The Exeter Daily - whisky

Round Two of Devon Whisky Club Explores Peat in Scotch Whisky

Azu Spirits — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 14:12:32 +0000

Local spirits tasting specialist, Azu Spirits, and the Cridford Inn, a pub restaurant based in the Teign Valley, launched their first Whisky Club Series on 1st September. A monthly whisky series exploring the histories, culture and production of single malt Scotch, with a new theme and six unique malts to explore every month. The tastings, accompanied with food pairings from the Cridford’s award-winning restaurant, are centred around blind tasting and include challenges and prizes.

Their next tasting event is scheduled for 7pm on Thursday 6th October and explores peat in Scotch whisky. Including peated and unpeated expressions from the Bruichladdich and Springbank distilleries in addition to Glen Moray Peated and Glenfiddich Fire & Cane, guests have the opportunity to ‘challenge’ their palate through the blind tasting and can try to identify which whiskies comes from the same distillery.

The Whisky Club includes a Burns Night Special finale which hosts a raffle to win whisky prizes and local experiences. For £10, guests can become Club Members and receive a Glencairn nosing glass, a personal discount code to Azu’s website and a free 30ml miniature whisky of their choice to take away from each tasting event they attend. Whisky Club Members will also be given a raffle ticket for the prize giveaways at the Burns Night Special.

Each tasting event will be £35 per person, with discounted packages available for guests wanting to attend the whole series.

For those that can’t attend, Azu offers a ‘host-your-own’ option that’s available from their website and provides a complete blind tasting experience for 5-6 people.

Call the Cridford Inn on 01626 853694 to book your place.

Find out more at www.azuspirits.co.uk/whiskyclub

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Event Date

Thursday, October 6, 2022 - 7:00pm

Venue

The Cridford Inn

A new way to taste spirits with friends

Azu Spirits — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 22:41:23 +0000

Blind tasting has always been used by judges at awards ceremonies to avoid preconceptions and focus solely on aroma and flavour. It has also become common among wine consumers more generally, allowing individuals and groups to enjoy, explore and, of course, test their knowledge of the wide variety of wines available.

Azu Spirits has found a way to offer this to spirits enthusiasts, providing an at-home blind tasting experience they can enjoy with friends. Ellie Gibson from Azu says “When someone says ‘this has notes of cereals, green fruit or bananas’ I find I can immediately taste those things. I don’t think it's necessarily a trick of the mind, but flavour compounds found in whisky are also found in a variety of foods, so you instantly recall them when they’re mentioned. With blind tasting, you rely on your own experiences and memories of smells, trying to distinguish and identify certain flavours according to your own palate. It can be quite an interesting experience!”

The blind tasting experience collections, launched in January 2021 but having just been redesigned, are sold online at www.azuspirits.co.uk and include 3 or 6 100ml numbered sharing bottles of premium spirits, an introductory leaflet and a wax-sealed envelope containing name tags, tasting tips and a ‘reveal’ envelope. The name tags include detailed descriptions of the unique qualities of each spirit so you can ‘challenge’ your palate and try to match the name tags with each of the numbered bottles included in the box.

Designed for social occasions, the smaller boxes (which include 3 x 100ml bottles) are recommended for four - five people, whilst the classic boxes (6 x 100ml bottles) are recommended for six people. Azu Spirits focuses on the social and blind tasting aspect to create something new and unique for the spirits’ market.

A premium product containing quality spirits, each collection offers a complete tasting set providing everything needed to host a fun and sociable blind tasting experience. It’s also far cheaper than going out for dinner or to a bar with a group of friends!

Encouraging engagement, focusing on quality and exploring the stories behind the brands, Azu Spirits offers a number of standard collections as well as the opportunity to ‘build your own’ tasting set from the spirits they stock.

The single malt whisky collections showcase the diversity in Scotch whisky, including single malts such as Talisker 10, Ledaig 18, Dalmore 18 and even Macallan Rare Cask and Bunnahabhain Moine 22-year-old Pedro Ximenez Finish. The Great British Gins box takes a journey through traditional styles and the evolution of gin in the UK and features premium releases from Bombay Sapphire, Tanqueray and Plymouth Gin. Whilst the craft gins range, starting with the South West Specialists collection, features less well-known regional craft spirits such as Wrecking Coast’s Clotted Cream Gin, Papillon Gin and Atlantic Distillery’s ‘Ring of Fire’.

Always eager to expand their collections, Azu is looking forward to exploring the exciting world of non-alcoholic spirits after tasting a selection of Warners 0% Botanic Garden Spirits, in addition to expanding their whisky and regional craft spirits collections.

Devon spirit tasting company launches with local twist

Claire Small — Sun, 03 Jan 2021 20:20:21 +0000

A new whisky and gin tasting company has launched in Devon, shining the spotlight on the region’s finest drinks and distilleries.

Based in Exeter, Azu Spirits is a premium spirits tasting brand, delivering a blind tasting experience straight to customers’ doors.

The company’s local gin tasting box features selected gins from Atlantic Distillery, Conker, Curio, Papillon, Pothecary and Wrecking Coast, showcasing some of the South West’s finest distilleries.

Ellen Gibson, founder of Azu Spirits, said: “Being based in Devon, we’re privileged to have some of the country’s most renowned food and drink producers on our doorstep. With our tasting boxes, we’re delighted to showcase some of these incredible local brands, and shine the spotlight on the region’s craft drinks industry.”

