Heaven Hill Distillery Unveils First Bottled Bourbon from Artisanal Distillery at Evan Williams Bourbon Experience 

Square 6 pays homage to the plot of land that housed Kentucky’s first commercial distillery

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Heaven Hill Distillery today announced the launch of Square 6 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, the first bottled Bourbon produced at its artisanal distillery located in the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience at 528 W. Main Street in Louisville, Ky. Square 6 designates the original plot of land where Evan Williams built Kentucky’s first commercial distillery in 1783, sharing the same block on Louisville’s Whiskey Row where the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience first opened in 2013. This initial launch from the one barrel per day, hand-crafted, copper pot still facility is a testament to Heaven Hill Distillery’s commitment to quality, craft and patience. Square 6 is only the beginning in a series of craft products to come from the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience.

As a High Rye Bourbon, the Square 6 mashbill consists of 52 percent corn, 35 percent rye and 13 percent malted barley, a new Bourbon recipe under the Heaven Hill Distillery portfolio. Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau distills one barrel of American Whiskey per day at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and is continually crafting innovative mashbills and tweaking the hand-crafted process for each new recipe. Since the building of the craft distillery, Heaven Hill has been patiently waiting as the barrels quietly age to maturation. During this aging process, a team of master tasters samples each recipe at various stages until that specific mashbill has been deemed to have achieved a taste profile worthy of bottling. Square 6 High Rye Bourbon is the first result of this process and the first bottling from the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience stills. A testament to Heaven Hill’s patience and hallmark extra-aging, Square 6 High Rye Bourbon was aged to perfection before being bottled at 95 proof. Square 6 has a golden amber color, with notes of tobacco, fig and honey on the nose, earthy notes with cardamom and cinnamon to taste, and a short, dry finish.

“Today marks another milestone in the educational, interactive experiences offered at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience as we can now experience the aroma and taste of this truly hand-crafted process from the grain to the glass,” said Max L. Shapira, Heaven Hill Distillery President. “From the first day Artisanal Distiller Emeritus Charlie Downs turned on the stills nearly eight years ago to Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau patiently waiting years for this product to come of age in the barrel, today we celebrate Heaven Hill’s commitment to quality and attention to detail.”

Square 6 will be released in a 750ml, stylized, squared off glass bottle with the face label depicting the original map where Evan Williams’ distillery was originally located. The packaging also includes Evan Williams’ signature and the product recipe. The limited release of Square 6 High Rye Bourbon will be available in small quantities as a unique offering at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and available at select Kentucky retailers for a suggested retail price of $89.99.

To celebrate the occasion, a commemorative barrel was rolled down Louisville’s Main Street by Heaven Hill Distillery President Max Shapira, Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau, Artisanal Distiller Emeritus Charlie Downs, Louisville Tourism President & CEO Karen Williams, and Louisville Tourism Chief Operating Officer Cleo Battle. These representatives signified a pillar of the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience and Whiskey Row industry: family legacy, artisanal craft production, Bourbonism, and hospitality. Max Shapira then unveiled the first Bourbon put in bottle made from the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience at a press conference in the lobby.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.8 million barrels aging in 63 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

ABOUT THE EVAN WILLIAMS BOURBON EXPERIENCE: The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience® (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams, Kentucky’s first commercial distiller, through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit. An official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, the facility offers guests a historical glimpse back in time to see Evan Williams’ original distillery through high definition video recreations of the Louisville wharf and Main Street in the late 18th Century, plus recreations of Whiskey Row building facades along Main Street from the 1890’s through the present. Meanwhile, visitors learn the essential differences between distilling during Evan Williams’ era and Heaven Hill’s modern Bernheim Distillery operations.

WORLDS FIRST WHISKY SYMPHONY?

Arctic composer writes a symphony based on a Whisky brand.

The arctic composer, Alexander Aarøen Pedersen, was inspired by the stories related to the “Bivrost brand” and decided to compose a symphony. Bivrost is how the Norse mythology explains the Aurora Borealis, and how it functions as a magical bridge between the mortal world and Asgard, the world of the Norse gods.

The symphony tells a story of a young Viking’s journey from a desolate little town in Northern Norway, to the mighty realm of Asgard and his final battle during Ragnarok. The road is long, and his soul has to dance three times before he can rest. During the journey he faces the fierce gods of Norse mythology and ventures over the northern light bridge, “Bivrost”.

