Paris Texas wins Pub Of The Year and Jim Rafferty of The Dylan Whisky Bar wins Bar Manager Of The Year. 

Wednesday 20th November: Having already won Innovative Pub Of The Year earlier in the evening, Kilkenny’s PARIS TEXAS went on to scoop the overall Irish Pub of the Year at the annual gala event at The Concert Hall in the RDS. Over 1700 applications were made to the awards this year and after receiving the award Pat Crotty, owner of Paris Texas said – “We are delighted and honoured to be recognised by our peers as the best pub in Ireland for 2019. We have a great team that work hard every day to deliver an experience that we hope will bring our loyal customers back again and again. Our innovation award recognises that we do things a little differently and we will not be resting on any laurels. We have more plans to improve the Paris Texas experience again in 2020.”

Jim Rafferty receiving his Icon Of Whisky Award

Thursday 21st November: At the annual Icons Of Whisky Awards ceremony held at the Iveagh Garden Hotel in Dublin, Jim Rafferty of The Dylan Whisky Bar in Kilkenny Whiskey Guild was awarded Bar Manager Of The Year. On receiving the award Jim said – “It is a great honour to receive this fantastic award and to be recognised by the industry. It is the culmination of a lot of hard work and I am particularly grateful to the support of my team at The Dylan Whisky Bar and colleagues in the Kilkenny Whisky Guild as well as the Irish Whiskey industry as a whole. It is a very exciting time to be involved in Irish Whiskey and I look forward to more growth and innovation in the category to celebrate and promote”.

NEW YORK WORLD WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION AWARDS SAZERAC’S CANADIAN WHISKIES WITH ONE GOLD AND TWO SILVER MEDALS

MONTREAL (Nov. 26, 2019) – Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky received a Gold medal at the prestigious 2019 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition. Silver medals were also awarded to Royal Canadian Whisky and High River Canadian Whisky.

Caribou Crossing is the world’s first single barrel Canadian whisky. Each barrel is chosen for its rich and complex flavor to the exacting standards of the world-renowned Master Blender, Drew Mayville.

Silver medal winners, Royal Canadian Whisky and High River Canadian Whisky are said to have shown refinement, finesse, and complexity, and were deemed to be among the best examples of their categories.

Full results have been released and published on the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (NYWSC) website, www.nywscomp.com.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac, please visit www.sazerac.com.

RAISING A DRAM AS DUNCAN TAYLOR SCOTCH WHISKY WINS MAJOR WHISKY AWARD

A Huntly based whisky firm has clinched the coveted ‘Grain Independent Bottler of the Year” award at Whisky Magazine’s Independent Bottlers Challenge.

They scooped the top prize at the annual awards which were held in the Balmoral Hotel in Edinburgh on Friday.  The Independent Bottlers Challenge, which has been running for 14 years, aims to reward the world’s finest whiskies and is known as the ‘Oscars’ of the whisky industry.

The whisky firm also came home with Silver Awards for their Octave Range Bunnahabhain 2014, Invergordon 2007 and a Port Dundas 1973 from their Premium Octave collection, one of a series of 8 whiskies that were only launched in October.

Commenting on their latest award success Chairman Euan Shand said; “ We are incredibly proud to see the quality of our grain whiskies recognised in such a big arena and against such fierce competition.  This is thanks to the calibre of whiskies that we’ve accumulated over the years, many from distilleries that no longer operate.  It’s great to see that our whiskies really stood out to the judging panel.”

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky are renowned for the quality of their whiskies including single grains. They were one of the first independent whisky companies to launch and develop the market for this type of whisky, having released single grains for over 20 years.  Grain whisky is distilled in column stills rather than pot stills, which can give it a lighter and sweeter character. However if lovingly aged in quality casks, such as the ones Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky have, it can create wonderful whiskies that are great value for money.

