The fourth World Whisky Forum goes Virtual.

Since 2017, the World Whisky Forum has been about building bridges

in the world of whisky through the exchange of knowledge, networking and open-minded thinking.

The goal is to develop the trade, the product and to push progress – together.

The fourth World Whisky Forum will be held at Stauning Whisky on the 21st to 23rd June, and tickets are currently on sale. Attendees from across the industry will enjoy panel discussions, tours and dinners but also the opportunity to gather for three days with people who all share a passion for whisky.

For the first time, however, you can also choose to take part virtually and watch all the presentations from some of the industry’s most respected voices.

Virtual attendees will be able to watch the panel discussions live or access the recordings exclusively for a limited period. They will also be able to submit questions to the panellists up to a week after the Forum.

The overall theme of the World Whisky Forum 2022 is Sustainability, including topics such as ”The use of finite resources”, ”Building sustainable distilleries and the financial upside of sustainable production” and ”Communicating with the consumer”.

Read more about the World Whisky Forum and see the full line-up of panellists at www.worldwhiskyforum.org and buy your ticket now at www.worldwhiskyforum.org/tickets/.

We look forward to seeing you in June – either in person or virtually.

For more information, please contact Jan Groth at jan.groth@worldwhiskyforum.org

Follow your nose towards a flavour-fuelled Easter adventure; we’re entertaining the senses with this captivating new collection of rare cask whiskies.

WHEN FRUIT AND CREAM COLLIDE

CASK NO. 88.24

CASK TYPE:  Refill ex-bourbon hogshead

AGE:  12 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Sweet, fruity & mellow

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Tangerines, cherries and mango fused with buttery croissants and banana bread while thick cream drizzled over rhubarb and apple crumble.”

LIGHT-HEARTED MEMORIES

CASK NO. 135.33

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  9 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

BOTTLE NOTE:  “What a frightfully spiffing idea – we have tea on the lawn and play a game of croquet, ideally with Pimm’s in one hand and mallet in the other.”

PARIS IN THE SPRING

CASK NO. 5.79

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  18 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Juicy, oak & vanilla

BOTTLE NOTE:  “We were transported to Montmartre in springtime. We sat outside a café with peppermint tea and a Biedermeier Torte as we watched the world go by.”

TABANCO TIME

CASK NO. N/A

CASK TYPES:  Oloroso & PX butts & hogsheads

AGE:  11 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Deep, rich & dried fruits

BOTTLE NOTE:  “Blended malt scotch whisky from PX and Oloroso sherry quarter casks, hogsheads and butts in Spanish & American oak.”

PUMPKIN RED APPLE SAUCE*

CASK NO. B6.2

CASK TYPE:  New oak barrel

AGE:  4 years

BOTTLE NOTE:  “A spicy pumpkin apple sauce with Red Delicious apples turned with water into cinnamon swirls and sweet dried apricots and papayas.”

*This is the Giving Spirit bottle for April; SMWS Canada will donate 100% of profits from sales to The Canadian-Ukraine Foundation.

AN ENGINE STARTER FOR COLD MORNINGS

CASK NO. 66.193

CASK TYPE:  1st fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  7 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Lightly peated

BOTTLE NOTE:  “The palate starts your engine – pickled ginger, jalapenos, lime and tarry smoke. The nose evokes campfires, crashing waves and the steamie.”

LET US GO DUTCH

CASK NO. 29.284

CASK TYPE:  2nd fill ex-bourbon barrel

AGE:  10 years

FLAVOUR PROFILE:  Heavily peated

BOTTLE NOTE:  “A heavily smoked Dutch spirit called Kummel as we needed ‘Dutch courage’ to take a sip but realized that this will not need a ‘Dutch auction!'”

CONTEST TIME!

Here’s your chance to win an SMWS hip flask (valued at $65CAD)! 

SMWS UK is working on a flask-related feature for an upcoming issue of Unfiltered magazine, and if you own a flask then they want to hear from you on the UK social media channels! 

