ISSUE 13
• Islay
A whisky lovers haven
• How Do You Drink Yours?
What is the correct way to drink whisky?
• Whisky Cocktails
Haig Whisky cocktails prove a hit with the Beckhams
AUTUMN/WINTER 2015
NEWS
W
elcome to our Autumn and Winter Edition of A Wee DRAM. This issue we have an interview with the enterprising duo behind the Whisky Castle in Tomintoul, Sam and Scott Ashforth, who have changed their lives completely to run one of Speyside’s best known whisky shops. I also went off on my travels and visited Islay, which is famous for its whisky. Although I did spend more time in the Islands bars than in its distillery’s. See my travel blog on page 15.
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News
The latest from the world of whisky.
One of the most contested topics of conversation when it comes to whisky is the ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to drink it - see our feature on page 29. We also have lots of news on new expressions and some great whisky cocktails for you to try too. There are some Christmas gifting ideas. A Wee DRAM is for those new to whisky and for those who love it already. So if you would like to see us cover something in particular please let us know at dram@mail.com. Slainte Susan Young, Editor
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15 Ultimate Islay
Islay is famous for its whisky. Susan Young paid a visit to the Island to get her whisky fix.
18 Cask me a question
Scott Ashforth relocated to Tomintoul to start a new life at the Whisky Castle.
23 A bit of a mouthful
The second of a two part guide on how to pronounce those tricky whisky brands.
26 Gifts
Christmas gift ideas for the whisky lovers in your life.
29 Whisky - how do you drink yours?
What is the right way to drink whisky? Susan Young investigates.
31 Winter warmers
Four tasty whisky cocktails.
32 Tasting Notes 34 What’s On
Interview: Scott Ashforth with wife Sam Editor Susan Young Sales Executives Lucy McGovern & Robert McManus Production Gareth Neil Dogs Tootsie & Lucy A Wee DRAM is published by Media World Ltd. Upper Floor, Finnieston House, 1 The Stables Yard, 1103 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8ND Tel 0141 221 6965 Email dram@mail.com The publishers, authors and printers cannot accept liability for errors/omissions. Any artwork will be accepted at owner’s risk. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the copyright holder and publisher, application for which should be made to the publisher. Articles published in this magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publishers. © Media World Limited 2015 ISSN No 1470 - 2428
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NEWS
Haig cocktail for the Beckh
Malt mission
The results of Ardbeg’s pioneering space mission in which the Distillery became the first ever to send spirit into orbit, are now known. The results have far-reaching implications for the unorthodox single malt – and perhaps for the entire whisky industry, say the experts who examined the whisky before and after its journey. In three of the four stages of analysis, major differences were identified between the two sets of samples. Dr Bill Lumsden Ardbeg’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation said, “The space samples were noticeably different. When I nosed and tasted the space samples, it became clear that much more of Ardbeg’s smoky, phenolic character shone through – to reveal a different set of smoky flavours which I have not encountered here on earth before.” Edinburgh has a new whisky company in the shape of Edinburgh Whisky Ltd and to celebrate its launch owners Gordon Watt and Gregor Mathieson have released their first range of whiskies. Blended from Speyside malts, the first batch of New Town Blends, ‘The Advocates Batch’ will be limited to 6,000 bottles. The company has also launched its ‘Library Collection’ range of single casks taken from malts distilled at Highland Park in 2000, and Glenlivet in 2007. Edinburgh Whisky ranges are currently available at Whiski, Valvona & Crolla and The Vino Group. 4
COVER STORY
Fancy owning your own distillery? Loch Ewe Distillery & Drumchork Lodge Hotel are up for sale. The distillery which utilises historical methods of illicit distilling prevalent throughout Scotland prior to 1824 and into the 20th century, is located in Wester Ross. Although the present owner of Loch Ewe Distillery has kept the distillery unique by choosing to distill by hand, the licence does not limit the amount of whisky which can be produced. Also up for sale is Drumchork Lodge Hotel which currently supports Loch Ewe Distillery and has 10 en-suite rooms, tasting rooms, whisky bars shop and a two-bed apartment. The asking price £750K. That’s a lot of whiskies! A new brand film from Glenfiddich called ‘Case of Dreams’ will be aired in national independent cinemas this Autumn. This film tells the story of how Sandy Grant Gordon first took the 1963 Glenfiddich Straight Malt to the USA.
NEWS
ls hams
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ictoria Beckham celebrated the first anniversary of her Dover Street store and closing of London Fashion Week recently by entertaining guests at a private event at her flagship store, which was sponsored by Haig Club, the whisky brand backed by husband David. Said Victoria, “Celebrating the first anniversary of my Dover Street store and the Victoria by Victoria Beckham Spring Summer 2016 collection here at London fashion week was really special for me. Having Haig Club involved was a natural collaboration given mine and David’s’ relationship with them.”
The Victoria cocktail 50ml Haig Club 15ml Sweet Sherry
20ml Red currant syrup 20ml Lemon juice
Method: Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker filled with ice, shake and strain into a Coupette/ Martini glass. To garnish brush a Lemon zest around rim and discard, then garnish with an edible flower.
Whyte & Mackay launches surprisingly smooth campaign Whyte & Mackay Blended Scotch Whisky has launched a new advertising campaign, “Surprisingly Smooth”, aimed at driving sales and awareness. The playful creative brings a lion to life as a smooth and dapper gentleman enjoying a dram - drawing a likeness between the smooth quality of the liquid in a humorous and surprising way.
Edinburgh’s Christmas is back from 20 November 2015 - 4 January 2016 and as well as a new free event called The Virgin Money Street of Light. This features an architectural installation of 60,000 plus lights stretching along the Royal Mile, there will also be, for the first time, an event called ‘Whisky Enlightenment’ run at The Scotch Whisky Experience. This new tour and tasting experience, limited and exclusive for Street of Light, will allow you to top or tail your visit to Street of Light with an illuminating whisky experience. Warm up with a winter toddy on arrival before you take a lighthearted look at the world of Scotch whisky at its “20 minute whisky expert” session with a specially selected single malt and chocolate match and also enjoy a relaxed and exclusive viewing of the world’s largest collection of Scotch whisky. For information contact info@ scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk
Work has started on the expansion of The Glenlivet Distillery which produces the world’s largest single malt Scotch whisky. Laurent Lacassagne, Chairman & CEO of Chivas Brothers, who own the distillery said, “Today’s first step towards an expansion at The Glenlivet distillery is a historic day for Chivas Brothers as we look to continue the brand’s phenomenal triumphs across the past five years to reinforce our position as the world’s No.1 single malt Scotch whisky.” Last year the brand saw a +11% net sales growth, a result of the brand’s commitment to innovation and craftsmanship through launches such as Founder’s Reserve, the extension of the Master Distiller’s Reserve range and The Winchester Collection. 5
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NEWS
Calling all Cinnamon fans... The Famous Grouse reveals new look smoky black The Black Grouse is being relaunched as The Famous Grouse Smoky Black. The new name and premium packaging will now ensure a consistent look and feel across the brand’s core portfolio which includes The Famous Grouse and The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold. The Famous Grouse Smoky Black has a new look bottle shape finished with a tinted glass to convey the smokiness of the whisky. A new drawing of the black grouse bird with a metallic finish stands proudly at the heart of the label. Gordon Motion, Master Blender commented, “The Famous Grouse Smoky Black has been blended to deliver the same flavour profile our consumers enjoyed in The Black Grouse, enhanced with the exceptional peated Glenturret Single Malt.”
