BLUE RUN SPIRITS 13.5-YEAR-OLD SINGLE BARREL CASK STRENGTH BOURBON

– WINNER OF TOP CATEGORY PRIZE AT THE SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION –

NOW AVAILABLE

Extremely Limited Double Gold Medal Bourbon, Approved by Whiskey Legend Jim Rutledge, is from Ten Exceptional Barrels

GEORGETOWN, KY (MAY 11, 2021) – A Bourbon treasure hunt is about to commence as Blue Run Spirits unveils its Spring release, which recently won Best in Class and a Double Gold Medal at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon launches today as ten separate limited-edition bottlings from ten different barrels, each hand numbered to denote the proof, barrel number and bottling date, enticing whiskey sleuths to find the entire collection and whiskey enthusiasts around the country to discover their favorite flavor profile. Each bottle comes in a custom, handmade black lacquered wooden box, adding to the collectability.

The unveiling of Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon comes on the heels of Blue Run’s inaugural release in October of 2020. Blue Run 13-Year-Old Bourbon received exceptional reviews and sold out quickly. With Jim Rutledge as the company’s Liquid Advisor, this new batch of Blue Run will delight Bourbon drinkers around the country. Rutledge is a 50+ year whiskey industry veteran and a managing partner of J.W. Rutledge Distillery.

Each of the ten barrels comes from the same mash bill, same yeast, same still and same warehouse, but how the liquid reacted to the wood and its position in the warehouse can delicately change the characteristics of the whiskey.

Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon has the brand’s characteristic smooth and mellow flavor; a long, sweet and dry finish; little to no burn on the back end – even at cask strength – and a long tail.

Between 104 to 150 bottles will be available from each barrel, with the proofs varying from 124 to 132. The secret to which barrel the Bourbon came from can be found on the hand-numbered label, which gives a hint at that whiskey’s particular characteristics and flavor profile:

Barrel #1: Mellow sweet corn and brown sugar apple butter that develops into mellow oak tannins Barrel #2: Deep chocolate and honey-drenched s’more Barrel #3: Gorgeous crème brûlée with a burst of dark brown sugar and streaks of ginger Barrel #4: Creamy toffee with bites of cocoa and black pepper Barrel #5: Sultry black cherry and oak with clove honey Barrel #6: Decadent dark chocolate with a marshmallow frame and clove cascade Barrel #7: Layers of char smoke and rich vanilla wood sugar Barrel #8: Roasted pecan and nutty campfire smoke Barrel #9: Spice forward with bold black pepper and baking spices and an herbaceous wrap Barrel #10: Oak tannin and dark raisin combination with a whip of smoke on the finish

Though each barrel has its own subtle flavor differences, consumers can expect the liquid in each bottle to have a deep glow, streaked with bronze highlights; an alluring aroma of molasses and brown sugar with a toasted, nutty frame that reveals itself around baking spices and cocoa; and a long, sweet and dry finish wrapped in dark cherry highlights.

“This limited-edition, high-proof release offers a uniquely customized experience based upon each whiskey fan’s palate, pairings and passions,” said Mike Montgomery, CEO of Blue Run Spirits. “While a bottle of Blue Run Bourbon will definitely stand out on your bar, it’s the flavor we are most proud of and glad to see experts like the judges at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition agree.”

Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon will be found in May initially in Kentucky, California, Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Washington, DC, as well as online. But here’s the twist: No state will receive bottles from all ten barrels. Each will get up to nine, encouraging collectors to reach out to friends to help amass the entire collection. The product will also be available through Seelbachs.com, with bottles from a different barrel made available every few weeks (but again, with only nine available). Seelbach’s will also offer a very limited number of ten-bottle complete sets.

Blue Run’s latest release will stand out on store shelves due to the modern design by Devon McKinney, the creative mind behind some of the world’s most-sought-after sneakers. The brand’s signature butterfly medallion, a nod to the Commonwealth of Kentucky butterfly the Viceroy, will be matte black on the Blue Run 13.5-Year-Old Single Barrel Cask Strength Bourbon bottle. This new offering will come housed in a striking, handmade black lacquered display box made of sustainable birch and imprinted with gold leaf.

Blue Run Bourbon will be available at $229.99 SRP. The company’s next release, a 14-Year-Old Small Batch Bourbon that also won Best in Class and a Double Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, will be launched this summer, followed by a Gold Medal-winning Rye Whiskey in late summer.

