Glasgow has been the heart of Scotland’s whisky industry for decades, and while it retains much of its gritty character, there’s plenty to make whisky lovers feel welcome. This time around, we’ll look at some of Glasgow’s best places for whisky lovers to visit, including a special focus on McTear’s, one of the world’s top whisky auction houses. In the news, the Bourbon Hall of Fame welcomes the Class of 2011, new whiskies, and the latest on whisky exports.

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com

DIAGEO ANNOUNCES ITS SPECIAL RELEASES FOR 2011Diageo’s prolific collection of single malt Scotch whiskies, the Classic Malts Selection™, is augmented every year by the issue of a small portfolio of limited edition single malts, under the heading of Special Releases.

Diageo’s Special Releases 2011
The series has always aimed to intrigue, delight and sometimes surprise whisky connoisseurs and collectors, by presenting unusual, rare, collectable – but always deeply enjoyable – expressions of single malt whisky, all from original distillery stocks.

Some are affordable, others enjoy a rarity that imposes frankly aspirational prices. Many enjoy striking, specially designed packaging that enhances the pleasure of ownership and sharing.

Familiar distilleries are often present, but in unusual expression or ages. Other bottles are drawn from the precious and dwindling stocks of distilleries that ceased production last century. Most are bottled at natural cask strength and all without chill filtration. There are eight Special Releases this year; five are from closed distilleries; and the whole production is less than 60,000 bottles.

As Diageo’s Nick Morgan explains:

“We set out to include one or two really unexpected bottlings in the 2011 Special Releases collection. Very few whisky connoisseurs – possible none at all – will ever have encountered anything like the 20 year old glorious Port Dundas™ single grain whisky that we are offering this year, and since the distillery closed two years ago, it’ll be a rare experience for those who who get to try it now.

“By contrast, the 25 year old Knockando™ from first-fill ex-sherry casks might astonish those who thought they know this malt: this bottling is rich, deep-flavoured and very complex. The Glenury Royal™ at 40 years old is a very venerable (and inevitably expensive) bottling, an old-style after-dinner experience; but it shows no fatigue and is packed with flavour. Lovers of the Lowland style will be charmed by the Rosebank™ 21 year old.”

Older & Rarer
As in previous years, Brora™ and Port Ellen™ will be a focus for committed devotees of these irreplaceable single malts.

The Brora 32 year old is in a limited edition of only 1,404 bottles: compare the first release in this series, in 2002, which ran to 3,000 bottles.

The Port Ellen, also at 32 years old, comes in an edition of 2,988 bottles (compared with 12,000 bottles in 2002!). Rarer and older as the years go by, both are priced at £300 (UK RRSP).

DIAGEO SPECIAL RELEASES 2011 – DETAILS

Brora 32 Year Old
ABV 54.7%

• From a closed distillery at Brora, on the coast.

• Our oldest-ever bottling.

• Tenth of a limited series of annual releases.

• Annual allocation has extended availability of this irreplaceable malt; stocks now depleted.

• From whiskies at least 32 years old, aged in refill American Oak & refill European Oak casks.

• Only 1,500 individually numbered bottles worldwide (less than half recent releases).

• From specialist retailers only.

• UK RRSP £300 per bottle.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Antique gold. Bright, with good beading.

Nose: Modest but complex. Mild nose-feel, yet with a white pepper prickle. Immediate, sharp freshness, rising over sweet malt with fragrant wood smoke curling in the background. Gradually more fruity (baked apples with red-currant jelly, lemon and lime zests) then waxy (warm candlewax) with a trace of hessian, faint spearmint and creamy vanilla. Late, cleansing notes. Water freshens and sweetens things, liberating fresh menthol and floral notes underscored by soft, lemony biscuit, or Madeira cake.

Body: Dense. Oily and smooth. Medium.

Palate: At natural strength, fizzy and spicy. Subdued at first; sweet to start, with subtle smoke followed by sweet, charred notes (burnt fruit cake) then distinctly salty and drying. Smoother to drink with water: lightly sweet, then still salty and drying, with less spice, and now the burnt fruit-cake has become a soft, chewy, iced Danish pastry.

Finish: Long and warming, with late smoke and crushed black peppercorns. Later, traces of wood ash. Creamy and cooler with water; sweet with faint smoke and mint

Summary: Magnificent, and excellent at cask strength: the coastal, smoky, savoury Brora character is here sweetly softened in a malt that’s courteous yet informal; it has the depth and complexity of age yet also a spicy, lively twinkle, like a favourite uncle.

