Kilchoman distillery has announced their latest release; Machir Bay 2013 which will be available from the 4th of March. The Machir Bay range is Kilchoman’s core expression, first launched in 2012 when it won the prestigious IWSC 2012 Gold Medal – Best in Class. Bottled once a year, each release contains more mature whisky each year allowing Kilchoman fans to follow the development of the unique Kilchoman malt as it matures. Machir Bay 2013 is a vatting of 4 and 5 year old ex-bourbon casks, with the 4 year casks being finished in Oloroso sherry butts for 4 weeks prior to bottling.
John MacLellan, Kilchoman Distillery Manager: “The 2013 Machir Bay displays further evolution of the 2012 release, showing more maturation flavours from the excellent cask regime and is softer and more rounded with lovely creamy mouth- filling flavours.
Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Managing Director: “Sales of Machir Bay 2012 far exceeded our expectations so we hope people will be equally impressed with this year’s more mature offering”
Machir Bay 2013 is bottled at 46% ABV and is available to buy from www.kilchomandistillery.com and specialist whisky retailers worldwide priced at £39.99 RRP in the UK.
Tasting Notes
Colour: Light beech
Nose: Soft cooked fruits with strong peaty aromas
Palate: Soft mixed fruits and vanilla with an intense sweetness
Finish: A long lingering finish. A classic Islay malt now showing the benefit of additional ageing.
About Kilchoman
Founded in 2005, Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland and the first distillery to be built on the Island of Islay for 125 years.
One of only a handful of distilleries still practicing floor malting but what makes Kilchoman special is that barley is grown at the distillery whereas other distilleries purchase barley from around the country.
Based on a farm on the rugged west coast of Islay, the distillery’s founder Anthony Wills wanted to build a distillery that took whisky production back to its traditional roots.
Kilchoman has quickly established itself in the whisky industry winning various awards including two IWSC Golds and a Silver in 2012, Malt Advocates Artisan Whisky of the Year 2011, GQ’s Coolest 100 things of 2011 and many more.
Midleton announced via press release last week the release of a new single-cask whiskey expression. It should be noted that each bottling is matured in aged and charred bourbon barrels, which we anticipate will add an enjoyable complexity to the drink. The bottles used for the new expression resemble the bottle of the Midleton Very Rare whiskey, the most exclusive product coming from Midleton.
MIDLETON LAUNCHES EXCLUSIVE SINGLE POT STILL SINGLE CASK WHISKEYS
Irish Distillers Ltd has reinforced its commitment to rejuvenating the Single Pot Still whiskey style with the release of ten exclusive Single Pot Still single cask whiskeys under the celebrated Midleton brand.
The new expressions highlight the complexity, elegance and balance associated with the Midleton range and have been released exclusively to key accounts in Ireland, France, Germany and the UK.
The new releases follow the launch of Irish Distillers Ltd’s first Single Pot Still single cask customer exclusive at the Celtic Whisky Shop, in November 2010, which saw the retailer sell out of its limited bottle. This success has led Irish Distillers Ltd to extend the initiative to six retailers across Europe and now also includes James Fox Cigar and Whiskey Store, Dublin Airport, La Maison du Whisky, Irisch Lifestyle and The Whisky Exchange. Each retailer is offering their customers between one and three expressions bearing the name of the retailer, the cask number and the Midleton brand name.
Each bottling has been matured in ex-bourbon casks, true to the Midleton style, which have been charred and seasoned with bourbon. The individual casks, which were laid down between 1991 and 1999, have yielded, on average, 185 bottles – making the range highly collectable. Each expression is presented in a premium bottle, following the same design cues as Midleton Very Rare, the most exclusive whiskey produced at The Midleton Distillery.
