Welkom op mijn web(blog-)site!
Matisse Caperdonic, 12-year-old Blended Malt (Scotland)
Aged in a mix of ex-bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, the 12-year-old blended malt is smooth and pleasing on the floral nose, with soft fruits, lots of orange, and toffee. Maltier with time. Quite full-bodied, rounded and fruity, with nuts and cereal notes. Medium to long in the well-balanced finish. 40.0% ABV, 70cl, £26.00, specialist whisky merchants.
Impressions of Matisse
by Gavin D Smith, 09/11
Matisse is a relatively new name to most European whisky drinkers, but the Matisse Spirits Company Ltd has been established in the Far East for more than a decade, and has spent some £40 million marketing its products during that time. Matisse is one of the best-selling brands in the lucrative Taiwanese spirits sector and also performs well in China, Thailand, Singapore, Australia and the USA.
Wu, Chi-Min, UK Managing Director, explains that "Matisse, as the artistic name suggests, is about pioneering a new way to drink Scotch whisky. It was founded in 1999 in Taiwan by our Chairman Mr Yang Teng-Kuei. After spending more than 40 years building a vast media, television and entertainment empire, he decided to launch a Scotch whisky brand that would challenge convention. We believe he is the only individual to combine media and whisky in their business portfolio and it has had powerful results.
"As a result of Mr Yang's background, Matisse was the first to use celebrity endorsement, a strategy which other leading Scotch whisky brands have started to follow across Far Eastern markets. Yet, Matisse stays ahead of its competition by constantly evolving. For example, we don't focus on the shape of the stills or the distillery and its heritage. Rather we aim to create an emotional connection between the whisky and our target consumer."
Matisse's ownership has allowed the company to put celebrity endorsement at its heart and to achieve product placement across the Far East, but it is not only shrewd marketing that has ensured Matisse's continued growth. According to Matisse's Master Blender Edward Drummond, right, "A new approach to whisky in the UK is long overdue. The whisky market is hugely crowded with big name brands occupying the lion's share of both the domestic and export markets.
"To differentiate Matisse, we have combined the highest quality spirits with luxurious packaging to satisfy the tastes of the consumer both here in the UK and globally. Matisse has launched a range of expressions from its accessible and easy drinking 12-year-old blended malt to the Single Malt Series, of which Matisse Caperdonich 1972 is one example."
Drummond explains that "Because we are not tied to one distillery, we can search out the hidden gems that reside in warehouses across the many distilleries of Scotland. Some of these single malts are used for blending purposes while others lie, and have lain for many years, in the warehouses of distilleries that have fallen silent and are unlikely to reopen. Our mission is to bring these whiskies to the global stage.
"Our business model has always been about bringing new drinkers into the category rather than competing with existing whisky brands. When we launched in Taiwan, Scotch whisky import volume grew by 30 per cent during the same period as we took share from local white spirits."
Regarding its expansion into the UK and other European markets, Drummond declares that "Initially we intend to focus on independent specialists as well as exclusive listings with carefully selected multiple retailers. Choosing the right outlets for Matisse will be vital in terms of the brand's positioning going forward."
Matisse Caperdonic, 19-year-old Single Malt (Scotland)
"A cracker, typical of old (and older style) Speyside. 9/10" Dave Broom, Whisky Magazine
Macallan 52 years, 1946 vintage
One of the most exclusive Macallan whisky's ever.
This vintage whisky is made from peated malt.
Quote: "This is really a stunning whisky.
This is why Macallan is called the Rolls Royce of Single Malts".
James Bond franchise has not been the top grossing at the box office alone; everything from James Bond watches to Bond cars and luxury items seen in the 007 movies had, and continues to have, a strong cult following. And, the movie, ‘Skyfall’ is one of the most prominent with regards to the luxury items enjoyed by Daniel Craig aka Bond 007, including the Regina superyacht which was a part of the movie, had recently went on sale for $14.2 million. Following on from The Macallan’s appearance in Skyfall, a 1962 Macallan bottle of whisky has been put up for auction by Sotheby’s together with Macallan. The British whisky maker, which in the past has been known to produce the top brass of drinking experiences in the form of the most expensive whisky shot at the Macallan lounge, and the Macallan 1824 single malt, will now be a part of the James Bond 50th anniversary celebrations. This special edition bottle will have the autographs of their entire cast of ‘Skyfall’, and will go under the hammer on April 17 in London.
Dalmore 50-year-old whisky was bottled in 1978 into a limited number of sixty beautiful cut crystal decanters. Known as one of the best 50-year-old whiskies ever produced, the limited edition malt is said to have been distilled in the late 19th century. The rare malt adorns a price of approx.. $15,456.
-
-
A bunch of delightful, japanese whiskybottles...e.g.(left:)
-
Karuizawa, 1968, for Whisky Live Taipei 2011 44yo.
-
(In the middle:) category single malt whisky from Japan;
-
bottling the school of malt - lesson 111. Bottled for Dave
-
Broom - Vintage1991 - Age 21 years old, cask type sherry
-
butt - cask no. 9091 - strength 63.7% vol. bottle size 70cl.
Annie Leibowitz 'Masters of Photography' with "The Macallans".
The Macallan 1824 Limited Release consists of only 1,824 decanters, drawn from four of the finest and rarest European Sherry oak casks. It is displayed in a handcrafted crystal decanter which was decorated by a Scottish silversmith.
