Berry Bros & Rudd's new bottle design (and a very special 1989 Bunnahabhain) [Tasted #541]

The whisky world (in particular the Scotch whisky world) talks a lot of provenance and history - as well it should. With whisky distillation legally sanctioned in Scotland in 1823, and distilleries commencing operations very soon thereafter (and many, like Bowmore and Glenturret, well before), there's a rich history to draw upon.

~200 years may seem like an impressively long time to be in business (and let's face it, it is), but it pales in comparison to Berry Bros & Rudd, Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchant who have not only been in operation since 1698, but have traded from the same shop the entire time. 

323 years is an incredibly long time to be in business (especially trading from the same location), but in all that time, Berry Bros have never had their own bottle design, with the "Own Selection" whiskies and spirits using a relatively standard design. Until now...

Launched in July this year, Berry Bros & Rudd's whiskies (and other spirits) now have a bottle worthy of the liquid, with a bespoke design by label designer Stranger and Stranger referencing the Berry Bros & Rudd shop's iconic arched windows.

As Guy Pratt, Design Director from Stranger and Stranger explains:

“The premises on St. James' in the heart of London’s West End is inextricably tied to the history of old London and the host of famous and extraordinary people who have passed through its doors. It was the famous arched windows of the facade that provided a way to express the merchant’s prodigious spirit credentials within the mould of the bottle itself, added to the base of the bottle they echo both the iconic facade and the scalloped decoration you might typically find on a heavy spirits glass. In this way we were able to celebrate the brand and the home it has occupied since 1698 in a single mark. For appreciators of fine spirits who unfortunately cannot visit the shop itself, Berry Bros & Rudd have just brought the shop to you!”

BBR's "Summer Release 2021" series is the first to be bottled in the new design, and features 6 diverse spirits from across the world - 5 Single Casks (a 2010 peated Bruichladdich, 2000 Clyenlish Sutherland, 2014 Guyana rum-finished Laprhoaig Williamson, a 2010 Islay-finished Diamond Rum from Guyana, and (the coolest of all) a 2016 Lark from Tasmania), alongside a "Small batch" whisky in the form of a 2009 12yo Linkwood - at only £60.

When BBR kindly offered to send me something to celebrate the new bottle design, I assumed it would be a few samples of the above - or perhaps even one of the bottles if they were feeling particularly generous. What I didn't expect was an entire bottle of single cask 1989 Bunnahabhain, labelled with my own name (or a slightly misspelt version of it) front and centre, adorning the new bottle design!

Incredibly generous and unexpected! Whiskybase suggests the cask (#5738 from 2015) was originally bottled for Shinanoya, but presumably they didn't take the whole cask, and a few fortunate souls were lucky enough to receive a personalised bottle in the new bottle design.

Of course, as lovely as the new bottle design is, ultimately it's all about the liquid inside, and so to that end, upon receiving the bottle I immediately ripped the cork out and poured myself a dram...and I'm glad I did!

Berry Bros & Rudd Single Cask 1989 Bunnahabhain (43.4% ABV, 1989-2015, 25yo, Hogshead #5738, 1 of 115 bottles Islay Scotland)

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Colour: Bright yellow gold.

Nose: Rich yellow fruits - peach, pair, hints of lemon.

Palate: Zesty white chocolate, lemon pie. Creamy vanilla pie. Viscous mouthfeel, with marzipan and yellow jubes.

Finish: Long, with hints of pear and peach.

Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100. Extremely drinkable, complex, and entirely enjoyable.

A big thanks to Berry Bros & Rudd for this beautiful personalised gift, and congratulations on a stunning new bottle design and range!

Cheers,

Martin.

This week in whisk(e)y #18

As you might know if you read this blog regularly, we get a fair few interesting press releases and news articles here at TimeforWhisky, and usually try to feature them with our own spin, experiences or comments. Sometimes though, they come thick and fast, and we just don't have time to do them all justice.

So we've decided to take a leaf out of some other excellent whisky blogs, and feature a "PR roundup" every now and then - basically a wrap-up of relevant press releases we've received in the previous week or so (including other interesting whisk(e)y news Steph & I think you might enjoy). So on with it then...


JOHN WALKER & SONS Private Collection 2015 launch
Anyone who's been through a major airport in the past year (particularly in Asia), might have noticed a curious-looking deep Blue bottle of Johnnie (or rather, John) Walker - no, not the well known JW Blue, but the rarer "Private Collection", limited to 8,888 bottles.

Also limited to 8,888 bottles, is the new 2015 release, in an equally-striking deep red hue, designed to reflect the fruitier notes of this year's release.

Whilst there's limited information on the whisky that makes up the blend, we do know it's a blend of 29 "bespoke and experimental" casks, and weighs in at 46.8%. Charlie Maclean (who Steph met recently) also described the first (2014) release as "flawless" - high praise indeed.

