybe my palate has become immune to heavily peated whiskies now) but there is an abundance of coal dust, more freshly sawn pine, a sweet candy floss note, some melted butter and white pepper. The youthfulness is there to see, but even at this strength, it is not total overkill on the palate. That said, it is a smoky whisky in the extreme. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Finish: </b>A lingering dryness coats the tongue, with the dusty embers from a bonfire leaving their mark on the palate. You'll be tasting it for a fair old time, that's for sure. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Overall:</b> I think we once used an analogy about heavily peated whiskies being the hot curries of the whisky world: Yes, it's all well and good trying to be a Vindaloo or a Faal, but when there's little substance (other than burn) underneath, what's the point?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Here, there's all the fun of the fair (and by that I mean one which has recently caught fire and burned to the ground) but there is some balance and method to the madness too. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You can read what we said about the <a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/rumble-in-jungle-well-penge-actually.html" target="_blank">old Supernova here</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
F******* - this is for you. If you do happen to get your mitts on a bottle- just open it FFS. Maybe even get some friends round... if you have any. </div>
</div>
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Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-70330029445406625882014-08-26T13:08:00.001+01:002014-08-26T13:08:28.174+01:00Competition Time: Win a chance to Choose the Next Overeem Release!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As our regular readers well know, we like to cheer people up on gloomy days - especially ones following a particularly tasty bank holiday break (despite the incessant rain here in South London)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This time round, we have a corking opportunity for you: Ever fancied actually having a say in the next release that a distillery puts out? Well, short of sending in a boring questionnaire to a brand, citing what you like or dislike, or making a ranting phone call, telling a distiller to stop making NAS whisky (true apparently) , we're giving you just that opportunity!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h1sq8K-TdOk/U_xyiYcYs9I/AAAAAAAAIME/5vKn80H3_FI/s1600/OldHobart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h1sq8K-TdOk/U_xyiYcYs9I/AAAAAAAAIME/5vKn80H3_FI/s1600/OldHobart.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Casey and Jane really needs your help in choosing <br />the next single cask bottling </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The marvellous folk at the <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/distilleries/old-hobart-whisky-distillery/"><span style="color: #151515; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Old Hobart
distillery</span></a> in Tasmania are wonderful whisky makers, but are
sometimes a little indecisive. Alongside his truly excellent sherry and port
cask releases, Head Distiller and distillery owner Casey Overeem has - for the
first time - filled a small number of specially re-sized bourbon casks with his
wonderful single malt. The trouble is they all taste superb, so he's having a
little trouble to decide which one to release first in the UK... that's where
you come in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515;">WHAT CAN I WIN?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515;"> Well... here you go.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Casey and co are offering one lucky winner a
unique opportunity to <b>join a select panel of whisky experts</b> at
a Central London location (travel within the UK will be covered) in late
September to decide which is the very best from three different single casks.
The selected cask will then be bottled and released exclusively in the UK later
in 2015. Just 50 bottles of the 60% ABV bourbon cask release will be available
and in addition to having your say as to which cask is finally bottled, you'll
also <b>receive a special personalised bottle of whisky taken from the chosen
cask</b>.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515;">2
runners-up will also each win a bottle of <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/old-hobart/old-hobart-overeem-sherry-cask-matured-whisky/"><span style="color: #151515; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><b>Overeem Sherry
Cask 43%</b></span></a> for their efforts</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515;">.</span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515;"><b>Hello... Tell me more...</b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">HOW DO I ENTER?</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial;"><b> All you have to do is write a
Tasting Note that Casey himself would be proud of...</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 14pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The person with the best tasting note, as chosen by Casey, will win. The
whisky they want you to document is the <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/old-hobart/old-hobart-overeem-sherry-cask-matured-whisky/"><span style="color: #151515; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><b>Overeem Sherry
Cask 43%</b></span></a>. Its huge rich, fruity and spicy notes have proved a hit
with single malt fans all over the globe. All you need to do is take
inspiration from the whisky itself and tell the guys what you think it tastes like by
<b>10pm on Thursday 18th September</b> (<b>winner to be announced on Friday 19th
September</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial;">If
you don't happen to have this expression to hand and don't fancy purchasing a
whole bottle (you really should though, it's superb) you can of course grab yourself a 3cl sample dram from the <span style="color: #151515; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/old-hobart/old-hobart-overeem-sherry-cask-matured-whisky/" target="_blank">product page</a></span>
on the <b>Master of Malt</b> website: Here's our review for reference... no cheating please... ;-)</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial;"><br /></span></div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Overeem Single Malt Whisky - Old Hobart Distillery - Sherry Cask Matured - 43%</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GH2ur7E8RIo/UgDTmp81eGI/AAAAAAAAHUM/2zbIdnnMikk/s1600/OW-2177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #3778cd; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GH2ur7E8RIo/UgDTmp81eGI/AAAAAAAAHUM/2zbIdnnMikk/s320/OW-2177.jpg" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.199219) 0px 0px 0px; background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-left-radius: 0px; border-bottom-right-radius: 0px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-color: initial; border-left-color: transparent; border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: transparent; border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: transparent; border-top-left-radius: 0px; border-top-right-radius: 0px; border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; border-width: initial; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.199219) 0px 0px 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 8px; padding-right: 8px; padding-top: 8px; position: relative;" width="213" /></a><b>Nose:</b> Immediately, this is very inviting and open, with notes of spiced apple pie, vanilla ice cream some perfumed notes and a slight vegetative note (boiled sweet potato.) Given time some sweet, plump raisins come to the fore, alongside a little dustiness and some cracked black pepper. Extremely rich and complex, all said and done. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Palate: </b>Wonderfully spicy and sweet, with star anise, clove and cinnamon dusted apples coating the palate, alongside some dried fruits (apricot and date), soft caramel and some vibrant blood orange notes. Balanced and very impressive indeed for a youthful whisky. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Finish: </b>Lingering notes of dark chocolate, orange zest and toasted malt give this a luxurious and very lengthy finish.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Overall: </b> What a flying start. Make no mistake, this is high quality whisky making and what's clear is the care and attention that has gone into pulling this expression together. Highly recommended if you're a fan of big, bold sherry monsters. </div>
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</span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">WAYS TO ENTER...</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">1. Enter your tasting note in the User
