Diageo becomes first ever official spirits sponsor of the National Football League

The multiyear sponsorship will include brand-specific programming throughout the NFL calendar

L – R back row: Ben White, Nick Ravenhall, Nick Stagg, Alex Ravenhall L – R front row: Francesca Roffe Ridgard, Tamsin Gayle

On Wednesday 16th June, New Zealand brothers Alex and Nick Ravenhall, commonly coined the Whisky Smugglers, swam across the Channel from Dover to Calais with a team of four other swimmers to raise money for Sea Shepherd New Zealand. Partnering with London’s Bimber Distillery, each swimmer transported a dram of whisky, which was then blended back into a cask and will be sold as limited-edition whiskies later this year.

The team completed the arduous swim in an amazing 12 hours and 58 mins, the second fastest team this season, alongside swimmers Ben White, Tamsin Gayle, Francesca Roffe Ridgard and Nick Stagg. The Maori brothers founded Whisky and Waves, an ocean awareness campaign, to call attention to how vulnerable the earth’s beautiful waterways are. The pair felt a special calling to work with Sea Shepherd on this project, whose charity work includes protecting Maui’s dolphins, endemic to New Zealand.

The brothers now based in the UK both work in the new world whisky scene. Nick is the Managing Director for Edinburgh’s innovative Holyrood Distillery, whilst Alex is Head of Events for Atom Brands which includes the famous independent whisky bottling brand Boutique-y Whisky Company.

Ewelina Chruszczyk, Director at Bimber Distillery commented: “Bimber are delighted to be collaborating with Whisky & Waves on their latest charity swim. Whilst our distillery has its historical roots in mainland Europe, our home is very much England – and as such, crossing the channel with our single malt in tow is a perfect expression of both our journey and of the universal language of the shared love of whisky.” 

This Summer, the pair will undergo at least two more swims in some of the UK’s most treacherous waters, including the The Corryvreckan. Both swims will be completed with smuggled whisky with the intent to release further fundraising bottlings for Sea Shepherd.

SIX WHISKIES FROM SAZERAC COMPANY RECOGNIZED AT 2021 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION

Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey Named Gold Medalist

Montreal (Jun 8, 2021) – Judges at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition awarded a Gold medal to Sazerac Company’s Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey in the taste category of the competition. Spirits awarded the Gold medal in the judging process are described as exceptional spirits that are near the pinnacle of achievement; these products set the standard for their categories. A total of five Canadian whiskies and one blended whiskey were awarded medals at the competition out of a record-breaking 3,500 entries.

Silver Medals

• Canadian Mist Blended Canadian Whisky
• Royal Canadian Small Batch Blended Whisky

Bronze Medals

• Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky
• Collingwood Blended Canadian Whisky
• High River Canadian Whisky

The Gold Medal winning Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey, named after the legendary Sam Bronfman, was introduced as a limited-edition blended whiskey in 2019 to honor the founder of the modern-day distilled spirits industry. Sazerac’s Master Blender, Drew Mayville, created this exclusive blend as a tribute to Mister Sam. The individual barrels for the other medalist, Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky, were hand-selected by Mayville himself.

Each entry was subject to rounds of blind tastings and individual evaluation on both taste and design by judges. For more information on the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a full list of results, visit sfspiritscomp.com.

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, please visit www.sazerac.com.

A.SMITH BOWMAN CASK STRENGTH BOURBON IS LATEST RELEASE FROM VIRGINIA’S OLDEST DISTILLERY

Packing a Punch at 141.1 Proof, New Cask Strength is Permanent Addition to Line Up

 FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA (June 10, 2021) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery, known for its award-winning single barrel, small batch, and experimental spirits, is adding a permanent expression to its portfolio, A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon.  Aged a minimum of 10 years with barrels hand-selected by Master Distiller Brian Prewitt, the A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength will be an annual release, bottled uncut and non chill-filtered.

The first release will be available in late June, and is a high proof lover’s delight, coming in at 141.1 proof. Tasting notes for this bourbon describe it as starting off with the aroma of vanilla, apple, and dried cherries.  Hints of toasted pecan and candied nuts give way to brown sugar, brown spice, and toasted coconut. The finish is oily and viscous with a delicious aftertaste that keeps going on long after the final sip.

