NEAREST & JACK ADVANCEMENT INITIATIVE TO HOST INAUGURAL ‘SPIRITS ON THE RISE’ SUMMIT

Diverse Voices and BIPOC Spirits Entrepreneurs Will Come Together in Tennessee for a Two-Day Immersive Learning Experience From April 17-18

Lynchburg, TENNESSEE (February 28, 2023)  – Today, the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative (NJAI), the first-of-its-kind incubator for diversifying the current and future leaders in the whiskey industry, announces its first-ever ‘Spirits on the Rise’ Summit. The two day event, taking place on April 17 and 18, 2023, aims to combat the imbalance set upon BIPOC businessmen and businesswomen in spirits and will bring together spirits industry entrepreneurs from historically underrepresented communities as they work to advance their businesses.

Throughout the summit, attendees will have unprecedented access to industry experts from NJAI founders Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, as well as leaders from companies like Hyatt Hotels, Breakthru Beverage, ReserveBar, and Republic National Distributing Company to learn more about investment and finance, distribution, route to market, networking, and community. The event will allow the NJAI to expand its impact beyond its existing programs – the Leadership Acceleration Program, the Business Incubation Program and the Nearest Green School of Distilling – to further assist founders as they enter and progress in the spirits industry.

“When we launched the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative in 2020, our goal was to advance diversity within the American whiskey industry and we’re thrilled to see the first group of graduates come through the program,” said Jamie Butler, Jack Daniel’s Global Brand Director. “The ‘Spirits on the Rise’ Summit expands upon the key tenants of this initiative and gives us the opportunity to increase the amount of BIPOC entrepreneurs we are able to support and educate in a multitude of areas.”

The NJAI is inspired by the historic and storied relationship between two pioneers of Tennessee Whiskey, Nearest Green and Jack Daniel, and sees to it that the future of the spirits industry is diverse and dynamic. Since its founding, the NJAI has presented professional opportunities to BIPOC-owned spirits ventures by committing millions of dollars towards providing access to the education and resources needed to be successful in a predominantly white-owned and led spirits industry.

“Over the past three years, the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative has worked on three tenets: helping to support up and coming BIPOC-owned brands, ensuring that we see more visible leaders of colors in every sector of our industry, and ensuring that we have attainable education around distillation and the spirits business,” said Katharine Jerkens, Chief Business Officer of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. “The ‘Spirits on the Rise’ Summit is an opportunity to bring together entrepreneurs and key leaders in the industry to network and educate so that we can continue our mission of building a more diverse and inclusive industry.”

It is through these efforts that the NJAI looks to amplify and accelerate the growth of current and future leaders in the whiskey industry, offering strategic mentorship along the way. The impact of the initiative’s work can be seen through the first three graduates of their incubator programming: Du Nord Social Spirits, the inaugural graduate of the Business Incubation Program, along with Tracie Franklin and Byron Copeland, the first two individuals to complete the Leadership Acceleration Program.

“This event is a testament to how far we’ve come in a short amount of time, and I couldn’t be more excited to see the new faces of our industry at the NJAI Summit,” said Chris Montana, Founder of Du Nord Social Spirits. “Du Nord’s involvement in the NJAI has allowed us to improve our business model, grow significantly, and compete nationally. I cannot overstate how critical this program has been to us as a business and to me personally.”

The current schedule of programming for the ‘Spirits on the Rise’ Summit includes:

• Monday, April 17, 2023 at Nearest Green Distillery
  • 3:30 p.m.: Tours of Nearest Green Distillery
  • 5:00 p.m.: Welcome remarks, cocktails and dinner

• Tuesday, April 18, 2023 at Jack Daniel Distillery
  • 9:00 a.m.: The Right Investment Partner in Each Stage of Business, moderated by Fawn Weaver, CEO and Founder of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
  • 10:00 a.m.: Understanding the Financials in an Early-Stage Spirits Brand, moderated by Loni Gray, Global Brand Manager for Jack Daniel’s
  • 1:30 p.m.: Tours of the Jack Daniel Distillery
  • 3:00 p.m.: Route to Market: Building your Brand’s Distribution, moderated by Katharine Jerkens, Chief Business Officer for Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey
  • 4:00 p.m.: Emerging Brands Fair
  • 6:30 p.m.: Cocktails, dinner and closing remarks

