Dufftown Clock Tower

Whisky Nosing in Dufftown

Whisky Nosing and Tasting
 Dufftown
The Malt Whisky Capital of Scotland

Whisky Nosing & Tastings 2009

 

Glenfiddich Distillery

 

Our first Nosing & Tasting of the 2009 season got off to a fine start with Bert Macor, Head Guide at Glenfiddich giving an informative talk on how whisky is made at Glenfiddich. Visitors got to sample 12yr old, 15yr old, 18yr old, 21yr old and a 13yr old 1983 cask strength.

Winner of the nosing competition was John Marott from Denmark, who was presented with a bottle of 15yr old Glenfiddich by Bert.

 

Glenfiddich Nosing Winner ~ John Marott from Denmark

    

     Glenfiddich Nosing Winner ~ John Marott from Denmark

 

Inver House Distillers

 

Gordon Bruce, Manager of Knockdhu Distillery, received a warm welcome from the audience at our second nosing talk.  He presented a selection of best selling malts from the Inverhouse collection starting with Balblair 1998, followed by An Cnoc 12yo, then An Cnoc 16yo. He finished with a Speyburn 10yo. We were also treated to a wee nosing and tasting of Peated An Cnoc and Oloroso finished young spirit which was a new experience for everyone.

The nosing competition was won by Asier Merino from the Basque region of Spain who was presented with a nice bottle of An Cnoc 16yo and a water jug.

Inverhouse Nosing Competition Winner Asier Merino from the Basque region of Spain (left) is presented with a bottle of An Cnoc 16yr old by Gordon Bruce (right)

         

        Inver House Nosing Competition Winner Asier Merino

 

Duncan Taylor

 

A very entertaining evening was had again when Mark Watt of Duncan Taylor ~ Independent Whisky Distillers from Huntly  brought along a selection of their whiskies through the regions of Scotland. Mark who is named 2009 Young Ambassador of the Year by The Whisky Magazine presented 5 great malt whiskies which were greatly appreciated by the audiance.

Winner of the Nosing Competition was Jerry Tkalzyk from Canada who is seen here being presented with a bottle of DTC NC2.

 

Nosing Winner Jerry Tkaczyk (right) receives a bottle from Mark Watt

      Duncan Taylor Nosing Competition Winner Jerry Tkaczyk

 

Angus Dundee plc

 

Our 4th Nosing & Tasting was sponsored by Angus Dundee Plc owners of the Tomintoul and Glencadam distilleries. Tom Gerrie, Production Manager of Tomintoul distillery offered a selection of 12yo, the new 14yo and the local favourite, 16yo Tomintoul.

In addition he brought us 10yo & 15yo Glencadam malt whiskies. The winner of the competition was Jojanneke Kuhlmann from The Netherlands, who was presented with a bottle of Tomintoul 16yo by Tom.

 

Jojanneke Kuhlmann receives her prize from Tom Gerrie, production manager of Tomintoul Distillery.

  

Angus Dundee Nosing Competition Winner Johanneke Kuhlmann

 

Glenfarclas Distillery

 

Kate Wright, Sales & Marketing Executive, from Glenfarclas, gave an interesting talk and visitors got to sample a 10yo,15yo, 21yo and 30yo Glenfarclas. This week there were two winners of the Nosing Competition - Margaret Gillies from Scotland and Connie Aman from Canada, both of whom got 4 out of 4. Kate presented each of them with a bottle of Glenfarclas 105. Everyone enjoyed another great evening.

 

Connie Aman from Canada (left) and Margaret Gillies from Scotland (right) receive a bottle of Glenfarclas 105 from Kate Wright.

                             

    Glenfarclas Nosing Winners Connie Aman & Margaret Gillies.

 

Glenmorangie Distillery

 

Organisor René introduced Martin Grant, Business Executive from MHUK. Moet-Hennessey are the owners of the Glenmorangie Distillery. Martin gave a great talk and tasting on the Glenmorangie range of whiskies to a full house audience. The malts tasted were Original, La Santa, Quinta Ruban, Nectar D'or and the cask-strength Astar. The evening was enjoyed tremendously by 35 people and winner of the nosing competition was Maria Ursulina Gonzalez from Paraguay, who was presented with a bottle of Glenmorangie Nectar D'Or by Martin. Two runners-up were the lucky winners of 2 x 10cl bottles of Glenmorangie malts. A big ovation was given to Martin for his talk and gifts.

 

Nosing Competition Winner Maria Gonzalez receives her prize from Martin Grant.

