Today’s the day! It’s the 27th of March and that means only one thing to whisky lovers around the world. It’s International Whisky Day! 

2013 Chairman’s Trophy Winners and Full Results Announced Today, Including USC’s First 100-Point Spirit

New York, NY (March, 2013) – Ultimate Beverage Challenge’s (UBC) fourth annual Ultimate Spirits Challenge was held at state-of-the-art Astor Center in New York City on March 11-15, 2013. Today, Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) proudly announces this year’s Chairman’s Trophy winners and Finalists in more than 30 spirits categories, including USC’s first 100-point score that honors Highland Park 25 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Orkney.

Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2013 had a record number of entries, up 8% from last year, from more than 70 companies and 30 countries around the world. This year’s entries likewise included more craft spirits than ever before and an extraordinarily high standard of spirits across all categories.

Led by UBC Founder and Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult and Judging Co-Chairman Sean Ludford, the judges included many of the world’s most famous distilled spirits authorities, award-winning authors, spirits buyers, journalists, educators, bar owners and consultants.  The judging panels rated the distillates on the 100-point scale, using USC’s innovative multilevel evaluation system, which renders the industry’s most unassailable results. This remarkable super-group of experts named 33 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Chairman’s Trophy winners and 151 Finalists. Judges for USC 2013 were F. Paul Pacult, Sean Ludford, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tad Carducci, James Conley, Dale DeGroff, Jim Meehan, Dan Nicolaescu, Steve Olson, Julie Reiner, Jack Robertiello, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, MW, Katie Stipe and David Wondrich.

Says UBC founder F. Paul Pacult, “The increase in entries we’ve had for Ultimate Spirits Challenge each year is a testament to suppliers who appreciate our meticulous attention to rating and scoring their products. They understand that Ultimate Spirits Challenge also provides them with an array of useful tools to help them build and market their brands, from credible scores to insightful tasting notes to useful point-of-sale materials to our summary guide in Beverage Media.”

THE 2013 RESULTS

This year, all spirits rated 85 points and higher are featured on their own detailed results page and include relevant award information, downloadable score icon, tasting note, accolade and bottle image. New this year, USC will also provide a summary page for this year’s Award Recipients and Great Values in each category. Because of Ultimate Spirits Challenge’s partnership with Astor Wines & Spirits, all spirits that display a shopping cart icon boast a ‘click and purchase’ option for consumers who can place their order online, with direct delivery to many states in the U.S.

For a complete list of results go to www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2013results/

WHISK(E)Y – NORTH AMERICA

AMERICAN WHISKEY: Balcones 1 Texas Single Malt

BOURBON: Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

RYE: Knob Creek Rye

TENNESSEE WHISKEY: George Dickel No. 12

WHISKEY – IRELAND

BLENDED: Jameson 18 Years Old

IRISH POT STILL WHISKEY: Redbreast 15 Years Old

SINGLE MALT: Tullamore Dew 10 Years Old

WHISKY – SCOTLAND

BLENDED MALT: Haig Supreme 1627 12 Years Old

BLENDED: Royal Salute 21 Years Old

SINGLE MALT*: Highland Park 25 Years Old (100 points)

WHISKY – CANADA

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel

Brisbane Whisk(e)y Expo 2013

10th April 2013 – We are very pleased to announce that tickets for The Brisbane Whisk(e)y Expo 2013 are now on sale at http://www.whiskyexpo.com.au In our 3rd year, the show has moved to The Irish Club, Brisbane City. The Brisbane Whisk(e)y Expo has become one of the high points of tasting experience and once again, guests of the expo will be able to taste some of the very rarest whiskies, some of which cost hundreds of dollars per bottle.

Join whisky lovers from around the Australia for this luxurious  whisky spectacular at The Irish Club, Brisbane’s premium spirit destination.

The show will run from 6pm to 9pm on 10th April 2013.

We are very proud to have created what is regarded as one of the best whisky festivals in Australia, and look forward to sharing some Drams with friends old and new in April.

