March 24, 2009
You know, I like my wine, I really like my vodka, but I think scotch/whisky will always hold a special place in my heart. Unfortunetly for me, I don't think I'm going to be in Chicago next week.
I do think it's sort of bad idea to hold this on a Wednesday, but what the hell. Here's the details of the Chicago WhiskyFest:
America's Largest Whisky Celebration
WhiskyFest Chicago will feature more than 200 of the world's finest, rarest, and most expensive, single malt and blended Scotch, Irish, bourbon, Tennessee, Japanese, Welsh, Canadian and other whiskies from around the world to sample in one Grand Ballroom. High-end rums, tequilas beer and other spirits will be represented as well.
The focus is on education, and many distillery representatives will be on hand at the pouring booths to explain how the whiskies are made. Seminars, many featuring their owns tastings, run throughout the evening. Meet distinguished members of the whisky community, and learn first-hand how their brands are made.
Attendees will also enjoy an expansive gourmet buffet all evening, plus coffee, tea, water and soda. Each attendee receives a commemorative Glencairn whisky glass for tastings.
The event is being held on April 1st. VIP tickets are sold out, but it looks like you can still grab a regular ticket for $95 HERE.
Posted by Ghostshark under Scotch,Spirits | Comments (0)
March 13, 2009
This is one of my all time favorites. One of my favorite four, the other three I will cover in later reviews.
Talisker 10 Year is one of the best scotches in the world at any price. It is the only single malt scotch from the Isle of Skye. Talisker has been in production since 1830 with a few rough patches in the middle. They also offer other editions as high as 30 years. Those other offerings are hard to find and rather expensive. The 10 year offering is the most common and possibly the best.
Talisker 10 year is extremely smooth and easy to drink, very light to the nose. It has a light smell of peat, sweetness, and blackberry. Very light taste with a peat start, barely sweet hint of pear dissolving into a slightly spicy middle, and a short dry finish.
Talisker 10 year is around $68 for 750ml. 45.8% alcohol. Bar prices range from $14 to $20. Order this one neat in a rocks glass or in a sniffer. Most higher end bars will have this one. Easy to find at any liquor store.
For your next special occasion or looking for a new to scotch and not sure what to try, Talisker 10 year is well worth exploring.
Enjoy,
D
Posted by Ghostshark under Reviews,Scotch | Comments (0)
March 10, 2009
I really need to come into some money so that I can start buying some great single malts like this.
The Glencadam Distillery has announced the release of a limited edition Highland Single Malt, aged 25 years. The whisky was distilled on 22 April 1983 and has since matured in Sherry cask number 1002.
Only 300 individually numbered bottles of this rare release were produced, and the bottle label also records the cask number and the date of distillation and bottling.
The bottling itself took place on 5 December 2008 at 46% ABV, with no chill filtration and without added colouring.
The Glencadam Distillery is located just outside the ancient city and former Royal Burgh of Brechin in the kingdom of Angus in the eastern Highlands of Scotland.
A single bottle is currently running around $190. Only place I've seen to buy a bottle is over at The Whisky Exchange HERE.
Posted by Ghostshark under Scotch | Comments (0)
February 12, 2009
Scotland is on my list of place to visit, and this might just move it up a few places. Here's a little bit about the trail from the site:
Each whisky distillery on the distillery tour follows its own traditions, lore and recipes for everything from malting the barley to the height and size of its stills. The unique characteristics of each Speyside whisky distillery result in delightful, hand-crafted whisky from each one. All offer visitors a sample of the finished product and some include an informative nosing and tasting while others give an insight into the complex art of blending whisky and malt.
Follow the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail through Speyside to seven working distilleries, including a fascinating cooperage and a historic distillery. From Benromach to Dallas Dhu, a perfect time capsule of whisky-making; from Glen Moray to Strathisla, home and heart of Chivas Regal; from the Glen Grant distillery to the Speyside Cooperage where real coopers work with incredible speed and skill; from Glenfiddich to The Glenlivet and the Cardhu distillery, Scotland’s whisky trail signposts lead you through the picturesque lush countryside of Speyside, the world’s favourite malt whisky region.
Come for a weekend in May, or in September for the whisky festivals, when distilleries, whisky shops, bars, pubs and whole villages welcome visitors with drams, special nosings, ceilidhs and other parties. Come at any time to enjoy famous names and share well-kept secrets with knowledgeable locals in well-stocked bars and friendly pubs.
