You are browsing the archive for Compass Box Archives - Miss Whisky.

Whisky Women & Int’l Women’s Day: Part 2

March 8, 2013 in Interviews, Whisky Women

Right folks – have you got drams at the ready? Because I have a lot of incredible women to raise a dram to this International Women’s Day.

Earlier in the week, I ran Part 1 of this series, speaking to women in the whisky industry about what whisky inspires them and what woman inspires them.

In Part 2, I speak to a second group of incredibly awe-worthy women.

So, I invite you to sit back with a dram, read through their stories and think of the women in your life that have pushed you to be a better person. If you are keen to share who they are, then you could win a bottle of Bowmore whisky (details of how to do so follow at the end of this post).

And above all else: happy International Women’s Day!

Bowmore Master Blender Rachel BarrieRachel Barrie, Master Blender, Morrison Bowmore Distillers:

I am most inspired by Bowmore’s complex waves of flavour, ebbing and flowing like the tides. One of my latest creations, Bowmore Tempest IV has effervescent waves of citrus and ocean spice, tempered by warm ripples of smooth vanilla and wispy smoke. It’s like being out on a boat in the ocean waves, with bracing sea air, ocean spices and salty drizzle sharpening the senses and clearing the mind. As you get closer to shore, the bright sun breaks through the clouds bringing a satisfying warmth, rewarding you with sun-drenched fruit and vanilla sweetness.

This sensory adventure reflects the passion I feel about life right now, embracing both the storms and the calm. I love taking my glass of Bowmore outside whatever the weather and allowing its wild and magical beauty to unfold. Whether I’m by the sea, a deep loch or at the top of a mountain ….it makes me want to dance in the rain at the height of the storm, then enjoy its soft fruity warmth as the storm passes.

From my time working in the world of whisky, I have been most inspired by the lady who first introduced me to the Sensory Science of whisky, Sheila Burtles. Sheila was the Sensory Scientist at Pentlands Scotch Whisky Research (now The Scotch Whisky Research Institute) when I started there as a Research Scientist in 1991. Like me, Sheila was a trained chemist and had an incredible passion for Scotch whisky flavours. She developed the original Scotch Whisky Flavour Wheel in 1979 alongside Dr James Swan, the world-wide renowned whisky expert, who first employed me as a young chemistry graduate at Pentlands Scotch Whisky Research. She was the first lady to recognise my talents and was my mentor until I left Pentlands in 1995 to join the ‘real’ world of whisky production.

Megan Kenny: Jameson Brand Ambassador:

Jameson Original inspires me – it’s a timeless classic appreciated for its smoothness and mixability that appeals to the tastes of both men and women. As a company Jameson has overcome a lot during its 233 years of production, from wars to Prohibition. Although Ireland is experiencing a massive recession Jameson and Irish Distillers is boasting double-digit growth in many markets. I am inspired by the taste of the whiskey, its history and the company behind it.

And, there are two women in my life who have inspired me.

The first is my grandmother who worked incredibly hard as a nurse to support her five children. She has taught me that through hard work and perseverance women can achieve anything in life.

Secondly is my mother. She’s a massive advocate of female empowerment. It was her decision to send me to a Loreto sister school where the ethos is adopted from the founder Mary Ward that “Women in time will come to do much”. I grew up surrounded by books by Betty Friedan and Simone DeBeauvoir. She recently went back to college to complete a degree in English. She graduated last year with an honours degree from Trinity College Dublin. She has always encouraged me to be the best I can be and not to let anything hold me back. She is also a fan of Irish whiskey, which encouraged me to pursue a career in the whiskey industry.

Allison Patel: Owner – Brenne Whisky & Local Infusions:

Balcones distillery as a whole always evokes some sense of awe, but especially the Brimstone and Rumble Cask Reserve expressions (I know, RCR is not whisky but it deserves recognition).  The complexity of flavors matched with the rich, chewy texture gets me every time. Compass Box is also very inspirational to me – in both the quality of what they create and the creative niche that they carved out for themselves under the very traditional umbrella of the Scotch world.  I am moved by both of these company’s ability to bring innovation into the whisky industry not just for the sake of being different, but to expand upon and further push the envelope of what whisky can be.

For their hard working attitudes, grace under pressure, compassion and showing the world that you can be a strong and have confidence in what you do and who you are without without the presence of an ego, Hillary Clinton and Beyoncé.  For living a full life to the best of one’s ability  and for finding the strength and courage to work through the obstacles and challenges that life throws at you, my grandmothers, mom and sisters.  For their genuine support, knowledge and true passion, I’m greatly and constantly inspired by my whisky sisters!

Femke Sijtsma: Whisky Blogger:

The whisky that inspires me is whisky that’s not available yet – there are upcoming distilleries everywhere, which are confident there is enough room for more variations. These distilleries are willing to take a challenge, a big step. That’s a bit like me: I started a whisky blog, to start an adventure in a world mostly dominated by men. So it’s the whisky being created at this moment, that just can’t wait to be born and that’s something to admire.

The woman who inspires me most is Aletta Jacobs who lived from 1854-1929 in the Netherlands. She was the first Dutch woman to take classes at a university and to complete a medical degree, becoming the first female Dutch doctor. She went to Amsterdam after her PhD to work as a general practitioner and held free consultations, gave courses and introduced the diaphragm for birth control.