Here’s how to enter:

1) Post a photo of yourself and your flask on Twitter, Instagram and/or Facebook tagging in the UK accounts (@SMWSUK on Twitter; @smws_uk on Instagram; and @thesmwsuk on Facebook); you can also use the hashtag #smwshipflask

2) In your caption tell us:

-your favourite drams and flavour profiles for hip flasks and why

-tell us about your favourite style of hip flask

That’s it! Contest closes on Friday, April 29th and membership must be in good standing to win. Full Terms and Conditions here.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB  T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca

THE BEST WHISKY BAR IN THE WORLD:

EDINBURGH’S KALEIDOSCOPE BAR WINS TOP PRIZE AT WHISKY MAGAZINE AWARDS

OPEN TO ALL: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Kaleidoscope Bar at 28 Queen Street Edinburgh has been announced as Global Whisky Bar of the Year at the prestigious Whisky Magazine 2022 awards. A visit is a must for all whisky adventurers in the city

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s (SMWS) Kaleidoscope Bar in Edinburgh has been named the Icons of Whisky, ‘Global Whisky Bar of the Year,’ in Whisky Magazine’s World Whisky Awards 2022 in London. A huge achievement for the SMWS and superb timing as we head into a restriction-free summer.

The journey of discovery when tasting whisky can be overwhelming but Kaleidoscope Bar offers something quite magical for both SMWS members and non-members compared to rival whisky experiences. From the bar’s remarkable and captivating building to offering guests can’t-buy-anywhere-else whiskies and experiences, a visit to the bar is a must for all whisky adventurers in the city.

Kaleidoscope Bar is a warm, welcoming whisky bar located on the ground floor of 28 Queen Street, an elegant four-story Georgian town house in the heart of Scotland’s capital city. The award-winning bar is open to all, offering fantastic welcome deals to not-yet-members including ‘Membership and a bottle for £99’.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s focus is always on flavour and Kaleidoscope Bar love to experiment with sensory elements to enhance the enjoyment of drinking whisky. Every visit brings something different with a new selection of rare whiskies to explore almost every week alongside creative food pairings, music matches, one-of-a-kind cask cocktails to playing with aroma. A recent collaboration with Kingdom Scotland, Scotland’s first fragrance house, incorporated guests’ olfactory systems to show how your sense of smell is key to discovery when enjoying whisky.

Kaleidoscope Bar’s expertly trained staff guide visitors through the colourful world of SMWS whiskies and recommend the best dram for them based on their flavour preferences. It’s the perfect way to discover and learn about SMWS whisky, but also the benefits of being an SMWS member.

The bar is home to an ever-changing collection of more than 500 exclusive single malts from Scotland and beyond – the SMWS recently celebrated its 150^th distillery release, from Ireland. The bar also offers the finest craft beers, artisanal spirits, cocktails and wines.

The 28 Queen Street venue hosts a busy programme of colourful whisky tasting experiences, previews of new SMWS bottlings, one-off whisky events and masterclasses as well as private bookings – there’s something for everyone.

Commenting on the prestigious award, Sarah Prior, Venue Manager at 28 Queen Street, said: “To win ‘Global Whisky Bar of the Year’ is an outstanding achievement and to gain that highest level of recognition is amazing. We pride ourselves on being a warm and welcoming bar with expertise in whisky, but Kaleidoscope is a fantastic bar for anyone to visit, whatever their level of whisky knowledge. If you’re a whisky lover already, it’s a must-visit location.

“The passion our staff have for the Society is embodied in our friendly and first-class service. Being open to non-members gives us the chance to show this love for the world’s most colourful whisky club.

“From ever-changing unique single malt and one-of-a-kind single cask drams to a range of summer cocktails and delicious bar snacks, there’s something to please every guest. As we welcome more visitors to our beautiful city over the summer months, Kaleidoscope Bar will be the place to visit in Edinburgh for locals and tourists alike.”