Blue Run Spirits’ distribution partners include Republic National Distributing Company (RNDC) in Kentucky; Breakthru Beverage Group in Illinois and Colorado; Savannah Distributing Company in Georgia; Advintage Distributing in South Carolina and Tennessee; Prestige-Ledroit Distributing Co. in Washington D.C., Maryland and Delaware; American Spirits Exchange in California; and Evergreen Beverage Canada in Canada.

Find Blue Run Spirits online at www.bluerunspirits.com, and on social media: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

ABOUT BLUE RUN SPIRITS

Blue Run Spirits is a new kind of spirits company, creating a unique luxury proposition by tapping into the deep heritage and craft that makes a truly great whiskey, then elevating it through a modern design and marketing lens to reach a younger, broader and more diverse whiskey drinker.  The company’s founders include a Nike designer, the first director-level employee at Facebook, a hospitality executive, a political advisor, and a philanthropist – all huge whiskey fans and individuals who acutely understand how to build demand and buzz for a contemporary consumer product. They are backed by a team of advisors including Nike marketing experts; the Campari communications veteran behind the US launch of Espolòn Tequila and the Aperol Spritz; a former vice president of innovation from Brown-Forman; a former spirits distributor; and others with deep industry experience. The Blue Run name is a nod to one of our founder’s upbringing in Georgetown, KY, where Bourbon began in the Bluegrass State.

TREASURE TROVE OF FÈIS İLE ISLAY MALTS GO TO AUCTION 

When it comes to whisky, few celebrations are as eagerly anticipated as Islay’s festival of music and malt – Fèis Ìle. Established almost 30 years ago, the festival draws visitors from across the globe to the thriving shores of the island each year to experience its community, culture, and its world-renowned whisky.

Now, the most extensive and complete collection of whiskies produced by the island’s legendary distilleries to commemorate the festival are being sold by secondary market leaders, Whisky Auctioneer with a proportion of the proceeds from the sale being donated to Islay-based charities and projects to support the local community.

From Friday (14 May) until Monday 24 May, over 240 limited-edition Fèis Ìle expressions from distilleries including Port Ellen, Laphroaig, Bruichladdich and Ardbeg will go under the hammer. The sale will celebrate the history of this iconic whisky region, the world famous festival and the incredible bottlings it has inspired over the years.

The treasure trove of bottles are part of Pat’s Whisky Collection – the largest private collection of whisky ever to come to auction. Known only to the world mysteriously as ‘Pat’, he decided to part with his 9,000 bottle library last year through a series of auctions with a mission to share his passion for whisky with the world by passing his bottles on to new owners.

Whiskies in the Islay Festival Auction include:

• The 1982 single cask Port Ellen – arguably one of the rarest Port Ellen’s around (only 220 bottles in existence), this is the only Fèis Ìle release from the closed distillery.
• Bowmore 25 Year Old 25th Anniversary – bottled to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the annual Fèis Ìle festivities on Islay, Bowmore released a mere 100 of this limited edition signed 25 year old in 2010.
• Bruichladdich 1994 Valinch ‘Festival Valinch’  – bottled for the Fèis Ìle  2008, this is one of only 20 bottles.
• Early Fèis Ìle releases from Bunnahabhain and Ardbeg including their very sought-after 1960s and 1970s vintage single casks, respectively.

Joe Wilson, Head of Auction Content at Whisky Auctioneer, commented: “Fèis Ìle is an iconic celebration of whisky and Islay culture that draws people back to the island year after year. From Port Ellen to Bowmore and Bruichladdich to Ardbeg, this collection of Fèis Ìle bottlings is without a doubt the largest and most complete that we have ever encountered. The auction presents the rare opportunity for collectors and whisky drinkers to acquire some incredibly scarce malts that have been produced to celebrate the history of this iconic whisky region.”

Examples from each of Islay’s eight single-malt producing distilleries will feature in the sale, including complete collections of every single limited edition festival bottling from legendary distilleries such as Bowmore, Laphroaig and Lagavulin. A percentage of the proceeds raised during the auction will be donated to Islay-based charities and projects that support the Island community.

The sale will also feature bottles that have been donated to the Fèis Ìle Committee by distilleries in order to raise charitable funds for the island through their Islay Wave Project, which will focus on ways to support culture, artists and youth. Included in the charity lots will be the oldest and rarest release direct from the iconic Islay distillery, Port Ellen. The Port Ellen 40 Year Old ‘9 Rogue Casks’ is the second release in the ‘Untold Stories’ series, which explores the intriguing history of the Islay distillery ahead of its reopening after closure almost three decades ago.