Aletta Jacobs is one of the most famous Dutch representatives of the first wave of feminism in history. The fact there had to be a fight for women’s suffrage comes also because of her since the law originally imposed an income limit before you could vote; because she was a doctor, she fulfilled this wage limit, and used her right to vote!

The life of Aletta Jacobs was dedicated to the improvement of the position of women. I’ve got the deepest respect for her strength. She still inspires women to be strong and fight for their rights.

Helen Stewart: UK Brand Manager, SMWS:

Whisky itself is inspirational – whether looking at the industry itself or mulling things over with a dram. But I do love whiskies that surprise you…those that keep you on your toes, that keep you guessing, that challenge preconceptions – the rogues of the whisky world. Those whiskies are inspirational little devils!

Continuing with the ‘shock’ factor, the very first woman to inspire me was British fashion designer Vivanne Westwood. Her ability to design clothing that shaped the 70s punk scene, inspiring a whole generation along with her maverick attitude that set out to ‘put a spoke in the system’. She encouraged people to love art and strongly believed that culture could save the world. She was quite clearly an icon of her time, still managing to juggle marriage, motherhood and a spot of political campaigning.

Rachel MacNeill: Owner: Whisky for Girls:

The whisky that inspires me is Uisge Beatha: the water of life, the nameless whisky of the past, the homemade drams from farm stills. I am inspired by the whisky in a jug that was placed on the dinner table as part of the natural fare of the day, as intrinsic to life as milk from the cow. This whisky was made in places such as Daill Farm and Tallant Farm, in Islay. This whisky of the past inspires me, because I see it as a whisky of the future; I see a future of home distillers crafting private whiskies to share with friends and neighbours.

The woman who inspires me most is Scarlett O’Hara. There are other women whom I admire more, such as Emmeline Pankhurst, Amelia Earhart and Helen Keller. But Scarlett O’Hara inspires me. She is a fictional character created by Margaret Mitchell in the famous American novel, Gone with the Wind. Scarlett has gumption, cheek, passion; she was practical, she took responsibility for people and most importantly she never gave up. She is an eternal optimist; her words, and the last sentence of the book are, ‘After all, tomorrow is another day.’ I just know that Scarlett would have been a whisky drinker!

Kat Presley, Whisky DiscoveryKat Presley: Whisky Blogger:

So far on my whisky journey, Balblair has inspired me. There’s a sense of romance there for me from the way it’s made through to the beautiful location of its distillery.

The story of the current bottle design really captured my attention. The shape of the bottle is that of a large pebble found in the local stream. Then the raised scroll shape is an old Pictish symbol taken from the Clach Biorach standing stone which is close by, and which acted as an Iron Age/Mediaeval sign post telling passers-by what natural resources were abundant in the area. This particular symbol represents an abundance of herbs.

But there’s more to this drink than just drinking it. There’s a magic that brings people together to share their love of their favourite drams and each distillery has wonderful stories to be discovered.

My Thai grandmother inspires me. I was born and raised in Thailand and lived in a 4-bedroom house with running water and electricity, a rarity in the area.

My grandparents didn’t have much growing up. With no education job prospects were limited. To survive and feed their eight children they picked through litter to find plastic bottles, glass and aluminium cans to sell for recycling. From this humble beginning my grandma worked hard and saved up to buy the bit of land that the house I lived in as a child was built. She looked after me when my parents separated when I was a toddler as my mum worked full time.

My grandfather was an alcoholic. When he was drunk he was very unpredictable. I remember I used to hear him smashing things and shouting and swearing at my grandmother, threatening her on occasions.

But with everything my grandmother went through she was never bitter about her past and didn’t let it dictate her life, which is what I find inspirational. It humbles me and grounds me and every time I think I’ve got it hard, I remind myself that she went through far worse to give me the chance of having the life I have now and I am thankful for everything she has done for me and my mum.

Georgie Bell: International Brand Ambassador for the SMWS:

The whisky that inspires me really changes depending on mood. I use whisky as a reference point in time, the flavours help me pinpoint a particular moment: who I was with, what I was feeling etc. I often use these flavours as a form of escape from everyday life. It is incredible when you think of where they arise from – how they slowly develop as the whisky slumbers inside the cask – itself acting as a raconteur relaying its story to you as you take that first sip.  One of our whiskies that really sticks in my mind is 26.77 ‘Church Pews and Hymn Books’ – a 27year old from a refill bourbon cask; the overwhelming perfumed and waxy notes are truly inspirational with beautiful memories of people I’ve shared it with to match.

All the other women in the whisky industry that have been part of my journey over the last three years inspire me: my peers. When I first started at The Society, Annabel Meikle was like a beacon of shining light in between all those green iconic bottles; Laura Hay, who is now working with Pernod Ricard in Australia and Rachel Barrie who was present at one of my first tasting panels. These are but a few of the women who I look up to, who I strive to become – every one going above and beyond to represent our nation’s finest spirit.

*     *     *

Want to win a bottle of Bowmore Small Batch Reserve and a Jo Malone candle? Then email your stories of the women that inspire you to info@misswhisky.com by the 22 March. The most inspiring story will win the whisky & be published on Miss Whisky while a runner up will win a 35cl bottle of Bowmore 12 year old and have their story shared.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Bringing Back Blends

February 15, 2013 in Events, Reviews

At the start of this year, I made a promise to myself to try more blended whisky, a fact I wrote about on this piece on Ballatine’s and this other piece on Compass Box. I didn’t want to find myself locked in a whisky box that was only filled with knowledge of single malts, nor did I want to only be writing about that style for you, dear reader.

