BONHAMS STRENGTHENS ASIA MANAGEMENT TEAM WITH JULIA HU AS MANAGING DIRECTOR, ASIA

Julia Hu appointed as Bonhams’ Managing Director, Asia 

Hong Kong – The international auction house Bonhams has appointed Julia Hu as Managing Director, Asia, effective Monday 14 March 2022. Based in Hong Kong, she will join a leadership team in Asia made up of Malcolm Barber, Co-Chairman and CEO Asia and Bobbie Hu, Chairman Greater China, to drive Bonhams’ business expansion and presence in Asia as part of the company’s global vision.

Julia joins Bonhams after 9 years working experience with Christie’s, where she has been General Manager China since 2019, overseeing business development across the country and achieving dramatic year-on-year annual sales growth from both auctions and private sales. As Christie’s ambassador in China, she has also been responsible for managing the company’s relationship with both the government and top collectors. Earlier in her career at Christie’s, Julia held the senior roles of Strategy Director Asia and Head of Asia Regional Offices, in which she built extensive client connections thorough her knowledge of the key markets.

Prior to joining the auction industry, Julia worked in management consulting at McKinsey, guiding multi-national companies and Chinese state-owned companies on their organisational restructuring, sales and marketing strategies in Asia. Julia holds an MBA degree from INSEAD.

Julia Hu said: “Bonhams has an enviable reputation, and I am thrilled to be joining the company at such an exciting time in its history. I am relishing the opportunity to use my knowledge, experience and enthusiasm to drive even greater business development in Asia in the future.”

Bruno Vinciguerra, Bonhams Global Chief Executive Officer, said: “Julia is a great talent with a proven track record of commercial success, not only in China but across Asia. Her many achievements speak for themselves and I am very pleased to welcome her on board to further expand our business in Asia – now our fastest growing market and strategic priority.”

Malcolm Barber, Bonhams Chief Executive Officer, Asia, added: “I am delighted that Julia is joining the Bonhams team in Asia and I am much looking forward to working with her in the years ahead.”

Bonhams’ Asia operation includes salerooms located in Hong Kong and Sydney, as well as representatives in such key areas as Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei, Singapore, Melbourne and Tokyo.

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and luxury. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles, Paris and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 53 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY UNVEILS LARGEST EVER BOTTLES OF O.F.C. VINTAGE 1982 BOURBON WHISKEY WITH PROCEEDS DONATED TO CHARITY 

THE DISTILLERY WILL BE AUCTIONING OFF FIVE, SIX-LITER BOTTLES OF THE RARE BOURBON WHISKEY VIA BLOCKBAR AS NFTs WITH PROCEEDS BENEFITING FIVE GLOBAL CHARITIES 

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (March 9th, 2022) – Today the 234-year-old Buffalo Trace Distillery is announcing a major milestone with the release of O.F.C. Bourbon Whiskey, distilled in 1982. The ultra-rare whiskey is the Distillery’s only vintage-dated bourbon and will be the first bourbon released in a colossal six-liter sized bottle and sold as a non-fungible token (NFT) on BlockBar.com – the world’s first DTC NFT marketplace for luxury wines and spirits. The five bottles of this highly limited release are part of the 2,022 bottles that Buffalo Trace Distillery has pledged to give away in the year 2022 and will be auctioned off during a five-day event starting Monday, March 14th in collaboration with NFT platform BlockBar. It marks BlockBar’s first-ever auction and the first bourbon sold on its platform.

The five bottles of O.F.C. Vintage 1982 will each be auctioned off with a starting bid of approximately $25,000 USD (8.83 ETH). Bids can be placed via BlockBar.com HERE and can be made via Ethereum or Fiat starting at 10 a.m. EST on Monday, March 14th through 10 a.m. EST on Friday, March 18th. Proceeds from each of the winning, final bids will benefit the following charities:

• World Central Kitchen – a non-profit organization that is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises, currently supporting thousands of refugees in and around Ukraine
• The James Beard Foundation – through their Open for Good campaign, the Foundation is committed to helping independent restaurants survive this crisis, rebuild better, and thrive for the long term
• Elton John Aids Foundation – a global HIV charity that funds frontline partners to prevent new cases of HIV, fight stigma and provide care for those affected
• The Art of Elysium – an artist organization built on the idea that through service, art becomes a catalyst for social change
• 261 Fearless – a global, non-profit women’s running organization dedicated to encouraging and uniting women through running

“We have been inspired by what our charity partners have done to help communities worldwide and are proud to help further their missions through the release of our exclusive O.F.C Vintage 1982 NFTs,” said Vice President of Marketing for Buffalo Trace Distillery, Sara Saunders. “We are thrilled to bring our rich history and philanthropic efforts to the forefront of today’s technology and we couldn’t ask for a better ally than BlockBar to help us achieve that,” she continued.