Florence Grey, Chairperson at the Fèis Ìle Committee added: “Fèis Ìle was delighted to be given the bottles in this charity auction from Diageo, plus a signed bottle from the legendary Islay whisky maker Jim McEwan. All the proceeds raised from these bottles will benefit our island community as the funds will kickstart our Islay Wave Project – an ongoing project that will begin after this year’s virtual festival. Focusing on ways to support our island’s culture, artists and youth, The Islay Wave Project concentrates on everything we celebrate throughout Fèis Ìle. We are very grateful to Whisky Auctioneer for their support in bringing these bottles to auction.”

To register for the auction, visit www.whiskyauctioneer.com  

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Whisky Auctioneer will produce an exclusive ‘Ultimate Guide’ for collectors and enthusiasts about the Fèis Ìle bottlings, and host a live event with faces from the whisky industry. Inspired by the traditional format of the Fèis Ìle festival, each distillery will have a dedicated day during the auction across Whisky Auctioneer’s social media accounts and newsletter features.

About Fèis Ìle

The Fèis Ìle festival is a week-long celebration of music, malt and culture on Islay held annually. The festival originally evolved from the want to revive the Gaelic language and culture on the island.

In 2000, the island distilleries became more involved and introduced their Open Days with each distillery taking its turn in the spotlight. Ultimately they offered a calendar of exclusive events and introduced their special Fèis Ìle bottlings.

Usually only available for visitors to the island during the festival, enthusiasts are regularly seen camping out in legendary distillery queues to get their hands on these special limited-run single malts.

This year’s virtual Fèis Ìle festival will run from Thursday 27 May to Sunday 6 June with an interactive programme of events.

For more information on Fèis Ìle and the 2021 virtual festival, visit www.feisile.co.uk

About Whisky Auctioneer

Whisky Auctioneer is the global market leader and trusted authority on the buying and selling of whisky and spirits at auction. Founded in 2013 and located in Perth, Whisky Auctioneer utilises its expertise and knowledge combined with its auction platform, to increase interest and passion in the whisky and spirits community.

Whisky Auctioneer endeavours to make the market more accessible for buyers and sellers of any background and geography. Its monthly global auctions feature the most comprehensive selection of old, rare and collectible whiskies and spirits available online. Whisky Auctioneer is passionate about connecting these bottles with those who share in their passion and actively support their customers in their aims, whether that be consuming, collecting or investing.

In February 2021, the Perth-based online auction house made history during the iconic sale of The Perfect Collection when a bottle of The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60 Year Old sold for a hammer price of £1m, the first time a single bottle of whisky has sold at an online only auction for one million pounds.

Whisky Auctioneer became the first online auction house to sell a million-pound bottle and outperformed the nearest traditional auction house by 200% in value from spirits sales in 2020, showcasing the move that whisky collectors, investors and drinkers have already made online and firmly establishing their leading position within the modern secondary whisky market.

The business currently sees over 100,000 bids per month and has conducted deliveries to 74 countries across the globe. It also opened its first European base in Germany last year.

The business’ Founder, Iain McClune, was listed as ‘One to Watch’ in The Telegraph’s Most Ambitious Business Leaders 2020 programme.

ROYAL SALUTE BRINGS A TASTE OF ARGENTINA TO ITS LATEST BLEND, INSPIRED BY THE SPIRITUAL HOME OF POLO

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY ANNOUNCES LIMITED ANNUAL RELEASE OF WELLER FULL PROOF AND C.Y.P.B.

 Award-Winning Weller Bourbons Recognized as Global Medalists 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (May 12, 2021) Fans of W.L. Weller Bourbon Whiskey from Buffalo Trace Distillery can anticipate a springtime treat, as the Distillery announces the annual release of Weller Full Proof and “Craft Your Perfect Bourbon” (C.Y.P.B.).  Both the Weller Full Proof Bourbon and C.Y.P.B. are big hits with Weller fans, and they can expect the same tasting notes for each in this year’s annual release.

The Weller Full Proof Bourbon was first introduced in 2019.  Buffalo Trace Distillery fills its wheated bourbon barrels at 114 proof, hence the name Full Proof. This bourbon forgoes chill filtration to preserve all the naturally occurring residual oils and flavors. Suggested retail pricing is $49.99.

C.Y.P.B. is the result of an interactive activity called Craft Your Perfect Bourbon, where bourbon drinkers were asked to choose their ideal bourbon―the result being a wheated recipe bourbon aged for eight years and bottled at 95 proof. Suggested retail pricing is $49.99.

