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The Balvenie Craft Awards

May 26, 2012 in Uncategorized

There is only one week left to enter this year’s The Balvenie Master of Craft Awards.

The awards celebrate artisan craftmakers from around the UK, from cheesemakers to woodworkers and everything in between. The idea of the awards comes from the fact The Balvenie is based around the craft of whisky making: from malting its own barley, to milling it and storing casks on site at the warehouses of its Speyside distillery, The Balvenie prides itself on craftsmanship.

Last year’s winner of the Young Master of Craft, Ruth Emily Davey, told me the awards were a huge boost to her artisan business.

“It’s difficult to get yourself out there so it’s really special to see people celebrating local crafts,” she told me.

The 25-year old shoemaker, based in Aberystwyth, spent five years training with master shoemaker Alan James Raddon before trying to branch out on her own. She says the awards made the big difference to her career success.

“Before I only had a few boxes of tools and now I have a whole workshop. It’s given me access to a whole network and the confidence that it can be possible to make it on your own. That confidence is really important for small craftspeople trying to survive,” she said.

A pair of Ruth's handcrafted shoes

This year, Ruth will sit on a panel to judge entrants along with TV presenter Kevin McCloud, chairman of the Heritage Crafts Association, Robin Wood, craft photographer Nick Hand and Anne Cuthbertson, editor of The Sunday Telegraph Life. Master distiller David Stewart will lead the judging.

Ruth said she’ll be looking for passion and individuality within the entrants.

By winning, she has also found herself becoming more curious about whisky.

“To see inside the history of whisky making was great. It’s a craft in itself,” she said.

For more details on the awards, to enter or nominate a craftsperson you know, visit: www.thebalveniemastersofcraft.com. Entries will be accepted until 1 June.

 

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The Whisky Lounge London: Review

April 25, 2012 in Uncategorized

You could see them lining up around the corner of Elverton Street before the doors had even began to creak open for the 11am start time on Saturday. The sun was shining, people were jolly and inside the Royal Horticultural Halls, dozens of whisky industry members mulled about putting the last touches to the event’s set up. A palpable excitement and nervousness reigned, the air static with electric energy.

The Whisky Lounge team gathers before doors open

“Open the doors,” declared Amanda Ludlow, co-founder of the Whisky Lounge.

And so they streamed in. And so marked the triumphant second day of the Whisky Lounge London festival.

I happily accept some Balvenie from Nicola of The Whisky Boys

On Friday night, a few hundred people also came into the glass domed hall, but with the rain that evening, it really felt like things were shining on Saturday morning as the rays of light filtered through the hall and sparked off the dozens of sumptuous whisky bottles.

As hundreds of people came to experience superb whisky from exhibitors like The Balvenie, Compass Box, Berry Bros and Rudd, Bowmore, The Glenlivet, Jameson and many, many others, I tried to quell nerves for my afternoon sessions on Women & Whisky, featuring women from the whisky industry sharing their favourite drams and views on how the world of whisky is changing and developing.

In the first session, I was joined by a stellar line up: Cat Spencer, head of marketing for Master of Malt, Kirstie McCallum, Global Brands’ Ambassador for Burn Stewart, and Celine Tetu, brand ambassador with Compass Box. As we sipped a cool dram of Master of Malt‘s pre-mix Old-Fashioned (brought in by Cat) attendees questioned the ladies as to their view on everything from how they got involved in the whisky industry to what is the best way to drink a dram. What every speaker agreed on was the fact whisky should be about how you like it. Cat also commented that there can sometimes be a slightly exclusive boundary to entering the world of whisky, which can put consumers off, and she hopes this will change for the future. Celine, meanwhile, said the whisky world is actually extremely friendly and all everyone involved wants is for the consumer to give it a go and find the way they enjoy drinking it – whether neat, on ice, with water or a mixer. She also added she’s been impressed with the cocktail culture here in London which is bringing whisky to a wider audience.

The first whisky & women panel

As she presented the Compass Box Hedonism, Celine also explained in full length the differences between grain and single malt whiskies to a receptive audience. Kirstie, meanwhile, spoke of her years in the industry and how she is glad to see an opening up of the industry to both more females and a younger consumer. The 15-year old Isle of Mull Tobermory she presented ended things off with a bang – the whisky (which I’d not had a chance to try yet) is finished off in Olorosso Sherry casks and, while I’m not a massive fan of sherried whiskies, this one is just beautiful: creamily sweet, with big bites of plummy fruits and a hint of saltiness which cleanses the palate before the next sip. A delicious end to an exciting first women & whisky seminar!

Before the next session I was lucky enough to wander around and try some incredible whiskies. My favourite of the festival was the Longmorn 16, another jewel of a dram that was new to me. The majority of Longmorn’s production ends up in blends (it’s a part of the Pernod Ricard group) but the single malt was gorgeous. Coming in at 48% it is a fully-rounded whisky, with surprisingly fresh and crisp yet sweet notes at the start (apples dipped in caramel) and a working of the palate from front to back with notes of lemon, brown sugar, vanilla and grass.