Jack Daniel’s has launched a new fiery cinnamon variant in the UK - Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, a hot cinnamon flavoured drink. It’s meant to be drunk as a late night shot and served straight. Sandra Brunet, Head of American Whiskey UK at Brown-Forman said, “We’re delighted to be adding Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire to the Jack Daniel’s family. The huge success we’ve experienced with Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey in the last few years is evidence that UK consumers are open to new flavours and taste experiences and all the signs from Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire’s test phase are very encouraging.”
Two new limited edition Benromach Wood Finishes Benromach has launched two new Wood Finishes: Sassicaia (pictured, right) and Hermitage which have a unique flavour profile as a result of a final finishing period in hand-selected wine casks from the distinguished wine regions of the northern Rhône, Haut-Médoc, near Bordeaux, and Bolgheri in Tuscany. Benromach Distillery Manager, Keith Cruickshank said, “We are delighted to announce the release of Benromach Sassicaia and Benromach Hermitage, the latest whiskies in our exceptional range of classic Speyside single malts. Whisky lovers who enjoy our flagship 10 Years Old and our new 15 Years Old, both of which display the classic Benromach flavour profile, will enjoy the chance to experience Benromach in a different way. The maturation in wine casks from distinguished regions creates a distinct flavour in the whisky and allows a truly unique character to develop.” 7
NEWS
Epic journey concludes in Islay After leaving from Brittany, France in late August, contemporary artists Maxime Berthou and Mark Požlep (above) have arrived safely at Bunnahabhain Distillery on Islay. The two men navigated land and sea in a restored 1941 fishing boat, carrying aged French wood which will be now transformed into whisky casks. The Hogshead 733 collaboration saw the two artistic sailors travel 733 miles across the English Channel, up the west coast of England, before making the final leg of the journey towards Bunnahabhain Bay on Islay. The next stage of the journey will see the wood hand-crafted into whisky casks and filled with peated Bunnahabhain whisky. These unique casks will be laid to rest and matured in the distillery warehouse, before being bottled in a limited edition run of only 733 bottles. Maxime Berthou said, “This has been the trip of a lifetime for myself and Mark. We’ve received such a warm welcome from everyone at the distillery. With every mile that we travelled, we were driven by a sense of adventure and inspired by our surroundings.”
Joy Will Take You Further 8
Celebrating 45 years - Richard Paterson Congratulations to Richard Paterson, who is one of the most lively whisky experts of his generation. He has just celebrated 45 years in the whisky industry. His innate ability to assess and taste whisky has earned him the nickname of ‘The Nose’. He has a reputation as both an exceptional whisky creator and an illustrious showman and is loved by whisky fans the world over. He also created some of the world’s most iconic whiskies such as The Dalmore Trinitas, the Mackinlay’s Shackleton blend and of course Whyte & Mackay Blended Scotch.
Jenson Button is one of a select group of inspirational ambassadors in a new global campaign from Scotch Whisky brand Johnnie Walker called ‘Joy Will Take You Further’, which the company say is their largest global campaign ever. The campaign has been created around scientific research into happiness which shows that when people are happier, progress is more likely. At the launch, the sports star revealed that joy is the driving force behind his career success. Known as the fittest man in the pit lane, Button said he finds his joy in the pursuit of physical power - from intensive strength work in the gym to conquering gruelling triathlons. He says, “There’s so much more than just being able to drive the car. Your mind and body have to be in perfect shape.”
Glenmorangie celebrated in stone
WHISKI ROOMS BAR • RESTAURANT • WHISKY SHOP Whisky Bar of the Year 2013/2014, SLTN Awards
An innovative artwork which harnesses the natural beauty of Glenmorangie Signet’s terroir has been unveiled at the Distillery’s Highland home at Cadboll. The installation, named Rock Springs, is the creation of environmental artist Dan Snow. It takes pride of place at Glenmorangie House and will also feature in a new advertising campaign for Glenmorangie Signet.
Fresh, local, scottish produce. Over 270 whiskies, premium wines and spirits. Daily Whisky Tastings. Private dining and events. Iconic views over Edinburgh. The Mound, 4-7 North Bank Street, Edinburgh www.whiskirooms.com bar@whiskirooms.co.uk Bar & Bistro 0131 225 7224
Whisky Shop 0131 225 1532
The Social Distillery opens on Harris The inhabitants of the Isle of Harris now have a distillery to call their own with the opening of The Isle of Harris Distillery or The Social Distillery, as it has become known. It created 20 vital jobs in an area where long-term employment is difficult to find, and also included the locals in its opening celebrations. Chairman and Founder of IHD Anderson Bakewell said, “It is on this special island that conditions prevail for the production and maturation of a unique and exceedingly fine malt whisky. As if that was not enough, we have every expectation that it should inspire creative initiatives- entrepreneurial, cultural and social- for the benefit of the island’s future, helping to retain those here and attract back those who left.”
Multi-award Winning Whisky Bar and Restaurant
Multi-award Winning Whisky Bar and Restaurant
Over 300 whiskies Online whisky shop - worldwide delivery Come on down for the ultimate Scottish experience... Fresh Scottish food served all day Live Scottish music every night Come on down for the ultimate Scottish experience... 119 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SG T: 0131 556 3095 www.whiskibar.co.uk E: info@whiskibar.co.uk 9
NEWS
Glenfiddich refreshes core range
Big Peat: coming soon
Glenfiddich 12 and 15 Year Old single malt Scotch whiskies have been given a distinctive new pack design to complete a core range overhaul by owners William Grant & Sons. The new bottles now feature a more confident and dominant Stag and product information appears on a cream band. Sarah Harding, Senior Brand Manager, Glenfiddich comments, “Glenfiddich is a superior whisky so naturally we want its presentation to match the quality of the award-winning liquid. The prestigious new look will hopefully capture and reflect our whisky making credentials and the brand’s authenticity and family heritage.”
Watch out! Big Peat Christmas is coming to a shop near you. Every year Douglas Laing release a Limited Edition Big Peat Christmas, and this year it is no different. This limited edition bottling is Big Peat’s 5th Christmas edition, and the new pack, created for the gift-buying market, shows the feisty Ileach flying high over Islay on his “turfo”-charged Reindeer sleigh. Big Peat Christmas contains a shovelful of the finest festive Malts from the Whisky island of Islay, including Ardbegg-nog, Caol Ila, Snowmore and Party Ellen. As ever, he is proudly without chill-filtration or colouring, but for Christmas he’s bottled at cask strength, a punchy 53.8% ABV. Just 3,000 cases of Big Peat Christmas 2015 are available globally from specialist Whisky stores and DouglasLaing. com.
