Distillery and Whisky News June 2021
Hello whisky lovers and welcome to our June edition of Distillery and Whisky News. The sun is shining, distilleries are reopening, tours are running - life is good!
We've had the absolute joy of interviewing wonderful whisky people for our podcast for the past year now - we can't believe how quickly time has passed! - and are delighted to say we're celebrating in the traditional fashion, with a dram in hand.
Check out the past six month's below, as well our Distillery of the Month - the Benriach - a real hidden Speyside gem. If you're planning a visit to a distillery soon, please check out our full list of reopening plans on our frequently updated Distilleries Reopening After Lockdown post. Holidays beckon!
DistilleryTours Podcast
Six months of amazing distillery interviewees
Our podcast reaches its first anniversary today, and we're so proud of the incredible interviews we've done with some of Scotland's most wonderful whisky people, all as passionate about whisky and their distilleries as you are.
Have a listen to some of our brilliant interviewees telling us all about their distillery and their love for whisky.
Listen Now
In November we spoke to Jenna Collins, Visitor Centre Supervisor at the Strathisla Distillery, who told us why she thinks everyone should get to write their own tasting notes. Listen to Jenna's interview now.
In December we spoke to Helen Mackenzie Smith, co-owner of Lindores Abbey Distillery, how she and her partner raised the money to build a distillery and the importance of not being ‘Disney-fied’. Listen to Helen's interview now.
In January we spoke to Stewart Buchanan, Global Brand Ambassador for the Benriach, Glendronach and Glenglassaugh Distilleries, who told us about the three different whisky profiles. Listen to Stewart's interview now.
In February we spoke to Paul Graham and Fraser Hughes from the Ardnahoe Distillery, who talked about how people return to Islay again and again, and Fraser has an unusual way to find a job in the whisky industry. Listen to Paul and Fraser's interview now.
In March we spoke to Nick Savage, Master Distiller at the Bladnoch Distillery, who told us about the theory behind Bladnoch's genius Waterfall series, and his passion to protect and nurture the stocks. Listen to Nick's interview now.
In April we spoke to Gordon Dallas, Whisky Experiential Ambassador at the Glengoyne Distillery, who told us about how alcohol pushed the evolution of the human species! Listen to Gordon's interview now.
Date with a Dram: Glenmorangie
Glenmorangie Distillery's Malaga 12 Years Old
Our Date with a Dram this month is with the Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain.
The result of an experiment, Glenmorangie's Malaga 12 Years Old was aged first in bourbon whiskey casks and then for four years in Malaga dulce (sweet) casks, a rare wine barrel used in southern Spain.
Finished in casks that once held one of the world’s rarest fortified wines, Glenmorangie's Malaga 12 Years Old is beautifully sweet, with notes of honey and gentle spices.
Competition Time!
Want to be in with a chance to win a bottle of Glenmorangie's Malaga 12 Years Old? Simply follow DistilleryTours.scot on Facebook and share our 'Date with a Dram' post dated 1 June. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced in our June newsletter!
And congratulations to David Starr from Somerset who won our last competition to win a bottle of the Glen Moray's Heritage 21 Year Old Portwood Finish.
You must be 18 years old or over to enter. We will never approach you for your credit card details.
Follow and Share to Enter!
Venue of the month: The Vaults
The Courtyard at the SMWS's The Vaults
Not only is the Scotch Malt Whisky Society's courtyard open at The Vaults, their members room is too!
Their next members event will be held on the 28th June, in person at The Vaults! On this night they will be offering a fantastic range of Single Cask Whiskies to their members, leading up to the new Outturn going on sale on the First Friday of the month.
Join them to try as many of the new Outturn as you wish in small samples (and be the first to be able to buy bottlings!), and Society Supper is also included.
Find out more about joining their membership here.
Find out more about the SMWS at The Vaults on their dedicated page at DistilleryTours.scot and, if you're visiting, please adhere to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Distillery of the Month: Benriach
Benriach Distillery
Ruggedly beautiful, the Benriach Distillery draws its water from the mineral-rich aquifer deep beneath the grounds.
Benriach is a hidden Speyside gem distilling in three distinct styles - classic unpeated, Highland peated and triple distilled - and crafting layers of diverse flavour with our eclectic range of cask types from around the world. To discover and enjoy Benriach visit them at their home in Speyside.
Their barrels, butts and barriques tasting is an exploration of cask maturation. The tasting samples 5 single cask whiskies, each showcasing their rich history of using eclectic casks from around the world, discovering the use of different oak woods and their influence on their spirit. The tasting culminates with their 21 Year Old, demonstrating how they layer together a selection of 4 cask types to create a depth of flavour characteristic of Benriach.
Can't make it to Benriach yet? Support them by buying a bottle from The Good Spirits Co. in Glasgow.
Find out more about the Benriach Distillery on their dedicated page on the DistilleryTours.scot website and, if you're visiting, please adhere to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
Looking for inspiration for your next Distillery Tour? Follow us on TWITTER, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM to hear more, and subscribe to this newsletter at distillerytours.scot/signup.