Pandemic Trends Promote Small Producers of Premium Spirits

July 13, 2021 by evebushman

MIAMI/PRNewswire/ — Small spirits producers, such as independent bottler The Perfect Fifth, are set to benefit by taking their produce to the key Californian cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco and San Diego, as pandemic-driven trends indicate consumers are reaching for the top shelf when selecting lockdown indulgences.

With the pandemic forcing the closure of bars and restaurants across the globe, consumer behaviour has adjusted accordingly in the last year, and this trend looks set to continue. According to research group IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, “premium-and-above spirits are forecasted to increase their global volume market share to 13% by 2024 as consumers continue to favor quality over quantity.” As locked-down consumers seek out more premium products, this may have an unexpected positive impact on smaller producers, who had previously competed with major brands for space on the bar.

One such example is family-run bottler of premium single malt and single grain Scotch whisky The Perfect Fifth, who are taking advantage of the trend to target discerning drinkers in key international markets, including select US cities. In contrast with the larger producers who dominated liquor sales pre-pandemic, releasing their spirits in batches of thousands of bottles, The Perfect Fifth is an independent bottler of single casks of well-matured Scotch whisky. A single cask of whisky typically holds no more than a few hundred bottles, depending on the size of the cask, making every release from this new company an extremely small batch. The company has so far released four limited edition, single cask expressions of premium whisky (price range $850 – $3,000) from top distilleries across Scotland.

“Given the limited nature of our releases, we are releasing our next batch of spirits to select markets, to ensure we can meet anticipated demand,” said COO and Founder Karl Schoen. “San Francisco is widely regarded as a real paradise for lovers of good food and wine, with a plethora of diverse, Michelin-starred restaurants, and Napa Valley and Sonoma County on the doorstep. San Diego is a little-known secret among those who know where to look, as the city harbours some hidden gems of bars and retailers, and we’re thrilled to have our Scotches sitting on their shelves.”

The bottles from The Perfect Fifth’s first release of premium Scotch whiskies are currently stocked in retailers across California: In Los Angeles, stocks include Wally’s, K&L Wines, Cypress Craft Beer & Liquor, Wine Expo Santa Monica, Old Oaks Thousand Oaks, BL#2 Palmdale, Remedy Glendale, Hawaii Supermarket San Gabriel, Wing Hop Phung Arcadia/Monterey Park; stocks in San Francisco include Cask on 3^rd, Ledgers Liquors, The SF Wine Co, The Whisky Shop; stock lists in San Diego include The Bottle House, Keg N Bottle, Sin Lee Food Whole Sale.

theperfectfifth.com
@perfectfifthspirits

American Airlines Chooses Six New Wines To Serve on New Flights from NY, Miami & Dallas to Tel Aviv, Israel – and Two are Kosher

June 17, 2021 by evebushman

(Bayonne, NJ) – For those heading to and from Israel, it’s the best news since the kosher meal option: American Airlines is now serving fine kosher wines in all cabins on all of its new flights between New York’s JFK International Airport and Tel Aviv.

Photo: MamaLikesToCook.com

And starting on June 4, All Miami and Dallas passengers will be able to order from American’s kosher wine list as well.

The panel tasted many different wines (hey, it’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it!) and narrowed the new selections down to six wines – only two of which are kosher certified – and both kosher varieties come from the esteemed House of Herzog.

Nathan Herzog, President of Royal Wine Corp. – which is owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family – was not surprised to see the prestigious Herzog name on American’s kosher wine list. “After all, the Herzog family’s winemaking roots go back nine generations. They produce world-class wines that just happen to be kosher.”

Herzog said, “Royal and Herzog Wine Cellars are excited to partner with American Airlines. Their decision to offer high-end kosher wines shows how committed they are to this new route.”

Travelers on American can order the Baron Herzog Chardonnay, a full-bodied white featuring fragrant notes of apple blossom and honeysuckle and flavors of ripe peach, tangerine, and a hint of caramel.

Those who prefer red wine will savor the soft, rich Herzog Lineage Cabernet Sauvignon with its aroma of black cherry, boysenberry, and tobacco. Both wines are perfect companions to foods of all kinds and will definitely set the mood for an Israeli sojourn.

