Ardbeg An Oa Competition

To help celebrate the launch of the new core range An Oa expression from the multi award-winning Ardbeg, we’ve teamed up with the iconic Islay distillery, to giveaway not one but two bottles of the latest Ardbegian release.

Ardbeg An Oa, has been produced using whiskies that were originally matured in Pedro Ximénes, virgin oak and ex-bourbon barrels, before being married together in a specially created French oak vat.

The vat (The Gathering Vat) which is situated inside Ardbeg Distillery’s new and bespoke Gathering Room, has culminated in a whisky which is said to be far more complex and rounded than the sum of its parts.

Situated at the end of the Oa peninsula on the southside of Islay, The Mull of Oa, is said to be the islands most untamed spot. On one side, its rounded headland – 202m at its height – bears the brunt of storms that rage in from the Atlantic. On the other, it provides shelter from the wild weather to the southern coast of Islay, including Ardbeg Cove, where the Ardbeg Distillery is nestled.

To be in with a chance of winning a bottle of Ardbeg An Oa, Click Here and email us your contact details along with the phrase that dramming pays:

“Sip sip, hooray! I’d love to pour

and explore an awesomely Ardbegian

drop of new core range dramspankage”

 

*Remember to mark the subject line of your email with: Ardbeg An Oa

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

Ardbeg An Oa (46.6% ABV) is now available from specialist retailers, for a RRP of £49.00.

#ArdbegAnOa

 

For more information on Ardbeg, visit: ardbeg.com

 

Competition closes at 23:59 on Sept 22nd 2017. You have to be aged 18 years or over to enter!

Whisky Insiders Interview No.84 - John Rempe

Company:
Lux Row Distillers

Job:
Head Distiller & Master Blender

Website:
luxrowdistillers.com




How long have you been working in the whisky industry?
I’ve now been working in the industry and for Luxco for 19 years. I’m now responsible for all new product development for all of the company’s brands, which include Rebel Yell, Ezra Brooks and Blood Oath.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?
Launching my signature Blood Oath ultra-premium bourbon series. To be able to use my creativity in combining great bourbons and actually putting my name on the bottle. It’s just really something special to me.

Can you remember your first dram, and indeed what it was?
I would be lying if I said I did, that was way too long ago. But I remember when I first started in this business and sipping on my first sample of bourbon straight from a barrel. It was an unforgettable experience!

What does whisky mean to you?
To me, whisky in particular bourbon means history. Looking back on all the history associated with bourbon in this country, from its roots through all of the great master distillers, it’s just a great honour to be able to be a part of that.

Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time?
To be completely honest, I want to see myself doing exactly what I am doing today. I’ve got the best job in the world!  Why would I want to change that? I hope to be able to continue creating great bourbons for a long, long time.

What was your last dram?
My last dram was last night and it was a Rebel Yell 10 Year Old Single Barrel.

Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination?
For a good robust full flavoured well aged bourbon, nothing goes better with it than a perfectly cooked, medium rare ribeye steak. For a dessert pairing, I would encourage anyone to try a nice dark chocolate with that same well aged bourbon. The two are made for each other.

What’s your favourite time and place to enjoy a dram?
After work on the back patio enjoying the nice evening air with a great pour.

What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the whisky horizon?
Really, when I look on the whiskey horizon I just see more and more growth in the bourbon category in the foreseeable future. It’s a great time to be making bourbon.

What’s the one dram you couldn’t live without?
I would have to say Blood Oath Pact 3. The way the three bourbons came together on this one, coupled with the cabernet finish, it’s just something truly exceptional.

Many thanks to John Rempe. Who will be our next Whisky Insider? Click back soon to find out!

Mezan Rum Tweet Tasting

More social media based rumfotainment you say? Well allow us to gladly oblige with something richly rewarding and of the Caribbean variety.

 

Continuing our hugely successful triumphant teeming thong of Twitter trending Tweet Tastings, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce that on October 11th we’ll be teaming up with our friends at Marussia Beverages UK, to share, sip and savour a belting bounty of beautifully balanced rums from Mezan.

 

Full details to follow soon, but if you fancy pouring and exploring your way through a rumarkable collection of rare vintage rums from Jamaica, Trinidad and Panama click here to register your interest by emailing your name, address and Twitter handle, remembering to mark the subject line #MezanRum

 

Not only will the night provide an amazing opportunity for existing rum lovers to get up, close and personal with some of the Caribbean’s finest, it will also provide a the perfect bridging opportunity for those yet to discover the deep depths and delights of another sensational spirit.

 

The closing date to register is September 12th, and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of October 11th 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 rumfotainment. So we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on October 11th at 19:00 BST via #MezanRum

 

Registration open to over 18's only!

 

For more info on Mezan Rum, visit: mezanrum.com

 

@TheWhiskyWire

#MezanRum

 

Be part of the rumfotainment!

Benromach New Launch Tweet Tasting

Continuing our hugely successful triumphant teeming thong of Twitter trending Tweet Tastings, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce that on Monday September 18th, we’ll be teaming up again with our very good friends at Benromach, as part of the launch of an epic new expression.

 

We're delighted to announce that on the night we'll be pouring and exploring Benromach's new Triple Distilled release. A 2009 vintage whisky, that has been distilled in a wash still once and twice in a spirit still, before being matured in first fill bourbon barrels.

Full details to follow, but if you fancy being one of the first to sip and savour their latest splendorous Speyside sip, click here to register your details by emailing your name, address and Twitter handle, remembering to mark the subject line #BenromachWhisky

Also keep your eyes peeled on September 4th, as we may well be spilling some of the beans on the new release!

The closing date to register is August 31st, and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of September 18th 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 September 18th at 19:00 BST via #BenromachWhisky

Registration open to over 18's only!

 

For more info on Benromach, visit: benromach.com

 

@TheWhiskyWire

@Benromach

 

Be part of the dramfotainment!

Rum Insiders Interview - Ian Burrell

Company:
The Rum Experience

Job:
The Global Ambassador of Rum

Website:
rumfest.co.uk


 

How long have you been working in the rum industry?

I have been working in the industry for about 20 years. I started off working as a bartender, then as the UK’s first Rum brand ambassador and then as the World’s first global rum ambassador.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?
Creating the UK Rum Fest, the world’s first international Rum festival in London back in 2007. Before then, there were no rum events that attracted brands, aficionados, blenders and distillers to educate rum lovers through tastings, masterclasses and seminars. This October we will be hosting our 11th annual event.

Can you remember your first rum, and indeed what it was?
I can’t remember my first rum as I was four days old, but I’m told by mum that it was a 63% ABV Wray & Nephew Overproof rum. My mum is from Jamaica!

What does rum mean to you?
To me it’s more than a spirit, it’s a way of life!

Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time?
Five year's wiser than I am today.

What was your last rum?
I can’t remember as it was a very good night. But it was probably aged for several years and drunk neat.

Do you have a favourite rum and food pairing combination?
Rum and chocolate is a great combination, but I especially love rum and cold dry meats such as chorizo, ham, smoked beef and salami.

What’s your favourite rum based cocktail?
It’s hard to nail it down to one, but depending on my mood it would be either a Daiquiri, Rum Manhattan or Rum Old Fashioned.

What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the rum horizon?
True unadulterated premium rums. Especially from independent bottlers.

What’s the one rum you couldn’t live without?
The one in my glass, the next one or a FREE one!

Many thanks to Ian Burrell. Who will be our next Rum Insider? Click back soon to find out!