SPIRITUAL GUIDE | ISSUE FOUR

WELCOME TO THE

SPIRITUAL GUIDE A guide for spiritual enlightenment by the pious team at Glengarry.

Join us monthly as we explore everything spirit related.

Welcome to the fourth edition of our journey into the spiritual world. This issue we toy with the idea of Newton being hit by a very different type of apple when we explore Calvados and what it is, "research" the best of the best cognacs in the world, experiment with Kombucha and spirits, explore the history of GlenDronach and finally we give you something that's really worth listening to when we go aerial!

Our congregation meets monthly as we heighten our senses and understanding of the spirits surrounding us, we hope you’ll continue to join.

CALVADOS | NEWTONS CONUNDRUM

If a young Isaac Newton had been sitting beneath one of Christian Drouin’s apple trees, the fateful collision from above would have led to quite a different result. The rogue apple, encased in a decanter bottle, would have caused a concussion much sooner than the discovery of gravity.

Fanciful daydreams aside, Drouin’s Pomme Prisonniere is quite literally an imprisoned apple. The fruit is grown from bud to ripeness

‘What is a Calvados?’ I hear from the rearmost

in a personalised glasshouse before being

seats. Calvados is an apple brandy produced

picked and essentially pickled in Calvados.

in the Normandy region of France. Protected by its own AOC Calvados or ‘Appellation d’Origine Controlee’, it can only be produced within defined geographic boundaries to the prescribed process, including a minimum of 2 years spent aging in oak casks. Over 200 varieties of apples are able to be used; often a large selection of these are chosen for their sweet, tart or bitter characteristics, with up to, or beyond, 100 specific varieties chosen in the production of some Calvados.

Essentially a distilled cider, the quality of a

The ‘Pomme Prisonniere’ is encased in Hors

Calvados can be revealed by indicators on the

d’Age Calvados, and, so long as the apple

bottle, starting with “Fine”, requiring a minimum

remains fully submerged, can remain in the

of two years aging; “Vieux” or “Reserve” with a

bottle. Simply top up the bottle with Christian

minimum of 3 years aging; “VSOP” (meaning

Drouin Hors d’Age and it will last a lifetime.

Very Special Old Pale) with a minimum of 4

Now, if only Isaac Newton had devised a

years aging; and “XO’ (Extra Old) or “Hors

simple and effective way to release the apple

d’Age” indicating a Calvados aged for at least 6

from its prison.

years in cask.

- TJ

PREMIUM COGNAC | THE BEST OF THE BEST

Have you ever been sitting at home, enjoying a

haven’t. So we thought we’d do the hard work

nice glass of $50 brandy around the ol’ fan

for you over the past few months, tasting our

heater, and thought to yourself “I wonder what

way through three of the world’s most

this would taste like… if it was 100x more

expensive Cognacs. Averaging at an eye-

expensive…?” Well, no, you probably

watering $5,000 a bottle, these are the best of

the best, the creme de la creme, the ultimate

he spent over a million dollars a year on it! He

way to spend your student loan!

was obviously too cheap to step up to the Richard. This is named after the Irish military officer Richard Hennessy, who established this Cognac empire in 1765 after fighting for Louis XV.

We started with the L’OR de Jean Martell.

The bottle itself is outrageous, its precious cargo encased in a suspended teardrop decanter. It contains over 400 extremely rare eaux-de-vie (literally “water of life”, the different

This timeless blend was first made by cellar

distillates that make up the blend), some of

master Yann Fillioux in 1996, bottled in

which are over a century old. In fact, the oldest

Baccarat crystal. He selected 100 eau-de-vie,

in the blend dates back to 1830! That’s not a

aged from 40 to 200 years old, made by all the

typo. I can’t even remember what I was doing

generations of his family who had been

188 years ago. Martell is the oldest of the big

Hennessy master blenders before him. That’s

Houses in the region, which recently

some legacy! The style of Richard is old school

celebrated Its 300th anniversary. L’OR is like

complexity, it’s dark heavy and very powerful.

drinking a super-rich toffee candy. It’s very

I’ve been lucky enough to drink this many

round, and ridiculously smooth, with surprising

times, and I always feel like it needs a large

sweetness. This is absurdly easy to drink: in

cigar, while sinking into the well-worn leather

fact, we finished the bottle in around 15

armchair at a gentleman’s club in Mayfair.

minutes. What happens in Macau, stays in Macau.

