Give your Dad, yourself, or a friend a memorable tasting experience from Scotland at the Highland Games on June 17, 2023. Honor your Dad with this special Highland Games gift.
Whisky Masterclass tickets are available for purchase at the main beverage and entertainment tent. Tickets are $50 and are limited to 50 people per seminar.
The Whisky Masterclasses will be held in the Culinary & Whisky Tent.
Hotaling & Co., our Official Whisky Sponsor, is a boutique distiller & importer from San Francisco. Their Brand Ambassadors will host three Whisky Masterclass Seminars with artisanal whiskies up to $250 per bottle that will impress Dad and every whisky lover.
Seminar One – 12:00pm – Old Pulteney
Presented by Maurice Chevalier IV
Enjoy maritime malts from Old Pulteney including 3 varietals aged 12, 15 and 18 years, plus Old Puteney Huddart, a peaty single malt. Old Pulteney 15 year and 18 year retail at $105 and $170 per bottle respectively.
Seminar Two – 2:00 pm – Balblair
Presented by Maurice Chevalier IV
Discover this Highland gem crafted to perfection in the north of Scotland. Sample Balblair 12, 15, and 18 year varietals aged in American, Spanish and ex-bourbon casks. Balblair 15 year and 18 year retail for $135 and $250 per bottle respectively.
Seminar Three – 3:00 pm – Arran
Presented by Sunita Aggarwal
Explore the portfolio of new world class single malt whiskies coming from the Isle of Arran. Sample 4 distinct varietals that have won international acclaim. Arran 10 year; Arran Sherry Cask “The Bodega”; Arran Sauternes Cask Finish and Arran 21 year old. Arran 21 year old retails at $250 per bottle.
For aficionados interested in an in-depth review of Hotaling Seminars, full descriptions of every expression by Seminar can be viewed below.
Seminar One - Old Pulteney
Since 1826, Pulteney Distillery by Wick’s historic harbour has crafted single malt scotch whisky that is the very essence of its coastal location. Being distilled and matured by the sea coupled with meticulous oak cask selection creates a distinctive flavor that sets it apart from other single malts whiskies.
Pulteney distillery is located in the town of Wick in Cithness – the far northeast corner of Scotland on the rugged coastline, only 16 miles away from John O’ Groats, which is the most northerly point on mainland Britain.
With traditional warehouses exposed to the invigorating sea air blowing in off the North Sea, Old Pulteney captures the taste of the sea in every drop of its liquid gold; from the subtle coastal chords to the more defines salty notes.
Old Pulteney 12 Year Old
Matured wholly in air-dried, hand-selected ex-bourbon casks, the ‘unashamedly excellent’ Old Pulteney 12-years-old is the definitive expression in the Old Pulteney family. Traditionally crafted using techniques that other distillers have long abandoned, this winner of numerous gold medals at the most prestigious international competitions is a high water-mark of quality spirits. SRP $54.99
Old Pulteney 15 Year Old
Matured for 15 years, this is our most balanced and smooth single malt. Balancing two different sides of the flavor spectrum, this single malt marries these perfectly, whilst also reflecting our coastal home and its unwavering influence. On one hand, this is an intense single malt, yet at the same time, it is truly balanced. Spice and sweetness unite in this naturally rich amber whisky to celebrate rich flavors, yet lighter, more refreshing coastal notes show another side of this single malt. SRP $104.99
Old Pulteney 18 Year Old
Matured for 18 years, this is indulgent and spicy thanks to the casks selected for maturation. Taking its character and color entirely from the casks within which it has been nurtured, this is a deeply warming whisky. The indulgence extends through this single malt with chocolate and spice defining the character but allowing for the influence of more vibrant zesty flavors. SRP $169.99
Old Pulteney Huddart
Richly warming, this single malt embraces a mellow smoky character, whilst very much Old Pulteney at its heart. The combination of influence from the salt-infused sea air and the peat smoke make for a whisky with real character, depth and identity. With a richness extending into its rich gold color, this single malt offers much in terms of complexity and flavor while subtly reminding us of the place where Old Pulteney began. 46% ABV. SRP $84.99
Maurice Chevalier IV is an Orange County native who serves as a California based Brand Ambassador of The Americas Western Region for International Beverage Holdings LTD. He has a vast knowledge of distilled spirits coupled with 11 years of industry experience. Maurice joined Hotaling & Co. in 2017. He is a longstanding member of the United States Bartender’s Guild and enjoys hunting down the current cocktail trends and innovations in the bartending. Maurice Chevalier will present the Old Pulteney and Balblair seminars.
Seminar Two – Balblair
Balblair sits on a remote and unspoiled hillside overlooking the Dornoth Firth in the North of Scotland. Founded in 1790, Balblair is one of the oldest working distilleries in the Scottish Highlands.
Outside stands the ancient Clach Biorach standing stone. A landmark for over 4,000 years, this stone as used as a gathering place by an ancient race known as the Picts. Upon it, they engraved their intriguing Z-rod symbol which is a representation of the passage of time. This unique symbol inspires the packaging and reflects the dedication to craftsmanship.
