Drinks

Certain distilleries have become ubiquitous on the shelves of not only specialist whisky retailers but supermarkets. The Balvenie is one of them and with justification. For decades it has been a leading light in Speyside. Located next door to Glenfiddich, yet almost hidden away it is producing some of the most exciting whisky in Scotland, so much so that their Second Red Rose 21 year old was was favourite "normal" expression tasted last year. 

If I were to compare Napa Valley, one of the gems of the American west coast, to a piece of high jewellery, it would be an IF diamond. Flawless is reserved for only the finest, purest and best, and like every wine-growing region, there are exceptional to mediocre estates.

I cannot recall my first experience of tasting Single Malt whisky, but there is a very strong likelihood it was Glenmorangie. Probably around the summer of 1988 before I was old enough to drive.  A taste given as part of my wine and spirits course at college. 

Twice. The number of times I thought I had been to Dublin previously, but I was wrong. I have a habit of that. Having been a wine merchant and writer for many years, I am convinced the cranial sub-section of my brain containing memory has diminished over time. Does anyone else feel the same? I was telling a friend about my trip, and how it was only my second trip to Ireland when they reminded me of a wedding I had photographed there.

We are all fine law-abiding citizens. Are we not? Of course we are. But let’s not kid ourselves  -  one of the attractions of the whisky business is that it has its roots in activities which once were just shy of the squeaky clean. Quite a bit shy to be honest. Robert Burns, who fantasised about the devil making off with the customs man, knew all about this, being employed as an exciseman himself.

Dingle Distillery in Co. Kerry on on the Wild Atlantic Way (2,500 km of spectacular coastline) launches its first core whiskey expression, Dingle Single Malt, a milestone in the distillery’s history and a huge step forward in its growth journey. In doing so it becomes one of few Irish distilleries to produce a core single malt product made entirely with its own spirit.

Award-winning independent distiller, Loch Lomond Whiskies, has unveiled its newest aged single malt; a 45 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The expression is the first of three releases in The Remarkable Stills Series of single malts to be released by the distillery which celebrate its innovative and unique straight neck pot stills.

How lovely on a workday to have a virtual tasting with Hernan Parra, the Master Blender for Dictador rum, and Marc Larminaux the Creative Director of Lalique.

The new Dictador Generations En Lalique rum had been delivered in a sublime package just in time for the on-screen meeting, plus a lovely video.

I was prepared. Deep leather armchair, check, Zoom screen set up, check, Cohiba Maduro 5 Magicos cigar, nope, gave those up decades ago, but it was a nice thought.

Your intrepid taster wanted a diversion from lockdown blues during the lead up to Christmas and so appropriately tasted 26 effectively randomly chosen gins.  
    

So International Excellence met up with Hernan Parra, Dictator Master Blender, Zoltán Kovács, Dictator Winery Director and Drew Mayville, Dictator Master Blender for a sumptuous tasting of their new release: Dictador 2 Masters Royal Tokaji Rum.