SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE WHISKY AWARDS – WINNERS ANNOUNCED
The Glenlivet walked away with two of the top honours at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Awards 2012. The Glenlivet 12 Years Old picked up the prize in the ’12 Years Old and Under’ category and The Glenlivet 15 Years Old (French Oak) came first in the ’13 to 20 Year Old’ class. The ‘Over 20 Year Old’ category was won by Knockando 25 Years Old (2011 Special Reserve).
The finals of the Awards took place at The Macallan Distillery on the opening night of the Festival (Thursday, 3rd May) and were presented by Festival Chairman Jim Royan. The winners are chosen by the consumer at this final stage making these Awards unique in the world of malt whisky awards.
The criteria for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards are that all entrants should be single Speyside malts, proprietary bottlings only and must be ‘generally’ and ‘commercially’ available. Fifty-six of Speyside’s finest malts battled it out at a blind tasting earlier in the year, with six progressing through to the final round of blind tasting in the three categories.
Commenting on his two wins, Alan Winchester, The Glenlivet Master Distiller said: “There is no better accolade for your whisky than the vote of the consumer. That is why we value winning any award at the Speyside Festival so highly, voted for by festival goers from all over the world. For The Glenlivet to win two such awards this year is a bonus and a testament to the work by many of my colleagues over the last 12 and 15 years that it took to make those whiskies. I think George Smith would have been proud!”
Jim Royan added: “We have had one of the most successful Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festivals ever this year. Thousands of whisky enthusiasts from around the world descended on Speyside to taste our whiskies, tour our distilleries and meet with other like-minded connoisseurs and experts of many different nationalities.
“It’s a unique Festival and the Whisky Awards allow us to showcase some of the finest malt whiskies in the world to a very discerning audience.”
WINNING WHISKIES – TASTING NOTES
THE GLENLIVET 12 YEAR OLD
With a bright and lively gold colour, this expression has an exquisite delicacy of summer-like fragrances with interlacing floral and fruity aromas. A silky feel flows on the tongue, with honeyed floral notes on the palate combined with smooth and sweet fruit hints of white peaches and pears and poached vanilla syrup. Marzipan and fresh hazelnuts are revealed in the finish, followed by a gentle spiciness of grated ginger.
THE GLENLIVET 15 YEAR OLD FRENCH OAK RESERVE
The Glenlivet 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve is a unique, characterful expression of The Glenlivet. The brand’s signature fruit and floral notes interplay with the rich, spicy flavours derived from selected new French Limousin Oak casks. On the nose, this expression is creamy and rich with resinous fragrances that swirl up before melting into a citrus fruit salad bowl. Then, the bouquet opens on buttery notes with a dry spicy echo and a touch of liquorice resonating in the back. The palate is round, sweet, incredibly smooth and velvety, with wood entirely integrated but present all the way, sweetly enveloping fruity and nutty flavours in an oaky shell. The finish lingers with traces of toasted hazelnuts and lightly smoked almonds.
KNOCKANDO 25 YEAR OLD
This limited-edition 25 year old expression, distilled in 1985 (4,500 numbered bottles only), has spent its life in first fill ex-sherry European Oak casks. An intriguing nose, rich and immediate, with no prickle, and redolent of dry Christmas cake, gives way in the mouth to a sweet start (fresh, ripe grapes and citrus pith), then immediately drying, with distant smoke. Masses of dry cocoa follow, then sweeter, with aged plum pudding. The finish is long and warming: late, winey notes accompanying drying tannins, and giving way to soft caramel and cleansing tart red fruit.
– Next year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs from Thursday, 2nd May – Monday, 6th May. Check out www.spiritofspeyside.com for up-to-date news and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside
– The Festival also runs several competitions and awards including the prestigious Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards as well as the Photographic Competition
– Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from EventScotland and Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners
– EventScotland: EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org.
– About the Year of Creative Scotland 2012: The Year of Creative Scotland began on January 1, 2012 and is a chance to showcase, celebrate and promote Scotland’s cultural and creative strengths on a world stage. Through a dynamic and exciting year-long programme of activity celebrating our world-class events, festivals, culture and heritage, the year puts Scotland’s culture and creativity in the international spotlight with a focus on cultural tourism and developing the events industry and creative sector in Scotland. More information about the programme can be found at: www.visitscotland.com/creative. The Year of Creative Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative led in partnership by EventScotland, VisitScotland, Creative Scotland and VOCAL.
