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

Heaven Hill Takes Home Most Awarded U.S. Distillery, Top Honors at 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition

More than 90 medals were presented to Heaven Hill including multiple Best in Show wins across the portfolio of brands

BARDSTOWN, Ky. (October 15, 2024) – Heaven Hill is proud to have been the named the Most Awarded U.S. Distillery by the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition, as well as the recipient of multiple Best in Show wins in the Bourbon and Spirits categories. Category wins include Best Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years & Older to Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel, Best Straight Bourbon to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923, Best Wheated Bourbon to Larceny Barrel Proof A124, Best in Show Unaged White Spirit and Best Mezcal going to Mezcal Vago, and Best Hard Tea to Deep Eddy Vodka.

“We’re honored to be recognized on a global stage by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition,” said Kate Latts, Co-President and third generation family member of Heaven Hill Brands. “Building beloved brands has always been a hallmark of Heaven Hill’s portfolio and we’re very grateful for these awards recognizing our commitment to authentic, high-quality products in the craft that we do.”

The two most awarded Bourbons from the Heaven Hill Distillery portfolio were Evan Williams and Elijah Craig. Each brand took home 7 and 6 medals, respectively, with the highest distinctions of Best Straight Bourbon going to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof C923, Best Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years & Older to Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel, and Double Gold going to Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond. Larceny Barrel Proof A124 was also honored as the Best Wheated Bourbon. Other big wins came from FEW and Widow Jane who collectively took home an additional 12 medals.

The leadership of master distiller Conor O’Driscoll contributes greatly to the multitudes of praise for Heaven Hill. Under his guidance, Heaven Hill continues its nearly nine decades of unwavering commitment to quality whiskey production and aging. This high standard has been a hallmark of Heaven Hill since it was founded by the Shapira family in 1935 and continues to apply today to a stock that includes more than two million barrels.

Honored with Best in Show Unaged White Spirit along with Best Mezcal, Mezcal Vago is a collection of fine, traditional mezcals from deep within the southern mountains of Oaxaca, made by multi-generational producers – artists in their own right. Vago provides one of the most diverse assortments of mezcal available, representative of four producer styles and a multitude of agave varietals, both cultivated and wild. The brand was also recently named Best of Category and received Double Gold as well as an award for Packaging Excellence at this year’s New Orleans Spirits Competition.

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition was founded in 2000 and has become a premiere tasting competition judging more than 6000 spirits this year. All spirits were tasted over four days through a controlled blind tasting by expert panelists. No information on brand, producer, or price point is given out prior to tastings to ensure each is judged fairly and without bias. For more information on the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, check out the website at www.thetastingalliance.com.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY -based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and led spirits producer and marketer, the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon, and a 2024 Best Managed Company as appointed by Deloitte Private and the Wall Street Journal. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Heaven Hill, Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, Old Fitzgerald, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy Vodka; Admiral Nelson’s Rum; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur, plus the Samson & Surrey portfolio.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely.  Drink Wisely.”

IT’S OLD FASHIONED MONTH

Dating back to 1800, the Old Fashioned is an enduring classic known for its simple ingredients and immensely complex flavours. It all starts with your favourite American whiskey, which is then sweetened, seasoned with bitters, and lifted with a touch of orange oils. All that’s left is to stir it down with ice, and you have a slice of drinks history at your chilled fingertips.

 SHOP WOODFORD RESERVE 

TO MAKE AN OLD FASHIONED:

Ingredients
50ml American whiskey
10ml sugar syrup
2 Dashes Aromatic Bitters

Method
Add the ingredients and ice to a mixing glass. Stir until chilled. Add ice and your stirred drink to a rocks glass. Twist your orange peel over the drink to release the oils (and around the top of the glass if you’d like) and then use to garnish.

