The last bottle of Johnnie Walker Green label sits alone on a shelf in Burlington Ontario. The last solitary unsold bottle in these parts. It came, conquered, and left. Alas dearly departed, we are gathered here today to say goodbye to our companion and dear friend. To name a final price of $58.90 brings about a tear. For importing Green Label going forth will remind us of the pains we went through in decades prior.

Green Label wasn’t always available here in North America. It only arrived five or so years ago, it seems for a short visit. Diageo has pulled it back to the Asian and European shores. So again we will have to keep in mind to bring it home from overseas.

-Ravi Shanghavi, Ottawa

Pavé is a luxury liqueur that is distilled through diamonds by a company in Amsterdam. Apparently the liquid is distilled & filtered through 500 carats of the finest grade mined diamonds, as apposed to lab-grown ones.

The mix is a 60% proof fruit liqueur that is made from a blend of organic citrus, tropical & passion fruits. There’s also a hint caffeine & delicate herbal notes.

(more…)

Post from: BallerHouse.com

With Father's Day sneaking up on June 20, it is never too late to get Dad a gift he will appreciate if he keeps a bar and the better liquor retailers are open.

Choosing ten bottles as choices or Father's Day is not easy. But I apply a few criteria for gift giving suggestions.

1. Don't just get Dad a bottle of what he always drinks. If he drinks Wild Turkey week-to-week, think about a Small-batch bourbon that gets opened for special occasions, like when you surprise him with a Sunday afternoon visit he didn't expect.

2. Stay within his wheelhouse. If he drinks whisky 80% of the time, and hasn't made a Rum drink in 20 years, don't spend your money on an expensive Rum just because you like the bottle or the box it comes in.

3. Don't go for Vodka. Even if he drinks Vodka 90% of the time, I have yet to find the bottle of vodka I thought was worthy to give as a gift. It's colorless with barely a distinguishable taste. That doesn't say, "I love you Dad," in my book.

4. Think about introducing him to a new expression that is related to his taste. If he likes Islay (peaty) single-malt whiskies, buy one you don't see on his shelf that is more than he would spend on himself.

5. If he really is focused on one brand, like Glenmorangie Scotch, Jose Cuervo Tequila or Jack Daniels, you can't go wrong by buying him one of those distillery's premium or limited edition expressions. If he buys 12-year old Glenmorangie for himself, for example, he should love it if you buy him the 18-year old or one of the other premium or super-premium expressions.

If you are still stymied, and want an extra degree of novelty, go to www.johnniewalker.com, and take the Father's Day quiz, which asks the gift-giver to match the characteristics of their father to the right expression of JW: Red, Blue, Green, Gold or Black. I took the quiz for myself, and found that the best match for me is Johnnie Walker Gold.

Here are ten bottles I eagerly recommend for Dad, covering a few different categories: whisky, bourbon, rye, Port, Tequila and an after-dinner digestif.

Filed under: Spirits

The Spirits of Father's Day. Ten Bottles To Buy Dad. originally appeared on Luxist on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Father's Day - Whisky - Wild Turkey - Jack Daniel - Gift

Glenfiddich has released a new expression, Glenfiddich Rich Oak 14-Year Old. Priced at around $50, the whiskey has been aged in second fill Bourbon barrels for more than 13 years, and finished in new American and Spanish oak.

The effect, as one would expect, is higher vanilla notes than is found normally in Glenfiddich, the number-one single-malt Scotch whiskey in the world. The notes of dried fruit and walnuts shine through as is the case with any Glenfiddich pour.

Filed under: Spirits

Glenfiddich "Rich Oak" Released originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 02 May 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glenfiddich - Whisky - Single malt Scotch - Food - Recreation

Glenfiddich has released a new expression, Glenfiddich Rich Oak 14-Year Old. Priced at around $50, the whiskey has been aged in second fill Bourbon barrels for more than 13 years, and finished in new American and Spanish oak.

The effect, as one would expect, is higher vanilla notes than is found normally in Glenfiddich, the number-one single-malt Scotch whiskey in the world. The notes of dried fruit and walnuts shine through as is the case with any Glenfiddich pour.

Filed under: Spirits

Glenfiddich "Rich Oak" Released originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 02 May 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Glenfiddich - Whisky - Single malt Scotch - Food - Recreation

Glenfiddich has released a new expression, Glenfiddich Rich Oak 14-Year Old. Priced at around $50, the whiskey has been aged in second fill Bourbon barrels for more than 13 years, and finished in new American and Spanish oak.

The effect, as one would expect, is higher vanilla notes than is found normally in Glenfiddich, the number-one single-malt Scotch whiskey in the world. The notes of dried fruit and walnuts shine through as is the case with any Glenfiddich pour.

Filed under: Spirits

Glenfiddich "Rich Oak" Released originally appeared on Luxist on Sun, 02 May 2010 15:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Glenfiddich - Whisky - Single malt Scotch - Food - Recreation

Having recently written about “John Walker” the flagship whiskey offering from John Walker & Sons.  I felt an introduction to the rest of the Johnnie Walker family was in order.  I’ve been surprised to learn over time that very few people seem to be aware that Johnnie Walker isn’t just one bottle, or produced in just Black & Red iterations for that matter.    The line consists of five main bottles and two boutique bottles.   The main bottles in order of price and age are as follows.  Red Label, Black Label 12yr, Green Label 15yr, Gold Label 18yr, Blue Label.  The boutique bottles are “John Walker” and Blue Label King George V.

Diageo the owners of the Johnnie Walker brand are shuttering the doors to the original distillery in Kilmarnock, Scotland.  The Kilmarnock plant has been in operation since 1820, and is a company that made a $4.5 billion profit last year and has already declared half yearly profit of $3.24 billion.   The sense in this decision alludes me completely.

- Ravi Shanghavi

Named after the legendary scotch whiskey producers founder.  This bottle is Johnnie Walkers flagship offering.   Blended from whiskeys whose distilleries are no more, it has sweet hints of vanilla oak with a smokey taste and a mellow fruity flavor.

The timing of the release of this bottle leaves a bit to be desired.  Diageo the owner of said brand is closing the original Johnnie Walker & Sons distillery in Kilmarnock, Scotland.   This was the birthplace of Johnnie Walker in 1820 and actually is where these bottles are currently being produced.  Economies of scale and all but perhaps selling the soul of Johnnie Walker for a nickel in savings isn’t exactly prudent.  Given you’re touting the legendary history of the brand at the Singapore launch, in the same stroke signing the pinkslips in Kilmarnock.

For those still interested the bottles are to range approx $3,000 when they become available in September 2009.

-Ravi Shanghavi