SCOTTISH LEADER AND I SEE A DIFFERENT YOU TO INSPIRE AFRO-POSITIVITY

Popular whisky brand Scottish Leader, together with the dynamic I See A Different You creative collective, is setting out to bring South Africans an Afro-optimistic new perspective. They will be looking for, interpreting and expressing the unique beauty and dynamism of the country; and inspiring others to do the same.

Born and bred in Soweto, the internationally acclaimed I See A Different You duo, featuring Innocent Mukheli and Vuyo Mpantsha, shot to fame through their photographic blog launched in 2011. Their movement was born from a pure love in the very place they are from. The friends wanted to show a different Soweto – their Soweto – to the world, simultaneously retelling and reframing the township story in an optimistic and creative light to alter negative, contrived and outdated perceptions.

The success of their blog made way for a broader focus beyond Soweto and their own personal stories, to showcase the South African experience and its striking diversity in their signature style.

“The I See A Different You philosophy beautifully mirrors the Scottish Leader ethos of viewing things from a new perspective to discover richer possibilities. It therefore made sense for us to team up and intensify the expression of a shared narrative, while at the same time promoting the three seductively sweet, smooth, rich and smoky Scottish Leader variants that sell in South Africa, including Original, Signature and 12-year-old,” says Meryll Stocks Roos, marketing spokesperson for Scottish Leader in South Africa.

I See A Different You’s Mukheli agrees. “In essence, both brands stand for positive change. Only when you look at the world differently can you bring about positive and meaningful change. Together with Scottish Leader, we are working on encouraging South Africans to believe in their potential and power to transform their lives and in so doing, make a difference that transcends them as individuals.”

Scottish Leader and I See A Different You collaboration, conceived and produced in association with FCB Cape Town, will be rolled out in various phases, starting in early February with an out-of-home billboard campaign.

“I See A Different You is not only adding their authentic voice to our campaign, but also participating in creating visual assets and networking opportunities for the Scottish Leader brand, that reflect our shared Afro-positive narrative,” says Paul Carstens, FCB Cape Town’ creative director.

“The choice of locations for the campaign visuals had to be distinctive, as well as capture the reality, vibrancy and essence of township lifestyle, as can be seen in the scenes reflecting a typical game of pool, a Spaza shop, the distinctive roofs of Kliptown in Soweto, and the Alexandra township, amongst others.”

Carstens also said that Scottish Leader’s three blended whiskies available in South Africa – Original, Signature and 12-year-old – are visually represented via their distinct label colour accent; red, teal and blue respectively; with each photo shoot location echoing one of these.

Stocks Roos explained that in addition to the outdoor advertising campaign, South Africans could look forward to a host of related brand activities this year, including launch parties, an innovative digital photography drive, as well as regular social networking events. She said that more would be revealed in due course.

Visit www.scottishleader.co.za and www.iseeadifferentyou.com for more information on the two brands.

Follow and engage with Scottish Leader on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ScottishLeaderSouthAfrica), Twitter (www.twitter.com/ScottishLeader) and Instagram (www.instagram.com/ScottishLeaderWhisky).

Join the conversation using:

@ScottishLeader

@ISeeADifferentYou

#ISeeANewPerspective

#NewPerspective

Notes:

Scottish Leader is an award-winning, internationally respected, blended Scotch whisky sold in around 30 countries, crafted by a single, dedicated team with nearly 400 years’ combined experience.  The blending team is spearheaded by female lead blender, Dr Kirstie McCallum, who offers a wealth of experience, as well as a forward-thinking, dynamic outlook.

The price of Scottish Leader ranges from R180 to R220 and R320 for the Original, Signature, and 12-year-old whiskies respectively.

Records smashed as Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival celebrates soaraway sales

116 events sell out in first 24 hours as ticket sale value increases by over £30,000

Ticket sales for the 2018 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival have set new records, with almost 5,000 tickets valued at £154,000 being bought within 24 hours of them being released.

The early sales rush galvanises the festival’s reputation as one of the world’s leading whisky celebrations, with 116 events completely selling out within the first day of the tickets going on sale.

Records were shattered with an additional 797 tickets generating an extra £32,362 being sold, compared to last year’s record high for the 24 hour sales period.

The phenomenal demand has been driven from both home and abroad, with whisky lovers in the UK, USA and Germany the top three early-booking nations.  The festival continues to attract global interest, with website browsers from across Europe and North America and also Vietnam, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Kazakhstan, El Salvador and the Falkland Islands.