More details from the Press Release as follows:

"(HONG KONG, 8 April 2015) - JOHN WALKER & SONS, the prestige range from Johnnie Walker®, has unveiled the JOHN WALKER & SONS Private Collection 2015 Edition. Showcasing the innovative craft and spirit of its creators, the blend of Rare Fruit Character by Master Blender Jim Beveridge, is the second release in a series of seven limited editions that are the ultimate collectibles, from the world’s leading Scotch Whisky house*.  

Declared as ‘flawless’ by renowned whisky writer Charles MacLean, the first JOHN WALKER & SONS Private Collection launched in 2014 brought together an exploration of the JOHN & WALKER & SONS signature smoky character from three celebrated regions of Scotland. The 2015 Edition - also a limited release with only 8,888 individually numbered decanters worldwide - reveals the fruit top notes of the JOHN WALKER & SONS house style. Great mastery of the art of blending is required to select and craft the 29 bespoke and experimental casks into a blend that has softness and allows the fruit flavours to shine, as well as being full-bodied with layers of complexity.  

Jim Beveridge, Master Blender, commented: “The 2015 Edition is an exceptionally smooth blend of mature whisky fruit expressions from the heart of Scotland. The wonderful lightness of fresh and exotic Speyside notes deepens into the warm, autumnal fruits of Highland malts, finishing with a lift from the spicy, West Highland fruit character.”  

Jim has selected several treasured casks from a study that began many years ago exploring the fascinating effects of wood on maturing whisky, which has over time created a richness and perfect harmony of flavours. These unique whiskies have been chosen both to complement and contribute to the fruit character of the 2015 edition, balancing the blend perfectly with a touch of dryness and sweetness.  

Guy Escolme, Global Brand Director, JOHNNIE WALKER, said: “The JOHN WALKER & SONS Private Collection is the epitome of our belief and expertise in blending. Rare flavour profiles, experimental casks and small batch blending, presented as limited releases in individually numbered decanters – these are unmissable, one-off editions for Scotch Whisky connoisseurs to build a collection of their own.” Turning his thoughts to the future, Jim Beveridge said: “The reaction to the 2014 Edition blend has been extremely rewarding and created much anticipation for the release of the 2015 Edition. Throughout the creation of this year’s blend, we have discovered more gems of casks along the way, and it is with great excitement that we begin work in earnest for 2016.”  

The JOHN WALKER & SONS Private Collection 2015 Edition (46.8% ABV) is presented in a deep red glass decanter with an angled cut to reflect the slanted label on the iconic JOHNNIE WALKER square bottle. Set in a cream box, the display is an elegant showcase of the story behind the Rare Fruit Character of this blend depicted from the outside."

Diageo World Class 2015 kicks off in Hong Kong
While this blog is first and foremost about whisky (and whiskey), let it never be said that we don't enjoy a good cocktail or two. Since our first Diageo World Class event in 2013 Steph and I have been huge fans of the competition (and let's face it, they show off the talents of some pretty amazing bartenders). Put simply, it pits the world's best bartenders against each other, using an array of high quality spirits from Diageo, with some of the most interesting themes and locations available.

So, it goes without saying we were thrilled to see World Class 2015 kicking off in HK recently, with a series of masterclasses hosted by the world's best bartenders (including one we sadly were unable to attend, featuring Matt Bax (of Der Raum fame), whose excellent "Bar Exuberante" Steph and I recently visited, and were hugely impressed at the dedication to the drinks and the venue in equal measures).

Whilst entries have now closed, we understand the judging takes place tomorrow (Tues 5th May), with the top 16 finalists to be anounced on the World Class HK Facebook page. To quote the press release:

"This year’s programme will run from April to June, putting bartenders through two qualifying rounds before the top eight final takes place over the 8th and 9th of June. 

The first round of World Class is called ‘Fundamentals of Flavour’ and asks bartenders to create a drink that engages all of the senses.  Flavour comes from the engagement of all the senses: smell, sight, sound, touch and taste. Each element plays an important part in the creation of a beautifully crafted drink. Cocktails in this challenge must incorporate table service. The way it is served could be anything: a suitcase, a basket or even a gramophone. Bartenders must come up with a great concept, a great story and let their personality shine through.

It is open to any bartender over the legal drinking age working in a bar in Hong Kong or Macau. Entries are open from the 30th March until the 27th April. Bartenders can use any spirit from the DIAGEO RESERVE portfolio including: KETEL ONE VODKA, KETEL ONE CITROEN VODKA, CIROC VODKA, TANQUERAY GIN, TANQUERAY NO. TEN GIN, DON JULIO TEQUILA, THE SINGLETON OF GLEN ORD, TALISKER 10 YEAR OLD, JOHNNIE WALKER DOUBLE BLACK, JOHNNIE WALKER GOLD LABEL RESERVE, JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL, RON ZACAPA .

Sixteen bartenders will be chosen from the first round to produce a drink for the second round running from May 4 to May 18 titled: ‘Tea & Coffee’. Bartenders will be asked to create a drink using either of these two ingredients and submit the entry via video. From here the top eight will be chosen to compete in the Hong Kong final for the right be crowned Hong Kong’s best bartender.