GlenDronach releases batch 12 of its single cask bottlings
GlenDronach has released the latest batch of nine cask bottlings. Batch 12 ranges from 43 to 11 years old with eight of the whiskies being matured in Pedro Ximenez sherry puncheons while one, the oldest, comes from a Pedro Ximenez sherry butt. The nine casks have been hand-selected by Master Distiller Billy Walker who said, “Our whiskies are all about the interaction of the wood with the Highland character of the spirit. In these nine extraordinary bottlings, you see and taste the sherry wood working its magic on our whisky. The whisky sits and ages in peace, and it starts to darken and pick up subtle flavours from the wood, resulting in sensational aged whiskies that are appreciated worldwide by our customers.” 10
Stocking Stirling’s largest range of whisky, gin, port and so much more. 29 Spittal Street, Stirling FK8 1DU Tel: 01786449152
www.stirlingwhiskyshop.com
A feast of Scotland at Arisaig Bar & Restaurant Arisaig is a contemporary Scottish restaurant and bar in Glasgow’s vibrant Merchant Square. Offering a menu that is full of dishes that make the most of Scotland’s stunning larder, Arisaig delivers the authentic taste of Scotland.
Arisaig Bar And Restaurant 1 Merchant Square, Candleriggs Glasgow G1 1LE T: 0141 553 1010
Alongside an intriguing wine list, it also has a fine range of local craft ales and, of course, an amazing collection of Scottish malt whisky. Comprising old favourites, independent bottlings and some rare gems, Arisaig’s Scotch collection repays in-depth exploration.
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www.arisaigrestaurant.co.uk 11
NEWS
Benriach adds to heavily peated range BenRiach has launched Latada, a brand-new limited edition 18 years old peated single malt finished in Madeira casks. It’s the Elgin distillery’s third offering in its range of peated cask finishes, joining the BenRiach Albariza and Dunder on the shelves. Bottled at 46% abv, at natural colour and non-chill filtered, Latada is distilled from peated malted barley matured in American oak casks before enjoying a finishing period in fine Madeira casks. The unusual name comes from the traditional “Latada” or trellised vine system on the island of Madeira where the vines are laid out horizontally above the ground on trellises.
low
Wemyss Malts launches “Kiln Embers” Independent bottler Wemyss Malts has launched a new limited edition to complement its award-winning blended malts range. The new ‘Kiln Embers’ is a smoky addition to the Wemyss line up, blended with double the amount of smoky Islay malt whisky than its sister whisky, Peat Chimney. This is a no-age statement expression and is also non-chill-filtered and bottled at 46% abv. It will be available in specialist spirits stores at around £42.
Catto’s new packaging Scotch whisky Catto’s has delved deep into the history of its founder James Catto, an ambitious businessman and pioneer of blending who was one of the first to ship whisky around the world. ‘To the glorious journey’, a new campaign which includes a new bottle design has a contemporary look but maintains its core whisky cues. The label shape takes inspiration from a boat’s bow and the bottle features a ‘ripple effect’, as though a boat is cutting a path through the waves on the ocean. The design reflects the story of the ocean liners that would have taken Catto’s Blended Scotch whisky to all the corners of the world. Catto’s Brand Manager Lynne Buckley comments, “Today’s whisky drinkers can identify with James Catto’s pioneering spirit and his dedication to making an exceptional whisky, launched in Scotland with a drive and determination to ship it around the world for people to enjoy. The beautiful new bottles and cartons bring his story to life and give us a striking new look to support our own ambitious plans for Catto’s in global markets in the years ahead.’ 12
New Disaronno Riserva liqueur Disaronno Riserva is a new luxury limited edition liqueur, which combines the signature notes of Disaronno with a blend of Scottish malt whisky. The new liqueur is aged in Marsala barrels from the Cantine Florio in Marsala, Sicily. Augusto Reina, CEO of Illva Saronno hand selected the perfect blend of whiskys on a trip to Speyside, to complement the flavours of Disaronno. He then transported the whisky to Cantine Florio winery; Sicily’s oldest and most beautiful winery, where the Riserva was then aged in old wooden Marsala casks dating back to 1938. Only 10,000 bottles will be produced worldwide, and it will sell for around £250 a bottle; definitely one for the connoisseurs, or perhaps to try at a bar.
An Illuminating Experience Wemyss Malts launches “Kiln Embers” ‘Visiting The Royal Mile’s ‘Street of Light’ Independent bottler Wemyss Malts has launched a new limited edition to complement its awardthis Christmas? Why winning not blended start malts range.or The finish new ‘Kiln Embers’ is a smoky addition to the Wemyss line up, blended with double the amount of smoky Islay malt whisky than its sister whisky, Peat Chimney. your visit with our ‘Whisky Enlightenment’ This no-age statement expression and is also non-chill-filtered and bottled at 46% abv. It will be experience?’ available in specialist spirits stores at around £42. Monday 30th Nov - Thursday 24th December (6.45 every evening - duration 1 hour) £15 per person •
Warm up with a winter toddy
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Become a whisky expert in 20 minutes
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Enjoy a complimentary single malt and a chocolate to match taste
•
Exclusive ‘Private Viewing’ of the world’s largest Scotch whisky collection
Amber Restaurant - Christmas Gifts - Tours throughout the Day next to edinburgh castle www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk
354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE Telephone: 0131 220 0441 Email: info@scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk
WE ONLY PUT OUR NAME ON THE WORLD’S FINEST SHERRY CASKS. Nearly 70% of the flavour in whisky is derived from the cask it has been matured in. Wood’s important, which is why we adopt a ‘no compromise’ approach when choosing our world renowned Sherry casks to enrich our whisky.
The
Sherry Cask connoisseurs
The GlenDronach - Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Pioneers of sherry cask maturation since 1826 www.glendronachdistillery.co.uk
www.glendronachdistillery.co.uk
ENJOYED 2015
WWW.GLENGLASSAUGH.COM
FEATURE
Ultimate Islay Islay is famous for its whisky. Susan Young paid a visit to the Island to get her whisky fix.