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited matures whiskies in the best ex sherry and ex bourbon casks. Since the company’s inception in 1938 they have accumulated one of the largest privately-owned cask collections, with many casks up to 60 years old maturing in the company’s warehouses.  Distributing globally to over 50 countries, the company has offices in Huntly, Aberdeenshire and Los Angeles.

The award-winning whiskies are available to purchase from specialist retailer outlets including The Spirits Embassy – www.thespiritsembassy.com

www.duncantaylor.com

NOTES

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky has ownership of one of the largest privately-held collections of rare scotch whisky casks. The company has been “laying down” casks from premium Scottish distilleries for decades and has, in recent years, made its branded products available to whisky connoisseurs throughout the world.

A. Smith Bowman Distillery Announces

Limited Abraham Bowman Whiskey Release 

Extremely Limited Twice Finished Whiskey

Released Only at Distillery

               Fredericksburg, VA. (Dec. 18, 2019) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery announces the latest release in its Abraham Bowman line of experimental whiskey, the Abraham Bowman Twice Finished Whiskey.

This limited release began in December 2006 when seven charred oak barrels were filled and laid to age peacefully for eight years and three months. From there, these barrels were consolidated into two-and-a-half barrels to be finished. First the whiskey was finished in Potomac Point Winery port barrels for four years and seven months. Then it was transferred into sauterne barrels for two months before being bottled yesterday, bringing the total age of this whiskey to 13 years.

The Twice Finished Whiskey was bottled at 100 proof, and will be very limited. These bottles will only be released to Virginia through the A. Smith Bowman Distillery gift shop on Saturday, Dec. 21 while supply lasts.

Tasting notes describe “upfront notes of sweet honey, and caramel with dried fruits from the port barrel lingering in the background. Heavy toasted oak flavors with a creamy mouthfeel and sweetness from the finishes coming through. The flavor finishes dry with coffee, dried figs, and hints of leather lingering on the palate.”

The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Bourbon Whiskey is part of a series of limited-edition whiskies, named after Abraham Bowman, the commander of the 8^th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolutionary War. Each edition of the Abraham line is a different expression and a new release is offered a few times a year.  This is the 19^th release in the Abraham line.  The Abraham Bowman Twice Finished Whiskey will only be available at the A. Smith Bowman Distillery gift shop. Quantities are very limited. The Abraham Bowman series aims to release new and different expressions of innovative whiskey for each release, so it is unlikely this exact bourbon will be repeated. The total age of this bourbon is 13 years and it is bottled at 100 proof. These 750 ml bottles have a suggested retail price of $69.99.

About A. Smith Bowman

1. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which received a gold medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY AT THE GLENALLACHIE DISTILLERY AS WHISKY ICON WALKER EARNS ANOTHER PRESTIGIOUS AWARD

Billy Walker’s Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year Award comes hot on the heels of Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year success

The GlenAllachie Distillery has capped a particularly productive and successful year with another award win, with co-founder Billy Walker being awarded Master Distiller/Master Blender of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Awards. The distillery’s visitor centre was also Highly Commended in the Visitor Attraction of the Year category.

The win at the annual Icons of Whisky Awards, which are presented by industry bible Whisky Magazine, comes just months after The GlenAllachie won the Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year 2019 at the inaugural Scottish Whisky Awards.

Walker said: “I’m over the moon to win this prestigious award, it’s a wonderful way to round off the year. When we first acquired the distillery, I knew it had massive potential. It’s been hugely exciting to be part of its reawakening and share our outstanding single malts with the world.

“I’m particularly pleased that the visitor centre was Highly Commended. We’ve only been opened to visitors for just over seven months, and we have a growing team who deserve recognition for the work they’ve done to put The GlenAllachie back on the map.”

It’s been a remarkable rise to prominence for the distillery since Walker and co-founders Graham Stevenson and Trisha Savage took over in 2017. Prior to their arrival, the distillery, which was built in 1967, was relatively unknown and focused on producing malts for blends.

Since then, Walker and his team have built The GlenAllachie into a global independent whisky brand through a series of single malt releases and by opening the distillery to the public for the first time in its history.

