Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Awarded

Double Gold Medal at 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Distillery Spirits Receive Seven Medals in Total

FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA (April 28, 2020) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery’s Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon received the prestigious Double Gold medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Additionally, two spirits from the Distillery were awarded Gold medals, and four were awarded Silver medals.

Double Gold

• Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon

Silver

• John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon
• Isaac Bowman Port Finished Virginia Straight Bourbon
• Abraham Bowman Virginia Straight Bourbon

Spirits entered into the San Francisco World Spirits Competition are judged over four days of highly controlled blind tastings by a panel of more than 40 judges made up of respected, experienced industry experts. Complete results for the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://www.sfspiritscomp.com/results/.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which received a gold medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

The Whisky Shop Dufftown
Virtual Relaxed Whisky Quiz

At the beginning of May The Whisky Shop Dufftown intended to bring a host of whisky events to Speyside.  One of them was a relaxed whisky quiz hosted by our good friends at Maltstock with the most relaxed quiz master known to whisky, Teun van Wel.  Maltstock quizzes are legendary and it would be a loss to the world as we know it if it did not go ahead.  Teun suggested we could go ahead as planned, albeit virtually, so that is what we are going to do.  Just two weeks later, and via Facebook live, we will bring direct to you (almost) the same relaxed fun quiz on Sunday 17 May.

The event will be streamed on The Whisky Shop Dufftown’s Facebook page from 4pm CET / 3pm BST.  Answer forms will be sent to contestants electronically to be completed and returned.  Teun will be your on-line host with the questions.  The questions may be fiendish, testing, whacky, revealing or fun but always relaxed.

How do you take part?  We will be running three leagues during the quiz.  The first one is for mere mortals, the amateur league.  The second one is for teams of mere mortals.  If you are entering as a team then it is down to you how you organize your team communications.  The third and final league is not for immortals but for whisky professionals.  Not all of these are immortal.  These are people that are or have been employed in the whisky industry and is just for fun.  This is to make things fair for all taking part.

When you complete the quiz, you will receive a £5 voucher to use on The Whisky Shop Dufftown’s on-line store to put towards a whisky purchase.  You will be able to win prizes along the way during the quiz as well and, of course, the big prize for the top scoring contestant or team in each amateur league.  When taking part, we strongly recommend ensuring you have a good supply of drams to hand to make sure the brain cells are appropriately lubricated.

To enter the individual amateur league click here to buy a ticket and for the team amateur league click here.  Tickets are £10 per entry.  One ticket per team but it is down to you on how to share the voucher and any prizes you win amongst your team.

The professional league is for “fun” only.  No prizes.  They do not need the incentive to be competitive.  Drop me an email if you want to take part in the professional league (mike@whiskyshopdufftown.com).

So contestants are you ready? Tickets on sale until 16 May.

Don’t miss our new video series filled with Japanese Whisky, comedy, music and more whisky.

Watch the latest episode now.

Discover the famous whisky from one of Japan’s most renowned distilleries.

Dekanta

2-49-7 Minamiikebukuro Toshima-ku, Tokyo,

Caldera Distilling and its Macallan Connection

When Caldera Distilling’s Jarret Stuart told us his great-great-grandfather had introduced the Macallan Scotch whisky to Canada, we had to know more. We soon learned that in 1824, Macallan’s owner, William Reid bought a license and the secret farm distillery went legal.

When Reid died in 1847, James Shearer Priest and James Davidson took over. Then, in 1868 Jarret’s distant ancestor, James Stuart acquired the lease for Macallan and rebuilt the distillery.

A decade later, in 1878, James Stuart and Company, built the Glen Rothes distillery from scratch. Stuart left Glen Rothes the following year, and in 1892 he sold Macallan, but not before sending Jarret’s ancestor to Canada, to sell Macallan whisky.

Jarret Stuart’s noble whisky heritage reveals itself in two distinctive Caldera whiskies he distils in River John, Nova Scotia.

