The Epicurean Launches White Port Finished Addition to “Wood Series” Single Cask Series 

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

The sixth Single Cask release in the specialist “Wood Series” is bottled at a high alcohol strength of 48% and is proudly offered without colouring or chill-filtration. This innovative collection already encompasses a Ruby Port Finish and a Rivesaltes Finish, amongst others, and seeks to demonstrate that flavour is created throughout the Whisky-making process but most significantly during the interaction between the spirit and the wood when it is in the oak cask. This latest edition is said to be “perfectly fruity and packed with fresh, zesty charm, balanced with a delicious sugary sweetness”.

In crafting The Epicurean Limited Edition, the Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky is first matured in premium American Oak before being re-racked into a hand-selected White Port Single Cask for a second maturation period of more than twelve months.

The White Port cask itself originates from the Douro Valley in northern Portugal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the oldest demarcated wine regions in the world.

Jenny Rogerson, Head of Marketing at Douglas Laing commented:

“Our Epicurean brand is characterised by his own effervescent, adventurous personality, and the spirit within is the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Lowland region, representing the archetypally fresh, vibrant flavour profile of the Malt Whiskies distilled there. It’s these two factors – the versatile Malt Whisky and our Lowland gent’s innovative brand values – that lend themselves particularly well to this Limited Edition Wood Series, which seeks to compare and contrast a cross-section of fascinating finishes.”

Packed in a premium gift tube, The Epicurean White Port Finish Limited Edition is expected to retail at £60.00/€72.00 from good specialist retailers.

Yellowstone bourbon debuts Landmark Edition Bottles in celebration of its 150^th anniversary

For a limited time, bottles of Yellowstone Select Bourbon will feature one of six different scenes from the park that first inspired the brand in 1872

St. LOUIS (Jan. 6, 2022) – Limestone Branch Distillery is celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the Yellowstone bourbon brand by debuting the Yellowstone Select Landmark Edition Bottle series, featuring six different scenes from the national park that inspired the brand.

Available now at retail, bottles of Yellowstone Select Bourbon feature one of six famous park landmarks:

• Lower Yellowstone Falls (original image)
• Old Faithful
• Grand Prismatic Spring
• Minerva Terrace
• Roosevelt Arch
• Lamar Valley

Named after the country’s very first national park, Yellowstone bourbon was introduced in 1872 to honor the park’s remarkable beauty and pioneering spirit. Limestone Branch Distillery has continued the tradition of supporting the park through its ongoing partnership with the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), an independent organization working to strengthen and protect our national parks. To date, Limestone Branch has donated nearly $210,000 to the organization, and from Jan. 1 – Nov 30, 2022, Limestone Branch will donate $1.50 to NPCA for each bottle of Yellowstone Whiskey sold, representing a guaranteed donation up to $30,000.

“We’re proud of our brand’s long history honoring its namesake national park, and we are thrilled to pay further tribute through our Yellowstone Select Bourbon Landmark Edition Bottle series,” said Limestone Branch Brand Manager Caitlin Palmieri Jackson. “Our iconic label featuring the Lower Yellowstone Falls has created a connection with fans of both our brand and the park. The Landmark Edition Bottle series was created to expand upon that connection, as the different landmarks are likely to inspire different memories among consumers of the brand, who are now able to choose the bottle/label that is most special to them.”

Limestone Branch Distillery has produced a limited number of cases featuring a random assortment of all six Landmark Edition Bottle labels. Yellowstone Select Landmark Edition bottles will be available nationwide at a suggested retail price of $39.99 until supplies last.

About Limestone Branch Distillery

Stephen Beam and his brother Paul Beam opened Limestone Branch Distillery in 2011, with the goal of crafting the finest spirits in small batches. With a history of distilling on both sides of their family – Beam and Dant – the brothers are seventh-generation distillers. In 2015, they brought the Yellowstone brand back to the family. The distillery is now home to Yellowstone Select, Yellowstone Limited Edition, and Minor Case Rye Whiskey, as well as the newest addition, Bowling & Burch Gin. For more information on Limestone Branch Distillery and Yellowstone, please visit www.limestonebranch.com, www.yellowstonebourbon.com or www.facebook.com/limestone-branch-distillery.

