CRABBIE’S LAUNCHES NEW YARDHEAD SINGLE MALT IN LONDON

Edinburgh based whisky brand John Crabbie & Co released a special single malt whisky last night at iconic music venue and pub, The Macbeth in London.

Described by Managing Director David Brown, as the company’s most significant release to date, Crabbie’s Yardhead (RRP £26) is aimed squarely at the growing sector of young spirits drinkers who want to do more with whisky than just sip it.

“Crabbie’s Yardhead is a single malt that is made for mixing” said Brown. “We want to encourage consumers to look at single malt differently, and for bar staff to use their skills to develop new ways of using single malt in long drinks and in cocktails”.

The Crabbie name has been associated with Scotch whisky for over 200 years and the founder John Crabbie is recognised as one of the pioneers of the industry that has grown to be Scotland’s largest export.

His success was founded on changing the way whisky was produced and consumed, and in doing so he made Scotch whisky a drink that could be enjoyed by everyone. He experimented in blending whiskies together to improve their taste profile and he created the Whisky Mac, probably the first ever whisky cocktail, and also the legendary Hot Toddy.

It is therefore perhaps appropriate that it should be the company that he founded that is once again at the forefront of innovation in Scotch whisky with Crabbie’s Yardhead single malt scotch whisky.

Brown said “Crabbie was an innovator who challenged convention and I think he would have approved of the new Crabbie’s Yardhead single malt. We have seen the rise in popularity of American whiskey with younger consumers, largely drunk with a mixer over ice. Single malt Scotch whisky still tends to be consumed as a straight drink but it actually mixes really well.  Blended malts have tried to tap into that market, but what we are launching today is a single malt which we believe offers a premium alternative and a different taste profile, ideally suited to be enjoyed long over ice with a mixer.

“The massive resurgence in popularity of cocktails has given rise to a new generation of bar staff with the talent to create some amazing drinks, and single malt Scotch whisky gives them the perfect premium base to develop something sensational.”

The name Yardhead comes from the site of the original maturation warehouses in Leith, Edinburgh used by John Crabbie & Co from 1822.

Notes:

Crabbie’s stopped production of Scotch whisky in Edinburgh in the early 20th century, but in 2018, the business made history by building the first new single malt whisky distillery in Edinburgh: the Chain Pier distillery in Granton.  The first casks were laid down in November 2018, and production is ongoing. A new, larger home for John Crabbie & Co is being built at Graham Street in Leith, very close to the original Yardheads warehouses. Production at this second distillery is scheduled to commence late in autumn 2019.

In the 19^th century, John Crabbie travelled throughout Scotland, visiting distilleries and selecting some of the best whiskies of the day to bottle under his famous Crabbie family label. Today the rediscovered John Crabbie & Co is following in his footsteps selecting the very best whiskies from all over Scotland. The whisky selected for Crabbie’s Yardhead is a Highland single malt with rich vanilla and biscuit notes, combining with vibrant citrus, sweet apple and caramel flavours which make it perfect for mixing.

The current Crabbie range of whiskies includes Crabbie 8 y/o Highland single malt, a peated island 12 y/o, Crabbie 25y/o, Crabbie 30y/o  and Crabbie 40y/o all from Speyside. Both Crabbie 8 year old and Crabbie 30 year old won double gold at the recent world spirits competition in San Francisco.

Crabbies Gin is also produced at the Chain Pier distillery in Edinburgh 

NOTES

John Crabbie & Co is owned by the UK’s leading independent alcoholic drinks manufacturer, Halewood Wines & Spirits. www.crabbiewhisky.com

About Halewood Wines & Spirits (www.halewood-int.com)

Halewood Wines and Spirits is the UK’s largest independent alcoholic drinks manufacturer and distributor. Still family owned and based in Merseyside, Halewood has a comprehensive product range covering all drinks categories, including wines, spirits, beers, ciders, and bottled water. The key brands include award-winning Whitley Neill Gin, J.J. Whitley Gin and Vodka, Liverpool Gins and Vodka, Marylebone Gin, Bajan Rum Sixty Six, Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer, The Pogues Irish Whiskey, and Red Square Vodka.