Ancnoc Single Malt Tasting by Single & Available

It's always interesting to see what latest tipple the good people at Single and Available are bringing in to our sunny shores. Privileged to have with us the Master Distiller all the way from the distillery,  at a very elegant evening tasting soiree at the spanking new WHISKY COVE in the Pavilion Hotel.

AnCnoc (pronounced ANNOCK, the capital C being caps for a reason, ie, it's silent), is made from the purest spring water in Knock Hill (I guess that's where the "NOC" comes in), and their two copper pot stills are made to the same design as they were in 1984, with their wide bases and high necks (somehow images of swans come to mind) give anCnoc the fresh light flavour.

It is indeed very drinkable, the 12 year old glides down the throat effortlessly, is easy on the nose with hints of lemon and maybe caramel, almost sweet in taste.

12

12

The 18 year old is one classy dame..ooops, dram.....more complex than the 12, because it is matured in Spanish Oak Ex Sherry casks, and American oak ex bourbon casks, and not chill filtered.  We didn't get to try it with ice, but presumably it will turn a bit cloudy since it's not chill filtered.  The colour is a darker amber from the 12, with a dried fruity nose, and caramel, spicy taste.

From the rich peaty soils of Scottish uplands, the peat is used as a fuel resource to fire the stills and drying the barley, hence imparting that peaty taste that is actually very mild compared to the Islay ones, making it a perfect dram for those venturing into peat but not quite ready to go all the way.

An impressive ABV of 46%, I personally enjoyed this bottle the most, as it was different, and also I love the dramatic name that sounds like a Scottish medieval war movie.

For more information and pricing, contact the good people at SINGLE AND AVAILABLE.

Single Malt Sdn Bhd
Co number: 507468-W
D-0-3 & D-1-3, Block D, Plaza Damas.
60, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, Sri Hartamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel: 03 6203 2151
Fax: 03 6203 1972

Single & Available, G111A, Ground Floor, Bangsar shopping Centre,
285, Jalan Maarof Bukit Bandar Raya, 59000 Kuala Lumpur.
Tel / Fax: 03 2287 2151

Single & Available, Mercato Lot 1.01, Level 1, Pavillion K.L
55100 Kuala Lumpur
Email: info@singlemalt.com.my

Phone: +60 3 6203 2151

Fax: +60 3 6203 1972

Or click HERE

Bunnahabhain Islay Single Malt

I love the way the Scottish people speak, and I am intrigued by the phonetics of the language.  Some words seem to have too many redundant letters, some have too many vowels, and it's never pronounced quite the way it's spelt.  Take for example Bunnahabhain.  It needs to be said with a throaty almost spitting out the words way, and the BH is actually a V sound, so it's actually ˌbuːnəˈhævɪn/ BOO-nə-HAV-in (for those of you who know phonetic letterings).

We were most privileged, under the auspices of Single and Available, to have met Kirstie McCallum, the master blender herself from the Bunnahabhain distillery in Scotland, who only leaves Scotland twice a year...

(I have to say, based on these pics below, it looks like a rather melancholic place)...

Considering she had just arrived that morning in KL, from the UK, the good people at Single and Available certainly made her earn her keep, as the session we attended was the second session for the day, so one does wonder where she gets the energy and ebullience from.  I can only think of one answer.  The whisky.  What a dream job, a master blender.

In addition to Bunnahabhain, we also got to sample the Deanston 12 years.

We were introduced to the Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair (so many vowels) pronounced STOO REE DAH, which means Helmsman, after the logo on the bottle.

To create Stiùireadair Kirstie had selected first and second fill sherry casks with spirit of varying ages and warehouse locations to construct a dram that truly exposes the coastal nature of the Bunnahabhain single malt whisky.

Colour-Amber Gold
Nose-Dried fruit and creamy caramel with hints of
brine, vanilla, nuts and a touch of spice
Palate-Creamy mouth feel with a dried fruit
influence, sea salt, creamy caramel with
hints of nuts and a gentle spice
Finish-Long and lingering with hints of dried fruit
Un-chillfiltered46.3% ABV natural colour

We were also privileged to try the Limited Release PX (Pedro Ximinez)


From the Notes:
Finished in the PX casks since 2014, following eleven years in 2nd fill sherry butt’s, this limited edition release owes its distinctive flavour to a perfect marriage of the  unique Bunnahabhain malts and the sweet, syrupy notes drawn from the very wood of the casks themselves.