The ultimate winner of the Hong Kong final will compete against 50 bartenders from around the world in Cape Town, South Africa, to be crowned DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS™ BARTENDER OF THE YEAR 2015."

Glenmorangie Tùsail launches in Australia
Joining the already diverse and fantastic lineup of existing Glenmorangie Private Editions this past April, the Tùsail differs slightly from previous releases in that the focus isn't so much on the cask or finishing, but on the barley - specifically, the previously near-distinct "Maris Otter" barley, which gives the whisky notes of nut toffee cinnamon and dates.

Whilst we don't have official tasting notes, Hendy did get to enjoy the new expression at a dinner with Bill Lumsdaine himself recently (writeup due any day now).

Tùsail retails for $165AUD and can be purchased through specialist whisky shops (think Oak Barrel, World of Whisky etc..) or online at the Moét Hennessy Collection.

"APRIL 2015, AUSTRALIA - A rare quality grain, that was saved by devotees for the future, is the inspiration behind Glenmorangie's latest limited edition. Glenmorangie Tùsail, the sixth release in the award-winning Private Edition collection, draws on the unique taste of Maris Otter barley, almost lost to the world but for the efforts of a few loyal proponents. Glenmorangie Tùsail will be available in specialist whisky shops and through Moët Hennessy Collection from 13 April 2015.

Every year since 2010, Glenmorangie has released a rare single malt crafted and designed to inspire and intrigue whisky connoisseurs and collectors. The latest release, Glenmorangie Tùsail, invites aficionados to explore a distinctive variety of barley's influence on Glenmorangie single malt.

Maris Otter winter barley was first commercially harvested 50 years ago. Its depth of flavour meant that it soon became a cornerstone of England's craft-brewing industry. But the demand for the barley variety began to fall as producers switched to varieties with greater efficiencies – and its characteristic taste was left in peril. Realising the danger, two British seed merchants formed a partnership, which would re-establish the grain's purity and save Maris Otter from being wiped out.

Their efforts soon attracted the attention of Glenmorangie's Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, who is renowned for his commitment to unnecessarily well-made whiskies. 

Dr Bill Lumsden ordered a batch of the winter barley and arranged for it to be traditionally floor-malted for use in Glenmorangie Tùsail (Scots Gaelic for 'originary'). 

He explained: "When we heard the story of those determined to preserve such a flavoursome grain, their ethos – and the barley itself – seemed the perfect match for a Glenmorangie single malt. I knew its deep flavour profile would provide an intriguing contrast to Glenmorangie's more delicate house style, creating a whisky to enchant connoisseurs. The result pays homage to the Maris Otter variety, with rich, rustic flavours of nut toffee, sweet barley malt, ginger, cinnamon, molasses, and dates, complementing the more familiar Glenmorangie notes of peaches, oranges and smoked pears."

200 Opinions Wanted - Laphroaig asks for your opinion

Laphroaig have always approached advertising / media / customer engagement in a unique (and highly entertaining) manner (just look at Laphroaig Live for example), and now, to celebrate the distillery’s 200th year, Laphroaig is launching a global “200 Opinions Wanted” campaign to find the best opinions its drinkers can come up with.

Two hundred of the most unique opinions will be displayed as individual tiles on the distillery wall and 10 authors of the very best of them will be rewarded with a trip to Islay to attend “Laphroaig Live,” a global whisky event held at the historic Laphroaig Distillery for the first time in nine years.

All opinions entered at www.laphroaig.com/opinions from 20th April - 1st August 2015 will go in the running to win.

The Singleton of Glen Ord presents Master's Casks, aged 40 years

"The Singleton"as a brand wasn't huge in Australia when Steph and I left last year, but it's certainly a big deal in the broader Asian market, with a large presence in both travel and regular retail channels. Steph recently tried (and enjoyed) the 12yo The Singleton of Glen Ord, but it's the recently-released 40 year old which stands out, with only 999 bottles to be released (sadly neither of us could attend a recent tasting due to schedule conflicts, but we hear it was a very good whisky!)

"[Hong Kong, 6th March 2015] The Singleton of Glen Ord is proud to release a rare master piece - Master’s Casks Aged 40 Years, the oldest and rarest single malt the distillery has bottled in over 170 years. The Limited Edition, with only 999 bottles available for sale worldwide, perfectly showcases the best of classic Glen Ord character, with a fresh and light taste as a result of four decades spent in specially selected casks aged over generations.  

Forty years ago, the distillers of Glen Ord wrote the future of flavour when they selected ten American and European oak casks to house the liquid. Today, with 37 years’ experience, Malt Master Maureen Robinson has completed the work of her visionary predecessors, by meticulously tasting and crafting various combinations of casks that have resulted in the ultimate balance of flavor and freshness.  

The Singleton of Glen Ord Master’s Casks Aged 40 Years is a sophisticated, beautifully structured single malt with a deep amber hue featuring ginger lights. The fresh fragrance of the liquid has a rich perfumed and fruity aroma with delicate, sweet fruity notes of orange and honey followed by undertones of elegant dark chocolate truffles and hints of white pepper, smoke and liquorice. The finishing has subtle nuances of the European oak casks and dried orange peel, as well as figs, hazelnuts and smoky coffee grounds or plain dark chocolate. The limited edition liquid is perfect served neat, or with a little water to unlock the flavours.  