Pedersen worked on the symphony for 2 years. In addition to being the inspiration, Aurora Spirit Distillery sponsored parts of the development and recording, which was done with Arctic Philharmonic Orchestra in the arctic city of Tromsø, Norway. Pedersen has conducted and recorded self-composed music in Los Angeles, where he has also been an apprentice to the famous composer Richard Bellis (Disney, Stephen King’s IT).

The symphony is about 45 minutes and consists of 8 different musical pieces. The musical is available on Apple Music and Spotify.

Video and link to music can be found here: https://www.bivrost.com/symphony/

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/rVI3Squm1v0

Aurora Spirit Distillery AS
Phone: (+47) 91904260
Epost: post@auroraspirit.com
Lyngseidet, 9060 Lyngseidet
NORWAY
www.bivrost.com

AURORA SPIRIT- THE NORTHERNMOST DISTIILLERY IN THE WORLD

The Macallan supports vital conversation work in the River Spey

Phase two of The Moray Firth Tracking Project launched by The Atlantic Salmon Trust

Lorna Wilkie, Salmon and Sea Trout Tracking Co-ordinator at Atlantic Salmon Trust, Robert Mitchell, Ghillie of The Macallan Estate, Mark Bilsby, CEO of Atlantic Salmon Trust and Davide Thambithurai, Postdoctoral Researcher at Atlantic Salmon Trust Photographer credit – Gordon Burniston

A project to preserve at-risk Atlantic salmon in the River Spey is underway as The Atlantic Salmon Trust embarks on the Moray Firth Tracking project, supported by a charitable partnership with The Macallan.

The River Spey is home to the largest Atlantic salmon population in Scotland, a key-stone species which is in sharp decline due to habitat destruction and overfishing. Winding through the North East of Scotland, nearly two miles of the river flow through The Macallan Estate, the birthplace of every bottle of The Macallan’s exceptional single-malt whisky since 1824.

As a guardian of The River Spey, one of the last sanctuaries for Atlantic salmon, The Macallan is supporting The Atlantic Salmon Trust in its vital conservation work spanning a number of research activities, as well as supporting the innovative Moray Firth Tracking project.

Now entering its second phase, the project which launched in 2019, will examine why Atlantic salmon are dying in their oceanic migration. Beginning in Ballindalloch just outside The Macallan Estate, the initiative will see more than 800 fish fitted with acoustic tags which emit a ‘ping’ containing a unique ID code. This noise is detected by hydrophone receivers which are placed at regular intervals to track smolts – salmon which are ready to go out to sea – throughout their journey.

Over the next two years The Atlantic Salmon Trust will analyse the information to gather evidence for local river managers and policy makers to help them better protect their wild fish stocks.

In the 1980s, between eight to ten million salmon lived and thrived in Atlantic, but today that number is expected to be between two and three million. If the trend continues, it is feared that Atlantic Salmon could become an endangered species in 10 years’ time, and possibly lost altogether by 2050.  As a key-stone species, Atlantic salmon have an important impact on the ecosystems they inhabit, without which, the ecosystem would be dramatically different or cease to exist.

Mark Bisby, CEO of Atlantic Trust with Robert Mitchell, Ghillie of the Macallan Estate

Robert Mitchell, Ghillie at The Macallan Estate, said: “As proud custodians of The River Spey, everyone who works at The Macallan Estate is passionate about preserving the wildlife which lives here. There are many projects underway to protect the biodiversity and habitats in our grounds, from removing old building structures to reshaping the riverbank and improving the temperature of the water.

“The River Spey has been a source of inspiration for The Macallan since our early days of whisky making nearly 200 years ago, and protecting this sanctuary is very important to us. The conservation work being undertaken by the Atlantic Salmon Trust is vital in protecting the species, and our partnership is based on a shared spirit of sustainability and community as together we care for the extraordinary river and its natural surroundings.”

Mark Bilsby, CEO of the Atlantic Salmon Trust, said: “Our partnership with The Macallan provides us with a strong base to build upon the work we have been carrying out for almost 50 years. Out of every 100 salmon that leave our rivers for the sea, less than five return, representing a loss of nearly 70% of the population in just 25 years – it is more important than ever that we understand the reasons behind this, and The Macallan’s support provides a strong platform, ensuring that we can continue to work on key research projects during challenging times.