About Royal Wine/Kedem

Founded in 1848, Royal Wine Corp. has been owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking origins go back more than 200 years in Czechoslovakia.

Today, Royal Wine’s portfolio of domestic and international wines range from traditional wine producing regions of France, Italy, and Spain, as well as Israel, New Zealand, and Argentina.

Additionally, Royal Wine Corp.’s spirit and liqueur portfolio offer some of the most sought-after scotches, bourbons, tequilas and vodkas as well as hard to find specialty items such as flavored brandies and liqueurs.

The company owns and operates the Kedem Winery in upstate New York, as well as Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard, California, a state-of-the-art-facility featuring guided wine tours, a fully staffed modern tasting room, gift shop and catering facilities. Additionally, the winery houses the award-winning restaurant Tierra Sur, serving the finest, Mediterranean-inspired, contemporary Californian Cuisine.

Slàinte Mhath to a Successful In-Person 2021 Universal Whisky and Spirits Event

June 1, 2021 by evebushman

Slàinte Mhath, the traditional Scottish Gaelic toast to another fabulous, and yes In-Person, Nth Ultimate Whisky and Spirits Experience which just concluded April 25, 2021 at Wynn Las Vegas, NV. “It’s a re-start after a tough 2020 without an event, and there will be more Nth experiences to come,” a sentiment from and very much like the tenacious stature of Mahesh Patel the world’s top whisky connoisseur and founder of Universal Whisky Experience. Mr. Patel has been hosting the main Nth event annually in Las Vegas for over a decade as well as ancillary events around the world.

Similar to the hardy nature of the liquid itself, Universal Whisky Experience showed the hospitality world it is as resilient as the luxury whisky expressions served at the Nth 2021. Master Blenders and Ambassadors from House of Hardy, Dalmore, House of Dewar’s, Royal Salute, Gordon & MacPhail, Chivas Bros, William Grant & Sons, and Glenturret presented rare whiskies from around the globe. Representation of these famous brands were both in-person and live-stream. Although its typical at the Nth for physical appearances from these international brand celebrities, they were there in spirit, no pun intended. Many shared their passion in the wee hours of the morning from private residences overseas, still in shut down, demonstrating true loyalty to the spirit industry!

It was a different setup this year as State and local government protocols restricted planning the standard full event attendance. This year celebrated a more intimate luxury Masterclass format educating whisky and spirits enthusiasts on ingredients and crafting of premium rare whiskies, rums, cognac, ports, and the like. With the help of the world class staff at Wynn Las Vegas, the Nth team designed Masterclasses and luxury dinners with appropriate social distancing to ensure the comfort and safety of attendees and still encouraged meaningful interaction. Even while social distanced the flow of the conversation and ease of camaraderie were unmistakable. Due to COVID protocols a room which typically housed exhibit stands with a tasting crowd five times the current attendance, was now set classroom style with one person per 6-foot table. Nevertheless, the guests had an enjoyable experience in this format discussing their enthusiasm for whisky, sharing tasting thoughts, nosing a glass or two, and asking valuable questions of the whisky experts and representatives of the brands.

Mark Guyton, Starkville, Mississippi commented, “There is simply no comparison to any event I’ve attended around the U.S. or in Scotland. At the Nth, you are interacting with master blenders from the distilleries – these are the very folks who decide which casks of whisky are going to be bottled, and which ones should remain in the warehouses for a few more years. You get to taste whiskies that you would never be able to taste anywhere else. Over the decade of attending the Nth I’ve made lasting friendships with other whisky enthusiasts and master distillers from around the world.”

Gavin Linde, San Diego, CA, “The Nth is hands down the best whisky event in the United States, the whisky you get access to and educated on, is nothing but the best. The Master Classes are next level, getting to meet the blenders and talk through each whisky is an experience like no other.”

New attendee Stephen Meyer, “We attended The Nth because it was the only established luxury whisky event being held in the first half of 2021 and were delighted to discover how much participation there was from world renown experts. The quality of the experience overall was more than worth the time and ticket price. This event is now a repeat for me every year!”