Eager whisky lovers went into overdrive snapping up 1,058 tickets worth £46,000 in the first 10 minutes of them going live at 12 noon on Tuesday. The buying frenzy continued and within an hour 3,838 tickets had been sold and that figure rose to 4,982 with 24 hours.

With 520 events making up the 2018 festival, there are still plenty of tickets available and the chance to savour a range of themes, from nosings and tastings, to a ceilidh on board a train, whisky caching, craft events, quizzes and valuations.

Festival chairman James Campbell says, “The level of interest has astounded us; we did wonder if we could match the success of last year’s sales, but here we are again having surpassed it.

“Whisky lovers from all around the world have shown a real thirst for the 2018 offering, and in line with previous years the exclusive distillery tours have sold out first. Real whisky aficionados are always looking for very special experiences that are only available at the time of the Festival, so tours of distilleries not normally open to the public sold out very quickly.

“Festival fans realise they must get in early to get tickets for the activities they really want, and they’ve wasted no time this year. We’re fortunate to have partners who develop a rich and diverse programme of events that captures the imagination of the whisky-loving public. This is a great start for us and a reminder that our Festival is viewed as a must-attend event by whisky lovers all over the world.”

This year’s Festival runs from May 3-7 at venues across Speyside which is home to half of all Scotland’s distilleries and is the base for many high-profile international brands.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland’s Director of Events, says, “The popularity of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has once again been confirmed by yet another record breaking opening 24 hours of ticket sales. With so many events, including behind-the-scenes tour of distilleries not normally open to the public, it is understandable why it is so popular all over the world.

“EventScotland is delighted to be continuing its support of the Festival, with Speyside providing the perfect to stage to discover Scotland’s national drink.”

With behind-the-scenes tours at internationally renowned distilleries not usually open to the public, whisky tasting masterclasses, whisky and food pairing – not to mention traditional music, outdoors activities and heritage events – the Festival offers something for die-hard whisky fans and those who have never tried it before.

For further information and tickets visit www.spiritofspeyside.com. The Festival is also active on social media: facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #dram18

Notes to Editors

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors travelling to and from Festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options. Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from Event Scotland and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2014 to 2020. The Scottish Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme.

EventScotland

EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.

EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see www.visitscotland.org or for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see www.visitscotland.com

Westland Whiskey Dinner

Rescheduled

Sunday, February 25 6:30pm

Omni Parker House Hotel

60 School St, corner of Tremont, Boston

Reservations 617-725-1600

We’re happy to mention this again. As always with Frank Weber’s special dinners this will be a wonderful evening with excellent food and on-point service.

Westland Distillery feels that coastal Washington State with its cool foggy climate and abundant peat bogs is most like Scotland with all the natural ingredients to make fine single malt whiskies,They work with the best quality products at the start so the final product is wonderful. This young distillery is already doing some very nice work with a bright future.

Westland’s American Oak Single Malt, Sherry Wood Single Malt, and Peated Single Malt will be featured at the dinner. All have received a strong praise from the likes of the Whiskey Advocate, and the Whiskey Bible, and been medalled at Spirits Competitions in both Europe and America.

Take a warming break and enjoy what will be a great dinner with some wonderful whisky and wine. You won’t be able to beat the price either.

Roasted Butternut Chowder with Apples and Bacon

Served with Westland American Oak Single Malt

Loin of Pork Scaloppine,

Oven Risotto with Kale Pesto, Red Cabbage in Brown Butter

Served with a wedge of Acorn Squash

Served with Dom Brunet Pinot Noir

Mixed Lettuces with Grapefruit, Goat Cheese and Black Pepper

Served with Westland Sherry Wood American Single Malt

Prosecco Sorbet

Artisanal New England Cheeses

Served with Westland Peated American Single Malt

$59.00 per person plus tax and gratuity

www.parkersrestaurantboston.com

Tormore 28 Year Old 1988 vintage Speyside single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask sherry butt #14481 bottled November 2017 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old Malt Cask series. 106 bottles. Tormore Distillery was established in 1958 in the Speyside whisky region to supply malt whisky to blending houses. It was designed by Sir Albert Richardson, President of the Royal Academy and is set in stunning landscaped gardens. Resplendent with green-coppered roofs, decorative pagoda roofs, a clock tower and clock which still chimes Scottish tunes, a rectangular curling pond, topiary and houses for the staff. Tormore Distillery is now operating with eight stills in its tall still house and Tormore malt whisky is still mostly flowing into scotch blends. Whilst official bottling are sparse it features amongst the ranges of a number of independent bottlers including Signatory Vintage and Connoisseurs Choice.