The release of Master’s Casks Aged 40 Years is our way to pay tribute to the art of cask crafting and selection at Glen Ord.” Commented Drew Mills, Marketing Director of Diageo Brands. “While age is very important, the excellence of whisky is not just about how old it is, it’s about marrying together a number of factors including taste, flavour and age to create the perfect balance of fine liquid,” he said.  

To celebrate the legacy, creativity and passion of the visionaries who distilled this whisky four decades ago, each bottle of the Limited Edition is housed in a stunning wooden case that showcases the rare beauty of the whisky. When the casing is opened, the deep shining amber liquid will be unveiled, symbolizing the whisky resting in its oak cask. The wooden stopper, made from original Glen Ord casks, is a nod to the craftsmanship that goes into each drop of liquid.  

The perfect balance achieved from using the combination of American bourbon and European sherry oak casks resonates in The Singleton of Glen Ord 18 and 12 year editions that have also come from the rich heritage of Glen Ord distilleries. Capturing the best of Glen Ord character, these fine single malt whiskies echo the freshness and lightness of their rich and smooth 40 year old counterpart."

Berry Bros & Rudd's Exceptional Casks come to Australia
Berry Bros & Rudd, Independent Bottler of the year in 2010 and 2010 (and no stranger to this blog) have been known on the odd occasion to release their own "Exceptional" bottlings, from distilleries differing every year. This year, Australia gets two such "Exceptional" releases - a 50yo North British single grain bottling, and a 1972 Glenlivet. Pretty exceptional if you ask us...

"Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits is proud to announce the inaugural releases from the new exclusive series of bottlings, the Exceptional Casks Collection. 

Each expression in the distinguished range demonstrates the very highest of quality, with only truly exceptional casks making it into this rare selection. 

Doug McIvor, Spirits Buyer for Berry Bros. & Rudd states; “Our philosophy when choosing casks for the collection is to provide unparalleled quality; we take immense pride in this. This extraordinary and very limited range will showcase some of the most remarkable expressions we have released to-date.”Each Exceptional Cask has a story to tell, whether the spirit comes from a closed distillery, reveals a distinct flavour characteristic or has been matured in a particular barrel. 

Four exemplary bottlings have been chosen to launch the Exceptional Casks Collection, of which the Australian market will see two. Starting with a rare 50 Year Old North British, Single Grain whisky taken from two remaining sister casks on their 50th birthday, December 18th 2012. Bottled at 58.9% ABV, there are 472 bottles available globally and only 6 bottles coming to Australia at a retail price of $950.00+Secondly, a Single Cask of 1972 Glenlivet Single Malt, a hallowed vintage for those in the know, has been specially selected. The cask displays remarkable characters after maturing for 41 years. There are only 170 bottles of Cask #1072, at 53.2% ABV available globally with only 6 bottles coming to Australia at a retail price of $1,230.00+ 

The Exceptional Casks Collection will be available in Australia through Samuel Smith & Son from mid-March 2015 and adds to the range of single cask, single malt whiskies, Blue Hanger Blended Malt and rums from the Berry’s Own collection already in the country."

"Ladies who Whisky" at Hullett House
Hullett House in TST (Hong Kong), who recently received their certification as the first Whisky Ambassador-certified venue in Asia, have just launched a program called "Ladies who Whisky" (a review of the launch to be posted by Steph shortly).

Focusing on ladies new to the world of whisky, the classes (run weekly throughout May and into June) cover topics such as:

• Whisky and Aroma
• Whisky and Oysters
• Whisky and Flowers
• Whisky and Chocolate
• Whisky and Cocktails
• etc...

See below for a full list of classes:

Cheers, 
Martin.

Malt Masters Hong Kong 2015 & Charlie Maclean Masterclass

With Martin away in India (visiting Amrut Distilleries - detailed tour write-up soon), it was up to me to pick up the Glencairn and cover two back to back Hong Kong Whisky events. First up - Malt Masters Hong Kong 2015.

Hong Kong whisky enthusiasts (and those new to the whisky world) gathered at PMQ’s "the Qube" on Saturday 14th March to taste, explore and learn about all things whisky. Exhibitors present included many large and well-known brands such as Macallan, Glenfiddich, Glenmorangie, Glenrothes, Balvenie, Singleton, Arran, Old Pulteney and Jura. There were also a small number of independent bottlers (Berry’s from Berry Bros & Rudd, Hepburn, The First) and at least one new to the whisky world (Annandale - who aren't yet producing a "whisky", per se).  Although it was great to see so many Scotch whiskies, it would have been nice to see more world whiskies, particularly from other parts of Asia.

The food provided was plentiful with various tasty canapés to line stomachs, and it was great to see a few food exhibitors including Dutch Cheese, whisky ice-cream (!) and deli meats; however this attendee was there for the whisky!

