another award win for anCnoc 12 Years Old

We’re delighted to announce that the judges at the New York International Spirits Competition found our curiously modern single malt rather remarkable.

crafting anCnoc

The methods used to make anCnoc have hardly changed in over 100 years. We still use our original style copper pot stills and worm tubs worms to condense the vaporised alcohol (which is very rare these days). Ironically, it’s these traditional techniques which help to create the distinctive, modern flavour.

Click here to find out more

This week Joe Ellis reviews AnCnoc 18yo Scotch Single Malt.

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CHIVAS REGAL INVITES BAR MASTERS TO TEST THEIR SKILLS

Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky, is once again selecting the world’s top bartenders to take part in this year’s Chivas Masters competition. Developed to celebrate innovation, camaraderie and the craftsmanship at the heart of mixology the competition will see global finalists compete to become the 2015 Chivas Master.

Following the success of the inaugural competition in 2014, Hong Kong will be the first of 12 countries to hold national finals, before the competition culminates in a two-day grand final in New York City in July which will be judged by a distinguished panel of leading bartenders and industry experts. To become the Chivas Master, competitors will need to demonstrate their knowledge of cocktail heritage, mastery of the art of presenting and making great drinks to produce their own classic serve.

As well as putting the industry’s best bartenders onto the world stage, the competition enables competitors to explore cocktail history through Chivas Regal’s rich heritage. Finalists will be challenged to create classic drinks from four of the great cocktail eras – the Classic Age (1880-1920) in which Chivas Regal was created; the Post War Boom (1945-1965) during which time Chivas 12 was introduced; the Disco Years (1975-1990) when Scotch whisky became a truly global brand, and the present modern Age of Revivalism, as Chivas continues to build its reputation as an icon of timeless luxury and exceptional quality.

A unique prize waits for the global 2015 Chivas Master, as they will have the opportunity to work in three iconic bars, in three iconic cities to create three iconic signature drinks. The Chivas Master will be taken on an extraordinary experience where they will work alongside some of the most influential bartenders around the world to collaborate on the creation of a series of signature drinks.

Max Warner, International Brand Ambassador for Chivas Regal comments, “Last year’s Chivas Masters surpassed all expectations, and we were thrilled to see what was achieved by finalists when placed under competition pressure. We are very excited to again to be engaging with the top bartenders in the world and celebrating this amazing industry we are all a part of.”

Over the next few months, national heats will play out around the world as bartenders compete in countries such as China, France, Russia and the United States. Only one competitor from each market will be selected to travel to New York to take part in the grand final in July.

About Chivas Regal

Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.9 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old. www.chivas.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

About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €7,945 million in 2013/14. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin & Spirit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector and employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people, operating through a decentralized organization with 6 ‘Brand Companies’ and 80 ‘Market Companies’ established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is a member of the CAC 40 index. www.pernod-ricard.com

anCnoc Vintage 1975 is here…

Our eagerly anticipated  Vintage 1975 is now available.

This exclusive single malt was drawn from just three casks at our picturesque Knockdhu Distillery in Huntly.  Distinguished by its amber tone, anCnoc Vintage 1975 is neither chill-filtered nor coloured and is bottled at its natural cask strength of 44.2% ABV.

Only 1590 bottles of this Vintage are available in global markets including the UK, USA, Russia and Canada with a recommended retail price of £300 per bottle.

Find out more about anCnoc 1975 Vintage

News from the Isle of Arran Distillery Visitor Centre

Our Visitor Centre opened this week for our summer timetable and we hope that we will have the pleasure of seeing many of you over the summer months. Our Visitor Centre and CASKS Cafe are ready to welcome you with our usual warm island hospitality. You can click here to read more about the various tours that we offer, from the Oak tour right through to the Gold VIP tour. If you’d like to meet some of the Arran Team, you can also find out more about the people behind the Single Malt on our web site. We are busy organising ourselves for our annual Arran Malt & Music Festival which takes place this year from 26th – 28th June.  This has become a very popular date on the whisky calendar and there are still some tickets left for the various masterclasses on offer from our friends at Arran Events. You can read more about this fantastic event which celebrates all things Arran Malt & Music by clicking here.