Each of the five NFTs will represent an authentic six-liter sized bottle of O.F.C Vintage 1982, available to be redeemed by December 31st, 2022. When redeemed, the NFT holder will also unlock a personal invitation to Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY for a private VIP tour experience that includes exclusive tastings of whiskeys from its rarest and most sought-after private collection, including some previous vintages from the O.F.C. collection.

“Buffalo Trace Distillery is world renowned and we’re honored to launch our first bourbon on Blockbar.com with five of their most coveted bottles,” comments Dov Falic, co-founder and CEO of BlockBar. “The partnership marks our first live auction and to mark this milestone we are delighted to donate the proceeds of this drop to support the chosen non-profits of Buffalo Trace.”

All of the O.F.C. vintages are named after Buffalo Trace Distillery’s original moniker, the Old Fashioned Copper (O.F.C.) Distillery. The bourbon in the O.F.C. six-liter release was distilled in 1982, at what was then the George T. Stagg Distillery, now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery.

When an inventory of all barrels was taken in 1998, these barrels were noted and left to age until 2001, when at that time the 19-year-old bourbon was vatted into stainless steel tanks, which is a very common process distillers use to halt the aging effects of the barrel on the whiskey.

As the spirit has been quietly maturing for over a quarter of a century, gaining greater complexity, the Buffalo Trace tasting panel is excited by how the whiskey developed. Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery, details the taste as sophisticated, with an extraordinary richness and butteriness with layers of apple, pecans, ripened pear, dark Belgian chocolate, caramel and a kiss of black cherries.

“This remarkable whiskey transitions to a memorable finish of dried dark fruit with delightful lingering oak. All the time knowing that you’re tasting history as you taste the last drops,” said Wheatley. “This truly is a once in a lifetime taste experience.”

Like its predecessors in the O.F.C. line, the 1982 Vintage will be in an elegant, hand-cut crystal bottle with inlaid copper lettering custom created for the brand, but “supersized” in a six-liter bottle. A bottle of this magnitude has rarely been seen on the whiskey market. At six-liters, this bottle is nine times the size of a usual whiskey bottle and holds over a gallon of whiskey, standing at 2 feet tall and weighing 22.5 pounds with liquid inside. The cap itself weighs in at a hefty six pounds. Glass artisans cut the shoulder facets of the bottle using equipment created exclusively for Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each bottle was manually polished to achieve maximum glass brilliance before in-laying cut copper lettering to spell out “O.F.C.” on the front. The bottle is housed inside a wooden display case, along with a provenance card that notes the milestones of the year 1982, including iconic moments like the launch of the first CD player and Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ being named the #1 album seller of all time.

To make a bid using ETH you must have the funds in your wallet and connected to BlockBar. At 10:00 AM EST, all winning bidders have two hours to submit the full balance; payment will be accepted through Eth or fiat. Full Terms & Conditions may be found on BlockBar.com. Bids planning on using Wire Transfer must pre-approve the funds by going to BlockBar.com, selecting your payment method under the profile icon on the top right of the screen and clicking payment methods, and select “verify funds” for pre-approval.

Upon purchase of the NFT, the cryptographic version will be held securely by BlockBar.com, with a record of authenticity held on the blockchain as a digital certificate of ownership. The buyer may choose to redeem the physical product, and have it delivered from BlockBar’s secure storage facility, safely trade its NFT version within the BlockBar.com marketplace, keep in their virtual bar or gift the NFT through BlockBar’s new gifting platform.

For more information on O.F.C. Vintage 1982 and a guide to placing bids on BlockBar, please visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/our-brands/o-f-c-vintages.html and www.blockbar.com

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. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/media

About BlockBar

BlockBar is a platform that offers NFTs (digital assets) directly from luxury liquor brands. Each NFT corresponds to a physical bottle. Consumers have the ability to exchange the digital version for the physical version. In simple terms, consumers own the physical bottle, BlockBar stores it for them, and the digital version serves as proof of authenticity, verification of ownership, and the right to have the physical bottle delivered. BlockBar proves authenticity via Ethereum’s blockchain. By buying the NFT directly from the brand, we not only make the process easier, but we ensure that your asset has proven authenticity. Whether you grow your collection, send it as a gift, or resell it, authenticity will never be an issue. Bloc Bar ensures 100% instant authenticity to all collectors up until the moment they redeem the bottle. More so, we offer this service with no commitment. Our platform will still be selling exclusive bottles

directly from the brands at MSRP and consumers have the ability to pay by credit card and can redeem the bottle immediately.

Circumstance Distillery Announces Carbon Neutral Certification

Bristol’s Circumstance Distillery is proud to announce that the business has achieved Carbon Neutral  status.

Looking to do their part to actively work towards stopping climate change, Circumstance Distillery engaged with Carbon Neutral Britain in 2021, with the ambition of measuring and reducing  the total emissions of their business . They then offset the unavoidable emissions to become one of the few Carbon Neutral distillery in the UK.

