The Scotch Blog

Scotch Whisky Heritage no more?

Apparently the Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre is changing its name.

This news doesn't come from The SWHC, but from a press release from Nevis Design Consultants, an Edinburgh-based design firm.

The new name will apparently be The Scotch Whisky Experience which is a little cheesy for my taste, and doesn't have the cache of Scotch Whisky Heritage Center...but then again, no one asked me.

Any evidence of the name change or any mention of it has yet to make it to the Heritage Centre site

Read on for details...

Scotch Blog Reader discount

This just in from Michael Weltz at Park Grill East. They are offering a 30% discount to readers of The Scotch Blog for their Sunday, November 5th Scotch Tasting with Gordon & MacPhail.

Simply mention "The Scotch Blog" when making your reservation to receive the discount.

This from October 21st:

Michael Urquhart and Gordon & MacPhail at the Park Grill East

If you prefer the Upper East Side, you can have dinner with Michael Urquhart and sample Benromach and some special Gordon & MacPhail bottlings at the Park Grill East.

Dinner starts at 5:30. .
Cost:
Before October 31st: $149 $104.30
After wards: $199 $139.30

Details

Park Grill East
1564 2nd Avenue
(212) 717-8400

Ask The Collector - October

And now another installment of our very popular "Ask The Collector" column in which Sukhinder Singh of The Whisky Exchange answers questions about the value of collectible whisky.

The Collector is published on the last Friday of each month, though we generally respond to questions within a day or so (completely dependant upon Sukhinder's schedule).

Remember, when you are in London, you can visit The Whisky Exchange in Hanwell or at their satellite at Vinopolis near the Borough Market. And of course, The Whisky Exchange takes mail orders.

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Ground Rules

We are getting swamped with emails every month! Believe me, we get a LOT of questions and only a small percentage of them make it here - but we try to respond to everyone.

In order to help reduce the amount of work, I thought I'd establish some ground rules:

1. Before emailing, please look through the old "Ask The Collector" stories, to see if a similar bottle has already been appraised. If we get another question about the value of a bottle of White Horse from 1990, I'm going to put my head through the screen.
2. Some people have been leaving questions for Sukhinder in the comments. This is a no-no. I will assume any questions left in comments are for other readers to answer and NOT for Sukhinder - If you want Sukhinder's expert opinion please use the "...Ask the Collector" email address in the link to the right.
3. No questions will be considered without an included picture. I spend too much time asking people for pictures. Starting in 2007, I'm afraid we can't respond to any questions which don't include a picture of the bottle. In you don't include a picture, you won't get a response. Make sure your pictures include the fill level as well as the label and any distinguishing characteristics!
4. If Sukhinder makes an offer to buy your bottle, please do him the courtesy of responding whether you accept his offer or not.
5. Please visit The Whisky Exchange - either in person or via their website. Let's support Sukhinder, as he is providing this valuation services for free!

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Dear Collector,

As my father was cleaning out his house, he found this bottle of King's Ransom "Round the World" blended scotch whisky which my grandfather gave him (if he remembers correctly) in the early 1940's. On the label it says the bottle is 4/5 quart and is 94 proof. The bottle has never been opened and it has the original box.

It also has the original wire netting around the bottle. There is an international tax label from Newark, NJ and a State of Florida Liquor Excise Tax label as well. I am attaching a picture of the bottle so you can see it. Do you have any idea how valuable this bottle would be now, if any value. Also, do you know, is there a way to find out how old this whisky is and any information about this particular bottle? Thank you for your time and energy.

Sincerely,
Karl K.

Bottling outside of Scotland

Mel G. from Manila, Philippines asks:

Dear TSB,

Can a whisky distilled and blended in Scotland, but bottled in another country be called a blended Scotch whisky? There is a bit of an anomaly here in Philippines, a 5yo distilled in Scotland, but bottled here is labelled "blended Scotch whisky".

Your clarification is much appreciated.

-Mel

Too many Bruichladdich editions?

Mark Reynier of Bruichladdich took some time to expand on and respond to the issues I raised in the recent story "The Laddie" - specifically the discussion of whether or not there are simply too many Bruichladdichs in the market.

As always, Mark is blunt and to the point.

Read on...

Whisky Dinners anyone?

If you are in New York for Whisky Fest, and looking for a whisky dinner the night before (Sunday November 5), you have at least two choices I can recommend:

St Andrews and Highland Park welcome David Wishart

Dr. Wishart, author of Whisky Classified, will host a six course gourmet whisky banquet with Highland Park single malt whiskies. 

The St. Andrews is one of those places that, if you love whisky (and if you didn't you wouldn't be reading this) you must visit when in New York.

Dinner starts at 7:30.
Cost: $70
Details

St. Andrews
120 West 44th Street
(212) 840-8413

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Michael Urquhart and Gordon & MacPhail at the Park Grill East

If you prefer the Upper East Side, you can have dinner with Michael Urquhart and sample Benromach and some special Gordon & MacPhail bottlings at the Park Grill East.

Dinner starts at 5:30. Details.
Cost: $199

Park Grill East
1564 2nd Avenue
(212) 717-8400

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Hey Beantown!

There is another Gordon & MacPhail dinner with Michael Urquhart taking place; this one in Boston at the Restaurant L. Call 617-266-4680 for info.

Tuesday November 7th.

Dinner starts at 7:00 pm
Cost: $100

Restaurant L
(inside Louis Boston)
234 Berkeley Street

Harvard Alum?

Are you a Harvard Alum who is also a Scotch enthusiast?
02138 magazine contacted me and they are looking to write a piece about you.
Please contact me, and I'll put you in touch with them.
You'll be famous.

Words of Great Wisdom

Taken at The Pot Still in Glasgow.

Good stuff from Whisky School

Whisky School is written by James Thomson (who also is the principal behind LadyBank distillery, and is a Scotch/Internet pioneer who started Scotchwhisky.com as well as the Islay Whisky Society) and Gordon Wright (one of the original investors in Bruichladdich), though James does the bulk of the posts.

This is one of the few whisky related sites I visit regularly.

You'll always get a good perspective - they are full believers in the No B.S. philosophy.

Here, for example, is today's story which comments on the continuing pattern from "They who must not be named"; And is a sterling example of the type of commentary you can expect from Whisky School...

Brandy Library - Whisky Fest Events

This in from Ethan Kelley at the Brandy Library in New York:

Kevin,

We are still trying to juggle schedules.  Here's what I have so far.

• Friday before (November 3) Willie Tate from Jura 5-8pm tasting the new 21 year old. 
• Tuesday night (November 7) Martine Nouet will be here pitting Scotch against cognac with Flavien and myself from 5-8pm.
• Wednesday night (November 8) Lincoln Henderson from Suntory from 5-8pm.
• Friday (November 10th) from 5-8pm I will be introducing a new relationship with Gordon Macphail, by introducing the six newest bottles to our whisky wall.

Stayed tuned for more, or better yet, check out their web site for more details www.brandylibrary.com