The Charlie MacLean masterclass (pre-purchased as an add-on to the entry price) was informative for whisky beginners through to connoisseurs. Three drams were discussed and tasted (Singleton of Glenord 12 and 18 [created for the Asian market], alongside Talisker 10) and Charlie was eager to answer any simple or tricky questions from the group. Charlie discussed the colour and flavour development of whisky, the fermentation and maturation process and the purpose of different elements in the production-  copper and charcoal being purifiers at different stages of the process, the importance of water quality both during production and when tasting, and the importance of balancing distillery characteristics of whisky with the maturity characteristics. A few gems of knowledge were also thrown into the mix, such as why waxy new make became waxy in the Clynelish distillery (“gunk” in the receiving tank); Glem Ord has the longest fermentation time of all distilleries known to Charlie (more than 80 hours compared to the usual 60-ish hours, resulting in increased flavour complexity); and Diageo own 7 of the 14 distilleries that use wormtubs, which make for a lighter style of whisky.

Overall, the Malt Masters made for a great (and leisurely) afternoon for anyone interested in tasting and learning more about whisky. Great timing with the PMQ night markets held just downstairs for a quick snack on the way home too! There were a few kinks that need to be ironed out for future events (the ticketing process with long lines to enter, the lack of drinking water, and master classes starting and running late), but I am confident that this event will only get bigger and better in future years!

- Steph

The Glenrothes 1969 Extraordinary Cask Launch in Hong Kong, with Ronnie Cox (Tasted #138 - 140)

Last Friday saw the Hong Kong launch of The Glenrothes Extraordinary Cask 1969, a release of only 133 bottles worldwide, retailing for $49,900HKD.

Never ones to do things by halves, The Edrington Group invited The Glenrothes' and Berry Bros & Rudd's Brand Heritage Director (Spirits), Ronnie Cox, to Hong Kong to launch the incredibly limited whisky.

Ronnie, who we had the pleasure of spending a very enjoyable hour with earlier in the day (interview to follow) was a wealth of whisky knowledge, having come from "at least" 7 generations in the whisky industry in one form or another. Ronnie's extensive knowledge of The Glenrothes, and experience in the whisky industry all over the world made him the perfect host for the evening.

Held at The Marriott's Flint Grill & Bar, the event was an intimate affair with a handful of media present. A dram of The Glenrothes Select Reserve was served on arrival (in those instantly recognisable mini Glencairns that The Glenrothes are so well known for) and soon after Ronnie took the floor to walk us through a tasting and explain a bit more of the history behind The Glenrothes, Berry Bros & Rudd, and the 1969 Extraordinary Cask release.

As mentioned on this blog before, The Glenrothes are one of the few distilleries (and indeed the pioneering distillery) to use vintages in place of age statements for a lot of their whiskies. In addition to the more readily available vintages like the 2001, 1998 and 1995 (which are single vintage but not single cask), The Glenrothes also very occasionally release a single cask bottling, only when a cask is found to be of such "extraordinary" quality that it is justified (only 21 times in total in the distillery's history). Interestingly, this 1969 single cask release (which joins 2013's 1970 single cask, and will be joined by a 1968 release in 2015) came from a parcel of casks which were originally purchased by a New York collector Abe Rosenberg, which then ended up in the hands of Independent Bottler Duncan Taylor, before being purchased back by the distillery.

(This I found particularly interesting, as we've previously tasted a 1969 The Glenrothes on this site before...from none other than Duncan Taylor! On hearing the connection, I was even more keen to try the official 1969 release.)

The spirit from cask #11485 (a refill hogshead) was distilled on July 10th 1969 and bottled in late 2013, making it 44 years old. Yielding just 133 bottles, the whisky has been bottled at a cask strength of 42.9% ABV. Interestingly, the hand-blown decanters (hand-made of crystal in Portugal, and winning the "World's Best Design in World Whisky Award 2013") can vary in size by up to 2cl, meaning some of the 133 bottles in fact contain slightly more than the standard 700mL.

Ronnie entertained the crowd with some more of his worldwide whisky experiences (including a comment on the state of the Russian whisky market, which is such that if they wanted to sell all 133 bottles there, they could probably do it in a single day!) then took us through a tasting of three releases:

• The Glenrothes Vintage 2001
• The Glenrothes Vintage 1995
• The Glenrothes Extraordinary Cask (Single Cask) 1969

The Glenrothes Vintage 2001 (43% ABV, 2001 Vintage, 11yo, Speyside, Scotland, $428HKD)
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Colour: Light gold
Nose: Nutty, some coconut and milk chocolate, with trademark ex-bourbon cask vanilla notes.
Palate: Berries, vanilla cream, some cinnamon and a lot of caramel fudge.
Finish: Medium length, with milk chocolate and caramel fudge shining through the most.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 90/100. A very enjoyable, easy sipping whisky, though the nose and palate shine above the finish.


