Chivas Brothers Blending Team [L-R]; Ashley Smith, Adam Ritchie, Alan Galloway, Sandy Hyslop, Kevin Balmforth, Willie Henderson and Calum Fraser

CHIVAS BROTHERS ANNOUNCES ENHANCED BLENDING TEAM

– CHIVAS REGAL HONOURS COLIN SCOTT AS CUSTODIAN MASTER BLENDER –

– SANDY HYSLOP TO LEAD ENHANCED BLENDING TEAM ACROSS SCOTCH WHISKY PORTFOLIO, REINFORCING LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE AT CHIVAS BROTHERS –

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, today announced new roles for revered Master Blenders Colin Scott and Sandy Hyslop. The move coincides with the unveiling of an enhanced Chivas Brothers Blending Team, reinforcing the company’s expertise in crafting world-leading, blended Scotch whisky.

With a career spanning 43 years, Colin Scott brings unparalleled gravitas to the Blending Team and will take on the role of Chivas Regal Custodian Master Blender. A renowned industry leader and innovator, having created Chivas 18 in 1997, Colin will act as a mentor to the Chivas Regal blenders, passing on his knowledge and ensuring traditions, techniques and the signature Chivas Regal style continue to be nurtured through the generations.

Leading the Blending Team will be Sandy Hyslop. With more than 30 years’ experience in blending Scotch whisky, Sandy will take on the newly-created and prestigious role of Director of Blending across the whole Chivas Brothers portfolio. Sandy holds the rare position of being one of just five Master Blenders in the 188-year history of Ballantine’s – a role he has held since 2005 – and will now oversee the creation and blending of all Chivas Brothers blended Scotch whisky.

Enhanced blending team at Chivas Brothers The team, comprising both familiar and new faces, will continue to drive excellence and craft the celebrated whiskies for the Chivas Brothers iconic ranges.

The team features:

• Kevin Balmforth and Dr Calum Fraser, who will take on the roles of Chivas Regal Blenders. As of next year, while their primary commitment will be maintaining quality across the range, they will also spend time travelling the world with Colin, educating consumers on Chivas Regal and its blending traditions.
• Ashley Smith, Apprentice Blender, who joined the blending team last year and is in the process of learning all aspects of blending, with a focus on Chivas Regal.
• Willie Henderson, who has 37 years’ experience in the whisky industry with nearly twenty of them focusing on blending. Willie will work across Chivas Brothers’ entire Scotch whisky portfolio supported by Adam Ritchie, who has been with the team for nearly a year.
• Alan Galloway, who with 16 years’ experience in the industry will work across the portfolio while supporting Sandy exclusively on the Ballantine’s range.

Laurent Lacassagne, Chivas Brothers CEO and Chairman, comments: “The Chivas Brothers Blending Team brings together an enviable wealth of talent that is set to reinforce the craftsmanship and quality of our whisky-making and continue to drive our business forward.

“Excellence is at the heart of Chivas Brothers, and nowhere is this more evident than with industry leaders Colin Scott and Sandy Hyslop, whose new roles will ensure the safeguarding of Chivas Brothers’ iconic and historic brands for the next generation.”

The newly-bolstered team represents the most significant development for the blending department in recent years and is a clear signal of the company’s long-term commitment to excellence in blended Scotch. The setup creates the perfect atmosphere to nurture talent, inspire innovation and pass on the craftsmanship Chivas Brothers is renowned for.

The entire blending department is complemented by Chivas Brothers’ network of Global Brand Ambassadors and Graduate Brand Ambassadors – a team of Scotch whisky and Chivas Brothers experts who travel the globe year round to educate consumers on the company’s brands, safeguarding the prestige and legacy of the portfolio internationally.

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Chivas Brothers Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s No.2 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.2 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.chivasspirit.com @ChivasNewsRoom

About Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. 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 85 “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

CHIVAS 18 AND PININFARINA UNVEIL NEW LUXURY LIMITED EDITION

Chivas Regal 18 Year Old, the world’s best blended Scotch whisky¹, has announced a new chapter in its partnership with Pininfarina, the prestigious Italian design company renowned for its craftsmanship and cutting edge design. Following two successful years of the collaboration, Chivas 18 by Pininfarina Chapter 3 is an elegant metallic gift tin offering impactful on-shelf stand out.

Combining their shared values of craft, style and tradition, Chivas 18 and Pininfarina have created a dynamic gift tin using one fluid curve, which highlights the luxury Scotch within. Marrying form and function, the limited edition echoes the aerodynamic creations of Pininfarina with a unique cut-out in the twisted casing to display the golden hues of the whisky. This simple design suggests the harmony of flavour, while the packaging represents harmony of line – the result is Chivas 18 by Pininfarina Chapter 3 which is an effortlessly classic design.

