Kentucky Distillers’ Association Welcomes
Bespoken Sprits as Newest Member
Lexington Distillery Backed By Derek Jeter
FRANKFORT, KY.— The Kentucky Distillers’ Association today announced Bespoken Spirits in Lexington is the newest member of the non-profit trade group that unites and leads Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.
Founded by Stuart Aaron and Martin Janousek, Bespoken began production at its California headquarters in 2019. They relocated their headquarters and production facility to Kentucky – the birthplace of Bourbon and epicenter of American whiskey – earlier this year.
Derek Jeter, the Baseball Hall of Fame shortstop from the New York Yankees, and T.J. Rodgers, renowned Silicon Valley scientist and entrepreneur, joined early efforts as investors, supporting the distillery’s passion for innovation with a strong focus on sustainability.
The facility at 101 W Louden Ave. in Lexington’s Greyline Station features an 8-gallon pot still, a tasting room, gift shop, and a custom blending experience. With capacity for 85,000 proof gallons a year, the distillery will begin welcoming guests for tours this summer.
Scott Savage, Chief Operating Officer shared, “Joining the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is an honor for our burgeoning business. We look forward to learning from the best and joining their research and efforts around the future of sustainable distilling.”
Bespoken Spirits’ brands include a high-rye barrel-aged Bourbon, Rye Whiskey, and a twice-toasted American Whiskey. Learn more about Bespoken, its history, mission and its brands at https://www.bespokenspirits.com.
KDA President Eric Gregory welcomed Bespoken to Kentucky and the KDA and applauded the company for its focus on sustainability. “In Kentucky, the only thing we take more seriously than our whiskey is our commitment to responsibility and sustainability.
“Kentucky remains the undisputed home for Bourbon and American whiskey because of our pure limestone water, fertile soil for growing corn and four distinct climates that help age our mellow amber nectar to perfection.”
“As we are dependent on our natural resources, we must continue to be good stewards of the environment and continue to explore and innovate for a sustainable future,” Gregory said. “Cheers to Bespoken, and welcome to our growing family of Kentucky’s finest distilleries.”
Gregory also thanked the City of Lexington for welcoming Bespoken into the Bluegrass State and celebrating their recent grand opening, which created an initial 16 new jobs for the company with more on the way.
With the addition of Bespoken, Fayette County now boasts eight distilleries that have created more than 1,600 Bourbon careers with $108 million in payroll. Each year, distilling in Lexington generates about $325 million in economic impact and more than $12 million in local and state taxes.
From a regional standpoint, Fayette and its surrounding counties have 25 distilleries responsible for more than 5,000 jobs and a $404 million payroll. Annual economic impact is $2.3 billion and over $50 million in local and state tax revenue.
The Bluegrass region also welcomes more than 600,000 visitors to the KDA’s famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour each year, pouring even more money into local hotels, restaurants, shops and government coffers.
“Bourbon Builds Kentucky, and it’s great to see Lexington’s distillery base continue to expand.,” Gregory said. “With another opportunity for tourism, the heart of Bourbonland is creating more reasons for visitors to spend more time and money in our state.”
Bespoken Spirits joins the KDA as a “Craft” level member, aging between 1 and 10,000 barrels per year. Visit the KDA and its Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.
About the Kentucky Distillers’ Association:
Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is the legendary voice for Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from historic, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s landmark economic engine and its thriving, timeless craft. Member benefits include media relations, international trade development, private sampling events, technical assistance, economic development support, networking, legal defense, marketing strategies, governmental and regulatory advocacy and innovative tourism experiences through the KDA’s world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® adventures. A 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.
SEPTEMBER AUCTION ENDS SOON!
Not long now! There is still time to bid on your favourite bottles at Click Whisky Auctions, including this charming bottle of Port Ellen 1981 18 Years Old, bottled by McGibbon’s under their Provenance range.
We also have a selection of vintage Cadenhead’s available, including the Glendronach 1988 10 Years Old Cask Strength.
If you like vintage independent bottlings, we also have a lovely bottle of Glenglassaugh 1975 30 Years Old by Douglas Laing and bottled for Parker’s Whisky Shop, Banff as part of the prestigious ‘Old Malt Cask’ range.
