DrinkedIn Trends

November 24th, 2016

THE BALVENIE REVEALS MUCH-ANTICIPATED CHAPTER TWO OF THE BALVENIE DCS COMPENDIUM 

‘The Influence of Oak’ explores Malt Master David Stewart MBE’s masterful leveraging of different wood types  

Following the momentous launch of The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter One in October 2015, today the eagerly anticipated The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter Two is unveiled. Titled ‘The Influence of Oak’, this chapter features five extremely rare single malt whiskies. It highlights the complex manner in which different oak barrels influence the flavour of the spirit during the maturation process.

The Balvenie DCS Compendium is Malt Master David Stewart MBE’s handover of his knowledge in both written and liquid form that will see 25 rare and vintage casks released over five years. The Balvenie DCS Compendium captures the breadth of David’s achievement and contributions to the industry and his craft.

David pioneered double cask maturation or finishing during a 54 year career at The Balvenie, a legacy most notably fulfilled in The Balvenie 12 YO DoubleWood. This chapter showcases his vast knowledge and unrivalled expertise in understanding this process, which he has harnessed to craft whiskies of exceptional quality.

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2016 – Bowmore: From One Master To Another

If you made a list of the all the Scotch whiskies to try before you die, it’s a fair bet that Black Bowmore would be on it. And for those in The Whisky Show’s 2016 Bowmore masterclass, not only did they tick that particular whisky off their list, they also got to try it in the presence of Eddie MacAffer (master distiller) and David Turner (distillery manager), who have a staggering 75 years’ experience of Bowmore between them.

Edide MacAffer (left) and David Turner of Bowmore (© Simon J Hanna)

Eddie has just retired, and has passed the baton to David, so this could have been the final time the duo sat down to talk about the whiskies they have made together. ‘This will go down as a legendary tasting,’ began our host, whisky writer Dave Broom. He wasn’t wrong.

In Their Own Words – Eddie MacAffer and David Turner

Eddie: ‘They used to give us a bottle of Bowmore Deluxe a month, rather than a few drams a day. But they must have decided it was too good, because they started giving us bottles of Rob Roy instead’

David: ‘When Bowmore gets to 17 or 18 years sold, the smoke tends to die out, and you get a lot more stewed fruit’

November 1st, 2016

November 1st, 2016

November 1st, 2016

Many people get queasy just hearing the word “technology.” All the options can give you the spins. In the hospitality business, we’re all about real life experiences and relationships – and, of course, the success of our businesses and lives. But the right kinds of technologies can enhance those experiences and relationships, help you make/save more money, and even free up more time to enjoy yourself.

Even if the words “social media” or “app” normally prompt you to run for the door, please pull up a chair and read on. I’ll keep things practical and simple!

Digital Marketing

1. Although social media has not quite hit adulthood, it has reached a stage of maturity and integration, with many tools and systems available to make content generation and deployment and results tracking easier than ever before. Digital content is rich with images and video. Despite the fact video tool Vine just died a quick death, visual digital apps like Snap (formerly Snapchat), Instagram, and live video integrated into Facebook and Twitter are alive and well. Here is who is using each of the media forms, so you can target your marketing plan to your customer base. (Be sure to check stats often, because the landscape is always shifting!)

2. By next year, 223 million people will own smartphones. Make sure your content (website and other online communications) are mobile-friendly. Consider charging stations as a way of generating new revenue and utilize text-based permission-based marketing programs.

CHIVAS REGAL AND JAVIER BARDEM DISCUSS THE POWER OF SHARED SUCCESS

Today sees luxury whisky brand Chivas Regal launch a rallying cry to recognise the power of shared success through a 360 degree advertising campaign. The latest instalment of the Win the Right Way advertisement campaign features winner of the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival 2010, Javier Bardem (Skyfall), and is a demonstration of the power and impact of working together to achieve success.

In addition, the campaign delves into the stories of successful social entrepreneurs from across the globe including South Africa, Australia, Uruguay and Mexico, along with finalists from Chivas The Venture. The cast featured in the campaign brings to life the Win the Right Way campaign by exploring the stories behind the people and experiences that have helped them to achieve success.

Javier Bardem says “The most successful people I know take success and failure in the same way; you have to learn from both experiences in order to make yourself a stronger person. By surrounding yourself with people who are honest with you and by helping them in return, you will achieve success together. So, here’s to those that try, for in trying they make the world a better place.”

Richard Black, Global Brand Director, Chivas Regal says “At Chivas Regal we believe in sharing success, supporting local communities, and investing in social business. This is one our founding beliefs and is at the core of everything we do. Our latest campaign allows us to continue to champion our commitment to Win the Right Way together and gives us an opportunity to reinforce this belief in entrepreneurial thinking and generosity around the world.”

Chivas Regal Ultis, the latest product offering that is the essence of Chivas Regal, launches at the same time embodying the brand’s belief in the power of shared success and will feature in the Win The Right Way campaign in select regions.

