Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold – Life in the freezer

I love it when people send me whisky, and a nice drop of Dalwhinnie? Great.

Winter’s Gold is the latest in Diageo’s No Age Statement versions of core Classic Malts, following on from the likes of Talisker Skye and Oban Little Bay. Reading between the lines of marketing hyperbole, Diageo, along with nearly every brand owner, is struggling with stock levels and these new lines help protect the existing product range, rather than replace them. It seems a small price to pay, if we can keep the whiskies we already know and love.

Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold. In ice?

When I first read the press release that accompanied my sample, the thing that struck me was the suggested serve. ‘The suggested serve of Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold is frozen. Freezing the liquid transforms the texture of the liquid to create a syrupy mouthfeel.’

Reading this, you may well explode in a volley of curses aimed at anyone who has ever worked in marketing, but I was intrigued, as this approach mirrors closely what Rémy Martin did with their iconic VSOP when Rocky and I visited them in 2008: ‘Freezing the Rémy Martin VSOP enhances the aromatic smoothness of the Cognac, giving it an entirely different and very exciting profile…‘

Seven years ago I was rather underwhelmed, both with the concept and the Cognac. But being fair-minded, my sample of Winter’s Gold snuggled up to the leftover chicken curry, bottle of gin and bag of peas. I also decided to try it, as I would any other whisky, at room temperature.

Straight out of the freezer, does Winter’s Gold ‘amplify the rich, heather, honeyed flavours that the distillery is famed for‘? Sort of, but… In the glass it’s very syrupy; oozing rather than flowing. The nose is unsurprisingly quiet, crème brûlée and peaches, but really soft. The palate however is a bit more interesting. I’m getting plenty of creamy heather and honey, along with a bit of waxy, sappy oak and lemon, with just a hint on menthol at the finish.

So does frozen whisky make me rethink the habits of a lifetime? No. Is it an enjoyable way of drinking whisky? Yes, it’s OK. Like freezing grain whisky, it brings out the creaminess.

What if you treat it like any other malt and don’t put it in the freezer at all? At room temperature, the Dalwhinne looks, smells and tastes; like Dalwhinnie. The nose is light and nutty with a distinct nut-toffee edge and just a whiff of wood smoke. The palate is light, fresh and honeyed, with a nice cut of citrus running through. A good Dalwhinnie that would make a really good aperitif dram.

Why bother putting the bag of peas to so much trouble? Don’t worry about the frozen part. It’s a great expression of Dalwhinnie. If you like Dalwhinnie 15, you’ll like Winter’s Gold, too.

Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Gold – Life in the freezer

Below we have the complete list of the forthcoming Authentic collection single cask malts from Cadenhead’s. Once available we will send you the newsletters for the releases due over 2 weeks around the mid to late period of the month.

This season has a whole range of tastes and flavours to cover most palates with a few stunning double cask matured vintages.

Before we start you off on the selection we have a few drams from distilleries we have had a short break from, including Braes of Glenlivet and The Speyside Distillery.

Some of you will know all about the most famous distilleries but one or two distilleries might have missed peoples attention one such is the Speyside distillery.

The distillery was built between 1962 and 1987 by hand.

The builder was a Mr Alex Fairlie who was asked by the founder Mr George christie to build the distillery, Mr Fairlie was a drystone wall builder who’s passion in his craft shines through the fabric of the distillery building. Who knows this might have inspired the craft that has gone into the distilled spirit that is a sheer delight for Speyside malt fans.

The first time I tasted Speyside whisky was way back in the 1990’s from my recall it was 8 years old with an ABV of 67.8% Vol, even at that ABV it was amazingly smooth rich and complex, it did not need water just time to open.

This season we have a rather exceptional 24 year old 53.3% Vol again no additional water is required just time to open up and breath, sit back relax and let the world go by with this dram in hand.

Another dram I think you might like if smooth malts are your thing will be the new Fettercairn1993 22yo 53.7%. Sherry cask.

It’s not fully matured for 22 years in a sherry cask it’s part matured in ex-bourbon cask until May 2006 until bottled in October 2015. This is a perfectly balanced vintage with enough of the sherry cask to give the malt a hint of fruit cake and some vanilla like notes from the bourbon cask.

For the fan’s of the Potty peaty variety then head to the new Bowmore cask tasting notes for a Burgundy cask matured vintage along with a nice Caol Ila that will set the tastebuds off nicely and a rather stunning Bunnahabhain.

