ANNUAL GREAT BUFFALO CHASE 5K TO RETURN IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY FOR TWENTY-FIRST YEAR

 Race Proceeds to Benefit VFW Post 4075 

        FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (June 9, 2022) – Buffalo Trace Distillery’s 21^st annual Great Buffalo Chase 5K will return to an in-person race on July 4^th on the grounds at the National Historic Landmark. The race will also include a virtual option for those unable to join in-person. At the Distillery, the certified race will once again wind around historic aging warehouses and the Distillery’s scenic grounds. Proceeds from the race will help fund VFW Post 4075’s Annual Fourth of July fireworks show for the city of Frankfort, as in years past.

Historically, this summer holiday classic has attracted top runners from across the United States – and sometimes across the world – to the Distillery for the scenic run.

        As per tradition, cash prizes for the top three overall male and female runners will be awarded to in-person participants. Third place will receive $2,000, second place will receive $2,500 and first place will receive $3,000. Additionally, a $1,000 bonus will be awarded to the first male who beats the Great Buffalo Chase record finish time of 13:41 and first female who beats the record finish time of 15:26. Awards will also be given to the top finishers in each age group.

The race will kick off with the singing of the national anthem. Throughout the event, WKYT television news anchor Amber Philpott will be the emcee. Everyone is encouraged to tag Buffalo Trace Distillery on Facebook and Instagram and use #ChaseTheBuffalo. All walkers and runners are also invited to dress in red, white and blue, as special awards will be given on-site for the most patriotic attire.

        The in-person race will begin at 8 a.m. Independence Day and will be limited to the first 1,000 people who register. Chip timing (electronic measurement of a runner’s time and speed) will again be utilized to track race results.

For virtual participants, runners and walkers will participate in the virtual 5K in their hometowns and local neighborhoods wherever they are located during the period of July 2-4.

Registration for the in-person and virtual race is open online until noon July 2. Before June 25 the registration fee is $20, and after that it is $25. All proceeds will again benefit the city of Frankfort’s VFW Post 4075 which has been sponsoring the community fireworks show for more than 40 years. Participants can pick up race materials, which includes a commemorative T-shirt and bib, from noon to 6 p.m. on July 3 at Buffalo Trace Distillery, or can pick up at 7 a.m. the morning of the in-person race. Virtual race participants also have the option to have race materials shipped for an added $5 shipping and handling fee. To ensure race materials are shipped and delivered in time for the race, participants are encouraged to register by Tuesday, June 22.

For more information and to register go to https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/great-buffalo-chase.

Race times will be posted to the Buffalo Trace Distillery website on July 5. 

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

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

A Bourbon Capital Homecoming:  

Heaven Hill Springs Distillery underway in Bardstown; name honors distillery lost in 1996 fire

Family-owned spirits company expanding production with $135 million state of the art distillery

BARDSTOWN, Kentucky (June 6, 2022) – The Bourbon industry marked a special homecoming today as Heaven Hill broke ground on a $135 million distillery in Bardstown – with a name paying tribute to the family-owned company’s original distillery that burned in a devastating fire in 1996.

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear joined Heaven Hill President Max Shapira and Master Distiller Conor O’Driscoll to commemorate the start of construction and reveal the new distillery’s name: Heaven Hill Springs Distillery.

“We’re honored to celebrate this homecoming with a return to distilling in Bardstown to augment our overall bourbon-making capacity, as well as continue to make an impact in the Bardstown community,” Shapira said. “I’m proud to salute our history and the many Bardstown men and women who helped build our brands over the years by naming our new facility in honor of the original Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery that my father and uncles founded in this community nine decades ago.”

The new, state-of-the-art Heaven Hill Springs Distillery is being built in the heart of the “Bourbon Capital of the World” at 1015 Old Bloomfield Pike, off KY 245, and is expected to be operational by the end of 2024. Initial production is slated for 150,000 barrels a year, and over time will have capacity to ramp up to producing 450,000 barrels annually. This will be in addition to the company’s distilling that occurs at the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville, which will continue to operate at full capacity of 450,000 barrels annually.