We’ve been waiting for just the right day to release the last two whiskies from our most recent container of Scotch whisky. The drizzle is finally coming down outside, the Fall weather is beginning to encroach, and the time is right for ultra-mature, warming and robust Islay whisky. The island of Islay is the spiritual home of whisky. It’s Scotland’s Mecca for single malt pilgrims who travel around the world to visit the legendary whisky locale. But no one wants to think about sipping an old, complex, and smoky glass of 35 year old Caol Ila when it’s 92 degrees outside and the sun is shining. You drink old Caol Ila when the skies are grey, the air is crisp, and you need that bit of Islay warmth to lift your spirits after a day of winter weather. Islay itself is a region weathered by the elements. It’s windy, and rugged, and heavily shaped by the surrounding sea. Over time, that environment has shaped both its residents and its whiskies as well. After spending decades in oak barrels, these two Islay whiskies are finally ready to show you their splendor. Those looking to get an early start on the holiday shopping season will want to act quickly. Ultra-mature Islay whiskies are enough of a rarity these days as is, let alone at reasonable prices like these. The weakened British Pound definitely helped us work down the costs. When you deal with merchants like us who buy direct, you get the benefit of the currency exchange (so long as they pass it on to you like we do). In this case, you can enjoy true single malt luxury for prices that are much more reasonable than what the general market is currently offering. Quantities are extremely limited, however; especially in older casks like these where the volume has evaporated over time. If you or a loved one is a fan of Islay whisky, you won’t want to miss these.

[see Cover Photo]

1987 Bunnahabhain 28 Year Old “Hunter Laing Old & Rare” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) $199.99 While peated whisky fans will fawn over the 35 year old Caol Ila we’re releasing in tandem here, the Bunnahabhain 28 year is the whisky for those who love nuance and restraint. There’s no heavy smoke to be inhaled in this jewel of a single malt. There’s little smoke, whatsoever, actually. This ancient Islay whisky has everything we love about the standard Bunnahabhain 18, just with an additional ten years in wood and a drinkable cask strength proof of 49.1%. There’s that earthy, resinous stonefruit on the palate that we love so much; a creamy and supple texture that haunts your senses. The salted caramel comes in later, washing over the back of the mouth like a wave off the coast of the sea nearby the distillery. Considering the standard edition Bunnahabhain 25 was released earlier this year for a whopping $900 per bottle, our direct import program comes out looking great with this release. For $700 less you get three additional years and an unfiltered, undiluted purity. Fans of Islay whisky will be thrilled with the complexity and the value. Fans of whisky in general should consider grabbing more than one of these. Unfortunately, however, the older the cask, the more the evaporation. There’s less than 200 total bottles of this beauty. We recommend grabbing one quickly.

October 31st, 2016

October 31st, 2016

October 31st, 2016

October 29th, 2016

October 29th, 2016

GOLDEN DECANTERS LAUNCHES FIRST COLLECTION OF THE

FINEST SINGLE CASK SCOTCH WHISKIES

London – October 18th, 2016. Julia Hall Mackenzie-Gillanders and Ann Medlock, Owners, today announced the launch of Golden Decanters, independent curators of exceptional and distinctive single cask whisky, bottled for collectors globally.

By leveraging its status as an independent bottler Golden Decanters is able to explore Scotland’s exclusive and finest distilleries, tasting some excellent casks of single malt. It acquires only a small number of the best tasting casks, to bottle a limited edition collection of distinctive and singularly great single malt whiskies.

Golden Decanters’ inaugural collection is diverse in age, flavour and hue, taken from four of the finest casks of single malt Scotch whisky. The casks are from the distilleries of Glenlivet in Speyside, Bowmore in Islay, Ben Nevis in the Highlands and Auchentoshan in the Lowlands.

CHARLES MACLEAN HANDPICKS COLLECTION OF 30 WHISKIES FOR EDINBURGH BAR

World-renowned whisky expert curates guest whisky list from his personal collection and auction for The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s new Kaleidoscope bar

Whisky fans across the country may want to book a trip to Edinburgh as soon as possible with the news that international whisky doyen Charles MacLean has handpicked a guest whisky list of 30 old and rare bottles for the city’s new whisky bar, Kaleidoscope.

The Edinburgh-based whisky specialist and star of 2012’s whisky-inspired film ‘The Angel’s Share’ has curated a guest selection of 30 exceptional whiskies from his personal collection and auction for Kaleidoscope. The bar was recently opened by The Scotch Malt Whisky Society following a £300,000 makeover of its 28 Queen Street venue.

October 28th, 2016

Taking the Arran Waters:

Second release in history-inspired Smugglers’ Series from the Isle of Arran Distillery 

Now in its 21st year, the award-winning Isle of Arran Distillery continues to celebrate the whisky-making heritage of its island home with the highly-anticipated second release in its Smugglers’ Series.

The Smugglers Series’ honours the tradition of the illicit whisky trade that operated from Arran and up the Clyde to Glasgow. Each release is ‘smuggled’ in unique packaging reminiscent of the hiding places used in the 18th and 19th centuries. Smugglers’ Series Vol. 2 ‘The High Seas’ is presented in packaging that mimics a beautiful hardbound book, complete with a cut-out compartment that conceals the bottle.

This dram is a powerful marriage of whisky matured in the finest rum casks with time-honoured peated spirit and a rich layer of first-fill Bourbon barrel adding sweetness and fruit.

October 27th, 2016