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

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

30 Years of Whisky Excellence: The Coastal Embrace Collection

To celebrate 30 years of pioneering whisky craftsmanship, we’re thrilled to introduce the Coastal Embrace Collection—a stunning limited edition series of 28-year-old blended malt Scotch whiskies.

Each ‘chapter’ in this remarkable collection is a tribute to Scotland’s iconic coastal distilleries, aged and finished in top-quality casks from renowned wine and spirit producing regions that add unique depth and character to every dram.

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Join us on a journey through the Art of Maturation, as each chapter in this exclusive series combines Scotland’s coastal heritage with extraordinary influences from around the world. With names like Highland Park, Laphroaig, and Bunnahabhain, these whiskies embody the rugged, timeless spirit of Scotland’s shores.

Sláinte,

The Murray McDavid Team

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

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Multi-award-winning Scotch whisky distillery picks up another accolade to end the year

Loch Lomond Whiskies has been awarded the highly coveted Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year trophy at this year’s International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), bringing Loch Lomond Group’s tally of prestigious award wins to more than 100 in the past 12 months.

Founded in 1969, the IWSC champions the best wine and spirits producers from around the world.

The renowned accolade was presented only weeks after Loch Lomond Distillery took home 16 awards at the San Franscico World Spirts Competition 2024, including a rare platinum award for Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 Year Old single malt whisky, and double gold awards for seven whiskies across the range, including Loch Lomond Classic, Loch Lomond 10 Year Old and Loch Lomond 18 Year Old.

IWSC judges praised the distillery for its holistic approach, noting that “Loch Lomond is the whole package with excellent whisky, and the clear work to push the brand to the next level.”

The presentation of the 2024 Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year trophy follows multiple IWSC category wins for Loch Lomond Whiskies, with its 12 Year Old Inchmurrin single malt winning ‘Best in Class for Scotch Whisky Under 15 Years Old’.

The dual IWSC and SFWSC success follows two previous award wins for Loch Lomond’s 18 Year Old, which was named top Scotch in the Gentleman’s Journal Drinks Awards 2024 and The Whisky Exchange’s Whisky of the Year 2024.

Loch Lomond Distillery’s raft of prominent accolades is testament to the exceptional quality of its whiskies and demonstrates the significant momentum behind the independent distiller which continues to gain success on the global stage.

According to the latest IWSR 2023 Scotch Whisky report, Loch Lomond is the world’s fastest-growing top 25 malt whisky brand, a title the distillery has now achieved twice in the past three years.

Michael Henry, Master Blender at Loch Lomond Group, owners of Loch Lomond Whiskies, said:

“To close the year with another prestigious award win is wonderful – a real highlight of our year.

“The capabilities of our distillery are unmatched in Scotland. The combination of traditional swan neck stills and our unique straight neck stills, in addition to our own onsite cooperage, give us much greater control over the distillation and maturation process, allowing us to explore flavour in a distinctive way.

“We’ve always been bold in our approach to whisky-making. While we respect tradition, we’re not afraid to push boundaries. The recognition we’re receiving from top spirits experts only reinforces our belief that we’re on the right path as one of the most exciting distillers around. We are looking forward to continuing this into 2025 and beyond.”

First opened in 1965, Loch Lomond Distillery has quietly been crafting whisky on the banks of its namesake loch for more than 60 years. In the last decade, investment in innovation and marketing has driven extraordinary growth in global markets, with its diverse portfolio of whiskies now enjoyed by millions of customers worldwide.

For more information about Loch Lomond Whiskies, please visit: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com

About the Loch Lomond Group

• Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria and is home to several award-winning brands that are sold in more than 125 countries worldwide.
• Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.
• Images and interviews with key staff from the Group are available upon request. lochlomondgroup.com

The full list of Loch Lomond Distillery’s 2024 accolades includes:

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2024

• Loch Lomond Whiskies (16 Awards)
  • 1 x Platinum Award
  • 7 x Double Gold
  • 4 x Gold
  • 4 x Silver
• Cask 21/546-6 Exclusive Cask – 1st Fill Bordeaux Hogshead – Best Single Cask Scotch

IWSC 2024

• Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 Year Old – Best Single Malt 15 Years and Under
• Loch Lomond Perfectly Balanced 12 Year Old – Gold Outstanding (98/100)
• Loch Lomond 10 Year Old – Gold Outstanding (95/100)
• Loch Lomond Distillery 2024 Scotch Whisky Producer trophy

On November 28th, the Isle of Harris Distillery team celebrated some wonderful successes at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2024 in Glasgow.

We were delighted to receive awards for Newcomer of the Year and Product Launch of the Year for our inaugural single malt The Hearach, and take home the crowning achievement of the evening, the title Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year for 2024.

The distillery was commended for leading with vision, and a commitment to community and local partnerships with a culture of ‘people first’.

“Winning these prestigious awards is a truly special moment for us. The Hearach has been a long time in the making, and to see it so well received by industry experts is a testament to the dedication and craftsmanship of our incredible team. Each bottle reflects the unique character and spirit of Harris—our island, our people, and our heritage. These accolades inspire us to continue creating exceptional single malts that share the story of this remarkable place with whisky lovers around the world.”

Simon Erlanger, Managing Director.

The Isle of Harris Distillery extends its heartfelt gratitude to the Scottish Whisky Awards for this recognition and to loyal supporters like you who have embraced the work we do.

On behalf of the team, thank you for being part of our story and success, and have a great weekend from all of us here in Harris!

Le gach deagh dhùrachd,

Mike Donald, Chief Storyteller

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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

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Tourism Leader to Receive
Individual Award For Services
to Scotch Whisky

One of Scottish tourism’s most accomplished leaders has been announced as the recipient of the 2024 Dr Jim Swan Award for Services to Scotch Whisky.

Susan Morrison, CEO of the Scotch Whisky Experience, will be applauded for her 36-year career in Scotch Whisky which started as a junior member of the venue’s launch team, while studying at Edinburgh University.

Recognised for her passion and determination, Susan Morrison has led a team which has delivered the organisation’s mission to “make the world fall in love with Scotch whisky” over three decades.   Alongside the tourist destination, a specialist whisky shop stocks over 500 Scotch whiskies and their Amber restaurant operates a range of high- quality food and drink experiences on site.      

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