The Glenrothes Vintage 1995 (43% ABV, 1995 Vintage, 16yo, Speyside, Scotland, $788HKD)
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Colour: Bright, deep gold.
Nose: "Fruit and oak" - red berries, cherries, mixed in with a hint of oak. A slight hint of coconut too.
Palate: Lots of spice! Cinnamon, nutmeg. Not as sweet as the 2001. Some grapefruit, and a hint of butterscotch.
Finish: Medium to long. Oaky, and very spicy. Always smooth though, from beginning to end.
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 91/100.

The Glenrothes 1969 Extraordinary Cask (42.9% ABV, 1969 Vintage, 44yo, Speyside, Scotland, $49,900HKD)
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To set the scene for this tasting, and to re-iterate the incredible age this whisky is carrying, Ronnie stood up and mentioned The Moonlanding, The first Concord flight, Led Zeppelin's first album and the end of The Beatles. All events that took place in the same year this whisky was distilled. Incredible.
Colour: Slightly difficult to get a good gauge as we were given a fairly small dram (understandably!) but light orange - somewhat lighter than expected, even if it was from a refill Bourbon cask (it did spend 44 years in there don't forget)
Nose: Big coconut notes, vanilla, and lots of tropical fruits. Jelly babies, pineapple. I also got the slightest hint of smoke, but not peat.
Palate: Rich and mouthfilling. Plenty of pineapple from the nose, but coconut and vanilla too. It's not every day a dram transports you to a tropical island, but that's what this whisky did for me.
Finish: Long and lingering (in stark contrast to the other 1969 The Glenrothes we've tried). Spice, vanilla cream, and SPC tropical fruit tubs (ah, those take me back!)
Rating (on my very non-scientific scale): 92/100. Delicious, liquid history.


With the tasting over, it was time for a few of Flint Grill & Bar delicious canapés before heading home for the weekend, with the knowledge that we probably won't try a whisky that rare, unique or old for a long, long time.

Cheers,
Martin.

The full Press Release can be found below.

Press Release - The Glenrothes Extraordinary Cask Collection Vintage 1969 

(7 November 2014) The Glenrothes, the award-winning Speyside Single Malt Whisky will hold an exclusive press reception at Flint, JW Marriot on 7 Nov 2014.  The session, hosted by Mr Ronnie Cox, Brands Heritage Director of Berry Brothers and Rudd Spirits, presents two distinctive expressions of The Glenrothes Vintage Whiskies, including 2001 and 1995, in addition to a sleek preview of The Extraordinary Cask Collection 1969 to members of the press.  An exceptionally rare and unique breed of its own, The Glenrothes Vintage 1969 is a limited release kept to only 133 bottles on a global scale.Clinching the title World’s Best Design in World Whisky Awards 2013, The Extraordinary Cask 1969 is the definitive single malt whisky being impeccable for its wood policy, quality, and bottle design. 

The distillery lies on a tributary of the river Spey in the Highlands of Scotland.  Speyside is universally acknowledged as the heartland of single malt whisky distillation.  The rigorous process of its making and assessment in the single malt makes every drop of The Glenrothes of incredible depth, balance and flavour. 

The shape of the instantly recognisable Glenrothes bottle has been enhanced further in its Extraordinary Cask Collection Vintage 1969 by using hand-blown lead crystal, for the single cask decanter but in a manner that is in keeping with the elegance of the whisky and the heritage of the Glenrothes.  The essential shape has been retained but is now multi-faceted – heavy crystal at the base elevates the bottle and frames the whisky within. 

Each decanter has been individually created by a master craftsman at Atlantis Crystal in Alcobaca, Portugal, using the purest form of crystal, distinguished by its great resonance, transparency, luminosity and weight.  The team at creative agency Brandhouse, designed the decanter to retain the look of the iconic Glenrothes bottle shape while taking inspiration from the world of perfume to add an extra air of decadence. 

A plaque made of polished brass is applied to just the front facet: engraved with the year of distillation and the bottle number to ensure the uniqueness and authenticity of each individual decanter.  Brass has also been used for the hand-engraved collar on the neck of the decanter, supplied by Charles Stott, the renowned Edinburgh-based Scottish Silversmiths. 

The tasting notes label that comes foremost to every whisky enthusiast and aficionados – in this instance of The Extraordinary Cask 1969 has been positioned around the neck of the decanter to leave the body perfectly unadulterated. The label is hand-signed by the Malt Master, Gordon Motion, and numbered and dated thus ensuring each bottle is identifiable and unique.

The outer case is made of fine, hand-crafted leather, reminiscent of luxury travel luggage. Each bottle comes with its own oak plinth, made from solid Scottish oak, for display purposes and a book co-written by seven leading whisky writers each contributing a chapter about The Glenrothes, its history and the whisky.  As with the making of single malt Scotch whisky, the materials used in the packaging of The Glenrothes Single Cask are kept to a minimum – only crystal glass, brass, leather and oak have been used. 

About The Glenrothes Single Cask 1969 

The hallmarks of The Glenrothes are quality and purity, evident in the beautifully-balanced, elegant and well-mannered single malt with peerless texture, perfectly expressed by this single cask bottling.  The spirit was distilled on July 10th 1969. Cask #11485, a refill hogshead, yielded just 133 bottles at a natural strength of 42.9% alcohol by volume. 

