BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY CELEBRATES 26^th ANNUAL “HOLIDAYS AT THE TRACE” WITH NEW VISITOR EXPERIENCES

The new holiday experience includes walk-through light displays, expanded food and beverage options, additional photo opportunities, live entertainment, new holiday gift items and more

FRANKFORT, KY (December 9, 2024) – Buffalo Trace Distillery has once again transformed into a holiday destination for its 26^th annual Holidays at the Trace celebration. Taking place throughout the month of December, every detail of Holidays at the Trace has been enhanced for this year’s celebration. In addition to two festive experiences, the Distillery added more than 20,000 LED lights, upgraded to a 35-foot-tall Christmas tree with more than 400 ornaments, and installed more than 70 unique light installations throughout the grounds.

New for 2024, Buffalo Trace Distillery is excited to offer guests an all-new Spirited Nights visitor experience. Spirited Nights is a 12-night complimentary event designed for guests to go beyond the Distillery’s annual drive-through light display for a more immersive, on-foot experience. The brand-new walk-through light installations include a 60-foot-long light tunnel and new themed lights scenes including elves testing toys in Santa’s workshop. Additionally, Spirited Nights adds expanded food & beverage options such as a Buffalo Trace Bourbon Cream Hot Chocolate Bar, complimentary bourbon tastings, a cocktail bar serving winter classics and extended gift shop hours for holiday gifting. Spirited Nights kicked off on December 5 and will continue the second and third weekends in December. Registration is required, please visit HERE for more information.

Returning to Buffalo Trace Distillery is the cherished annual Holidays at the Trace drive-through light show. This year, the drive-through lights feature a new 16-foot-tall display of a jumping gingerbread man and four new buffalo light sculptures. This complimentary drive-through experience can be seen every evening from 5:30pm-8:30pm until December 31.

“Holidays at the Trace is such a beloved tradition at Buffalo Trace Distillery, and we are excited to offer the community more to see and do this year,” said Tyler Adams, Buffalo Trace Distillery General Manager. “Memories are made at Buffalo Trace Distillery every day, but Holidays at the Trace is truly a magical time of the year and we hope this year families can celebrate the season with us and make lasting memories experiencing our new offerings.”

In addition to the new light installations, visitors can check-off their holiday shopping at the Buffalo Trace Distillery Gift Shop, which offers an abundance of items that are perfect for holiday gift giving, from barware and apparel to bottles and specialty foods. New items for 2024 include the Buffalo Trace X Bettinardi Golf Putter & Cover, a limited-edition holiday sweater and an in-store exclusive holiday candle made in a rocks glass that can be used to drink from after the candle is completely burned. Items can be purchased online and shipped nationwide.

For more information about Buffalo Trace Distillery’s holiday experiences, visit HERE 

To shop all items, visit HERE 

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and it is a National Historic Landmark, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Its history 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. The Distillery has won more than 40 distillery titles since 2000 and garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. Its George T. Stagg was named Best Bourbon Whiskey at the 2023 International Whiskey Competition (USA) and its W.L. Weller 12 YO received double gold at the 2023 International Spirits Challenge. Buffalo Trace Distillery has a deep commitment to supporting charitable initiatives. Nonprofit organizations interested in learning more about the Distillery’s efforts are encouraged to register their charity here. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

Whisky Magazine issue #204
Get your hands on our latest issue!

Over the cover, we catch up with Heaven’s Door, the distillery co-founded by musician Bob Dylan. Heaven’s Door was created with the aim of reflecting both Dylan’s virtuosity and the rich heritage of Kentucky whiskey making. Its new Pleasureville distillery is testament to both.

Make sure you don’t miss out!
Buy your copy of Whisky Magazine today

BUY NOW

The latest annual edition of the Whisky Magazine Editor’s Blend has been revealed. The Editor’s Blend 2024 Sweet and Spicy is the seventh release in the series.

Each Editor’s Blend release is made up of more than 1,500 whiskies which were entered into the World Whiskies Awards 2024, drawing its final flavour from styles from around the world. The 2024 edition was bottled at the English Distillery, which earlier this year was awarded the World’s Best Single Malt for its Sherry Cask expression.