Review section of the <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/old-hobart/old-hobart-overeem-sherry-cask-matured-whisky/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #151515; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Product Page</span>,</a> at Master Of Malt (<a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/old-hobart/old-hobart-overeem-sherry-cask-matured-whisky/" target="_blank">link here</a>) including a twitter handle so they can get in touch with you if you win.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2. Enter your tasting note in the <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/Blog/post/Exclusive-Overeem-Bourbon-Cask-Release.aspx" target="_blank">blog comments</a> section at <b>Master Of Malt</b>, ensuring that
you enter an email address in the field provided.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="color: #151515; font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">3. Enter your tasting note in a Comment on our Caskstrength <span style="color: #151515; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/caskstrength" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> or the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/masterofmalt/posts/10152731954132009" target="_blank">Master Of Malt Facebook page</a></span><a href="http://./">.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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4. If social media isn't your sort of thing, then simply just send us your tasting note at <b>info(at)Caskstrength(dot)Net</b></div>
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Usual T's & C's apply: You must be able to attend the tasting panel in late September (date TBC very soon) and if travelling from outside of the UK, make your own way here. Oh- and be over the legal drinking age in your country of residence. </div>
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<b>Good luck and get those thinking/drinking trilbies on.</b></div>
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<!--EndFragment--></span><br />
<!--EndFragment-->Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-23536631570330257542014-08-15T19:21:00.001+01:002014-08-15T19:56:11.924+01:00Merry Christmas from Springbank. In August! : Spirit Of Freedom 30 Year
Old Blended Scotch Whisky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JtzuEwzSt7Y/U-5M9V66ahI/AAAAAAAAILk/dqqizsc806Y/s1600/Xmas%2BSummer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JtzuEwzSt7Y/U-5M9V66ahI/AAAAAAAAILk/dqqizsc806Y/s1600/Xmas%2BSummer.png" height="212" width="320"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is yet another Friday on the
global procession towards <b>Christmas</b>. For those of you who work in or around
retail, you’ll be aware that around this time business start to propose their
Xmas line ups to the world, in preparation for those magazines who need a good
long run up at events such as this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thankfully, running a website
means that we don’t have to write about anything until the very last moment it
is required- but our other print outlets in the media, such as magazines and books,
do require a fair amount of notice, so it is nice to see the odd email popping
into our inbox with a nod in the direction to how we can help you spend your gifting pounds in December and I’m sure
you’ll hear more about those from us, on here (and other places) when the chill
reality sets in and the snow begins to fall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, in with some of the more
Christmas-facing press releases and emails, there are often ones about products
which have suddenly, without warning, appeared on a shelf somewhere.
Traditionally a <b>silly season</b> for news (of all kinds- <a href="http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2014/08/40yo-scotch-to-be-named-after-john-lennon/" target="_blank">John Lennon 40 Year Old Scotch</a>
whisky anyone?!) it can often be hard to pick out the good from the bad, or the
good from the mad.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here at<b> Caskstrength.net</b> we do
receive press samples for review, sometimes for this site, sometime for books we are writing, or contributing to, and sometimes for articles we may be writing
elsewhere or discussions we might be involve in. And of course we also buy
booze- lots of it. A fair amount of <b>brandy</b>, <b>gin</b>, <b>absinthe</b>, <b>rum</b>, <b>aquavit</b> and
other great potables were purchased as research (yes, research...) for our
<a href="http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/neil+ridley/joel+harrison/distilled/10819392/" target="_blank">forthcoming book</a>, but nothing gets us more excited, our wallets out faster,
than an exciting new whisky purchase.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And last week that is exactly
what happened, when I heard about a new release from <b>J & A Mitchell</b>, the
chaps behind <b><a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/islay-odyssey-day-1-man-with-ice-lolly.html" target="_blank">Springbank Distillery</a></b> and <b><a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/cheap-as-chips-cadenheads-1973.html" target="_blank">Wm Cadenheads</a></b>, when they announced a
very limited edition (2014 bottles) 30 Year Old blended Scotch whisky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All apparently exactly 30 years
old (so all from <b>1984</b>) and constructed from <b>75% malt</b> and <b>25% grain</b>, the chaps
down in Campbeltown are known for having some exceptional old casks hidden away.
So, what price on this 30 year old Scotch... just £75. Yeah, £75.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o27NPNgh0js/U-5PL4XLeUI/AAAAAAAAILs/tY2dP2BDsis/s1600/Springbank%2BSpirit%2BOf%2BFreedom%2B30%2BYear%2BOld%2BBlended%2BScotch%2BWhisky%2BReview%2BTasting%2BNotes%2BCaskstrength.net%2BJoel%2BHarrison%2BNeil%2BRidley%2BReview.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o27NPNgh0js/U-5PL4XLeUI/AAAAAAAAILs/tY2dP2BDsis/s1600/Springbank%2BSpirit%2BOf%2BFreedom%2B30%2BYear%2BOld%2BBlended%2BScotch%2BWhisky%2BReview%2BTasting%2BNotes%2BCaskstrength.net%2BJoel%2BHarrison%2BNeil%2BRidley%2BReview.JPG" height="200" width="200"></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spirit of Freedom – 30 Years Old - Blended Scotch Whisky – 2014 bottles only - 46% abv –
70cl - £72.95 <a href="http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/P-25520.aspx">here</a>
and £74.20 <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/j-and-a-mitchell/spirit-of-freedom-30-year-old-blended-scotch-whisky/">here</a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nose:</b> A strong vanilla and fennel note rises with a butter back
bone and just a delicate hint of smoke. Walnuts and honey mix well, to give
some sandlewood. Peaches and green apple too and a hint of pine. Sea salt. This
smells like a blend of old- those great value ones from the 1970’s and 1980’s
you can pick up for such great value at auction sites nowadays.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Palate:</b> Very, very drinkable
at its bottled strength, it sits on the palate with a good dollop of oil and
pineapple juice. A hint of coal dust in the background, gives a great foundation
to tropical fruits and big butterscotch from the grain. A classic blend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Finish:</b> Oddly, probably the best bit (quite a feat given the nose
and palate) with juicy fruit tropical chewing gum, more pineapple, honey, syrup
and cinnamon spices with just a hint of that coal dust again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall:</b> For £75 you just can’t go wrong. Not at all.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lVWRTvW_PUs/U-5PUSfzMyI/AAAAAAAAIL0/YImfdxiIdt4/s1600/Springbank%2BSpirit%2BOf%2BFreedom%2B30%2BYear%2BOld%2BBlended%2BScotch%2BWhisky%2BReview%2BTasting%2BNotes%2BCaskstrength.net%2BJoel%2BHarrison%2BNeil%2BRidley%2BReview%2BHIghball.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lVWRTvW_PUs/U-5PUSfzMyI/AAAAAAAAIL0/YImfdxiIdt4/s1600/Springbank%2BSpirit%2BOf%2BFreedom%2B30%2BYear%2BOld%2BBlended%2BScotch%2BWhisky%2BReview%2BTasting%2BNotes%2BCaskstrength.net%2BJoel%2BHarrison%2BNeil%2BRidley%2BReview%2BHIghball.JPG" height="200" width="150"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At this price, you can drink this
neat by the fireside, in preparation for Christmas, or you can run headlong in
the opposite direction and, while there is still some sunshine left in the sky,
dodge the gathering clouds, head out to your garden and drink this in </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a simply stunning </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">highball.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“<i>What, with a 30 year old blended
Scotch whisky?</i>” I hear you cry?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yup. With a 30 year old blended
