tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52725945255407667352011-12-21T16:04:22.837-05:00A blog about life, whisky, food, whisky, music, movies, books, whisky, and maybe something else too... did I already mention whisky?WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.comBlogger361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-26172132888637122132011-12-21T16:01:00.002-05:002011-12-21T16:04:22.845-05:00

Now that I've got a weekly column for the print edition of a small local weekly (40,000+ print subscribers), I've shifted to a new website. Anyone interested in reading more of me can do so there: www.joshuaelondon.com

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-91519487055046363632011-06-20T14:34:00.005-04:002011-06-20T14:41:28.632-04:00

What can I say, I've been busy... I now have another writing gig to keep me even more busy - a weekly wine and spirits column for a local print publication (30,000+ paid subscribers). I'll try and post stuff here when I have downtime, but a weekly means producing an awful lot of content.

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-59109423696265891492010-05-27T11:48:00.003-04:002010-05-27T11:52:50.261-04:00

I'll try to get back into the swing of things soon. Meanwhile, I've been very, very busy since my last posting. I visited Scotland in the first week of Jan 2010 (it was a veritable winter-wonderland -- visited Tomatin, Glenmorangie and Balblair distilleries), I conducted a bunch of booze tastings (Scotch, Tequila, Bourbon, Scotch again, etc.), and I've written a bunch of articles for some local

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-74409934106309632802009-12-16T14:15:00.000-05:002009-12-17T14:20:08.948-05:00

OK, so I'm like way behind...but here is a cool story sent by a friend. It is super cool. Here is the story in situ, and here it is below:World's First Single Malt Menorahby Yaacov Behrman - Buckhurst Hill, Londonlubavitch.com) Two hundred people showed up at Buckhurst Hill Chabad to watch the lightning of a 7 foot menorah built out of clear piping filled with 65 Litres of Single Malt

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-20481167696521005382009-12-02T12:10:00.003-05:002009-12-03T08:05:41.441-05:00

Today Bloomberg.com posted an interesting story about investments and expectations in the Scotch Whisky trade. You can read it in situ here. Or read it below:Whisky Makers Spend $800 Million to Age Scotch for China, India Share Business By Rodney JeffersonDec. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Ninety years after Johnnie Walker stopped making Scotch in Annandale, David Thomson wants to put the distillery back on

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-50287726787933342772009-11-24T22:15:00.012-05:002009-11-25T00:30:13.443-05:00

Starting yesterday, some new wide-ranging regulations have gone into effect in Scotland: Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009. Here is the BBC story, here is the Scotsman.com story, and here is the full text of the new legislation.These regulations have been greatly welcomed by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), as SWA's chief executive, Gavin Hewitt, said: "This is landmark legislation for Scotch

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-24687214545096672422009-11-24T00:24:00.004-05:002009-11-24T21:56:00.510-05:00

OK, Over at The Malt Advocate blog, John Hansell, Publisher and Editor of that fine publication that published my article on the George Washington Distillery, posted the story about the Edrington Group's decision to mothball the Tamdhu distillery, and it has sparked an interesting and ongoing discussion. Per usual, I have written way to much. You can check it all out in situ by clicking here.For

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-45911261511110069772009-11-22T11:50:00.010-05:002009-11-22T12:55:18.270-05:00

The Edrington Group (the folks who own The Famouse Grouse, The Macallan, Highland Park, Glenrothes and Glenturret, and have a stake in Berry Bros. & Rudd Ltd's Cutty Sark), have just decided to close the Tamdhu Distillery after 112 years of operation. Roughly 31 men and women in Scotland are losing their jobs with Edrington. In other news, meanwhile, did I mention that the Edrington Group cleaned

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-73435461682315586212009-11-19T16:28:00.006-05:002009-11-19T17:25:54.225-05:00

It seems two cases of whisky that had been taken along to the South Pole by Sir Ernest Shackelton's expedition have recently been discovered, though not as of yet unearthed. Shackleton's failed 1909 polar expedition abandoned all sort of supplies, including these two crates of a long since discontinued brand of blended Scotch whisky called "McKinlay and Co." Although the whisky has long been out

