BUSHMILLS LIVE: GLOBAL STARS PERFORM AT LANDMARK EVENT

SNOW PATROL AND ELIJAH WOOD HEADLINE FIRST FESTIVAL OF WHISKEY AND MUSIC AT AN IRISH DISTILLERY

Bushmills Village: 22nd June 2012: Global stars including Snow Patrol, Elijah Wood of DJ Wooden Wisdom, Foy Vance and Iain Archer, performed last night at Bushmills Live, the landmark festival of handcrafted whiskey and music which took place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on Ireland’s north coast.

The two-day festival was attended by more than 400 music and whiskey fans from around the world, including people from countries as far apart as the USA, Bulgaria and Russia.

Stars such as Gary Lightbody, more used to playing in front of sell out arenas, performed intimate gigs in age-old buildings at the Old Bushmills Distillery, where the art of whiskey making has been practiced for generations.

Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery, Colum Egan, said: “This was an incredible occasion for Bushmills Irish Whiskey and for everyone here.

“Last night, we welcomed artists that are both known and loved around the world. Their music like our whiskey, represents the very best in craftsmanship.

“It was fantastic to see so many people enjoying their music and of course sharing a glass of Bushmills.”

Snow Patrol’s Jonny Quinn said: “Last night was pretty special for us as a band. We have played many gigs at home before, but this one, in a whiskey distillery was unique.”

Snow Patrol’s performance at ‘BushmillsLive’ will go some way to help establish a legacy for new music inNorthern Irelandwith their fee being donated in full to the Oh Yeah Music Centre inBelfast, which was co-founded by lead singer Gary Lightbody to help to support up-and-coming local musicians.

For further photographs and highlights from Bushmills Live go to facebook.com/bushmills1608

PRICELESS BOTTLE OF MALT MILL UNVEILED AT LAGAVULIN DISTILLERY

STORY FROM AWARD WINNING FILM BECOMES REALITY

The world’s only known bottle of Malt Mill new-make spirit was unveiled for enthusiasts and whisky pilgrims at the Lagavulin distillery on Monday 25 June 2012. Thought to have disappeared forever, Malt Mill is the basis of the plot for the award-winning Ken Loach film, The Angels’ Share.

Charles Maclean, one of the world’s leading whisky writers, who also played a role in the film, comments on the unveiling. “This bottle is priceless. Malt Mill is legendary, and is viewed by many as the holy grail. It is an extremely significant moment and I’m delighted to be part of it.”

Dr Nick Morgan, head of whisky outreach, Diageo, adds, “In my twenty years as an historian and archivist, I’ve always wanted to see this unique bottle of Malt Mill go on display. We are thrilled to share this precious artefact with the many whisky enthusiasts who visit Lagavulin every year.”

Rebecca O’ Brien, Producer for The Angels’ Share, says, “It is wonderful to think this bottle has been passed down from distillery manager to distillery manager for fifty years here on Islay. Our film hinges on the auction of an imaginary cask of Malt Mill precisely because everyone agreed it was so rare. Now the very DNA of Malt Mill has been rediscovered.”

The bottle of Malt Mill came to light after the Lagavulin distillery manager, Georgie Crawford, heard about the film. Involving some whisky related shennanigans, and based on an auction of an imaginary last cask of Malt Mill, she brought out the Malt Mill from its secret location. It had been passed on to her by her predecessor, the former Lagavulin distillery manager.

The Angels’ Share, which is currently on general cinema release, was written by Scot Paul Laverty and was filmed in various locations around Scotland last summer. The film was a hit at this year’s Cannes Film Festival where it won the coveted Jury Prize.

Malt Mill was produced at a small distillery on the Lagavulin distillery site from 1908; production ceased in 1962 and this bottle is from the last fill in June 1962.

Notes

About Lagavulin

Lagavulin © 16 year old single malt Scotch whisky speaks of the smoked peat and mineral water of the wild terrain of Islay. The distillery, cut into the romantic and rugged bay of Lagavulin, has been producing whisky since 1816. Favoured for it intense smoked aroma; lapsang souchong on the nose is followed by peat on the palate and sea salt, with an elegant wood finish.

About Sixteen Films

Formed by director Ken Loach and producer Rebecca O’Brien in 2002, with writer Paul Laverty as Associate Director, Sixteen Films produces the films they make together and looks after the works in their shared archive. The company also makes a small number of films with producers, writers and directors who have worked with the team in the past.