Scotch whisky. Happy Christmas!</span></div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-2826420760343873372014-08-01T10:56:00.001+01:002014-08-01T10:56:35.397+01:00I Can See Clearly Now: Kininvie 23 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qcD21d5iQvg/U9tg7cA7JAI/AAAAAAAAILU/NPjwenpxFfo/s1600/oakley-fast-jacket-glasses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qcD21d5iQvg/U9tg7cA7JAI/AAAAAAAAILU/NPjwenpxFfo/s1600/oakley-fast-jacket-glasses.jpg" height="143" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was exactly one year ago today that I found myself
hopping up to Scotland to take part in the <b>Ardbeg</b> Islay Half Marathon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As you would expect from an event held on an island in the
<b>Inner Hebrides</b>, in the 140 minutes it took me to complete the course I
experienced pretty much every type of element known to man, save for a snow
storm. From hail to bright sunshine, I have never seen such a variety of
weather in just one morning.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ4RWUH7zsI/U9tgqV7sarI/AAAAAAAAILM/S2oNQTJcntw/s1600/IslayHalfMarathon_2013press_release__011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lJ4RWUH7zsI/U9tgqV7sarI/AAAAAAAAILM/S2oNQTJcntw/s1600/IslayHalfMarathon_2013press_release__011.jpg" height="133" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Preparing for such an onslaught of elements required some
pretty decent kit and I’d purchased some good trainers, comfortable running kit
and a pair of <b>Oakley</b> sunglasses. My saving grace, the sunspecs were vital to keeping
me going, as post-shower when the sun burst violently from behind the clouds,
the glare from the roads would have been unbearable without the aid of the dark
glasses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On returning home and having invested not only in the
running kit, but in the training time as well, I decided that it would be wise,
what with all this <b>professional drinking</b> and suchlike, to maintain a healthy
balance of drams and training: the odd half marathon to balance out the regular
half measure of whisky. <b>The ultimate ‘half and half’, if you will.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, there was one improvement which needed to be made
to my kit, correcting a error I had made in the lead-up to the Islay Half.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being a proud spectacle wearer, when I took ownership of my
Oakley sunglasses I didn’t have the lenses replaced with prescription ones.
This meant that, as wonderful as the scenery of Islay is, I was unable to take
in much of it and to really enjoy it. It literally passed me by in a blur. If I was going to do more
running, I at least wanted to see where I was going!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so I spent some of my 'hard-earned' on having the lenses
replaced in my running glasses and it has improved my exercise experience immeasurably
as I’m now able to enjoy the <b>varying vistas</b> of my weekly runs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My vision has been enhanced by greater clarity and added
perspective and it certainly helps to be able to see something in clear relation to
something else.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When judging or critiquing single malt whisky, it also helps
to have comparisons. Each distillery has a unique flavour profile which is
carried through the core expressions and should be evident in the new make
through to the mature product. Doing a range tasting, especially with a
distillery’s ‘entry level’ products, is important as it can put into
perspective both the <b>flavour development of whisky</b> in older (or in this day and
age of No Age Statements- more expensive) expressions and also highlight how
different cask-types work with the new make spirit to develop certain flavour
elements.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it is always slightly confusing when you encounter whisky
from a distillery for the first time, and even more confusing when you have
nothing to compare it to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And this is where I find myself today, faced with a sample
of <b>Kininvie 23 Year Old</b>. I have, once, had some Kininvie. It was supplied to me
in form an ‘under-the-table’ sample at a whisky event. But it was one
of those ‘<b>drink and enjoy</b>’ moments, not one for notes or scribblings, so (as
whisky is designed to be) it was lost to the memory of time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But not to worry, for the chance to try something new is
always exciting and the parameters by which one should measure the quality of a
dram, unaware of the distillery’s character, profile or range, remain
unchanged: is there <b>balance</b>, <b>complexity</b> and an overall ability to hold itself in
the crowded marketplace that is single malt Scotch whisky at the moment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s
find out:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JVSsFFAKTUA/U9tgaNymlsI/AAAAAAAAILE/wsTWqSSAmss/s1600/kininvie+23+years+old+single+malt+whisky+scotch+tasting+notes+review+caskstrength.net+whisky+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JVSsFFAKTUA/U9tgaNymlsI/AAAAAAAAILE/wsTWqSSAmss/s1600/kininvie+23+years+old+single+malt+whisky+scotch+tasting+notes+review+caskstrength.net+whisky+blog.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kininvie 23 Years Old – Batch 2 – 42.6% abv</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note: I have a small sample
but this will come in a 35cl bottle when released in the UK. The bottle pictured is Batch 1.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nose:</b> Initial hit of banana (mid-ripeness), jute bag and rum
cake. The sweetness develops in to fresh orange juice and pear drops with a
backdrop of fresh leather. It’s quite a complex nose and really quite unique: if
you gave me this blind it would be hard to guess what it was, other than being
a Speyside dram. Going back to the nose
after a while it shows apple and blackberry pie with custard, plus a fair whack
of vanilla.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Palate:</b> Sweet tea at first, then a hit of dried apricot and raisins
followed by red apple slices and some leather notes. Creme brulee
with a summer fruit coulis then appear. The balance of red fruits and vanilla is excellent,
with just a hint of spice to counterbalance the sweetness. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Finish:</b> Oak, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg on the death with
a lasting zest of lime, thyme and some fresh mint.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall:</b> This is quite an unusual dram, bouncing between
vanilla sweetness and rich red fruits... but the balance works. It isn’t out of kilter
but neither is this a sherry bomb nor a delicate bourbon barrel baby. I think I’d
like to see how this would take in just the latter, with bigger vanillin and charred
oak spice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not a bad start to the <b>Kininvie</b> journey and I’m looking
forward to seeing how this might compare to other styles of whisky coming from
the same distillery as well as to see how Kininvie’s core DNA differs from that
of the other single malts (<b>Glenfiddich, Balvenie</b>) produced on the same site in
Dufftown. Until such time, I’m running blind, but (as I was on Islay) running
happy.</span></div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-37794740081493296762014-07-30T17:32:00.000+01:002014-07-30T18:34:22.115+01:00I Come From The Land Of The Ice And Snow: Benromach Single Malt Scotch Whisky<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QD2-dbgZpQ4/U9kbmc22FRI/AAAAAAAAIKQ/xOmKUXOzFBM/s1600/DSC01855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QD2-dbgZpQ4/U9kbmc22FRI/AAAAAAAAIKQ/xOmKUXOzFBM/s1600/DSC01855.JPG" height="133" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Snow Joke: My Trip To Benromach</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of the
scariest drives I have ever done in my life was early one March morning from
Perth to Forres, a small town near Inverness. It was a Monday and I was up
around 4am with the aim of arriving at the Benromach distillery at 8am, to start a
day working at the distillery to learn about how the distillery works and document it
for an article in Whisky Magazine. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBvnj9ATo2w/U9kb6SGVMWI/AAAAAAAAIKg/Gs8ggORllt4/s1600/IMG-20130311-00460.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBvnj9ATo2w/U9kb6SGVMWI/AAAAAAAAIKg/Gs8ggORllt4/s1600/IMG-20130311-00460.jpg" height="150" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Benromach in the Snow</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, just
after waking I threw back the curtains to see somewhere in the region of 36 inches of snow clogging
up the path below. Scurrying outside, I quickly dug a path for my car to exit
on to the well-salted main road and began the slow drive up the A9. As I passed
Dalwhinnie distillery the thermometer in my car showed -15 degrees centigrade.