Caldera Hurricane 5

Hurricane 5 is distilled in a tiny alembic still, using local organic grains. The whisky tastes sweet and fruity, with butterscotch, charred wood, something herbal, and brisk peppery spices until hints of vanilla devolve into citrus pith. It finishes with rye spices and clean woody tones.

Caldera Champlain

This traditional Canadian whisky includes some Cognac in the blend to honour the birthplace of mariner and explorer, Samuel de Champlain. Rich flavours of saltwater toffee and sweet fruits with briny hints of the seaside evolve into a rich and creamy palate with red wine tones, grape skins, pipe tobacco, growing pepperiness and tingling rye spices.

NOTE: In accordance with local directives, our walk-in retail locations are currently closed. We have delivery options, typically low cost or free, available in ZIP codes where we can ship lawfully, including anywhere in California. We can also include any new or existing will call orders in your delivery batch. Choose local delivery at checkout to learn if you qualify.

For our spirits collectors, we’ve got everything from collector packs, a rare release of Doc Swinson’s, a 38-year-old blended malt from Speymhor, and an exclusive sherried whisky from Couvreur, to name but a few! There’s really never been a better time to buy spirits, and so many of the deals were are seeing are the best ever. No matter which direction you turn, there’s another fantastic dram to add to your collection.

Classic Malts “Strong Collection” (Lagavulin 16 Year Old, Talisker 10 Year Old, Cragganmore 12 Year Old) Single Malt Gift Pack 3-Pack x 200ml (Previously $80) $39.99 View

Michel Couvreur 12 Year Overaged Malt Whisky (750ml) $69.99 View

Ledaig 20 Year Old “Munros” K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Unchillfiltered Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $99.99 View

Michel Couvreur Candid Scotch Whisky (750ml) $99.99 View

Doc Swinson’s 15 Year Old “Rare Release” K&L Exclusive Exploratory Cask Series Nonchillfiltered Small Batch Cask Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml) $154.99 View

Speymhor 38 Year Old Blended Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml) $179.99 View

Michel Couvreur “Blossoming Auld Sherried” K&L Exclusive Malt Whisky (750ml) $279.99 View

Nestled in the heart of New England, WhistlePig are committed to crafting the world’s finest and most interesting Rye whiskeys. They bottle an exceptional range of rye forward whiskies, distilled in the USA and Canada, and finished at their farm in Vermont.

Since 2015, WhistlePig have distilled whiskies using grain, water, and Vermont oak harvested from WhistlePig farm. Located in a 150 year old barn, the distillery houses a unique copper pot still designed by the late world-renowned Master Distiller Dave Pickerell.

WhistlePig’s rich, complex, and flavoursome whiskies have gone on to win multiple awards and to receive global critical acclaim.

BROWSE OUR FULL WHISTLEPIG RANGE HERE

375 PARK AVENUE SPIRITS AND INTERNATIONAL BEVERAGE HOLDINGS LTD PART WAYS

LOUISVILLE, KY (April 29, 2020) — 375 Park Avenue Spirits which specializes in importing superior spirits brands from across the globe, and International Beverage Holdings LTD, one of the industry’s most dynamic global drinks businesses are announcing they will be parting ways.

375 Park Avenue Spirits began working with International Beverage Holdings LTD in August 2015 shortly after joining Sazerac as an independent, yet fully integrated sales company. Many collective successes were achieved over the last 4+ years but both companies have continued to evolve and after careful consideration both International Beverage Holdings LTD, and 375 Park Avenue Spirits decided that a parting of ways would be best for both sides to achieve the growth aspirations each has in the U.S. market.

With this departure, 375 Park Avenue Spirits will no longer represent the International Beverage Holdings Ltd. spirit portfolio, including its Inver House Distillers subsidiary responsible for single malt whiskies Speyburn, Old Pulteney, Balblair, and anCnoc as well as Hankey Bannister blended Scotch, Caorunn Gin, Phraya Rum and Mekhong.