CHIVAS REGAL WHISKY ACCELERATES INTO NEW ERA IN SPORTS CULTURE WITH GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH SCUDERIA FERRARI HP

Ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, Chivas Regal comes together with Scuderia Ferrari HP in a multi-year partnership, with the iconic blended Scotch appointed ‘Official Team Partner’

14 NOVEMBER, LONDON UK: Announced ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix next weekend, luxury Scotch whisky, Chivas Regal, has been appointed ‘Official Team Partner’ of the Scuderia Ferrari HP Formula 1 team in a new global multi-year partnership that unites two iconic heritage brands with a shared legacy in craft, innovation and luxury.

The collaboration sees Chivas Regal – the original luxury blended Scotch whisky – and Scuderia Ferrari HP – the world’s most successful Formula 1 team – come together to celebrate their commitment to collective success, which forms the foundation of the new partnership.

Shining a light on life off-track, the collaboration will offer a fresh perspective on Scuderia Ferrari HP, focussing on telling the untold stories of teamwork that are critical to success. Through unparalleled behind-the-scenes access showcasing a new take on the world of motor sports, alongside exclusive content and live experiences, Chivas Regal and Scuderia Ferrari HP will spotlight contemporary racing culture, championing the Tifosi – Scuderia Ferrari HP’s loyal fandom – and putting the focus on the sport’s ever-growing international fan community.

The partnership will also be used as a powerful platform for Chivas Regal to raise awareness about the dangers of drink-driving, to drive positive impact amongst a global audience of passionate racing enthusiasts. The integrated campaign, which is due to launch next year, will follow recent responsible drinking campaigns run by Chivas Regal in markets such as Mexico and Japan.

Frederic Vasseur, Formula 1 Team Principal at Scuderia Ferrari HP, commented: “We are pleased to announce our partnership with Chivas Regal, with whom we share the values of striving for excellence, attention to detail and craftsmanship – founded on years of tradition, while constantly evolving. Together, we share the desire to progress and set the benchmark in our respective fields of endeavour. I look forward to working with Chivas Regal in a partnership that will be beneficial for both brands.”

Jean-Etienne Gourgues, Chairman & CEO of Chivas Brothers, makers of Chivas Regal, added: “This partnership marks a significant gear shift as we accelerate into a new era in sports culture for Chivas Regal. Since its foundation, Scuderia Ferrari HP has been a true pioneer at the forefront of culture, making it the perfect partner for us to usher in this new chapter.

In the fast-moving world of Formula 1, success is a team effort – something that sits at the heart of Chivas Regal’s mission of ‘I Rise, We Rise’. We are passionate about using this new platform to engage today’s growing and increasingly diverse community of racing fans in the 2025 season and beyond, and leveraging the collective reach of our brands to ensure motorsports fans around the world know to never, ever, drink and drive.”

Lorenzo Giorgetti, Ferrari Chief Racing Revenue Officer, added: “We are delighted to announce the partnership with Chivas Regal, a dynamic brand entering the world of top-level motorsport for the first time, in collaboration with Scuderia Ferrari HP. We will work together on exciting and innovative activations to bring Formula 1 even closer to its fans, expanding the Scuderia Ferrari HP fan base and that of our sport in general.”

The partnership with Scuderia Ferrari HP is the latest move for Chivas Regal in its long-standing association with global sports culture, having enjoyed partnerships with Premier League football clubs for many years. Fans can keep up to date with the new partnership by following @ChivasRegal on Instagram or visiting Chivas.com.

About Chivas

Chivas Regal is the original luxury blended Scotch whisky. Launched in 1909, Chivas has been integral to the growth of the Scotch whisky category worldwide – selling more than 4.6 million 9L cases every year.

Chivas believes in the power of blending in life, as well as in Scotch. In celebrating the next generation of whisky drinkers who elevate themselves and those around them to forge new paths to success – which is why Chivas’ ethos is ‘I Rise, We Rise’, a nod to the importance of hard work, community and ripping up the rule book. These values were instilled by founding brothers James and John Chivas who pioneered the art of whisky blending in 19th century Scotland and became pillars of the community due to their tireless work ethic, hustle, and drive. This energy can be seen today as Chivas continues this vision of blending success with generosity to elevate the lives of others whether that is through shining a light on grassroots communities through Regal FC or supporting the next generation of creative entrepreneurs who are driving positive change across culture through New Regals platforms.

