WORLD WHISKY DAY

Today is world whisky day
Yesterday was a Grill Whisky Day
Tomorrow is another Grill Whisky Day
Everyday is a whisky day

THE GRILL & FACEBOOK

I've just set up a Facebook page, where I've posted the updated Whisky List under photos.
Here's the link
http://www.facebook.com/thegrillaberdeen

NEW ARRIVALS & MALT of the MONTH

We've just received a package with the new Laddie 10yo, one of the first off the line on 9th September. This is the first 10yo to be bottled using only spirit distilled after the distillery reopened. Also in the the same parcel was the latest Port Charlotte, PC9.

Other recent additions include a couple of Glendronach single cask vintages, a 17yo from 1994 and a 21yo from 1989.

Malts of the Month for October are
Smoky - Birnie Moss from Benriach
Non-Smoky - Benriach no age statement

SEPTEMBER WHISKIES

As noted before on the blog, September Malt of the Month is something slightly different. We are featuring two malts which are not renowned for the smokiness, but which in their own way use it to promote a complex flavour.

Glenfarclas 10yo (from the official tasting notes)
Nose - Tempting sherry-sweet malty tones combine with delicate smokiness, releasing subtle spices. Warming the glass reveals honey, vanilla and pear drops.
Flavour - delicately light, with a mouth-watering combination of maltiness, smokiness and sherry sweetness. Hints of dried fruit, vanilla, cinnamon and cloves tempt the taste buds further

Fettercairn Fior (from the official tasting notes)
Nose - Aromas of crushed pear, toffee apple and hints of cinnamon and vanilla together with a kiss of peat smoke, hazelnuts, orange rind, ginger and coriander.
Flavour - bold dark chocolate, roasted coffee beans and peat smoke fused with nutmeg, mint, citrus fruits and truffle.

To complement these two excellent malts, we are also featuring some older whiskies.

Glenfarclas 40yo - we have a number of old malts on sale in The Grill, but as far as Official Distillery Bottlings go, this one is up at the top. First released in 2010 to industry wide aclaim, this is perhaps the only OB at this age which doesn't come with its own designer "suitcase". And that's good news for the consumer. It means that we can reflect that in the price, £37.50 for a 40yo whisky. And our friends at Glenfarclas have thrown in an engraved Glencairn Whisky Glass for every dram purchased.

We also have some other excellent 40yo which are worth mentioning, all of which are competitively priced.

The award winning Black Bull 40yo Blend (90% malt and only 10% grain) and several single cask bottlings, all bottled by independent Duncan Taylor - Bowmore, Bunnahabhain,Glenrothes, Macduff, Tamdhu & Tomatin.

Whilst we are featuring Fettercairn, its worth mentioning we now have in stock the 24yo and 30yo bottlings.

NEW ARRIVALS AND MALTS OF THE MONTH

Recent new arrivals include the following

Kilchoman 100% Islay - still only a 3 year old, the whisky has been produced from barley grown, malted, distilled, matured and bottled at the distillery. Limited supplies.

Laphroaig Triple Wood - not previously available to the pub trade, this one is going down a storm with new and old Laphroaig lovers. An excellent alternative to the 10yo for those of a milder disposition!

Bruichladdich 4x Futures - the quadruple distilled rocket fuel (well, sports car, see Oz Clark & James May) is now 5 years old and bottled at 64.6% abv. We also have the immature spirit to compare it with - ask the staff.

Shakleton's Recreation - this is the recreation, by Richard Patterson, of the Mackinlay whisky which Ernest Shackleton took with him on his unsuccessful but epic endeavour to reach the South Pole. Dismissed by some as a gimic, it hasn't disappointed our customers despite the fairly hefty price.

Our current MALTS OF THE MONTH are
Highland Park - Smoky
An Cnoc - Non-Smoky

Next Month (September), we are doing something slightly different. Both Malts of the Month are going to be smoky, but not the in-your-face style of smokiness. Fettercairn Fior and Glenfarclas 10yo both have a subtle smokiness which, depending on your palate, you may not be immediately aware of. Try them and let us know what you think?

DALMORE RIVERS COLLECTION

Following on from the successful launch last year of The Dalmore Dee Dram, we now have all four bottlings in the series which helps to support the best of Scotland's fishing rivers - Spey, Dee, Tay & Tweed. More info here.

Steven McConnachie will present a tasting of the Rivers Collection on Sunday 1st May at The Spirit of Speyside Whisky festival. More info here.

MORE RUM!

This isn't a blog in the true sense of the word - more a way of keeping our online lists up to date. So no lecturing, posturing or controversy here. Suffice to say that yes, rum does seem to be getting more popular at The Grill. That may be due to an overall increase in popularity or just down to the fact that we offer some variety here. We don't do cocktails, so unless the rum is served neat with ice,the only alternative is with coke and a wedge of lime.

Our latest additions, courtesy of those excellent people at The Whisky Exchange, are as follows

Antigua - English Harbour 5yo
Brazil - Beija-Flor Reserva 10yo Cachaca
Guatemala - Botran Reserva Solera Aged
Guyana - 5yo, 8yo, 12yo & 21yo (we already stocked the 15yo)
Haiti - Barbancourt 4yo & 15yo, to add to the popular 8yo we already stocked.
Panama - Ron Abuelo 5yo
Peru - Cartavio 7yo Gran Reserva
St Lucia - Admiral Rodney Extra Old