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....

www.VattedMalt.com

A while ago, for some inexplicable reason, I decided to buy the domain www.vattedmalt.com.

No plans for it really. But recently the fates revealed why I had made the purchase.

It was to create a site to gather stories about just how many people are against the SWA proposed Blended Malt Category.

I may get around to creating a proper site, but for the time being www.vattedmalt.com will bring you to this page.

Let all your friends know about the issue and send them to www.vattedmalt.com.

This page will continue to be updated with more news and information.

---

GREAT QUOTES

“The term blended malt is ambiguous. It seems like a deliberate attempt by the members of the SWA to increase the value of some of their blended whiskies.”

- Mark Reynier

"The new category was potentially the biggest mistake in the industry for 100 years. It is boom time for the industry but this is totally confusing and it has to be stopped.”

- Jim Murray

"I don't know what they (the SWA] were thinking of when they came up with this ludicrous term blended malt whisky. There is a growing groundswell of opinion forming that they should drop it altogether."

- "Anonymous Prominent Whisky Writer"

 

---

DEFRA - Consultation on proposals for Scotch Whisky Regulations 2008

---

SIGN THE PETITION

---

READ THE SCOTCH BLOG STORIES

• A Rose By Any Other Name (August 19, 2005)
  
• John Glaser's Opinion (August 12, 2005)

• Call A Spade A Spade (July 17, 2006)
  
• Call A Spade A Spade: Industry Response (July 24 2006)
• Call A Spade A Spade: SWA Response (July 31, 2006)

• An Open Letter from John Glaser (March 31, 2008)
• A Modest Proposal Revisited (April 3, 2008)
• Blend Fury (April 7, 2008)
• The SWA Responds (April 9, 2008)
  

---

READ THE BLOGS

• Recipe for Confusion - Bruichladdich
• Whisk(e)y 2.0 (March 31, 2008)
  
• The Growing Controversy over Blended Scotch Whisky - Luxist (April 4, 2008)
  
• Dr. Whisky Malt Mission 275 (April 13, 2008)
• Dr. Whisky Malt Mission 274 (April 10, 2008)
• Dr. Whisky Malt Mission 271 (April 1, 2008)
• Vatted Malt - Bruichladdich (April 15, 2008)

---

READ THE NEWSPAPER STORIES

• Blend Fury (Scotland on Sunday- March 30, 2008)
• Confusing 'blended malt' category a recipe for disaster, warn whisky experts  (The Scotsman - March 30, 2008)
• Distillers turn back on SWA in petition over new whisky rules (Harpers - April 11, 2008)
• New label will Dilute Scotch, Say Purists (The Times - April 12, 2008)
• Small Distillers Fight 'Blended Malt' (UPI - April 12, 2008)
• Whisky industry split over 'blended malts' (Telegraph - April 14, 2008)

---

READ THE DISCUSSION GROUPS

• Bladnoch
• Whisky Magazine (2005)
  
• Whisky Magazine (2008)

---

Here's the Deal

Today I am in England.

I'm here to serve as a judge in the International Wine & Spirits Competition. Then I'll be seeing friends, and drinking in pubs.

When I get back next week, I'll be back on the road - Spring is full of travel for me: Whisky Live; Whisky Fest, and miscellaneous speaking engagements and consulting.

In April I'll be in Scotland at the World Whiskies Conference,  touring distilleries, and FINALLY - after all these years - wandering around Edinburgh like a stupid tourist.

I'm pretty sure I'll be missing my Brother's wedding. [Sorry, John.]

I'm just about to hit my 500th post. This is the 4th calendar year I've been writing in and I'm tired of meeting self-imposed deadlines.

SO I won't be making any posts for a while - I won't even make an attempt to put up some "BEST OF" stories - as I am without a portable computer and Apple has not yet sent me a free MacBook Air (and I'm not holding my breath).

SO, while I'm gone:

• Read the Archives
• Visit some of my favorite sites:
  • Jeffrey Morgenthaler
  • MartiniGroove
  • Cocktails with Camper
  • Art of Drink
  • Liquor Snob
  • Dr. Whisky
  • Stephen Beaumont's World of Beer
  • Whisky Channel
  • Whisky Fun
• Read a good book
• Go see a movie
• Get outside...Spring is upon us.
• Go to a Bar and talk to a stranger. Buy them a drink (preferably whisky).

When I get back I'll finally get around to writing about my trip to Maker's Mark.

Any guest writers want to fill in the gaps? let me know...

Annual Whiskey Tasting: 2007 edition

In December 2007, I held my annual whiskey tasting - and that's right, that's whiskey with an "e" - since, for the first time, I served all non-Scotch whiskies.

This party is an annual event to which I invite friends - many of whom are NOT whisky geeks, but have over the years, developed an appreciation for, or at the very least expressed an interest in, whisky.