And so when I was recently invited to an event with Johnnie Walker that was to be all about blends, I was more than curious. The event was hosted by Diageo to launch its signature blended whisky brand’s latest Directors’ Blend – a yearly release of an extremely limited run (only 450 bottles or so) of a special Johnnie Walker blend given as gifts for employees of the whisky giant. The company has been doing this since 2008 and the new 2012 edition is its fifth run. The plan is to do a 2013 version to complete the set.

But the night was not just about the whisky itself. After all – as was questioned by a fellow guest – what point would there be in trying whisky that will never be released to the public and writing reviews about it? In fact, the evening was more about discussing blends and their importance, as Dr Nick Morgan – head of whisky outreach for Diageo – explained.

“Over 95% of whisky sales are for blends, despite the fact that in the past 20 to 30 years, a huge amount of money has been put into developing malt whisky. Yet, 95% of what is written about is about single malts, and that irks me a bit.”

It’s hard to deny him that point. The majority of pieces I read on whisky – and, as mentioned, I am no exception as I contribute to that written content – tend to be about single malt.

Dr Matthew Crow Diageo

Dr Matthew Crow, Diageo blender

Now, this isn’t entirely surprising. Whisky is generally seen as a higher end product and – while there are certainly blends that fit into this category – it is single malts that captain that space. Equally, there has been such a push on single malts recently in both the marketing and press spheres that it is no wonder blends can sometimes get forgotten about. And, finally, I think many of us have potentially had a bad experience drinking blended whiskies at a young age (I know many friends who espouse their hatred of whisky to this fact) and so single malts are seen as being less rough and more refined for the palate when we do come back to drams.

But that does not mean, in any way, shape or form, that blends should be disregarded. As I’ve been told many times by various whisky commentators: a very good blend can be enjoyed just as much as a very good single malt and there is an incredible amount of skill which goes into their creation.

The idea behind the Directors’ Blend was to showcase that skill and for the master blenders to have the chance to make something a bit different. According to Dr Matthew Crow, one of the blenders, each year has focused on a certain ‘cardinal’ – which is the Johnnie Walker term for a group of whiskies blended together to make a certain style, titled as Highland Malt, Highland Smoke, Island Smoke, Grain, Speyside Fruit and Light Lowland, each of which also has certain wood preferences. These six ‘cardinals’ are then generally blended together to create the staple Johnnie Walker blends.

The skill, then, comes from the ability of the blenders to not only decide when each cask (out of the more than seven million currently maturing for Diageo’s brands) is ready but also to manage that stock so they know they won’t, suddenly, run out of the components for Johnnie Walker Blue Label, for instance. They then have to put it all together and develop new blends – such as last year’s Johnnie Walker Platinum – to satiate an ever-growing appetite for whisky in emerging markets like Nigeria, Mexico and China.

From Matthew’s talk, it was clear all of this is no easy task. In fact, it all sounded bloody complicated – and fascinating. While in single malt, blenders have to put together stock from their own distillery to create a uniform product, in blended whisky those casks are coming from all around Scotland and each has its own style and characteristic that has to be worked together.

Now, of course, there are ‘recipe’ books for these things – the ‘cardinal’/'building block’ approach to blending has been a practice at Johnnie Walker since the late 19th century but even those would have shifted with time as certain casks (such as sherry casks) were more popular in the late 19th and early 20th century, while American ex-oak Bourbon casks didn’t become popular until after the Second World War.

The Directors’ Blends that have been released have each focused on one of the cardinals, such as the one released in 2009 that was full of sweet, salty smoke as a tribute to ‘Island Smoke’, and each was made to celebrate the skills of Johnnie Walker blenders over the years.

So, in the end, what did I think of the drams?

Well, the 2012 version was a real mix of Christmas elements like marzipan, pine needles, melted sugar and butter on the nose. On the palate, a tropical vanilla and sugary sweet fruit emerged before a slightly bitter finish capped things off.

My favourite was the 2011, however, which used a mix of casks including some new American oak ones. On the nose I was reminded of fresh springtime flowers, cedar chests and a woodshop in the crisp spring air. It had a fantastic sweetness I characterise as an outdoorsy sweetness. On the palate, there was a dash of cinnamon and new wood, oak-aged Calvados, and a nuttiness that was akin to raw almonds. It was, for me, a springtime dram that brought back memories of life on my Canadian farm as a child: partially frozen mud, fresh daffodils, warm sunshine and hay that’s been around all winter combined with the smell of the inside of the cedar chest that sat in our lounge. With a bit of water, a dash of chocolate covered ginger emerged for me.

In the end, I was once again shown that blends can be complex, intriguing and a hell of a lot of work to put together. I don’t doubt there will be naysayers among you or those that feel blends are simply products pumped out by large companies to make a profit. But, I’m finding myself impressed more and more often and I look forward to sharing my continued discovery of blends with you.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
8 Comments »

Bringing beautiful whisky blends to friends

January 12, 2013 in Reviews

"I say we share!" ... "Hurrah!"

One of the things I love most about whisky is getting the chance to share it with others and see their reactions. Sometimes this goes badly, with cries of, “Nope, I could never drink that!” or “Ugh…still hate whisky!” But more often than not, I find people warm to the drink.

