DramFest 'The Sessions'

We have 9 "Sessions" available with 7 visiting experts from Scotland, covering all the basics, from the Independent bottler, to Islay Classics and the Oldest Whisky Ever Bottled.

The 'Sessions' will be held on on Sunday 26^th February 2012.

Please take special note of the times that you need to be seated by for these events.

12:30PM SESSIONS:

• SESSION A: Glengoyne Distillery Ltd “The Gentle But Firm Highlander” with
  Jonathan Scott

  Jonathan originally hails from the North East of Scotland (or, in distillery currency, halfway between Glen Garioch and Glendronach) and has been travelling the world for years expounding the virtues of this small iconic and privately owned distillery and the ranges provided by Ian MacLeod Distillers, owners of the Glengoyne distillery.

  The Glengoynes Jonathan is showing will be from the 10 yo and distillery singles casks through to the older and bolder Glengoyne. Jonathan joined us at the last DramFest to present the sister range from Ian MacLeod the owners of Glengoyne his tasting was one of the most popular at the 2009 DramFest.

  
  

• SESSION B: Adelphi Distillery Limited “The Many Faces Of Adelphi” with the Hon. Alex Bruce, KQ

  Alex is “saving” some of his best single cask’s for this tasting. He has been the man at the helm of Adelphi for 6 years and this is his third DramFest and his 6th trip to NZ. His knowledge and passion for these drams that are hand selected by himself and Charles MacLean knows no bounds. Talk to Alex at length about what it’s like to be involved at such an intimate level from selection to bottling.

  Alex was originally to present a selection of whiskies from Islay at this Session, but due to the nature of single cask bottlings and the limited availablity of Islay whiskies from Adelphi at present, it has been decided to present a much broader selection of Adelphi's range.

  The whiskies presented for the Adelphi “Session” will be in very limited supply. The whiskies are all very special and will not available for tasting at the Main Event.

  
  

• SESSION J: Douglas Cook presents “GlenDronach”

  Douglas Cook, Regional Sales Manager of The BenRiach Distillery Co. Ltd.,  the owners of GlenDronach, is showcasing an amazing lineup of whiskies from the distillery, featuring their extremely popular single cask vintages.
  
  If you're a fan of GlenDronach and highland whiskies with a heavy sherry cask influence, this is a tasting that should not be missed.
  
  
  
  





2:30PM SESSIONS:

• SESSION C: “Glenglassaugh, a Distillery Re-born” with Michael Fraser Milne, KQ, Managing Director of Whisky Galore

  Michael has fond memories of Portsoy as it is the scene of his first job and many a seriously good time.
  
  Glenglassaugh is a stunning dram and on his two visits in 2009 and 2010 he was most impressed with the sense of tradition and passion that is evident with Stuart and his team at Glenglassaugh (pronounced Glenglassa).
  
  Stuart had intended coming out however given the postponement of DramFest due to shaky events and such Michael takes great pride in putting forward this line up for the Glenglassaugh “Session”.

   

•  SESSION D: “The Classics Malts of Scotland” presented by Bart Burgers

  This Session will give an extensive insight into the history, production and the what's and wherefores of 'The Classic Malt", this most famous regional range of malts. A must attend for the fans of Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Glenkinchie, Talisker, Oban and Lagavulin.
  
  Dutch by birth, Bart Burgers visited Scotland on a forestry field trip, where he tasted a 16 year old Lagavulin and was completely hooked. Arriving in New Zealand in 2002 Bart has made spreading the gospel of whisky his mission and works hard to introduce Kiwis to the pleasures of whisky appreciation, conducting tastings nationwide, including the Classic Malts with of course his beloved Lagavulin.

  
  
  

• SESSION E: “Ardbeg and Glenmorangie Revealed” with Elaine Thomson

  Elaine Thomson will present a line up seldom seen in NZ. She hails from just north of Aberdeen in Scotland and has a wealth of on-premise experience through restaurants and boutique hotels over the past 12 years in Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Queenstown.

  Elaine is a passionate whisky enthusiast and brings this passion to her presentation of Glenmorangie and Ardbeg!
  
  
  
  
  

4:30PM SESSIONS:

• SESSION F: Kilchoman “Islay’s Farm Distillery” with Anthony wills the owner

  It’s not often that one can actually say they have been at a distillery from the beginning, Anthony Wills and his wife Kathy are coming over for their third DramFest the difference this time is they have SOME WHISKY!!! Anthony is going to give you an insight into what it has taken to get this far but more importantly what is coming up in the future, again some Kilchoman on offer only available at the session.  The Wills are “Whisky Heros.”  Kilchoman now has almost a cult following, book early for this.

  
  
  

• SESSION G: Wemyss Vintage Malts with Susan Colville from Scotland

  Yes that’s right, “Wemyss” this very old noble Scottish family have started bottling single cask whiskies, this is your first chance in NZ to be given the inside story on what goes on to be selected for a Wemyss Vintage Single Malt Range.

  Susan has been a brand ambassador for many years and has a unique way of getting across the message behind her brand, great to see a woman presenter at last at DramFest’11, let’s give Susan a warm welcome.

  
  
  

• SESSION I: Ian McWilliam from Glenfarclas presents “175 years of Glenfarclas and the Family Casks”

  Ian will present a selection of single cask Glenfarclas from the 50's onwards.

  Glenfarclas is in the enviable position of having stock in cask for every year from 1952 to the current year. The Family Casks is an exciting range of Glenfarclas expressions, a collection of the best single casks from the distillery's warehouses, bottled at Cask Strength and at natural colour. The Family Casks collection is unique; no other distillery can or has been able to offer single cask bottlings from so many consecutive years.