The run of releases began in March 2018 with a special bottling of limited edition single cask whiskies to mark the 50^th anniversary of the distillery’s maiden production run in 1968. The GlenAllachie’s first core range was unveiled in July, followed by a batch of single casks in November and the launch of MacNair’s Lum Reek, a blended malt Scotch whisky.

In May 2019, the distillery unveiled its visitor centre and shop, opening the distillery up for tours for the first time in over 50 years. In July, the distillery revealed its first Wood Finish range, which comprises three expressions. The following month, the distillery also added a 15-year-old single malt to its multi award-winning core range.

In October, two years to the day since The GlenAllachie Distillery was bought by Billy Walker and his team, The GlenAllachie launched Batch 3 of its Cask Strength series, and a new collection of five UK exclusive single casks.

The distillery’s team has also grown – in the last two years, the headcount has risen from 7 to 22.

Along the way, the GlenAllachie’s single malts and blends have been recognised with multiple awards including several gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition; five medals at the world-renowned International Wines and Spirits Competition (IWSC); and Golds at the International Spirits Challenge and World Whiskies Awards.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie

Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie

Instagram – @theglenallachie_

MacNair’s Facebook – @macnairs

Whyte & Mackay takes top international prize at IWSC 2019 

Whisky maker Whyte & Mackay has been crowned Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) Producer Awards 2019, hosted in London’s Guildhall on Thursday 28 November.

Currently marking its 175^th anniversary, Whyte & Mackay beat off strong competition to land the title at the ceremony which is billed as the Oscars of the wine and spirits industry.

Founded in Glasgow in 1844, Whyte & Mackay’s whisky brands include international recognised single malt’s The Dalmore, Jura, Fettercairn, Tamnavulin and blends including Whyte & Mackay, The Woodsman.

The 50th IWSC Wine Producer Awards was attended by the world’s leading producers, retailers and distributors. A panel of 400 international judges reviewed entries for seven months of the year, with a rigorous process including blind testing, chemical and microbiological analysis.

In recent years Whyte & Mackay’s whisky portfolio has seen significant growth and investment with the notable relaunch of Tamnavulin Single Malt Whisky, Fettercairn Single Malt Whisky and Jura Single Malt Whisky – produced by the tiny island community of 212 people off the West Coast of Scotland. In 2019 Jura released a ‘212’ limited edition to celebrate the number of people that call Jura home.

The Dalmore Single Malt Whisky continues to produce exceptional releases, with a landmark auction at Sotheby’s of The Dalmore L’Anima achieving £108,000. The Dalmore will launch a series of events and whiskies to celebrate the 180^th Anniversary of the Distillery in December.

Within the wider parent company, Bodegas Fundador won Brandy and Fortified Wine producer of the year. The producer’s brands include Harvey’s Very Old Amontillado and Spanish brandy, Fundador.

Collecting the award Bryan Donaghey, Chief Executive Officer, Whyte & Mackay, said: “We’re incredibly proud to come home with the most prestigious whisky honour the industry has to bestow. To receive such recognition from industry is testament to the incredible whiskies we have released, and the dedication of each and every person behind them at Whyte & Mackay.

“Our success across 175 years is built on our shared entrepreneurial spirit. That is as true today, as it was in 1844. That spirit is at the heart of our whisky and our people, producing great whisky in Scotland, to be enjoyed by our consumers right around the world.

“Equally the awards recognise the excellent work of our colleagues in Spain, and we extend our contratulations to the team at Bodegas Fundador.”

In August this year Whyte & Mackay toasted the success of its whisky portfolio after landing fifteen Gold and Gold Outstanding IWSC medals. Highland Single Malt Whisky, The Dalmore was the whisky maker’s most notable success, scooping four Gold Outstanding awards and three Gold awards.