I Jura
Islay
slay is known as the Queen of the Hebrides, but it is also known throughout the world for the quality of its whisky. The sole purpose of our visit was to visit some whisky bars and get a real feel for the island. We decided to take the car, and this proved to be a wise choice, because although it limited the driver’s ability to partake of too much of the amber nectar it did, in fact, allow a freedom of movement that wouldn’t have otherwise been possible. We travelled up Loch Lomond side on the A82 and at Tarbet at the north end of the Loch we took the A83 heading towards Campbeltown. We stopped for refreshments at Inveraray before heading onto Kennacraig which is just past Tarbert (- confusing having two places with nearly the same name on the same route!) The journey took just about three hours, so by the time we reached the Ferry Terminal we were eager to get on board. The Calmac office is tiny, and there is only a coffee machine, which is a pity considering there is nothing else there. I’m sure a wee shop of some sort would go down a treat! If you are planning on going for a long weekend in the winter there are only two ferries to Port Askaig and two to Port Ellen, so it is best to check the timetable for yourself. It’s an easy two-hour crossing and by the time you get yourself a coffee and a bite to eat you are nearly there. The price for the
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car was £64 and it cost £12.90 per person. To fly however, you would be around £125 per person. Apart from the Askaig Hotel at Port Askaig (funnily enough) there is nothing else there but the Ferry booking office for your return trip. But just a couple of miles along the road you’ll come to Ballygrant and the award-winning Ballygrant Inn, and it is definitely worth stopping off. It has just picked up the accolade Made Brave Whisky Bar of the Year, and that is not surprising. The hotel is situated just off the main road. If you just want to pop into the bar which is known as Robolls bar, it is just round the corner from the hotel and is a warm and inviting traditional style hostelry. Its main attraction is its selection of whiskies some 400 in total and barman Ewan is an expert. He also will let you try before you buy and is happy to recommend a tipple. The bar also has a pool table, darts boards, an extensive whisky library and log burning stove, which makes it a real haven on a typically Scottish day. The food on offer is more than just pub grub and the owner and chef cooks a mean curry and on the day we were there he brought in a couple of lobsters which were fresh out of the sea. Our trip was booked last minute and because of that most of the hotels were fully booked but we managed to get into The Lochside in Bowmore. Bowmore is the island’s capital, it boasts three hotels and The Bowmore Distillery. At the Lochside, the staff were very pleasant and the dining room had a great outlook across Loch Indaal. It is now under new management (it is a sister venue now to the Isle of Mull’s MacGochans) and I understand that the Lochside is due for a refurbishment, which is probably wise, it’s Mull sister venue is lovely. The bar, affectionately
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known as Duffie’s after a former owner, has a great selection of whisky, and again the bar staff were very knowledgeable. We headed out for a drink to The Harbour Inn, which is a small cosy bar which has barrels instead of tables. It lacked a bit of atmosphere, compared to the next bar on our itinerary The Bowmore Hotel bar which is known locally as ‘Lucci’s,’ after the owner. The bar was recommended to us by locals who were drinking at the Harbour Inn. Apparently Lucci is a real character. We were served by his son, who is also a bit of a whisky expert. We sat in the lounge part of the bar which is filled to bursting with whisky. Our fellow guests were Swedish and appeared to be working their way through the bars contents. Mind you I thought the recommendation that the barman made for a whisky novice (not me, I might add) was a tad on the strong side – The Original Cask Strength Kilchoman bottled at natural cask strength, 59.3% ABV! We also spent some time walking through Bowmore – Bowmore’s streets are laid out on a grid pattern, based on the axis of Main Street. The main street runs uphill or downhill depending on where you are standing. At the bottom lies the Bowmore Distillery, which is the second oldest distillery in Scotland and the oldest on Islay. It is one of eight distilleries, that can be visited, on the island the others being Laphroaig, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Ardbeg, Lagavulin, and Bruichladdich. At the top of the hill there is Bowmore’s Round Church which was built in 1767 by Daniel Campbell of Shawfield and Islay, then owner of the entire island. The interior of the church is just beautiful. Apparently the church was built in a circular shape to make sure there
FEATURE were no corners for the evil spirits (or the devil) to hide in. These two landmarks aside, and a wee jaunt onto the beach, and you do just about have Bowmore covered. There are a couple of gifts shops, one of which appears to be the locals general store too, and everyone was nice and welcoming. Another recommendation made this time by The Harbourside’s staff was a visit to Portnahaven which was about 14 miles away. They recommended we go there to see the seals. The road itself takes you through Bridgend and along the shore of Loch Indaal, which has lovely views. In the wintertime, there are thousands of geese roosting on the mudflats at the head of the loch. Before Bridgend is a hill on the right with a monument erected for John Francis Campbell, known for his ‘Popular Tales of the West Highlands’. This monument, in the shape of an obelisk, replaced the first one which was blown away in a gale in about 1911. Next you come to Bruichladdich, which plays host to, arguably the most bonny distillery on the island, the Bruichladdich Distillery which must be one of the best-kept distilleries I have seen. Even the bench across the road is painted the same blue as Bruichladdich logo which they say is the same as the colour of the sea beside it on a bright day. The beautifully presented distillery runs two tours a day during November and December and in October there are four a day. It’s definitely worth stopping. If you are hungry you should stop at Port Charlotte the next village which is home to Yan’s Kitchen, one of Islay’s best places to eat. It also boasts the lovely Port Charlotte Hotel. But our destination was Portnahaven, a planned village, built during the 19th century, with fishing and crofting as the villager’s main employment. Portnahaven is built around a small, sheltered harbour and is an excellent spot for observing Grey Seals, which sometimes sit on the rocks
around the bay to sunbathe! We were lucky we saw lots of them. Portnahaven also has a quaint little, and it is little, pub at the harbour which serves great food - it looks like a private house and is called An Tigh Seinnse, which means ‘the house of singing’ in Gaelic. You have to order at the bar but that is not an issue because it is not more than a couple of steps from your table. It also boasts an intriguing map – I’m told this signifies where the police may be lying in wait should you partake of more than you should! The other side of the island houses Port Ellen, which is approximately an hour away from Portnahaven and half an hour from Bowmore. It is the second largest town on Islay and is slightly more sheltered than the rest of the island. It also boasts a small marina. There are a few shops and such like and a pub or two. Following the main road east, you reach the three southern distilleries of Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin. We didn’t venture to Port Ellen, as we simply ran out of time. Our last evening, due to the early departure of our ferry the next morning, was spent having dinner at the Ballygrant Inn, which was excellent. I even opted for the hosts famous curry, and we stayed at the Port Askaig Hotel. I don’t want to finish on a negative note because the people at the Port Askaig were fabulous and the bar was a hive of activity. In fact the lady in the hotel even drove us to The Ballygrant for dinner, which was lovely. She then prepared a packed breakfast to take on board the boat the next morning. But I couldn’t recommend the room we had. I understand that some of the rooms have been upgraded, ours certainly hadn’t been, despite the £110 price. So if you are staying there I would recommend you ask for a refurbished room. But that apart, and considering how little time we spent in it, our experience on Islay was most enjoyable, made more so, by the friendliness of the islanders. 17
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fter 24 years in the motor trade on the marketing side for Scott and 17 years running an event management company for his wife Sam, they both made a big decision, to relocate from Glasgow to Tomintoul and take over the Whisky Castle. A Wee DRAM caught up with Scott Ashforth to find out why and how they are enjoying running their new business.