This is a process that cant be rushed and we only bottle when Kirstie says the time is right.

PX
Nose : Toffee, sweet dried fruit, nuts and chocolate.
Palate : Syrupy and smooth, mouth filling Pedro Ximénez influence,
notes of sweetraisins and sultanas, honeyed nuts, rich toffee, and subtle creamy chocolate.
Finish: Sweet dried fruit, long and lingering finish.
54.3 % Vol

On a side note, it might seem odd that the AVB is 54.3% and 46.3% for the other one.  Why the point 3? Apparently its due to some EU regulation that only allows a 0.3% degree of error, ssomething like that.

As an added bonus to the faithful friends of Single and Available, we were also given a nip of these glorious dram, of 18 years.

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE DISTILLERY

Established in 1881 and built close to the Mouth of the Margadaleriver, Bunnahabhain means Mouth of The River in Gaelic. Bunnahabhain is the only distillery on Islay to produce whisky using pure spring water.
Most northerly of the Islay Distilleries –situated on the north east tip of the island. Overlooking the Sound of Islay, a vast stretch of sea travelled by many a seafarer, as illustrated by the helmsman on the pack, Bunnahabhain’swonderfully remote location makes it an idyllic place for whisky distillation.
The welcoming and complex taste of Islay –unpeatedIslay, produced using unpeatedmalted barley and spring water.


FOR MORE INFORMATION AND PURCHASE,
Ms. Abigail Chua
Brand Executive
Single Malt Sdn Bhd
Office: (03) 62032151
Fax: (03) 62031972
Mobile:(+60) 012 6985755

An Intriguing Night At the Launch of the New Mystery Glenlivet Cipher

Everyone loves a good mystery, and this particular invitation from the Glenlivet Guardians organisers was simply too intriguing to resist.

With great anticipation, I roll up at the mystery location...

"Shrouded in mystery, the secret bottle beckons
Unknown are its aromas, flavours, and tastes
Not all who desires shall be given entry
For only those with the key may take the next step.

Will you be the one to unlock this enigma?

Date: 20 Sept 2016
Time: 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Venue: Solve the mystery to get here:

1. Park at/near Jalan Medan Setia 1 or 2
2. Look for the bank in yellow
3. At the alley behind the bank, there is a mysterious old wooden door
4. Knock 3 times, and answer the riddle:

As the ultimate custodian of The Glenlivet, it is his job to ensure the century-long legacy continues, and the whisky is always of supreme quality.

He is _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _"

Ashamed that despite being a Guardian for several years now, I still had to google the answer, which was the password for entry into the mystery speakeasy, ...SKULLDUGGERY,,  Incidentally, the answer to the riddle is Alan Winchester.  (remember that Winchester edition that sold for like RM94,000)...which you can read about HERE.

Upon arrival, we were ushered to a darkened room, blindfolded and given three items to identify, with our sense of smell, which I identified as Caramel, Oak, and Tobacco.  (answer to be revealed later, but suffice to say, I got a smacking score of ZERO/THREE)  All of these three items were obviously part of the elements of the mystery bottle.

I took this photo blindfolded, so excuse me if it looks blur.....

The usual trio all lined up and filler until the mystery was revealed...

And lo and behold, as the "Patriarch" of the Malaysian Glenlivet Guardians, Lionel Lau (actually the Malaysian Brand Ambassador for Glenlivet)  introduced the mystery bottle with no cask information, tasting notes, nor age statement.

The Glenlivet Cipher challenges whisky enthusiasts to use all their senses to decode the flavour profile of this mysterious single malt, hence the sensory game.  It was then revealed the three elements were Vanilla, Honey and Raisin.  How the heck does one smell raisins, but yet there were several winners.  Harumph, must have peeked through the blindfold, or must have had noses like canines.  #soreloser

But of course the greatest honor was the fact that “The Guardians of The Glenlivet will be the very first people to taste the Cipher in Malaysia,” said Brand Manager Benedict Yong of Pernod Ricard Malaysia. “It is one of the privileges of being one of The Guardians. We also made it a challenge right from the beginning as a tribute to this unique limited edition single malt."

Note the gorgeous bottle, and the cipher codes on the label.  I have to say I was sold on the bottle and label design alone!!!

