STEPHEN TEELING
Sales and Marketing Director at Teeling Whiskey
Hosted by Eanna Ryan, Teeling Whiskey Portfolio Manager
Friday, February 9th, 2018
7:00pm - 9:30pm
One of the biggest growth markets in the world is Irish whiskey and SCWC is proud to have special guest, Stephen Teeling present his family's line of fine whiskey in Los Angeles. This educational event will include appetizers served before the presentation. The Teeling trinity range (Small Batch, Single Grain, and Single Malt) along with some other special surprises will be sampled.
ABOUT THE PRESENTATION:
Stephen Teeling, sales and marketing director at Teeling Whiskey is the entrepreneurial son of the legendary John Teeling, the founder of Cooley Distillery. The two brothers are running Teeling Whiskey; Stephen is the sales and marketing director and Jack is the managing director.
Teeling Distillery is an Irish whiskey distillery established in Dublin in 2015. It is the first new whiskey distillery to have opened in Dublin in over 125 years. Now, six generations later, a new pair of Teelings have built a craft distillery in the same neighborhood. The phoenix rising from the pot in the logo symbolizes the rebirth of the Teeling Whiskey brand as it forges a new future for Dublin and Irish whiskey.
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Teeling Whiskey Portfolio Manager, Eanna Ryan will also be with us for this special event.
FUKANO DISTILLERY
with President Seiichi Fukano + Managing Director Chizuru Fukano
We have a very special tasting to announce. SCWC and our friends from the Malt Nuts will be hosting 2 very special guests from the Fukano Distillery in Southern Japan. Seventh generation President Seiichi Fukano and Managing Director Chizuru Fukano will be on hand to speak with us about their whiskies. We will be pouring whiskies that have never been tried by anyone outside of the distillery. This will event will take place at one of the best whisky bars in Southern California, the Daily Pint.
THE LINE-UP:
1. Fukano 2017 Edition (Whisky Advocate's “Top 20 Whiskies of 2017”)
2. Fukano 12 Year Single Cask
3. Fukano Sherry Cask
4. Fukano 2018 Edition (not yet released)
5. Fukano Single Cask (not yet released)
BEAM SUNTORY AMERICAN WHISKEY
hosted by West Coast American Whisk(e)y Ambassador Megan Breier
Monday, May 14th, 2018
6:45pm - 9:00pm
location: Old Man Bar @ Hatchet Hall (12517 W Washington Blvd 90066)
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Southern California Whiskey Club is very happy to present West Coast American Whisk(e)y Ambassador Megan Breier as she leads us through a tasting of some of the finest expressions from Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark. These prominent distilleries are located in Kentucky, in the heart of bourbon country, where over 90% of bourbon is produced. With almost 3 million barrels of whisk(e)y resting between the two distilleries, we have quite a few whiskies to choose from. We will be tasting some of the finest and rarest expressions straight from those charred oak barrels – cask strength and non-chill filtered.
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Pour List:
1. Booker’s Rye
2. Little Book
3. Knob Creek 25th Anniversary
4. Maker’s Mark Bill Samuel’s Private Select
BUFFALO TRACE: HISTORICAL NAMES of AMERICAN WHISKEY
led by Bill Nolan, Sazerac's Southern California State Manager
Tuesday, June 19th, 2018
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SCWC was very happy to have Bill Nolan, Sazerac's Southern California State Manager lead us through the Fathers of the Buffalo Trace Distillery. These prominent names are ingrained in the history of bourbon and we will taste these marks as we learn about the history of American whiskey. We will be tasting some rare expressions like Elmer T Lee and Blanton’s, and as something special for SCWC, we will also have the yet-to-be-released EH Taylor Four Grain. Yardbird serves up fresh and inventive takes on regional Southern food with excellent hospitality and decor. So it's a perfect match of whiskey, food, and fun!
