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LAPHROAIG® SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY TAKES HOME FIVE AWARDS AT 2013 INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRIT COMPETITION

Islay Scotch Awarded Top Honors In Prestigious Industry Competition Deerfield, IL (August, 2013) – Beam Inc. (NYSE:BEAM) is pleased to announce that the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) awarded Laphroaig®, the world’s most richly flavored Scotch whisky, with top honors for five of its expressions.

Laphroaig® 18-Year-Old was awarded the Gold Outstanding Award, which is only awarded at the judges’ discretion, and Laphroaig® 10-Year-Old, 10-Year-Old Cask Strength, Quarter Cask, and Triple Wood all won Silver Outstanding Awards, which are awarded only to outstanding expressions of excellent quality.

“We are honored to be recognized with these prestigious awards by the International Wine and Spirit Competition,” said John Campbell, Master Distiller for Laphroaig. “For 200 years, we’ve focused on delivering rich, unique and distinct Islay Scotch whisky, and these awards further establish Laphroaig® as a leader in this category.”

The 44th annual International Wine and Spirit Competition received entries from 90 countries worldwide and judges each entry according to its class. The judging takes place in two stages; entries are first scored via a blind taste test by over 300 highly experienced industry judges. Next, the top products undergo a technical analysis to ensure the winners receive complete validation. To search the full list of results visit iwsc.net/results.

Judges at this year’s competition noted Laphroaig® 18-Year-Old as having an incredible nose with amazing rich floral notes, as well as the other expressions as “exciting and full of life” and having a “youthfully energetic finish.”

To learn more about Laphroaig® or how to become a Friend of Laphroaig®, visit www.Laphroaig.com, LIKE us on Facebook www.facebook.com/laphroaigusa , or follows us on Twitter @LaphroaigUSA.

About Laphroaig®

Laphroaig® (La-‘froyg) literally means “the beautiful hollow by the broad bay.” Born from the streams and blue peat smoke of Islay, Laphroaig® is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a distinct taste and story in every bottle. The secret to Laphroaig® is that it benefits from the happy circumstances of where it is produced—next to ocean water and on land that gives Laphroaig® a unique peaty taste. It is one of only a few distilleries that still uses traditional malting floors and dries and infuses its own malt with the thick blue smoke from old peat-fired kilns. It’s also the only Single Malt Scotch Whisky to bear a Royal Warrant bestowed by HRH Prince Charles.

About Beam Inc.

As one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher’s Scotch Whisky, Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC and DeKuyper Cordials. Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,400 passionate associates worldwide generated 2012 sales of $2.5 billion (excluding excise taxes), volume of 38 million 9-liter equivalent cases and some of the industry’s fastest growing innovations. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index. For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com  and www.drinksmart.com.

BenRiach Cask 286 Peated

19 Year Old, UK exclusive

Deep harvest gold colour. Intense waves of spiced oak with creamy vanilla over apricots and peaches, all backed by a delicate, sweet honeyed peat. A combination of delicate soft fruits and sweet oak spices, covered by dramatic bursts of ntense wood smoke, which mellow and mingle with hints of melon and pineapple in the lasting after-note. £83.95

GlenDronach Batch 8 2002 cask # 1988

Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon

White pepper and cinnamon combine with sweet dates and sultanas infused with hints of ginger and vanilla. Red chilli bursts in the mouth and develops into intense flavours of treacle-covered ripe autumn fruits. Fresh mint and toasted nuts add to the long, vibrant finish. £47.95

Bowmore 23 Year Old, Port Matured

Colour: Deep mahogany with a rich ruby blush. Nose: Rich, smoky and very complex. Plum skins, black cherries and dark chocolate are interwoven with wood smoke and sea-salt, seductive sandalwood and walnuts thrown on a roaring fire. Taste: A swathe of rich smoky velvet bringsluscious layered autumn fruits, tingly winter spices, blood orange and sensualwinter black truffles. Finish: Long and rich with smoke infused blood orange,truffle and walnut oil. £380.00

Milroy’s of Soho

3 Greek Street

London, England W1D 4NX

United Kingdom

THE SILENCE of the DRAMS!

A unique tasting experience by MCLEANSCOTLAND.

We gathered 5 people together, gave them three drams and asked them NOT to say a word.

Each dram taken in turn, from a typed out presentation sheet, each drammer was asked to write down what they thought of each dram. NO speaking at all.

SILENCE. As it turned out, this method gave each person chance to write their own thoughts down and not be influenced by any other taster – great!

So, who took part and what did they write? see here;

http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc/silenceofthedrams.asp

The “silence” was arranged, conceived and presented by MCLEANSCOTLAND and Angels Whisky Club

Now in its second year, the Jewish Whisky Company is proud to announce the return of Whisky Jewbilee, its charity whisky festival.

While open to all lovers of whisky, rye and bourbon, the Whisky Jewbilee began as a charitable, Glatt Kosher catered whisky tasting event for the New York-based Jewish community.  In 2012, on short notice and with less than 4½ weeks of planning, the Jewish Whisky Company was able to gather 32 brands, 150+ whiskies and 250 attendees to the inaugural Whisky Jewbilee held in NYC.

