Author Archives: Steve Prentice

News & PR: Douglas Laing’s Old Particular Single Cask Single Grain Scotch Whiskies

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Announcing The Launch Of

DOUGLAS LAING’S OLD PARTICULAR SINGLE GRAIN

A COLLECTION OF SINGLE CASK WHISKIES FROM THE FINEST GRAIN DISTILLERIES

Douglas Laing & Co., leading purveyor and creator of the finest Scotch Whiskies, today announces the release of its Old Particular Single Cask Single Grain Whiskies.

Old Particular Grain with tubesThe Old Particular range, a ‘particularly’ unique series of individually hand-selected aged Whiskies from all over Scotland, launched in 2013 to resounding success. Until now, the award-winning Old Particular range has exclusively held Single Malt Whiskies, but today marks the addition of the finest Grain Whiskies to the portfolio.

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News & PR: The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold

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FG_Mellow_HRINTRODUCING THE FAMOUS GROUSE MELLOW GOLD

The UK’s number one selling Blended Scotch whisky, The Famous Grouse, has announced a new edition, The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold, will be added to the Famous Family this August.

The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold has been Blended for Smoothness and carefully crafted by Master Blender Gordon Motion. The master blender’s art is on full display, blending the finest scotch whiskies, matured in sherry and bourbon casks to deliver a smooth, well rounded whisky. Mellow Gold’s recipe has a higher proportion of sherry casks than The Famous Grouse to deliver a subtly sweeter, mellow flavour.

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Review: Penny Blue Single Estate Rum, Batch No 004

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Penny_Blue_bottlePenny Blue, XO Single Estate, Mauritian Rum, Batch No 004, 43.3% abv

Info: “Penny Blue XO Single Estate Mauritian Rum is distilled from the molasses of our home-grown sugar canes, carefully matured in oak and bottled at the Medine Estate on the tropical island of Mauritius. A true expression of our terroir, Penny Blue can proudly claim to be an authentic Single Estate Mauritian Rum.”. 10,000 bottles, matured in ex-Whisky casks (66%) and ex-Bourbon casks (34%). The oldest rum in this blend is vintage 2003, thus 11 years old.
Colour: Nice bright sunny gold.
Nose: Similarly bright to the colour, there’s hints of tropical fruits, rich brown sugars, some vanilla and oak spices.
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Review: Clan Mackenzie Dinner at Dalmore & The Dalmore Distillery Exclusive 2015

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Clan Mackenzie International Gathering Dinner at The Dalmore Distillery
(plus a review of The Dalmore Distillery Exclusive 2015!)

Autumn in Dalmore

View from Dalmore out over the Cromarty Firth in Autumn

Recently I had the good fortune to be invited along to the Clan Mackenzie International Gathering Dinner at The Dalmore distillery. Hosted by Master Distiller Richard Paterson it was in honour of The Dalmore’s rich history and the fact that The Dalmore distillery was once owned by members of Clan Mackenzie. Clan Mackenzie have an International Gathering every 5 years which involves a week packed full of of events attended by members of the Clan from all around the world, this dinner being one such event.

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Review: Hibiki Japanese Harmony

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hibiki-japanese-harmony-whiskyHibiki Japanese Harmony – 43% abv

Info: Hibiki Japanese Harmony is made with malt whiskies from the Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries, as well as grain whisky from the Chita distillery. The whiskies are drawn from 5 different types of cask, including American white oak casks, Sherry casks and Mizunara oak casks. Presented in the brand’s trademark 24-faceted bottle representing the Japanese seasons. NAS.
Colour: Light to medium gold.
Nose: Light but jam packed with malt and grassy aromas, along with sweet fruits and caramels.
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Review: Oban Little Bay

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ObanLittleBayBottleOban Little Bay – 43% abv

Info: Oban in Gaelic means ‘little bay’, and this release forms a new member of the core family of Oban’s whiskies. It’s made from a range of different ages of whisky which have been matured in three types of casks… European oak ex-sherry casks, re-fill casks with new oak cask ends, and re-fill American oak hogsheads. These have then been combined and married in small oak casks for a short period of time to allow integration of flavours.
Colour: Orangey gold. Looks a little caramelly but who knows.
Nose: All sort of flavours; orange (and candied orange peel), spice, malt, caramel toffee, salt, smouldering hints of smoke, and touches of coffee grouts along with green apples and chocolate hints. In many respects, the regular house style of Oban, but a little mixed up.
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News: The Dalmore Release 2015 Distillery Exclusive

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The Dalmore Distillery Exclusive 2015_Bottle shot_13567_2489BLatest release from The Dalmore – The 2015 Distillery Exclusive

The Dalmore has released a limited edition bottling “The Dalmore Distillery Exclusive 2015” which will be sold exclusively at the brand’s iconic home in the Scottish Highlands.

The latest bottling embodies the art of The Dalmore for which the brand’s esteemed Master Distiller, Richard Paterson, has hand selected a collection of port, Moscatel and Madeira casks to mature this exquisite whisky in, before finally being finessed in first fill bourbon barrels.

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Review: Benromach 10yo and 15yo

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A wee twitter tasting of Benromach is in the offing as I write this, and here’s my thoughts and tasting notes from the evening!

First a little info… Benromach has been making whisky since 1898 using spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. After being bought by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993, the Benromach Distillery was restored & reopened in 1998. Since reopening the distillery has gained a reputation for producing an innovative range of distinctive Speyside whiskies with pre-1960s character. Benromach uses locally grown barley which is malted with a little peat smoke.

On to my notes…

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