We also have some rather stunning wine cask vintages to add that little extra diversity this season to the range.

OCTOBER RELEASES

Now to the releases…

Ben Nevis Distillery 1998 16y/o 51.2%

Nose: Olive oil, green apples and freshly baked bread. Sesame seeds and maple syrup. Taste: Whole pineapples, white pepper and some grassy notes and then mango and pears. Finish: Big chewy oily finish. Quite industrial but becoming fresher with some gooseberries and custard creams

Bowmore Distillery 2003 12y/o 58.1% – Burgundy since October 2011

Nose: Medicinal with sandlewood; slightly farmyard like with soft smoked notes. Taste: Cedarwood with dry ash and soft smoked fish notes with some creamy highlights along with apricots and smoked cheese. Finish: Smoked mackerel pate with peaches and mango. Extremely long drying finish.

Braes of Glenlivet Distillery 1997 18y/o 53.1%

Nose: Strawberry milkshake, cookie dough and a soft flinty note. Taste: Grassy and floral with kiwi fruits and banana bread. Finish: Grapes, icing sugar and lemon drizzle cake. Very refreshing.

Bunnahabhain Distillery 1997 17y/o 57.5%

Nose: Very grassy with damp peat bricks and very oily. Faint dry smoke with a slight meaty aroma. Taste: Much dirtier than the nose suggests. Wet wood smoke, dunnage warehouses , nutmeg and unripe pears. Finish: Long and oily with hints of smoke, avocado and pineapple chunks.

Caol Ila Distillery 1995 20y/o 57.7%

Nose: Sweet and creamy. Lots of vanilla with soft fresh smoke. Taste: Light smokiness mixing with honey, almonds, kiwis and a dry earthiness. Finish: Smokiness builds in the finish along with double cream and lots of fresh vanilla notes. Classic Coal Ila.

Craigellachie-Glenlivet Distillery 1994 21y/o 53.1% – Sauterne since February 2006

Nose: Initially musty, then becoming much sweeter with some oily grassy notes. Liquorice and redcurrant. Taste: Quite heavy; walnuts, dried bananas and pickles. Finish: Very sweet and oily on the finish.

Fettercairn Distillery 1993 22y/o 53.7% – Sherry since May 2008

Nose: Toasted marshmallows, marmalade, treacle toffee and pear drops. Taste: Caramelised red onion, creme brûlée; sultana cake with a hint of rock salt. Finish: More sherry notes in the finish, interacting with carrot cake and shortbread.

Glen Grant-Glenlivet Distillery 1995 20y/o 57.5%

Nose: Raspberries, lychee and blueberries. Hints of pastry along with brandy snaps and cinnamon powder. Taste: Stewed fruits, and then some cut apples and unripe bananas along with white pepper and key lime pie. Finish: Apple pie with soft vanilla ice cream along with star anise and green apple skins.

Glen Keith-Glenlivet Distillery 1996 18y/o 54.1%

Nose: Very creamy with hints of gingerbread and orange zest. Blueberries and soft goats cheese. Taste: A little nuttiness with soft brown sugar. Hints of raisins along with caffe latte and growing zesty oranges. Finish: Mandarins, melted white chocolate and popping candy.

Glenrothes-Glenlivet Distillery 1994 21y/o 53%

Nose: Honey and melon, sweet lemon icing and a touch of aniseed. Taste: White chocolate with crystallised ginger; nutmeg and cinnamon sticks along with freshly mown grass. Finish: Touches of fennel seeds and then lime and lingering coconut flakes.

HazelburnTM distilled at Springbank Distillery Distillery 2001 13y/o 50.8%

Nose: Lemon zest, banana peel. Oily and grassy with a faint medicinal note. Taste: Very refreshing, slightly nutty with an earthy edge. Hints of melon, peaches and dried apricots. Finish: Creamy, with flashes of lime, vanilla and mandarins.

Mortlach Distillery 1988 26y/o 56.1%

Nose: Rich and meaty, cured meats. Quite floral with hints of geraniums and then some freshly squeezed apple juice. Taste: Dry sherry notes with chilli spice along with rhubarb, figs and coffee beans. Finish: Lots of golden syrup with growing black cherries with a hint of paprika.