To say it was cold would be an understatement.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LH5yOY8u61w/U9kbx-pqycI/AAAAAAAAIKY/tUPyf7EXBwU/s1600/DSC01861.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LH5yOY8u61w/U9kbx-pqycI/AAAAAAAAIKY/tUPyf7EXBwU/s1600/DSC01861.JPG" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After slipping and sliding all the way north from Perth, I arrived at
Benromach just in time for a pre-work cup of tea to warm my frozen bones. The sky
had tuned from granite to deep blue, and the white washed walls of the distillery
shone like platinum, a chimney in the yard reaching high into the sky,
providing a beacon for the angels to pop in and grab their share. I was glad to have risked the icy roads and
the deep snow to make it for the start of the day. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The history of
Benromach follows that of many other Scotch distilleries, closed by the
previous owners, United Distillers (now Diageo), in 1983 after the first
production started in 1898. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ten years later, the local family
business of Gordon & MacPhail (G&M) were looking to expand from bottling and
blending into distilling and the opportunity to purchase the site came up.
Sadly, the distillery was little more than buildings, as the equipment
(including the stills) had all been removed.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seeing this as an opportunity,
G&M embarked on an ambitious programme of installing an entirely new
operation inside, developing a new still shape and keeping all the production
in a single, linear line. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The aim was to make Speyside whisky as
it had been produced pre-1960’s- with a hint of smoke and this is what they
have achieved in the newly repackaged 10 Year Old: </span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jzg6jBKZZ4/U9kc6KCiQzI/AAAAAAAAIKs/GlZJ4zoCF7w/s1600/Benromach+Single+Malt+Scotch+Whisky+Review+Tasting+NotesWhisky+blog+1.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_jzg6jBKZZ4/U9kc6KCiQzI/AAAAAAAAIKs/GlZJ4zoCF7w/s1600/Benromach+Single+Malt+Scotch+Whisky+Review+Tasting+NotesWhisky+blog+1.jpeg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Benromach – 10 Years Old – 43% abv - £29.28 <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/benromach-10-year-old-whisky/" target="_blank">here</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nose</b>: There is certainly a hint of smoke on the nose of this wee
beastie. It is sweet, with a hint of orange citrus fruit (blood orange), some
icing sugar and raspberry. A touch of sandlewood. Very well balanced and
extremely inviting.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Palate</b>: Banana bread, apricots in syrup and fig jam. The smoke is
not as prominent on the palate, but tingles away under some tinned peaches, runny
honey and vintage vanilla.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Finish</b>: Rich rum cake and upside down pudding with a waft of smoke.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall</b>: This is a fantastic whisky, it really it is. The hint of
smoke gives this more of an island element, but really only on the nose and the
finish; the palate is much more classic Speyside. How they can knock this out
at under £30 is beyond me. A must for anyone looking for a quality single malt
on a tight budget. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With production of the new style spirit
starting in 1998, it would be a while before any new mature stocks were ready
for the market. G&M were in luck however, as stocks of whisky from before
the closure already existed, enabling them to create a range of vintage
Benromach releases.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DW62mCCKJGU/U9kdB4FRb5I/AAAAAAAAIK0/sseLxraQeO8/s1600/Benromach+Single+Malt+Scotch+Whisky+Review+Tasting+Notes+2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DW62mCCKJGU/U9kdB4FRb5I/AAAAAAAAIK0/sseLxraQeO8/s1600/Benromach+Single+Malt+Scotch+Whisky+Review+Tasting+Notes+2.jpeg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Benromach – 1976 Vintage – 46% abv - £415.80 <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/benromach/benromach-vintage-1976-whisky/" target="_blank">here</a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Note: constructed from 1<sup>st</sup> Fill and Refill Sherry Casks<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nose:</b> There is the Benromach DNA of orange blossom and red fruits,
but age has given this a freshness of green fruits (star fruit, gooseberry) and
cooking apple, dusted with cinnamon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Palate:</b> The orange blossom really flourishes here, with other red
fruits (red boiled sweets) and a slight hint of chilli jam. Milk chocolate dusted
with cocoa powder and praline coat the mouth as tropical fruits develop.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Finish:</b> Sweet, with an abundance of red fruits.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall:</b> A classic ‘old’ whisky, this gives you everything you’d
expect from a 1970’s sherried Speyside whisky.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you haven’t experienced
Benromach before, you don’t need to get up at 4am and drive through thick snow,
risking life and limb to see the distillery. Save yourself the petrol money and
order a bottle of the 10 year old. I’m not sure that you’ll find a bottle of single
malt Scotch for much better value. And once you’ve fallen in love, start saving
for the 1974.</span></div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-73660466642979165752014-07-18T11:32:00.000+01:002014-07-18T11:32:44.109+01:00All Hail The Cooper: Glenfiddich Excellence Single Malt Scotch Whisky<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The great author
<b>Jonathan Swift</b> once wrote that “<i>he was a bold man who first ate an oyster</i>”. It
is this sort of gastronomic experimentation which has given us such great
delights as a human race, tickling our taste buds with incredible innovation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I often wonder
who it was that first invented the meringue; they must have been the <b>Heston Blumenthal</b></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> of their day, but probably didn’t get the fame their invention should
have rewarded them with, let alone a Michelin star or even their own range of
cookware.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And it is this
need to create, to always push the boundaries, that man has been striving for
ever since we had a sense of taste, a lust for flavour. Of course we all need
to eat, drink and be merry. But the tastier the first two parts of that phrase,
the greater the volume of <b>merriment.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s a simple equation:
<b>Eat + Drink = Merry</b>. Increasing the pleasure aspect of one, or both is like
swapping the ‘plus’ symbol for a ‘multiply’ symbol. This is why we celebrate
those who have the ability increase our pleasure, to change our +, to an x.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the mix of
master blender, the superstar bar tender (what an appropriate phrase to write
with <b>Tales of the Cocktail</b> happening at the moment), the
footballer-turned-whisky-maker... there is one person often forgotten, who is
key to the final flavour of any aged spirit. And that is the cooper.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jKt9MXbf0tk/U8j3L-Bo-II/AAAAAAAAIKA/VblaA_AG8Sw/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jKt9MXbf0tk/U8j3L-Bo-II/AAAAAAAAIKA/VblaA_AG8Sw/s1600/IMG_0365.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The origins of
