Luke Donald and Ballantine’s Toast Scottish Open Success

As world No 1 Luke Donald put on an impressive display to win the Barclays Scottish Open, Ballantine’s, Europe’s No 1 range of blended Scotch whisky, celebrated its fifth successful year as an Official Supplier to the tournament (7th-10th July 2011).

Donald clinched the title by four shots over Fredrik Andersson Hed in the final round of the tournament yesterday. He was recognised for his efforts by being presented with a bottle of Ballantine’s 30 Year Old – the brand’s pinnacle expression.

Play at the tournament resumed on Sunday morning after adverse weather led to a restructure of the tournament, with a total of three rounds played. Now recognised as of one Scotland’s most iconic golfing events, this year’s Scottish Open took place at the challenging Highland links course of Castle Stuart for the first time. Overlooking the Moray Firth in Inverness, the stunning course, which is situated close to Ballantine’s spiritual home, Glenburgie Distillery, welcomed a host of star players, including the current Ballantine’s Championship winner Lee Westwood, as well as Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Graeme McDowell, Colin Montgomerie and Angel Cabrera.

Ballantine’s presence at this year’s Scottish Open included two branded bars for spectators, prominent on-course signage and player rewards such as a bottle of Ballantine’s 12 Year Old for an eagle on the 12th hole and a bottle of Ballantine’s 21 Year Old for the lowest round of the day.

Speaking at the tournament yesterday, Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, said: “We are proud to be continuing our support for the Barclays Scottish Open. This year’s tournament is an important one for us – not only because it heralds our fifth consecutive year as an Official Supplier, but also because we are only a stone’s throw from Glenburgie Distillery – where one of the signature malts in the Ballantine’s blend is produced.

“The proximity of the golf course and the distillery highlights the similarities between golf and Ballantine’s whisky – both are from Scotland, share a long and engaging heritage, and are enjoyed throughout the world.”

Ballantine’s association with golf can be traced back to at least 1960 when the Ballantine’s Tournament took place at Wentworth golf course. More than fifty years later, Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the high-profile Ballantine’s Championship, Korea’s first and only European Tour event and the country’s largest golf tournament, to which the brand is committed until at least 2013. Ballantine’s has been official supplier to the Scottish Open since 2007.

Notes:

Ballantine’s is the No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No 1 ultra-premium whisky in Asia Pacific, selling more than 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 80 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

In July 2010 Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.

THE MACALLAN VISITOR ATTRACTION WINS FIVE STAR ACCOLADE

The Macallan Visitor Centre, Speyside, has been awarded the prestigious five star rating from VisitScotland’s quality assurance scheme, confirming the distillery as a world class destination.

The annual review by VisitScotland consists of unannounced visits by an auditor who assesses core areas covering all aspects which have an impact on a customer’s visit, including: promotional literature; signage; appearance of grounds and buildings; the welcome given by staff; attitude and appearance of staff; decor and maintenance; ambience; merchandise presentation.

Following the completion of an investment programme of over £1m, The Macallan Visitor Centre offers a highly innovative and distinctive distillery experience. A memorable and interactive learning journey takes visitors through the production life-cycle of The Macallan including two significant areas, The Masters of Spirit Experience and The Masters of Wood Experience.

Easter Elchies Estate, overlooking the river Spey, has been The Macallan’s spiritual home since the distillery was founded in 1824 and welcomes visitors from across the world all year round. Visitors can choose between two tours. The Experience Tour is lead by The Macallan‘s friendly and knowledgeable guides, ending with a dram of The Macallan while the Precious Tour is more in-depth ending with a tutored nosing and tasting of some of The Macallan’s older whiskies.

Alec Reid, Visitor Centre Manager, The Macallan commented: “The team truly feel we have developed an outstanding experience for our visitors and this accolade is testament to that. In addition to our rich heritage, visitors can enjoy a modern and unique interpretation of what makes The Macallan single malt so distinctive and appreciated as the world’s most precious whisky. We all feel rewarded by this recognition and will continue to maintain the high standards that have led to this latest achievement. ”

VisitScotland has operated a quality assurance scheme for visitor attractions since 1995. The scheme gives operators an independent quality assurance award and incorporates the inspection of properties for Thistle tourist signposting.

The Macallan tours should be pre-booked by calling 01340 872280 or emailing distillery@themacallan.com. The Experience Tour is priced £10 per adult and £5 per child (aged 8 – 17 years). The Precious Tour is priced £20 per adult.

www.themacallan.com

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

Notes:

Booking is essential on all tours. Only children aged 8+ are permitted.