Speaking of the collaboration, Chivas Regal Global Brand Director, Richard Black said: “We are pleased to unveil Chivas 18 by Pininfarina Chapter 3, the next edition for our outstanding partnership. Every chapter has brought a new and exciting creation, each proving hugely successful, while being as usable as they are enjoyable. The Chivas 18 by Pininfarina Chapter 3 is a beautifully designed celebration of form and function that resonates with our shared values of understated luxury.”

Paolo Pininfarina, Chairman of the Pininfarina Group said: “The new creation Chivas 18 by Pininfarina Chapter 3 is a superb piece of design. Over the last three years, we have enjoyed working with Chivas 18 immensely. Although we come from different backgrounds, it is impossible not to recognise the craftsmanship and ethos shared between our two brands.”

The Chivas 18 by Pininfarina Chapter 3 gift tin will be launching globally from October 2016 for the RRP USD$75.

¹According to the 2014 Trophy Award for the Best Blended Scotch Whisky at the International Wine and Spirit Competition

About Pininfarina Pininfarina Extra: With a history dating back to 1930, Pininfarina is based on values of creativity, experience and innovation without forgetting tradition. It combines avant-garde style and technical solutions aimed at functionality.

If Pininfarina is known worldwide for car design, Pininfarina Extra (a Company specialized in product and interior design, architecture, nautics and aeronautics) expresses its design philosophy in all areas of life where beauty combines with elegance, essentiality and comfort. Founded in 1986 and led by Paolo Pininfarina, President and CEO, Pininfarina Extra has its headquarters in Cambiano (Turin) and a branch in Miami (Florida).

Its partners include Acer, Alenia Aeronautica, Ares Line, Barakà, Bovet, Calligaris, Chivas, Coca-Cola, Costa Coffee, Cyrela, DeAgostini, Desarrollo Mor, Far East Organization, Gorenje, Jacuzzi, Juventus, Lavazza, Leitner, Magnat, Paqualotto, Petronas, Philip Morris, Primatist, Schaefer, Snaidero, The Bridge, The Related Group, Uffix, Unilever and other international leaders. www.pininfarina.com

NOTES

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 4.5 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across the globe. With generosity, entrepreneurship and integrity at the heart of Chivas Regal, the brand launched its successful Win the Right Way campaign in 2014, which aims to inspire a new generation whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others. 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. In 2015, the iconic brand welcomed the pinnacle of the range with the introduction of the new ultra-prestige blend, Chivas Regal The Icon. www.chivas.com

About Chivas Brothers Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s No. 2 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 single malt whisky that set the standard; 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 n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. 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 85 “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

CHIVAS BROTHERS LAUNCHES NEW BURSARY TO MAXIMISE EMPLOYEES’ POTENTIAL

A new bursary scheme has been launched by Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky business of Pernod Ricard, designed to give employees the opportunity to take their talents to the next level via further education or vocational training.

The Chivas Brothers Bursary has been launched by joining forces with the Scottish International Education Trust (SIET), a body which provides talented men and women with grants to complete further study, helping them to fulfil their aspirations. The bursary will make it easier for employees and their families to apply for support from the SIET, with up to £5,000 a year on offer over three years.

The bursary is open to the 1,600 employees of Chivas Brothers spread throughout the country at 32 sites in Orkney, Speyside, Central Scotland, Ayrshire, London and Plymouth, as well as direct family members.

Anthony Schofield, Public Affairs Director at Chivas Brothers commented: “The Chivas Brothers Bursary is a truly exciting initiative which we hope will help and inspire employees, or a member of their family, to pursue further education and open up future opportunities.

“At Chivas Brothers we are connected to so many Scottish communities through our employees; this is just one way for us to support and nurture those that live and work in these communities.”

Michael Ewart, Director of SIET, said: “Chivas Brothers’ gift to SIET enables us to make many more awards to talented young Scots over the three years of our relationship. I am pleased that Chivas Brothers employees and their families will also have the opportunity to benefit from the Bursary scheme.”

Chivas Brothers previously donated £100,000 to the SIET, which was set up in 1971 by celebrated Scots Sir Sean Connery and Sir Jackie Stewart, who both remain Trustees.