As part of Heaven Hill’s 2030 Environmental Sustainability Strategy, the new distillery has been designed to create a more environmentally conscious distilled spirits industry and ensure a thriving environment for generations to come. Heaven Hill Springs Distillery has been engineered to minimize water use to below industry benchmarks and reuse certain water streams. The site will use native plants and natural systems to manage stormwater runoff and improve habitat on the property. The distillery will include a wastewater pretreatment system to ensure discharged water exceeds environmental standards and greatly reduces the load on the city’s treatment plant. Heaven Hill also will plan to utilize energy creation and recovery, lessening the distillery’s demand on the city’s electrical grid.

The new distillery adds at minimum 38 jobs to the company’s 381 people already working in Bardstown at Heaven Hill’s Loretto Road bottling, aging and tourism facilities.

“This is a significant day for Heaven Hill and Kentucky. The return of distilling operations to Nelson County is a return to the company’s roots, and the investment highlights the continued growth of bourbon and spirits in the commonwealth,” Gov. Andy Beshear said. “I am incredibly happy for the residents of Bardstown and the surrounding area, and I want to thank the leaders at Heaven Hill for this commitment to create new job opportunities and build the company’s presence in our state.”

Heaven Hill and Bardstown: ‘a shared and storied history’

Max Shapira’s father and four uncles, along with a group of Bardstown-area investors, founded “Old Heaven Hill Springs” distillery in 1935, and filled its first barrel on December 13 of that year.

The company grew over the years and added several acclaimed brands, including Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, Henry McKenna and more, which have earned numerous spirits-industry accolades. Master distillers of the Old Heaven Hill Springs Distillery over the years included Joe Beam, Harry Beam, Earl Beam, Parker Beam and Craig Beam.

In 1996, a fire resulted in the loss of the distillery, seven rickhouses and almost 100,000 barrels of whiskey. After the fire, Heaven Hill moved distilling to the historic Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. However the bottling and aging of whiskey along with other functions proudly continued in the Bardstown area where they remain today. In addition, in 2004, the company dedicated the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center—most recently expanded and renamed to the Heaven Hill Bourbon Experience—that has become an award-winning focal point for the region’s bourbon tourism and has greeted millions of visitors over the years.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.9 million barrels aging in more than 60 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Parker’s Heritage Collection, and Old Fitzgerald along with its extensive Bottled-in-Bond label collection. Heaven Hill Distillery was named 2020 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, the second Whisky of the Year for Heaven Hill Distillery in the past four years. In 2019 Heaven Hill Distillery was named San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

DOUGLAS LAING REVEALS ROCK ISLAND MEZCAL CASK EDITION

Independent Scotch Whisky distillers, blenders and bottlers, Douglas Laing & Co, today unveil a new Limited Edition: Rock Island Mezcal Cask Finished Island Malt Scotch Whisky.

Strictly limited to no more than 1,500 bottles, the new release is said to be “perfect for summer” and carries vibrant green, blue and orange colourways complemented by warm gold foil detail. Bespoke agave plant illustrations feature alongside the classic Rock Island oyster, symbolising the meeting of contrasting cultures: “From the idyllic shores of Scotland’s west coast” to “the sun-drenched Mezcal distilleries located in the heart of Mexico”.

The original Rock Island Malt Scotch Whisky is a marriage of Single Cask Single Malts distilled only on Scotland’s Whisky islands of Orkney, Arran, Jura and Islay. The resulting spirit is said to “boast a complex balance of maritime flavours, revealing waves of sweet, salty, smoky and earthy notes”, and accordingly has been decorated with a number of high-profile industry awards over the years, including Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

In creating the new Rock Island Mezcal Cask Finish, the family firm subjected the classic Rock Island recipe to a secondary maturation period in ex-Mezcal casks. Meaning “oven-cooked agave”, Mezcal is a Mexican spirit derived from the agave plant. The heart of the plant is first cooked underground, then the smoked juices are left to ferment, before being double distilled and matured in oak casks to create the final, smoky spirit.