The Weller Full Proof and C.Y.P.B. will be available later this month but quantities are limited. Not only did C.Y.P.B. recently win Best Bourbon in the World from the Icons of Whisky, but both spirits have recently been globally recognized as top-quality medalists in the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, along with other W.L. Weller bourbons.

Double Gold Medals went to:

• W. L. Weller Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• W. L. Weller Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• W. L. Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Gold Medals went to:

• W. L. Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• W. L. Weller Antique 107 Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Silver Medals went to:

• W. L. Weller 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon
• W. L. Weller C.Y.P.B. Kentucky Straight Bourbon

            Each entry was subject to rounds of blind tastings and individual evaluation on both taste and design by judges. For more information, visit San Francisco World Spirits Competition (sfspiritscomp.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 Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2018 and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world for 2020.  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

Is this the best dram job in the world?

Annandale Distillery in Southern Scotland lists on Airbnb

• An independent Scottish distillery in Dumfries and Galloway has listed on Airbnb for a limited time this summer, inviting guests to become a distiller for a day
• During the immersive two night stay, guests will shadow Annandale’s expert distillery team and sleep in cottages next to the distillery site
• The stay is available only on Airbnb as part of a wider campaign to champion tourism in the Scottish Lowlands and support local businesses

To celebrate Scottish Whisky Month, Annandale Distillery, an independent whisky distillery in the south of Scotland, is opening its doors to whisky fans and offering an opportunity to go behind the scenes and become a distiller for a day. The stay is available only on Airbnb as part of a new campaign to encourage people to visit the Scottish Lowlands.

The two night stay, which is being made available to members of the public for a limited time this summer, offers guests the chance to sleep in cottages next to the distillery site, get ‘hands on’ and learn the fundamentals of whisky distilling.

Guests will get to participate in each stage of the process from meeting the malt delivery, to milling and mashing the barley, fermentation, firing up the stills and filling the casks. They’ll also be taken for a whisky tasting and evening meal at The Globe Inn, Dumfries. The Globe Inn is an historic pub dating back to 1610 and once frequented by Robert Burns, with two chefs with Michelin Star experience at the helm. Each guest will check out from their stay with a bottle of Annandale’s Single Malt Scotch Whisky and armed with their newfound knowledge about the work and dedication that goes into making it.

While the focus is often on the Highlands when it comes to Scottish whisky, true aficionados know that Southern Scotland should not be overlooked in the pursuit of a good dram. Annandale Distillery was first established in 1836 and ‘reborn’ in 2014. It has been lovingly restored by new owners David Thomson and Teresa Church and now produces some of Scotland’s finest Single Malt Whisky and Blends.

The stay at Annandale showcases one the region’s finest exports, and David and Teresa anticipate it to be a real draw to the area for whisky fans.

David Thomson & Teresa Church, owners of Annandale Distillery, have said: “One of the principal reasons why we decided to restore Annandale Distillery was our burning desire to re-introduce Scotch Whisky production to Southern Scotland, based on the conviction that this region of Scotland has everything required, but most especially the climate and the abundance of water, to produce first class Single Malts. This stay on Airbnb gives us the chance to involve guests behind the scenes and show them that the Scotch Whisky produced at Annandale is more than a product, it’s a labour of love! Enticing visitors to our part of Scotland is not only good for us but also for other local businesses.” 

This stay is part of a wider campaign from Airbnb to champion tourism in the Scottish Lowlands and support local businesses in the area, spotlighting some of what the region has to offer. The campaign comes amidst unprecedented demand for staycations in the British Isles as the lifting of restrictions is anticipated, and aims to encourage holidaymakers to consider the wealth of stays and experiences available in Scotland beyond the more widely-publicised Highlands and major cities.

VisitScotland Regional Leadership Director Paula Ward said: “Scotland is full of unforgettable experiences and it is fantastic to see Annandale Distillery feature as part of this new Airbnb campaign to encourage people to visit the Scottish lowlands. We know that many visitors are looking for something special, an authentic experience that they won’t get elsewhere and this experience at Annandale Distillery offers to do just that. 

“Businesses right across the Scottish lowlands look set to benefit from the increased awareness of the region as part of this campaign. Encouraging visitors to stay longer, visit all year round and explore more of what our country has to offer will be crucial as we focus on the recovery of the industry from the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

“Tourism is a force for good – creating economic and social value in every corner of Scotland and enhancing the wellbeing of everyone who experiences it.”

