Saturday, December 03, 2005

STILLMEN DOMINATE AWARDS

The unrivalled expertise of the Glengoyne Stillmen was confirmed with their personally-chosen Single Malts taking the lead in a host of awards bestowed on the distillery in this year’s Malt Maniacs Awards in Edinburgh.

With more than 100 bottles entered into the Malt Maniacs competition, Glengoyne was certainly the big winner of 2005. The distillery took away two awards and seven medals including, two Gold Medals, three Silver Medals and two Bronze.

Ewan’s Choice, the 19 Years Old Single Malt selected by Stillman Ewan Hendry as his personal favourite, won not only a Gold Award, but was also the winner of the Highlands Award of Excellence. Judges commented that it would also have received the Top Sherry Cask Award, if the rules hadn’t prevented the same malt from winning more than one award.

The Glengoyne 22 Years Old, which was Stillman Ronnie Palmer’s personal choice, also impressed the judges. Winning the Top Bourbon Cask Award and a Silver Medal, it was described as a bit of a closet ‘sherry monster’ by the judges.

Not to be outdone, Duncan McNicoll, the longest serving Glengoyne Stillman at 27 years, was proud to hear that Duncan’s Choice, the Glengoyne 15 Years Old also received a Gold Medal. Judges described it as ‘Very complex but balanced … with a delicate palate!’

Stuart Hendry, Glengoyne Brand Heritage and Commercial Manager said: “We are delighted. No one knows Glengoyne’s Single Malts better than the men who create them and it is fantastic for us to have the quality of our malts and the excellent taste and hard work of our Stillmen recognised.”

The three bottlings will be available through specialist retailers worldwide. Stuart Hendry said: “They were intended to be exclusive to the Glengoyne Distillery shop but after we swept the board we felt it unfair to keep them all to ourselves!"

Recommended UK retail prices are Duncan’s Choice £80, Ewan’s Choice £100 and Ronnie’s Choice £120.

Other Glengoyne Single Malts to receive accolade were the Glengoyne 15 Years Old Scottish Oak Wood Finish, Glengoyne 19 Years, Glengoyne 32 Years and the Glengoyne 37 Years Old Single Limited Edition Casks.

If you're keen on any or all of the Stillemen's Choices, here are their tasting notes.

They are all unchill-filtered, natural colour, cask strength and individually numbered, limited edition single cask bottlings:

Duncan’s Choice
Aged: 15 years
Description: dark walnut colour, and fruity sweet, sherry-oak taste
Wood Type: Sherry Hogshead
Cask No: 1204
Bottle No: 1/350
Strength: 70cl 55.7% vol.
Distillation Date: 4th July 1989
Bottling Date: May 2005
Approved by Duncan McNicoll

Ewan’s Choice
Aged: 19 years
Description: dark and rich, with sweet Christmas pudding aromas
Wood Type: Sherry Puncheon
Cask No: 441
Bottle No: 1/600
Strength: 70cl 51.5% vol.
Distillation Date: 13th April 1986
Bottling Date: May 2005
Approved by Ewan Hendry

Ronnie’s Choice
Aged: 22 years
Description: hints of vanilla and coconut
Wood Type: Bourbon Barrel
Cask No: 449
Bottle No: 1/200
Strength: 70cl 53.6% vol.
Distillation Date: 23rd December 1982
Bottling Date: May 2005
Approved by Ronnie Palmer

For further information contact Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd on tel: 01506 852205 or www.glengoyne.com

See also www.maltmaniacs.com

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