Category Archives: Field Trip!

From the desks of WhiskyLive…

Whisky Live New York

Pier Sixty, Chelsea Piers

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Early Bird special is still available until Tuesday, January 31^st. Tickets on sale now at the New York Whisky Live website!

Whisky Live New York, in its 7^th year, continues to offer an incredible range of whiskies for you to sample from Scotland, Ireland, USA, Canada, and abroad. Take advantage of this unique opportunity to taste over 200 of the finest Scotches, Bourbons and whiskies from around the world.

With a delicious buffet, live entertainment, The Ward III Lounge, micro-distilleries, cheese pairings, chocolate pairings, cocktail demonstrations and tastings, master classes by the experts, and so much more; Whisky Live New York just keeps getting better. It’s a complete night out! Stay tuned to the website for continual updates of new whiskies along with master class information by mid-February.

Introducing Cocktails Live, the exciting new international drinks experience. It’s all about the cocktail. Watch and sample as some of the best mixologists make the ultimate whisky cocktails in New York.

The VIP ticket offers early entry to allow more time to speak to the exhibitors and unrushed VIP samplings. For full show information and ticket options, visit New York Whisky Live website.

* * *

As a warm-up to Whisky Live – We are proud to share a wonderful opportunity from our cheese sponsor, Artisanal Premium Cheese.

Join Artisanal’s Max McCalman for a night of hand selected premium Scotches and Cheeses!

Fly “across the pond” to the land of tartans, bagpipes and of course SCOTCH! As you journey through the Highlands, Isles and cities of Scotland tasting the land’s most exquisite whiskies, Max McCalman will show you how these malts complement the world’s best cheese.

Upcoming Dates:

Wednesday, January 25th from 6:30-8:30pm

Thursday, February 23rd from 6:30-8:30pm

Wednesday, March 21st from 6:30-8:30pm

Artisanal Cheese Center:

483 Tenth Avenue (between 36th & 37th Street)

New York, NY 10018

http://www.artisanalcheese.com/prodinfo.asp?number=17WHCH

Whisky Live New York promises to be a fantastic evening out. Don’t miss it.

Field Trip!

Reminder and update: Here’s 20% off the 2012 Universal Whisky Experience in Las Vegas for you, from me

December 28, 2011 Jewmalt

…courtesy of the Universal Whisky Experience, that is.

The folks from the UWE (or Nth show) gave me a special discount code for the JSMWS members and readers of the Jewish Single Malt Whisky Society whisky blog to come to the Nth 2012 Show.

20% off the actual ticket price to the Nth 2012 Connoisseur Package priced at $525.00. This is a total saving of more than $100.00.

If you’ve wanted to go but the price was a bit high for you, you now can save more than $100! Not bad folks. Not bad.

Make sure that, when purchasing the tickets (you can use this link to get to the ticket desk) that you specify this discount code:

jw4567

So, what is this show all about? The Universal Whisky Experience Show is perhaps the only whisky show dedicated to featuring Ultra-Premium whiskies.

To give you an idea, here’s an incomplete list of what they’ll be pouring during their “Super Pour” this coming March:

Dalmore Astrum (40yr)
New release for 2011, Highland Park (40yr)
Glenfarclas 1966 – Single Cask exclusive to ‘Nth 2011’ show
Glenglassaugh (40yr)
Glenrothes – John Ramsey (Limited release)
Dalmore Aurora (45yr) – New release for 2011
Laphroaig (21yr)
Ardbeg 1974 single cask
Glenfarclas (50yr) – “family cask”
Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask No. 1.124 (39yr)
Speyside (Very rare bottling)
Benriach (40yr)
Glenfiddich (40yr)
Yamazaki 1984
Gold Bowmore 1964
Balvenie (40yr) – New release for 2011
The Glenlivet Cellar Collection 1964
Gordon & Macphail – Strathisla 1963, Macallan 1950 Fine & Rare
Duncan Taylor ‘ Rarest of the Rare’ – Kinclaith 1974
Glenmorangie – Quarter Century 25yr old
Update — Exclusive private tasting of the original glenfiddich 50(yr), by Ian Millar, Global brand ambassador at the HIGHROLLER DINNER RECEPTION on saturday 3rd March at the Nth 2012. Very limited bottling valued around $16,000 – $20,000 a bottle (If you can find one)!!!!!!

As you can imagine, premium pours such as these will command a premium price. But, if you have the ching and this is your thing, you’re going to have a absolute blast!

Check out the poster below for the upcoming event. If you click on the poster, it will bring you to the Ultimate Whisky Experience show site. Have fun!

Field Trip!