“We’re excited to add another offering in the A. Smith Bowman line of bourbons, especially a Cask Strength, which we’re sure will be really popular with our fans, said Master Distiller Brian Prewitt.  “This first release in this annual series contains barrels selected from the lower tiers in Warehouses A1 and A.  We thought the flavor combinations resulted in a delicate sipping bourbon that drinks like a much lower proof.  We hope you agree!”

The A. Smith Bowman Cask Strength Bourbon will be available in select markets in the United States, as well through the A. Smith Bowman Distillery gift shop via online lottery. Bottles are packaged in 750 mL and suggested retail pricing is $99.99.  For more information, stay tuned to the A. Smith Bowman website at www.asmithbowman.com.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which received a double gold medal at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.  For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

Foundry Distilling Co. and Surly Brewing Co. Join Forces to Create Furious Whiskey

West Des Moines, IA (June 15, 2021) – What do you get when a brewery that doesn’t settle teams up with a distillery that’s driven to create exceptional spirits, and they make a whiskey out of a renowned beer? The answer: something truly remarkable. Foundry Distilling Co. and Surly Brewing Co. have collaborated to create Furious Whiskey, distilled from the wort of Surly’s Furious IPA beer. This whiskey will be released on July 10th, 2021.

“This has been a fantastic collaboration with our Midwestern neighbor, Surly Brewing Company,” said Scott Bush, owner of Foundry Distilling Company. “We know whiskey enthusiasts will love this take on their iconic, hoppy, and aggressive Furious IPA.”

Surly’s Furious IPA’s aggressively in-your-face hoppy and citrusy nature has been distilled into an American single malt whiskey with every ounce of zesty citrus sweetness as its beer counterpart. Surly brought the beer’s wort to Foundry Distilling Co., where it was fermented, distilled, and aged for 24 months in new 30-gallon charred American Oak barrels to produce the whiskey. In total, Foundry has made 1,000 cases in a limited run that pushes the envelope of what makes a spirit unique.

Furious Whiskey Tasting Notes:

Aroma

• Earthy
• Citrus
• Caramel
• Malt Forward

Tasting

• Orange Zest
• Taffy Sweetness
• Bready

Finish

• Zesty

Foundry Distilling Co. is hosting a launch party at their distillery in Historic Valley Junction, Iowa, on Saturday, July 10th, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to celebrate the Furious Whiskey release. This event is open to the public, and the first 100 attendees will get a complimentary branded rocks glass. At the event, people can sample Furious Whiskey and Furious IPA while meeting with Foundry Distilling Co.’s head distiller Greg Biagi and Surly Brewing Founder Omar Ansari.

Those looking to secure a bottle of this one-of-a-kind whiskey before the launch date can do so by pre-ordering online at BrewerDistillerAlliance.com. People that have pre-ordered will have two weeks from the release date to claim their bottle.

This collaboration with Surly Brewing Co. was made possible through Foundry Distilling Co.’s Brewer-Distiller Alliance initiative, which aims to work with outstanding breweries across the nation to produce remarkable, distinctive whiskeys from their beer recipes. The breweries produce the wort using their recipes, and Foundry then ferments, distills, and barrel ages the spirit to create whiskey. Foundry Distilling Company and its partners have generated a diverse collection of exclusive limited-edition whiskeys.

Foundry is also working with Surly on another special whiskey, based on the brewery’s Axe Man IPA, that is scheduled to be released during the 3rd quarter of 2022.

For more information about the Furious Whiskey or the Brewer-Distiller Alliance, visit FoundryDistillingCompany.com/Furious-IPA.

About Surly Brewing Co.

It’s Surly’s mission to deliver true flavor, an irreverent attitude, must-have beers, and world class experiences to their fans. From their 2004 start in a converted abrasives factory in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, Surly has grown into one the of the premiere destination breweries in the country. Along the way, they have earned countless medals from the Great American Beer Festival and the honor of being awarded the Best Brewery in America. Surly is known for bold and uncompromising beers that don’t adhere to strict style guidelines such as Furious IPA, Grapefruit Supreme, Axe Man IPA, Abrasive Double IPA, and Darkness Russian Imperial Stout. Often polarizing, but never compromising, Surly knows their beers aren’t for everyone. They’re for you. You do enough settling in life. Don’t settle. Get Surly. To learn more, click here.