Buy – £135.18

While Champagne may be the beverage of choice for Valentine’s Day, we’d argue the stronger spirits are a more than welcome addition to an evening of romance. Luckily, we have several new arrivals that are sure to titillate and arouse. Leading things off is a 22-Year-Old Single Cask from Tobermory. Loaded with flavors of peaches and cream, it’s a tippler that will appeal to the seasoned Scotch maven and casual imbiber alike. For those on the prowl for something a little more potent, the new exclusive Whistle Pig 10-year, at 117.1 proof, will heat things up real fast. Perhaps you are looking for something a tad more exotic? Then you’ll want to give the Domaine Hubert Pays d’Auge Vieux Calvados a spin. Fruity, feminine, and lissome, this delightful apple brandy from Normandy is all too easy to love. And lastly, to our way of thinking, Valentine’s Day simply wouldn’t be Valentine’s Day without some Dickel. Our new “K&L Exclusive” single barrel has arrived and it is pure temptation in a glass. Read on for all the juicy details…

The Newest “Sovereign” Single Barrel Release

Peaches and cream, that’s what they should call this new 22-year-old Tobermory, bottled for us by Sovereign. It’s loaded with fresh stone fruit and a rich creamy texture, to the point that I think even my wife is going to enjoy this one. Tobermory is on the Isle of Mull just across from Oban and it makes a similarly light and vanilla-laden malt. This particular single barrel edition is right on point: a very delicious expression of a textbook Scotch malt character, nothing weird or out of the ordinary, just damn good whisky, with age, at full proof, at a hot price. This will not be the bottle that you drink a tablespoon from every few weeks. You’re going to pour fingers of this stuff and it’s going to be empty before you know it. Dangerously drinkable liquid.

1995 Tobermory 22 Year Old K&L Exclusive “Sovereign” Single Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky (750ml) ($89.99) – The Isle of Mull, just north of Islay along Scotland’s west coast, is host to one of the most unassuming of distilleries, called Tobermory, which has quietly made outstanding, straightforward Scotch whisky since 1798. Never the most bold or brash of single malts, neither the loudest nor the most assertive, Tobermory does make a smoky island whisky called Ledaig, but the flagship malt is a fruitier, maltier expression that really starts to sing after two decades in wood. With this 22-year-old single barrel edition bottled for us by Sovereign, the oft-overlooked attributes of Tobermory come into full focus, beginning with an arousing bouquet of nectarines stewing in freshly milled barley. That stone fruit goodness emanates from the glass in waves, morphing into a sweet nectar of honey and peach on the palate. The vanilla from the oak aging starts to shape the whisky on the mid-palate, adding spice and richness toward the finish where the barley becomes the star. The malty, creamy finish is lifted by the 50.8% ABV and that extra proof tingles the taste buds for minutes. There’s nothing new to be had from this exceptional Tobermory expression, just a classically flavored malt whisky for a fabulous price. In a market currently full of anomalies and unique flavors, this is the bottle you’ll return to again and again.

Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 02, 2018

This is a beautiful single malt that is very easy to drink. The nose is very expressive with pronounced aromas of honey and wax. In the mouth it is round clean, soft and pretty with a long tongue coating finish. With a splash of water the nose becomes a touch more sweet and in the mouth a little softer.I like this producer and it is always a joy to have something from Tobermory in stock.

Andrew Stevens | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 02, 2018

This is a spectacular bottling of Tobermory which is a distillery I had long heard of but only tasted one other expression. The whisky here is what people have always told me happens from the place, all the beautiful richness that makes people fall in love with Scottish whisky. Warm white fudge with stone fruit and a creamy deliciousness all mix together perfectly here. Soft, supple, and way to easy to drink this is the best kind of dessert and single malt rolled into one.

Ryan Woodhouse | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: February 02, 2018

An increasingly rare chance to get you hands on some island (Mull not Islay) malt with 20+ years of age for under $90!? This is an unpeated expression of Tobermory that dances between golden orchard fruit / stone fruit, toasted barley, peanut brittle and buttercream. Then on the finish some lovely savory, saline nuances kick in to add another layer of coastal complexity. I also love that this single cask came down to a perfect 50.8% alc all of its own accord…pour it…drink it.

Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 24, 2018

As my colleague Alex said when I asked if he had tasted our sample bottle, “It’s one of the best scotches that has ever passed my lips.” I think that sums things up nicely. Especially when you consider the context. 22 years old, cask strength, single barrel, etc… I can’t argue. This whisky ranks. It’s loaded with citrus, fresh peat smoke, sugar candy and caramels. It’s a little salty. That classic brine character really shines through and complements the delicate fruitiness that lingers on the palate. Add in the complex herbaceous notes that waft in and out and you’ve got yourself a very complete, very balanced whisky. In short: you’ve got old Bowmore. I expect the only complaints we will register in the Spirits department on this one are about not having enough bottles to sell.