As the first session ended and the hundreds of (now even jollier) attendees exited, there was just enough time for the Whisky Lounge team to reset the glasses and get ready for the next crowds, which were eager to get in as the typical April weather began once more to spout rain, rain and more rain!

That evening, in the second of the Women & Whisky panels I was joined by another fabulous group of ladies, including: Helen Stewart, UK Brand Manager of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society; Rachel MacNeill, owner of Wild & Magic Islay and Whisky for Girls; and, Deirdra McBeth, UK Brand Assistant for Jameson. The attendees were comprised of a mixed group of beginners to more seasoned whisky enthusiasts, but what was most interesting to see was just how willing everyone was to get into the discussions and try the whiskies. It helped that there was a great cast of, not only speakers, but whiskies too, with the Redbreast 12, the new Bruichladdich Black Art and the SMWS 41.45 (Audrey Heburn in a ball gown) all in the line-up. The latter was my favourite (it probably helps that Audrey Hepburn is an idol of mine) but I wasn’t alone, with one woman saying it was “perfect” and another chap adding it “was something else”. Unfortunately, it is no longer available to buy, but if you spot this incredibly classy, 25-year old Dailuaine whisky on the shelf at your local SMWS, try it! Over a relaxed hour of drams and questions, we finished of the session as the sun came back out, shining a bright light on the end of the day.

Crowds enjoy fabulous whisky offerings

At the end of it all, 1,800 people (55% of which were under 30) came through the doors of the Royal Horticultural Hall over the Friday and Saturday. Of those, 80% had never been to a whisky festival before but 99% have said they will come back. And if that’s not “bringing whisky to the people” then I don’t know what is!

Miss Whisky would like to thank all the people that supported her in the first women & whisky panels, all the exhibitors that brought dozens of great drams and, of course, Amanda, Eddie and the team of the Whisky Lounge for showing London just how great whisky really is. And, if you missed out but want to see it in action, check out their video of the show here. Until next time…happy dramming!

Thanks to Simon Hanna of Image Revolver for providing photos. For more information on the Whisky Lounge and to check out its upcoming events, head to: www.thewhiskylounge.com

 

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The Balvenie’s New Debut

January 20, 2012 in Uncategorized

It’s always exciting to discover a new dram. But to be at the premiere of one is even more enjoyable.

A few days ago I was lucky enough to do just that. In the cozy, tartan-covered Jacobite room at the Boisdale restaurant in Belgravia, a group of whisky bloggers, reviewers and retailers gathered to watch the live streaming of a webcast put on by The Balvenie. The occasion? To debut its new whisky made in honour of the coopers that still work at one of the most traditional distilleries in Scotland and the people signed up to its members club – Warehouse 24 – who will be the only ones able to get their hands on one of these bottlings.

Unfortunately, as luck would have it, technology failed us so it was up to the formidable Dr Andrew Forrester – the UK Brand Ambassador – to lead us through the proceedings.

The new bottling from The Balvenie

The Craftsman’s Reserve No1, The Cooper will be limited to only 515 bottles – 315 to be sold in the UK and 200 overseas. It is the first in a series that Master Distiller, David Stewart, has made to celebrate the craftspeople at the distillery (and give him some free reign as he celebrates his 50th year with the company).

The new whisky is unusual not just in the number of bottles being released but in the fact it is a full-on sherry wood whisky – a step away from the norm for The Balvenie which usually focuses on oak.

“It’s a chance for David, after 50 years, to have a great deal of fun, selecting almost any casks he wants to,” Andrew told us. “There’s not a huge amount of stock sitting in sherry casks so it’s the chance to do something different with less availability.”

Andrew added that David was tipped off to one cask being a particularly good because it had far less in it, meaning some of the distillery workers may have been sneaking a wee bit out of it from time to time over the years.

So, after all the chat about the whisky, what did I think of it as a dram?

The Balvenie Craftsman's Reserve No1, The Cooper sits locked away...

Aged stamped as a 15-year old, it was a sweeter smelling whisky than a normal Balvenie, but to me, still heralded the distinct distillery characteristics. It had maple syrup, honey and sherry notes, along with a hint of what reminded me of this cinnamon and sugar spread I used to have on my toast as a child (but which I’ve never seen since…). On the first taste, there was a sweetness up front with notes of malt, coffee and leather, and was slightly astringent in the middle of my tongue. Adding water to the 59.4% dram made it really blossom, giving me hints of chocolate and lemongrass.

All in all, I was very satisfied with the whisky – it felt like a one for grown-ups though, not necessarily one for beginners. If DoubleWood were an entry level, this would be a graduate. Which, given it’s been made in honour the coopers, and especially Ian McDonald – the head cooper who has been with The Balvenie since he was 15 years old (!) – it makes sense that the first specialty release in this series would a bit more mature and distinct.

It will be made available in February only to members of Warehouse 24 – its free, online community – for an extremely reasonable price of £65.