Speyside Distillery 1991 24y/o 53.3%

Nose: Peaches and apricots. Clotted cream with butterscotch and lots of vanilla. Taste: Almost a touch of dry ash quickly replaced by honeycomb and soft salty notes along with more of the apricot from the nose. Finish: Lingering creamy fruitiness with a soft drying nuttiness.

Strathmill Distillery 1995 19y/o 55.1% – Chateau Lafitte since 2009

Nose: Initially creamy with strawberries and hints of balsamic vinegar. Syrup sponge with orange zest and slightly herbal. Sherbet. Taste: Mouth coating, with coconut, vanilla, orange blossom water with some darker fruits emerging. Finish: Orange oils , with almonds and some grassy notes. Short and fairly drying

Tamnavulin-Glenivet Distillery 1992 23y/o 55%

Nose: Soft malty notes along with nougat, chocolate powder and then fizzy cherry notes. Taste: Pear skins and lemongrass. Slightly dusty and then some notes of oak aged Chardonnay along with fresh chives and some delicate allspice. Finish: Medium length, quite grassy and herbal with melted salted butter.

North British Grain Distillery 1989 26y/o 58.4%

Nose: Sweet, lots of toffee shortbread along with maple syrup and buttermilk pancakes. Taste: Delicate spice mixed with toffee and spiced oak flavours. Honeycomb, milk chocolate and faint orange notes Finish: Orange notes grow in the finish once it gets past the big toffee and spice notes. Classic aged grain.

CLOSED DISTILLERIES

And finally we have a little something for the fans of rare demolished distilleries.

Caperdonich Distillery 1992 23y/o 56.4%

Nose: Sweet vanilla, green apples and over ripe bananas. Becoming more citrusy. Taste: Lime, pears and touch of spice initially. Honeycomb, runny toffee and chocolate covered marshmallows. Finish: Silky smooth, medium length with citrus and a hint of spice.

Cadenhead’s Whisky Shop & Tasting Room

26 Chiltern Street London W1U 7QF

Tel: 020 7935 6999

Free Balblair Masterclass at Hard To Find Whiskies!

To celebrate the addition of Rock Oyster Island Malt to the range of Remarkable regional Malts, @31Dover is joining with @DLaingWhisky for an evening of Twitter Tasting. On Wednesday 28th October at 7pm we’ll be tasting the Big Peat Islay Malt, the Scallywag Speyside Malt, Timorous Beastie Highland Malt and Rock Oyster Island Malt.

New York City, October 1^st, 2015; Dr. Jim Beveridge, an analytical chemist and world-famous Scotch whisky blender, has today been announced as a new member of The Explorers Club.

Dr. Beveridge has been recognised for his unique accomplishments in the field of scientific research in analytical chemistry on a worldwide scale. His contributions have led to the advancement of our understanding of the impact of nano-quantities of organics upon taste.

He joins with other members of the renowned club who have conducted groundbreaking research in a wide variety of disciplines, leaders who have travelled far afield, returning to bring new knowledge of many unique interests to the world.

Membership of The Explorers Club places Dr. Beveridge among the most famous and recognised explorers and research scientists of our time. The Club’s members include those who were first to the Moon, first to the North Pole, first to the South Pole, first to the summit of Mt. Everest and first to the deepest points of the Ocean.

His membership was announced as Johnnie Walker^®, the number one Scotch whisky in the world^[1], launched a new campaign entitled Joy Will Take You Further, celebrating the fact that happiness actually helps people achieve success.

Dr. Beveridge the Master Blender for Johnnie Walker, said, while visiting The Explorers Club: “It’s a privilege to be accepted as a member of this amazing club. For almost two centuries the blenders of Johnnie Walker have been restless people who have never liked to stand still. They have always been on the move – taking their whiskies to every corner of the world and learning lessons from every country they visited.

“Importantly, I know that each and every one of us who has been fortunate enough to work on this great whisky has truly loved the steps we’ve taken. I’m following in some big footsteps and I’m privileged to genuinely be standing on the shoulders of giants as a blender and, now, with fellow explorers.”

During his trip to New York, Dr. Beveridge hosted tours of a spectacular pop-up immersive ‘Blenders’ Rooms’ experience in the historic The Explorers Club headquarters for guests.

The ‘Blenders’ Rooms’ pop-up captured the spirit of Dr. Beveridge’s day-to-day working environment in Scotland and is the first of its kind to be presented outside of the United Kingdom. It featured installations that helped him bring to life and tell the story of the unrivalled 8 million casks of whisky that he works with; the science behind the distinctive flavour profiles of Johnnie Walker; and the innovation which continues to drive the brand forward.