Caol Ila Unpeated 12 Year Old 1999
ABV 64%

• A sixth limited release of unpeated Caol Ila, the second at twelve years old.

• From a batch made once a year, from unpeated malt, for blending in the “Highland Style”.

• From 1st fill ex-bourbon American Oak casks filled in 1999.

• Fewer than 6,000 bottles worldwide.

• From specialist retailers only.

• UK RRSP £55 per bottle.

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Yellow gold. Light beading

Nose: Quiet, approachable. Mild nose-feel, in spite of its strength. A sweet and fruity aroma: fondant and green apples. Hints of pear-drops with sweet and sour notes. No discernible smoke, but just a trace of Virginia tobacco; then the faintest olive brine tang in a room full of creamy vanilla toffee. Dusty cereals, then mint toffee followed by more vanilla and ripe fruit. Soft, fresh and fruity with water: buttery apple pie, now with a hint of breakfast cereal

Body: Medium to rich

Palate: At natural strength, the taste is sweet, the texture smooth and light; it’s warming, but not burning, as might be expected. By turns suddenly drying, with burnt fruit cake and complex, fruity chocolate; then richer and honeyed, with lemon curd on buttered toast. Smooth at reduced strength, with reduced sweetness, light acidity and a shake of salt, lending a maritime character. Initially cool; soon hotter, with silky tannins, before chilling again with mango and cream

Finish: Creamy and oaky; sweet milk chocolate, then burnt fruit. Hugely elegant with water and astonishingly clean.

Summary: Deceptively complex, at first hiding all that characteristic Caol Ila freshness and vigour under a smooth exterior. Masses of oaky, cocoa character and fruit tartness soon show that peat smoke isn’t everything!

Glenury Royal 40 Year Old 1970
ABV to be announced

• From Glenury Royal, a closed distillery near Stonehaven in the Eastern Highlands.

• The second oldest release from the original distillers.

• Interesting to compare with the 2007 Special Release Glenury Royal 36 year old, also 1970.

• A very limited release of individually numbered bottles.

• From American Oak refill casks filled in 1970.

• Only 1,404 bottles worldwide.

• From specialist retailers only.

• UK RRSP £525 per bottle.

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep amber. Moderate beading.

Nose: Tentative at first. Mild nose-feel; soft and rounded. Soon deepening into a rich, dark cherry-scented chocolate torte; followed by mouth-watering fruit pastilles, soft apples, pear skins and tart red berries. Later, buttery vanilla fudge or a rich, soft ginger cake. A dash of water introduces more complex fruit notes; peach cream chocolates, fresh figs and cherries, developing into light orange oil with just a faint suggestion of smoke.

Body: Medium to rich.

Palate: Enjoyable even at natural strength, when an attractively oily, thick texture leads to cool, dry sandalwood, then to a sweet/bitter contrast; sugar crystals in spent coffee grounds or a slightly burnt fruit scone. A dash of water increases the sweetness; those peach-cream chocolates are back, and the overall effect is cooling and softly bitter, with fresh tarragon, grapefruit pith.

Finish: Long, with a pronounced dry oakiness followed by fresher cedary notes and a truly delicious cocoa powder conclusion. Later delicately savoury with some chocolate after-dinner mint. With water, long, silky and fragrant with late, drying, bitter chocolate torte. Light fragrant ash in the aftertaste (as with Assam tea).

Summary: A sumptuous old-style after-dinner malt, proudly displaying its forty years without a trace of fatigue. Another regal old Glenury Royal that’s easy to drink even at this high strength; oily, rich textured sweetness with a bitter edge and a long, elegantly drying and spicy finish.

Knockando 25 Year Old 1985
ABV 43.0%

• From Knockando, an active distillery on Speyside.

• A first limited release in this series.

• From first fill ex-sherry European Oak casks.

• A most unusual, richly flavoured expression.

• Fewer than 4,500 individually numbered bottles worldwide.

• From specialist retailers only

• UK RRSP £135.