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-40560265119061045032009-11-15T05:58:00.004-05:002009-11-21T18:07:54.185-05:00

OK, so this is an OLD story, but I only just read it. It appeared on August 8th, 2010 on the HeraldScotland.com website, click here for the original posting. The only author byline was "heraldscotland staff." Who owns our whisky?Diageo is cutting 900 jobs at Kilmarnock and elsewhere, and Indian-owned Whyte & Mackay is axing 100 more. But does it matter that conglomerates and firms outside

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-988180366658551052009-11-12T13:26:00.001-05:002009-11-13T13:41:36.896-05:00

I only just got my copy today, so there is much I can say at this point about Whiskypedia: A Gazetteer of scotch Whisky by Charles MacLean (Birlinn Ltd July 31, 2009; 352 pages; $30). That said, it looks tremendously good.Until I have a chance to review this, here is some of the marketing blurb:Individual distilleries give their whiskies unique characteristics. These characteristics do not arise

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-68085682578086932202009-11-10T22:22:00.019-05:002009-11-13T13:26:19.170-05:00

OK, so I actually did this last week, but I then flew out of town for for a few days and have only just gotten back...sorry for the delay.Last Thursday I led another single malts masterclass for tastedc.com. This one was held at the Embassy Row Hilton in the Dupont Circle area of Washington, DC. I don't recall how many of these I've done to date, but Charlie, the tastedc promoter/organizer, keeps

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-19920203532104640102009-11-04T12:51:00.004-05:002009-11-05T11:12:43.525-05:00

Over at the "What Does John Know?" blog of Malt Advocate magazine's editor and publisher, John Hansell reports that his contact at Skyy Spirits LLC , sole distributor for Gruppo Campari (aka the Campari Group), informed him that they will be importing Glen Grant single malt Scotch whisky and that the first bottles will be available for tasting at WhiskyFest NY on November 10th, 2009.Commenting

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-26383041769287754962009-10-29T13:25:00.006-04:002009-11-04T13:29:41.833-05:00

OK, so actually Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010 arrived last week, but I've been busy and haven't had a chance to thumb through it till now. While it remains a VERY handy pocket reference for whisky shopping, I am once again hard pressed to understand some of Murray's tasting notes. Mostly though, I have a definite sense of where he coming from and so can use his reviews as a sort of rough guide.

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-66833469942293102452009-10-29T00:58:00.004-04:002009-10-29T13:56:29.595-04:00

OK, so I just got back from the SMWSA's 16th Annual Extravaganza and wanted to update the blog with some quick impressions. I'll follow-up later with some actual tasting note and maybe a few more thoughts, but I wanted to get my first impressions down before my memory fades too quickly. Besides, it might take me some while to read the scribbles that pass for notes...The event was wonderful. It

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-72754660515455635882009-10-28T00:19:00.008-04:002009-10-28T01:12:13.268-04:00

I am excited! Tomorrow, well actually later tonight now, is the 16th Annual Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza sponsored, as always, by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America. I have been a member of the Society since 1989 and I've been going to their annual tasting event EVERY year since. [I am actually also a member of the UK Scotch Malt Whisky Society; I have family in London, and go

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-355732423984067742009-10-23T15:01:00.006-04:002009-10-26T11:51:43.209-04:00

This just in from the wires (so I have not tasted it yet, and given the cost, might not ever get the chance): Limited Edition Old Rip Van Winkle Bourbon Whiskey to be releasedFRANKLIN COUNTY, KY— The Van Winkle family is pleased to announce the release of a very limited Old Rip Van Winkle Family Selection 23 year-old bourbon whiskey decanter. Every barrel of whiskey was chosen from the lower,

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-73328294347340256622009-10-22T21:48:00.048-04:002009-11-12T11:42:55.197-05:00

So this evening I finally got around to cracking open a whisky sample I got a few years back while preparing a scotch whisky article for volume 3 of Mixologist: The Journal of the American Cocktail. Mixologist is/was a first rate annual journal I used to copy-edit/contribute to.[The Mixologist venture has been put on hold while the editors/publishers have gotten VERY busy with other (hopefully)