“In addition to the Moray Firth Tracking project, funding from The Macallan will also go towards the development of other initiatives and bringing people within the salmon research community together.”

The Macallan was recently awarded the Positive Luxury Butterfly Mark for its commitment to protecting the biodiversity and habitats in its Easter Elchies Estate, marine conservation, and a number of other sustainable initiatives, including the design of its new distillery home, which draws over 80% of its energy from renewable sources and boasts one of Europe’s largest green roofs.

For further information visit www.themacallan.com 

Notes 

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is renowned worldwide for its extraordinary single malt whiskies. Their outstanding quality and distinctive character reveal the uncompromised excellence pursued by The Macallan since it was established by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the River Spey in north-east Scotland.

In 2018, The Macallan opened a new chapter in its history with the launch of its award-winning Speyside distillery. Designed by internationally acclaimed architects to promote sustainability, the building takes inspiration from the surrounding ancient Scottish hills. It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which is The Macallan’s spiritual home and remains the heartbeat of The Macallan’s beautiful 485-acre Estate.

About Atlantic Salmon Trust 

The Atlantic Salmon Trust exists solely for the protection of wild salmon and sea trout. It is our aim to create a positive future for these at-risk species; using scientific research to understand their decline and using the generous donations from our supporters to put evidence-based solutions into practice.

Wild Atlantic salmon are an iconic species with a remarkable history. They are uniquely placed to inform us of the quality of our waters and form an incredibly important part of the ecosystem of our rivers. We cannot afford to lose them—and that’s why everything we do at the Trust is designed to put #WildSalmonFirst.

About the Moray Firth Tracking Project 

Somewhere along their journey, wild salmon are disappearing. Out of every 100 salmon that leave our rivers for the sea, less than 5 return—a loss of nearly 70% of the population in 25 years. If this decline continues, the iconic wild Atlantic salmon could become an endangered species in 10 years’ time, disappearing from our waters altogether in just 20 or 30 years.

The Moray Firth Tracking Project is designed to find out what is happening to our salmon on this journey, so we can take steps to inform river managers and policy-makers on how best to implement practical management solutions to protect wild Atlantic salmon, and sea trout, in all areas.

When launched, the Moray Firth Tracking Project was the largest, most ambitious acoustic tracking project to be undertaken in Europe. Work began in 2019, with activity delayed in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

IRONTON DISTILLERY ANNOUNCES NEW WHISKEY

RiNo, Denver, CO — Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse is releasing a new limited edition whiskey starting June 19th. Switchback Single Malt is A Whiskey Made for Adventures. The lightweight, durable aluminum bottle is easy to toss in with any outdoor gear and take along into the backcountry. Once the whiskey has been enjoyed, the bottle can be refilled and used again as a water bottle.

Switchback Single Malt is made of 100% malted barley. It’s distilled and aged at Ironton’s RiNo distillery by head distiller, Laura Walters. On the nose, there’s notes of cantaloupe, stone fruit, cinnamon and caramel. On the palate, it’s sweet, bright, and grassy with a light mouthfeel and defined finish.

Switchback Single Malt in reusable aluminum bottles is a limited edition release for Summer 2021. Bottles are available for pre-order online at a special price of $45 and can be picked up directly from Ironton during the Stay Wild Market on June 19th. Ironton’s Stay Wild Market celebrates Colorado’s incredible outdoors with local vendors that encourage guests to get outside and explore. The market will be free to attend with strict COVID protocols in place.

Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse is proudly Distilling the Spirit of Colorado with our lineup of small batch liquors. Named after a lost, but not forgotten, mining town in Southern Colorado and the 19th century ‘Ironton Addition’ of Denver that would become known as RiNo today, we were born out of the adventurous heritage and spirit of our state and city. Every sip of our spirits and cocktails captures our love of craftsmanship and our desire to explore.

More information on Ironton Distillery & Crafthouse can be found at http://www.irontondistillery.com or on social media @IrontonDistillery.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Gives Updates on

New Barrel Warehouses

Whiskey quality is consistent in the 10 new warehouses; 3 more warehouses to be added in 2021

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (May 4, 2021) For the last few years, Buffalo Trace Distillery has been hard at work on its $1.2 billion dollar infrastructure investment, some of which includes new barrel warehouses.  At a capacity of 58,800 barrels each, the addition of 10 new warehouses have given this National Historic Landmark Distillery an on-site barrel inventory of over one million aging whiskey barrels.

