Kingston Single Malt Society www.kingstonsinglemaltsociety.com A social club for the appreciation of Single Malt Whisky since 1998 nd June 22 , 2015 VOLUME 8; NUMBER 12 Explain about ... Scotland's whisky regions There are six major regions of whisky production in Scotland and each region has it's own general characteristics. Of course, there are exceptions to every rule but here I will explain these basic regional characteristics and this may help you to select which style of whisky will suit your taste. Within each region, each distillery also has it's own individual characteristics and this diversity gives us the different styles of the same drink and is what makes the world of whisky so interesting. There are currently over 80 distilleries in operation throughout Scotland. Campbeltown Campbeltown is found on a peninsula on the west Highland coast. It was once home to 15 distilleries but the industry there fell on hard times, partly due to the remoteness of it's location and the resulting problems in transportation. Now there are currently only three operating distilleries in Campbeltown - Springbank, Glen Scotia and Glengyle (which has only just reopened in 2004, having been closed way back in 1925). They all use peated malt and the resulting whiskies have a light smoky flavour mixed with some maltiness and sweetness. They would be good examples to give to someone who was wanting to try a smoky whisky but not something too heavy or overpowering. Lowlands MENU The Lowlands was once a major area of production but fell on hard times in the 1980s and early 1990s. Currently there are only Lakeside: Two Canapes three operating distilleries - Glenkinchie, Auchentoshan and Bladnoch (which was closed in 1993 and reopened in 2000). 'The Salad: Summer Salad of Local Greens & Highland line' runs to the north of Glasgow and Edinburgh and this imaginary line is the boundary between the Lowlands and the Tomatoes, with Cucumber & Radish in Red Wine Highlands whisky regions. The style of whisky produced in the Vinaigrette Lowlands is light, fresh and fruity and are regarded as very easy to drink. They are subtle and refreshing, good for hot weather and as an Entree: Grilled Sirloin Steak with Warm Potato Salad introduction to whisky for someone who has not tasted it before. Or Speyside Grilled Salmon with Ratatouille It is within this region that there is the largest concentration of distilleries in Scotland. There are currently over 30 in operation Dessert: Trio of Chocolate, Lemon & Fresh Berries within what is a relatively small area, based around the towns of Elgin, Rothes, Dufftown, Keith and the surrounding glens. This has ---------------------------- historically always been the case and is due to the combination of perfect climate for whisky maturation, quality water supply and locality to the quality barley growing areas. The whiskies produced Upcoming Dinner Dates include some of the most famous in the world, such as Glenfiddich, July 20th, 2015 - 4rd Annual Bourbon Night - River Mill Macallan and Glenlivet, but also a number of hidden gems. The style th th is generally reasonably light with pronounced malty flavours and Friday August 28 , 2015 - 8 Annual Premium - River Mill some sweetness. Speyside whiskies sit somewhere between the light st September 21 , 2015 - Campbeltown/Lowland - VIMY Lowland whiskies and the richer, sweeter Highland whiskies. This is October 19th, 2015 - Speyside/Highlands - River Mill what makes them so popular. th November 16 , 2015 - Highlands - River Mill Highlands December 14th, 2015 - Christmas Dinner - River Mill th The Highlands is the largest region and contains some of January 25 , 2016 - Arran - Robbie Burns - VIMY Scotland's remotest distilleries. The distilleries are spread far and February 22nd, 2016 - Islands - River Mill wide and include Glengoyne that is very close to 'the Highland line', March 14th, 2016 - St. Patrick's (Irish) - River Mill Oban on the west coast, Dalwhinnie in the middle of the Grampians and Old Pulteney up in the far north. There is a large diversity of April 18th, 2016 - Islay - River Mill th styles due to the geographical locations but generally the whiskies May 16 , 2016 - Highlands - River Mill produced are richer, sweeter and more full bodied than from June 20th, 2016 - BBQ (Final Exam) - River Mill anywhere else in Scotland. Distilleries that are located by the coast July 25th, 2016 - 5th Annual Bourbon Night - River Mill can also have a salty element to their whiskies, due to the casks th th breathing in the sea air during maturation. Friday August 26 , 2016 - 9 Annual Premium - River Mill September 19th, 2016 - Campbeltown/Lowland - VIMY Islands th October 17 , 2016 - Speyside/Highlands - River Mill There are a number of distilleries that are based on the November 21st, 2016 - Highlands - River Mill islands around the Scottish coast. These are Arran (on the isle of December 12th, 2016 - Christmas