BALLANTINE’S UNVEILS PREMIUM OFFERINGS FOR THE GIFTING SEASON

Ballantine’s, the No. 1 whisky in Europe, is launching a trio of stylish gift packs for its Ballantine’s Finest and Ballantine’s 12 Year Old expressions ahead of the festive period.

Building on the successful ‘Beyond’ global marketing platform, Ballantine’s 12 Year Old has received an intriguing makeover for this year’s seasonal gift pack. Inspired by a world of visual illusion and hidden messages, the gift pack reinforces the brand’s reputation for original and creative thinking.

The new, eye-catching gift tin uses Ballantine’s 12 visual equity and age statement to create a textual pattern that features the silhouette of a hidden bottle. Debossed tasting notes are strategically placed to be discovered inside the lid of the gift tin, which also features an embossed logo and age statement. Further enhanced by a combination of print techniques and finished with a gloss varnish, the gift tin aims to entice consumers to pick it up to experience its tactile qualities and further explore its innovative design.

Peter Moore, Brand Director for Ballantine’s, comments: “The new Ballantine’s 12 gift pack will bring to life the brand’s ‘Beyond’ positioning with an intriguing and intelligent design that is sure to capture the audience’s imagination.”

In addition to the Ballantine’s 12 gift tin, Ballantine’s Finest is launching two gift packs ahead of this year’s festivities.

A special gift tin includes the striking Ballantine’s Finest visual cues, in line with the popular expression’s new outer carton. A wrap-around design highlights an embossed crest and logo on both sides, while a debossed seal and signature is placed to be discovered inside the lid.

Aimed at a younger audience, an alternative gifting offering for Ballantine’s Finest is a stylish carrying zip case pack. Made of high density nylon, the pack includes an engraved tin-plate plaque to complete a more youthful, modern appeal.

“Our gift packs for Ballantine’s Finest and Ballantine’s 12 Year Old include something for everyone,” adds Moore. “We expect them to be extremely popular with people looking for eye-catching and stylish gift options in the run up to Christmas.”

Gift packs are available for 70cl, 75cl and 1L products. The limited edition packs will be available in more than 40 markets from the beginning of December 2012.

Notes

About Ballantine’s

Ballantine’s Finest is a complex blend of single malts and grain whiskies from four renowned whisky regions of Scotland – Islay, Highlands, Speyside and Lowlands. Its elegant signature style is a balance of soft and sweet, due to the key malts of Glenburgie and Miltonduff.

About Chivas Brothers

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.

For further information visit www.chivasbrothers.com

101 WORLD WHISKIES TO TRY BEFORE YOU DIE is the companion guide to 2010’s 101 WHISKIES TO TRY BEFORE YOU DIE. Ian Buxton again eschews the obvious whiskies and recommends another 101 whiskies that he believes every whisky lover should taste.

In Ian Buxton’s new collection of whisky recommendations he has cast his net wider. He includes not only whiskies from the established whisky-producing countries, but also many newcomers. The book includes whiskies from Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Holland, India, Ireland, Japan, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, USA and Wales.

All the whiskies included are both affordable and accessible. Ian Buxton does not believe in collecting whiskies or investing in whisky. He believes in tasting and enjoying the huge range of whiskies that are available. The book includes single malts and blends and provocatively a few renegade suggestions that are bound to offend purists. Ian Buxton is incredibly well-connected in the whisky world with the specialist press, bloggers, retailers, marketeers and the producers themselves.

Hardcover • 978-0-7553-6319-3 • $19.99 • 224 pages

PUB DATE: September 4, 2012

Ian Buxton is a former Marketing Director of Glenmorangie and has worked in the industry for more than 20 years. He now runs a successful consultancy business. He was elected a Keeper of the Quaich in 1991, the highest honour of the Scotch whisky industry, and is a member of the international tasting panel for the annual World Whisky Awards and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers. He lives in Perthshire on the site of a former distillery from where he conducts his love affair with Scotland’s national drink.

101 World Whiskies to Try Before You Die- Ian Buxton

“Buxton’s guide encourages you to seek out and try whiskeis that you might not have thought about before … So what are you waiting for? It’s time to start delving in and ticking them off.” Whisky Magaazine

“One of the industry’s most illustrious tipplers.” coolhunting.com

If you would like a copy and live in CANADA contact Whisky Intelligence via the contact for and we’ll send you a copy. FREE! (Two copies available).

LABEL 5 KICKS OFF AN INSTAGRAM PHOTO CONTEST “CATCHTHE5”

Leading Scotch Whisky Brand, LABEL 5 has launched a great competition through its Facebook page: www.facebook.com/Label5, which invites its worldwide fans to take an Instagram picture which echoes, according to them, the number 5, to get a chance to win a 5-day trip to NEW YORK City!

LABEL 5 unveils an original and interactive campaign built on the legendary number of LABEL 5, which celebrates creativity and the WorldMix spirit! The contest is all about inspiring photos taken using Instagram. Because, inspiration could be everywhere! You can find a 5 in the streets you go, the movies you watch, the games you play, the group of friends you are…

With this exciting campaign, LABEL 5 is looking for talented photographers from different countries and entices people to share their vision of the number 5 on the Catchthe5 application available on the official Facebook page. The 2-month competition is running from September, 3 and will run in many countries across the world including Poland, Australia, Ghana, Japan, Lebanon, and Belgium. 5 winners will be selected by a special jury, winning a fantastic prize: the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to star in a web serie during a 5-day trip in NEW YORK City.