To RSVP and for more information on the summit, please visit nearestjack.rsvp360.co

About Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative

Launched in 2020, the Nearest & Jack Advancement Initiative (NJAI) is inspired by the legacy and the relationship of Tennessee Whiskey pioneers Nearest Green and Jack Daniel with the goal of advancing diversity within the American whiskey industry. The first-of-its-kind incubator started with an initial combined $5 million pledge by Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey and Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey to create the Nearest Green School of Distilling, a STEM based and employable skills focused program at Motlow State College, the Leadership Acceleration Program to accelerate the development of future BIPOC Master Distillers, Distillery Managers and other senior management positions within the American whiskey industry, and the Business Incubation Program, focused on providing expertise and resources to African Americans entering the spirits industry as entrepreneurs. The joint initiative is guided by an advisory board with members from both organizations.

Statement from Kentucky’s Bourbon Industry on House Bill 5

February 27, 2023

“Eliminating the job-killing inventory tax on aging barrels requires consideration of the distilleries that pay it and the local communities that benefit from it.

Kentucky’s signature Bourbon industry believes the phase-out schedule in House Bill 5 ultimately benefits local communities across Kentucky by more than doubling the industry’s tax before any reduction occurs.

In fact, most local communities will see no reduction from current revenues for at least the next 10 years.

While the bill will initially and significantly increase our tax liability, we appreciate the leadership of A&R Chairman Jason Petrie and Speaker David Osborne to put forth a proposal to slowly phase out the discriminatory tax.

The success or failure of House Bill 5 will determine whether Kentucky’s distilling industry continues to call the Commonwealth home, bringing jobs and tax revenue as it grows, or whether it is forced to look at other states for future growth or even potentially relocating existing facilities.

Thank you to the legislature for addressing this crisis. It is imperative that the Kentucky General Assembly end the tax on a $9 billion homegrown industry that employs 22,500 Kentuckians and attracts millions of tourist visits to Kentucky each year.”

*This statement is provided by the Kentucky Distillers’ Association on behalf of its 52 member companies.

For more information, contact: KDA President Eric Gregory at eric@kybourbon.com.

Founded in 1880, the Kentucky Distillers’ Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that passionately unites, promotes, protects and elevates the Commonwealth’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. Its diverse and growing membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from legendary, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are fostering the next generation of the Commonwealth’s timeless craft and treasured economic engine. The KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL®, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON AFFAIR™, KBT®,, BOURBON TRAIL™, KENTUCKY BOURBON HALL OF FAME®,, ORDER OF THE WRIT®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON TALES®,, KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL WELCOME CENTER®,, URBAN BOURBON TRAIL® and THE PROOF IS HERE®are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.

Please enjoy Bourbon like a true Kentuckian – Responsibly.

Nutty, spicy whisky is inspired by Glenmorangie creator’s favourite sherry

— Exclusive to Australia and the UK, small-batch series’ new release is finished in Amontillado casks —

Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky today shares a delicately nutty and spicy bottling inspired by Amontillado, its creator’s favourite style of sherry.

Available exclusively to whisky lovers in Australia and the UK, Glenmorangie Amontillado Finish is the fourth release in the Distillery’s Barrel Select Release series of small-batch single malts. Deliciously balancing notes of cashews, clove and ginger with citrus tones, the 12-year-old whisky gives Glenmorangie’s fruitiness a subtly complex twist.

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers are endlessly experimental on their mission to dream up delicious single malt whiskies for more people to enjoy. Led by acclaimed Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, they craft their delicate, fruity spirit in stills as tall as an adult giraffe to allow more space for taste and aroma, then age it in the world’s finest casks.

A long-time fan of Amontillado sherry, Dr Bill has always adored its nuttier, spicier style. Years ago, he began to imagine a unique, delicious whisky, which would entwine its casks’ distinctive flavours through the Distillery’s gentle, honeyed style. But since such casks are hard to come by, opportunities are few and far between.

Eventually, Dr Bill sourced a precious handful of Amontillado casks. Then he filled them with a soft, mellow whisky which had spent eight years in American white oak bourbon barrels. Transferring it into the Amontillado casks, he left it to age for another four years, until it achieved the flavours he had dreamed of. Finished in this way, the whisky winds sherried hints of cashews, clove, ginger and dried fruit round Glenmorangie’s classic notes of peaches, orange and lemon balsam.