Dinner - River Mill Arran unsurprisingly!), Jura (on the isle of Jura!), Tobermory (on Mull), Talisker (on Skye) and Highland Park and Scapa (on the ---------------------------- Orkneys). There is no distinct style and all are pretty unique due to their locations. Generally, Arran and Scapa are the lighter and fresher and smoke on the palate. In August last year, Bacardi revealed it would be whiskies, Jura and Tobermory are richer, sweeter and maltier while releasing several new expressions from its five malt distilleries, including Talisker and Highland Park offer full bodied whiskies with some Aberfeldy. smokiness. Aberlour 15 Year Old Double Cask Matured Islay Owner: Pernod Ricard The island of Islay is the traditional home of smoky Aged in both Bourbon and Sherry oak, Aberlour 15 Year Old whiskies. Six of the eight operating distilleries produce the best Double Cask Matured was the only Master awarded in the Single Malt smoky whiskies in the world and include some very famous names Speyside: Aged 13-18 Years category. The whisky, which in its final year of (the six are Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin and ageing sat in specially selected Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks, stood out Laphroaig). The other two are Bruichladdich and Bunnahabhain, from the other entrants with its balance of nutty, dry Sherry notes with whose whiskies are normally unpeated and non smoky, but they do sweeter cinnamon flavours. both occassionally produce limited edition smoky ones. The Islay whisky industry is booming and production on the island is at an all Glen Marnoch Speyside Single Malt Whisky time high to meet demand. The industry runs the island's economy by Owner: Aldi giving jobs not just in manufacturing but in other areas, such as The success of value supermarket Aldi in the Global Scotch tourism. The whiskies are full bodied, smoky and complex. However, whisky Masters 2015 has already started to grab headlines around the they are not to everyone's taste as they are so full on but are world. Its Glen Marnoch Speyside Single Malt Whisky impressed in what definitely worth a try. How will you know if you like it (or don't like it) the judges described as a “competitive” and “diverse” category. Bottled if you don't try some? exclusively for Aldi, the 12-year-old whisky was praised for its light style with flavours of “cooked apples” and a “hint of spice”. ---------------------------- Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old MAY - KSMS Financial Statement Owner: Burn Stewart Distillers $ $ Impressing the panel with its “phenomenal nose”, (Money from 50 May attendees @ 60) = 3000.00 Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old was awarded a Master medal in the Single Malt May dinner 50 persons = $43.00/ea = $2150.00 Islay: Aged up to 13-18 Years round. Similar to its older award-winning 25 (Money remaining for buying Single Malt) = $850.00 Year Old cousin, the whisky has been re-inroduced as a non-chill-filtered $ expression and bottled at a higher strength of 46.3%. It has an aroma of Cost of Single Malts: = 1177.60 “honeyed nuts” and sea salt, with a flavour of Sherry, oak and spice. Cost of Pours per Person = $18.40 KSMS Monthly operational balance = (-$327.60) Ballantine’s 30 Cost per person 60 attendees (All inclusive) = $66.55 Owner: Pernod Ricard Described as an “excellent balance of sweet and spice”, ---------------------------- Ballantine’s 30 excelled in the Blended: Aged 19-30 Years round of the competition. Sitting at the higher end of the Ballantine’s portfolio, the 30 Year Old is described by brand owner Pernod Ricard as a “deeper, more Top 10 award-winning Scotch whiskies of 2015 complex” whisky compared to its 21 Year Old version, with a “powferful 2nd June, 2015 by Amy Hopkins - http://www.thespiritsbusiness.com/2015/06/top-10-award-winning- scotch-whiskies-of-2015/?article-source=newsletter&source=439&date=2015-06-02 and opulent” fruity flavour. The latest installment of the annual Global Scotch Whisky Masters saw expert judges blind taste test a record number of entries – Dewar’s Signature these are 10 of the competition’s most highly ranked expressions. Owner: John Dewar & Sons Looking at the latest Global Scotch Whisky Master medalists, we round- Showing that blends can earn their stripes in the ultra-premium up the top 10 award-winning Scotch whiskies of 2015 Scotch whisky segment, Dewar’s Signature is described as the brand’s Run by The Spirits Business magazine, The Global Scotch “most exquisite blend”. A self-proclaimed blend of some of the rarest Whisky Masters seeks to award outstanding expressions during a strict whiskies from across Scotland, Dewar’s Signature sits at the pinnacle of and comprehensive blind tasting competition. the John Dewar & Sons range and boasts a “long, smoky” finish with Out of a total of more than 180 entries – a record-breaking subtle hints of honey.