Distillery and Whisky News April 2020
Hello whisky lovers and welcome to our April edition of Distillery and Whisky News - we hope that in this strange time you and your families are all safe.
We're sure many of you are finding social distancing as tough as we are, so we hope that this newsletter (and our new podcast, hooray!) will make you think of a sunnier future, when distilleries fling their doors open again and we can all enjoy a dram with our friends and family.
If you'd like to support your favourite distillery, the best way is to purchase a gift voucher for you and a friend to attend in future, or treat yourself to a nice bottle of whisky by buying online. Similarly, if you're planning a trip away for later in the year, most hotels are welcoming advance bookings.
In the meantime, stay healthy, think positive and help each other in any safe way that you can.
DISTILLERYTOURS LAUNCHES NEW PODCAST
Jamie Morrison, brand ambassador at the Glenturret Distillery
We're super excited to announce the launch of our brand new DistilleryTours.scot podcast!
We'd been thinking about starting a podcast for a wee while, but lockdown has given us the impetus to share stories in new ways, giving you that extra bit of insight from Scotland's whisky distilleries.
In our very first episode, we spoke to Jamie Morrison, brand ambassador at the Glenturret Distillery in Crieff in Perthshire.
Jamie told us what it's like to work for one of Scotland's oldest distilleries, and whet our whistle with an evocative description of their Peated Edition single malt.
You can find out more about the Glenturret Distillery, its tours and its whisky at DistilleryTours.scot and, if you're intrigued to taste it for yourself, they're offering 15% off across their site with the code GLENTURRET15, with free Postage and Packaging to mainland UK.
VENUE OF THE MONTH: LUVIANS
Hooray for Luvians!
Luvians is home to almost 1,200 whiskies, including more than 800 single malts, and was recognised as an “Icon of Whisky” in 2011 by the World Whisky Awards.
Their Cupar and St Andrews shops have closed their doors to walk-in customers but they are still taking orders by phone, email, Facebook or carrier pigeon.
They're happy to discuss their range and take orders over the phone, but to make ordering even easier they've added some extra items, including pasta and (our personal favourite) cheese, not forgetting the ice cream that they usually sell.
Find out more about Luvians' Cupar and St Andrews shops on their dedicated pages on the DistilleryTours.scot website.
DISTILLERY OF THE MONTH: THE BORDERS
The Borders Distillery
Occupying the site of the former Hawick Electric Company, The Borders Distillery (pictured above and right) has been lovingly renovated into to a fully functioning distillery.
The first Scotch Whisky distillery in the Scottish Borders since 1837, the Distillery opened in March 2018 and every day they distil from locally-grown barley to create their New Make Spirit.
Much of this is laid down in oak casks to begin its long, slow journey to becoming Single Malt Scotch Whisky. But they also use some to charge their Carterhead Still, allowing them to make Kerr’s Borders Gin and Puffing Billy Steam Vodka.
Beyond their own distilling, their expert spirit-making team also blend and balance two excellent whiskies: Lower East Side and Clan Fraser Reserve.
Lower East Side is matured in American Oak casks and has vanilla, almond, and honey notes, with just a hint of smoke.
Clan Fraser Reserve has honey and butter on the nose with hints of cinnamon and vanilla; the palate has notes of raisins and figs, a light sweetness, and is deliciously smooth with a rounded finish.
Find out more about The Borders Distillery on their dedicated page on the DistilleryTours.scot website.
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