Dr Bill hand-selected the finest of those precious casks to be bottled for the Distillery’s Barrel Select Release. He said: “I have always loved the nuttier, spicier tastes of Amontillado – my favourite style of sherry. It’s such a delight to bring its casks’ sherried influences to our whisky’s signature delicate style for this special release.

“Aromas of dried fruit and cashews are balanced with peaches, while tastes of clove and ginger contrast wonderfully with orange and lemon. Our fourth Barrel Select Release, Glenmorangie Amontillado Finish, is a delicious treat for any whisky lover.”

Glenmorangie Amontillado Finish is available now exclusively through The Whisky Club Australia, at the Glenmorangie Distillery Visitor Centre in Tain, and online in the UK at Glenmorangie.com, RRP: £75.

https://www.glenmorangie.com/

Follow Glenmorangie on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Glenmorangie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glenmorangie

Tasting Notes:

Glenmorangie Amontillado Finish is non chill-filtered and bottled at 46% ABV

Colour: Bright Amber

Aroma: Scents of rose, carnation and jasmine entwine with fragrant candle wax and hints of cashew nuts. A splash of water releases Amontillado’s classic dried fruit notes, followed by peaches in syrup.

Taste: A soft and mouthcoating texture is wonderfully balanced by effervescent and spicy notes. Clove and ginger find harmony with Glenmorangie’s signature citrus tastes of orange sherbet, lemon balsam and eucalyptus oil, with undertones of walnut oil and leather.

Finish: Slow and lingering, with notes of honey and aniseed.

RRP: £75 

About Barrel Select Release:

Glenmorangie’s Barrel Select Release series comprises small-batch bottlings exploring the flavours which arise from different cask finishes. The first release in the series was the indulgently sweet and rich Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish, a 12-year-old whisky finished in Spain’s Malaga wine casks. The second release was Glenmorangie Cognac Cask Finish, an elegantly oaky and fruity 13-year-old whisky, finished in Cognac casks. Glenmorangie Palo Cortado Finish was the third release in the series. This deeply sweet and nutty 12-year-old bottling was Glenmorangie’s first ever to be finished in rare Palo Cortado sherry casks. Nutty and spicy, Glenmorangie Amontillado Finish is the series’ fourth release, and is shared exclusively with members of The Whisky Club, Australia, visitors to the distillery’s brand home and online to UK customers at Glenmorangie.com.     

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. They’ve been honing their craft for more than 175 years. They create a delicate and fruity spirit in stills as tall as an adult giraffe to allow for more taste and aroma. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this crackerjack crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

Glenmorangie celebrates the joy of delicious single malt in every part of its universe, from its boutique hotel Glenmorangie House to its colourful brand campaign, shot by famed photographer Miles Aldridge. With its tagline “It’s Kind of Delicious and Wonderful”, Glenmorangie invites whisky lovers old and new to see themselves in Glenmorangie’s world.

About Dr Bill Lumsden:

Dr Bill Lumsden’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And throughout more than 25 years with Glenmorangie, the Distillery’s Creative Director has challenged himself and his team to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that the spirit and flavour of Glenmorangie’s homeland (the Cadboll Estate series), the magic of a cake moment (Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake), a cup of coffee (Glenmorangie Signet), and more. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of experience, Dr Bill has all the skills needed to bring these ideas to life. Already, he has earned the admiration of his peers many times over. He features in the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame. He has won the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year more times than anyone else. And he was named twice Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge.

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Loch Lomond Whiskies Unveils Limited Single Grain Scotch Whiskies

Innovative duo grow the distiller’s Single Grain collection

Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled two limited Single Grain releases which exemplify the distiller’s innovative range of whisky-making techniques.

Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice and Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cask Finish are brought together by Master Blender, Michael Henry.

Using only 100% malted barley with an additional long fermentation time then distilled in Loch Lomond’s bespoke all copper, Continuous ‘Coffey’ Still, it creates a spirit with layers of deep and elegant floral fruit notes, showcasing Loch Lomond’s capability in flavour creation through distillation.

Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cask Finish is the first in a series of annual limited releases. Limited to just 3,000 bottles, the special edition is one of the rarest Single Grain whiskies to be released by Loch Lomond Whiskies.

Loch Lomond is one of only four distilleries in Scotland to have an on-site cooperage. This ensures that barrel repairs and charring are carried out to an exacting standard, so every cask is perfect for maturing Loch Lomond Whiskies’ characterful spirits.

