The Dalmore Tweet Tasting

Continuing our teeming throng of industry leading Tweet Tastings into the new year – and just ahead of Burns Night, we’re thrilled to announce that on January 22nd we’re teaming up again with our very good friends at The Dalmore Distillery for another lesson in liquid history.

On the night we’ll be sharing, sipping and savouring their 18 Year Old and 21 Year Old bottlings, and as per our previous Dalmore tastings, there may well be another surprise drams sneaking their way into the proceedings.

If you fancy taking part in what promises to be another epic evening of all things deliciously Dalmore click here to register your interest by emailing your full name, address, date of birth, mobile number and Twitter / X handle. Please also remember to mark the subject line of your email with: #DalmoreWhisky

The closing date to register is January 3rd, and if you are registering, please make sure that you will be free on the night of January 22nd to take part!

Even if you're not one of the selected Tweet Tasters, it'd be great to have you following all the evening’s dramfotainment over on Twitter / X, on January 22nd from 19:00 GMT via #DalmoreWhisky

Registration open to over 21's only!

For more information on The Dalmore, visit: thedalmore.com

@TheWhiskyWire

@DalmoreWhisky

#DalmoreWhisky

#BePartOfTheDramfotainment

#TheHomeOfTheTweetTasting

#TheOriginalSeriesOfVirtualTastings

Balblair Christmas Competition

For over a decade, on the run up to Christmas we used to run our annual (and original) ’12 Drams of Christmas’ competition, where in exchange for your top three festive drams - which we would compile into a top 12 list, we would then randomly pick one lucky entrant to win a bottle of one of our favourite Christmas whiskies.

As much as we’d love to have continued doing this each and every year, December has now become one of our busiest months, and sadly we’ve been unable to commit the time required to run the competition. But this year we’re getting back into the festive giveaway spirit, by giving one of our followers the chance of winning one of the drams that used to regularly appear in our festive countdown; Balblair 12 Year Old.

Now when we say we’re giving away a bottle of Balblair 12 Year Old, we don’t just mean any old bottle. It’s a bottle signed by Balblair’s former and current Distillery Managers John MacDonald and David Rogerson.

Back in May, and after 18 years of service, John MacDonald announced his retirement. John began his career as a warehouseman at Glenmorangie Distillery, where he worked his way up the ranks over 17 years to the post of Assistant Distillery Manager. He made the move to take up the top job at Balblair, as he says, "without even reading the contract" such was his admiration for the whisky being made at the Edderton site in Tain.  

John’s successor is David Rogerson, the former Assistant Distillery Manager at Speyburn. Born in Dumfries, an early trip to Islay as a teenager inspired David to forge a career in whisky making. He went on to secure a first-class honours degree in Brewing and Distilling before taking up a position at Marston’s Eagle Brewery in Bedfordshire.

For your chance to win this special signed bottle of Balblair 12 Year Old click here to email us with your contact details and date of birth, along with the following phrase that dramming pays:

“I’d love to quite literally get into the festive spirit, 

with this bountiful, belter of a Balblair”

*Remember to mark the subject line of your email with: Balblair Comp

If you’re on Twitter / X or Bluesky, you can also follow us via @TheWhiskyWire and RT one of our related competition tweets for another chance to win! 

#BalblairComp

@TheWhiskyWire

Competition closes at 23:59 on December 20th 2024. You have to be aged 21 years or over to enter!

Good Luck!

Quick Fire Rum Tasting Notes

Foursquare Magisterium

Single Traditional Barbados Blended Rum

58% ABV / RRP: £95.00

Nose: A bevy of Bourbon and Sherry steeped sultanas, stewed prunes, dried apricots and Seville orange peel kick off the nasal niceties. Followed by notes of Tiramisu, banana bread, dark chocolate Bounty bar, Fry’s Turkish delight, mixed spice and freshly polished oak furniture.

Palate: A warming wave of wood spice, more of those Bourbon and Sherry steeped sultanas, grilled pineapple rings, dried mango, mixed citrus peel and strawberries dusted lightly with black pepper kick off the palatable pleasures. Followed by notes of dark chocolate salted caramels, desiccated coconut, Haagen-Dazs Dulce De Leche ice cream, gingernut biscuits, strong English breakfast tea, Madeira cherry cake and oodles of opulent oak.

Finish: A long, lingering and ever evolving finish, that highlights the quality of its journey from cane to cask, and the skill and artistry of its blending. 

Summary: All the majestic majesty of the Magisterium! As rare as hens’ teeth if you can still find a bottle anywhere, this latest release from Foursquare’s very aptly named Exceptional Cask Selection, has been matured for 16 years and produced using a combination of Bourbon and Sherry matured column and double retort pot distilled rums. Never mind this just being another sensory story, every sip opens up and delivers an enticing and enchanting new chapter! 

As they continue to produce beautifully bold, balanced and bountiful rums like this, it's no wonder why the Barbados based Foursquare distillery keeps winning awards like the prestigious IWSC Rum Producer of the year. I’m already looking forward to the thrill of the chase of their next release!