National Hot Toddy Day

Old Pulteney Hot Toddy Recipe

Ingredients:

▪️ 50ml Old Pulteney 12 Years Old

▪️ 20ml Salty Hot Toddy Syrup*

▪️ 15ml lemon juice

▪️ 100ml black breakfast tea⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

*Salted honey, ginger, lemon zest, pepper corns, black breakfast tea

Method:

To make the syrup, add 100g of honey to a pot and heat it up. Watch for it to bubble away and eventually it’ll start to go dark in colour as the sugars caramelise. While you wait, make a cup of black tea and when the honey is nice and dark, add the tea along with some slices of ginger, lemon peel and a tbsp of peppercorns.

Simmer for about 20 minutes to allow it to infuse and take it off the heat and strain out. When it’s cooling, add in a good pinch of salt to taste. Enjoy!

About Old Pulteney:

Old Pulteney is the only brand whose story, distillery, and whisky are shaped by the sea itself. The unique combination of brisk sea air and meticulous cask selection makes its flavour unlike other single malt Scotch whiskies.

The award-winning core collection, revitalised for the modern market in 2018, includes: 12 Years Old, Huddart, 15 Years Old, 18 Years Old, and 25 Years Old.

As the man behind the town’s 19th Century fishing boom, Sir William Pulteney put northerly Scottish coastal town Wick on the map, but today the Pulteney name is better known for its unique, single malt whisky. Distilled and matured by the sea, the award-winning whisky in our casks is cocooned by salty air swept ashore on Arctic winds.

Since 1826, Pulteney Distillery has navigated changeable seas and conditions, including 25 years of prohibition. Old Pulteney is inseparable from the spirit of the harbour town it calls home which is why it will always be The Maritime Malt.

SOMETHING OLD FOR A NEW YEAR

HIGHLAND PARK 50 YEAR OLD & OTHER RARE SCOTCH AT BONHAMS FIRST WHISKY SALE IN 2022 

Highland Park – 50 year old. Estimate: HK$210,000-250,000. 

Highland Park – 50 year old. Estimate: HK$210,000-250,000. 

Bonhams global wine and spirits auction calendar in 2022 will begin in Hong Kong with Whisky sale on Friday 21 January. The sale, 470-lot strong, spotlights a series of rare but attractively-estimated Scotch whiskies, led by an exclusive charity lot of a Highland Park 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky, donated by Edrington Hong Kong in support of the environmental cause Green Power. The special lot carries an estimate of HK$210,000-250,000.

Released in 2020, this is the third 50-year-old created in the Orkney-based distillery’s 223-year history, with only 274 bottles ever produced – this is numbered ‘1’. It was produced using a traditional solera system – best known as a method of maturing Sherry – via which contents carefully selected from nine refill casks, originally laid down in 1968, were married together in 2008, before it was re-racked into a handful of the finest first-fill sherry seasoned oak casks. After a further twelve years of maturation, one of these limited casks was blended with a small quantity of the whisky from the last 50 Year Old released by the distillery.

Signed by Highland Park Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion, the prized bottle is presented in a hand-made wooden box, crafted from walnut by Scottish Master Craftsman, John Galvin. The whisky is encased in an embossed heavy-weight glass bottle featuring a design inspired by the Norse heritage of Orkney – the home to the distillery – which dates back over 1200 years.

The sale proceeds will benefit Green Power, a Hong-Kong-based NGO dedicated to addressing diverse environment issues in a local context.

Bonhams Director of Wine and Spirits Asia Daniel Lam commented: “Our newly-added January sale is a response to a robust and growing market. Demand for whiskies, not only Japanese but also Scotch, remains strong and wide, and our January sale offers a wide selection of collectors’ favourites – all with attractive estimates.”

