The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s Chief Design Officer commended by President of Portugal as the world’s #1 luxury designer in recognition of his service to design and Portugal as part of Day of Portugal celebrations

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s Chief of Design, Tiago Russo, is personally commended by the President of Portugal, his Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, at a special reception held at the Portuguese Embassy, London, as part of celebrations of the Day of Portugal on 10 June 2022.

Following on from recent historic wins at the A’Design Awards that cemented his reputation as the world’s #1 luxury designer,  Russo was personally invited by the President of Portugal to a special reception  celebrating the cultural community, with the best Portuguese artists, musicians, actors and creatives with Tiago chosen to represent design.

During his visit, the President met with the most successful Portuguese citizens abroad, to congratulate them on their achievements. Tiago spoke with the President, Portuguese ambassadors and top ranked state representatives about his work and achievements at The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. The President praised Tiago’s successes, awards and recognition, as well as the recent opening of The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.’s design department in Lisbon, which has brought jobs and opportunities to the country. He also praised Tiago’s return to Portugal, bringing a skill set obtained abroad and passing that knowledge to Portugal’s young designers.

Tiago’s personal invitation from the President of Portugal came after his recent wins at the prestigious A’Design Awards; a perfect score to win Platinum for The Emerald Isle, a Gold for The Taoscán – only the second single malt to win Gold, the first being The Devil’s Keep – and a rare Limited Edition award for The Aodh. These unprecedented wins made Tiago Russo the world’s number one designer.

Commenting on the meeting, Tiago Russo said “It was an absolute honour and a privilege to be invited by his Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa himself, and to be able to speak to him and some of the highest Portuguese representatives about my career so far; design, awards, whiskey and the added value of using my skill set and know-how to bring it back to Portugal and further develop the design field in my native country. This truly represented a unique moment in my years as a designer, and one of the highlights of my career, to see my own work highly recognised by my country.”

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is on a mission to reinvent Irish whiskey, elevating its potential as a luxury product and restoring Ireland’s reputation for crafting the finest whiskeys in the world.

Formed in 2018 by Irish entrepreneur Jay Bradley, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. was born from a desire to return Irish whiskey to the heights it once enjoyed. To achieve such a goal has taken a complete reimagining of the craft; honouring centuries of tradition but questioning convention and adding scientific understanding to reinvent the maturation of the whiskey. No expense is spared, no corners are cut.

In 2021, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. became the most highly awarded new company of the year amassing a total of seventeen awards across both Taste and Design for four of its ultra-rare whiskey releases. In 2022, the company continued this award-winning streak, adding the world’s Best Irish Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards for The Devil’s Keep, and a perfect score to achieve Platinum at the A’Design Awards for The Emerald Isle.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is the exclusive Michelin Plaque Distribution Partner for The Michelin Guide Star Revelation Great Britain and Ireland 2022.

For more information visit www.craftirishwhiskey.com

Visit The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. to see Tiago’s award-winning designs, including the world’s #1 luxury design of 2022, The Emerald Isle.

Heaven Hill National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist Lynn House named “Best U.S. Brand Ambassador” at the 2022 Spirited Awards Ceremony in New Orleans

BARDSTOWN, KY (JULY 29, 2022) – Yesterday, the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation recognized Heaven Hill’s Lynn House as the “Best U.S. Brand Ambassador” at the 16^th Annual Spirited Awards in New Orleans. Since its founding in 2007, the Spirited Awards is one of the industry’s most outstanding awards events, recognizing premier beverage professionals, products, establishments, journalists and media across the multi-faceted spirits and cocktail community.

“I love being a part of the Heaven Hill Brands family where I have the unique pleasure of being my authentic self,” said Lynn. “In my role, I have been able to collaborate with individuals and groups around the country. This job has also given me a platform to promote visibility, inclusion and create opportunities for the generations to come.”

The Spirited Awards are composed of both U.S. and international industry accolades, media awards, and a few highly esteemed awards that are accessed in a global scale, transcending regionality. The “Best U.S. Brand Ambassador” honor is awarded to an individual whose creative use of brand communication and exceptional personality has had a prominent impact on the promotion of drink brands through engaging the trade and executing compelling educational seminars. Recipients of this award are assessed on their trade engagement, quality of education and seminars, creativity in brand communication and their title as a Brand Ambassador in the field with a focus on education for the trade. Learn more about the 2022 Spirited Awards winners here.

Lynn House is Heaven Hill’s National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist. She is responsible for support of the entire Heaven Hill Portfolio with emphasis on on-premise focused brands. Specifically, she implements brand and spirit category education, cocktail development for both national and local programming and identifies current and upcoming cocktail trends. Lynn is a resource and mentor to external distributors and trade personnel as well as internal field sales and brand teams, working on programs like Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week.