About Universal Whisky Experience:

Universal Whisky Experience is a promoter of luxury, super-premium whisky experiences and concierge service to assist in attaining some of the most sought-after whiskies around the globe. For more information please visit: www.universalwhiskyexperience.com

Compass Box Whisky Tasting Line-up with Whiskymaker Jill Boyd

April 2, 2021 by evebushman

If you don’t know Compass Box scotch whisky you are really missing out. Let’s pretend that you do: Forget for a minute that they make several blends as well as single malts, forget that their creamiest (in my humble opinion) isn’t made from malted barley but from grain whisky, forget that their whisky makes a damn fine cocktail, and maybe even forget that their labels are incredibly colorful as well as informative and provide complete transparency. But even if you can forget the unforgettable of all of the above, there is no way you will be able to forget how damn fine, and very different from each other, that these whiskies are.

Hope I have served to whet your whistle! Now, moving on, this was the sold-out invitation that the members of the Southern California Whiskey Club received:

We are delighted to welcome Jill Boyd, Whiskymaker at Compass Box, for a virtual Masterclass. Since joining the team in January 2017, Jill has become a key whisky maker at Compass Box and will be joining us all the way from the UK for this special event. Jill hails from the North-East of Scotland, and her job includes working on the brand’s blends, purchasing new-make spirit to be filled into their own casks, as well as choosing and buying matured stocks. Apart from making whiskies, she is also a brand ambassador for Compass Box. She is the perfect person to be presenting the whiskies that we will be trying, as she has probably created and put them together with John Glaser.

When we got into the tasting Boyd, at 3am her time, was animated and charming. To the point that I made very few notes of my own, only to find myself wildly animated as well as I nodded, clapped, gave the thumbs up while finishing every single drop of the list below. The notes I have added are mostly Boyd’s.

The line-up, in the order in which we tasted:

Hedonism: This was a whisky I had tasted at the Universal Whisky Experience, aka the Nth, a few years back. I loved it so much I gifted Eddie a bottle later that year. There is vanilla, caramel, cream, and it’s 100% grain whisky. Boyd said it’s the grain whisky that accounts for the creaminess. She also said it tastes like Spring to her. This brought up a discussion about how many distilleries in Scotland are working with grain and the collective answer was seven.

Great King Street Artist’s Blend: We found a creamy nose with no burn, and a more traditional malt whisky finish though it was only 55% malt and 45% grain. Boyd said that the use of a sherry cask acts like an amplifier to the blend and allowed for notes like waxy apple, greens, woodiness, blossoms…fruity and juicy. And a literal steal for $35.

Myths and Legends: This was my favorite whisky in the tasting, after Hedonism. A single malt and not a blend. Creamy, vanilla and benefitting from charred barrels. I think this one goes for $170.

The Spice Tree: A 100% blended malt whisky. Boyd noted ginger, clove, Christmas spice, cinnamon and star anise. She also suggested making it in an Old Fashioned. Now that I want to try.

Magic Cask Ltd. Edition: Reminded me of warm waffles with a lot of maple syrup, also noted some dried fruit. Boyd commented that the vanilla notes came from the use of bourbon barrels and that the whisky was “lush”, to which I agreed.

Story of the Spaniard: This is their newest whisky, I had the Spaniard (Not the Story of) at the Nth event as well and recalled liking it very much. Both are made with a Sherry cask. This newer version was sweeter to me, and I think it would be a nice gateway whisky for newbies, an easy sipper.

Great King Street Glasgow Blend: Always serve your peated whiskies at the end of a tasting, and that’s what we did here. This one with some Laphroaig whisky (a whisky known for its great peat) had green notes and was really nice with a little water.

Peat Monster: Made with 35% Laphroaig whisky, as well as some Caol Ila whisky, there was a nice lemon, smoky bacon and green apple according to Boyd. A little water with this one worked for me too.

About Compass Box [link]:

Founded by US entrepreneur John Glaser from his kitchen in 2000 as a blending house for the modern era, constantly innovating a range of innovative blended Scotch, blended malt and blended grain whiskies. John is also always pushing for more transparency with the blends, and happily gives you the recipe to all his blends (something that is actually not allowed according to Scotch Whisky Association rules).