Further Scotch whisky highlights of the sale include:

·         Macallan Lalique Steam Train-1937-36 year old. Estimate: HK$520,000 – 600,000. Over the years, this edition has developed a unique character defined by a vibrancy of flavour on the palate. It celebrates the mystique of the 1930s – a golden age of rail travel – as well as the dedication and craftsmanship of the people at the distillery who went to great lengths to create this rich and enticing single malt whisky.

·         Macallan Fine & Rare-1946-56 year old. Estimate: HK$ HK$380,000 – 450,000.

·         Macallan Fine & Rare-1937-37 year old. Estimate: HK$380,000 – 450,000. The second oldest whisky from Macallan’s Fine & Rare Series, with a palate of citrus fruits and spices balanced with peat smoke, dried fruits and aged wood.

·         Macallan Millennium-1949-50 year old Decanter. Estimate: HK$320,000 – 400,000.

·         Macallan Fine & Rare-1940-35 year old. Estimate: HK$300,000 – 400,000.

Sale: Whisky Bonhams Hong Kong 21 January 2022 https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/27715

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

IRISH DISTILLERS CELEBRATES REMARKABLE RESULTS FOR THE 2021 AWARDS SEASON 

Irish Distillers, maker of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, is celebrating yet another outstanding awards season after being honoured with 183 individual medals from the world’s leading taste and design competitions in 2021. The impressive haul of medals, an increase of 11 medals versus 2020, includes several of the top accolades in the Irish Whiskey Category for the distillers’ diverse portfolio.

Testament to the quality and craftsmanship of the world’s best loved Irish whiskey, Jameson Irish Whiskey, which enjoyed sales of 8.6 million cases globally in 2020/2021[1], was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Gold at the International Spirits Challenge. Jameson Black Barrel, achieved recognition across the board, taking home Gold Outstanding (98 points) at the International Wine and Spirit Competition and winning the overall trophy for Best Irish Whiskey at the International Spirits Challenge, while Jameson Bow Street 18 Years achieved a Platinum Medal (96 points) at the Beverage Tasting Institute.

Redbreast continued its legacy as the world’s most decorated single pot still Irish whiskey, securing 29 medals of Gold and above, including a Platinum Medal and a top score of 100, for Redbreast 27 Year Old from the Beverage Tasting Institute. Redbreast also won the coveted Chairman’s Trophy (98 points) for its much-acclaimed 12 Year Old Cask Strength. Elsewhere, the Redbreast range collected six Master medals at The Irish Whiskey Masters, while Redbreast 21 Year Old was crowned the World’s Best Pot Still at the World Whisky Awards.

Further reinforcing Midleton Very Rare’s standing as the pinnacle of Irish whiskey, Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaleach Knockrath Forest was awarded a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and named the Best Pure Pot Still Irish Whiskey. The range’s only permanent expression, Midleton Very Rare Barry Crockett Legacy, also achieved high praise including Gold Outstanding (98 points) at the International Wine & Spirits Competition.

The innovative and exemplary whiskeys produced by hand at Midleton’s Micro Distillery were also recognised with the METHOD AND MADNESS collection winning five Double Golds at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and two Master Medals at the Irish Whiskey Masters – the highest accolade at the competition.

The iconic Powers collection, which celebrated its 230^th anniversary this year, was recognised by a multitude of award bodies for both its distinctive distillate flavour and bold design. Powers Three Swallow and Powers John’s Lane both achieved Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while John’s Lane also took home a Design & Packaging Master following the brand’s bold redesign, which was described by judges as eye-catching and prominent.

Last but not least, the return of Blue Spot to the historic Spot Family was warmly received by judges across the globe, winning five Gold medals and above and a prestigious spot in the Ultimate Spirits Challenge Top 100 Spirits list. The other expressions in the range were equally decorated, including a Double Gold for Green Spot at the San Francisco Spirits Competition, Gold for Red Spot at the International Spirits Challenge and a Master for Yellow Spot at the Irish Whiskey Masters.