Commenting on the new innovation, Brand Manager Rebecca Fennell said:

“In 2019, an amendment to the Scotch Whisky Technical File was published, and for the first time ever, casks which had previously held Mezcal were permitted for the maturation of Scotch Whisky. Rock Island has a naturally smoky character, so for us, it was a fascinating experiment to subject the classic American Oak-aged recipe to a secondary maturation in these exotic casks. The resulting spirit has exceeded all of our expectations – it’s retained that archetypal Scottish sea salt and honeycomb quality, yet taken on an unmistakable roasted agave note, running to a signature lightly smoked finish.”

In line with the Douglas Laing family’s “as natural as it gets” ethos, Rock Island Mezcal Cask Edition is offered without added colouring or chill-filtration, and at a high alcohol strength of 46.8%. It is expected to retail at £60.00 / €70.00 and will be available from specialist retailers and online across Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific.

Tasting notes:

Nose: Opens with Scottish sea salt and roasted Mexican agave balanced by tangy gooseberries and fresh floral notes.
Palate: Barley-sweet and super smooth moving to an earthy, light smoked style alongside barbecued meats.
Finish: Oceanic and elegant, with citrus fruits, juicy blackberries and honeycomb.

ABOUT ROCK ISLAND

Instagram: @rockisland_whisky

Facebook: /dlrockisland

Rock Island joined Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts range in 2015, offering consumers the opportunity to taste the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Whisky Islands, in one delicious glass. The multi award-winning Small Batch Scotch is a marriage of Single Cask Single Malts from Orkney, Arran, Jura and Islay. The truly unique spirit is celebrated for its beautifully complex flavour profile. The sweet, salty, smoky and earthy notes earn this maritime Malt the reputation of being the ultimate dram to pair with seafood. Rock Island is offered at high alcohol strength and always without colouring or chill-filtration. Since 2015, the core range has grown to encompass a 10 Years Old and Sherry Edition offering for specialist retail, plus occasional limited releases.

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.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay).

Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular, Xtra Old Particular and XOP Black, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

Holyrood Distillery Launch New Cask Programme For 2022

This year, HOLYROOD DISTILLERY has launched a unique cask programme which includes two distinct ‘peated’ expressions, chosen to emulate the smoky past of Edinburgh’s cityscape. Both casks showcase the interplay between tradition and innovation, utilising different techniques of production to create two unique distillates; Heavily Peated and Rauch Malt.

Smoke once encapsulated Edinburgh, large clouds hung above the city and inhabitants woke to the smell, taste and the sight of smoke, as a result the city became known as ‘Auld Reekie’ (Old Smoky). Holyrood has a strong connection with this time in Edinburgh’s history; the distillery building once housed the old goods shed of the innocent railway, back in 1813 which transported coal that powered Edinburgh’s fires.

Through this year’s cask programme, Holyrood Distillery is keen to bring certain elements of Auld Reekie back to the whisky world with its use of smoked brewers malts and the traditional whisky style of Islay. The first of the two casks, Heavily Peated uses Islay peated malt in a sherry wood. Head Distiller, Marc Watson commented:

“Today, peated whiskies have a symbolic home — Islay. Among distillers and drinkers alike, Islay and its distilleries have reached legendary status. We aim to pay homage to Islay with a heavily peated expression that remains true to ourselves as distillers. Our goal is not to emulate the great distilleries of Islay, but to celebrate them. What would ‘made by Edinburgh’ be if it was instead made by Islay?”

Holyrood distillers found using the Norwegian ale yeast, Kviek, alongside their malts gave a balance of smoke, orange, and a fuller texture to the expression. For maturation they’re using 250 litre Spanish sherry hogsheads, with a choice of either first fill Cream sherry or first fill Pedro Ximénez sherry.

The second cask in the 2022 programme, the Rauch Malt is a true brewer’s whisky, created with smoked brewer’s malt and aged in a lightly toasted port wood. Softening these smoky flavours, the addition of Caramalt has imparted a subtle sweetness to the distillate, finished with small amount of Heavy Peat (50ppm) to create the characteristic coal smoke flavours. For maturation, Holyrood is using 225 litre lightly toasted first fill port barriques.

“We continue to build upon traditional methods of production from brewing to innovate the Scotch Whisky industry. Our lightly peated expression for 2022 builds upon our previous New Make releases, utilising a rich catalogue of brewing malts and speciality yeasts. Our experimentation with smoked malts started a journey of exploration and refinement, culminating in a new way to create and experience lightly smoked whisky.”

