It is true, that in 1885 Rosbank Distillery, located in the Lowlands of Scotland had an Excise man by the name of William Bastard!

 But that’s no reason to ignore a dram from one of Scotland’s Forgotten Distilleries:

I am often asked “What should we collect?”

There are clearly a list of the famous & popular; The Macallan, Laphroaig; Ardbeg; Dalmore etc, however you could also consider, if available the purchase, one of Scotland’s “Lost” Distilleries.

In the 1800′s there were over two hundred distilleries in Scotland, by 1980 there was a whisky surplus and, inevitably, this led to the closure of many distilleries by 1984.

When we look at why some of the most sought after distilleries in Scotland closed during this time, the answer lies in economics and flavour.

Single malts were not seen as an important dram, with most of the single malt production going into Blends. Therefore when cuts needed to be made during the slump, distilleries producing whisky which did not “fit” the flavour required in blended scotches were chosen to be closed, especially in cases where the size of the distillery was small or where the distillery was located in a remote part of Scotland.

Little did anyone know that single malts would become so popular worldwide, with demand in some cases outstretching capacity.

During this period Scotland “lost” (Closed or mothballed) some of her most iconic Drams Port Ellen; Brora; Rosebank; Linlithgow; Banff; Glenury ; Glen Esk, never to return. These have been added to over the last decade to include: Pittyvaich, Littlemill, Millburn, Dallas Dhu amongst others.

These single malts are now seldom available and when they are they are snapped up. Have you tasted any of these long but not forgotten drams, if not?

Rare Drams can arrange a very special Tasting exclusively for your group, which would include a “Dram from Six of Scotland’s Lost distilleries”

Contact bobkyle@raredrams.com

Old Malt Cask 18 YO Rosebank is currently available in BCLDB Stores: (Limited Edition Single Cask)

Snake Davis is one of the world’s top Saxophonists, and at Rare drams we are interested in the link between music & single malt. (see “Its that Dram Again  “, post 12/09).

In this months Whiskeria Magazine, Dominic Roskrow the Whisky writer and Single malt expert asked “Snake ” to taste and rate some new Single malts, here is what snake thought of our friend Big Peat:

“Nose – Wow ! This is what makes whisky so exciting….. this is huge radical and extreme. It’s like a campfire thats dying out, with smoke, peat, and a hint of gasoline.

Taste, Yes !…a big eight-bar rock and roll sax solo. King Curtis, in your face, massive, full-on peat, island, love it, absolutely love it. Campfires again, M People, Glastonbury, late 90′s, so atmospheric. (I remember) We went out at dusk and the fires were glowing, as we played “Search for the Hero”. 100,000 arms in the air, tingles down my back. wonderful, we probably drank something like this, but not as good when we got back to the hotel for the wind down. Challenging , dark and different. such a musty, edgy, dark smokey taste. I adore it. For a second time (during this tasting session) I thought this is possibly the best thing I have ever tasted. ”

Dominic Roskrow, Interviews Snake Davis (Whiskeria Magazine summer 2010)

Listen to Snake play : Snake Davis on Sax

Big Peat is available in all of the BCLDB Signature Stores as well as Strath & Liberty Point Grey !

“Stunning” definition:

Commanding attention “one never to be forgotten”;

Or in new speak:

“cracking”, “scrumptious”, or as they say in Scotland “it’s a Stoater ! ”

There are tastings, and then there are “Tastings!”

During the upcoming two months Rare Drams will be conducting some Single malt tastings in B.C. These will include beautiful drams from many parts of Scotland’s Islands , Highlands & low lands. At these events I am often confronted with the desire to go that wee bit further, not geographically of course, but to stretch the taste buds, to move the passions in search of that “not to be forgotten” dram

Well we might just be moving in the direction where even “angels” fear to tread, remembering of course that the “angels have already had their “share”.

 Let me introduce the “Stunning Single Malt Tasting”.

Gathered before us, for those that want to go that wee bit further, we will have six Single Malts that fit the category well. These Single malts, all limited editions, of no more than 400 bottles worldwide, will be opened, left to breathe the BC air for a wee while, and then poured to meet the anxious palate of the “taster”.

In no particular sequence:

First four up will be Old Malt Cask, bottled @ 50% ABV, No Chill filtering, No colour and No Nonsense

Port Ellen 25 Year Old, This is only the most complex of Scotland’s drams. No longer with us but tastes like the sounds from Thelonious Monk, a wee bit of this and a wee bit of that….a big bit of this and an even bigger bit of that

Banff 32 Year old.  Very few have tried this Northern dram, again sadly no longer with us. During the Second World War the distillery was blown up and thousands of gallons were released and ran freely onto the local farms. It is said that residents couldn’t get enough of the “special” milk coming from their local cows. Can’t wait to taste this 32 Year old Single cask beauty that the Milkman delivered !!