Having the luxury of time to plan for 2013, the Jewish Whisky Company saw an opportunity to plan for two Whisky Jewbilee events.

Both events will be Glatt Kosher catered by the award winning Ari White, Executive Chef, Gemstone Caterers; Pitboss, Wandering Que.

This year attendees can expect more than 45 brands, 200+ whiskies and for the first time, a special festival bottling for the Whisky Jewbilee (see attached image).  Attendees can expect the low entry fee of $110 to get into one of the events.  Members of the Jewish Whisky Company’s Single Cask Nation (http://www.singlecasknation.com/) can expect a price of $90 for a ticket to either Whisky Jewbilee event.

The dates of the Whisky Jewbilee events are as follows:

• Wednesday, October 9^th in Mt. Kisco NY at Grand Prix, New York’s premier racing and gaming center (333 N Bedford Rd, Mt Kisco, NY  10549).
  • Gaming is from 5pm – 7pm (all racing and gaming ends when tasting begins)
  • Tasting is from 7pm – 10pm
  • Tickets for the Mt. Kisco event can be purchased here: https://whiskyjewbilee.ticketbud.com/mt-kisco
  • Maximum capacity: 600 people
• Thursday, October 10^th in New York City at Zanger Hall (347 W 34^th St, New York, NY  10001).
  • Tasting is from 7pm – 10pm
  • Cigars and bourbon outside (weather permitting) from 8pm – 10pm
  • Tickets for the NYC event can be purchased here: https://whiskyjewbilee.ticketbud.com/nycity
  • Maximum capacity: 325 people

The special festival bottling is of a single barrel from Heaven Hill distilleries and is a 15 year old Kentucky Straight Bourbon from a high-rye mash bill, bottled at 122.6 proof (61.3% ABV).   The barrel rendered fewer than 100 bottles and is expected to be priced at $110 per bottle.  Those who wish to purchase the festival bottling will have to sign up at the Jewish Whisky Company table at either Whisky Jewbilee event; 40 bottles will be allotted to both Whisky Jewbilee events. This very special Whisky Jewbilee bottling of Heaven Hill Kentucky Straight Bourbon is first come, first served.

Jewish Whisky Company, LLC has partnered with Support Connection as the charity organization of choice for these two events.  Support Connection is a Not-for-profit organization providing free breast cancer and ovarian cancer support services for patients and their families: http://www.supportconnection.org/.  A portion of proceeds from both Whisky Jewbilee events will benefit Support Connection.

For more information, contact the Jewish Whisky Company here:

Phone: 203.689.5163

Toll-­‐Free: 866.883.7528

Email at: info@whiskyjewbilee.com

Laphroaig: A Love Letter

by Tim Forbes

Ode on a Laphroaig Thou still unravish’d cask of quietness, Thou foster-child of Silence and slow Time, Wooden historian, who canst thus express A barley tale more sweetly than our rhyme: What smoke-tinged legend hangs above thy glass Of tarry … Continue reading >>

Bowmore on the Rockies

November 1^st – 3^rd 2013 – Banff Alberta

This event won’t come as a complete surprise to everyone. I’ve been bouncing ideas off the wall for years and just a few weeks ago one finally stuck. When Bowmore launched the Black Bowmore 1964 42 Year about 4 years ago, they indicated they would be following it with White and Gold expressions. The Black was stunning; we poured it at two separate tastings, and sold close to 30 bottles of the stuff. The White was sampled in the No. 1 vaults at Bowmore and the Gold opened for a KWM event didn’t disappoint either. All the while I had a vision to put on an Epic once in a lifetime tasting of the trilogy that would draw people to it from across Canada and around the world. A sit down in store tasting or whisky dinner wouldn’t do, this range of whiskies is worth nearly $40,000.00 at auction, this would have to be a weekend extravaganza.

For about the last 2 ½ years ideas have been batted around with the good people at Bowmore and their local representatives at Lifford. Whiskies were horded and what was initially just a Trilogy tasting turned into a Trilogy +2. In the wake of the 1964 Trilogy, Bowmore released the 1964 Fino, so we set one of those aside. Around that time I managed to put my hands on one of the original Black Bowmores, the 1995 bottling. Well the time has come; these whiskies aren’t going to sit idle any longer, we’re going to open them all at a never to be repeated event November 1^st and 2^nd 2013.

Bowmore on the Rockies will be held in Alberta’s scenic resort town of Banff Friday November 1^st and Saturday the 2^nd 2013, hosted by myself along with Jamie MacKenzie (Director of Sales the Americas) and Iain Macallum (Master of Malt) of Morrison Bowmore. The price for the weekend includes 2 nights of accommodation at the Rimrock Hotel, 4 tastings, 2 dinners, a breakfast, lunch and tickets to the Banff Film Festival. A Bowmore Dinner will be held on the Friday night at a prestigious restaurant in Banff, followed by VIP seating at a dueling pianos bar. Saturday will feature Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch tastings, tickets to some Banff Film Festival screenings and the climactic Bowmore Trilogy +2 Dinner at the Rimrock. This once in a lifetime tasting is limited to just 26 participants.