A recent example of this was when I went to visit Miss Andrea (a new(ish) whisky convert who attended the tasting with Ian Buxton I wrote about here and the Compass Box Blending School I wrote about for The W Club here). I took her the remaining parts of some samples of the latest Compass Box blends to try out, which I’d already tasted. And her reaction was brilliant.

Jeremy Piven as Harry Selfridge

“I can’t believe a whisky like this exists,” she said, after her first sip of The Entertainer, a newish release specially produced for Selfridges.

As the night continued and she tried the others – the Great King Street New York edition and the Flaming Heart – her feedback was of a similar vein. And this continues the point I made in my last post about blends (seen here) – it is important to give them a try too, as they will often surprise.

Now, to backtrack a little, if you do not know about Compass Box yet, then let me tell you a bit more. Based in Chiswick, London, the boutique blending company puts high focus on smaller batch blends that go the extra mile in the unique department: from the taste to the packaging, Compass Box’s releases are always intriguing.

Founded by former Johnnie Walker marketing director John Glaser in 2000, it is recognised for helping turn people who would have previously enjoyed vodka or gin onto whisky, and inspiring the on-trade and whisky world alike. The company has won numerous honours, from Whisky Magazine’s Innovator of the Year award to design awards for its stunning packaging. And the team that joins John – ambassadors Chris Maybin and Celine Tetu, and assistant whisky maker Greg Glass – is full of boundless energy that is helping to reinvigorate the blended whisky category.

So, aside from Miss Andrea’s thoughts on Compass Box, what did I take from these latest releases?

I’ll start with the Great King Street New York edition. This was the first specially made regional blend, put together for last year’s New York Whisky Fest held in October. Only 1,840 bottles were produced. John was inspired by two things in its creation: the first was the discovery of a New York Times article from the 1890s talking about a bartender – Patrick Duffy – who imported the first branded glass bottles of Scotch into the country, while the second was a recipe he found for a blend dating to the same era when Patrick was working. The GSK NY edition was created with that recipe in mind and dedicated to that bartender.

Made using an 80/20 split on malt to grain whisky, it is bottled at 46%. With the colour of a gold coin, this attractive whisky had a bouquet of vanilla, marshmallow, orange peel, peat, chlorine, toffee Quality Street coins and peaches. On the palate, it started off gently but had a nice, heavy mouthfeel. It was sweeter than I expected but had a good balance of smoke. Notes of vanilla, caramel, brown sugar, lemongrass, licorice and cigar smoke came through. The finish was glorious – it was plum full of a perfect harmony of sweet, bitter and smoky notes, with a lingering taste of black licorice.

Next up was Miss Andrea’s favourite – The Entertainer. Only 1,000 bottles of this 46% whisky were made exclusively for Selfridges, in honour of its founder, Harry Selfridge (who you can learn all about in the delightful new ITV series, found here). It was created using a style that was more likely to be found around the time he was establishing his flagship Oxford Street store in the early 20th century, with a higher proportion of malt to grain whisky (similar to the GSK NY).

With the colour of blooming mustard flowers mixed with toffee, this bursts with its first release into the glass. It was heavy with butter and brown sugar smells, like a fresh cake mixture. Then notes of homemade hot cinnamon buns came through, before I picked up chocolate, Fig Newtons and a hint of a floral note like fresh daffodils. The palate was even more delectable – butter and vanilla again, but also nutmeg spice, juicy peaches, milk chocolate and apricot brandy with a hot bit of peat that shot across my tongue. The finish was warm, with a real bitterness that settled around the mid-point of my palate and a gentle, unobtrusive hint of smoke. It was blooming marvelous – and the Entertainer of Oxford Street would have been proud to be associated with it, I’ve no doubt.

Finally, I sampled the Flaming Heart. Released globally in October, this was the fourth edition of this whisky. Made from a mix of Clynelish aged in American oak, along with a heavy dose of peated whisky, a glug of whiskies which went through a secondary maturation in new French oak and a teeny amount of sherried whisky, this is a powerhouse dram.

With a colour of aged, dry straw, this 48.9% whisky had a thick, heavy nose that was beautifully appealing and a sweetness that kicks off at the back of the throat. The seaside, buttery lobster, treacle and lemon all hung heavily in the air around the glass. On the palate, there was a perfect balance of sweet and smoke, with notes of butter, aspartame, brown sugar, chewy lemon peel and gooey vanilla extract. The finish was of burnt brioche and butter, with a wee burn at the front of the tongue. Again, marvelous.

And so, it was with agreement that I conversed about these whiskies with Miss Andrea. She too fell for them all, and declared she would happily buy any of them (a big statement for someone still getting into whisky and who has just a few wee sample bottles at the moment). Her other half, Mr Matt, nodded happily himself and I have a feeling my bit of drammage sharing will be another step on their ladder of whisky discovery – something I (and potentially Compass Box) will agree is delightful!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
4 Comments »

Back to Blends: Ballantine’s Range

January 10, 2013 in Uncategorized

Over the past year, I have had many opportunities to experience a range of single malt whiskies, the chance for which I feel very privileged.

However, it has also been a year where blends have not featured as heavily in my tasting experiences as I may have originally planned.

While I love a good single malt, I have no major issues with blends. It’s true that poor quality blends can put off new whisky drinkers if they are too harsh, unbalanced or lacking in anything exciting. But it is equally true that – just like grain whiskies, which I often enjoy – blends can get a bad rap.