Circumstance Distillery co-owner Liam Hirt commented, “We are absolutely delighted to have achieved Carbon Neutral status. In the UK, businesses account for over 85% of total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions – making corporate action the number one priority in helping stop climate change. We have always had a clear sustainability strategy  and we have been working towards carbon neutrality from the outset . This certification is a huge achievement for us and a major step towards our sustainable business goals.”

James Poynter, Director of Carbon Neutral Britain commented “We are delighted to partner with Psychopomp Micro distillery and Circumstance Distillery to help identify and offset their environmental impact for 2021 and beyond.”

The Agency Standards measured and calculated the total Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions produced directly and indirectly from Circumstance’s activities. As a whisky producer specialising in organic grains and long fermentations,  water usage from the distillation process was identified as the main source of emissions. Total carbon footprint measured in  tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) was also calculated,  and the report is available on their websites.

In addition to achieving Carbon Neutral status, Hirt and the distillery team, are on a sustainability mission and have already implemented a number of environmentally friendly changes across both their distilleries, including using recycled glass bottles, creating a Woden gin refill station at Pyschopomp micro distillery, and Woden refill cans for nationwide delivery. They have also committed to recycling all organic waste through GENco to create biofuel.

Circumstance Distillery was established in 2018

For further information visit circumstancedistillery.com

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Spring 2022 Edition of the Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Series

Bottled in an ornate decanter, the spring edition denotes a green label, consistent across all spring releases. As was the case for the past editions, this edition’s tax strip, which has always been a signature of transparency on bottled-in-bond products, will disclose when the liquid was produced and bottled. The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond spring edition will be available in the 750ml size on an allocated basis. It meets the strict requirements of a bottled-in-bond: the product of a single distillery from a single distilling season, aged a minimum of four years, and bottled at 100 proof or 50% alcohol by volume. The edition is available at a suggested retail price of $185.BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of the spring 2022 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at 17 years old. Comprised of barrels produced in fall of 2004, and bottled in spring of 2022, the ninth national release ushers in the latest hallmark series to the bottled-in-bond legacy.

The spring 2022 edition of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is the first 17-year-old of the nationally released series and features Bourbon pulled from across three floors of rickhouse V at Heaven Hill Distillery’s main campus. As a leader of the Bottled-in-Bond category, Heaven Hill is proud to offer a premium, allocated product within this special class that showcases the authenticity and quality of the American Whiskey portfolio. Acquired in 1999 by Heaven Hill, the legendary Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree and intriguing story behind its namesake, John E. Fitzgerald.

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 63 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 and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2019 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, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

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

Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey Aims to Raise Lifesaving Funds for Animals in Need as Part of New ASPCA® Partnership

For Every Bottle Sold, $1 will go to the ASPCA to support its work caring for, rescuing, and finding homes for animals in the U.S.           

LOUISVILLE, KY (March 10, 2022) – Sheep Dog Whiskey is lending a helping paw to animals in need. The playful peanut butter whiskey that’s tagline is “Come. Stay. Drink. Play.” has a new command, and that’s for pet and whiskey lovers to fetch a bottle of Sheep Dog to support a great cause!

For every bottle sold from now through September 2022, Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey will donate $1 to the ASPCA (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), the longest-standing animal welfare organization in the United States. The proceeds, up to a maximum of $25,000, will go toward supporting the ASPCA’s lifesaving work to help animals nationwide.

The ASPCA assists animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary community through research, training, and resources.

Sheep Dog, which shares a long-term commitment to helping feed and care for homeless pets, is also launching a new dog treat jar filled with 50ml bottles of Sheep Dog Peanut Butter Whiskey. All purchases of the reusable treat jar, which will begin arriving in liquor stores in April, will go toward Sheep Dog’s donation to the ASPCA.

This 70-proof flavored whiskey is made with natural peanut butter flavors and carries notes of vanilla and caramel popcorn with warm whiskey undertones. Sheep Dog can be found in liquor stores across the United States.

“We are grateful for Sheep Dog’s support of our lifesaving work to protect and care for animals across the country,” said Rebecca Frommer, Director, Cause Partnerships & Events, ASPCA. “For every bottle purchased, the ASPCA will receive a vital donation to support our commitment to helping vulnerable animals in need.”

For more information about Sheep Dog Whiskey visit https://sheepdogwhiskey.com/, or check out Sheep Dog on social media on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sheepdogwhiskey/, and Instagram @sheepdogpbwhiskey. More information about the ASPCA can be found at https://www.aspca.org/.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com/.   