About Foundry Distilling Co.

Foundry Distilling Co. strives to be one of the most innovative distilleries in the world by providing unique products, offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences, like our Private Barrel Club, and collaborating with an alliance of nationally recognized breweries, known as the Brewer-Distiller Alliance. Their flagship product, The Real Stuff is made from a mash of grain and cane and aged in charred oak kegs, and is an attempt to recreate the actual process used to make the legendary “Off-the-Farm” spirit of rural Iowa farmers. To learn more, please visit FoundryDistillingCompany.com.

Spirits Companies Merge as Two Trees Beverage Co. Inc.

Two Trees Beverage Co. Inc. Merger Signals Unprecedented Innovation with Rapid-Aging Technology

(FLETCHER, NC) June 15, 2021 – Prost Beverage Company, RF Kettle Company and Two Trees Distilling Company announced today they are merging under a newly formed parent company, Two Trees Beverage Co. Inc. with headquarters in Fletcher, NC. The companies merge to combine taste and technology to offer unblocked creativity to beer, wine and spirits innovation for private label, third-party manufacturing and its own line of proprietary brands. The transition is effective on July 1, 2021.

The merger brings together Prost Beverage Company, that successfully collaborated with Tim Smith, reality TV star from Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners”, to develop major national brands of Climax™ Spirits and Tim Smith Southern Reserve™; Two Trees Distilling Company which has advanced distilling, branding and innovation experience; and RF Kettle with plans to advance RF Kettle’s proprietary technology for rapid-aging. The new combined company utilizes a 1,000-gallon system to produce and scale the volume equivalent of approximately 20 barrels of aged product per day.

The company has already raised $6 million in Series A funding which is expected to close in July. Two Trees Beverage Co. will offer rapid-aging on a contract basis for private label, new and established beverage brands that are looking for ways to diversify portfolios, and improve taste experiences. Some forms of rapid-aging have been met with cynicism within an industry steeped in tradition, however Chad Slagle, CEO and Chris Sellers, president of the newly formed parent company, are confident that complacency doesn’t drive innovation. Slagle said, “It’s disruptive to put innovation in tradition, some people are uncomfortable with that, but innovation isn’t about doing what is comfortable, it requires change to improve the old ways of doing things.”

Slagle added, “We can help companies keep up with increasing consumer demand for premium spirits, beer, and wine in an environmentally safe and sustainable manner. By combining our expertise in blending with rapid-aging technology, we can deliver rapid, speed-to-market products that are aged to perfection without the wait and without bottom-line surprises.”

The company plans to engage with R&D professionals and brand marketers across many adult beverage categories to expand innovation and deliver upon the many benefits their process and expertise provides.

“Our mission is to provide a culture of breakthrough innovation. We remove obstacles to achieve exceptional, intriguing tastes, timeliness, scale, and consistency to provide fine spirits, beer, and wine that can be enjoyed now and, in the future,” said Chris Sellers, president of Two Trees Beverage Co.

About Two Trees Beverage Co. Inc.

Two Trees Beverage Co. Inc. reverently provides an improved, first-to-market maturation process to produce award-winning spirits, beer, wine and RTDs. Through its proprietary, rapid-aging process, Two Trees Beverage Co. develops premium craft beverages at scale with consistency in a sustainable and socially responsible manner using an endless combination of wood types and flavoring. Two Trees Beverage Co. offers rapid-aging on a contract basis to address consumer demand for premium products and improve speed-to-market for retailers and manufacturers while reducing the industry’s dependency on wood supply. Two Trees Beverage Co. provides third-party manufacturing for private label, new and established beverage brands that are looking for ways to diversify portfolios, and improve taste experiences. The Two Trees Beverage Company portfolio of brands includes Tim Smith Spirits- Climax™ Spirits and Southern Reserve™, Two Trees™ Whiskey, Two Trees™ Vodka, Two Trees™ flavored whiskey portfolio, plus the Two Trees™ folklore brand series which includes, Snarly Yow™, Owl Head™, Wampus Cat™ and Old Fyre Dragaman™. For more information, visit twotreesbeverage.com.