Whyte & Mackay’s premium whisky portfolio also includes its namesake Whyte & Mackay Blended Whisky and the popular John Barr Blended Whisky. It relaunched single malts Tamnavulin, Fettercairn and Jura in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in addition to launching a boutique whisky brand – Whisky Works, led by whisky maker Gregg Glass.

Whyte & Mackay were founded in Glasgow, Scotland, where their global head office is located today. In November 2019 Whyte & Mackay and Bryan Donaghey celebrated their continued success, speaking at the Glasgow Growth Summit, hosted by The Times of London and KPMG.

https://www.iwsc.net/

About Whyte & Mackay Group Ltd.

Whyte & Mackay was founded in Glasgow in 1844, and today celebrates its 175^th anniversary with a multi-award-winning portfolio of brands which includes The Dalmore, Jura, Tamnavulin and Fettercairn whiskies alongside its namesake Whyte & Mackay Blended Whisky.

The award-winning whisky makers are proud partners of Flor de Caña, Camus and RumChata distributing their distinctive brands in the UK, while in recent years their focus on pioneering innovation has seen them reveal a plethora of brand extensions and new to world brands. From an exclusive 50 Year-Old Highland Single Malt from The Dalmore celebrating the career of Master Distiller Richard Paterson to a full range revamp on Jura. In the last twelve months, more than five new brands have been revealed, to name a few – Shackleton, Woodsman, and Wildcat, as well an independent boutique bottling arm The Whisky Works, fronted by whisky maker, Gregg Glass.

The global spirits business is headquartered in the heart of Glasgow, and employs over 500 people around the globe, across five international offices, five distilleries and a state-of-the-art bottling plant in Scotland.

Today, with the support of its owners Emperador Inc,. Whyte & Mackay is building a progressive, passionate and ambitious company for the future. Emperador is a subsidiary of Alliance Global Group, Inc (an international conglomerate listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange).

Exciting Experiences:

Distillery Tour and tasting: Begin with a guided tour of the distillery, including the production areas and warehouses followed by a full tasting across the spirits range.

£15 per person, pre-booking is a must

Whisky blending masterclass which includes, a highball whisky cocktail on arrival, a guided tour of the distillery and the warehouse, an in depth exploration of the whisky-making process, a chance to blend your own whisky, bottles to take home and more!

£100 per person, monthly bookable sessions

The Cotswolds Distillery Single Malt Whisky

The Cotswolds Distillery Single Malt Whisky is the first to be created in the Cotswolds ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ and is made using only Cotswolds-grown barley. The inaugural whisky is rich and fruity in style; it is matured in a combination of first-fill, ex-Bourbon barrels and specially shaved, toasted and re-charred red wine casks. The young expression bursts with notes of honey and butterscotch, layered with light fruits (peaches, apricots) and a hint of marzipan. To taste, the whisky is rich with malt, oils and dark sugar. Spice and caramelised bitter orange lead into a long, resinous finish with dark red fruits and a hint of treacle.

Awarded Gold at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2019.

Stockists: www.cotswoldsdistillery.co.uk, Amazon UK & Waitrose

RRP: £44.95

Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky 

Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky: This cask strength release from the Cotswolds Distillery comes from the Founder, Dan’s, favourite casks: shaved, toasted and re-charred American Oak red wine barriques. These uniquely active casks give a rich and intense maturation to the distillery’s fruity spirit, offering toffee, oak and red fruits, and a beautiful, deep colour.

Awarded Best English Single Malt 2019 by the World Whiskies Awards

Stockists: www.cotswoldsdistillery.co.uk, & Amazon UK

RRP: £64.95 

Bimber releases first Founder’s series single malt whisky

Bimber Distillery has announced the release of the first bottling of its four-year long Founder’s series. Charting the growth of the distillery and the development of its London single malt whisky, the Founders series expressions are exclusively available to members of Bimber’s ‘Founders Club’.

Each release from 2019 through to 2022 will be drawn from one of the distillery’s oldest casks and bottled as a cask strength, single cask release limited to 200 bottles.