A Milestone for the American Whiskey Market: 

Sotheby’s Presents the Most Valuable American Whiskey Auction Ever Staged, Featuring Two of the Most Significant Collections to Come to the Market in a

Single Sale, Including ‘The American Muscle Collection’

AUCTION IN NEW YORK ON 19 MARCH

NEW YORK, 15 MARCH 2022 – Advance bidding is now open on Bourbon & Rye Whiskey | The American Muscle Collection + The Three Continents Collection Pt III, the most valuable auction of American whiskey ever staged. With an overall estimate of $825,000 – 1.2 million, and featuring two of the most significant collections to come to the market in a single sale, the 750-lot auction will be presented live from Sotheby’s in New York this Saturday, 19 March at 10am EDT.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist, said: “American Whiskey stands apart owing to its strength of character, and over the last two years has shown the beginnings of a meteoric rise in the secondary market. Maturing in virgin American oak barrels for years and sometimes decades, the resulting whiskeys are luxuriously rich, complex and unmistakably American. A muscular character can be attributed not only to this wealth of flavors but also to the high proof of the market’s most collectible bottles.” 

The auction is led by the American Muscle Collection, which takes its name not only from its unparalleled range of rich and robust US Bourbons and Rye Whiskeys, but also from the collector who built this significant catalogue of bottles. Rich “RJ” Gottlieb is the owner of one of the most legendary Chevrolets in existence, the 1969 “Big Red” Camaro, referred to by many as “the baddest muscle car ever”. The collection is defined by its extensive selection of Willett Family Estate barrel picks.

The second significant collection is The Three Continents Collection Part III. These whiskeys were part of a 5,000 bottle-strong collection of Scotch and Japanese whisky as well as Bourbon and Rye from the USA that has been allocated across five Sotheby’s auctions in 2021 and 2022. It first hit the market in November 2021 as a single owner sale, doubling its estimate to achieve $2m just for Part I. This auction exclusively contains American whiskeys from this collection.

These two collections are supported by a number of other classic bottles such as Lanell’s Red Hook Rye, Pappy Van Winkle, Four Roses and Old Weller. 

The American Muscle Collection is defined by the depth and breadth of its selection. Not only are there numerous bottlings from the likes of Pappy Van Winkle, Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and Black Maple Hill, but the extent of bottlings from producers such as Willett and Four Roses give an idea of the wealth of knowledge and prescience a collection such as this requires.

Among bourbon and rye whiskey connoisseurs, bottles of Willett Family Estate are as highly sought after as those from Buffalo Trace, Michter’s and Old Rip Van Winkle – if not more. Drawing on their immense stocks of well-aged whiskeys, the Kulsveens, the branch of the Willett family that now owns the distillery, create a variety of whiskeys but save the very best barrels, no more than three percent, for their estate brand, which they began to release in small amounts in the mid-2000s.

Over the last twenty years, Four Roses has developed a reputation as one of the best all-around distilleries in Kentucky, its portfolio ranging from a solid, inexpensive entry-level whiskey to a very limited and highly coveted series of annual releases, some of which critics rank among the best bourbons of the century.

Black Maple Hill is among the most coveted American whiskeys, with a history that connects it with some of the biggest names in Kentucky distilling. Like several other extremely limited-release brands from the early 2000s, Black Maple Hill did not make its own whiskey, or even bottle it. Rather, its owner, a California-based company called CVI Brands, hired Julian Van Winkle III to find high-quality barrels of whiskey and bottle it for them. At the time, Van Winkle was working out of the disused Hoffman Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where he bottled whiskey for his own brand, Old Rip Van Winkle, as well as for clients such as CVI, all of which have long since achieved legendary status among collectors.

Starting in the mid-2000s, Michter’s was arguably the first American whiskey to join Old Rip Van Winkle as a truly world-class luxury brand. The Michter’s name originated in the decades after World War II, when a Pennsylvania businessman named Lou Forman named a distillery after his sons, Michael and Peter. But the Pennsylvania whiskey industry was in a steady and terminal decline, and the distillery shut its doors in 1990.

The Van Winkle line of whiskeys needs no introduction: praised by celebrities, the subject of a bestselling book, it is by far the best recognized and most widely coveted.

HIGHLIGHTS

LeNell Red Hook Rye 23 Year Old Barrel #3 68.8 abv NV, est. $20,000-30,000

Pappy Van Winkle Double Vertical 2020 & 2021, est, $16,000-24,000

Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Bourbon 21 Year Old “The Wheated Patriot” 141.6 proof 1993, est, $8,000-12,000

Michter’s Single Barrel Rye 25 Year Old 117.3 proof NV, est. $5,000-6,000

Colonel E.H. Taylor Warehouse C Tornado Surviving 100 proof NV, est. $4,500-6,000

Black Maple Hill Single Barrel Rye 15 Year Old 98.2 proof NV, est. $4,000-7,000

Heaven Hill William Heavenhill Signature Anniversary 127.6 aproof NV, est. $4,000-4,800

Four Roses Single Barrel 17 Year Old 2012 Release 55.3 abv NV, est. $3,000-5,000

The American Muscle Collection: lots 1 – 534 (est. $580,350 – 825,150)

The Three Continents Collection Part III: lots 586 – 750 (est. $112,850 – 177,950)

Kilbeggan to be Featured in “The Three Drinkers in Ireland”

A new, global TV series going live on Amazon Prime on St. Patrick’s Day

Photo Credit Beam Suntory

The Three Drinkers return to our screens with a brand new, six-part series on Amazon Prime called ‘The Three Drinkers in Ireland’ – and  they’ve shaken things up!