SPIRIT OF YORKSHIRE DISTILLERY RELEASES FILEY BAY PEATED FINISH

The light and subtly smoky whisky comes after the success of the ambitious distillery’s ‘finished’ releases last year

Filey Bay, Yorkshire’s first single malt whisky, made by the ambitious Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery, is releasing a brand new expression – Filey Bay Peated Finish. After the success of its ‘finished’ releases in 2020, the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery decided to go one step further and finish its light and fruity house style whisky in peated casks to deliver a subtle note of peat smoke. Balanced and delicate, Filey Bay Peated Finish is soft and sweet with a gentle twist of smoke making this release perfect for any whisky fan whatever their preference.

This exciting new cask type not only adds dimension to the distinctive, creamy and light whisky, but also brings together the forward thinking distillery’s ethos of respecting tradition with a progressive approach. Filey Bay Peated Finish uses a combination of two of the distillery’s distillate styles from a small selection of stunning bourbon casks laid down in the spring and summer of 2017, which undergoes a secondary maturation in peated casks. Light, sweet and coastal, expect flavours of soft vanilla, caramel, subtle peat smoke and bright citrus.

Co-founded by Tom Mellor and David Thompson, the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery began making whisky in 2016. The distillery is located a stone’s throw from co-founder Tom Mellor’s working arable farm in Hunmanby on the Yorkshire coast, which has been in Mellor’s family since World War II.

“After the success of our ‘finished’ releases last year, we’re really excited to announce our next step, Filey Bay Peated Finish. This bottling is a much anticipated first, as we give our light and fruity signature whisky a subtle sweet smokiness by finishing in peated casks.” said Spirit of Yorkshire Director and Co-Founder, David Thompson.

The distillery’s Whisky Director, Joe Clark added: “Opinions can sometimes be divided on peated whisky, and this release strikes very much at the middle ground for those who love peated whisky and those who are not so sure. Our Peated Finish is all about balance – it’s the perfect dram for any whisky fan.”

The distillery’s traditional yet progressive approach results in a distinctive whisky which is creamy, light and fruity with flavours of citrus, honey, caramel and vanilla, whilst it gets its complex and refined character from maturation in a range of ex-bourbon and sherry barrels. Named after the pristine beach in North Yorkshire visible from the distillery, the gannets that gather on nearby Bempton Cliffs have become an emblem of the brand and appear on its vibrant label.

Alongside Filey Bay Peated Finish, the Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery’s initial ‘finished’ range includes the Filey Bay STR Finish, aged partly in former red wine barriques; the Filey Bay Moscatel Finish, aged in Spanish Moscatel wine barrels; and various other limited-run releases using a range of maturation techniques. Filey Bay Flagship is the distillery’s first widely available bottling, following the limited-run First Release and Second Release.

Filey Bay Peated Finish will be available to purchase from June from the distillery’s website here, RRP £60.

Notes 

Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery Hunmanby Industrial Estate, The Distillery, Unit 1, Hunmanby, Filey, YO14 0PH. www.spiritofyorkshire.com @SpiritOfYorkshire

About Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery

Spirit of Yorkshire distillery was set up in 2016 by Tom Mellor and David Thompson in Hunmanby, North Yorkshire, UK. A sister operation to the Wold Top Brewery, it is located close to the owners’ arable farm, which specialises in growing malting barley, and uses progressive, sustainable farming practices and unique distillation methods in its range of single malt whiskies.

The distillery’s operations are underpinned by a long-standing passion for sustainable agriculture and careful environmental stewardship: all of the barley used in its production is grown on the farm, making it one of the only genuinely field to bottle distilleries in the UK, while chalk aquifers directly underneath the farm provide a consistent water supply that’s ideal for whisky distilling.