Begin a discovery of flavour with the Society now and find out more about visiting Kaleidoscope Bar here: smws.com/venues/28-queen-street

CONTACT DETAILS

28 Queen Street Edinburgh EH2 1JX

0131 220 2044

E: queenstreet@smws.com

F: @SMWSQueenStreet

T: @SMWSQueenStreet

I: @SMWS_queenstreet

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

FB:  https://cutt.ly/SMWSUKFacebook

IG:  https://cutt.ly/SMWSUKInstagram

T:  https://cutt.ly/SMWSUKTwitter

YT: https://cutt.ly/SMWSUKYoutube

#SMWS

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 30,000 members and branches around the world.
• The SMWS bottles rare single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society bottles single malts, unique single casks and exclusive blends
• The Society has bottled whisky from 150 distilleries in Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single malt whiskies every month
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages that can be tailored. Please see: https://cutt.ly/SMWSUKMembership  
• For more information about the Society, visit: The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

UK MEMBERS ROOMS

SMWS EDINBURGH

28 Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1JX

The Vaults, 87 Giles St, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6BZ

SMWS GLASGOW

40 Bath St, Glasgow G2 1HG

SMWS LONDON

19 Greville St, London EC1N 8SQ

Global winner of the Icons of Whisky Independent Bottler of the year award

Lady of the Glen was named the Icons of Whisky Independent Bottler of the year at the 2022 Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky awards held at the Honourable Artillery Company (HAC)
City Road, London.

Returning to London as an in-person event, the global awards ceremony saw the announcement of the World Whiskies Awards and the Icons of Whisky global winners.

Following the team winning the Icons of Whisky Independent Bottler of the year Scotland category we were submitted into the Global category which took place in London. The winner was selected by blind tasting review of stock and an application so we were over the moon to win based on our spirit quality!

Paul, Gavin, Alex and I would like to thank all of our customers over the years for buying our bottles and supporting our business. We would especially like to thank Scotland’s distillers and the cooperages around the world that create the capacity for us to create our spirit!

Thank you ~ Gregor

Kevin O’Gorman Crowned Master Distiller / Master Blender of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Awards

Pictured here: Whisky Magazine Managing Editor Damian Riley Smith, Irish Distillers Master Distiller Kevin O’Gorman, World Whisky Awards Director Anita Ujszaszi Photo credit: Tony Baker

Kevin O’Gorman, Master Distiller at Midleton Distillery, took home the coveted title of Master Distiller / Master Blender of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Awards 2022, presented in a special ceremony in London on Thursday, March 24th.

O’Gorman was awarded the trophy in recognition of his contribution to the Irish Distillers portfolio and the wider Irish whiskey category since stepping into the role of Master Distiller in June 2020. Starting his career at Midleton in 1998, O’Gorman worked as a distiller under the tutelage of Master Distiller Emeritus Barry Crockett, before honing his maturation skills under then Master of Maturation Brendan Monks.

Since taking the helm, O’Gorman has facilitated the team’s continued commitment to innovation and experimentation within the Irish whiskey category, leading to a slew of noteworthy launches from the County Cork distillery.

A highlight of the Master Distiller’s tenure so far has been his opportunity to oversee the annual Midleton Very Rare Vintage, putting his own individual mark on the eagerly anticipated 2021 and 2022 expressions, both of which claimed Gold medals at the prestigious International Wine & Spirits Competition.

Commenting on his win, O’Gorman says: “This is an incredibly proud moment for me personally and for Irish whiskey which continues to establish itself as a leading spirit on the world stage.

“This trophy is a tribute to my predecessors, who taught me so much, and the incredible team at Midleton Distillery today, whose boundless passion and dedication means we are able to produce award-wining whiskeys of unrivalled quality.”

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines, and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey, experiencing 30 years of consecutive growth up to 2019 and hitting sales of 8.6m cases in 2021. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €400 million to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.

We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.

About Pernod Ricard 

Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €8,824 million in FY21. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard’s brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group’s decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of “Créateurs de Convivialité.” As reaffirmed by the Group’s three-year strategic plan, “Transform and Accelerate,” deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard’s strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics. As illustrated by the 2030 roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “We bring good times from a good place.” In recognition of Pernod Ricard’s strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis and is ranked No. 1 in the beverage sector in Vigeo Eiris. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation’s Global Compact LEAD company.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY AND FRANKFORT PARKS AND RECREATION TO HOST ANNUAL EASTER EVENT VIA DRIVE-THROUGH

Complimentary Event to Feature The Easter Bunny

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (March 31, 2022) – Buffalo Trace Distillery and the City of Frankfort Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites will host its annual Easter event in a drive-through style this year. The complimentary event will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on April 10 and will feature a festive “bunny trail” driving route filled with balloons, Easter eggs, music and the Easter Bunny.

