I mailed the guys over at Glenfiddich and asked for some video of the selection process of this new Vintage Reserve. A couple of days later I got the answer that they had posted the whole thing on YouTube. This deserves an update!
Here are the 3 videos that was added to the new GlenfiddichWhisky channel. I hope this is the first of many to come
A summary:
The selection process (1 of 2)
The selection process (2 of 2)
[the old post]
Click the image for larger view
Glenfiddich has revealed the cask selected for the annual bottling of its Vintage Reserve.
Led by the industry’s most experienced Malt Master, David Stewart, an international panel of nosing and tasting experts chose cask number 4414 for its exceptionally rich and complex 31 year old Glenfiddich.
From a shortlist of six European oak casks first filled with new-make Glenfiddich in 1975 or 1977, samples were drawn, nosed, tasted and debated at the distillery, deep in the Scottish Highlands over three intense hours. The speciality cask has been stored in the dark, damp conditions of a traditional dunnage warehouse at the distillery since 7th March 1977.
Head Cooper, Don Ramsay, repaired and prepared the Oloroso sherry butt (cask) prior to filling all those years ago while Head Warehouseman Eric Stephen, who was on hand to draw the samples, has been responsible for ensuring the cask’s security and condition has remained intact. The pair has been working together at the distillery for more than 45 years.
The selection panel consisted of David Stewart; his assistant Brian Kinsman; Gavin D Smith, a whisky writer who has penned tens of books on the subject; Prof. Walter Schobert, the accomplished German author and journalist is highly regarded throughout Europe for his deep knowledge of the whisky industry; Erkin Touzmohamedov, widely recognized as Russia’s foremost expert on Scotch whisky and Jimmy Bradley; owner and head chef of two award-winning New York restaurants – the Red Cat and the Harrison.
Commenting on the chosen cask, David Stewart said: “The selection panel really experienced the wide possibilities of aroma and flavour produced from one cask to the next. In our shortlist we had two casks filled on the same day, yet they were markedly different in colour, nose and taste from each other.”
Cask 4414 was a firm favourite of the 1977 casks we selected and run extremely closely for my approval by cask number 287 from 1975 said Walter Schobert.
With the limited edition single cask release restricted to approximately 450 bottles at an RRP of somewhere around £375, the Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve has become a must have item for collectors, connoisseurs and those with discerning taste. The official Malt Master tasting notes and bottle strength will be revealed when the cask has been bottled and distributed to key Glenfiddich markets this autumn.
Those were the words uttered by the Prince of Wales – Prince Charles when he tasted the whisky created in his honor the other day.
Not many days ago we reported on the Prince of Wales royal visit to Laphroaigh. Yesterday the Prince continued his whisky-spree when he gave the royal seal of approval to a high-strength whisky created in his honour by the Penderyn Distillery.
It turns out the British director and Madonna’s husband Guy Ritchie is one of most obsessed whisky fans of us all if not the most obsessed. At least when you count cash spent.
Thesun.co.uk reports that Guy has been “splashing out around £2million on The Punch Bowl pub, in London’s posh Mayfair. His aim is to find the perfect drop — and sell the most expensive bottle of whisky ever.”
“Ritchie is a massive whisky fan and wants to set up his own brand. Since opening The Punch Bowl, he has tried some classics. He loves a 33-year-old malt – but reckons he can do better. He wants his to be the ultimate, exclusive whisky brand,” said a source.
Ian Macleod Distillers is stepping up activity on its Isle of Skye brand and has launched a Limited Edition Isle of Skye 21 Year Old in a Wade decanter and an exceptionally rare super-premium 50 Year Old.
They were launched at the Isle of Skye’s most famous restaurant, The Three Chimneys, run by Shirley and Eddie Spear.
The 1000 limited edition and individually hand numbered Isle of Skye 21 Year Olds will be packaged in a Royal blue and gold Wade porcelain decanter, presented in a blue leather box, while the 400 individually numbered Isle of Skye 50 Year Olds are presented in a solid oak wood box with gold plate and certificate of authenticity.
Iain Weir, Marketing Director at Ian Macleod said: “The Three Chimneys on the Isle of Skye provides the perfect home for the Isle of Skye blend and the launch of these ultra rare and premium luxury whiskies. It also marks the beginning of a new partnership between this iconic restaurant and Isle of Skye whisky, which will see us working together on many exciting new marketing activities across the whole Isle of Skye range. In particular, we will be conducting a fun and informal whisky tasting with the staff to introduce them to our full range including the 21 and 50 Year olds.”
Shirley Spear, commenting on the partnership said: “We are looking forward to welcoming Isle of Skye Whisky back to its rightful home, here on the Isle of Skye and will be proud to promote this excellent, top-quality blend in conjunction with our 5-Star Restaurant with Rooms.
The 21 Year Old Isle of Skye Wade decanters will be available in 70cl worldwide from July and will retail at RRP £150-160.
The 70 cl 50 Year Old Isle of Skye will be available worldwide from July and will retail at UK RRP £850-£950 reflecting its extreme rarity.