Previously at Heaven Hill, Lynn has served as the PAMA Liqueur Brand Ambassador and the National Brand Educator, covering all Heaven Hill Liqueur brands. She was a finalist for “Best American Bar Mentor” in the 2020 Spirited Awards. In 2017 and 2018, she was recognized as a finalist in the Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards Best American Brand Ambassador category. Additionally, Lynn is an inaugural inductee to the Dame Hall of Fame and has been featured in many industry publications. Her knowledge of Heaven Hill’s large and diverse portfolio of brands and her dedication to education of various spirits has led Lynn to great success in this field. She is creative, diligent and serves as a strong resource and mentor to all who she works with.

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 and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, 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 newly-acquired Samson & Surrey portfolio.

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL® TOUR ADDS 21c MUSEUM HOTELS IN LOUISVILLE & LEXINGTON AS TOP-LEVEL SPONSORS

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Distillers’ Association announced today that 21c Museum Hotel’s original Louisville location is now joined alongside 21c Lexington as an official, top-level Barrel sponsor of the world-famous Kentucky Bourbon Trail® adventure.

Andrew Carter, Area General Manager for both 21c Louisville and 21c Lexington, said partnership with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® is a natural fit.

“We are honored to be an official sponsor of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour. We look forward to being a place for Bourbon travelers to recharge, refuel and reflect between tours,” Carter said. “This will also enhance our presence as a destination for Bourbon explorers and is a great way to collaborate with our local distilleries and the Kentucky Distillers’ Association.”

Located in the heart of downtown at 700 W. Main St., 21c Museum Hotel Louisville is the flagship property for the locally founded boutique hotel chain bolstered by world-class art collections and acclaimed chef-driven restaurants, including Lockbox in Lexington and Proof on Main in Louisville.

What began in 2006 as an effort by local preservationists and contemporary art collectors Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson to restore and revitalize their beloved hometown has since developed into an award-winning boutique hotel brand with properties across the country. Currently, there are nine locations with plans for more to come.

“21c Museum Hotels are well known in Kentucky and beyond for providing unique, elevated experiences for hotel guests, restaurant diners, locals and travelers alike interested in visiting the museum galleries,” said Mandy Ryan, Director of the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® experiences.

“Visitors to the Bourbon Trail™ are always looking for ways to round out their trips to our legendary distilleries by choosing the best dining, accommodations, and attractions Kentucky has to offer,” Ryan continues, “and our partners at 21c deliver all three in spades.”

For more information about 21c Museum Hotels, go to www.21cmuseumhotels.com.

The hotels join the Butchertown Grocery Bakery, Campbell House Hotel, Independent Stave Co., Marriott Louisville East, Mint Julep Experiences, Pegasus Distillery Experiences, Seelbach Hotel and VisitLex as Barrel level sponsors.

There are eight KBT® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® distilleries in Louisville including, Angel’s Envy, Evan Williams Bourbon Experience, Michter’s at Fort Nelson, Old Forester, Rabbit Hole Distillery, Stitzel-Weller Distillery, Kentucky Peerless Distilling, and Copper & Kings Distillery. There are four KBT® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® distilleries in Louisville including, Town Branch Distillery, Barrel House Distilling Co., Bluegrass Distillers and James E. Pepper Distillery.

Louisville is an official Gateway of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and home to the Frazier Museum at 829 W. Main St. on historic Whiskey Row, which also serves as the KDA’s official Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center®. Lexington is an Official Trailhead to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®.

Kentucky Bourbon is one of the Commonwealth’s most historic and treasured industries, a thriving $9 billion economic engine that sustains more than 22,500 jobs. Bourbon-related tourism and hospitality jobs are vital to Kentucky’s economy.

Bourbon visitors took 1.5 million distillery tours in 2021 – down only 14% from the pre-pandemic record in 2019 of 1.72 million tours. Total attendance would have set a new record in 2021 if not for distillery closure and tour limits due to Covid.

The KBT Craft Tour® set their own record in 2021 clocking in over 600,000 distillery stops – that’s a 35% increase from the previous 2019 record.

Learn more at www.kybourbon.com and www.kybourbontrail.com.

About 21c Museum Hotels

21c Museum is a multi-venue museum located in nine cities. One of the largest contemporary art museums in the U.S., and North America’s only collecting museum dedicated solely to art of the 21st century, each property features exhibition space open free of charge to the public, combined with a boutique hotel and restaurant. It was founded in 2006 by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson; philanthropists, preservationists, and collectors, committed to expanding access to contemporary art as a means of catalyzing revitalization and civic connection. 21c presents a range of arts programming curated by Museum Director, Chief Curator Alice Gray Stites, including both solo and group exhibitions that reflect the global nature of art today, as well as site-specific, commissioned installations, and a variety of cultural events. The organization collaborates on arts initiatives with artists and organizations worldwide, including Speed Art Museum, North Carolina Museum of Art, MASS MoCA, Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Creative Capital Foundation, Creative Time, and others.

For more information visit 21cMuseumHotels.com

Whiskey Del Bac Releases New Limited Annual Expression Normandie

[Tucson, AZ, August 1, 2022] – Whiskey Del Bac will release Normandie, a new limited annual expression available in select markets on August 6, 2022. Normandie is Whiskey Del Bac’s Classic American Single Malt Whiskey, aged in charred, new American white oak barrels, then finished an additional 13 months in Calvados brandy barrels. The American single malt is named after the coastal region of Normandie (the French spelling), France, which is known for its creamy cheeses, rich seafood, and an abundance of apples and pears.

