CHIVAS BROTHERS CHOOSES THE JAKE MCCARTHY FOUNDATION AS CHARITY OF THE YEAR 2015

Employees of Scotch whisky producer Chivas Brothers have chosen The Jake McCarthy Foundation as their Charity of the Year for 2015. The organisation was chosen by employees at the company’s Hammersmith office as well as its gin distilleries in Plymouth and Kennington. The company has donated £5,000 to the charity.

The Jake McCarthy Foundation takes its name from 24-year-old Jake, who tragically lost his life to an undiagnosed brain tumour in late 2012. The charity has two key objectives – the first is to raise awareness of the vital signs and symptoms associated with brain tumours, urging people displaying such symptoms to push for medical treatments such as CT and MRI scans; the second is to raise funds for much-needed research into this disease, as brain tumours are statistically the biggest killer of those under 40 and yet it only receives 1% of the national research spend on cancer.

Charities of the Year are nominated by employees, before a shortlist is created and voting takes place. The Jake McCarthy Foundation has a special place in the heart of one employee – Jake’s brother Josh, who works in the company’s Marketing team.

He said: “I was thrilled to find out that we could nominate any registered charity to appear on the shortlist, and was even happier when I found out that The Jake McCarthy Foundation had gathered the most votes. Obviously the charity means a great deal to me and my family.”

Barbara McCarthy, Josh’s mother and founder of the charity added: “We were absolutely delighted to find out that we had been chosen as Chivas Brothers Charity of the Year and look forward to working together to help raise awareness of brain tumours.”

Jennie Norrish, Head of Communications at Chivas Brothers, said: “The great thing about our Charities of the Year scheme is that it’s completely driven by employee nominations and votes – meaning the charities that win are the ones that mean the most to our employees, and can be anything from local up to national and international level. The Jake McCarthy Foundation is a thoroughly deserving cause, and we look forward to working with them in the year ahead.”

There are four regional Chivas Brothers charities of the year in total. The others are: Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club (Paisley, Glasgow and Ayrshire region), The Kiltwalk (Dunbartonshire region) and the Scottish Network for Arthritis in Children (Northern Scotland region).

Picture caption:

Chivas Brothers employees (l-r) Mathilde Robelin, Marie Coussin, Rohan Nayee, Martina Burolo and Katy McDougal with John, Josh and Barbara McCarthy (centre three)

About Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; The Glenlivet, the world’s No.1 single malt whisky; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.

http://www.chivasbrothers.com/

@ChivasNewsRoom

About The Jake McCarthy Foundation:

Jake’s Story

Jake McCarthy was a bright, talented, fit young man who lost his life to an undiagnosed brain tumour leaving his family devastated.

Jake began having severe headaches on a daily basis in October 2012; he went to his GP and was given migraine medication. Jake went back to the GP four times in the next four weeks only to receive more medication for migraines, by this time Jake was vomiting with more frequent headaches. Despite all these symptoms Jake was not referred for a CT scan and was given the all clear to travel to Thailand with his brother Josh for 10 days, which was on 4 December 2012. On 8 December Jake had a massive seizure and after having a scan was found to have a very large brain tumour on the left frontal lobe. He underwent immediate emergency surgery but tragically for his family he never regained consciousness and passed away on 24 December 2012.

The Foundation 

Jake’s Foundation was set up by his family to raise awareness of the symptoms and early warning signs of brain tumours to help improve early diagnosis and so save lives.

Through its events The Foundation aims to raise money for further research into treatment of brain tumours as well as improve earlier diagnosis by alerting medical professionals, parents and carers, through clearer guidelines, to identify the signs of those with persistent symptoms to seek urgent further treatment. Catching this condition in its infancy can dramatically increase a patient’s chance of survival. Brain tumours kill more people under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

Twitter @jakesfoundation

Facebook jakemccarthyfoundation

Website www.jakemccarthyfoundation.co.uk

Just Whisky is live with its biggest ever auction. This summer sees a massive amount of interesting and rare bottles to bid on. With a huge selection of silent distillery bottlings, a great array Rare Malts, almost all the Easter Elchies, a bunch of Flora & Fauna, smattering of Karuizawa, Port Ellen, and Silent Stills as well as plenty of Limited Ardbeg’ s, Brora, Glenlivet Cellar Collection and many many more! We’re excited for the auction to go live on Friday 7^th August.

