Two Gold Awards at the 2011 International Wine and Spirit Competition

The Black Bull brand has taken charge of its field in the 2011 International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) winning two gold awards for its 12 and 40yo Deluxe Blended Scotch Whiskies. Black Bull’s uncompromising yet sublimely balanced character floored the judges of this prestigious competition and comes hot on the heels of recent accolades from the 2011 World Whisky awards and Whisky Magazine.

Black Bull 12 YO Deluxe Blended Scotch Whisky – GOLD Award
Tasting Category: Scotch Whisky – Deluxe Blend – 12-13 YO

Judges Tasting Notes: The nose is a large basket packed with fruit with inviting notes of apple and tropical notes along with liquorice and vanilla. Complex and full in the mouth with all the nose aromas transferred into very attractive flavours. Spice and fruit combine well with the evident oak. Lots of attractive vanilla and citrus in outstanding finish.

Black Bull 40 YO Deluxe Blended Scotch Whisky – GOLD Award

Tasting Category: Scotch Whisky – Deluxe Blend – 40 YO

Judges Tasting Notes: Tremendous flourish of floral aromas opens up big nose. Ripe, pulpy fruits follow with cumin and apple. Great complexity. All carries into the mouth where rich malt dominates with loads of golden syrup, barley sugar and hints of citrus and marmalade. Great presence and balance. Long, fruit filled finish.

Awards for 2011 so far:

WWA Best Blended Scotch Whisky 12 years and under
Black Bull 12yo
Editor’s Choice in Whisky Magazine Issue 95
Black Bull 40yo Batch 2
Editor’s Choice in Whisky Magazine Issue 96
Black Bull Special Reserve No.1

For more information on Duncan Taylor please inquire at info@duncantaylor.com

*HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES WHISKEY TASTING– THURSDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER 2011*

First of all, many thanks to all those of you who agreed to let yourselves be filmed at the Arran whisky tasting last month. You can see the video, including an interview with Andy Hogan, at http://www.furryfeet.tv/cotswolds/venue_video.php?footprint=425  (don’t blame us for the background soundtrack – not our choice!).

Now for news of another first for Arkwrights. On Thursday 15th September we will be hosting our first American whiskey tasting and are looking forward to Henry Joe from Heaven Hill Distilleries coming along to expand our knowledge and taste buds with various whiskies from America’s largest independent family-owned and operated distillery.

Henry Joe will talk us through all the ins and outs of America’s Native Spirit (as declared by an Act of Congress, no less!) but just to whet your appetite for what’s to come we will be tasting from an eclectic range of small batch and single barrel bourbons as well as some straight rye, corn and wheat whiskies – styles that are rarely all produced at one distillery. These differing whiskies will offer a variety of flavours – ranging from spice, vanilla, smoky corn and sweet oak, through mint and chocolate to stewed fruits, nuts and ginger!

The tasting will be a great chance for you to find out more about a very different style of whiskey production and maturation, and to widen your whisk(e)y tasting horizons. And remember, if you come along to this tasting not only will you get to try some great American whiskies you will also be supporting Scotch whisky as those bourbon barrels are vital to the Scotch whisky industry!

Stanton House

The tasting will be held at Stanton House Hotel, Stanton Fitzwarren (www.stantonhouse.co.uk), and will commence at 7.00 for 7.30pm. Tickets are £12.50 per person, and this also entitles you to a discount of £3 against a bottle of one of the featured whiskies if bought or ordered on the night of the tasting.

Tickets are very strictly limited, and allocated on a ‘first come, first served’ basis and, as most of you already know, these tickets sell very quickly so it is best to book ASAP. To buy them just log on to www.whiskyandwines.com and place an order for the number you require, or telephone us on (01793) 765071, or call in and see us at Arkwrights, The Dormers, Highworth, Wiltshire.

Admission to the tasting is by ticket only, and most, if not all, of the whiskies tasted will be available to purchase on the night so come prepared.

These evenings are a great chance to try some new whiskies that you might not encounter otherwise, and to be educated and entertained at the same time. Come along and join us!

