ICONIC SCOTCH DISTILLERIES THE GLENLIVET, ABERLOUR AND SCAPA RELEASE RARE AGED COLLECTIONS IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS

This winter, Scotch whisky drinkers will have the chance to get their hands on three exceptionally rare limited-edition collections from the Chivas Brothers single malt portfolio; The Glenlivet Cellar Collection, The Aberlour Cellar Collection and The Scapa Single Cask Vintage Editions.  

The distillery exclusives feature some of the oldest whiskies released from these iconic distilleries and for the first time ever, the sought-after single malts will be available for UK-based customers to order from the comfort of their own homes. With just over 600 bottles available across the three distilleries, these expressions are incredibly rare, and once they’re gone, they’re gone forever.

The age and rarity of the expressions, together with the extremely limited number of each bottle available, make these collections the perfect gift or collector’s item. Historically such collections have been seldom released and have only been available to purchase directly from the distilleries in Speyside and Orkney, Scotland, making this a golden opportunity for Scotch fans to savour a piece of whisky history at home.

Miriam Eceolaza, Marketing Director for Malts at Chivas Brothers commented:  

“It has been an incredibly challenging year and we recognise it hasn’t been easy for Scotch enthusiasts to travel to our distilleries in Speyside and Orkney. We’re so pleased that we’re now able to give Scotch whisky fans the opportunity to order some of the most exceptionally rare aged malts from our portfolio straight to their door. 

“These collections are some of the oldest that have ever been bottled and released by The Glenlivet, Scapa and Aberlour. The exclusivity of these expressions is unlike anything we have ever released before, and we hope our fans relish the opportunity to taste real history with these delicious collections.”   

The Glenlivet Cellar Collection  

The Glenlivet Cellar Collection includes some of the oldest and most limited expressions of the iconic original Speyside single malt, with the youngest bottle aged for a minimum of 30 years.  

The full Collection comprises a 30 year old, a 33 year old, a 38 year old and a 40 year old that bring to life the full knowledge and expertise of the Speyside distillery’s past. Bottled at cask strength and non-chill filtered, with a limited amount of each expression available, the launch gives fans of The Glenlivet a chance to add a piece of heritage from this original Speyside single malt to their collection.  

The longer maturation of these unique expressions gives an additional layer of depth and complexity to the whisky’s character and flavour, whilst maintaining the signature style of The Glenlivet: smooth, balanced and fruity.   

The Aberlour Cellar Collection  

The Aberlour Cellar Collection is a first for the distillery and honours the craft of this renowned single malt, by offering a very limited number of expressions that are amongst the oldest released by Aberlour – a 39 year old and a 44 year old. 

Aberlour is known for balancing its meticulous maker’s craft with the natural maturation process, something that will come to the forefront in this collection as the Aberlour 44 year old is the oldest release to be bottled by Aberlour, and with just 42 bottles available, it is incredibly exclusive.  

The Scapa Single Cask Vintage Editions  

The Scapa Single Cask Vintage Editions are the most exceptionally rare single malts released by the distillery, consisting of a 29 year old, 41 year old and 42 year old – with a run of just 102 bottles available across all ages.  

The first new bottlings from Scapa in over four years, the whiskies were all distilled and filled into single casks between 1977 and 1990, and have aged in the finest American Oak barrels, with the 1977 being the oldest release to come from Scapa ever – with only 12 bottles available.

Whisky Intel is playing catch up, this appears as a matter of record.

JOSHUA VIDES REIMAGINES BALLANTINE’S ICONIC BOTTLE AND BACK STORY FOR STRIKING MONOCHROMATIC LIMITED-EDITION

Joshua Vides reinterprets the world of Scotch whisky to redesign Ballantine’s iconic bottle, a series of pop-up bars and a limited-edition briefcase in a nod to the brand’s prohibition era past.

Ballantine’s Scotch whisky has teamed up with renowned artist Joshua Vides, who brings his signature black and white touch to its new limited-edition.