A boost in demand for the Lowlands region would present economic opportunity for potential Hosts in the area and their local communities; travel on Airbnb in the Lowlands boosts local economies by nearly £70 million each year, supporting over 3,300 jobs¹  and during last summer, Hosts on Airbnb in the UK earned more than £225 million, with the average Host earning nearly £1,000.²

Amanda Cupples, General Manager for Northern Europe at Airbnb comments: “Many tourists pass through the Lowlands on their way to the Highlands and other areas of Scotland, without realising all the incredible experiences they’re missing out on. The stay at Annandale Distillery is truly a unique experience for whisky lovers, and an opportunity to visit somewhere they might not have considered before.”

Booking details:

To view the distillery listing on Airbnb, visit airbnb.com/annandaledistillery

Annandale Distillery is located in Annan, Dumfries and Galloway. The stay will be available to book for £480 for two people on the following dates:

• 8-10 June 2021
• 22-24 June 2021
• 4-6 August 2021
• 17-19 August 2021

This unique opportunity is not a contest and given the high level of interest anticipated, Annandale will be adding bookable dates from 10AM BST on 17 May 2021, to give as many people as possible the opportunity to book. Interested guests should note that booking rules are in strict adherence with local COVID-19 guidelines and those who request to book must be 18+ and currently live in the UK.

Notes

¹ Based on a 2020 study by BiGGAR Economics, commissioned by Airbnb.

Total and median UK Host earnings for June 1 2020 – August 31 2020, converted from USD on 23 February 2021

About Airbnb

Airbnb was born in 2007 when two Hosts welcomed three guests to their San Francisco home, and has since grown to 4 million Hosts who have welcomed over 800 million guest arrivals in almost every country across the globe. Every day, Hosts offer one-of-a-kind stays and unique Experiences that make it possible for guests to experience the world in a more authentic, connected way.

About Annandale Distillery

Annandale Distillery was established in 1836 by George Donald, making it one of the earliest ‘legal’ whisky distilleries in Scotland and was later bought by Johnnie Walker in 1893, closing down in 1924. In 2007 the distillery was rescued by David Thomson & Teresa Church, and this once-derelict distillery sprang back into life on November 3rd, 2014. Winner of Best Single Cask Single Malt 10yrs and Under for the past two years, and proud to have been awarded a 5 Star Visitor Attraction by Visit Scotland, Annandale’s 50,000 annual visitors are always guaranteed an experience to remember.

THE SOCIETY HAS GOLD RUSH AT SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITON 

All whiskies entered by the SMWS took either Double Gold or Gold at prestigious awards

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) have continued their annual success at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition by taking home a ‘Best in show’ award along with a host of ‘Double Gold’ and ‘Gold’ awards.

The Society took home the coveted top award for their bottle 46.104 Turn Me Inside Out as well as a range of other ‘Double Gold’ medals for G7.18 A Colourful Oldie and 112.75 Queen of Tarts.

There was also ‘Gold’ accreditation at the 2021 awards for casks 112.74 A Preternatural Good-Striker and 35.264 Midnight Marmalade, overall recognising the consistently outstanding quality of their whiskies across the board.

Founded in 2000, the influential San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) is the oldest of its kind in the U.S. and has become one of the world’s most respected spirits competitions. A SFWSC medal is a universally recognised indicator of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

A seasoned panel of experts review over 1,000 whisky entries before world-class judges score and award only the highest calibre liquids with a globally prestigious SFWSC medal.

The Society, which is ‘the world’s most entertaining whisky club’, specialises in single cask whisky and takes a unique approach to their bottlings by celebrating the flavours across whisky through 12 flavour profiles.

Membership to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society includes access to buy from their unique whisky range, as well as entry to exclusive Members’ Rooms, partner bar discounts, colourful tasting events, whisky education and content including a monthly members magazine Unfiltered, all for only £65: https://smws.com/whisky-club-membership

Kai Ivalo, Spirits Director at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society said: “We’re excited to have continued our success and picked up another haul of prestigious awards for our excellent array of single malt whiskies. These triumphs demonstrate that now is the perfect time to get on board with our entertaining whisky club.”