Faultline Blended Scotch Whisky 750ml ($24.99)

For three long years, David Othenin-Girard and I have been trying to create an inexpensive, delicious, value-driven, yet simultaneously interesting expression of blended Scotch whisky that we could feature under our Faultline label. There were many times when we thought we were close, but either the quality of the whisky or the cost of the barrels proved prohibitive. We didn’t want to make a $25 bottle of whisky just for the sake of it. If we were going to do it, then we were going to it right. Finally, after working on and off with the Laings for a year-long blending process, we hammered out a profile we were happy with. Big smoke, Ardbeg-like peat flavors, and a kiss of sweet grain was our goal and we definitely achieved it in this bottle. Unlike most big brand blends, there are no coloring agents or sweeteners in the Faultline Scotch, just a pale straw colored liquid that bursts with character and, due to the heavy malt content, finishes with richness and weight. We wanted to make sure that, upon launch, there would be absolutely nothing on the market that could match the quality of flavor, price, beauty of design, and bang for the buck. After three long years, we think we’ve done it. For $25 you get one helluva bottle of Scotch. Smokier than Johnnie Black, more complex than Chivas, and less expensive than both of them. Plus, it’s an assertive 100 proof. Try it in a cocktail, pour it over ice, add in soda water. It’s the real deal. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

Patrick Cu | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 28, 2015

If someone is looking for our best value in Scotch whisky, there’ll be no hesitation on my part in recommending this. There are flavors of vanilla, malty grains, and a gentle touch of peat in the background. This is easy drinking, versatile whisky. How the hell is it $25 while being so good and 50% ABV? I have no idea, but enjoy it while it lasts.

Gary Westby | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 20, 2015

I usually only like blended Scotch that costs more than the single malts I drink, so this was a revelation. I don’t know if it is the hint of high quality peat, the extra concentration and kick from the higher proof, or the lovely sweet malty character of this blend that make it so satisfying. My father has often said that he “likes to drink expensive booze like it was cheap”- if you do too, this is a great scotch for you. It is not expensive- it just tastes like it is! For me it is the best value in Scotch in the store.

K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

THE MACALLAN BREAKS WORLD RECORD FOR MOST EXPENSIVE WHISKY SOLD AT AUCTION 

Guinness World Records™ has awarded The Macallan the accolade of ‘most expensive whisky sold at auction’.  Now the definitive world record holder, The Macallan M Imperiale 6-litre Lalique decanter sold at auction in Hong Kong for $628,000 in January 2014, breaking the previous record of $460,000 held by The Macallan in Lalique  Cire Perdue, raising funds for a host of locally based charities.

David Cox of The Macallan commented : “To achieve this record for a second time is an outstanding achievement for The Macallan and is testament to the appetite for such exceptional and special creations with our long standing partner, Lalique.  M Imperiale is the largest decanter Lalique has ever made and the largest The Macallan has ever filled. It  truly showcases the combined talents of one of the world’s great designers (Fabien Baron), the finest of crystal makers and makers of one the world’s great spirits, The Macallan.”

Lalique created four of these stupendous decanters for The Macallan.  Each decanter required the work of 17 craftsmen, including two with the prestigious title, “Meilleur Ouvrier de France”, with each taking over 50 hours to complete.

Of the four, two have been archived by The Macallan and one has been committed to a private collector in Asia.  The fourth, Constantine (named, as are the other three, after Roman emperors), is the only one to feature the engraved autographs of the three principal creators – Lalique/Silvio Denz, Fabien Baron and Bob Dalgarno.  Constantine was presented at an auction of Finest and Rarest Wines and The Macallan by Sotheby’s, in Hong Kong, on Saturday, 18 January 2014.

