The Top Trends of the Last Ten Years: The Pinots

Although it is tempting to list Sauvignon Blanc as the greatest grape-based development of the last decade (mainly driven by New Zealand’s Marlborough produce), the Pinots in fact beat the grassy and gooseberry-flavoured variety due to the scale and extent of their popularity, and their phenomenal rise in plantings and sales since db was first published.

There might be a whole family of grapes with the Pinot prefix, but it’s really only Pinot Noir and Pinot Grigio that have driven the change – Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc have not enjoyed the same sales trajectory.

To deal with Pinot Noir first: db learned not to underestimate the power of a box-office hit in shaping people’s tastes in October 2004 when the film Sideways was released.

This amusing story of a road trip through Californian wine country featured a character called Miles who, particularly fond of Pinot Noir, but not Merlot, arguably changed the world’s opinions of what they should drink.

Following the film’s US release, Merlot sales dropped 2% and Pinot Noir sales increased 16% in western USA.

The demand for Pinot Noir has continued to increase, as have plantings, helping to boost the supply of affordable Pinot.

Of the non-European sources, New Zealand stands out for carving a niche in the crowded international wine market for a highly commercial take on the grape; not too jammy or alcoholic, but neither too thin nor green.

Chile has also emerged as a new source of Pinot, particularly at the cheaper end of the scale, with its Cono Sur Pinot Noir regularly picked out as offering surprising value for money.

On the horizon, Australia’s cool climate regions, particularly Tasmania, are attracting attention, while in Europe, Germany is proving a rising star at the upper end of the price spectrum.

As for the grape’s historic home, Burgundy, we’ve extensively reported on the growing interest in Pinot Noir from this region’s best sites.

This grape, when grown in the Côte-d’Or, has always produced the world’s most intriguing and valuable fine wines, but it’s only recently that China has discovered them.

And what of Pinot Grigio?

In keeping with the world’s love of Italy, Pinot Grigio has been the white wine phenomenon of the last decade.

Light in colour, taste, and as refreshing as super-chilled lager, this grape has become the default choice for many wine drinkers, especially women.

Alongside Italy’s Veneto, Pinot Grigio is now widely planted in New Zealand and California.

This article was written by Patrick Schmitt and originally published on thedrinksbusiness.com. Read more.

Brewing Issue: What Beer Should the President Drink?

“What’ll you have?”

A good question to ask house guests or a catchy slogan if you’re Pabst Brewing. But it becomes a more complicated question to answer when you’re the leader of the free world, where every action and every decision is analyzed. Yes, when you’re the President of the United States even your choice in beer is scrutinized.

Recently, President Barack Obama stopped at Ziggy’s Bar in Amherst, Ohio about 30 miles outside of Cleveland. The President stayed for about 90 minutes, stopping at each table to talk with patrons and pose for photos. In those photos, the President is seen drinking a Miller Lite draft and later, a bottle of Bud Light.

The photos created headlines about the President's “carefully orchestrated appearance” designed to appeal to "working class” crowds and his choice of beer was presumed to be evidence of that.

It's a logical conclusion, as Bud Light has been in the political spotlight before. It was President Obama's beer of choice for a 2009 White House beer summit with Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. and policeman James Crowley.

But the choice may come as a surprise to some beer fans, who might expect President Obama to select a craft beer, especially since he has been known to brew his beer at the White House.

Marketing consultant Laura Ries thinks Bud Light is a good fit for the President.

“Going with Bud Light is a safe choice and is probably the best choice,” says Ries. “Bud says 'leader.' I think it is still believed by Joe SixPack across the nation to be an 'all-American' beer. Even though it is owned by a foreign conglomerate now, most people don’t think about it. The average person thinks of Budweiser as an American choice.”

The appeal for a politician, Ries suggests, lies in Bud Light's popularity.

