This week in whisk(e)y #17

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...


Ardbeg Day 2015 announced

If you only read one of these news bits, read this one. Ardbeg Day 2015 has been announced, to be held on 30th May 2015. Mark the date in your calendar, and if you lve in Sydney (and probably Melbourne), then you'll most definitely want to keep the date completely free.

Why? Because Ardbeg Day is usually one of, if not the best whisky event of the year in Australia (no word yet on if there'll be a Hong Kong one in 2015, but we hope so).

2013 was fantastic. 2014 possibly even better. Do you want to be the person who misses out on 2015?

(Trust me, you don't.)

Details will be posted here when available:
http://www.ardbeg.com/ardbeg/ardbeg-day-2015



New World Whisky Distillery Tours and Tastings
You may know New World Whisky Distillery from their Starward Australian single malt whisky, their brilliant single cask and one-off bottlings, or from our private tour back in Dec 2013. Either way, they're an incredibly exciting young (though now well-established) distillery doing some incredibly exciting things (ginger beer cask-finished whisky anyone), who don't seem to be slowing down the pace any time soon.

Since our tour, they've added a bar, and a series of formal tours/tastings, which can be found on their events page. While they've just run a whole bunch of tours throughout early Feb, they have an open day coming up on 28th February which is sure to be a cracker.

Do yourself a favour if you haven't, and get into this exciting distillery (literally, if you're in Melbourne and are free this coming Saturday).



The Glenrothes to release Vintage 1968 Exceptional Cask in Australia
It wasn't that long ago that we attended the Hong Kong launch of the 1969 Exceptional Cask, and now the 1968 vintage has been announced in Australia (previously only being available at Singapore duty free).

For those who like the geekier details:

"The Glenrothes Extraordinary Single Cask 1968 has been bottled from the contents of Cask #13507 – a second-fill hogshead cask, filled on 19th November 1968. It has yielded just 145 bottles at a natural strength of 41.9% ABV. 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. This expression is unchill filtered and, like all Glenrothes’ bottlings, of completely natural colour."

The Glenrothes Extraordinary Single Cask 1968 #13507 will be available in Australia from March 2015. Prices will start at "$10,000AUD and upwards" per bottle.



Highland Park "Odin" has arrived
Back in November we attended the Hong Kong launch of the Highland Park "Freya", and the next in the series has now been announced - none other than "Odin", joining "Freya", "Thor" and "Loki" to complete the Valhalla collection.

Odin weighs in at 55.8% ABV and, judging from the comments online, has been very well received.

No word on a HK release just yet, but we'll be sure to look into it and update this post with any details.



anCnoc 1975 Vintage released
Another new anCnoc release - this time a very well-aged 1975 release, bottled in 2014 (making it 38 or 39 years old in my books, depending on distillation/bottling dates).

To quote the press release:

"On February 1st 2015 anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky will unveil its latest creation – anCnoc 1975 Vintage. Bottled late in 2014 this is the oldest expression ever released from Knockdhu Distillery and promises to be the ultimate treat for anCnoc fans and the most discerning whisky drinkers around the world.

The whisky comes from only three American oak and Spanish oak ex-sherry casks laid down in 1975. The release consists of 1590 bottles. The whisky comes in its most natural form, it has not been chill-filtered or coloured and is presented at the cask strength of 44.2% ABV.

The recommended retail price is £300. anCnoc 1975 Vintage will be available in several key markets around the world including the UK, USA, Russia and Canada.

In-keeping with anCnoc's ethos of 'Modern Tradition', the 1975 Vintage is presented in a simple, striking bottle and encased in an elegant black tube.

anCnoc Assistant Brand Manager Stephanie Bridge sheds light on where the new Vintage fits within anCnoc's recent string of acclaimed releases.

“The last 12 months have been a very ambitious and a very successful time for anCnoc. We unveiled the limited Peaty Collection to a global audience and launched two travel retail expressions as well as our popular 18 Year Old. The 1975 has been anticipated for a number of years, it’s distinctively anCnoc, a fantastic whisky and a superb addition to any whisky collection.""