Staying true to his style of reinterpreting everyday objects to make them unique, Vides has been invited by Ballantine’s to reinterpret its iconic Finest bottle and gift tin, as well as elements of the brand’s rich legacy and pioneering spirit.

The California-based creative is known across the globe for his comic book style transformation of objects and spaces with hand-drawn illustrations and bold linework. His work and style embody Ballantine’s ethos of doing things your own way; taking an original approach to design with everything he does, without compromising his artistic integrity.

Just as Ballantine’s looks to break the conventional codes of whisky and challenge people’s perceptions of Scotch, Joshua does the same through his perspective-altering visuals. To overcome prohibition laws in 1920, Ballantine’s launched its rectangular bottle to be concealed in briefcases.  Inspired by the story 100 years later, Vides has not only reworked the iconic bottle, he has also designed a one-of-a-kind briefcase which will be dropping soon worldwide.

Installations are a staple of Joshua Vides’ artistry, so to further celebrate the launch, he will be reinterpret the place where Ballantine’s is best enjoyed – the bar – by creating a series of striking black and white spaces, that will be popping up in cities from Poland to China at the start of next year, with programmes of exclusive events and workshops.

Joshua Vides said of the collaboration:

“I’m more than excited to be working with Ballantine’s on my first official bottle. From the jump the energy has been high and we’ve been able to organically create elements in this project from start to finish. I believe we share a similar drive and determination to create on our own terms. Do it yourself mentality till the wheels fall off.“

Ballantine’s Marketing Director, Mathieu Deslandes, added:

“Ballantine’s has such a rich heritage that we’ve been able to explore and elevate through our collaboration with Joshua. Our approach is very similar which has made the whole project as exciting as it had been collaborative. We are all about championing those who do things their own way as we do with Scotch – and Joshua does the same with his artwork. The limited editions are our most disruptive to date and we look forward to turning shelves black and white across the world.”

Designed in Joshua Vides’ signature style, the Ballantine’s x Joshua Vides limited-edition bottles will be available from 24^th November on Amazon in the most disruptive change to the Finest bottle since its launch in 1827.

Keep an eye on Ballantine’s and Joshua’s channels for more information on how you can get your hands on the one-of-a-kind briefcase.

For more on the Ballantine’s x Joshua Vides collaboration visit ballantines.com

FIRST EVER COMPASS BOX AUCTION CELEBRATES THE 21ST CENTURY REINVENTION OF THE BLEND

When it comes to the art of whisky making, it is often creativity and the courage to experiment that results in the creation of something exceptional.

Now, a collection of bottles produced by one of the world’s most innovative whisky makers, Compass Box, is going under the hammer in an exclusive online auction hosted by Whisky Auctioneer. From today (Thursday 14th January) until 18th January, over 130 expressions including 70 limited editions produced by the disruptive blender will feature in the sale, including the company’s inaugural release, Hedonism, which  launched in 2000.

Collated by one devoted and anonymous whisky enthusiast, known only as Pat, this Compass Box collection was part of Pat’s extraordinary library of over 9,000 bottles. Fuelled by a passion to learn, sip, share and savour whiskies from around the world, his genuine interest took him beyond tradition to discover boutique expressions bursting with quality and character.

In what marks the first dedicated Compass Box auction in the brand’s history, and the largest offering of its expressions to go on the secondary market from a single owner, Pat now hopes to spark the same interest in budding collectors.

The auction will also offer collectors and whisky fans a number of exclusive U.S only bottlings, including the ultra-desirable collaboration with Bern’s Steak House in Tampa, Florida.  The collaboration gave rise to Bern’s Blended Grain, a 41 Year Old made up of five unique casks from Strathclyde and Girvan. Of the 618 bottles produced, only 120 were available in retail.

Other sought after and limited expressions to feature include Mariage, Optimism, Lady Luck, The General and the 10^th Anniversary Hedonism bottling celebrating the company’s ten year milestone; this was an extremely rare bottling of 38 year old Invergordon single grain whisky distilled in 1971, of which there are just 120 bottles in existence.