         

Glenmorangie Nosing Winner Maria Ursulina Gonzalez from Paraguay

 

Glenfarclas Distillery

 

Kate Wright, Sales & Marketing Executive, from Glenfarclas, gave a second interesting talk during our 7th Nosing & Tasting of  the year. Visitors got to sample a 10yo,15yo, 21yo and Glenfarclas 105. Again this week there were two winners of the Nosing Competition, after a "Nose-Off" - Michael Philippon from France and Joshua Levine from USA. Kate presented each with a bottle of Glenfarclas 15yo. Everyone, a record 39 visitors, enjoyed another great evening in the Whisky Capital.

 

Nosing Winners Michael Philippon and Joshua Levine

                            

      Glenfarclas Nosing Winners Michael Philippon & Joshua Levine

 

Inver House Distillers

 

The 8th Nosing & Tasting had a good attendance again when John MacDonald, manager of Balblair Distillery introduced a selection of Inver House Distillers whiskies. We were treated to a "new make" Balblair, Balblair 1997 & 1989. In addition we also had a 17yo Old Pulteney and 10yo Speyburn. The lucky winner of the nosing competition who received a bottle of Balblair 1989 was David Thorpe from the Isle of Man, seen here being congratulated by John MacDonald. The young lady at the rear of the picture won the second price, a bottle of Speyburn.

 

Inver House Winner - David Thorpe with runner upper young lady, pictured here with John MacDonald

           Inver House Nosing Competition Winner David Thorpe

 

Balvenie Distillery

 

The second seasonal Nosing and Tasting from the William Grant Company took place on the 19th August when Dufftown 2000 Ltd. welcomed Rob MacPherson, Balvenie Ambassador who talked the group through a selection of Balvenie whiskies. Rob brought us, Balvenie Signature, Double Wood, Single Barrel, 17yo Rum Cask and 21yo Port Cask whiskies. The winners after a "nose-off" were Andreas Auer from Switserland and Gabrielle Renoldner from Austria. They were each presented with a bottle of Signature by Rob.

 

Balvenie Nosing Competition Winners Andreas Auer and Gabrielle Renoldner

     Balvenie Nosing Competition Winners Andreas and Gabrielle

 

Adelphi Distillery

 

Another wonderful evening was enjoyed when Gordon introduced Antonia Bruce from Adelphi Distillery, who gave an informative talk about her company. Antonia explained briefly where they got their barrels from and why they supply them at cask strength to the public. She then went on to guide us through the selection she had brought along that evening, which included Breath of Speyside, Breath of the Isles, a 17yo Glen Garrioch, a 23yo Glen Grant and a 17yo Mortlach @ 57%. The winner of the nosing competition was Jesper Martensson from Sweden seen here receiving a bottle of Laudale malt whisky from Antonia Bruce.

 

Adephi Nosing Competition Winner Jesper Martensson from Sweden receives his prize from Antonia Bruce.

         Adelphi Nosing Competition Winner Jesper Martensson

 

Benromach Distillery

 

Our second last Nosing and Tasting was sponsored by the leading whisky distributor Gordon & MacPhail from Elgin. Their sales manager Mike Patterson offered a selection of Benromach which included a peaty malt, a organic malt and 3 other great whiskies. The winner of the competition was Lennart Bjergert from Sweden here presented a bottle of Benromach by Mike.

 

Benromach Winner Lennart Bjergert receives his nosing prize from Mike Patterson.

     

           Benromach Nosing Competition Winner Lerrart Bjergert

 

Chivas Bros.

 

During our last Nosing & tasting session of 2009 the audiance had another enjoyable evening when Julian Holder of Aberlour Distillery delighted the whisky enthusiasts with a range of whiskies from Chivas Bros. Distillers. Scapa 14yo, Strathilsa 12yo, Aberlour 16yo and Tormore 12yo. Winner of the nosing competition was Peter G Nilsson from the Artic Circle Whisky Bar in Sweden who is seen here being presented with his prize by Julian.

 

Chivas Nosing Competition Winner Peter Nilsson is presented with a bottle of Aberlour 18yr from Julian Holder

      

               Chivas Nosing Competition Winner Peter G Nilsson

 

A big THANK YOU to thank you to all the whisky distilleries and Independent bottling companies for their support and time during 2009. Without their support we would not be able to continue our Nosings and Tastings during the summer month.

Dufftown 2000 Ltd.

   
   
Produced by Dufftown 2000 Ltd