Visit the world with LABEL 5 fans
In another example of whisky companies seeking to engage their audience in new and exciting ways (e.g. The Glenlivet's The Guardian's Chapter and Maker's Mark's ongoing excellent Ambassador program) LABEL 5 (which we tried back in November) recently asked their fans to film a 5 second video of their city, for inclusion in a "round the world" compilation produced by LABEL 5.

The compilation has now been completed, and can be found at: http://youtu.be/TNXhGn9QXZg


Cheers, 
- Martin.

This week in whisk(e)y #14

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...


Glengoyne's award winning year and Australian launch of 35 year old

Earlier this year we attended the fantastic launch of the Glengoyne 25yo, and now the distillery has taken it one step further with the release of the extremely limited 35 year old, now available in Australia.

Limited to 500 decanters (of which 6 will be available in Australia), the whisky comes in hand-blown and engraved decanter with a gold and crystal stopper, housed in a solid oak box with a red leather interior (much of which seems to be a pre-requisite for any 30+ year old whisky these days.) No doubt, it's a fantastic looking package.

Bottled at 46.8% ABV, the official tasting notes for the whisky are as follows:

NOSE: A rich full nose with fantastic depth. The classic Glengoyne apple character is at its heart, with complementary notes of papaya, mango and coconut giving a beautiful scent that can only come with decades in oak. Aged leather, Victoria sponge, dried citrus peel, honeycomb and saffron all add to the complexity of this incising nose. 

PALATE: A great oily texture that instantly coats the mouth with a burst of fruit. A whisky to hold on the palate for a long time as it keeps developing, with dried fruit, floral notes and gentle spice becoming almost creamy after time.

FINISH: The tropical fruit intensity returns and lingers at the back of the throat while the whisky becomes slowlydrier, with liquorice, brown sugar and dark chocolate beautifully balanced. A whisky not to be rushed!

Glengoyne 35 Year old is available from Dan Murphys for $5,000AUD.

Also on the topic of Glengoyne, the distillery has had a pretty fantastic 2014, capping off the year with two new awards at the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge:

"The family owned distillery has won more top awards this year than ever before with the latest, a double win at the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge, to add to the trophy cabinet. 

Glengoyne 25 Year Old was awarded the Top Distillery Bottling and a silver medal in the Over £80 category. 

The Scottish Field Whisky Challenge is now in its fourteenth year and is a key event in the Scotch whisky trade calendar. The winners are chosen through blind tasting by respected industry judges meaning the whisky is chosen solely on its own merit. 

Commenting on the awards, Neil Boyd, Commercial Director of Malts for Ian Macleod Distillers who own Glengoyne said: “2014 has truly been an award-winning year for us at Glengoyne and with another set of awards to add to our already record number for this year, this really is a fantastic accolade for us. We are looking forward to next year and the successes we hope it will bring.” 

Glengoyne is owned by one of Scotland’s leading, independent, family-owned distillers, Ian Macleod Distillers. Glengoyne is handcrafted from the finest sherry casks within Glengoyne’s traditional dunnage warehouses. Unlike most other single malt whiskies, Glengoyne dries its malted barley using only warm air resulting in a subtle yet complex malt where all the delicate flavours are freely expressed."

anCnoc launches 18 year old
We've featured anCnoc a few times on this blog, and this time around it's the 18 year old - a new addition to the core lineup.

anCnoc's Assistant Brand Manager Stephanie Bridge explains:

“2014 has been anCnoc’s most ambitious year to date. We unveiled our new Peaty Collection in April, two new expressions for Global Travel Retail and our hugely popular 2000 Vintage. We are confident that our new anCnoc 18 Year Old will be extremely popular amongst single malt aficionados with its unique taste profile and striking packaging.”

Per the press release:

"anCnoc 18 Year Old was matured in top quality hand-selected American oak ex-bourbon and European oak ex-sherry casks. The combination of the two types of wood gives this mature expression of anCnoc an outstanding depth, complexity and balance of flavour. It's a single malt for the most discerning drinker. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered and presented at its natural colour. Initially 6,000 bottles will be available in key markets worldwide. The recommended retail price is £70." 