<b>cask maturation</b> have been long forgotten as the cask has, for centuries, been a
fairly utilitarian tool for the transportation of goods. From coal and fish, to
a variety of liquids, the barrel was the carrier bag of its day; developed into
a sea container for special goods. But it is the people who first discovered
maturation from a white spirit to a dark, delicious drink who should be
celebrated as much as the man who first shucked and sucked an oyster. Long
forgotten, these men are responsible for something very special, the ideal of
the cask to cradle some of our most precious liquids from simple spirits to
super single malts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Already this year
I have visited cooperages in <b>Scotland, Spain and the USA</b> and the results never
fail to surprise me. Handmade, in the most part, casks are designed to absorb a
small amount of their liquid contents, swapping spirit for spices, whiskey for
wood influence. But not only do casks add flavour to their contents, they also
breath; slowly letting air in and out, as if they are giant <b>wooden lungs</b>,
taking in oxygen and breathing out lost spirit, a gift to the angels. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This conflicting
purpose, to both store and give away, makes barrels almost biblical, following
the guidance that <b>the more you give away, the richer you will become</b>; ergo, the
more active the cask, the more condensed the liquid inside becomes, taking
flavour from both the wood and the previous incumbent of the cask, and the
richer the liquid gets. A truly spiritual experience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my journeys to
see both <b>sherry casks</b> and <b>bourbon barrels</b> in production, to understand more
about their role in maturation, I have learned a lot about the preparation that
a cask must go through before it is allowed to mature Scotch whisky. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are huge
differences between <b>American oak</b> and <b>European oak</b>, between ex-sherry casks and
ex-bourbon barrels, between a hogshead and a puncheon. But all were, at some
stage, the results of experiments by innovators, leaving a legacy for today and
well beyond. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you to those people, whoever you are. </span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4SjlRUZeamY/U8j1_3x5h1I/AAAAAAAAIJw/FhSI2DwoXkM/s1600/GF_26_Bottle_HR_RGB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4SjlRUZeamY/U8j1_3x5h1I/AAAAAAAAIJw/FhSI2DwoXkM/s1600/GF_26_Bottle_HR_RGB.jpg" height="200" width="148" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Glenfiddich – 'Excellence' – 26 Years Old –
Matured 100% American Oak – 43% abv - £350<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Nose:</b> The casks which this whisky has
been matured in have delivered a first class aroma of sweet vanilla, custard
cream biscuits, malted milk and crème brulee. There is a hint of oak spice, but
only to give body and provide a platform for the developed Madagascan vanilla
and white flowers to build on.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Palate:</b> A richer mouthfeel than
expected, this is a buttery dram with a hint of heather, yet again some spices
to balance out the palate. It is clearly American oak, ex-bourbon and takes in
the butterscotch aspects of well matured whisky from these styles of casks, but
sprinkles a small amount of cinnamon on top.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Finish:</b> A brilliant balance of sweet
and spicy, with that rich vanilla giving a super landing to a great dram.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Overall:</b> This whisky was designed to
reflect the style of cask it has been matured in. American oak, ex-bourbon
barrels filled in the last century, have marshalled a spirit through more than
two decades, resulting in a whisky which is the perfect ambassador for this
style of maturation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If it hadn’t been
for those great cooper-innovators, inventing the cask, maturing and re-maturing
spirit in it, we wouldn’t have a whisky like this today. So, cheers to those
forgotten folk for giving us all something so special which will <b>echo through
the ages.</b> </span></div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-78746824631018602262014-07-14T17:51:00.003+01:002014-07-14T17:51:47.106+01:00Hug A Hoodie: Quick Fire Ramblings: Highland Park Dark Origins & Bowmore Tempest Batch 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p4-u1vKZbJU/U8QJbb0EevI/AAAAAAAAIJg/8uA75PHTTfk/s1600/Hoodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p4-u1vKZbJU/U8QJbb0EevI/AAAAAAAAIJg/8uA75PHTTfk/s1600/Hoodies.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
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Well, it's bloody hot today. At this time of the year in the UK, it's clearly impossible to predict any kind of temperature in advance. A day ago, I was sheltering from the howling gale and rain under a tree (wearing a hooded top) beside a tennis court, thinking why did I decide to peruse such a stupid outdoor pastime. In an hour, I shall be slipping into the comfort (!) of a woollen dinner suit and bow tie for an evening event. Why?? Damn You Mother Nature!<br />
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Anyway, with such complete contradictions afoot, it's probably a good time to review some arguably un-summery whiskies that we have sitting in our office, probably waiting for a cold snap to take hold.<br />
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Recently Highland Park launched a brand new expression called <b>Dark Origins</b>, supposedly to celebrate the unorthodox working methods of the distillery's founder, Magnus Eunson, who operated his shady business as an illicit distiller largely in the shadows, away from the prying eye of the exciseman. <br />
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Dark Origins comes complete with a hooded chap on the label (who, if we're honest, looks a little more 'urban' than the likes of a Hebridean distiller) and the whisky itself is comprised of twice as many first fill sherry casks than the classic formulation of the 12 year old, aiming for a richer, darker and altogether more muscular whisky. Have they succeeded? <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RgKDKBFkDag/U8QHTMvAqsI/AAAAAAAAIJU/BShzjHROilo/s1600/Highland-Park-Dark-Origins-Scotch-whisky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RgKDKBFkDag/U8QHTMvAqsI/AAAAAAAAIJU/BShzjHROilo/s1600/Highland-Park-Dark-Origins-Scotch-whisky.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Highland Park - Dark Origins - 46.8% - NAS - RRP £65</b></div>
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<b>Nose: </b>Certainly an abundance of full bodied sherry notes on the first sniff: caramel, chopped nuts, a little mustiness, molasses, all balanced with a waft of smoke. It is reminiscent of the 12 year old, but has more depth. So far so good.</div>
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<b>Palate: </b>Very tarry, sooty and oily. The peat gives this a charred, slightly bitter approach, taking it away from the classic floral, honeyed sweetness of the 12 year old. There is lingering wood, a slight creosote and a bold menthol undertone, but one can't help but be overpowered by sootiness. The most smoky HP to date? Very probably, but it will certainly take some getting use to. Given time, a sweeter note develops, helping to balance out the proceedings. </div>
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<b>Finish:</b> Lingering wood, a little pepper and charred meat notes round out a very dry finish.</div>