Guests will follow the bunny trail through the Distillery grounds to various egg stations. After collecting five eggs, at the end of the route children will receive a special treat and may wave at the Easter Bunny. No registration is required to attend.

Buffalo Trace Distillery is located at 113 Great Buffalo Trace, in Frankfort, Ky. Visitors should enter at the main Distillery entrance, and everyone is asked to remain in their cars throughout the route. There is no charge to drive down the bunny trail at Buffalo Trace.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2^nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022.   Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

Double Win for Abbey – Icons of Whisky Global Winners!

We’re absolutely delighted to report that Abbey Whisky has been awarded Global Online Whisky Retailer and our very own Mike Sharples named Global Buyer of the year at Whisky Magazines Icons of Whisky Awards.

A massive shout out to you our amazing customers, we couldn’t have done this without you! Thank you very much for your continued support, it really means the world to our family run business!

Slàinte

The team at Abbey Whisky

READ MORE

CHIVAS BROTHERS BRINGS HOME A COMPLETE ABERLOUR A’BUNADH COLLECTION

AND CELEBRATES AN INDUSTRY ICON AT SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE WHISKY FESTIVAL 2022

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch Whisky business of Pernod Ricard, unveils its line-up of in-person events at this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. The events will take place at its world-famous distilleries across the Scotch heartland of Speyside between 27th April – 2nd May 2022.

The Scotch producer is offering festival-goers the first-ever opportunity to taste a flight of the rarest and finest whiskies from the Aberlour A’bunadh (“Original”) collection. A cult classic among whisky fans, a full collection of all 71 Aberlour A’bunadh expressions released to date was recently brought home to Aberlour after being acquired through whisky broker Mark Littler LTD. The only known and available series (outside of the Chivas Brothers archive) will be selectively and exclusively accessible to whisky fans and Scotch enthusiasts at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival ‘Celebrating 25 Years of A’bunadh’ inaugural tasting session on Thursday 28^th April. Inspired by the iconic A’bunadh’s aromatic richness, the evening will include a dining experience in the Fleming Hall, paired with five different expressions of this collectable Speyside single malt.

The full Aberlour A’bunadh collection will then be made available for special tastings at Aberlour distillery until the whisky is gone.

This year’s festival also marks Alan Winchester’s swansong, as the Master Distiller of The Glenlivet prepares to embark on a new chapter in his illustrious 45-year career in the Scotch whisky industry. Fans will get a rare opportunity to delve into Alan’s career, listen to his personal highlights and celebrate his invaluable contribution to whisky-making at the ‘An audience with Alan Winchester’ event, held at The Glenlivet Distillery on Friday 29^th April at 5:30pm.

New whisky discoverers and discerning drinkers alike are invited to explore, taste, and learn about the renowned Speyside region in some of Chivas Brothers’ brand homes. Through expertly guided tastings and historical experiences hosted by head distillers and ambassadors at The Glenlivet, Aberlour and Strathisla visitor centres, whisky lovers will be fully immersed in Scotland’s water of life and rich culture, while soaking up Speyside’s beautiful scenery.

In addition to learning about the craftsmanship behind some of Chivas Brothers’ world-renowned whiskies, visitors will be able to purchase their favourite blends and single malts from the shops at each site, including select and unique batches of Aberlour A’bunadh and the Distillery Reserve Collection – a carefully curated selection of 48 new single cask expressions from Chivas Brothers’ 13 single malt distilleries.

Graeme Cruickshank, Aberlour Master Distiller, commented: “We couldn’t be more excited to welcome fans back to our distilleries for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2022 to celebrate Scotland’s national drink. This year’s festival is extra special for us, as we finally get to share the only known full Aberlour A’bunadh collection for Scotch fans to taste and we raise a toast to the man-of-the-hour, Alan Winchester, and his impressive career. We look forward to sharing our rich Scotch heritage over the long weekend, and welcoming visitors to our brand homes to explore, taste and learn more about Speyside.”