What brought you into the whisky industry? Basically we are Scottish so we have always loved whisky but from a marketing point of view there is no bigger brand and historical product in Scotland than malt whisky. We had both been looking to move away from the corporate life and get away from the red tape, bureaucracy and paperwork that is pressurising many industries. We wanted to try and buy an established business and this one cropped up during the process and it seemed like a great move from a business and family point of view. The magical history that surrounds whisky, the mystique in making and creating special bottling’s and the chance to make our mark with our own company was a chance not to be missed. What is now a typical day? I get up and start the hoovering, help set up our café, we check the shelves and make sure we have stock in the shop and also enough whisky on the shelves! Sam checks the online orders and social media. A bus can turn up at any minute so you have to be able to do things to get the chores done between selling. The main part of the day is spending lots of time with the customers as this is a small tourist attraction as you don’t just walk in and lift a bottle and pay for it, you get the chance to speak to us 18
about whisky and find the dram that suits you. This is a huge change from where I was before. I had staff that did most things, so to be honest, I have had to restructure my life, but I always pitched in before, so it’s been easy to adjust and I love getting my hands dirty again. What do you enjoy most? When someone leaves the shop and thanks you for helping them find a whisky they had never tried before. Lots of people don’t realise just how diverse the whiskies are. Some people just buy a whisky because the packaging makes it look good. Yes, the branding draws your eye to a product but we are all about talking to customers, giving enjoyable tastings and hopefully seeing customers leave happy
INTERVIEW
with an excellent purchase that they’ll enjoy for many weeks. To back this up, when you read a good review on Trip Advisor it helps you get through the more difficult parts of the job. Not that selling whisky isn’t difficult, it is. Sam and I have a million and one things to learn but I’m enjoying every part of it. How many whiskies do you have in the shop? We have over 500 whiskies in the shop. We specialise in independently bottled malt whiskies so you can come in and choose from a huge range of whiskies straight from the distillery but our independent ones offer something a bit special. We have great partnerships with Gordon and MacPhail of Elgin, Hunter Laing of Glasgow and Morrison
and MacKay of Perthshire and these guys have some amazing single cask whiskies that we buy in for our customers. We sample nearly every whisky before buying which makes us more unique than many of the purely internet based whisky suppliers as many of these guys just order it and sell it. We reject lots of whiskies so customers can be confident they are tasting the best of the best! Do you have any advice for novice whisky drinkers? Don’t be scared of single malt. There are so many kinds out there you’ll enjoy tasting until you find the right one for you. Sam has really developed her skills from running an event management company into an 19
INTERVIEW excellent communicator when it comes to novice whisky visitors to the Whisky Castle so this question is really for Sam Try it with one drop of water (mineral not tap water) and work it from there. You may like more water depending on the strength of whisky. We currently have 4 casks of our own bottled whisky, with the strongest being a Glenrothes at 57.8%, which may need more water depending on your palate. There are also no silly questions so find a shop or good whisky bar where they have good whisky knowledge and spend some time finding the whisky to suit you. Do you like a whisky matured in a bourbon barrel? Or maybe you like something sweeter so a sherry cask whisky may be for you. Single malt whisky is something to savour with friends and family. How do you think whisky could attract a more diverse audience? I think concentrating on the strengths we have in the industry may open up the product to a bigger audience e.g. concentrate on the amazing staff that work in this industry. We kept 2 full-time staff when we took over and quickly realised just how much knowledge the locals who work with whisky actually have. Maureen and Kirstin are mother and daughter but all their family have connections in the industry. When you speak to them you feel the history and the passion and if you could harness this, and project it to new audiences, it would go a long way to dispel the myths that whisky is an old man’s drink – which is as far from reality these days as you can get! What has been the most surprising thing that you have come across? Sam and I have been amazed how many young people from foreign countries visit Scotland who love single malt. They really enjoy a dram and not just buying a bottle to consume quickly, they taste it, choose the one that suits them, and buy it, savouring it over a long period of time. I think the younger Scots have been tarnished by their fathers and grandfathers and some haven’t discovered the liquid gold that
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some of the Scottish distilleries have to offer. As a marketeer do you think the whisky industry is doing enough to appeal to all ages (legal drinking age that is)? I think many people are working hard to develop the amazing resource that whisky represents to Scotland. The distilleries give lots of great information to the tourists who visit their venues and it surprises me how many whisky heads tour all the different distilleries marking them off like train spotters, so they must be doing something right. This view is based on the people we have met. The tourists coming in from other countries have a great love for whisky – young and old – but I do think we see comparably less young people from this country that are as passionate and knowledgeable about whisky. What sort of whiskies do you like? I love trying the independently bottled whiskies and comparing them to the distillery bottling’s. Some of the distilleries produce some amazing off the shelf products so it’s great to compare them with the more specialised ones. I love a good Bowmore – I am currently enjoying a Bowmore from Old Malt Cask and as we are right on the whisky trail I am making my way through the Speyside whiskies… it’s a hard life running a whisky shop! What is Tomintoul like to live in? It’s a great place to stay. We lived in Ayrshire on a small farm in the middle of nowhere so it’s like staying in a city! We now have lots of things that seemed like a luxury before – 4 pubs/ restaurants, a school the kids can walk to and it’s nice to nip over between tastings and collect them. There are approx 320 people in the village but we have people passing through from all over the world on the Whisky Trail so it’s actually quite cosmopolitan. There is a great community spirit and the kids have made some great friends already. Mind you it’s easier for Sam and I as there is a certain attraction to a new neighbour in an area who owns so much whisky!
Award winning whisky bar with over 700 whiskies. Restaurant offering Scottish food made from the best regional ingredients. Whisky tastings and food matching arranged.
Kilkerran Road, Campbeltown, Argyll PA28 6JL Tel: 01586 552133 Email: info@ardshiel.co.uk
ardshiel.co.uk
FACEBO OK .COM /A R DSHIELHOTEL
The Port Charlotte Hotel
The Port Charlotte Hotel and Bar is located in one of Islay’s most beautiful Georgian villages, and has a beach-side location overlooking Loch Indaal. Our award-winning hotel boasts 10 rooms, a bar, restaurant and conservatory, and our residents’ lounge and public bar feature open fires where guests can unwind with convivial company and of course a malt whisky. In fact we also design bespoke whisky and culture tours for small groups all year round. The bar plays host to nearly 150 Islay malts including rare ones and local ales too. As well as its own Scottish art collection the hotel also offers live music two nights a week, throughout the summer season, in the bar, which creates a great atmosphere. A few years ago we won the accolade Malt Whisky Bar of the Year from The Good Pub Guide while its restaurant has just picked up a Trip Advisor accolade - ‘Certificate of Excellence.’ The Port Charlotte Hotel is open all year round and between October and March has an excellent Dinner, Bed and Breakfast rate. You can be assured of a warm welcome here.
Port Charlotte • Isle of Islay PA48 7TU • T: 01496 850 360
www.portcharlottehotel.co.uk 21
The Lismore: A world famous whisky bar in Glasgow, Scotland. with over 300 malt whiskies on display and live traditional music sessions through out the week.
THE LISMORE lios mor
• 5* Trip Advisor 2013 & 2014 • Drammie Award 2013 & 2014 • Over 130 Malt Whiskies • Cosy traditional bar
The Lismore Bar 206 Dumbarton Road Glasgow
51 Barnton Street, Stirling FK8 1HH 01786 447 191 www.curlycoobar.com
DOUGLAS LAING’S
REMARKABLE COCKTAILS
TIMOROUS BEASTIE
SCALLYWAG MANHATTAN
ROCK OYSTER MARGARITA
OLD FASHIONED
For Cocktail Recipes or to Make a Remarkable Purchase, Visit www.DouglasLaing.com @RemarkableMalts
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@RemarkableMalts
BIG PEAT SOUR
FEATURE
A bit of a mouthful There are 100’s of whiskies to choose from in bars and pubs across the country. If you are one of the many, who are not quite sure how to pronounce the whisky you want to order, here is the second part of our guide to how to pronounce and a bit of background regarding what the names actually mean. Of course you might have to master what is known as the Scottish ‘uvular ficative’ which is a ‘ch’ sound. Think of ‘It’s a braw bricht moonlicht nicht the nicht.’ At Wee DRAM’s regular ‘Make A Date With Whisky’ tasting event the most common barrier to people ordering whisky at the bar is that they don’t know how to pronounce the name. So, here we go... Ledaig LEADaig
The Norse origin means “A bay which is difficult to enter”. This is a peaty whisky from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull, which has been named after a previous incarnation of the distillery.