About Southern California Whiskey Club [link]:

A group of friends to gather together to enjoy and talk about whiskey and other spirits:

Try spirits that we would normally not be able to.
Review the history of different brands and see where they are today.
Promote education and awareness of the craft that is distillation.

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Cheers to a collection of new cocktails at CASBAR Lounge at SAHARA Las Vegas

March 15, 2021 by evebushman

LAS VEGAS – Those who have been looking to shake things up with their cocktail game need to look no further than CASBAR Lounge at SAHARA Las Vegas, which recently unveiled a new cocktail menu from the resort’s award-winning beverage team.

Let your tastebuds go on an adventure with the Aromatic AV8, featuring Empress 1908 Gin, Crème de Violette, lavender syrup, lemon juice and egg white. Get exotic with The Brazilian Mula, made with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Giffard Caribbean Pineapple Liqueur, Ancho Reyes Verde, lime juice and Q Ginger Beer. Stay up all night with a Spicy Espresso Martini, combining Remy 1738, vanilla spice and Ancho Reyes with espresso. Turn into a super taster with an Electric Feels, charged with Grey Goose Vodka, white cranberry, vanilla spice, lemon juice and sparkling wine, rimmed with tongue-tingling Electricdust, a revolutionary new flavor and sensation-enhancing dust powered by the Buzz Button flower that allows you to taste different nuances and flavors. Refresh yourself with the Blueberry Lemonade Mai Tai, which combines Cruzan Blueberry Lemonade Rum with Cointreau, fresh lemon juice and Orgeat Syrup. Kick things up a notch with the Mojave Margarita, featuring Espolòn Reposado Tequila, Giffard Apricot, prickly pear puree, lime juice and agave syrup, smoked with mesquite. The Cadillac Penicillin is sure to cure any case of the blues, with Glenmorangie 10 Year Scotch, honey-ginger and lemon juice, topped with Ardbeg 10 Year Scotch. Try a new take on a classic drink with the Overseas Old Fashioned, crafted with Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey, Disaronno Amaretto, chamomile tea syrup and orange bitters. Or envision yourself overseas with the Mediterranean Martini, a combination of Ketel One Botanical Grapefruit and Rose Vodka, Lillet Rose, blood orange syrup, lemon zest and Q Grapefruit Soda. All cocktails are available for $15 each.

Guests can also enjoy non-alcoholic versions of classic cocktails for $13 each, including a Raspberry Mojito with Lyre’s White Cane Spirit, RIPE Mojito Juice, fresh raspberries, soda and mint; an Espresso Martini, featuring Lyre’s Coffee Originale, Lyre’s White Cane Spirit, fresh espresso and vanilla syrup; a Piña Colada, made with Lyre’s White Cane Spirit, coconut water, pineapple puree and mint; a Clover Club, featuring Lyre’s Dry London Spirit, raspberry syrup, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white; or an Old Fashioned, with Lyre’s American Malt, Tippleman’s Smoked Barrel-Aged Syrup and Angostura Bitters.

Or, with the build-you-own highball menu, create a drink that is uniquely you by selecting your own vodka, bitters and soda for $14 each. A selection of reds, whites and bubbles, draft and bottled beer, snacks and cigars are also available at the stylish, 24-hour lounge.

Since welcoming back resort guests, SAHARA Las Vegas has followed a comprehensive outline of health and safety protocols under the resort’s SAHARA Cares program. Under this program, a number of contactless solutions were developed to assist with social distancing measures. Guests are encouraged to reserve cabanas, daybeds and even live table games for their party so that they can curate their own unique boutique experience.

The resort collaborated with health experts to establish several practices to minimize risk for guests and team members. For the latest update on the SAHARA Cares program, an updated list of resort venues and hours or to make a reservation, visit saharalasvegas.com.