Now that sounds like a good time. Also, two of the more notable stops on the list are the Glenfiddich and Glenlivet distilleries.
You can check out the site HERE.
Posted by Ghostshark under Scotch,Travel | Comments (0)
January 30, 2009
This is a really good idea.
Give Real allows you to buy anyone you want a drink, over the internet. Here's how it works:
1. You log onto the Give Real site HERE, pick a friend, and then send them a drink credit anywhere from $1 to $99. You can also attach a personal message to it.
2. Your friend receives an email saying they have received a free drink. They log into the site, and register a debt or credit card with Give Real.
3. Now, when you friend goes out to any bar or restuarant, they pay the bill with the registered credit card, and the amount you sent them is credited to their account.
You've officially bought them a drink.
It's a cool idea, and since it's just adding a credit to your card, you can use it anywhere. They've even made it really easy to do, with a link to Facebook.
If there's someone you want to buy a drink for, just head on over to the site HERE and sign up.
I would of course be happy to receive a drink, so feel free to send one to admin-dot-vicepost-at-gmail-dot-com, and I promise to say really good things about you. In fact, as long as you're not trying to kill me, I'll even let you select the drink.
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Posted by Ghostshark under Internet,Scotch,Spirits,Wine | Comments (1)
December 12, 2008
The makers of several different alcohols are hoping you're going to give someone one of their products for Christmas. To help you out, they'll print a custom label for you with a few personal lines of text. All for free. Here's the details:
Pernod Ricard USA is pleased to bring you our Customized Label Program. This is an exciting opportunity for US residents to order personalized labels for our most popular spirits-FREE. We will print your personal message on an authentic label for Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet and Kahlua bottles.
You can get up to five free labels per email address. The bottles they make the labels for are:
The Glenlivet 12 Year Old, The Glenlivet ® French Oak Finish™ Aged 12 Years, The Glenlivet 18 Year Old, The Glenlivet French Oak Reserve Aged 15 Years, Chivas Regal 12 Year Old, Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, and Kahlú.
It also looks like they might be getting ready to offer the same labels for Jacob's Creek Wine and Wild Turkey. They're listed in the examples section, but not something you can get yet.
You can hit the site HERE to create your labels.
Posted by Ghostshark under Scotch,Spirits | Comments (1)
December 9, 2008
This actually happened quite a while ago, back in April of this year, but I just recently ran across it and thought it was worth mentioning.
The single malt whisky Ardbeg Uigeadail (pronounced Oog-a-dal) is produced by Ardbeg Distillery on the island of Islay, and was named World Whisky of the Year by whisky authority and writer Jim Murray. The award was announced in the sixth annual edition of the the Jim Murray Whisky Bible, which contains 3,850 whisky tasting notes in all. Ardbeg Uigeadail received 97.5 points out of 100 – the highest rating ever awarded by Murray.
Ardbeg Uigeadail takes its name from the loch which provides the peat-laden water for Ardbeg. It uses a special vatting of casks matured in bourbon barrels and many older sherry casks that bring luscious, sweet, raisiny tones to the unique Ardbeg taste.
Ardbeg Uigeadail has also been awarded 9-1/4 points from Whisky Magazine and was on F. PAUL Pacult's list of scotch whiskies to be drinking in 2007.
The bonus here is that it doesn't have a totally outrageous price tag. A bottle will cost you somewhere around $90, and you can in fact buy one for that exact price over at The K.L. Wines HERE.
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Posted by Ghostshark under Scotch | Comments (1)
December 8, 2008
White Bowmore is a 43 year old single malt scotch. The price of a single bottle is around $3,700 USD. Well, Bowmore is giving away a bottle and you could be the winner. Here's more about this impressive scotch from the Bowmore site:
On the 5th of November 1964 the Bowmore spirit was filled into six bourbon casks and left to quietly mature in the deep, dark bowmore vaults. After more than forty three years, the bourbon oak wood has infused the Bowmore spirit with light luscious vanilla tones. The colour is golden syrup, with amazing aromas of Gallia melon, mango and papaya.
Only 732 bottles were obtained from the casks, but the result is outstanding. It is rare indeed to find a single malt scotch whisky of this quality and calibre. We now offer you the chance to win one of these exclusive bottles worth £2500.
You can head over to the Bowmore site HERE, and enter the contest.
Posted by Ghostshark under Scotch | Comments (0)