Louis Glunz Fall preview Tasting
After the Ligonier Highland games I traveled 9 hours to Chicago for the Louis Glunz Wines Fall preview show. I did manage to get in by 8pm and grab a bit to eat at Giordano’s Pizza. I am not a stuffed pizza fan, however, their thin crust hit the spot. So much so that I also got one to go after the show.
I quite enjoyed the show being at the famous Harry Caray’s Italian Steakhouse in Chicago. I got a chance to meet a few new fans of our brands which always gives a fresh skip in our step. The compliements seemed to all be themed around the opinion that our brands all have a unique depth of flavor, balance, and old world quality. Meaning that they were experienceing something in a whisky that was not thought possible. So often people’s only exposure to Scotch is either a traditional blend or high production single malt. There is nothing wrong with those brands, however, they do limit the possibilities of flavor, balance, and over all experience when they have been processed heavily with Chill Filtration, reductionto 40% alc/vol, and in some cases buckets of food grade spirit caramel.
Off to do a few sales today in the city and finishing off with a dinner invitation from a local chef.
Cheers,
Jeff
Ligonier Games 2008- 50th Anniversary
It’s Tuesday in Chicago and I have been a bit behind in getting this blog up to date. I spent a lovely few days in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania for the 50th Ligonier Highland Games held at the Idlewild Park. As usuall I did not get an opportunity to see the games or listen to the wonderful pipe bands, as my booth was in the park and not accross the bridge where the games were held. The location of the festivities is “non alcoholic” so that rules out this Scotsman.
We had rain, sun, clouds,and more rain…nothing but good scottish weather for the day. As usual we ran out of drams and had to stop pouring at 2:04pm after pouring 900 drams. Not a problem as I had to give a hand to my staff selling shirts, glassware, and books. Yes, ladies we have more “Kilt Inspector” shirts so check back to my store in the next week and we should be ready to take orders.
My biggest thanks to Dave Peet who retired this year after being with the games for all of its 50years.
Slainte,
The Wild Scotsman
20 Year Class Reunion
I attended a 20yr high school reunion this past friday (For my friends accross the pond we typically get together every 10yrs with those we went to high schoool with here in the USA). They had a weekend full of events, however, I could only make the mixer on friday night as I had family obligations both Saturday and Sunday. I must admit I was in and out of wether or not I wanted to go as I have an image of those glory days and seeing people get older and change might take that away. In the end those people I cared about the most were the same, however, we have just grown a bit and matured. In some ways it was quite fitting to have an August reunion as I sometimes get up early in the morning just to smell dew burning off the grass by the rising sun and the only thing I can think about is hitting the field for a good two a day football practice (oh..I also get over it very quick as I also remember the grass drills, suicide runs, hitting the sled, and well you get the point).
When you are faced with those dreaded unions just remember, great whisky in a great cask only gets better with time.
Here’s to good friends, great times, and no regrets.
Jeff
Happy Birthday John McDougall
A lot of people enjoy whisky, however, very few actually get to know the ‘real people’ behind the brands (many times they do not exist). We are force fed big corporate images of people who are supposed to be important or alleged experts, however, when one digs just under the surface we find, Frauds. Tartan dolls reading the corporate bible. Today, may I introduce you all to a man who is not a fraud, a tartan doll, a self pro claimed expert, or well you get the idea.