Some, like my friends Jeff, Neil and Edward, are big fans of whisk(e)y; some come for the camaraderie,  while others just come for the abuse.

In another switch from tradition - because I have so much to choose from - and because all attendees had designated drivers or rides, I had an extended tasting flight - consisting of a flight of core six expressions, as well as a secondary flight of four whiskies.

Our Primary flight

Preludium:05 Single Malt Whisky

Brand Web site
Parent Company: Mackmyra Svensk Whiskey
Sweden
48.4% alcohol
The Scotch Blog story

At first, on the nose, this stuff is light and elegant. Nothing more than a hint of smoke, but the tantalizing smell of dried berries. The alcohol is a little dominant on the palate, and definitely affects the nose once you've tried it - as the spirity notes are highlighted.

Reacts well to water - and a sweetness falls into place. The finish is a little harsh. Coming along nicely.

Tullamore Dew Blended Whiskey

Brand Web site
Production site: Midleton Distillery (Pernod Ricard)
Brand Ownership: Cantrell & Cochrane
Ireland
40% alcohol

I get a lot of corn on the nose, but in a pleasant and unassuming way. The taste is quick and clean and unoffensive in every way - but also doesn't bring a lot of complexity to bear. Finish is light pear/diluted apples. Again - unoffensive.

Don't bother adding water - the whiskey may disappear completely.

Regardless, this is my official Irish easy-drinker. A great introduction to the world of whisky - primarily due to that inability to offend.

Getting engaged

No, I'm not getting engaged.

But you will be...

Remember that new site from Ian Buxton I told you about earlier this week?

Well it officially goes live on Friday, November 30th (St. Andrew's Day) BUT I'm giving you an opening night invitation.

<Click on the logo for the link>

Have fun. Play nice with the other kids...

Mailing List woes

My contact database decided to take a dirt nap (Note to self: avoid DayLite at all costs in the future). I decided to use good old Mac Address book instead. It syncs with my Nokia e61 and works just fine for such purposes.

I've been able to cobble together a good portion of the mailing list from old emails - but I know I'm missing some of you.

If you did NOT receive a mailing list email from me yesterday offering a discount on the WHISKY DVD as well as free Macallan hats and Famous Grouse t-shirts; you may want to consider re-registering (or signing up in the first place).

It's simple. Just click on the link below.

JOIN THE MAILING LIST

I won't sell your name or email. And only occasionally will I bother you with drivel.
I usually just use it to give a heads up to people and/or offer free stuff.

It very well could be the best email you've ever sent.

Happy Thanksgiving

No story today.

It's Thanksgiving here in the US. Meaning that people join their families, stuff themselves with turkey and watch Football.

I avoid my family, go for a hike in the mountains, eat a reasonable portion of turkey with friends and drink whisky.

And for that I am thankful.

Need a Job, whisky geek?

The Balvenie is looking for a Brand Ambassador for the US market.

Interested? Of course you are.

You know you want to quit your boring day job, give some meaning to your meaningless life,and travel the US teaching people about the tasty goodness that is whisky.

Check it out here.

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

---

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.

---

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.

The Irish Blog (revisited)

Faith and begorrah, 'tis The Irish Blog.

---

The countdown to St. Patrick's Day begins.

Long an excuse (as if they needed one) for college students, dock workers and newly divorced men to get rip-roaring hammered, this year will be very likely be extra stupid due to it's unfortunate occurrence on a Saturday. No need to skip work/school this year AND a built-in day to recover.

Please leave your keys at home and take a cab.

But for those of you who are into more responsible consumption of adult beverages, we will spend the days leading to and following St. Patrick's day taking a look at Irish whiskies.

That's right, for the entire month of March, we'll concentrate on whiskies from across the North Channel. It's unfortunate that the Irish stuff only gets media attention during the month of March, and obviously I'm adding to the problem, but if we can get people to try the Irish whiskies during March, maybe people will see that these whiskies are good all year long.

And though my surname is Scottish, I have a good volume of Irish blood flowing through my veins - so it's great to promote the home team.

I'll have profiles of a number of Irish whiskies; a primer on Irish whiskey; visits to distilleries; product reviews and maybe a couple of stories from some very special guests.

Also for the month of March, we have a new sponsor - Connemara whiskey from Cooley Distillery. Showing typical Irish hospitality, my friend Jack Teeling has provided me with a 100 Connemara mini key chain flasks - and we'll be giving them all away for just the price of postage.

Oh yes - anyone who buys a copy of The Instant Expert's Guide to Single Malt Scotch from Doceon Press during the month of March gets one for free.

So, enjoy the month; Enjoy the stories; Enjoy St. Patrick's Day (responsibly). And I expect you all to be enjoying some great Irish Whiskey in April. And May. And June...