James Saxon, Whiskymaker at Compass Box:

“In a collection whose stated aim is amassing whiskies that offer both rarity and serious drinking pleasure, it is wonderful to see so many Compass Box releases represented amongst these 9,000 bottles. We started Compass Box to share the joys of Scotch whisky with more people, an ethos that clearly resonates with this collector.

“To see so many of our past projects and releases represented – and in their own auction – is a first for us. If successful bidders would like to learn more about the stories and processes behind their new whiskies, they have only to reach out to us.”

Joe Wilson, Head of Auction Content at Whisky Auctioneer, said:

“This is the first time that a dedicated collection of Compass Box has become available at auction, so we’re very excited to offer our whisky fans such a varied selection of whiskies that can really add something novel to their collections.

“Blends have been soaring in popularity as more and more whisky fans look beyond the boundaries of what is traditionally perceived as quality, and we are delighted to spotlight the flag-bearers for the 21st century revival of the category.”

Over the past 12 months Whisky Auctioneer has recorded an increase in page views by over 25% for Compass Box, and the value of its whiskies has risen significantly, with their inaugural release increasing by over 850% in value since 2015.

Boundary breakers and masters of innovation, Compass Box was founded in 2000 by John Glaser, a former marketing director for the Johnnie Walker brand, who fell in love with Scotch whisky and the idea of blending whisky as a creative art. Its core range consists of The Spice Tree, The Peat Monster, Oak Cross, Asyla and Hedonism blends and aims to reinvent the Scotch whisky category with its exceptional quality and limited releases.

Whisky Auctioneer’s auctions are world leading and record breaking. Unmatched in auction volume, variety of bottles offered, prices achieved, global reach, service standards upheld and broadness of knowledge and expertise, the company is truly a global authority.

To find out more and to register to take part in upcoming auctions please visit www.whiskyauctioneer.com

Notes: 

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.

About Compass Box 

Compass Box is a blending company founded in 2000 by John Glaser, a former marketing director for the Johnnie Walker brand. Their core range consists of The Spice Tree, The Peat Monster, Oak Cross, Asyla and Hedonism blends, and they regularly produce limited editions as well. The company prides itself on its boundary-pushing approach to its creations, and on occasion, boundary-crossing creations, such as the original Spice Tree in 2005 which was banned for its use of suspended staves in casks.

They have gained worldwide attention, including from the single-malt oriented collectors impressed by the whisky makers skill in marrying whiskies together to create something greater than the sum of its parts.    

Visit:  www.whiskyauctioneer.com

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Facebook: WhiskyAuctioneer

Twitter:  Whisky_auction

Special Guests for The Water of Life Film – Burns Night Celebration Announced

Some of the greats of the whisky world join The Water of Life – A Whisky Film – Burns Night Celebration January 22 – 27, 2021 to support the launch of the Film 

LOS ANGELES – JANUARY 07 2021 – Producers Blacksmith + Jones today follow up on last month’s announcement of the launch event for The Water of Life – A Whisky Film with the announcement of the special guests who will be joining the Burns Night Celebration January 22^nd – 27^th, 2021. (https://www.wateroflifefilm.com/ )

The Burns Night Celebration is a 6-day long virtual online program which will include daily screenings of the film accompanied by an hour-long panel discussion and Q&A session featuring different stars from the film each day.  Additionally, a limited-edition one-off tasting kit (sold where licensing permits), specifically curated to accompany the film is available to take viewers on a taste journey while they watch the movie (where licensing laws permit).

The special guests joining the sessions include Jim McEwan (Master Distiller), Adam Hannett (Bruichladdich), Mark Reynier (Waterford Distillery), Rachel Barrie (Brown-Foreman), Stephen Rankin (Gordon & MacPhail), Liam Hughes (Glasgow Distillery), Charles Maclean (Author & Whisky Consultant), Blair Bowman (Author & Whisky Consultant), and Jenna Elie (Scotch Malt Whisky Society), with more being announced in the coming days.

