Waterford Whisky partners with artist Nathanaël Koffi for latest flagship Cuvée bottling

Waterford Whisky has announced a new partnership with French visual artist, Nathanaël Koffi

The partnership is for its forthcoming flagship cuvée, The Waterford Cuvée – “Koffi”

Using contemporary, vibrant designs, Koffi has created a label to celebrate the distillery’s unique methodology to create the most naturally flavoursome single malts

March, 2023: Waterford Distillery has today announced a new partnership with experimental French artist, Nathanaël Koffi, to bring a fresh and bold perspective to its flagship single malt.

The distillery’s forthcoming release, The Waterford Cuvée – “Koffi”, scheduled for release this Autumn, brings together its individually-distinct Single Farm Origins to craft a multi-layered, complex single malt. By layering distinct distillates, which is radical in the whisky world, their cuvées are actually assembled following the same production principles as the great winemaking chateaux of Bordeaux.

Nathanaël Koffi, 27, has now designed a label that reflects Waterford Whisky’s unique production methodology – which includes terroir-driven distillations, organics and long fermentations – to create the most naturally flavoursome single malts. The contemporary, vibrant visuals mirror the colours of Ireland, terroir, barley, heritage and greenery.

Nathanaël Koffi said, “Through layering colours and patterns, I have aimed to capture the multi-dimensional and complex natural flavours of this ultimate Waterford Whisky cuvée. It harnesses everything I love about Waterford Distillery and its whiskies: body, texture and avant-garde methodologies.”

Waterford Distillery harnesses a scientifically-proven, terroir-driven methodology, where the influence of soil, microclimate and place influences the flavour compounds in barley and therefore captured in spirit. Each of its Single Farm Origin bottlings are produced separately with barley grown on individual terroirs across Southern Ireland, and each one displays unique flavour characteristics. In addition to this, Waterford Distillery is the world’s largest producer of organic and biodynamic whiskies. The distillery’s single malts reveal total transparency via its unique TÉIREOIR code, which allows drinkers to trace each bottle back to its barley fields, enjoy content from the farms and see details of every barrel used for that whisky.

Mark Newton, Head of Brand at Waterford Distillery, said, “We need a radical artist who can not only create the necessary visual energy for a bottle, but someone who could represent sensory complexity – the very purpose of our cuvée concepts – so strikingly. Nathanael’s paintings, and his often unusual canvasses, stand out a mile; a supreme talent, he was a very natural choice.”

Nathanaël Koffi’s experimentation with different media, textures, and sensations began with his first exhibition, “Première”, in June 2022. His evolution as an artist is evident from his early ‘skateboard’ works to his current, unconventional creations. Collaborations with notable brands such as Maison Kitsune, Sézane, Moleskine and Adidas have advanced his artistic journey along the way.

Waterford Distillery’s partnership with Nathanaël Koffi continues its tradition of using upcoming artists to interpret the complex layers of its flagship whisky, having worked with Irish artist, Leah Hewson, in 2021.

About Waterford Distillery  

Waterford Whisky produces the most naturally flavoursome single malts.

It is the world’s largest producer of organic and biodynamic whiskies.

It is agricultural produce, not a manufactured product.

Unashamedly influenced by the world’s greatest winemakers, Waterford Whisky obsessively brings the same intellectual drive, methodology and rigour to barley – the very source of malt whisky’s complex flavour.

Extolling a hundred exclusive farms of Irish-grown barley, the distillery searches for natural flavours via three paths: its Single Farm Origins pursue the individualism of terroir-derived flavour; its Arcadian Farm Origins express the intensity of flavour from alternative philosophies and long-forgotten varieties; whilst its Cuvée Concepts revel in the ultimate complexity, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

For more information, visit https://waterfordwhisky.com/

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SPRINGBANK DISTILLERY

31 Year Old 1991 Old & Rare (2022)

1991 vintage single cask yielding just 188 bottles at 49.3%. Incredibly rare Old & Rare release. Springbank 31 Year Old 1991 vintage Campbeltown single malt Scotch whisky. Single refill hogshead bottled October 2022 by Hunter Laing & Co. for the Old & Rare Platinum series. 188 bottles.