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<b>Overall: </b>A hard to understand beast, this one. The nose reveals a lot of real complexity, alongside all the clearly intended darkness, but the palate is full-on beat-you-about-the-head-and-neck-with-a-fence-post stuff. Put it this way, it's like walking through Croydon late on a Saturday night. In the shadows lurk danger: Terrifying, but just a little bit exciting at the same time. They should start producing hoodies at the distillery shop... </div>
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Next up and the latest instalment in Bowmore's well received Tempest series. Now five batches in, the series sees no sign of slowing down, nor changing direction, short of the subtle differences between the batches. It is bottled at 55.9% and rocks up around £50 as a price point. Not too shabby considering what else lies at this price point. In terms of maturation style, this should be a sharp contrast to the Highland Park above, as it is drawn from first fill bourbon casks, giving a lighter, brighter note. Less hoodie, more boating blazer? We reviewed the last batch <a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/more-heavy-weather-bowmore-tempest.html" target="_blank">here</a> - and if this turns out any where near as good, Bowmore will have done it again. </div>
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<b>Bowmore - Tempest - Small Batch - Edition 5 - 10 Years Old - 55.9% RRP £50</b></div>
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<b>Nose: </b>A subtle floral/fruity peat emerges first, alongside fresh sponge cake, golden syrup a touch of almond oil and marzipan. Dig deeper and you'll find ripe banana, a touch of plasticine and a surprising mossy/leaf note. </div>
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<b>Palate:</b> The peat is kept in check by a zesty lemon note, some soft brown sugar, fudge topped muffins and very creamy coffee. In fact, this could be the most confectionery- influenced batch yet. Another sip reveals more marzipan and a touch of menthol tobacco, the floral peat returning right at the end. </div>
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<b>Finish: </b>Slightly dry, but with bags of underlying, lingering floral smoke.</div>
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<b>Overall: </b>Another tick in the 'excellent' box from this batch. Again, it offers balance, character and accessibility, but is robust enough for those who are looking for a peaty whisky to ooze additional character. </div>
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Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-68037949744361960852014-07-11T19:06:00.001+01:002014-07-11T19:11:45.892+01:00Employee Of The Month: American Maturation at Heaven Hill<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T9E8NP29xng/U8Aiuplfk4I/AAAAAAAAIII/6M89z1-dN6M/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T9E8NP29xng/U8Aiuplfk4I/AAAAAAAAIII/6M89z1-dN6M/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" height="200" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To Dream, The Impossible Dream...</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;"><b>America</b>: land of dreams and
opportunity. Visiting is always a joy (despite ever increasing security checks
at Heathrow- yawn) and it highlights one of the great things about being UK
based- our closeness to the US and to Europe. We really do occupy a funny
middle ground between our friends on the other side of the Atlantic, and those
just across the Channel. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">Having recently returned from another
trip to the States, it is easy to draw on the similarities (language, popular
culture, most foods, sense of humour, etc) to feel very much at home, but to
look at the 'differences' (currency, costs, weather, architecture, style, accent,
a lack of social responsibility to look after the poor and sick...) to realise you are
elsewhere. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">And these differences do not stop at
currency, politics and tastes, for America also makes whisky, but an entirely
different style of whisky that we make here in the UK and these differences,
along with some striking similarities, were highlighted to me on a recent trip
to <b>Heaven Hill</b> distillery in Kentucky.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">Heaven Hill is composed of two main
sites, both huge in scale; the result is a company whose fingerprints are seen across the whole whisky category, in <b>Scotch</b>, <b>Irish</b> and <b>Japanese</b> whisky
bottles because most of ex-Heaven Hill barrels end up being used to mature
spirit from producers in these countries. To put it simply, the ripples of
distilling here spread far and wide, on a truly global scale and all this under
the influence of the owners, the <b>Shaprio</b> family.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">It is unusual to find a place with such
influence, such standing and such fame that is still </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Consolas; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-fareast-font-family: Consolas;">‘</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">family owned</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Consolas; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-fareast-font-family: Consolas;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-font-family: "Arial Unicode MS";"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">and it is in this fact where we see, in
all the differences between Scotch and American whisky production, another
small similarity, another mirror of authenticity, as Scotland is home to
<b>William Grant & Sons</b>, producers of <b>Glenfiddich</b>, <b>The Balvenie</b> and <b>Grants</b>
blended Scotch, and also still family-owned and operated. In both you see a
friendship and a working relationship between the two dynasties, with much of
the William Grant Scotch distillate matured in ex-Heaven Hill casks. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">As is the way with Kentucky bourbon
production, one distillery can accommodate the production of many brands, and
the Heaven Hill distillery is no exception. Spread over two sites, one for
spirit production (<b>the Bernheim distillery</b> in Louisville), and one now
specifically for the maturation of spirit (just on the edge of <b>Bardstown,
Kentucky</b>), the former contains column stills producing various base spirits
with differing mash bills, which will go on to mature, at their second site,
into individual, unique expressions such as <b>Elijah Craig</b>, <b>Fighting Cock</b>, and <b>Parkers</b>.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">At this juncture, we could get bogged
down in the differing spirit profiles and make-up, looking at Heaven Hill</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Consolas; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-fareast-font-family: Consolas;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">s portfolio and
drawing comparisons between their different brands. But seeing as this task
could encompass a blog in its own right (and not just a blog post), I want to
look at something more fundamental: <b>maturation.</b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">The one thing we can be sure of is that
prohobition had a huge impact upon spirit production in the USA. Not only did
it create a vacuum of quality spirit (often filled by Scotch smuggled into the
country), it provided a fertile ground for the cocktail to thrive and stuck the
nail in the coffin of several distilleries around the world, as well as in the
States itself. But for all the negatives, what it did do was create almost a