(Photo courtesy of press release)

Benedict Yong (left), Brand Manager of Pernod Ricard Malaysia, unveils The Glenlivet Cipher with Lionel Lau (right), Brand Ambassador of The Glenlivet

(Photo courtesy of press release)

The venue as I mentioned, was SKULLDUGGERY.... though honestly, that night, between the dark lighting and the buzz from the booze, I never noticed any of these gorgeous looking skulls.

(Photos courtesy of the press release)

So what did I think of the Cipher?  Well, it certainly is mysterious, and is also stronger than usual with 48 ABV, or 96 Proof.

The Glenlivet Cipher will retail for RM780 per bottle, inclusive 6% GST. As this is a limited edition whisky, the Cipher will first be made available to The Glenlivet Guardians, before being released for retail purchase at selected outlets.

The rise in popularity of single malt whiskies over the past 10 years is an indication that more people are actively nosing, tasting, and discussing single malt whisky. The Cipher will encourage whisky enthusiasts to sharpen the use of their senses and have a deeper appreciation of the whisky’s complex flavour profiles.

Those interested can head to The Glenlivet Cipher microsite to test their nose and palate at https://cipher.theglenlivet.com. There, a video with clues to help decode the whisky will be provided. They will then have to select six aromas for the nose and six flavours for the palate, thus creating the flavour wheel out of over 10,000 possible combinations. On completion, a percentage score will reveal how close they have come to cracking The Glenlivet Cipher taste profile. Their score can be shared on social media, and the challenge can be repeated as many times as they want.

Hobnobbing with the media and Lead Guardians.... after a few swigs of Glenlivet, everyone is a friend.

Also, I believe this sweet lass is taking a break and we might not see her at future Guardian Events, so special thanks to Nicole for all the years of Guardian-ing!!!

The Guardians programme is a whisky community for the fans of The Glenlivet, with regular tasting events for both whisky connoisseurs and newbies alike. There are now close to 800 Guardians in Malaysia and is currently one of the country’s most active whisky communities.

The exclusive Facebook Group for The Guardians in Malaysia is https://www.facebook.com/groups/glenlivetguardians.

To be a Guardian, please email theguardians@millennium.net.my.

For more information, check out The Glenlivet Malaysia Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/TheGlenlivetMY.

Glengrant Comes of Age, There's an 18 Year Now!!!

It's always nice to be able to have the odd tipple or two before noon, it gives life such a holiday feel, so I was quite happy to attend the Glen Grant Media launch at 11am one fine morning, at the Westin KL, upon the kind invitation of Tim Chew of Malaysia's Hottest Blogger fame.

The event was actually to showcaase the latest premium offerings of Glen Grant’s finest, which now includes The Major’s Reserve, 10 Year Old, 12 Year Old, 18 Year Old and a selection of limited edition bottles; Gracing the event was Glen Grant’s award-winning Master Distiller, Dennis Malcolm, who has been with the distillery over 50 years.

According to Dennis, who is the longest tenured Master Distiller still in service in Scotland, “We are delighted to launch our new range of aged products and unveil our brand new, contemporary logo and packaging. Glen Grant has made a significant investment in its production within the worldwide luxury whisky market to meet the increased consumer appetite for premium whisky with a rich background. We are extremely proud of our new look which perfectly represents the passion, craftsmanship and family heritage of Glen Grant, while staying true to our Scottish heritage. We are confident that through our unique quality and history, our new aged range of products will prove extremely popular with our consumers.”

It was interesting to see the signficance behind the new Glen Grant logo, which is the Grant family monogram, with the letters ‘J’ ‘R’ and ‘G’ delicately intertwined in a timeless design. ‘J’ for James ‘The Major’ Grant and ‘R’ for his first wife Rose, emphasising the deeply rooted family heritage which helped to produce one of the world’s finest single malt Scotch whiskies.

A video sequence of the "launch" would probably have been better, but anyway, there you have it, the unveiling of the 18 years and ahem, again, we were the first in the country and apparently in the region, to have a taste of this glorious nectar of the gods.

There's always a palpable sense of anticipation when you see one of these tasting sheets...

We start with the 10 year old....

The 10 Year Old – Golden in colour, the 10 Year Old lingers in the mouth with a soft almond finish. For the last four years, the 10 Year Old has won the “Best Single Malt Scotch: 10 Years and Under” category award in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. In addition to this, in 2015 the 10 Year Old also took home the guide’s top honour for single malts by winning overall Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks).