Last night was the first evening of my vacation. To celebrate, me and my family boarded our boat and enjoyed a 10 minute ride from Södermöja to a near island called Ingmarsö to grab some food.
To say that the waters outside Stockholm are filled with restaurants would be far from true. Then to say that they all serve a good variety of whisky would be to partner with the devil. Basically, to get a glass of single malt whisky in a restaurant is almost non-existent (except when you order your own as stated before), to be able to choose between more than 20 different ones is not happening. Yet yesterday it turned out Ingmarsö Steak House was well equipped.
Ingmarsö Steak House sits perfectly by the sea (North 59° 27,900 – East 18° 45, 040) with seating on the bridge. They serve quite a modest yet wonderful menu. Their speciality is not very surprising things served of the charcoal grill that stands almost on the water. The BBQ Ribs with Corn, Coleslaw and French Fries made my day. On the contrary to the food menu the drink menu is more varied. They serve a variety of white and red wines and the bar serves most drinks you can think of. (Not including the strange ones no one ever heard of)
Since this is a whisky blog their stock of whisky is of course the reason for this blog post. The range of whiskies cannot of course not compare to any well sorted retailer in a metropolitan city. But the fact that the place is situated about an hours boat ride outside Stockholm in the middle of nowhere and probably don’t have that many whisky connoisseurs anchoring up I was impressed.
The evening we visited the stock included Bowmore 10, 15 and 17yrs. From Lagavulin both a 12yrs, a 16 yrs and 18 yrs Distillers Edition smiled at me. The Macallan 12 yrs was squeezed in between a Famous Grouse Vintage Malt, another Famous Black and the ordinary Famous Grouse. Laphroaig, Caol Ila, Ardbeg, Glenmorangie, Talisker, Auchentoshan and Oban looked great beside a Black Ribbon 10yrs. The ordinary stuff – J&B, Jameson, Black Bush, Bushmill, Jack Daniels, Jim Beam and Lauders lined up besides a bottle of Buhannabin. The only think I was sad about was the lack of Mackmyra. After all, we’re in Sweden and Mackmyra is almost as exotic as the archipelago.
All in all, I can definitely see myself dropping by to try some whisky while looking at people doing their best not to fall in the water when boarding.
Yesterday? Well, the bottle containing Bowmore 17yrs was opened up for some air. Then I ended the evening with a glass of the Famous Black, an exclusive for the scandinavian market…and not tried by me before. They both were nice, but the Bowmore 17yrs is probably the one pulling me out to high seas again.
Tonight it’s Midsummer evé in Sweden. This means all Swedes go to the country side, collect flowers all day and drink all night. To round it up we all end up in the grass with someone and make love until the morning comes.
Eh, or as Wikipedia explains it:
Midsummer may simply refer to the period of [...]
Cooley Distillery, Irelands only independent Irish whiskey distillery, has won a record 9 Gold Medals at the 2008 International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC).
This was the first time that an Irish whiskey distiller managed to collect 9 IWSC Gold Medals, including 8 “Best in Class”. IWSC medals, awarded on a strict points system, are [...]
Just-Drinks reports that Glenfiddich is to launch a new release of its Glenfiddich Rare Collection 40 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky in honour of whisky writer and broadcaster Michael Jackson, who passed away last summer of 2007 aged 65.
To produce this new release of Glenfiddich 40 Year Old, the Glenfiddich Malt Master, David Stewart [...]
I’m glad to tell you Swedes out there that Compass Box Hedonism is now available in… you guessed it – Sweden
I wrote a couple of weeks ago about Compass Box Hedonism. Compass Box is one of my personal favorites. I’ve got 7 different bottlings at home at the moment. None of them has failed to [...]
On June 18th at 20.00(BST) Laphroaig are following up last year’s success with a new live broadcasting on the internet from their distillery!
The live broadcast will be held in their most famous place –inside warehouse No1 right by the sea. Robert Hicks (master blender) and John Campbell (Distillery Manager) will be joined by Martine [...]
Tonight Sweden plays Spain in the Eurocup 2008 in Austria/Switzerland. And me being a Swede will of course be nailed to the TV.
I do hope we win cause otherwise we’ll end up meeting Holland in the quarterfinals and those guys are on a roll! Did you see them beat up France yesterday? Mayham!
If you [...]
Ian Macleod Distillers is adding a new finish to its range of award-winning single malts, with the launch of Glengoyne Glenguin Shiraz Cask Finish 16 Year Old.
The casks, previously used to mature award-winning Shiraz wine from Australia’s Hunter Valley, have come courtesy of Glenguin Winery. Lord Robin Tedder, who is in fact the third Baron [...]
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The 1000 limited edition and individually hand numbered Isle of Skye 21 Year Olds will be packaged in a Royal blue and gold Wade porcelain decanter, presented in a blue leather box, while the 400 individually numbered Isle of Skye 50 Year Olds are presented in a solid oak wood box with gold plate and certificate of authenticity. 
