This Scotch was on the Rocks for 100 Years

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Published: Saturday, 05 December 2009 20:00

Written by Associated Press

WELLINGTON, New Zealand - A beverage company has asked a team to drill through Antarctica's ice for a lost cache of some vintage Scotch whiskey that has been on the rocks since a century ago.

The drillers will be trying to reach two crates of McKinlay and Co. whiskey that were shipped to the Antarctic by British polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton as part of his abandoned 1909 expedition.

Whyte & Mackay, the drinks group that now owns McKinlay and Co., has asked for a sample of the 100-year-old scotch for a series of tests that could decide whether to relaunch the now-defunct Scotch.

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Decadence and Debauchery in Foggy London Town Part II

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Published: Wednesday, 21 October 2009 05:57

Written by Tatu Kaarlas

So it has been almost a year since I wrote the first part of Decadence and Debauchery in Foggy London Town and now that the 2009 Rum Fest is almost here I thought now might be a good time to write about my experience of the 2008 Rum Fest and what to expect when you go there.

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Appleton Estate Launches Exclusive Edition Rum

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Published: Wednesday, 23 September 2009 23:21

Written by Tatu Kaarlas

September 22, 2009: Kingston, Jamaica.Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum is introducing a new luxury rum that will only be available at the Appleton Estate Rum Tour. Appleton Estate Exclusive Edition will be available for sale at the Appleton Estate Rum Tour as of September 21, 2009.

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The Manager's Choice

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Published: Wednesday, 09 September 2009 20:00

Written by Tatu Kaarlas

Diageo has announced the launch of its first single-cask collection of single malt Scotch whiskies.

This is the first time that Scotland's biggest estate of single malt distilleries has issued a comprehensive series of single-cask bottlings.

Labelled The Managers' Choice, the rare limited-edition series is aimed at collectors and connoisseurs who will enjoy owning and exploring an unusual expression of their favourite single malt or even a whole anthology of highly individual single malts, chosen to represent each of 27 distilleries’ distinctive but authentic whisky signature.

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Ron Zacapa Part III: The Evolution of the Packaging

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Published: Saturday, 27 June 2009 14:00

Written by René van Hoven

The packaging of Ron Zacapa Centenario has changed a few times since its introduction in 1976. Lorena explains that only the outside has changed, not the inside. The process they use now is the same they used before. Though it is a process with a lot of hand labour and it is always possible that (slowly) some minor changes appear, but people have to understand that this is not a mathematical process but a very personal one.

Some people say they have noticed a change in the flavour, but there is nothing changed in the process in the past 15 years that might explain that. Perhaps it is perception or something psychological. Many people think that since Zacapa is with Diageo the quality has to be different.

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Ron Zacapa Part II: Solera System Explained

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Published: Friday, 26 June 2009 14:00

Written by René van Hoven

Zacapa's aging and blending facility near Quetzaltenango is where Lorena spends most of her time. Here is where the white oak barrels seek shelter, and where the rum will lie dormant throughout the aging period. This facility is called The House Above the Clouds and it is an important part of the complex ageing system of Zacapa.

This place is situated on the mountainside about 2300 meters (7,655 feet) above sea level. Several atmospheric conditions contribute to this aging process: Here the days are warm and the nights are cool.

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Ron Zacapa Part I: Interview with the Master Blender

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Published: Thursday, 25 June 2009 14:00

Written by René van Hoven

Refined Vices and René van Hoven of Rumpages present to you a three part interview with the Master Blender of Ron Zacapa; The largest collection of information regarding Ron Zacapa on the Internet.

On Wednesday first of April (no April fools joke!) I had a long conversation with Lorena Vásquez, the Master Blender of Zacapa. In this interview you will find the results of a 1½ hour conversation in combination with information I collected from their website and other information I had already sourced.

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Mount Gay 1703 The Superlative of Rum

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Published: Sunday, 31 May 2009 10:40

Written by Tatu Kaarlas

A symbol of luxury, glamour and revelry for centuries, the island of Barbados is also the home of Mount Gay Rum, the finest, oldest brand of rum in existence. Since 1703, Mount Gay has consistently produced rums of unsurpassed excellence and purity, proving itself to truly be the rum that invented rum.

And now, this legendary brand has once more made history. In honour of its rich heritage and centuries-old excellence, Mount Gay has crafted an entirely new product of such rarity and indescribable opulence that it may only be deemed the superlative of rum: 1703 Old Cask Selection.

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