London Whisky Weekender Tweet Tasting

This is London Calling!  Continuing their mission of bringing whisky to the people, those dramineers at The Whisky Lounge along with cutting edge East London venue Oval Space, are joining forces to bring the craft, innovation and heritage of whisky to the people of the capital as part of the first ever London Whisky Weekender.

The three day festival which kicks off on May 16th will boast some of the best known names in whisky industry, along with a whole host of small, craft distillers.

Over the weekend there will be a whole host of whisky based dramanagins, including exclusive tastings of rare pre World War II whiskies on the rooftop overlooking one of the last remaining Blitz sites in London, along with an East End whisky cocktail bar curated by Molecular cocktail specialist Lounge Bohemia on Oval.

The London Whisky Weekender will invite visitors to delve deeper into the history and production of this sophisticated spirit.

To start getting in the swing of things we’re thrilled to announce that we'll be hosting a very special blind Tweet Tasting, that will preview and feature some of the finest drams on offer over the big weekend.

So if you’re free on the evening of May 8th and would like to take part in a very special evening of pre festival tweet tastery, register your interest by emailing your name, postal address and Twitter handle via the contact tab, remembering to mark the subject line #WhiskyWeekender

The closing date to register is May 3rd and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the night!

This particular tasting is open to UK residents only!

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the night’s dramspankery, so we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on May 8th at 7pm BST via hash tag #WhiskyWeekender

For more info on The London Whisky Weekender and to book tickets Click Here

For more info on The Whisky Lounge visit: thewhiskylounge.com

 

For more info on Oval Space visit: ovalspace.co.uk

 

Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes #36

Ardbeg Auriverdes

 

 

Nose: Freshly laid tarmac, charred rashers of middle back smoked bacon, crispy mackerel skin, burnt granary toast crusts, hoisin sauce, Maldon sea salt flakes, freshly chopped ginger, a Caffè Nero mocha, dried tobacco, pink grapefruit zest, lemon crème brûlée and a pleasantly protruding peppery peatiness.

Palate: A demerara sugar and mustard glazed ham, a portion of Bodean’s burnt ends, crispy bacon rinds, a petering peat fire, roasted parsnips, a Starbucks double shot vanilla latte, smoked walnuts, a light dusting of cocoa and a bag of rhubarb and custard sweets.

Finish: A long lingering, gutsy giver of a charismatically charred and smoky spiced finish.

Summary: Another bountiful, belting and extremely well balanced drop of Ardbegian dramspankage, which will be released as part of this year’s Ardbeg Day celebrations on May 31st.

 

The name 'Auriverdes' in case you’re wondering derives from the colour of the golden whisky (auri) in Ardbeg’s iconic green bottle (verde). It’s also the nickname of Brazil’s national football team, who along with this year's World Cup are the inspiration for Ardbeg’s Peat Football Tournament, which will be kicking off globally on Ardbeg Day.

 

Big Peat Tweet Tasting

Continuing our teaming throng of Tweet Tastings, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce our 45th event on May 21st, when we’ll be teaming up yet again with our good friends at Douglas Laing & Co for an evening which will be as much about Big Peat as Big Peat!

Our lips are sealed with regards to the details just for now, but I can tell you it’ll be another belter of a blind tasting.

If you would like to take part in what promises to be a dramspanker of a night, register your interest by emailing your name, postal address and Twitter handle via the contact tab, remembering to mark the subject line #BigPeat

The closing date to register is April 27th 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 dramspankery, so we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on May 21st at 7pm BST via hash tag #BigPeat

Until then Happy Dramlaxing!

For more information on Douglas Laing & Co visit: douglaslaing.com

Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes #35

Arran 17 Year Old

 

 

Nose: A big wedge of homemade pear and almond tart, a steamed syrup sponge pudding, Waitrose Madagascan vanilla custard, orange peel, lime zest, toffee apples, candy floss, Rowse set organic honey, Fry’s Turkish delight, wood spice, sweet oak, ground cinnamon, anise and a blink and you’ll miss it kick-ette of clove oil.

 

Palate: Poached pears, Thorntons orange Seville continental chocolates, Sainsbury’s spiced apple cake, Mirabelle plums, sugared almonds, ground white pepper, freshly chopped ginger, cinnamon infused honey, ground cloves and a wisp of wood smoke.

 

Finish: A spicy zinging sweet treat of a finish, that neither under or overstays its welcome on the palate. A perfect party guest of a dram!