Michael has worked closely with Loch Lomond Whiskies’ dedicated team of coopers to craft this release, carefully selecting higher age-statement whiskies to be matured in first and second fill American Oak Bourbon barrels. This special Single Grain is then finished for six months in the finest hand-crafted, rare Mizunara Japanese Oak casks, to elevate the natural flavours found within. The result is a whisky of wonderful character, enhanced with rich, fragrant spice derived from the Mizunara Oak casks.

Complementing this, Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice marries a careful selection of Loch Lomond Whiskies’ aged single grains with more vibrant liquids, resulting in a whisky with layers of elegant fruit and floral character. This exquisite Single Grain is matured in a selection of both first fill and second fill American Oak Bourbon barrels.

Both Single Grain whiskies are non-chill filtered and natural in colour, just as nature intended.

Each bespoke black grain bottle is embossed with the Loch Lomond Whiskies logo in striking silver and carries Michael’s signature as a personal guarantee of quality.

Loch Lomond Whiskies Master Blender, Michael Henry said:

“We’re proud to introduce the latest additions to our Single Grain portfolio. Crafted using our innovative Coffey still, these are two very special whiskies with distinct and diverse flavours.

“Each expression has been crafted to showcase the floral fruit notes through distilling and influence finishing has on our grain whisky through cask selection.”

Loch Lomond Whiskies is truly unique in its craftsmanship, using innovative techniques to explore flavour in a distinctive way. As the only distillery in Scotland to use its bespoke design of continuous Coffey Still, Loch Lomond Distillery has a whisky-making capability like no other.

This continuous still provides Loch Lomond Whiskies with greater control over the distillation process by allowing spirit to be taken off at different plates and at specific strengths, shaping the flavour profile and character of the whisky at the point of distillation.

Loch Lomond Distillery can trace its distilling heritage back to 1814. Its current malt and grain distilleries, in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, close to the banks of Loch Lomond, were commissioned in 1964 with first distillation in 1966.

Product specific detail 

Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice

The nose of Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice carries deep floral and fruit notes of rose, violet, peach, pear and blackcurrant with vanilla and coconut, some honey and

chocolate. The silk like mouthfeel glides over the tongue, bringing tart fruits of blackberry and green apple with golden barley before a long finish of vanilla fudge sweetness and

gently warming cinnamon spice.

It is bottled at 48.8% ABV and has a RRSP of £50. 

Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cask

Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cask combines rose, honeysuckle,

blackcurrant and toasted oak on the nose. On the palate there is sweet spice character with apple, sandalwood, honey and cinnamon, with a dry, warming oak spice finish.

It is bottled at 50% ABV and has a RRSP of £60.

Both releases are available globally.

For further information visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com.  

Tasting notes 

Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice

Nose: The nose carries deep floral and fruit notes of rose, violet, peach, pear and blackcurrant with vanilla and coconut, some honey and chocolate.

Palate: The silk like mouthfeel glides over the tongue, bringing tart fruits of blackberry and green apple with golden barley.

Finish: Long, with vanilla fudge sweetness and gently warming cinnamon spice.  

Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cask

Nose: Rose, honeysuckle, blackcurrant and toasted oak.

Palate: Sweet spice character with apple, sandalwood, honey and cinnamon.

Finish: Dry, warming oak spice.

About 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.
• For further details, please visit: lochlomondgroup.com.

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

• Loch Lomond Distillery has one of the oldest heritages in the industry. It was founded by American, Duncan Thomas, the owner of the Littlemill Distillery which was licensed in 1772. In the 1930s Duncan Thomas was at the forefront of innovation within the Scotch whisky industry and his innovative philosophy is ingrained into everything that is done at Loch Lomond to this day.
• In 1814, the original site of the Loch Lomond Distillery was established near Tarbet, towards the north-west end of Loch Lomond; an area which has been at the heart of the whisky industry for centuries. With at least nine distilleries around the loch lost over the years, Loch Lomond Distillers has maintained a proud local tradition into the 21^st
• The multi award winning Loch Lomond Whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12 Year Old which has been awarded the Platinum Award in 2020, one of only 7 single malts to be awarded this honour at the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge 2020. Other expressions in the range are the single malts Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond 18 Year Old; Loch Lomond 50 Year Old; the Loch Lomond Island’s Collection which includes the Inchmurrin and Inchmoan ranges as well as the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature and Loch Lomond Single Grain.
• Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 Year Old has been awarded Best Highland Single Malt 12 Years and Under at the 2018 World Whiskies Awards and a Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco 2020 Awards.
• Loch Lomond Whiskies was recently also awarded the following medals at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition:

