The Scotch Blog

And now...the winners of the 2007 Drammies

Wow.
What an interesting award season THIS has been.
We've had quite a bit of over-exuberance regarding the awards.

And the winners don't even get a cool statuette! Just the knowledge that a world-wide audience of thousands of whisky lovers had the chance to nominate and select the winners.

You've likely read here and in all of the UK papers regarding an unfortunate incident. But never fear, the awards come off untarnished...as do the nominees.

One significant point of order on voting and how votes were counted.

We looked VERY closely at all of the votes - and anything that so much as hinted of impropriety was disregarded.

What was worthy of being disregarded?

1. Suspicious Volumes from industry domains - I don't want to create a misconception. Industry people were certainly allowed to vote in the awards - there are a lot of industry people who read this site. It was the volume of emails from single domains that created a problem for me. So floods of emails with similar votes from industry domains were disregarded.
2. Single votes - There were some nominees who let their fans and friends know that they were up for an award. Nothing wrong with that - BUT all votes that came in which consisted of a single vote, for a single product in a single category were disregarded.
3. Voting in a bloc - You certainly did not have to have an opinion on every category - most people did not. And as stated in #2 above, single votes were disregarded. But if someone submitted votes only in categories in which a single company's products were nominated - and only voted for those products, the votes were disregarded.
4. Uninformed votes - A couple of votes were disregarded for specific reasons. There was no ill intent in these votes, BUT when a statement was included that said (for example) "I haven't tried any of these products, but like the idea of a "Coffee-flavoured malt", then the vote was disregarded. You get the idea.

The Drammies were created to be, above all, a "People's Choice" award and to try to disregard the influence that the industry has over the spirits writers and periodicals that generally grant the awards that get touted.

No fees here. Only nominations for the more interesting things out there, and awards for (hopefully) the most deserving products.

I've also included some of the more entertaining/insightful quotes that accompanied some of the votes.

So without further ado, your winners...

Road to the Drammies: Kevin's Picks

Of course the Road to the Drammies would not be complete without me adding my $0.02, would it?

And to prove that the Drammies really are selected by the Scotch Blog readership, you'll see, once the winners are announced, that I did not completely agree with the voter-ship. Heck, there were some nominees that I think were missed!

Producers, feel free to take my comments and plaster them all over your ads :)

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My ‘picks’ for The Drammies
Kevin Erskine

Best Packaging/Marketing Campaign
Highland Park 18 "Whisky Amnesty" at Glasgow, Whisky Live
I'm a big fan of the Maker's Mark Ambassador program (I'm also a participant), it's simply the best ongoing affinity program in the whisky world today. But the Whisky Amnesty was an inspired marketing stunt, and one that's sure to be copied.

Bang for the Buck
Forty Creek
I love me some Laphroaig, but the QC is slightly too high in price to fit into my personal definition of "Bang for the Buck". I've never met a Glenfarclas I didn't like. Benromach Traditional is damned fine stuff and a great price. Black Bottle is pretty darned good - and the 10 year old (my preferred of the 2) is still a great value (even here in America). And I love Bulleit Bourbon.

But for cost vs. bang, flavor, and whatever other measure you want to apply, Forty Creek walks away with the award (in my book)...

Road to the Drammies: Serge's Picks

The Third in our series of "Guest Picks" for the Drammies, Serge Valentin, of Whisky Fun & Malt Maniac.

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Fun with The Drammies
Serge Valentin

Best Marketing Campaign
This has to go to all distillers and bottlers who are NOT making the fakers’ lives easier. Labels that are not easy to take off and re-stick on another bottle, capsules/foils that you can’t just take off and then replace once you’ve refilled a bottle, engraving or serigraphy on the bottle and so on. Lagavulin springs to mind.

Distiller/Blender/Independent Bottler of the Year
Springbank
Because of their recent 1997. Great spirit in its naked truth.

Most Innovative New Product
Compass Box Canto Series
Experimentation that’s not only for the sake of experimentation or easy-easy range widening. Oh, and because of the heavy use of Clynelish.

Best New Product (whisky)
Glenfarclas Family Casks.
Indeed, despite the prices of the younger versions. They could do it and they did it. Ah, the 1960 and the 1965...

Best New Product (Non-whisky)
The Legend of Laphroaig
Fabulous book by Marcel van Gils and Hans Offringa. There should be such books about every distillery in Scotland.

Most under-rated-whisky
Glenugie (but Glenugie was closed in 1983). Otherwise, young Clynelishes.

Worst Marketing Campaign
Anything bling bling aimed at Russian oligarchs or Chinese IT wizards - and while the stock markets plunge.  By the way, ever saw Petrus or Cheval Blanc in fancy bottles? (and mahogany-leather-crystal-pewter-whatever?) Shared between The Macallan 55yo Lalique, Ardbeg’s Double Barrel and The Dalmore’s 60plus bottles.