At Holyrood Distillery the past inspires, but it never dictates, and their iterative approach means the team are persistently exploring, constantly learning and always building on the Scotch whisky legacy that has come before. Taking inspiration from the city that surrounds them, as well it’s rich brewing heritage; ancient recipes, malts, and fermentation ideas that time has left behind.

Purchasing one of these casks is a rare opportunity to be part of Holyrood’s Scotch journey as they carve out their identity as whisky makers, ahead of the inaugural single malt release later this year. Anyone who purchases a cask will receive a sample spirit on its first, third and tenth birthday.

Peated Cask priced at £5,000 and Smoked at £3,500
www.holyrooddistillery.co.uk/cask-programme/
@holyrooddistillery

Notes 

10 years maturation for any chosen casks. Insurance is included in cask price and covers damage or loss due to fire, explosion, flooding or other cause.

Holyrood Distillery is a modern distillery in the heart of historic Edinburgh. Established in 2019, Holyrood is Edinburgh’s first single malt distillery since 1925. The distillery is conveniently tucked away off the back streets of the city centre and on the outskirts of Holyrood park.

Both the brand’s juniper-led gin and new make spirit range, which launched in 2021 use experimental methods and bold new approaches to flavour. Height of Arrows gin was developed with a whisky in mind, using only a handful of ingredients to let juniper take centre stage. The innovative range of new make spirits the ‘Brewer’s Series’ uses specialty malt ratios and local yeasts, draws on Edinburgh’s illustrious distilling and brewing history.

JOURNEYMAN DISTILLERY MAKES HISTORY IN GOLIATH BLIND TASTING COMPETITION

THREE OAKS, MI – In a historic, game-changing victory, Journeyman’s Corsets, Whips and Whiskey single-grain, cask-strength wheat whiskey has won three of the highest honors bestowed at the 2022 ASCOT Awards, including Double Platinum, Best Wheat Whiskey, and Best in Class: Whiskey of the Year. Additionally, Journeyman’s Silver Cross Four Grain Whiskey earned a Gold Medal in this year’s awards.

Journeyman Distillery’s victory is a landmark in more ways than one. Besides this whiskey outshining more than 800 submissions for Best in Show—including spirits from some of the most acclaimed distilleries in the world—wheat whiskeys are often overlooked. To be honored with this accolade having been tasted alongside bourbon, scotch, and Irish and Tennessee whiskeys emphasizes the colossal achievement. In laymen’s terms:

“This is like a minor-league team beating the Yankees at the World Series…this is Rich Strike winning the Kentucky Derby,” says Fred Minnick, founder of the ASCOT Awards. “For the first time in any major spirits competition, a wheat whiskey was judged to be best.” 

Corsets, Whips and Whiskey showcases the quality and terroir of the organic Michigan wheat used to produce it, offering a soft, sweet smoothness brought to you by the golden hour sunsets overlooking the wheat farm directly behind the distillery and aquifer flowing just beneath the Featherbone Factory. The distillery’s fervent commitment to hand-made quality is precisely what made this victory possible. As one of the few certified organic distilleries in the nation, Journeyman works hard to ensure every one of their grain-to-bottle spirits reaches full potential.

“Journeyman started in 2010 and was built on the core principle of ‘Always a Journeyman.’ A mindset of never a Master but always in pursuit of distilling excellence,” says Bill Welter, founder of Journeyman Distillery. “It’s amazing to have competed with some of the true Masters of the trade and to have fared so well!” – Bill Welter, Founder of Journeyman Distillery.

To commemorate the accolades, the Corsets, Whips and Whiskey Summer Celebration will take place at the Distillery in Three Oaks, Michigan from June 23-26 including a multi-course dinner hosted by founder Bill Welter, backyard BBQs with live music as well as special distillery tours and features at Staymaker, the distillery’s on-site family-friendly restaurant. The distillery will also be releasing a limited Corsets, Whips and Whiskey bottle that was finished in Schramm’s Mead barrels at the celebration.