Commenting on the success of the 2021 awards season, Kevin O’Gorman, Master Distiller at Irish Distillers, says: “It has been another tremendous season across the portfolio, and we are beyond proud to see so many of our whiskeys securing several of the top accolades in the Irish Whiskey Category.

“The Jameson family continues to excite and delight whiskey fans across the globe with its smooth taste and signature DNA, while our prestige portfolio continues to solidify Irish Whiskey’s standing as a luxury spirit on the world stage.

“These awards demonstrate the dynamism of the category – from reimagined heritage brands such as The Spot Range and Powers – to innovative whiskeys from Redbreast, to METHOD AND MADNESS with distillate experimentation such as Rye and Malt and our Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaleach series, which showcase wood experimentation and maturation.

“These achievements are a testament to my colleagues at Midleton Distillery who work tirelessly to apply their knowledge and passion to produce whiskeys of unrivalled quality.”

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 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 Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “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. 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 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.

[1] Irish Distillers’ Results for the year ending 30^th June 2021

Beam Suntory and Suntory Holdings Contribute $1 Million to Support Recovery from Devastating Tornados in Kentucky

NEW PENDERYN DISTILLERY IN LLANDUDNO NAMED

NORTH WALES’ TOP ATTRACTION AT TOURISM AWARDS

Penderyn Distillery’s Team at the 2021 Go North Wales Tourism Awards

Brecon Beacons, Wales – December 21, 2021: The new Penderyn Distillery at Llandudno has been named North Wales’ top attraction at the 2021 Go North Wales Tourism Awards, the region’s tourism ‘Oscars.’ The accolade, which was accepted by the team from Penderyn Distillery – “The Welsh Whisky Company” credited with reviving the whisky industry in Wales after a 100-year absence – was announced at the 30th-anniversary celebration for the organization.

Penderyn’s new North Wales distillery is located in the historic town of Llandudno,

the location that inspired Alice in Wonderland

Set in Llandudno, North Wales, the picturesque setting that inspired Alice in Wonderland, Penderyn’s second distillery opened its doors in May 2021 on the 20th anniversary of Penderyn’s launch. The team at Penderyn has been working to bring back the spirit of the original Welsh Whisky distillery at Frongoch, which closed over 100 years ago (mainly due to Prohibition) after receiving a royal warrant from Queen Victoria in 1895. Housed in the Grade II listed Old Board School on the town’s Lloyd Street, the distillery focuses production on peated barley single malt whisky, a nod to what is believed to have been the style of whisky originally produced in North Wales over a century ago. Whisky uses water supplied from a natural fresh spring reservoir that once served the Victorian Lighthouse on The Great Orme Headland.

While there is a three-to-five year wait for visitors to sample whisky produced at the Llandudno location, the new visitor center offers tastings from whisky produced at Pendery’s original distillery in the Brecon Beacons, South Wales.

The award comes in the lead up to 2022, which is poised to be the year Welsh whisky obtains Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), joining the likes of Welsh lamb and beef, Caerphilly cheese, and Welsh wine.

A third Penderyn Distillery is planned for Swansea, Wales in 2022/23.

About Penderyn:

Penderyn is an independent distillery located in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons National Park in Wales, UK. Recognized as one of the most influential Welsh exports, Penderyn is credited with reviving the country’s whisky industry after more than a 100-year absence. Renowned for its high-quality single malt whisky and other distillates, Penderyn is also recognized for respecting the long heritage of whisky production and combining it with an innovative approach to distilling. Penderyn is exported to over 40 destinations, including Europe, Canada, the USA, Japan, Russia, Singapore, Australia, and China.

Gordon & MacPhail donates £80,000 to Scottish charity, Trees for Life

Ewen Mackintosh and Steve Micklewright

Tuesday 23^rd November: Family-owned premium spirits company, Gordon & MacPhail, is donating £80,000 to Trees for Life, a charity with a mission to restore the Caledonian Forest, following the sale of Decanter #1 of the world’s oldest single malt Scotch whisky at auction. 

The Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80-Years-Old from Glenlivet Distillery launched in September 2021, with the business making the decision to partner with Sotheby’s to raise funds for Trees for Life.

