Posts Tagged ‘oak’
The GlenDronach releases Batch 15 cask bottling
The GlenDronach Distillery has released Batch 15 of its individual cask bottlings. The six whiskies released in Batch 15 range from twenty-one to twenty-seven years in age, and are drawn from either Pedro Ximenez or Oloroso sherry casks. The oldest cask released in Batch 15, cask number 7005, has the appearance of polished cherry wood, with…
Read MoreKeeping California affordable
Wines from California can be expensive by the time they reach the UK, but there are still plenty of bargains to be found, as Peter Ranscombe discovers THERE’S no arguing with the quality of the wine being produced in California – some of the pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and chardonnay I tried during a recent visit was…
Read MoreBringing a taste of Napa Valley to the UK
VISITING California with the Wine Institute – to learn more about its sense of place, environmental programmes and diversity of styles – demonstrated the sheer variety of quality wines produced in the Golden State. Yet much of the tastiest wine never leaves the United States – or even, in some cases, California. That’s why it…
Read MoreTamdhu marks 120th anniversary with 50 Year Old whisky
Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky has unveiled its oldest ever bottling – Tamdhu 50 Year Old – to coincide with the distillery’s 120thanniversary. Matured in a first fill European oak sherry butt for five decades, just 100 bottles of Tamdhu 50 Year Old will be made available globally. This single cask release will retail…
Read MoreTamdhu: 50 years in the making
PETER RANSCOMBE WHAT was happening in the world back in 1963? In America, president John Kennedy was assassinated. In Liverpool, The Beatles released their first album. And, in a quiet corner of Speyside, on 2 November, a batch of spirit was distilled at Tamdhu. That new-make spirit was placed into a first-fill European oak sherry…
Read MoreUnfamiliar wines in familiar places
PETER RANSCOMBE MENTION the word “Sancerre” and most wine drinkers will immediately think of a dry white wine, then slip the name “Beaujolais” into conversation and they’ll picture a light and fruity red. We’re all guilty of it – we taste a wine we enjoy from a specific region and it becomes fixed in our mind,…
Read MoreGoing beyond bubbles
PETER RANSCOMBE FLICKING through the pages of a wine textbook sometimes feels like looking back at an old photo album. There on the pages are all the old friends – from Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Pinot Noir through to Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio and that cheeky wee Sauvignon Blanc. Then you reach the pages about England…
Read MoreCalifornia Part 1: Finding a sense of place
PETER RANSCOMBE OAK can be a double-edged wooden sword in winemaking. At its best, it can impart aromas and flavours of vanilla and sweet spices like cinnamon and cloves, as well as bringing a rounded mouthfeel to a wine. At its worst, the oak can dominate, overpowering the primary fruit and leaving drinkers checking for tiny…
Read MoreCommunity champions stick on their walking boots to celebrate prestigious award
Special guests and walk leaders from the Countryside Trusts ‘Walk in the Park’ project gathered for a special event on the 16th February in Loch Lomond to celebrate receiving their Champion Community of the Year award; a prestigious title presented by the Community Partnership at the ‘Community Champion Awards’ held last November. …
Read MoreCharles Hamilton Ltd launch The Isles
Charles Hamilton Ltd has announced the addition of ‘The Isles’ edition to its regional malt and grain whisky range. The new Isles release extends the Speyside, Highland, Islay and Lowland regional spread. Each region is presented in its own distinctive colour scheme. The Isles version is distinguished by its striking ‘coral tinted’ cylindrical carton and…
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