Chivas blends its spiritual home in Speyside, Scotland, with more than 100 countries across the globe, who together have made Chivas the global success it is today. The Chivas range blends timeless classics with modern innovation and includes: Chivas 12, Chivas Extra, Chivas XV, Chivas Mizunara, Chivas 18, Chivas Ultis XX, Chivas 25, and Chivas Regal The Icon

Chivas. I Rise, We Rise.
www.Chivas.com

The Glencairn Glass launches ‘The Last Dram’

crime fiction anthology to raise money for charity

The Glencairn Glass – the world’s favourite whisky glass made by Scottish company Glencairn Crystal – has launched a collection of gripping crime fiction short stories by up-and-coming crime authors. The anthology features tales from 16 different authors, all of whom have previously entered the Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story competition over the last three years. All of the profits from the book sales in the run up to Christmas will go to charity.

The Glencairn Glass has supported and celebrated Scottish crime writing talent through its ongoing sponsorship of the prestigious McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing literary awards since 2020. Following this, the Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition was then launched in 2021 – an annual competition open to both experienced and novice crime writers around the world.

Working in partnership with Stirling University, a collection of the most enthralling stories from the competition’s entrants has been collated for the creation of the anthology named The Last Dram. Students from Stirling University helped to create various aspects of the final collection, from assisting with the curation of the stories to the design and layout of the book. 

The Last Dram has been edited by Heather J. Fitt, a Scottish,  crime fiction author based in Hampshire, who appeared at this year’s annual Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival in Stirling.  The talented authors whose stories have been featured in The Last Dram are Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition winners and runners up as well as other entrants whose stories impressed the competition judges.

Money raised from sales of the anthology book will go to Maggie’s – a cancer care charity that provides free expert care and support in centres across the UK and online.

The Last Dram includes grisly tales of murder, retribution and revenge, as well as the chilling confession of a food blogger who sought vengeance on her violent husband. There’s also a disillusioned tourist guide on the Isle of Skye who sends badly behaved tourists to suffer a gruesome fate, a series of murders set in a Glasgow police station in 1928 which the police have to unravel, plus many, many more spine-tingling stories.

Kirsty Nicholson, Design and Marketing Manager at Glencairn Crystal said: “We’ve been blown away by the outstanding quality of the stories that have been entered into our Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story Competition over the last few years. We wanted to showcase these gripping reads for people in a collection to support and celebrate the talented authors and the world of Scottish crime fiction, whilst raising money for Maggie’s – a very special charity.  A fine dram of whisky in a Glencairn Glass is the perfect accompaniment to settling down with a good book over the winter months;  ‘The Last Dram’ also provides the perfect Christmas gift for those friends and relatives who are difficult to buy for.”

The book is available as both an e-book (priced £5.99) and a limited-edition book in print (£9.99). There is also a special gift pack containing the printed book alongside two Glencairn Glasses (priced £25.99) – the ideal Christmas present for lovers of both whisky and crime fiction! The e-book, print book and gift set with Glencairn Glasses are available via the Glencairn Glass website online shop: Glencairn Anthology.

*The McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing literary awards are presented at the annual Bloody Scotland International Crime writing Festival in Stirling every September. www.bloodyscotland.com

 The Last Dram Anthology – contributing authors:

This collection of short stories has been compiled from entries to The Glencairn Glass Short Story Competition – an annual competition open to both experienced and debut crime writers around the world:

The list of contributing authors, including both experienced and debut writers, is as follows:

Allan Gaw (2022/23 runner up) – Allan has since gone on to win this year’s Bloody Scotland Debut Prize which is an impressive achievement.

