The Tasting Panel magazine

December2010

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SCOTCH REPORT Great News E by Ian Buxton Seven limited- edition releases from Diageo are headed Stateside. ach year Diageo’s malt team select some extra-special casks and make up a small and highly desirable collection of limited-edi- tion single malt Scotch whiskies destined for the world’s top bars. Bound for the U.S. are just seven of these beauties, including a majestic Talisker 30 Year Old (typically retailing at $349), a delicate Lowland Glenkinchie 20 Year Old ($189) and my personal favourite from a recent tasting, the little-known Glen Spey. At 21 years old, it showed great complexity with layers of fruit, wood, mint and vanilla. Subtle and well-man- nered, this will typically list on the shelf at around $185. Generally, around 6,000 bottles are avail- able worldwide, though the Talisker is restricted to fewer than 3,000 units and a Lagavulin 12 Year Old ($89), which will be eagerly sought after, is coyly described as being available only in “limited quantities.” Global single malt category leader Glenfiddich has big plans for its new inter- national advertising as the brand continues to strengthen its position as the world’s favourite single malt. In what the company describes as “a refreshing departure from ‘traditional’ single malt whisky advertising,” the new One Day You Will campaign includes both lifestyle and tasting note executions accompanied by a call-to-action encouraging consumers to make the most of life’s adventures. It’s a far cry from lochs and glens, comfortable fireside images and country club settings, boldly taking Glenfiddich right into Johnnie Walker’s Keep Walking territory. Finally, just as we were getting our collective minds around the $15,000 bottle of whisky (both Highland Park and Glenfiddich have 50 Year Olds right up there) comes a real shocker: the $150,000 bottle. Yes, that’s correct: $150,000 for a single bottle of whisky. Of course, it has about as much in common with your everyday single malt as a Bugatti Veyron does with my Ford Focus. So what is it? A for Single Malt Fans The Dalmore’s Master Blender, Richard Paterson, with the $150,000 Dalmore Trinitas. rare Macallan? An obscure single malt from the 19th century? A lost pre-Prohibition masterpiece from Kentucky? No, perhaps surprisingly, it’s from The Dalmore, a Highland single malt owned by Whyte & Mackay, a firm of Glasgow blenders hitherto mainly linked with what might politely be termed the “value” end of the market. Now they’ve used their very oldest whiskies to make just three bottles of what they’ve called, appropriately enough, Trinitas. Containing spirit dating from 1868, 1878, 1926 and 1939, The Dalmore Trinitas is a 64-year-old single malt that is as exceptional as it is rare. However, this is no idle publicity stunt, for the distillery launched Trinitas with the news that two of the three available bottles had been sold. One remains as of press time. What does it taste like? Well, for obvious reasons, I have no idea. But, if any reader of THE TASTING PANEL would care to step up for the remaining bottle, I’ll be glad to help enlighten them! Happy holidays. 20 / the tasting panel / december 2010 PHOTO COURTESY OF WHYTE & MACKAY PHOTO COURTESY OF DIAGEO

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