Category Archives: Fun

News & Review: Maverick Drinks’ Reference Series additions

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The World’s First Educational Range of Whisky Just Got Bigger

So, last month saw Maverick Drinks update their Reference Series with 9 of the latest additions. There’s a quick review of four of those releases below, but first let’s look at the official PR blurb…

Maverick Drinks is proud to announce the release of 9 additions to the world’s first educational whisky range, Reference Series. The range of blended malt whiskies was first launched earlier this year, and showcases the effects of various production techniques and ingredients used to make Scotch.
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News & Interest: Laphroaig Live 2014 comes to Stockholm

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Tomorrow (Wednesday 24th September) at 8pm Swedish time (7pm UK time) the eighth annual Laphroaig Live will broadcast live from Sweden.

This year’s show will be streamed live from a tiny island called Fjäderholmarna which is part of the archipelago just outside Stockholm.

You can watch the broadcast live as it happens on Somerset Whisky Blog right here:

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Visit & Reviews: Somerset Cider Brandy

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SCBlogo[For 9(!) reviews of Somerset Cider Brandy’s range, please see below…]

At the time of posting this story I had previously visited 42 distilleries around the UK… but most obviously I had missed visiting the distillery that’s based in my own backyard, The Somerset Distillery / Somerset Cider Brandy Company Limited not far from Yeovil in Somerset. It was more than time to put that right, and I’m really pleased to say that my 43rd visit was finally sorted recently; I was driving home and passing close to the distillery, so it would have been rude not to pop in really wouldn’t it?!

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News & Review: Reference Series ‘The First Educational Whisky’

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Reference Series – The First Educational Whisky

There’s a new funky experiment in town. I say new, it’s been out for a wee while, but I’m catching up, and for those that missed the initial announcement then this is a good follow up! It’s from those crazy people at… what… I have no idea which brand to pick… Master Of Malt / Drinks by the Dram / Blended Whisky Company / Maverick Drinks / That Boutique-y Whisky Company / Reference Series. More brands than you can shake a fist at… however you know who I mean I’m sure, basically that Ben chap.

Here’s the PR text which explains probably better than I can… Once you’ve read it, please find my tasting notes of the initial three releases at the bottom! 🙂
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Blog: My drambassador’s trip to Glen Garioch

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GariochLogoMy drambassador’s trip to Glen Garioch

Now, where do I start? I’m no article writer and my brain isn’t what it once was… So I reckon we’ll just walk through my packed couple of days and randomly jump from one bit to another, how does that sound? Good, I’m glad you agree. You’ll probably get bored reading mind you, but give it a go eh?

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Buzz & Winning Review: Glen Garioch’s new (as yet nameless) expression

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GariochLogoGlen Garioch’s new (as yet nameless) expression
(and the clues to what it might be…)

Update: I’m really pleased to announce that my post has been chosen as a winning review of this dram, and as such I get to go and visit the distillery, excellent stuff, lucky me!

Let’s start by saying I’m a Glen Garioch Drambassador! What’s that? It was a facebook competition run by them to chose various fans / bloggers to receive their new mystery dram and a set of clues, and to be the first people to try it and write about it… and that’s what leads us here! I am one of those chosen few… and sure enough in the post I soon received the following lovely box of goodies…

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Opinion: Bowmore and Chocolate – A Perfect Combo

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I’m kind of supposed to be on a diet… one of those diets that never really quite get going, but you have every good intention of starting tomorrow. With that in mind friends and family eased off buying me anything much in the way of any Easter eggs this year, which made me really quite upset, damn them!

However, (yippee) Bowmore came to the rescue! Bless them and their chocolaty Easter eggy general good chappishness. (FYI mostly not actual chaps, I’m being gender neutral here).

So, it’s with excitement I opened the following just before Easter hit…

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Glenmorangie Cask Masters samples up for grabs (by 19th July)!

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GLE2265_POS_4_sheet_25%_AW.inddSo, have you heard of Glenmorangie’s Cask Masters experiment?
If not… go have a look here! http://caskmasters.glenmorangie.com/
Basically there’s three different types of cask that they want to bottle, and it’s up to us the dramming public to vote on which they’ll bottle!

This has been well supported in various large cities by tastings of the three casks to help people decide, but those of us who live in the sticks have to basically watch video’s to help us decide which dram we want to vote for.

But wait up… Glenmorangie have been kind enough to provide me with some samples, and there’s enough to go around! – Not much mind you… I have enough for 5 samples (that’s 5 x 3 of each cask).
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Information, Review and Google+ Hangout of Ballantine’s 12 Year Old!

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Ballantine’s 12 Year Old – Dissection of the blend…Ballantine's 12 Bottle Shot

So recently I was involved in a Google+ Hangout (that’s a bit like a Skype or video conference call) with Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s Master Blender, and various other renowned figures from the whisky world including Joel Harrison (@joeldram) from Cask Strength and Carry On, Tiger White (@EdinburghWhisky), Tom Thomson (@ifotou) and Mark Gillespie (@whiskycast). This session was to investigate the inner workings of Ballantine’s 12 Year Old, a look at some of the grans and malts that make it up, and the other elements that go to make this creamy smooth blended dram of beauty.

Have a watch of the video below for all the full details! I’ve written up the best bits in case you can’t watch the video, and there’s also various official notes.
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News: Bowmore Twitter Tasting Competition

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Bowmore is offering two lucky winners the chance to take part in a very special Valentines Twitter tasting date with their Master Blender, Rachel Barrie, and a select panel of 13 experts from the world of whisky.

The two lucky winners will receive a very special Valentine’s whisky bouquet containing three classic Bowmore tasting expressions and one exclusive, unreleased, ‘work in progress’.

The exclusive competition is only open until Monday at 11am so there’s only a short time to enter, and the tasting will take place on Wednesday 13th February at 7pm, good luck!

https://www.facebook.com/bowmore/app_439628179438049

(That link only works on a PC, it’ll probably show an error via a mobile)