Phillip Wilson (2023/24 winner)

Elisabeth Ingram Wallace (2023/24 runner up)

Brid Cummings (2021/22 winner)

Jennifer Harvey (2021/22 runner up)

Judith O’Reilly (2021/22 runner up)

Other writers featured in the book include the published crime author Morgan Cry, as well as

Gayle Thompson, Louise Sharland, Ewan A. Dougall, Ben Colley, Julian Benson, Shona MacBryer, Anna Wallace, Bryce Main and BV Lawson.

Visit: Crime Short Story Competition

About the Glencairn Glass and Glencairn Crystal:

The Glencairn Glass for whisky was officially launched in 2001, and millions of glasses are now sold each year across the world.

 The award-winning Glencairn Crystal Studio has been at the cutting edge of high-quality decanter and glassware design, innovation, and creativity for four decades. Regarded internationally as one of the finest crystal decanter and glassware manufacturers, the family-run Scottish company has hand-crafted prestigious decanters often for the rarest and most luxurious spirits ever released. Full information at www.glencairn.co.uk

About Bloody Scotland:

Bloody Scotland is Scotland’s International Crime Writing Festival, providing a showcase for the best crime writing from Scotland and the world, unique in that it was set up by a group of Scottish crime writers in 2012. Full information at www.bloodyscoltand.com

GET TO KNOW AMERICAN WHISKEY

Thanksgiving is coming, which means this is the perfect time to explore the diverse world of American whiskey. Bourbon, rye – and increasingly American single malt – tend to be a little punchier than other whiskies, with a rich vein of spice and vanilla that makes them ideal for Autumn.

These are some of our favourite American whiskies of the moment, including timeless classics like Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon from Buffalo Trace to relative newcomers like Westland distillery which makes single malt in Seattle.

Whether you’re used to Scotch and Japanese whisky and you’re looking for something new, or if you’re a seasoned bourbon fan, we’ve got the perfect bottles to enjoy this autumn.

 SHOP NOW 

TIMESPIRIT AT THE MACALLAN ESTATE

TimeSpirit at The Macallan Estate is a space reimagined to create the ultimate gastronomic dining experience and immersion in nature. A new permanent dining experience and culinary exploration of The Macallan’s story as we celebrate 200 Years Young.

United by an insatiable curiosity, quest for knowledge, and dedication to innovation, we invited our longstanding partners in gastronomy El Celler de Can Roca to collaborate on the curation of an exceptional tasting menu.

Reservations are now open for February 2025.

 LEARN MORE AND BOOK

Due to significant early interest in the opening of TimeSpirit at The Macallan Estate, dining reservations are full until the end of January 2025. Our diary is now open for reservations in February 2025. Please visit The Macallan website for further information and to make a dining reservation.

The Macallan Distillery Experience,  The Macallan Distillers Ltd,

Easter Elchies,  Craigellachie,  Moray,  AB38 9RX,  Scotland, +44 (0)1340 318 000

J.Mattingly 1845 Distillery Honors Veterans with Commemorative Bourbon Release Benefitting Blue Skies for the Good Guys and Gals

Total of $100,000 Donated this year to Various Nonprofits   

FRANKFORT, KY (Nov. 7, 2024) – J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery, created by Jeff Mattingly, a descendant of distilling pioneer John Graves Mattingly, is releasing its fifth edition Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) Bourbon just in time for Veteran’s Day.

Combat Infantry Badges are awarded to U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces soldiers in the rank of Colonel or below who were engaged in active ground combat. J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery has donated a portion of the sales of every CIB bottle to a military-related nonprofit. The recipient of the fifth edition release is  Blue Skies for the Good Guys and Gals Warrier Foundation, whose mission is to honor veterans, wounded warriors and the families of fallen heroes.