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New Discoveries

December 6, 2011 in Uncategorized

Recently I was invited down to the Athenaeum, a fantastic boutique hotel in Mayfair, which has put a lot of time and effort into updating its whisky bar.

The bar has, incredibly, more than 270 whiskies and its own whisky sommelier in the form of Angelo Gobbi. It also does something call the Whisky Social, which brings together whisky lovers and someone from the industry to do a relaxed tasting.

On show the night I was there was Balvenie – Dr Andrew Forrester, the UK brand ambassador, was on hand to take tasters through four different whiskies: the DoubleWood 12-year old, the Single Barrel 15-year old, the PortWood 21-year old and finally, the Tun 1401, Batch 2.

Bottles of Balvenie on show for the evening

It was a busy, buzzy night as guests arrived to the hotel and enjoyed a whisky sour to get things going. To add to the excitement, Dr Forrester made sure to introduce some extra technology into the mix, by playing the group’s first live distillery tasting in the background.

Each whisky was accompanied by a small dish which had been specially paired to match.

First up was the DoubleWood (a long-time favourite of mine) with a beautiful parsnip and almond soup, the flavours of which (creamy, nutty, rich) complemented the DoubleWood very well indeed.

We continued on to a seared scallop with the 15-year old and then moved through the range to a medallion of red deer and pumpkin puree with the PortWood.

An evening of fantastic whisky

But the real treat for me of the night was the chance to try the Tun 1401, Batch 2, which I had heard great things about. And, it didn’t disappoint. This special batch uses sherry and bourbon cask whiskies from the 1960s up to the 1980s – it was elegant, extremely smooth and downright delicious. One taster put it as: “A beautifully cut ruby,” while the Dr. compared it to an “elegant ballroom dancer”. No wonder the (just less than) 3000 bottles sold out so quickly!

The evening was full of laughter and discussion, and had a laid-back open feel that can sometimes be hard to come by at tastings. It lived up to its name of being “social” and allowed the attendees a chance to really quiz Dr Forrester about all his knowledge on whisky. It was informative, interesting and a great way to showcase some fantastic whisky from Balvenie.

In the end, it was a night of discoveries – a new whisky bar, a new whisky event and a chance to discover the incredible Tun 1401 Batch 2. Miss Whisky was merry indeed.

The next Whisky Social takes place at the Athenaeum on the 25th January (Burns Night) and will be hosted by David Frewin from Macallan. For more information, head here.

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Perfect Pairings

November 29, 2011 in Uncategorized

At a recent tasting, the speaker said he tends to be loath to host whisky and food tastings because of the simple fact that whisky can taste so differently to each person and he does not like to prescribe exactly what will or won’t work well together.

I was intrigued by this statement but realised it made complete sense – after all, where one person might taste fragrant roses in a lovely scotch, another gets subtle notes of horse manure. Different strokes, for different folks.

So, it was with an open mind that I headed to Atul Kochhar’s lovely Berkeley Square restaurant Benares recently to taste some Indian food and pair it with whisky.

Bar manager – Giovanni Spezziga – takes pride in the quality of whiskies he makes star at the bar and on the restaurant’s “whisky trolley” which gets wheeled out to guests at the Michelin star restaurant when they have finished up some tasty treats.

The whisky trolley at Benares

However,  the restaurant is also trying to highlight that whisky is not only an after-dinner drink, but one that can be paired to match the spicy, rich flavours of its Indian food just as well.

“Our food is very complex so our whisky is too,” said Spezziga.

Added to this, Spezziga has also recently brought in two of the Amrut whiskies – the classic and the peated styles – to promote the Indian influence further.

“I thought, ‘Wow’. I was really surprised [at the Amrut] so I have started to suggest it to our guests,” he said.

Food and whisky: high scores all around

On my menu for the day was a potato cake, tandoori chicken, paneer with apricot sauce and a vegetable samosa with a tamarind sauce. We matched these up with a Glenmorangie, the Auchentoshan Three Wood, the Balvenie DoubleWood and the two Amrut whiskies. Finally, there’s a cheeky Manhattan made with the Amrut Peated, the stunning Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, and a cherry marinated in orange, cherry wine and anise – can you say: YUM!?

For the most part, the whisky went well and helped eke out further flavour from the food – the only time it didn’t happen was with the potato cake, which was a bit too light to do much with the Glenmorangie. But my favourite, by far, was the vegetable samosa with tamarind sauce, matched with the Balvenie DoubleWood. The sharp sweetness of the tamarind, along with the cumin spiciness of the samosa, worked beautifully with the sherry and cinnamon notes in the whisky. Parfait!

Next year the restaurant hopes to start doing some whisky masterclasses and to create a whisky and food matching menu to show off just how well the two foods go together. And after tasting the flavours, I could understand it: the powerful, spicy richness of Indian food with its cumin, coriander, ginger and tumeric, along with the spicy, oily full notes of many whiskies do seem to blend very well.

But, then again, that’s just Miss Whisky’s opinion – she says: go out and try it yourself and let her know what you think!

 

 

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