No word yet on AU or HK availability, but I wouldn't be surprised if we saw this released in Australia in 2015, based on previous anCnoc releases.


Old Dunbar distillery launches Kickstarter campaign

A few weeks ago we brought word of SIA Scotch's successful Kickstarter campaign (tasting notes due shortly), and now a Kentucky-based Bourbon distillery startup is hoping for similar success on Kickstarter, with the launch of Old Dunbar.

At the time of writing, the campaign has 23 days remaining and a way to go to reach its $100,000US target. There are a number of different rewards for backing (from as little as $10USD) though we note that many of them don't include a bottle of the whisky (a $250USD pledge does allow a "fill your own bottle" experience though, and several include distillery tours).

As with many new distilleries, the Kickstarter site mentions plans to produce gin and vodka, which makes a lot of sense to provide some cashflow as the whiskey matures.

"HENDERSON, KY USA – Jason Girard, the former executive chef at Buddy Guy’s Legends, is preparing to launch Old Dunbar Distillery in his grandmother’s birthplace of Henderson, Kentucky. Girard’s greatgrandfather, Colonel Felix E. Dunbar, lived his entire life in Henderson County. The Colonel was the county’s rural mail carrier (on horseback, wagon and eventually automobile) for more than 50 years and family legend has it that he delivered more than just the mail, during Prohibition... 

The startup distillery will launch a Kickstarter campaign on Tuesday, November 18 @ 7pm CST. The funds from the Kickstarter campaign will be used to purchase a handmade copper still and help pay for other costs (legal fees, licenses, etc.) involved in opening a craft distillery. The opening of Old Dunbar’s Downtown Henderson (distillery & tasting room) facility, is planned for September 2015. 

“We realize that it takes a long time to produce and age a true Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey,” Girard says. “We understand that the process is a labor of love. It takes several years of barrel aging to do it right. Our first priority is to make a memorable whiskey that is true to its heritage and worthy of the ‘top shelf.’”  

But it will take more than a family recipe and a few dollars to make Girard’s dream come true. “I want to create a legacy. Something my children, and their children, can participate in. A brand that will outlive me and a name, Old Dunbar, that will forever be synonymous with premium handcrafted Kentucky bourbon.” 

As an award winning chef, Girard understands the importance of using the best ingredients and plans to buy local, sustainably grown grain. And the chef-turned-distiller’spride in his Kentucky heritage is evident. 

“I used to visit Henderson, with my grandparents, as a child,” says Girard. “The family reunions, barbecues and burgoo (a community stew served at church picnics in western Kentucky) festivals are some of my favorite childhood memories. I love Henderson and I couldn’t imagine doing this anywhere else on earth. “The local economy has taken many hits, in recent years, while the craft spirits industry is booming. I believe that a destination distillery, in the heart of Downtown, could help get things turned back around.” 

Plans are in the works to purchase and renovate a 19th Century landmark, for the distillery and tasting room. Taking a page from the boutique Napa Valley wineries that Girard represented for several years, he’s also planning a second historic renovation that will house a Bed & Breakfast (for the brand’s loyal followers), along with the distiller’s residence, at the westernmost point on the famed Kentucky Bourbon Trail."

Note: As always, we can't and don't personally vouch for these projects, however this one seems to be run by a team with a lot of passion for Kentucky and Kentucky Bourbon, and we wish them the best of luck.


Suntory's recent award wins
It's been a big year for Suntory. After officially launching in Australia earlier this year, the distillery has gone on to win a host of awards, including being named the “Distiller of the Year” by the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) in July for the third year in a row and fourth time overall since 2010. Also presented in the ISC 2014 were nine gold awards for individual whiskies including Hibiki 21 Years Old, Hakushu Sherry Cask 2014 and Yamazaki 18 Years Old. We're also tipping them to be at the fore of what we predict will be a huge boom in Highball popularity in Australia this summer.

..and yes, there was that chap with long grey hair who said he liked the Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 quite a lot, but as I've tried to point out previously on this site, I don't place a lot of importance or value on the opinion's of one single person. That's why, when it comes to awards in the whisk(e)y world (of which there are many), I prefer those which see spirits tasted by a panel of judges, blind.