Starting in the spring of 2018, Buffalo Trace began filling its first new warehouse located on the adjacent 292-acre farm purchased several years ago.  Since then, barrel warehouses AA through JJ are filled.  Buffalo Trace is currently working on Warehouse MM and will continue to add future warehouses of the same size at a rate of one new warehouse every four months, until further notice.

The new warehouses are seven stories tall, metal clad with insulation. The floors are wooden. Unlike most distilleries, Buffalo Trace heats its warehouses, starting with steam heat Col., E.H. Taylor, Jr. brought to the warehouses he built in the late 1800s, and still used today on Buffalo Trace’s main campus.  The heating system for the new warehouses on the farm is a patented heating system in the floors with dual zones so temperatures in each warehouse can be managed independently.

What the Distillery is most excited about though, is the taste consistency in the new warehouses when compared to Buffalo Trace’s warehouses on its main campus.

“Consistency in a taste profile is much harder to maintain than most people realize,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller.  “Any time you bring a new element into the equation, it has the potential to change the result.  We’ve worked very hard to ensure our new aging warehouses are consistent in the taste profiles for which Buffalo Trace Distillery is known.  We test all barrels in the new warehouses every 12 months and run them through a full sensory analysis to compare them to our “standard” for that brand at the part in its aging cycle and also compare them against barrels which have been aging the same amount of time in our more established warehouses on our main campus.  We’re really happy the taste is consistent across the board and look forward to being able to release them once they’ve reached their aging potential.  Along the way, we’ll continue to monitor them and run tests as we do with all of our aging barrels to make sure they are meeting or exceeding brand standards of quality.”

Buffalo Trace, well known for its meticulous research and tracking when it comes to its whiskey inside its barrels, has been charting the progress of its new barrel warehouses for various elements, including temperature.  The charts below compare the temperature inside in the first floor of barrel Warehouse AA, a “new” warehouse which holds 58,800 barrels, versus barrel Warehouse S, an “old” warehouse which holds 50,000 barrels, for the same time period, Jan 1, 2020 through Jan. 1, 2021.  As the chart indicates, temperature fluctuation between the “new” and “old” warehouses is remarkably similar for the same time period.

“It’s reassuring to see the temperature fluctuations over the year remain consistent between the two warehouses, despite the location differences between the two warehouses.  Through the years, we’ve gathered millions of data points on how the environment affects the whiskey inside the barrel. We know, for example, how important heating the warehouses are during the winter months, which is why we committed to continuing that tradition in our new warehouses we’re building.  All of these data points give us great confidence that the bourbon we’re putting up today in our new warehouses will have the consistent flavor profiles our fans have come to expect,” added Wheatley.

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.

A CHRONICLE OF THE FINEST KARUIZAWA WHISKY AT BONHAMS MAY SALE

Presenting the best of the famed Japanese distillery throughout its lifetime from 1960s to 2000s

Also featuring single-owner collection of the most coveted wines with impeccable UK provenance

Link to sale: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/26983/

A series of the finest whisky ever made by famed Japanese distillery Karuizawa will be presented at Bonhams Fine and Rare Wine & Whisky sale in Hong Kong on 21 May. More than 90 bottles are offered and they span the best editions of every decade of the legendary distillery’s history from the 1960s to the 2000s.

Highlights include:

·         From the 1960s: Lot 703. Karuizawa-1963-50 year old. Estimate: HK$800,000-1,000,000.

·         From the 1970s, including more than 20 bottles of the very rare ‘circle label’ editions: Lot 839. Karuizawa-1971‐41 year old-#1842-Noh. Estimate: HK$160,000-230,000.

·         From the 1980s: Lot 569. Karuizawa-1986-#2399. Estimate: HK$100,000-140,000.

·         From the 1990s: Lot 433. Karuizawa-1995-Rouge Cask Collection (9 bottles). Estimate: HK$125,000-160,000.

·         From the 2000s: Lot 425. Karuizawa-2000-花鳥繪系列 (4 bottles). Estimate: HK$80,000-120,000.

Bonhams Director of Wine and Whisky Asia Daniel Lam commented: “This is probably the most comprehensive offering of the sought-after Karuizawa whisky to have ever appeared at auction. For collectors and fans of the distillery or Japanese whisky in general, the sale represents a rare opportunity to acquire some of the best editions ever known – decade by decade and all on one single occasion.”

