Distillery and Whisky News December 2022 - Tomatin
Hello whisky lovers, and welcome to our December edition of Distillery and Whisky News.
As we kick off December, the Christmas countdown is well and truly underway. The first chocolate has been eaten from the Advent calendar (or maybe you're one of the lucky ones with a whisky calendar?) and the letters to Santa have been written (well they have in this house anyway!).
If you've yet to put pen to paper for the 'big man' then let us help you as our podcast with Karen Somerville of Angels' Share Glass will certainly inspire you to add some beautiful whisky-themed glassware to your list.
Or maybe you would like a new dram to sip on Christmas day? Our Malt of the Month this time features a delicious offering from The Borders Distillery - perhaps that will make the cut?
Before all the chocolate has been eaten and drams drunk - we at DistilleryTours.scot would like to take this early opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. Slàinte!
Distillery Of The Month: Tomatin
Tomatin Distillery
Since 1897 Tomatin Distillery has been harnessing the soft waters of the Alt-na-Frith, to produce quality single malt and blended whisky in an area of stunning natural beauty. Tomatin has a rich whisky making heritage dating back to at least the 1500s.
Located just outside the village that shares its name, at 315 metres above sea level, Tomatin Distillery is one of the highest distilleries in Scotland. Its elevated position in the Monadhliath Mountains means the Alt-na-Frith gathers very few minerals on its course, making it the perfect source to create a soft and delicate whisky.
The distillery stands proud in the wild and windy moorland and is home to Tomatin, a world-renowned, award-winning Highland single malt; Cù Bòcan, a subtly smoky and surprisingly sweet single malt that explores innovative finishes; and The Antiquary, a premium blend crafted with only the finest and rarest malts.
Take the Taste of Tomatin Tour, and enjoy an enhanced experience with a distillery tour followed by a tutored nosing and tasting of six different Tomatin expressions, each revealing why this distillery offers the ‘softer side of the Highlands’.
Find out more about Tomatin their whisky and tours on their dedicated page on the DistilleryTours.scot website.
Venue of the month: Luvians
Luvians
Home to almost 1,200 whiskies and recognised as an 'Icon of Whisky' in 2011 by the World Whisky Awards, Luvians is a global destination for lovers of the Water of Life. Both stores, one in Cupar and the other in St Andrews, offer the best in customer service, whisky knowledge and tasting experiences, with enthusiastic staff who are proud to share their love of the drams they would buy themselves and the community spirit behind them!
Over the years Luvians has had to do things a little differently to their competitors in order not only to survive the vast competition of the whisky world but to set themselves apart as the best at what they do. They do this in many ways but, distilled to its base, it come down to two things: seeking out a team whose knowledge and love of whisky is second to none and sourcing products with flawless provenance.
There are over 800 single malt whiskies on the shelves, and someone will always be happy to talk you through the drams that interest you, usually having one or two bottles open for tasting! There are regular formal tastings, too, with food pairings and guest appearances from the distilleries. Drop in to chat about everything whisky, from session drams to rare bottles from silent distilleries…
Luvians
Find out more about Luvians Cupar and Luvians St Andrews on their dedicated pages at the DistilleryTours website.
Date With A Dram: Lagavulin
This month's competition is with Lagavulin Distillery to win a bottle of their 16 Year Old Single Malt.
Revered by connoisseurs and experts, Lagavulin is known as 'The King of Islay'. It is an 'essential' Scotch Whisky that any connoisseur or enthusiast must have in their collection; one of the world's favourite malt whiskies.
Aged in oak casks for at least 16 years, this much sought-after single malt has the massive peat-smoke flavour that's typical of Southern Islay, while also offering richness and a dryness that turns it into a truly interesting dram. The Lagavulin 16 Year Old has become a benchmark Islay dram from the Lagavulin distillery.
If you'd like to try this 'peaty and powerful' whisky make sure you enter this month's competition!
Competition Time!
Want to be in with a chance to win a bottle of Lagavulin 16 Year Old? Simply follow DistilleryTours.scot on Facebook or Instagram and share our 'Date with a Dram' post dated 1 December. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced in our January newsletter!
Congratulations to Les Morrison from the North of Scotland who has won a bottle of Glenfiddich Orchard Experiment Single Malt. Enjoy Les!
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DistilleryTours Podcast - Angels' Share Glass
This month we spoke to Karen Somerville of Angels' Share Glass...
Karen Somerville
Karen tells us about the history of Angels’ Share Glass and how she and her Dad were inspired by the Ken Loach film The Angels’ Share.
She also tells us about the company's famous whisky angels and what it’s like being a director of the Fife Whisky Festival.
Thanks to Angels' Share for sponsoring the podcast - if you're looking for some beautiful glassware to enjoy your favourite dram in, then visit the website for some inspiration.
Malt Of The Month - WS:01 Borders Malt & Rye
Our December Malt Of The Month is now live on the DistilleryTours.scot website featuring The Borders Distillery's WS:01 Malt & Rye.
In 2019, Borders Distillery distilled a small batch of rye spirit and matured it in the same fresh-fill bourbon casks as the malt, to create this remarkable and aromatic whisky.
This is the first blended scotch whisky to leave the Scottish Borders since 1837, and the first expression of the Workshop Series from the Borders Distillery.
Each WS:01 Borders Malt & Rye bottle is individually numbered, and only 5,988 will ever be released for sale in the UK.
Find out more about this special edition whisky over on the website now.
DistilleryTours Shop - Christmas Is Coming!
We've loads of fantastic Christmas gift ideas for whisky-lovers at the DistilleryTours.scot shop.
If you're looking for the perfect gift for the whisky-lover in your life then let us help you...
Discover more over at the DistilleryTours.scot shop.
Whisky Comes To Glasgow
With over 200 whiskies available to sample from some of the most celebrated names in the industry, plus an extensive programme of award-winning mixology, local food vendors, cutting edge musicians and live artists - The National Whisky Festival experience will leave you feeling inspired by the contemporary character and experimental nature of Scotland’s national drink.
The 'definitive whisky festival' returns to Glasgow on 21st January. Find out more, and book your tickets here.
Looking for inspiration for your next Distillery Tour? Follow us on TWITTER, FACEBOOK and INSTRAGRAM to hear more, and subscribe to this newsletter at DISTILLERYTOURS.SCOT/SIGNUP.