Tickets are available from our website at http://www.whiskyexpo.com.au

Find us online at:

web: http://www.whiskyexpo.com.au

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Whisky-Expo/130106357169177?fref=ts

Our newest bottling available is the Smokin’ Blended Scotch Whisky 40%  from Duncan Taylor available for a reasonable £27.00.  It is described as ‘Whisky as it used to be. Smokin’ Scotch whisky perfectly balances robust peat smoke flavours and smooth notes of toffee and vanilla.  Paying homage to the legendary blends of yesteryear, renowned for their rich flavor and uncompromising character, Smokin’ is a full bodied experience to be savoured.’

NEW RELEASE
Smokin’ Blended Scotch Whisky
£27.00

The Whisky Exchange

The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2013 – Tickets on sale now!

The more attentive amongst you may have noticed that one thing we’ve not yet done much trumpeting about is our yearly whisky show. Well, let the trumpeting begin – we’re back at Vinopolis on October 5th and 6th, and tickets … Continue reading >>

Joe from Whisky Wednesday reviews Balcones True Blue Cask Strength Corn Whisky.

http://youtu.be/c6A3x22FM9A

http://Facebook.com/whiskytube

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

The Return of Chicken Cock Whiskey
Prohibition Era Brand Reemerges Down South

March 2012 (Charleston, SC) – Chicken Cock Distilling is proud to announce that, after nearly a century hiatus, Chicken Cock Whiskey is back and more flavorful than ever. Inspired by a 157 year-old legacy, Chicken Cock is making a triumphant return to the market with a new look and fresh flavors.

Originally established in 1856 in Paris, Kentucky, Chicken Cock quickly became a significant 19th century Bourbon brand. Forced to move production to Canada during Prohibition, Chicken Cock was smuggled across the border in tin cans, where it rose to fame as a popular pour at some of the era’s most famous speakeasies,including the eminent Cotton Club in Harlem. When patrons ordered a “Chicken Cock,” waiters would present the tin can tableside and ceremoniously open it to reveal the bottle of Chicken Cock Whiskey inside. With an aluminum package and bold, new flavors, Chicken Cock Whiskey is back to once again bend the rules in the 21 st Century.

Returning to its southern roots, Chicken Cock is bottled in Charleston, South Carolina in three different varieties – Chicken Cock Southern Spiced Whiskey, Chicken Cock Cinnamon Whiskey , and Chicken Cock Root Beer Whiskey. Each is a flavorful blend of all natural ingredients and 86 Proof American Whiskey. A salute to the legendary tin cans, the bottles are made of 100% aluminum to facilitate and retain the optimal temperature for sipping chilled shots or mixing signature cocktails. Whether in a Southern Spiked Tea (Southern Spiced & Sweet Tea), a Root Beer Julep, or a Chicken’s Inferno (Cinnamon & Ginger Beer), Chicken Cock is adding a new dimension of flavor and quality to Southern classics.

“When I discovered Chicken Cock in 2010 I knew it was a brand that needed to be brought back,” says Matti Anttila, Chicken Cock Distilling founder. “To be able to do so at a time when American whiskey is making such a resurgence and the interest in heritage brands is so high is a truly special opportunity.”

A unique blend of American ingenuity, history and perseverance, Chicken Cock is bridging the gap between generations of whiskey drinkers. With a suggested retail price of $19.99, Chicken Cock is available this month in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. For additional information, please visit http://www.chickencockwhiskey.com or follow Chicken Cock on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ChickenCockWhiskey), Twitter (@ChickenCockWsky), and Instagram (ChickenCockWhiskey).

Robbie’s Back! Six new single cask Burns Malt expressions exclusive to The Whisky Barrel

Glenfarlcas 31 Year Old / Port Cask

The Latest release from Glenfarlcas distillery is this 31 year old port cask Highland malt.

Bottled for the UK and France, this stunning malt was laid to rest in 1981, bottled in 2012 with only 480 bottles filled.

Since 1865 Glenfarclas has been owned and managed by just one family, the Grants of Glenfarclas. To this day Glenfarclas is one of only a few distilleries in Scotland to remain family owned and managed.

Now in the hands of the fifth and sixth generation of the family, the Grants remain committed to the vision of creating the best quality Single Malt Scotch Whisky, in the traditional style.

£305.00 (£254.17 ex vat)

Click here to purchase Glenfarlcas 31 Year Old Port Cask