In October 2021, a landmark lot went under the hammer at Sotheby’s in Hong Kong, which included decanter #1, a tasting experience, the framed cask end and a one-of-one lithograph featuring the original concept drawings devised by creative partner, Sir David Adjaye. After costs, auction proceeds of £80,000 have been donated to Trees for Life to help fund their tree nursey at Dundreggan near Glenmoriston in Inverness-shire.

The fifth release in Gordon & MacPhail’s Generations series, the 80-Years-Old release from Glenlivet Distillery is presented in a stunningly intricate decanter and oak pavilion designed by internationally acclaimed architect and designer, Sir David Adjaye, aligned to a creative theme of ‘Artistry in Oak’.

Trees for Life, a conservation charity based in Findhorn, has planted nearly two million trees since its inception in 1993. It has a mission to revitalise the wild forest in the Scottish Highlands, providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive. To kick off the partnership earlier this year, six colleagues from Gordon & MacPhail visited the Trees for Life nursery and planted a number of oak trees.

Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director, Gordon & MacPhail, said: “We chose to partner with Trees for Life because we believe our organisations are closely aligned. We’re both focused on creating future legacies. Much like a golden anniversary is symbolised with gold, an 80^th is traditionally commemorated by oak, so the theme and partnership was a natural fit. Our whiskies are often decades, if not generations, in the making and Trees for Life are also planning for the long term so we are very proud to support their mission.” 

Steve Micklewright, CEO, Trees for Life, commented:

“The partnership and generous contribution will have a significant, positive impact on our nursery at Dundreggan. Funding will help us to grow more than 80,000 rare, native trees from seed each year, restoring and enhancing Scotland’s natural environment for all.”

For more information about Gordon & MacPhail visit www.gordonandmacphail.com. Further information on Trees for Life is available at www.treesforlife.org.uk.

About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail, a fourth-generation family-owned premium spirits company based in Elgin, Scotland. Renowned as a Scotch whisky maturation expert, the business also owns Scotch whisky distillery, Benromach, on the outskirts of Forres, and The Cairn Distillery near Grantown-on-Spey.

Scottish Gin brand, Red Door was added to the portfolio in 2018 and Gordon & MacPhail is the operator of a wholesale business in the United Kingdom selling premium Scotch whiskies and spirits.  A high-quality retail outlet in Elgin, continues to serve locals and visitors alike, since 1895 when the business was established. www.gordonandmacphail.com.

About Trees for Life

Founded in 1993, Trees for Life is an award-winning charity with a vision of a revitalised wild forest in the Scottish Highlands, providing space for wildlife to flourish and communities to thrive. “It is our passionate belief that rewilding can help us achieve this vision,” says chief executive, Steve Makeweight. “It enriches the landscapes, wildlife and people who call these places home. Rewilding is about working with nature, natural processes and seeing human activity as part of an intricate system in which everything is connected.” The Gordon & MacPhail partnership with Trees for Life is a commitment to both the wild Caledonian Forest and to future generations. www.treesforlife.org.uk.

Kentucky Bourbon Benefit Raises Over $3 Million, 

Tripling Goal for Western Kentucky Tornado Relief

Auction Proceeds Donated to Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund

FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Bourbon Benefit auction of rare bottles, private barrel selections and more raised over $3 million to help ease suffering and restore hope for residents of Western Kentucky whose communities were ravaged by a tornado outbreak earlier this month.

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association partnered with the Bourbon Crusaders charitable organization and Bourbon curator Fred Minnick on the six-day auction. The fundraiser culminated with a live-streamed finale Tuesday night which alone raised $1.77 million.

The total – which is expected to climb – was $3,429,203 as of mid-day Wednesday.

The www.kybourbonbenefit.com auction site is still accepting donations and businesses continue to match funds. Proceeds from the benefit are going to the Team Western Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund. The state-operated fund assesses no fees on donations.