There are two excellent examples of the First Cask range in our September auction; Auchentoshan 1981 15 Years Old and Glentauchers 1976 24 Years Old, both are numbered bottlings.
Or how about a selection of single casks from the Arran Distillery, including PX Brandy Cask, Sherry Cask and Port Cask.
These are only a few of the lots in our September auction, to view more, visit clickwhiskyauctions.com. Register to bid. Remember, you’ve got to be in it to win it! Auction ends Sunday 15th September from 8pm BST.
International Beverage announces two senior appointments
New Distilleries General Manager and Marketing Director confirmed
International Beverage has today (27th August) announced the appointment of two senior leaders during a period of ambitious growth for the company. The seasoned duo will take up strategic roles in the global spirit producer’s team, to drive the success of the company’s expanding portfolio of award-winning brands.
John Stevenson joins as Distilleries General Manager
An accomplished Projects Director and Executive, John has a long track record of building and developing teams in the delivery of complex programmes. He led the design and build of Ireland’s first major whisky distillery in 100 years and Scotland’s first waste to fuel ABE biorefinery using whisky industry co-products. With an MBA in Engineering Management from the University of Bristol, John began his career in the water industry and migrated into the whisky industry in 1996. Recently, John has undertaken a number of diverse roles, firstly as a Project Director in the bio-fuel sector at Celtic Renewables. After a four-year tenure, he then became a Freelance Projects Director at 58 Seasgad Limited, supporting bio-tech start-ups to scale-up novel technologies before moving to North British Distillery Limited as an Operations Manager in 2023. Whilst there he led the development of a robust five-year capital investment plan and provided solutions across technical support, training and architecture.
His remit at International Beverage is to oversee operations at the company’s five Scottish distilleries, which produce Old Pulteney, Speyburn, Balblair and anCnoc single malt whiskies, Hankey Bannister blended whisky and Caorunn Gin.
Fiona Kennie joins as Marketing Director
A graduate of Strathclyde University, Fiona began her career in 2001 at Jim Beam. She progressed in a number of senior marketing roles, making her mark at Whyte & Mackay, Heineken, and Edrington. Fiona brings 25 years of brand building experience spanning the drinks industry, with particular skills in premium & luxury whisky. She has driven strategic growth for global brands across domestic, international and global travel retail. Fiona returns to the world of spirits following her most recent role as Group Marketing Director in the craft beer industry. She brings a passion for building brands and a strong leadership skillset to International Beverage as it embarks on its brand growth journey. She will lead strategic marketing for the global spirits business and join its Executive Leadership Team.
Both John and Fiona will be based at the company’s Airdrie headquarters, reporting into International Beverage Managing Director Malcolm Leask. He commented:
“We are delighted to welcome both John and Fiona to the business. Their leadership skills and vast experience in their respective sectors makes them a tremendous asset to our team. I look forward to working with them over the coming months on a variety of initiatives that will grow our global business, sustainability credentials and portfolio of premium spirit brands.”
As the spirits arm of one of the world’s top ten drinks producers ThaiBev, International Beverage is responsible for the global sales, marketing and distribution of a multi-award-winning portfolio of premium brands, including single malt Scotch whiskies Old Pulteney, Speyburn, Balblair, and anCnoc; the blended Scotch Hankey Bannister; the Larsen portfolio of Cognacs; New Zealand’s Cardrona Distillery spirits; and Caorunn, the small-batch Scottish gin.