“The richness and culinary culture of Normandy reminded us of the culinary scene in our hometown of Tucson, a UNESCO City of Gastronomy,” said Whiskey Del Bac Co-Founder Stephen Paul. “Blending the bright apple flavors from these Calvados barrels with the earthy and caramel tones of our Classic American Single Malt to create this expression has been an adventure in whiskey making. We couldn’t be more happy with the way this expression turned out.”

Normandie is the second whiskey release included in the Whiskey Del Bac Global Cask Collection, which includes a total of three limited annual releases, all inspired by European regions. The first release – Frontera, finished in Pedro Ximénez Sherry botas – was inspired by the bold and complex sherry wines of Jerez de la Frontera. The third and final release from the Global Cask Collection, a heavily-mesquited Winter Release coming this December, is a Desert Southwest interpretation of the heavily-peated Islay Scotches. These expressions will be released at the same time each year moving forward.

Normandie’s Calvados finish with a base of Classic was formerly released as the Whiskey Del Bac 2018 Summer Distiller’s Cut that quickly sold out.

“Much like the response from the original sherry cask-finished Distiller’s Cut that then became Frontera, fans of Summer Distiller’s Cut 2018 were so enthusiastic about the Calvados finish we had to bring it back for the annual release of Normandie,” said Amanda Paul, Whiskey Del Bac Co-Founder.

Only 900 bottles of Normandie will be available at select restaurants and stores in national markets where Whiskey Del Bac is distributed including Arizona, New York, California, and Illinois. Spirit Hub will have a limited allocation for the 40 states that they deliver in. Bottles can also be shipped directly to the consumer in Kentucky. Arizona residents will also be able to purchase directly from the distillery onsite starting at 11:00 a.m. on August 6, 2022 or purchase online starting at 9:00 a.m. and have it shipped anywhere in the state. Normandie is bottled at 48.5% ABV/97 proof. The suggested retail price will be $90 a bottle.

Normandie’s tasting notes:

On the nose, you may find caramel-dipped apples, sour cherry, and dulce de leche.

On the palate, you may taste bright citrus, peppery notes across the mid-palate, and it finishes with short-but-sweet caramel and stone fruit.

The recommended serving for Normandie American single malt is with one large ice cube.

About Whiskey Del Bac

Whiskey Del Bac is a brand of American single malt whiskeys made by Hamilton Distillers. Based in Tucson, AZ, Whiskey Del Bac is best known for its mesquited American single malt, Dorado — which has been awarded a 90 rating by Whisky Advocate. Also popular is its award-winning single malt, Classic, which was included in Wine Enthusiast’s Top 100 Spirits list in 2021. Known as innovators in southwestern whiskey by using mesquite smoke in the malting process, the Hamilton Distillers team releases other unique expressions seasonally under the Distiller’s Cut and Global Cask collection. The distillery is located in the heart of Tucson, AZ and is open for retail and tours. To learn more about Whiskey Del Bac and Hamilton Distillers, visit www.whiskeydelbac.com

U.S. Distilleries Applaud Federal Ruling to Designate American Single Malt Category 

LOVINGSTON, Va. (July 29, 2022) – Virginia Distillery Company and members of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission (ASMWC), an organization designed to define, establish, promote and protect the category of American Single Malts, are celebrating a new ruling based on the notice of rulemaking process by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) that will formally define American Single Malt whisky. 

The rule ensures that any spirit labeled American Single Malt must be made from 100% malted barley, mashed, distilled and matured in one distillery, produced entirely in the U.S., distilled to a proof not exceeding 160, matured in oak casks not exceeding 700 liters and bottled at a minimum of 40% ABV.   

Today, the TTB issued the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in the Federal Register and will enter a 60-day comment period for the public and industry to suggest changes to the proposed rules.  

“Announcing American Single Malts as a formal category by the TTB is a historic moment for the industry, as it has been decades since a new whisky category of this magnitude has been added to the Beverage Alcohol Manual,” said Virginia Distillery Company CEO Gareth H. Moore and ASMWC Treasurer. “The American whisky category was synonymous with bourbon just 15 years ago, but the resurgence of rye diversified that view. The American Single Malt category will further broaden the view of the American whisky consumer and fuel innovation and premiumization across domestic products.”   

Virginia Distillery Company, the largest independently owned American Single Malt distillery in the U.S. and one of the co-founding members of the ASMWC has been highly active in advocacy efforts leading up to the recent announcement. The distillery has worked in close alignment for several years with advocates at Westland, Balcones and Copperworks distilleries to push for the designation.   

Moore added: “Formally defining American Single Malt will enable retailers and ultimately consumers to recognize the growing category that might otherwise be lost in the broad array of spirits on the market.”  

Producers anticipate that the designation will accelerate U.S. Trade association efforts for American Single Malts to be recognized as a category by other countries and expect growth in both export as well as competitors small and large.   