The inaugural edition of the Founder’s series has been drawn from ex-bourbon cask #16 which was laid down in 2016 – Bimber’s first year of production. Bottled at 57.8% ABV, with natural colour and no chill-filtration, the cask was selected by Bimber’s Master Distiller for its extraordinary reflection of the distillery’s naturally fruit-forward spirit style and well as its remarkable level of maturity.

Speaking of the launch Master Distiller Darius Plazewski said “We’ve been overjoyed and humbled by the reception that our inaugural single malt (The First) and our recently released Re-charred Oak Casks has received across the industry and particularly amongst whisky enthusiasts. Our Founder’s Club members share our passion for the highest quality, handcrafted whisky, and we’re delighted to now share this exceptional single cask release with them”.

Bimber’s Founder’s Club was launched in May 2019 as a comprehensive package for enthusiasts wanting to join the distillery on its early journey. Members receive four limited edition bottlings drawn from Bimber’s highest quality casks (one each year until 2022) as well as exclusive behind the scenes access to the distillery and a range of discounts on all online orders.

Notes 

• Bimber 2019 Founder’s Club bottling

Ex-bourbon cask #16 laid down in 2016

Nose: Crisp, clean and fruity. Cider apples, turnovers and crumble sit with apricot yoghurt and candied orange peels whilst milk chocolate is livened by bees honey sweetness and a prickle of peppery spice.

Taste: Oily, fulsome and impactful – bright apples and pear juices mingle with freshly picked apricots, split vanilla pods and charred oak. Baked vanilla buns and crème patisserie sit with nutmeg and pepper spiced honey.

Finish: Lingering wood spices marry perfectly with fading orchard fruits, honey and dusty sweet pastries.

Limited to 200 bottles

70cl

57.8% ABV

Distribution: Available to Bimber Founder’s Club members worldwide

• About Bimber

Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. As a leading distiller of English whisky, we combine generations of rich distilling heritage, with the finest quality ingredients to create the ultimate craft whisky experience.

The seeds of Bimber were sown three generations ago in communist-era Poland, where our founder and master distiller’s grandfather, distilled his own spirits, known as moonshine. This craft was carefully perfected and passed through the generations to Darius who learnt the art of distillation from a very young age.

This rich distilling heritage has shaped and influenced our approach to spirit making. We are proud of our past and pay tribute to it with our name Bimber, which means moonshine in Polish. ​

The founders of Bimber, Darius and Ewelina, emigrated from Poland to London in 2003 and created a successful business in West London. However, Darius’s passion for whisky and distilling were always at the forefront of his mind, and when the opportunity arose to establish a whisky distillery in 2015, he knew he had to go for it. Our first casks were laid on the 26th May 2016, and we have been patiently waiting until now to release them.

Goldfinch releases first in rare cask series 

Mey Selections Rare Cask Series Glen Ord – Aged 12 Years

Scottish whisky merchant Goldfinch has released the first in its new Mey Selections Rare Cask Series – a limited edition single cask bottling of a rare first fill Oloroso sherry cask from Glen Ord Distillery.

Set to delight whisky lovers and collectors around the globe, only 689 hand-numbered bottles of this exceptional single malt from one of Scotland’s oldest whisky distilleries and the only remaining single malt distillery in the Black Isle, are available.

Glen Ord single malt is normally only found in the Singleton range in the Asian market or as a blend in Johnnie Walker.

The 12 Year Old release, the first of the Mey Selections Rare Cask Series from Goldfinch, has notes of spice, fruit and butterscotch, is non-chill filtered and natural in colour.  It was distilled in April 2007, matured in a single first-fill European oak Oloroso sherry butt and bottled in July 2019 at cask strength of 51% ABV.

The Rare Cask Series has been selected for Goldfinch by top whisky maker Max McFarlane who has been responsible for creating iconic whisky brands of the highest quality for many years.  A donation from every bottle sold will go towards supporting rural communities in the far north of Scotland through the North Highland Initiative charity.