The Masters of Spirit Experience: this area fuses art and science through the medium of electron micrographs, highlighting the role played by raw materials such as copper, granite, wood and water as well as barley, yeast and enzymes. This experience ends a powerful display of the ‘new make spirit’ presented as a spectacular liquid flow around a pipework sculpture.

The Masters of Wood Experience: complementing The Masters of Spirit Experience, this area allows visitors to learn about the interaction of spirit and wood and how an unfaltering obsession with cask selection contributes to the natural colours, aromas and flavours that gives The Macallan its renowned character.

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 contributes fundamentally to the outstanding quality and distinctive character of 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 throughout 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.

TWE Whisky Show Masterclass: The Gordon & Macphail Timeline

This is just a quick post to point you to a more in depth post, but following on from the announcement of our first masterclass at this year’s Whisky Exchange Whisky Show we are proud to announce our second – The Gordon & Macphail timeline. The title doesn’t tell you all that much, but we ..…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

THE LINK 

July 14th  (Thursday) Single Malt Tasting 7:00 p.m.

“Mother Always Liked You Best!” Whiskies that are great but few ask for them at the Dell. $50 per person. Applies to purchase. Reservations are accepted but not required. 402.553.9501 or patg@dundeedell.com

Kilchoman

Anthony Wills, Managing Director and founder of Kilchoman Distillery had a dream that he could produce a single malt whisky crafted soley from Kilchoman Distillery. His dream came to fruition this year with this limited edition 100% Islay bottling. Every part of crafting this very special malt; the barley growing, distillation, maturation to bottling was completed at Kilchoman Distillery, Islay.

Two bottles were released in celebration. A limited edition Inaugural 100% Islay at 50% ABV, and also a beautiful cask strength version that is presented in a hand crafted American white oak box, which was only released at the distillery in very limited numbers.

100% Islay Cask Strength

£295

Kilchoman Spring 2011 Release

£79

Abbey Whisky
07890 983 844 
enquiries@abbeywhisky.com
www.abbeywhisky.com

As distilleries replace old equipment with new, the old stuff winds up on the scrap heap most of the time. Not so at Knockdhu Distillery in Scotland. Whether by coincidence, planning, or sheer luck, many of the distillery’s artifacts have been preserved for decades after they were replaced by modern equipment. Knockdhu manager Gordon Bruce gives us a tour of his “museum” in this week’s episode. In the news, plans for a new distillery in Louisville, management moves at Pernod Ricard, and plenty of new whiskies!

Visit WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com

July Outturn UPDATE: HOT Picks

Around a week after its release we look at the single casks from July Outturn that are hotfooting out the door

1) 29.101 Tarred, feathered and set on fire
2) 125.45 Complex and thought-provoking
3) 26.79 Coming into harbour
4) 53.151 Perfect simplicity
5) 36.53 Syrupy zestiness

SOCIETY SUMMER SIPPING SUGGESTIONS:

SPORTY PAIR: 1.158 & 76.83 only £89.90 (save £10)
1.158 Cricketer’s Dram
76.83 Cocktails after rugby

Za Za Zoom Trio:
125.45, 36.53 & 29.101 for £135.40 (save £15)
125.45 Complex and thought-provoking
36.53 Syrupy zestiness
29.101 Tarred, feathered and set on fire

Harmonious six: All of the above PLUS 7.66 for
£283.70 (save £30)
7.66 Harmonious co-existence of flavour

Society Tastings & Events (66 Society tastings online)

New Members’ Tasting – London, Thu 14 July
Steak & Chips Tasting – The Vaults, Fri 15 July
Wokingham Preview Tasting – Cantley House, Fri 22 July
Falkirk Wheel Tasting – Queen Street, Thu 28 July
New Members Tasting – London, Thu 28 July
Greenock Prevew Tasting – The Tontine Hotel, Fri 29 July
Tunbridge Wells Preview Tasting – Hotel du Vin, Fri 29 July
Stirling Preview Tasting – Golden Lion Hotel, Fri 29 July
Blind Man Bluff – The Vaults, Fri 29 July

More Society tastings

Edinburgh Festival Fever
For those who are planning to indulge in this year’s Edinburgh Festival, the Society is holding a series of Tutored Tastings at The Vaults and 28 Queen Street. We still have tickets left for our tasting with Big Malt Hitter John Campbell, Distillery Manager at Laphroaig.  More 

Whisky For A Year: Free Tasting Glasses

Get whiskyed away on a tide of ultimate single cask single malt Society bottlings..

Over the course of the year we’ll send you bottlings, hand-picked by The Tasting Panel, of the highest quality and intrigue.

Sign-up before Fri 15 July and we’ll include a pair of free tasting glasses with your first bottling (77.25 Notes of floral & tobacco)   More

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society,
The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ
Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm).