Full awards listed below:

Double Gold

• Best Independent Merchant Single Malt Scotch,DOUBLE GOLDMEDAL, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 46.104 Turn Me Inside Out, Scotland, United Kingdom [57.2%] $120. Importer: MHW, Ltd www.smwsa.com  — Award Code: 414
• DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask G7.18 A Colourful Oldie, Scotland, United Kingdom [54.5%] $210. Importer: MHW, Ltd www.smwsa.com— Award Code: 413
• DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 112.75 Queen of Tarts, Scotland, United Kingdom [59.1%] $120. Importer: MHW, Ltd www.smwsa.com— Award Code: 416

Gold

• GOLD MEDAL, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 112.74 A Preternatural Good-Striker, Scotland, United Kingdom [56.8%] $120. Importer: MHW, Ltd www.smwsa.com— Award Code: 415
• GOLD MEDAL, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 35.264 Midnight Marmalade, Scotland, United Kingdom [46.1%] $595. Importer: MHW, Ltd www.smwsa.com— Award Code: 417

https://www.smws.com/

f: https://www.facebook.com/thesmwsuk

i: https://www.instagram.com/smws_uk/

t: https://twitter.com/SMWSUK

yt: https://www.youtube.com/user/SMWSsilverscreen/videos

#SMWS

 Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 27,000 members and branches around the world
• The SMWS bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society bottles single malts, unique single casks and exclusive blends
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 146 distilleries from Scotland and beyond
• The Society offers a new batch of around 20 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages which can be tailored. Please see https://bit.ly/2uqKanT
• For more information about the Society, visit https://bit.ly/2HHiNyC
• Twitter: @SMWSUK Facebook: @thesmwsuk Instagram: @smws_uk

Virginia Distillery Company’s Whiskies Win at San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Courage & Conviction line recognized with double gold and gold awards

Lovingston, Va. (May 5, 2021) – Three new Virginia Distillery Company whiskies recently took home awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, an awards program that has become one of the most respected and influential spirits competitions in the world since its start in 2000.

The distillery’s Courage & Conviction Sherry Cask and Courage & Conviction Cuvée Cask were both recognized with a double gold medal while Courage & Conviction Bourbon Cask was recognized with a gold medal.

“We’re thrilled that these new additions to our product lineup are already being recognized with awards from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition,” Virginia Distillery Company CEO Gareth H. Moore said. “I’m very proud of our team, the work that went into making this happen and for the guidance of our mentors who have helped to shape our whisky.”

The three whiskies were released in March as a part of the Courage & Conviction product line, featuring individual bottlings of the core trio of casks – bourbon, sherry and cuvée – that make up the flagship offering of Courage & Conviction. Courage & Conviction is the distillery’s flagship American Single Malt whisky line, distilled on-site using 100% North American malted barley and mountain spring-fed water.

Each expression is an American Single Malt whisky, aged a minimum of three years. Each expression is available in a 750ml, retailing for $84.99 per bottle with a 46% ABV. The whiskies are available to purchase through direct-to-consumer shipping and at select retail locations throughout the country, with availability throughout Virginia at Virginia ABC stores.

The 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition had more than 3,500 entries. All entries were tasted blind by a panel of judges made up of spirits industry experts throughout a four-day judging process.

For more information about Virginia Distillery Company or American Single Malt whisky, visit the distillery’s website and complete guide to American Single Malt whisky.  For more details about the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, visit the website.

About Virginia Distillery Company 

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

Golden Moon Distillery Receives a Double Gold Medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC)

Golden, CO (23 April, 2021) – Golden Moon Distillery, founded in 2008 by Master Distiller Stephen Gould and Karen Knight, received A DOUBLE GOLD Medal for Golden Moon Triple – A Colorado Single Malt Whiskey.

Golden Moon Distillery has now taken major awards (i.e. gold medal or above at one of the most respected spirits competitions in the industry) with every single grain-to-glass product we’ve produced at Golden Moon (and by that we mean mashed, fermented, distilled, matured and bottled at Golden Moon Distillery).

Golden Moon Distillery was given “Highly Commended” for Distiller of the Year (i.e. first runner up).

According to Mr. Gould “It’s been a busy few weeks. Taking double gold and gold medals at the the San Francisco World Spirits Competition … We’ve been very fortunate this spring to get this level of attention and number of accolades from the spirits industry. Golden Moon has survived the pandemic and is headed in a great direction.”

Currently, Golden Moon Distillery is distributed in 17 states in the U.S. as well as internationally in the U.K, Italy, Germany, Denmark and Norway and Taiwan. Within the next year, Gould plans to have presence in 20 states as well as India and Japan.

About Golden Moon Distillery http://goldenmoondistillery.com,

Golden Moon Distillery was founded in 2008 by Master Distiller Stephen Gould and Karen Knight, in Golden, CO. Golden Moon currently produces 21 different handcrafted liquor and liqueurs, which are sold in various major markets in the United States and Europe.