• PLATINUM: Loch Lomond 12 Year Old
• DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Inchmurrin 12 Year Old
• GOLD MEDAL – Inchmoan 12 Year Old
• DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Loch Lomond 18 Year Old
• DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond 10 Year Old

Hard Truth Distilling launches first television and radio ad campaign

New spots introduce “Moments of Truth” tagline

Nashville, IN (February 24, 2023) – Hard Truth Distilling Co., Indiana’s largest destination craft distillery, has reached a major company milestone by airing its first television advertising campaign this month, with a radio campaign to break on February 27.

Hard Truth began airing 15- and 30-second television commercials this week on streaming services in ten key markets: Chicago, Indy, Columbus, Cincinnati, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Dallas, Houston, Tampa, Ft. Lauderdale.

Introducing the tagline: “We do it all for these moments of truth,” the new ads feature scenes of pouring, toasting and enjoying Hard Truth’s cornerstone brand, Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey, against the backdrop of its beautiful 325 wooded acre campus and contemporary state-of-the-art distillery.

Jeff McCabe, Hard Truth co-founder and executive chairman, said the 10-market advertising campaign comes on the heels of the distillery, founded just eight years ago, now being in the top 10 percent of distilleries in the nation, a trend that enables Hard Truth to assert in its ads: “We’re proud to be one of the nation’s fastest growing spirits brands.”

Both McCabe and Bryan Smith, Hard Truth co-founder and master distiller, are featured in the new spots. Smith said the decision to focus on its sweet mash rye whiskey, unlike most other whiskey makers who use sour mash, helps define what makes its product lineup stand out from other distilleries. “The ads also feature a very brief glimpse of our Cinnamon Vodka bottle,” said Smith. “That’s a tribute to the non-whiskey brands that help spur our growth.”

Hard Truth’s internal marketing team and Bayonet Media of Indianapolis co-created the ads. John Behling, Hard Truth’s chief marketing officer, said the new campaign is an essential and effective way to support its distributor partners and retailers, not to mention they’ll be spreading the Hard Truth gospel to even more consumers. “We have a great story to tell and we’re at that point in our history when it’s time to tell it the loudest way possible, on TV and radio.”

Behling added that purchasing time on streaming services, rather than traditional broadcast channels, enable them to precisely target the correct demographic and ensure that viewers who see the ads have significant potential to purchase Hard Truth brands.

McCabe said that in addition to the new advertising campaign, one of the most significant signs of growth at Hard Truth is its current distillery expansion, highlighted by the construction of its second rackhouse—which will be twice the size of its current rackhouse, tripling its storage capacity. Along with this expansion, the distillery is transitioning to 24/7 production to keep up with demand.

“These are heady days for all of us at Hard Truth,” said McCabe. “We come to work every day thinking what’s next? We’re not sure what it will be, but we know it will be great.”

About Hard Truth Distilling Co.

Headquartered in Nashville, Indiana, Hard Truth Distilling Co. produces more than 20 premium spirits, including critically acclaimed Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Whiskey and top-selling Hard Truth Cinnamon Vodka, Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum, and Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum Cream.

Hard Truth’s spirits are distributed in Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Wyoming with several new states in process for 2023.

Founded in 2015, Hard Truth Distilling Co. quickly outgrew its original production facility, and, by 2017, construction had begun on its current facility, a distillery housed in a 50,000-square-foot building equipped with a state-of-the-art Vendome Copper & Brass distilling system. Hard Truth’s destination campus spans 325 wooded acres in Brown County, Indiana — an artists’ colony and tourist destination known for its natural beauty. Visit hardtruth.com for the

complete Hard Truth experience.

WATERFORD DISTILLERY ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF CUVÉE: ARGOT SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Waterford Distillery has today launched their new single malt whisky, Cuvée: Argot

Cuvée: Argot marks a new entry point for Waterford Whisky, available worldwide

The new product forms part of the distillery’s Cuvée Concepts, each of which layer distinct Single Farm Origins to give even greater complexity of flavour

1^st March 2023: Ireland’s Waterford Distillery, producer of natural whiskies, has announced the launch of Cuvée: Argot, a permanent addition to its single malt whisky range and accompanying Cuvée Concept.