Next up was the majestic Richard Hennessy.

They are the largest Cognac producer in the world, with their 50 million bottle production being more than 40% of the entire region. Any self-respecting rapper has to have mentioned drinking Hennessy in their lyrics at least once.

Apparently former North Korean Leader Kim Jong-il loved Hennessy Paradis so much that

Finally, we have the LOUIS XIII de Remy

LOUIS XIII has been drunk at many of the

Martin. This is the original Prestige Cognac

milestones throughout the 20th Century, what

that the other houses still hold up as the

you are drinking is liquid history. It takes at

pinnacle. It is one of the finest spirits ever

least 4 generations of Cellar Masters to create

made. This will make you feel like a million

each blend. Made up of an incredible 1,200

dollars, which is handy, since that’s what you’d

different eau-de-vie that are 100% sourced

need to be able to afford it in the first place.

from Grand Champagne, the finest cru in the

The name is tribute to the French Monarch

heart of the area. They are then aged for over

who reigned when the Remy Martin family first

a century in extremely fragile 100-150-year-old

settled in the region in the 1620s. LOUIS XIII

barrels called Tiercons. These are thin walled

has been the world’s greatest Cognac since its

casks of French Limousin Oak, originally

first shipment in 1874. The bottle has

designed to carry Cognac on horse drawn

remained unchanged over that time, a mouth-

carts three at a time, hence the name. Louis

blown crystal recreation of a small metal flask

XIII does not impress with its richness or

recovered from the site of the Battle of Jarnac

power, but rather its incredible balance,

in 1569. Each decanter requires the patient

finesse, and complexity. It delivers an

dedication and synchronization of 11 master

unbelievable range of flavours with precision

craftsman to produce this work of art.

and elegance. For me this is the perfect spirit that any Cognac lover needs to try once in their life. Preferably around a cosy fireplace rather than the heater.

- RM

KOMBUCHA & SPIRITS | MAMA'S BREW SHOP KOMBUCHA

Mama’s Brew Shop is a craft kombucha brewing outfit based in Helensville, the creation of two friends and long-time domestic kombucha brewers, Liv McGregor and Rene Schliebs. With babies in tow, they converted Rene’s garage into a brewery and produced their first formal brews. Quickly outgrowing the garage, they proceeded to take over the old

Rene is a nutritionist and medical herbalist,

butcher’s shop on the main street of

while Liv’s background is in marketing and

Helensville, creating The Kombuchery, their

branding. Match made, and all that.

brewery and New Zealand’s first kombucha

Reassuringly low in sugar and brimming with

taproom.

probiotics Kombucha, from the right hands, can be an extremely attractive beverage to consume and good for you as well. The Mama’s kombuchas are raw and organic,

flavoured with the finest botanicals. We’re going to stretch the envelope and suggest you try them with a wee splash of your favourite spirit. But wait! Just below. Some brilliant boutique spirits. What are the odds?

- GG

MALT | GLENDRONACH BATCH 16

GlenDronach Distillery can be found nestled in the hills of the Scottish Highlands, about an hour northwest of Aberdeen. Founder James Allardice, an exuberant extrovert by nature, led a consortium of local farmers and businessmen in creating this distillery, with it being amongst the first to receive a licence under the 1823 Excise Tax legislation.

GlenDronach whisky quickly grew in popularity,

production, conscious of their place in the

especially among local nobility who would

market, it was decided that they would

introduce Allardice to contacts in London; this

continue with their core range of 12, 15, 18 and

high standing went straight to his head, leading

21 year-old bottlings. The gap in production

to neglect of the distillery and its eventual

meant that the “re-releases” of these bottles

bankruptcy in 1842. In the time since, the

were made up of stock much older than stated

distillery has been owned by one of the sons of

on the bottle. A Dutch blogger by the name of

William Grant of Glenfiddich, then William

Bert Rutkowski (hero) did all the hard work and

Teacher and Sons before ending up in the

neatly published a graph (can be found here)

hands of Allied Distillers for use in blends like

which shows the technical age of these

Teacher’s and Ballantine’s.

whiskies at the current times.