Kilbeggan, Ireland (March 17, 2022) “The Three Drinkers in Ireland” is an aspirational, gastronomic journey through the picturesque island of Ireland. Premiering March 17, 2022 on Amazon Prime, drinks experts Aidy Smith and Helena Nicklin with special guests Beth Brickenden and Eulanda Shead-Osagiede will indulge in an Irish feast for the senses, tasting lots of delicious food and drink, scoping out the landscape, meeting characterful locals and offering plenty of take-home tips along the way. The series will go live from March 17, 2022 with episodes 1–3, and episodes 4 -6 will air by the end of the month. 

The Three Drinkers are drinks experts, writers and broadcasters Helena Nicklin and Aidy Smith, joined by a deliciously diverse revolving roster of ‘third drinker’ guests. This will be the second Amazon Three Drinkers TV series for Smith and Nicklin who also produce the popular ‘Bring a Bottle’ podcast, run the drink, travel and lifestyle-focused online magazine thethreedrinkers.com and have a growing social media presence.

In this year’s series, The Three Drinkers explore Kilbeggan Distillery. Since 1757, this distillery has crafted beloved Irish whiskey unlike any other. As the oldest continuously licensed distillery in Ireland, Kilbeggan continues to push Irish whiskey conventions while remaining true to classic distilling traditions, keeping the spirit of Irish whiskey alive.

“We’re thrilled to see Kilbeggan Distillery be included in ‘The Three Drinkers’ series, as they explore the beauty, traditions and culture of Ireland,” said Ruth Wyer, Visitor Center Manager Kilbeggan. “Every bottle of our whiskey is crafted with the true spirit of our community that runs through our stills and into our award-winning portfolio. We’re excited to showcase our heritage and the craftsmanship behind our Irish whiskey making process to the ‘The Three Drinkers’ audience.”

The first Three Drinkers series, “The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky”, premiered on Amazon Prime in 2019 and is still streaming in more than 170 countries (in 39 languages) as well as being broadcast in China and on various airlines including British Airways and Lufthansa.

“The Three Drinkers in Ireland” will take a slightly different approach from the Scotch show, exploring all sorts of drinks beyond whiskey, from gin and poitín to cider and Irish cream. They’ll also be taking a deeper dive into Ireland’s incredible food scene and showcasing some traditional activities such as bog snorkelling, cheesemaking, eel fishing and Irish dancing.

Nicklin said, “We’ve loved bringing everything together, from the food and drink, to the people, places, culture and tourism of the whole of the island of Ireland. We’ve been blown away by the sheer quality of Irish produce too. It’s world class! Ireland is also the perfect country to visit as the world opens up again, thanks to its wide-open spaces and easy accessibility – and it’s a great location for lovers of fantastic food and drink to boot.”

In this series, Aidy and Helena welcome two new faces from the world of food, drink, travel and lifestyle: Beth Brickenden, Irish native, wine consultant and alternative events specialist behind the renowned Drag & Wine Tasting, joins the duo for episodes 1-3, and Eulanda Shead-Osagiede, award-winning American travel writer, influencer & co-founder of the popular travel, food and lifestyle blog ‘Hey! Dip Your Toes in’, comes along for the journey in episodes 4-6.

Along the way, they receive a cheeky visit from iconic UK drag queen Vanity Von Glow as well as original ‘third drinker’ and whisk(e)y guru, Colin Hampden-White.

Smith and Nicklin have been advocates for better inclusivity within the drinks industry, with Smith being one of the only TV Presenters globally with Tourette Syndrome.

He said: “As part of the LGBTQIA+ community and having faced ongoing hurdles due to stigmas associated with Tourrette’s throughout my career, I’ve been very keen for us to play our part when it comes to increasing D, E & I within the drinks industry. We are delighted that our key guests within this series showcase a more inclusive world; it’s a step forward for the trade and we couldn’t be more delighted to welcome our incredibly talented third drinkers.”

The new series sees an evolved format, with to-camera, take-home tips from wine and spirits experts Aidy and Helena, helping viewers navigate their at-home drinks discovery. From advice on forming the perfect egg white flip for cocktails to wine and spirit food pairings, theirs is an engaging, lifestyle-driven approach.

Smith added, “Having been drinks professionals for over 25 years collectively, we felt it was time to take the leap and speak directly to our audience via the TV screen. We’ll be offering them a variety of tips and tricks that they can explore for themselves at home”.

