BLACK BULL AND ECURIE ECOSSE CHARGE AHEAD

Sponsorship deal sealed which will see Black Bull as 2013 title sponsorship of the legendary Ecurie Ecosse racing team

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd are pleased to announce that their award winning Black Bull brand will be powering the Ecurie Ecosse racing team to the 2013 British GT and 2013 European Le Mans Series (GTC Class) Championships.

Ecurie Ecosse is one of the most respected and influential privateer racing teams in racing history. Three Formula One World Champions and every Scottish Formula One winner has raced for Ecurie Ecosse, not to mention the success the team has had in racing championships around the world. Founded in 1951 by Edinburgh accountant David Murray, the team has won the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans twice in 1956 and 1957, where they also finished 1st and 2nd, and under the stewardship of current owner, Hugh McCaig, were winners of the C2 World Sportscar Championship in 1986 and winners of the British Touring Car Championship in 1995.

Black Bull is the original 100 proof blended Scotch whisky. First produced by the Dundee based blenders, George Willsher & Co., in the 1860’s, the brand came to prominence after the repeal of prohibition in the United States in the mid 1930’s. By the end of 1980’s, Black Bull was a well-known name in the U.S and throughout Europe, and was subsequently acquired by Duncan Taylor Scorch Whisky Ltd. Today, the brand is sold in more than 25 countries throughout the world, and has been decorated with many prestigious awards, including “Gold” and “Best in Class” International Spirits Challenge 2013, “Best Blended Scotch Whisky 21 Years & Over” World Whisky Awards 2012, “Best Blended Scotch Whisky” World Whisky Awards 2012, “Best Blended Scotch Whisky 12 Years and Under” World Whisky Awards 2011, “Gold” International Wines & Spirits Challenge 2011, “Gold” International Spirits Competition 2011, “Winner – Blend Category” Scottish Field Whisky Challenge 2011.

Euan Shand, Chairman of Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd said: “Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky are very pleased to be key sponsors of Ecurie Ecosse for the 2013 season, especially so in their pursuit of racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014, the world’s greatest motor race. The rich heritage shared by both companies and their pursuit of excellence in their respective fields in surely a recipe for achieving that goal. Ecurie Ecosse’s current dominance in both championships is a wonderful opportunity to bring the Duncan Taylor’s Black Bull 100 Proof blended whisky brand to the attention of a new audience.”

Oliver Bryant, Ecurie Ecosse Director and driver added: “For Ecurie Ecosse to initiate a new alliance with a major brand like Black Bull is a terrific opportunity for European promotional activity. Indeed, we are already discussing a number of innovative activation strategies with Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky for implementation throughout the year…This partnership is a great match: both are world-class Scottish brands with a rich heritage and pedigree who share the same goal of being at Le Mans 2014.”

Ecurie Ecosse currently leads the points’ standings in both the British GT Championship and European Le Mans Series (GTC Class). Black Bull branding will appear on the squad’s BMW Z4 GT3 for the first time at this weekend’s British GT round at Snetterton in the UK on June 15/16, while the next round of the European Le Mans Series takes the team to the Red Bull Ring in Austria on July 19/20.

About Duncan Taylor

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd is an award winning Scotch whisky merchant, blender, bottler, and cask broker. The company was founded in 1938, but with origins dating back to 1864, the company over the decades has built up one of the largest privately owned collections of rare and vintage casks of whisky in the world.

Under the direction of Euan Shand, current owner and chairman, the independent, family owned company, has expanded into blending and bottling, subsequently producing some of the most respected and recognisable whisky brands in the market today. Key cask management and selection for bottling has lead to some of the finest and rarest whiskies being made available to discerning drinkers, which in turn has lead to Duncan Taylor receiving a reputation as one of the highest quality producers in the drinks industry.

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky was awarded the Independent Bottler of the Year in 2009, recognition as the leading Independent bottler of whisky in the industry by one of the foremost whisky publications Whisky Magazine.

For more information on Duncan Taylor visit www.duncantaylor.com

For more information on Black Bull visit www.blackbullwhisky.com