The Macallan Mah-CAH-len
The Macallan distillery is a single malt Scotch whisky distillery in Craigellachie, Moray. The Macallan Distillers Ltd, is owned by the Edrington Group. The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed in 1824, and its spirit stills are the smallest on Speyside.
Miltonduff Mill-ton-duff
Miltonduff is a light, sweet, fragrant malt with very little peat. Miltonduff’s legal distillery was built on the site of a illicit distillery, and for the following 60 years used the tools abandoned by the old whisky smugglers. The distillery was originally water-powered with several waterwheels driving its machinery.
Mortlach Mort-lack
The Mortlach distillery is located in Dufftown, and was the the first legal distillery to be built there. It
was founded in 1823, and is now owned by Diageo. Mortlach Single Malt Whisky is affectionately called ‘The Beast of Dufftown’.
Oban OH-b’n
The Oban distillery is one of the oldest in Scotland. It was established in 1794, on the site of an old brewery, and the town of Oban grew up around the distillery.
Old Pulteney Pult-nay
Old Pulteney Single Malt Whisky is the flagship whisky of Inver House Distillers and it has a very nautical theme due to its location near Wick. Whisky has been produced at the distillery since 1826.
Port Askaig Ass- kaig
This is a range of malts that has been developed to appeal to the novice whisky drinker while meeting the demands of the most discerning of whisky connoisseurs too. It is a ‘mystery malt’, because there is no Port Askaig Distillery on Islay.
Royal Brackla
The Brackla distillery dates from 1812. It was built by
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Captain William Fraser of Brackla House on the estate of Cawdor Castle in Nairn. In 1833 Brackla Distillery became the first whisky distillery to be granted a Royal Warrant by order of King William IV. In 1985 it closed, re-opening in 1991. It is now operated by John Dewar & Sons Ltd for Bacardi.
Royal Lochnagar LOCHnagár
Royal Lochnagar distillery is situated on the south side of the River Dee close to Balmoral Castle. It is a historic distillery and only produces a small amount of whisky. Most of which is released as single malt, but as it is owned by Diageo, it is also one of the malts used in Johnnie Walker blends.
Scapa SKAA-pa
Scapa distillery is situated on Orkney, on the shore of Scapa Flow near the town of Kirkwall. It is the second most northerly whisky distillery in Scotland, being half a mile from Highland Park. Dating from 1885 the distillery was mothballed in 1994, but re-opened a decade later.
Springbank Spring-bank
Springbank in based in Campbeltown and was established in 1828 on the site of Archibald Mitchell’s illicit still and today the distillery remains in the hands of the same family. Current Chairman is Hedley G. Wright, Mitchell’s great, great grandson.
Strathisla Strath-eye-la
This historic and ancient distillery has been operating since 1786. Strathisla is the spiritual home of one of the most famous whisky brands in the world – Chivas Regal and is the oldest operating distillery in the Highlands. Originally it was founded as the Milltown Distillery by George Taylor and Alexander Miln.
Talisker TAL-isk-er
Talisker distillery is the only whisky from the Isle of Skye. This Island single malt, based in Carbost, has a strong tangy taste that reminds you that is Scotland’s only malt made by the sea. It was founded in 1830 and is now owned by Diageo. Experts say, “Its smell and taste instantly connect the drinker with the rugged environment – like a warm welcome from a wild sea.” 24
Tamdhu Tam-DOO
Tamdhu distillery is in Speyside. The distillery is located in the town of Knockando in Banffshire. Tamdhu comes from Gaelic for little dark hill. In 1897, a consortium of merchants and gentlemen of the whisky trade raised today’s equivalent of £20 million to construct the distillery. Designed by Charles C. Doig it was the most pioneering distillery of its age.
Tamnavulin Tamna-VOO-lin
means ‘mill on the hill’ in Gaelic. This Speyside distillery was only built in 1965 due to the growing demand for malt whisky by blenders. It’s a modern distillery, built on the banks of The Livet, that can produce four million litres a year. Although it was mothballed in1995 it re-opened in 2007.
Teaninich Tee-an-inich
Teaninich is a whisky distillery in Alness in the Highlands. It was founded and built in 1817 by Hugh Munro on his estate of Teaninich Castle. Teaninich produces four million litres a year and is used by Diageo to produce malt for its blends - mainly Johnnie Walker, but also Haig and Vat 69.
Tomintoul Tomin-towel
is located near the village of the same name, which is the highest village in the Highlands. It lies at the very heart of the Speyside region on the Glenlivet Estate. It was built in 1964 and is now owned by Angus Dundee Distillers. In 2009 Tomintoul entered the Guinness Book of World Records by producing the largest bottle of whisky in the world, containing 105.3 litres of 14-year-old Tomintoul malt whisky. It currently resides at the Whisky Castle Shop in Tomintoul.
Tullibardine Tully-bard-eye-n
The name in Gaelic means ‘lookout hill’, and was taken from the small medieval chapel built in 1446, which is close to the distillery. The Tullibardine distillery is fairly modern. It was built in 1949 and was obtained by Brodie Hepburn a few years after it was founded. Located in Blackford, the gateway to the Highlands, it is now independently owned.
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his Scottish e-tailoring business, which can offer outfits in 1,000 tartans and tweeds, has also just become the first company in the UK to offer online shoppers a tool previously only used by fashion designers; providing them with instantaneous images of garments that can be viewed in any tartan. thanks to new technology. The project #drapeyourtartan Anna White has taken over eight months to come to fruition. Anna White, Owner, ScotlandShop told Wee DRAM, “As an e-tailor we need to ensure that what our customer sees is what they get. It may sound an easy thing to do, but when you are dealing with such a wide range of traditional fabrics that each have such complex
designs it becomes extremely challenging. “What the programmers have been able to do is provide an online tool that allows customers to view the garment in their chosen tartan before they purchase. This will provide our customers with the peace of mind they require when investing in the high quality garments ScotlandShop is renowned for producing.” She continues, “We also have a very loyal customer base, which includes a number of celebrities, who come back to us time and time again because of our attention to detail and the quality and craftsmanship of our garments. All our products are made in Scotland, with the majority produced in the Borders. We produce products from traditional fabric that is manufactured using traditional techniques but which are modern in design.” For more information on ScotlandShop visit www.scotlandshop.com
ScotlandShop.com Tailored tartan clothing and interiors from the heart of Scotland.
ScotlandShop.com, Greenknowe, Duns, Berwickshire TD11 3JA T: 01890 860770 E: info@scotlandshop.com
Spirit of Place
Dartington Crystal
A lovely hard back book book called Spirit of Place, Whisky Distilleries of Scotland by renowned whisky author Charles Maclean is the perfect stocking filler.