Buy Springbank 31yo »

This burnished gold whisky has a nose of apricots, highland toffee and light smoke. The palate is subtly sweet with notes of marzipan, peaches and green herbs. The finish is medium length, with lingering fruit.

Springbank Distillery was established in 1828 in Campbeltown at the foot of the Mull of Kintyre on the west coast of Scotland. Springbank produces three different types of single malt whisky Hazelburn which is non-peated and triple distilled, Longrow which is highly peated and double distilled and Springbank which is medium peated and partially triple distilled having been distilled two and a half times. Barley is spread across traditional malting floors at Springbank where it germinates and is then dried on the perforated floor of the malt kiln. The Springbank 10 Year Old, 15 Year Old Local Barley and Springbank 21 Year old annual release are very popular whiskies.

EWA Alumni: Xiaoyan Tao Lenz

Tina Lenz, Brauerei Locher AG / Säntis Malt Distillery Sales Representative for Asia, joined the online Diploma in Single Malt Whisky in February 2022. She said: “When I introduce myself at tastings in China, the kudos of the Diploma in Singe Malt Whisky and the know-how I have learned from studying is very important.”

It was our pleasure to welcome six more of the Säntis Malt team through the Diploma in Single Malt Whisky at Arniston House recently.

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2023 Exhibitors

We are excited to welcome back some of the biggest names in whisky! Meet and taste the best of the best, from Scotch to bourbon and everything in between. Keep an eye on our extensive list of exhibitors attending this year’s show which is being updated regularly.

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Tickets On Sale Now
Friday 29 September 2023: 4pm – 9pm
Saturday 30 October 2023: 11.30am – 6.30pm
Sunday 1 October 2023: 11.30am – 6.30pm
Weekend tickets available
Three-day tickets available

Venue
1 Old Billingsgate
London
EC3R 6DX

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ralfy review 970 – Isle Of Raasay (R-02) @46.4%vol:

The Glencairn Glass proudly announces the winner and runner-up of its Scottish themed crime short story competition

The Glencairn Glass – the world’s favourite whisky glass produced by Scottish glassware company Glencairn Crystal – has revealed the winner and runner-up of its Scottish themed crime short story competition.

Having supported and celebrated Scottish crime writing talent with its ongoing sponsorship of the prestigious McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing literary awards since 2020, the Glencairn Glass first launched its very own crime short story competition two years ago. Since its inception, the competition has attracted a huge number of gripping entries from both novice and experienced crime writers all over the world.

The theme for this year’s competition – in partnership with Scottish Field Magazine and the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival – is “A crime story set in Scotland”. Over 100 stories were entered into the competition – each one comprising of no more than 2000 words.

The winner and runner-up were selected by a panel of three judges including Tariq Ashkanani, whose debut novel Welcome to Cooper won last year’s Bloody Scotland Debut Award 2022, and Sharon Bairden, an established book reviewer and author of psychological thrillers; Sins of the Father and You Need Me.  The third judge was Glencairn Crystal’s marketing director and experienced crime writer Gordon Brown.

The judges can now reveal the winner and runner-up as follows:

Winner: The Dummy Railway by Frances Crawford.

A captivating tale of a disturbing discovery through the eyes of a young Scottish girl.

Frances is a passionate advocate of lifelong learning. In 2022, she graduated at the age of 60 with an MLitt (First) in Creative Writing from Glasgow University. Having published a number of short stories with disabled protagonists she is particularly interested in characters traditionally overlooked in fiction. Frances lives in Glasgow with her family,

Frances said; “I was inspired to enter the Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition because it is open to writers at all stages of their journey, from published authors to novices. It is an honour to win such a prestigious prize and I am absolutely chuffed! The theme, ‘A crime story set in Scotland,’ inspired my Glasgow setting, and having a child who finds a murder victim as the narrator, I hoped to show the way violent crime has far-reaching consequences.”

