The Scotch Blog

Back. But for how long?

Yes I am back. But life has been crazy.

Returned from the World Whisky Conference a week or so ago...and like any good friend, I brought gifts.

For you, I have these very special hats.

The "[e]" will mystify your friends until you tell them that that [e] represents the "e" in American whiskey. The hats are brought to you courtesy of my friends at Beam Global Spirits & Wine.

I see no indication that the general public has access to these hats, so they are [e]xtra sp[e]cial.

I have 5. I'm keeping one for myself, so the other 4 are up for grabs.

You know the deal.

First 4 emails to claim their hat get the opportunity to pay $3 (shipping & handling). Once you've paid, the hat will be on its way to you.

PLEASE NOTE: that $3 is ONLY applicable to US citizens... If you are not in the US, let me know where you live, and I'll let you know what the shipping cost will be.

If I see any of these hats on eBay, I'll cut you off from any future give-a-way.

If you aren't quick on the draw, I'll give the next 6 people the opportunity to grab one of the Macallan hats.

And yes - I have some stories I am working on.

Like:

• An explanation of the new Scotch Whisky Regs.
• A chat with Stuart Nickerson of Glenglassaugh
• A review of the Highland Park 40 year old, which I got to try while visiting Edrington.
• My visit to Maker's Mark
• Whatever else I have.

I have to warn you...a very hectic schedule combined with a profound case of writers block have limited the number of stories in the pipeline - but with a liberal peppering of freebies, you'd be daft to not keep reading...

UPDATE: All 4 hats were claimed almost immediately... as of right now only 2 have been paid for, but I like to give people a little time. If the last 2 are not paid, I'll contact the next 2 people to email me....

Macallan Hat Day

When I was but a lad, one of the most exciting things in my life was "Hat Day" at Yankee stadium.

My friends at the Macallan have sent me a metric assload* of fine Macallan caps to distribute as I see fit. So I thought I'd have a year-long "hat day".

I'll be saving some of said hats for distribution at tastings and birthday presents (j/k).

But I want to shower you, The Scotch Blog readership with the lion's share.

Ah this brings back fond memories of the great 2006 Spring hat give-a-way.

So, how do you claim yours?

In any number of ways.

1. Order a copy of my book and I'll throw one in for free (offer only valid at DoceonPress).
2. I'll give away 10 at a time on random days. As usual, be the first to respond when I announce a give away, and claim yours (You pay for postage). THIS IS NOT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF A GIVE AWAY.
3. Make an outstanding comment and you may be gifted with a hat. (What constitutes an "Outstanding Comment" is up to the sole discretion of the judging panel [uh, me]). I pay for postage, unless you are overseas... Also making a comment on a past story does not count.
4. Give me a good reason to give you one. (What constitutes a "good reason" is up to the sole discretion of the judging panel [uh, again, me]). <Just an example - I'd REALLY like to get my hands on a DVD of the 3rd season of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" wink, wink>
5. Send me a great story about the Macallan. Submission of any story equates to your granting me permission to post said story on this site, regardless of "hat remuneration" (f'ing lawyers make me say that).
6. Reasons to be named at a later time. I can be fickle and unpredictable. Deal with it.
7. OH, and by the time you read this, those fine folks who have signed up for the Mailing List have ALREADY had their whack at the first 20 hats.

I'll be distributing the hats over the course of the year - until I run out, or I tire of going to the post office.

This offer may be with drawn at any time.

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* That's a lot of hats.

No. this is not a paid promotion. The guys at Macallan love me, and I love you. In a totally hetero way.

12 days of Scotchmas: Calendar

Continuing our "12 days of Scotchmas" gift guide.

Yes I originally talked about this one in October, but it IS a great gift...and there's more...

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2008 "Malts of Scotland" Scotch Calendar.

Think of the calendar as a 12 month tasting notebook, as each month features a large shot of the featured bottle along with tasting notes, some information on the distillery, maps of the distillery and factoids. The pictures are large, clear and attractive. The layout is great and best of all it's informative.

The calendar should make the whisky geek in your life (uh, I mean you) quite happy. 

Suggested retail is USD $12.99 (CDN $17.99; GBP £10.99) - though of course it's available cheaper through Amazon: 2008 Scotch Calendar

And GUESS WHAT?!?!

Yep, I have another one to give away, which I will again give free of charge (that includes postage) to the second person person to send in a picture of themselves wearing the new The Scotch Blog or Free Scotland shirt.