Companies like Compass Box are looking, well, outside of the box, and helping to make blends of interest again, focusing on the fact this style of whisky can be very well constructed and still take a hell of a lot of work.

Of course, many new whisky drinkers may not come across more boutique companies like Compass Box in the early stages of their whisky journey. This is why I think it’s important to sometimes go back to brands that one can easily find in supermarkets (along with whisky specialists, since some blends are as pricy as single malts) and give them a chance too.

I have recently had the opportunity to try much of the range from Ballantine’s – a blended Scotch that is extremely popular on the continent, if not as much here in the UK.

As background, George Ballantine was a grocer who set up his own shop in Edinburgh in 1827 at the tender age of 18. As his grocery store became more successful, he began to specialise in whisky, bringing in his own stock and amassing great quantities. In 1867, he set up two much larger stores in Edinburgh and Glasgow with son Archibald and, along with continuing to sell other whisky brands, began creating his own range. He died in 1892 but was posthumously awarded a Royal Warrant by Queen Victoria in 1895. The company was eventually acquired by Canadian company Hirim Walker Gooderham & Worts in 1936. It is now a part of the Pernod-Ricard portfolio.

I had not come across much Ballantine’s previous to this tasting so it was almost a complete mystery.

So what did I try?

I’ll start with the Ballantine’s 12-year old. Introduced to the range in 1960, this whisky comes in at 40% and is the colour of golden hay. The nose was sweet, with notes of banana skins, caramel and oak. The palate has an initial sweetness of ripe fruit, apples, vanilla fudge and a dry smoky, spicy note just at the end. The finish is slightly bitter (almost fungal or grassy) but with hardly any alcoholic bite. It was very pleasant and I would suggest a great entry level dram if you can find it, that is, as I’ve not found it to be heavily stocked here in the UK.

Next up I sampled Ballantine’s Finest, which has been on store shelves since 1910 and is the biggest seller in the range. At 40%, it is the colour of straw and has a more delicate nose than the 12-year old, with notes of peach, apricot and, rhubarb and custard sweets. There was also a hint of chalk. The palate was very light, with an apple, toasted grain and butter flavour. The finish was drying at first, before moving into a grassy bitterness and a final dash of apple sauce. It won the Scotch blend of the year in both 2011 and 2012 in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible and is another stellar example of an entry level blend (price-point wise) since it can be found for less than £20 in most places.

Finally, I sampled the Ballantine’s 17-year old. This is a couple of steps up from the other two, in relation to price, normally coming in at somewhere around the £45 mark. It has been in the collection since 1930 and is a wee bit stronger at 43%. The colour of this whisky was a light golden honeycomb and the nose was sweet at first, with notes of Quality Street strawberries, caramel and honey-roasted peanuts before adding a dash of spice and smoke. I was expecting the palate to be similarly sugary but it hinted instead of sugared lemons, oranges, honey, toffee and peppery spice. The finish was similar to the 12 in that the grassy flavour reappeared for me, but this also had a citrus and spice hint too.

As always with whisky write-ups, this is just my opinion about the Ballantine’s range. I was pleased to get the chance to try them out and remember that blends should not be forgotten despite the sea of single malts that equally please.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
5 Comments »

Tweet, tweet, tweeting about whisky

October 22, 2012 in Uncategorized

I love how the internet brings whisky fans together. From reading on other blogs about the latest whiskies and trends, to chatting away with people around the globe about this fair drink through the social media worlds of Twitter and Facebook, the internet is making whisky more and more popular.

A great example of this was a recent tweet tasting I took part in. During the tasting – which involved numerous bloggers and whisky commentators tasting Old Ballantruan whiskies in various parts of the globe and discussing it on Twitter – the hashtag used (#OB10TT) became one of the top things trending on Twitter in the UK. Not only were we talking about great whisky but we were talking about it loudly enough for Twitter to hear!

Now, if you’d asked me a year ago if I’d be taking part in any tweet tastings anytime soon, I’d probably have looked at you a bit oddly – or done the equivalent of looking at you oddly through a smily-face symbol online. But Steve Rush – founder of The Whisky Wire – has really been pushing these events over the past year and they have no sign of stopping any time soon. Since September last year when he got Compass Box on board to try out the first one, through to tastings with Glenfiddich, Cutty Sark, Highland Park and many others, his online tastings are bringing people together in swarms.

The latest one was the Old Ballantruan – which I was very excited about as I’d never tasted it before. Produced by Tomintoul distillery in the Highlands, we tried the new 10 year old and the company’s standard no age statement bottling and were joined by the company’s master distiller, Robert Fleming.

What’s interesting about tweet tastings is that everyone participating bounces ideas off of each other so when you can’t quite identify that taste or smell coming through on the dram, another person’s suggestion might help solve that conundrum.

On the night, we started with the no age statement whisky. This baby was big, brash and bold all the way through.

On first nosing I found it to have hints of caramel popcorn and fresh grilled fish by the seaside like those lovely sandwiches from street stalls in Istanbul.  Steve got “Beach bbq fuelled by boxes of honied shredded wheat” while John Pitts (ie: @TWSYork)  picked up “some nice sweet notes on the nose , including a confectionery note & a barley-grist quality. Musty leaves & chillis in brine, too”. The palate was much more explosive than I was expecting. I got notes of asparagas, dusty carpet, hand sanitiser and rubbery oranges. It was quite overwhelming but enjoyable nonetheless.

