July 2008
The Twenty Third Edition of "A Whiff of Peat Smoke...." , Why ? because i can !
Has it rained enough on Islay ......
More Investment at Ardbeg !
Glenmorangie today announced more investment in Ardbeg . The distillery and visitor centre will be further upgraded and new cask warehousing constructed . Great news for all at the Distillery , just hope they go for Dunnage rather than racking Warehousing .
They also announce more investment at Glenmorangie Distillery , Moving the HQ from Broxburn into Edinburgh itself , The sale of Glen Moray as a going concern and the withdrawl from the blends market .
Full Press Release....
The Glenmorangie Company Unveils Plans for the Future with Multi-Million Pound Investment
The Glenmorangie Company has today (1st July 2008) unveiled proposals for a major investment programme worth £45 million, which will see the Company focus on building its highly successful, iconic premium single malt Scotch whisky brands – Glenmorangie and Ardbeg. This strategy is in response to rapidly growing demand for these brands.
The investment programme, to be rolled out over a two-year period, will include the relocation of its headquarters to Edinburgh and the construction of a bespoke, state-of-the-art, bottling facility in the Lothians area.
The new bottling plant will provide the capacity for a significant increase in production of both single malts to meet the demand for premium single malt whisky in growing markets such as Asia, Continental Europe and the USA.
The Company’s flagship distillery is also set to benefit. The business plans include a multi-million pound investment in Glenmorangie’s Distillery in Tain, Ross-shire. In addition to the increase in distilling capacity, new whisky cask warehouses will be built and the popular Visitor Centre will be restyled, enhancing its attraction as a tourist destination. It was at the Tain distillery that the world-renowned single malt Glenmorangie was first created in 1843.
Further development is also planned at the Company’s Ardbeg Distillery on Islay, off the west coast of Scotland. The Distillery and Visitor Centre will be further upgraded and new cask warehousing will be built.
Chief Executive of The Glenmorangie Company, Paul Neep, said: “Our strategy is to focus on our premium single malt whisky brands to take full advantage of the rapid growth of single malts across the world. This plan represents significant capital investment by the Company in Scotland. The brands will also be supported by increased marketing investment in their key markets across the world. “We believe that these proposals will deliver long-term additional growth for both the Company and also, importantly, for the local and wider Scottish economies.”
In order to concentrate on these future activities, The Glenmorangie Company proposes to implement a phased withdrawal from the bottling and sale of blended Scotch whisky. The focus on premium single malt production will involve the sale of the existing Broxburn facilities. The Glenmorangie Company has signed a Heads of Terms agreement with Diageo for the sale of the 33-acre site. Glenmorangie will continue to operate from the Broxburn site over the next two years until it relocates to its new bottling facility.
In addition, the Glen Moray Distillery at Elgin – whose whisky is predominantly used in the Company’s blended Scotch – will be sold as a going concern. The Company intends to consult fully on the plans to effect the transition of its business and will commence a consultation with staff and Trade Union representatives. It is anticipated that a number of jobs may be affected. Details of any changes required will become clearer during this consultation process.
The Glenmorangie brand is already outpacing the overall category growth for single malt whiskies. The new Glenmorangie range was successfully introduced in September 2007 to great acclaim. Ardbeg has also been growing well ahead of the market rate and was recently named ‘World Whisky of the Year – 2008’.
Batches of TEN......
With the End of the Allied Distilled TEN bottling in sight i thought it might be a good time to do a Head to Head of 2 batches , one from 2007 (L7 320 10.38 4ML) and one from 2008 (L8 085 02.30 4ML) to see if there is any difference from one to another or whether the blenders at Glanmorangie are really good !
Colour - Pale Straw - Pale Straw.
Nose - Peaty creaminess , fresh Citrus , seashore , - Much the same but a little bit more nose prickle .
Taste - peat , smoke , Cocoa and coffee . Dry , sweet and creamy - Not as much Cocoa and coffee but it's still there , Peat , smoke and more of a creaminess to it . .
Finish - Long and smoky and a creamy peatiness - Again Long and smoky and a creamy peatiness .
Comments - Not much between the two of them , a few minor differences but nothing to write home about , a very classy Islay from year to year !!!!
Revisiting an old Favourite.....
Bladnoch Forum 1991 15yo Caol Ila
From a couple of years ago this is a really pleasant Caol Ila , Bright Gold in colour from a Hogshead ( No. 3870) , Distilled on the 11th March 1991 bottled on July 19th 2006 . It's pretty meaty at 58.8% , very peaty and Medicinal on the nose , also smoky bacon crisps and the perverbial "Bonfire on the Beach " .
Very strong on the palate , again medicinal (Germolene) , peaty , and them smoky bacon crisps ! The finish is very long and very medicinal .
Wonderful stuff , if the 15yo F&F bottling had been like this i would have loved it !
3 More Bladnochs......
Bladnoch Bloodtub
Now at 1 year 9 months old (don't know the current ABV )it's now a Gold Colour with a hint of red , still very strong on the nose , very vanillery , digestive biscuits , Lemon Drizzle cake . On the Palate again Vanilla , Digestives , a wee bit of citrus but still a wee bit ( a very wee bit....) of spirit . Progressing very well , still very drinkable but still needs a wee bit to develope .
New 18yo Bladnoch (55%)
Gold in Colour , very light on the nose , bags of lemon and cut grass . Quite malty with the typical lowland characteristics on the palate (citric/cut grass etc) . A very refreshing dram , light and very summery , palate cleansing . A lovely aged Bladnoch !
Bladnoch Sherried Sheep Cask 2616(55%)
Amber in colour , Another Sherried sheep that isn't overly sherried , a nice balance between the dried fruits , spices , cake and the lowland grass and citrus . Very pleasing on the nose and palate with a lovely warm finish . These are turning into a really good range of casks especially for someone like me who doesn't prefer his whisky from sherry casks !