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Pour List:
1. Buffalo Trace
2. Elmer T Lee
3. EH Taylor Four Grain "2018 Release"
4. Blanton’s
5. Stagg Jr.
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Gordon & MacPhail + The Water of Life Film
Joe McCluskey presenting Douglas Laing, Benromach, and Gordon & MacPhail
Tuesday, July 17th, 2018
location: The Phoenix (8480 W 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90048)
Southern California Whiskey Club was pleased to have Joe McCluskey, West Division Manager of Vision Wine and Spirits lead us through a fine line of scotch and share with us the new direction the company is taking. We did a side-by-side comparison to explain Imperial Proof, so bring an extra Glencairn. In addition there was also a presentation by Greg Swartz and Tom Costello about a new and exciting film project “The Water of Life”, a documentary about the creativity and craftsmanship at the heart of the worldwide explosion in single malt scotch. A look at Scotland’s master distillers and their ongoing quest to create the world’s best whisky. This was a great event to explore the different regions of Scotland and to get really detailed with nuances.
The distillery has been making Benromach since 1898 using the same spring water rising in nearby Romach Hills. At Benromach they handcraft their single malt scotch whisky and make it slowly, the time-honoured way. Brimming with gorgeous classic pre-1960s Speyside character, every drop is fine enough to be savoured as a single malt.
1. Benromach 10 Year Old
2. Benromach Imperial Proof 10 Year Old
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Douglas Laing & Co Remarkable Regional Malts:
Established in 1948, Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky blender and bottler specializing in genuinely Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.
3. Douglas Laing The Epicurean
4. Douglas Laing Timorous Beastie
5. Douglas Laing Scallywag
6. Douglas Laing Rock Oyster
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Gordon and MacPhail bottles over 300 expressions of single malt Scotch Whisky from distilleries throughout Scotland. Their long-established relationships with distillery owners throughout the country allow them to send their oak casks to the majority of Scotland’s working distilleries to be filled with ‘new make’ spirit, which then matures for many years at the distillery of origin or in our bonded warehouses in Elgin.
7. Gordon & Macphail Single Cask Craigellachie 19yr US Exclusive 56.6%
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more information about the brand at: visionwineandspirits.com
more information about The Water of Life Film: wateroflifefilm.com
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BOTTLE KILL 2018 / Club Fund Raiser
This event will be limited to those who have been supporting our club for a long time as a “thank you”.
Saturday, August 4, 2018
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We are finally having an overdue “bottle kill” event as a club fund raiser. We all know epic these are with a whole table full of random bottles; some have a few pours left and others are quite full, so don’t show up late. This will be a small event of 15-20 members with a lot of whiskey. Please bring your own glassware to this event (there will be some Glencairns provided if you need one).
SCWC will provide various food and snacks along with Linda Sing’s homemade birthday cake.
Smooth Ambler / Old Scout
with John Foster, National Director of Sales and Marketing
Tuesday, September 11, 2018
location: Lost Property Bar (1704 Vine St, Los Angeles, CA 90028)
Smooth Ambler is a craft distillery in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. It was established in 2009 by TAG Galyean and John Little and produces a number of spirits, including whiskeys, from grain to glass. The distillery is run by a small team, which includes Sales Director John Foster and Vice-President John Little, who's also the Head Distiller. Smooth Ambler also has their own range of whiskeys distilled elsewhere. This range is bottled under their Old Scout label, as they’ve ‘scouted’ out these bourbons and ryes. These are whiskeys with a character admired by John and the gang, bottled straight and often at higher than average ABVs.
Pour List:
1. Contradiction Bourbon (blend of wheated + high-rye bourbons) 46% ABV
2. Big Level Wheated Bourbon, Batch 19, 50% ABV
3. Old Scout American Whiskey 107, K&L Pick barrel #10108, 53.5% ABV
4. Old Scout American Whiskey 107, West Virginia, 53.5% ABV
5. Old Scout Single Barrel, Smooth Dramblers, 13yr, 51.9% ABV
6. Old Scout Single Barrel, Private Stock Distillery Only, Barrel #9494, 12yr, 43.4% ABV
less than 10 bottles in existence!