International Beverage
International Beverage is the international arm of Thai Beverage Public Company Limited. It is one of the industry’s most dynamic global drinks businesses and specialises in developing distinctive, premium brands for global markets, with a portfolio that is led by a range of high-quality Scotch whiskies and some of the fastest growing premium spirits. These brands are enjoyed by consumers around the world and include Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky, Hankey Bannister blended Scotch whisky, Caorunn Gin, Phraya Rum, Mekhong Thai spirits, Cardrona spirits and liqueurs and Larsen Cognac spirits. www.interbevgroup.com
Complex, elegant, and full of character, our inaugural expression is a delicious dram which unfolds in your glass, revealing itself wonderfully over time, just like the island itself. From the beginning of our Harris whisky-making story, we set out to capture the very best of our island home in our first historic release. This is why every drop of The Hearach single malt whisky is distilled, matured, blended, married, and bottled here in the Isle of Harris and nowhere else. Already winning praise and gathering gold awards from international whisky judges and juries, The Hearach is made for enjoying, so let’s drink to that…
Something new is coming on September 24th 2024… Look out for more on our social media channels or keep an eye on your inbox over the coming days and weeks.
Peat cutting is an age-old island tradition, with small sections of the moor allocated with a dedicated peat bank for each local household. The process begins with removing the top layer of the marsh, revealing the soft peat underneath, ready for cutting.
Using a long-handled tool known in Gaelic as a “tairsgear” or “Iarunn mònadh”, the peat is then expertly sliced into pieces and laid out to dry over the summer months. Once dried on both sides, family and friends come together to transport the peat back home where it will be carefully stacked into a structure known in Gaelic as a “cruach” – often a true work of art.
From start to finish it’s hard work for those who part take in this age-old tradition but the effort not only connects to our history and heritage, but also ensures a welcome warmth in our homes throughout the winter.
The Hearach Single Malt Whisky Batch No. 14 tasting notes…
“There’s a familiar sweetness on the nose, it reminds me of my Granny in Scalpay’s sweetie tin, with aromas of pear drops and caramel. I smell the sea, like the mist from waves splashing at Luskentyre and Horgabost machair, with honey and floral notes too. I taste a slight spicy, woodiness, my Dad’s cigars, and spiced cinnamon. There’s a light peatiness, like walking through Scalpay villages in Autumn. A drop of water brings out the smoke, reminding me of camping trips with friends in Northton, and more sweetness, like honeycomb and vanilla ice cream. The finish is punchy, with spice and hazelnuts. It’s a lovely dram.”
– DONALD MACRAE, ISLE OF SCALPAY
The Loch Fyne Deanston 13 Year Old #997
From our unique and exceptional cask collection, we have chosen to bottle this golden Deanston single malt after 13 years aging in a single hogshead. The limited-edition whisky is presented at 50% abv, and is one of only 427 bottled.
Our Hamish has had a sip and jotted down his thoughts.
Palate: treacle, apricots, zesty citrus and coconut
12 months of unlimited next day delivery & more! Exclusive access to Ballots as you enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year – only £14.99! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs.
WHISKYLAND CHAPTER TWO BOWMORE 20 YEAR OLD
This cask was deliberately selected for Whiskyland Chapter Two in order to sit in contrast to Chapter One and illustrate the intended price starting point for Whiskyland. It was also a perfect pick for Chapter Two as it maintains the very high standard of quality set by the 1998 Springbank. This is a gorgeous and very classical modern, mature Bowmore. Fully matured in a refill hogshead, this is just layer upon layer of soft peat smoke, coastal complexity and gorgeous tropical fruit.
Join Adam as he once again introduces us to another epic set of SMWS releases at The Strath. Check out the SMWS page on The Strath’s webstore, where you can buy bottles and tickets to upcoming events – http://strathliquor.com/smws
WATERFORD DISTILLERY LAUNCHES FLAGSHIP BIODYNAMIC WHISKY: BIODYNAMIC: CUVÉE LUNA
Waterford Distillery has launched its flagship biodynamic whisky: Biodynamic: Cuvée Luna
The Biodynamic: Cuvée Luna is Waterford Whisky’s new bottling in their core range of Cuvée Concepts
Waterford Distillery is the world’s largest producer of organic and biodynamic whiskies
5th September 2024: Waterford Distillery, the world’s largest producer of organic and biodynamic whiskies, has launched its new flagship cuvée bottling to its core collection of single malts – Biodynamic: Cuvée Luna.
Certified by Demeter and the Organic Trust, Biodynamic: Cuvée Luna – available to purchase worldwide from today – is made from 100% Irish barley grown using regenerative biodynamic farming methods, widely used by many of the world’s legendary winemakers.