Bowmore on the Rockies Nov 1-3 2013 – $1350 +GST

(for a single occupant for a standard room)

Includes:

• 2 nights accommodation at the Rimrock Hotel in Banff
• 2 breakfasts
• 2 dinners
• 1 lunch
• 4 tastings including the climactic sampling of the Bowmore 1964 Trilogy + 2

–      Bowmore Black 1964 21 Year (1995 bottling)

–      Bowmore Gold 1964 44 Year

–      Bowmore White 1964 43 Year

–      Bowmore Black 1964 42 Year

–      Bowmore Fino Cask 1964 46 Year

Conditions:

• Space is limited to 26 whisky drinking participants.
• Room upgrades are available on request.
• Couples or guests sharing a room with another participant can save up to $400 on the second ticket.
• A limited number of companion spots for spouses/partners who will not be drinking whisky, but will be attending the dinners are available at an add on price of $500 +GST. This includes wine.
• Payment can be made by cheque made out to Ferguson Whisky Tours, or through PayPal on request.
• Registration is non-refundable.

Andrew Ferguson

Scotch Expert & Store Co-Manager

Kensington Wine Market

Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada Ambassador

1257 Kensington Road NW Calgary Alberta T2N 3P8

P. 403.283-8000 Toll Free. 888.283.9004

http://fergusonwhiskytours.com/bowmoreontherockies/

Mr. Boston Rock & Rye Rolling Along to a Comeback

Brand Experiences Double Digit Case Sales in Past Year

Louisville, Ky. (Aug. 2013) – Mr. Boston Rock & Rye, the venerable rye whiskey liqueur flavored with citrus, is making a strong comeback in the Southern United States, as on and off premise consumers are re-discovering this sweet treat.

Once believed to be the cure-all for the common cold in the late 1800s, this combination of rye whiskey sweetened with sugar and citrus fruits became so popular it found its way into pop culture, with references in books and songs from 1914 all the way up to 1948.

In 1939 Mr. Boston began bottling this famous concoction, and 74 years later, the rye whiskey liqueur is showing a resurgence, as consumers are flocking to bars and liquor stores and enjoying it either straight or on the rocks.  With double digit growth in the past year in some markets, it’s clear the flavored whiskey craze has also reignited the taste for some old classics too, such as Rock & Rye.

“Consumers that are of newly legal drinking age and older have been raised on soft drinks and other sweet beverages, and now crave that taste as they get older and look for adult beverages,” said Lori Logan, brand director, Mr. Boston. “With the popularity of flavored whiskeys over the past few years, combined with the yearnings for classic cocktails, it’s no wonder we’ve seen an increase in sales both on and off premise for Rock & Rye.

Mr. Boston Rock & Rye is 54 proof and is available in 200 mL, 375 mL and 750 mL. The 750 mL retails for a suggested price of $9.99.

About the Sazerac Company

Sazerac is one of New Orleans’ oldest family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California; Baltimore, Maryland; and Montreal Canada. For more information on Sazerac, please visit http://www.sazerac.com/.

GlenDronach Batch 8 Single Cask Releases

GlenDronach Batch 8 1990 Cask #2971

Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon

Stewed plum compote and orchard apples caramelised in dark muscovado sugar. Aged oak spice adds a citrus twist. A robust depth of rich sherry. Ripe plums and damsons flow into stewed dark fruits sweetened by dark chocolate and gentle vanilla. £108.95

GlenDronach Batch 8 1992 Cask #145

Oloroso Sherry Butt

Inviting sherry-infused raisins and currants with waves of rich marmalade and espresso coffee. Bursts of candied orange and dark, slightly chilled chocolate combine with a fantastic rich fruit sweetness that mellows to soft toffee in the long finish. £101.95

GlenDronach Batch 8 1996 cask # 1490

Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon

Waves of chocolate and coffee complimented by cracked black pepper and a hint of ginger. Toffee drenched raisins and dried apricots laced with warm allspice and soft vanilla; all of which combine in a rich, full finish. £78.95

Milroy’s of Soho

3 Greek Street

London, England W1D 4NX

United Kingdom

JURA UNBOUND BRINGS STORYTELLERS TOGETHER

Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin.

Something very special will be happening in the Guardian Spiegeltent at the Edinburgh Book Festival every night at 9pm between the 10th-26th August. For Jura Unbound, hand-picked writers and performers from across the globe will fuse words and music into new forms of storytelling before a live audience.

Just like Jura, every Unbound performer has broken with convention, forged their own path and is richer for it. From Ljodahått – some of the finest poets Norway has ever produced – to Scottish author Alan Bisset, every storyteller brings with them a blazing trail of tales that could keep any bar open until late. Each and every night will be an entirely different, raw and surprising experience. Visit www.edbookfest.co.uk for the full lineup of irresistible characters.

Jura Unbound is free to attend for all Diurachs, and you’re even entitled to a dram of 10 year old whisky so you can settle in and watch such delights as the Literary Death Match cartoon spectacular in true Jura style.

If Edinburgh is just one journey too far, keep your space by the fire with all of the latest updates, pictures, videos and exclusives on our Facebook and Twitter pages.

Sláinte!

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