Alex Schroeder | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: January 17, 2018

This is one of the best expressions of Islay peat that I’ve ever tasted. The peat is subtle on this one, almost lost in the aromas of honeyed grains and marmalade on the nose. On the palate, the smoke shows up elegantly behind the rich creamy sweetness of the malt, eventually matching that intensity for a full proof, 51% abv masterpiece. The complex and delicious flavors stick around for an incredible finish.

Ralfy hits a peat-high with Ralfy Review 713 – Longrow Rundlets & Kilderkins 11yo

Also see Ralfy Review 713b “Small casks and maturation”

Kensington Wine Market will celebrate International Women’s Day

with its First Annual Lassies Only Whisky Festival

Calgary, AB (Feb.13, 2018) – On Wednesday, March 7, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Lassies Only Whisky Festival will take place at Kensington Wine Market (KWM). Owner of KWM, Andrew Ferguson, will honour International Women’s Day with making this a ladies only event, in support of the Brenda Strafford Society, a local non-profit organization that helps to prevent domestic violence and to provide emergency shelters for women in need. Guests can look forward to trying over 80 whiskies from a variety of whisky vendors, shopping The Bamboo Ballroom pop-up store and enjoying bites from Peasant Cheese and Brasserie Kensington.

With over 15 years experience working in the whisky retail industry, Ferguson has noticed a common misconception of women often associating whisky drinking as a man’s business. The goal of this festival is to make whisky more accessible to women, and give them the opportunity to learn about and taste a variety of styles.

“We struggle with the stereotype that whisky is a man’s drink, because it’s not. But we can also appreciate how some women are intimidated by whisky because of the male dominated culture surrounding it,” says Ferguson”.

Ferguson explains that the the idea of putting on the Lassies Only Whisky Festival came from the idea of giving women an opportunity to explore the world of whisky on their own terms. The entire KWM team are thrilled that the event will go toward supporting the Brenda Strafford Society.

“We are delighted to be participating at the Lassies Only Whisky Festival. Hundreds of women and their children call the Brenda Strafford Society their home each year and the need in our city and at our Centre has never been greater,” says Maeghon Reid, Executive Director of The Brenda Strafford Society. “This festival is great opportunity for us to connect with like-minded women on the issues our clients face and to discuss how important this community support is in supporting women and children to leave domestic violence and live a life of hope and prosperity.”

The Lassies Only Whisky Festival is open to the public and tickets are available online for $40 plus GST at www.KensingtonWineMarket.com/Tastings/Tasting-Schedule/. 100 percent of the ticket proceeds will be donated to The Brenda Strafford Society.

About Kensington Wine Market:

Kensington Wine Market opened its doors in May 1992. Twenty-five years later it has evolved from a modest neighborhood corner store into one of the most dynamic and unique stores in the country. Kensington Wine Market has received a number of local, national and international awards. Recently, they were the recipient of Metro Calgary’s Community Choice Awards for Best Wine Store in 2016 and the only Canadian store to be considered Whisky Retailer of the year, by Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky in 2015 and 2016. Kensington Wine Market hosts on average three tastings per week and are regularly involved in local and regional charity events and art events that give back to the less-fortunate and elevate the Calgary community.

• KWM was Established 1992, one of Canada’s Oldest Private Liquor Stores and has more Than 25 years serving Calgary
• KWM has the largest collection of single malt whisky, the most interesting, eclectic and exclusive wine selections and one of the best curated beer sections in Canada
• KWM was voted FFW Best of Calgary Reader’s Choice “Best Wine Shop” 12 years in a row
• KWM is the only Canadian retailer ever shortlisted by Whisky Magazine, Icons of Whisky, World Whisky Retailer of the Year (5 Times) and twice runner up
• KWM has helped raise over $250,000.00 for the MS Society over the past seven years

Follow @KensingtonWM on Twitter and Instagram and @KensingtonWineMarket on Facebook for updates.

About The Brenda Strafford Society:

The Brenda Strafford Society for the Prevention of Domestic Violence has 34 Second-Stage Shelter apartments where our families can stay for up to 6 months in safe, secure shelter. Individualized counselling for women and their children helps them heal from the effects of domestic violence and child care and parenting support is provided to assist with this. While in Second-Stage Shelter, women are at the greatest safety risk. Nearly half of all spousal homicides occur within two months of leaving their abusive partner, making safe affordable housing, specifically for women and children impacted by domestic violence, essential. In addition we have 51 Progressive Housing apartments where the women and their children can stay up to an additional two years while working on their goals with individualized counselling support provided. Our state of the art facility has been designed to enable women and children to move from Second-Stage Shelter apartments into Progressive Housing, our longer term apartments, all in the same security focused building. We believe that the cycle of violence can be broken by providing women and children with supportive programs and services that support healing, build self-confidence and self-awareness that enable long-term stability for families.

