islay

Whisky School Cruises To Islay

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits

Now this is a booze cruise. The Whisky School has put together cruises to the distilleries of Islay. Cruise leader Gordon Wright takes cruisers through three days of whisky adventure with two evenings of tutored whisky tastings on the boat. The cruises cost £895 per person sharing a twin or double cabin and includes food and beverages on board. The boat carries just 10 guests and the price includes to and from transfers from Glasgow to the boat. There are two cruises scheduled each month for May, June and August.

[via Islay blog]

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Tags: cruise, islay, spirits, whisky school, WhiskySchool

Bruichladdich Attempts to Make 92% Alcohol Whisky

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Those wacky folks at the Bruichladdich distillery in Scotland are up to something special on Monday, a quadruple distillation that will result in a whisky with a 92% alcohol content. The legend of a quadruple distilled whisky known as usquebaugh-baul is mentioned in Martin Martin’s book of his 1695 journey in the Hebrides "The Western Islands of Scotland." The book explains the drink by saying that "… the first taste affects all the members of the body: two spoonfuls of this last liquor is a sufficient dose; and if any man should exceed this, it would presently stop his breath, and endanger his life.” Wow. The creation of the potent brew will be shown on the distillery webcams. According to the Scotsman, there will be 5,000 bottles created for those willing to take on the drink.

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Tags: bruichladdich, islay, scotland, single malt, whiskey, whisky

Blended Scotch Whiskies

by Gustad Mody (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Forbes released an article telling us the detailed background on the history of blended Scotch and what to look for in the crowd this year. Master blenders recognize the right components to harmoniously marry single malts to grain whiskies which give us blended Scotch whiskies. An Edinburgh merchant was probably the first to do so in 1853 when he mixed the malt whisky from The Glenlivet with other whiskies to be labeled as Old Vatted Glenlivet, O.V.G. The merge proved to be less aggressive and soothing then the challenging drink of single malts. This and other blends corroborated that two styles of Scotch whisky was more attractive to the general consumer than when sold separately. Even though some of us snobs might refuse to consider Scotch blends, I suggest you give a try from the short list of current respected blends. When a single malt is not around, from the list, I personally enjoy Chivas Royal Salute 21 Year and the 12 Year, Johnnie Walker Gold 18 Year, and Dewar’s Special Reserve 12 Year. What are your favorite blended Scotch whiskies?

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Tags: Ambassador Royal Deluxe, AmbassadorRoyalDeluxe, Argyll, Blended malt whisky, Blended Scotch Whiskies, BlendedMaltWhisky, BlendedScotchWhiskies, Cragganmore, Edinburgh, Grain whisky, GrainWhisky, Highlands, Islay, Isle of Skye, IsleOfSkye, Lagavulin, Old Smuggler, OldSmuggler, Pinch The Dimple, PinchTheDimple, Prohibition, scotch, Single malt whisky, SingleMaltWhisky, Speyside, Strathisla, Talisker, Teacher’s Highland Cream, Teacher’sHighlandCream, whiskey, whisky, White Horse, WhiteHorse

Lagavulin

by Gustad Mody (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Lagavulin, an Islay whisky, is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, dating to about 1742. It is known as the aristocrat of Islays. Lagavulin is one of the few great classics not only from Islay but Scotland it’s self. The great peat smoke aroma adds to its robust body, and is well balanced and smooth with a gentle sweetness. The 16 year is among my all time favorites of all single malts with its heady and pungent smokiness. Lagavulin means “the hollow where the mill is”.