Both Mellor and Thompson have worked in farming and agriculture in the local area for decades. Passionate about low-impact farming techniques being used wherever possible, issues like soil health and biodiversity are also front-of-mind when it comes to the farm’s operations. The distillery will continue its regular tours for locals and visitors looking to find out more about the distilling process from 21st June, while the resident Pot Still Café will continue to offer speciality coffee alongside breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea menus made from produce sourced from local artisans

Gordon & MacPhail introduces The World’s Oldest Single Malt Scotch Whisky: Generations 80YO From Glenlivet Distillery presented in partnership with Sir David Adjaye OBE

ELGIN, SCOTLAND, 15 June 2021: Whisky creator Gordon & MacPhail is set to release the world’s oldest single malt Scotch whisky this September – an 80-Years-Old from Glenlivet Distillery – in partnership with Sir David Adjaye OBE.

Download Video HERE

On 3rd February 1940 in a quiet corner in the north of Scotland, George Urquhart and his father, John, had the extraordinary foresight and vision to lay down spirit from Glenlivet Distillery in a bespoke Gordon & MacPhail cask to be enjoyed by future generations.

To celebrate John and George Urquhart’s vision, Gordon & MacPhail has collaborated with internationally acclaimed architect and designer, Sir David Adjaye OBE, to create a unique decanter and oak case to house the world’s most precious whisky to date. Described as ‘an architect with an artist’s sensibilities and vision’, Adjaye was a natural choice as a creative partner; a man who shares the company’s values of artistry, legacy, and craftsmanship.

“When collaborating, I am looking for like-minded partners in terms of their craft, beliefs and traditions. I loved Gordon & MacPhail’s rigour and obsession with their products and their craft – a romantic commitment that enables one to do exceptional things. Our partnership felt so organic,” expresses Adjaye.

Referred to by renowned whisky writer Charlie MacLean as ‘the father of single malt’, George Urquhart passionately believed that each whisky should be left to mature until the cask and spirit had combined to create the desired quality, and it was ready to be shared. The time for Cask 340 was to be 80 years – longer than any other Scotch whisky in history.

On 5th February 2020, leaning on the unique skill and experience acquired over more than 125 years, the decision was taken to finally bottle the cask’s precious out-turn, yielding a total of 250 decanters.

“That this whisky – the oldest single malt Scotch ever bottled – remains so full of vibrant flavour with a strength of 44.9% ABV, is testimony to knowledge handed down over successive generations of my family,” explains Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige at Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies, and member of the fourth generation of the family that owns the company.

For over 125 years, Gordon & MacPhail has been driven by a simple mission: to create single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional quality. Through four generations of family ownership, the company has matched its own casks with spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries. It is this unique depth and breadth of experience that enables Gordon & MacPhail to combine oak, spirit and time to create iconic whiskies found nowhere else in the world.

“Maturing a single malt Scotch over eight decades is an art,” adds Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, “similar in many ways to architecture where you are creating something that needs to stand the test of time. Neither can be rushed. Both Sir David and Gordon & MacPhail share a commitment to invest in the future. We both see the significance of creating something exceptional; leaving a legacy for future generations.”

In the same way that a 50th anniversary is commemorated by gold, 80 years is traditionally symbolised by oak – a pleasing reflection of this whisky, cradled in oak for eight decades. Sir David Adjaye’s stunning decanter and case will be revealed in September 2021, with decanter number #1 auctioned by Sotheby’s in early October 2021. To continue the legacy theme, auction proceeds, minus costs, will be donated to award-winning Scottish charity Trees for Life whose mission is to rewild the Caledonian Forest. 

“It’s fitting that this release will provide a relevant, valuable and long-lasting legacy with direct benefits for many,” comments Ewen Mackintosh.

The Generations range from Gordon & MacPhail has previously presented some of the longest matured single malt Scotch whisky ever to be bottled. Its reputation will be further enhanced this September when the Gordon & MacPhail Generations 80YO from Glenlivet Distillery will finally be unveiled.

Register interest via: GORDONANDMACPHAIL.COM

@GORDONANDMACPHAIL

Watch Hill Proper bourbon bar releases layout and renderings and

announces prominent industry leading members

Bourbon enthusiasts have until June 15 to sign up as a Founding Member

PROSPECT, Ky. (June 7, 2021) – Watch Hill Proper, Louisville’s first premier bourbon club located in Norton Commons, is releasing the layout and renderings for their 5,200 sq. ft. location anticipated to open in the first quarter of 2022. Both the layout and renderings were provided by Design + Inc., an award-winning architectural and design firm that specializes in the restaurant industry.

