The Macallan 55 Year Old Leads Bonhams Edinburgh Whisky Sale

A bottle of The Macallan-55 year old in a Lalique Crystal Decanter leads Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 26 February. It is estimated at between £12,000-15,000.

The Macallan 55 year old is regularly included in the world’s top 10 most desirable whiskies. Aged in Spanish Oak, it is said to have mace, ground ginger and nutty notes and was bottled in a Lalique decanted modelled on perfume bottle design dating from 1910. The bottle for sale is numbered 220 out of 420.

Another highly desirable from the sale distillery, The Macallan 1951, is one of 632 bottles and is estimated at £9,000-11,000.

Three exceptional bottles of Bowmore are presented in one lot estimated at £12,000-15,000. They are Black Bowmore-42 year old-1964, number 557 out of an edition of 827 bottles; White Bowmore-43 year, number 183 of 732 and Gold Bowmore, number 83 from an edition of 701.

Bonhams whisky specialist, Martin Green, said, “The Macallan 55 year old is one of the great whiskies and fully deserves its iconic status. The link with Lalique adds further lustre and we are very pleased to be able to offer it as the leading bottle in a strong and varied sale.”

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

High Demand for Tasmanian Whisky Leads to Shortage

Sullivans Cove, Tasmania’s biggest selling whisky, is forced to limit sales of its popular French Oak variety in order to ensure continued availability for the next five years. Domestic demand for the French Oak, which was named as Australia’s best single malt by Whisky Magazine, has increased beyond supply levels and the distillery has been forced to limit exports of French Oak to provide for local demand.

The distillery’s French Oak variety is Australia’s highest awarded whisky, having scored 96.5/100 in whisky writer Jim Murray’s 2013 Whisky Bible and was also named Spirits Business magazine’s World Whisky Grand Master. Its winning run continues with this week’s announcement of the 2014 Wizards of Whisky results where it was named Australasian Single Malt Whisky of the Year and Australasian Whisky of the Year.

Australians are the biggest consumers of Sullivans Cove, accounting for more than 90% of all sales. This is a large turnaround from four years ago when the local market only made up around 40% of sales. The Tasmanian whisky industry is experiencing strong growth and this has been boosted by a $110,000 grant from the state government for the development of whisky trail.

Chief distiller Patrick Maguire said: “The industry has come a very long way over the past few years and this is exactly the situation that we hoped we would be in one day, we just didn’t expect it to happen this soon. It is a great problem to have and we are making all efforts to ensure that sufficient stock remains available for our Australian customers.”

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Ballantine’s Announces Launch of New Spirit Drink Named Brasil

Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky, has today announced the launch of Ballantine’s Brasil; a brand new spirit drink made with Scotch whisky selectively cask steeped with Brazilian lime peel.

The new spirit drink is the latest addition to the Ballantine’s portfolio, and represents an innovative fusion of the traditions of Scotland with the passion of Brazil. Featuring a delicate combination of stimulating citrus complemented perfectly with a smooth touch of vanilla, the taste is both smooth and consistent, with the sweet and creamy flavours of Scotch perfectly balancing the refreshing lime. Ballantine’s has developed a delicious signature serve for Ballantine’s Brasil, the ‘Highland Samba’, which mixes Ballantine’s Brasil and lemonade, served over ice and topped with two freshly cut slices of lime.

Four more enticing serves have also been created; the ‘Glen Rio’, which fuses Ballantine’s Brasil with a generous helping of apple juice, the ‘Flower O’Brasil’, which mixes the spirit drink with freshly squeezed lime and elderflower, the ‘Caledinho’, which combines Ballantine’s Brasil with freshly squeezed lime mixed with crushed sugar, and the ‘Glen Coco’, which builds on the Caledinho by adding a touch of coconut.

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, said: “There is a huge opportunity for spirit drinks that are made with whisky, as it’s an exceptionally dynamic new category that is already demonstrating a strong rate of growth. Ballantine’s Brasil is a venture into new territory for us, but we’re excited to have a product that can take advantage of this opportunity and one that can truly inspire those who have not yet found their perfect way to enjoy a Scotch whisky drink. We hope that Ballantine’s Brasil will excite a new generation of consumers with the combination of Scottish authenticity and Brazilian passion!”