“With Bud Light being the best-selling beer, obviously a majority of people are drinking it and for most people, Obama kicking back with a Bud Light is a relatable experience,” Ries continued. "Take a look at the list of best-selling beers and a majority of people are drinking light beers. In certain circles, Bud is looked down upon and only craft beer is cool, but for most people, they are drinking Budweiser, Bud Light and Coors Light, the general mass brands.”

What do you think? Should our country's leader have chosen a local Ohio craft beer, or did he make the right choice by appealing to the "working class?"

This article was written by Tom Rotunno and originally appeared on cnbc.com. Click here to read more.

Try New Arbor Mist Frozen Wine Cocktails!

We've got a variety of frozen drinks to cool yourself off this sweltering summer! Just arrived in our stores are Arbor Mist Frozen Wine Cocktails!



Arbor Mist's ready-to-drink, portable pouches combine your favorite wine & fruit flavors in a refreshing frozen cocktail. No mixing, blending or cleanup. Just freeze, squeeze and enjoy!

Arbor Mist Frozen Pouches are available in 3 delicious flavors: White Pear Pinot Grigio, Blackberry Merlot and Strawberry White Zinfandel! Pick some up to enjoy tonight for only $1.99 each!

Wine drinkers tend to buy bottles with hard-to-pronounce names

Il Carbonaione Poggio Scalette

 

DALLAS, Texas

Chateau Moncontour Vourvray. Chateau Margaux. It seems like our favorite liquor store is getting an overload of wine names that are difficult to say!

“Customers will usually will make an attempt to pronounce it,” said David Waddington of Sigel’s on Greenville in Dallas.

And if they can’t pronounce it, they’re more likely to buy it.

That’s according to a study - wine drinkers will usually go for the bottle with the hard-to-pronounce name and less likely to choose something like Groth or Josh.

It doesn’t matter how the wine tastes, if it has a crazy long name no one can say, customers will put down their money.

“The names are hard to pronounce, they’re foreign to us,” said Waddington.

Which means they’re bound to me more fancy, right?! Let’s see what customers think. Customers were shown a bottle with a foreign name and a bottle called Hall.

When asked which they would rather drink, all chose the bottle with the foreign name.

“It sounds more exotic,” said Randy Reeves.

Customers were then asked which bottle seems more expensive. Again, all chose the bottle with the foreign name. (They’re actually the same price.)

The same study found people would pay more for the bottles with hard-to-say names. Let this story be some great tips if you ever decide to market wine!

“I would probably look up some French words, and throw them together and put the word Chateau it there somewhere,” said Reeves.

But Waddington wishes the results of the study were a little different. Our expert says the Hall wine and the bottle with the foreign name are both very good, quality wines. He encourages wine drinkers, both amateur and professional, to not judge a bottle by its name alone.

“I sell wine by education, by telling about the wine. Not just how to pronounce it. Every wine has a story,” said Waddington.

If you’re lucky enough to walk into a liquor store with a wine consultant like David, ask about a particular bottle’s story.

“I try to find out what their needs are, what they’re looking for -what they want, what their budget is,” said Waddington.

So now let’s debunk this study. Do your research before you run and grab that wine with the longest and most exotic name!

So what say you, Joe Canal's customers? When you're looking to try something different, would you be more likely to grab an easy-to pronounce Joel Gott, or a more exotic-named wine, such as Celestin Blondeau Sancerre?

This article was written by Tommy Noel and originally published on fox40.com.

Whiskey Feature - Glenmorangie Artein

Today we're featuring a great summertime scotch, Glenmorangie Artein.

This one-time release has aromas of red berry fruits, honeysuckle and mint, with baked stone fruit, spearmint and chocolate cherries on the palate. The finish is long and zesty, with notes of lemon sherbert and creamy cappuccino.

While crafting Glenmorangie Artein Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie's Head of Distilling & Whisky Creation, was intrigued by the influence of stone in the natural ingredients of the whisky, especially considering the material's special significance to us.

