Distillery and Whisky News June 2023 - Balvenie
Hello whisky lovers, and welcome to our June edition of Distillery and Whisky News.
It's Father's Day this month... are you sorted yet? Check out our fantastic range of whisky gifts over at our online shop and you will definitely be able to claim favourite child status!
And what better way to mark the occasion than by sharing a dram with the man who gave you life? Listen to our brand new podcast with famed Scottish actor, James Cosmo, and you will be inspired to treat yourself (and your dad) to a bottle of Storyman Whisky which James has created alongside Annandale Distillery. Not only that, it is also a treat to the ears to hear his vivid recollections of Braveheart to Game of Thrones and much more.
Until next time...
Distillery Of The Month: Balvenie
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Balvenie Distillery
The spirit of craft lives on at The Balvenie, which is the only distillery in the Scottish Highlands that maintains the Five Rare Crafts of whisky making. The distillery's commitment to craftsmanship brings invaluable skill, knowledge, experience and passion to every stage of the process through the hands of their dedicated craftsmen.
Simply put. In a world of automation, The Balvenie maintains its distinctive character, and its heart.
This is the only distillery in Scotland that still grows its own barley, uses traditional floor maltings and keeps both a coppersmith and a team of coopers on site. And of course, Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE presides over the all-important maturation process.
Take the Balvenie Distillery Tour next time you visit, where you can step inside the distillery doors and discover how they make their whisky. During your tour you will meet and interact with the Makers of their fine Single Malts, learn about the five rare crafts of whisky making, explore the famous warehouse 24, and take part in an intimate group tasting with a selection of whiskies from the Distillery.
Find out more about Balvenie Distillery, their whisky and their tours on their dedicated page on the DistilleryTours.scot website.
Venue of the month: 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. Proud to offer the best in customer service, whisky knowledge and tasting experiences, the enthusiastic team is 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 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. This is done 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.
That means Luvians only buy whisky directly from distilleries and their official distributors, so that they, and you, can be sure of their authenticity. There are over 800 single malt whiskies on their shelves, and staff members will 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…
You can visit Luvians stores in St Andrews or Cupar.
Find out more about Luvians Cupar and Luvians St Andrews on their dedicated pages at the DistilleryTours website.
Date With A Dram: Wolfburn Distillery
This month's competition is with Wolfburn Distillery to win a bottle of their 10 Year Old Single Malt, the distillery's first ever age statement release!
Competition Time!
To be in with a chance of winning a bottle of Wolfburn 10 Year old simply follow DistilleryTours.scot on Facebook or Instagram and share our 'Date with a Dram' post dated 1 June. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced in our July newsletter!
Congratulations to Michael Fisher who has won a bottle of Arran Distillery's Quarter Cask Single Malt. Enjoy Michael!
You must be 18 years old or over to enter. Please note, will never approach you for your credit card details or personal information, send you friend requests or ask you to click on a link. Please stay safe online and remember to drink responsibly.
DistilleryTours Podcast - James Cosmo & Annandale Distillery
This month we speak to James Cosmo - actor, producer and proud whisky connoisseur at Annandale Distillery.
James discusses how he went from Clydebank to Hollywood to star in over 150 films including Scottish classics Trainspotting and Braveheart; we also hear more about his role in the phenomenally successful Game Of Thrones TV series.
Besides films we learn about the whisky James has produced with Annandale Distillery and how a call from his agent on New Year’s Day to Annandale’s David Ashton-Hyde led to him working with the distillery to create the delicious Storyman Whisky.
Thanks to Angels' Share for sponsoring the podcast - if you're looking for some beautiful glassware to enjoy your favourite dram in, then visit our shop for some inspiration.
Malt Of The Month - Casks of Lindores Sherry Finish
Our June Malt Of The Month is now live on the DistilleryTours.scot website featuring Casks of Lindores Sherry Finish.
The third Casks of Lindores bottling completes the set and was matured exclusively in Oloroso Sherry Butts from the area around the city of Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. You can read all about this delicious malt over on the website now.
DistilleryTours Shop - Not Too Late For Father's Day!
It's Father's Day on 18th June and if you are looking for a fantastic gift idea then let us help you. Our fantastic t-shirts are made from organic cotton and boast eye-catching designs and slogans that whisky-mad dads will love. And the best bit? They are only £10.95!
Dad's not a t-shirt fan? No bother, how about one of our quality hip flasks or some beautiful glassware from our Angels Share range. Head to our online shop now, to make your choice and make dad a happy man this Father's Day.
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.