In 2020, Virginia Distillery Company launched Courage & Conviction, its signature American Single Malt whisky, and in 2021 added three new whiskies to the Courage & Conviction lineup featuring individual bottlings of the core trio of casks – bourbon, sherry and cuvée – that make up Courage & Conviction. Last fall, the distillery released its inaugural cask strength whisky, Courage & Conviction Cuvée Single Cask and in 2022 began rolling out Courage & Conviction PX Sherry Single Cask and Courage & Conviction Bourbon Single Cask.   

The Courage & Conviction line is the most awarded American Single Malt with more than 100 accolades earned over the last five years, including a 98-point rating – the highest awarded in 2022 – and #12 in the Top 100 in the 2022 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Best American Single Malt in the 2022 International Whisky Competition, and a best of class gold medal at the 2022 LA International Spirits Competition. The line was produced to meet the standards that the ASMWC proposed in anticipation for the category designation. Coinciding with the rollout of Courage & Conviction, the distillery launched a complete guide to American Single Malt whisky.   

For more information about the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission, visit https://www.americansinglemaltwhiskey.org/. 

For more information about Virginia Distillery Company, visit https://vadistillery.com.  

About Virginia Distillery Company   

Staffed by a local Virginia team mentored by Scottish consultants with decades of experience, Virginia Distillery Company is the largest dedicated American Single Malt whisky distillery in the U.S. The distillery has a current annual production volume of 80,000 4.5L cases and growing. At full capacity, the distillery can produce over 8,000 casks yielding 350,000 4.5L cases annually. The distillery produces award-winning Courage & Conviction American Single Malt on-site using malted barley from North America and water from Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. In addition, the distillery offers the award-winning VHW series, made with 100% malted barley. Showcasing both Old and New World whisky-making, the line marries whisky made on-site in Virginia with whisky from Scotland.  

FETTERCAIRN DISTILLERY UNVEILS NEW

16 YEAR OLD 2022 LIMITED EDITION

2022 marks the third limited release in the annual series, which showcases different maturation journeys from the distinctive distillery character

Fettercairn Distillery has unveiled the latest release of its popular 16 Year Old Single Malt Whisky. The collection launched in 2020 as a series of limited-edition annual releases of 16 Year Old Single Malt, each with their own distinct recipe. This 2022 release offers a taste of the Aberdeenshire distillery’s distinctive tropical house style, whilst exploring the influence of a unique finish for Fettercairn.

This highly anticipated release offers a rare experience of the distillery’s tropical character with accentuated notes of exotic fruits and syruped figs, underpinned by gentle roasted coffee. This 16 Year Old is an expertly balanced expression finished with a trilogy of casks; influence led by maturation in first fill Oloroso sherry cask, before further maturation in first fill Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and a final finish in ex Bourbon barrels, all shaping the unique character of this refined whisky.

This specially selected trilogy of casks illustrates Fettercairn Distillery’s curiosity – seeking to create and evolve flavour with each new release. The resulting 16 Year Old Single Malt whisky unites exotic fruity aromas in the form of ripe guava with patisserie spices, cocoa and a crescendo of natural vanilla to create layers of rich flavour bringing depth to the ripe exotic fruit characteristics typically found in Fettercairn spirit when it reaches its mid-late teens.

Bottled at 46.4%, natural in colour and non-chill filtered, this new 16 Year Old promises the very best of Fettercairn, unifying rare, matured spirit with a unique cask journey for Fettercairn, bringing to life a story of creativity and craft in the distinctive way which has come to define the distillery.

Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass: “In creating this recipe, selecting these casks, I set out to further explore the boundaries of what we can achieve at Fettercairn in our quest for true distinction whilst continuing to deliver on the tropical house character that defines Fettercairn.  Once again, the result is a very special, one-off creation that will never be repeated.  The challenge was to fine tune the balance of cask influence that would deliver the unique profile I was looking for. A unique drinking experience, which, with accentuated flavour characteristics, define Fettercairn.”

Fettercairn 16 Year Old 2022 release will be available across Europe including France, UK, the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium from July onwards, extending to Global Travel Retail and key Asia markets into 2023, at an RSP of £72. The GTR edition will be in 1L formats with an RSP of £82.50.

TASTING NOTES

COLOUR – Amber gold with sunrise flecks.

NOSE – Dried exotic fruits, lightly syruped figs, grapefruit and notes of mature oak.

TASTE – Sunkissed raisins, ripe guava, patisserie spices and cocoa qualities elaborated with a crescendo of natural vanilla. Finish encompasses moist ginger cake, passion fruit, baked apple, underpinned with gentle notes of roasted coffee.

Facebook @fettercairnwhisky

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Twitter @FettercairnWh

About Fettercairn 

Driven by an enlightened ethos at the heart of our distilling philosophy since 1824, today Fettercairn Distillery lives by a long-standing commitment to unfettered thinking.

We’re not like other distilleries and we’ve never been afraid to tread our own path.  It’s only by defying convention, tradition and expectation, we can adopt an enlightened and progressive approach.

