THE GLENALLACHIE DISTILLERY WINS

VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

The Speyside distillery was crowned, along with  

multiple category wins for its products 

After an extraordinary year of innovation and achievement, the Single Malt distillery lead by industry veteran Billy Walker won big at the Icons of Whisky and World Whiskies Awards for 2022.

The awards, both run by Whisky Magazine, “celebrate the best and brightest people and places in the sector” and “commend the best whiskies from around the world”.

Having beaten out all competition at last year’s ceremony to win World’s Best Single Malt, The GlenAllachie was named Visitor Attraction of the Year for 2022. The judging panel cited the overcoming of the adversity stemming from the pandemic as the main contributing factor to the bestowing of the title.

The distillery began offering revolutionary “virtual” tours from the safety of their on-site tasting room in May 2021. The experiences included an in-depth tour video, followed by a discussion with hand-made replicas of the various stages of the production process, and concluded with a tutored tasting of four drams presented in a complimentary keepsake bag with a Glencairn glass.

The company also excelled in the product awards, scooping category wins for The GlenAllachie 12-year-old in its age banding within the Speyside Single Malt group, and MacNair’s Lum Reek 12-year-old in the Blended Malts Under 12 years class.

In addition, The GlenAllachie 15-year-old picked up a gold medal at the esteemed awards, entered by hundreds of products.

Reflecting on the monumental wins, Walker states:

“I’m beyond delighted for the GlenAllachie team for securing such hotly contended accolades at these coveted Whisky Magazine awards. The past two years have been incredibly challenging for the entire industry, however I’ve been witness to the inspiring grit and determination of our team. These incredible awards are a testament to each and every one of them. I will be proudly raising a dram in admiration this Christmas.”

In early 2021, Walker was inducted to the Whisky Magazine’s prestigious Hall of Fame in recognition of his lasting contribution to the Scotch whisky industry.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts an almost 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2021 stands at an eye-watering £1m/$1.2m. 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_

VERY RARE MACALLAN LALIQUE 55-YEAR-OLD TOPS BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH

View the catalogue: Bonhams : Whisky Sale

A decanter of the Macallan Lalique 55-year-old. Sold for £82,960

Edinburgh – A rare decanter of the Macallan Lalique 55-year-old was the top lot at Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Tuesday 7 December, selling for £82,960. Numbered 412 out of a limited edition of 420, the decanter came in a presentation case accompanied by a crystal stopper. It had been estimated at £65,000-85,000.

Martin Green, Bonhams Head of Whisky in Edinburgh, said, “Released in 2007, the 55-year-old was the second in the famous Macallan Lalique Six Pillars collection and is much sought after by collectors around the world both for its rarity and quality. We had anticipated stiff competition for the decanter and were not disappointed.”

Other highlights included:

·         Bowmore-38 year old 1957. Sold for £9,760. Estimate: £8,000-10,000

·         Glenfiddich Goodwood-42 year old 1979. Sold for £7,930. Estimate: £8,000-10,000.

·         The Macallan 1950. Sold for £6,710. Estimate: £5,000-5,5000.

Sale: Whisky Location: 22 Queen Street, Edinburgh Date: Tuesday 7 December at 11 am

View the catalogue: Bonhams : Whisky Sale

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com. bonhams.com

Wolfburn Scores a Hattrick at the World Whisky Awards  

Wolfburn’s Northland single malt whisky has scooped top honours at The World Whisky Awards, being awarded a Gold Medal in the heavily-contested Non-Age-Statement category.

‘Northland has won six consecutive gold medals in international shows,’ says Mark Westmorland, Global Brand Ambassador. ‘Each year the spirit used to create it gets a little older, a little more mature, a little more flavourful – and it keeps on winning!’

Northland was Wolfburn’s first commercial whisky, first released in 2016. The spirit is laid down in small (120 litre) quarter casks, which mature quickly and ensure a lovely depth of flavour.

In addition, Wolfburn’s Morven and Aurora expressions both took silver medals, making this the first ever awards ceremony in which all three of Wolfburn’s 46% ABV core range won awards.