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Polished mahogany with crimson highlights

Nose: Deeply intriguing; rich and immediate, with no prickle. Dry Christmas cake, with slightly burnt edges, then a hard toffee note. Dry Oloroso sherry. Persistent, becoming more succulent; dried fruits macerated in liquor. Bitter-tinged traces of crystalline sugar, creamy wood oil. Fresh strawberries, and raisins! Water introduces more burnt notes, with chocolate, underscored by porcini and sage. Finally sweeter, with juicy-fruit gum.

Body: Medium. Lighter than expected

Palate: Mouth-drying and surprisingly harmonious. A sweet start (fresh, ripe grapes and citrus pith), then immediately drying, with distant smoke. Briefly and enjoyably spirity, with masses of dry cocoa; then sweeter, with aged plum pudding. Water makes things milder, smoother and sweeter, reducing the initial dryness. More cocoa and cedar-wood; autumn fruits; burnt croissant

Finish: Long and warming. Espresso coffee, with a distant hint of struck matches. Glorious late, winey notes accompany drying tannins. Soft caramel, cleansing tart red fruit. Water removes the struck matches and stirs dark chocolate in the aftertaste.

Summary: A very unusual, rich and deep-flavoured expression of Knockando that is extremely complex and intriguing. Superbly balanced: drying yet with residual malty sweetness: a broad array of magnificent ex-sherry cask notes make an opulent apéritif, appetising with hard, sharp cheeses.

Lagavulin 12 Year Old
ABV 57.5%

• A limited edition, natural cask strength Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

• From the essential Islay distillery, Lagavulin, on Islay’s rocky south coast.

• Tenth of a series of special 12 year old releases from the original distiller’s stocks.

• Vatted from refill American Oak casks, each at least 12 years old.

• Available in limited quantities worldwide.

UK RRSP £63 per bottle

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Pale gold. Good beading, with oily legs.

Nose: Glorious. Mild nose-feel. Starts oddly rounded and well-mannered. Soon grows increasingly complex. A waft of linseed oil, then newsprint splashed with vinegar, and fragrant, sweet wood smoke, with carbolic notes rising, then falling. Struck matches. Later, beeswax polish meets rich fruit mincemeat and coal tar, as chocolate and cumin tease. With water: more of the same, but greater clarity, a fabulous subtle interplay of tastes, and a little more smoke.

Body: Rich, firm.

Palate: Pleasing texture, lightly oily. At natural strength, the taste starts sweet, and is then dominated by wood-smoke. Charred newspaper and aniseed balls. Red berry notes. More powerful, with a dusting of pine shavings, then cooling, carbolic and herbal. With water the texture is smoother still; the taste long and slightly sweeter, with some fresh acidity; still herbal, with notes of aniseed and wood; so savoury, great to enjoy with juicy meats (sausage, kebab).

Finish: Warming. Char-grilled fennel with lashings of peppery olive oil; powerfully bitter-sweet. Lengthened by adding water: drying and warming, with elegant savoury notes again and a late whiff of lingering, fragrant smoke.

Summary: Extremely well-constructed and highly complex: full of wood smoke, peppery and spicy, this 12 year old shares much with its immediate predecessors – not least the capacity to instantly defibrillate the taste buds: the texture and taste, both straight and dilute, are splendid.

Port Dundas 20 year old 1990
ABV 57.4%

100% Single Grain Whisky

■From Port Dundas, a historic, now closed grain distillery in Glasgow.
■Very rare as a single grain bottling at any age.
■A first ever 100% grain release in this series.
■The first ever official bottling at this age.
■Liquid from three different casks – distilled in 1990, aged three years in refill, then in equal parts aged for 17 more years in either new American Oak Bodega, new European Oak Charred or first fill ex-Bourbon American Oak.• Incredibly rare and unrepeatable; very collectable.
■Just 1,920 individually numbered bottles worldwide. From specialist retailers only.
■UK RRSP £110.

Port Dundas Single Grain Scotch Whisky 20 year old

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Deep polished chestnut. Fine beading.

Nose: Mild, drying nose-feel. Vinous, with traces of cherry (kirsch-filled dark chocolates), well-worn leather and pencil shavings. Opens slowly, revealing woody, spicy aromas (black tea, molasses, dates and linseed oil) then delicate sweet notes of ripe banana, chocolate and vanilla cream. Finally turns fresh, resinous, herbal. Beautifully coherent with water, which lifts the wood-notes (fresh-cut sappy pine), until it becomes the inside of an old school desk (and all its contents) fusing with vanilla ice cream.

Body: Dense, liqueur-like.