About SAHARA Las Vegas

SAHARA Las Vegas is an all-encompassing resort and casino with 1,615 guest rooms and suites in three distinctive towers – including the AAA® Four Diamond Alexandria Tower, more than 85,000 square feet of flexible meeting space, two rooftop pools and a collection of acclaimed restaurants, bars and entertainment venues. The inviting casino occupies 60,000 square feet and features approximately 600 of the latest slot and video poker machines, 50 classic table games, Infinity – a premium gaming lounge, The Poker Room at SAHARA Las Vegas and a sports book operated by global gaming leader, William Hill. An impressive selection of culinary and cocktail offerings include Bazaar Meat by José Andrés™, named “Best Restaurant in Nevada” by Business Insider; CASBAR Lounge; Bella Bistro; Uno Más; Northside Café & Chinese Kitchen; Prendi; The Tangier; and more. Additionally, SAHARA Las Vegas is home to MAGIC MIKE LIVE Las Vegas presented by Channing Tatum. SAHARA Las Vegas players can also enjoy the perks of an Infinity Rewards membership, a joint loyalty program between SAHARA and its sister property Grand Sierra Resort and Casino Reno, that gives players the opportunity to earn and redeem rewards across both destinations. SAHARA Las Vegas is a minority-owned business certified by the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council. For more information, please visit saharalasvegas.com and stay connected on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

The House of Suntory Tasting with Brand Ambassador Jonathan Armstrong

January 1, 2021 by evebushman

The Southern California Whiskey Club had a special Friday night event with brand ambassador Jonathan Armstrong guiding us through the history and production of this famed Japanese company: The House of Suntory. “Founded in 1899 by Shinjiro Torii, the House of Suntory has pioneered the art of Japanese whisky. This event is for everyone interested in whisky, from veteran connoisseurs to beginners, and will include a short Japanese whisky 101 portion to provide an introduction to the category.”

I had read two books on Japanese drinks, one completely devoted to whisky, to delve deep this is a link to my review of the book Japanese Whisky by Brian Ashcraft. Some of the same points were made by Armstrong: including, among other things, the use of Japanese white oak Mizunara casks and plum wine casks, and learning about Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Distillery, who started his career in Scotland learning all he could about making whisky. From there he became the first distiller in Japan – at Suntory’s Yamazaki Distillery.

Armstrong also explained that Torii founded Suntory in 1899. The name Suntory is a nod to the Land of the Rising Sun (Japan) and Tory (Torii himself). In the beginning whisky was used for medicinal purposes. The imported Scotch whisky, blended it and sold it to their customers – including Taketsuru.

In 1907 they invented a “port wine” that was a blend of sherries and became a success. With the money they were making they were able to start the distillery in 1923. It was then that Torii went to both Scotland and France to learn what he could about both whisky and wine making. Consumption hit a high point in 1972 and they built a new distillery to meet demand.

Now, onto the tasting!

Suntory Whisky Toki is a blended whisky, with a very light color, notes of cream, toast, apricot and apple. The Hibiki Harmony blend was made with five different types of casks, and exhibited aromas and flavors that included sweet caramel, roasted nuts and vanilla bean. Next we sampled the Hibiki 12 Year Old, a blended whisky that is no longer made! Another blend of whiskies and casks, this time three different ones, gave the whisky notes of smoke, almond, fruit, spice and mild salinity. The Yamazaki 12 Year Old had a really different nose from its predecessors: dried plum, berries, pipe smoke, kernel and cream.

Finally, the dram a lot of us were waiting for, the Yamazaki 18 Year Old was next to try. Armstrong explained that the 18 YO has a different recipe each time it’s made. He said it isn’t just the 12 YO with another 6 years. Destined to be my husband’s overall favorite, while I was quite happy with the Hibiki Harmony, the Yamazaki 18 YO was rich and layered, slight notes of golden raisins and a very full mouthfeel.

Taking a breath, and with two more whiskies to go, we jumped to the Hakushu 12 Year Old. This tasted a little peaty to me! Eddie thought I was nuts but lo and behold Armstrong said that the “bonfire” smoke was definitely there. Also contributing to the whisky were spicy hickory notes, one taster said it reminded them of beef jerky. And, finally we were on to our last whisky, the Hakushu 18 Year old. This last dram was all caramel, mango and mint – quite interesting and a nice finish to the tasting.