The 12 Year Old – A bright, golden colour and pleasant aromas of orchard fruit, almond and citrus, , and on the palate notes of apple pie crust and caramel, finishing with lingering fruit and subtle hints of spice. The 12 Year Old was recently awarded the IWSC GOLD 2016, Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside, 12-13 Years Old.

The 18 Year Old – The rarest in the collection is the new Glen Grant 18 Year Old. This unrivalled single malt Scotch whisky matures for at least 18 years in the highest quality, handpicked oak casts, which creates a radiant golden colour and seductive floral and oaky aroma. Deeply layered and complex, this rich and vibrant whisky delivers beautifully intricate flavours of malted caramel, vanilla, and raisins and lingers with a long, sweet and pleasantly spicy finish.

And there you have it, the trio of a fine drop.

According to Malcolm, the casks in the distillery are only used a maximum three times.  The 15 year old which  no longer in production to make way for the 18 year old.  Quite interesting, that story as to why only now they are producing an 18 year old.  Although the distillery itself is old, it was recently (by recently I mean in 2006 or so??) by Campari, and there was some complicated clause regarding the age of the whiskies that could be kept.

For more information, please contact:

Shahlini T.Arasu
(email) shahlini@gmail.com (mobile) 012 334 3042

Susy Lee
(email) susyssl@gmail.com (mobile) 012 378 2243

Arran Single Malts ...From The Scottish Isle of Arran to the Exotic Pairing With Thai Food At Ekkamai

When an invitation drops in your lap that involves a hitherto unheard of Single Malt, (through no fault of the brand, I might add, it's just that little old me is not so exposed to the myriad range that are out there) combined with one of the latest retaurants to be opened in that hip Batai Village area, of course, it's almost like an invitation to the Academy Awards.  Okay, maybe not quite, but still, rather exciting nonetheless.

We were greeted by Euan Mitchell, Director of Arran Single Malt Distillery....Arran is a small island, which is virtually uninhabited, boasting a population of 5000, if I remember correctly, which is probably the population of Bangsar and Damansara Heights put together.

In an enjoyable intimate setting, dinner conversation was indeed sterling, just like the whiskies we were tasting.

We started with the 10 year old, the flagship single malt, which is easy to drink, perfect pre dinner chit chat tipple, that has sweet oak and honey on the nose.  The finish is crisp, and mellow.  Sure can't tell it's a "humble 10 year old".

Next up was the 14 Year, which was so popular that in that short time we were there, other patrons in the restaurant had bought up almost the entire stock that was there.  An elegant drink by any standard, with notes of dried fruits and vanilla.  The finish is a lingering creamy sweetness, and paired with the luxurious platter of Thai starter,

............ a medley of flavours assailing the palate.

By the way, the word WHISKY is of Gaellic origin, according to Evan, from the word USQUEBEAH...

The Bothy Quarter Cask, bottled at Cask strength, is highly unique in that it is initially matured in first fill ex Bourbon Barrels before transfer secondary maturation in smaller American oak casks.  It is a limited edition Arran Malt which pays homage to the use of small casks, which is reminiscent of the way it was back in the 18th & 19th Century, when clearly none of us were born yet.

A old gold color, with sandalwood spice on the nose, and pineapple and apple on the palate, culminating in a floral finish.

Meanwhile, complementing the Stars of the Show was a very able back up team by way of the excellent food at Ekkamai...this Weeping Tiger Wagyu Rib Eye, melts in the mouth and is the perfect companion with the subsequent 18 year and Machrie Moor.

I'm not sure what Mr Scotsman was up to, probably demonstrating some Kilt movements....

The Machrie Moor is the peaty version of the Arran, and in 2010 they released a limited edition under this name.  Machrie is the name of the Peat moor on the west coast of Arran.  Bottled at 46% without chill filtration, its most distinct feature, and I'm sure it's by design, is the lingering peaty finish, which obviously is not everyone's glass of whisky, but I love it!!

The sequel to that is the Machrie Moor Cask strength, which well, basically is a stronger version of the "normal" one.

In summary ...ta dah, the curtain call of the STARS...

For more information, contact

Ms. Abigail Chua

Brand Executive

Single Malt Sdn Bhd

Office: (03) 62032151

Fax: (03) 62031972

Mobile:(+60) 012 6985755