Launching from 1^st March, Cuvée: Argot is the distillery’s first permanent global bottling, marking a more accessible entry point to the world of Waterford Whisky.

Cuvée: Argot – pronounced “ar-go” – , is created as a vibrant, enthusiastic bottling, bringing together several of Waterford Whisky’s’s Single Farm Origins adding depth and ultimate complexity, with a hint of true Irish peat following the success of the distillery’s bottlings of Ballybannon and Fenniscourt launched last year – the first whiskies to use real Irish peat for generations.

Waterford Whisky’s Cuvée Concept, inspired by the legendary châteaux of France, is the first of its kind in the single malt whisky industry. By harvesting, distilling and maturing Irish barley farm by farm, each with its own distinct terroir-derived flavour profile, the Cuvée: Argot’s complexity combines a number of distinct Single Farm Origins – each one a unique whisky in its own right – to create a signature bottling from the distillery.

Full transparency and traceability of the Cuvée: Argot is accessible by its game-changing TÉIREOIR code. Utilising pioneering technology, drinkers have full access to how the barley was harvested, stored, malted, and distilled – ensuring the diligence and veracity of each Single Farm Origin.

Mark Reynier, Waterford Distillery Founder and CEO, says:

“We are delighted to introduce the Cuvée: Argot as part of our continued quest to uncover whisky’s most natural flavours. At Waterford Distillery, our view is rather than a manufactured product, Waterford Whisky is an agricultural produce. It’s of the land; our reverence for its raw material, barley. And Argot is our introduction to that Waterford Whisky world.

“On the one hand we can express barley by letting Ireland’s farmlands do the talking via our Single Farm Origins; or as in this case, with ultimate creativity, we can bring these flavours, those barley ingredients together for ultimate harmony and complexity in  the same way as Bordeaux Grand Vin and Champagne Grand Marques.

“With this new addition to our ever-growing collection of bottlings, Argot is a refreshing, more accessible bottling for whisky lovers and flavour enthusiasts to experience our Cuvée Concepts.”

Tasting Notes by Ned Gahan, Head Distiller at Waterford Distillery:

Cuvée: Argot is matured fully in a mixture of 37% first-fill US Oak, 19% Virgin US oak, 19%

Premium French Oak and 23% Vin Doux Naturel.

The whisky has aromas of orange peel, almonds stewed apple, bread crust, green foliage, mixed berries, fennel and white chocolate, with the flavours of bell peppers, granola, grapefruit, smokey barbecue, banana milkshake, green apple skin – the finish is long, warming, peppery and dry.

About Waterford Distillery  

Waterford Whisky, the world’s largest producer of organic and biodynamic whiskies, is on a quest to unearth whisky’s most natural flavours.

Unashamedly influenced by the world’s greatest winemakers, Waterford Whisky obsessively brings the same intellectual drive, methodology and rigour to barley – the very source of malt whisky’s complex flavour.

Extolling a hundred exclusive farms of Irish-grown barley, the distillery searches for natural flavours via three paths: its Single Farm Origins pursue the individualism of terroir-derived flavour; its Arcadian Farm Origins express the intensity of flavour from alternative philosophies and long-forgotten varieties; whilst its Cuvées revel in the ultimate sophistication, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

With this unique commitment to natural and profound flavours, Waterford Whisky is agricultural produce, not a manufactured product.

For more information, visit https://waterfordwhisky.com/

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Releases Annual, Limited Edition Kentucky Derby Festival Bourbon Bottle

The 2015 Vintage, 119 proof Bourbon is dipped in iridescent teal wax and features the 51^st Edition Gold Pegasus Pin on the bottle neck

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – As an official sponsor of the Kentucky Derby Festival for the seventh consecutive year, the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience today released a special edition bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon with a commemorative 51^st Edition Gold Pegasus Pin sealed in wax on the neck.

Dipped in an iridescent teal wax, the bottle features a special face label with the coordinating teal and gold Kentucky Derby Festival logo and includes an official 2023 Pegasus Pin in an envelope attached to each bottle. Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distiller, Jodie Filiatreau, and Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO, Matt Gibson, unveiled the official 2023 pin and limited-edition bottle at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience by personally hand-dipping two of the 800 limited-edition bottles.