This relationship begins with the Hilton of Cadboll Stone, an ancient monument that is the whisky's inspiration. But of no less importance is the layer upon layer of limestone that filters our Tarlogie Spring water, giving Artein its fruity aromas and layers of complexity. Or the rocky Tuscan hillsides which concentrate the flavours in vines that will, in turn, add complexity to the 'Super Tuscan' casks in which we extra mature our precious spirit.

The result is a whisky with a richness and depth that echoes the extraordinary legacy of stone.

Try this special whisky while you can, for only $70.99 in our Bottle Club!

Toni Carver's Trip to Spain - Part 3

I was pleased jet lag woke me especially early today. The path in front of our hotel is part of the history-steeped Camino de Santiago (Road of St. James) across northern Spain stretching about 470 miles. We observed the pilgrims on their journey walking, cycling, on horseback and donkey riding through the picturesque countryside and historic townscapes, unchanged in many parts from the days of the earliest pilgrims. The reasons for those making the pilgrimage are various but seeing the visible dedication for their cause was moving and spiritual.

The beautiful weather continues for our tours today of Bodegas Ondarre and Bodegas Olarra. We met with Eugenio Garcia del Moral who guides the growers in all aspects: irrigation, plantings, clippings, height of vines, etc. He actually created his own computer program that is interactive with the weather to help the vineyards that are too distant for him to visit frequently. His passion for each vineyards' importance and success was infectious. You could understand why the wines he is involved with are of such great quality.

Before we continue at the wineries we were treated to a guided tour of the historical city of Viana. Ancient churches, cobble stone streets, a view that goes forever, a fortress wall that dates back centuries, and knobs to hold grates over the windows of local shops during the running of the bulls all make this a picturesque city. After our tour, accompanied by tapas, local beer and carajillo (coffee and brandy), we started the brief drive to the wineries.

Bodegas Olarra, established in 1973, is massive. Their barrel room holds 26,000 barrels!! They are nestled in an “egg crate” like dome that seems to go on forever. I immediately recognized many labels that we carry at the store, some of which I have sampled previously and been very pleased with their balance and palate. My favorite here was the Cerro Anon Reserve with its inky color and dried plum, tobacco, and anise palate. This is a wine that can stand on its own, but also pairs well with a variety of foods.

Bodegas Ondarre, established in 1986, is mostly done in new French and American oak. The Ondarre Reserve was my overall favorite of the trip. This mostly tempranillo blend is aged for 16 months in oak that adds complexity. It has earthy spice, good structure and a long dark fruit finish. Everything I am looking for in a wine and under $12 makes this a must buy!!!

We were then invited to enjoy lunch at Ondarre. They prepared a never ending supply of lamb over an open fire pit fueled by grape vine clippings with a 3 story chimney; succulent, juicy and paired to perfection with the Olarra and Ondarre wines. After our fulfilling lunch we head to the hotel for some R&R. Our group meets up later for a chance to walk around Logrono and to visit the Tapas bar area in the Calle Laurel region. The tapas bars are each unique “mini bars” located one after the other down a few streets in the town. Each bar has its own specialty dish and we ate as many as our stomachs could take.

Toni Carver's Trip to Spain - Part 2

We had a last minute change in our itinerary and were offered the opportunity to meet renowned wine maker Rene Barbier of Cellar Laurona in Montsant, Spain. He was charming, kind, and drove us on a personal tour of his vineyards. (Thank goodness I wasn’t driving!!! Hairpin turns and no more than 6 inches to spare to a sure death over a cliff!!) The terroir was intense with steep climbs and very rocky shale-infused soil. Rene’s passion was evident when we were exploring; the way he explained each vineyard, the different vines, sampling of the fruit, the elevation, finishing with a tour of his offices and private cellar. He took us to lunch at a local restaurant to enjoy the food and celebrate with his wines and conversation.

His Clos Mogador, which received a 96 from Wine Advocate and should age well for up to another 10 years, was an outstanding example of a fine wine from Spain. The blend has an intense flavor profile of anise, dark fruit, truffle, slate, and espresso. The other wines he shared with us are not going to be available in the U.S. but were of the same high quality and great balance.