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Big thanks to Rhino and Jeremy @ Lost Property Bar for creating the welcome cocktail and kindly hosting SCWC. Ken Baranda of Pernod Ricard is the mastermind behind all of this to make it possible. There will also be a sales sheet for discounted purchase from K&L Wines.
ABERLOUR
with Andrew Weir, Aberlour Brand Leader
Monday, September 24, 2018
location: Kimpton Everly Hotel (1800 Argyle Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028)
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Southern California Whiskey Club was very excited to have an event with one of my favorite distilleries in Scotland. We were honored to have Aberlour brand leader, Andrew Weir, all the way from Ayr, Scotland (via Brooklyn) to educate us on their lovely expressions. Andrew has a vast knowledge of whisky and will take us beyond just the drinking experience – there’s a story, a history, a journey.
Aberlour is a true Speyside whisky that has been active since 1879. The whiskies are usually on the sweeter side with robust sherry cask influence, not smoky, and more fruity than spicy. The event will take place in the private backroom at the Kimpton Everly bar (near the Capitol Records building in classic Hollywood) to make this a stellar event.
Pour List :
• Aberlour 12 year Double Cask Matured
• Aberlour 12 Non-Chill Filtered
• Aberlour 16 year Double Cask Matured
• Aberlour 18 year Double Cask Matured
• Aberlour A'bunadh Batch #62
• Aberlour Casg Annamh (North American Debut)
• Aberlour SMWS 54.42, 9 year, First Fill Bourbon, 59.1% ABV, "A Washing Day in Spring"
• Aberlour Single Cask No. 18537, 16 years, 47.3% ABV (Illinois Exclusive, 162 Bottles Only)
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Big thanks to Ken Baranda of Pernod Ricard to make this possible.
Raasay Distillery
with Alasdair Day, Co-founder
Thursday, October 18th, 2018
7:00pm - 9:30pm
location: The Phoenix (8480 W 3rd St. Los Angeles, CA 90048)
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The first to taste a brand new Scottish distillery!
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A brand new Scottish distillery has started to produce whisky and we can be the first club to taste and explore what they are doing. SCWC will have Alasdair Day (great-grandson of Richard Day, a whisky blender who was doing Compass Box style blends back in the late 1800’s) present Raasay Distillery from his firsthand knowledge as the main partner.
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Pour list:
• Raasay While We Wait 3rd Release
• Rassay While We Wait 2018 Release
• Raasay Distillery New Make
• The Tweeddale 12 Year
• The Tweeddale Grain of Truth
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Raasay Distillery:
The Isle of Raasay Distillery began distilling in September 2017. It takes three years of maturation in oak cask before they can legally call the spirit “whisky”. This means they will be bottling the first legal Isle of Raasay Single Malt Scotch Whisky in 2020. All maturation will be carried out on the island in their own warehouse behind the distillery, which will maximise the influence of the variable Hebridean climate on the final single malt whisky. Working with local crofters, they are growing barley in a nearby field, the first time in over 40 years. They intend to expand such collaboration across Raasay, while using local peat to dry the barley to eventually craft a special release of 100% Isle of Raasay single malt.
The Tweeddale Brand:
First established in 1820 in Coldstream, Scottish Borders, by wine and spirits merchants J&A Davidson. Alasdair's great grandfather Richard Day joined the business in 1895 and began learning the art of blending, recording detailed recipes in the company sales ledger that became his "cellar book". He eventually took over the business in 1923 and retired after World War II. In 2009, Alasdair inherited his great grandfather's cellar book and used one of its recipes to recreate the first modern Tweeddale Blend.
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Big thanks to Joe McCluskey & Adam @ The Phoenix to make this possible.