£25 from good bookshops
Whisky Hamper What a perfect gift for a lady... This whisky hamper has a wonderful range of yummy Scottish goods along with a heavenly tasting whisky liqueur called Ginger Tams.
www.gretnagreen.com £45 26
Make every drink a true pleasure with Dartington Crystal. Hand-crafted in the UK from luxurious fine crystal, a gift of Dartington will always be admired and appreciated. The Classic Whisky tumbler (£22 shown here) or any of our great gift options can be personalised with hand engraving when you order on-line.
www.dartington.co.uk or call 01805 626221
I want to know whisky I want to know whisky is a gift with a difference! This informative online experience is a whisky course full of fascinating whisky facts, and is a great way to increase your understanding and enjoyment of whisky. It also gives you access to superb exclusive content including recipes, tasting notes and distillery reviews. It’s available as a gorgeous boxed gift including membership card and charming book. Also available as an instant e-gift.
www.iwanttoknowwhisky.co.uk £24.95
GIFTS
Blinkstepz For the whisky loving person who might find it hard to get home in the dark. Shoe laces that light up in the dark.
Cut Crystal Glencairn Glass Mouth blown and hand cut Glencairn Glass is the ultimate interpretation of the classic, ‘Glencairn Glass’, normally only available in lead free crystal.
50 Fifty Gifts Call 020 8877 9430
Harris Tweed hip flask Harris Tweed is all the rage and of course what better than a Harris Tweed Hip Flask. www.harristweedbags. co.uk. £25
£30 from www.glencairn.co.uk
With Christmas Day fast approaching, here are some ideas for what to buy your whisky loving family and friends.
Wooden 3 Glass Holder
Pogues Irish Whiskey
Wooden 3 Glass Holder made from a Whisky Barrel or Cask. You can still smell the whisky! Please note that due to the unique nature of each piece of wood, every item we make varies slightly in size, colour and grain – all part of the beauty of recycling wood. Glasses are not included.
Perfect for Pogue fans is a whiskey that was launched earlier this year by West Cork Distillers. The whiskey that was launched in partnership with the band, has an aroma of malt, cracked nuts, almond and a slight sweetness and its smooth intensity delivers a palate that is malty and floral with a mild chocolate taste and lingering citrus. It’s aimed at the 25 to 35 year olds audience.
Whiskynet £23.99
£30 RRP 27
Whisky...
FEATURE
how do you drink yours?
W
hat is the right way to drink whisky? It’s probably one of the most debated topics in the industry, not to mention in bars up and down the breadth of the country. From adding water to the right glass whisky experts all have an opinion and they are not slow about expressing it. The old school experts and drinkers swear by just the tiniest drop of water to bring out the flavours, but try telling that to the thousands of Americans who add ice, and who love Scotch on the rocks. Perhaps one of the reasons that whisky has been slow at garnering the attention of a younger audience is exactly because of these outdated rules. Because to be really honest there is no right or wrong way to drink whisky. You should drink it the way you like it. After all if you are spending the money on buying a dram you are entitled to drink it any way you want. The most important consideration when you are starting out on your whisky journey is actually finding a whisky that you like. And although some people will say “I don’t like whisky”... they are saying that without trying, sometimes, even one of the vast range of whiskies that are out there. The number of times that I have been with non-whisky drinkers who are adamant they don’t like whisky, who try a few at a tasting session, and become fans. Of course a good bartender will help you on that path – they will ask you whether you have a sweet tooth, what do you normally drink and such like, and then will make a recommendation. Some will even pour you a wee smidgen of the whisky they are
recommending, and there is no harm in asking to try it. After all beer drinkers do exactly that. There is also the issue with blended whisky – that’s whisky that is derived from various malts from different distilleries and single grain whisky, and which most people drink with a mixer – either water, lemonade, ginger ale or coke. In Scotland and indeed in the UK, the poor blend has been ignored over the past few years. Whisky companies have been concentrating their efforts on Malts – whiskies of different ages from the same distillery. But if you look at the USA and the rest of Europe and the young people that enjoy whisky – it’s blends that they are drinking on a regular basis. In fact, just about nine bottles of blended whisky are sold for every bottle of malt! It’s is a common occurrence for a group of friends in bars and clubs to buy a blend such as Ballantine’s or J&B Rare or Johnnie Walker, to share with a group, and they buy a bucket of coke bottles to use as a mixer. As a result brands like Ballantine’s tend to sponsor uber cool events such as Henry Saiz Boiler Room & Ballantine’s Stay True Spain Live Set... check it out on Youtube. But the point is most people do not drink blended whisky straight up. They are drinking it over ice or with a mixer. And I don’t hear any whisky companies complaining about that. Malt whisky on the other hand... for as long as I have been writing about whisky, has been very much suffering, in my view, from the old-fashioned idea that there is a right and wrong way to drink our national drink. Some suggest you should drink whisky in its true natural form – even without water. They say the real characteristics, and
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FEATURE flavours from the whisky cask come through. Then there are those who say add a wee drop of water because you can open up more subtle flavours from the whisky, and it also increases its aroma. Then there is ice... probably one of the most contentious issues of all – some say it inhibits the flavour of the whisky because the temperature of the ice locks in the flavour. However, some also say that if you take ice cold whisky into your mouth and it warms naturally it is even more tasty! Tom Jones, Global Brand Ambassador of Johnnie Walker likes his whisky on the rocks but says, “The best way to drink scotch is with friends. After that it’s how you like it. People are going to have their own opinions about water and ice, but that’s exactly it: they are just opinions. You should drink it the way you like it best. I personally like it on the rocks.” While Andy Gemmell, Scottish drinks columnist and Director at The Drink Cabinet UK said when I asked him how he drank his whisky, “I’m not a total purest. It depends on my mood. I’m more than happy with a few cubes of ice in malts depending on the age, peat levels etc. Also a
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few drops of water just helps open up the more complex malts. There are also some I drink neat because they don’t need anything.” David Beckham who has partnered with Haig Whisky says, “I like to drink Haig Club neat or on the rocks, or in the Haig Clubman, made with sparkling apple soda, ginger bitters and a slice of ginger root served over hand-cracked ice.” This brings us nicely to whisky cocktails – of which I am a fan. There are far too many to mention from an old-fashioned, to the Haig Clubman. However I, personally, am not a fan of whisky cocktails that totally disguise the fact that there is whisky in the glass. So to conclude, find a whisky you like, try sipping it before adding anything and then add what you like to make it your favourite drink. After all drinking whisky in different ways, will reveal the different flavours that exist in the whisky. The last word goes to the Scotch Whisky Association who states, “The only rule is that you should drink Scotch the way you enjoy it as an individual.” And so say all of us!
COCKTAILS
Haig Clubman 50ml Haig Club 35ml sparkling apple soda 6 dashes ginger bitters A refreshing tasting whisky cocktail. A simple combination brings out the fruitiness and gentle spice of the whisky. Built over hand-cracked ice in either a highball or tumbler, garnished with a long slice of root ginger (ideally cut with a mandolin).
