Following up the 2007 Hedonism that won the World Whiskies Award for World’s Best Grain Whisky, Compass Box has announce the release of the 2008 bottling.
The stuff that floats inside the Hedonism is choosen from different ages and from different distilleries to achieve a balance of flavour characteristics: depth and complexity from the 20 to 30 year-old whiskies, and sweetness, fruit and structure from the 13 to 20 year-old whiskies.
According to Compass Box, on average, the 2008 Hedonism is over 20 years-old
Head over to their website and pick up one for your Father
Strathisla Distillery, the home and heart of Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal has put together the Ultimate Father’s Day Gift, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience the essence of Scotland, home of Chivas Regal, through one of Scotland’s greatest creations: whisky.
If your father is a whisky lover, then this trip should make him more than happy.
The set up
Father and gift-giver will experience the most luxurious accommodations including: a stay at an invitation-only, private mansion with a full-service staff and world-class hospitality; privately prepared meals from one of Scotland’s most acclaimed chefs; a round of golf at the world-famous St. Andrew’s Links; first class air and helicopter transport; a bespoke kilt and a family crest consultation; as well as a butler to oversee that the pair receives impeccable service throughout their trip.
For the father who has shared his love of fishing, an appreciation of fine cars and great Scotch, this excursion will also offer two extraordinary opportunities. The gift recipient and guest will be treated to an intimate dinner with The Duke of Argyll at his home, Inveraray Castle – an experience that is truly priceless. After dining in the grandeur of the State Dining Room, guests will receive a VIP tour of the architecturally remarkable castle and its historical relics, which will include access to the formal gardens and tea with the Duke in the castle tearoom.
Guests will also have the ability to experience the art of blending with unrivaled intimacy by learning to create a customized blended Scotch whisky with guidance from Chivas Regal’s Master Blender, Colin Scott. Guests will have access to Chivas Brothers’ stocks, the largest and oldest in the world, including five days of specialized whisky tastings where guests will have the opportunity to sample never-before tasted whiskies.
“Both my father and grandfather worked in the whisky industry, so our relationships really developed over the craft of making Scotch,” says Colin Scott, Master Blender of Chivas Regal, who has been with Chivas Brothers for over thirty years. “I am greatly looking forward to sharing my long-standing traditions with our special guests for Father’s Day. A custom-blended whisky can be appreciated, not only for its rarity, but also to serve as a tangible memory of a truly special, never-to-be-repeated experience.”
The finale of the trip of a lifetime will occur upon the guests return home, with the receipt of their custom kilts and two bottles of the prestigious Chivas Regal 25-Year-Old Scotch Whisky, one of which will be presented in a special case designed by Viscount David Linley, son of Princess Margaret, and renowned designer – truly a befitting way to end the ultimate trip.
The Ultimate Father’s Day Trip can be reserved by contacting Travelcorp International at 225-231-4735 until June 16th, 2008. For additional information, please call 1-888-332-2907. The Ultimate Father’s Day Trip can be redeemed on August 3rd – 8th or August 31st – September 5th due to very limited availability. Cost is $117,650, which includes airfare, transportation, lodging, all meals, a round of golf, blending class, tour of Inveraray Castle, two bespoke kilts, a custom family crest, two bottles of Chivas Regal 25-Year-Old and a luxury case.
Mackmyra has revealed details about their 1st Edition – the new generation of Mackmyra Whisky
Small casks, Swedish oak and storage in Bodås mine
Much of the whisky in The 1st Edition has been stored in 100-litre casks, which produces an exciting, powerful ageing process. Mackmyra has also used newly manufactured Swedish oak casks, made using oak that was planted on the island of Visingsö 160 years ago and intended for use in building warships for the Swedish navy. All stored in the Bodås mine, 50 metres down inside the primary rock.
Citrus, caramel and honey
The colour is light yellow, with hints of amber. The nose is fruity with citrus, pear, apple, honey, light oak with hints of lightly toasted bread and fresh, buttery caramel. The flavour is fruity and subtle, with citrus, caramel and honey. A light hint of oak can be noted at the end. The aftertaste is well-adjusted and balanced, with hints of dark chocolate. For optimal flavour, the alcohol strength has been adjusted to 46.1% using naturally purified water from the Valbo Ridge.
Being in advertising myself I was personally surprised to learn that they haven’t created any specific naming strategy for the bottling. I guess “1st Edition” is something in that direction, but something stronger and more positioning would have made me happy. I do however look forward to tasting this little beauty.
The 1st Edition is released in Sweden June 2nd, and in the rest of Europe later this year.
The “Almost There” has come of age and Ardbeg has released yet one more taste on the path to becoming “10 Year Old”.
The latest release is called “Ardbeg Renaissance” and it marks the point from which all Ardbeg 10 Years Old will be bottled using only distillate produced since Ardbegs Renaissance in 1997.
Chief Noser Rachel Barrie describes Renaissance as a “crackle of peat setting off a chain reaction of flavour explosions… the taste goes on and on leaving a smoky jet stream of simmering peat oils, wispy vanilla cream and chewy liquorice whirls.”
It’s impressive to see how Ardbeg really manages to squeeze every little drop out of their path to making the 10 Year Old available. If you’re a fan of Ardbeg (which lot’s! of people are) then it’s hard to resist these bottlings. I am quite amazed how a company that has such a bad presence on- and offline obviously make magic happen when it comes to this side of their marketing strategy.
From the end of May, limited numbers of Ardbeg Renaissance will be available for Committee Members (Ardbeg’s online club) to purchase online priced at £41.99. It will also be available from all good stockists in Asia and Europe from June.
Since I spend my daily life working with innovative advertising I’ve always been looking for great Whisky advertising. Unfortunately though most of it is quite booring and on top of that a lot of it is based on sex and drinking (even though a lot of them ends with drink responsibly)
But this installation/wallpaper campaign fron Dewars back in 2006 makes me smile!
Bottled in October 2007, The Antiquary 1977 commemorates the 150-year Anniversary since brothers, John and William Hardie, started their quest to produce the perfect blend of single malt and grain whiskies.
Described as ‘sweet and mellow with a hint of citrus, The Antiquary 1977 is a blend of predominately Speyside Malts, based on [...]
The only independent Irish whiskey distiller, Cooley Distillery, has released a 15-year-old small batch bottling of Greenore Single Grain Whiskey. This is the World’s oldest bottling of Irish grain whiskey ever released. Single Grain whiskeys are very rare as most grain whiskey is used in Blended whiskeys.
The 15-year-old follows the [...]
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The finale of the trip of a lifetime will occur upon the guests return home, with the receipt of their custom kilts and two bottles of the prestigious 