Take our cooling ring, our home grown Scottish oak and single estate whiskies, the special collaboration with 200 local farmers, the Warehouse 2 Collection. And not forgetting the unicorn on our bottle!

Our vision is future facing, so we don’t need to look back to move forward.  But ultimately, all of this leads to an unwavering commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future for whisky making.

We are Fettercairn; the home of enlightened whisky making. 

www.fettercairnwhisky.com

About Gregg Glass- Master Whisky Maker

Respected whisky maker Gregg Glass joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016, where he has been a leading light in the rejuvenation of Fettercairn alongside Distillery Manager Stewart Walker.

Gregg enjoyed a childhood in the heart of whisky making country, the Black Isle. With 22 years in industry notably 11 years at innovative whisky maker Compass Box, Gregg joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016 to work alongside renowned Master Distiller Mr Richard Paterson OBE.

Gregg has enjoyed 15 years career as a blender and whisky maker. At Whyte and Mackay Gregg has led whisky development for Fettercairn Single Malt Whisky, Jura Single Malt Whisky and in 2017 launched Whisky Works – an independent innovation wing of Whyte and Mackay.

Gregg is devoted to his craft and believes in flavour-led hands-on whisky making. Gregg is passionately involved in every aspect of the whisky making process from ‘acorn to glass’ and since 2020 leads whisky making across the Whyte and Mackay portfolio. 

Award-Winning Whisky Makers Whyte and Mackay

Whyte and Mackay is home to a collection of multi-award-winning Single Malt Whiskies including The Dalmore, Jura and Fettercairn. With a premium spirits portfolio that includes contemporary whisky brands Shackleton, Woodsman and John Barr, alongside popular alcohol brands Wildcat, Fundador and Harveys Bristol Cream and Aperitivo. In the UK the company produce Whyte & Mackay, an award-winning ever-popular Blended Whisky, which recently launched the market-leading ‘Whyte & Mackay Light’ – a lighter spirit drink from Scotland, bottled at a lower ABV.

In 2020 the company were publicly recognised by the First Minister of Scotland for their support of the national pandemic response. Whyte and Mackay are official partners to SAMH – Scottish Association for Mental Health, which saw Whyte and Mackay employees worldwide complete a virtual-race-around-the-world to raise awareness for the charity.

Founded in Glasgow 1844, the whisky makers celebrated their 175 year anniversary in 2019. Today Whyte and Mackay have offices from New York to Singapore. In Scotland, Whyte and Mackay operate a state-of-the-art Bottling Hall and Distribution Centre in Grangemouth and a Whisky Production and Warehousing Centre in Invergordon.

Whyte and Mackay’s whisky making is led by Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE and pioneering Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass.

MIZUNARA CASK WHISKY REVEALED AS

SECOND RELEASE IN 50^TH ANNIVERSARY SERIES

Prominent whisky maker Billy Walker marks astonishing milestone with

second release in commemorative Past, Present & Future Series 

The GlenAllachie Distillery today announces the penultimate bottling in The Past, Present & Future Series as an ultra-rare Japanese cask finished Single Malt Scotch Whisky: The GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50^th Anniversary Present Edition 16-year-old Mizunara Virgin Oak Cask Finish.

Launched in May, the landmark range honours foremost whisky master Billy Walker’s remarkable half-century-long career in the Scotch whisky industry, with each release symbolising a key milestone for the veteran blender.

The Present Edition is revealed today as a Mizunara Virgin Oak Cask Finish (UK RRSP 280), Walker’s first-ever use of the highly unusual oak species, representing the pioneering wood policy he is currently implementing at The GlenAllachie Distillery.

With a particular focus on experimenting with interesting and rare casks from small-scale, premium producers, the Speyside distillery’s annual cask budget for 2022 stands at an eye-watering 2 million (US $2.6m).

The ground-breaking 16-year-old underwent a lavish maturation journey beginning in rich Pedro Xim鮥z and Oloroso Sherry wood before being transferred into incredibly uncommon Mizunara virgin oak casks with a medium level of toasting and charring.

Mizunara is a very scarce species of Japanese oak rarely utilized in the whisky sphere due to its expense and the multitude of challenges it poses to production.

Its tendency to twist as it grows creates issues for stave production, and its porous nature – which on one hand is beneficial, allowing for greater interaction between whisky and wood – makes it much more inclined to leak during maturation, impacting the final outturn. Additionally, the trees must grow to be around 200 years old before being felled; twice the age of most oaks used for casks.

Following a luxurious two-step maturation journey, the consequential chestnut-hued single malt boasts indulgent notes of dark chocolate fondant, forest fruits, stem ginger and coconut shavings.

Due to the scarcity of Mizunara oak, the release is limited to just 2,900 bottles globally; each proudly presented at a high strength of 48% ABV, without added colouring or chill filtration.

Walker, who was inducted into Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Hall of Fame last year, has spearheaded The GlenAllachie Distillery since 2017. In that time, it has racked up enviable awards including the fiercely contested title of World’s Best Single Malt (World Whiskies Awards, 2021).

