May 7th, 2009

Knappogue Castle Irish Whiskey Distillery Origin Guide

John Hansell

Recently I was asked if the source of Knappogue Castle Irish Whiskey is from Bushmills. I thought it might something of interest to all of you. The answer is, in chronological order by release: no, no, no, no, yes, yes, yes, and no.

To clarify:

The first vintage, 1951, was from the B. Daly Distillery (where Tullamore Dew was once made)
 
The next three, 1990-1992, were from Cooley
 
The next three, 1993-5, were from Bushmills
 
The last one, a 15 year old non-vintage, was once again from Cooley (a marriage of stocks from 1990-1992).

I hope this helps.

Category: Irish whiskey Tags: 13 Comments

March 17th, 2009

What Irish whiskeys would you like to be able to buy?

John Hansell

While we’re on the topic of Irish whiskeys, what Irish whiskeys would you like to buy but can’t because they are not available to you in your market (or possibly anywhere, for that matter)?

I’ll tell you the ones on my list. I’d like to see Redbreast 15 year old more widely available. The same goes for that lovely Power’s 12 year old I picked up in Travel Retail a few years back.

I’d also like to see Green Spot available here in the U.S. And maybe even some line extensions of Green Spot, like the limited edition 10 and 12 year old expressions offered a few years back.

I could go for a higher strength Midleton Very Rare  too! (I know that there was one single cask done for a retailer in Europe.)  Hey, I’m even willing to compromise here. It doesn’t have to be single cask and cask strength. I’ll be happy with 46% ABV and not chill-filtered.

Finally, how about a single malt from Midleton? I know Irish Distillers make it occasionally for one (some?) of their brands. And I know that one slipped out about a decade ago without their endorsement called Erin Go Bragh which I bought. I understand that Irish Distillers wants to separate themselves from Bushmills and Cooley (who produce single malts) by making traditional pot still whiskey, but I still can’t help but be curious about what one would taste like if they really put their heart into it.

Anyone else out there agree with me? Anything else you would like to see?

Category: Irish whiskey,Opinions Tags: , , , 16 Comments

March 16th, 2009

Irish whiskey media coverage: what about the rest of the year?

John Hansell

Over the past two weeks, I’ve been reading about Irish whiskey everywhere I look:  trade magazines, consumer magazines, newspapers, etc. I was even asked to be on Fox Business TV Network this morning for an Irish whiskey “shoot-out” between Jameson and Bushmills. (I declined, but for the time being you can watch a video of it here. I’m not sure how long they’ll have it up there.)

Yes, it’s great that Irish whiskey is getting this coverage now. I love Irish whiskey and am very happy for any exposure it gets (as long as the information is accurate). But what about the rest of the year? How much Irish whiskey coverage will you read about in April? Or October?

Irish whiskey is as good as Scotch whiskey and equally as versatile as Scotch whiskey. But for Irish whiskey to be treated with the same respect as Scotch whiskey, it has to be covered by the media for the whole year–and perceived by the consumer as a year-round drink, rather than being pigeon-holed as something to do shots of on St. Patrick’s Day or to drown in an Irish Coffee (or worse, a Car Bomb).

Category: Irish whiskey,Opinions Tags: , 14 Comments

March 5th, 2009

History Channel “Whiskey” show rebroadcasts on St. Patrick’s Day

John Hansell

In case you missed it when it originally broadcasted on St. Patrick’s day last year, the History Channel’s Modern Marvel’s series “Whiskey” show will be rebroadcasted on March 17, 2009 at 10 AM and 4 PM. (That means you can learn about whiskey and then still go out later on and drink it!)

If you haven’t seen it yet, it is informative and entertaining. And yes, you’ll have to put up with several quotes from me throughout the show. I tagged some of the distilleries that they visit during the show.

If anyone wants to really see the difference between bourbon and Tennessee whiskey, this is the show to watch. They show the sugar maple charcoal mellowing vats. In fact, they actually show the sugar maple being burned to make the charcoal. Cool stuff!

Category: Bourbon,Canadian whisky,Distillery Tours,Events,Irish whiskey,Media,Microdistilleries,Scotch whisky,Tennessee whiskey Tags: , , , , , 5 Comments

February 26th, 2009

Ask Dave Quinn, whiskey guru at Ireland’s Midleton Distillery

John Hansell

Malt Advocate readers know that we started a new column last year called “A round with…” where we interview interesting and knowledgeable people in the whiskey industry. Previous interviews have included Bill Samuels of Maker’s Mark bourbon, Willie Tait of Isle of Jura, and Jeff Arnett from Jack Daniel’s.

For our next issue, due out May 1st, we are having “A round with” Dave Quinn, Master of Science and whiskey guru for the Midleton Distillery in County Cork, where many of Ireland’s whiskey brands are made (Jameson, Power’s, Paddy, Redbreast, Tullamore Dew, Green Spot, Midleton Very Rare, etc.). Prior to Diageo purchasing Bushmills a few years back, Dave was also intimately involved with Bushmills too.

As you can see, Dave is a great guy to have a round with. Plus he is a really nice guy, which makes us even more excited about the interview.

We’re in the process of formulating our questions for Dave, and we have some interesting ones already. But we though, “Hey, why don’t we ask YOU what you would like to know from Dave?”

So, here’s your chance. Post up a question. If we like it, we’ll ask it to Dave and publish it. It can be a serious one about one of their whiskeys (or someone else’s whiskey for that matter), or it can be something lighthearted. We try to have a good balance of fun and seriousness. After all, this is “A round with…,” not an interrogation! (Just keep the question clean and fair.) Deadline is a week from tomorrow, Friday, March 6th.