“In the making of the film we had the pleasure of working with some of the legends of the whisky world. We’re thrilled to be able to give our audience the unique opportunity to not only see the film but to also get to experience first-hand what we did when making it: the opportunity to hear the stories, trials, and successes directly from the people who lived it” said Greg Swartz, Director.

For tickets, tasting kits and other offers please go to https://www.wateroflifefilm.com/

Click on Link to see the trailer https://youtu.be/7AlxfMCwlFk

Click here for bios of the stars of the film https://wateroflifefilm.com/cast/

About The Water of Life

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 — “the most unlikely partnership in the history of whisky” — 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.

Halewood Artisanal Spirits Appoints Dr Kirstie McCallum as New Master Blender

Halewood Artisanal Spirits has announced the appointment of Dr Kirstie McCallum as its new master blender, as the business looks to strengthen its fast growing whisky portfolio.

McCallum will be responsible for evolving and developing Halewood’s core whisky brands, which includes Crabbie whisky from Scotland, Irish whiskies, Gelston’s & The Pogues, Aber Falls Welsh whisky and Peaky Blinder English whisky from Halewood’s newest distillery in the West Midlands.  In addition, she will work with the group on new projects and expressions.

McCallum has over 20 years experience in the spirits industry, and joins Halewood Artisanal Spirits from Glen Turner, where she worked as head of whisky creation for the Glen Moray brand. Prior to this, she was the senior blender at Distell International, working across the Bunnahabhain, Deanston and Tobermory brands.

Lee Tayburn, Operations and Production Director at Halewood Artisanal Spirits comments; “As a business, we are dedicated to growing our portfolio of artisanal spirits, and of course whisky plays a very important part in this. Over the last five years we have invested heavily in distilleries across the UK and globally, and are constantly evolving to ensure that we provide our customers with premium, quality spirits with provenance. With her extensive experience and expertise, Kirstie will be integral to this, and we look forward to working closely together as we grow and develop our whisky credentials”.

Dr Kirstie McCallum comments; “From brands like Crabbie’s, with its rich whisky history dating back to the 1830s,  to new expressions from younger brands such as Peaky Blinder and The Pogues, Halewood Artisanal Spirits has a very diverse and exciting whisky portfolio. I’m really looking forward to working alongside the team to develop these brands, and using my industry experience to help create the best possible whisky offer”.

NOTES:

About Halewood Artisanal Spirits (www.halewood-int.com)

Halewood Artisanal Spirits is an award-winning UK-based craft distiller and the winner of the IWSC UK Gin Producer 2018 Award. Premium gin brands include Whitley Neill, J. J. Whitley, City of London Distillery, Marylebone Gin and Liverpool Gin.

Halewood has a strong portfolio of other high growth premium sprits, including Dead Man’s Fingers spiced rum, Rum Sixty Six, The Pogues Irish Whiskey, Gelston’s Irish Whiskey and Crabbie Whisky. 

In the 2020 IWSC Awards, Halewood’s artisanal spirits won 3 gold outstanding, 6 gold, 12 silver and 23 bronze medals. In the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition they were awarded four double golds, 9 golds, 15 silvers and 24 bronze Awards. The spirits also won 9 silver and 5 bronze Awards in the Global Spirits Masters and two gold, ten silver and six Bronze in the International Spirits Challenge, 2019.

The business operates 11 artisanal distilleries across the UK, Russia, Australia and South Africa including:  The Liverpool Gin Distillery, Crabbie Distillery in Edinburgh, Aber Falls Distillery in North Wales, Bankhall Distillery in Blackpool, The City of London and Marylebone Distilleries in London, The Bristol & Bath Rum Distillery, Ironbark in Sydney, Halewood in South Africa and JJ Whitley in Russia. The company also operates the Hawkshead Brewery in Cumbria.