clean slate for the distillers of America to embrace <b>new technology</b>.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">As a regular visitor to Scotland and
someone who writes a lot about Scotch, there are certain touchstones which can
nearly always be relied on: ancient distilleries, copper pot stills, small
dunnage warehouses, pagoda roofs... these are the '<b>shortbread tin</b>' stereotypes
which don't just nod in the direction of heritage and history, but positively
support it. But let</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Consolas; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-fareast-font-family: Consolas;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">s not forget that the original
distillers who first came to the newly discovered land of America would have
been Welsh, English, Scottish, Irish and European distillers, arriving to farm
the land which would have included running the occasional still, as they would
have done back home.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">However, prohibition served to wipe
these small pot still artisans from the landscape and, once the <b>Great
Experiment</b> ended, it was time to rebuild the distilling business to quench the
thirst of a nation. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Now, if you</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">re starting a new business today, you
don</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">t head out to buy
a typewriter, headed note paper and stamps. You go and purchase a laptop,
register a domain and set up an email address. In the same way, the distillers
of America didn</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">t opt for pot stills (yesterday</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">s technology) but
for the new, efficient column still. They didn</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">t build small <b>dunnage warehouses</b>, only
three barrels high because that is the height a man can lift a cask to. Nope,
they built enormous cathedrals of casks, because items like forklift trucks
existed, to lift barrels into place. And thus the slow drift from the
similarities of the Celtic settlers and their relatives in Scotland, and the
modern distilling and maturation techniques seen in the bourbon business today,
commenced.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">Column stills can also be found in
Scotland and it is the production of grain which keeps the industry alive
through blends (and now a growing category in its own right thanks to single
grain whisky from the likes of <b>Girvan</b>), and of course there are huge technical
differences in the base production of bourbon and Scottish grain whisky (the
basic grain make up, sour mashing, etc) but it is the maturation which really
is striking.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">As with all Kentucky bourbon whiskey,
brand new American oak casks are used, imparting a strong, robust and sweet
flavour to the maturing spirit inside. But unlike those hobbit-esque warehouses
to be found on the distillery doorstep in Scotland, the warehouses at <b>Heaven
Hill</b> are, quite frankly, enormous. Seeing their sheer size put me in mind of
the first time I saw an Airbus A380 descending over London for its arrival at
Heathrow. Massive and a little bit scary.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Entering one of these huge, white
spaces (which look they might have been designed by someone with a fetish for
Soviet-era prisons) you are simply hit with a staircase, leading to a series of
floors and doors: </span><b style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">The Maturation Zone</b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> in the Crystal Maze, perhaps. Perfectly
constructed, each level (of which there were thirteen!) houses an intricate
system of barrels, all holding a different style of spirit, designed to mature
for different lengths of time, becoming different brands of bourbon.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">There was no musty smell of earth and
bung cloth as there would be in Scotland. But a sweet aroma of spirit, oak and
freshly cut pine. The temperature was warmer than outside (something you don</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Consolas; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-fareast-font-family: Consolas;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">t get in
Scotland) and the barrels, all uniform, were organised by row. Walking around
them, up and down between the floors, was like flying around in the 3D grid
system in <b>Blade Runner</b>. Sadly, without an iconic glass of whisky in my hand, as
these casks were very much sealed.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">Climbing the stairs to the very top and
peering down thirteen floors to the ground level, taking in the scale of
maturation, surrounded by other enormous warehouses, this couldn</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Consolas; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-fareast-font-family: Consolas;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">t have been
anywhere else but America. This was maturation, supersized.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">Back inside the safety of Heaven Hill</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial Unicode MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Consolas; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-fareast-font-family: Consolas;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">s visitor centre,
I was finally able to experience some of the magic of a single barrel bourbon
when I was handed a glass of whiskey, and one which represents some of the best
value for money of any bourbon on the market today:</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;"><b>Evan Williams Single Barrel - 2003/2013 - 43.3% abv - 75cl</b></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;"><b>Nose:</b> Rich vanilla, red summer berry compot, a big splash of new oak, builders tea with about 15 sugars and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Rich with a big attitude, but not over-oaked.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;"><b>Palate:</b> This is where this badboy really delivers. The palate is seriously easy going, yet there is a foundation of big flavour with more vanilla, aprcot jam, some smoky BBQ sauce (without this being smoky, oddly) and rasberry travel sweets.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;"><b>Finish: </b>Robust, rounded and very well balanced with more vanilla and a hint of oak spice.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.44444465637207px;"><b>Overall: </b></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">If you want a great example of a single
cask bourbon, at ten years of age, this is a real corker. I paid about $25 for this bottle (well under £20) and I'm note sure I could have spent $25 better, really. An absolute corker of a dram which is still only about £35 over <a href="http://www.masterofmalt.com/whiskies/heaven-hill/evan-williams-single-barrel-2003-vintage-whiskey/" target="_blank">here</a> in the UK.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">I had the chance to
pop into the new <b>Evan Williams</b> experience in Lousville and the plans there are
fantastic. They</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'Arial Unicode MS', sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">’</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">ve just built a small pot still
operation which fills a barrel a day (when it is running) to bring a craft, pot
still element to Evan Williams, so look out for stocks from that in the future.