‘It’s really testimony to the efforts of our master distiller Iain Kerr, and the whole production team,’ comments Mark. ‘Highest quality spirit remains Wolfburn’s hallmark, and it’s lovely that it’s now getting so much recognition.’

ABOUT NORTHLAND:

Wolfburn Northland’s smooth and easy-drinking character stems from the way it is made. Long fermentation is followed by slow and gentle distillation to makes a pure, smooth spirit. Maturation is in the finest hand-selected oak quarter casks. Northland is non-chill filtered and entirely naturally coloured.

ABOUT WOLFBURN:

The original Wolfburn Distillery was founded just to the west of Thurso by William Smith in 1821.  In its day it was one of the largest distilleries in Scotland, producing, according to HMRC records, 28,056 “gallons of proof spirit” in a single year.  Taking its name from the stream that provided the water – the Wolf Burn – the distillery operated until around 1870.  The reasons for its closure are lost in time, but by 1877 the newly produced Ordnance Survey maps showed it being in ruins.

In 2011 plans were laid to resurrect the old distillery. Construction began in 2012 and in January 2013 the new Wolfburn Distillery commenced production, thereby becoming the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland.  Situated 300m from the site of the original distillery, the new Wolfburn operates in much the same way as the old: craftsmen use traditional methods to produce fine spirit, which is laid down in best quality oak casks to await the day when it is bottled as single malt scotch whisky.  Wolfburn’s single malt scotch whiskies are now available in 31 countries globally.

Wolfburn Distillery, Henderson Park, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7XW

www.wolfburn.com

www.facebook.com/wolfburn

Traveling to Toast with Loved Ones This Holiday?

If You’re Checking a Bag Because of Bourbon, Maker’s Mark May Pick Up the Fee Maker’s Mark “Whisky Flights” Program Gives Bourbon Lovers the Chance to Get Their Checked Bag Fees Reimbursed – Up to $50,000 Total – To Ease the Burden and Seasonal Stress of ‘Holiday Baggage’

 LORETTO, Ky (December 15, 2021) – Iconic Kentucky bourbon Maker’s Mark today announced the inaugural take-off of “Whisky Flights,” a spirited promotion designed to help lighten the load of travelers’ ‘extra baggage’ this holiday season. The beloved whisky producer is encouraging holiday travelers to spend more time sipping and savoring every precious moment with family and friends, by offering the chance to have Maker’s Mark cover the checked bag fees of those packing a bottle of bourbon to bring home. The program, which aims to ease some of the hassle, cost and inconvenience of holiday travel for America’s bourbon loving spirits drinkers, runs from December 15 through December 31, 2021. Travelers 21+ can hurry over to  https://whiskyflights.makersmark.com/ to upload an eligible checked-baggage receipt for the chance to have Maker’s Mark reimburse their checked-baggage fee, with up to $50,000 of fees covered by the brand during the promotion period.

“As a family-led brand since our inception in 1953, we’ve always believed that the perfect holiday moment starts with you, your loved ones and a bottle of bourbon to share, and we wouldn’t want anything to get in the way of that quality time,” said Rob Samuels, 8th Generation Whisky Maker and Grandson of the Founders at Maker’s Mark. “We know you can’t bring a bottle of Maker’s Mark Bourbon in your carry-on luggage, so we’re encouraging folks to check a bag on their next holiday-bound flight so they can bring a little spirit home to share. We’ll pick up that pesky fee for some lucky travelers.”

By taking care of the extra baggage of the 2021 festivities, Maker’s Mark aims to help travelers come prepared with bourbon in tow, so they can focus on more important things this holiday – like safely and joyfully coming together with loved ones after months apart to toast the moment. Whether the rest of the suitcase is filled with homemade treats, a new kitchen gadget for mom or dad or outfits for every occasion, your chance to get your bag fee covered by Maker’s Mark is simple:

1. Fly over to https://whiskyflights.makersmark.com/ between December 15 – December 31, 2021
2. Check-in and upload your eligible airline checked bag receipt
3. Wheels up! Maker’s Mark is reimbursing up to $50,000 in luggage fees this holiday season

 Once you’ve arrived at your destination, be sure to check out www.MakersMark.com for delicious cocktail recipes to sip and savor throughout the holidays (and beyond!).