The Macallan is one of the world’s most sought after and collectable whiskies, consistently number one in value at auction among all whiskies.

All net sale proceeds have been donated to local charities in Hong Kong.

About The Macallan Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the world’s most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character, founded upon a set of guiding principles, the Six Pillars.  An obsession with quality has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding by Alexander Reid on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland. The distillery is surrounded by a 150 hectare estate, with Easter Elchies House, a Highland Manor built in 1700, at its heart. Traditionally known for maturation in Spanish oak, sherry seasoned casks, The Macallan’s range of outstanding single malts includes :Sherry Oak, matured in Spanish oak casks seasoned with sherry;  Fine Oak, matured both in sherry casks of Spanish and American oak  and in American oak casks seasoned with bourbon;  the 1824 range, exclusive to Global Travel Retail. In addition, The Macallan is well known for its great range of vintage whiskies, dating back to 1926, and is considered the most sought after of all single malts among collectors and connoisseurs at auction.  Please savour responsibly. http://www.themacallan.com/

About Lalique Lalique is more than just a name. It is René Lalique’s (1860-1945) talent, a genius destined to revolutionise the world of jewellery, beginning in 1888 with his famous ″Art Nouveau″ jewellery sets, true works of art, which are now highly sought-after by museums and collectors. A brilliant master glassmaker of the Art Déco movement, René Lalique’s creations were highly eclectic. Indeed, it was René Lalique, who was responsible for the great technological and commercial revolution which even today continues to influence the way bottles of perfume are created and packaged.  René Lalique’s imagination has proved to be the source of a vast and varied collection, including bowls, vases, statuettes and perfume bottles. They were produced at the Wingen-sur Moder factory in Alsace, opened in 1921. René Lalique’s creations belong to the international artistic and cultural patrimony. His works are displayed in more than 40 Museums worldwide including the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon, Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Lalique museum in Hakone, Japan. A national Lalique museum was opened in Wingen-sur-Moder, in the Alsace region of France on 1 July 2011.  In February 2008, the Swiss company Art & Fragrance acquired Lalique SA from the Pochet Group and Silvio Denz became Lalique’s President and CEO.www.lalique.com

Old & Dignified Whisky Tasting – Battle for Bailey Fundraiser

Monday March 25, 2015 – 7pm
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society – The Vaults
87 Giles St, Leith, Edinburgh
Tickets £55

Come down to The Vaults Members Rooms of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) in Leith, Edinburgh for an Old & Dignified whisky tasting fundraiser to support Bailey.

Tickets or donations
http://battleforbailey.brownpapertickets.com/

Background…

Bailey needs us! My dear cousin – this once healthy, energetic & loving 15 year old girl has been reduced to a shell of her vibrant self through an extremely rare and very aggressive form of cancer – Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. Bailey was diagnosed in November after dozens of agonising tests in a month long search for the cause of her illness. Bailey has and continues to undergo many chemotherapy treatments, which as of late have had a diminishing effect.

Now the only hope is for Bailey to be able to receive her brother’s loving gift of his matching bone marrow! But with some curve balls that caused delays in getting the transplant, further treatment of radiation is now required. This is where you can help.

The emotional toll on Bailey & her family cannot be calculated but the financial toll can be – with initial estimates of $100,000 US!! Together we can make this happen and give Bailey back the chance every young girl deserves: to become old & dignified!

Now back to the event…

Get your ticket today and come down to The Vaults on Wednesday March 25 at 7pm. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has so generously donated 5 fabulous single cask, cask strength whiskies from their “Old & Dignified” flavour profile for us to taste. Available only to Society members, SMWS single cask whiskies are completely unique and offer an ever-changing variety of flavours and taste sensations.

Not only that but the lovely Annabel Meikle, The Whisky Belle (www.thewhiskybelle.com/) & Society Ambassador, will be there to guide us through the whiskies! Often referred to as a sensory expert, Annabel work closely with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society as an ambassador and regularly chairs the panel. Annabel has worked for twelve years in the whisky industry and has now established her own consultancy to train and entertain as a whisky advisor.