The impact of the donation to SIET has been wide-ranging and remarkable:

• Georgia Murray, a lecturer at the University of Dundee, has been given the chance to take part in an Arctic Circle Residency, working with climate change researchers to create poignant landscape paintings of the remote locale
• Kelly Provan of Kilmacolm is one step closer to realising her ambition of working for the United Nations, through funding which has supported her Masters in International Relations
• Yvonne Laird, a champion triathlete originally from Denny, has secured funding to complete her thesis, which makes up the final phase of her PhD on “Physical Activity in Girls”
• Mezzo-soprano Fiona Joice has been supported in her move from Glasgow to the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she is pursuing a Masters in Performance

NOTES

About Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s no.2 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 single malt whisky that set the standard; 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.chivasspirit.com

@ChivasNewsRoom

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 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 85 “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.

About the Scottish International Education Trust

The Scottish International Education Trust (SIET) was set up by Sir Sean Connery and Sir Jackie Stewart in 1971. Sir Sean donated his $1m fee for the film “Diamonds are Forever” – at the time the largest fee ever commanded by an actor for a single film. Both Sir Sean and Sir Jackie remain Trustees and take an active interest in the Trust’s work. SIET’s principal aim is to give awards to mainly young Scots who have shown particular promise and who need help to take their education or professional training further – usually at post-graduate or equivalent level.

www.scotinted.org.uk

Jim Beam Unveils Newest Premium Bourbon, Jim Beam Double Oak

Deerfield, IL – September 1, 2016 – Today, Jim Beam®, the world’s No. 1 bourbon, announces the release of Jim Beam® Double Oak, an exceptional and perfectly balanced Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in oak that is twice barreled to create richer and woodier flavors than other whiskies.

Aged four years while sitting in freshly charred, new American oak barrels, Jim Beam Double Oak is then transferred to newly charred American oak barrels and aged to taste. The second barreling allows the liquid to develop an even deeper level of intense spiced oakiness and rich caramel, creating a unique bourbon encounter.

“I’m excited to experiment with the double barrel aging process used to create Jim Beam Double Oak,” said Fred Noe, 7th Generation Master Distiller, Jim Beam. “Secondary aging delivers an added complexity to the taste profile and that makes for a unique, premium bourbon experience.

Jim Beam Double Oak will begin hitting shelves this month. This latest innovation from Jim Beam has a golden amber color and a distinctive spiced oakiness with intense caramel and toffee flavors. The aroma carries rich notes of caramel and vanilla with hints of toasted wood. It is best enjoyed neat, on the rocks or mixed in classic American cocktails and has a suggested retail price of $22.00 for 750ML.

For a closer look at the process and importance of oak in bourbon production, see here for a custom infographic Jim Beam developed for the launch of Jim Beam Double Oak: http://www.jimbeam.com/en-us/double-oak.

In addition to launching the new bourbon, Jim Beam is planting white oak tree saplings in Bullitt County, KY this fall to show our appreciation of oak and the integral role it plays in creating our fine bourbons.

For more information on Jim Beam Double Oak Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in oak, please “like” Jim Beam on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jimbeam), follow @JimBeam on Twitter or visit www.jimbeam.com

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com

…place your bids at http://www.whiskyhammer.co.uk/

NEW PARCEL OFFERS & ISLAND DRAMS

Live in the moment with intense taste sensations in our new peaty and sweet parcel offers; Culinary cannonballs, Sweet treats and forbidden pleasures – a great way to end the week! Thinking of one special bottle? Try one of our new island drams from distant ends of the flavour spectrum: spicy & sweet 121.91 or oily & coastal 4.220. All limited in number so order now to avoid disappointment.

PEATY PAIR

Prepare your taste-buds for a peat-infused culinary journey. Blast off into foodie heaven with 16y.o. 53.236 and float from Islay to Provence with 20y.o. 3.279 – live in the moment!

53.236 Culinary cannonballs
3.279 Evokes Van Gogh’s Provence
£149

OILY & COASTAL

Cask No. 4.220
Pizza on the beach
£62.10

Cask No. 48.66
Perfumed and complex
£44.60

SWEET & SPICY TRIO

Compare and contrast three very different but equally pleasurable sweet whiskies; the comfort of home baking in 16 y.o. 121.91 – new today! – full-bodied intensity from 18 y.o. 55.39 and exceptional complexity in 21 y.o. 35.142 – enjoy!

121.91 Nutty Granny’s apple cake
55.39   No pussycat
35.142 Sweet treats and forbidden pleasures

 £189

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

This week, Catawiki is organising a special auction with bottles of whisky from closed distilleries. In the auction you can find bottles from distilleries like Port Ellen, Brora and Milford.

You can read the full press release via the following link HERE

The auction ends on Thursday, 22 September, and can be visited through HERE:

Benromach 2007 Hermitage Wood Finish

New!