Okay, what’s on your mind? What would you like to ask Dave?

Category: Interviews,Irish whiskey,Malt Advocate Mag 17 Comments

November 15th, 2008

Next Bushmills: Caribbean Rum Cask Aged?

John Hansell

Another little bird at WhiskyFest New York this past week told me what the next Bushmills release might be after the limited edition Bushmills 1608 blended whiskey runs its course over the next few months.

There’s been a Bushmills for sale at Travel Retail (Duty Free) that combines Bushmills aged entirely in pot still Caribbean rum casks with Bushmills aged in more traditional sherry and bourbon casks. I picked up a bottle at Travel Retail when I visited Bushmills back in 2007, but still haven’t opened up the bottle yet. This might be a good excuse to crack this sucker open sometime soon and taste it.

Has anyone tried this whiskey? If so, let us know what you think.

If I get any more definitive news on this, I’ll post it up.

Category: Irish whiskey,New Releases,WhiskyFest 6 Comments

November 13th, 2008

Tullamore Dew 10 yr. old single malt?

John Hansell

A little bird told me at WhiskyFest New York on Tuesday night that there’s a good chance we’ll see a Tullamore Dew single malt Irish whiskey in 2009. Yes, a single malt! That’s a first since I’ve been drinking whiskey.

The Tullamore Dew blended whiskeys on the market for the past few decades have come from the Midleton distillery in County Cork, where Jameson, Power’s, Redbreast and many other whiskeys are produced. Don’t look for the new Tully single malt to come from Midleton, though. That’s not their gig. Think “Cooley distillery.”

I’ll post some other WhiskyFest tidbits over the coming days. Stay tuned.

Category: Breaking news,Irish whiskey,New Releases 8 Comments

November 11th, 2008

Annoucing the 2008 Malt Advocate Whisky Awards

John Hansell

The 2008 Malt Advocate Whisky Awards were announced earlier this evening just prior to WhiskyFest New York. The awards ceremony occurred at the Marriott Marquis on Times Square.

Here is a listing of the award winners. A full write-up will appear in the 1st Quarter 2009 issue of Malt Advocate magazine, due out on January 15, 2009.

The top ten new whiskies for 2008 (listed alphabetically)
The Antiquary Blended Scotch, 21 year old
The Balvenie Vintage Cask, 1976 vintage
Black Bowmore, 1964 vintage, 42 year old
White Bowmore, 1964 vintage, 43 year old
Brora , 30 year old
High West Rendezvous Rye, Batch No. 10
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve Irish Whiskey
The Last Drop Blended Scotch
Parker’s Heritage Collection Bourbon, 27 year old
Willett Family Reserve Bourbon, 25 year old
 

Best Buy of the Year
Ancient Ancient Age Ten Year Old

American Whiskey of the Year
Parker’s Heritage Collection 27 Year Old Bourbon

Canadian Whisky of the Year
Canadian Club 150th Anniversary 30 Year Old

Irish Whiskey of the Year
Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve, 2007 Release

Scotch Blended Whisky of the Year
The Antiquary 21 year old

Scotch Malt Whisky of the Year
Black Bowmore, 1964 Vintage, 42 year old

Microdistillery Whisky of the Year
Penderyn Welsh Whisky

Industry Leader of the Year
Dr. Bill Lumsden

Pioneer of the Year
The United States Microdistillers

Distillery of the Year
Four Roses

Lifetime Achievement Award
Willie Tait (Whyte and Mackay)
Kenny Gray (Oban)
Ronnie Eddins (Buffalo Trace)

Category: Bourbon,Breaking news,Canadian whisky,European whiskies,Irish whiskey,Microdistilleries,Rye whiskey,Scotch whisky,WhiskyFest 11 Comments

October 30th, 2008

History Channel: “Whiskey” show (rebroadcast)

John Hansell

In case you missed it earlier this year, the History Channel will be rebroadcasting their “Modern Marvels” special on whisky on Saturday, November 8, 2008, @ 7:00 pm. The hour-long show covers the major distilling categories and travels to distilleries in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, Kentucky, Tennessee, and (yes) Colorado.

The show is both entertaining and informative. If you can handle seeing me being quoted occasionally throughout the show, then you might want to watch it (or DVR it so you can watch it later).

Category: Bourbon,Canadian whisky,Events,Irish whiskey,Media,Microdistilleries,Rye whiskey,Scotch whisky,Tennessee whiskey 4 Comments

October 14th, 2008

So, how are you shipping your whisky purchases into the U.S.?

John Hansell

Okay, here’s an issue many of us have to deal with, and that includes me. So many whiskies are not imported to the U.S. You want to buy a whisky from a retailer somewhere overseas, you have a friend who wants to ship you whisky, or (in my case) a whisky company wants to send you review samples. But if you ship through the proper channels it gets flagged at the Newark Airport (or wherever) and they won’t send it to you unless you have an importer license, pay them lots of money, give up your first born child, etc.

I’m not advocating breaking any laws, but I know some of you have found ways to have your whisky shipped to you faster and with less red tape. You comments are anonymous, so does anyone want to offer some advice to those of us less enlightened?

(I’m not referring to shipping whisky with you when you are traveling but rather having whisky shipped to you from overseas.)

Category: Irish whiskey,Scotch whisky,Travel 22 Comments

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