The club will feature The Fermenter – a waiting room with a smaller bar – two private rooms, a Member Lounge, and a Library. The Member Lounge will be accessible to members during the day, before official opening hours of the club. The Library will be a place for members to relax and expand their bourbon knowledge. The main bar will be in a large open room with nearly 1,000 bottles of bourbon behind the bar. A unique bourbon barrel ceiling feature will be a focal point of the club, with barrels located throughout the club.

“We are really pleased with the design process so far and seeing our vision take shape,” says co-founder Josh Howes. “We want a comfortable space that feels like a big living room yet reminds you of a bourbon distillery. When you first walk inside you will know you are in a special place, and I think our design will achieve that goal.”

Watch Hill Proper began accepting membership applications through its website for all membership types on May 12 of this year.  Industry leaders affiliated with high quality brands including Four Gate, Beam Suntory, Woodford Reserve, Heaven Hill, Angel’s Envy, Castle & Key, Four Roses, Limestone Branch and Peerless have already joined the club.  Many authors and influencers have also joined, and more are being added daily.  “We have received tremendous support from the entire bourbon industry,” says co-founder Josh Howes, “and we can’t wait to promote their brands through our club events.”

“One of the aspects of Watch Hill Proper we are most excited about is the support from the community as well as the bourbon industry,” says co-founder Tommy Craggs. “We have a lot of Bourbon Industry members already who are partnering with us to bring special events to the club. They have been given a special page on our website because they will help make sure Watch Hill Proper will be an exciting place to visit on a regular basis.”

Membership applications submitted by June 15, 2021 will have Founder Member status with additional perks including the ability to attend barrel picks, behind-the-scenes distillery tours in 2021 and 2022, priority access to rent a spirit locker, as well as one complimentary bourbon tasting a month. Membership will be capped to ensure a premier experience for the members. The club will be open to the public, but members will have reservation privileges, receive a 20% discount on drinks, and have the ability to attend special events amongst more than a dozen additional privileges.

Watch Hill Proper not only plans to deliver a large selection of bourbon and whiskey cocktails, but Howes states that prices will be extremely competitive. “One of the questions I am asked the most is what are our prices? We have posted some sample drink prices on our website because we want our members, and potential members, to know that our goal is to provide one of the best values in the city of Louisville. We want our guests to try lots of new bourbons and we will provide a large selection at good prices. Plus, every week members will have access to our ‘break-even pour’ which is a bottle that we select to be priced by the drink at our cost. Not many bars are willing to do that.”

For membership details, please visit the Watch Hill Proper website at www.watchhillproper.com or contact Bev Reese at (502) 230-1982.

About Watch Hill Proper:

Watch Hill Proper is Louisville’s first premier membership bourbon club anticipated to open early 2022. Our purpose is to be a community built around a common interest – bourbon. Our goal is to be a community of ambassadors for Kentucky’s signature industry. And do it in style. For more information about Watch Hill Proper, or to apply for membership, visit www.watchhillproper.com.

Glen Moray unveils new 2005 Tokaji Finish UK exclusive for Warehouse 1 relaunch

Glen Moray’s famed ‘Warehouse 1’ has today (9^th June) released another treasure from behind its deep blue doors: a 2005 Tokaji Finish expression, which is the first of three whiskies scheduled in 2021 from the ‘new look’ Warehouse 1 Collection.

Distilled in October 2005 and finished in oak casks that once held Tokaji Aszú wine, this new cask strength dram will sweep discerning drinkers away with its sumptuous marriage of Glen Moray spirit and the sweet, nutty notes of Hungary’s decadent dessert wine.

Five Tokaji casks from the Elgin distillery’s Warehouse 1 – home to Glen Moray’s most unusual and adventurous maturation experiments over the years – have been used for a small batch release of just 1244 bottles for the UK market.

Expect sugar, spice and all things nice from this golden, cask strength dram, which moves through a ‘full-on sweetshop’ on the nose, to malty, maple syrup flavours and a long, lingering marzipan finish that beautifully balances the structure of Glen Moray spirit.

After the success of the first Warehouse 1 release last year – Sauternes Cask Matured – the Collection has been given a fresh, bold design update. A colourful Warehouse 1 stamp in deep, soft gold represents the Tokaji casks, with an illustration of the warehouse in question also featured, including the birds that circle overhead on a typical day at the distillery.