[Official] Tasting notes:

Appearance: Clear and bright with rich golden hues. 

Bouquet: Grassy with herbal tea and verbena.  Yoghurt and mint giving way to ginger honey cake. 

Palate: Very expressive and intensely fluid; beautifully balanced liquorice and barley sugar with the texture of raw silk.  

Finish: Mouth−watering lemon, lime and coriander. Indonesian pepper and yuzu; Citrus notes are emphasised by the judicious addition of water. 

For more information, please visit www.theglenrothes.com

The Whisky Show Sydney 2014 Review (#101drams)

We love our whisky fairs here at TimeforWhisky.com. What better way to meet the people behind the whisk(e)y, chat about whisk(e)y with like-minded individuals and try some rare, interesting, unique and (sometimes) downright weird drams, all with a cost of admission less than a single one of those drams might cost you at a bar?

Sydney has three main whisky shows/fairs each year, and they all serve very different purposes. There's our pick of the bunch, The Oak Barrel's Whisky Fair, where you're guaranteed to try some stunning, rare, often one-off drams and meet some real enhusiasts and industry legends (this year for example, they had their own cask of Glenfarclas selected by George Grant himself).

There's Whisky Live Sydney, which is more of a "beginners'" show and may be good if you're just getting into whisky, or you want to try a large part of Dan Murphy's range.

..and then there's this one, The Whisky Show, run by Double Bay's World of Whisky, held in May this year, and the only 2014 fare we attended (as our July move into Asia saw us miss the 2014 Whisky Fair).

Held for the first time at Mascot (a fair way out of Sydney city compared to previous years' events, though easily accessible on the train from the CBD), the event saw a number of familiar faces presenting the latest offerings from their respective distilleries and distributors.

The show was a decent size, though the hall did start to fill up and towards the end some booths were a little difficult to access. Steph and I left before the end though, as the shortage of food meant we headed off in search of sustenance (having spoken to the organisers subsequently, we understand they have plans to address this next year - hear hear we say!)

There were many interesting drams on-show, mostly available for retail purchase at the show's shop (handy that). Highlights for us,  or rather drams of interest (for various reasons) were:

• Scallywag Speyside Blended Malt - we'd heard a lot about this blend, and given the enjoyable and well-priced Big Peat also from Douglais Laing & Co, we were happy to start with this as our first dram of the night. Sadly, for me at least, it was a let-down. Too much young spirit and not enough character. Great label and name though.
• Stagg Jr - I'd been wanting to try this for a while, and it was enjoyable, but for only $30AUD less than the excellent George T Stagg, I know where I'd be putting my money.
• Tobermory 15, a #101drams dram! I found this to have a citrusy, slightly musty nose, with a drying, tannic, earthy palate and a slightly peaty finish. A decent dram.
• Sinatra Select - an incredibly smooth, and stunning looking (though pricey) Jack Daniels. A dram worthy of 'ol Blue Eyes for sure.
• Bruichladdich "The Laddie" Classic - another #101drams dram. Grain-driven, but smooth and with a sweet nose. Sweet vanilla palate with hints of dark chocolate. A medium length finish with wafts of smoke, though certainly not what you'd call an overly peaty whisky.
• Glen Grant Five Decades - an interesting concept and one which I'd been wanting to try for a while. Created to pay tribute to Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm, this contains Glen Grant from 5 different decades. Enjoyable, as long as you're not expecting to taste a 50 year old whisky.

 

• Octomore 6.1 Scottish Barley - you may not like peaty whiskies, but you have to appreciate what Bruichladdich have done with each of their Bruichladdich releases. Far from just being "overbearing peat monsters", they've released some truly unique, distinct and collectible whiskies. The 6.1 Scottish Barley was no different. Peaty, sure, but so much more than that.
• Laphroag Select Cask - a lot has been said about this dram and I tend to agree with a lot of it. Not exactly my taste - too much young Laphroaig, and for the money, I'd rather drink the reliable, standard 10yo any day.
• Still on Laphroaig though, we were fortunate enough to try the very rare Laphroaig 25yo, at cask strength. With a sweet nose (with muted peat influence), a citrusy, ashen palate and a great mix between the stereotypical medicinal notes and chocolate sweetness on the finish, this was a fantastic dram. I gave it a 94, which probably doesn't tell you much, but it does give you an idea of some of the other drams in it's league, in my opinion.

• SMWS - nothing but brilliant drams throughout the whole lineup, as expected, including the 39yo 21.27 "An Enticement of Sweet Oak".
• Balvenie 15 - but wait, that was already one of my favourite drams. Why include it here as a "dram of note"? Well, Mr James Buntin (who readers of this blog would be familiar with, and who has recently taken up the coveted role of UK Balvenie Ambassador) was representing the William Grant & Sons single malts, and brought along two bottlings, both the older, Bourbon-aged 15yo, retail bottles. Yet the two were incredibly different! One was peppery and spicy and the other had these incredible honied notes. Both stellar whiskies, but it just goes to show you how much influence a single cask can have over the lifetime of a whisky.

