Benromach Tweet Tasting II

Fancy sampling Benromach’s new 15 Year Old single malt? Then allow us to oblige, as on July 6th we’re teaming up again with this stunner of a Speyside distillery, for another dramspanking dose of Tweet Tastery.

In addition to the headlining new 15 Year Old, which we’ll be sipping and savouring as part of its global launch, on the night we’ll also be pouring and exploring their multi award winning 10 Year Old expression.

Full details to follow soon, but if you would like to take part in an evening enjoying a duo of delicious and splendorous Speyside sips, register your interest by emailing your name, address and Twitter handle via the contact tab, remembering to mark the subject line #BenromachTT

The closing date to register is Tuesday June 23rd, and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of July 6th to take part!!!

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the evenings’ dramfotainment. So we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on July 6th at 7pm BST via #BenromachTT

Until then Happy Dramlaxing!

For more information on Benromach visit: benromach.com

Registration open to over 18's only!

Whisky Insiders Interview - Dr Robert Birnecker

Company:
Koval Distillery

Job:
Master Distiller and CEO

Website:
kovaldistillery.com

How long have you been working in the whisky industry?

As I grew up working on my grandfather’s distillery and winery in Austria, it’s hard to stamp an exact date on when I began to work in the industry. That being said, my wife Sonat and I moved to Chicago and started distilling at Koval in 2008.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?
Watching Koval grow into a global brand has definitely been the biggest career highlight for me. Seven years ago Sonat and I were bottling by hand at our first distillery as our oldest son sat in a pack-n-play and now we travel across the world to represent Koval and help set up distilleries through our consulting business, Kothe Distilling Technologies.

Can you remember your first dram, and indeed what it was?
I can’t remember my first dram but I do remember my first spirit experience with a rum and coke.

What does whisky mean to you?
To me, whisky is a mix of tradition with modern elements. Since I grew up learning traditional European distilling techniques, many of those elements are reflected in the whisky and spirits we make at Koval, but with other new methods as well, like only using the “heart cut” of the distillate and sourcing from regional organic grains. Whisky is the past and the future!

Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time?
I’d like to see myself still at Koval Distillery in Chicago, but with a larger impact on more markets, and a few new products in our line as well.

What was your last dram?
The last spirit I had was my grandfather’s pear brandy.

Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination?
A favourite of mine and a combination that works particularly well is bourbon and dark chocolate.

What’s your favourite time and place to enjoy a dram?
Usually while relaxing late in the evening, after a long day of work and once the kids are in bed.

What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the whisky horizon?
We have a few new distillates resting in barrels, so only time will tell (at least for the next big thing for Koval).

What’s the one dram you couldn’t live without?
There isn’t one dram I couldn’t live without, but I’d be very disappointed if the range of whiskies around the world became more limited. It’s great to see such a wide variety in the market.

Many thanks to Dr Robert Birnecker. Who will be the next Whisky Insider? Click back soon to find out!

Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes

Kilchoman 2009 PX Finish

Abbey Whisky Exclusive

 

 

Nose: The aroma of pork ribs smoking in a pit barbeque, a sodden peat bog, hoisin sauce, five spice, a thick crema topped cup of espresso, sherry soaked sultanas, mixed citrus peel, tea soaked prunes, a bar of Lindt chilli chocolate, Paul A Young sea salted caramels, ground white pepper and an old wing tipped leather chair that’s absorbed a decade’s worth of cigar smoke.

 

Palate: Peat smoke, charred oak, burnt granary toast, sherry soaked raisins, Haribo Pontefract cakes, blackberry and apple crumble, clove studded Seville orange, Hotel Chocolat sour cherry truffles, Mackays Scottish three berry preserve, demerara caramel, coffee beans, white pepper and a stick of Big Red cinnamon chewing gum.

 

Finish: A full on feisty, fiery finish that’s as long, welcoming and satisfying as a post dinner cigar.

 

Summary: I’ve lost count to the amount of retailer exclusive Kilchoman bottling’s that have been released over the last couple of years, but do you know what, each one that I’ve had the pleasure of sampling has been a belter. Though it has to be said the addition of a PX sherry finish, has given this particular bottling an added edge of va, va, va, voom!

 

 

Win Tickets To The Telegraph Whisky Experience

Following the huge success of its inaugural event in 2014, The Telegraph Whisky Experience is returning to splendorous surroundings of One Whitehall Place, London on the 8th and 9th of June.

This month’s event will once again bring together exclusive masterclasses and over 65 of the world’s finest whiskies, offering guests a unique and unforgettable tasting experience with a choice of two four-and-half-hour tasting sessions on each of the days.