Palate: Initially languorous; varnish, linseed oil. A smooth, rich texture and a sweet taste, growing into a compelling, layered, waxy, nuttiness (brazils, walnuts). Poppy-seed? Silky smooth with water and altogether more rounded; the texture smooth, the taste sweet. The wood cuts through; sandalwood (pencil box), white pepper and hints of vanilla.

Finish: Glorious, lingering and complex. Simultaneously drying yet coating, with notes of liquorice, aniseed and burnt sugar and oak-wood in the aftertaste. With water: beautifully smooth, long and rounded, with velvety tannins.

Summary: Rich, dense and seemingly impenetrable: an unusual and hugely challenging whisky whose very elegant complexities are only fully revealed by adding water. Like a fine, aged rum dancing with an elegant, oily Riesling.

Port Ellen 32 Year Old 1978
ABV 53.9%

• Now very rare, highly sought after.

• Eleventh of a limited series of annual releases.

• Annual allocation ensures availability of this irreplaceable malt for only a little longer.

• From refill American Oak casks filled in 1978.

• Just 2,988 individually numbered bottles available world-wide.

• From specialist retailers only.

• The oldest release and first Port Ellen 32 year old to come from the distillers.

• UK RRSP £300 per bottle.

Earlier and far larger releases in this series now change hands among collectors for £300 and more, having appreciated by 150%.

Tasting Notes
Appearance: Golden clear honey. Good beading for its age

Nose: Mild nose-prickle, crisp and mouth-watering. Sweet, buttery, smoky and savoury (warm croissant with honey, a wood-burning stove briefly open). Dense, in time showing barley sugar and caramel sweets above a light charred note (wet sand and crushed charcoal) that at last reveals the place of origin. A little water increases the charred note, now faintly smoky, then indulgent marzipan or toffee notes grow, yielding lemon zest, cloves and rich vanilla

Body: Medium

Palate: Smooth, chewy, and sweet overall. Cooling and slow, with clean, fresh summer fruits and waxy, creamy biscuits. Later, chewy, with rich fruit-cake. When water is added, still oily, full-bodied and deeply characterful: sweet, with a trace of salt. Pine resin cavorts with honey and light eucalyptus before a faint backdrop of tropical fruitiness

Finish: Long, warming, smooth and sweetish (Pecan nuts) then lightly astringent, before billows of ‘welcome home’ coal-smoke and late charred notes. Water softens the smoke and introduces elegant, late tannins and tartness.

Summary: An excellent example of the make that will be loved: extremely fresh, light and delicate yet immutably Port Ellen. Long maturation has brought charm, good manners, assured self-confidence and understated elegance, without losing any of the underlying personality.

Rosebank 21 Year Old 1990
ABV 53.8%

• Distilled in 1990 at the now-closed Lowland distillery, Rosebank.

• From some of the oldest stocks now held by the original distillers.

• From refill American Oak and refill European Oak casks.

• Only 5,886 numbered bottles worldwide.

• From specialist retailers only.

• UK RRSP £160 per bottle.

• Appearance: Pale gold. Moderate beading, very clear.

Tasting Notes
Nose: Mild nose-feel. The soft start is soon balanced by a crisp, juicy fruit sharpness (tropical fruits, orange and tangerine peel) and sweetness (fruit sweets). Below this the sweet fruit gives way to a more delicate earthy, even floral character: lily and English rose. Water makes the aromas softer; sweet lemon fondant replaces the earthiness. Late green apple fruit and floral notes; ripe peaches in a brown paper bag.

Body: Light.

Palate: At natural strength, tingling mouth-feel and good acidity; fresh, clean and drying. Mineral and tart (ripe plum skins) with faint menthol, then pleasingly charred with light pepper. Beautifully silky with a little water, when a very soft floral sweetness emerges (fruit salad and orange water) before the lemony acidity asserts itself.

Finish: Short and drying, with just an appetising hint of bitterness. Later, some red grape fruit. Softer, more gentle and rounded with water. Finally, a little late cocoa dryness.

Summary: A charming whisky whose attractive citric and aromatic notes suggest a feminine elegance, and whose subtleties are best revealed with water. Fresh and clean: excellent shared as an apéritif.

The CLASSIC MALTS SELECTION, BRORA, CAOL ILA, GLENURY ROYAL, KNOCKANDO, LAGAVULIN, PORT DUNDAS, PORT ELLEN and ROSEBANK words and associated symbols are copyright © Diageo 2011.