It is their hands-on approach that gives the whisky its distinctive taste and character. By storing the casks in traditional, earthen-floored dunnage warehouses, they ensure a perfect environment for a slow and gentle maturation. The result is a whisky that is elegantly understated, yet quietly self-assured.
Balblair 12 Year Old
A fine balance of fruit, spice and sweetness, Balblair 12-Year-Old epitomizes the Balblair Highland style. Matured in American oak and ex-Bourbon casks, this polished gold whisky brings together zesty lemon and orange with ground spices and vanilla to create an elegant, defining expression of Balblair.
SRP $79.99
Balblair 15 Year Old
With its honey and spicy aroma, velvety texture and creamy vanilla and citrus finish, this 15-Year-Old calls for quiet admiration. Matured in American and Spanish oak to develop a rounded, mellow flavor of dark chocolate and tropical fruit. SRP $ 134.99
Balblair 18 Year Old
Matured for 18 years, this Balblair expression is perfectly balanced with warming autumnal flavors. With its rich toffee and baked pear aroma, a balance of juicy apricots, seasoned oak and vanilla custard taste, this is truly a masterclass in traditional distilling and the most patient skilled ageing in American and Spanish oak. SRP $249.99
Maurice Chevalier IV is an Orange County native who serves as a California based Brand Ambassador of The Americas Western Region for International Beverage Holdings LTD. He has a vast knowledge of distilled spirits coupled with 11 years of industry experience. Maurice joined Hotaling & Co. in 2017. He is a longstanding member of the United States Bartender’s Guild and enjoys hunting down the current cocktail trends and innovations in the bartending. Maurice Chevalier will present the Old Pulteney and Balblair seminars.
Seminar Three - Isle of Arran Distillery
Arran is both beautiful and unique. With its mountains, lowlands, glens, lochs and royal castles, it has all the scenery of Scotland and affectionately known as ‘Scotland in Miniature’. The Isle of Arran Distillery was built in the foothills of the village of Lochranza in 1994 and the first spirit ran from the stills on 29th June 1995 bringing legal distillation back to Arran after more than 150 years. The Distillery was a brand new enterprise and since that first day in June 1995 when the first ever cask was filled, it has gone on to produce a world class Single Malt Whisky which has won international acclaim. Isle of Arran Distillers remains the only whisky producer on the island and they are the proud owners of two stunning Single Malt distilleries, one in the north and one in the south of the island. Lagg Distillery opened in June 2019 and is home to the future heavily-peated Lagg Single Malt. These are certainly exciting times for this innovative island company who are celebrating their 25th Anniversary year throughout 2020 with special tastings and events.
Arran 10 Year Old
The flagship. Initially matured in Bourbon casks for ten years, it is then moved to Oloroso Sherry casks where it is aged for a minimum of six months. Classic Arran citrus notes have rounded with age revealing new depths of character against a background of sweet oak, cinnamon, and apple. 46% ABV; SRP $64.99
Arran Sherry Cask “The Bodega”
Matured in some of the finest casks available to the whisky industry, this cask strength 100% Sherry matured Single Malt is both luxurious and elegant with layers of rich sweet spice and oak. Our Master Distiller has worked with producers in some of the most prestigious Sherry Bodegas in Jerez, Spain to select only the best quality casks to be filled with our precious spirit. This bottling is a return to the style of some of the earliest Arran Single Malt, which was mostly matured in Sherry Casks. SRP $79.99
Arran Sauternes Cask Finish
After initially maturing in traditional oak casks over a number of years The Arran Single Malt in this bottling was ‘finished’ in a selection of Sauternes wine casks sourced from an artisan producer of this iconic Bordeaux sweet white wine. Our Master Blender has carefully monitored this period of secondary maturation to ensure the perfect balance is struck between the Sauternes casks and the intrinsic sweet-fruity character of The Arran Malt. The end result is a Single Malt full of charm, complexity and quality. SRP $74.99
Arran 21 Year Old
This is truly the jewel in Arran Single Malt’s crown and is 100% matured in a mix of some of the oldest Sherry Butts from our distillery. This precious liquid is presented in a beautiful gift box with the finest attention to detail which ensures a real treat for the owner of this special whisky, each time to pick it up to enjoy a dram. SRP $249.99
Sunita Aggarwal is the North American Brand Manager for Arran & Lagg Single Malt. She has over twenty years of industry experience. She holds a WSET Advanced Certificate in Wine & Spirits as well as French Wine Scholar Certification. After travelling to Scotland, she transitioned her focus from wine to spirits and started working for Hotaling as an Associate Brand Manager in June of 2022. Sunita will be presenting the Arran seminar at the Highland Games.
Official Sponsor
Thank you to Old Pulteney, the Official Whisky Sponsor at the Chicago Scots 37th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games.
Every year at our Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the Chicago Scots feature a family or an organization as our Honored Clan. This year, to recognize and celebrate its’ strong Scottish roots, our Honored Clan is Rotary International. We are proud to announce that Rotary International’s Scottish President, Gordon McInally has agreed to lead our Parade of Tartans at 12:30 p.m. Gordon will also receive the Salute to the Chieftain from the Massed Pipe Bands at approximately 6.30pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024.