Balvenie

Even for those of us who write about whisky professionally, there's still much to be learned about single malts, including how they're made and how they're best to be enjoyed. Master classes go a long way towards filling in the vast knowledge gap, but not everyone can get to one of these sessions. So to reach out to the whisky-sipping public, Balvenie has launched a series of films under the Whisky Academy banner.

While in some parts of the country spring may already have sprung, here on the Eastern Seaboard we're still months away from cherry blossoms and G&Ts. In some ways this is the toughest time of the year – we're worn down from a long winter, yet the snow keeps falling – and it requires some tough gear to get through it in style. A key comfort of course is a vehicle that can not only handle the elements but keep them firmly in their place, while keeping you warm, dry and wrapped in luxurious refinement. We've yet to experience anything that can turn the worst ice storm of the year into a minor inconvenience with as much impressive panache as the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen. Not everyone loves its spartan exterior and sheer tonnage – just shutting the doors requires serious effort – but they're usually the same people who "swear by" their tin can minivans; we saw them stranded on the side of the road as we cruised by in the G550 on our most recent Geländewagen excursion.

Meticulously handcrafted inside and out at a special manufacturing facility in Graz, Austria, the military-derived G-Wagen is the progenitor of every Mercedes-Benz SUV on the road today. Essentially unchanged aside from certain key upgrades since it was first introduced over 30 years ago, it's done everything from winning the famous Paris-Dakar Rally to making sure the Pope gets to his appointments on time. With a starting sticker of $105,000 it's definitely something of an indulgence, but that helps maintain a certain exclusivity which is not without an appeal of its own. Only a few thousand models are sold here every year so you don't often see another one en route; while that means a certain amount of stares directed your way, unless you get one custom-painted bright red – it's only offered in an understated palette of black, grey, silver, white and dark green – those tend to be minimal as it's about as subtle as an SUV this size can get.

To help see out the season in style we have assembled a number of items which complement the G-Wagen's rugged good looks and provide essential assistance before, during and after the journey. For starters we selected a lightweight, trim-fitting down bomber jacket by Ralph Lauren Black Label (above left), made of supple goat suede with a leather throat latch and gunmetal hardware. The most stylish weather defender we've seen all season, it's the G-Wagen of outerwear. On the wrist we sported the new limited edition Breitling Transocean Chronograph (above right), a high-performance, shock-resistant, and damned good-looking watch on a mesh steel strap, while waxed canvas hunting boots from L.L. Bean Signature kept our feet warm and dry.

Last spring my colleague David Kiley wrote about the first batch of the exclusive new limited edition 40 year old single malt created by The Balvenie. Unfortunately it was never offered for sale in the U.S., but the famed distillery has now come out with a second batch with plans to make just 50 bottles (out of the total production of 150) available here starting this month, priced at $3,999. Balvenie malt master David Stewart kept careful watch on all of the casks of rare whisky in the Balvenie's warehouses in Scotland for many decades before selecting a small amount of precious elixir from six 40 year old casks for the second edition. The result is a beautifully rounded taste of sweet creamy vanilla, butter toffee and fresh fruit. The limited edition bottling comes in a bespoke wooden box, handmade in oak by Scottish craftsman Sam Chinnery. The second batch hopes to follow in the prestigious footsteps of the first batch, which won a gold medal at both the prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) and International Spirits Challenge (ISC) Awards.

This weekend will see some serious wining and dining at the Newport WineFest 2010 on the waterfront in Newport, Rhode Island. The event takes place on August 20-22, 2010 at the Newport Yachting Center. The event offers wine tastings, gourmet dishes and special spirits events.

Luxury spirits company William Grant and Sons will have a large presence at the event showcasing their Milagro, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry, Glenfiddich and Balvenie brands. Milagro tequila and Hendrick's will both have a 35' x 35' activation area which will include a tent, bar and lounge areas. Stoli, Sailor Jerry, Glenfiddich and Balvenie will share a 4-sided pavilion where they will sample refreshing summer cocktails and many Scotch variants.

The weekend's festivities include a grand tasting from 6pm to 11pm on Friday night with a special mixology demo at 10pm. On Saturday the Grand Tasting runs from 5 – 10pm with a 5- 7pm: Grand Cru Tasting featuring high-end variants of Balvenie, Glenfiddich and others. On Sunday there is a chefs and champagne brunch in the morning with another grand tasting from12 – 5pm including a 3:30 pm demo of Milagro's Freshest Margarita. Tickets are available for individual events or an all-event pass can be picked up at the door for $335.

Restaurant and whisky bar Albannach in Trafalgar Square, London, is now offering a 50 yr old whisky from Balvenie that just might be London's most expensive. Cask 191 was made in 1952 and was Balvenie's first batch to be put into a single sherry cask and not moved for 50 years. It's also Balvenie's last batch from the 1950s and at only 83 bottles the distillery's smallest release to date. Whisky from Cask 191 is priced at £760 for a double measure or up to £9000 for a bottle. Albannach says they've already sold "quite a few" measures of it and their bar expert Cat Spencer says "It's for someone who really, really cares about their whisky. There's simply nothing else in the world like it."

Famed Speyside distillery The Balvenie has just released the second batch of Signature, its celebratory single malt Scotch whisky, created by Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart in celebration of his 45th year in the whisky industry.

Available in in a very limited edition of 1000 cases, with a recommended retail price of $52 per bottle, the 12 year old single malt is a "skillful marriage" of three cask types - first fill bourbon barrels, refill casks and sherry butts - to create a completely unique nose and taste.

The bourbon barrels add subtle vanilla, oak and layers of honey and the refill casks impart delicate, sweet notes and smoothness, while the sherry butts bring rich fruit and spiciness, resulting in a perfect balance of all.

"It has given me great pleasure to create a signature whisky as part of The Balvenie range," says Stewart, whose signature is on every bottle. "Maturing and marrying the finest single malt Scotch whisky has been my passion for over 45 years and it's an honor to mark the moment with an addition to The Balvenie family."

The opportunities to spend a lot on whisky just keep coming. For this one though, you'll have to fly to Hong Kong. The Balvenie Distillery has released 151 bottles from a single cask of The Balvenie, cask number 10378 from 1964, to be sold exclusively in Hong Kong International Airport. The whisky comes in a cherry wood box and each bottle is individually hand numbered. It was bottled exclusively for duty free retailer Sky Connection and sells for HK$108,000 ($14,200 U.S.) a bottle.