As was common at the time, with surplus stock

For instance, in 2017 the 15 yr old became 15

due to an industry in decline, GlenDronach was

yr old spirit distilled in 2002 etc, but for the

closed in 1995. Production resumed in 2002,

2016 release of this whisky, the stock used

and in 2008 was purchased by BenRiach

was from prior to closing (6yrs earlier) making

Distillery Co, led by Billy Walker who oversaw

it 20-21 years old. Now, the truth of this has

the revival of these brands. It is quite possible

never been questioned or published by

this period of inactivity is what contributed to

GlenDronach (that I can find). However,

this whisky becoming a favourite for myself.

conveniently, right at this time of peak age was when GlenDronach 15 was the favourite

A whisky not stripped of its guts by chill filtering

amongst every whisky geek I have spoken to

and not watered down to 40% after being aged

and sales reached such a high that it is no

in delicious Sherry butts to produce big, bold,

longer available. Fortunately, this coincided

yet balanced treacle treats that will always

with my growing passion for whisky!

get me going (think Homer Simpson drooling). I am always loath to choose or even

Next on the list approaching peak age is the 18

voice a favourite, but this sits firmly in 1st

year “Allardice” which by 2019 will unofficially

equal. I suppose if you looked at my current

be made up of 24-year-old spirit. At an RRP of

stock holding at home this would be obvious.

$175 this is outstanding value for an already outstanding value 18-year-old, 46% Sherry

Another theory that has led to the boom in

Cask. Delightful tastes of Christmas cake,

popularity of this distillery around the world,

chocolate, almonds, honey and stone fruits. It

and my spirit cupboard (which I alluded to

kind of reminds me of a Sauterne with a touch

above), is the fact they were closed for several

of heavy Rum added and is certainly just as

years from 1995. Upon resumption of

drinkable.

Insert drinks break here.

The releases available here range from a 12year-old distilled in 2005 through to a pair of

Right, enough rambling. The reason we talk

27-year olds distilled in 1990. The limited

about GlenDronach in this issue of the Spiritual

nature of these means we don’t often get to

Guide is the impending arrival of the 16th

open these to sample and review, though I

collection of Single Cask releases by

managed to hide one away from Batch 15 for

GlenDronach. Each year the Master Distiller

our World Whisky Day tasting in May which

chooses a selection of casks that embody the

caused a bit of a stampede. But as you may

finest traits of GlenDronach.

have noticed, I am a bit of a sucker for this distillery so have already pre-purchased (sorry

Current Master Distiller Rachel Barrie says

you had to find out this way Boss!) Cask 3311,

“Each cask individually demonstrates the

a 22-year-old PX cask sold on its notes of

finesse, powerful complexity and rich layers of

treacle toffee and fruitcake drizzled with acacia

Sherry cask maturation found in every

honey bottled at 50.3%, and Cask 4648 a 15-

GlenDronach expression”.

year-old PX cask bottled at a heart-warming 54.7%, in the hope that this is some insight into how the standard 15-year-old release will look upon its return to the market in the next year or 2 (fingers crossed).

The 16th Batch is the largest we have seen, comprised of 15 different casks released which each yielded between 513 and 698 bottles. Being an eagerly awaited release somehow spread across the globe; NZ has

Our bean counter tells me the boat carrying

been allocated 2-3 cases of only 7 of these

this wealth of golden liquid is in NZ waters, so

releases. Still it’s clear we have an above

that was enough for me to make them

average allocation (obviously based on our

available online. First in first served! View the

drinking habits) of these single cask releases

official tasting notes to see which one tickles

due to the number of international enquiries we

your fancy.

receive when these are available through our website.

I’ll share mine if you share yours! Slainte.

-AS

LISTEN UP | THE SPIRITUAL GUIDE GOES AERIAL!

As of Friday 6th July the Glengarry Spiritual Guide will be hitting the airways, as our team joins Johnny & Big Hungry from the 95bFM Drive Show to guide the masses on their individual spiritual journeys.

