Dear Society Member,

As many of you will know, we have been trying to find a way to work around the US customs and postal service restrictions to allow our members in the USA to enjoy the full benefits of their Society membership – essentially the opportunity to get your hands on our regular Society bottlings.

After a long period of wracking our brains – we have a very slow pace of life here in Campbeltown – and talking to potential partners we believe that we are on the way to a successful outcome.

Our US distributor Preiss Imports has agreed to help out by teaming up with selected retailers to import a batch of each Society bottling. At first, we will be working with retailers in California and Texas and if the partnership is successful we will roll the scheme out to other states. We appreciate that this plan might not be perfect for some of you but we hope you will agree that it is a lot better than the current situation. When we have full details of the retailers and timescales involved you will be the first to know.

We have also been working to expand our Society activities in the USA. In June of this year the first Society tasting in north America took place in Dallas, Texas, thanks to the input of members Mark Monfrey and Jeff Daniels and their friends. Ranald Watson from Springbank travelled to Dallas for the event and we had an excellent turnout of both existing and new members.

We were so impressed with the attendance in Dallas that we have agreed to provide a fantastic opportunity to anyone who attends the next “Texas Tasting” early in 2010 – the chance to choose the next limited edition Springbank Society bottling.

Mark and the gang in Dallas are hosting a tasting for Society members only at 7.30pm on 12th January 2010 at the Trinity Hall Irish Pub, 5321 E. Mockingbird Lane, 250, Dallas, Texas. To take advantage of this one-off opportunity to have your say on the next Society bottle, telephone Mark Monfrey (214) 887-3600 or email monfrey@artisanal-beverage.com to book your tickets.

In addition to helping to choose the next bottle, you will also have the chance to try the latest Society whisky at the tasting, as well as a number of other whiskies from the Springbank range. We are also led to believe that Mark might even have a special gift to give to all members who attend!

Hopefully all this good news will provide some festive cheer for everyone and help to get 2010 off to an excellent Springbank start! If you have any queries about any of the above news, or any suggestions about how we can help to make the Society work for you, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Wishing you a happy Christmas and best wishes for 2010,

Janet
For the Springbank Society

J & A Mitchell and Co Ltd, The Tasting Room, 9 Bolgam Street, Campbeltown, Argyll, PA28 6HZ
Registered in Scotland, registration number 3582
Tel :   + 44(0) 1586 552009   Fax :  + 44(0) 1586 553232  website  http://www.springbankwhisky.com