Better late than never. My review of one of my favorite shows – The Single Malt and Scotch Whisky Extravaganza

December 1, 2011 Jewmalt

Over a month has past since I went to the Single Malt and Scotch Whisky Extravaganza in Boston. And although a month and a half has past, I can tell you I often think about that night.

Is it the whisky served at the tables that have me thinking? Not really. Don’t get me wrong. There are some fine whiskies poured at the show. Personally, I got to taste some very interesting stuff like Glen Spey 21yo, Cragganmore 21yo, new to the US Hakushu 12yo, The Balvenie’s new Tun 1401 Batch 3, and many, many other whiskies including five new SMWS bottings (coming up in the next few of weeks I will have reviews of all five of the SMWS bottlings).

What got me from the get go? I think it’s Alan Shayne – the President of the SMWS in the USA. A warm and personable guy who was more than happy to give me a preview of what to expect for the night:

After my talk with Alan, and still before the show got underway, I saw David Blackmore of Glenmorangie/Ardbeg and he gave me an early preview of what he’d be pouring that night:

As mentioned in a previous review of this show, the best part of it all is the Whisky Panel which is something completely unique to any of the other shows I’ve been to.

SMWSA-4 — A few of the chaps from the whisky panel - Gardner of Suntory, Ewan of Diageo, Ian of Bowmore-Morrison, Ross from The Glenrothes/BBR and David from Auchentoshen

The Whisky Panel is a one hour session before the show starts where about 10 or 12 Brand Ambassadors take questions from the audience. It’s fun, HIGHLY informative and a total wild ride to see all of these guys and gals up there busting one another (in a very light-hearted way). For a whisky anorak like myself, I can pass on all the whisky in the room just to be a part of a conversation with other whisky folk and just totally geek out. Seriously… whisky and fine food (even some insanely good stuff for vegetarians like me) aside, the Whisky Panel is worth the trip to Boston.

For the majority of the evening, I popped in and out with my friends, the geniuses at Malt Impostor; John, Bill and Stephen (and Stephen’s friend Kim). When I go to a show, it’s usually alone so it’s times like these when having friends there pays. A pleasure hanging out and talking with you guys!

After the panel and eating some great food (as previously mentioned), trying this whisky and that, I ran into Gardner Dunn of Suntory and he gave me the low-down on the latest Suntory whisky being imported into the US:

After this, I went over to the Diageo tables and ran into my friend Ewan (who you might remember was one of the good folk that reviewed the GlenHatton blend).

He not only provided good cheer and great jokes, he poured me some of those Glen Spey and Cragganmore 21yos I mentioned earlier (they were not just for press, mind you, that super-fancy stuff was for all attendees).

And quickly over to the Usquaebach table (perhaps one of my favorite blends – especially the 15yo pure malt) to sip on some of their whisky and have a laugh or two with my friend Noah Goldstein (as you can tell by the name, a nice Irish boy).

Speaking of Irish, I spent some time at the Bushmills table just long enough to fall in love with their 16 & 21yo whiskeys. I was taken through the entire line and with the exception of the entry level whiskey, I found their line to be quite good (especially, again, the 16yo & 21yo whiskeys).

As the old saying goes, time is fun when you’re having flies. The night ended a lot quicker than I expected. I always leave this (and other) show(s) wondering where the time went. I will say, however, that due to the smaller size of the show I was able to do everything I wanted to do and talk with everyone I wanted to talk with. The Single Malt and Scotch Whisky Extravaganza is a show I look forward to every year.

A big thanks goes out to Gabby Shayne for the press pass and samples for review (again, those SMWSA reviews will pop up in the next few weeks).

Field Trip!, Glenmorangie, Interviews

Day 4 – Video tasting with Glenmorangie’s Global Ambassador David Blackmore – Tasting the “Private Editions”

November 10, 2011 Jewmalt

Finally, we are at the finish.

But before we got here, yesterday we discussed Glenmorangie’s Quinta Ruban and Nectar D’or (Port and Sauternes finishes, respectively) and the day before that we lead off talks of their “Extra-Matured” range with the Glenmorangie Lasanta which is a sherry finished whisky.

We began this entire video series a few days ago with the flagship Glenmorangie – “The Original” (here is a link to that video)

So what will we discuss in the end? The first two of Glenmorangie’s Private Editions: Sonnalta PX, which is a Pedro Ximenez sherry finished whisky and the Finealta which is a replication, they think, of what Glenmorangie’s whisky might have tasted like back in the very early 1900’s and is lightly peated.

As with the others, the below videos are more than just tasting videos. David Blackmore does a great job teaching us about the whiskies, process and more.

David, thank you very much for doing this series with me. I look forward to our next shoot when we cover the Ardbeg line.

And thank you to all who’ve follow the series! I hope you enjoy the videos below. Cheers!