This scaled down visitor experience, in a former shop in the heart of
Louisville is, quite simply, one of the best whiskey-based attractions I have
ever visited, so if you find yourself out there, make sure you go.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Consolas; mso-hansi-font-family: Consolas;">In visiting Kentucky to discover the
joys of bourbon, you get to see the legacy of The Great Experiment and how it
has forever changed the landscape of distilling in America. With the craft
distilling revolution bringing back the pot still, and the stalwarts of the
business such as Heaven Hill offering seriously good liquid at such great
value, the future for American whiskey looks incredibly <b>positive</b>. </span></div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4111166685724355390.post-3317995130922785072014-07-07T16:06:00.001+01:002014-07-08T12:27:42.095+01:00The Guide to Home Smoking: Ardbeg Kildalton<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Blimey, that was a swift three weeks! Our recent inactivity over the aforementioned period was largely down to travelling, spiritual enlightenment and a mixture of other interferences, but we return to our desks a little more well travelled, a little more enlightened and a little more interfer.... whoops... that didn't work did it....</div>
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Anyway, with the current clutch of whisky releases (<b>Highland Park</b> <b>Dark Origins</b>, <b>Tomatin Cu Bocan 1989</b> and <b>Kininvie 23 year old</b> - which will all be reviewed in due course) we turn ourselves to another tasty titbit, which follows on nicely from our previous <a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/absent-friends-lagavulin-caol-ila-feis.html" target="_blank">Islay-based post</a>. </div>
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Mention the word <b>Ardbeg</b> in certain circles and you'll usually be confronted by a frothing mess of superlatives delivered by a dribbling, stammering whisky obsessive - usually from Western Europe or Scandinavia. In short, we can think of very few distilleries that have some how managed to capture the hearts of such an obsessive and tight-knit clique. Since the <b>Ardbeg Committee </b>sprung up in the year 2000, quickly gaining over 3,000 international followers, the reputation of the brand for being one of Islay's real treasures has truly unfolded. Today there are over 50,000 members of the committee, making it one of the most popular brand affiliation programmes (to use the formal tongue of marketing speak) within the whisky business. </div>
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The committee release bottlings have historically been a way to gauge the progress of the development of the whisky released by Ardbeg: From <b>Very Young</b> <b>For Discussion</b> (the first taste of Ardbeg since it reopened) to the '<b>Oogling'</b> (a work in progress version of <b>Uigeadail</b>) and latter day releases (<b>Supernova</b>, <b>Rollercoaster</b>, <b>Alligator </b>and <b>Ardbeg Day</b> etc) the committee members could get their mits on limited release bottles before anyone else. </div>
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This however created a problem: Such exponential growth meant that, rather like concert tickets for a one-off Led Zeppelin (or One Direction, if you are that way inclined) concert you effectively had to be sitting at your computer at 8.59am, ready, logged in and poised to enter your Visa details before anyone else. The releases went from 100's of bottles, to a few thousand to 10's of thousands, simply to cater for the mass disappointment felt when those not quick enough missed out. </div>
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It's a case of damned if you do, damned if you don't. </div>
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But with Ardbeg's newest release (ok not a Committee release, but a limited edition) the theme has changed somewhat.</div>
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<b>Kildalton</b> is an important name in the world of the Ileach - and the whisky connoisseur. Head to Islay and take the short drive down along the south shore road, past Laphroaig, Lagavulin and the Ardbeg distillery and eventually you will end up at a weather beaten, ruinous parish church. The Cross of Kildalton stands proudly on this hallowed spot and anyone who has visited will tell you that it is a very special place indeed. The cross itself is over 1,200 years old and acts as a symbol of of Hebridean life; it is a haven of tranquility and spiritual enlightenment. </div>
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Ardbeg released an expression back in 2004 under the Kildalton banner. It was effectively a very lowly peated whisky at cask strength distilled in 1980, which was rated so positively by connoisseurs around the world, that any bottles still in existence are now becoming increasingly difficult to find. A Kildalton from 1981 was also released as part of a <a href="http://caskstrength.blogspot.co.uk/2011/05/road-to-islay-day-2-why-isnt-this-rum.html" target="_blank">special pack</a> celebrating Ardbeg peat, which you can pick up at auction and is well worth hunting down. It also contains a miniature of the legendary<b> Ardbeg 17 year old</b>.</div>
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However, the name Kildalton has been resurrected once again - and this time comes with a charitable connection. </div>
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Sales of the new limited edition <b>Ardbeg Kildalton</b> bottling will generate funds for the North Highland Initiative, a charity that was set up by HRH Prince Charles to support fragile rural communities across the North Highlands. As part of this, the partnership will directly benefit charities and community organisations on Islay. </div>
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So what of the whisky itself? </div>
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Well the new Kildalton expression is bottled at 46% and carries no age statement. Drawing on peated whiskies from both bourbon and sherry casks, it is quite different to the original Kildalton release, but is distinctly different from some of the more robust smoky expressions in the range.</div>
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Perhaps the most important part of the story is that until later this autumn, the whisky is only available to buy at the distillery itself, after such time it will be available online. The outturn remains unknown, but we suspect it will be enough to cater for the many thousands of die-hard Ardbeg fans out there. Worth taking a trip out to Islay especially? Let's find out...</div>
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<b>Ardbeg - Kildalton - 2014 Release - No Age Statement - 46% - RRP £120 </b></div>
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<b>Nose: </b>Light and very creamy at first, with a mixture of soft toffee, dried flowers and a hint of floral style smoke, alongside some sweet Earl Grey tea. It is fairly gentle, with a graceful approach to smokiness, as opposed to kicking you in the nose with big bonfire or medicinal notes. Similarities to the original Kildalton? Yes, for sure. Perhaps not quite as refined, but anyone finding the full blown notes from the distillery too overpowering will fall for this quite easily. </div>
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<b>Palate: </b>Wow, there's the smoke. Incredibly dry, with a wood-influenced peatiness, some coal tar soap, caramel and an earthiness all begin to develop. It's certainly a whisky of two minds, this one. Given time, the wood reveals a slight sweetness - possibly a little sherry influence too, but it is well packaged and balanced all in all. </div>
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<b>Finish: </b>A dry, lingering smoky residue is left on the tongue, with a touch of the medicinal side of smoke developing and some orchard fruit. </div>
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<b>Overall: </b>Here we find Ardbeg in playful territory. It is smoky enough to give peat heads their fix (who wants the stupidly overly peated expressions these days? Not us, that's for sure...) and has a delicious lingering freshness alongside. Yes it is expensive for a no age statement Ardbeg, but factor in the charitable connection and it's hard not to feel some affection for the new Kildalton. </div>
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Worth taking a trip for? It's Islay we're talking about here. Of course it bloody well is. </div>
Joel Harrison & Neil Ridleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14619209990458668566noreply@blogger.com