Among the guests at the event were Will Roseman, Executive Director and Ted Janulis, President of The Explorers Club, and Brian Cox, Director, Scotch whisky North America at Diageo.

Mr Roseman said: “The Explorers Club is pleased to welcome Johnnie Walker to its worldwide headquarters and to have among its newest members, Dr. Jim Beveridge, recognised for his extraordinary accomplishments as a renowned analytical chemist.”

Cox said: “As we launch our new Joy Will Take You Further campaign, it is incredibly fitting that we are able to hold this event here in The Explorers Club. For over a century, members of The Explorers Club have lived out the conviction that lies at the very heart of our campaign, they have been people who have enjoyed the journey as much as the destination.”

#JoyWillTakeYouFurther

Notes

¹International Wine and Spirit Record (IWSR) Value and volume data 2014

B-roll footage of Dr. Jim Beveridge at The Explorers Club in New York can be downloaded here

Photo captions: 

• Will Roseman, Executive Director of The Explorers Club welcomes new member Dr Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker Master Blender

• Dr Beveridge, Johnnie Walker Master Blender with The Explorers Club fellow, adventurer, photographer, author and television host, Josh Bernstein

• Dr Beveridge has been recognised for his unique accomplishments in scientific research in analytical chemistry and is pictured with Will Roseman, Executive Director of The Explorers Club

• Membership places Dr Beveridge among the most famous explorers and research scientists of our time 

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.  The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).  For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

Enjoy Johnnie Walker responsibly. 

The JOHNNIE WALKER, KEEP WALKING, BLENDERS’ ROOMS, JOYNOMICS and JOY WILL TAKE YOU FURTHER words, the Striding Figure device and associated logos are trademarks © John Walker & Sons 2015. 

About The Explorers Club

The Explorers Club was founded in New York City 1904 by a group of the world’s leading explorers of the time. It is a multidisciplinary, not for profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to scientific exploration of land, sea, air, and space by supporting research and education in the physical, natural and biological sciences. The Club’s members have been responsible for an illustrious series of famous firsts: First to the North Pole, first to the South Pole, first to the summit of Mount Everest, first to the deepest point in the ocean, and first to the surface of the moon. With 3,000 members worldwide, the organization is headquartered at 46 East 70th Street, New York, N.Y. 10021. For more information about The Explorers Club, its history, and its mission, find out more at: http://www.explorers.org/

Under a licensing agreement between Diageo and The Explorers Club, each purchase from the Johnnie Walker® Explorers’ Club Collection^TM – a series of blended whiskies sold exclusively in global duty free outlets – helps to support the work of The Explorers Club.

THE EXPLORERS CLUB, THE EXPLORERS CLUB FLAG and associated logos are trade marks of The Explorers Club, a global non-profit organisation headquartered in New York City.

^[1] International Wine and Spirit Record (IWSR) Value and volume data 2014

October 2015 Outturn

Cask No. 95.19                               $150

Enigmatic duality

Speyside, Spey

The nose appealed to us all – but in surprisingly different ways – some got tropical fruits – dried mango, kiwi, lingen berry sorbet and ‘waxed lemons in the Tuscan sun’ – others detected deeper elements of tar, seaweed and even a wisp of smoke. That enigmatic duality persisted with water – pink peppercorns, horseradish, honey, ‘lightening over herb gardens’ and toasted pistachios. The palate was immediate and powerful – mouth-coating waxed fruits, heather honey and crème brûlée wrestled with peppery heat, hints of bonfire ash and carbolic. In reduction, we found aloe vera, menthol, Fisherman’s Friends, clove, hickory and fried sage leaves – good sweet-savoury balance.

Drinking tip: A curiosity dram – have fun perplexing your friends.

Colour: Lemony gold

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 17 years

Date distilled: August 1997

Alcohol: 53.2%

USA allocation: 246 bottles

Flavour profile: Spicy & sweet

 *USA Exclusive*

*President’s Choice*

Cask No. 4.203                               $140

Romantic tales, songs and whispers

Highland, Island

The neat nose spoke to us of dried roses, expensive writing paper and fresh linen – a romantic tale, accompanied by a sweet song of honey, marshmallows and spun sugar and a confidential whisper of spice. The palate found warming ginger and evocative strains of pencil shavings, tobacco, menthol and linseed oil; balancing sweetness was confirmed by golden syrup, Tunnock’s Snowballs and chocolate limes. The reduced nose had tobacco tins and cricket bats; smouldering embers, walnut cake, coffee and mint-choc-chip. The palate now offered chocolate mints, various nuts, wood sap, liquorice and coconut – gentle but complex, with decent character and personality.