THE WHISKY EXCHANGE WHISKY SHOW 2011
The Luxury Tasting Experience

‘The UK’s leading Whisky Experience where you can taste, learn about & enjoy the world’s finest whiskies’
Vinopolis, 1 Bank End, SE1, LONDON
7th and 8th October 2011

Exciting New Whiskies at the TWE Whisky Show
As at previous Shows, we will be launching a number of rare, limited edition bottlings at The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show, including some new releases from Speciality Drinks and The Whisky Exchange.
To kick things off with a bang, Elements of Islay will be unveiling the inaugural bottling of Kh1, the first independent bottling of single malt from Islay’s newest distillery. Available only at The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show, this lively, fresh young peaty dram is sure to be a massive hit with Show visitors and is one of the most limited Elements of Islay bottlings ever released, being bottled at full strength from a single cask. Kh1 will be accompanied at the Show by at least four other exciting new bottlings in the Elements of Islay range, including Bn1, Lp3 and possibly even Pe5.

The Whisky Exchange, meanwhile, will be showcasing their latest find – an incredibly unusual 46 year-old Single Blend from Lochside distillery. This whisky is comprised of both malt and grain whisky distilled in 1964 at the now-defunct Lochside distillery – and as if that wasn’t unusual enough, both types of spirit were vatted together immediately after distillation and spentthe next 46 years marrying together in the cask before bottling. This fabulously fruity dram is a rare and exotic treasure.

TWE will also be launching the second expression in our Masterpieces series at this year’s Show: a specially selected Bowmore from 1993. Bottled from a single ex-bourbon cask, this Bowmore is considerably peatier than normal for the distillery and promises to be a worthy successor to last year’s Masterpiece, the critically-lauded Longmorn 1978.

Fans of Japanese single malt, meanwhile, will not want to miss the latest Speciality Drinks bottling of Karuizawa. Their previous single cask bottlings from 1967 and 1982 have been a roaring success with customers and critics alike, and this latest release from the 1981 vintage is another epic dram, bottled at full strength from a single sherry cask.

With a TWE-exclusive official bottling of Glen Garioch from the famous 1971 vintage, Single Malts of Scotland releases from Clynelish, Ardmore and Aberlour, and Whisky Trail bottlings from Caol Ila and Macallan also scheduled for release at the event, this year’s TWE Whisky Show is an opportunity for whisky fans to taste a remarkable range of new and exclusive whiskies – and all the above bottlings will be available for visitors to buy and take home with them from The Whisky Exchange Shop at Vinopolis.

Our exhibitors will also be making a splash with several new bottlings making their first public appearances at the Show. Springbank will be unveiling their new Longrow Burgundy Wood bottling, while Buffalo Trace will introduce the 2011 releases of George T. Stagg, William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy from their legendary multi-award winning Antique Collection.

Meanwhile, Japanese whisky importers Number One Drinks Company, fresh from their successful acquisition of the remaining Karuizawa stock, will be launching Chichibu ‘The First’ and Ichiro’s Malt and Grain at the Show, and of course Highland Park’s latest Orcadian Vintage bottlings from the 1971 and 1976 vintages will be officially unveiled to the public for the first time during their exclusive Masterclass on Saturday afternoon.
With such an array of incredible new whiskies for aficionados to taste, The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show has proved itself as the UK’s most important whisky event and is shaping up to be a truly unmissable occasion.

For further information on The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show, please contact the Show Office on 0208 838 9448 or email office@whisky-show.com

Notes

About TWE Whisky Show

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show unequivocally promotes and encourages responsible drinking by all visitors to the Show. Perhaps uniquely for a whisky tasting event, the organisers have gone to great lengths to stress quality over quantity and consumption in moderation. TWE Whisky Show is all about appreciation of the world’s finest spirit.

TWE Whisky Show is organized by The Whisky Exchange (www.thewhiskyexchange.com), the world’s leading specialist whisky retailer.

More details and a full list of sponsors and exhibitors at the Show will shortly be available at www.whisky-show.com.

The new episode of WhiskyCast HD on Bruichladdich’s 10th anniversary party is now available on YouTube and iTunes… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ihFpyFMbl0

Hello everybody,

Boy does time fly. But what an amazing Maltstock weekend we all enjoyed! And even summer joined in. We’ve had so many unforgettable moments during the weekend. And we love to hear yours. So send us an e-mail or drop us a line at Facebook.