Screenshot from Fred Minnick’s Instagram

The competition created by famed spirits personality Fred Minnick, the ASCOT Awards highlight spirits from across the globe. Submissions underwent a blind taste test by a panel of industry-leading experts, who then determined winners for both individual categories and the Best in Show. See all category winners here.

Judges include Minnick; author, bar owner, and educator Martin Cate; the world’s first female Master Bourbon Taster and founder of the nationwide organization Bourbon Women Peggy Noe Stevens; educator, influencer, and highly sought-after special events bartender Tiffanie Barriere; world-renowned mixologist and spirits industry educator Francesco Lafranconi; craft cocktail entrepreneur Denaya Jones; and author and bourbon columnist Susan Reigler.

World Whisky Forum Sets Sights on Sustainability

The fourth World Whisky Forum, taking place from 21^st to 23^rd June at Stauning Whisky Distillery in Denmark, will turn its attention to the importance of sustainability in the whisky industry.

The Forum, which brings together distilleries and stakeholders from around the world, is dedicated to building bridges in the whisky community, sharing open-minded thinking, insights and innovations.

The programme will focus on sustainability and its impact on the whisky industry; from how sustainability can impact production, distribution and consumption, to the sustainability of cereal crops and supply of wood, to the design of next-generation whisky distilleries and the future of packaging.

Following an opening day of introductions, scene setting and a keynote speech from Tommy Rahbek Nielsen of sustainable energy provider Vestas Wind Systems, day two will feature two special study sessions exploring the future of sustainability within global whisky.

‘The Use of Finite Resources’ will feature Whyte & Mackay Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass, Magali Picard from Demptos Cooperage Research and James Brosnan from the Scotch Whisky Research Institute.

Gregg Glass comments: “The World Whisky Forum offers an exciting opportunity to meet with likeminded individuals across our industry from around the globe.

“It’s an honour to have been invited to discuss the use of finite resources. Last year, at Whyte & Mackay we announced our Scottish Oak Programme, through which we’re helping to establish the use of native oak across distilleries in Scotland. It’s an ongoing and rewarding project and I’m proud to be able to share our insights at the World Whisky Forum.

“Dave Broom, one of the co-founders of the World Whisky Forum, has been key within in the industry in supporting my journey as a whisky maker, as well as our Scottish Oak programme in particular. His perspective is truly unique in our industry.”

The second session, ‘Building Sustainable Distilleries and the Financial Upside of Sustainable Production’ will involve Annabel Thomas from Nc´nean Distillery, Alex Bruce from Adelphi Distillery, Todd Leopold from Leopold Bros., Oskar Bruno from Agitator and Bastian Heuser from Stork Club Whiskey / Spreewood Distillers.

The final panel sessions on the third and final day of this year’s Forum will include Joanna Watchman from Content Coms, Ryan Chetiyawardana from Mr Lyan and Peter Kreiner from Noma, who will discuss the challenges and opportunities surrounding ‘Communicating with the Consumer’.

The World Whisky Forum was co-founded by Jan Groth, Ingvar Ronde and Dave Broom, the latter of which will moderate all panel discussions.

Dave Broom comments: “The role of the World Whisky Forum is to be a place where anyone working within the category can come, listen, debate, learn, and share. It is an example of the industry at its best, a collegiate space where everyone’s opinion is valid, no matter how big or small your operation may be.

“No topic is more important than sustainability and navigating this complex area successfully will only be achieved by collective action and debate. I am looking forward eagerly to see what emerges at Stauning and encourage anyone interested to either attend in person – or virtually.”

The three previous World of Whisky Forums have taken place at High Coast Distillery in Sweden, Cotswolds Distillery in the UK and Westland Distillery in the USA. The fourth meeting will be held on the beautiful west coast of Denmark at Stauning Whisky Distillery, a pioneer in the New Nordic whisky movement.

For the first time, attendees can also participate virtually, to watch panel discussions and even tour the distillery. Tickets can be purchased via the World Whisky Forum website – https://worldwhiskyforum.org/tickets/

ANGEL’S ENVY® UNVEILS $8.2 MILLION BRAND HOME EXPANSION AND FIRST VIRTUAL DISTILLERY IN DECENTRALAND

The $8.2 million Brand Home expansion adds 13,000 square feet and doubles annual guest capacity at ANGEL’S ENVY’s distillery in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.