Drinking tip: Takes plenty of water and could be a suitable outdoors dram – romantic glamping perhaps?

Colour: Gold foil

Cask: First-fill barrel

Age: 15 years

Date distilled: October 1999

Alcohol: 55.8%

USA allocation: 84 bottles

Flavour profile: Young & spritely 

Cask No. 63.31                               $200

Green grow the rushes oh!

Speyside, Spey

All were delighted by the aromas and flavours of an exotic temple. Delicately baked stone fruits sprinkled with rosewater, pistachio, cardamom, then fresh pine and beeswax polish. In the darker corners there was cooling lychee and cucumber, then moss and breezy jasmin. Malted digestive biscuits with a slather of honey and baked pastry added depth. For some, water brought out lovely clean notes of grape, kiwi, gooseberry and melon. For others, wet slate, damp bog and rain smattered stone. The finish was crisp green apple and lime pastilles, warm brown paper, fresh laundry and mint cornetto ice cream.

Drinking tip: As refreshing as rain on a summers day

Colour: Peachy

Cask: Refill barrel

Age: 25 years

Date distilled: November 1989

Alcohol: 51.6%

USA allocation: 90 bottles

Flavour profile: Old & dignified 

Cask No. 123.13                             $100

A French picnic

Highland, Southern

Spread out the rug on the grass and unpack the picnic. Apple tart with buttery pastry and orange blossom scented madeleines. Waxy honey on the comb and toffee caramel. Calvados and linctus pastilles. To taste, thick butterscotch on biscuits, hazelnut syrup and toasted almonds. Water relaxed the picnic panel and they found everything softer and sweeter: coconut, marzipan and watermelon, then orange zest. They imagined plucking wild strawberries and dipping them in thick vanilla custard that curled around the tongue. Pear compote with armagnac concluded proceedings by sending all into a gentle slumber in the afternoon sun.

Drinking tip: When you’re feeling soporific.

Colour: Stubble fields

Cask: First-fill barrel

Age: 9 years

Date distilled: May 2005

Alcohol: 57.3%

USA allocation: 119 bottles

Flavour profile: Juicy, oak & vanilla 

Cask No. 53.211                     $180       

And it is Goodbye to Care

Islay

Sweet and fresh aromas were very much apparent on the nose neat; lime cheese cake, heather honey and caramel-apple crisps. At the same time salty aromas of oyster shells and seaweed and a eucalyptus/ashy smell of menthol cigarettes all entwine. In the taste; sausages with a sweet chilli sauce, smoked peaches and vanilla ice cream with white pepper. With water much more maritime and salty; rock pools, kelp, fried white baits and calamari with a garlic and lemon mayonnaise – ‘you can almost hear the sea lions barking’. The taste is now gentle; singed heather, toasted marshmallows with a light fresh breeze of lavender.

Drinking tip: Looking for a carefree moment

Colour: Toucan’s beak

Cask: Refill hogshead

Age: 22 years

Date distilled: January 1992

Alcohol: 54.8%

USA allocation: 60 bottles

Flavour profile: Lightly peated 

*Low Outturn*

http://www.smwsa.com/

AUTUMN NECTAR

 The end of summer heralds not only the start of autumn, but also the beginning of the new whiskies season when distillers start jostling for position for the forthcoming Festive period. Plenty of great stuff to look forward to over the coming weeks, including a new Royal Mile Whiskies bottling which we are very excited about! However to kick us off in style we have the wonderful new official Royal Brackla range – ‘The Drink Divine’ (as decreed by the Royal household in the 1830s).