Rare whisky market smashes £25M as global demand soars

The UK’s rare whisky auction market has exceeded £25M in a single year for the first time as global demand for liquid gold soars.

The findings are part of the 2017 annual report published today by whisky analyst, broker and investment experts Rare Whisky 101.

According to the report, both the volume and value of rare Scotch whisky sold at auction increased by record amounts. The £ value of collectable bottles of Single Malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK rose by a staggering 76.33% to a record £25.06m (2016 £14.21m). The number of bottles of Single Malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK increased by 42.47% to 83,713 (2016 58,758).

The most expensive bottle to sell at auction in the UK was a bottle of 62 year old Dalmore (one of 12 originally released) for £95,000.

RW101’s leading index for rare whisky, the Apex 1000 Index, which tracks the best performing 1000 bottles of rare whisky, closed the year up 27.51%, once again outperforming the Liv-Ex Fine Wine 100 (5.28%), FTSE 100 (7.63%), Brent Crude (17.78%) and Gold (13.59%).

December alone saw 8,848 bottles of Scotch sold at auction in the UK, a record month and a large part of the 25,123 bottles sold through the final quarter of 2017. Just four years ago in 2013, a total of 20,211 bottles were sold throughout the full year. From a value perspective, December saw £3.148m sold, slightly ahead of 2012’s full year sales value of £2.911m.

At the end of 2016, ten distilleries had seen a single bottle sell at auction in the UK for more than £10,000. One year on and that number has grown to fourteen.

Andy Simpson, director and co-founder of Rare Whisky 101 said: “We were fully expecting to break £20 million for the first time. However, £25 million shows the level of pure demand in the market at the moment. The volume of bottles on the open market is at record highs, but demand for the right bottles, for now at least, continues to excess these record levels of supply.”

Commenting on the global thirst for liquid gold, co-founder of Rare Whisky 101, David Robertson said: “We are experiencing increasing demand from almost all parts of the globe. South East Asia remains a key factor for the market, but is by no means the exclusive driver. Demand from the domestic market, central Europe and further afield is higher than we’ve ever seen.

“From a rare whisky perspective, approaching on the horizon are the dynamic economies and the burgeoning middle classes of mainland China and India; neither have got to the starting blocks yet, let alone begun to try and win the rare whisky acquisition race. When, and indeed, if they do, we’re expecting demand to hit levels unlike anything we’ve ever seen.”

On the rare whisky auction market’s future prospects, Simpson continued: “As a category, Scotch is appealing to more and more buyers, and the pinnacle product, single malt, is becoming ever more popular with connoisseurs, collectors and investors. Older spirit is still very challenging to come by in the cask and is commanding ever higher prices. We don’t see that changing.

“In certain parts of the world, collecting and investing is still very much in its infancy, but wealthy status buyers are targeting high value bottles and consuming them as they were always intended. This is, in turn pushing prices north, with rarities increasing in price with almost every single subsequent sale.

“The growing importance, almost dominance, of the UK’s auction market, which is the largest in the world, will continue to be underpinned by the rapidly increasing number of rare whisky retailers running auctions in parallel to their traditional retail business. The rare-whisky acquisition landscape has changed forever as the consumer, rather than the retailer, now decides what price they will pay for a bottle of rare and collectable whisky.

“We’ve talked about rare whisky being in an almost perfect storm of diminishing stocks (through consumption) and skyrocketing demand. That situation looks like continuing as the bulls remain in control of the market.”

About Rare Whisky 101
Andy Simpson and David Robertson launched Rare Whisky 101 in 2014 with the aim of offering a whisky valuation service, brokerage and consultancy for whisky connoisseurs, collectors and investors. Having tracked every bottle sold at UK auctions over the past 12 years, the business now offers the world’s first, only and most comprehensive online single malt Scotch & Japanese whisky dataset covering some 276,000 price records over 33,000 different bottle types. In the last 12 months, RW101 have brokered around 20,000 rare whisky bottles around the globe in addition to trading in aged casks from iconic distilleries such as The Macallan, Ardbeg, Bowmore, Springbank, Mortlach, Talisker, Caol Ila, Lagavulin and Highland Park.