Gould has been distilling on and off for over 30 years, and he is a board member of the Colorado Distiller’s Guild, a national craft advisory board member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), the chariman of the veterans committee of the American Distilling Institute and a member of the American Craft Spirit Association (ACSA).

Current Golden Moon offerings include: Golden Moon Colorado Single Malt Whiskies plus other spirits. They also produce the Gun Fighter family of whiskies.

CHIVAS BROTHERS WELCOMES BACK VISITORS TO SAFELY ENJOY ITS WORLD-FAMOUS SCOTCH DISTILLERY EXPERIENCES

We are welcoming visitors into our world-famous distilleries once again, following their temporary closure in January earlier this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In line with Scottish government guidelines, whisky lovers can now enjoy outdoor guided tastings at The Glenlivet and Strathisla visitor centres, whilst visitors to Aberlour distillery can purchase whiskies from its on-site shop from this week. 

In addition to learning about the craftsmanship behind some of Chivas Brothers’ world renowned whiskies, Scotch enthusiasts will be able to purchase their favourite blends and single malts from the shops at each site.  

Each site has been equipped with extensive health and safety measures to ensure visitors can take part in the adapted tasting experiences, operating with clear social distancing, increased cleaning procedures and at a reduced capacity across the sites.  

THE GLENLIVET EXPERIENCE

At The Glenlivet, visitors will be able to enjoy the Single Cask Tasting experience in an outdoor socially distanced setting overlooking the breath-taking views of The Livet Valley.  Tastings will be available at 1pm or 3pm, from Wednesday to Friday. 

Visitors to The Glenlivet will be welcomed at a temporary visitor space in the Malt Barn as the visitor centre is currently undergoing a multi-million pound refurbishment that will be opening its new look doors to visitors from July 2021. 

THE STRATHISLA EXPERIENCE

The heart of Chivas Regal, Strathisla Distillery is inviting visitors to explore Speyside’s oldest and most picturesque working distillery. Whisky fans will be able to discover the history behind the world-famous blended Scotch through outdoor flight and sampling experiences between Tuesday and Saturday. 

THE ABERLOUR EXPERIENCE

Whisky fans will be able to purchase any of the world-class whiskies available at the on-site shop, before being invited to enjoy indoor guided tasting experiences such as The Fleming Flight and Speyside Collection from the 19th May.  

For more information outdoor tasting experiences, tickets and opening times, visit https://www.maltwhiskydistilleries.com/.   

Those wishing to visit the distilleries and experience a socially distanced guided tasting will be required to pre-book their tickets online in order to effectively manage visitor numbers and ensure strict social distancing measures are adhered to at all times. Each site is also operating in accordance with the COVID-19 Test and Protect initiative to ensure the safety of visitors, staff and the surrounding community. 

Bimber Distillery unveils The Spirit of the Underground Collection  

in partnership with Transport for London 

London’s award-winning Bimber Distillery today announced the launch of “The Spirit of the Underground” – an ongoing collection of iconic single malt whiskies that celebrate the heritage and diversity of the distillery’s home city. With striking individual designs, each bottle in the new collection features a different station on the London Underground network – the oldest underground passenger railway service in the world. The deal was brokered by TSBA Group, Transport for London’s global licensing agency.

The launch expressions of The Spirit of the Underground Collection showcase four well-known Tube stations: Waterloo; Baker Street; Kings Cross St Pancras and Oxford Circus. Each release features stunning iconography presenting a unique piece of London’s history, and comes adorned with an eye-catching label and packaging design that observes the significance of each station’s location.

The four initial releases of the collection have been selected from the distillery’s finest ex-bourbon casks and are offered at full cask strength and without chill filtration. Each reveals a highly individual, but perfectly balanced merger of aroma and flavour that reflects the passion and craft of Bimber.

The cask selected for the Baker Street expression was chosen by the members of the 2020 Bimber Klub Tasting Panel – the distillery’s rapidly growing membership community.

Speaking of the launch, Bimber spokesperson Matt McKay said: “We’re delighted to unveil this exciting new partnership and the first expressions of The Spirit of the Underground Collection. As we approach the fifth anniversary of our spirit, this collaboration with Transport for London celebrates both one of the great engineering projects of the past 200 years and the ongoing development of our spirit. Bimber is very much a product of London and we’re thrilled to showcase our single malt whisky in this most incredible way.”

