The world’s premier whisky tasting show,Whisky Live visited Glasgow for the fourth time this weekend and sales boomed at more than 3,000 visitors, a 20 per cent increase on last year.

Held in its great new venue, the SECC, visitors were eager to learn about the secrets of the amber nectar at the only whisky show of its kind in Scotland and to experience the fantastic, fresh, new features at the show.

The Whisky Live stage was bursting with excitement as the top international barmen from LA Bartenders showed off their skills, wowing the crowd by throwing bottles through the air and making stunning cocktails using AnCnoc and Auchentoshan.

Elsewhere in the show, Inver House Distillers, recently named Distiller of the Year for Scotland by Whisky Magazine,was proudly showing off its wares including Balblair,Old Pulteney and AnCnoc; and Highland Park, Orkney’s favourite whisky, held a bottle amnesty, where you could exchange a bottle of whisky for a Highland Park 12 Year Old.

Glenmorangie, showcasing its sleek new look and new liquid, had a flavour gaming wheel and, ever the showman,Whyte and Mackay’s Richard Paterson could be heard periodically letting of party poppers as he took people through tastings at the Jura stand.

In the masterclass rooms, visitors got the chance to take a more in depth look at some drams was hosted by an array of top whisky producers. Whisky star and renowned author,Dave Broom held two masterclasses matching whisky with some sumptuous food. Gerry Tosh, Highland Park’s ambassador embraced the crowd with open arms to fill them with knowledge of the Orkney spirit. Diageo was proudly showing of its new tasting map and the latest special releases in the Classic Malts Collection and AnCnoc held a journey through its whiskies. To top the occasion, the entries from the ‘Independent Bottlers’ Challenge’, (the only such competition to run in the world) were available to sample.These unique whiskies are a true pleasure and rare opportunity to try with so many being together at one time under one roof. So get your diary out for next year, as the show can only get bigger and better…dare you miss it?

GUESS THE DRAM
At the Whisky Magazine stand,Editor Rob Allanson had organised a little challenge for visitors.

Inspired by finding an unlabelled sample bottle of whisky,visitors got the chance to guess the dram. To make things a little easier two clues were given,that it was a propriatory bottling and it was available at the show and in the shops.

Out of some 120 entries only one guess came close to the mark.

And it was a very close guess indeed.

The bottle was in fact Balblair 1989,and top marks go to Kenneth Graham from Crieff who guessed Balblair 1997.

Whisky Live Tullibardine Bottling

This delightful 15 Years Old Tullibardine single malt, matured in bourbon barrels, has been hand selected from the finest oak casks in the distillery’s stocks for a Whisky Live bottling. It is offered at cask strength and is non chill-filtered to showcase the best this Highland spirit has to offer. The distillery sits at the foot of the Ochil Hills in Perthshire and draws its water from a crystal clear spring, which once served the favourite brewery of King James IV of Scotland.

Tasting Note
A light malty nuttiness with fresh floral notes with an underlying sweetness and hints of honey. Water encourages the floral elements and brings a little spice and some citrus. A brief drying feeling is engulfed in waves of sweet malt and honey, with hints of grape seed. With water the creaminess from the oak comes through. Finishes quite crisp and dry. A delicate, fragrant malt with intriguing complexity. The perfect refreshing dram for sharing before dinner or in the afternoon with friends.

£49.00 - Available at Whisky Live Glasgow 2007 or from The Whisky Shop (http://www.whiskyshop.com) Tel : +44 (0)1463 710525

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