Casks #7102 and #53735 are exclusive to La Maison du Whisky in Paris and illustrate the individuality of the Midleton Single Pot Still single cask releases. Bonded in 1999, cask #53735 has a light Single Pot Still style with a nose of delicate spice, perfumed rose petal with a touch of garden mint, while cask #7102, bonded two years earlier, is an example of the heavier Single Pot Still style with a balanced nose of spices, herbs and wood. Each of the ten expressions enjoys a long finish, which is typical of the Midleton range.
Barry Crockett, Master Distiller at Midleton Distillery, says: “The Midleton brand name is synonymous with excellence in craftsmanship and the extension of the Single Pot Still single cask releases has allowed us to further showcase the quality of the Single Pot Still style to whiskey connoisseurs, who eagerly anticipate opportunities to taste Midleton whiskeys. The response to the release of cask #71578 in 2010 was phenomenal, so I anticipate a similar reaction this year and look forward to discussing each cask with Single Pot Still whiskey advocates.”
The Irish whiskey category has experienced a near 8% compound annual growth rate between 2005-2010 and its annual 4.9m case sales is expected to reach 7.9m cases by 2016*. Category growth has been boosted with a resurgence in the popularity of the Single Pot Still Irish whiskey style, led by Irish Distillers Ltd. In 2012, work began on a €200 million expansion of Midleton Distillery, significantly increasing its production capability and capacity.
Irish Distillers Group was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company. In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the board of directors decided to close the existing distilleries in Cork and Dublin, and to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility.
A site alongside the existing distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork was chosen as the location for the new distillery, as there was no room for expansion in Dublin. Both the Old Jameson Distillery and the Old Midleton Distillery currently operate as visitor centres attracting over 330,000 visitors annually. Following an early unsolicited takeover offer and one of the most protracted battles in Irish corporate history made by GrandMet, Allied-Lyons and Guinness, Irish Distillers Ltd was taken over by Pernod Ricard in June 1988 with the support of the management and employees.
About Midleton Single Pot Still Single Cask Irish Whiskeys
Celtic Whiskey Shop, James Fox Cigar and Whiskey Store, Dublin Airport, La Maison du Whisky, Irisch Lifestyle and The Whisky Exchange are each offering between one and three Midleton single cask Single Pot Still Irish whiskeys to their customers. Each expression bears the Midleton brand name, the name of the retailer, the cask number, the date of bonding and the warehouse reference number.
I came across Vizcaya VXOP Cuban Rum Formula Cask No. 2a1 about a year ago. After finding a bottle in New York and trying a dram, I wanted more details about the rum. Vizcaya provides an excellent description on their website:
Made in the Dominican Republic, Vizcaya VXOP starts with sugar cane harvested at the peak of freshness, then quickly pressed to collect its fragrant juice. The juice is fermented and distilled in small batches, before being aged in selected oak barrels that formerly held bourbon. This process, known as methode agricole is the unique distilling method that infuses Vizcaya VXOP rum with its exquisite bouquet, smoothness, and delicately refined taste.”
The rum sounds appetizing from the description. Now time to see if this rum’s can stand up to its high reputation.
Bronze. When swirled around the glass the rum develops legs before slowly rescinding back down.
Nose
There is vanilla and caramel concluding with a faint hint of spice.
Palette
The palette follows the nose closely. Upon making contact with the palette, the rum opens with vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch before proceeding to an intricate floral note. There are hints of bourbon and woodiness from aging the rum in bourbon barrels adding complexity. The rum finishes with a light spice that complements the prior delicate flavors.
Finish
Smooth and velvety. There is no burn.
Cigar Pairings
I would recommend the Chateau Fuente, Guillermo Leon, and Zino Platinum for pairing with Vizcaya VXOP.
Conclusion
The award given to Vazcaya VXOP, best in show and double gold, display the craftsmanship that went into creating this exquisite rum. If you enjoy rum then I suggest you track down this rum.
After the forecasting of Hurricane Sandy to hit the east coast, I stocked up on necessary supplies as well as dark spiced rum to wear out the storm. I picked up a bottle of Kraken Black Spiced Rum. The Kraken is a black molasses based rum infused with various spices. This rum is able is priced around $20.