The second whisky – the new 10 year old – was my preferred dram of the night. On first nosing, I found it to be delicate with hints of marzipan, shortbread and spring flowers. After a conversation between @Galg (founder of Whisky Israel) we also nosed out some lemon peels. Meanwhile, Mark (@Fr1day) from the Whisky Tasting Fellowship said he picked up “custard, cinnamon, cocoa powder & shortbread crust”. On the palate, I identified white grape juice, buttered toast, cardboard from cereal boxes and a wisp of sweet, BBQ smoke. Joe Ellis (@the_josephellis) commented: “A very creamy mouth feel. Like someone has taken a lemon cheesecake, held it over a peat fire for 10 minutes and given it to you!” Dave Worthington (@WhiskyDiscovery) agreed, saying: “Wow, really creamy on the palate, the lemon cheesecake is right there, digestive biscuits and all. Light pepper kick near the end.” It was incredibly gentle for a 50%ABV whisky – dangerously drinkable.

All in all, it was a successful night – people from various parts of the world discussed great drams from the comfort of their own homes and the social aspect of whisky drinking was amplified in an online space. I can’t wait to see what else comes from these tweet tastings – long may they continue.

 

 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments »

TWE Show 2012

October 15, 2012 in Uncategorized

Ah, The Whisky Exchange show…how I love thee, how do I count the ways? For weeks leading up to the show I was tweeting my excitement about it – sad, I know, but given it was bringing together folks from across the industry in a giant room featuring hundreds of whiskies in my home town, how could I not be jumpily eager for its arrival?

Last year’s show was the first big whisky event I had ever attended, so I was especially keen to go along again after this great year of whisky tasting and see what new whiskies I could learn about. My goal for the day was to try only whiskies that I hadn’t had before, a plan I stuck to bar when I retried the Glenfarclas 105 20-year old and The Balvenie Caribbean Cask.

The show took place at The Whisky Exchange’s shop headquarters – Vinopolis – near London Bridge. It occurred over a whole weekend but I went along to the trade and press day on the Monday with high hopes there would still be some whisky left.

On arrival, I sauntered over to say my hellos to Tim (of The Whisky Exchange) who poured me a lovely dram specially bottled for the show – the name of which, I DIDN’T WRITE DOWN! Not a good way to start, although I do recall the dram being delicious. Unfortunately, I found myself too busy chatting to first Tim, and then to Pierre and Jean-Luc of Connosr and Simon of Simply Whisky to get my pen and paper out. I did not make this mistake again however.

My first full-on flight tasting came at the Tomatin stand, where I sampled the Highlands-based company’s 12, 15, 18, 21, 30 and 40 year old drams. I will fully review these soon in a separate post, but my favourite was definitely the Tomatin 30 – it was a delightfully fresh dram for one of this age, filled with a crescendo of tropical fruit flavours, from pineapple to mango. It really stood out on the day for me.

Next I headed over to the Compass Box stand to catch up with Chris Maybin and Celine Tetu, the two effervescently friendly ambassadors for the London based blended whisky company. There I tried out the company’s latest release – the fourth edition of Flaming Heart – which is made from a blend of Clynelish and Islay malts. This is a beautifully balanced dram that pulls your tastebuds between the sweeter, highland malt and the power-house Islays. According to John Glaser – the company’s founder and whisky maker – this “…is a whisky born of fire, yet one with a big heart.” Big, bold and well worth trying if you see it around.

I continued my peaty journey by heading over to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society‘s stand where I met with the company’s newly appointed Global Brand Ambassador – Georgie Bell – and picked up a 20-year old Laphroaig, also known as bottle 29.124, Pregnancy Tea Mix. This was a peaty party in the mouth, balanced out beautifully by a hint of sweeter almond and cherry goodness to stop it from overwhelming.

After a good jaunt around the bottom floor – where I also ran into Darren Rook of London Distillery Company, Mark Thomson of Dramatic Whisky, and Joe Clark of The Whisky Lounge and Pritesh Moody of LoveFoodLoveDrink who were manning the stand for the new Paul John whisky from India (a review of which will be going up this week on Miss Whisky) – I headed upstairs where loads of other companies were handing out mouthwatering drams. There I bumped into Andrew Forrester of The Balvenie, Dave Craig of Spirit of the Spey, Cat Spencer of Master of Malt, Kirsty Chant of Chant Comms and an exhausted looking Billy Abbot of The Whisky Exchange, and had a wee sip of The Balvenie Caribbean Cask, a pineappley, mangoey dram of goodness.

After much chatting, it was time to move on and I headed to the food pairing room next door, where I finally sampled the whiskies from Sweden’s Mackmyra distillery and met with master distiller Angela D’Orazio. A separate review of these whiskies and pairings will go live soon.

Next I sampled some quirky offerings from Monkey Shoulder, which was pairing fig and maple cooked bacon, and marshmallows, with its blended whisky. The bacon combo was lovely and robust, jumping and fizzing flavours on the palate. After a quick chat with Whisky Discovery’s Dave Worthington and his daughter Kat, I moved a few tables along and stopped for some of The Whisky Exchange’s Port Askaig, matched with a blue vein cheddar. The dram was gently smoky, with a hint of sea air and lemon on the nose, and a fruity, peachy smokines on the palate. Paired with the cheese, it brought out a creamy indulgence in the whisky that could make it drinkable for hours.