Angel’s Envy, Beam Suntory, Brown-Forman, Diageo, Four Roses, Heaven Hill, Michter’s, Rabbit Hole and Wild Turkey also donated in excess of $1 million directly to the state’s fund, and Beam Suntory gave an additional $500,000 to the American Red Cross.

Those donations bring the distilling industry’s total impact to nearly $5 million.

“The outpouring of support, care and love for Western Kentuckians is truly unparalleled in the history of Bourbon. We are forever grateful for the generosity of distillers, donors and bidders,” KDA President Eric Gregory said.

“Through this event, thousands of participants are helping lift spirits across Western Kentucky, provide new hope and create momentum for the years of rebuilding and healing ahead,” Gregory said. “This is the spirit of Kentucky shining through.”

Minnick, a best-selling author and Bourbon expert, said the auction’s success demonstrates the fabric of Kentuckians and Americans. “In life, you get a handful of moments you hope to relive in your final moments. Tuesday night was one for me,” he said.

“The only comparison I have for what happened here was going to Iraq as a soldier and experiencing the full depth of the American military coming together under one mission. My team worked with two highly professional organizations in the Bourbon Crusaders and the KDA.

“While different than my Army days, I believe the Kentucky Bourbon Benefit represented the best of America. At the core of who we are, we are a people who want to help our neighbor. And in Kentucky, our neighbors needed our help,” Minnick said.

“The response was tremendous, far beyond our wildest hopes,” said R.J. Sargent, founder of the Bourbon Crusaders. “Our members pulled out treasures from their collections and the community responded enthusiastically.

“You can see it in the auction results. These rarities attracted lots of bids, and every dollar raised is going to be used to help Kentucky.”

A total of 5,158 bidders vied for the benefit auction’s 429 lots. Bidders came from all 50 states, Washington D.C. and as far away as Puerto Rico and Guam. Kentucky, by far, led the way with nearly 1,000 registered bidders, followed by Ohio (400), Florida (250) and Texas (240).

Highlights included:

A 19-year-old barrel of Willett sold for $401,001 – which Minnick said was the highest ever paid for a full barrel of Bourbon. The Bardstown distillery then donated another barrel which was matched by the second-place bidder for a total of $802,002 raised.

A private barrel selection at Four Roses Distillery, aged 17 to 24 years, sold for $278,000. The Lawrenceburg distillery also matched the barrel to its second-place bidder, totaling $556,000. With other rare donated bottles, Four Rose’s final tally was $569,920.

Willett also had the third best-selling item: an 8-year-old barrel that sold for $143,000. Again, the distillery donated a matching barrel to the losing bidder, raising a total of $286,000 for that lot – and nearly $1.1 total from Willett’s donations alone.

A barrel experience of cask-strength Angel’s Envy went for $130,000. An Elijah Craig barrel-strength barrel sold for $77,000. Wild Turkey and New Riff private barrels sold for $45,000 and $43,000 respectively.

Nevada-based Distillery Smoke Wagon’s lot of 60 bottles of Rare and Limited Special Batch Small Batch Bourbon sold for $45,000. Smoke Wagon donated another set of 60 bottles and the runner-up matched at $45,000. Smoke Wagon also had two separate donations that went for $26,000 and $6,650, bringing the company’s tally to $122,650.

An exclusive tour and tasting experience at Castle & Key in Woodford County – combined with a private suite at Keeneland for the distillery’s annual Bourbon Stakes in 2022 – sold for $44,000.

A hand-engraved decanter of 23-year Old Rip Van Winkle, one of only 1,200 released in 2009 and donated by Preston Van Winkle, went for $44,000.

Private barrel experiences at Maker’s Mark, Old Forester, Boone County, Woodford Reserve and Jefferson’s Ocean, which donated a 300-bottle lot, all sold between $30,000 and $35,000 each.

The “Mayfield Collection” of 14 bottles recovered intact from Carr’s Steakhouse in downtown Mayfield, Ky., which was destroyed in the EF 4 tornado, sold for $69,475. Nearly all of the bottle’s brands are matching the sales prices with half of the money going to Carr’s for its 29 employees – with a combined 22 children – many of whom are now homeless.

