Ballantine’s Launches 2013 Christmas Reserve Limited Edition

Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve doubles in volume since 2010 launch 

Ballantine’s, the world’s No.2 Scotch whisky, has announced the launch of its fourth Christmas Reserve Limited Edition, with 2013 sales volumes standing at double those of 2010 and the festive blend available in 15 markets worldwide.

Ballantine’s is supporting the launch of the 2013 Limited Edition with its biggest-ever integrated marketing campaign. ‘The Taste of Christmas’ aims to maximise awareness and boost sales in countries where Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve has previously been available, as well as helping to create demand in new markets, educating customers and engaging them with the drink.

The campaign communicates the blend’s signature festive characteristics and captures the sensory experience of its seven tasting notes – ginger, moist raisin fruitcake, ripe pears, sweet candy apples, caramel toffee, tangy orange and liquorish root – highlighting the specificity of the Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve as a blend to be enjoyed during the festive season.

The Taste of Christmas will be brought to life with a print and digital advertising campaign which uses iconic illustrations of the tasting notes, and on and off-trade activities. A Facebook App, ‘Discover Your Taste of Christmas,’ https://www.facebook.com/ballantines/app_573278769396873 has also been developed, allowing customers to select their preferred taste sensations and favoured Christmas elements, resulting in a recommendation of the ideal Christmas Reserve serve for them.

Ballantine’s has also developed a signature serve for 2013, the ‘Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve Cinnamon Sleigh’, which is a deliciously warming drink that uses cinnamon to underline the blend’s fruity depths.

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, said: “It’s an ongoing challenge for retailers to achieve visibility during the Christmas season, so we’re thrilled to be supporting the launch of Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve with a comprehensive marketing campaign that allows us to increase the appeal of this special drink for our customers.

“Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve provides those seeking the ideal festive gift – or a unique drink to enjoy this Christmas – with a themed Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. This year’s campaign aims to reflect these qualities, whilst also adopting a dynamic and engaging approach to communications.”

Developed by Ballantine’s Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop, the Limited Edition contains ‘finger print’ malts of Miltonduff and Glenburgie. Hyslop said: “When I set about creating this special Christmas blend, my aim was to reflect Ballantine’s brand values of ‘staying true’ to who you are and so, I carefully considered what Christmas meant to me; the sensory experiences from my life that had left the biggest impressions. Hopefully this has led to Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve capturing the spirit of Christmas and evoking memories associated with this special time.” 

The 2013 Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve Limited Edition is available within 15 markets around the world now, including in Vietnam, the UK and Global Travel Retail. The price varies according to the market, with an RRP of £30 within the UK.

Notes 

About Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve

Different from other whiskies and inspired by Christmas, Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is a blend of subtle details, aromas and tasting notes exclusive to this period: sweet candy apples, ripe pears, caramel toffee, tangy orange…it’s not just one of them, but the sum of them – together, their express its spirit. Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve is also soft, sweet, round and smooth – all signature characteristics of Ballantine’s. The malts and grains have been expertly selected for their sweet, fruity flavours, creating a unique blend that makes Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve the perfect drink to celebrate Christmas.

Tasting Notes

• Colour: The deep, dark colour reflects the complex toffee flavours that make the blend so sumptuous and perfect for Christmas indulgence.
• Nose: Rich, full and fruity with the flavours of luxurious moist raisin fruitcake and sweet candy apples. Perfectly balanced with caramel toffee and soft ripe pears.
• Palate: Deliciously sweet, with notes of succulent tangy orange. Bursting with fruit and finishing with superb hints of liquorice root and ginger.
• Finish: Long, round and honeyed.

About Ballantine’s

Ballantine’s is the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No 2 Scotch whisky in the world with the range selling over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 130 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for its outstanding quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.

About Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits.  Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch. 

For further information www.chivasbrothers.com