The new Tokaji Finish expression will be the first of three launches scheduled for the Collection in 2021. All will share a common theme, celebrating Glen Moray’s classic Speyside spirit matured in casks sourced from some of Europe’s oldest, noblest and most distinctively flavoured wine varieties.

Hungarian Tokaji is a wine with a rich, royal and romantic heritage that stretches back hundreds of years. It is now enjoying an exciting resurgence, inspiring Glen Moray’s master distillers as they seek out interesting, eclectic casks to create this special collection of whiskies.

As Glen Moray Brand Ambassador Iain Allan notes: ‘When our distillers talk about Warehouse 1 it’s almost as if they’re letting you into a secret. This is their special space for experimentation, innovation and patiently waiting for the character of each whisky to develop.

Tasting Notes

Colour: bright gold

Nose: a sweetshop of aromas: sugared almonds, caramel toffee, freshly baked gingerbread. Sweet sugars hold back the traditional fresh fruit character of Glen Moray spirit.

Taste: Malty, biscuity, hints of freshly baked bread, slightly sweet. Maple syrup on Scottish pancakes along with warm pecan pie.

Finish: nutty, almond marzipan, long and lingering.

‘Our team searches the world for interesting casks and they’re not afraid to push the boundaries, try the unusual and creatively combine Glen Moray whisky with unexpected casks. In this case, we have turned to Tokaji, which is a very old but lesser-known wine that has created a wonderful, flavour-packed dram that we’re very proud to release.

‘It’s also very fitting that Warehouse 1 now has its own new and distinctive identity. This is a mark that signifies exclusive, small scale releases, non-chill-filtered and bottled at cask strength and with natural colour. Drinkers can be assured that each whisky has been made with a spirit of adventure, resulting in a dram packed with character and delicious flavour.

‘I’m excited to see what whisky fans will make of our new Tokaji release, and as we move through 2021, I can promise there are more surprises to come from Warehouse 1.’

Crafted since 1897 in the ancient town of Elgin, the capital of the Speyside whisky region, Glen Moray distillers have been curious about flavour throughout their history. Surviving handwritten ledgers show that a wide variety of casks were used to mature new make spirit back in those early days, which was an unusual practice for the time. A deep knowledge and expertise of wood has developed at Glen Moray through generations of distillers, resulting in today’s exceptional range of whiskies with a style to suit everyone.

Glen Moray Warehouse 1 2005 Tokaji Finish is bottled at cask strength (56.3% ABV), non-chill-filtered and with natural colour. It is a UK exclusive, available in 70cl packs in specialist whisky shops, RRP £75.

Watch the Warehouse 1 Tokaji Finish film on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfeDfvcDM-E

www.glenmoray.com

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www.instagram.com/glen_moray_whisky

www.twitter.com/glenmoraydist

ABOUT GLEN MORAY

Glen Moray is one of Scotland’s best loved single malt whiskies. It has been crafted since 1897 in the ancient town of Elgin, the capital of the Speyside whisky region, on what was once the Elgin West Brewery site on the banks of the River Lossie. Pure waters from the river, locally malted barley, distillation in traditional copper stills and maturation in American ex-bourbon casks combine to give the whisky its smooth, well-balanced, classic Speyside character. Glen Moray has always been a place where curiosity about flavour and cask maturation has been encouraged. Records dating back to the early days show new make spirit maturing in a wide variety of different casks – a highly unusual practice at this time. A passion for experimentation and a deep knowledge of wood have been passed down through generations of Glen Moray distillers. The result is today’s exceptional and extensive range of whiskies, offering a flavour and style to suit all tastes. Glen Moray is the 5th biggest malt whisky brand by volume in the UK and is growing in international markets.

ABOUT LA MARTINIQUAISE-BARDINET

Founded by Jean Cayard in 1934, La Martiniquaise is an independent French spirits group with a large portfolio of international brands. Headquartered near Paris, the group operates in over 100 countries with 38 subsidiaries and production sites. The Group’s four pillars are Scotch whiskies, ports, brandies, wines, rums and craft spirits from France.  www.la-martiniquaise.com