Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes

Ailsa Bay

 

 

Nose: Bonfire ash, freshly laid tarmac, Wright’s coal tar soap, poly cement (Airfix) glue, damp hay bales, crispy smoked bacon, cayenne pepper, warm vanilla fudge, Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference lemon curd, pear drops, sugared almonds, green tea, ready rolled cake icing, Waitrose treacle tart and something rather sweet musk-esque.

 

Taste: Barbecue charred bacon rinds, coal dust, Lockets honey and lemon lozenges, linseed oil, freshly picked verbena leaves, Butterkist toffee popcorn, steamed syrup sponge pudding drenched in vanilla custard, Lindt chilli dark chocolate, mixed spice, grounds of black pepper and oodles of opulent charred oak.

 

Finish: A long, lush and lingering - sweet, smoky and spiced finish, that goes on and on and on and on…

 

Summary: A drop of pure dramming class in a glass! An outstanding very Islay-esque, cotemporary looking and traditional feeling first release from William Grant & Son’s new Lowland distillery brand. As with the Girvan and Kininvie additions to the WGS whisky portfolio over the last few years, we greatly look forward to following Ailsa Bay's progress and pouring and exploring its future whisky wares.

 

 

The Whisky Wire's 6th Birthday Competition

Today we've reached the ripe old age of six, and to help celebrate our 6th Birthday we’re giving one of our followers the chance of winning their height in whisky miniatures.

Between now and Sunday April 10th, we’re giving away a whole heaping height of delicious dramspankage, which will include a wealth of worldly whisky wares, along with a splenderous selection of some of Scotchlands finest.

To be in with a chance of winning Click Here and email us your contact details along with your height (we trust you to be honest malt mates) and the following phrase that dramming pays:

“I’d love to win The Whisky Wire’s

heaping height of whisky wares

and raise a glass to six years of

dramlaxing and dramspankery.”

*Remember to mark the subject line of your email with: 6th 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!

#TWW6

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 six years, and I look forward to raising a glass of something special to you all. Happy Dramlaxing!

Competition closes at 23:59 on April 10th 2016 the winner will be announced on April 12th. You have to be aged 18 years or over to enter. Maximum height given in prize will be 6.5ft.

Whisky Insiders Interview - Kevin Abrook

Company:
William Grant & Sons

Job:
Global Whisky Specialist - Innovation

Website:
williamgrant.com




How long have you been working in the industry?
My journey in the whisky industry began over 20 years ago in 1994 when I became Global Marketing Manager for Tullamore Dew after the company I was working for at the time, C&C, acquired the brand from Irish Distillers.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?
Thankfully there are quite a few, so the most recent innovations I worked on spring to mind.  In 2013 I launched The Girvan Patent Still Single Grain scotch, and Kininvie Single Malt, both of which played a key part in Wm Grants winning the trophy for Scotch Whisky and World Whisky Innovator of the year in 2013. It’s not every day you get to say you were involved in creating a ‘new’ category in Scotch, with single grain.

I am also very proud of the concept and design work I did for Ailsa Bay Single Malt. This is a fantastic peated single malt, but we couldn’t “out-Isaly Islay” with all their heritage and tradition; so the packaging had to have a contemporary look that reflected a modern, 21st Century distillery. I think it works well to convey this; I’m biased of course, but I hope others like it too.

Can you remember your first dram, and indeed what it was?
I can't remember what my first dram was, but it was certainly an Irish Whisky as I moved here in 1990 from the UK. I do remember my whisky ‘epiphany moment’ though. That was when I was tasting three different potential samples for the launch of Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old, the eventual winner [the current product] was quite simply sublime – and still is!

What does whisky mean to you?
Whisky can mean many things depending on the occasion, from chilling out with friends and highballs on a sunny patio, to quiet contemplation with a classic aged single malt. So I’ll answer a different question! What separates whisky from other spirits? For me it is a sense of specialness that elevates whisky above other drinks. It is more reflective, about winding down rather than winding up. I am at peace with the world with a whisky in hand.

Where would you like to see yourself in five years time?
Hopefully I will still be exciting, educating and informing people about whisky. It is a privilege to be working as Global Whisky Specialist and I feel very lucky to be working with such a range of whisky innovations...and you should see what’s coming down the line! There’s great camaraderie in the industry, despite the competitive nature of the business, which I love.

What was your last dram?
It was a Girvan No.4 Apps highball, with a thin slice of pear dipped in sugar syrup – you really should try it. Fantastic drink for the summer.

Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination?
Of course, it is known that whisky goes very well with chocolate and cheese, but when it comes to food in general I have to confess that I always thought wine was a better companion. That was until the press launch of The Girvan Patent Still in Paris. The chef created an absolutely stunning starter paired with The Girvan Patent Still No.4 Apps: Salmon baked with a hint of vanilla; served with an orange coulis. It complemented the vanilla and citrus notes of the Girvan single grain perfectly, and, being a lighter style of whisky, it did not dominate the salmon. The French food and wine journalists present even said it was genuinely better than white wine as a pairing for the dish – you know you’re on to something then!

What’s your favourite time and place to enjoy a dram?
Anywhere with like-minded people who appreciate what has gone in to making the whisky.

What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the whisky horizon?
Japanese whisky is on trend and has been for a while, but that has largely been amongst knowledgeable whisky consumers; now you will start to see it becoming big in the mainstream. Japanese whisky was given a boost when Jim Murray awarded Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013 the accolade of best whisky in the world for 2015, so it will be interesting to see if Canadian Whisky follows suit now that Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye is his 2016 selection. I hope so as it is often overlooked as a category. But ‘World Whiskies’ from non-traditional whisky making countries will begin to make an impact too as part of the broader ‘craft’ trend – whisky drinkers love to experiment and always will.