We parted ways from Rene to continue on our 4 hour journey to Logrono. After a much needed few hours of rest we met with the export manager for Bodegas Olarra for our dinner at Meson Egues. Brandon Bartfalvi, our Senior Wine Manager in the Lawrenceville store, told me in advance about this restaurant from his trip to Spain. It lived up to the expectations and then some! The white asparagus was sweet and all the vegetables were from the owners’ garden picked that day. The beef was cooked over charcoal and melted in your mouth. We enjoyed some Bodegas Ondarre Reserve 2004 with our meal, a wine that I was familiar with from the store but accompanied by the food tasted amazing. After our very filling meal we hit the town to take in some local establishments and I had some Spanish sangria. This is not your average pre-made bottled type, rather a fresh made drink that made you want to stay for more.

Joe Canal's Presents Tyrconnell Sherry Cask!

Tyrconnell's unique soft and elegant flavour has been crafted and refined over two centuries since 1762 by the Watt family distillers. The family's native region of Tyrconnell, in the Northwest of Ireland, inspired names of both their favourite Whiskey and their most famous racehorse, whose race-winning form they commemorated on the Tyrconnell Whiskey label.

This 10 Year Old Tyrconnell, initially matured in Sherry Casks imparting further depth and flavor. The rich, deep color is accompanied by a complex nose with sherry, honey and citrus apparent. A smooth, creamy, full bodied flavor emerges with hints of sherry and nuts that slide into a long oak finish.

Try this special new Single Malt for $73.99!

Toni Carver's Trip to Spain - Part 1

Pre-Trip
Imagine you’re at work one day and approached by the GM who wants to talk to you in the office. Are your first thoughts…..What project is happening now? What did I forget to do? Well at Joe Canals there is a chance the GM will be telling you “We don’t think you know enough about wine, particularly Spanish wine, so we are sending you to Spain to learn.” My reaction: surprise and excitement. I get to spend a week in Spain, expenses covered, drinking wine, meeting winemakers, learning firsthand about the terrior and styles of viticulture, tasting exquisite food and experiencing a new culture. The downside….hmmm, I may have to get back to you on that one.

Day 1
After several weeks of anticipation the day is finally here. We arrived in Barcelona with no time to explore the city; we get our rental car and proceed to our first appointment at Bodegas Abadal. The hour drive to the vineyard is beautiful, conversation and anticipation is flowing among our group of eight from all over the East Coast. We are greeted by the vineyard president and family patriarch Valentí Roqueta and his son for a personal tour of the original family home, now used for a museum, which dates back to 1199. The scenery is tranquil, secluded, and peaceful and makes you feel as if you stepped back in time, surrounded by mountains, listening to the birds and looking over the beautiful vineyards. We drive through the vineyards to see the differences in the vines; some are gnarly and visibly older while others are new plantings that won’t be ready for several years to produce grapes suitable for wine. We explore the huts scattered throughout the vineyards, some are centuries old, that were used as “sheds” and shelters for the farmers while working the fields in yester years. We return to the tasting room for a delicious lunch of assorted tapas, olives, sausages, and of course wine!! My favorite here is the Abadal Caberrnet Franc /Tempranillo blend with its depth and toffee and dark red fruit profile.

After thanking our gracious hosts we proceeded to our hotel for some much needed rest. Hotel Mon is a modern building looking out onto a lush courtyard with a view of a medieval monastery. The bells tolling on the hour, resting with a good book on my patio, listening to the bees buzzing from flower to flower, is a pleasant way to wind down before dinner.

Pick up a Growler Koozie at blowout prices!

Joe Canal's Presents Bota Box Tetra

Bota Box Mini

Introducing Bota Box 500ML Tetra Pak! Perfect for vacation, the beach, and all your summertime fun! Available in Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Moscato, Pinot Grigio and Zinfandel!

