Hi there

We have a fantastic tasting coming up!  The boys from ParrotDog will be in town and they are coming to see us!  This is going to be a great night get in quick while there are still tickets available….

We are delighted to announce that David Gaughan, owner & brewer at Christchurch’s Golden Eagle Brewery will be hosting a tasting here at Taste Merchants on Wednesday 27th August at 6.30pm.

Golden Eagle has been operating since 2010 and now produces a broad range of excellent craft beer styles.

It’s been a while since our last beer tasting and we expect demand to be high, so be in quick to secure your ticket for what should prove to be a most enjoyable evening.

Tickets are $10 and will be available at Castle MacAdam Wine, 40 Stuart St.

Tel:474 1100 (Tickets must be purchased prior to the tasting)

Cheers Alastair & Darren

Venue:Taste Merchants, 36 Stuart St

Date:Wednesday 27th August

Time:6.30pm

Cost:$10

This week’s whisky special:

Ardbeg ‘Uigeadail’ 54.2% ABV

Was:$139.99 Now:$129.99

Ardbeg ‘Uigeadail’ is a special vatting that marries Ardbeg’s traditional deep, smoky notes with luscious, raisiny tones of old ex-Sherry casks. It’s non chill-filtered at high strength which retains maximum flavour and gives more body and added depth.

Uigeadail was voted ‘World Whisky of the Year’ in 2009 by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible in praise of it’s “utter silky brilliance” and “complexity on a level only a handful of distilleries in the world can ever dream of reaching”.

This week’s whisky special:

Talisker 10 Year Old 45.8% ABV

Was:$99.99 Now:$89.99

Talisker is the only distillery on the Isle of Skye and produces a very singular and distinctive whisky with a complex balance of sweetness, spice, peat and coastal notes.

It is full-bodied and smoky with a palate of rich, dried-fruit sweetness combined with smoke and strong barley-malt flavours.

The finish is powerful, long and warming.

This week’s whisky special:

Bowmore ‘The Legend’ Islay Single Malt

Was:$69.99 Now:$59.99

Founded over two centuries ago, Bowmore was the first recorded distillery on Islay and one of the oldest in the whole of Scotland. Islay malts are renowned for their peaty smokiness Bowmore is no exception.

Crafted from a selection of North American bourbon barrels, which over time help to bring out the perfectly balanced, delicious citrus and gently smoky character of the whisky.

Touches of salty sea air combine with zesty lemon notes, hints of honey and the trademark Islay peat make for a complex and deeply satisfying whisky drinking experience.

This week’s whisky special:

Aberlour “A’Bunadh” Cask Strength (Batch 46) Single Malt 60.4% ABV

Normal Price:$132.99 Special Price:$124.99

A’Bunadh is cask strength bottling from the Aberlour distillery in the Speyside region of Scotland. Though it has no age statement, it is released in limited run batches, each batch carrying a unique number on it’s label. This whisky is blended from barrels ranging from 5 to 25 years old.

A’Bunadh is exclusively aged in Spanish oak Oloroso sherry butts producing a rich, multi-layered, full-bodied malt with intense raisin, dark chocolate and spice characters. A’Bunadh is non-chill filtered.

Penfold’s St Henri 2009 bonus bottle deal!! 

We have a very special,limited offer on the new release Penfold’s St Henri Shiraz 2009. Purchase 1 bottle of the St Henri 2009 ($104.99) and receive a bottle of either the Penfold’s Bin 2 Shiraz/Mourvedre 2012 or the Penfold’s Bin 9 Cabernet Sauvignon 2012 (valued at $27.99) absolutely free!!

Stocks are very limited and will be available on a first come, first served basis.

St Henri is a time-honoured and alternative expression of Shiraz and an intriguing counterpoint to Grange. it is unusual among high quality Australian red wines as it does not rely on any new oak.

It is a wine style that has not succumbed to the dictates of fashion or commerce. St Henri is rich and plush when young, gaining soft, earthy, mocha-like characters when it ages.

Glenmorangie ‘Quinta Ruban’ 12 Year Old 46% ABV

Normal price:$92.99 Special Price:$87.99

“The darkest and most intense whisky in their extra-matured range, Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban has spent 10 years maturing in American white oak casks, before being transferred into specially selected ruby port pipes from the Quintas of Portugal. Extra maturation in these port pipes develops Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban into a voluptuous spirit with a complex balance of sweet and dry flavours and an intriguing contrast of smooth and crisp, cooling textures. Non chill-filtered for additional aroma and mouthfeel”.