What’s the one dram you couldn’t live without?
Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old, the first new whisky I launched and my ‘epiphany moment’ dram.

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

Win a Bottle of Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old

Following on from our epic success of our Tullamore D.E.W. Tweet Tasting and to help kick off of this year’s St Patrick’s Day in style, we’re thrilled to announce that we’re teaming up again with our good friends at Tullamore D.E.W. to offer one of our lucky followers the chance of winning a bottle of their dramspankingly delicious 12 Year Old Irish blended whiskey.

Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old, is triple distilled, triple blended and triple cask matured. Made using all three types of Irish whiskey and matured in traditional refill, ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.

One of the many highlights from our recent trip to the distillery, where we hosted our Tweet Tasting, was being treated to a deconstructed tasting of the component whiskies which make up Tullamore D.E.W. All of which were superb but even after two weeks, we’re still blown away by the Single Malt and Pot Still elements, which are perfectly captured and have been superbly blended together in Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old.

For your chance to win a bottle of Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old, 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 pour and explore

the dramspanking Irish dramming

ditty that is Tullamore.”

*Remember to mark the subject line of your email with: #TullamoreComp

You can also follow @TheWhiskyWire and @TullamoreDEWUK on Twitter and RT one of TWW's related competition tweets for another chance to win!

#TullamoreComp

For more information on Tullamore D.E.W. visit: tullamoredew.com

 

Competition closes at 23:59 on March 20th 2016. Entry open to over 18's & UK residents only.

 

drinkaware.co.uk

Whisky Insiders Interview - Keith Cruickshank

Company:
The Benromach Distillery Company

Job:
Distillery Manager

Website:
benromach.com




How long have you been working in the whisky industry?
I’ve been working in the whisky industry for the past 25 years. I started out working for Chivas Brothers, beginning on the shop floor before moving to become Warehouseman and Distillery Operative, doing a little bit of everything, from cask handling to production, along the way. Then in 1998 I joined Benromach, working for 16 of my 18 years here as Distillery Manager.

What has been your biggest career highlight to date?
That’s a tricky one to decide. I don’t know if I could pick just one highlight from the past 25 years, but personally I would say that having the opportunity to revive Benromach Distillery and being part of the growth and successes over the years is definitely a big highlight. Also being able to see someone buying a bottle of Benromach and enjoying the whisky we’ve put so much time and effort into creating. That’s very special.

Can you remember your first dram, and indeed what it was?
My first dram would have been a Bell’s 12 Years Old. Believe it or not, I actually didn’t start drinking whisky until I was about 30. As you get older your palate starts to appreciate things in a different way, and I think that you begin to enjoy the finer things in life, such as whisky.

What does whisky mean to you?
Whisky has given me a lot of opportunities in my life, and has opened a lot of doors for me. Put simply, it’s what I do and what I’m passionate about. Several members of my family worked in the industry for so many years that it has almost become a way of life for me. Very few people these days have the opportunity to go from working on the shop floor to achieving Manager level, so I’ve been very privileged.

Where would you like to see yourself in five years’ time?
In five years’ time I still see myself at Benromach. I’ve been part of the Benromach journey right from the beginning, and we’re still learning and growing every day. In the last few years alone we have increased production over 200%, so in five years’ time I would like to see us reach the potential of what the brand, and the distillery, could achieve, and I hope to be right here steering the ship with the team.

What was your last dram?
The last dram I enjoyed was a Benromach 10 Years Old, which is currently my whisky of choice!

Do you have a favourite whisky and food pairing combination?
Whisky and food is a strange one, I like chocolate and cheese with whisky, and strangely enough Benromach goes well with both. Personally I prefer Benromach 10 Years Old with cheese, because I think you get even more flavours from the whisky, but there are so many options when it comes to food and whisky.

What’s your favourite time and place to enjoy a dram?
Without a doubt my favourite place to enjoy a dram of Benromach is at home.

What do you think is going to be the next big thing on the whisky horizon?
For the industry as a whole I think we need to continue to ensure we are delivering exceptional products to consumers across the world who are seeking authentic, high quality products with real provenance. Single malt whisky fits well with these aspirations. There continues to be exciting opportunities in both emerging and traditional whisky markets, as well the opportunity of attracting new consumers to single malt.

Here at Benromach it’s about looking ahead at how we’re going to grow and mature. We’ve now got a Benromach 5, 10 and 15 Years Old. We also recently released a rare and exclusive whisky crafted at the distillery before the Urquhart family, owners of Gordon & MacPhail, revived it in 1998. It’s all about looking ahead to how Benromach develops and grows over the coming years. I tend to look at our Benromach range as a family. We can see the difference in age and maturation in each of our expressions, just as we can with a family.

What’s the one dram you couldn’t live without?
At the moment it would have to be Benromach 10 Years Old, it’s a perfect example of what we do at the distillery and the ideal dram to showcase the classic pre-1960s Speyside character.

 

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

Become a part of distilling history at Kingsbarns

Back in January 2015 our good friends at Kingsbarns Distillery in Fife, started distilling for the first time, and in just under two years from now their first barrels of maturing spirit will legally be classed as Scotch whisky.

To celebrate the first anniversary of the Wemyss family owned distillery, they've launched the Kingsbarns Distillery Founders’ Club. Limited to just 3000 members, it will provide a unique opportunity for those who sign up to be part of its distilling history.

As a member of the Kingsbarns Founders’ Club, you will be one of the first to own and sample single malt whisky produced at the Kingsbarns Distillery. Not only will you receive a bottle of the inaugrul Kingsbarns Single Malt Founders’ Reserve in 2018, you will also receive further Founders’ Club Reserve bottlings annually until 2022.

For more information and to sign up as a member click here