Commenting on his historic release, Walker said:

“As a Master Distiller, I’m regularly asked what proportion of the flavour profile of a whisky I attribute to the wood, to which I answer at least 70 per cent. As a chemist, I find supervising the flavour development of our whisky as it interfaces with interesting cask types truly fascinating. One thing I’ve absolutely learnt in the last 50 years is that there are no short cuts to achieving quality.

“I’m incredibly proud to release my first ever Mizunara virgin oak finished whisky; a cask type that has of course been on my radar to experiment with, not deterred by its undeniable challenges! I was confident that it would perfectly complement the bold nature of The GlenAllachie, and we’re delighted with the outcome. A very proud moment for a special personal milestone.”

The Present Edition joins the first release in the range, The Past Edition: 16-year-old 100% Sherry Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky, released to great acclaim in May 2022.

The GlenAllachie Billy Walker 50^th Anniversary Present Edition can be purchased through global specialist retailers, with a UK RRSP of 280.

ABOUT BILLY WALKER’S CAREER:

Graduating from the University of Glasgow in 1967 with a BSc Honours Degree in Chemistry, a youthful Billy Walker had the perfect foundations to enable him to build an intimate knowledge of the science behind whisky making and flavour development.

Billy’s whisky journey began in 1972 at Hiram Walker & Sons – the company behind Ballantine’s at the time – where his role covered almost all aspects of production. After four years, he moved on to Inver House Distillers, taking up the position of Master Blender in 1976.

Fast-forward to 1982, Billy joined Burn Stewart Distillers where he went on to spend two decades, most notably playing a key part in the resurrection of Deanston and Tobermory Distilleries. When the company was sold, an entrepreneurial Billy was left to decipher his next move.

The next twelve years saw him acquire BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh Distilleries, each of which were either mothballed, closed or under exposed to the market. It was at this point in his career where Billy truly made a name for himself within the industry, leading the brands’ rejuvenation and subsequent phenomenal success.

Billy’s next move was to his current position as owner and Master Distiller at The GlenAllachie Distillers Company, encompassing The GlenAllachie single malt, White Heather blended Scotch and MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits. 2021 saw Billy delve into a new spirits category for the first time, releasing a new experimental rum line under the MacNair’s label; Exploration Rum.

It’s from this incredible record of success that Billy has earnt widespread acclaim and recognition for being one of the most prominent whisky figures of his generation.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts a 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2022 stands at an eye-watering 2m/$2.6m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we have complete control of the end-to-end maturation process.

The GlenAllachie focusses on quality over quantity, which is why we chose to reduce our production capacity from 4m to 500,000 Litres of Alcohol and increase our fermentation period to 160 hours for an ester rich, fruity spirit.

We believe age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age statement, and are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered for maximum flavour experience.

Our other brands are MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits – encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Exploration Rum – and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie | Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie | Instagram – @theglenallachie_ 

TASTING NOTES:

The GlenAllachie 50^th Anniversary Present Edition – Mizunara Virgin Oak Finish 16-year-old – 48% ABV

• Colour: Intense Chestnut.
• Nose: Bursting with dark chocolate, heather honey and grilled almonds, with hints of sandalwood, ginger, orange zest, caramelised pecans and coconut shavings.

Taste: Waves of heather honey, cinnamon and crystalised ginger, followed by demerara sugar, dried dark berries, hazelnuts and fig syrup

anCnoc celebrates modern makers with new Craft Cast campaign

anCnoc Highland single malt whisky is taking drinkers into the world of the modern maker this year, with a new partnership and event series celebrating some of the UK’s most dedicated craft producers.

The anCnoc Craft Cast will shine a light on the hidden corners of workshops and studios where the magic of craft production happens – telling stories of the people who share anCnoc’s passion for crafted products, made well.

The first partnership kicked off this month with Glasgow’s Overtone Brewing Company. One of Scotland’s most exciting and experimental craft beer producers, their creative brewing team takes inspiration from the culture of music to craft small batches of hop-forward beers for their growing fan base.

On Friday 15^th July anCnoc and Overtone hosted an evening to explore craft beer and whisky, with guests enjoying beer and whisky pairings and a unique, after-hours glimpse behind the scenes on Overtone’s small brewery floor.

A mix of makers, media and craft fans savoured drams, sipped on an array of beers and even had a chance to get creative and dive into the world of design, developing new names and labels for future Overtone beer releases.

For anCnoc’s team, these partnerships are a celebration of the values they hold dear as whisky makers: traditional techniques and skills, slow hand-crafted processes and products imbued with the personal care and passion of the people who make them.

Stuart Baxter, Global Whisky Ambassador for anCnoc led the tastings for Craft Cast guests on the night. He said: ‘We hear the word craft a lot these days, and it’s easy to forget what it really means for true craft makers and the products they make. With the Craft Cast we’re on a mission to dig a bit deeper, stepping into the communities of some incredibly skilled craftspeople to explore their world and celebrate the values we have in common over a dram. The brilliant beer makers at Overtone were a natural first partner for us, and it was a pleasure learning more about the creativity, commitment and energy they put into every can of beer, at what was very relaxed and enjoyable evening’.