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This is NOT a paid promotion.

12 days of Scotchmas: Whisky DVD

Continuing our "12 days of Scotchmas" gift guide.

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A few years ago in London I picked up a great little DVD called "Scotch Whisky: The Myth and the Magic"

Produced by HeeHaw Publishing who specialize in Scottish interest.

Our products present engaging and informative portraits of Scotland, concentrating on popular Scottish themes and significant eras in Scotland’s fascinating history. They present an entertaining and in-depth view of Scotland's turbulent past and unique culture and are sold throughout the UK, Europe, the US and Canada.

Why are you telling me about a 4 year old DVD?

Originally released in 2003, the DVD has received a cosmetic makeover (the actual documentary is the same). This means that if you have the version with the old cover, there's no need to pick this one up.

For your Scotch Geek wish list

Things show up in my mailbox with increasing frequency; most of them are liquid - but more and more of it is printed material.

Like the 2008 "Malts of Scotland" Scotch Calendar.

Think of the calendar as a 12 month tasting notebook, as each month features a large shot of the featured bottle along with tasting notes, some information on the distillery, maps of the distillery and factoids. The pictures are large, clear and attractive. The layout is great and best of all it's informative.

The calendar should make the whisky geek in your life (uh, I mean you) quite happy. 

One thing you may notice - the products of one large whisky producer are conspicuously missing.  Let me guess - they wanted to charge a fee for the use of their products likenesses?

Bingo.

Another short sighted move from my favorite whipping boy. Rather than having a bottle of one or more of their tasty malts displayed for a month at a time all over the world, they'd rather make a quick buck. I wonder if they'll start applying that same tactic for whisky guides?

Anyway...

Suggested retail is USD $12.99 (CDN $17.99; GBP £10.99) - though of course it's available cheaper through Amazon: 2008 Scotch Calendar

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Oh hold on a second, they sent 2 copies.

One of you lucky bastards gets one for free. What do you have to do? keeping with the calendar theme, be the first one to email me with MY (not your) birthday. Then you pay for shipping.

Let the googling begin.

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UPDATE: PLEASE stop emailing my my birth date!

This calendar (like all TSB give-a-ways) was snatched up very soon after the story went live.

I don't always get a chance to let you know that the give-a-ways are gone. But you can pretty much rest assured that withing 1-2 hours after a story goes live, you don't have a chance!

The calendar went to Zachary V.

Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey

This past March at Binny's Whiskies of the World expo (Chicago), I had the opportunity to meet Jess Graber, the man behind Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey and sample his wares.

I also had the opportunity to chat briefly with him the next night at the Chicago Whisky Fest. But it wasn't until very recently that I had a chance to sit down with Jess without people jamming a glass in his face.

There's a growing number of non-bourbon, non-rye American whiskies hitting the shelves. Yep. Single malt American is becoming a category - but Jess disdains the term "Single Malt Whisky" (even though that is exactly what his product is) and instead prefers the simple moniker of Colorado Whisky.

Stranahan's exudes an elegant ruggedness (or a rugged elegance, if you prefer), much like the state in which it is produced. If you've spent any time in Colorado, this statement will make sense. The people of Colorado revel in the fact that they are surrounded by some of the most incredible natural beauty in the world. Yet Colorado also provides some of the most genteel and sophisticated amenities you'll find anywhere.

The Package

That elegance starts with the packaging. According to Jess, "The bottle says 'Colorado'", and you can see what he means. The labeling is minimalist, allowing the whiskey to speak for itself; the bottle ia tall and slender while the neck and mouth are crowned by a tall metal cap. That cap is more than mere decoration - it's meant to replicate the look of a frontier closure - but it also serves a more mundane, and useful purpose - it conveniently doubles as a 3 ounce tasting cup. Coloradans spend a lot of time outdoors and by providing the tasting cup, Jess effectively turns the bottle into a flask.

Winners of the Irish Toast Contest

Announcing the winners of the Bushmill's Irish Toast contest!

Each winner will receive a Bushmill's Irish Rugby jacket; baseball cap and Rugby Ball!
All courtesy of my friends at Old Bushmill's distillery. Not bad.

Thanks for all the submissions. Some were great and some sucked - several made absolutely no sense, but at least people tried to be creative.

The final winners were chosen by two random girls in an Irish pub. Though neither of the girls were Irish, both were pretty hot.