Warmers Festive Flip
50ml Haig Club 1 whole fresh egg 20ml Sugar syrup (1.1) 5ml PX sherry A perfect alternative to dessert with a creamy mouth-feel, the natural sweetness of Haig Club is cleverly paired with the richness of sherry. Shake with ice and strain into a small wine glass and garnish with nutmeg over the top.
Red Scotch
Haig and Ginger Ale
25ml Scotch Whisky Tomato juice Juice of half a lemon Dash of Worcestershire sauce Dash of Tabasco sauce
50ml Haig Club Fill to top with Ginger Ale Slice of cucumber
Shake together.
Built over ice in a highball glass, garnished with a slice of cucumber
Fill a glass with ice and pour the mixture over and decorate with freshly ground black pepper. Courtesy of SWA
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NEWS
TASTING NOTES The great thing about malt whisky is that people can taste a whole variety of flavours in the liquid. Whisky connoisseurs have a whole host of descriptives, and on this page we give you some that are used to describe a selection of our favourite single malts. When we talk about nose we mean smell, and palate means the taste. The finish is the taste that remains once you have swallowed the whisky.
Benromach Sassicaia Colour Naturally deep, ruby red colour Nose Red berries lead on the nose followed by hints of ginger and cinnamon. Taste Flavours of pepper on the palate which give way to ripe fruit flavours, with notes of chocolate Finish A subtle smoky edge.
Glenfiddich The Original Colour Rich Golden Nose A fruity, floral aroma with the hallmark Glenfiddich hint of pear. Subtle oak notes and a youthful biscuity character. Taste Pleasantly sweet with lively fruit notes and a soft vanilla oakiness. The flavours develop with the addition of a little water and to reveal delicate spices, citrus and fresh baked oatcakes. Finish Deliciously dry.
Kiln Embers Colour Deep gold Nose Snuffed smoke mingles
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with salted lemons and sweet cure bacon; Taste Oats and orange peel toast over embers and heathery peat Finish Sweet smoke
Glenmorangie Signet Colour A deep amber colour Nose: Chocolate, coffee and mint, layered with dark treacle, spice and fruits Tastes Rich sweetness contrast with spices and bitter mocha, combined with baked apricots, orange peel and malt Finish Tastes of fresh mint and lemon.
BenRiach Latada Colour Rich antique gold. Nose Torrents of campfire peat smoke infused heather honey and ripe pear. Hints of cantaloupe and candied citrus add to a luscious, crisp balance. Taste A mouthwatering sweet peat character floods through delicious ripe fruit syrup. Dried apricots combine with warm oak spices and gentle citrus zest Finish Long
Old Pulteney 1989 Colour Natural in colour Nose Notes of vanilla, coconut and oranges Taste It is peaty to start with a heavy, spicy underpinning. Finish Long-lasting
Laphroaig 32 Year Old Colour Deep Mahogany Nose Reminiscent of a Christmas fruit cake, the rich, sherry sweetness and the aroma of caramelised brown sugar is predominant. A drop of water reveals notes of cinnamon spiced red apples with just a hint of bitter dark chocolate. Taste The dark, bitter chocolate follows through to the palate, with nutmeg and an intense spicy oakiness. Adding a touch of water allows sweeter, sherry flavours to come through, together with just a hint of salt tang and subtle peat smoke. Finish Dry, long and lingering, sherried oak finish.
FR E
2nd Edition
Nip inside Scotland’s top whisky bars
Your guide to 60 of the best whisky bars in Scotland.
Available FREE from selected venues throughout Scotland
E
WHAT’S ON
WHISKY WORLD... 23rd October 2015
Perth Preview Tasting
Scotch Malt Whisky Society The Salutation Hotel, 30-34 South St, Perth PH2 8PH Your Society Ambassador will introduce a sneak preview of some truly remarkable drams. Sit back and indulge, with an exclusive first taste of 5 specially selected single cask, single malts. A scrumptious one course supper will be served in relaxed surroundings and bottles will be available to purchase on the night. 7-9.30pm. Members: £32. Non members £40. Tel: 0131 555 2266 31st October
Which Whisky is Witch Tasting Scotch Malt Whisky Society 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh Escape the ‘Trick or Treat’ frenzy and treat yourself to some fantastic whiskies from the SMWS. The Bar team have selected 5 outstanding drams which will all be tasted blind. This will be a fun tasting in a relaxed atmosphere, with Ambassadors dressing up, will you? You will get 5 drams and a suitably scary Society Supper. QS Scary Members Ticket £32, QS Scary Non Members Ticket £40. Tel: 0131 555 2266 5th November
Stirling Whisky Club The Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal Street, Stirling Bruichladdich Cost: £10 member /
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£15 non member To book your space, call SWS on 01786 449152. 13th & 27th November
Whisky Tasting @ Tennent’s Training Academy 161 Duke Street, Glasgow From the five famous Scottish regions to fantastic guest whiskies from around the world, you get the chance to taste a number of sought after whiskies and increase your knowledge in an entertaining and informal environment. £36. 5 drams of whisky plus 2 Hours of Tuition from an accredited Whisky Ambassador Tel: 161 Duke Street, Glasgow, G31 1JD. Tel: 0845 166 6060 13th November & 8th December
The Scotch Whisky Training School The Scotch Whisky Experience 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE Time: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Telephone: 0131 220 0441 www.scotch-whiskyexperience.co.uk 30th November - 24th December
Whisky Enlightenment - the alternative Spirit of Christmas The Scotch Whisky Experience 354 Castlehill, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh, EH1 2NE New tour and tasting
experience, limited and exclusive for Street of Light. Top or tail your visit to Street of Light with an illuminating whisky experience. Warm up with a winter toddy on arrival before you take a light-hearted look at the world of Scotch whisky in our “20 minute whisky expert” session with specially selected single malt and chocolate match. Enjoy a relaxed and exclusive viewing of the world’s largest collection of Scotch whisky – an opportunity not to be missed. Tel 0131 220 0441 www. scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk 3rd December
Stirling Whisky Club The Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal Street, Stirling Douglas Laing Grain Whiskies Cost: £10 member / £15 non member To book your space, call SWS on 01786 449152. 7th May 2016
Stirling Whisky Festival The Stirling Highland Hotel, Spittal Street, Stirling Tickets will go on sale on the Friday 6th of November at 10am. All tickets will be available at the time of purchase, so potentially the perfect Christmas present :) They will be available from the Stirling Whisky Shop website (www.stirlingwhiskyshop. com) on a first come basis.
W.AROOMIN.CO.UK W W
ESTABLISHED 1999
Pr o
d u c t of S c otl a n d
A ROOM IN THE WEST END & TEUCHTERS 26 WILLIAM STREET, EDINBURGH, EH3 7NH TEL: 0131 226 1036
A ROOM IN LEITH & TEUCHTERS LANDING 1A AND 1C DOCK PLACE, EDINBURGH, EH6 6LU TEL: 0131 554 7427
INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND INDEPENDENTLY MINDED.
AWARD WINNING SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY FROM THE ISLE OF ARRAN.
www.arranwhisky.com