The Nose Knows: Tasting the Dalmore with Richard Paterson

Last month I was invited to sample several expressions of The Dalmore single malt Scotch at an intimate event held at the Varnish. The tasting was conducted by Richard Paterson (aka “The Nose”), third generation Master Blender for Whyte & Mackay, which owns and operates The Dalmore. Paterson is also the author of Goodness Nose…

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The Macallan in Lalique: Cire Perdue Global Fundraising Exhibition

Building on previous successful collaborations, The Macallan and Lalique have partnered to produce a one-of-a-kind decanter, made using the ancient cire perdue (“lost wax”) method. Created in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of René Lalique’s birth, this decanter will hold the oldest and rarest Macallan ever bottled by the renowned distillery. The Macallan in Lalique:…

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Rising Stars Shine at the 2010 StarChefs Revue

Last week, the best and brightest young stars in the Southern California culinary world gathered to showcase their talents at the 2010 StarChefs Rising Stars Revue. The tasting gala and awards ceremony, held at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows in Santa Monica, featured food from up-and-coming culinary talent from the top restaurants in Los…

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Reconstructing the Balvenie Signature Deconstruction Dinner

photos by Lena Watanabe Last year, famed Speyside distillery The Balvenie released Batch No. 2 of Signature, a 12 year old single malt Scotch created by Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart in celebration of his 45th year in the whisky industry. The Signature is a marriage of three different casks: first-fill bourbon barrels, refill casks…

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A Toast to the Bard of Ayrshire

It’s January 25, and on this day in 1759, the great Romantic poet Robert Burns was born. To celebrate Burns Night, people around the world will gather for a Burns Supper and eat haggis, drink whisky, and recite Burns’ poetry. Now, any event that calls for drams of whisky is fine by me, but a…

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When Scotland Met Portugal: The Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 Year Old

The Balvenie has been called “the bourbon lover’s scotch,” a perfect description of the smooth, honeyed sweetness found in the Speyside distillery’s single malts. For the last several years, Balvenie has been one of the foremost practitioners of the wood-finished style, in which traditionally-aged Scotch is “finished” for an additional two years (or more) in…

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Finishing Strong: The Balvenie Madeira Cask 17 Year Old

images courtesy The Balvenie To coincide with the U.S. release of its Madeira Cask 17 Year Old, Scotland’s renowned Speyside distillery The Balvenie held a series of launch events in key cities across the country. The Madeira Cask is the latest release in the Balvenie 17 Year Old Limited Edition Range. Each year, Malt Master…

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October 13: The Great Whisk(e)y Debate

There are many issues on the public’s minds these days: health care, the economy, Afghanistan. But really, these topics pale in comparison to the truly important question of our time: bourbon or scotch whisky? The Great Whisk(e)y Debate aims to settle this argument (or perhaps start a bunch of new ones) with a fun, interactive…

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