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-90383151374592372932009-10-20T19:43:00.011-04:002009-10-20T20:44:40.816-04:00

Today's post has brought me my copy of Whiskey & Philosophy: A Small Batch of Spirited Ideas edited by Fritz Allhoff and Marcus P. Adams with a foreword by Charles MacLean (John Wiley & Sons: October 2009; 384 pages; $21.95). This is the latest in the "X (foodstuffs) & Philosophy" series by Allhoff, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Western Michigan University. I have off and on been reading

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-66588053242086860562009-10-20T16:50:00.000-04:002009-10-21T15:28:50.823-04:00

Over at The Malt Advocate blog, John Hansell, Publisher and Editor of that fine publication that published my article on the George Washington Distillery, posed the following to his blog readership: "Is it acceptable to “enhance” a whisky to make it more appealing? Or is it improper to do something like this?"His blog post was inspired by an exchange he had with Dr. Whisky on Dr. whisky's blog.

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-57007013229204056272009-10-18T22:04:00.017-04:002009-10-21T14:50:42.019-04:00

Almost two years ago now, I stumbled across a true gem of a whisky, and at such a reasonable price. In Yiddish, it's a metzieh (rhymes with "Let's see ya") or a real find! A bargain! A lucky break! Drinking it now, every sip, is such a mechaye (rhymes with "messiah") or a real pleasure! Such a Joy! The whisky in question is the Kirkland Signature 19-year-old Single Malt Scotch from the Macallan

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-82008360574948475522009-10-17T23:33:00.000-04:002009-10-21T10:38:01.919-04:00

OK, so I sort of abandoned this whole blog thing a bit sharpish about a year ago. As someone who used to earn a living writing and editing, I still haven't fully wrapped my head around the notion of writing NOT for pay. Frankly, I remain ambivalent. Yet, when I suddenly do get the hankering to write, I quickly (re)learn that I have been out of the professional writing game to long to simply jump

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-39089562118420713592008-10-28T12:16:00.001-04:002009-10-23T12:20:50.516-04:00

This blog post is another of those pieces that originally appeared in the Weekend Edition section of the Washington Examiner print edition back on April 21 & 2, 2007. Like MOST of my fairly regular output for them, this was never posted to their website and so it lost for all time...until now. ;-)Avid wine drinkers and food lovers the world over all face a fairly regular question: What should we

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-49381831004013194852008-10-23T23:26:00.010-04:002009-10-23T16:46:31.740-04:00

This blog post is another of those pieces that originally appeared in the Weekend Edition section of the Washington Examiner print edition back on July 30 & 31, 2005. Like MOST of my fairly regular output for them, this was never posted to their website and so it lost for all time...until now. ;-)One of the most tortuous aspects of Washington’s summers is the speed with which the baking, blinding

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-23366472385061971152008-10-21T00:28:00.002-04:002009-10-22T00:00:46.838-04:00

This blog post is another of those pieces that originally appeared in the pages of the Washington Examiner back on March 21th, 2007. This one actually IS still available online at the Examiner website, so you could either go there directly by clicking here, or simply read below.WASHINGTON - As Passover begins the evening of April 2, Jews will recount the biblical story of the exodus from Egypt to

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-64036122043211409002008-10-20T00:24:00.001-04:002009-10-20T00:27:08.193-04:00

This blog post is another of those pieces that originally appeared in the pages of the Washington Examiner back on March 14th, 2007. This one actually IS still available online at the Examiner website, so you could either go there directly by clicking here, or simply read below. WASHINGTON - There’s nothing more warming, soothing, calming and, well, fortifying than a nice glass of port wine. Of

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-67611441940127965572008-10-20T00:19:00.000-04:002009-10-20T00:23:29.780-04:00

This blog post is another of those pieces that originally appeared in the pages of the Washington Examiner back on January 3rd, 2007. This one actually IS still available online at the Examiner website, so you could either go there directly by clicking here, or simply read below. WASHINGTON - So the New Year is upon us, and already I’ve given up on at least one ill-conceived resolution. But why