Runner-up:  The Last Tram to Gorbals Cross by Allan Gaw.

Set in a Glasgow police station in 1928, the police try to unravel a series of gruesome murders.

Allan Gaw is a pathologist by training but now writes full-time. He writes short stories, novel length historic crime fiction and poetry. He recently won the UK Classical Association Creative Writing Competition, the International Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize and the International Globe Soup 7 day Writing Challenge. Allan lives and works near Glasgow.

Allan said: “I am delighted to be placed in such a prestigious writing competition. The Glencairn Glass Short Story Competition was a great opportunity to write in my favourite genre — historic crime with just a touch of madness”.

Competition judge, Tariq Ashkanani, commented: “The quality of this year’s stories was incredibly high which made choosing two winners even more difficult. Both The Dummy Railway and The Last Tram to Gorbals Cross stood out from the rest. The Dummy Railway was a particular highlight. From its opening line to its final reveal, it tells a dark tale using wonderful language and sharply-written dialogue. A fantastic story and well-deserved winner!”.

Commenting on The Dummy Railway, judge Sharon Bairden said: “brutally raw authenticity – it ticked all my boxes and gave me all the feels”. In relation to The Last Tram to Gorbals Cross she commented: “it packs a massive punch into 2000 words.”

Glencairn’s marketing director Gordon Brown said: “’Now in its second year, the standard of entries for the Glencairn Glass Short Story Competition has been wonderful. With so many good stories to choose from, the judging process has been tough and I’d like to take the opportunity to say a huge thanks to everyone who entered.”

The first prize winner, Frances Crawford, receives £1000, and runner-up, Allan Gaw receives £500. Both writers will also receive a set of six bespoke engraved Glencairn Glasses. The winning story will be published in the May issue of Scottish Field Magazine (on shelf Friday 7^th April). Both stories will also be published from 11^th April on Scottish Field Magazine’s website; www.scottishfield.co.uk and the Glencairn Glass website: www.whiskyglass.com.

Last year’s inaugural competition was won by Brid Cummings, a fiction writer and occupational therapist, based in South Australia. Her winning story – Halmeoni’s Wisdom – was a dark tale of human trafficking, illegal trade and a desire for freedom.

Finally, for further information about this year’s McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing prizes, as well as the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival taking place in Stirling, Scotland, from the 15^th to 17^th September, please visit www.bloodyscotland.com.

About Glencairn Crystal:

The Glencairn Glass, created in 2000 is the world’s favourite whisky glass.  Glencairn Crystal now make over 5 million Glencairn Glasses per year, across hundreds of brands, worldwide.

Laphroaig 25 Year Old 1997 vintage Islay single malt Scotch whisky. Single bourbon cask #3372 bottled February 2023 by Signatory Vintage for the (Andrew) Symington’s Choice collection. 196 numbered bottles.

Shop – Laphroaig 25 Years – £740 / u$757 / €706

Laphroaig Distillery was established in 1815 on the rocky south coast of the Isle of Islay off the west coast of Scotland. This malt whisky distillery continues to malt barley using its traditional malting floors and malt kiln. In 1994 the distiiley was awarded the Royal Warrant. The core range is quite extensive and supplemented by limited releases including a 21 year old was issued in 2015 to celebrate 21 years of Friends of Laphroaig. Independent bottlings are also available from Signatory, Cooper’s Choice and Hunter Laing. Laphroaig distillery also participates in Feis Ile, the Islay Festival of Malt and Music.

In-person teaching at Arniston House

It was great to be back teaching another varied and enthusiastic group of students on both Diploma courses last week. Please note, the May Diploma in Single Malt Whisky (11 & 12) is now sold out and just two spaces remain for the September course (18 & 19). So, if you’re hoping to join us at Arniston House this year, be sure to book your spot soon.

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