Join us, on the first Friday of each month we sip, taste and devour carefully selected delectable spirits. Our first radio sermon coveting and covering the pirates elixir that is rum! With the steady-handed Mount Gay XO, the treacle-treat that is El Dorado 12 Year Old and an exotic offering from the Philippines in the Don Papa 7 Year Old. Listen to the podcast below:

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EVENTS AND TASTINGS

MALT CLUB - ARRAN | VICTORIA PARK "Great malt whisky is a distillation of the place it’s made". On the Isle of Arran, there is only one distillery operating; it's named after what it was created from, Arran. Arran single malt whiskies are a fine example of the true art of whisky distilling, and master distiller James MacTaggart, with over 40 years’ experience, ensures that every drop produced is given the best opportunity to fully mature in hand selected oak barrels. Arran single malt whisky is pure, deep and voluptuous, full of complex

WHEN: Thursday 19th July WHERE: Glengarry Victoria Park, 118 Wellesley St West, Auckland TIME: 7:00pm

aroma and flavour. This young distillery has truly come of age. Join us on the 19th of July, for an unmissable taste exploration where we will try 6 different Arran single malts and discover one of Scotland’s best kept secrets.

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BLIND TASTING - WORLD WHISKY AWARD WINNERS | THORNDON For this month's Malt Club we will be tasting a selection of 6 well-deserved winners from the 2018 World Whisky Awards. To add a bit of difference and remove any bias, we have decided to do these blind with the guidance of Whisky aficionado Kenny Ariaens.

WHEN: Tuesday 31st July WHERE: Glengarry Thorndon,

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53 Hutt Rd, Thorndon TIME: 6:00pm

KHYBER PASS MALT CLUB GLENLIVET It was in November 1824 that George Smith was granted a distiller’s licence for the remote parish of Glenlivet. Within a few months the first legally produced Glenlivet whisky began to flow at the small distillery at Upper Drumin, Scotland. History was in the making. The Glenlivet of today is George Smith’s priceless legacy. Crucially, the three fundamental elements in the whisky making process - spring water, copper stills and oak casks - have remained unchanged and the glen’s natural

WHEN: Wednesday 15th August WHERE: Glengarry Khyber Pass, 409 Khyber Pass Rd, Newmarket TIME: 7:00pm

resources, unchanging and inexhaustible, help make The Glenlivet what it is. Join us at Khyber Pass as we taste through Glenlivet's extraordinary range, including their incredible 25-year-old single malt!

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MALT CLUB - BRUICHLADDICH NEW PORT CHARLOTTE WITH CHLOE WOOD | VICTORIA PARK Islay is famous for one thing in particular, whisky. Peated whisky, imbued with a delicious smoky flavour by drying malted barley over a peat heated fire. In fact, Islay is home to eight distilleries and counting. Bruichladdich is one WHEN: Wednesday 22nd August WHERE: Glengarry Victoria Park, 118 Wellesley St West, Auckland TIME: 7:00pm

distillery doing things differently from producing the islands only unpeated Single Malt to creating the most heavily peated whisky on the planet. The distillery’s heavily peated whisky brand, Port Charlotte, are re-introducing their new look and liquid very soon. For our August Malt Club, we will be welcoming back, for the

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second time this year, a member of the Bruichladdich whisky family. Chloe’s knowledge of both the whisky and the island is not to be missed. Join us on the 22nd of August as we taste our way through some of the new Port Charlotte releases and a few other treats from the distillery.

GIN CLUB | THORNDON QUAY The last Gin tasting we had was great, so great in fact that we have decided to run them every two months. There are so many Gins coming on the market it is not hard to find something interesting to try. For this tasting we thought that we would take an International approach and look at some of the Gin being produced around the world. A lot of these are very small producers and all have their own story and of course their own recipe.

WHEN: Thursday 13th September WHERE: Glengarry Thorndon, 53 Hutt Rd, Thorndon TIME: 6:00pm

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CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL SPIRIT TASTINGS

That's it for this month's Spiritual Guide.

Issue Five will be coming your way next month with more guidance through the spiritual world.

Cheers,

Glengarry Wines 118 Wellesley St West, Auckland Free Phone: 0800 733 505 Email: sales@glengarry.co.nz Website: www.glengarrywines.co.nz

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