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-24142824379034765842008-10-20T00:10:00.001-04:002009-10-20T00:17:50.171-04:00

This blog post is another of those pieces that originally appeared in the pages of the Washington Examiner back in 2006. This one actually IS still available online at the Examiner website, so you could either go there directly by clicking here, or simply read below. WASHINGTON - While on the west coast last week I had occasion to sample an unusual and, frankly, unfortunate tasting spirit, Green

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-10028217019489053002008-10-19T23:30:00.002-04:002009-10-20T00:07:45.535-04:00

This blog post originally appeared in the 29th & 30th of April, 2006, Weekend Edition issue (page 24) of The Washington Examiner. It is a very brief (it was the only space my then editor would spare for that issue) review of Hugh Johnson's memoir, A Life Uncorked. Recently, I had the opportunity to catch up with world-renowned wine writer Hugh Johnson as he breezed through town promoting his

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-51655543760569430202008-09-30T23:31:00.001-04:002009-10-19T23:02:56.869-04:00

(This blog post originally appeared as an article in the Weekend section of the August 27 & 28, 2005 print edition of The Washington Examiner, page 4; reposted here mostly to maintain a record and fill space.)If wedding bells are in the air, at some point you will need to discuss the wedding reception. As a wedding is one of the most festive moments in one’s life, the drinks that will fuel the

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-8367653750254387772008-09-06T23:21:00.001-04:002009-10-19T22:59:43.081-04:00

While out food shopping the other day, my wife came across some beautiful looking trout and decided to pick two up for dinner. Having never actually cooked whole trout before, I dipped into my cookery book library to see what recipes I could find. After much perusal, and minimal discussion, we quickly agreed on this delicious recipe from Cooking with Scotch Whisky by Rosalie Gow (Gordon Wright

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-51902859620304333902008-09-05T11:25:00.047-04:002009-10-19T23:06:39.355-04:00

The rumors and reports about the sale of Glendronach have been circulating in the whisky news world at least since June, with speculations being substantiated higgledy piggledy through early August. The sale is now complete. The Glendronach Distillery was sold by Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin division of French drinks giant Pernod Ricard, to the The Benriach Distillery

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-2456151018907213972008-09-03T23:58:00.004-04:002008-09-04T14:29:38.293-04:00

So I'm a tad behind on this, but, hey, I only just started this blog the other day.DISCUS, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (a national trade association), issued a press release early last month: "For Sale: First Whiskey in 200 Years at George Washington's Distillery." In a nutshell, the Mount Vernon Estate, with generous support from DISCUS and its members, discovered the

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-77228951599398504122008-09-02T00:22:00.003-04:002009-10-19T23:07:18.833-04:00

(This blog post originally appeared as an article in the Cooking section of the Wednesday, September 13, 2006 print edition of The Washington Examiner, page 33; reposted here mostly to maintain a record and fill space.)Looking for a quick, delicious, elegant, yet totally easy one-pan recipe for dinner tonight? Sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it. Well look no further. This peppered steak with

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-52562481617051714852008-09-01T23:45:00.000-04:002008-09-04T14:09:36.033-04:00

(This blog post originally appeared as an article in the Cooking section of the Wednesday, September 13, 2006 print edition of The Washington Examiner, page 33; reposted here mostly to maintain a record and fill space. This was a companion piece to my beef/salmon steak in whisky cream sauce recipe.)The notion that wine, beer, and sometimes spirits can make for an excellent accompaniment to a fine

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5272594525540766735.post-53393381700979015852008-08-31T16:15:00.000-04:002008-09-04T12:38:15.994-04:00

Every once in a blue moon someone whose ear I'm bending about whisky, or cooking, or films, or any of my other interests, gets around to suggesting that I either write a book or start a blog. Now I know full well that people who tell me this are mostly just being polite and/or nicely suggesting that I leave it alone or simply go away... Which is fair enough. I hate nothing more than bores,

WSNChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15659457213353109253noreply@blogger.com0