The wine section of the sale is highlighted by a sublime private cellar – A True Wine Lover’s Collection. Having begun his journey collecting fine wines some thirty years ago, the owner has built a genuinely magnificent cellar, all by purchasing through one of the leading and most prestigious fine wine merchants in the United Kingdom. The provenance is therefore impeccable. Highlights include:

·         Lot 285 & 286: 2007 Harlan, The Maiden (6 bottles OWC). Estimate: HK$8,000-10,000.

·         Lot 297 to 300: 2007 Bond Assortment Case (5 bottles OWC). Estimate: HK$7,000-9,000.

·         Lot 268: 2009 Masseto, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia (1 Imperial – #18/80 OWC). Estimate: HK26,000-34,000.

·         Lot 147: 1995 Château Latour, Pauillac 1er Cru Classé (6 magnums OWC). Estimate: HK$42,000-60,000.

·         Lot 204: 1995 Chevalier-Montrachet 1995, Domaine Leflaive (12 bottles). Estimate: HK$60,000-80,000

Other key wine highlights of the sale include:

·         Lot 382: 1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Assortment Case (12 bottles OWC). Estimate: HK$420,000-560,000.

·         Lot 344: 2016 Scharzhofberger Eiswein, Egon Müller (1 magnum). Estimate: HK$20,000-25,000.

NOTES

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

Sotheby’s First Auction of American Whiskeys 100% Sold, Soars to Nearly $1M

Earlier today, Sotheby’s first American Whiskey auction, The Thoroughbred Collection, was 100% sold totaling an impressive $965,813—triple the overall pre-sale low estimate. Featuring over 250 lots of the rarest American Bourbon and Ryes ever produced, the auction also marked the first single-owner spirits sale in the US, which was accrued over decades by a dedicated and knowledgeable anonymous private collector.

Concluding on the eve of the Kentucky Derby horse race, the collection was fittingly led by Kentucky whiskeys; the top lot was a LeNell Red Hook Rye 24 Year Old Barrell, which doubled its pre-sale high estimate, selling for $43,750. Other notable lots included an A.H. Hirsch Reserve 18 Year Old 46.5 abv from 1974 that achieved $40,000, 20x its pre-sale low estimate and the oldest vintage in the sale, an Old Sunny Brook 7 Year Old 100 Proof from 1912, soared to $12,500, over 35x its pre-sale low estimate.

About Sotheby’s

Established in 1744, Sotheby’s is the world’s premier destination for art and luxury.  Sotheby’s promotes access, connoisseurship and preservation of fine art and rare objects through auctions and buy-now channels including private sales, e-commerce and retail. Our trusted global marketplace is supported by an industry-leading technology platform and a network of specialists spanning 40 countries and 50 categories, which include Contemporary Art, Modern and Impressionist Art, Old Masters, Chinese Works of Art, Jewelry, Watches, Wine and Spirits, and Interiors, among many others.

Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide auction sales of wine and spirits totaled an outstanding $92 million in 2020, with over 15,000 lots sold across 41 sales – a nearly 50% increase in the number of auctions held in 2019. Over $60 million of wine and spirits were sold to online bidders in 2020 versus $28 million in 2019, with 85% of all lots offered finding online buyers. Demonstrating continued strength in Asia, Sotheby’s led the market in the region for the third consecutive year, with over 70% of the total bid amount in all Wine and Spirits sales attributed to collectors in Asia.

Sotheby’s Wine’s has had the privilege of auctioning numerous record-breaking wines and spirits in recent years, with 2020 alone witnessing new world auction records for any bottle of Japanese whisky, any bottle of whisky produced by the Dalmore Distillery, as well as any bottle of Cognac. Sotheby’s Wine currently holds the world records for any whisky collection ever sold at auction, any private wine collection ever sold at auction, the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold at auction and the most expensive bottle of spirits ever sold at auction.

In addition to auction, Sotheby’s Wine launched a retail business in 2010. With a retail store located in Sotheby’s New York headquarters and e-commerce at www.sothebyswine.com, Sotheby’s Wine offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by our experienced specialists, the selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages. A second retail location opened in Sotheby’s Hong Kong galleries in 2014.