For event tickets and more information around the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2022 please visit: https://www.spiritofspeyside.com/festivals/whisky

 All distillery exclusive bottlings are also available for purchase at Aberlour, The Glenlivet and Strathisla online stores below:

Aberlour: https://www.aberlour.com/en/distillery-reserve-collection/

The Glenlivet: https://www.theglenlivet.com/en-UK/buy-now

Strathisla: https://www.chivas.com/en-GB/page/strathisla-eshop

The full event line-up includes:

THURSDAY 28 APRIL 2022

Celebrating 25 Years of A’bunadh

Time: 7pm – 10pm

Location: Charlestown of Aberlour, The Fleming Hall

Ticket: £250

Buy tickets here

A must for the A’bunadh fan. Join our Master Distiller, Graeme Cruickshank, in conversation with Chris Brousseau (Archivist), Caris Simpson (Brand Ambassador), and the Visitor Centre team in celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of our iconic Aberlour A’bunadh.

The evening, hosted by Caris Simpson, explores A’bunadh from its beginnings. Graeme Cruickshank takes you into the heart of our spirit while Chris Brousseau adds the historical soul.

Celebrating the original Sherry cask bottlings created by our founder, James Fleming, every batch of A’bunadh is unique. His ethos of placing exceptional quality above all else is still upheld by those who continue to craft Aberlour’s spirit. The celebration will be held in the Fleming Hall, built in his memory for use by the community he loved.

The evening includes a flight of our rarest and finest batches. This first-ever sampling is combined with a dining experience inspired by our iconic A’bunadh’s aromatic richness. Each guest will also take away a bottle of the latest A’bunadh batch available in our Visitor Centre.

FRIDAY 29 APRIL 2022

Under Lock and Key

Time: 10:30am – 1pm

Location: The Glenlivet Distillery

Ticket: £200

Buy tickets here

Join our Master Distiller, Alan Winchester, on his swansong at The Glenlivet to discover the truth behind generations of struggles between patrolling excise officers and our distillery team in this wild, rugged landscape.

Along the journey you’ll meet some of Alan’s esteemed colleagues, with over 120 years of whisky experience between them, as we see our infamous sma’ still at work and visit both our original Minmore Still House and 1824 distillery site.

With “dramming” ceased on several occasions, experience first-hand the bold and inventive ways our whisky was smuggled, pilfered, and syphoned, not only in 1824, but up until the late 1970s.

This incredible opportunity includes a tasting of once-in-a-lifetime whiskies and a signed bottle of The Glenlivet 12 Years Old Licensed Dram limited edition to celebrate Alan’s closing hurrah.

(Not suitable for non-walkers)

Sleeping Giants

Time: 2.30pm – 5pm

Location: Strathisla Distillery, Visitor Centre

Ticket: £250

Buy tickets here

Great whiskies have hearts of oak. Character-building, flavour-creating wooden casks racked silently in the shadows and stillness of a bonded warehouse. Each one carefully nurturing new spirit for as long as it takes. You really must experience the atmosphere, so for the first hour of this event, Brand Ambassador, Caris Simpson, will accompany you out from Strathisla to Mulben, where Ross and Duncan, from our North Operations team, will reveal fascinating insights about cask selection and the long maturation process.

On returning to our Visitor Centre Boardroom, you’ll explore the results of this highly skilled craft. Chivas Regal blending expert, Kevin Balmforth, will guide you through tastings of five aged editions from the Distillery Reserve Collection. Then, moving on to the Chivas Cellar in Warehouse No.3, we’ll offer you a farewell dram drawn straight from the cask, together with Strathisla 25 Years Old, a 50cl bottle, to take away with you.

An Audience with Alan Winchester

Time: 5.30pm – 7pm

Location: The Glenlivet Distillery

Ticket: £25

Buy tickets here

Alan Winchester, Master Distiller of The Glenlivet, will soon be leaving us in person, though never in spirit. We’d love you to join us and raise a dram in celebration of his invaluable contribution to whisky-making: mashman, brewer, stillman, distillery manager and master distiller… As we open the big, red book on his 45-years in the industry, providing a unique, never to be repeated experience to delve into his knowledge and stories. So, this is a rare opportunity to hear Alan’s anecdotes, his views on the industry’s past – and future – and ask him those burning questions. Hosted by Director of Blending, Sandy Hyslop, and Alex Robertson, our Head of Heritage, Education and Archives.