A 2007 vintage Benromach, matured in first fill bourbon casks then finished for 31 months in specially selected French wine casks from the Hermitage Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée, northern Rhône. Stunning colour, bottled in 2016 at 45%.

£39.36

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES 2016 ANTIQUE COLLECTION WHISKEYS 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Sept. 7, 2016) It’s the best time of the year for whiskey fans, as Buffalo Trace Distillery releases its 2016 Antique Collection. The highly anticipated collection will once again feature five limited-release whiskeys of various ages, recipes and proofs. Here’s what ardent fans can expect:

George T. Stagg

The powerhouse favorite of the Antique Collection, George T. Stagg weighs in at a hefty 144.1 proof this year.  Past releases of this uncut and unfiltered bourbon won many top awards, including twice named the number one spirit in the world by F. Paul Pacult’s The Spirit Journal. This year’s release contains bourbon from barrels filled in the spring of 2001. This batch contained 142 barrels, but not as many bottles as expected, due to some very greedy angels!  Storage location of these barrels varied across warehouses M, N, H, L and K.  Finding a bottle this fall will be difficult due to the low yield.  This whiskey tastes of dark chocolate, coffee and vanilla.

William Larue Weller

The Antique Collection’s uncut, unfiltered, wheated recipe bourbon is William Larue Weller. Previous editions of this wheater have won many accolades, including the “Bourbon of the Year” by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2016 edition. The 2016 offering was distilled in the spring of 2003 and aged on the third and sixth floors of Warehouses D, K, and L.  This bourbon registers in at 135.4 proof – one of the stronger Weller releases.  The bold flavors include plum, figs and vanilla.

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye

Thomas H. Handy is the uncut and unfiltered straight rye whiskey. The 2015 edition was named “Best American Rye Whiskey” at the 2016 World Whiskies Awards.  This year’s Handy was distilled in the spring of 2010; aged on the fourth, fifth and seventh floors of Warehouses I, K, and M, and weighs in at 126.2 proof.  The flavor has been described as toffee and cinnamon.

Eagle Rare 17 Year Old

The previous edition of this bourbon was honored with a Silver Outstanding Medal at the 2015 International Wine and Spirits Competition. The 2016 edition has been aging on the first, second and third floors of Warehouses H and K.  This 90 proof bourbon was aged for seventeen years and tastes of leather, vanilla, tobacco and toffee.

Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old

Last year Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old was named the Best Rye Whiskey 11 Years and Older by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2016 edition.  This 2016 straight rye whiskey release has notable flavors of smoke, clove and all-spice with a dry finish.  The barrels for this whiskey were filled in April of 1998, making them the first “new” batch in years not drawn from the stainless steel tank as the previous past few editions have been.  From this year onward, this whiskey will be drawn directly from barrels put away for 18 years, versus using any tanked whiskey.

The Antique Collection was introduced more than a decade ago and has become a cult favorite among whiskey connoisseurs. Since 2000 these whiskeys have garnered numerous awards from such notable publications as Whisky Advocate Magazine, Spirit Journal, and Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

The 2016 Antique Collection whiskeys will be available in limited quantities starting in late September or early October.  Suggested retail price is $90 each.  For more information visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/brands/antique-collection.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/.

Old Pulteney returns to Liverpool Food and Drink Festival with local Chef Aiden Byrne

Following their successful debut at the Liverpool Food and Drink Festival in 2015, Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky and leading local chef Aiden Byrne have teamed up again to bring fine drams and delicious food pairings to this year’s event (17th – 18th September).

‘The Old Pulteney Drifter’, the whisky’s hand-crafted, boat-shaped bar featuring original nautical details and an eye-catching sail-like canopy, will be anchored at Sefton Park throughout the festival. It pays homage to the award-winning whisky’s home in Wick on the rugged north coast of Scotland where Pulteney Distillery was founded in 1826 during the town’s historic herring boom.

Old Pulteney has had an exciting year with appearances at a number of food festivals and special events around the North of England. Aiden, who is chef and owner of The Church Green British Grill in Lymm and Chef Patron at Manchester House, is an Old Pulteney brand ambassador, on a mission to give food lovers a fresh taste of malt whisky and to pioneer whisky and food pairing.

Aiden began 2016 with a visit to the Pulteney Distillery to immerse himself in the rich maritime heritage and traditional crafting of the whisky, enjoying a personal masterclass with Old Pulteney Senior Brand Manager, Margaret Mary Clarke. Inspired by its distinctive flavours and faint hint of the sea, Aiden has devised a selection of Old Pulteney-inspired food pairings. He will be educating festival visitors on how to bring together the perfect combination of complementary flavours during his appearance at the Old Pulteney Drifter on Sunday 18^th September from 2 – 4pm.