A lot of quality in a little package. Your favorite Bota Box Wines are now available in 500ml Tetra Paks! Not only does the smaller package make it easier and more convenient for consumers to enjoy Bota Box wines while leading active lifestyles, but its eco-friendly package is environmentally responsible.

500ml vs. 750ml
(Per 1,000L of Volume)
-Uses 55% less energy to manufacture
-Generates 87% less solid waste in weight and 50% less in volume
-Generates 75% less greenhouse gasses in CO2 equivalents
-Produced primarily from paper, a renewable resource

Try them today for only $5.29!

Chris Sletvold's Trip to Scotland, Part 3

Our final day of whiskey distillery touring has finally arrived and the one distillery I was looking forward to visiting was Glenkinchie which was located in the Lowlands not too far from where we were staying. After a 20 minute drive we arrived at our goal. Unlike the other distilleries this one was more rolling hills and surrounded by farmlands. This tour was the most in depth of all the tours we took. You really got to feel the history and see how this distillery really got its great reputation. The museum part of the tour gave you a true understanding of the whiskey making process from beginning to end. We were invited to taste the Glenkinchie 12yr and the Glenkinchie Distiller’s Edition when we were finished. When asked how they replace the stills when they become old the tour guide said the roof of the distillery actually comes off and they are able to crane the old still out and the new one back in.

After leaving Glenkinchie we decided to check out the The Scotch Whiskey Experience located in the heart of Edinburgh. We made our way down the cobble stone roadway and came upon the building. Located right next to the Edinburgh Castle this excursion is actually a barrel ride that takes you through the history of Scotch and drops you off in what most Scotch drinkers would call “heaven”. Every type of scotch known to man was lined up wall to wall for sale to the consumers. Unfortunately for us in order to get on the ride in a timely manner on a Friday you had to have reservations. So we looked around the store for a bit at the different types of scotches. A few of us bought some scotch to take back with us that you can’t normally find around the U.S.

For some of us it was the last day in Scotland so we spent the day walking around the city exploring its heritage. Luckily for Mick and I we were staying an extra day so on Saturday we were able to do a tour of the Edinburgh Castle and watch a wedding take place there as well. After a long week of learning and drinking our week abroad in Scotland finally came to an end. I’ve learned more on this trip than I could have ever learned from a book and can now tell customers of my experiences and findings in Scotland.

Chris Sletvold's Trip to Scotland, Part 2

The next morning after another great breakfast, we piled back into the car and headed back out to the Speyside Region to Glenlivet Distillery. The steady rain made it seems like an eternity to get there. It was Mick’s day to drive and about 1 mile from the distillery he hits a curb and blows out the tire. We pull up and here he is in the pouring rain changing a flat tire on a narrow winding road. I was sure glad I wasn’t driving that day. Driving up the main road to the distillery you can see that this distillery was built for volume. Glenlivet is considered the biggest selling malt whiskey in the United States and is also considered the oldest legal distillery dating back to 1824 founded by George Smith. Glenlivet was the most modern looking distillery that we visited. Glenlivet is your “typical” tourist distillery and it shows. Not only do they have the most up to date machinery but their gift shop is second to none. We joined a group of tourists for our tour and headed out. It was impressive to see the size of their warehouse that was filled with barrels upon barrels of whiskey maturing in both Sherry and Bourbon barrels. While looking at some of the barrels I noticed that some were marked with their competitors’ names. When I asked the tour guide he said the great thing about being in the whiskey business is that all the distilleries work together and house barrels for other distilleries. He said you never place all your eggs in one basket. By sharing warehouses you lessen the chances of losing all your inventory if there was a fire or catastrophic event. That’s something you don’t see in the wine world but it makes a lot of sense. We then finally made it to the tasting area. Here we were able to taste the Glenlivet 12yr, Glenlivet 18yr, as well as the Glenlivet Nadurra (natural). While not my favorite of the trip so far, they still possessed great qualities of truly unique Speyside Whiskies. We were then taken up to their library where we were able to sample Glenlivet Founders Reserve which was a special bottling to celebrate their expansion 2 yrs ago. After lunch we jumped back into the car and headed to our next and final destination of the day.