Heading back to the main room on the top floor, I popped by the Irish Distillers stand, where I met the lovely Meghan Kenny, a Jameson brand ambassador and yet another young woman making her mark in whisky. I also ran into Deirdre McBeth, Jameson’s brand assistant who spoke at the women’s only whisky panel I held with The Whisky Lounge earlier this year. Meghan took me through Yellow Spot to start – a big excitement for me as I already love Green Spot but hadn’t had the chance to try its newly released single pot still sibling. Made from a mix of Malaga sherry casks and bourbon barrels, this whiskey was like butter in the mouth – it was super creamy, with hints of almonds and grains. “Like a yummy breakfast meusli,” I wrote. Next I sampled the Redbreast 12 year old cask strength. Red Breast is already a big favourite of mine, but this new release pumps up the volume just that bit more. It was all about the almonds and citrus for me on the mouth. With water, it “softens to a pillowy state,” according to my notes, which were starting to get ardently poetic as I tried increasingly more samples. Both of these Irish Whiskeys are knock outs and I can only recommend that you give them a chance if you find them around.

Realising I had only an hour left of the show, I wobbled my way downstairs to the Number One Drinks stand so I could sample a range of Japanese whiskies. There I met the company’s team including Marcin Miller and Ed Bates, and fellow whisky bloggers Oliver Klimek of dramming.com and Jon Bryant of Living Room Whisky (who kindly provided many of the beautiful pics seen on this post). This was a very exciting stand for me. My favourite whisky of last year was the Chichibu the First, which I tried at the show. This year, I was determined to sample as many of the company’s whiskies as possible, and Jon and I did it justice! A separate post will follow shortly on all the amazing drams I tried, but in between chats with Eddie of The Whisky Lounge and Dominic Roskrow, I managed to try the Chichibu Floor Maltings, Karuizawa 48% and 55% whiskies, the Karuizawa 1982 and 1984, and the Karuizawa Noh. I was like a child at Christmas with these amazing drams – but more on that to come in a later post.

Finally, I grabbed a quick taste of the Ardmore 1982 (which tasted like “Hobnobs dipped in tea”) and ran upstairs to see Diageo’s Colin Dunn and sample two of this year’s Special Releases – the Brora 35 year old and the Port Ellen 32 year old. The former – made from a combination of whiskies from 1976 and 1977 aged in refill American oak casks – smelled of Australian soft licorice, nutmeg and sweet petrol (in a good way) and tasted gloriously creamy and soft until late in the sip when it went spicy on the palate. The latter, meanwhile, was incredibly drinkable even at 52.5%, which would be dangerous given it costs £600. It was citric but sweet, with notes of honey, oak and a tinge of smoke – a perfect dram to finish the day off on.

After saying goodbyes and having a quick chat with the lovely Amanda of The Whisky Lounge and catch up with The Whisky Exchange owner, Sukhinder Singh, on how he felt the day went, it was finally off home.

I was in awe of many of the whiskies tried that day. The standouts for me were the Tomatin 30-year old, Yellow Spot and Karuizawa 48%. And now I can only wait in anticipation for next year’s show!

A big thank you to Living Room Whisky’s Jon Bryant for providing photos for this post since I couldn’t manage to take notes, try whiskies, tweet and snap photos all at the same time!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

Checking out Compass Box

July 12, 2012 in Uncategorized

There are so many whiskies out there that it can be hard to keep up with them all unless you’re continuously exposed to them. I count myself as being very fortunate to be able to try some great drams and, more luckily, having the chance to try some multiple times to get a secondary or tertiary education of them.

One of these companies is makers of blended whisky Compass Box, a familiar staple at many London outings. I’ve met the team at events like the Whisky Lounge London show this April, an event for International Women’s Day in March and, most recently, during a trip to the company’s London headquarters to learn about its history and try out its ‘Blending School’ with a group of girlfriends (which I wrote about for The W Club in June, here).

But, I realised recently I’d not written very much about the company’s whiskies on Miss Whisky. And, going through my bulging notepads, I’ve many a note on the company’s range, from Asyla right through to Spice Tree.

So, without further adieu, here is a Miss Whisky round-up of five of the Compass Box offerings.

 

Asyla: Grain & Malt Whisky: 40%:

This 50/50 split of grain and malt was, according to company ambassador Chris Maybin, meant to be based on finesse and subtlety. It was named after a piece of music that danced the line between mad house and sanctuary, creating a duality. “It’s a Sunday afternoon whisky,” he once told me.

I can see why. It’s an easy-drinking blend made from first-fill American oak barrels. It was laden with vanilla and fleshy fruit flavours (I got apricot, mainly). There were notes of fresh grass and light brown sugar too. It’s definitely palatable and, while not my favourite of the offerings, a good introduction to the balance of grain and malt in whisky.

 

Oak Cross: Highland Blended Malt: 43%:

This whisky is interesting because its creation was unlike anything the Scotch industry was doing, thereby illustrating the fun that Compass Box likes to have with its whisky making. The blend of Highland whiskies (which includes Clynelish & Dalwhinnie) was married in oak barrels that had been fitted with new French oak heads, thereby imparting both American and French oak flavours into it.