Regardless, there's no doubt that Suntory's whisky portfolio is a fantastic one, and they produce some cracking whiskies that easily rival Scotland's best. Steph and I are visiting both Yamazaki and Hakushu for distillery tours in December, and can't wait.

"Commenting on the accolades, Yosuke Minato, GM of Trade Marketing & Corporate Planning at Suntory Australia, said: “Suntory Whisky is the most highly awarded house of Japanese whisky which is testament to the superb products produced by the Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries. Suntory Whisky can be described as having a delicate and elegant flavour profile, and is synonymous with quality and sophistication. 

“Japanese whisky has also been very well-received in Australia and we’re experiencing significant ongoing demand from consumers looking for a refined, subtle yet complex whisky. Delicious when consumed neat or as a highball (with soda water), Suntory Whisky is also a fantastic accompaniment to food and pairs nicely with a broad range of cuisines in addition to Japanese,” added Yosuke."

The Suntory Whisky range currently available in Australian includes:

Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve                       RRP AU$80

Yamazaki 12 year old                                  RRP AU$110

Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve                         RRP AU$80

Hakushu 12 year old                                    RRP AU$110

Hibiki 12 year old                                        RRP AU$110

Hibiki 17 year old                                        RRP AU$150

Our tasting notes and thoughts on these whiskies can be found here.

Until next time...

Cheers, 
- Martin.

This Week in Whisk(e)y #13

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...

The NZ Whisky Company release 25yo Whisky
The NZ Whisky Company, whom we visited back in January 2013, have just made NZ the first nation outside Japan and Europe to release a 25yo single malt whisky.

"Oamaru, New Zealand– Oct 7, 2014 – New Zealand has become the first nation outside Japan and Europe to mature and release a 25 year old Single Malt whisky. Following extensive barrel selection, the company has released a limited quantity of just 484 bottles onto the market. 

'We are so grateful for the international support of the world’s whisky community over the last four years, which has given us the confidence to launch our 25 year old,' says company CEO Greg Ramsay. 'We are already humbled by the pre-orders and glowing feedback of those who have taken their first sips.

The 25 year old, made from 100 per cent malted New Zealand barley distilled in the lost Dunedin distillery, has been aging in American Oak, ex-bourbon barrels from Four Roses Distillery  for a quarter of a century. The rich flavours have softened and sweetened into a complex array of tropical fruits, butterscotch, toasted orange peel and a hit of sea spray.

The 25 year old is a salute to the craftsmanship of those early distillers, including Cyril Yates who played a hand in this newly released drop. 'It’s got to be made properly all the way through from the farmer growing barley to the cooper sealing up the staves, and then it does the magical maturation in the barrel before coming out as liquid gold,' explains Yates who dedicated 40 years of his life to the New Zealand whisky industry. 

Following an international design competition, the packaging for the 25 year old emerged. Greg Walko and Petra Kosik, hailing from a small Hungarian design studio took honours, trumping a strong international field. With its contemporary styling, the packaging brings a quarter-of-a-century-old drop into the modern day. 

As well as regaining the foothold once held across New Zealand by Wilsons, the whisky is now exported from Oamaru and available across Canada, the UK, Australia and Europe. The 25 year old is now available for pre-order at www.thenzwhisky.com"

anCnoc 2000 vintage arrives
We've featured anCnoc on the blog previously, and now the Knockdhu Distillery has just released another new offering in the form of the 2000 vintage (no age statement provided though presumably 13-14 years). No word on AU or HK pricing yet.

"anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is proud to announce the release of Vintage 2000, another remarkable single malt in the line of exclusive vintage releases from Knockdhu Distillery, celebrating the art of whisky-making with a modern twist. It has become a tradition at anCnoc to annually offer vintage releases from consecutive years to the most dedicated whisky fans around the world. 