Today is John McDougall’ s Birthday and he is one of a very small group of people who still can remember how it should be done and not how it is done today in regards to the production of traditional hand crafted scotch malt whisky. Below is just a small in sight to what this man has experienced in his life time. I say small as he continues today sharing his knowlege with those who aspire to achieve. One such group is Box Distillery in Sweden. Well as John always says, “Tasting is better than Telling” so here is a small resume of a Scotch Giant:
Read the rest of this entry »
Wild Scotsman In San Francisco
Just sitting here in Detroit, Michigan waiting on my next plane which will take me to San Francisco, California. Making a summer push to put more Bladnoch and Wild Scotsman on the shelf. Today, I will be selling as soon as I get off of the plane or check into my hotel. Wednesday, I will be heading up to Napa Valley to introduce some wine drinkers to Wild Scotsman and John McDougall’s Bladnoch. I will finish up the day with a Scotch Tasting which I am told has already been sold out. I have not been told where I will be just that I will be there. I have a wee bit of new make from our distillery School in 2007 to show off to the Bladnoch newbies. If they are really great I may even let them have a wee nosign of my new Wild Scotsman Black Label Vatted Malt. Thursday, I will be selling out side of the city (Sonoma I think)until 2300/hrs when I need to be dropped off at the airport to get my plane which leaves at 0040/hrs on Friday.
The only sun I will get will be in the car.
Selling in the Windy City
Sell…sell…selling in the Windy City, Chicago IL. It may be July, however, while the fat cats are sleeping this Scotsman is pounding the hot pavement to stimulate some Summer sales. We have added several new retail outlets and restaurants this week to our arsenal of Wild Scotsman faithful. Normally, I would give a list, however, those fat cats tend to wake and look for a bowl that does not belong to them.
Looking foreword to heading home on Friday and see the family, but until then I am enjoying Norman Conquest Cabernet Sauvignon with some deep dish Chicago Pizza.
Cheers from the Road.
McCormick & Schmick’s Tasting
Many thanks to the staff and attendees at the first Scotch tasting at the Dayton location of McCormick & Schmick’s. We had a packed house with 5 scotch whiskies and food matched and prepared by the Chef of McCormick & Schmick. We tasted the following Whiskies:
-Laphroaig 10yr
-Cragganmore 12yr
-Highland Park 12yr
-John McDougall’s 16yr Single Cask-Single Malt Bladnoch
-Wild Scotsman 15yr Vatted Scotch Malt
Being an independant bottler allows me the ability introduce a variety of whisky without having to read “The Company Cue Card”. For this event I wanted to show the variety of nose and taste in Scotch Whisky. No two brands had the same flavor, taste, or came from the same producer. It is about the whisky!
Cheers,
The Wild Scotsman
Wings Charitable Foundation 2008
Many thanks to the Yee family for inviting me to this years Charity event in honoring Siu K. Yee, which supports the emergency assistance fund of the National Kidney Foundation of Ohio and transplant research at The Ohio State University Hospital.
Our bottles John McDougall’s 16yr Bladnoch and Wild Scosman Vatted malt both went well over $100 for the silent auction, however, the real excitment happened at the live auction. I presented a hand signed bottle of Wild Scotsman which sold for $600.00! It is refreshing to see that no matter what the economic climate in this country that people will still give to a worth cause.
God Bless,
Jeff
Happy 4th of July America
Well, for those Scott’s, Irish, Welsh, French, German, Swedish, Norwegian’s, Finn’s, Dutch,and etc..who lived in North America in one of the original Continetal Colonies today is a day that has never been forgotten. Today, we celebrate our offical Declaration of Independance from England and its King which occured on July 4th 1776. The Declaration as you know was not taken well by England and General Washington with his Continental Army were no more than farmers from local militia’s. They took on the largest and most powerful army in the entire modern world at that time and won.
God Bless America and God Bless our Brave men and women fighting for our Freedom and the Freedom of those less fortunate.
Cheers,
The Wild Scotsman
Springbank Distillery- dead bird in the mine shaft?
This past week in the Campbeltown Courier it was announced that Springbank Distillery is seeking voluntary redundancies from its staff. Looming in the background is a possible 2 year stoppage in whisky production until such times that the economic atmosphere is better suited to produce. This is a sad turn of events in the Scotch industry and Springbank may be just the begining of such actions by the smaller producers who do not have other brands to depend on. Hopefully, this wonderful distillery will not lay dormant for too long.
Read the full story at: http://www.campbeltowncourier.co.uk/news/fullstory.php/aid/4642
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