 *Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium and are net of any fees paid to the purchaser where the purchaser provided an irrevocable bid.

LET US ENTERTAIN YOU:
BBC RADIO SCOTLAND HOST PAIRS FAVOURITE MUSIC WITH WHISKY

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) have teamed-up with long-standing BBC Radio Scotland presenter, Vic Galloway, to pair his favourite music with SMWS whisky flavour profiles.

Vic, who has been broadcasting weekly on BBC Radio 1, BBC Scotland and BBC 6 Music for over 22 years, is also an author of two music books, a DJ and musician. He also happens to be an avid malt whisky fan and member of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Using his knowledge of both music and whisky, Vic explores the relationship between the two worlds. He has come up with his pick of perfect genres to match the Society’s flavour profiles.

In the mix is the Society’s ‘Young & Spritely’ flavour profile being likened to the genre ‘Dream Pop’, with its “effervescent and sweet, joyous and uplifting exuberance that seems utterly timeless and forever young”.

Whisky fans can view Vic’s full SMWS pairing list here: https://cutt.ly/jbQgS6c

The Scottish broadcaster said: “Music and whisky go together like, well, music and whisky! There’s nothing better than sitting back with like-minded friends and sharing experiences. And that is what The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is all about.

“Enjoy an SMWS dram and check out my music & whisky pairings online. It’s been a lot of fun… and you might find a few surprises in there! If you’ve not already, I encourage you to become a member of this phenomenal organisation, which in my eyes really is the world’s most entertaining whisky club. Slainte!”

Vic will be chatting all things music and whisky on the SMWS ‘Virtual Pub’ being streamed to members on Friday 7th May. The Vic Galloway campaign launches at an ideal time to support the Society’s impressive May events listings as excitement builds around the SMWS Members’ Rooms re-opening.

Events include a ‘Welcome Back to The Vaults Tasting’, as well as a Whisky Festival Tasting which brings exclusive festival bottlings to The Vaults, the spiritual home of the Society in Edinburgh.

There will also be a flurry of tasting events taking place at Glasgow’s Bath Street Members’ Room throughout May, where members can bring guests to get a taste of what being part of the SMWS is all about.

Curious whisky explorers can view the full event listing here: https://cutt.ly/ibQjWUy

Membership to The Scotch Malt Whisky Society includes access to exclusive Members’ Rooms, partner bar discounts, colourful tasting events, whisky education and a monthly members magazine Unfiltered, all for only £65: https://cutt.ly/ZbQjFLk

 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

A Last Chat with Jim McEwan – to support Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance

 Sunday, May 23^rd @ 9PM BST/ 1PM EDT/ 4PM PDT

 Come and help us raise a toast to Jim McEwan before he takes a step back from public life. An evening of Film, stories and conversation which will take you on a journey through the life and whiskies of Jim McEwan for one final event to support Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance

 LOS ANGELES – APRIL 30, 2021 – Following his final tasting Masterclass on May 22nd join Jim McEwan on Sunday, May 23rd, for a farewell chat in aid of one of Islay’s most valuable services: Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

After a lifetime spent creating some of the world’s finest whiskies, Jim has decided it’s now time to take a step back and be a full-time husband and grandfather.  Jim has inspired a generation of distillers, blenders, and fans. He feels that it’s now time for them to carry the message forward.

So, join us for one more chat with the man himself. One more night with Jim, his stories, insights… and a raise a toast to the man who has touched so many lives.

Over the past four months Jim McEwan’s story has been told through film in Blacksmith & Jones’ The Water of Life – a whisky film; through drams with Dramfool’s Jim McEwan Signature Collection; and in print with Jim’s biography, A Journeyman’s Journey, co-authored by Udo Sonntag and published by Plassen Verlag.

Today the companies who have helped share Jim’s story with the world have come together with Jim to help support Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

The event has two ticket options. Both tickets include access to The Water of Life Film for 48 hours (May 22^nd & 23^rd), a link to join a virtual online chat with Jim on Sunday, May 23^rd, and tasting kits you can enjoy while watching the film (But make sure you save one dram so that we can send Jim off with a hearty and heartfelt “sláinte mhath!”).  The Gold Collection ticket also includes a copy of The Journeyman’s Journey along with a personalised printed letter by Jim.

This is not a tasting or a masterclass. These drams are meant to be enjoyed while viewing the film or reading the book. Or kept as souvenirs. This event is a celebration of Jim, including a wee surprise or two.