NO ALCOHOL PURCHASE NECESSARY. Must be 21+ to enter. Void outside the U.S. and where prohibited. Subject to complete official rules located at www.whiskyflights.makersmark.com. Sweepstakes begins December 15, 2021 and ends December 31, 2021. Limit one (1) entry per person during the promotion period.  Each winner will be reimbursed the value of one (1) checked luggage receipt up to Forty Dollars ($40.00). The Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of each prize is Forty Dollars ($40.00). The total ARV of all prizes awarded in this Promotion is Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00).

GLENFIDDICH, THE WORLD’S MOST AWARDED SCOTCH WHISKY, ANNOUNCES THE OPEN CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

FOR THE PRESTIGEOUS GLENFIDDICH ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE PROGRAM,

A PRIZE THAT AWARDS A CANADIAN ARTIST A THREE-MONTH RESIDENCY IN SCOTLAND.

The coveted Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Program in Canada is officially accepting applicants for the 2022 prize until January 25, 2022.

Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded scotch whisky officially invites Canadian artists living and working in Canada to submit applications for the prestigious 2022 Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Prize valued at over $20,000 CAD.

Celebrated in art communities as one of the most coveted artist residencies in the world, the Glenfiddich Artist in Residence Program is a three-month all-expenses paid residency at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland.  The annual prize for the artist includes three months of income, all-inclusive travel and accommodations, project materials, and the opportunity to foster cross-disciplinary ideas while working with an international art community from around the world.

“The Glenfiddich Artist in Residency program provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Canadian artists looking to create and showcase their work on a global scale,” comments Claire May, Senior Brand Manager, Glenfiddich.  “Glenfiddich in Canada is proud to present this incredible opportunity to Canadian artists for the sixteenth year.”

Open to Canadian artists who live and work in Canada, applicants must complete a five-part application that includes an outline of how inspiration will be drawn from the distillery and the work they envision creating.  Applications must also include a short project proposal, a current CV, a short artist statement, 5 to 15 images (or a three-minute video highlighting their artistic practice), and a required questionnaire supplied by Glenfiddich.  Completed applications must be submitted by midnight eastern standard time on January 25, 2022.

“Providing the opportunity for Canadian artists to collaborate and create in the scenic Scottish highlands is an honour we respect highly,” comments Andy Fairgrieve, Artists in Residence Co-ordinator, William Grant & Sons.  “Each year brings a new selection of passionate artists, and each year we are greatly impressed by the work they create.”

Every year, the Glenfiddich Artist-in-Residence Program receives over 200 applicants, each carefully reviewed from a jury of some of Canada’s most prominent members of the art community.  The 2022 jury includes Michelle Jacques, Head of Exhibitions and Collections & Chief Curator at Remai Modern in Saskatoon; David Diviney, the senior curator at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in Halifax; Michelle Schultz, Executive Director of Latitude 53 in Edmonton; Stefan Hancherow, Associate Art Curator for RBC in Toronto; Collin Zipp, the director of Platform in Winnipeg; Ivan Jurakic, Director of the University of Waterloo Art Gallery; and the Canadian 2008 Glenfiddich Artists in Residence Prize recipient, Dave Dyment.

“The support for the winning Artists-in-Residence extends far beyond the financial,” comments Dyment.  “Artists have the assistance, resources and the distinctive highland hospitality to produce strong work while enjoying the uniquely idyllic environment.  My time in residency with Glenfiddich was among the best three months of my life and it is an honour to continue the tradition with Canadian artists annually.”