Let’s begin by examining some of the highlights…

Just some of the bottles featured in this month’s auction (From left to right: Macallan 18yo Gran Reserva, Springbank 12 yo 100° proof, Macallan Easter Elchies 2009, Karuizawa 30 yo ‘Samurai’ Cask 3139, Clynelish 17 yo Manager’s Dram, Brora 22 yo Rare Malts, Laphroaig 26 yo 1968 Hart Brothers, Glenlivet 1959 Cellar Collection).

What a fantastic array of bottles from the Rare Malts selection, including some real rarities like the Brora 22 Year Old.

Whiskies from silent distillery Brora distilled in 1972 have attained near mythical status. There are five Rare Malt Brora 1972’s and this particular version (58.7%) is the winner of whiskyfun.com expert Serge Valentin’s highest ever score, with 97 points.

A legendary dram and as usual from the Rare Malts series – very collectable indeed. The jewel in the crown of the Rare Malts series.

Of course there are a huge amount of more reasonably priced drinkers available at the auction, and we’ve been given a sneak peak of the bottles available – a fantastic selection to bid on. Bidding will end on Sunday 16th August at 8PM – so feel free to add it to your calendars!

A spectacular array of collectable bottles from the discontinued Easter Elchies range from Macallan. The range was infamous for its latter releases to prompt keen collectors to queue up from as early as 1am in the morning! Prices for these collectable bottles seem to keep rising year on year, and for the lucky owners they are some of the nicest looking bottles around for your collection.

With over 1,000 lots this is the biggest and best auction yet from Dunfermline based Just Whisky Auctions. We’re reminded they offer a collection service for your bottles and are currently scooping up bottles for their upcoming September auction. Sellers commission is capped at 6% including VAT and entry is completely free of charge.

Bidding ends from 8PM on Sunday 16^th August and you can visit their auction here: http://www.just-whisky.co.uk/

AUGUST TASTINGS

Steak & Whisky Tasting – 19 Greville Street – Mon 10 Aug  More >

Aberdeen Preview Tasting – Caledonian Thistle Hotel – Thu 20 Aug  More >

Staff Star Drams – The Vaults – Fri 21 Aug  More >

Carlisle Preview Tasting – The Hallmark Hotel – Fri 28 Aug  More >

FRINGE SHOWS AT 28 QUEEN STREET

At the Illusionists Table – More >

Scott Smith: Wonders at Dusk – More >

FREE ENTERTAINMENT AT THE VAULTS

Monday Night Drop-In: Islay Lovers Night >  Mon 10 Aug

Live Music with Rosie Blue >  Wed 19 Aug

Browse All Tastings >

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

Parker’s Heritage Collection – 13 Year Old Wheat Whiskey

Parker’s Heritage collection is a series of rare, limited edition American whiskeys offered as a tribute to sixth-generation Master Distiller Parker Beam for his 50+ years of distilling experience. Parker has been practicing his family craft of distilling, ageing and selecting some of the world’s most critically acclaimed bourbons and American whiskeys since he began working alongside his father at Heaven Hill Distilleries in 1950.

This year’s release from Heaven Hill Distillery is slightly different from previous, the 2014 release is a wheat whiskey, aged for 13 years. The barrels used for this release were actually from the very first run of what later would become Bernheim Original Straight Wheat Whiskey..

