BALLANTINE’S RELEASES 17 YEAR OLD SIGNATURE DISTILLERY GLENTAUCHERS EDITION
TO COMPLETE SET OF FOUR UNIQUE BALLANTINE’S BLENDS

Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky, has today announced the release of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Signature Distillery Glentauchers Edition. This special blend completes a set of four limited editions, each of which has been created to demonstrate the unique structure of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old and how this is achieved.

Of all of the malt and grain whiskies used in Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, four stand out as ‘signature’ malts – Scapa, Miltonduff, Glenburgie and Glentauchers. Each of these plays a unique and crucial role in the creation of the final masterpiece that is Ballantine’s 17 Year Old.

Building on the successful global release of the Scapa, Miltonduff and Glenburgie Editions, Glentauchers is the last of the signature malts to be showcased in the Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Signature Distillery Editions. Located in the heart of Scotland’s celebrated Speyside whisky region, the Glentauchers Distillery is one of Scotland’s few remaining manually operated distilleries, where centuries of knowledge and traditional methods of Scotch whisky making are passed down to new generations of craftsmen.

The integrity of Glentauchers malt whisky is safeguarded by three generations of the same family, who have worked at the distillery since 1920. The whisky itself has a light citrus character, which is present after distillation as a result of the production process unique to the distillery. Its soft berry notes are the product of a fusion of influences from both distillation and maturation, while the spirit’s signature nutty character and warm, lingering finish are the result of long maturation in American oak casks.

The premium packaging for the Glentauchers Edition takes its inspiration from the lightness of the tasting notes: a burgundy colour from the lingering taste of soft berries, and an elegant blush sheen from the sweet, citrus fruit flavours. Staying true to the style of the previous Signature Distillery Editions, the use of metallic paper stock highlights the edition’s exclusive positioning within the Ballantine’s range, while differentiating itself from the original Ballantine’s 17 Year Old with an illustration of the Glentauchers Distillery, ‘limited edition’ script and unique colour scheme.

Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s Master Blender, comments: “We are proud to provide whisky enthusiasts with another opportunity to experience the single malts that shape the taste profile of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, and to showcase the high quality of the single malt produced at the Glentauchers distillery.

“Lighter and more delicate in style, the Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Signature Distillery Glentauchers Edition highlights some of the more subtle flavours within the original blend, whilst showcasing the key contribution of the Glentauchers malt with a lingering finish of soft berries.”

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, adds: “The release of the Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Signature Distillery Glentauchers Edition completes the picture of how Ballantine’s 17 Year Old achieves its signature style through the art of our skilled Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop. As with the other Ballantine’s 17 Year Old limited editions, the Glentauchers Edition is a highly collectible and giftable expression, and will appeal to whisky lovers looking for something unique, as well as to loyal followers of Ballantine’s.”

Ballantine’s 17 Year Old Signature Distillery Glentauchers Edition is launching within a number of Ballantine’s key markets including Asia Travel Retail, China and Japan, from May, with a retail price of $78 (USD). It was first unveiled in Korea in November 2013.

Notes:

Tasting Notes
Nose: Bursting with sweet citrus fruit flavours (tangerine and sweet clementine) with hazelnut notes and a hint of delicate floral heather coming through in the background.
Taste: Coats the mouth with smooth, soft berry flavours of raspberry and blackcurrant, combined with a tantalising taste of barley sugar sweets.
Finish: Incredibly long and luscious.

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No. 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky by volume, and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 120 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.
www.ballantines.com

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.
www.chivasbrothers.com