Kayley Barbour, Head of Overtone’s Brand Marketing added: “We’re very grateful to be working with anCnoc as part of their Craft Cast campaign and the event couldn’t have gone better, the brewery has never felt more alive. The entire campaign is an amazing opportunity for creative businesses to work together, think outside the box and engage customers in different ways.”

To accompany the Craft Cast campaign, anCnoc has commissioned long term collaborator, New York based Scottish illustrator Peter Arkle, to create a suite of hand-drawn illustrations to bring anCnoc’s passion for craft to life.

Also, inspired by the Overtone Brewing partnership, anCnoc has created a new microsite which will offer fun tips and help drinkers to find their perfect beer and anCnoc whisky pairing via a short quiz.  Visit: https://www.ancnoc-untapped.com/

Global Whisky Ambassador for anCnoc Stuart Baxter (middle) with the Overtone Brewing team

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anCnoc Highland single malt Scotch whisky (pronounced a-nock) is crafted at Knockdhu Distillery in the small village of Knock in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Established in 1894, the distillery was built in an area with an abundance of the natural resources needed for making whisky: pure spring water and plentiful supplies of peat and barley.

Sitting in the shadow of the ‘Black Hill’ (Knockdhu in Gaelic) which gives the whisky its unusual name, Distillery Manager Gordon Bruce and his long-standing team dedicate themselves to the traditional craft of making excellent whisky every day.

In an industry where many distilleries aim to be bigger and better, Knockdhu is known as one of the smallest and most enchanting distilleries in the Scottish Highlands. And little has changed in the way whisky has been made here over the decades. Two copper pot stills replicate the original 1894 design, old fashioned worm tubs condense the vaporised alcohol, and Gordon’s team (and many dogs) make up one of the smallest workforces in the industry. Sustainability is at the heart of everything they do, including the ‘wetlands’ they’ve created in the land surrounding the distillery to naturally process the co-products of production.

As a result, anCnoc is a celebration of traditional whisky making, with skills handed down from one generation of Distillery Manager to the next, retaining the slow, hand-crafted techniques that make single malt Scotch whisky so highly prized around the world. But there’s nothing old fashioned about the finished products. These are light, fruity, refreshingly modern single malts, bottled and sent out to the world for everyone to enjoy.

ABOUT OVERTONE BREWING

Inspired by the culture of music, Overtone aims to bring people together, incite conversation and make memories through the enjoyment of craft beer.

Brewing in Glasgow since 2018, Overtone have quickly established itself as one of Scotland’s best and most creative craft breweries, encouraging a new thirst for New England style IPAs. There are new releases every week: from experimental hop combinations to exciting fruited sour blends, with a high standard and consistency that has won over the craft beer scene.

Head Brewer Dan Miller is from New Hampshire in the US and brings with him a knowledge of American style beers. This has allowed Overtone to consistently produce award winning New England IPAs that are loved by craft beer fans nationwide.

THE CRAFT IRISH WHISKEY CO. TAKES BOTH #1 AND #2 SPOTS IN TOP INDUSTRY EXPERT WHISKEY BLIND TASTING

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. takes the top two spots with The Devil’s Keep at #1 and The Taoscán at #2 in a whiskey blind tasting by top industry experts from Whisky Magazine. The two top-scoring whiskies were the only ones from the company included in the tasting, making the results all the more incredible and just the latest in a long line of accolades for the groundbreaking brand.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is a trailblazer in the whiskey industry; a brand that has got plenty of people talking in the UK, Ireland, and beyond. Since launching with The Devil’s Keep in 2020, the company has broken the record for the world’s most expensive whiskey and won prestigious awards for taste and design including World’s Best Irish Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2022.

Whisky Magazine’s Editor, Christopher Coates and Deputy Editor, Phoebe Calver carried out the blind-tasting of 6 Irish whiskies including expressions from Clan Colla, J J Corry Irish Whiskey and Teeling Whiskey as well as The Devil’s Keep and The Taoscán.

The Process

• All samples were blind tasted, with ABV, country/region and style the only information disclosed
• Samples were tasted individually over a two-week period
• Tasters worked to tasting and scoring guidelines in order to assess samples consistently
• The top-scoring sample was awarded Editor’s Choice

Coates remarks, “The Devil’s Keep is delicious,” with Calver adding, “There’s an interesting play with flavour here. I like the sweet and herbal surroundings.”

From the Devil’s Keep winning overall top scorer and winner of Whisky Editor’s Choice award in the tasting to The Taoscán, being the second highest scoring sample. Coates observes, “The Taoscán is like drinking a ready-made Manhattan of Boulevardier. It’s delicious!” with Calver noting, “It’s a sweet lover’s paradise. Nicely balanced and characterful.”