Max sampled whiskies all over the North of Scotland to choose the very best in quality. He explained why he selected the 12 Year Old Glen Ord to mark the first release of the series:

“The Glen Ord cask had superior sensory and palate qualities. The liquid has wonderful flavours of a sherry cask filled with whisky for the first time. It is fresh and fruity on the nose with hints of white grapes and aromatic spices followed by a breath of warm butterscotch. Beautifully formed and well rounded on the palate, with sweet notes of vanilla and prunes enriched by suggestions of malted barley and linseed oil.  A whisper of light spice heralds a deliciously smooth and lingering finish. Add all this to good maturation and natural colour and we have a product fit for a King.”

Sherry casks are only used in a small percentage of whisky maturation because the casks are in limited supply and cost ten times more than a bourbon cask. The flavour and colour that the casks impart are coveted by whisky fans.

Andrew Macdonald-Bennett of Goldfinch said:

“We are delighted to launch the Mey Selections Rare Cask Series with this exceptional limited edition sherry oak matured single cask bottling from Glen Ord.  It is an outstanding whisky and we feel privileged to be able to offer this rare gem to whisky enthusiasts and collectors and to give back to the North Highland community at the same time.”

Bottle No. 1 of Mey Selections Rare Cask Series Glen Ord was presented to HRH The Prince Charles, Duke of Rothesay who is patron of the Mey Selections charity.

The bottle’s label features a painting of Castle of Mey, the Highland home of the late Queen Mother, by HRH The Prince Charles.

Mey Selections Rare Cask Series – Glen Ord is available now from Goldfinch Whisky Merchants www.goldfinchwhisky.com priced at £118 (incl UK duty and VAT) with free delivery.  It is also available from Wood Winters, The Scottish Gantry, Master of Malt and Valhalla’s Goat.

www.goldfinchwhisky.com  follow us on social @goldfinchwhisky

Notes:

Tasting Notes for Mey Selections Rare Cask Series – Glen Ord Aged 12 Years by Goldfinch

Nose: Fresh and fruity, white grapes, aromatic spices, warm butterscotch

Palate: Well rounded, sweet notes of vanilla, prunes, malted barley and linseed oil

Finish: Light spice, smooth and lingering

Goldfinch is a specialist Scottish whisky merchant, dedicated to sourcing exceptional casks from Scotland’s finest distilleries to share with whisky enthusiasts and collectors around the world. Every Goldfinch release is individually crafted, exquisitely packaged and carries a clear provenance.

Mey Selections is an award-winning range of food and drink, created as part of a charity initiative to help communities in the North of Scotland by supporting the local food and drink industry.  It supplies the highest quality produce from within a 150 mile radius of the Castle of Mey, owned by the Royal Family. It is one of the most successful ventures of the North Highland Initiative, a charity which aims to address some of the challenges facing rural communities in the far north of Scotland by creating a powerful regional identity for the area. Mey Selections’ current product portfolio includes; beef, lamb, salmon, cheese, oatcakes, biscuits, shortbread, whisky cakes and a new line of cashmere in Mey Selections tartan with Johnstons of Elgin. The North Highland Initiative offers a premium to farmers who reach Mey Selections specifications.

Aston Martin Partners with Bowmore® Single Malt Scotch Whisky On Exclusive Limited-Edition Whisky Bottlings and Innovative Lifestyle Experiences

Two iconic British luxury brands unite on a global partnership for the first time 

Islay, Scotland (December 9, 2019) – Aston Martin Lagonda has announced Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky will become its exclusive spirits partner. The exciting partnership will bring the two iconic British luxury brands together to create an exclusive series of outstanding products and experiences.

Working with the world-class Aston Martin Design team, Bowmore, the oldest licensed distillery on Scotland’s isle of Islay and home to the world’s oldest maturation warehouse, will create exclusive limited-edition bottlings that reflect both brand’s commitment to heritage, cutting edge-design and manufacturing techniques. These rare Scotch whisky releases will appeal to both existing and new fans of both brands, lovers of beautifully crafted products and exceptional whiskies. Exclusive and inspiring events and experiences across the globe will help bring the partnership to life, showcasing a shared appreciation for the most beautiful creations and extraordinary moments and revealing the shared values of both brands.