From June 14, National Bourbon Day, through June 20, fans can visit the ANGEL’S ENVY Meta Distillery virtual pop-up for a gamified bourbon-making experience, interactive cocktail quest, POAP token, NFT wearable giveaways, and more

Louisville, Kentucky (June 7, 2022) – ANGEL’S ENVY®, the Kentucky-based craft distiller that produces finished whiskeys, today unveiled its completed $8.2 million Brand Home expansion at 500 E. Main St. in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. The expansion, which adds 13,000 square feet to the facility, will allow ANGEL’S ENVY to welcome an additional 64,000 visitors each year, doubling annual guest capacity. To celebrate, ANGEL’S ENVY, the super-premium whiskey owned by Bacardi Limited, is inviting fans to plan an in-person visit or experience the Brand Home virtually via the ANGEL’S ENVY Meta Distillery, the first-ever distillery experience in Decentraland. The ANGEL’S ENVY Meta Distillery – which includes a gamified and educational distillery production tour and bourbon-making experience, interactive cocktail challenge, Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP) token, non-fungible token (NFT) wearable giveaways, and more – will launch in Decentraland on June 14, National Bourbon Day, and remain open through June 20.

“ANGEL’S ENVY has seen significant growth over the past several years, and that will only be amplified with our Brand Home expansion as we can now better meet the incredible demand from visitors who want to tour our facilities and experience our distillery. We’re proud to be part of such a strong community in Louisville and will continue to invest in our hometown,” said Gigi DaDan, ANGEL’S ENVY General Manager. “We’re thrilled to launch the ANGEL’S ENVY Meta Distillery on National Bourbon Day and look forward to engaging and celebrating bourbon with new audiences from all over the world through the virtual experience.”

The expansion to the ANGEL’S ENVY Brand Home will create approximately 20 new jobs in Louisville and includes new spaces and experiences for guests, such as a larger retail area, five new tasting rooms, an additional bar space, event space, and full catering kitchen and a designated room for ANGEL’S ENVY’s “Bottle Your Own” experience, which will now offer guests the chance to fill their own bottles of a distillery-exclusive Single Barrel offering. ANGEL’S ENVY worked with Joseph & Joseph, Contagious, and Sullivan & Cozart on the design and build for the expansion; construction began in late 2020. Visitors can now learn more about distillery experiences, book tours, and inquire about private events at angelsenvy.com/distillery.

With the launch of the ANGEL’S ENVY Meta Distillery, the super-premium bourbon brand becomes the first in the Bacardi portfolio of brands to create a Brand Home in the metaverse. Users (age 21+) are taken on a series of gamified experiences such as a mash bill challenge, cask personalization in the barreling room, and an ingredient quest to create cocktails. In addition, users have the opportunity to plant virtual white oak trees around the distillery, correlating to trees planted in real life through ANGEL’S ENVY’s “Toast the Trees” initiative – a program created in 2014 to raise awareness about the importance of a healthy white oak tree population to preserve the future of bourbon. ANGEL’S ENVY partnered with Terrazero Technologies Inc., a metaverse products and services technology firm and experience development studio, to create the ANGEL’S ENVY Meta Distillery.

“We are excited to welcome the first distillery in Decentraland with the ANGEL’S ENVY Meta Distillery,” said Adam de Cata, Head of Partnerships for Decentraland Foundation. “As we have seen over the past several months, people want to engage in the metaverse with activities and goods that they can relate to from this reality. The ANGEL’S ENVY Meta Distillery creates a new way for people to engage and celebrate in the metaverse.”

Throughout the experience, which is easily accessible for first-time or established users of Decentraland, users will earn virtual badges, a POAP token, and free customized NFT wearables. Users within the U.S. will be able to purchase physical items from the ANGEL’S ENVY web shop and a metaverse cocktail delivered to their door via Cocktail Courier. They can also enter to win an ANGEL’S ENVY mixology kit. More information about how to access and engage with the experience can be found here.

