This has been a very busy year to date for Duncan Taylor, despite the financial woes of the world, sales of our whiskies have reached new heights. We have had more awards, some great product reviews and huge success with Black Bull. We hope this will continue for the second part of the year.

Company & Product News

Sales have increased in most markets with Black Bull a runaway success. In fact, the 30YO was released in America early August and is now sold out!

As you may have seen from our press release that the “Rare Auld” has now been released in a new much up graded gift pack custom designed by Euan.

We bid a fond farewell to the colour coordinated regional boxes and give a warm welcome to a new generic gift box which provides a  simple, yet striking appearance, instantly enhancing the brand identity on your shelf. The new two tone box consists of a light colour lid, in moonstone grey, which contrasts perfectly with the elegant slate colour on the base.

The label will retain detailed information and the regional colour coordination, as before, which we feel stands out extremely well against the neutral background. The back of the box carries the DT history and brand values giving the consumer an immediate insight into what we are all about.

The double layered gift boxes afford increased protection and are more easily opened. A protective sleeve protects them in transit and storage. All in all – added value all round, helping to realise increased sales!

Mark has just returned from a successful weekend at Bredaryd Wardhaus in Sweden.  Mark was in his element as 35 of the most dedicated followers of whisky in Sweden met to talk about and taste some amazing whiskies.  The real surprise of the show came when in Mark tasting a group of self confessed single malt fans voted Black Bull Blended Whisky number 1, Cameronbridge 1979 Grain whisky number 2 and the 70th Anniversary Duncan Taylor vatted malt as number 3 in the taste off!  

Staff News

We are pleased to announce that Mark Watt has now been promoted to Export Sales Director. Whisky Magazine’s “Young Ambassador of the Year” has worked solidly in promoting the Duncan Taylor brands in particular bringing the delights of Caperdonich to the attention of those who were unfamiliar with the malt. Mark will now be managing the export sales team and looks forward to bringing you even more interesting whiskies to the table.

To improve our service to you, our customers and friends, we are in the process of upgrading our computer system with the installation of some expensive new sales database software, this will help us greatly to keep in touch and offer an exemplary service. To assist with this process we have employed Marie McDonald.

As both Jemma’s and Kirsty’s babies grow, so their arms are having to get longer to reach their keyboards. Any time soon, they will have to surrender their desks to have a few days rest before the due date!  We wish them both best of health and easy times ahead. Huntly Distillery

Huntly Distillery project is still online, albeit at a slightly more leisurely pace than in the initial phase of planning. It now has full planning consent and building warrant approval. The site has been undergoing a “makeover” with ground clearance, landscaping, structure demolition and building remedial work over the past month. The project has been awarded a further grant of £100,000 from the Hydrocarbons Trust so we are getting very close to starting the major build part of the project. We are considering doing some “futures” on the first distillation so if you are interested then please let me know at euan@duncantaylor.com

Past Events

It is August, Whisky Fringe was back at the stunning venue of Mansfield Traquair in Edinburgh, and Duncan Taylor again introduced fans new and old, to some malts new and old!  The event as always was a huge success and the 70th Anniversary malt went down very well with those who chose it as there half time tipple!  Black Bull 30yo went down a storm on the day being voted in the top three whiskies of the entire show with the Glasgow Whisky Society hitting Edinburgh and declaring it their number one whisky of the day.

The Lonach gathering was on the 22nd of August and was a busy event with locals and tourists alike eagerly trying to get their hands on the 2009 event bottling.  We would like to thank everyone who attended and made it such a special day at all events, and to those in the back ground who make these things happen.

Upcoming Events

Runrig, Scotland’s premier band, have once again entrusted Duncan Taylor to produce its exclusive limited edition bottling to commemorate its largest gig of the year at Scone Palace, Home of the Scottish Kings, on 29th August. This limited edition bottling is a fantastic Highland Park 22 Year Old. It goes on sale 24th August, get your orders in now as it will be a sell out as it has been in previous years. Limited to only 750 bottles at cask strength.

The Runrig event on 29th August will also include a specific whisky tent which will have Scotland’s best Distillery companies exhibiting. Duncan Taylor are proud to be the only Independent Bottler exhibiting there so the estimated 20,000 people coming that day will have a great selection of wonderful whiskies. For ticket sales and additional venue information, visit www.runrig.co.uk/scone

Looking forward – we are also at Whisky Live Glasgow in September.

See you all there!
New Bottlings

There are some pretty stunning new releases this month which I am sure will be of interest to you all. The first is the return of the Sherry Cask Glen Grant 1970 this one from cask 844 – it is certainly a big sherried whisky but with so much more to offer.  We have only done one cask so you best be quick.
 
Later in the month will also see us release a cask strength NC2 Springbank 1997 12 year old. This version of Springbank was non-peated and was triple distilled. I think you all know which whisky we mean by that, although we can not put that on the label as the whisky was not distilled at the distillery that closed in 1925 but is in fact one of three styles of whisky made at Springbank distillery.
 
Another NC2 we bottled at cask strength was a particularly good cask of Imperial 1996. We are huge fans of Imperial here at DTC and this one showed excellent toffee notes and such great character that it deserved to be bottled at cask strength – certainly not one to be missed.

For those who prefer a bit more smoke in their whisky the latest cask of 1982 Caol Ila Cask 2743 certainly should not be missed – a great balance between fruit and smoke.

In future bottlings make sure to look out for the launch of Black Bull 12 yo – sure to grab you by the horns.  Also for look out for an up coming bottling of 1997 Heavily peated Bunnahabhain a dram that will certainly please the peat freaks – you know who you are!

For further information, please contact:
Duncan Taylor & Co Ltd
Whisky Merchants and Brokers,
4 Upperkirkgate, Huntly,
Aberdeenshire, Scotland AB54 8JU
website: www.duncantaylor.com
email: info@duncantaylor.com
Phone: +44 (0) 1466 794055
Fax: +44 (0) 1466 794618
 

Purveyors of the worlds most exclusive range of Scotch Whiskies