Ardbeg 17 year Old. What can you say? This iconic Distillery was closed for a period and re opened in 1997.This 17 Year Old is one of the oldest of the new, its “peachy” notes, are common with its Liquorice and tar. AAH!!

Miltonduff 17.Year old Again a distillery neither widely available nor tasted regularly. Most of this Single Malt’s production ends up in Ballantyne’s. On its own its exquisite. This Speysider stands up to be counted, but will it be “stunning”!

Then we will taste Douglas Laing’s Old & Rare, bottled as it comes from the Cask. Here are two “stunning” examples

Tomatin 31 Year Old, located in the mountains just south of Inverness, Capital of the Highlands, this distillery produces a Single Malt with delicate Flavours. Illicit stills are part of the history of whisky distilling in Scotland; and as Tomatin reaches back to the 15th Century, you can just imagine drovers, bringing their cattle over high mountain passes to the market at Tomatin.They then filled their flasks from a still at the Old Laird’s House, beside the current distillery buildings. I wish it was that easy now, however there is no need to bring any cattle to this tasting.

Glen Keith 35 Year old

Closed in the year 2000 this 35 Year old cask strength dram has a beautiful rich colour. The mouth feel is full and the length is long. Like Paul MacCartney’s Long & Winding Road, you won’t be rushing this dram.

This line up  provides over 150 Years of Single Malts at one tasting. Only available in B.C and not available anywhere else!

Tickets are limited, however if you are interested in the Stunning tasting, contact bobkyle@raredrams.ca

When I do tastings of our Unique and Rare malts, I indicate that its best to savour the dram….take “half a second” a year (of age) to enjoy all that the dram has to offer. I reason that its taken, perhaps up to 20 or 40 years to mature, in that time man has landed on the moon, the Beatles have come and gone.So enjoy , take your time.

But then there are times, those days when a “weee sip” wont do it!

If you want a song to go with it …try Chiggers …..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4XPXRTsPpI

Sometimes you just need a “big gulp”. I like to come home, pour a not so wee dram , then take it in a large drink….a gulp!

I recommend the Malt Advocate winner of Best peated Malt (daily dram for that very occassion. THe Big Peat from Douglas laing….due in to BC in the next boat…

Best Peated Malt Award 2009 (Daily Drams)
(Best whisky distilled from – relatively – peated malt)
Douglas Laing NAS ‘Islay Blended / Big Peat’ (46%, DL)

Canadian artist Dave Dayment recently buried a full 500 Litre Cask of New spirit under the floor of the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, all in the name of Art.

 The project entitled “a drink to us (when we are both dead)” , is part of the Glenfiddich Artist in Residence program.

I know a few “punters” that would volunteer to be under the floorboards with their favourite dram, leaving the “angels” to wait for their share !

Hi its just about that time of year again….in Scotland we call it Hogmany…..and we dont touch a dram until the “Bells” (when the clock strikes midnight), Honest !

Just to keep you going until then I thought a wee crossword might help.

Click to get started….if you need help or an extra clue, let me know @ bobkyle@raredrams.com

A Guid New year !

Just Click to start  Dram Good #1

How to taste a Rare Dram

Whats in a Glass?

The Glencairn Glass has been designed with a good whisky in mind !

 The shape, with the Clear round bowl and the articulate flute pushing the aromas and flavours towards the nose makes it an ideal glass for a Rare Dram.

At Rare Drams we suggest that you pour your Single Malt carefully into the glass, there is no hurry as your whisky night have waited many years to be set free.

The whisky will settle down to its surroundings and after a few minutes try “swirling ” the whisky slowly arround the bowl and watch the “legs” cling lovingly to its sides. This is a sign that your selected dram has some definitive body , if it has been “unchill filtered” then the legs will be long and soft.

Next have a look at the colour. The Glencairn Bowl allows this to be framed as if being held and cupped in your hand.

If it is from a Fresh bourbon Barrel the dram might yield some vanilla colours, or there could be some grassy green notes, or perhaps the tell tale signs of the Christmas cake that you are just about to taste.

Place your nose into the flute…..AAAAH , this is your first opportunity to take in the green apples, or the the delicate florals, or even the abundance of tar or seaweed.

You’ve waited long enough, have a taste…just enough, and we at Rare Drams suggest you chew and savour in the mouth for about half a second a year….for example, if you are tasting a young  Islay, say 10 year old, then savour for 5 or 6 seconds….the older the longer.

Now you can relish and enjoy the after taste, long lasting in the mouth…..the gums should be alive and the overall pleasure staying with you…..now thats a Real Rare Dram in a Real Whisky glass…..now for another…

If you want to purchase Glencairn Glasses contact stacy@raredrams.com