About ANGEL’S ENVY

ANGEL’S ENVY is a Louisville, Kentucky-based craft distiller that produces finished whiskeys. Co-founded in 2010 by the late Master Distiller Lincoln Henderson and his son Wes Henderson, it began as a passion project that combined their family’s deep-rooted passion for and knowledge of the industry with an innovative outlook on bourbon making and finishing. Today, the ANGEL’S ENVY team continues to produce its award-winning core offerings – a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Finished in Port Wine Barrels and a Rye Whiskey Finished in Caribbean Rum Casks – as well as a variety of innovative, special releases.

ANGEL’S ENVY opened the doors to its Brand Home, the first full-production whiskey distillery in downtown Louisville, in 2016. In June 2022, ANGEL’S ENVY completed an $8.2 million expansion to its Brand Home, doubling annual guest capacity. The ANGEL’S ENVY distillery is located at 500 East Main Street.

ANGEL’S ENVY is available in all 50 U.S. states and several international markets, and it is produced by Louisville Distilling Company, a subsidiary of Bacardi Limited.

For more information, please visit us at www.angelsenvy.com, or on:

Facebook: facebook.com/AngelsEnvyBourbon or facebook.com/TourAngelsEnvy

Twitter: @angels_envy

Instagram: @angelsenvy

CHIVAS BROTHERS INVESTS IN SUSTAINABLE FUTURE OF SCOTCH WITH £88 MILLION EXPANSION OF ABERLOUR AND MILTONDUFF DISTILLERIES

Cask Whisky Investors Share Excitement for the Latest UK – Mexico Trade Deal

On the 20th May 2022, the UK and Mexico kicked off negotiations to expand on the pre-existing trade deal between the nations. This trade agreement is focused upon expanding the ease at which services and goods can pass between countries. For the whisky investment industry this trade agreement will help to further reduce tariffs on scotch whisky, thus increasing the demand for scotch.

Already great strides have been made in boosting the demand for whisky in Mexico, with the nation being the 7th largest consumer of scotch in 2021. Meanwhile in the preexisting trade deal, one of the biggest moves was the approval of a Geographical Indication for scotch, thus protecting the substance from counterfeits. This has meant that the road has been paved for scotch demand to rise rapidly in the world’s 16th largest economy. In fact due to its rapidly growing population and rising incomes, the demand for imports is expected to grow by 35% by 2035.

One simple principle of whisky investment is that when the demand for scotch rises, so does the price of an investment grade cask. Since more people are consuming the scotch, the cask not only becomes rarer, but is increasingly needed to be bottled or blended in order to meet the demand. The main thing holding back the further proliferation of scotch within Mexico were tariffs which prevented all but the wealthiest being able to regularly afford to purchase whisky. With the removal of these tariffs the wider population will be able to purchase whisky at cheaper prices.

While tequila is the dominant spirit within Mexico, there is little competition between scotch and whisky due to differing drinking cultures surrounding the spirits. In fact due to the trends of premiumisation these two alcohols have seen a rapid rise in popularity, due to their unique flavours and the adoption of both into more widespread mixology. This in turn has instead pushed out spirits such as vodka as younger generations turn to these more exotic spirits.

Of such importance is the trade in spirits between these nations that the opening negotiations were held at drinks multinational Diageo’s London offices. Diageo owns some of the largest scotch distilleries on the planet and two of the biggest tequila brands, meaning that the company is well positioned within the booming Mexican spirits market.

The future looks bright for whisky investors as the talks continue, since this will further open up Mexico and the larger Latin American markets to the expansion of scotch whisky. If you wish to find out more about other recent trade negotiations please see our other articles about India and Australia.

About Hackstons

Located in the iconic Gherkin building in the beating heart of London, Hackstons is a multi-asset brokerage specialising in physical and tangible goods such as scotch casks, luxury timepieces, gold coins along with classic cars and designer handbags.

Media Contact: dominic@hackstons.com

General Enquiries: info@hackstons.com

If you are interested in finding out more about why whisky investment represents the pinnacle of alternative asset investing due to the government support the industry receives, get in touch with us at our website.

