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Cooley Distillery, The Dodo and The Last Independent Irish Whiskey Distillery

The most interesting statement in the Press Release from Cooley and Beam Inc this afternoon in relation to the proposed acquisition of Cooley Distillery by Beam is i think this sentence –  “Cooley is one of only three sources for Irish whiskey, and the only independent player, so this transaction is a unique and compelling high-return opportunity to enter one of the industry’s highest growth … Continue reading Cooley Distillery, The Dodo and The Last Independent Irish Whiskey Distillery

Tomas Clancy
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Eleanor of Aquitaine, Teenage Queen Of France and The Rise, Fall and Rise Again of Malbec

The twisted story of the Malbec grape is intertwined with the reputation of one of history’s most powerful women, Eleanor of Aquitaine, the only woman in history to have been both Queen of France and Queen of England. Malbec was, during Eleanor’s reign in the 12th century, the centrepiece wine of South West France. It was at the heart of wines from the three main … Continue reading Eleanor of Aquitaine, Teenage Queen Of France and The Rise, Fall and Rise Again of Malbec

Tomas Clancy
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Chris De Burgh, Mouton-Rothchild Magnums (Picasso, Bacon and Warhol) and the rebirth of Wine as an Investment ?

  The case for investing in wine, in particular very good Bordeaux Fine Wines, received a huge boost with the seeming ease that Chris De Burgh’s well chosen wines / liquid investments were transformed into cold hard cash, at prices in many cases double the estimates. Perhaps when NAMA finish selling off the vast tracts of Land and Property that they have (if such a … Continue reading Chris De Burgh, Mouton-Rothchild Magnums (Picasso, Bacon and Warhol) and the rebirth of Wine as an Investment ?

Tomas Clancy
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Vineyards In Japan – An Expression of Solidarity

Reading this announcement I realised that the ongoing and slow-motion horror in Japan which has the world shocked and grieving for the millions affected, has even filtered through to Japan’s small winery business hundreds of miles to the south of Tokyo and our thoughts and prayers  in the greater wine community are with them too. FYI Japan has a small but alluring wine growing tradition … Continue reading Vineyards In Japan – An Expression of Solidarity

Tomas Clancy
Sunday Business Post

Pulling On The Green Shirt – Nationality and Wine

With the St. Patrick’s Day, a wine lover’s thought naturally turn to alarm at how quickly our national holiday has rolled around again, and of course the idea of pulling on the Green Shirt and seeking out Irish wines and maybe some Irish spirits. As I set off to root out those Irish wines, it quickly became clear that Ireland really is an idea, a … Continue reading Pulling On The Green Shirt – Nationality and Wine

Tomas Clancy
wine

Chablis, Where God and Darwin Collide

Chablis, Where God and Darwin Collide           Evolution and the nature of existence is not our usual reflection from wine, but in one spot in the wine world the enormity of the earth’s and mankind’s history bursts though into the air, the soils and the wine. In one spot, Evolution and Intelligent Design collide in a joyous creation. This is in … Continue reading Chablis, Where God and Darwin Collide

Tomas Clancy
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Beaujolais, a Nouveau Tale of Vinous Envy and The Despised Grape

Beaujolais, a Nouveau Tale of Vinous Envy and The Despised Grape In just around three weeks time on the third Thursday in November, the first bottles of Beaujolais Nouveau will depart Burgundy and head for the tables and shelves of wine shops and restaurants around the world. It is one of the most contrived and yet affecting, and commercially effective events of the packed wine … Continue reading Beaujolais, a Nouveau Tale of Vinous Envy and The Despised Grape

Tomas Clancy
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Gundpowder, Treason and Rot Or How I Learned To Love The Eiffel Tower, Scientific Wines and Sugar

Gundpowder, Treason and Rot  Or  How I Learned To Love The Eiffel Tower, Scientific Wines and Sugar While it may sound like something from a Dan Brown novel, in 1986 while performing the usual maintenance the Eiffel Tower, 72 names carved on to the four massive legs of the first floor, were revealed to the world. These huge carved panels of names formed a continuous … Continue reading Gundpowder, Treason and Rot Or How I Learned To Love The Eiffel Tower, Scientific Wines and Sugar

Tomas Clancy