Margaret Mary Clarke, Senior Brand Manager for Old Pulteney commented: ‘We really enjoyed our last trip to Liverpool, we found that Festival visitors were keen to learn more about Scotch malt whisky and to sample our collection. It’s a huge asset for us to be able to work alongside as talented and passionate a chef as Aiden. Pairing food and whisky is a relatively new idea and he has taken our challenge and created some wonderful and creative dishes which we’re all looking forward to sharing with Festival guests over the weekend.’

Aiden Byrne added: ‘Since starting to work with Old Pulteney at last year’s Liverpool Food and Drink Festival, we have developed a partnership that has been fascinating for both parties. I love working with the delicious, complex and slightly salty flavours of the various Old Pulteney malts and developing flavour pairings has become something of a passion for me. Having the chance to introduce so many people to the taste of malt whisky and the foods that it can pair with has also been very rewarding.’

At this year’s Festival, Aiden will be preparing a special food pairing for Old Pulteney 12 Year Old – a nori rice cracker with cured salmon and seaweed salad. ‘ The citrusy and salty back notes in the 12 year old are complemented perfectly by the seaweed, citrus fruits and small bursts of seafood from the salmon caviar’, he commented.

The Liverpool Food and Drink Festival takes place on Saturday 17^th and Sunday 18^th September 2016 at Sefton Park, Liverpool. The Old Pulteney Drifter Bar will be on site in Zone B throughout the Festival. Aiden Byrne will appear at the Old Pulteney Drifter Bar on Sunday the 18^th of September from 2 – 4pm. 

www.oldpulteney.com / @OldPulteneyMalt

http://www.liverpoolfoodanddrinkfestival.co.uk 

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Old Pulteney is one of the world’s finest and most distinctive single malt Scotch whiskies. Known as ‘The Maritime Malt’, it is crafted in the windswept coastal town of Wick, home to the Pulteney Distillery which is one of the most northerly on the Scottish mainland. The distillery was established in 1826 in the heart of ‘Pulteneytown’, the town created to house fishermen during Wick’s famous herring boom which drew a fleet of over 1000 boats and 7000 workers to this remote and rugged harbour.

Old Pulteney is the embodiment of this place, its people and its remarkable history. The skilled Pulteney Distillery team continues to craft whisky using the most traditional and time-honoured techniques that most others have long abandoned. This includes the uniquely shaped Pulteney stills, which are reflected in the design of the Old Pulteney bottle on shelves today.

Matured in hand-selected oak casks, the resulting whisky has been acclaimed for its excellence, its smooth drinking style and faint hint of the sea. Old Pulteney’s 21 Year Old Single Malt holds the coveted title of ‘World Whisky of the Year’ for 2012 in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible – one of the industry’s highest accolades. Earlier this year Old Pulteney 1989 Vintage was crowned the ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at Whisky Magazine’s prestigious World Whiskies Awards. The whisky also achieved top ten status in the UK single malt market in 2012 and is flourishing in many other countries around the world.

Aiden Byrne

Aiden Byrne was raised in Kirkby in Merseyside and comes from a humble background. Excelling in Home Economics at school, Aiden spent his college summer holidays working for free at the Stanneylands Hotel in Cheshire and decided to embark on a career as a chef.

After a spell at London’s Royal Garden Hotel he left to join Adlards Restaurant in Norwich. Aiden was made Head Chef by the tender age of 22 and his cuisine helped to win back Adlards’ Michelin Star. He went on to work at a number of Michelin-Starred establishments in England and Ireland including The Oak Room and Orangery Restaurants, The Commons Restaurant and Tom Aikens where he was Head Chef. Aiden had previously worked with Tom Aikens at Pied à Terre restaurant and cites him as one of his mentors. After parting ways with Tom, Aiden went on to work at Danesfield House Hotel before joining The Dorchester as Head Chef of The Grill Room in London. His first book, Made in Great Britain, was released in September 2008.

A Northern boy at heart, Aiden and his wife yearned to be closer to home and in 2008 purchased the Church Green in Lymm, Cheshire. After converting the local pub into “The British Grill” the couple won the AA restaurant of the year award in 2012. In 2013, Aiden opened Manchester House with Living Ventures. A passion project for Byrne, Manchester House has won him both critical acclaim and a loyal fan base. This autumn Aiden appeared on new BBC programme Yes Chef, which saw 16 chefs mentor amateur home cooks to do battle in the kitchen. A new book based around the recipes and ethos of Manchester House will be published this winter.