Slainte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

40 years ago, Dublin’s Bow Street Distillery closed down after nearly 200 years of producing Jameson Irish Whiskey. In 1997, what survived of the old distillery reopened as the Old Jameson Distillery, a visitors center devoted to preserving the heritage of John Jameson’s original distillery. Nearly 250,000 people visit the old distillery each year, and guide Christopher Goggins gives us a private tour in this week’s episode…complete with drams at the end!

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com

Clan Campbell new limited edition night bottle in collaboration with Jean-Charles de Castelbajac

Clan Campbell created and launched in October 2010 their new ‘Limited Edition Night Bottle’ (i.e. Série Limitée Nuit) which was designed by the French fashion designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac. The bottle is a refined and dazzling stained glass, reflecting the nobility of the brand and its Scottish heritage.

Indeed, the bottle design was inspired by the traditional window ornaments of Scottish castles, and it immediately stands out by its colourful touches and silver contrasting with the black background. In the centre, there is the Clan Campbell crest which symbolizes the alliance of the natural elements that enable the development of the Clan Campbell Scotch Whisky: The earth and the sun that contribute to the development of barley, the water and fire, which evoke the distillation carried out in the authentic Scottish tradition.

“What I like about this brand is the timeless tradition it embodies. This bottle is both authentic and modern, and an expression of Clan Campbell heritage. I am proud of this project because it is very meaningful and the design is sumptuous. “said Jean-Charles de Castelbajac.

Thus, this new bottle has a strong image and is aesthetic; evoking modern values of tradition and authenticity inherent in Scotland, the birth place of Clan Campbell Scotch Whisky

Digital Enbotellarte FUTBOL 2011

The brand Something Special has always been renowned for its unique bottle shape.

Enbotellarte is an art competition born in Uruguay in 2000 which is inspired in the exclusive diamond-shaped bottle. Ever since, it has evolved significantly, moving to a digital format in 2009.

Digital Enbotellarte FUTBOL 2011 challenged artists to represent their passion for their national team through digital art, based on the Something Special bottle or icon.

The competition utilises the territory of art to strengthen the consumer perception of Something Special in key markets as an innovative and contemporary brand to consumers.

The Copa América 2011 provides an opportunity to create an artistic campaign which engaged artists with the brand through a major sporting event which is receiving worldwide media attention.

Digital Enbotellarte FUTBOL 2011 asked artists to enter a digital artwork in one the four following categories:
– Animation
– Short film
– Computer-generated art
– Digital photography

Selected pieces will be part of exhibitions hosted across Latin America and winning artworks will receive a cash prize and international exposure for the artists.

With over 1200 registered users and submitted artworks from 17 countries the 2011 edition is already a success.

Long John Packaging Refresh

Long John is a long – established brand predominately in the French market. Market feedback has indicated the need to refresh the packaging whilst maintaining the key features and values of the brand, in order to enhance quality.

Passport’s First Night Bottle Passport has created a limited edition night bottle in collaboration with Brazilian artist Flavio Samelo, renowned for his artistic collaboration with Nike and Adidas.

The result is Passport’s first night bottle with a geometric and dynamic design. In the dark, Passport night bottle reveals a new layer. The superposition of lines makes the bottle even more vibrant

To celebrate the launch of Passport Night Bottle in collaboration with Flavio Samelo, a road show of parties were held in art galleries across Brazil to reinforce the territory of art. Launch parties happened in the cities of Florianopolis, Porto Alegre, Curitiba and Sao Paolo.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Second Round of  Single Oak Project Bourbon Quest for the World’s Perfect Bourbon Continues

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (August, 2011) – Round two of the critically acclaimed Single Oak Project is being released from Buffalo Trace Distillery this week, part of the Distillery’s “Holy Grail” project.

This release will explore three important variables that affect the taste of bourbon, recipe, grain size, and char level. Some of the bottles contain bourbon made with rye and others with wheat. The barrels themselves were made from different trees, each with varying degrees of thickness to their wood grain, from fine to very coarse. These barrels were charred at either a number three or number four char level to determine how the burn will alter the taste. All other variables in the experimental project, such as the entry proof, stave seasoning, tree cut, and warehouse location remain constant.