The principles of biodynamic farming were first introduced 100 years ago in direct response to the growth of chemical applications after World War One. Today, such practices are more commonly recognised as “uber organic” and supercharged regenerative agriculture.
Waterford Distillery has embraced the unique biodynamic practices, which seek to create a vibrant living soil and barley crop by treating the farm as a self-contained living eco-system, with the application of homemade organic preparations that follow the ancient lunar calendar.
Working with three biodynamic Irish farmers – Trevor Harris, John McDonnell and Alan Mooney – Waterford Distillery bottled the world’s first biodynamic whisky in 2021 as part of its Arcadian Farm Origin series, and has since increased its intake to six biodynamic growers in total.
This new radical cuvée is an assemblage of multiple biodynamic harvests for even greater complexity. It was matured in a mixture of 37% First-fill US Oak, 17% Virgin US Oak, 25% Premium French Oak and 21% Vin Doux Naturel casks for harmony and balance.
Building on the distillery’s trademark artisanal bakery aromas, the whisky has flavours of green apple, hay, malted biscuits, peaches and breadcrust complimented with hints of lemon curd, breakfast cereals, herbal tea, porridge, cream and spice giving the whisky a long, creamy and gently-spiced finish.
Mark Reynier, CEO and Founder of Waterford Distillery, said: “Controversial to some, and the ultimate in regenerative farming to others, many of the world’s greatest winemakers and award-winning wines follow biodynamic methods to produce the most expressive and vibrant natural flavours possible.
“Whisky has become an industrially manufactured product, propped up with additives and finishes. Barley is one of the most flavoursome cereal grains and over time, this inherent flavour has been compromised as distilleries prioritise yield. So we go back to the beginning – not just whisky how it used to be, but how farming used to be, and that means taking every grain of biodynamic barley we can get our hands on.”
As with every Waterford Distillery release, a unique TÉIREOIR CODE on each bottle provides unprecedented validation and verification of its individual journey from barley to bottle – harvested, stored, malted, distilled and matured. Every meaningful detail of the whisky is offered for full transparency.
Biodynamic Cuvée: Luna represents the apogee of Waterford Distillery’s investigation of regenerative single malt, making it the distillery’s most radical whisky to date.
Biodynamic: Cuvée Luna is available to purchase now from waterfordwhisky.com (€99.00), Master of Malt and Whisky Exchange as a permanent listing, priced at approx. €85-95/$120/£89.95.
About Waterford Whisky
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 www.waterfordwhisky.com.
WESTIE SPONGE 5 BEN NEVIS 25 YEAR OLD
We round off our short-lived but much-loved Westie Sponge series with a 1998 Ben Nevis. It’s a single refill hogshead bottled at 25 years of age and natural cask strength. We’re also especially pleased with this one as it matured its whole life at the distillery as well, so added ‘Westie’ bonus there. It’s a wonderfully pure and vivid example of Ben Nevis, very mature, loads of waxy, oily and mineral character plus some lovely citrus and white fruit notes. A perfect end to the Westie Sponge series.
Westie Sponge Five is the final entry in this series and contains a 1998 25 year old single refill hogshead of Ben Nevis, bottled at natural cask strength. It also matured its entire life at the distillery for added ‘Westieness’.
We absolutely love this wee series and, truth be told, we could have gone on with it. But seeing as we did that Springbank 1999 in different glass as number Three, the only way to achieve visual symmetry with the series was to stop at Five. And we do appreciate visual symmetry!
But it’s a great way to stop and, after all, less is often more. Angus was determined to include a Ben Nevis in this series and it feels like a very fitting way to conclude it, with this most iconic of West Highland makes. It’s a beautiful and extremely pure example of Ben Nevis, very mineral, waxy and with lovely citrus and white fruit character. It’s old style, highland, distillate-driven malt whisky.
Decadent Drinks Ltd DECADENT DRINKS LTD, WEST BUILDING RUTHVENFIELD GROVE,
INVERALMOND INDUSTRIAL ESTATE PERTH, Highlands PH1 3FN United Kingdom