With 270 stations on the network to select from, The Spirit of the Underground Collection is intended to grow alongside Bimber. New expressions will be added in batches (four single casks at a time) populating each of the Underground’s 11 lines and reflecting the vibrancy and multiplicity of the stations and locations throughout the capital city.

Julie Dixon, Head of Customer Information Design and Partnerships at Transport for London said: “This imaginative collaboration really shows off the visual splendour of our historic and instantly recognisable Underground network. It’s been great to work with a London-based distillery to create this collection and we hope fans of whisky will enjoy this collection as it grows.”

Release 1 of The Spirit of the Underground Collection will be available later this month with an RRP of £125 per bottle. Release 2, which will feature four more iconic London Underground stations, is scheduled to be unveiled over the coming months.

All the expressions in The Spirit of the Underground Collection were crafted to Bimber’s exacting standards. The spirit was produced from the distillery’s single farm barley and malted on a dedicated floor at Warminster Maltings before being fermented for seven days in bespoke, on-site constructed American oak washbacks. Distillation took place in Bimber’s customised stills which possess an increased copper surface area, which results in a rich fruit-forward, layered spirit.

Notes 

The Spirit of the Underground Collection – Release 1 

The Spirit of the Underground – Waterloo 

American Oak Ex-bourbon Cask – Ref 99 

Nose: Bright, succulent pineapple juice supported by nougat, bourbon biscuits delectable toffee. Gentle char sits alongside split vanilla pods and lithe minerality.

Palate: A syrupy body packed full of tropical fruitiness, citrus sugar and freshly squeeze orange juice. Chocolate covered biscuits and burnt toffee provide a succulent core.

Finish: Earthy nutmeg and powdered ginger with fading fruitiness.

257 bottles

70cl

58.3% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Baker Street 

American Oak Ex-bourbon Cask – Ref 126

Selected by the Bimber Klub 2020 Tasting Panel  

(Tasting note produced by panel members)

Nose: Rich pineapple, minty apples, a bag of wine gums and dolly mixture sweets. Caramel sauce, Turkish delight with pistachios on top.  Trail mix, cocoa nibs, ginger powder and a handful of nuts. So fresh, and unbelievably interesting!

Palate: A good old banoffee pie topped with a hint of cinnamon. Blueberries, blackberries, probably all sorts of berries! Citrus fruit teas and spicy dark chocolate, vanilla, toffee and a touch of menthol. Well sanded/oily oak with honey cake completing the taste.

Finish: Lingers very long and warm in the mouth. Berries and plum jam with liquorice, aniseed, loads of chocolate and cinnamon oak. 

264 bottles

70cl

58.1% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Kings Cross St. Pancras 

American Oak Ex-bourbon Cask – Ref 129

Nose: Charred peaches, freshly sliced red apples and a side of pineapple cream is joined by luscious toffee and aromatic, charred, floral oakiness.

Palate: A silky arrival offering ripe apricots, pineapple cubes and whipped cream. Chocolate mousse and evolving pepperiness develop alongside toffee, vanilla and baking spices.

Finish: Exceptionally long with piquant spicing and metholated oak.

259 bottles

70cl

58.5% ABV

The Spirit of the Underground – Oxford Circus 

American Oak Ex-bourbon Cask – Ref 172

Nose: Expressive charred pineapple chunks and crunchy toffee-covered apples sit with shortbread, rolled pastry, condensed milk and wonderfully creamy caffé latte.

Palate: Full bodied and with immediate impactful flavour. Dried mango slices, lemon and ginger jelly and toffee-filled bon bons are livened by piquant wood spices.

Finish: Sustained sweet and sour tropical fruitiness alongside dusty nutmeg.

261 bottles

70cl

58.8% ABV

About Bimber  

Bimber Distillery produces world-class single malt whisky, handcrafted with passion in West London. As a leading distiller of English whisky, we combine generations of rich distilling heritage with the finest quality ingredients to create the ultimate craft whisky experience.

About Transport for London  

Transport for London (TfL) is the integrated transport authority responsible for delivering Mayor of London Sadiq Khan’s strategy and commitments on transport. It runs the day-to-day operation of the Capital’s public transport network, including London Underground, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, London Buses and TfL Rail services, as well as managing London’s main roads. TfL does all it can to support the millions of journeys that are made every day and keep the city moving, working and growing. TfL reinvests all income generated through fares and commercial revenue to run and improve services and is committed to reducing costs. The licensing deal for this product was delivered through TSBA Group, TfL’s brand licensing partner.