IRISH DISTILLERS AND MITCHELL & SON CELEBRATE THE 135^TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MITCHELLS ENTERING WHISKEY BONDING WITH THE UNVEILING OF GOLD SPOT IRISH WHISKEY

The Spot family shines brighter than ever with a limited-edition whiskey honouring the colourful 135-year legacy of wine & spirits merchants, Mitchell & Son 

Irish Distillers, makers of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, together with the Mitchell family are marking 135 years of whiskey bonding among the Mitchell family, one of Ireland’s last remaining wine merchants, by crafting a celebratory vibrant Spot release, Gold Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

This limited-edition expression pays tribute to the colourful history of the Mitchell’s whiskey bonding business which commenced in 1887 when the bonders sent empty wine and fortified wine casks to the local Jameson Distillery, in Bow Street, to be filled with new single pot still spirit for maturation in its underground cellars. Once filled, the fortified wine casks would be marked with a daub or ‘spot’ of coloured paint, to determine the age potential with Blue Spot, Green Spot, Yellow Spot and Red Spot, respectively indicating the 7, 10, 12 and 15 years of the celebrated expression within the Spot range.

The colour gold symbolises quality, prestige, specialness and celebration and so the Mitchells chose this colour to signify their enduring relationship with whiskey bonding over seven generations and 135 years.  This special release commemorates the past and nods to the future of whiskey innovation by embodying the unmistakable qualities of single pot still Irish whiskey.

Matured for a minimum of nine years, the expression builds on the foundation of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, typical of the Spot whiskey style, and is married together with a unique proportion of hand selected Bordeaux wine casks and port pipes. The inclusion of port casks – sourced from Irish Distillers’ long-established partners in Portugal’s Douro Valley– is a first for a modern iteration of Spot whiskey.

Working in collaboration with the Mitchells, the team at Midleton Distillery was inspired by archive documents dating back to the late 1800s showing significant quantities of port casks imported into Ireland which, once emptied, would have been used to mature whiskey. The combination of the four different cask types imparts exceptional flavours of vibrant fruits enhanced by delicate oak tannins and wood spices, with the port wine-driven cask inclusion adding an additional layer of complexity and character, alongside a taste of history.

Katherine Condon, Distiller at Irish Distillers, comments: “It has been a privilege and a joy to work with the renowned Mitchell family as they took us on a journey through the rich history of their business, handed down through seven generations.

“Gold Spot truly is a liquid time capsule with the wine-driven casks treading a beautiful balance of tradition and innovation and marking their 135-year history of whiskey bonding in Ireland. We cherish these opportunities to collaborate with the Mitchell family and look forward to welcoming even more whiskey fans to taste a piece of whiskey history within the Spot family.”

Jonathan Mitchell, Managing Director at Mitchell & Son, adds: “As the oldest family run wine and spirits merchants in Ireland, we’re delighted to continue the legacy of the Spot family, and our family’s historic role in Dublin’s whiskey bonding era.

“It has been fascinating to once again collaborate with Katherine Condon and the talented team at Midleton to celebrate the colourful story of our family business, utilising casks that would have been originally introduced to Irish whiskey in the late 1800s. We’re excited to see what the future holds for this wonderful family of whiskeys.”

Unveiled at Whiskey Live Dublin, the non-chill filtered release is bottled at 51.4% ABV or 102.8 Proof – a reference to historical methods of measuring alcohol content as noted in the Mitchell’s archive. The whiskey will be available online from www.spotwhiskey.com from 12pm Irish Time and at Whiskey Live Dublin on the 10^th of June and from Mitchell & Son stores and all established retailers from Tuesday, 14^th of June at the RRP of €120.  It will be available to buy in Ireland, France, the UK and Global Travel Retail, and the USA from mid-July.

Gold Spot Tasting Notes 

Nose: Opens with a bouquet of autumnal berries that develop into notes of apple and pear before evolving into rich stone fruits. These are intertwined with layers of wood spices, vanilla and perfumed wine undertones.

Taste: Rich pot still spices with vibrant fruits enhanced by the delicate oak tannins and wood spices. While The sweet influences of the charred and toasted oak deliver a character that embellishes the unique mix of wine-seasoned casks.

Finish: Rich and lasting with the intricate nature of the wine casks and pot still spices lingering.

#GoldSpotIrishWhiskey

Notes

About Irish Distillers

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

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

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

About Pernod Ricard 

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

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