And now to video number two:

Jewish Single Malt Whisky Society’s official tasting notes on the Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX & Finealta

Sonnalta PX (as reviewed in April 2010) – 46% ABV –$65 – $90 | £56 | €75

On the nose – Banana peels & cinnamon, Banana chips, candied oranges (strange, even orange Jujubees, sort of a soapy quality but good), The nose really reminds me of the palate on the Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey with all of the yummy banana-i-ness to it. A very un-Glenmorangie nose. Wait, I sniffed after typing that and I take it back, notes from The Original Ten Years are popping through honey, apples. It’s all hiding there waiting to sneak up on you!

On the mouth — Fantastic mouth feel! Oh, G-d, that’s just so chewy… Like salted taffy or caramel. Nuts and root veggies, a touch of chocolate here (sort of like chocolate shavings if you’ve ever had them, a very different taste than a chunk of chocolate), wine soaked raisins.

Finish — Quite long. Chocolate covered leather (oh, so slight with the leather quality), raisins and fresh fruits. Huh, slight nutty oak after about 45 seconds or so.

Finealta (as reviewed in December 2010) – 46% ABV –$65 – $75 | £61 | €75

On the nose –Big cherry presence on the nose along with something minty. An earthy quality to it – fresh potting soil, new ferns. The peat in here is very light. Toffee & caramel. Cadbury fruit & nut bar. Some soy sauce.

On the mouth – Spiced orange gum drops. Red ones too. Lots of nuttiness and now some coffee tones in there. Solid mouth feel here, folks! Creamy, ooey – I love it. Peppery and more soy sauce notes. Again, lightly smoked & very elusive.

Finish – Now quite tannic. Quite long too.

You can view days 1, 2 and 3 of this video series, here, here and here (respectively).

Field Trip!, Glenmorangie, Interviews

Day 3 – Video tasting with Glenmorangie’s Global Ambassador David Blackmore – Tasting the “Quinta Ruban & Nectar D’or”

November 9, 2011 Jewmalt

As we enter the second half of our video tastings with David Blackmore & Glenmorangie, I start to get a little sad because I know that tomorrow will be the last day of our Glenmorangie videos.

However, there is some good news (with a spoiler alert – in the Glenmorangie videos we eluded to reviewing some Ardbeg whiskies. We ran out of time and did not get to them):

The good news? David and I have agreed on a date to video a review of the Ardbeg line and I hope that we’ll get to taste some interesting stuff and learn more about what may be Islay’s, if not all of Scotland’s, most cult single malt whisky. Expect those videos to go up before 2011 is out! With hope, these will be some nice Chanukah/Christmas presents for you 🙂

Back to the matter at hand… today David and I will explore the final two of the Extra-Matured Glenmorangie range: Quinta Ruban (Port Finish) and the Nectar D’or (Chateau D’yquem Sauternes Finish).

The Nectar D’or is perhaps my favorite of the Extra-Matured Glenmorangies if not my favorite out of the entire Glenmo range. The tasting of the two whiskies had to be split over two 10 minute videos.

Lots to talk about, lots to learn, lots to taste.

If you missed the first post, here is a link to it. If you missed the second post, here is a link to it.

I hope you enjoy Part 1:

And now, Part 2:

Jewish Single Malt Whisky Society’s official tasting notes on the Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban and Nectar D’or

Highlands Region – 46% ABV – $45 | £44 | €45

Quinta Ruban – (as tasted in May of 2010 by six of the local Connecticut JSMWS members – the notes are combined group notes)

Initial whiff — Spiced Oranges, Cloves, honey & vanilla, “this one will tickle your nose thinking that’s it’s actually Elmo” (Ok, so I threw in another little analogy… it is a nose tickler, very spicy stuff).

On the mouth – More tannic than expected, spiced citrus stuffs, honey and vanilla, some good nuttiness follows the nose here, oily mouth feel, coating and chewy.

Finish – Short, left you wanting more, off balance compared to what the nose & palate delivered (though some saw this as an evolution rather than imbalance), though with the addition of a bit of water, a creaminess stays with you.

Highlands Region – 46% ABV – $55-65 | £50 | €65

Nectar D’or – (Tasting notes are mine from February 2010)

On the nose — Apricot jam, actual Sauternes (no initial whisky scents, pure Sauternes wine; delicious!), loads of vanilla, some coconut and a tad bit of smoke, more like apricot jam on burnt toast (after having scrapped off the burny parts with a butter knife).

On the mouth – My G-d, my mouth instantly started watering. Very fruity, apricots again, pecans, oak and coconuts. A bit peppery and some gobs of honey, sugared honey.

Finish – Long, this stuff coats your mouth quite well, in the way back of my tongue the pecans came back. Quite lovely stuff.

Jewmalt Whisky Reviews