The final recipe contains 22 per cent bourbon and rye, 7 per cent peated single malt, 15 per cent blended Irish whiskey, 17 per cent Scotch single malt, 27 per cent Scotch blended whisky, and 12 per cent world blended whisky. Just 195 bottles will be released worldwide, and all the profits from the production will be donated to charity.

The Whisky Magazine Editor’s Blend 2024 Sweet and Spicy is bottled at 46.2% and available now at RRP £85

ORDER NOW

Join us at Rothes Glen, The Luxury Castle for Whisky Connoisseurs, to experience a two-night, all-inclusive ultimate whisky getaway, in the heart of Speyside this January. Our ultimate whisky weekend over Burns Night is perfect for solo whisky enthusiasts, couples or groups who wish to indulge in the finest foods, whiskies and experiences that Rothes Glen and Speyside has to offer, with like-minded people.

Places are limited to just 28 guests in 14 king-sized bedrooms, so book now to avoid disappointment.

BOOK NOW

OUT NOW: Scotch Whisky

Scotch Whisky is the annual publication from the team behind world-renowned drinks titles Whisky Magazine and American Whiskey. Scotch Whisky contains a selection of Whisky Magazine’s in-depth features and interviews from the year, with a catalogue of 100 Scotch whisky tasting reviews to help guide your next purchase.

Scotch Whisky forms the perfect ‘year in review’ for any whisky enthusiast looking to bring themselves up to date with the latest developments in the world’s pre-eminent spirits category or newcomers to Scotland’s national drink who wish to develop a greater depth of knowledge before starting a collection. Scotch Whisky is a valuable addition to any whisky lover’s bookshelf.

BUY NOW

Bimber Distillery Spreads Holiday Cheer with Christmas Cask Lottery and Santa Edition 2024. 

This holiday season, Bimber Distillery is spreading festive cheer with launch of its Christmas Cask Lottery and the release of its much-anticipated Santa Edition 2024. Whether you’re looking to gift the whisky lover or treat yourself to something truly special, Bimber has the perfect offering to make your holiday spirits bright.

The Christmas Cask Lottery offers a unique opportunity for whisky enthusiasts to own a full cask of Bimber’s finest ex-bourbon single malt whisky. This exclusive prize allows the winner to experience the full journey of whisky maturation. In addition to this exclusive main prize, there are more exciting prizes to be won, making the lottery even more special. Tickets are priced at just £10 and are available from Tuesday 10th December to 24th December via the Bimber website. The draw will be conducted live, with the winner announced on 27th December.

Tickets are unlimited, and those purchasing 10 will receive a complimentary bottle of Apogee 12, a delightful gift to unwrap early.

Meanwhile, the Santa Edition 2024 is set to delight whisky connoisseurs with its rich, festive flavours. Limited to just 301 bottles, this exceptional release has been additionally matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry cask and bottled at 57.8% ABV. Its profile brims with seasonal notes of dried fruits, warm spices, and luscious dark chocolate – making it the perfect dram to enjoy by the fireside. This special edition will be available from Tuesday,10th December via the Bimber website and with an RRP of £89.

Speaking about the launch, Bimber Director Ewelina Chruszczyk said: “This Christmas, we’re thrilled to share two extraordinary experiences with our community of whisky lovers. The Christmas Cask Lottery is a chance for someone to own a piece of Bimber’s journey, while the Santa Edition 2024 embodies the joy and warmth of the festive season. These releases highlight our passion for whisky-making and our commitment to creating unforgettable moments for our fans.”

About Bimber  

Founded in 2015, Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. Our traditionally-focussed approach to whisky creation combines the finest ingredients with heritage production methods that are rarely seen today and an absolute commitment to quality. Our detailed approach has seen us recognised as a leading light in whisky production and garnered multiple industry awards. Producing a wide array of fruit-forward, textural single malts we deliver the ultimate craft whisky experience to a rapidly growing global community of Bimber whisky lovers.

www.bimberdistillery.co.uk

This is the season to celebrate the moments we share with our loved ones.Whether given as a gift, or to share together on a special occasion, we have curated a collection of The Macallan single malt whiskies and accessories that will celebrate the moment, as we reflect on the past and toast to the future.