On the announcement of the global partnership, Albert Baladi, President and CEO of Beam Suntory, owner of the Bowmore brand said, “It is exciting for an extraordinary brand like Bowmore to enter a global partnership with a brand of such high esteem and heritage, leading in its industry for beauty and craft for decades. Aston Martin embodies Bowmore’s commitment to time, with the craft and patience required to make sports cars and single malt Scotch whisky very much intertwined. These shared values will underpin our series of product innovation and experiences with Aston Martin, and we can’t wait to collaborate on what will be a defining and industry leading collaboration for years to come.”

Aston Martin Lagonda President and Group Chief Executive Officer, Andy Palmer added: “This series of limited-edition bottlings are going to be very special collectors’ items for the whisky connoisseur and Aston Martin enthusiast. As brands we have a lot in common. We both focus on indulging our customers with exquisitely-designed, beautifully-crafted products, often producing limited edition specials that celebrate our heritage. Bowmore is a great British brand and, like Aston Martin, its employees are passionate about their work. I can’t wait to sample the fruits of this collaboration between innovative design and crafted product.”

The brands urge consumers never to drink and drive. Drink Smart® messaging will be integrated into all brand activations around the partnership as the dedicated Drink Smart® platform ensures communication with legal-purchase age adults about making informed, responsible choices.

https://www.drinksmart.com/reducing-drunk-driving-or-drink-driving 

About Aston Martin Lagonda

Aston Martin Lagonda is a luxury automotive group focused on the creation of exclusive cars and SUVs.  The iconic Aston Martin brand fuses the latest technology, exceptional hand craftsmanship and timeless design to produce models including the Vantage, DB11, Rapide AMR and DBS Superleggera.  The Lagonda brand will relaunch in 2021 as the world’s first luxury electric vehicle company. Based in Gaydon, England, Aston Martin Lagonda designs, creates and exports cars which are sold in 53 countries around the world.

Lagonda was founded in 1899 and Aston Martin in 1913. The two brands came together in 1947 when both were purchased by the late Sir David Brown. Under the leadership of Dr Andy Palmer and a new management team, the Group launched its Second Century Plan in 2015 to deliver sustainable long-term growth. The plan is underpinned by the introduction of seven new models including the DB11, new Vantage, DBS Superleggera and an SUV, as well as the development of a new manufacturing centre in St Athan, Wales.

www.astonmartin.com/media

About Bowmore

Founded in 1779, Bowmore® is the oldest distillery on Islay, one of the Scottish isles which make up the region known as the ‘Islands’ in the lexicon of Whisky.  The other regions are the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands.  Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore® is no exception; the malt is carefully smoked in a peat-fired kiln, using skills honed over two centuries to craft a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

Time is savoured at Bowmore® and the distillery’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of its Single Malts. Today, it prides itself as one of the rare distilleries which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by a traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery.  Water for the whiskies is specially drawn from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones – the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.

Bowmore® Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of its spirit. The legendary Bowmore® No. 1 Vaults is where most of the whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the vault’s sea-facing wall. They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavours until the expertise of our whisky makers deems them ready for bottling.  It is this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore® Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. Through peerless maturation expertise and sense of timing, Bowmore® is “Time, Savoured®” – a rich reward for those that appreciate the value of time and an exquisite whisky coveted the world over.

Bowmore® supports www.drinkaware.co.uk

www.bowmore.com

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands, Suntory whisky Kakubin and Courvoisier cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s and Legent bourbon; Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig and Bowmore Scotch whisky; Canadian Club whisky; Hornitos and Sauza tequila; EFFEN, Haku and Pinnacle vodka; Sipsmith and Roku gin; and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com