This transition is underway and is expected to be finalized by June 1.

About International Beverage Holdings Ltd

Inver House Distillers is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Beverage Holdings Ltd, producing its  Scotch whiskies and gin at five distilleries around Scotland: Pulteney, Speyburn, Knockdhu, Balblair and Balmenach. The business has won many prestigious accolades over the years, including the Icons of Whisky Distiller of the Year Award for Scotland (2017).

www.interbevgroup.com

About 375 Park Avenue Spirits

Specializing in superior brands from around the world that drive innovation, the 375 Park Avenue Spirits portfolio spans the premium- to luxury-spirit categories and includes numerous expressions from leading international producers. Founded as Luctor International, LLC in 1981, 375 Park Avenue Spirits joined the Sazerac Company in early 2015 to act as an independent, yet fully integrated sales affiliate. The company is known today for creating an environment of growth for supplier partners in the domestic market for renown brands like Van Gogh Vodka from Holland, Sobieski Vodka from Polland, Cutty Sark Scotch from Scotland, J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky, Paul John Single Malt Whisky from India, Scapegrace Gin from New Zealand and many others. For more information on 375 Park Avenue Spirits, please visit www.375park.com.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac, please visit www.sazerac.com.

How time flies; it is now the beginning of May and “The Self Isolation Festival” is less than four weeks away so we thought that we would take this opportunity to give you the latest update on our progress.

Firstly, we are surprised by the interest shown by the whisky industry, you can see this by the strength of those who are supporting us on the day. There have been one or two changes, as you would expect, due to the current difficult time that we are going through and we also had to find a replacement for Whisky Auctioneer due to unforeseen circumstances.  However, they are behind us and still providing their support to the day.

The full day’s programme of Whisky Masterclasses will now be as follows:

• Starward Distillery from Melbourne, Australia
• Dewar’s of Aberfeldy
• Tullibardine Distillery
• Lindores Abbey Distillery
• The GlenAllachie
• Buffalo Trace from Kentucky, USA
• Robertson’s Private Collection

The masterclasses will be interspersed with music from three local musicians, mixology sessions, a talk from Blair Bowman – whisky consultant and author, a whisky quiz and a prize draw.

Tickets are now on sale and have now been purchased in several countries globally.

As planned, we will be giving £5 from every tasting kit bought to the NHS Emergency Fund, along with monies raised by the auction and a Just Giving page that we are setting up for the event.

We are now offering the opportunity to pick and mix your drams for the day, please see the web site for details.

To register or purchase tasting kits please go to:   www.robertsonsofpitlochry.co.uk

To ensure that the tasting kits arrive in time for the event we will be having two cut off dates for purchasing:

International 15th May 2020

United Kingdom 22nd May 2020

Kind Regards

Sandy Fraser

Co-organiser

Highland Perthshire Whisky Festival

The Self Isolation Festival

The Balvenie

presents

The Stories #6

This is the story of how David Stewart made the perfect match between heather and barley.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Lively and vibrant, this Balvenie has notes of fig and geranium oil perfectly balanced with fresh herbal undertones reminiscent of green woodland.
Taste: Flavours of honey, cloves and caramelised baked dates are layered on top of delicate citrus and spice. The sweetness reveals an underlying oaky dryness.
Finish: Lingering, oaky, dried blossom.

AVAILABLE HERE NOW

The Sexton is the one who prepares your grave and is the last person to see you before you’re laid to rest. Make sure you have a life story worth telling. The Sexton is exclusively matured in Oloroso Sherry casks to achieve a perfect balance between bold, dried fruits and toasted oak notes to offer a smooth finish and leave you wanting more. Triple distilled in copper pot stills, the whiskey is approachable in taste and memorable in character. Idea for mixing as well as sipping.

The Sexton

Irish Single Malt Whiskey

70cl · 40% ABV

£29.95

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