Gold Collection Ticket – Available to purchase through Dramfool

Limited to 50 tickets – £185 (£25 from each ticket will be donated to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance)

 With this collection you’ll receive access to The Water of life Film, a copy of The Journeyman’s Journey (German or English edition) along with a personalised printed letter from Jim, a Gold Collection tasting kit and access to a zoom link to join the chat with Jim McEwan on Sunday, May 23^rd.

The tasting kit has 6 drams which are a liquid timeline of Jim’s career – from his era at Bowmore, through some of his unique Bruichladdich drams (including Jim McEwan Signature Collection Journey’s End dram and a rare Lochindaal), and ending with Jim’s newest and yet to be bottled single malt from The Cape Byron Distillery in Australia. This will be a unique opportunity to taste the dram that Jim says will be his final whisky. It’s not going to be bottled for at least another year, but he’s eager to share an advanced taste with you all.

• Bowmore 20 – 50.7% ABV – 20 year old David Simpson, Double Matured in Oloroso and PX Sherry Casks
• Bruichladdich – 46% ABV – Resurrection 2001/2008
• Bruichladdich – 40% ABV – 10 year old, 1990’s bottling pre reopening
• Jim McEwan Signature Collection – Journey’s End – Islay Barley 2010 – 55.9 ABV – 16/09/2010 1^st fill Banyul Cask
• Dramfool – Lochindaa l 2009 – 62.1% ABV – 01/09/2009 1^st fill Bourbon
• Cape Byron – 48% ABV – Cask #17, Ex Bourbon Cask

Please note: The German version of the book will be dispatched straight after purchase. The English version of The Journeyman’s Journey will not be dispatched until late June as it has not been released yet.  Once printed, you will be sent one of the first 50 English versions of the first release – a real collector’s item!

Silver Collection Ticket – Available to purchase through Dramfool

Limited to 300 tickets- £50 (£10 from each ticket will be donated to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance)

This collection includes access to The Water of Life film, a Silver Collection tasting kit and access to  a zoom link to join the chat with Jim McEwan on Sunday, May 23^rd.

The tasting kit has 4 drams which takes you through Bowmore and some of Bruichladdich’s finest drams:

• Bowmore 15 year old – 43% ABV
• Bruichladdich Islay Barley 2012 – 50% ABV
• Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2012 – 50% ABV
• Octomore 11.1 – 59.4% ABV – 5 year old 136.9PPM

Click here for information about of The Journeyman’s Journey

Click on link to find out more about Dramfool

Click on link for information on the film https://www.wateroflifefilm.com/

Click on Link to see the trailer

About The Water of Life – a whisky film

The Water of Life is a feature documentary that focuses on the craftsmen, chemists, and renegades at the heart of the whisky revolution that turned the stagnant scotch whisky industry of the 1980s into the titan it is today.

Starting behind the locked gates of an abandoned distillery, Jim McEwan and Mark Reynier share their personal experiences of the risk-taking and wild experimentation they used to turn Bruichladdich into a creative and financial powerhouse.

The film also takes you on the journeys of visionaries like Gordon & MacPhail, Billy Walker, Rachel Barrie and David Stewart, whose mixture of talent, chemistry, hard work, grit, and a little sprinkle of magic paved the way for the next generation of innovators like Adam Hannett, Kelsey McKechnie, Liam Hughes, Iain Croucher, and Eddie Brook.

The Water of Life is a uniquely personal perspective on the evolution of whisky by those who lived it – the story of those who played a key part in rediscovering the crafting of the ancient spirit.

About Blacksmith + Jones

Blacksmith + Jones is a media production company that puts story first. Their primary focus has been in documentary style television and short form projects.  Principals Trevor Jones and Greg Swartz have decades of experience and have produced shows for NatGeo, Discovery Channel and Animal Planet. They have been partners for more than 10 years. The Water of Life is their first feature documentary.

About The Dramfool

Dramfool have been delighted to be chosen by Jim McEwan, an industry legend in and personal whisky hero, to bottle his personal collection of casks. Distilled at hi time at the helm of Bruichladdich Distillery the spirit an casks all chosen to represent the best of what he and his team achieved.

To raise a toast with not just with him but his personally selected ‘Journey’s End’ dram to mark this occasion adds even more excitement to this event.