 

Summary: I know what I’ll be drinking this Summer! A lovely light and lush drop of dramspankage, that’d make for a perfect early evening pour on a late July evening, or if you fancy something tall and cool over the next few months, it also makes for a cracking highball!

 

 

Wemyss Tweet Tasting III

Continuing our hugely successful string of Tweet Tastings, we’re absolutely thrilled to announce that for our 44th event on May 15th, we’ll be exploring another wave of wondrous whisky wares from Wemyss.

Full details to follow soon, but if you fancy sampling some of their latest single cask and blended offerings, register your interest by emailing your name, daytime delivery address and Twitter handle via the contact tab, remembering to mark the subject line: #WemyssTT3

The closing date to register is April 18th, 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 dramspankery, so we look forward to seeing you over on Twitter on May 15th at 7pm BST via hash tag #WemyssTT3

Until then Happy Dramlaxing!

For more information on Wemyss Malts visit: wemyssmalts.com

Whisky Insiders Interview - Jan Beckers

Company:
Douglas Laing & Co

Job:
Global Malt Ambassador

Website:
douglaslaing.com

How long have you been working in the whisky industry?
I started my professional Whisky life as a summer guide at Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown in 1998. It was an excellent stepping stone and it is impressive to see how many of my former colleagues managed to continue in the world of Whisky.

 

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?
One was bottling the first cask that I selected when I joined Douglas Laing, the other winning Whisky Ambassador of the Year in 2011.

 

Can you remember your first dram, and indeed what it was?
Helping my mum in the kitchen with all kinds of sauces as a kid, I might have spilled some of my late grandfather’s Old Smuggler on my fingers and tried it that way. Although my first proper taste of whisky was under the good guidance of my older brother, it was a Chivas Royal Salute 21 Year Old. We’re talking late 80’s here and there was hardly any Single Malt out there at the time. I still like to revisit it once in a while.

 

What does whisky mean to you?
Whisky travels with me wherever I go. It started off as a keen hobby and developed to a fantastic job, which I can combine with my other passions, cooking and photography.

 

Where would you like to see yourself in five years time?
Since Douglas Laing & Co went through some big changes over the last year, I’m looking forward to be a part of the progress of this family owned company.

 

What was your last dram?
Yesterday we had some Americans in the office and we wanted to confuse them a bit with a 5 Year Old Sherry matured Aultmore, that we recently bottle as our 1000th Provenance bottling. Knowing this dram very well, I felt like joining them.

 

Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination?
Anyone who has met us on one of the Scottish Whisky events might have tried my Big Peat & dark Belgian chocolate mousse combo. My latest thing now is Oven baked apple with a speculaas crumble, macerated raisins and an Earl Grey tea infused custard paired with Scallywag.

 

What’s your favourite time and place to enjoy a dram?
Being in the company of friends and pouring them one of my drams (or have them pour a dram for me... even better actually).

 

What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the whisky horizon?
There is a big difference in Whisky & Whisk(e)y and where the Scotch Whisky industry is more tied to traditions (not a bad thing), I am looking forward to try some of the experiments that boutique distilleries around the world will come up with.

 

What’s the one dram you couldn’t live without?
The next one!

Many thanks to Jan Beckers. Who will be the next Whisky Insider? Click back soon to find out!

The Whisky Wire's 4th Birthday Competition

On April 6th we reach the ripe old age of four, and to help celebrate our 4th Birthday we’d love to share some of our favourite whiskies that have featured on the website in one way or another over the last four years.

 

So between now and April 6th we’re giving one lucky follower the chance of winning a bottle of Compass Box Great King Street Artist’s Blend (one of the finest examples of blendage we’ve come across in the last four years) a bottle of Elijah Crag 12 Year Old (a rich and remarkable drop of liquid Americana) a bottle of Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky (not only a superb example of South African whisky but also a gargantuanly glorious drop of grainage) and a bottle of Glenlivet 12 Year Old (proof if proof is needed that no matter if you’re into your 4th or 40th year of your whisky journey, you should never forget those cracking core range classics).

To be in with a chance of winning all four bottles of the above mentioned dramspanking deliciousness, all you need to do is Click Here and email us your contact details along with the following phrase that dramming pays:

“I’d love to win The Whisky Wire’s Fourth Birthday bounty of four fine and frolicking drops of dramspanking drammage”

*Remember to mark the subject line of your email with: Birthday Comp

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!

While I’m at it I’d like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your support over the last four years, and I look forward to raising a glass of something special to you all on April 6th. Happy Dramlaxing!

Competition closes at 23:59 on April 6th the winner will be announced on April 8th. You have to be aged 18 years or over to enter.