Globally, the Glenfiddich Artist-in-Residence Program has awarded over a hundred artists from countries such as Australia, Chile, China, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, Scotland, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Taiwan, the UK, the US, and Canada since its inception in 2002.  Past winning Canadian artists include Annie Pootoogook, Daniel Barrow, Myfanwy MacLeod, Damian Moppett, Rhonda Weppler & Trevor Mahovsky, Jon Sasaki, Eleanor King, Lee Henderson, Vanessa Maltese, Christof Migone & Marla Hlady, and most recently Dean Baldwin Lew.  Winning mediums of work have spanned painting, sculpture, sound art, video, photography, performance, and installation.

“I’ve found myself longing for the place and the extended experience I gained at the Glenfiddich distillery during my residency,” adds Montreal artist, Dean Baldwin Lew.  “The new connections formed with the other resident artists are especially important, yet the solitude and focus that the residency provides is such a rare and special gift.”

The Summer of 2022 will mark the 21^st anniversary of the global Glenfiddich Artist in Residence program and the 16^th anniversary of the Glenfiddich Artist in Residence program in Canada.  Submissions are accepted from today, until 12:00 a.m. EST on January 25, 2022. The winning Canadian artist will be announced in March 2022.

For more information about the Artist in Residency program, please visit www.glenfiddich.com/ca/artistsinresidence.

For more information regarding Glenfiddich in Canada, please visit glenfiddich.alchemystsinc.com.

To learn more about the world of Glenfiddich globally, please visit www.glenfiddich.com.

CASKSHARE APPOINTS FLAVOURLY AS NEW FULFILMENT PARTNER

Online cask spirits marketplace, Caskshare has agreed a new partnership with expert drinks sellers, Flavourly. The new deal will see Flavourly provide logistics, packaging and courier relationships for Caskshare’s ever growing whisky community and retail services.

Since its launch earlier this year, Caskshare has been bringing an array of specialist casks to the market, revolutionising the way that consumers engage with distilleries and cask owners to experience single cask whiskies, a bottle at a time. Meaning whisky lovers can enjoy and build a portfolio of cask spirits at a fraction of the price of an entire cask.

Buyers can choose from a wide range of liquids and cask varieties, from more traditional ex-Bourbon to innovative casks such as Barossa Valley ex-red wine and Tokaji Aszú casks, all of which are uniquely imparted with distinctive flavours and aromas.

Experts in selling craft beer online, Flavourly launched their Fulfilled By Flavourly service earlier this year, with behemoth Innis & Gunn one of the first users. The Fulfilled By Flavourly model sees drinks brands benefit from Flavourly’s logistics expertise, established courier relationships and award winning service reputation. The Fulfilled By Flavourly fulfilment service helps brands to increase capacity without increasing service costs.

Caskshare is opening up the often-intimidating world of single malt whisky and making cask owning available to all. The whisky provider will continue their customer relations and the running of their website, but the new partnership will allow Caskshare to focus on its online curation of whiskies and community building while Flavourly manages courier and logistical services.

David Nicol, founder of Caskshare commented: “Partnering with Flavourly offers us the ability to focus on engaging with whisky fans and industry partners whilst having Flavourly focus on scalable and timely logistics. Our technical integration means that we are running an efficient and well-integrated platform that can take orders from our Caskshare platform directly into Flavourly’s logistics capabilities.”

Ali Stewart, CEO, Flavourly commented: “Our ‘Fulfilled by Flavourly’ model allows Caskshare to focus on the exciting task of opening up the cask ownership sector, safe in the knowledge that their delivery needs are fully covered by our best in class logistics service.”

www.caskshare.com
@caskshare

World’s first 100% community-owned distillery launches first whisky 

GlenWyvis Distillery’s inaugural release Single Malt Whisky is the first whisky to be made in Dingwall in almost a century

Embargoed Friday 10^th December 2021, 00:01; The world’s first 100% community-owned distillery, GlenWyvis Distillery, has launched its first-ever whisky.

3,600 individually numbered bottles of the three-year-old GlenWyvis Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky have been allocated to GlenWyvis Distillery shareholders, whose investment enabled the build and development of the distillery. 

A further 2,000 bottles were available to pre-order in October 2020 and sold out almost immediately. 200 bottles will also be available at selected local retailers and on-trade premises throughout Scotland.