Dramfool have been independently bottling cask strength, un-chill filtered whisky since 2015. The reputation that we have gained around the world for our bottlings gives us great and continued pleasure. With this in mind the founder, Bruce Farquhar’s, mantra from day one to ‘only bottle whiskies that I like’ is key. More so now than ever.

About Plassen Verlag, a brand of Boersenmedien AG

Since 2012, popular non-fiction books on exciting, current topics by well-known authors and proven experts have been published under the “Plassen” label. The label’s authors speak volumes: from George Soros to Michael Bloomberg to Nobel Laureates in Economic Sciences Robert J. Shiller and Paul Krugman, from bestselling authors Andrew McAfee to Scott Galloway. The topics: Business, politics, current affairs and much more. But personalities from the show business have also published their books with Plassen Verlag. Besides singer Roberto Blanco, Michelin-decorated TV star chef Alexander Herrmann is also one of the prominent authors.

About the Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.

SCAA currently operates two helicopters, both EC135-T2is, and two rapid response vehicles – taking expert paramedic care to the scene of time-critical emergencies.  SCAA then transports patients to hospitals all over Scotland to receive the most appropriate medical care.

Working in partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), SCAA is an integral part of Scotland’s frontline emergency response network, responding to trauma incidents and medical emergencies across the country, covering an area of more than 30,000 square miles.

As Scotland’s only charity air ambulance, SCAA is funded by the people of Scotland, primarily through donations, fundraising, events and our life-saving lottery.

World Whisky Day 2021

Celebrate with a few drams now and invest in a few casks for future days to come

Every year we mark World Whisky Day on the 3rd Saturday of May in order celebrate the embodiment of celebration itself; whisky. Scotch whisky is a symbol of British craftsmanship and tradition, of durability and reliability. The origin of whisky began over 1000 year ago when distillation made the migration from mainland Europe into Scotland and Ireland via traveling monks. The Scottish and Irish monasteries, lacking the vineyards and grapes of the continent, turned to fermenting grain mash, resulting in the first distillations of modern whisky.

Since this momentous time, the industry has progressed and grown in order to become Scotland’s largest export, with global exports of Scotch Whisky in 2020 totaling £3.8 billion. Whisky is now drunk throughout the world and is continually seeing enhanced consumption year on year, with growth observed in over 100 international markets in 2019. As demand increases, it gradually begins to outweigh supply. Whisky that is collectible is also in demand for consumers, so a substantial proportion of any limited edition bottling will swiftly become much more limited as much of it is consumed by dedicated whisky lovers. Whisky is bottled after a period of maturation in oak barrels. Legally, this is a minimum of 3 years, but in practice, most whiskies are matured for a minimum of 8 years in order for them to develop their character.

Distilleries will usually have a ‘house style’ represented by a mass-produced bottling of a relatively young malt (such as Glenmorangie’s popular 10 year old). But they will also have older whiskies maturing at the distillery, and they can also bottle older whiskies such as a 15 or 21 year old. They might also bottle the product of a particular cask of vintage whisky, or they might offer different expressions of the whisky such as a ‘port wood finish’ or ‘sherry wood finish’ which means that in addition to being aged in traditional Bourbon barrels, the whisky has been ‘finished’ with a period of additional ageing in a port or sherry barrel which can impart different flavours.

All of these different expressions have enabled whisky to develop in to an appreciating asset which is of interest to investors – production is limited, and hence they are highly prized by collectors and consumers alike. Whiskies from some distilleries are much more collectible than others, so it is important to do due diligence on what will be desirable in the marketplace in a few years’ time when you seek to sell your whiskies on.

It therefore comes as no surprise that in the past few years, whisky sales have been hitting the ultimate highs which had previously only been achieved by other luxury commodities. In 2019 a single bottle of Macallan 1926 fetched £1.5 million; that same year, a cask of Macallan distilled in 1989 sold for £161,500 – a high price for a still maturing cask of Scotch. Although discovering such rare whisky is few and far between, it is imperative that investors have access to the world’s most renowned distilleries; something which Elite Wine & Whisky prides itself in.

Whether you decide to merely enjoy a tipple on World Whisky Day, or choose to educate yourself more about the prospects of investing in a cask of whisky, one thing is for certain, there is never a dull moment when it comes to whisky!

https://elitewineandwhisky.com/