THE BOWMORE® 1964 TRILOGY DINNER IN NEW YORK CITY: A CHANCE TO TASTE HISTORY BEFORE IT IS GONE FOREVER

Rarest Bowmore 1964 Black, White And Gold Served At Charity Dinner At Michelin Star Aureole

ISLAY, SCOTLAND – On Tuesday, September 28, 2010, a very lucky  group of Scotch aficionados will have the opportunity to sit for a one-of-a-kind dinner that pairs three of the world’s rarest Scotch whiskies – Bowmore® 1964 Black, Bowmore 1964 White and Bowmore 1964 Gold – with exquisite food from New York’s Michelin-star Aureole Restaurant.  This will be the only dinner hosted in the U.S. and one of only two Bowmore Trilogy Dinners in the world – the other taking place in Singapore later this year.  The Trilogy Dinner, hosted by Andrew Rankin, Operations Director of Morrison Bowmore Distillers, will be a unique opportunity to witness how an extraordinary amount of patient aging can transform Scotch into the ultimate expression of the spirit.  Proceeds from the dinner will benefit National Geographic Mission Programs, the division of the National Geographic Society that supports exploration, research and scientific fieldwork, advances geography education and promotes natural and cultural conservation around the world.

The award-winning Bowmore portfolio boasts exceptional malts known to many Scotch enthusiasts, including their 12 Year Old and 15 Year Old Darkest, but the ever-dwindling stock of the Bowmore 1964 collection is truly a limited-edition treasure.  Mere hundreds of bottles of each were released to the world between 2007 and 2009, each retailing for as much as $6,500 per bottle. This unique dinner and tasting will allow guests a taste of each, paired with food expertly tailored to complement each expression by Aureole’s executive chef Christopher Lee.  As host for the evening, Andrew Rankin will take guests on a gustatory journey through the distilling, aging and tasting of the finest and rarest Bowmore expressions, all of which were distilled and laid to rest in 1964 on Islay, Bowmore’s magical home.  For decades they rested in Bowmore’s No. 1 Vaults and today are regarded as some of the most collectable bottles in the world – if you can find one.

“There is something so exquisitely special about sharing the last few drops of our Bowmore 1964 Trilogy,” says Rankin. “I’m proud to present these precious liquid jewels of Islay to our guests. It’s a dinner I believe they won’t soon forget.”

Bowmore was the first distillery to be established on Islay, having hand-crafted its award-winning single malt whisky since 1779.  The distillery lies at the heart of the island of Islay – a mystical island of outstanding natural beauty, rugged, challenging and exposed to the elements. It is very much felt that when someone sips Bowmore in the glass, it brings Islay alive and this whisky represents the true taste of Islay.  It is well-known as one of the best balanced Islay malt whiskies, characterized by its wonderfully rich, warm and smoky flavors.  
 
DINNER EXPRESSIONS

Guests will savor the near ebony color of Black Bowmore, 827 bottles of which were released in 2007 at a retail of $4,500 per bottle. The Black Bowmore has a nose that teems with heady aromas of exotic fruits, ginger and cinnamon, and a palate of ripe mango, toffee and dark chocolate, complemented by the faintest smoky signature of Bowmore and a warm, creamy finish.

Contrast that with the golden syrup color of White Bowmore, released in 2008 with only 732 bottles, at a retail of $6,000. Sniff the aroma of Gallia melon, mango and papaya, and savor the taste of mixed exotic fruits, vanilla and maple syrup with only a wisp of Bowmore peat smoke.

The Gold Bowmore, released in fall 2009 with only 701 bottles, at $6,250, takes its name from the sprit’s rich gold color. It has the aroma of passion fruit, papaya, and vanilla, and a flavor of ripe exotic fruits, creamy vanilla and a hint of smoky peat.

DINNER TICKETS

This unparalleled tasting is limited to an intimate 50 seats only.  Tickets cost $250.00 per person and may be purchased at www.bowmore.com/trilogy.  Dinner will begin at 7:00pm.  Aureole Restaurant is located at 135 W. 42nd Street, NYC.  This extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime event calls for business attire.

Proceeds from the Trilogy Dinner will benefit National Geographic Mission Programs.  The relationship between Bowmore and the National Geographic Society began in the U.K. and Sweden with special photo contests, and continues in the U.S.with Bowmore sponsoring two National Geographic Live public events: “Way off the Beaten Path” featuring author Susan Orlean in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 14; and the Explorers Circle reception for “Ocean Adventure: An Evening With Jean-Michel Cousteau” at the Field Museum in Chicago, Ill. on Nov. 2.  More information on these events can be found online at www.nglive.org.

ABOUT BOWMORE (www.bowmore.com)

The award-winning Bowmore portfolio includes Bowmore Legend, 12 Year Old, 15 Year Old Darkest, 18 Year Old and 25 Year Old in addition to special limited-edition bottlings such as Bowmore Black, White, Gold and Bowmore 40 Year Old.  Bowmore is available nationwide in the U.S. and in more than 45 countries worldwide.  The Bowmore portfolio is imported to the U.S. by Skyy Spirits, LLC.

ABOUT SKYY SPIRITS, LLC

Skyy Spirits, LLC is the US-based wholly owned subsidiary of Gruppo Campari (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM) and the definitive marketer and distributor of super-premium and luxury spirits brands in North America.  Launched in 1992 with the introduction of its flagship brand, SKYY® Vodka, Skyy Spirits has grown exponentially, building a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers.  Skyy Spirits manages Gruppo Campari’s portfolio in the US of such leading brands as SKYY® Vodka, SKYY90®, SKYY Infusions®, Campari®, Wild Turkey® Straight Kentucky Bourbon, American Honey®, Russell’s Reserve®, Glen Grant® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Cabo Wabo® Tequila, Espolón™ Tequila, Ouzo 12®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur® and Jean-Marc XO Vodka®.  Skyy Spirits is also the exclusive US distributor of Cutty Sark® Scotch Whisky, The Glenrothes® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Garioch® Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Flor de Caña® Rum, Carolans Irish Cream®, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey®, Irish Mist® Liqueur, Midori® Melon Liqueur, ZEN Green Tea Liqueur TM, Hibiki® Whisky and The Yamazaki® Single Malt Whisky. 

Skyy Spirits was founded and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. More information on the company can be found at www.skyyspirits.com and www.camparigroup.com.  Please enjoy Skyy Spirits brands responsibly and in moderation.

ABOUT NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MISSION PROGRAMS

Since 1888, National Geographic has shared amazing stories and incredible discoveries with each new generation. National Geographic Mission Programs is the core group that supports exploration, research and scientific fieldwork, advances geography education, promotes natural and cultural conservation, and inspires audiences through vibrant exhibits and live events. The Society supports and funds explorers from both traditional and emerging disciplines. Past and current grantees include polar explorer Robert Peary, mountain gorilla expert Dian Fossey and marine biologist Sylvia Earle. The Society has 13 Explorers-in Residence — including underwater explorer Robert Ballard and documentary filmmakers Dereck and Beverly Joubert, and paleontologist Paul Sereno — who serve as advisers to the Society and conduct exploration under its banner. Each year the Society selects a class of Emerging Explorers, gifted adventurers and scientists making important contributions to world knowledge while still early in their careers. Additionally, the Society has 13 Fellows, among them marine ecologist Enric Sala, archaeologist Fredrick Hiebert and conservationist Tom Lovejoy, who work on specific issues and provide expert advice on Society outreach or policy.