I go back and forth with this whisky, sometimes picking it as a favourite and sometimes falling for others more. Chris calls it “our Mr Darcy whisky – it comes up and asks you if you’d like to have the third dance, it doesn’t shout.” I agree – it is gentle with waves of strawberry creams, vanilla, butterscotch, cloves and some kind of nut which I couldn’t pin down last time (maybe almond or macadamia).

 

Spice Tree: Highland Blended Malt: 46%:

Spice Tree is like a rebellious little brother who got in trouble with the law but managed to sneak past security guards and come out fighting. The original release of Spice Tree in 2006 was banned by the Scotch Whisky Association because, at that time, Compass Box was inserting French oak staves into barrels to give a highly spicy addition to the flavour. The SWA took offense to this attempt at creativity and it took three years for the company to recreate it using the similar method employed for Oak Cross.

This is one heck of a shouty whisky. If Oak Cross is Mr Darcy, the Spice Tree is the feisty Elizabeth Bennet. It’s made up of 80% new French oak aged whiskies and is like Christmas morning in your mouth – nutmeg, cloves, bitter oranges. It finishes dryly in the mouth and you can really taste the wood on this one. It’s got pizazz, it’s got punch and it’s definitely a fighter.

 

The Peat Monster: Island & Highland Blend: 46%:

Looming in the depths of a Scottish peat bog is this swirling creature of smoke. It’s made from two styles of peated malts: Island and Highland (namely: Laphroaig, Ledaig and Ardmore). The latter is meant to give it a richer, sweeter smoke rather than the more medicinal flavours found floating on Islay.

This is one I love if I’m in the mood for smoke. I have friends (especially my girlfriends) who really take to this, much more than a standard, fully Islay malt, which I always find interesting. It’s got lovely notes of leather, sweet seafood (prawns or scallops), and a combination of a soft cheese (like brie) and a hard smoky German-style one. It’s wonderfully rounded and heavy in the mouth, and definitely one to try if you’re keen to see how different styles of peated whisky can be combined.

 

Hedonism: Grain Whisky: 43%:

There aren’t many people that play around with 100% grain whisky making. It’s just not the done thing. But these whiskies have a growing fanbase and Compass Box really helped push the boat out with its release of Hedonism. This is made with a combination of tw0 to three different old grain whiskies, which tend to have an age of 20 years.

This whisky is a great introduction for anyone curious about grain whisky. I reall enjoy the sweetness of it from time to time. I often find notes of sugared berry fruits and violet creams and coconut cream on the nose. It’s a heavily rich whisky in the mouth, filling it on all sides with creamy delights and a spice I liken to pink peppercorns. It’s exciting and well worth exploring.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
No Comments »

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

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,
2 Comments »

Honouring Women, Whisky and Change

March 7, 2012 in Uncategorized

Here at Miss Whisky I’m big on celebrating all the women who work in the wonderful world of whisky. This doesn’t mean I don’t care about all you chaps either, of course! I just am so glad to share stories of the women who bring so much vibrancy to this industry, especially those who may have slipped the radar in the past.

So, it was with joyous ears that I heard about a rather exciting event happening on Thursday from 6-8pm at the Albannach Restaurant and Bar over near Trafalgar Square. You see, it’s International Women’s Day on the 8th and in its honour the bar has paired up with the fantastic Compass Box whisky to raise money for a brilliant charity called the Girl Effect.

It makes sense that the Albannach would be involved in something like this. Cat Spencer, head of marketing at Albannach, is big on celebrating and honouring fabulous women in business, especially those in the whisky industry. A feisty New Yorker, Cat exudes a effervescent confidence that one cannot help but be impressed by so she’s a great ambassador for a day that celebrates women trying to create equality for females worldwide.

She says teaming up with Compass Box was a “nice meeting of minds” because of the company’s innovation and creativity, along with its roster of great females. The company is putting on four events globally – in San Francsico, New York, London and Beijing – all of which will raise money for a different charity helping women.

The Albannach’s choice of the Girl Effect is one I really feel passionate about. Its focus is quite simple, but very impacting. The charity aims to reach out to impoverished 12-year old girls to try and alter the course of their lives by ensuring they stay in education and have the opportunity to choose when they marry and have children. By putting all their effort into this one small factor, the charity suggests the futures of villages and impoverished communities can be improved globally – you ensure one girl stays in education, she becomes empowered, earns a living, marries later and passes on this independence to her children. It is such a small thing, in so many ways, but so very key. I became really interested in this idea when I was at university (something I had easy access to, being a western woman in this day and age). I studied sociology as my minor and this idea of empowering young girls at critical stages was a well documented way of changing lives for the better. The charity sums all of this up in a powerful video, which I highly recommend you take a couple of minutes to watch (here).

At the event, Compass Box will showcase its range of whiskies and there will be £3 drams and £6 cocktails, with money going towards the charity. All in all, it’s a bit of a win-win situation.

And, this is not an exclusively female event at all – as always in the whisky world, everyone is welcome.

So come down and help honour some of the fantastic women in your life, drink some fantastic drams and raise money to help change the world’s future, one girl at a time!

For more information about the Girl Effect or to watch the video, go to: www.girleffect.org. For further details of Compass Box, go to: www.compassboxwhisky.com. And for information on Albannach Restaurant and Bar, head to: www.albannach.co.uk/. To read the Whisky Women interview with  Cat Spencer, visit: http://misswhisky.com/whisky-women/cat-spencer/

 

Tags: , , , , ,
No Comments »