Suntory website [link]

Vintage Eve Circa Jan 2018, “Wine 101: The Demise of the Dinner Party”

August 25, 2020 by evebushman

Cruising a foodie group on Facebook one member’s query kind of stuck out in my mind. It was something like, “Does anyone do dinner parties anymore?” About half of the comments, if not more, said no. Due to pets, small dining spaces, children, busy schedules and a lack of ideas.

Bushman Kitchen – overlooking our Napa Valley vineyard (We wish!)

That lack of ideas on what to do for a dinner party got my mind racing. I never run out of ideas. Granted we have a kitchen made for entertaining, and a home that has managed events for up to 75 people, but the size of our kitchen isn’t where our dinner party ideas stem from.

It stems from our interests not only in food preparation and presentation, but also with the wine and/or spirits we want to serve to complement our meals.

If we go back a few decades we began as young married couples often do: experimenting in the kitchen. I happened to share my kitchen with a firefighter that was used to cooking for a dozen or more crew members. Hence, we always had too much. (Truth be told this is still a problem!) We had pals that lived close by that were more than willing to come up for a ready made meal, bring wine, and our Thursday Night Dinners began.

Every other week we walked over to see the Andrews, and they came over to our house on the weeks when it was our turn. Eventually other friends got wind of our dinners and they grew – with more couples and more wine than we really wanted to partake in on a week night.

Fast forward to our third home in Awesometown. Our kitchen prep area is probably four or five times greater than the kitchen was in our starter home was. And now we knew that the kitchen was where the action was. Ed had become an excellent cook, as most fire fighters are, and I was happy to be his sous chef.

Now we plan monthly dinner parties, with a rotating set of pals (as we are all so busy everyone is not always free) and still enjoy the menu planning as well as pulling wines from our cellar to pair. Over the years I have also enjoyed hosting meetings for the different events I’m working on, as well as a monthly Brainstormer’s Group – and these are mostly potluck with some kind of wine or spirit tasting I throw in for fun.

These are the different ideas we’ve tried over the years:

We did a large wine event with five different tasting stations where guests moved from room to room, outside to inside, and returned to the kitchen for the final pairing.

Hosted a jam-making class!

The “Buck Bar” idea borrowed from Lesley and David Solmonson’s book “The Twelve Bottle Bar” where guests are prompted to replace the vodka in a Moscow Mule with rye, bourbon or scotch, and the lime with orange or lemon. Just crafting your own cocktail with all the bartender tools is fun!

Pot lucks with everyone bringing one of their prized homemade dishes – can’t ever go wrong with that.

Gin or vodka tastings – those are not so usual – after dining.

After dinner put on a movie like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that you can talk over.

I’ve done chocolate tastings where I’ve guided guests to go from dark to light, with some wine and port as well, to see how the chocolate flavors develop and change when we study them.

An adult Pinata with tiny plastic booze bottles.

Make friends with restaurant owners – they make you want to up your game!

Play Apples to Apples, or any easy to play game for families, after dinner.

Single malt scotch tastings, with minor pairings like grilled sausage and Snicker bars!

Wine and Junk Food pairing. We like popcorn and sparkling wine and chocolate candy with Zinfandel – with a lot in between. You have to do some experimenting before you plan this one.

After a dinner: blind wine tastings, single varietal tastings, aroma lessons…

So if you were on the fence about planning a fun dinner party I hope this article helped to get your creative juices working. And if you need more assistance, or a really fun guest, you know where to find me!

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

Napa Valley Wine Academy launched new Whisky and Bourbon Certification

August 13, 2020 by evebushman

NAPA, CALIF. (PRWEB) – NAPA VALLEY WINE ACADEMY, the leading wine & spirits school in the United States, is expanding nationwide access to formal whiskey education, as it enters into an alliance with the foremost whiskey education and certification body, THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS. Both organizations are based in California and support students from around the world with online education programs.

As part of the new strategic alliance, NAPA VALLEY WINE ACADEMY obtains the US-nationwide exclusive permission to promote and offer the Council’s study program and advise students on the program options.

