BOOST FOR DUNBARTONSHIRE AS CHIVAS BROTHERS REVEALS SAFETY AND COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLANS FOR ITS KILMALID CAMPUS

Chivas Brothers, the Pernod Ricard business dedicated to Scotch whisky, has revealed its plans to further develop and expand its world-class Kilmalid bottling site. The investment was granted planning permission over the summer and is designed to improve site safety, segregating HGV and Forklift Truck (FLT) traffic from pedestrians. Chivas Brothers will also work on the surrounding greenlands, protecting community walkways and ensuring easy access around the site for Dumbarton residents.

The initial work, which was completed within the existing campus footprint in October 2023, included building a new North car park that provides a safer and more convenient route for employees to access the site via a new entrance on Stirling Road. The focus will now shift to the South car park which will be re-laid and expanded. Supplementary work will include building new roads to enable the implementation of a traffic management plan that will improve site safety and make travel easier.

Public transport links will be improved as part of the investment, as well as diversifying the options employees have to travel to work. This includes public access footpaths, installing EV charging stations and adding cycle lanes and secure cycle storage. In the future, it will include habitat rehabilitation and improved public access from Dumbarton alongside the River Leven, which flows adjacent to the campus.

Liam Donegan, Manufacturing Director at Chivas Brothers said:

“This is the next milestone on our transformation journey here in Dumbarton, following the upgrades to our state-of-the-art bottling facility last year. This investment reflects the continued value and commitment we place on our people, as well as the communities we are a part of – more than half of the people working at the Kilmalid campus are local to the Dunbartonshire area.”

In addition to the immediate developments within the existing footprint of the Kilmalid campus, the planning permission incorporates 8.5 acres of surrounding land which was purchased by Chivas Brothers from Strathleven Regeneration CIC. The funds received by Strathleven Regeneration CIC, a ‘profit for purpose’ company, for the land sale will be put to good use for the benefit of the local Dumbarton community.

Bruce Malcolm, Chair, Strathleven Regeneration CIC said:

“We are delighted our most recent land sale has gone to such a major local employer to assist their expansion. It will secure local jobs and create new opportunities for the local area and allow us to re-invest the proceeds for added local impact. This sale absolutely cements Dumbarton’s role within the Scottish manufacturing economy.”

Chivas Brothers is one of the top ten largest employers in Scotland with a total workforce of 1,800 teammates across the UK. Over the past 18 months the business has created nearly 200 permanent operator roles, reducing its reliance on temporary resources and providing longer term job security for its people. Alongside the recent refurbishment of its Leven office in Kilmalid in 2022, the plans represent the largest transformations the site has ever seen.

Jackie Baillie, Dumbarton constituency MSP, said:

“This is very welcome news for the Chivas Brothers operation at Kilmalid, especially for the workforce. Chivas Brothers has a track record of expansion and the employment of more local people on permanent contracts is a real vote of confidence in our area. This development cements their commitment to the local economy which will benefit us all for decades to come.”

Chivas Brothers prides itself on an average tenure of 14 years for its team at Kilmalid, which fulfils a wide range of functions that support its vision to open up to shape the future of whisky. Further plans to revitalise the area with the local community in mind will be drawn up in due course and presented to the community for input.

November 2023 Auction // 24.11.23 – 04.12.23

ENDS SOON: November 2023 Auction

Our November auction featuring almost 9,000 rare whiskies and fine spirits.

This month marks a historic moment as the Blair Castle whisky comes to sale. Believed to have been distilled in 1833, this whisky may very well be the oldest Scotch whisky in existence, with 24 bottles available. Bid on the Blair Castle bottles here.

Alongside this, we have an incredible auction of old & rare bottles, many seen for the first time at Whisky Auctioneer- from an extensive collection of over 300 lots of Ardbeg, to the iconic 2010 release Highland Park 50 Year Old. This is also the last opportunity to buy that special bottle before the festive season kicks off.

Browse almost 9,000 lots in our live auction.

Blair Castle Scotch Whisky

Discovered in the cellars of Blair Castle in Highland Perthshire, this month’s auction sees 24 bottles of what is thought to be the oldest Scotch whisky in the world come to auction. Believed to have been distilled in 1833, this is a historic moment for the Scotch whisky industry. 

Discover single malts aged 40 years or above

Ardbeg Special Liqueur D&J MacEwen 1950s

Highland Park 50 Year Old 2010 Release

Strathisla 25 Year Old Intertrade Bicentenary Magnum 1.5 Litre

Dunkeld Archives Charity Bottles

Whisky Auctioneer is delighted to be supporting The Chapter House Museum Trust [also known as the Dunkeld Archives] by offering donated bottles in our November 2023 Auction to support their redevelopment project to create a first class, accessible heritage centre. The Chapter House Museum Trust is a recent recipient of The King’s Award for Voluntary Service and Dunkeld, one of the neighbouring towns to our Perth home, has a history stretching back to the Picts and includes many links to the whisky industry.

All of the proceeds from this lot, including Whisky Auctioneer’s buyer’s commission, will go to support their redevelopment project.