The Foundation has earmarked the proceeds to support the Kentucky Mogadishu Mile event initiative to allow active duty soldiers from the 75th Ranger Regiment, 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, 10th Mountain Division and Special Forces Units to participate in the event held in 2025. Each of the four units lost servicepeople during the battle of Mogadishu in 1993.

The donations from this release, combined with other charitable donations to nonprofits such as Camp Brown Bear, Kentucky Wounded Heroes, Three Rangers Foundation, Forgotten Coast K9, and others, brings J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery’s charitable donations to $100,000 for 2024.

“The Mattingly family has several family members who are current or former military service personnel, as well as some of our team members we work with every day at the Distillery,” said Harry Richart, president of J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery. “It’s really important for us to give back to our community and we’re honored we have such great fans of our products which allows us to give back a portion of our sales from some of our special releases to very worthy causes.”

This batch of CIB bourbon was aged for five years and like all J. Mattingly 1845 bourbons, has undergone the double-staving™ process which gives the bourbon more surface exposure to charred barrel staves to impart more flavor and color. Tasting notes for this bourbon describe a nose with pie crust, dried apples, cinnamon, and roasted malt, followed by vanilla, baking spice, and red fruits of prunes and currants on the taste. Caramel, stone fruit and a soft, but long finish can be expected.

The CIB Bourbon is a limited edition and will likely sell out quickly, based on past releases. Suggested retail pricing for the CIB Bourbon is $155 and it is bottled at 127 proof.  It is available on-site at the Distillery and also online, with shipping to 46 U.S. states.  J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery’s operating hours are Monday – Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday Noon – 6 p.m.  The Distillery is located at 20 Reilly Road in Frankfort, Ky.

About J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery

The Mattingly family has been synonymous with distilling in Kentucky for more than two centuries, having a hand in the development of at least nine separate distilleries in the Commonwealth, and with connections to some of the most illustrious names in the distilling industry, including George Garvin Brown, the Willetts and the Samuels.

It all started in 1845, with John Graves Mattingly’s first distillery in Marion County, Kentucky, Registered Distillery #2.  Many historians today believe his distillery was the first registered distillery in Kentucky.

In 2010 Jeff Mattingly took up the family mantle and started his own craft bourbon business.  Today, Jeff’s son Cameron has joined the team as Vice President of Production, continuing the legacy into the latest generation for J. Mattingly Distillery 1845 in Frankfort, Kentucky. For more information about J. Mattingly 1845 Distillery visit www.JMattingly1845.com.

Just a short one for you this time, more to come soon…

We wanted to help put the sparkle and warmth into your bonfire weekend, with the announcement that 2025 Tickets for Newcastle, Bristol, Liverpool and Manchester are now on sale! We have evolved our sessions for 2025, plus our focus will be on all the many exciting new producers around the UK and globally, as well as some old favourites. The ticket offer below is strictly limited and once these tickets are gone, they will not be returning!

Newcastle, Bristol, Liverpool,

Manchester Whisky Festival 2025

The Early-Bird Offer!

• 2 tickets, full price, are normally £100, but for this week only, we are doing 50 pairs for £40!
• 20 Single tickets at £20
• Then 40 pairs for £50 and 10 single tickets at £25 each
• Then there are limited tickets available at 2 for £60, 2 for £70 as well as single ticket deals
• There are also some Enhanced and VIP ticket offers for each festival
• For Newcastle, these deals have already been released (and snapped up!), but there are still some 2 for £50 tickets available for the second session…
• Ticket sales started at 6pm this evening – you have been warned!!

This offer is limited both in time and numbers of tickets available so be fast!

Click on the festival banner of your choice below!

The new sessions are;

Newcastle and Liverpool

12-3.30pm (Early Session) and 5-8.30pm (Late Session)

Bristol

12-3.30pm

Manchester

Friday – 6-9.30pm

Saturday – 12-3.30pm & 5.30pm-9pm

Every ticket includes;

Entry into the relevant session

Glencairn Crystal Tasting Glass

All samples except Dream Drams and Cocktails