High Spirits

Time: 8pm – 10pm

Location:  Aberlour, The Fleming Hall

Ticket: £50

Buy tickets here

Our exhilarating night ‘flight’ around Speyside is prepped for departure, with Ethan Miln heading the cocktail cockpit team.

Day job? Brand Ambassador for Ballantine’s. Highly trained, global outlook, fun to fly with.

Your route? The Glenlivet, Aberlour, Glenburgie, Strathisla. Discover each spirit’s true character through crafted bespoke drinks and in-flight insights from our deep-knowledge crew.

Cocktail service, music and food – all complimentary.

Check-in online – right now.

SATURDAY 30 APRIL 2022

Pioneering Spirit

Time: 1pm – 2pm

Location:  The Glenlivet Distillery

Ticket: Free

Get tickets here

Who doesn’t love a dram? Call it uisge beatha, the water of life, whisky…Scotland’s national drink is known worldwide as a very special part of our culture. But what does it have to do with archaeological digs and the National Trust for Scotland?

Pioneering Spirit is a unique research project led by The National Trust for Scotland in partnership with The Glenlivet that aims to unearth the real history of whisky. Pairing archive research with archaeological digs at the original distillery site of The Glenlivet and National Trust for Scotland locations, the project is uncovering the illicit stills and forgotten bothies that were used to illegally produce and smuggle Scotch whisky across the Highlands in the early 1800s.

Join The Glenlivet’s Brand Ambassador Caris Simpson as she talks with Master Distiller Alan Winchester and The National Trust for Scotland’s Archaeologist about Pioneering Spirit, the impact of illicit whisky distilling on Scottish history and how The Glenlivet’s founder, George Smith, risked life and liberty to produce illicit single malt whisky that came to represent Speyside’s signature style.

THE DEVIL’S KEEP BY THE CRAFT IRISH WHISKEY CO. 

IS CROWNED BEST SINGLE MALT IN IRELAND ACROSS ALL CATEGORIES

(London – 25 March 2022) The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. has been crowned Best Single Malt in Ireland across all categories at The World Whiskies Awards with its inaugural release The Devil’s Keep.

The industry’s finest gathered together at the Honourable Artillery Company in London on Thursday, 24 March to celebrate the 2022 Whisky Magazine Awards. Returning to London as an in-person event, the global awards ceremony saw the announcement of the World Whiskies Awards and the Icons of Whisky global winners, as well as four new inductees to Whisky Magazine’s renowned Hall of Fame. The Whisky Magazine Awards seek to honour the very best in the industry, across its people, places and products.

The Devil’s Keep beat off stiff competition from five other Irish Single Malt whiskeys across five different categories including Knappogue Castle 12 Years Old in the Single Malt 12 years and under, Teeling Whiskey Brabazon Series 4 in the Single Malt 13-20 year category, Teeling Whiskey 30 Years Old Single Malt in the 21 years and over category, Clonakilty Distillery O’Hara’s Cask Finish Special Limited Edition in the Small Batch Single Malt category and The Irishman 17 Years Old in the Single Cask Single Malt 13-20 years category.

Unfortunately, Ireland missed out on being crowned the World’s Best Single Malt with the title going to England’s winner in the Single Malt no age statement category – The Lakes Distillery The Whiskymaker’s Reserve No.4, who was up against 18 countries from all over the world.

Commenting after being crowned winner of Best Single Malt across all categories in Ireland, Jay Bradley, founder and CEO of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. said: “While we didn’t win the World’s Best I am ecstatic and equally humbled that The Devil’s Keep was crowned Best Single Malt in Ireland, seeing off some fantastic whiskeys including two from the Teeling stable. For the first whiskey that I’ve ever created to go on to be crowned best whiskey to come out of Ireland that year, that’s unheard of and an amazing achievement. It just reinforces to me that what we are doing is working and that the critics and experts are enjoying what we are creating. We have so much more to do and winning this award makes me hungrier than ever to forge on and keep making phenomenal whiskeys.”  