To enter, it’s very easy!
-1st: You need to become a fan and join the international community of LABEL 5 fans: www.facebook.com/Label5.
–2nd: You take a photo that you think best represents the number 5, you upload it to Instagram with the tags #Catchthe5 and #NYC (there is no limit to the photos you can enter).
–3rd: Finally visit the LABEL 5 Facebook page on the 20th of December to know if you will be a part of the WorldMix Experience webseries. The 5 winners will star in the webseries broadcasted on the Facebook page from April 2013.

May the odd be ever in your favor…
To get started and find out more go to www.facebook.com/label5 and click on the Catchthe5 tab to register for the competition.

Who wouldn’t want to take part? – LABEL 5 encourages to drink responsibly.

ABOUT LABEL 5
Elaborated in Scotland, LABEL 5 is renowned worldwide for its high quality and appreciated for its distinctive and authentic flavours. LABEL 5, ranks 9th on the worldwide Scotch Whisky market and is sold in more than 100 countries.

Competition – ‘Worth the wait’

To mark the launch, one lucky person will win the new Glengoyne range. Nine runners-up will also receive a specially selected bottle of malt from the collection. We won’t tell you which one, it will be a surprise but we can promise it will definitely be well Worth the Wait. To enter, all you have to do is describe in no more than 50 words what has been your best ‘Worth the Wait’ moment in life and why? Full details on how to enter at www.glengoyne.com

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible Awards 2013

One of the first signs of autumn, along with The Whisky Show, is the thud on the doormat as the latest edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible arrives. Often controversial but always influential, Jim has yet again spent the last year … Continue reading >>

Wednesday (TODAY) we will be meeting in the St. Machar Bar!
As there is no tasting this week we invite everyone to join us for a few drams (or any other drink!).  Wednesday 18th of October: Un-Official Tasting (7pm in the St. Machar Bar, High Street). It will probably be quite busy in the pub but it has a great cosy atmosphere! Come along to the St Machar Bar on campus next to the book shop! We’ll be there trying a few of their wonderful whiskies! And we’ve been told their will be discounts/special offers for members! So bring your membership card/follow the instructions below to become a member. We will be giving out membership cards there if you have signed up!
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ALL members must renew their membership for this year. Please see details below about how to do this.

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THE MALT WHISKY SOCIETY

We also need to get EVERYONE to become a member of the Malt Whisky Society.
To do this follow these steps:
1. Go to www.ausa.org.uk
2. Register a new account
3. Search for “Malt Whisky Society”
4. Add “Malt Whisky Society Student Membership” (£2) to your basket (like amazon.com)
5. Go to your basket – you MUST add “Societies Union” membership (£1) before you can pay
6. Follow payment instructions – you NEED a credit/debit card to pay.
7. Bring along your reference on a bit of paper/your mobile phone to the next whisky event and we will give you your membership card.

CASH PAYMENTS
It is possible to pay for membership with cash at the Butchart Recpetion desk during opening hours.

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£3 = 4 whiskies!

Date: Wednesday 24th October
Time: 19:00
Where: Bookends in Butchart Centre (University Rd)
What to bring: £3 for event and money for raffle

Tickets will go on sale at the end of the week!

You can still come to this event without becoming a member.
You should become a member as soon as possible.

 Our mailing address is:
University of Aberdeen Malt Whisky Society
The Butchart Centre
University Road
Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire AB24 3UT
United Kingdom

You’ve heard the rumours,
You’ve hoped they were true,
So it’s time to announce,
Without further ado…

WE’RE LAUNCHING IN BC!!

Please join us along with North Vancouver’s Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales and Victoria’s The Strath Ale Wine & Spirit Merchants to celebrate the expansion of the Canadian branch of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

News this big deserves a party or two, so we’re going to open twelve fantastic bottles of single cask single malt whiskies, put out some good food, and invite you to come find out what all the fuss is about! And we’re going to throw you a curve ball or two, so be prepared to be curious!

Vancouver Event:
Friday, October 26/12
$50+HST
7pm – 9pm
Cecil Green Park House
6251 Cecil Green Park Road
To register click here: http://ow.ly/eq4o5
Or visit Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales at
3020 Edgemont Blvd., North Vancouver
Questions? Call 604-984-9463

Victoria Event:
Saturday, October 27/12
$50+HST
7pm – 9pm
Hotel Grand Pacific, Pender Island Ballroom
463 Belleville Street
To register contact The Strath Ale Wine & Spirit Merchants at
whisky@strathconahotel.com
919 Douglas Street, Victoria
250-370-9463

ENJOY OUR PRODUCTS RESPONSIBLY
PLEASE DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
104-1240 Kensington Road NW, Suite 160
Calgary, AB, Canada T2N 3P7
Email – curious@smws.ca

FESTIVE WHISKY TASTINGS

We have a festive line-up of whisky tastings in December so why not spice up the Christmas feelings with a whisky and chocolate or whisky and cheese tasting. All of our events are fun and informative and all are bookable online.

WHISKY & CHEESE TASTING
Dates: 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th December 2012
Time: 6PM
Price: £20 pp
More details and to Book Online

WHISKY & CHOCOLATE TASTING
Dates: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th December 2012
Time: 6PM
Price: £20 pp
More details and to Book Online

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WHISKI ROOMS BAR & BISTRO
4 – 7 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LP
Tel: +44 (0)131 225 7224
Email: bar@whiskirooms.com
Web: www.whiskirooms.com

WHISKI ROOMS SHOP
Tel: +44 (0)131 225 1532
Email: shop@whiskirooms.com
Buy Whisky Online: www.whiskishop.com

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW    

 Single Malts Limited | 36 Gordon Street | Huntly | Aberdeenshire | AB54 8EQ

Big Peat pays a visit with a haul of new Douglas Laing Director’s Cut Scotch.

Read the article HERE