You will also enjoy a Society supper. There will be door prizes and various fundraising activities revolving around more fabulous whiskies and spirits. So please make sure to bring cash with you and all the spare pound coins you have in your piggy bank for a Whisky Pound Coin Push!

100% of all proceeds go directly to Bailey’s family to help cover her medical expenses.

Tickets must be purchased here in advance (or donations can be made here too!) http://battleforbailey.brownpapertickets.com/

As we will be sipping some complex “Old & Dignified” whiskies, if you please, feel free to come dressed however you interpret “Old & Dignified”.

**Note: Everyone 18+ is welcome! Members or non-members of SMWS alike are welcome as this is a private fundraiser hosted by Crystal Coverdale (Manager of SMWS The Vaults)

A HAPPY ENDING HOW CONTAGIOUS HELPED GLENGOYNE COMPLETE THEIR STORY

In September 2014, Glengoyne Distillery in Killearn opened a new warehouse and exhibition space dedicated to maturation and the distillery’s exceptional wood policy. Previously the distillery had been frustrated by the small matter of the A81 which divides their main buildings, visitor centre and shop from their existing warehouse. As a result, visitors could only experience the first part of the brand’s story, missing out the all important ending – the successful marriage of carefully selected wood and meticulous maturation.

Following their work on the distillery’s visitor centre and shop in 2010, brand design agency Contagious were challenged with resolving the problem – reimagining two decommissioned buildings to create a brand new warehouse and wood story space in the heart of the distillery tour. The result is a captivating and highly informative space that delivers a comprehensive brand experience to the distillery’s 65,000 visitors a year.

The larger of the two buildings, originally a malting kiln, was transformed into a unique and dramatic triple-height warehouse for maturing whisky which features a brand new cask storage system designed to the client’s exact specifications. Contagious introduced a simple stone archway, hung with bespoke iron gates, to join the warehouse and exhibition spaces, the latter featuring a display of four sets of thirty backlit whisky bottles, each representing a year in the life of the  maturing spirit. All four sets of bottles are framed using oak from the original sherry cask staves, some of which feature a unique crystalisation, built up over time. Emphasising the importance of intelligent wood selection on the maturation process, the agency also created a stunning feature wall using sections cut through American and European oak trees, hand-etched with key messages, to give visitors an at-a-glance understanding of important facts.

Glengoyne’s strapline is ‘Unhurried since 1883’ – an epithet that reflects their unequivocal approach to dedicating time to create the perfect whisky. It also runs through the distillery’s approach to every project they undertake and, at the heart of this new space, was an almost obsessive commitment to getting every detail right in order to create an intelligent space within the distillery environment that would be real, believable and capable of standing the test of time.

The strongest collaboration between design team, client and a wide range of talented craftspeople, manufacturers and suppliers has resulted in a multi-layered solution that uses an innovative mix of textures, finishes and details to maximise the visitor experience. And with the project now complete and open to the public, visitors can enjoy the full Glengoyne story while the distillery lays down casks in their new ‘No. 1’ warehouse, ready for drinking in years to come.

But only when the time is right of course…

Additional information:

www.contagious.co.uk

Contagious is a creative brand agency working with clients around the world who have amazing brands. Our team of hugely talented, extraordinarily diverse, multi-disciplinary people specialise in brand communication, digital, environments and experiential design.

www.glengoyne.com

The slowest distillation process in Scotland. Six years spent preparing the perfect oak casks before they receive their first drop of spirit. Barley dried by air, never peat. Glengoyne give you pause to reflect that it’s only by investing valuable time and infinite care that you can create something of real worth. Glengoyne – it’s worth the wait.

This week Joe Ellis reviews AnCnoc 12yo Scotch Single Malt.

http://youtu.be/ZTMtuEI3PEQ

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