About Beam Suntory

As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Courvoisier cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Basil Hayden, Knob Creek and Legent bourbon; Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig and Bowmore Scotch whisky; Canadian Club whisky; Hornitos and Sauza tequila; EFFEN, Haku and Pinnacle vodka; Sipsmith and Roku gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

The Legendary Irish Silkie Comes Ashore for St. Patrick’s Day

DCIM100MEDIADJI_0108.JPG

THE VIDEO

Artist Manuel Froelich marks St Patrick’s Day on Silver Strand beach in Donegal on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way by creating an image of the local legendary silkie coming ashore to toast Ireland’s patron saint with a drop of Silkie Irish whiskey. Struck by the beauty of Donegal, Manu said: “I really enjoyed visiting Donegal and bringing our silkie to life on Silver Strand beach. On the wild Atlantic shoreline in Donegal, you don’t find too many shamrocks or leprechauns, but you do hear tales of silkies coming ashore to steal the hearts of fishermen. I hope even St. Patrick would be impressed with our mermaid lifting a glass of her namesake whiskey in his honour.”  For more information on Silkie Irish Whiskey see sliabhliagdistillers.com

The Glencairn Glass announces the winners of

  its inaugural short story competition

a bottle and a glass of whiskey on a black background with space for text

The world’s favourite whisky glass – The Glencairn Glass – has been celebrating Scottish crime writing talent over the past two years as headline sponsor of the prestigious McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing prizes.

To support this creative collaboration, The Glencairn Glass launched its first very own crime short story competition, inviting all budding crime writers to curate their stories around the theme: ‘A Crystal-Clear Crime’ in no more than 2000 words. The competition has been in partnership with Scottish Field Magazine and Bloody Scotland.

The winner and runners up were selected by a panel of three judges including Deborah Masson, 2020 winner of the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year with her book ‘Hold Your Tongue’ and Peter Ranscombe, Scottish Field’s drinks columnist and author of the historical thriller ‘Hare’, along with Glencairn’s marketing director Gordon Brown who is also an author, writing under the name Morgan Cry.

The competition attracted entries from all over the world and the judges can now reveal the winner and two runners up as follows:

Winner: (£1000 prize)

Halmeoni’s Wisdom – a dark tale of human trafficking, illegal trade and a desire for freedom.  Written by Brid Cummings, a fiction writer and occupational therapist, based in South Australia.

Brid said; “When I heard I’d won the Glencairn Glass crime short story competition, I was absolutely delighted. With such an intriguing theme, I enjoyed the challenge of writing the story, but had no expectation of winning. The news has given me a huge confidence boost and the encouragement to complete my psychological suspense novel. Many thanks to Glencairn Crystal and the Bloody Scotland team for this fantastic opportunity.” 

Runners up: (£250 prize for each runner up)

Teardrops – a story about a confession to murder and a need for retribution, born of revenge.  Written by Jennifer Harvey, a Scottish author based in Denmark.

Jennifer said: “I am delighted to be a runner-up in the Glencairn Crystal crime short story competition. Many thanks to the judges for selecting my story ‘Teardrops’. I will raise a glass to the winners and all the entrants in celebration. Cheers!”

Auld Bride – a story about a lost soul returning to the island of her birth, where more than a new job awaits her. Written by Judith O’Reilly, author and former political producer with BBC and ITN and correspondent with The Sunday Times, based in Northumberland. Judith was also a ‘Crime in the Spotlighter’ at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in 2019.

Judith commented: “I’m thrilled to be named as a runner up in this great crime writing short story competition run by Glencairn Glass. The story itself is a cross between The Wicker Man and Kinky Boots, with a flash of Whisky Galore thrown in for good measure. I really wanted to add a touch of the supernatural to a story about whisky and the comeback of a ghost distillery. Whisky with all its history and traditions is a very evocative thing to write about. I hope readers enjoy it.”

Judges’ comments:

Describing the winning story Halmeoni’s Wisdom by Brid Cummings, Peter Ranscombe commented: “I was gripped from the excellent start all the way through to the satisfying finish”. Peter selected Teardrops by Jennifer Harvey because; “the theme was very well chosen – a really ‘of-the moment’ story. The structure was interesting with a suitably unsettling ending too”. He described Auld Bride by Judith O’Reilly as: “an old-fashioned blend of suspense and mystery that led up to a chilling climax”.

Deborah Masson said: “Halmeoni’s Wisdom was unique. The imagery was expertly drawn and it had a satisfying end with redemption realised. Teardrops was a fascinating tale, and an all too real danger in today’s modern world. Then in Auld Bride – masterful descriptive writing is displayed in setting the scene in this tale and a surprise twist brings not only past and present together, but also good and evil.”

