Auchentoshan's Inaugural Distillery Festival

.... "Blend -Your-Own-Tutorial-@-Auchentoshan"


....... On Saturday 29th August, Auchentoshan Distillery (yes, the triple-distiller one just down the road from Glasgow) hosted it's first ever Distillery Open-day.
It would be tempting to call it a 'Whisky Event', ... but that really doesn't convey what was happening.
Sure, whisky was flowing, but rather like Glengoyne's Christmas Festival last November, this was a real Family Day-Out, with Bouncy Houses and Magicians for the kids, fresh & Artisan Produce Stalls for the non-drinkers, and a rather fine beer tent selling the Distillery's own brewed beer, created especially by Jeremy the Head Distiller who happens to have beer-brewing experience prior to joining Morrison Bowmore Ltd: (The owners of Auchentoshan)
The Triple-conditioned ale at 6.5 % (half pints only per customer) was as balanced as it was richly barley'd.

The Master classes ranged from rare Malt samples/tutorials, to Blend-your-own-Malt, which was a good blast! (poor Ian the Master Blender was still jet-lagg'd from a Business Tour of Taiwan ... Kampai !!!)

... A wee Vlog-tour will be posted at 'whiskyreviews' in a few days time to give you a flavour of what has been a terrific event which exceeded expectations of the organizers.

In the Vlog I state that I won't say much for a change !
...... errr! No ! ... as usual I 'commentate' beyond the call of duty.

Sometime soon I will do a completely silent Vlog, ... just for a change.

Rum Rations @ Glasgow's Whisky Club

.... yo! ho! ho! who's that 'Ralfystuff Rum-host !!!

.... and so a bunch of Glasgow's Whisky Club Buccaneer's set sail on azure waters, .... well club venue actually !!
and 24 ship-mates assessed a variety of Rums from around the Caribbean
....hence fat-chap Ralfy sporting tired old tropic-shirt but smiling cheerily at the end of a successfully hosted tasting where Smiley-Pete from Inverarity121.com conclude with a tobacco-dash across Central America for those who like a Cigar with their Rums.
Excellent !

The evening included .....
Havana Club Blanco (Cuba)
Angostura 1919 (Trinidad)
Clement VSOP (Martinique)
Mount Gay X'old (Barbados)
El Dorado 12yo (Guyana)
Appleton Extra (Jamaica)
Ralfy's Rumsky (Scotland)
Brugal (Dominican Rep:)
Mystery 1960's Cask Rum (I think it's Jamaican Hampden)

.... with the top three,
3rd - Mount Gay Extra Old 86/100
2nd - El Dorado 12yo 87/100
1st - Appleton Extra12 90/100

.... and 93/100 for a fun night at Glasgow's Whisky Club, with 'Whiskyreviews' 72a & 72b on-line this weekend for your perusal.

... Enjoy !

.

.... another style of whisky review !

..... variety, is of course, ...the spice of life !!!


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... just hope I don't spill the glass !

.

... a good question about water !

..... a good question from Andy about the water-stuff !
Hi Ralfy, I was searching for information about water in Whisky and came across your reviews on Youtube. You have a great site with lots of interesting information, I'm still looking at all your reviews and enjoy watching and learning (and getting ideas of what to try of course!) The original aim of my search was to try and clarify something regarding water in Whisky. I have heard that the type of water can make a difference between success and disaster when mixing the two. One person told me never to use tap water and someone else again said the only real way to mix a Whisky with water is to use the same water that was used to make the Whisky in the first place. That advice seems a little impractical but I was wondering if you think it would produce the best result or would have a better effect. Do you think water type makes a difference? Interested to hear your thoughts on the matter. Cheers Andy

.... hello Andy, wherever in the world anyone is drinking Whisky, a touch of clean, pure, natural water from a local, or any source does the job just fine !!! ... happy dramming ! ... ralfy(.com)

... a good question about colouring in Whisky!