Made from a batch of 18 casks, including 15 first fill ex-Tennessee whiskey (80%), two first-fill ex-Moscatel (15%) and one refill Hogshead (5%), the grain-forward whisky showcases the unique fruitiness of extra-long fermentation. The whisky is 50% ABV, non-chill filtered, and no colouring added.

The nose of the whisky is light and floral with a hint of malty sweetness. The palate brings a burst of rich stone-fruit, giving way to brown sugar, with a finish of lingering vanilla balanced with ripe orchard fruit.

GlenWyvis Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the first whisky to be produced in Dingwall in almost 100 years, with the last whisky distillery, Ben Wyvis, closing its doors in 1926.

Matthew Farmer, Distillery Manager at GlenWyvis Distillery, said: “We are so excited to be launching GlenWyvis Distillery’s first whisky. Our journey over the past few years and the creation of GlenWyvis Distillery is thanks to our many shareholders so it is only fitting that they will be among the first to try our first whisky.

“The 2018 distillation of 18 casks has produced a delicious whisky. Young whisky brings you so close to the grain – this is the first step, and it is pure GlenWyvis. This first step is part of a long journey for GlenWyvis Distillery, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.”

Board Chairman David Graham added: “Present and past directors will join me in expressing real pride and admiration for the dedicated GlenWyvis team on reaching this significant milestone and producing Dingwall’s first whisky in almost 100 years.

“Our small team has worked with passion to produce a fantastic product for all our shareholders and customers, and I look forward to raising a dram to each and every one of them and to the future of GlenWyvis Distillery.”

For further information on GlenWyvis Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, please visit: www.glenwyvis.com

Notes 

Tasting notes 

NOSE: Light and floral, with a hint of malty sweetness.

PALATE: A burst of rich stone-fruit, giving way to brown sugar.

FINISH: A long, lingering vanilla balanced with ripe orchard fruit.

50% ABV, non-chill filtered, no colouring added.

The bottle

The design of the GlenWyvis Whisky bottles is inspired by the local area. On each bottle you will see contour lines – this is a map of Ben Wyvis, the mountain that is the backdrop to the distillery. You will also see birds on the bottle – these are Red Kites, a majestic bird of prey with a forked tail that you will often see around the distillery and the surrounding area.

In addition, the bottle is finished with a natural cork stopper and all of its packaging is recyclable. 

About GlenWyvis Distillery

Nestled beneath the sprawling mass of Ben Wyvis in the Scottish Highlands, GlenWyvis Distillery was established in 2015. The idea was to unite the community of Dingwall through the creation of a distillery principally owned by local people.

Dingwall’s last whisky distillery closed in 1926. After a 90-year absence, GlenWyvis Distillery revived the town’s lost distilling tradition, and made its own history in 2016 by running a record-breaking open share offer. More than 3,000 like-minded people invested in GlenWyvis to create the first ever 100% community-owned distillery.

https://glenwyvis.com/

https://www.facebook.com/GlenWyvis/

https://www.instagram.com/glenwyvis/

https://twitter.com/glenwyvis

Beam Suntory and Suntory Announce Peatland Water Sanctuary Initiative in Scotland

KENTUCKY BOURBON TRAIL CRAFT TOUR^® EXPANDS WITH FOUR NEW DISTILLERIES ADDED TO ADVENTURE

FRANKFORT, Ky. – As the Kentucky Distillers’ Association begins its celebration of a decade of experiences along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour®, four new distilleries have been added to the country’s first-ever adventure that showcases micro distilling craftsmanship.

The newest additions are:

The Bard Distillery in Graham, Muhlenberg County in Western Kentucky

5080 Highway 175 South–Graham, Ky

www.thebarddistillery.com

Castle & Key Distillery in Frankfort, the Capital City in Central Kentucky

4445 McCracken Pike–Frankfort, Ky

www.castleandkey.com

Copper & Kings Distillery in Louisville, the official starting point of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail and KBT Craft Tour

1121 E Washington Street–Louisville, Ky

www.copperandkings.com

Log Still Distillery in Gethsemane in Nelson County near Bardstown, the Bourbon Capital of the World

225 Dee Head Road–New Haven, Ky

www.logstilldistillery.com

KDA President Eric Gregory said the new members swell the ranks of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® to an all-time high of 23 distilleries. The KDA created the statewide journey in 2012 as the nation’s first attraction to feature the burgeoning boutique distilling movement.