This is the ninth award for The Devil’s Keep, a rare triple distilled, Single Malt whiskey and one of the finest whiskeys that Ireland has ever created. The launch of The Devil’s Keep in November 2020 saw just 333 bottles released. It was the most expensive inaugural first release in history, selling at auction for USD $60,000 (almost £46,000 and €51,000 Euros), and the oldest triple distilled Irish whiskey in existence, only to be topped by The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s second release in February 2021 of the 30-year-old The Emerald Isle Collection.

Amongst its other accolades is a Gold award from the world-renowned International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2021 and a Gold from the Global Luxury Spirit Masters 2021.

A second release of The Devil’s Keep is due in the coming months and will only be available to Whiskey & Wealth Club members.

For more information on The Devil’s Keep and other whiskeys from The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. visit www.craftirishwhiskey.com

About The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is on a mission to reinvent Irish whiskey, elevating its potential as a luxury product and restoring Ireland’s reputation for crafting the finest whiskeys in the world.

Formed in 2018 by Irish entrepreneur Jay Bradley, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. was born from a desire to return Irish whiskey to the heights it once enjoyed. To achieve such a goal has taken a complete reimagining of the craft; honouring centuries of tradition but questioning convention and adding scientific understanding to reinvent the maturation of the whiskey. No expense is spared, no corners are cut.

To elevate Irish whiskey’s potential, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. has looked to the past, revisiting the art of whiskey-making perfected by the country’s master distillers. While the rise of mass production and blends has pushed this art to one side, the company is invested in restoring it by adding scientific knowledge and a willingness to push boundaries. Underfilling the barrels allows maturation to start at once. Adding water before maturation, or before finishing, allows the water and whiskey to marry over time and avoids the need to dilute the single malt before bottling. The whiskeys are bottled at cask strength to preserve the complex flavour profiles and rich viscosity. Using ultra-premium finishing barrels to mature the single malt delivers rich, rounded notes, while a deep understanding of barrel craft ensures the barrels are moved, rotated and the whiskey disgorged into new ones to create a bespoke journey. The whiskeys are accompanied by skilfully designed and scientifically-perfected accessories that deliver a whiskey experience worthy of the liquid.

In 2021, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. became the most awarded new company of the year amassing a total of seventeen awards across both Taste and Design for four of its ultra-rare whiskey releases.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is the exclusive Michelin Plaque Distribution Partner for The Michelin Guide Star Revelation Great Britain and Ireland 2022.

For more information visit www.craftirishwhiskey.com  

The Devil’s Keep – Tasting Notes 

Colour: 

1.4 Tawny Characterised by its distinctive tawny, amber colour 

Nose: 

The Devil’s Keep opens with a nose of the rich aromas of a traditional Christmas cake and Vermont maple syrup, followed by powerful notes of ripe banana, sherry-soaked raisins and hints of 70% dark chocolate adding depth. 

Palate: 

The sweetness of golden honey combines with Amarone and accents of dark cherries to add a velvet softness balanced beautifully by a dusting of rich dark chocolate to round off the palate. Rich and warming yet fresh and well-balanced, with supple sweetness and a rich texture. 

Finish: 

Beautifully constructed, long and viscous with remanence of maple syrup and chocolate which opens up the liquid to a fine balance of smooth and rich flavours. Rich and oily on the palate, but not overwhelmingly so, and underpinned with a slightly dry finish, providing an indulgent and inimitable taste that will remain on the taste buds.

Golds for Corby at International Wine and Spirit Competition

TORONTO, March 31, 2022 – Corby Spirit and Wine has earned some new decorations for several of its brands.

At the 2022 International Wine and Spirit Competition, gold medals were adorned on Corby’s Lot No. 40 Dark Oak Rye Whisky — called “outstanding” by the judges — Lot No. 40 Rye Whisky and Polar Ice Vodka. Corby was also awarded two silver medals and three bronzes at the annual awards that set the international benchmark for quality.