Ballantine’s Brasil will be rolling out in key markets around the world throughout 2014, including Brazil and France, with an RRP of approximately €14.00 (currency dependent). More information can be found at www.mixitwithbrasil.com, where customers can also view a series of tutorials on how they can ‘Mix it with Brasil’ to create their own favourite Ballantine’s Brasil cocktails.

Tasting Notes

Nose – A balance of rich vanilla and sweet, authentic Brazilian lime; a complex fusion of Scotch whisky, lime and natural vanilla.

Taste – Soft and sweet, with a perfect balance of refreshing lime and smooth vanilla. Complementing this perfectly are the delicate sweet and creamy signature flavours of Scotch.

Finish – Refreshing lime tang with a soft dry finish.

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Whisky Birmingham 2014 Set for Saturday March 1st

Whisky Birmingham 2014 – the city’s only large-scale whisky festival – returns on March 1st bringing major whisky brands and local collaborations to canal-side venue The Bond in Digbeth.

Some of the biggest names in the whisky industry, including Morrison Bowmore, Gordon & MacPhail, BenRiach and Glendronach are the latest to sign-up for this special one-day celebration of whisky. The Midlands’ nearest distiller, Penderyn, has also confirmed.

Hosted by The Birmingham Whisky Club, Whisky Birmingham will also continue its tradition of collaborating with the cream of the city’s vibrant food and drink scene. Soul Food Project returns with their signature mouth-watering Deep South inspired cuisine, alongside Pop-Up Dosa, who will be serving up authentic Keralan street food. Local whisky bar The Victoria will again be hosting an onsite ‘Afterhours Speakeasy’ at the venue, ending the festival with live music and whisky cocktails.

Masterclasses on offer will see whisky paired with artisan produce including cheese, chocolate and cigars. Birmingham-based cheesemongers Curds & Whey and Kneals Chocolates join the festival line-up for the first time for special whisky-themed tasting sessions, while global cigar importers Hunters & Frankau return for a Cuban cigar and whisky masterclass. Local bloggers Living Room Whisky will be reprising their popular ‘bloggers’ choice’ stand.

Over 250 people attended last year’s festival at unique exhibition space The Bond. Festival-goers in 2014 can expect a much bigger event expert tasting advice from some of the whisky world’s most celebrated distillers, brand owners and bottlers. Retail will be provided by Birmingham’s arm of The Whisky Shop as well as Hard to Find Whisky.

Amy Seton, festival organiser and founder of The Birmingham Whisky Club, commented: “We were truly bowled over by the success of last year’s festival. It’s clear that Birmingham residents know and love their whisky, which is why we are growing the 2014 event to include more exciting and also more unusual brands and distillers.”

She added: ““As always, we welcome anyone at our events who has an interest in whisky – whether you’re an expert or a novice – there will be something for you. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about this historic drink in a fun, informal and sociable environment.”

Tickets for Whisky Birmingham 2014 are on sale now and cost £25 for entry into the main festival room and all whisky. Masterclasses, Speakeasy and food require an additional ticket/cost. For further information and to book, please see Twitter @TheWhiskyMiss or TheBirminghamWhiskyClub.co.uk.

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Combine a Love of Travel and Scotch with Scottish Whisky Cruises

Introducing Scottish Whisky Cruises. We offer our guests a unique journey. Approaching these iconic distilleries and their surrounding nature from the oak decks of an ex-wooden warship provides an unforgettable experience that few visitors will ever get to enjoy.

Our chef prepares all meals onboard with the emphasis being on fresh Scottish food and using whisky in a variety of ways.

Onboard whisky tastings are hosted in the oak paneled Officer’s Mess with the addition of food pairings to local produce adding a different dimension to your whisky experience. Our unique approach to whisky cruising ensures a magical journey for all of our guests.



Our boat, the Gåssten, is one of the last wooden warships ever built and she provides the perfect platform to experience this inspirational coastline and spiritual home of Single Malt.



For more information:

Web ScottishWhiskyCruises.com

Email info@scottishwhiskycruises.com

Phone +46 722 06 94 88

---

Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.