Glencairn’s marketing director Gordon Brown, who is also a founding director of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival and has written eight crime novels with his latest, ‘Thirty-One Bones’, under the pseudonym Morgan Cry said: “The quality of entries was outstanding. With entries from all over the planet it demonstrates the continuing fascination with crime writing. This is why Glencairn is delighted to continue their sponsorship of both the McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland debut crime prizes which will be announced at this year’s Bloody Scotland Festival in September.

Prizes and where to read the stories:

Three prizes are awarded to the winning authors: the first prize winner, Brid Cummings, receives £1000, whilst the two runners up, Jennifer Harvey and Judith O’Reilly, each receive £250. All three winners also receive a set of six bespoke engraved Glencairn Glasses. The overall winning entry will be published in the May issue of Scottish Field Magazine (on shelf Friday 8^th April). The runners’ up stories will also be published from 8^th April online on Scottish Field Magazine’s website (www.scottishfield.co.uk).

You will also be able to read the winning story and the runners up stories on the Glencairn Glass website: www.whiskyglass.com from Monday 11^th April.

Finally, for further information about this year’s McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing prizes, as well as the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival taking place in Stirling, Scotland, for four days from the 15^th to 18^th September, please visit www.bloodyscotland.com.

About Glencairn Crystal:

The Glencairn Glass, created in 2000 is the world’s favourite whisky glass.  Glencairn Crystal now make over 4 million Glencairn Glasses per year, across hundreds of brands, distributed to over 140 countries worldwide.

About the winning authors:

Winner: Brid Cummings (www.bridcummings.com)

Brid has had work published in the UK, Ireland, and Australia, including short stories in the Big Issue Fiction Edition and the Bath Short Story Anthology. She has been a runner up in the Mslexia Short Story Competition, The Moth Short Story Prize and the Australian Sisters in Crime Short Story Awards.

When not writing crime stories, Brid Cummings works as an Occupational Therapist in South Australia (reputed to be the murder capital of Australia!) 

Runner Up: Jennifer Harvey (www.jenharvey.net)

Jennifer Harvey is a Scottish writer now living in Denmark.

She is the author of three novels. ‘Someone Else’s Daughter’,  ‘All The Lies We Told’  and ‘The Vanishing Child’. Her short fiction has appeared in various publications and anthologies in the US and the UK, including: Carve, Folio, The Lonely Crowd, New Writing Scotland, and Best Small Fictions.

She has been shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Margery Allingham Prize, the Bristol Prize, the Bridport Prize and placed 3rd in the University of Sunderland Short Story Award. When not writing, she can be found wandering along the seashore dreaming up new stories.

Runner Up: Judith O’Reilly (www.judithoreilly.com)

Judith O’Reilly is the author of the Michael North series of action adventure thrillers including Killing State and Curse the Day. Sleep When You’re Dead is about a doomsday cult (also living on a remote Scottish island) and is published later this year.

Judith has previously featured in Bloody Scotland’s Crime in the Spotlight initiative to promote new crime writers. Her work was described by David Baldacci as ‘A sheer delight” and Lee Child as “Terrific.”  Judith has also written two memoirs, Wife in the North and A Year of Doing Good. Wife in the North was a UK and German bestseller, a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, and serialised in the Sunday Times and the Daily Telegraph. She’s a former journalist with the Sunday Times, BBC 2’s Newsnight and Channel 4 News. She lives in Durham and is the founder member of the NCS, the Northern Crime Writers’ Syndicate.

METHOD AND MADNESS UNVEIL EXCLUSIVE WHISKEY TRILOGY INSPIRED BY JAPAN

Rare Japanese casks meet Midleton’s finest drops mixing tradition with intuition 

Irish Distillers, maker of some of the world’s best-known and most successful Irish whiskeys, has unveiled an exclusive collection of Single Pot Still whiskeys, each finished in rare Japanese casks as the Masters and Apprentices behind METHOD AND MADNESS continue to combine tradition with innovation for a world class taste experience.

The limited-edition series features three showstopping Single Pot Still whiskeys including a 33-Year-Old finished in Japanese Mizunara oak for three years, and two other perfectly balanced expressions, finished respectively, in Japanese Chestnut and Japanese Cedarwood casks for over 13 months.

Sitting at the head of the collection, the 33-Year-Old Mizunara is the oldest Irish whiskey to be finished in the sought-after Japanese oak sourced from the Hokkaido region in Northern Japan, where the temperate rainforest creates the ideal growing conditions for the oak used for barrel production. The relatively low wood density and medium charring of the cask impart elevated flavours of nutmeg and vanilla to the single pot still distillate originally laid down for maturation in ex-bourbon barrels in 1988. The whiskey was then refilled into this exceptional Mizunara cask for a further three years, resulting in a perfect harmony of spicy pot still and perfumed oak.  Bottled at 52.8% ABV, just 252 bottles of METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Japanese Mizunara Oak Cask will be available globally at an RRP of €3,000 (700ml).