Next month marks ten years since we held our very first auction at Whisky Auctioneer. A lot has happened since then – the launch of our sister sites, Wine Auctioneer and Rum Auctioneer, as well as exciting projects, record-breaking auctions and global expansion.

While we’ve thoroughly enjoyed our journey so far, things can’t stay the same forever. That’s why we’ve refreshed our branding to better reflect the nature of Whisky Auctioneer in 2023. We’re really excited to share our new look with you, and are even more excited to see where it takes us in the next ten years. We hope you enjoy seeing it across our website, social media and emails too.

Interested in selling in our next auction? Fill out our Seller Form today.

ralfy review 1005 – Glen Keith NAS @ 40%vol:

Baker’s® Bourbon Brings Its Legacy To Life Through Exclusive Art Collection

The 22 Year Old

On Monday we release the oldest single cask whisky produced in Australia. Matured in an American oak ex-Bourbon barrel since 1999, HH0039 is a delicious, complex and highly textural whisky at the height of its potential. Just 58 bottles in existence, at an astounding 54% ABV. This special release celebrates our commitment to long-term maturation, revealing a sophistication that can never be replicated.

“Incredible delicacy, nothing less than exquisite. Well worth the wait.”
Sullivans Cove Sensory Panel

American Oak ex-Bourbon, HH0039

The decadent combination of creamy toffee, caramel fudge, chai tea spice and cake batter is heightened by an extraordinarily thick and waxy texture, one which can only come from a meticulous 22 year maturation.

Matured for 22 years in a first-fill 200L American oak ex-Bourbon cask, bottled at 54% ABV and yielding just 58 bottles.

Read the full tasting notes here

This whisky will be released via ballot. The ballot will open for 24 hours from 10am Hobart time on Monday 4th of December. Further details will be sent via email prior to the ballot opening. A note on our ballot system. Our policy is one entry per person, per household, per ballot. Our fraud detection algorithm detects multiple entries and removes them to ensure our whisky lands in the hands of our genuine supporters, so to ensure your entry counts, please enter the ballot once only. If you have any questions around our ballot process, you can email us at info@sullivanscove.com Successful entries will be notified shortly after the ballots close.

A K&L Consensus Favorite from a Hidden-Gem Distillery

Yellowstone “K&L Exclusive – The Perfect Proof” Single Barrel #12065 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

(750ml)

($59.99)

On our spirits team’s annual Kentucky trip this year, Yellowstone distillery served up a homerun pitch with this particular barrel. Of all the barrels the guys tasted, this was the unanimous favorite in every aspect, including proof—hence the moniker “The Perfect Proof.” That’s what makes Yellowstone stand out among their peers—not only do we get to select our ideal flavor profile, we also get to choose our ideal proof. We love this new exclusive and hope you get a chance to try it while it lasts.

K&L Notes: Our first visit to Yellowstone’s distillery was one of our most memorable appointments from our May 2023 Kentucky tour. Steve Fontaine, the host of our visit, is one of the biggest characters in the wide world of whiskey, and an afternoon spent tasting with him is an outrageously hysterical way to spend a few hours. The tasting itself is also one of the most unique in Kentucky. It is not only a barrel selection, but a proof trial. While many purists will argue that all single barrel programs should just be bottled at cask strength, the fact is, very few distilleries actually offer that option. Most lock you into a specific proof with your barrel. The end result: even if you’re tasting freshly pulled barrel samples, you’re not tasting the final product the way your customers will taste it. Yellowstone, really lets you dial it in—a tasting of four different barrels at three different proofs, partially blind (with respect to the barrels, but you taste in proof groups), ensures you get the best tasting option, not just the barrel with the craziest specs. With DOG, AW, and Blakely at the table making the selection, and remarkably, a consensus between the three on which barrel and which proof was the finest in the lot, we’re pretty damn sure you’re going to love this whiskey

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

HAVE COURAGE? JOIN THE CLUB

Elevate your whisky journey with Courage Club, Virginia Distillery Company’s exclusive whisky subscription club!

Get early access to new and limited releases, handpick gems from our whisky library, and be the first in line at our renowned distillery events and experiences. You’ll also enjoy discounts on merchandise and immerse in unique distillery experiences.

As the pinnacle of American Single Malt excellence, we’ve curated this club for true connoisseurs like you. And with the first shipment unfurling this mid-December, what better holiday gift for the whisky lover in your life or even a treat for yourself?

Learn more and join the exclusive club today!

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Lovingston, VA 22949-2325

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Running every day, we have a delightful choice of whisky tastings on offer from our ever-popular Introduction to Whisky to Whisky & Cheese and Whisky & Chocolate tastings! Fun is guaranteed at these hosted events by our expert whisky ambassadors. All bookable online.

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Single malt Scotch whisky from wonderful distilleries of Scotland and whisky produced from around  the world that have spent sometime being matured in the finest of sherry casks! Sherry bombs but also whisky finished in sherry casks or whisky crafted from several types of casks, which include sherry casks.

We’ve recently added a superb selection of drams from indie bottler, Signatory each spending time in sherry casks and well worth exploring. We’ve also added a small selection below of some drams available on the website.

As ever, if you have any questions or queries, please just get in touch.

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My Three Whisky Books.