From the category archives:

Event

I am glad to report that The Macallan has taken a step into the future of communication with their latest scotch whisky tasting. One of my favorite idea and design blogs – The NotCot reports on The Macallan’s latest whisky tasting and how they used Twitter to get the mouth water pouring.

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It’s a great Idea even though I do think it’s a little bit early as the number of whisky fans on Twitter is probably limited. From a PR perspective though it’s great – look at me, I just had to write about it.

Head over to the NotCot site and read more.

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“I seem to have spent my life in distilleries!”

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.

From now on, let’s call him the Prince of Whisky!

Wales online got the full story.

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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 Nouet one of the Worlds leading authorities on single malts.

Laphroaig reports that they will have some fabulous tastings lined up. Some you will know and, some you definitely won’t! First of all we will be tasting their 10 year old, so that you can all join in. Then they are comparing Laphroaig Quarter Cask with a new expression- Laphroaig Triple Wood. This expression has enjoyed a third maturation European oak butts . However it’s so new, it hasn’t even been bottled yet! You will see this new expression being drawn straight from the butt for the first time live !

Robert will also be tasting his latest “friends” creation “Cairdeas”. To round off the evening, another surprise. A special limited edition Friends only “30 year old Cairdeas”.

All in all it will be a action packed 45 minutes.

Laphroaig live 2008 starts at 20.00 BST (19.00 GMT) from the web page www.laphroaig.com/live. Laphroaig are welcoming questions for the panel in advance. You can also send in a question during the broadcast itself. Any questions read out will receive a prize. You can also join in the tastings by downloading the 2008 tasting mat at www.laphroaig.com/live

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Yesterday the Laphroaig Single Malt distillery played host to The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, known as The Duke of Rothesay and The Duchess of Rothesay.
 
The Royals met with distillery employees, learned about the unique process for making Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch whisky, and nosed the whisky at different ages.
 
With the broader community in mind, Laphroaig provided The Prince of Wales with an opportunity to help raise funds for charity by signing two barrels of maturing spirit. The signed barrels will be auctioned off in years to come with proceeds from the sale of the whisky to go towards a charity selected by the Prince of Wales.

 
The Prince of Wales also signed a rare 40-year-old bottle of Laphroaig, one of only a handful left in the world. Valued at around U.S. $5,000 without a royal signature, the Laphroaig 40 year old will be auctioned off this year.  Proceeds from the sale will go to a charity selected by The Prince of Wales.
 
Other highlights from the royal visit included:

- Children of distillery employees raised the Prince of Wales standard to signal the arrival of The Duke and The Duchess of Rothesay.

- The Islay Pipe Band welcomed the royal couple onto the grounds of the Laphroaig distillery.
Employees of Laphroaig presented a signed, honorary Friends of Laphroaig certificate to the royal guests, officially designating Plot One as the royal plot Employees of Laphroaig presented a handcrafted pottery spirit still modelled on the small pot stills indigenous to Laphroaig, made by Islay potter Arra Fletcher, a recipient of The Prince’s Trust Charities.

- A bottle each of Cáirdeas, the most recent limited edition to join the Laphroaig family and produced for the 2008 Islay festival as a special bottling. Cáirdeas means Friendship in Gaelic.

Read more about the visit on Laphroaig’s website.

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If you’re into Whisky and wanna make sure you get to taste the latest and the most rare whisky there is. Then Whisky Live is definitely one of the events for you.

Appealing to both the enthusiast and the novice alike, and with expert advice on hand and the opportunity to learn about the whisky basics, Whisky Live is intended to provide the ultimate whisky experience.

Whisky Live gives you the unique opportunity to sample the greatest whiskies in the world, whilst mingling with the producers and distillers, marketers and visitor centre staff, all under one roof. In addition to learning about the world of whisky, you have the opportunity to sample rare and sought after whiskies and meet the stars of the industry.

Each event has its own local flavour, and provides the greatest insight to this greatest of spirits. With great food, masterclasses and much more, Whisky Live is a great day out and a memorable experience.

Here I’ve listed the events with a link each and everyone of them.

Whisky Live Tokyo
Sunday 10th February

Whisky Live Auckland
Saturday 16th February

Whisky Live London
29th February & 1st March

Whisky Live Belgium
Friday 14th to Sunday 16th March

Whisky Live New York
Wednesday 2nd April

Whisky Live Paris
Sunday 21st September

Whisky Live Barcelona
Sunday 5th & Monday 6th October

Whisky Live Los Angeles
October (date TBC)

Whisky Live Toronto
Friday 24th October

Whisky Live Glasgow
Fri 31st October & Sat 1st November

Whisky Live Cape Town
Wednesday 5th to Friday 7th November

Whisky Live Johannesburg
Wednesday 12th to Friday 14th November

Whisky Live Leiden
Friday 14th to Sunday 16th November

Note: If you’re a visitor to any of the events and wanna do a guest post you’re more than welcome. Just send an email to grottomanATwhiskygrottoDOTcom

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Tune in for the live webcast of the Celtic Malts Whisky School

January 23, 2008

The first class of The CelticMalts Whisky School is due tomorrow. The classes are all sold out but thanks to Riannon over at Whisky Guild you have the chance to enjoy the class online instead.
So make sure you tune in to the CelticMalts Whisky Schools live webcast tomorrow, Thursday January 24th at 7pm EST/4pm PST.
The [...]

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Victoria Whisky festival throws exclusive Bruichladdich tasting for women only

January 23, 2008

This weekend if you’re in Canada, why not head over to the Victoria Whisky Festival.

Among other events Andrew Gray of Bruichladdich Distillery, is to lead an exclusive tasting for women only at the Victoria Whisky Festival.
I like the thought of this. Maybe this initiative will bring more female connoisseurs to the whisky scene. I sure [...]

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Malt Maniacs lists the important Whisky Events of 2008

January 23, 2008

Bar crier Konstantin has done a great job over at Malt Maniacs of listing the the most noteworthy whisky festivals, tastings & happenings.
Make sure you pay them a visit and maybe we’ll see each others out there.
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Belgian Whisky Awards 2008 open for entry

January 21, 2008

If you speak Dutch, then why not head over to the homepage of the Belgian Whiskyfestival and place your vote.

The BWA2008 have the following categories.
- Whiskypionier
- Whisky Ambassador of the Year
- Whisky Club of the Year
- Whisky Shop of the Year
- Whisky Bar/Restaurant of the Year

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Malt Advocate awards Bruichladdich with Pioneer of the Year

November 2, 2007

It was at a ceremony in New York last night the world’s leading whisky publication has awarded Islay’s Bruichladdich Distillery with Pioneer of the Year.
The award was made by The Malt Advocate for the innovative distillation programme, imaginative ACE maturation policy, and novel bottling concepts. The ceremony took place in Times Square’s Marriott Hotel [...]

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Highland Park are set to give away 200 bottles of their 18 year old single malt

October 30, 2007

Highland Park are set to give away 200 bottles of their 18 year old single malt in the UK’s first ever “whisky amnesty”. Malt lovers attending this year’s Whisky Live Glasgow are invited to bring a sealed 70cl bottle of any spirit which they can swap for a bottle of Highland Park.
The first of its [...]

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Laphroaig aims to host the biggest online tasting in the world – live.

October 23, 2007

Laphroaig will be hosting the online tasting event on Wednesday 21st November at 20:00 (GMT).
It will last around 40 minutes and will include a live question and answer session where friends
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