Award Wins and Halo Releases Round Off a Great Year at Douglas Laing & Co.

Leading independent bottler, Douglas Laing & Co, rounds off 2020 with two big award wins and two special bottlings.

The family firm won Bottler of the Year at the Spirits Business Awards while Fred Laing, Chairman at Douglas Laing, was presented with the Lifetime Achievement award.

These revered accolades are the result of the firm’s impressive year-on-year double digit growth, flair for innovation and continued enthusiasm to drive this family-owned and run business via Distillery capital expenditure projects and its new bottling facility.

With a philosophy to release Whisky “as natural as it gets”, it’s unsurprising Douglas Laing & Co have chosen to round off 2020 with two exceptional XOP Black Single Cask bottlings. The first of these is a “Sherry bomb” distilled at the Glenrothes Distillery in Speyside. Said to be “as dark as Coca-Cola”, this 1989 Vintage has spent its life maturing in a single Sherry butt. The second release is an XOP Black Single Cask bottling from Teaninich Distillery. Distilled in 1975, this 45 Years Old Single Malt bursts with “notes of buttery oat biscuits, waxy oranges and honeyed barley”.

Commenting on 2020, Douglas Laing’s Chairman, Fred Laing indicated:

“2020 is certainly one we’ll remember for its Covid-related ups and downs. From a strictly business perspective, these recent awards and accolades coupled with some special bottlings are a very positive way to close off what has been an exciting year for the company. We have faced challenges but on the whole it has been a good year at Douglas Laing as we continue to see growth across our core brands, investment in increased capacity at Strathearn Distillery and significant progress with our Glasgow-based distillery, bottling and head office project. Now we look forward to 2021 and what that will bring.”

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING:

www.douglaslaing.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/douglaslaingwhisky

Instagram: @dlaingwhisky

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distiller, blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (from the Islands) and Big Peat (Islay). Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular and XOP, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY UNVEILS ITS NEW THOMAS S. MOORE BRAND OF CASK FINISHED BOURBON WHISKEYS

An Exciting New Brand Dedicated To Extended Finishing in a Variety of Casks From Around the World

            BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (Dec. 10, 2020) – As whiskeys from Barton 1792 Distillery continue to receive global acclaim, the Distillery introduces its first ultra-premium brand. This range of Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys has been finished in a variety of select casks from around the world. The first three expressions will be available in limited release this December, a Port Finish, a Chardonnay Finish, and a Cabernet Sauvignon Finish.

            In 1889, Thomas S. Moore built the Distillery known today as Barton 1792 Distillery. Moore was an early pioneer in Bardstown, recognized today as the Bourbon Capital of the World. Leading up to Prohibition, Moore established a constantly evolving whiskey empire, growing his humble operation into a powerhouse distillery, filling hundreds of barrels of whiskey a day. Business boomed until The 18th Amendment forced the Distillery to cease production in 1920.  Today this namesake line of bourbons intends to honor Thomas S. Moore, an innovative bourbon pioneer.

            Barton 1792 Distillery will define a new category of “extended cask finished” bourbon whiskeys with this new collection.  Their signature high rye recipe bourbon is aged for many years in new charred oak barrels before filling other casks that previously matured various wines or spirits from around the world, ranging from Cognac to Cabernet to Port and more. In these fabulous casks, the bourbon aged an additional one to three years. This extended cask-finishing method results in elegant whiskeys, each displaying a distinct flavor profile, reflecting nuances of both the bourbon and the finishing cask. Details for each are as follows:

            Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Port Casks is described as having a taste that is soft and sweet, with subtle hints of vanilla and baking spices. This whiskey is 98.9 proof.

            Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Chardonnay Casks has a rich taste, with notes of citrus, tropical fruit, and buttery oak. This whiskey is 97.9 proof.

            Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey Finished in Cabernet Sauvignon Casks has a bold taste, with notes of dark fruit, caramel, and vanilla. This whiskey is 95.3 proof.

            The tall sophisticated bottles feature imagery that pays homage to the legacy of Thomas S. Moore. Each label displays the image of a racehorse standing tall, honoring one of Moore’s earliest whiskey brands, Belle of Nelson, named for the thoroughbred who won the Kentucky Oaks in 1878.

Suggested retail pricing for each Thomas S. Moore expression is $69.99; state taxes will vary per market. Additional cask-finished releases will be unveiled every year in the fall. For more information about Thomas S. Moore Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, visit the brand at https://www.facebook.com/thomassmoorebourbon/ on Facebook and @thomassmoorebourbon on Instagram.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery, and is named for the year Kentucky became a state. The Distillery has garnered a number of prestigious awards for its whiskies, including its 1792 Full Proof, which was named the World Whiskey of the Year for 2020

Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases

15^th Batch of Stagg Jr.