Product Specifics
Producer: Kraken
Country: Trinidad
Type: Spice Rum
Website: www.krakenrum.com
ABV: 94 Proof (47%)
Bottle: 750 mL
Appearance
The bottle is interesting with a white background with a black squid reaching its tentacles up to bring down a ship on the ocean. The rum is a dark mahogany that is almost black. Very little light makes it through the rum.
Nose
The initial whiff is alcohol but clove, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple, and molasses begin to open up.
Palette
Medium body with kitchen spices from the nose in addition to dried fruit.
Finish
The ending is smooth with molasses.
Cigar Pairing
This rum would pair nicely with a medium to full-bodied cigar with a maduro or habano wrapper that is Nicaraguan. I would recommend a Camacho Triple Maduro, Rocky Patel Decade and 15th Anniversary, and Illusione f9.
Conclusion
Kraken Spiced Rum is a welcome addition to the spiced rum market. This rum is a great value that is versatile. I found this rum worked well neat, on the rocks, but was particularly a great mixer. I found it worked well in coke and made an excellent Dark N Stormy.
FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Feb. 2013) – Buffalo Trace Distillery marks the halfway point in its quest for the perfect bourbon with the release of its eighth round of Single Oak Project Bourbon.
All of the bourbons that comprise this release entered the barrel at 105 proof, aged within the wooden ricks of Warehouse K, with a number 4 barrel char after the staves were seasoned for 12 months. This allows the release to focus on three other variables, the recipe, wood grain size, and tree cut. All of the other variables such as aging warehouse, entry proof, char level, and stave seasoning remain constant.
“Many people will find this release interesting since the entry proof is 105 this round – which some fans contend is better. Bourbon drinkers can taste and decide if they like wheated or rye recipe bourbon better at the 105 entry proof.” said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director.
So far, more than 2,221 industry expert and consumer reviews have been logged online at http://www.singleoakproject.com/. These whiskey reviews will determine which Single Oak Project Bourbon is the favorite of fans worldwide. Buffalo Trace looks forward to more reviews, to hear what bourbon drinkers think, and will craft the perfect bourbon based on consumer feedback.
Now halfway through the project, barrel number 106 has fought its way back to the top, after being knocked off a few months ago by barrel number 97! “Barrels number 97 and 106 have been vying for the number one spot for several months now,” continues Comstock. “But with two more years to go, any of these bourbons still stand a chance to be declared the winner. And it’s not too late to get involved even if you’re new to the project!”
After a consumer reviews a bottle online, they will be availed of all the aging details and provenance of the barrel. They can interact with others who’ve also reviewed the barrel, compare their reviews, and even learn for themselves which characteristics they enjoy most, in order to help them select future favorites. Participants online will earn points after each review and most importantly, actively participate in Buffalo Trace Distillery’s quest to create the perfect bourbon!
The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.
To further the variety of experiments, the barrels were filled at two different proofs, 105 and 125 proof. And if this wasn’t enough, two completely different warehouses were used, one with wooden floors and one with concrete floors. In total, seven different variables were employed in Buffalo Trace’s ultimate experiment.
For eight years the Distillery continued with its tracking process, creating intricate databases and coming up with a potential of 1,396 tasting combinations from these 192 barrels!
The Single Oak Project Bourbon is being released in a series every three months from 2011 through 2015 until all of the 192 barrels have been released. The first release hit select stores in 2011. This eighth release will reach stores towards the end of February. Like all the other releases, the quantities are very limited. Every case will contain 12 bottles, each from a different barrel. The eighth release is made up of barrel numbers 27, 28, 59, 60, 91, 92, 123, 124, 155, 156, 187, and 188. All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle. Suggested retail pricing per bottle is $46.35.
At the conclusion of the Single Oak Project, the Distillery plans to take the top rated Single Oak Project Bourbon and make more just like it, under the Single Oak name.
About Buffalo Trace Distillery
Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com