“We take great pride in crafting premium whiskies across our family of brands, and these IWSC medals are reflective of the hard work and innovation that goes into each and every batch we create,” says Dr. Don Livermore, Master Blender at the Hiram Walker and Sons distillery in Windsor, where Corby’s spirits are produced. “That we have also placed two Polar Ice Vodka products on the podium is a testament to the quality and diversity from the Corby Spirit and Wine roster. All of our medal winners have secured scores that can only be considered as excellent. We are extremely proud of that.”

The IWSC is the beverage alcohol industry’s most innovative awards program, consistently pioneering new categories that are emerging onto the drinks scene. It is also the most commercially conscious drinks competition, able to leverage is international reach on behalf of its winners.

The 2022 competition was the largest in the IWSC’s history, with more than 4,000 submissions in 21 categories, representing more than 90 countries. All spirits were tasted by the IWSC’s carefully curated panels of industry experts, led by members of its Spirits Judging Committee.

CORBY GOLD MEDALLISTS

• Lot No. 40 Dark Oak Rye Whisky

Category: Worldwide rye whisky, unpeated

Score: 96

Judges’ Tasting Notes: Expressive aromas of caramel and raw cocoa. Palate carries sweetness of fudge, butter toffee with a hint of bittersweet cherry in a very elegant manner. Creaminess of rye allows smooth dry finish with a long aftertaste. Outstanding.

• Lot No. 40 Rye Whisky

Category: Worldwide rye whisky, unpeated

Score: 95

Judges’ Tasting Notes: Faint aromas with a gentle hint of caramel develop a complex palate bursting with layers of confected sugar and jammy purple fruits, developing into notes of cinnamon and cherry. Well balanced with richness and elegance allowing a spiced dry finish.

CORBY SILVER MEDALLISTS

• P. Wiser’s 10-Year-Old Canadian Whisky

Category: Worldwide whisky, blended, unpeated

Score: 90

Judges’ Tasting Notes: A blend of fresh fruit salad, honey, vanilla and ginger on the nose. A beautifully warming palate of maple pecan and coffee delights with a sweet, lingering finish.

NOTE: Currently only available in EU export markets, it will be launching in the United States this summer and in Canada in the fall.

• P. Wiser’s Red Letter 15-Year-Old Canadian Whisky

Category: Worldwide whisky, blended, unpeated

Score: 93

Judges’ Tasting Notes: Fresh citrus and white pepper layer with soft vanilla aromas enhanced with juicy tropical undertones towards a candied orange finish.

CORBY BRONZE MEDALLISTS

• Pike Creek 10-Year-Old Canadian Whisky

Category: Worldwide whisky, blended, unpeated, cask finish)

Score: 89

Judges’ Tasting Notes: A bold whisky with maple and vanilla richness that lifted by a spiced sweetness on the palate.

• Lot No. 40 Rye Explorations No. 1 Peated Quarter Cask Whisky

Category: Worldwide rye whisky, unpeated

Score: 89

Judges’ Tasting Notes: Gently peaty nose belies depth of flavours on palate where smoke leads the way to pepper heat and attitude.

About Corby Spirit and Wine
Corby Spirit and Wine Limited is a leading Canadian manufacturer, marketer and distributor of spirits and wines. Corby’s portfolio of owned-brands includes some of the most renowned brands in Canada, including J.P. Wiser’s®, Lot 40®, and Pike Creek® Canadian whiskies, Lamb’s® rum, Polar Ice® vodka, McGuinness® liqueurs, Ungava® gin, Cabot Trail® maple-based liqueurs and Chic Choc® Spiced rum, and Foreign Affair® wines. Through its affiliation with Pernod Ricard S.A., a global leader in the spirits and wine industry, Corby also represents leading international brands such as ABSOLUT® vodka, Chivas Regal®, The Glenlivet® and Ballantine’s® Scotch whiskies, Jameson® Irish whiskey, Beefeater® gin, Malibu® rum, Kahlúa® liqueur, Mumm® champagne, and Jacob’s Creek®, Wyndham Estate®, Stoneleigh®, Campo Viejo®, and Kenwood® wines. Corby is a publicly traded company based in Toronto, Ontario, and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbols CSW.A and CSW.B.

For further information, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, or Twitter.