Beginning February 24, the Bourbon will be available for purchase at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience for $79.99 and at select area retailers while supplies last. The limited edition 2015 vintage is bottled at 119 proof, commemorating both the 68^th Kentucky Derby Festival plus the 51^st year for the Pegasus Pin. Each bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Bourbon contains the exact day it was put in an oak barrel to age, the barrel number, and the date it was bottled.

“Partnering with the Kentucky Derby Festival for this annual tradition is extremely special for us at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience,” said Jodie Filiatreau, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distiller. “We’re proud to play a role in helping make the Derby season the most exciting time of year for Louisville and for everyone who comes here to celebrate from across the Commonwealth.”

The Bourbon is matured in Heaven Hill’s rickhouses under the careful supervision of Master Distiller Conor O’ Driscoll, who monitors the progress of each year’s vintage to ensure it maintains its intended flavor profile and superb quality. Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage has won five “Whiskey of the Year” awards and is one of the most critically acclaimed specialty Bourbons produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, the world’s second largest holder of aging Bourbon.

“Our partnership with Evan Williams pairs two of Kentucky’s favorite things – the Derby Festival celebration and bourbon,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. “We know this special edition bottle will be popular with pin collectors and Festival Fans alike.”

Bringing the community together since 1956, the Kentucky Derby Festival has grown to become a whirlwind of more than 70 special events leading up to the big race in May. The Kentucky Derby Festival runs this year from March 16 – May 5.

ABOUT THE EVAN WILLIAMS BOURBON EXPERIENCE:

The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience® (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams, Kentucky’s first commercial distiller, through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit. An official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, the facility offers guests a historical glimpse back in time to see Evan Williams’ original distillery through high-definition video recreations of the Louisville wharf and Main Street in the late 18th Century, plus recreations of Whiskey Row building facades along Main Street from the 1890’s through the present. Meanwhile, visitors learn the essential differences between distilling during Evan Williams’ era and Heaven Hill’s modern Bernheim Distillery operations.

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY DERBY FESTIVAL: Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

The Scotch whisky’s 21 Year Old Signature Blend gets a striking new look to celebrate the Lunar New Year

Royal Salute, the master of exceptionally aged Scotch whisky, ignites Lunar New Year with a spark of enchantment and wonder, through a strikingly illustrated new limited edition gift pack, housing a ruby red flagon of the 21 Year Old Signature Blend. The celebratory limited edition is the perfect accompaniment to mark Lunar New Year celebrations, or as the ultimate gift to delight loved ones welcoming in the Year of the Rabbit.

Last year Royal Salute announced its annual Lunar New Year limited edition would be designed in collaboration with artists, and for this second instalment, the collectable gift pack has been designed by Trajan Jia, a renowned Chinese born artist who now lives in London. The new limited edition uses Jia’s iconic, bright and colourful style to spark a sense of festivity by harmoniously combining symbolic cues of the occasion and the rich heritage of Royal Salute.

Trajan Jia’s depiction of Lunar New Year on the iconic 21 Year Old Signature Blend gift pack creates an enchanting and unique visual experience. Through a swirl of brightly illustrated symbols fired from the iconic Tower of London, which plays a significant part in Royal Salute’s history, features a mix of emblematic elements that wish prosperity, success, and good fortune for the year ahead.

Gift giving is at the heart of Royal Salute, being first created as a gift for the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Since its creation, the 21 Year Old Signature Blend has kept the same flavour profile; sophisticated and opulent in character with a majestic composition of ripened fruits complemented by hints of spices.

To this day, the luxury blended Scotch continues to celebrate creativity and culture in contemporary ways, with a spark of artistry and sophistication that is signature to Royal Salute’s refined and wondrous world, and this limited-edition 21 Year Old Signature Blend Lunar New Year gift pack is no exception. This vibrant red gift pack brings to life the celebratory festival that sees cities around the world transform into bright and colourful displays of red and gold; an enthralling atmosphere that resonates perfectly with the enchanting world of Royal Salute.

Trajan Jia commented:

“For this design I wanted to capture the spirit of this wonderous occasion and the joy of people coming together to celebrate something truly magical. Combining cultural symbols of the festival with the rich heritage of Royal Salute, the illustration embodies the union of two enchanting worlds.”