WESTWARD AMERICAN SINGLE MALT
Symposium by Jordan Felix, National Westward American Single Malt Advocate
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
7:00pm - 9:00pm
location: Yardbird Southern Table & Bar (La Cienega & 3rd Street @ The Beverly Center)
Southern California Whiskey Club is proud to have Jordan Felix, National Westward American Single Malt Advocate lead us through a special presentation about House Spirits Distillery and Westward Whiskey. This will be an in depth educational symposium about how single malt is made and you’ll get to explore the steps to create the final product.
Deconstruction of Westward American Single Malt:
• History and timeline of House Spirits Distillery and Westward Whiskey
• Tasting Pacific Northwest malted barley along with the beer (wort)
• New make (direct off the still) before it become whiskey
• Discuss the mingling of barrels and taste Westward American Single Malt.
• Learn more about the future of American Single Malt
Pour List:
• Westward Beer
• Westward New Make
• Westward American Single Malt
• Westward 100 Proof Prototype (not available yet)
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About Westward American Single Malt Whiskey [website]:
Distilled at House Spirits in Portland, Oregon. Westward American Single Malt Whiskey is a grain-to-glass celebration of the American pioneer spirit. Made from scratch from Pacific Northwest two-row barley, fermented with American ale yeast for outstanding flavor, double pot distilled for exceptional character, matured in new American oak barrels, and never chill filtered, Westward brings together the very best of the American whiskey and craft beer traditions.
Jordan Felix is the National Westward American Single Malt Advocate. Before joining the House Spirits Distillery team last year, Jordan ran the world recognized Multnomah Whisk(e)y Library and worked on the James Beard nominated team at Clyde Common in Portland, Oregon. Managing bars from Melbourne, Australia to New York City, he is dedicated to educating about spirits and sharing hospitality with the world. Jordan is an amateur writer, a keen swimmer and speaks conversational Japanese. Achievements include Food & Wine’s Best New Mixologist of 2015 and 2011 Portland Iron Bartender.
Big thanks to Brooke Arthur & Erin Hayes @ Westward Whiskey and Yardbird Southern Table & Bar to make this possible.
Penderyn Welsh Single Malt Whisky
Presented by Chris Uhde
Chris Uhde The Whisky Redhead, the First Name in L.A. Whiskey, and co-founder is coming out of hibernation to present this wonderful whisky to the club. Penderyn is a Welsh whisky distilled once in an unique Faraday copper still with an added purifier and rectification column. Launched in 2004 in the presence of HRH Prince Charles, Penderyn has built on its early promise and really carved a niche for itself winning a ton of awards lately. It is also important to note that their distilling and blending team are all women.
Southern California Whiskey Club will be featuring Welsh food (Welsh cakes and Brwâs) served at the conclusion, Penderyn swag, special bottles, and a corgi. The first 15 to sign-up receive a complimentary Penderyn Glencairn Copita glass courtesy of JVS Imports.
Pour List:
1. Penderyn Legend Single Malt
2. Penderyn Myth Single Malt
3. Penderyn Celt Single Malt
4. Penderyn Madeira Finish "Old Release"
5. Penderyn Madeira Finish “New Release"
6. Penderyn Sherrywood
+ other surprises
Big thanks to Sam Filmus (JVS Imports) and Rhino Williams and Jeremy Lake (Lost Property Bar) to make this possible.
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Meet Penderyn’s All Women Distilling Team:
http://penderyn.wales/meet-penderyns-women-distilling-team/
World Intellectual Property Organization article:
http://www.wipo.int/wipo_magazine/en/2014/01/article_0007.html
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America
presented by Jenna Elie
We are returning to the old school SCWC event style with Jenna Elie of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America presenting a special flight of expressions just for us. The tasting format will be blind (bottle label obscured) with some curveballs thrown in (i.e. amagnac/cognac, grain whisky, bourbon, or rum​ as possible examples​) to illustrate the diversity of their expanding portfolio. Try to figure out what each expression is, or just sit back and enjoy. It’s a win-win situation to experience these unique SMWSA bottles in the comfortable back room at the Village Idiot. At the conclusion please stay with us for dinner, the food is delicious!