.... An enquiry to ralfy.com about our old 'chesnut' ... caramel (E150a)

Dear Ralfy,
I have seen your videos on youtube, and checked your website, and they told me that you must be a wise man in single malts. Could you help me in a few questions? I would like to know if Ardbeg does use any caramel in his malts? The 10 years old is very light coloured, so is hope it does not contain any colouring. The other one is Highland Park. I have an old bottling of a 12 years old, and i've found caramel in it. If i'm right, the bottlings does not contain this material, not even in the 12, is this right?

Thanks in advance, and best regards,
Peter.

.... hello Peter,

Colouring (E150a) and chill-filtration are both regularly used to make Malt whisky look nice for the drinker. Although fine for standard blends, Malt drinkers get annoyed because Malts are all about nose & taste only. ........ and only those Producers who state NO Caramel and NO chill-filtration on the bottle label can be relied on (e.g. Springbank, Bruichladdich and most Independant Bottlers)
Ardbeg has very little caramel, old Highland Parks, lots !, .... new Highland Parks, less !

...... happy draming Peter,


Hello Ralfy,

Thanks for your fast answer! :) Sure, you can use my words in your blog. I was suprised on Ardbeg (because it has not signed, that it uses caramel, and it is very pale - if they use colouring, why don't they use more to get it darker?). Are you sure there is caramel in Ardbeg? Of course, i would like it without caramel. I've got an e-mail from Highland Park, and they said, there is no caramel in the new bottlings. So who can i trust now? :)

By the way, could you tell me distilleries, who definetely don't use caramel? (i know about Bruichladdich, Arran, BenRiach, and maybe Glenfarclas).

Thanks a lot,

Peter (from Hungary)



...It's a sensitive subject with the Whisky Industry !!

check out http://inebrio.com/thescotchblog/?p=365

My list of 'natural' whiskys include
Springbank
Bruichladdich
Benriach
Benromach
Kilchoman
Glenfarclas
& Bladnoch.
+ most Independant bottlers too !!!

& if it does NOT say on the Bottle labels NO E150a and NO Chill-filtering,
I assume (quite rightly) that there is, or they are leaving their options open .........

... ralfy.

... well, the times they are a-changing,



.

Holger's Whisky Shop, Blog & Portal

Holger has set up a new Whisky Shop and Portal in Germany, and as he has given my 'whiskyreviews' Vlogs on YouTube (ralfystuff) a darn good 'plug' ....... it is only decent to give him a mention on whiskystuff.
So, good luck with the shop, blog and portal Holger, .... and whisky-fans will find you at; -

www.whiskyundspirituosen.de


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... it's the big show @ Edinburgh Festival

...... the Edinburgh International Festival Whisky Fringe 2009 took place recently at the Mansfield Traquair Church in Scotland's Capital City, ... and it was a great success.
Distillers presenting their whiskies included the best variety to be found at any whisky event in the U.K. and the strong presence of both the Independent Distilleries and Bottlers was much appreciated by all the visitors.
I have lodged a three part pre-event table tour (whisky review 69 a,b &c) involving an introduction to all the whisky tables, and including passing banter with some whisky 'worthies', ........ all good fun ! and I also mention a good selection of whiskies (and rums) worth the effort ! .... in case you decide to go along to next years event.

If you want tickets, you have to be quick.

Whisky Fringe 2009 will be happening in a few days time

.... Royalmilewhiskie's WHISKY FRINGE 2009
is completely sold out both Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th of August.
It remains as it has been for the last few years, the single most Important Whisky Event on the Scottish Calender.

Here's why !!!

- By far the best value for ticket prices.
- Great crowd, ... young, old, male, female, and importantly ... no drunken disruptions !!!
- The actual Whisky makers/sellers pour the drams, ......and not know-nothing mannequins.
- Great central venue, (a beautifully restored church) and easy to get to.
- It's Edinburgh Festival time !!! ... so even I fit in with all the eccentrics and wa-hoos !!!
- The Independent Bottlers and non-Scottish Distillers are present in good numbers.
- Dave Broom's rum chapel (Scotch Whisky is egaletarian !!!)
- I will be there to report back to all you's whisky-buffs all around the world.
- It's just the dog's bollocks.