 EXPLORE THE GIFT GUIDE

On the 18th of December, at Drinkmonger in Bruntsfield, Edinburgh, at 7.45pm, we’ll be hosting a relaxed and informal ‘mini-festival’ to celebrate this very busy year and to launch Whiskyland Chapter Seven, a beautiful 2nd fill sherry hogshead of 1994 Springbank.

This won’t be a typical sit-down tasting, instead, we’ll have a range of recent (and possibly quite long sold out) Decadent Drinks bottlings available to taste on stands and we’ll have the new Springbank and our Equinox & Solstice Winter Edition available to taste too.

Those two bottlings will also be available to buy from Drinkmonger, for the first time, before they go on public sale a few days later.

It also means you won’t have to listen to Angus waffling on at length about all manner of nonsense (well, you might have to listen to a bit of that). So, if you are going to be in the neighbourhood, then buy a ticket, come along, taste some delicious drinks and help us celebrate the closing of a very busy and fun year.

GET YOUR TICKET NOW

Our Ultimate Whisky Gift Guide 2024

Searching for the ideal gift for the whisky lover in your life? Look no further. Our Ultimate Whisky Gift Guide 2024 has everything you need—from thoughtful tokens to show-stopping masterpieces.

Explore by budget:

• Whisky Gifts Under £50: Bold flavours, perfect for whisky explorers.
• Whisky Wonders Under £100: Unique finishes that impress every time.
• Luxury Gifts Under £150: Sophistication and depth for connoisseurs.
• The Ultimate Gifts Over £150: Rare, aged whiskies for unforgettable moments.

From accessible treasures to indulgent masterpieces, you’re guaranteed to find a bottle they’ll love.

READ MORE

HOST A WHISKY TASTING.

We’re firm believers that whisky is best served when in good company, so gather your nearest and dearest and host a tasting of your favourite Laphroaig expressions. We’ve included a few helpful tips below to get you started.

1. Prepare a tasting sheet to record the expression, age and proof of each whisky.

2. Starting with the lightest whisky and finishing with the most robust, approach each dram and take a short sniff. Make sure to note down the initial aromas you detect.

3. Now take a deeper sniff by nosing at the top of the rim of the glass and again at the bottom, your dram should resemble the 12 O’clock and 6 O’clock positions when doing this. You should find slightly different aromas come through when in each position.

4. Take a small sip, hold the whisky in your mouth and coat the tongue before swallowing. Write down your first impressions and the flavours you pick up.

5. You can also try adding a few drops of water to the liquid. Watch as the oils in the whisky untether as you swirl the glass. Take a sniff and note any new aromas you pick up.

6. To finish, sit back and sip up with your favourite dram – and remember, this one is for you!

Laphroaig Distillery, Port Ellen, Isle of Islay, Argyll & Bute Scotland, PA42 7DU, United Kingdom

We’re very pleased to present the 2025 Victoria Whisky Festival. The Victoria Whisky Festival will run through Thursday the 16^th, Friday the 17^th, Saturday the 18^th and Sunday the 19^th of January 2025 at the 5-star Hotel Grand Pacific located on Victoria’s beautiful Inner Harbour. To order tickets please contact Frank Hudson at info@victoriawhiskyfestival.com

Suntory Global Spirits Receives VIBES ‘Nature Rich Scotland Award’ for Peatland Water Sanctuary™

Scotland, UK (14 November 2024): Suntory Global Spirits is honoured to announce that its Peatland Water Sanctuary™ (PWS™) program has received the prestigious ‘Nature Rich Scotland Award’ from the VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards. PWS™ was recognised for its long-term advocacy and commitment to restoring and conserving Scotland’s important peatland ecosystems, which helps to re-establish natural habitats, thriving biodiversity, and support healthy water tables.

Led by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), The VIBES Scottish Environment Business Awards celebrate businesses in Scotland that have gone above and beyond to reduce their environmental impact and create a more sustainable future. The ‘Nature Rich Scotland Award’ specifically honours organisations that have implemented initiatives to protect and enhance biodiversity.