Outside the UK, the business exports products to over 90 countries around the world and has significant operations in a number of international markets including North America, Canada, Russia, Australia and China. The business has a £400m+ turnover, and employs over 750 employees globally.

The business was founded by the late John Halewood in 1978 and it remains owned and controlled by the Halewood family.

Drinkaware is an independent UK-wide, alcohol education charity with the objective of positively changing public behaviour and the national drinking culture. It aims to reduce alcohol misuse and minimise harm by helping people make better choices about their drinking. It achieves this by providing impartial, evidence-based information, advice and practical resources; raising awareness of alcohol and its harms and by working collaboratively with partners (including the medical community, public health, third sector organisations, local authorities, police and the drinks industry).

Drinkaware has more than 100 funders, including UK alcohol producers, retailers in the on-trade and off-trade, and wholesalers.

Jim Beam® Debuts National Campaign Encouraging Bored Beer Fans to Take A Break From Beer and Make the Switch to a Refreshing Jim Beam Highball

DEVILS RIVER AND 375 PARK AVENUE SPIRITS FORGE PARTNERSHIP TO ACCELERATE SURGE ACROSS WHISKEY CATEGORY

Louisville, KY (Jan. 6, 2021)— 375 Park Avenue Spirits, a division of the Sazerac Company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a supply and distribution agreement with Devils River Whiskey effective April 1, 2021.  Under this agreement, 375 Park Avenue Spirits will assume responsibility for all sales and operational functions and will support the brand’s marketing efforts.

“Devils River is an emerging whiskey brand but one that’s made quite a bit of noise since entering the scene back in 2017,” said Jason Schladenhauffen, president and CEO of 375 Park Avenue Spirits. “The brand has established a clear stronghold in its home market of Texas and has steadily been expanding that U.S. footprint over the last 12-18 months.  We expect to take the baton from the Devils River team and increase the pace as we embark on the next leg of their growth trajectory.”

Devils River Whiskey was launched in Texas on April 1, 2017.  The brand’s ascent has been impressive as it is currently available in 29 states and selling over 125,000 cases to date.  They say the devil is in the details.  Devils River Whiskey attributes its quick rise in the category to its meticulous attention to detail as it only uses the finest grains, the limestone filtered spring water from the Devils River region, and its proprietary finishing process.

The brand has been recognized as one of the best whiskies aged less than 10 years by some of the industry’s most discerning judges.  Since its debut in 2017, Devils River Whiskey has collected over 55 medals and is quickly becoming one of the most awarded Texas whiskey brands.

Industry veteran, Jeff Colbert recently joined the Devils River Whiskey leadership team as the company’s new Chief Operating Officer.  Reporting to the company’s three co-founders, Jeff will oversee the company’s day-to-day operations as well as ensure the seamless transition with 375 Park Avenue Spirits.  “Jeff brings a significant track record of commercial leadership and we are confident that he is the right person to lead the company into its next phase of growth,” said Devils River Whiskey President and Co-founder Mike Cameron. “He has a successful track record of cultivating and leading a strong performance-oriented culture, and we believe his reputation for execution and achieving results makes him the right choice to lead our organization.”

“We are extremely excited to be entering into this strategic partnership with 375 Park Avenue Spirits,” said Colbert.  “The collaboration will strengthen Devils River Whiskey’s brand development and provide the competitive edge we need to more effectively compete in today’s competitive whiskey category through the strength of 375 Park Avenue Spirits sales and distribution network.”

Devils River will be available from 375 Park Avenue Spirits beginning on April 1, 2021. Available SKUs include the following: Devils River Bourbon 1.75L, 750ml and 50ml, Devils River Barrel Strength, Rye and Coffee 750 and 50ml and Single Barrel & Barrel Select 750ml’s. 