Road to the Drammies: Sam's Picks

The second in our series of "Guest Picks" for the Drammies, Sam Simmons, aka Dr. Whisky...

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The Drammies according to Dr. Whisky
Sam Simmons

Always eager to exercise democracy in any way shape or form, the Drammies represent a grass-roots "people's choice" whisky awards that Dr. Whisky is only too happy nominate, be nominated, vote, and be voted for.

BUT, asked Kevin Erskine, if the world was a perfect totalitarian whisky-soaked dream and I was its dictator (or author of works I thought so holy I  called them Bibles), who would I deem to be worthy to win these awards?

Bang for the Buck
Forty Creek Barrel Select
A difficult category this year with 5 excellent whiskies that are affordable AND delicious. But like Mussolini favoured the North and let the south starve or die in senseless war in Ethiopia, I support a Canadian. Resourceful, affordable, and tasty!

Distiller/Blender/Independent Bottler of the Year
Single Malts of Scotland
Another challenging category because the bundling of distiller, blender and indie is a contentious one. They all do different things so really, how can they be evaluated as competitors? Easily. Like Suharto did in Indonesia, with an Iron Fist. What other bottler released a drinkable Tobermory(1995, £30)? a 30 year old Glenlivet that was tasty, sherried, and only £65? one of the best Clynelishes to ever pass the lips of this Clynelish lover (1972, £110)? No one. And if they did, I would imprison, squash, or stone them.

Road to the Drammies: Ian's Picks

The polls are now closed and the votes are being tabulated.

While we wait for the results, I thought I'd get some friends to pick THEIR choices for a Drammy in each category.

First up: Ian Buxton

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My ‘picks’ for The Drammies
Ian Buxton

Well, the Whisky Writers Union hasn’t declared a strike.  The Oscars may be under threat but the big one carries on.  Yes, The Drammies are with us once again and Kevin asked me for my ‘picks’.  I have no idea which way the voting has gone but, if it were up to me, these babies would come out on top:

Best Packaging
Highland Park 18 "Whisky Amnesty" at Glasgow, Whisky Live
There were some nice things here – I really liked the Port Charlotte tins, for example – but if you had seen the queue of excited whisky fans at the Highland Park stand you’d know this was THE winner.  Tough to think of something genuinely new but the HP boys did it.

Bang for the Buck
Black Bottle
Black Bottle is consistently under-rated.  I would pick Glenfarclas but I’ve got a bigger win in mind for them!

Now THIS is fun.

I took Canadian Club to task for the "Your Dad Drank It" ads as being stupid and misogynistic.

I recently came across this commercial (Australian?) for Jim Beam Bourbon.

How'd I miss this the first go around?

From the same parent company. This one is, by comparison, fun.

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Update: Another one in the series...(Thanks Michael)

Another Glencairn Resource

The Glencairn Glass is the only whisky glass you should be tasting your whisk(e)y in.

Don't argue with me. I've tried them all and there's no discussion.

I've written about it here and here.

I get a lot of emails asking where people can find these glasses, especially in the US market. Marty & Dave Coffey of Cobhthaigh Celtique wrote to let me know that they are selling the Glencairn Glass for $8 each (plus shipping) with discounts for multiple purchases.

Here's the page.... (BTW - their site doesn't look right in my browser, but Dave tells me it is a work in progress).

They also have some great photography of Scotland for purchase...

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This is not a paid promotion for either Cobhthaigh Celtique or Glencairn.

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.

The Drammies Polls are closed

The voting for the 2007 Drammies has ended.

Stayed tuned for the announcement of your winners.

I've also asked a few friends to tell you about their picks for the Drammies, so I'll have those selections up prior to the final announcement of the best whisky awards in the world...

Toronto Whisky tasting

Historic Mackenzie House in downtown Toronto is hosting a beer and Scotch tasting Feb. 8 from 7 - 9 pm ($50, participants must be 19 years or older).

Todd McDonald, Director of Spirits for William Grant and Sons (PMA Canada) leads the tasting of oak-aged beer and Single Malt Scotches including Glenfiddich 12 YO Single Malt, Glenfiddich 15 YO Single Malt and Glenfiddich 18 YO Single Malt.

Traditional Scottish foods, including a delicious haggis, will also be served.

The event is a fundraiser for Mackenzie House, the former home of Toronto's first Mayor, William Lyon Mackenzie. The 1840s Greek Revival row-house is lit by gaslight, which is sure to lend a moody ambience to the event.

To register call 416 392 6915. Mackenzie House is located at 82 Bond St.(east of Yonge St. and south of Dundas St.).