Only 1,000 cases of anCnoc Vintage 2000 will be made available in select markets from September 2014. The whisky was selected and bottled with the most discerning whisky drinker in mind and will offer a wonderful insight into the distillery style and the impact of on-site maturation in a combination of Spanish oak ex-sherry butts and American oak ex-bourbon barrels. 

anCnoc Vintage 2000 has been bottled non chill-filtered, at its natural colour and at the premium strength of 46% ABV. 

Hot copper in colour, the whisky is dark and masculine on the nose. A surge of ground Oriental spices, burned vanilla and unrefined cocoa beans gradually relaxes its grip and subtle aromas of lemon grass, orange peel and fragrant cut flowers come to life, unmistakably highlighting the provenance of this remarkable Vintage. On the palate it is smooth but firm-structured, envelops the mouth in creamy vanilla, spicy sherry notes, pralines and silky tannins. Lively citrus follows shortly after leading to a long, balanced finish, finally revealing a whiff of wood smoke. 

anCnoc Assistant Brand Manager Stephanie Bridge commented:
'The unique taste profile of the Vintage 2000 is set to be a hit with malt enthusiasts everywhere. Releasing the next Vintage in the anCnoc collection marks the end of a very exciting spring and summer for the brand. I’m confident that the exclusive expression will be a welcome addition to anyone’s malt collection.' 

anCnoc Vintage 2000 will be available in the UK, Sweden, Japan and Russia, to name but a few markets, at a recommended retail price of £55."

Eau de Vie launch "Malt Masters Club"
In a similar vein to The Wild Rover's CCWC, TimeforWhisky.com favourite Eau de Vie (one of the first Australian bars to feature a serious whisky backbar before it became "a thing") are will soon be launching their own whisky club.

"Eau De Vie will soon be launching a Whisky Club, memberships cost $75 and this gets you access to a whole range of exclusive offers. Upon registering for our Malt Masters Club you will receive an Eau De Vie whisky journal of 40 select Whiskies as a true representation of malt, you will then be entitled to 20% off this selection at Eau de Vie Sydney and Melbourne.  

Eau de Vie Malt Masters is a whisky club aimed at raising the awareness of the malt whisky category and with the goal of encouraging our guests to explore the wonderful world of malt whisky. Once you have made your way through all 40, you will officially be made an honouree Malt Master and have access to our reserve cabinets at a heavily discounted price. Send your contact details to Jamie-lee@speakeasygroup.com.au to be the first to know more."

Eau de Vie offer unique The Glenlivet experience in-bar
Eau de Vie again...this time, offering a unique in-bar experience with a cask of The Glenlivet. Word is the cask is not "live" (apparently, it's lined and the whisky therefore doesn't continue to age in the cask), but still, an interesting concept nonetheless, especially with the whisky not being sold by the glass or bottle, but by 350/700mL portions recorded in a "whisky ledger".

Having previously had our own bottle of whisky at Eau de Vie, Steph and I can personally vouch for this sort of thing being a fun experience.

"Eau de Vie has partnered with Glenlivet to create a truly unique experience, we have joined forces to provided two bespoke whisky barrels exclusively available at Eau de Vie. 

The Glenlivet 16 year old is a cask strength whisky, which can be sampled and experienced only in Eau de Vie. Just as if you were visiting a distillery itself, the casked whisky will be sold in 350ml or 700ml portions and written up by hand in our custom made whisky ledger. 

The whisky ledger will be used as the sole record for the experience, where after the initial purchase, the participant will arrive and withdraw the amount he or she will be consuming and logged thereafter as a running tally. The whisky will be drawn from the barrel through a whisky thief, more commonly a "valinch", embodying and authenticity, then disbursed into crystal decanters for their table with all the trimmings, crystal or Glencairn, ice and water. 

For pre-purchase contact Greg in Melbourne at greg@eaudevie.com.au or Julian in Sydney at Julian@speakeasygroup.com.au"

Glenfiddich Culinary Degustation - tickets available now
We've attended Glenfiddich dinners in the past and they've always been a fantastic experience - great food, great whiskies and innovative matching. Now it's everyone's turn to get in on the action, with an upcoming dinner at the lovely Centennial Parklands, Sydney.

"This unique six course degustation will be carefully matched to the Glenfiddich range. Each dish will be created from this years Glenfiddich Pioneers Chef finalists who are represented from restaurants around Australia.   

