Balblair Whisky Competition

To help celebrate the launch of the two latest vintage releases from the multi-award winning Balblair Highland single malt whisky distillery, were giving one of our followers the chance of winning a bottle of their dramspankingly new 2000 Vintage Second Edition.

Balblair 2000 Vintage Second Edition, was matured in a combination of American oak and ex-bourbon casks for 13 years, before spending five years in first fill Spanish oak butts, and is said to be full-bodied with aromas of seasoned oak, baked red apples and fruitcake, followed by warming vanilla and ripe tropical stone fruits.

In addition to the Balblair 2000 Vintage Second Edition, the brand has also launched the third edition of its 1991 Vintage, which was matured in a combination of American oak and ex-bourbon casks for 24 years, before spending three years in first fill Spanish oak butts, and is said to be expansive and complex with rich citrus fruits and vanilla notes as well as toffee and chocolate.

To be in with a chance of winning a bottle of the new Balblair 2000 Vintage Second Edition, Click Here and email us your contact details along with the phrase that dramming pays:

“I’d love to pour and explore

the new vivacious and vibrant,

bountiful and belting

vintage from Balblair”

 

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

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

#Balblair2000Vintage

@BalblairWhisky

@TheWhiskyWire

Balblair 2000 Vintage Second Edition and Balblair 1991 Vintage Second Edition, which are both bottled at 46% ABV, will be available later this month from specialist retailers, for the respective RRP's of £70.00 and £125.00.

For more information on Balblair, visit: balblair.com

 

Competition closes at 23:59 on February 9th 2018. You have to be aged 21 years or over to enter!

Quick Fire Whisky Tasting Notes

BenRiach Authenticus 30 Year Old

 

 

Nose: Subtly smoldering peat smoke - brine soaked samphire - raisins and sultanas steeped in bourbon - baked spiced apples - orange peel – poached pears drizzled with honey - aniseed twists - madagascan vanilla pods - mixed spice - warm treacle - M&S chocolate truffles - espresso coffee and Cafe Creme cigarillos.

Palate: Swathes of seductive peat smoke - blackberry coulis - vanilla rich crème brûlée - bread pudding - baked peaches - Cadbury's Old Jamaica chocolate bar - aniseed twists - sweet oak - stewed black builder’s tea and the subtlest suggestions of five spice.

Finish: A decadently delicious, deep dark lingering finish, that just keeps on delivering!

Summary: It’s always a genuine thrill to sip and savour a Speysider that pays homage to its peated past, and this latest release from BenRiach, which is punctuated perfectly by a punch of peat, is certainly no exception.

I would urge everyone to give this one a whirl if they can, but if £400 is beyond your bottle budget, heck its certainly beyond mine, keep your eyes peeled for a BenRiach stand at your next whisky festival, where you might just be lucky enough to be able to try a sample. Failing that and for just under £40, you could grab a bottle of their phenol-menal peated Curiositas 10 Year Old.

Releases from the BenRiach Distillery, seem to be coming thick and fast at the moment. Here’s hoping that they remain purposeful and don’t become a churn of all things filler and no killer.
 

 

Glen Moray Tweet Tasting III

Continuing our hugely successful triumphant teeming thong of Twitter trending Tweet Tastings into 2018, we’re dramspankingly delighted to announce that on January 24th (Burns Night Eve) we’ll be teaming up again with our good friends at Glen Moray, to share, sip and savour a gaggle of their glorious whisky wares.

All lips are sealed and mum’s the word at the moment, with regards to what we’ll be pouring and exploring on the night, but all will be revealed soon!

If you would like to take part in an evening that’s all about the gargantuan glory of Glen Moray, Click Here to register your interest by emailing your full name, full postal address and Twitter handle, remembering to mark the subject line #GlenMoray

The closing date to register is January 4th, and if you are registering to take part please make sure that you will actually be free on the evening of January 24th 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 January 24th at 7pm GMT via #GlenMoray

 

Registration open to over 18's only!

 

For more information on Glen Moray, visit: glenmoray.com

 

@TheWhiskyWire

 

@GlenMorayDist

 

Be part of the dramfotainment!

The Whisky Wire's 12 Drams of Christmas 2017

For the last seven years we’ve brought you our ’12 Drams of Christmas’ as chosen by you! So we thought it would only be rude not to do the same again this year, and use it as the perfect excuse to start getting into the festive spirit.

Since November 23rd, you’ve been nominating your top three favourite festive favourites in abundance, and after trawling through all the entries and tallying up all the nominations, here are our '12 Drams of Christmas' in ranking order, as chosen by you!

Just in case you're thinking of gifting any of this year’s dramspanking festive dozen, we've done all the hard work and have also included the most current and competitive retail details. Hootendrammy!

12 Drams of Christmas 2017

 

1. Glenfarclas 15 Year Old

Available from House of Malt for £47.95

 

2. Aberlour A’bunadh

Available from The Whisky Exchange for £48.95

 

3. Balvenie 12 Year Old Doublewood

Available from The Wee Dram for £36.95

 

4. Glenlivet 18 Year Old

Available from Celtic Whiskey Shop for £79.44

 

5. Jameson Irish Whiskey

Available from Sainsbury's for £18.00

 

6. Glenfiddich 15 Year Old

Available from Master of Malt for £38.95

 

7. Talisker 10 Year Old

Available from Master of Malt for £29.95

 

8. Lagavulin 16 Year Old

Available from Loch Fyne Whiskies for £46.45

 

9. Johnnie Walker Black Label

Available from Sainsbury's for £22.00

 

10. Benromach 10 Year Old

Available from Whisky Shop Dufftown for £33.95

 

11. Tamdhu 10 Year Old

Available from The Whisky Exchange for £34.95

 

12. Glengoyne 18 Year Old

Available from Master of Malt for £75.40

 

*Prices correct as of December 12th 2017

 

A huge thanks to all those who took part and entered, the response was absolutely phenomenal. In return for your nominations we added the names of everyone who entered into our virtual Santa hat for a chance to win a bottle of Tamdhu 12 Year Old - M&S Exclusive.

We’re delighted to announce that Jonathan Prior from Stoke, had his name drawn from the hat and is our winner. Congratulations, your bottle will be winging its way to you later this week!