My tip of the year: Want to talk to hot girls in an Irish pub? Ask them to be the judges in an Irish Toast contest.

And without further ado... here are your winners (in no particular order)...

Cooley Distillers and Connemara mini-flasks

The first new Irish distillery in over 100 years, Cooley Distillery PLC was formed in 1987 - and their first Malt Whiskey was distilled in 1989 – but it wasn’t until 1991 that Cooley’s distilled a peated single malt. Yes, that's right. I said peated.

Cooley’s whiskies are all distilled at the Cooley distillery (named for the Cooley peninsula on which the distillery sits) and matured at the warehouses at Locke’s Distillery (also owned by Cooley Distillery PLC) in Kilbeggan - the oldest licensed distillery site in the world (1757) per Monday's story, Cooley plans to begin distilling  at Kilbeggan, next week. To this point, the distillery has only been used for warehousing and the Cooley cooperage. Cooley Distillery is not only independent, it’s the ONLY independent in Ireland AND the only Irish owned distillery.

May you be in heaven...

Yeah, yeah, yeah, we've all heard that one... but it's time for something funnier, better, NEWER!

I'd like to ask everyone out there to submit their favorite and/or most original Irish toasts:

And Yes...there will be a special prize (courtesy of Old Bushmill's distillery) for the best submission.

Get yours in as soon as possible, but no later than Friday at Noon EST (GMT - 5)

Winner to be announced Friday at 6 pm EST (GMT - 5) (just in time for St. Patrick's Day).

Submit via comments and/or email.

By submitting a toast you are affirming that you are of legal age to consume alcohol in your country of residence.

Here are some starters courtesy of Colum Egan, Bushmill's Master Distiller...

May you die in bed at 95, shot by a jealous spouse.

Here's to a long life and a merry one.
A quick death and an easy one.
A pretty girl and an honest one.
A good dram -- and another one!

Here's to women's kisses,
and to whiskey, amber clear;
Not as sweet as a woman's kiss,
but a darn sight more sincere!

There are good ships,
and there are wood ships,
There are ships that sail the sea.
But the best ships, are friendships,
And may they always be.

To our wives and girlfriends...
May they never meet.

May you be rich in blessings
And poor in misfortune
Quick to make friends
And slow to make enemies
But rich or poor, quick or slow,
May you only drink Bushmills from this day forward. 

Whisk(e)y Events and something for free

This in from The Party Source in Bellevue Kentucky.

The Irish do not need their famous luck when it comes to making whiskey. Their native spirit—probably the earliest distillation in Europe, and pre-dating whisky in Scotland—rates as perhaps the juiciest, most mouthwatering whiskey in the world. Tonight we’ll romp through some of our best Irish whiskies, including some new bottlings and different styles including blend, single malts, and the classic Irish pure pot still. Whether you’re Irish or not, your eyes will be smiling after a sip o’ the dew!

What: St. Patrick's Dram: An Irish Whiskey Tasting
When: Saturday, March 17th, 2007, 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Where: The Party Source, Bellevue, KY
Cost: $20

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Hey, Washington DC residents! Need a break from Hillary, Barack and Scooter?

Then join TasteDC for their first Single Malt Scotch festival.

Over 70 different expressions to taste - from rare, hard to find Scotch to uniquely artisan-crafted. All Scotches tasted at this event will be available for order and purchase at special prices at Potomac Wines in Georgetown.

A complete dinner buffet is included in the price as well as the wonderful desserts of Patisserie Poupon.

Tickets are available at the door for $110; however if you buy online, tickets are $90.

What: Single Malt Scotch Festival
When: Thursday, March 22nd, 2007, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Where: The Whittemore House
1526 New Hampshire Ave., NW
just off Dupont Circle near Q St., Metro Red Line within 2 blocks

Read more about the event

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And it's time to give away the first batch of Connemara keychain mini-flasks.

Not really the first batch...members of the mailing list got dibs on the first 20.

What do you have to do? Simple.

• Be one of the first 20 people to email me to ask for your mini-flask. If you are not in the US please include your country and postal code.
• UPDATE: EMAIL ME. DO NOT LEAVE A MESSAGE IN COMMENTS.
• I'll email you back and let you know if you are one of the first 20. Shipping in the US will be $2.00
• I WILL NOT email you back if you are not one of the first 20.
• You have until Sunday to pay up via PayPal, or your flask goes back in the prize vault. No exceptions.
• The flasks go in the mail Monday morning.