Music, wine and cocktails will also be in plentiful supply, while the final Pionneer Chef winner is decided based on the scoring of all diners on the night. 

Location: Centennial Parklands, Sydney
Date: December 1, 2014
Time: From 7pm 

For more information on the event and to book your ticket please use the link below.
Tickets are $100 + booking fee. All proceeds go to www.soldieron.org.au"

LABEL 5 release LABEL 5 Gold Heritage
LABEL 5 is a blend that we haven't featured (or tried) on this site before, but have certainly heard about (and seen all over the shelves at certain bottlos). Regardless, it's sold in more than 100 countries, ranks "10th on the worldwide Scotch whisky market" (in terms of sales presumably) and is blended by Graham Coull, (who we met just over a year ago at the Glen Moray tasting in Sydney), so we figure it's worth a look in. Personal tasting notes to follow.

"Bathgate, Scotland, 22 October, 2014 - LABEL 5 expands its range with a new expression: LABEL 5 Gold Heritage. This new offer will be unveiled at TFWA Cannes next October. LABEL 5 Gold Heritage has been created to delight Scotch whisky lovers who are looking to explore LABEL 5’s character in more depth. 

Graham Coull, LABEL 5 Master Blender, crafted a unique and rich whisky. LABEL 5 Gold Heritage is a rich blend of exceptional whiskies that includes malts aged of more than 20 years. Created with passion and care, LABEL 5 Gold Heritage presents a unique profile which lies between the smoky and peated flavours of the old malts whiskies and the creamy vanilla notes of the grain whiskies. The smooth character which is the trademark of LABEL 5 whiskies has been accentuated with subtle woody hints and spicy notes. 

'LABEL 5 Gold Heritage is a personal achievement for me. Building on the traditions of LABEL 5, I have hand-selected whiskies from different ages and casks which marry together to produce a wonderfully balanced blend. The result is an exceptionally smooth whisky loaded with fruit, spice, warm vanilla oak and subtle smoke, which offers a unique taste experience.' said Graham Coull."

LABEL 5 Gold Heritage is being released in the US initially, followed by China and Australia (RRP TBC). The whisky was recently awarded with a double gold medal at the China World Spirit Awards.

Cheers, 
- Martin.

This week in whisk(e)y #12

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 other interesting whisk(e)y news Steph & I think you might enjoy). So on with it then...


Cutter joins the anCnoc Peaty Collection
Back in April we mentioned the new AnCnoc "Peaty Collection", and it seems the trio now have a fourth joining their ranks - "Cutter".

"On the 1st of September a new expression has been added to the acclaimed Peaty Collection. Cutter is the fourth in the series and the peatiest one so far. While Rutter, Flaughter and Tushkar had phenol contents ranging from 11 to 15 parts per million (ppm), their new sibling boasts a very high phenol content of 20.5 ppm, putting it in line with some of the most intensely smoky whiskies on the market. It is worth noting that the level of peating is measured on the finished whisky rather than the malt or the new make spirit, giving a more reliable description of the actual perceived level of peatiness. What's more, the phenol content is highlighted on the packaging to help whisky lovers make more informed decisions. 

Cutter is matured in ex-bourbon casks made from American oak. It is bottled at 46% ABV and non chill-filtered. Like all Peaty Collection expressions it is presented at its natural colour, a light shade reminiscent of lemon juice. The aroma is unmistakably peaty with oily smoke followed by a sharper, more medicinal note and a piercing ray of fruit and spice. On the palate it gains even more smoky intensity with ashy overtones, a slight apple-core bitterness and a spicy vanilla heart. This is a richly phenolic whisky for the seasoned peat-lovers or those looking to shine light on their dark side of flavour and experience the full force of a truly peaty dram. 

Cutter will be available from the 1st September in key international markets, such as the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany and France to name but a few."

Cutter will sell for an RRP of $85AUD in Australia. No word yet on its release in Hong Kong.