Coupled with the 18 larger-scale distilleries on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour, the KDA now boasts a record 41 immersive experiences for Bourbon and spirits lovers to enjoy when visiting the Bluegrass State. The KDA founded the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® tour in 1999.

“Our Kentucky Bourbon Trail experiences continue to recover and rebound quickly from the COVID-19 pandemic and travel restrictions,” Gregory said. “We are thrilled to welcome these four new stops and encourage visitors to seek out this next round of additions.”

The KBT Craft Tour® has tallied almost two million distillery tours since its inception.

“The growth in the number of experiences and popularity of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour over the past 10 years has been phenomenal,” said Adam Johnson, Senior Director of the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® Experiences.

“We always look forward to adding more for our Bourbon-loving visitors to see and taste.”

The four new distillery experiences are featured in the brand new 2022 Edition of the Bourbon Trail Passport & Field Guide™, which was released for online pre-orders in the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® online shop over Thanksgiving weekend.

The new Field Guide will be available for purchase at participating distilleries by mid-December.

The KBT Craft Tour® is divided into four regions — Northern, Central, Western and Bluegrass — with unique challenge coins commemorating the finish of each upon completion. After finishing all four regions, guests are awarded a collectible barrel stave tray to display their coins.

The 23 participating distilleries are:

NORTHERN REGION

New Riff Distilling, Newport

Second Sight Spirits, Ludlow

The Old Pogue Distillery, Maysville

Boone County Distilling Co., Independence

Neeley Family Distillery, Sparta

CENTRAL REGION

Copper & Kings American Brandy Co., Louisville

Kentucky Artisan Distillery, Crestwood

Kentucky Peerless Distilling Co., Louisville

Jeptha Creed Distillery, Shelbyville

Log Still Distillery, Gethsemane

Limestone Branch Distillery, Lebanon

Preservation Distillery, Bardstown

WESTERN REGION

The Bard Distillery, Graham

Boundary Oak Distillery, Radcliffe

Casey Jones Distillery, Hopkinsville

Dueling Grounds Distillery, Franklin

MB Roland Distillery, Pembroke

BLUEGRASS REGION

Barrel House Distilling Co., Lexington

Bluegrass Distillers, Lexington

Castle & Key Distillery, Frankfort

Hartfield & Co., Paris

James E. Pepper Distillery, Lexington

Castle & Key Distillery owner Will Arvin said, “It is exciting to see our vision of offering guests top quality Kentucky Spirits at our iconic distillery come to life. We are thrilled to share our historic site with visitors and help them craft lasting memories.”

“Joining the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour was one of our main goals when we opened our distillery in late 2019,” said Kim Bard, owner of The Bard Distillery. “We could not be more thrilled to be in the company of the other great distilleries and for the continual support we receive from the KDA.”

Head Distiller Brandon O’Daniel said Copper & Kings is excited to be joining the KBTCT as an American Brandy distillery deeply rooted in Bourbon Country.

“While our story and spirit may be different, Brandy and Bourbon have co-existed in Kentucky for a long time. We’re looking forward to progressing this spirited collaboration with the KBTCT.”

Log Still Distillery COO Lynne Dant said, “Having Log Still Distillery opening for our guests, and now officially as part of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour, is truly special. This is an exciting step in the process of reviving our family distilling legacy.”

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

Founded in 1880, the KDA is the voice for Bourbon and spirits issues. Its diverse membership produces the overwhelming majority of the world’s Bourbon, from legendary, global brands to emerging micro distilleries that are building the next generation of the timeless craft.

Kentucky Bourbon is one of the Commonwealth’s most historic industries, a thriving $8.6 billion economic and tourism engine that generates more than 20,100 jobs with an annual payroll topping $1 billion each year, and accounts for over $300 million in local and state taxes and $1.8 billion in federal alcohol taxes.