Strathisla Distillery was our next destination of the day. Located in the Highlands this distillery is the oldest distillery of the Highlands in continuous operation dating back to 1789. Now owned by the Chivas Brothers this distillery has not changed much since it was built. They suffered a dust explosion in the late 1800’s but quickly rebuilt. Because of money constraints the distillery was built very tight and the ceilings made lower. There were a few places where I actually had to duck. Here I learned that the part of the alcohol that is used in making whiskey is the “middle run” which contains the best levels of pure alcohol. The “head” and Tail” are reused and made into the “middle run” in the next batch. Through tests you can determine which is the best pure alcohol to keep for making whiskey.

We then were able to sit down and taste 3 different whiskies. Two of them were blends while the other was a single malt whiskey. Blindly I was able to pick the single malt which was surprising to me. We tasted Strathisla 12yr, Chivas 12yr, as well as Chivas 18yr. Strathisla was quite tasty with its fruity and rich flavors. As a special treat we were taken down to the barrel room where behind a locked room you can see 3 barrels that were specially selected for the Royal Family to drink. Having been aged for decades they unfortunately could not give us a taste. We thanked our guide and started once again the long journey back to the city.

Joe Canal's Presents Rock & Vine Three Ranches Cab!

The fruit was selected from three ranches located in: Solano County (78%), Napa Valley (14%) and Mendocino County (8%) that showcases why the North Coast is the leader in California for growing Bordeaux varieties. The Solano County grapes highlight the rich and ripe black fruit flavors, while Napa Valley grapes provide the backbone: rich textures and firm well integrated tannins. Finally the Mendocino grapes tend toward dried herbs and a wonderful spice component that rounds out this intensely rich wine.

The elegant styled 2009 Rock & Vine exhibits gorgeous aromatics of pure black cherry and cassis interwoven with black tea and toasty oak. Medium bodied, with a solid core of blackberry and dark cherry fruit and hints of tobacco notes followed by great texture, sweet tannins, dense weight, equilibrium and a long finish.

Throw some steaks on the grill and try Rock & Vine Three Ranches Cab today for only $11.96 in our Bottle Club!

Chris Sletvold's Trip to Scotland, Part 1

How many people get to say they were able to travel Scotland and drink whiskey and it was all considered a work trip? Well, Mick Zack and I got to do just that. On Monday May 7, 2012 we headed to Newark International Airport to start our journey to a land filled with beauty and lots of whiskey. Since I am just getting started in the world of whiskey it was exciting to know I would get to learn from where it all starts. After a 7 hour trip across the Atlantic we touched down in Edinburgh, Scotland. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I got off the plane but was amazed by the beauty of the land and surrounding mountains. Clearing customs, we headed out to get our rental car and checked into our hotel. Heading to the rental car agency I noticed something strange when we started to pack up the car, the steering wheel was on the other side of the car! Not only that but when driving you are actually on the opposite side of the street as well! Geez, what did I sign up for, I have a hard enough time driving in America let alone on foreign soil on the opposite side of the car. I am pretty adventurous so I was up for the challenge and we headed off to check into the hotel. Mick took the first leg of driving and we got use to the changes quite fast. We settled into our rooms and headed out to get a bite to eat and take in some of the scenery. We stopped off at a restaurant around the corner from the hotel and had some food. I guess it’s because I am so used to such a fast paced lifestyle in the U.S. that everything over there seemed to move at slower pace. After eating what felt like my first meal in 24 hours we decided to head into the city of Edinburgh and take in some sights. Parking was a big issue since it seemed like everywhere you turned you had to have a permit to park. We finally found a spot, only to find out it had a meter and none of us had any pounds to put in the machine. Seeing us in a bind a nice lady generously handed us enough Pounds to get us 2 hrs worth of time. For those of you who like castles and history this was the place to be. Roads were still cobble stoned and very narrow at some points. After checking out a local Pub we headed back to the hotel to get some sleep for an exciting day the next morning.