The total amount raised from the Kentucky Bourbon Benefit will continue to climb throughout the coming days as final results are tallied, including matches from Vendome Copper & Brass, Independent Stave Company and the Kentucky Travel Industry Association (KTIA).

Auctioneer Bill Menish, founder of Menish Productions in Louisville, Ky., donated his services for the live auction and waived all of his fees. Westport Whiskey and Wine, the benefit’s official retail partner, is assisting with fulfillment.

For a list of the auctioned lots and their sales prices, visit www.KentuckyBourbonBenefit.com.

To watch the live auction call, visit Fred Minnick’s YouTube Channel.

Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2022.

A Septuagenarian Scotch is named Single Cask of the Year While A Staggering Bourbon wins the Bible’s World Whisky of the Year Title.

One of the oldest single malts ever commercially bottled has this year been named as the World Finest Single Cask Whisky in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2022.

Distilled in 1948 – the same year that the Big Bang theory was first hypothesised – Jim Murray considered the 72-year-old Glen Grant, Cask 440, from Gordon and MacPhail to be truly stella, giving it 97.5 marks out of 100.

Said Jim: “This whisky has had 72 years for something to go wrong with it. Instead, we have the near miraculous situation of a whisky sitting for 72 years in oak and everything going right with it. The chances for a whisky to reach this type of antiquity and hit this level of excellence is mind-blowing: it has to be one-in-a-million or more.”

The score equals the highest-ever recorded in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, which has now been published each year for the last 19 years, with over 20,000 whiskies tasted by Mr Murray during that time.

As well as being named the world’s finest single cask, it has also picked up the title of Scotch Whisky of the Year.

However, the actual World Whisky of the Year was again won by a bourbon, George T Stagg, from the Buffalo Trace distillery in Kentucky. This is a “big bang” whiskey in its own right, bottled at 65.2%abv, more than half the strength again of a standard bottle of whisky.

It was named World Whisky of the Year in the first-ever Whisky Bible, back in 2003 but had not won the coveted title since 2006.

But it means bourbon has been named World Whisky of the Year for five of the last 6 years.

Mr Murray explained: “Bourbon is going through a golden era right now with distilleries taking extraordinary care in many of the bottlings they produce. The high-end products, like George T Stagg, are individual works of art and it takes hours in the glass to fully unravel their secrets and mysteries.

In his notes on it Jim concluded: “Stagg hovering around about its ultimate. And we know what that means: one of the greatest whiskey experiences of your life. This is one of those whiskies where it is not a case of whether it is good enough for you. The question is whether you are good enough for it? Staggering. Quite literally.”

Stagg’s, stablemate from the Buffalo Trace Distillery, Thomas Handy Sazerac Barrel Proof Rye was named the World second-best whiskey, repeating a 1^st and 2^nd placing last achieved in the 2013 edition.

A Scotch single malt came in Third. Again it was Glen Grant, this time with their 18-year-old, the third top three placing it has achieved in the last six year.

Of it, Mr Murray wrote: “You know that moment when the last notes fade on Vaughan-Williams’ A Lark Ascending, or you are in a hilltop meadow and a real lark sings sweetly above your head for its mate before fluttering and parachuting back to its grassy home, and you sit there quietly pondering on what you have just experienced. And so the nose, the best I have experienced all year, has the same effect here.”

This year Jim Murray tasted over 750 different whiskies from around the world.

Said Mr Murray: “We set a target of 750 this year instead of excess of 1,000, should I not be to travel because of Covid. Well, much of the book was written during Lockdown, travelling was impossible and so it was truly amazing that we hit our target. Hopefully next year I’ll be back travelling and we’ll be back to over 1,000 whiskies again.

Editor’s Notes Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2022 contains tasting notes for nearly 5,000 drams from around the world. This is the biggest selling whisky guide, now in its 19th edition. Available from 25/11/21 at all good bookshops, retailers and whiskybible.com, priced £14.99. Press enquiries: Jane Garnett +44 (0)117 317 9777; jane@whiskybible.com