While the Mizunara Cask represents the generations of tradition and craftmanship in which whiskey making and Japanese culture are steeped, the two younger expressions highlight the innovation and experimentation for which the distillery is renowned. Each of the single pot still distillates were first matured in bourbon and sherry barrels before a finishing period in Japanese Cedarwood Casks (ABV 48%) – a world first for the Irish whiskey category – and Japanese Chestnut Casks (ABV 48%), marking a new first for the industry.

Stunning packaging, designed by Swedish-Irish design team M&E, brings the influence of the different wood finishes to life on pack with a traditional black and gold label for the Mizunara and brightly coloured designs, inspired by the neon lights of Tokyo, for the Cedarwood and Chestnut releases. Elevating the trademark METHOD AND MADNESS marbling, the labels feature traditional Suminagashi designs – a Japanese marbling method dating back to the 12^th Century. Each of the three expressions is also adorned with a unique kanji, or character, from traditional Japanese calligraphy describing the wood type and age of the liquids.

The Japanese Cedarwood expression is characterised by notes of eucalyptus and fresh botanicals, imparted by the exquisite cedar barrels traditionally favoured for Sake maturation.  The cedar logs are sourced from the Kyushu region in southern Japan, where the warm wet conditions create a particularly fragrant and porous wood giving the whiskey its unique flavour profile of herbal tea, caraway seeds and clove spice alongside a delicate fruit finish.

Equally magnificent, the Japanese chestnut wood also hails from southern Japan, where the rocky terrain and abundant rainfall make for a relatively low wood density imparting notes of liquorice and lingering spice with flavours of orange zest and cooling menthol.  METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Japanese Cedarwood Casks and METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Japanese Chestnut Casks will be available in extremely limited quantities at the RRP of €95 (700ml).

Sprung from the minds of Masters and Apprentices, METHOD AND MADNESS is a whiskey that pays heed to tradition while exploring the unordinary. As the team’s continued quest for the uncommon cask led them, this time, to Japan, they connected with the esteemed Ariake Sangyo cooperage in Miyazaki. Working alongside these expert coopers, the team was able to procure a selection of rare and precious casks and ship them back to the Micro Distillery at Midleton, Co. Cork, for the final finishing phases of these three exceptional whiskeys.

Eva O’Doherty, Distiller at the Micro Distillery, comments: “Bringing these exceptional whiskeys to life has been a joyous journey of discovery, whilst working with each of the new wood types has continued to test and challenge our whiskey making skills.  Whilst we were confident we could apply tried and tested maturation methods for the Mizunara Oak Cask, the porosity of the Cedar and Chestnut wood – or Sugi and Kuri in Japanese – presented new challenges which required close observation to achieve the perfect balance of contribution.  It’s an honour to share this first-of-its-kind collection as we continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible in Irish whiskey making.”

Finbarr Curran, Wood Planning and Maturation Team Lead, adds: “This truly exceptional trilogy represents not only our ambition and far-reaching partnerships with some of the world’s best cooperages, but three individual triumphs in skill and innovation – the ethos which continues to drive the METHOD AND MANDESS collection. It’s with great pride that we share this with the world.”

METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Japanese Mizunara Oak Cask is available now from specialist retailers in Ireland, France, UK, USA and global travel retail. METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Japanese Cedarwood Casks and METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Japanese Chestnut Casks will follow in late March. The whiskeys will be available exclusively via the Whisky Exchange in the UK and distributed by Castle Brands in the USA from September 2022.

Tasting Notes 

METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Japanese Mizunara Oak Cask 

Nose: Coffee cake, toasted nuts, worn leather

Taste: Nutmeg, vanilla, wood tannins

Finish: Pot still spice, subtle fruits, fresh oak 

METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Japanese Cedarwood Casks

Nose: Eucalyptus, fresh botanicals, balsamic undertones

Taste: Herbal tea, caraway seeds, clove spice

Finish: Delicate fruits, sweet-scented wood, rich spices

METHOD AND MADNESS Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey Finished in Japanese Chestnut Casks

Nose: Peppermint leaves, caramelised almonds, ground pepper

Taste: Liquorice, orange zest, cooling menthol

Finish: Herbal fruits, roasted coffee, lingering spices 

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About METHOD AND MADNESS

Launched in February 2017 to push the boundaries of Irish whiskey, METHOD AND MADNESS is crafted in Midleton Distillery, harnessing the creativity of Midleton’s whiskey masters through the fresh talent of its apprentices. Taking inspiration from the famous Shakespearean quote, ‘Though this be madness, yet there is method in ’t’, METHOD AND MADNESS is designed to reflect a next generation Irish spirit brand with a measure of curiosity and intrigue (MADNESS), while honouring the tradition and expertise grounded in the generations of expertise at the Midleton Distillery (METHOD) 

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