About 375 Park Avenue Spirits

375 Park Avenue Spirits specializes in the premium- to luxury-spirit categories and our portfolio includes numerous expressions from leading international producers.  Founded as Luctor International, LLC in 1981, 375 Park Avenue Spirits joined the Sazerac Company in early 2015 to act as an independent, yet fully integrated sales and marketing affiliate. The company is known today for creating an environment of growth for supplier partners in the domestic market for renown brands like Van Gogh Vodka from Holland, Sobieski Vodka from Poland, Cutty Sark Blended Scotch, J.P. Wiser’s Canadian Whisky, Paul John Single Malt Whisky from India, Scapegrace Gin from New Zealand, Novo Fogo Cachaca and many others. For more information on 375 Park Avenue Spirits, please visit www.375park.com.  

About Sazerac

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

About Devils River

Devils River Whiskey, a premium whiskey company based in San Antonio, Texas, is committed to creating a whiskey that stands apart from competition because of its use of the purest water in Texas at the heart of the production process.  The brand is comprised of six expressions – Bourbon, Rye, Barrel Strength, Coffee Bourbon, Single Barrel Texas Straight Bourbon and Distiller’s Select Texas Straight Bourbon – and distributed in 29 states. [ TX, OK, AR, LA, CA, CO, MO, KS, NE, IL, WI, IN, KY, FL, GA, TN, SC, NY, NJ, MA, RI, MD, DC, ME, CT, NV, AL, PA, NC ].  Follow Devils River Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn @DevilsRWhiskey.

Ezra Brooks elevates flavor profile with the introduction of Ezra Brooks 99

New Ezra Brooks variant delivers fuller taste and smooth, mellow finish at an enhanced 99 proof 

ST. LOUIS (JAN. 6, 2021) – Luxco announces the latest addition to its award-winning Ezra Brooks family of products: Ezra Brooks 99, a pure, oak-barrel-aged Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey elevated to 99 proof. Charcoal filtered for a smooth, mellow finish, the new Ezra Brooks 99 features the same spicy, ryed-bourbon-mash-bill taste, but with an enhanced flavor profile delivered by the higher proof.

“With Ezra Brooks 99 our goal was to create a higher-proof bourbon without sacrificing the rich notes Ezra Brooks is known for,” said John Rempe, master distiller at Lux Row Distillers. “And we achieved that with 99. The result is a smooth, drinkable bourbon with hints of caramel, vanilla, chocolate and spice. We’re thrilled to introduce Ezra Brooks 99 to bourbon lovers everywhere.”

Ezra Brooks 99 features the distinctive packaging and natural cork closure for which Ezra Brooks is known, along with a prominent “99” proof callout on the label and deep “LUX ROW DISTILLERS” embossing on the bottle’s shoulder.

“When you see Ezra Brooks 99, you’ll see an elegant, upscale bottle that stands out on the shelf,” said Eric Winter, brand manager for Ezra Brooks. “We believe the refined style and honest flavor of Ezra Brooks is amplified in Ezra Brooks 99, giving consumers of the brand even more to connect to.”

Ezra Brooks 99 is competitively priced with other premium American bourbon whiskey brands within its category, and it will be available in a 750 ml bottle nationwide beginning in January 2021. For more information or to find a retailer, visit EzraBrooks.com.

About Luxco

A leading producer, supplier, importer, and bottler of beverage alcohol products, Luxco’s mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Founded in St. Louis in 1958, Luxco remains locally owned and operated by the Lux family. In April 2018, Luxco opened its first bourbon distillery – Lux Row Distillers – bringing the Lux family’s legacy to the heart of Bourbon Country in Bardstown, Kentucky. Lux Row Distillers is home to many of the company’s bourbon brands, such as Ezra Brooks, Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson, and Daviess County. Luxco’s innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit luxco.com.