Jay Bradley, Founder and CEO The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. comments, “The Craft Irish Whiskey Co, is on a mission to reinvent Irish whiskey and craft the finest whiskeys in the world. To receive the top two spots for the only two whiskies of ours included in a blind tasting of some great whiskies by industry experts speaks for itself! We are very grateful to Whisky Magazine for this accolade and the ongoing recognition from the editors.”

The full results of the blind-tasting including tasting notes feature in the June 2022 edition of Whisky Magazine.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is on a mission to reinvent Irish whiskey, elevating its potential as a luxury product and restoring Ireland’s reputation for crafting the finest whiskeys in the world.

Formed in 2018 by Irish entrepreneur Jay Bradley, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. was born from a desire to return Irish whiskey to the heights it once enjoyed. To achieve such a goal has taken a complete reimagining of the craft; honouring centuries of tradition but questioning convention and adding scientific understanding to reinvent the maturation of the whiskey. No expense is spared, no corners are cut.

In 2021, The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. became the most highly awarded new company of the year amassing a total of seventeen awards across both Taste and Design for four of its ultra-rare whiskey releases. In 2022, the company continued this award-winning streak, adding the world’s Best Irish Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards for The Devil’s Keep, and a perfect score to achieve Platinum at the A’Design Awards for The Emerald Isle.

The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. is the exclusive Michelin Plaque Distribution Partner for The Michelin Guide Star Revelation Great Britain and Ireland 2022.

For more information visit www.craftirishwhiskey.com  or click vimeo.

About Whisky Magazine and the tasters 

Whisky Magazine is an international publication covering whiskies from around the world. It includes distillery focuses, news, and topical features, explores the history and production of the liquid, and includes tastings of new and exciting whiskies. Whisky Magazine is written by world-class drinks writers and is published eight times a year as a print and digital edition, with regular updates and more original content at www.whiskymag.com.

An editor of American Whiskey Magazine and deputy editor of Whisky Magazine, Phoebe splits her focus between the US and global whisky scenes. She is also co-host of Whisky Live TV and a global whisky taster for the title.

A member of the team since 2013 and a keen whisky drinker long before that, Christopher Coates was appointed as editor of Whisky Magazine in 2020. Beyond this, he is a keen photographer and chair of judges for the World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky.

Hard Truth Distilling Co. Announces Significant Expansion Plans 

New Rack House, Fermenters and Blending Room Expansion Planned to Manage Increased Product Demand

Nashville, IN – Hard Truth Distilling Co., Indiana’s largest destination craft distillery, today announced a major expansion that will include several projects, beginning with the construction of its second rackhouse.

Rackhouse No. 2 will be twice the size of Hard Truth’s current rackhouse, tripling storage capacity from 4,000 to 12,000 barrels for its critically acclaimed Sweet Mash Rye and other whiskies.

Hard Truth will also be installing three, new 5,000-gallon fermenters in addition to its current 2,500-gallon fermenters, allowing the distillery to increase its current production rate by more than 800 percent. Along with this expansion, the distillery is transitioning to 24/7 production to keep up with demand.

Work began in late June with projected completion within six months.

Hard Truth Distilling Co., located in the heart of Indiana’s famous Brown County artists’ colony, was founded in 2015. Sales have grown steadily year over year. Then, from 2020 to 2021, sales nearly doubled thanks to increases from existing brands and the introduction of three new products, including Hard Truth Maple Bourbon Cream.

In addition to ongoing sales gains, Hard Truth continues to add new markets. Already in the major markets of Illinois and Florida, Hard Truth products are now available in Texas, including the cities of Dallas, Houston and Austin.

The distillery’s portfolio of award-winning spirits can now be enjoyed in 16 states and in the Bahamas, and according to Jeff McCabe, Hard Truth Co-Founder, market expansion is a priority. “We expect to see our brands in 28 states by 2023,” said McCabe.

Hard Truth’s portfolio of award-winning premium spirits includes Hard Truth Toasted Coconut Rum, Toasted Coconut Rum Cream, Maple Bourbon Cream and Cinnamon Vodka — which has become the best-selling cinnamon vodka in the U.S. Whiskey brands in addition to Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye, include Indiana Straight Rye Whiskey, the Sipes’ family of bourbon and rye whiskeys, and the Schoonover family of bourbons.

Hard Truth: A Leading Midwest Tourist Destination

Many distilleries offer tours and tastings, but few sit among 325, explorable, wooded acres in some of the most beautiful countryside in the Midwest. Visitors to Hard Truth can tour the distillery, dine at its 250-seat restaurant, and hop on an ATV with a tour guide to explore the property while learning about the history of distilling.

Hard Truth hosts festivals, health and wellness adventures, mixology classes, and more. The forest-framed Hard Truth on the Rocks terrace and stage area offers live music and special events, a unique terrace food menu, and drinks.

“A key component of our mission at Hard Truth is offering visitors an opportunity to experience this place and our brands, and by doing so, become part of the Hard Truth family,” said McCabe. “We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in just eight years, and there’s so much more to come.”

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 throughout Indiana and Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Florida, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine with several new states coming on board in 2022.

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.