Visit the Society at http://www.smws.co.uk/memberships for your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers. 

The fifth generation: Grant’s Chairman Peter Gordon and Master Blender, Brian Kinsman.

GRANT’S TAKES TO THE GLOBAL PODIUM

Oldest family owned Scotch becomes world’s third largest

Grant’s world famous blended Scotch whisky has turned a new chapter in its 124-year success story as it takes to the podium of standard Scotch whiskies, becoming the world’s number three in retail value.

The move onto podium, confirmed by IWSR results released last week, reaffirms Grant’s’ credentials as a key player on the world whisky stage.  Over the last five years, Grant’s has consistently grown ahead of the category, achieving in 2010 worldwide sales of 4.8 million cases and retail value of over $1bn.

A £35m Grant’s global investment package was announced in 2008 by independent, family-owned distillers William Grant & Sons, comprising new packaging, an up-weighted global marketing campaign and investment in the company’s production facilities in Girvan, Scotland. The brand, which includes Ale and Sherry Cask Editions  as well as aged 12, 18 and ultra premium 25 year old variants, has continued to enjoy rapid growth, outperforming competitors in both emerging whisky markets such as Russia and amongst established drinkers in markets such as France and the UK.

Kate Athanasi, Grant’s Global Brand Director comments: “This is a very exciting time for Grant’s. Just over a hundred 100 years ago William Grant’s son-in-law first took his family’s blended Scotch to the world. Today we’re the top selling family blend thanks to our multi award-winning whisky and our rich family heritage, which resonates with whisky drinkers across the globe.”

The Grant’s story started when founder William Grant’s distillery produced its first golden drop of spirit in 1887. Today, crafted by Master Blender Brian Kinsman, Grant’s is the oldest family owned blend in Scotland, built on five generations of heritage, expertise and passion for whisky-making. 

The fifth generation: Grant’s Chairman Peter Gordon and Master Blender, Brian Kinsman.

Notes

• Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons, an award-winning family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and today still controlled by his direct descendants.  The Company distils some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including Grant’s, the world’s favorite single malt Glenfiddich, and the handcrafted range of The Balvenie single malts, as well as selected other spirits, including Hendrick’s Gin.

• Grant’s range of cask finished and aged blended Scotch whiskies include Grant’s Family Reserve, Grant’s Ale and Sherry Cask Editions, created by ‘finishing’ Grant’s Family Reserve in either ale or sherry casks; Grant’s 12 Year Old – the only blend to spend an extra finishing period in American oak cask, producing a full bodied Scotch of exceptional richness; the multi award-winning Grant’s 18 Year Old and the recently released ultra premium Grant’s 25 Year Old.

• IWSR (International Wine and Spirit Research) data focuses exclusively on the global alcoholic beverage market and covers all the major wine and spirit categories with a database of over 14,400 brands in 220 countries and territories worldwide. For more information see: www.iwsr.co.uk  

• 2010 was a record year for Scotch whisky exports, according to Scotch Whisky Association figures released in March. The performance confirmed Scotch whisky as one of the UK’s top exporting industries, increasing exports by 10% to £3.45bn in 2010 and delivering £109 a second to UK exports.  The latest IWSR figures show The Scotch market is 89,056 000s 9L cases in volume and has grown by 3.2% VYA and by 1.1% CAGR 2005-2010. Blended Scotch accounts for 92.5% of the total Scotch volume and 87.6% of the total Scotch value and has increased by 4.5% VYA and 5.4% CAGR from 2005.

• The deliciously complex and smooth taste of Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky is down to the way it is made from a recipe created more than 100 years ago by William Grant. Passed down from generation to generation, today it is the expert skills of the Grant’s Master Blender, along with a team of craftsmen, who keep alive William Grant’s pioneering spirit and his passion for blending the finest whisky.

• For more about Grant’s Blended Scotch Whisky and for our latest news visit: www.grantswhisky.com
http://twitter.com/grantswhisky
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youtube.com/grantswhisky

… need to know more about your nose ? Whisky Review 209 (3/7) – Whisky Masterclass (Nosing) … another flawed nugget from www.ralfy.com

True Tales In Toronto

Hello everyone,

True Tales events are proving increasingly popular around the globe. After Bulgaria, Portugal, South Africa, Russia and the US, Canada was the latest country to host an evening of whisky tasting and storytelling.

The format for the evening was similar to our event in Philadelphia as around 60 people joined us for dinner in Toronto.

As…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

http://blog.grantswhisky.com/2011/07/true-tales-in-toronto/

Kind regards,
Ludo