Guests will once again be treated to a private whisky fair of over 65 premium whiskies, from brands including; Talisker, Mortlach, Macallan, Laphroaig, The Glenrothes, Auchentoshan, Glen Garioch, Highland Park, Bowmore, Paul John Whisky, Isle of Arran, Wemyss Malts, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, Altmore, Alberfeldy and Craigellachie.

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve teamed up with The Telegraph to give away three pairs of tickets to The Telegraph Whisky Experience, one of the most prestigious dates in the whisky festival calendar.

To be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets Click Here and email us your contact details along with the following phrase that dramming pays:

 

“I’d love to sample, sip and savour a wave of wondrous whisky wares at The Telegraph Whisky Experience”

 

*Remember to mark the subject line of your email with: Telegraph Whisky Comp.
Also remember to specify which session you would like to attend; (Monday June 8th 12:00pm) (Monday June 8th 5:30pm) or (Tuesday June 9th 12:00pm) (Tuesday June 9th 5:30pm)

If you’re on Twitter you can also follow us @TheWhiskyWire and @TeleWhisky along with RT’ing one of our related competition tweets for another chance to win!

#TelegraphWhisky

For more information and to book tickets visit: telegraphevents.co.uk

Competition closes at 12:00pm on June 5th, winners will be notified later that afternoon.
You must be aged 18 years or over to enter.

Bushmills Tweet Tasting

Continuing our hugely successful teaming throng of Tweet Tastings, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce that on June 17th we’ll be pouring and exploring a joyous and jubilant dramboree of dramming ditties from one of most iconic names in Irish whiskey; Bushmills.

On the night we’ll be sipping, savouring and tweet tasting our way through their Original, Black Bush, 10 Year Old Single Malt, 12 Year Old Distillery Reserve and 16 Year Old Single Malt expressions.

Full details coming soon, but If you would like to take part in what will be an Irish dramming night to remember, register by emailing your name, postal address and Twitter handle via the contact tab, remembering to mark the subject line #BushmillsWhiskey

The closing date to register is June 9th and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the night!

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the night’s tweet tasting dramfotainment, so we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on June 17th at 7pm BST via #BushmillsWhiskey

Until then Happy Dramlaxing!

For more information on Bushmills visit: bushmills.com

Registration open to over 18's only!

Glen Scotia Tweet Tasting

More social media based dramfotainment you say? Well allow us to gladly oblige, as we spring our way into summer with our triumphant teaming throng of Tweet Tastings.

We’re absolutely delighted to announce that on June 29th, we’ll be spending an evening sipping and savouring some of the dramming delights from Campbeltown’s iconic Glen Scotia Distillery.

On the night we’ll be sampling three new expressions from Glen Scotia, along with their first Distillery Edition. Full details to follow soon, but if you would like to take part in what will be a dramspanker of a night, as we sample a wave of wondrous whisky wares from one of Scotland’s smallest distilleries, register your interest by emailing your name, address and Twitter handle via the contact tab, remembering to mark the subject line #GlenScotia

The closing date to register is Friday June 5th, and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of June 29th to take part!

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the evenings dramfotainment. So we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on June 29th at 7pm BST via #GlenScotia

Until then Happy Dramlaxing!

 

For more information on Glen Scotia visit: lochlomondgroup.com

 

Registration is open to over 18's only!

Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes #48

Compass Box Hedonism Quindecimus

 

 

Nose: A vanilla cheesecake with a thick digestive biscuit base, warm almond croissants, a buttered slice of Mcvities Jamaica ginger cake, grilled pineapple rings, coconut ice, pear drops, clove studded ortaniques, honeydew melon, mango, cinnamon sticks, wood spice and something rather poly cement (Airfix) glue-esque

 

Palate: Cherries soaked in sugar syrup, five spice, white pepper, Seville orange zest, Danish pastries, Jordans Original crunchy tropical fruits granola, caramelised demerara sugar, Lindt sea salt milk chocolate, pick and mix yellow foam banana’s, mango kulfi, gingerbread, Waitrose treacle tart and oodles of opulent oak.

 

Finish: Long, lush and as gracious and giving as the gargantuanly glorious grains that were used to blend this beautiful, bountiful belter.

 

Summary: The standard Compass Box Hedonism bottling, will always be one I’ll recommend to those starting out on their grain journeys, but with a little more feisty finesse and an epic ensemble of quality grainage, this is certainly one to recommend if you’re looking for that added dose of discerning dramming decadence.