The 21 Year Old Signature Blend Lunar New Year gift pack is available at selected luxury retailers, from RRP $135 USD. For more information, follow @RoyalSalute or visit royalsalute.com

This article is published as a matter of interest and is published after it’s original release date

Scott Davidson of Glencairn Crystal joins

The Worshipful Company of Distillers

 Chris Searle, Master of The Worshipful company of Distillers (left)

and Scott Davison of Glencairn Crystal (right)

Scott Davidson, New Product Development Director at the award-winning Scottish glassware company Glencairn Crystal, has been admitted as a Liveryman to The Worshipful Company of Distillers* as well as becoming a Freeman of the City of London.

Scott Davidson has been involved in the Glencairn Crystal family business, originally set up by his father Raymond Davidson, since 1985. As New Product Development Director, he continues to lead the business strategy, financial and legal areas of the company and is the driving force behind Glencairn Crystal’s custom-made decanters and unique glassware, sometimes for the world’s rarest and most expensive spirits.

Glencairn Crystal is also well known for producing the iconic Glencairn Glass, the world’s favourite whisky glass, with over 5 million glasses now being sold each year all over the world.

Glencairn Crystal has won The Queen’s Award for Enterprise twice, as well as The Queens Award for Innovation with the Glencairn Whisky Glass. It is also part of the ELITE network – the London Stock Exchange Group’s programme for fast-growing companies.

Scott Davidson said: “It is truly an honour to be invited to join The Worshipful Company of Distillers and great to further have our company recognised for its commitment to the drinks industry success for over 40 years”.

In 2018 Scott was also bestowed as a Keeper of the Quaich**.

For further information about Glencairn Crystal visit: www.glencairn.co.uk

Notes:

*The Worshipful Company of Distillers is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. It was originally established under a Royal Charter in 1638 and empowered to regulate and supervise the production of spirits and liquors. Today it no longer exercises such powers but focuses on charitable distributions including educational scholarships and bursaries. Its membership includes executives from the drinks industry.

**Keepers of the Quaich is an international society to recognise, reward and celebrate those who have shown outstanding commitment to the Scotch Whisky Industry.

The Epicurean Launches Amarone Finish Edition to its unique ‘Wood Series’ bottlings

Douglas Laing & Co., leading distiller, blender and bottler, has today released an Amarone Wine Cask Finished Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky as part of The Epicurean Wood Series.

The seventh Single Cask release in the specialist “Wood Series” is bottled at a high alcohol strength of 48% and is proudly offered without colouring or chill-filtration. This innovative collection already encompasses a Tawny Port Finish and a White Port Finish, amongst others, and seeks to demonstrate that flavour is created throughout the Whisky-making process but most significantly during the interaction between the spirit and the wood when it is in the oak cask. This latest edition is said to be “Full-bodied with waves of dark chocolate, ripe cherries and a sensational spiciness”.

In crafting The Epicurean Limited Edition, the Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky is first matured in premium American Oak before being re-racked into a single, hand selected Amarone cask for a second maturation period of two years.

The Amarone cask itself originates from the renowned Italian region of Valpolicella, a highly regarded area situated in the North-East of the country that’s known the world over for its quality Amarone wine production.

Scott Morrison, The Epicurean’s Brand Manager commented:

“The ethos behind our Epicurean brand is that of enjoying the finer things in life, and this is exactly what our innovative Wood Series encapsulates. Renowned as the master of versatility, our Epicurious gent’s wonderfully fresh and vibrant Lowland character lends itself beautifully to experimentation with different wood finishes, allowing us to create something truly special with each release. The cask and the Whisky add their own unique personalities and with this Amarone finish, the outcome is a balanced marriage of cask and spirit character – we are delighted with the result.”

Packed in a premium gift tube, The Epicurean Amarone Finish Limited Edition is expected to retail at £65.00/€73.00 from good specialist retailers.

About The Epicurean:

Facebook: @DLTheEpicurean
Instagram: @theepicureanwhisky

A marriage of Single Cask Single Malts, only from the Lowland region of Scotland, The Epicurean is characterised by his fresh, zesty and grassy flavour profile. The multi award-winning Scotch Whisky belongs to Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts – “the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions” – also encompassing Timorous Beastie Highland Malt Scotch Whisky, Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (from the Islands) and Big Peat (Islay). 

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING & CO.

www.douglaslaing.com

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distillery, blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.