Since launching in 2021, Peatland Water Sanctuary™ has completed restoration near the Ardmore distillery in Aberdeenshire in partnership with Forestry & Land Scotland and the James Hutton Institute, at the Airds Moss Nature reserve and The Oa reserve on Islay with RSPB Scotland, and at Craigculter Moss, in partnership with Northern Peat & Moss. With several more projects in planning stages, PWS™ is on track to achieve its 2030 commitment: to restore a minimum of 1,300 hectares of peatlands, enough to produce the same amount of peat that Suntory Global Spirits uses to make its peated whiskies on an ongoing basis.

Suntory Global Spirits marked PWS™ progress this year with a case study video showcasing the importance of peatland restoration, the natural habitats and wetlands that have been revitalised by restoration work, and the charity and conservation partners that are crucial to carrying out such projects. View the video here.

Alistair Longwell, Head of Distillation and Environment, Suntory Global Spirits said: “We are honoured to receive this recognition from the VIBES Awards. PWS™ was launched with ambitious conservation commitments, and it’s incredibly rewarding to see the positive progress we’re making through our collaborations with dedicated environmental partners and experts. We are proud to share this progress with our industry and beyond, and hope that recognitions such as these will continue to raise awareness for this important conservation work.”

Robbie Kernahan, Director of Green Economy at NatureScot, added: “The standard of this year’s VIBES awards was excellent. Suntory Global Spirits is a worthy winner of the Nature Rich Scotland award, which recognises the significant contribution PWS™ has made to peatland restoration in Scotland. Our country’s blanket bogs are amongst the world’s rarest habitats, forming a unique home for a variety of species, improving water quality, reducing flooding, and playing an important role in carbon sequestration. PWS™ is an excellent example of successful collaboration, building business resilience whilst delivering multiple benefits for nature.”

Lisa Tennant, SEPA Chair, commented: “For 25 years SEPA have led the VIBES Awards to recognise sustainable practices and environmental innovation that sets the bar for business. The work of VIBES stretches across the year and the community of winners we have act as a catalyst of change. Their stories of environmental leadership, innovation and sustainable working practices inspire others by showing environmental excellence can go hand in hand with business success.”

The VIBES awards ceremony took place on 12 November 2024 in Glasgow. Suntory Global Spirits was among a select group of businesses recognised for their outstanding contributions to Scotland’s environmental well-being.

About Peatland Water Sanctuary™
The Peatland Water Sanctuary™ is a large-scale series of peatland restoration and watershed conservation projects in Scotland launched in 2021 by Suntory Global Spirits (previously known as Beam Suntory) and its parent company, Suntory Holdings. Through PWS™, the companies have committed to invest more than $4 million to the restoration and conservation of a minimum of 1,300 hectares of peatlands by 2030, enough to produce the same amount of peat that Suntory Global Spirits uses to make its peated whiskies on an ongoing basis. Beyond this, there is a longer-term aim to restore sufficient peatlands by 2040 to equate twice what Suntory Global Spirits uses.

The PWS™ programme began with work to restore and conserve peatland near the Ardmore distillery in November 2021 in partnership with the James Hutton Institute and Forestry & Land Scotland. Since this time, it has also partnered with the RSPB Scotland to regenerate peatland at the Airds Moss reserve in East Ayrshire, Scotland, and at The Oa nature reserve on the island of Islay, Scotland. In 2024, Suntory Global Spirits announced another PWS™ partnership with Northern Peat & Moss to restore peatland using novel techniques at Craigculter Moss in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.

Across its projects, Suntory Global Spirits has already restored 257 hectares of peatland, with a further 677 hectares in active planning stages. The PWS™ programme aligns with the Suntory Group Sustainability Vision and Suntory Global Spirits’ ambitious Proof Positive sustainability strategy, as well as the Scotch Whisky Association’s environmental commitments.

About Suntory Global Spirits 
As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails.

A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive sustainable change and have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com

JOIN OUR WHISKY CLUB…

A fan of Murray McDavid?

Want to be part of an exclusive whisky community?

Join our Murray McDavid Whisky Club for  a look behind the scenes and opportunities to join in with unique tasting sessions.

EVENTS

From international festivals to local tastings.

Check out our events calendar

Aceo Ltd. 5 Royston Road Livingston, Edinburgh EH54 8AH United Kingdom