Celebrate Jack Daniel’s birthday with “The Bar that Jack Built”
If you've been around the whisk(e)y scene for a few years (heck, if you've ever stepped foot into a bar pub that sells Jack in September), you'll probably have heard of "Jacktember", the month-long celebration of Jack Daniel's birthday.

Jacktember this year involves an ambitious new project in “The Bar That Jack Built” – the world’s first crowd-sourced bar built entirely "from the love of Jack Daniel’s", by fans.

"The campaign is being run through social media and kicks off with a recruitment shout-out to all Jack Daniel’s Facebook friends in NSW where the bar will be installed. They are being asked to donate materials, time, expertise and ideas in reward for Jack Daniel’s product and merchandise.  The more they give, the more they get with the biggest contributors getting tickets to the big birthday bash on the 27th of September.   

From the carpenters, electricians and designers who put the bar together, to the artists and musicians who perform on the night, every person’s involvement will come from a love of Jack Daniel’s.  Especially since everyone that participates will be rewarded with Jack Daniel’s product. 

Nora-Kate O’Connell, Brand Manager, Jack Daniel’s added, “We are asking friends of Jack to participate in the creation of a very special moment in Jack Daniel’s illustrious history. We are looking for people who can help us bring the bar to life and celebrate the inspiration that Jack has given people across Australia over the years. Here’s to raising a Jack to Jack this September.”

Having attended many a Jack Daniel's party previously, as well as one of their previous pop-up bars, I can assure you this will be one hell of a party and bar. Find out more information from this video on the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=832815786753077  


Oak Barrel Michter’s Masterclass with Matt Magliocco
Funny timing this one. Since the move into Asia, we've been slowly re-building the basics we had at home, but sadly had to leave behind (thankfully in safe hands). Steph and I used up our measly 1L/person duty free allowance on a few Aussie whiskies, and so the basics like Rye, Bourbon, Gin etc... we needed to re-buy over here.

When looking at Ryes, I stumbled across Michter's, which I'd seen a lot of from reading various US mags, but never tried. As I couldn't find my beloved Bulleit 95, I took a punt and picked up a bottle of the single barrel rye. Tasty stuff.

Then just a week later, I hear that Michter's is officially launching in Australia, with a masterclass held at (where else?) Oak Barrel, led by Matt Magliocco from the distillery, walking guests through a lineup of:

• Michter’s American whisky
• Michter's Single Barrel rye
• Michter’s Small batch Bourbon
• Michter’s Sour Mash Whiskey
• Michter’s 10 Year Old Bourbon
• Michter’s 10 year Old Rye

...for $10? Get outta here.

I'd love to try the 10yo and Small Batch Bourbon, but alas I can't, so you should all go and enjoy a dram (or 6 in fact) for me...



Palazzo Versace to host Chivas Regal Dinner
We've attended our fair share of whisk(e)y dinners over the past few years, and without fail they've always been a whole lot of fun. Sometimes the whisky matches brilliantly, sometimes not so much, but they're always fun-filled events, full of great food, great whiskies and plenty of banter.

So we have no doubt that the upcoming Chivas Regal Tasting Dinner at Palazzo Versace on October 20th will be the same. Hosted by Ben Davidson, National Spirits Ambassador for Chivas Regal (who's a fun fixture at most Chivas events in Australia), the night involves a four course dinner matched to:

• Chivas 12yo
• Chivas 18yo
• Chivas 25yo
• Chivas Extra

...for $99.

$99 for a four course meal in Palazzo Versace's Vie Bar, with four whiskies (one of which you'd probably pay close to $50 for a nip in some bars), hosted by one of Pernod's most knowledgeable whisky folk.... sounds like a great night to us.

Details:
Date: Monday 20th October 2014
Price: $99 per person a four course dinner with Chivas Regal
Time: From 6.00pm
Venue: Vie Bar + Restaurant, Palazzo Versace - Sea World Drive, Main Beach, QLD Australia
http://www.palazzoversace.com.au/event-22

To book, complete the booking form, or emailrsvp@palazzoversace.com.au or call Nicole Blunt on (07) 5509 8000

http://www.oakbarrel.com.au/michters-launch-matt-magliocco/


Cheers, 

- Martin.