Christian Oggenfuss, co-founder and CEO of the Academy, states “On-boarding the dedicated whiskey certification program of the Council into the Academy’s repertoire of remote-study options is a logical step for NAPA VALLEY WINE ACADEMY, especially as the current epidemic has created the need for proven distance learning programs. The study programs of THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS have been designed for effective remote format from the beginning, and are the global qualification standard in the world of whiskey.”

Aspiring and established whiskey specialists alike enter the study program either through the “Certified Scotch Professional” or “Certified Bourbon Professional” tracks, before they broaden to global knowledge scope in the “Certified Whiskey Specialist” level, and later may advance towards mastery in the “Master of Scotch” and “Master of Whiskey” levels.

The Advisory Board of the Council is home to more than 30 of the most respected whiskey experts in the world, including famed whisk(e)y authorities Steve Beal, Dave Broom, Lew Bryson, and Charles MacLean, among many other men and women of exceptionally high reputation in the world of grain-based spirits.

“Especially during the coronavirus-related downtime, many sommeliers, hobbyists as well as wine & spirits professionals have been planning their future career path and decided to advance their careers and future prospects through systematic education. NAPA VALLEY WINE ACADEMY has been the trusted education provider for many thousands of individuals, who have been guided successfully through the study programs, all the way to graduation and carrying their new professional titles”, explains the executive director of the Council, Dr. Jörn Kleinhans.

Both organizations look forward to equalizing access into promising careers in the whiskey segment of the wine & spirits markets, an industry that has experienced significant growth over recent years. The opportunity is open for individuals regardless of location and prior background.

Vintage Eve Circa Oct 2017: That Boutique-Y Whisky Company, Via Whisky Live

June 23, 2020 by evebushman

I met whisky aficionado Monique Huston at the Universal Whisky Experience, aka the Nth show, in Las Vegas earlier this year. I assumed I’d be lucky if our paths ever crossed again as she lives in Illinois, so I kind of scored in not only seeing her, but getting to learn from her too when I realized she was leading a course at the recent Whisky Live LA.

The class was listed in the program with this tantalizing title, “U.S. Launch! That Boutique-Y Whisky Company – Single Casks Done Our Way.”

Be one of the first in the US to taste through the massively awarded range of single cask Single Malt and Single Grain Scotches from experts at That Boutique-y Whisky Company. You’ve seen them written up, scored and bragged about in the UK – now taste them for yourselves! Warning: These cask-strength darlings are not for the faint of heart, come armed with your water dropper! Hosted by Monique Huston, National Director of Spirits Winebow.

Tasting

Aromas and flavors separated by ;

Invergordon 42 year old

Orange peel, leather, cream and cinnamon stick on the nose; followed by toasted oak, orange again, with both a nice sweetness and heat. Distilled from corn, neutral barrel finish. This was my favorite of the tasting line-up.

Speyside 15 year old

Dark chocolate, vanilla, a bit of peat; very balanced flavors of chocolate, cream and honey. Was finished in a first fill bourbon barrel.

Glentauchers 17 year old

Meyer lemon, green grass, vanilla bean; then bark, that same vanilla and some nice heat. They had made a 38 year old that sold out, their production is rare, and this one was probably finished in a second fill bourbon cask.

Benrinnes 18 year old

Sweet pear, whipped cream, orange hard candy; smooth and velvety, heat, cream and spice. “Ben” is one of the hills of Pennines. This was from #19 of only 24 barrels. Finished in a third fill sherry cask barrel. My second favorite.

Bruichladdich 12 year old

Toffee candy, tobacco, bark; smooth and spicy with a big finish. This was finished at one of only eight distilleries in Islay. Another top fave for me.

Islay 16 year old

Wet wood, suede, sweat caramel, yogurt; peat, smoke and s’mores. Liked this one for the peat.

Some of What We Learned

Ninety percent of whisky produced in Scotland goes into blends, single malts only get the remaining ten percent. So need a lot of whisky to make all of the single malts we enjoy.

The three peat-heavy distillers, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Ardbeg, have a convenient walking path connecting them in Islay. (Time to plan a visit!)

