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Monday, June 28, 2010

"Old Masters Scotch" Coming Soon To the U.S.


Richard Lombard-Chibnall, director of Lombard Brands, informed me last month that they will soon be shipping approximately 280 cases (12 bottles per case), a total of 3,360 bottles, of Old Masters' Scotch Whisky to the U.S.

That's fine for me, but it won't leave much for anyone else...

I am on a mailing list for the US distributer, so I will pass along the dates when they will be available, as soon as I know them.

From their website description:

Old Masters is a rich blend originally created for the Freemasons and has been carefully chosen from selected grain whiskies and specific Highland and Speyside malts. This is the perfect Masonic Gift for a Mason, Brother, Master or Past Master. If you are a mason to any degree you will appreciate the fantastic picture label on this bottle. This wonderful item would create a fabulous talking point before and after any Lodge meeting or diner. It would also make a great prize for a Masonic raffle or initiation ceremony. This item is totally unique and original.


This item is not available in any shops and is in limited supply, making it very rare and collectable. This item is now supplied online in a Lombard's Card Gift Box.

Tasting Notes:

"The perfect nose to experience blindfolded (how else...?) as the depth of the fruit and grain - and their happy intermingling - is astonishing. A few under-ripe gooseberries here. Light, graceful arrival with the early emphasis on a Speyside malt theme before some grain and oak kicks in. Pretty long with touches of cocoa though the fresh malt lingers. A high quality blend that doesn't stint on the malt. The nose, in particular, is sublime.
- 92 points."
Jim Murray - Whisky Bible 2008

UPDATE from Brother Jared Card, the US Distributor in Delaware:

Friends and Brothers,

I have good news for all. The Old Masters Whisky has gone into production and bottling. The scheduled arrival date into the USA is sometime in early September. For the first bottling, there are only around 2500 bottles coming into the country. There will be more after that, but we need to gauge the demand for Old Masters so we will use this shipment as a trial to determine how much is needed to keep a consistent supply available. Please forward this email to any interested parties and have them send a reply so we can add them to our mailing list. The whisky should be retailing for around $29.99. This price is not set in stone but should be used as a general approximation of cost. I have attached a picture of the label as approved by the federal government so you all can see what the bottle and label will look like. Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions or concerns you may have. If you know how many bottles you would like you may send in a tentative order to this email and we will be sure that you get your bottles. First come first serve so don't wait until it gets here. All orders will be confirmed when the whisky arrives, and we will let you know where to go and get it. Thanks for all your patience and support. Hope to hear from you all soon. I have copied below a review of the Old Masters written by Jim Murray. If you don't know, he is the world's leading whisky critic and does the Whisky Bible every year. The Whisky Bible is a book that rates and scores thousands of whiskies each year. It is one of the most respected whisky references there is. His review reads:

"Old Masters “Freemason Whisky”(92 points)
nose: The perfect nose to experience blindfolded (how else ….?) as the depth of the fruit and grain – and their happy intermingling – is astonishing. A few under-ripe gooseberries here;
taste: Light, graceful arrival with the early emphasis on a Speyside malt theme before some grain and oak kicks in;
finish: pretty long with touches of cocoa though the fresh malt lingers;
balance: a high quality blend that doesn’t stint on the malt. The nose, in particular, is sublime.

Fraternally,
Jared Card
Lombard Scotch Whisky Company
(302)397-4874
.


Jared tells me all sales in the US will be handled by mail order, so contact him by phone or email. In states that direct liquor shipments can't be made to your home, he can arrange to ship them to a local liquor store for you.

4 comments:

  1. If you don't want to wait until September, Robert Burns Blend from Arran's is currently available in the US.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hello Bro. Chris,
    I'm looking forward to trying this Scotch. However, judging from the S&C I am wondering if maybe they should have named it "Old... something else?
    Fraternally,
    Bro. Tom Trenkler
    Lombard Lodge #1098

    ReplyDelete
  3. any idea why they used the FCM S&C? :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Prior to the early eighteenth century, two degrees were worked, the Entered Apprentice Degree and the Fellowcraft Degree. There is no mention of a third degree until 1711's Trinity College Dublin Ms. and the Graham Ms. of 1726 :)

    ReplyDelete

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