Peaty-stuff, ...... love it or loath it !!!

....... peat,
Well, it looks quite safe !

Quaint old-fashioned fuel, warming and smokey !
Even little lambs like to run
round
and
round
and around ......
peat stacks in Spring time, till the little darlings get bored and grow up into industrious sheep .......... but then of course, whisky got made with no other fuel alternative, and the rest, as they say, is all a matter of taste and profits.

And what a distinctive and an acquired taste it is too !

It prompted a recent e-mail from a 'whiskyreviews' fan who contacted me to express a very particular opinion on ................. the peat thing!



Ralfy,

Ahh, good at dodging dodgy questions I see :)

I don't know if you ever like feedback on your reviews...but tho't I'd send at any rate. If you don't--(and my opinion is probably not worth too much) then delete straight away.

I've tried in the last week, post watching your reviews:

Glenmorangie-standard bottling ("That's GlenMORangie, like oranges, not orANgie like orANgeetangs"--too funny, that)

Good stuff, your review was spot on.

Highland Park-12yr.

Another yummy, another great review.

BUT, my esteemed Malt Mentor, (PLEASE DON"T BE OFFENDED, nothing personal!! I LOVE your reviews)

I was able to try Ardbeg 10 yr. today, and my heavenly stars! I am SO glad that I tried it before I bought it, as then I could have only used it as lighter fluid to start the barbecue briquettes with. That is the vilest stuff I've ever had in my mouth. I realize that everyone's tastes are different, but OH MY! I even had to purchase a decent brandy (with my single malt budget) because I've been so traumatized...;) hee hee

(*clink**clink*, me with the brandy snifter this time round)

Slainte,

Rori


.... oh! no Rori, ...... a Whisky bad-turn with the Ardbeg ?

.. I think I know why !

It's PEATINESS, you love it or hate it, and many folk just don't take to it at all.

Thank goodness you did the sensible thing and tried a glass before committing yourself to a bottle-disaster!!!

Let me help you now with non-peaty Malt advice

Whisky recommendations ?
- Dalwhinnie 15yo
- Springbank Mediera 11yo
- Aberfeldy 12yo
- Glengoyne 17yo
- Macallan fine oak 10yo
- Cragganmore 12yo
- Oban 14yo
- Highland Park 18yo
- Old Pulteney 12yo

- or go to www.lfw.co.uk and 'search' word ACE.
This will give a hundred returns, print them off and put a pen through all the Islay Malts and anything 'Peaty'. (Jura, Talisker, Longrow)
Take the list to a whisky shop and see what surfaces.
.... oh! the fun.


regards, ... ralfy.



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.... D.I.Y. 'moonshine' in your kitchen !

... well, everyone to their own!

Maltstock ...... something new & Whisky!

.......... what a great idea !!!
..... a Festival for Whisky fans
with lots of Whisky and a bit of music here and there !
and singing !
and eating !
and dancing !
and meeting/sampling/fun-stuff !
and Distillers, and Indi: bottlers,
and a Commemorative Bottling (no doubt!)

........ I have a sneaky suspicion that this, the Inaugural Event, is going to be a roaring success with many memories, good Malty-vibes and varied Malty-moments.
To learn more visit the Maltstock site, and peruse the Euro-fest for Whisky.

.... one thing though,
I don't see any mention of the Bouncy Castle !!
and no self-respecting Festival is without one these days, so where is it ?
Sure, there are technicalities, like ensuring 'bouncers' bounce responsibly, but I think Health & Safety concerns could be easily resolved by discreet use of a set of weighing scales and and a Breathalyzer test!

Hooray for Maltstock, ... and good luck with the weather guys !!!