A key export, the iconic industry is currently in the middle of a $5.1 billion building boom, from innovative new tourism experiences to expanded production facilities, bottling centers and aging warehouses, all to meet the growing global thirst for Kentucky Bourbon.

Bourbon production has skyrocketed more than 430% since the turn of the century.

Kentucky now boasts more than 10.3 million barrels of Bourbon aging in warehouses across the Bluegrass, the most in its revered distilling history. Distillers filled more than 2.4 million barrels last year alone, the third year in a row that production topped the two million mark.

Attendance at the KDA’s Kentucky Bourbon Trail® and Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour® distilleries has skyrocketed more than 300 percent in the last 10 years. Total attendance in 2019 – before the global pandemic – was nearly two million.

Paul Tomaszewski, co-founder and Head Distiller at MB Roland Distillery in Christian County, was one of the founding KBTCT members in 2012. He said, “Over the past ten years it has been so much fun to see distillery tourism grow with the Kentucky Bourbon Trail Craft Tour. With new members almost every year and old members growing, we look forward to the next ten years.”

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association that passionately unites, promotes, protects and elevates the Commonwealth’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry. The KDA maintains an open membership policy, champions a strong commitment to the responsible and moderate consumption of spirits, and fights to curb underage drinking and drunk driving. 

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

Please enjoy Bourbon like a true Kentuckian – Responsibly

Construction of Dunphail Distillery underway

Work on new Speyside whisky distillery and visitor centre begins

Founders’ Club and initial private cask offerings launched

Dunphail Distillery today announced that following significant initial investment into the new business, that construction was underway at the single malt whisky distillery and visitor centre based south of Forres in the Speyside region of Scotland. The build is planned to take approximately 12 months to complete.

The 200,000 LPA capacity site, converted from an existing farm steading, is aiming to shift the perceptions of what Scotch whisky can be. Dunphail will adopt a single-minded approach to its production, utilising time-honoured processes such as on-site floor maltings, traditional kilning, long fermentations and direct-fired stills. Through this resolutely traditional mindset, character and flavour will be placed ahead of yield in order to craft spirits that possess the essence and distinctiveness of whisky the way it used to be made.

“We’re thrilled to be starting the construction of Dunphail Distillery” said spokesperson Matt McKay. “We fundamentally believe that the most charaterful whiskies in the world are created from the finest ingredients and are crafted using authentic traditional processes. At Dunphail we’ll be applying our established expertise in developing world-class whiskies and employing the traditions of the past to shape the whisky of tomorrow.”

To mark the commencement of the construction of the distillery, Dunphail will be launched its Founders’ Club and initial private cask offering (via www.dunphaildistillery.com) from 1pm on Friday 10th December 2021.

Dunphail Founders’ Club members will receive a bottle of the distillery’s inaugural single malt whisky (expected in 2026) plus four exclusive releases including the first peated whisky produced at the distillery, two Founder member-only Gonzalez Byass single sherry casks and a specially commissioned ‘commemorative’ release from Bimber Distillery in London that celebrated the important role that Bimber’s pursuit of tradition has played in the establishment of Dunphail’s values and production processes.

Founders’ membership is priced at £695 and also includes a host of additional benefits such as 10% discount on online purchases, notice of future releases and a welcome pack containing branded nosing glasses.

Alongside the Founders’ Club, the distillery’s inaugral private cask programme has launched offering the opportunity for families, friends and enthusiasts to lay down their own stock of Dunphail single malt and enjoy its development from spirit to maturity. 200 litre ex-bourbon barrels, 125 litre Pedro Ximenez and 125 litre oloroso sherry cask are offered in both unpeated and peated styles, with prices ranging £3,800 – £6,400.

About Dunphail Distillery

Our firm belief in the importance of high-quality barley and the use of onsite traditional floor malting and kilning ensures that Dunphail’s spirit is a product of uniqueness, shaped by generations of rich distilling heritage. We craft the finest whisky the way it used to be made – by hand and by heart.