£108.00

2000 Arran 15 Year Old K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Cask Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($129.99)

We’ve grown awfully fond of the little-distillery-that-could on Scotland’s Isle of Arran. Every time we make a visit and search for a new cask, we seem to find just the right barrel to bring back home. We’re batting 1.000 with their sherry-matured inventory, and this new hogshead cask is quite possibly the grand slam of finds. It’s not a sherry bomb by any means, as it beautifully meanders from stonefruit and creamy malt into elements of cakebread and spice, but then back to the soft vanilla of the malt again. At 56.8%, it’s a powerful dram, but one that can handle water like an Olympic swimmer. In the whisky boom era, finding distilleries that can directly sell us casks of the highest quality (that aren’t obvious leftovers from the recent batch), from their very best stocks is not easy. Most distilleries that still offer cask programs have increased their pricing by 25-40% over the last year. But Arran keeps on chugging away, fully showing us that they’re a distillery and a relationship worth investing in. This latest 15 year old sherry cask is all the proof you need.

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

WHISKY TOUR FOR AUSTRALIAN (& SOUTH AFRICAN) GUESTS, JULY/AUGUST 2015

We were happy to take our guests on tour with us up to Speyside, a very fast turn around needed, as they only contacted us two weeks ago, but – as usual, we performed well! With a meet and greet at Inverness airport on the Friday (11am), we set out immediately for Dufftown, lunch had been pre booked at Glenfiddich distillery. Whilst Liz and myself took it easy, they dived right into Cullen Skink and a main course! Not only the food, but a few drams (including a Monkey Shoulder) each were also on the menu, these in addition to the Innis & Gunn beer and 2 drams en route in our vehicle, a good start.

After lunch an introductory video, then shown around the distillery. THE SECRETS OF SOLERA During their visit to warehouse 8, they discovered what makes the 15 year old such an exceptional dram, then into the malt masters blending room: enjoy tasting a number of cask-strength samples. They also stepped into Malt Master Brian Kinsman’s role, preparing their own version of Glenfiddich 15 year old by combining different cask samples together. Two and a half hours later, we met them again (Liz and myself had been working in the restaurant the whole time, on our 2016 Spirit of Speyside tours and events). We drove the short distance to the Highlander, said hello (and a chat) to Tatsuya Minagawa the new owner we know from years back actually, settled down to more beer and whisky ! I did feel sorry for Liz, she was driving this tour so couldnee drink ! Felt sorry for myself also, a recent hospital case which curtailed my own drinking. From here we travelled to Lossiemouth, our hotel overlooked the Old Moray Golf Course, looking out across the Moray Firth. Ten minutes after check in, we all gathered at the bar, needless to say, our guests ended the evening around 12.45, a good first day!

Saturday saw us depart at 10am (sleep in, after a re designed second day last night at the bar) and arrived at Glen Moray distillery for a standard tour, followed by our own/GM tasting session, which went down really well ; GM 10yo Chardonnay, Classic Port Cask finish, Peated Classic with a bottle of Wolf beer ! The day changed again as it was so sunny ! Golf this afternoon, we persuaded them to come with us to Aberlour, lunch at the Mash Tun and then the Highland Games at Aberlour. Just as we left the Mash the heavens opened – literally. Another change, we took them back to Dufftown and a friend of mine, David gave them all kilts to try on, lots of fun and drams there ! The Fife Inn entertained us all after the kilts, before once again heading back to Lossie. A round of golf followed in the evening sunshine. Another long night at the bar!

Sunday was the final day, guess who slept in ? guess we changed plans again ? Aye to both. A quick tour around Lossie and the beaches, then dropped into Spynie Palace for a look around. Spynie was for five centuries the residence of the bishops of Moray, the ruin of Spynie Palace does survive remarkably intact. From here to Culloden Battlefield museum and finally Inverness for lunch – lamb shanks and beer/whisky. A 2.15 drop at Inverness airport saw our guests away. Liz and myself really enjoyed the craik and a fast brief ride around Speyside, more distilleries had been planned, but – due to guests ideas/requests, the weather and time zones, we did alter things quite a lot « on the hoof » !

Another mcleanscotland tour under our belt. We would like to thanks Adam, Ian, Wayne, Chris and Matt for touring with us and – trusting us !