That Boutique-Y Whisky Company use a 375ml half bottle format, making them more accessible and affordable. No extra finish is added, the company selects, buys and then bottles. These whiskies were a “preview” and not yet available to the mass market. When they do hit U.S. most likely will be at K and L.

From That Boutique-Y Whisky Company Website

That Boutique-y Whisky Company is an independent bottler which offers stunning whiskies from world-renowned brands and distilleries. Each bottle has a fun and informative graphic-novel-style label containing humorous references, in-jokes and shocking puns.

http://www.thatboutiqueywhiskycompany.com/

https://www.facebook.com/boutiqueywhisky/

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a “certification in first globally-recognized course” as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video, authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru. You can email Eve@EveWine101.com to ask a question about wine or spirits.

The Tenth Annual Universal Whisky Experience – From the Founder Mahesh Patel – Why Whisky and Why Vegas

January 30, 2020 by evebushman

Welcome to the World’s Premier Luxury Whisky and Spirits! Experience www.universalwhiskyexperience.com

Universal Whisky Experience is about providing the connoisseur, collector, enthusiast and premium spirits consumer, the most exclusive, luxurious and intimate whisky and spirits enjoyment at an elite luxury resort in the world capital of entertainment. Showcasing some of the finest and rarest premium whiskies from a top tier of brands.

Our 10 Year Anniversary, The Nth 2020, will be hosted at the Wynn Las Vegas on April 24-April 25, 2020. Save the date now!

About Mahesh Patel, Why Whisky and Why Vegas for the 10^th Anniversary Event

Mahesh Patel founder of Universal Whisky Experience, Avid Connoisseur and Whisky Collector, made history when buying the world’s first most expensive whisky bottle ‘The Dalmore Trinitas’ valued at $165,000 back in October 2010. Since then he has been made keeper of the Quaich – a society at the heart of the Scottish whisky industry and became the Freeman of City of London and livery man for the worship company of distillers for his contribution in the whisky industry and has been featured in many television interviews talking about his passion for whisky since his teen years, and making his dream come to life with the launch of Universal Whisky Experience seven years ago (now ten years ago!) and its first super tasting event (The Nth – Ultimate Whisky Experience) in Las Vegas.

I decided to do the show because no one did an event that I wanted to attend. I did a show that I would attend and other fellow high end connoisseurs/collectors would want. So the show was built really for me.

Since the launch of Universal Whisky Experience, Mahesh Patel with his pioneering ability and vision has gone on to create the world’s best Whisky experiences internationally and locally opening and tasting some of the world’s most expensive whiskies granting exclusive access in the world of whisky.

Why Whisky: I was 14 when we went on a family vacation to Scotland and my father liked whisky so we visited Glenfiddich distillery (it was only distillery that was doing tours back in the 80s). I have always been technical minded so I was fascinated by the technical side of whisky production. This was my introduction to whisky; soon after I started to collect miniature bottles from different distilleries, and when I got to university I started tasting whisky. After graduating and then traveling for work and vacations, I started buying whiskies from Duty Free shops. They have some of the best and limited expressions and that’s where my collection got serious.

Why Las Vegas: Because it is the world capital of entertainment. I wanted to host an event, but more than an event – an experience. I wanted connoisseurs to be able to bring their non-whisky drinking partners along and experience the event and to be in a city that offered everything. The Wynn is the most luxurious resort in Vegas and has the best customer experience than any other hotel. All its restaurants are award winning and the service is impeccable.

The Nth Ultimate Experience is a once in a lifetime event for many. This is the only event in the world where you get to sample the most premium, rare, unique and expensive whiskies from all the major houses around the world. Mahesh has fostered an amazing network with all top whisky makers and brands. Leveraging this amazing network and relationships has led to this one of a kind event, the Nth Universal Whisky Experience.

Connoisseur Experience Tickets: https://universalwhiskyexperience.com/connoisseur-experience-ticket-2020/

High Roller Experience Tickets: https://universalwhiskyexperience.com/high-roller-ticket-2020/

Wynn Hotel Nth Rooms via this link.

https://universalwhiskyexperience.com/

https://www.facebook.com/universalwhisky/

https://www.instagram.com/universalwhisky/