As with the first release, Buffalo Trace hopes consumers can rate each whiskey they taste online at www.singleoakproject.com. This feedback will help determine which type of bourbon connoisseurs prefer most. After reviewing a bottle online, consumers will be availed of all the aging details and provenance of the barrel. They can interact with others who’ve also reviewed the barrel, compare their reviews, and even learn for themselves which characteristics they enjoy most, in order to help them select future favorites. Participants online will earn points after each review and most importantly, help Buffalo Trace Distillery create the perfect bourbon!

The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.

To further the variety of experiments, the barrels were filled at two different proofs, 105 and 125 proof. And if this wasn’t enough, two completely different warehouses were used, one with wooden ricks and one with concrete floors. In total, seven different variables were employed in Buffalo Trace’s ultimate experiment.

For eight years the Distillery continued with its tracking process, creating intricate databases and coming up with a potential of 1,396 tasting combinations from these 192 barrels!

The Single Oak Project Bourbon will be released in a series every three months over the next four years until all of the 192 barrels have been released. The first release hit select stores at the end of May. This second release should show up in stores towards the end of August. Like the first release, the quantity is very limited. Every case will contain 12 bottles, each from a different barrel. The second release is made up of barrel numbers 29, 31, 61, 63, 93, 95, 125, 127, 157, 159, 189, 191. All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle. Suggested retail pricing per bottle is $46.35.

At the conclusion of the Single Oak Project, the Distillery plans to take the top rated barrel based on online consumer feedback, make more of that product and launch it under the Single Oak Project nameplate.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Malt Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotrace.com.

Masters Series Fall 2011

Join us for a series of tastings featuring wine and spirits chosen by one of America’s foremost wine and spirits authorities, F. Paul Pacult, editor of The Spirit Journal.

Wednesday, September 7, 7:00 p.m.

Ardbeg “Mega-Tasting” with David Blackmore

Ardbeg, from the windswept shores of Islay, is the epitome of classically robust, smoky and peaty single malts. Whisky journalist and author Paul Pacult welcomes Global Brand Ambassador David Blackmore to guide you through Ardbeg’s distinctive roster of single malts.

Come Sample:

Ardbeg New Make Spirit
Ardbeg 10 Years Old
Ardbeg Airrigh nam Beist
Ardbeg Corryvreckan
Ardbeg Uigeadail
Ardbeg Alligator
Ardbeg Double Barrel Cask Sample
Ardbeg Mystery Cask Sample

Tuesday, October 4, 7:00 p.m.

Glenmorangie “Mega-Tasting” with Dr. Bill Lumsden

Glenmorangie, the lightest, purest and most elegant of single malts will be the focus of this memorable evening. Come experience these exquisitely harmonious single malts with Paul and Dr. Bill Lumsden, Master Distiller and creative genius behind both Ardbeg and Glenmorangie. Don’t miss this chance to taste the best from the Northern Highlands including:

Glenmorangie Original
Glenmorangie Lasanta Sherry Wood
Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban Port Wood
Glenmorangie Pride or Quarter Century 25 Years Old
Glenmorangie Nectar D’Or Sauterne Wood
Glenmorangie Extremely Rare 18 Years Old
Glenmorangie Astar
Glenmorangie Finealta
Glenmorangie Signet

$95 per person

For reservations call Keens Steakhouse (212) 947-3636

– Please register early as we expect this event to sell out –

Please fax back to us at (212) 714-1103

RANDY RAIN JOINS HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES SALES FORCE

BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. has added Randy R. Rain to its sales team as Southwest Regional Manager. He will be responsible for management of the Heaven Hill product portfolio throughout Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.

Rain has 15 years of management experience in the beverage alcohol industry with Glazer’s Texas and Southern Wine & Spirits Arizona. In addition, his experience includes restaurant, wine and financial management.

“Randy will be a valuable addition to Heaven Hill,” said Steve Feller, Vice President, North American sales for Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. “He delivers a rich understanding of the industry. His background and experience will serve the Heaven Hill portfolio of brands well.”

Rain graduated from McLennan Community College in Texas. He currently resides in Phoenix, AZ.

Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; HPNOTIQ and HPNOTIQ Harmonie Liqueurs; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”