RAISE A DRAM TO THE YEAR OF THE OX WITH THE ROYAL SALUTE 21 YEAR OLD LIMITED EDITION GIFT PACK

The luxury Scotch whisky’s 21 Year Old Signature Blend gets a new look to celebrate the Lunar New Year  

Royal Salute, known for its exceptional portfolio of rare and precious whiskies, reveals a limited edition to mark the Lunar New Year; an artistically illustrated gift pack for the whisky’s 21 Year Old Signature Blend. The vibrant red, creative outer packaging tells an intricate story of the traditions of the spring festival, intertwining symbols of good health and prosperity to create the ultimate gift to share with loved ones to welcome the Year of the Ox. 

Gift giving is the foundation of Royal Salute, being first created as a gift for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Since its creation 67 years ago, the 21 Year Old Signature Blend has kept the same flavour profile; sophisticated and opulent in character with a majestic composition of ripened fruits complemented by hints of spices.  

To this day, the luxury blended Scotch continues to celebrate creativity and culture in contemporary ways, with a spark of artistry and sophistication that is signature to Royal Salute’s refined and wondrous world, and this limited-edition 21 Year Old Signature Blend Lunar New Year gift pack is no exception. This vibrant red gift pack brings to life the celebratory festival that sees cities around the world transform into bright and colourful displays of red and gold, with visions of lanterns, dragon puppets and firecrackers; an enthralling atmosphere that resonates perfectly with the enchanting world of Royal Salute.  

The limited edition Royal Salute 21 Year Old Lunar New Year gift pack is available at selected luxury retailers, at RRP $135 USD. For more information on the enchanting world of Royal Salute, follow @RoyalSalute and #RoyalSaluteNY or visit royalsalute.com  

Please Enjoy Royal Salute Responsibly 

WOLFBURN WHISKY IS CROWNED “BRAND OF THE YEAR”  

Up against stiff competition from long-established whiskies from both Scotland and Ireland, Wolfburn has scooped top honours by being voted the Whiskey Committee’s Brand of the Year 2020.

The Whiskey Committee is an independent UK-based association of 133 respected whiskey aficionados. Spokesman Dale Scott commented: ‘We’ve been constantly reviewing whiskies throughout 2020. There’s been no particular theme – everything from major blue-chip brands to small independent producers has been included, and competition has been incredibly tight. Although Wolfburn has only been selling for five years, their brand is increasingly visible and they do a consistently excellent job. They don’t have the widest range of whiskies, but the focus is on quality, and their passion shines through everything they do. Our congratulations to the whole team!’

Whisky Committee administrator John Slasor added: ‘Wolfburn first came to our notice back in 2018, and we were highly impressed with their single malts. Their core range follows a defined theme of different flavour variants and is cleverly augmented with annual small-batch releases. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed reviewing them and look forward to additional new releases in 2021.’

‘A welcome surprise and a cracking start to the year!’ said Wolfburn’s Brand Ambassador Mark Westmorland. ‘It’s really humbling to hear such lovely comments about our brand and our whisky. Our sincere thanks to the Whisky Committee for honouring us with this award.’

FULL TEXT OF THE AWARD:

🥃 The Whiskey Committee’s BRAND of the Year 2020 🥃

So while we ponder which Whisky will take our Whisk(e)y of the year 2020 crown, we also mentioned in previous vids/posts that we would be considering a BRAND of the year 2020.

Now over the past year we have had numerous tasting sessions (mainly via Zoom, cheers COVID) of lots of brands and tried various expressions they each offer.

To name a few:

* An Auchentoshan Single Malt Whisky  experience where we sampled the American Oak, 12 year old, Triple Wood, Sauvignon Blanc and the Bartenders Malt. A fantastic range that offered very contrasting drams that were either rated very highly by all or had a few looking to move on quicker than others.

*Jameson Irish Whiskey blind tasting session via Zoom was a great night had by all. We sampled the Original, Black Barrel, Caskmates Stout, Caskmates IPA and the Crested edition. These all went down surprisingly well given the overall cost for the 5 bottles came in at around £100, however some did tend to have very similar notes and finishes which some of us struggled to distinguish between one or the other.