Azu Spirits started out with a passion for whisky and other spirits, and has been launched with the aim of inspiring that passion in others.

Ellen added: “With the Covid-19 crisis impacting people across the country, we believe bringing people together through a shared passion is more important than ever. While we may be staying inside to do our bit, safely sharing a drink - and an experience - is worth celebrating.”

The company is launching with four boxes; South West Specialist Craft Gins, Great British Gins, Several Styles of Scotch and The Art of Maturation. The ‘Mini’ boxes allow customers to take their first steps into the world of whisky and gin tasting. The Classic boxes feature six sample bottles and guided tasting notes, and will be launched later this spring.

Customers are invited to sign up to updates for an exclusive 10% off their first order.

For more information about Azu Spirits and to sign up for the promotion: www.azuspirits.co.uk

Childhood friends completing Atlantic Challenge

Mary Youlden — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 10:55:01 +0000

Three Devon childhood friends are set to finish in the top 10 of one of the world’s great endurance races this weekend.

Lewis Matthews (Dawlish), Chris Slack (Newton Abbot) and Charlie Medwin (Shaldon), known collectively as “All Oar Nothing” are due to complete the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, having rowed almost 3000 miles across the ocean.

The 29-year-old trio set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands off Spain on 12 December and are set to land in Antigua on Sunday

Their arrival will be covered live at: https://www.facebook.com/atlanticcampaigns/

The crew were dealt a blow when a fourth crew member Tom Whittle was forced out of the event with severe back problems before the event. But the crew have responded to the adversity and despite challenging weather conditions, huge waves, resullting in broken oars and auto-helm, severe blisters, sleep deprivation and exhaustion are on course to complete the challenge in 38 days.

The challenge is far more than just a single row. It’s a two year mission of meticulous preparation. Buying, organising, learning about and preparing the boat, coordinating crew members across three continents, learning the appropriate navigation, seamanship and survival skills necessary and training like professional athletes to get their bodies in the condition to endure such hardship.

Sue Cox of Teignmouth-based SeaSports South West, who helped train the crew said: “Rowing across the Atlantic is one of the planet’s great challenges and it cannot be underestimated the physical and psychological barriers which Atlantic rowers need to overcome. It has been a real pleasure working with the guys to equip them with all the knowledge and skills to succeed. It’s a real Devon success story.”

All Oar Nothing are taking part in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge to raise funds for four charities; Kidney Cancer UK, OneSight, Right to Play and EHE Race Cancer Charity UK.

You can still pledge support at https://www.alloarnothing.co.uk/sponsor

Experts toast Glazebrook's wine and whisky tasting room

Danielle Camp — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 17:05:10 +0000

Renowned for their innovative approach and imagination, Glazebrook House Hotel has officially christened their unique wine and whisky tasting room, inviting local and national wine experts to celebrate its opening, following the hotel’s successful launch in September. This luxurious boutique hotel is the destination of style, comfort and surprise for corporate and private events.

Owner Pieter Hamman and his daughter Gita, who oversees the marketing of the hotel, were joined by Susy Atkins, regular wine expert on BBC1’s ‘Saturday Kitchen’ and wine columnist for the Sunday Telegraph’s ‘Stella’ magazine; Duncan Schwab, Head Winemaker at Sharpham Vineyards; and Rebecca Mitchell, Wine Consultant, to toast this sophisticated and enchanting tasting room.

Decorated with antique wooden cigar moulds, glass domes filled with smoking pipes, and hand carved salvage oak cabinets, the tasting room displays 64 bottles of hand selected wines pulled together by Glazebrook’s own sommelier, Rebecca Mitchell. The carefully chosen, varied selection of wines range from the best of Britain’s local wines, including Sharpham Estate, to international styles, including the limited edition Pol Roger Winston Churchill champagne.

Using both well known and lesser recognised grape varieties, there is a wine for every food match and budget. The tasting room is a unique space where guests will be able to develop their inner connoisseur, with thirty minute tastings before dinner with wine expert Rebecca Mitchell, helping guests select an ideal accompaniment to any meal.

After a delicious meal at Glazebrook’s Restaurant, headed by MasterChef Professional Benjamin Palmer, an impressive array of whiskies await guests from every corner of the world, available for a nightcap or an exhilarating informal tasting.

Glazebrook House Hotel plan various compelling and quirky events throughout the year which showcase what it does best, delicious food in a magical environment with an element of surprise. Kick starting the events this season is a Fairytale Wedding Afternoon in Alice's Wonderland on Sunday 23rd November 2-4pm (£7.50pp). Private tours of the stunning venue interior designed by Timothy Oulton and access to an exclusive selection of fabulous wedding suppliers, is sure to provide inspiration to every bride.

For something a little out of the ordinary, visit Glazebrook House Hotel on Thursday 27th November from 7.30pm, for a Lebanese evening. The Epicurean night will be held in the company of Sami Ghosn, owner of Massaya Estate, Bekaa Valley, with a gastronomic five course tasting menu and matching wine flight (£55pp), it’s guaranteed to be a memorable evening.

With limited tickets available for these exciting events, please book in advance to avoid disappointment. For further information on the Glazebrook House Hotel or to book please visit www.glazebrookhouse.com, call 01364 73322 or email enquiries@glazebrookhouse.com.