 

There were far too many interesting and enjoyable whiskies to mention - including Berry Bros & Rudd with a large lineup of Glenrothes, Pernod Ricard with the usual fantastic assortment of Chivas and Glenlivet whiskies (and Strathisla, Scapa and Arberlour thrown in for good measure), Starward,Diageo with a few of the newer Talisker releases, the usual Aussie contingent (Lark, Overeem etc..) and plenty more.

Suffice to say, it was an enjoyable event and one we'd recommend for next year (where, we're assured, there'll be more food!)

Cheers,
Martin.

This Week in Whisk(e)y #5

It's been a few weeks since our last post. Sorry 'bout that - blame it on a trip to India (sadly with no quality Indian whisky like Paul John or Amrut in sight), then a few short trips around Australia. The posts should be back to their usual regularity from now on though, with a few exciting events this week and plenty of tasting notes to post up.

As you might know if you read this blog regularly, we get a fair few interesting press releases here at TimeforWhisky, and usually try to feature them with our own spin, experiences or comments. Sometimes though, they come thick and fast, and we just don't have time to do them all justice.

So we've decided to take a leaf out of some other excellent whisky blogs, and feature a "PR roundup" every now and then - basically a wrap-up of relevant press releases we've received in the previous week. So on with it then...

The Oak Barrel host Kilchoman founder, owner and master distiller

The Oak Barrel in Sydney's CBD run some pretty great tasting events (like this and this), and while we don't feature every one on this site, this particular masterclass caught our eye.

Kilchoman is famous for being the newest distillery to open on the Island of Islay (and the first to do so in 124 years), opening in 2005. Whilst that does mean their oldest whiskies are still relatively young, the distillery has won a number of awards already (and I'm not just talking about receiving high scores from Jim Murray...)

Dave and the team from The Oak Barrel are bringing Kilchoman's founder, owner and master distillery Anthony Wills to Sydney for a one-off class on Wednesday 12th March. As well as tasting a line-up of five Kilchomans, we're pretty excited to hear all about what goes into opening a brand new distillery, particularly in a region which hadn't seen one in over a century.


Link: http://www.oakbarrel.com.au/kilchoman-masterclass-with-anthony-wills/
Details: 6:30pm, Wed 12th March @ The Oak Barrel, 152 Elizabeth St Sydney. $40 / $50.

SMWS Australia releases new website
Two weeks ago, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Australia unveiled their new website which (as well as offering an expanded range of society malts, all the usual society gear, and a 30th Anniversary edition of Unfiltered Online) just looks fantastic.

Whilst a new website wouldn't usually be something to get pulses racing, the SMWS do a huge amount for Scotch whisky in Australia, and their website is a great communication tool for members and non-members alike (in fact, the next round of tasting events go on sale today - get in quick, we will be!)

Members and non-members alike are recommended to take a peek: http://www.smws.com.au/

Glenrothes 1970 Single Cask - Australian release
Single cask whiskies are nothing new, or even rare, with some independent bottlers bottling nothing but, and with an increasing number of distilleries releasing original bottlings of single-cask whiskies (some, like the excellent Balvenie 15yo even form part of the distillery's regular lineup).

What you don't see often though, are original bottling single cask whiskies of significant age, like the 41yo Glenrothes 1970 "Extraordinary Cask", which is now available (1 bottle only) in Australia, through Perth's Liquor Barons

To quote the press release:

"Berry Bros. & Rudd is proud to unveil a limited collection of single cask bottlings 

from the lates [sic] 1960s and early 1970s. The Single Cask is something that we at 

The Glenrothes bottle rarely- indeed, since 1994, an average of less than one a 

year. The reason is that, generally, two or more good casks deliver greater 

complexity than one single cask but, just occasionally, casks are found with such 

personality and such excellence that they can stand alone as examples of 

supremacy of the bloodline. 

However, recently a small cache of casks of unimpeachable provenance came to 

the attention of Ronnie Cox. After a lengthy process of assessment, a small 

number of these casks was selected as being worthy of being bottled as The 

Glenrothes. The first of these casks to be bottled is the Single Cask 1970 #10573. 

The hallmarks of The Glenrothes are quality and purity, evident in the 

beautifully-balanced, elegant and well-mannered single malt with peerless 

texture, perfectly expressed by this single cask bottling. The spirit was distilled on 

July 6th 1970. Cask #10573, an ex-bourbon hogshead, yielded just 179 bottles at a 

natural strength of 40.6% alcohol by volume. It was transferred to glass on April 

2nd 2012. "

40.6% ABV implies the whisky was probably nearing the end of its potential life in the cask, but sadly with no tasting notes in the press release we can't tell you how it tastes. At $10,000AUD+ for the only bottle in the country, we're unlikely to taste it ourselves either, so you'll have to use your imagination...

That's all for this week...until next time...

Cheers,

 - Martin.