Kevin Erskine runs a great little blog I have been reading for awhile now. He covers Whisky and I didn't realise until a recent post that he was also the author of a book on the subject.

Not seen a copy personally but his post says that The Instant Expert's Guide to Single Malt Scotch has been expanded and updated for a second edition. I guess mistakes and errors creep in to a lot of published works but Kevin assures that these have all been corrected. He has also made several corrections in light of reader feedback and expanded much of the info. For anyone with an interest in the greatest of Scottish drinks this might be worth looking at.

He writes "I'm confident that it remains what it was meant to be: a gentle introduction to Scotch whisky for the novice."

It is available from Amazon.com for just US$8.95 and from Amazon.co.uk for £6.

 

The only Swedish whisky distiller, Mackmyra, has released a single malt. Coming from the countries only distiller means it is also the only Swedish malt whisky.

Preludium:01 is a blend of the premier casks of whisky made in the small-scale distillery in 1999, when it was founded, and the first ones from the new distillery, opened in 2002. Although, like scotch whisky the producers use ex-bourbon casks and ex-sherry butts, they have an added local feel by utilising new casks made of Swedish Oak.

They took the first first-fill sherry cask, the first first-fill bourbon cask, the first Swedish oak cask, and mixed it together and to get the volume. Adding the new distillery caks as well made a mix of everything they have produced.

Preludium:01is the first in a series of six that will be released during 2006 and 2007.

[From The Scotch Blog]

An American who began collecting Glenfiddich whisky after seeing it being served at the the wedding of Princes Charles and Diana in 1981 has purchased the world's oldest single malt whisky. He brought it at an auction for more than £11,400.

The bottle of Glenfiddich was distilled in 1937, fetched $20,0000, about £11,400, during the sale in New York.  The bidding at the Scotland Village in Grand Central Station began at $5,000 and rose in $1,000 steps before Mr Weiss, a computer software director, entered the fray at $19,000 and put forward his $20,000 offer.

It was bottled in 2001 after the distillers found it had the requisite amount of alcohol - 40% abv - needed for a single malt.

Sister weblog Luxist was at the auction.