We awoke the next morning at 7:30am (2:30am New Jersey time) and had breakfast. One of the things everyone said I had to try while in Scotland was haggis. I should have looked it up before I left because come to find out it was a pudding made with sheep parts encased in a sausage casing. Seeing everyone try it I had no choice but to give it a whirl. Lets just say that was a once in a lifetime experience that I am glad I did but will never do again. After a nice breakfast we were ready to head out to our first distillery. Today was my turn behind the wheel and with a good night's sleep the night before I was ready for the challenge. We plugged the address into GPS and for a moment I thought I put the wrong address in. It kept saying 3hrs to your destination. Come to find out nothing is close when you're in Scotland. Most distilleries make up the town they are located in. Besides a few B&Bs there was no lodging. We arrive at our first destination, Cragganmore Distillery, located in Banffshire. We were greeted by our tour guide. Founded in 1869, Cragganmore was situated close to the Strathspey railroad which made for easy means of transportation. At the start of our first tour we were disappointed by the news that no pictures were allowed to be taken once inside the distillery. Was there some secret? No, turns out that all distilleries have this policy for safety reasons. Grain can be very flammable and some older cameras still use flash bulbs that emit a little spark. Now knowing this I quickly turned off my camera. All distilleries use the same process when making whiskey. During the process there are small steps that can be added to make that particular whiskey unique. One of the biggest similarities amongst all the distilleries we visited is that they all had the same grinder machine. Turns out the company (from England) made their machine so well that they ended up putting themselves out of business. They are back in business now but apparently still make machinery to last. After a quick tour of Cragganmore we were treated to a surprise that we were going to Cardhu Distillery next. For a while Cardhu was very hard to get in New Jersey and I was excited to see if the hype was just that.

After a ten minute drive down a narrow 2 lane road we arrived at Cardhu Distillery. Located also in the Speyside region of Scotland, Cardhu was founded by John Cumming in 1824. The distillery was most run by his wife, who distilled the first batch of Cardhu, then it was handed down to their daughter-in-law Elizabeth Cumming. The neighbors loved Mrs. Cummings, she would warn them when the Excise Man was coming around by raising a certain flag up the pole that let bootleggers know to hide their equipment. The distillery was sold to John Walker & Sons in the late 1800’s but the Cummings’ would continue to run the daily operations. Turns out that Cardhu makes up an important part of what is blended into the Johnnie Walker blends today. My next question to myself was “when do we get to sample these whiskies?” Well turns out we were heading over to Drummuir Castle owned by Diageo. This private castle is not open to the public but to retailers like myself. Once inside we sat down at this magnificent table that had 6 bottles of whiskey waiting to be tasted. We tried Cardhu 12yr, Knockando 12yr, Cragganmore Distillers Edition, Cragganmore 29yr, Talisker 57 North, and my favorite but not available in U.S.A. Oban 32yr. Once finished tasting these gems we were headed to Speyside Cooperage.

Speyside Cooperage is really the only working cooperage in the UK. Here barrels are inspected and rebuilt to hold most of the whiskey you see in Scotland and other parts of the world. There are two main types of barrels. First is the bourbon barrel which is the smaller of the two barrels used. Most come all the way from Kentucky once they are discarded after 3 yrs of use. The second are Sherry barrels which can last decades before they are discarded. The type of barrel gives it is color. The darker the whiskey the more likely hood it was aged primarily in Sherry Butts. The lighter whiskies were main aged in Bourbon Barrels. It was amazing to see the craftsmanship that goes into making a barrel. The smartest part was that the Coopers were paid by the barrel and not by the hour. This in turn would make them work harder. Random inspections would make sure they are building sturdy and reliable barrels. After a walk around the grounds we started the 3.5hr journey back to Edinburgh taking in the rolling hills and acres upon acres of sheep. After a few pints of beer at the hotel bar we finally hit the sack around 1am Scotland time.