*Another range we have sampled throughout the year is Laphroaig We still have a way to go with this brand as there are higher end expressions we are yet to explore but so far this year we have enjoyed the Select, 10 year old, Quarter Cask and ‘The Old Malt Cask” 12 year old edition. All hold the beautiful heavy smoke/peat you expect from a Laphroaig with subtle fruit hints or smoother finishes here and there. We have all enjoyed each one but for some it can be an acquired taste at times and its very much a whisky that requires some bedding in at first, not for the faint hearted!

HONORABLE MENTIONS

*Bunnahabhain Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a brand we have enjoyed from time to time but separately. We have all possibly had different expressions at any one time but not all together. There are some we have tried while others we haven’t but this one can be marked down for a strong contender in 2021 as it will be on the list for a tasting event I’m sure.

Another that follows a similar pattern is The Dalmore, again we have all sampled the base 12 year old expression but others have explored the 15 or 18 year old, the Cigar Malt or Port wood, the Valour or the Dominium, however it’s a brand we will be taking into consideration for next year’s sampling.

Therefore with all those considered we have have come to the unanimous decision that The Whiskey Committee’s BRAND OF THE YEAR 2020 is…………

Wolfburn Whisky 

Yes, our pick for 2020 is to follow the wolf.

This increasingly popular brand seems to have quietly crept out of the cold North shadows as its namesake would and sank its teeth into our Committee, leaving a lasting reminder of its bite, but a mark one would proudly show off.

This year we have further explored a brand that came to our attention back in 2018 and has since gone from strength to strength in a very short space of time. It’s not a brand you will likely see on any supermarket shelves but is one that should be sought at every opportunity.

Originally the distillery was founded by William Smith in 1821 on the outskirts of Thurso and was ran by the Smith family before dwindling into ruin by 1872. Then in 2011, Wolfburn awoke from hibernation and work began to release the beast once more. After a lot of hard work and care Wolfburn was back with its first bottling of single malt in 2016, it was named ‘Northland’. And since then the distillery has churned out many fantastic expressions and small batch exclusives all over the world.

Courtesy of their Brand Ambassador, Mark Westmorland we enjoyed a fantastic tasting session during lockdown via Zoom and we were able to enjoy their four core expressions (Northland, Aurora, Langskip & Morven) plus their No.155 small batch. Although they are only a young brand these non-age-statement drams are a thing of beauty and could easily go up against some of the powerhouse age statements.

Wolfburn’s blood, sweat and tears have gone into each bottle and their aim is to ensure all have core notes that is a hallmark of their brand, whilst expressing unique traits in each expression that we were absolutely blown away with. There has been not one bottle we have tried that has disappointed us, the list is quite large and includes a number of the small batch releases and that is testament to Wolfburn and their hard work, it has paid off in bucket loads guys. Bravo and Thank you!

So there you have it, Congratulations

Our Brand of the Year 2020 – Wolfburn Whisky

ABOUT WOLFBURN:

The original Wolfburn Distillery was founded just to the west of Thurso by William Smith in 1821.  In its day it was one of the largest distilleries in Scotland, producing, according to HMRC records, 28,056 “gallons of proof spirit” in a single year.  Taking its name from the stream that provided the water – the Wolf Burn – the distillery operated until around 1870.  The reasons for its closure are lost in time, but by 1877 the newly produced Ordnance Survey maps showed it being in ruins.

In 2011 plans were laid to resurrect the old distillery. Construction began in 2012 and in January 2013 the new Wolfburn Distillery commenced production, thereby becoming the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland.  Situated 300m from the site of the original distillery, the new Wolfburn operates in much the same way as the old: craftsmen use traditional methods to produce fine spirit, which is laid down in best quality oak casks to await the day when it is bottled as single malt scotch whisky.  Wolfburn’s single malt scotch whiskies are now available in 27 countries globally.

Wolfburn Distillery, Henderson Park, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7XW

www.wolfburn.com 

www.facebook.com/wolfburn