ROYAL BRACKLA 12 Year Old £41.95

ROYAL BRACKLA 16 Year Old £69.95

ROYAL BRACKLA 21 Year Old £165.00

For all general enquiries please call: 0131 524 9380 or email: contact@royalmilewhiskies.com

OCTOBER TASTINGS

Flavour Profile Tasting – 28 Queen St – Thu 15 Oct  More >

Uisge Source Tasting – 19 Greville St – Tue 20 Oct  More >

Perth Preview Tasting – The Salutation Hotel – Fri 23 Oct  More >

Sheffield Preview Tasting – Leopold Hotel – Fri 23 Oct  More >

Greenock Preview Tasting – The Tontine Hotel – Fri 23 Oct  More >

Duck’s at Kilspindie Preview Tasting – Ducks, Aberlady – Fri 23 Oct  More >

New Members’ Tasting – 19 Greville St – Tue 27 Oct  More >

Cheese & Whisky Tasting – The Vaults – Thu 29 Oct  More >

Manchester Preview Tasting – Malmaison – Fri 30 Oct  More >

Cheltenham Preview Tasting – Hotel du Vin & Bistro – Sat 31 Oct  More >

Melrose Preview Tasting – Town House Hotel – Sat 31 Oct  More >

Which Whisky is Witch? – 28 Queen St – Sat 31 Oct  More >

FREE ENTERTAINMENT AT THE VAULTS

FREE Live Music >  Mon 19 Oct

Browse All Tastings >

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ Contact:mailto:sales@smws.comor 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

This week Joe Ellis was selected to take part in the Littlemill Flash Blog event. Here he reviews the brand new official distillery release of Littlemill 25 Year Old Lowland Single Malt.

https://youtu.be/8bvTegoZqmE

To view other blogs please search #Littlemill on Twitter.

http://Twitter.com/whiskytube

https://www.facebook.com/whiskytube

CHIVAS REGAL LAUNCHES CHIVAS 18 ULTIMATE CASK COLLECTION EXCLUSIVE TO TRAVEL RETAIL

Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury Scotch whisky, has launched the Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection, a limited edition series that reinterprets the brand’s celebrated Chivas 18 expression. The Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak Finish will introduce the series, and is available exclusively in travel retail from this month.

Each limited edition ultra-premium whisky will be finished in varying types of casks to magnify a selection of the 85 flavour notes of the original Chivas 18. For the first limited edition release, Chivas 18 has been gently rested for a period of time in first fill American Oak casks, giving the expression more indulgent vanilla and caramel notes with a deep golden hue. Preserving all the essence of its rich taste, Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak Finish has been non-chill filtered.

Matching the ultra-premium nature of the liquid, each whisky is presented in luxurious packaging, textured in deep, dark Chivas 18 blue and embossed with Chivas design motifs. In a design nod to the golden hue of the whisky, a golden ribbon adorns the front of the box, embossed with the respective name of each expression in the Ultimate Cask Collection series.

Colin Scott, Chivas Regal Master Blender, comments: “For the first edition of the Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection we wanted to create a unique blend that accentuates the most iconic notes of Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, through a special finish in hand-selected First Fill American Oak casks. Designed for the sophisticated palate, the whisky provides a truly balanced taste and a velvet smooth finish.”

Richard Black, Chivas Regal Global Brand Director, comments: “The Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection First Fill American Oak Finish presents an exciting opportunity for ultra-premium whisky drinkers to explore further tasting experiences from an iconic and well-loved brand. The collection taps into the increasing demand from travellers looking for unique products that can be offered as a luxury gift or shared back home during special moments and will be an exclusive addition to retail channels in airports around the world.”

The Chivas 18 Ultimate Cask Collection is bottled at 48% ABV and exclusively available in global travel retail at a RRP of $126 USD 1ltr. The first launch will be followed by two further expressions, to be released every 18 months.

About Chivas Regal

Launched in 1909, Chivas Regal is the world’s first luxury whisky and is considered to be a timeless classic, renowned for its benchmark quality and taste, style, substance and exclusivity. A truly global brand, Chivas Regal has been integral to the growth of the Scotch whisky category worldwide and today sells 4.6 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across the globe. With brotherhood, generosity, entrepreneurship and integrity are at the heart of Chivas Regal, the brand launched its successful Live with Chivalry campaign in 2008, which aims to inspire modern gentlemen in more than 60 countries around the world to pursue success with integrity. The Chivas Regal range includes Chivas 12, Chivas 18, Chivas 25 and the Global Travel Retail exclusive, Chivas Brothers Blend. In October 2014, Chivas Regal announced the addition of a fifth permanent expression in the Chivas Regal family, Chivas Regal Extra, a new blend with a unique richness derived from selective maturation in rare ex-sherry casks. 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 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. www.chivasbrothers.com @ChivasNewsRoom

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,558 million in 2014/15. 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&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, 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 Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index. www.pernod-ricard.com