Anything that comes out of the Macallan Estate has to be special in all dimensions. Whether it’s the specially crafted crystal decanters, the varnished wooden box which will house the whisky, or simply the rich rosewood colored beverage inside, every bit of the Macallan 1824 is regal and royal. With an alcohol level of 49.5%, the single malt has scents of nutmeg, wooden spice mixtures, and dried fruits which will begin the intoxication process for the drinker. When it comes to the palate, one can expect a varied concoction of sultana and raisin combined with chocolate orange in the background.
To ensure that only the royals taste the whiskey, and understand the delicacy of each drop of the single malt inside, the casks which housed the beverage were created in Southern Spain specifically for the lot alone. The Oloroso sherry oak then lent its touch to the whisky which is now up for sale. For those looking to add to their collection, there will be select Duty-Free retail outlets which will be selling these decanters. No word on the pricing though!
The Original - Quinta Ruban - Lasanta - Nectar d'Or - Ealanta - 18 yo -
Signet - 25 yo - Traditional- Madeira Finish - Port Finish - Burgundy Finish
Sherry Finish - 10 yo - 18 yo.
The Arran Devil's Punch Bowl!
Limited Edition Of Only 6.660 Bottles
Eigashima ‘Akashi’ 12yo Private Bottling - Cask Strength - (59%abv)
A Dark Horse: Eigashima 12yo (1997/2010) Private Bottling
Post by Stefan Van Eycken, Tokyo
A few weeks ago, after spending a fortnight exploring the
calvados and whisky distilleries of Normandy and Bretagne
respectively, I made a little excursion to the city of Ghent
in Belgium to host a Japanese whisky tasting. The organizer
– importer/retailer The Bonding Dram – wanted to offer
a sort of panorama of Japanese whisky and the decision
was made to limit the selection to single malts
(but no single casks). To cater to both well-seasoned
Japanese whisky drinkers and newcomers, there was a
selection of drams only available in Japan (brought over by
yours truly) in addition to malts generally available in
Europe (supplied by the organizer).
As part of an effort to try and compile a flavour map of
Japanese whiskies – based on the model developed by
Dave Broom for the Classic Malts – I thought it would
be interesting to get some feedback from whisky
enthusiasts in Europe and so it was decided to do the
entire tasting blind, with no hints whatsoever as to what
was in the glass. Just out of curiosity, to see what the
collective preference was, we also asked the attendees
(32 in total) to score the whiskies.
The line up was as follows:
Miyagikyo 12 (45%abv)
Miyagikyo NAS (43%abv)
Yoichi 10 (43%abv)
Karuizawa 12yo (an original bottling from the 90s,
40%abv)
Ichiro’s Wine Wood Reserve
(leaf label, only available in Japan, 46%abv)
Yamazaki 18 (43%abv)
Hakushu Heavily Peated (first release, 48%abv)
Eigashima ‘Akashi’ 12yo Private Bottling (59%abv)
During the first half of the tasting I said very little,
not wanting the influence people’s evaluation of
the whiskies. When scores were tallied and
the top 3 drams of the evening were announced
a shockwave went through the room: in third
place was Ichiro’s Wine Wood Reserve; runner
up was Yamazaki 18 and the top dram of the
evening was… the Eigashima 12yo private bottling.
The fact that it managed to win – and win by
quite a large margin! – was even more surprising
given
the fact that this particular whisky had received
the lowest score from a small group of
people, indicating that those who had given it their
highest score liked it quite a bit.
The Macallan no. VI
The Macallan Oscura
The Macallan - Lalique.
Fifth decanter, in six pillars collection!
10) Chivas Regal Royal Salute, 50 years old.
Price: $10.000
9) The Macallan 1939, 40 years old.
Price $10.125
8) Glenfarclas 1955, 50 years old.
Price: $10.878
7) Dalmore 50 Year Old Decanter
Price: $11.000
6) The Macallan 55 Year Old Lalique Crystal Decanter
5) Glenfiddich 1937
Price: $20,000
4) The Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch
Price: $58.000
One of the only twelve bottles produced in 1943.
3) The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare
Price: $75.000
2) Dalmore 64 Trinitas
1) Macallan 64 Year Old in Lalique
Price: $460.000
Ecxeptionel !!!
Henri IV Dudognon Hermitage 41% ***** 100cl.
(worth $1,982,300)
Karuizawa Noh Multi Vintages nr.1 27yo for LMdW 59.1% Vol.
Davin de Kergommeaux
Whisky Writer & Author Davin de Kergommeaux said: whisky means, whisky friends.
I enjoy the conversations and camaraderie that go along with being a whisky geek.
Also, I’ve made a lot of great mates throughout the whisky world!
Doug McIvor
Congratulations! You have found the on-line resume of Johannes van den Heuvel. Due to the modest nature of my nature,
that’s no mean feat. Via this website, I’ll try to provide a relatively interactive impression of myself, my work and my life.
Johannes van den Heuvel
Because I'm serious!
Especially with whisky!
Redback Buzzard.
...and more very special whisky bottles....
Lochranza.
Glenmorangie Signet.
Glenmorangie Pride.
The Dalmore Trinitas
Breedvleugelbuizerd.
My "Best" Friends!