Thank you all for coming to Maltstock and making it a very fun, relaxing and unforgettable weekend. We really enjoyed seeing everybody having a great time.

Of course also a big thank you to all the whisky industry people who were at Maltstock. What did we have some unique masterclasses. Lost distilleries, upcoming releases, a behind the scenes look and of course a very unique Balvenie Tun 1401 breakdown. And then there was the unique morning walk, the fabulous BBQ and of course the camp fire. And so much more.

Also a huge thank you to all our sponsors! Thank you all for making Maltstock possible!

And last but certainly not least a big thank you to our crew. Without their hard work Maltstock would just not be possible.

Photo / movie competition
We love to see all your pictures and movies. And remember to send them to us before 9 October to be entered into the competition. Our crew will select a winner which we will announce in the end of October.

Maltstock 2012
Although we’re all still really enjoying (and recovering from) Maltstock 2011, we’re also already working on Maltstock 2012, which will be 7-9 September 2012. You can buy your tickets at the Maltstock website. As a matter of fact we already sold tickets. Hope to see you all again next year!

Thank you all!

Arthur, Bob, Eline, Rogier & Teun

Take a peek at Maltstock at www.maltstock.com

Great King Street

This month’s whisky of the month is a truly excellent Blended Scotch Whisky. It is composed from three Highland single malts and one Lowland Single Grain. Soft and full on the palate, with flavours of baked apple, vanilla, spices and toasted oak.

43% ABV

£23 per 50cl bottle

AND RECEIVE A FREE MINIATURE OF COMPASS BOX

To place an order please visit www.milroys.co.uk, call Lee on 020 7437 2385 or email Lee.Tomlinson@milroys.co.uk

Our mailing address is:

Milroys
3 Greek Street
London, Eng W1D 4NX

Hi Festival goers!

For those of you who have Entry Festival Tickets already……we still have a few tickets available for Master class events at the Festival on Saturday 24th September.

Masterclasses:
You will be seated comfortably and have the drams pre-poured for you in the Master class area. Both classes will be tutored events with the expert whisky specialists on hand throughout to guide you. Classes last for 45 minutes.

Colin Dunn: Buy at http://www.whiskyfest.co.uk/?p=155
Class times 3.30-4.15pm
Cost : £10
Whisky on taste : Talisker 18 yo, GlenKinchie 20 yo, Caol Ila 25 yo, Cragganmore 21 yo 56%, Auchroisk 20 yo 58.1%, Glen Spey 21 yo.

Frank McHardy–Springbank: Buy at http://www.whiskyfest.co.uk/?p=159
Class Times 4.45-5.30pm
Cost : £10
Whisky on taste : World exclusives : Barrel samples from brilliant stuff to be bottled and released next year !!!

Tickets and further details at above web site links.

www.whiskyfest.co.uk

Slainte!

BENRIACH APPOINTS NEW REGIONAL SALES MANAGER

THE BenRiach Distillery Company has appointed Douglas Cook as Regional Sales Manager, it announced today (September 13, 2011).

Douglas (35), from Edinburgh, will have responsibility for Asia Pacific and European markets including France and Belgium.

A graduate of the University of Strathclyde with a degree in marketing and modern languages, Douglas is a keen linguist who speaks German, French, Spanish, Catalan, Italian and is currently learning Mandarin.

He started his career in exporting with United Wire, an Edinburgh-based wire manufacturer, before moving to Germany where he joined the export division of Dornbracht, a family-run manufacturer of high-end fittings and accessories for the bathroom and kitchen.

During his career with Dornbracht in Germany and the UK, he gained experience in the management of both retail and international project sales.

He developed his passion for whisky when he worked at the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh.

“I’m looking forward enormously to working with BenRiach,” he said. “It’s a fast-growing, innovative and dynamic company producing a fantastic range of award-winning, top-quality whiskies.

“My aim is to develop BenRiach and GlenDronach, through long-term partnerships in the premium-quality single malt segment of our established European markets and up-and-coming markets such as China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, India and Australia.”

THE MACALLAN AND THE ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY PUT O’NEILL IN THE FRAME

The Royal Photographic Society last night (8 September) recognised the innovative work of legendary photojournalist and portrait photographer Terry O’Neill HonFRPS at The Macallan 2011 Royal Photographic Society Awards Ceremony in London.