This Week in Whisk(e)y #7

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 other interesting whisk(e)y news Steph & I think you might enjoy). So on with it then...


Sullivans Cove wins "world's best whisky" at the WWA 2014
I'm sure everyone has heard about this now, but Tasmania Distillery's Sullivans Cove French Oak recently won the "world's best single malt whisky" at the 2014 World Whisky Awards (it certainly seems the eBay community has, with Sullivans Cove French Oak bottles going for $400+ at the moment, even those not from the winning cask HH525).

While the winning whisky was from a single French Oak cask (HH525), which produced only 516 bottles, it seems the world has gone mad, snapping up any and all French Oak Sullivans Cove whiskies available.

Sullivans Cove isn't my personal favourite Tassie whisky (that would go to Overeem on the OB front, and Heartwood on the IB front), but it has to be said - this is a huge achievement, and one which has really put Aussie whiskies on the world map. Credit where credit's due too - Tasmania Distillery have put in a huge effort over many years to spread the word about their whisky (it's still the most commonly-sighted Aussie whisky in my International travels), so it's great to see their hard work pay off. Well done.


Ardbeg announces "Auriverdes" and Ardbeg Day 2014
Ah, Ardbeg Day. The reason whisky fans the world over look forward to 31st May each year with great anticipation. While full details haven't yet been released about the celebrations, LVMH owned Ardbeg have announced the theme (Soccer World Cup), and a few details about the bottling, namely:

• Aged in casks with toasted lids
• 49.9% ABV
• Said to have "creamy vanilla sweetness" with a "dark mocha coffee side"
• £79.99 (so likely similar pricing in Australia as last year - $160 or so, while it's available)

The name comes from the Golden (Auri) whisky and the Green (verde) bottle, which also ties in nicely with the Soccer theme, given this year's World Cup is set in Brazil.

We can't wait to see what Ardbeg have in store for us on the 31st, although I imagine there may be a few soccer balls (and a sea of Ardbeg) involved!

anCnoc releases the "Peaty Collection"

Staying on the peat train, the Highland distillery of Knockdu has just announced a the release of a trio of (pretty stunning looking) bottles as part of their new "Peaty Collection".

Project Manager Stephanie Bridge commented on the prospect of the anCnoc
Peaty Collection being a window to the world of smoky whisky for drinkers who previously chose to drink unpeated malts:

“Rutter and our other new Limited Edition peated single malts will form an exciting collection to sit alongside our  core anCnoc expressions, offering drinkers a new and perhaps a first experience of peated whisky. These malts have all the exceptional qualities of anCnoc but with a depth and smokiness that will be appealing both to peat aficionados and to drinkers of lighter malts with an interest in finding a peated malt whisky that they understand and enjoy. We’re on a mission to bring our very modern take on the world of peated whisky to our drinkers all over the world and to entice customers to experience this new side of anCnoc.”

Far from being peat monsters, the whiskies are peated to between 11-15ppm, and were described as follows by whisky writer Charles Maclean:

“The difference between these three malts is subtle, but apparent. Their overall flavour – i.e. aroma and taste –is nicely balanced,  fresh and breezy; their smokiness subtle and understated, while their cheerful simplicity makes them very ‘more-ish’ and easy to drink.”

Further information on the range can be found here. No word yet on Australian availability or pricing.

New World Whisky Distillery launches inaugural single cask releases

Back in December, I was lucky enough to tour the New World Whisky Distillery (purveyors of Starward Whisky) and especially lucky to taste a few single cask samples. At the time, there was only one Starward release (this one), however after no doubt realising they were onto a good thing, the distillery invited representatives from four Australian whisky establishments (Whisky+Alement, Oak Barrel, Baranows Lounge and Nicks/Vintage Direct) to select a cask, to be bottled and sold only through those venues.

While those in Melbourne have been lucky to taste the whisky already, those of us in Sydney will have to wait a few more weeks. The bottlings (officially released on 7th May) will sell for $100 (RRP), a bargain for such a rare, cask-strength bottling, and will no doubt sell out quickly. 

Until next time...sláinte.

Cheers,

 - Martin.