Written by Paul McLean. www.mcleanscotland.com

MARLEE’S GREEN TEA WHISKEY: “ALL THE GOODNESS OF GREEN TEA, AND MUCH MORE FUN” 

NEW YORK – Turning over a new leaf on flavored whiskey, Marlee’s Green Tea Whiskey is taking it back to the colonial days with a blend of ingredients that are a natural fit. Crafted in the whiskey capital of the world, Bardstown, Kentucky, Marlee’s Green Tea Whiskey does what your great, great grandmother likely did: mix up some whiskey and tea. Marlee’s takes a thoroughly modern slant on an old tradition by expertly blending American rye whiskey, with Chinese gunpowder green tea and a touch of organic Mexican blue agave resulting in a well-balanced, ready-to-drink whiskey beverage with an intriguing flavor profile that keeps it simple.

Jared Berlin, creator of Marlee’s Green Tea Whiskey, knew that tea and whiskey was a common coupling dating back to the 1800’s and wanted to create a premium ingredient product that would appeal to the modern consumer.

“When properly blended, whiskey and tea together create a stunningly refreshing drink that retains the integrity of both the tea and whiskey,” said Berlin. “I set out to develop a product unique from anything else currently in the market – using only amazing ingredients in the right balance – to celebrate this fantastic combination.”

Green Tea and whiskey are still ever present in Asian nightlife and culture. The Green tea is unfermented, which allows the natural enzymes to survive, bursting with antioxidants and natural energy, resulting in a whiskey with all the benefits of a green tea – and much more fun! While still an alcoholic beverage, and thus should be consumed in moderation, it contains 140.8 mg of polyphenols per 8 ounce serving, more than most cups of green tea! Polyphenols are the central compound in green tea that delivers much of its antioxidant benefit.

The process behind creating Marlee’s Green is just as unique as the drink itself. It begins with its proprietary blend of green tea, a special formulation created by tea sommeliers uniquely for Marlee’s Green, sourced from select farms in China. The tea is then brewed and blended with American rye whiskey and a touch of agave, which not only provides sweetness and fullness to the flavor of the whiskey, but also makes Marlee’s Green a low calorie alternative to other flavored whiskeys. The mixture is then filtered to remove the larger particles that form when working with all natural ingredients. It is then bottled and labeled in Bardstown– ready to be opened, poured and enjoyed.

Marlee’s keeps it simple, using only a handful of natural ingredients, and it is recommended that you drink it the same way – simply. Just pour it over ice, or add a touch of lemon, muddled mint sprig or a splash of ginger beer. If you want some added inspiration find some delicious recipes online. Marlee’s Green makes cocktailing simple, fun and delicious.

Marlee’s Green Tea Whiskey launched Florida in July 2015 and is available online and soon in markets around the country. Marlee’s Green Tea Whiskey, (14.95% ABV) MSRP $17.99

Old Grand-Dad 114 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Sour Cherry Old Fashion

Corsair D&M Single Barrel Cask Strength Selection Triple Smoke Whiskey

Physician, Heal Thyself

Taos Lightning Governor’s Reserve D&M Exclusive Straight Rye Whiskey

The Diamondback

D&M | 2200 Fillmore St | San Francisco | CA | 94115

Arran Single Cask #893

Single cask #893 is the 2014 Autumn release from Arran distillery. Distilled in 1998 and aged for just over 16 years in a single sherry cask, 296 bottles have been filled at 54.3% vol.

Was £65.95 Now £57.50 Save £8.45

GlenDronach 8 Year Old The Hielan 46%

Unveiled in 2015, GlenDronach Heilan is a welcome 8 year old Highland single malt Scotch to the range. The whisky was matured and married in a combination of bourbon and sherry casks, both of which are Pedro Ximinez and Oloroso. Ooh That’s what we want to hear! An abundance of dried fruits, citrus peel and sundried raisins with a very pleasant buttery palate coating

Nickolls & Perks Ltd
37 Lower High Street
Stourbridge West Midlands DY8 1TA
UK