Following in the footsteps of distinguished photographers, including Albert Watson, Annie Leibovitz, David Bailey and Don McCullin, O’Neill was presented with The Society’s Centenary Medal, recognising his outstanding contribution to the art and science of photography.

The Royal Photographic Society and The Macallan recently announced a new three year deal to sponsor the world renowned annual Royal Photographic Society Awards Ceremony, as part of The Macallan’s innovative and ground-breaking work within the photography arena.

Founded in 1853, The Royal Photographic Society is the world’s longest established Photography Society. It was granted its Royal patronage by Queen Victoria in 1894, and a Royal Charter in 2004. It remains one of the most prestigious and well-respected societies to this day, with membership across the world.

Commenting on the awards ceremony, Ken Grier, Director of Malts at The Edrington Group, said, “The Macallan has built up a strong commitment to the world of photography, including The Macallan Masters of Photography Series, and by supporting The Royal Photographic Society this is continuing to cement our passion within this exciting sphere.

“The work which was recognised at this year’s award ceremony is a true testament to the talent and innovation of the photographers who took to the stage. It is a great honour to be associated with not only these outstanding photographers but also a society which has such a rich history, professional excellence and is a world leading authority in photography. We look forward to working with the Royal Society of Photography going forward and with the very best photography talent.”

The Progress Medal and Honorary Fellowship, in recognition of an invention, research, publication or other contribution which has resulted in an important advance in the scientific or technological development of photography or imaging in their widest sense, went to Rodney Shaw, President and co-founder of White Rose Digital, which provides user-friendly imaging-methodologies for digital photographers.

The Award for Outstanding Services to Photography, which honours major, sustained, and influential contributions to the advancement of photography and imaging, was awarded to Philippe Garner HonFRPS, International Head of Photographs and 20th Century Decorative Art & Design at Christie’s.

Honorary Fellowships were awarded to Jason Bell, John Downing MBE, Simon King OBE, Bob Martin, Mario Testino, and Stuart Blake, retiring Director General of The Society.

New for 2011 was the Education Award, for outstanding achievement or sustained contribution in photographic education, which goes to Paul Delmar, who taught Press Photography and Photojournalism at Norton College Sheffield for 30 years, and numbers Marc Aspland FRPS and Simon Roberts FRPS, among his many students who have gone on to become top photographers.

The Hood Medal recognising meritorious performance in photography, with particular emphasis on public service was awarded to Edmund Clark. The Vic Odden Award, recognising notable achievement by a British photographer aged 35 or under, was presented to Venetia Dearden; while The Society’s Lumière Award went to Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle.

www.themacallan.com

Please enjoy our brand responsible www.drinkaware.co.uk

Notes

About the Royal Photographic Society

The Royal Photographic Society was founded in 1853, to promote the art and science of photography, a mission it continues to this day, in the UK and, through its overseas membership, worldwide. Membership of The Society is open to everyone interested in photography, amateur or professional, artist or scientist. The Royal Photographic Society is an educational charity. www.rps.org

The Royal Photographic Society Awards: awarded annually to individuals who have made significant contributions to the art and science of photography. Nominations are invited for a wide range of awards, including to those under the age of 35.

The Macallan

The timeless reputation of The Macallan is founded upon Six Pillars:

The Spiritual Home: Easter Elchies House proudly watches over The Macallan distillery in Speyside, Scotland. Built in 1700, this Jacobean manor house is The Macallan’s spiritual home.

Curiously Small Stills: The Macallan’s curiously small and uniquely shaped copper stills help to concentrate the flavour of the ‘new make’ spirit.

The Finest Cut: The ‘cut’ is the amount of distilled spirit collected from the stills as ‘new make’ spirit. The Macallan takes one of the finest ‘cuts’ of any distillery in Scotland; typically just 16% goes forward to fill or our casks.

Exceptional Oak Casks: The Macallan’s unfaltering obsession with selecting exceptional oak casks brings an unsurpassed, timeless quality to The Macallan.

Natural Colour: The Macallan insists upon Natural Colour. It is the interaction of spirit and wood alone which delivers the rich variety of colour, aroma and taste evident through out the range.

Peerless Spirit: The Macallan remains the single malt against which all others must be judged. It is celebrated far and wide by experts and discerning drinkers as the world’s most precious whisky.