Celebrate the Holidays with 131.1 proof Bourbon 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Dec. 15, 2020) Buffalo Trace Distillery is releasing its winter allocation of Stagg Jr, just in time for the holidays.  This is 15^th release in the series and weighs in at 131.1 proof.  Like previous versions, Stagg Jr is uncut, unfiltered, aged over eight years, and with a taste profile similar to its elder statesman, George T. Stagg.

Tasting notes describe this barrel proof whiskey with vanilla bean and salted caramel front and center on the nose, cherries, cinnamon and oak on the palate, and a long finish of toasted vanilla, pepper, coffee and hints of sweet mint.

Introduced in 2013, Stagg Jr. quickly became a favorite of whiskey reviewers, and won a double gold medal in this year’s San Francisco Worlds Spirits Competition.  Previous accolades include being named “tried and true,” and “great value,” from competitions such as Los Angeles International Spirits Competition, New York World Spirits Competition, World Whiskies Awards, and others.

Only two batches of Stagg Jr. are produced each year. This 15^th batch is headed to retailers now.  The next release will be late spring 2021.  Suggested retail pricing for Stagg Jr. is $49.99; state taxes will vary per market.

About Stagg Jr. Bourbon

The Stagg line is named after George T. Stagg, one of the legendary craftsmen of Buffalo Trace Distillery, who was responsible for building the most dominant American distillery of the 19^th century on the banks of the Kentucky River, now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery.  Like the man it honors, the Stagg line is bold and robust, consisting of uncut, unfiltered whiskies –  Stagg Jr. and George T. Stagg, part of the Antique Collection. 

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.  To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/media

Isle of Arran Distillers raise £2,100 for The Waverley Appeal

In partnership with WhiskyAuction.com, Isle of Arran Distillers have raised £2,100 in funds to continue to maintain the boiler of the historic Waverley – the last sea-going paddle-steamer in the world.

Earlier this year Isle of Arran Distillers produced a Distillery Exclusive Single Cask which was specially chosen and bottled in support of the Waverley Paddle Steamer’s Boiler Repair campaign.  This was an exclusive bottling sold only though the Arran Whisky web site and in the Lochranza Distillery shop.

In partnership with WhiskyAuction.com, the island distillers donated Bottle Number 1 from this very special cask to the December auction, with the intent that the proceeds raised would go towards raising funds for the Boiler Appeal of the iconic Waverley paddle-steamer.

Listed as a “vessel of pre-eminent national importance”, the Waverley has a special place in the hearts of Scots and, more recently, the whole of the British Isles. The current Waverley was built in 1946 as a replacement for an earlier paddle-steamer of the same name which served in both wars.

Until 1973 it reliably carried passengers from Craigendoran on the Firth of Clyde to Arrochar on Loch Long, becoming a familiar sight for generations of Scots, before it was sold to the Paddle Steamer Preservation Society to operate excursions around the British coast.

The idea for this Private Cask came from local Arran Tour Guide Campbell Laing. As a surprise for Campbell, his colleagues in Lochranza contributed towards buying bottle number one for him to keep, as a reminder of the bottling that he helped bring to life. Rather than keep it himself, Campbell was willing to donate this exclusive bottle towards the auction to raise further funds.

The special whisky sold at auction was Bottle Number One of just 225 bottles of 12-year-old single malt aged in a single Bourbon Barrel and bottled at 59.6% ABV.

This precious bottle came packaged along with a hipflask and mini glass decanter with matching glasses.

On the close of the auction, the winning bid came to £2,100 and the full amount will be donated towards the appeal.

For further information on the Isle of Arran Distillers, including how to purchase their award-winning whiskies, please visit www.arranwhisky.com

Isle of Arran Distillers celebrate growth alongside continued sales of new Lagg Distillery casks

The Isle of Arran Distillers is nearing the end of their newest distillery’s cask sales programme, with increasing demand in casks of Lagg Single Malt meaning there is only a small selection remaining to purchase.

Since opening their second site on the Isle of Arran last year, Lagg Distillery, the distillers have been offering whisky fans the opportunity to be part of their uniquely exciting whisky story by purchasing the first casks of the single malt whisky produced there.

The programme has driven exceptional growth in the independently owned distillers, with total sales across the company increasing by 62%, in part due to the fact that over 600 casks of Lagg Single Malt have been sold from the allocation of 700. Alongside this, the island distillers have also seen online mail order sales of whisky double during this turbulent year.

Owning a cask of Lagg whisky, which will mature into Lagg Single Malt and eventually be available to bottle, means the owner will become part of the exclusive Lagg Cask Society.

This comes with some unique additional benefits, including a golf pass which entitles the owner to play all of Arran’s courses and the gift of a bottle of whisky from Cask Number One when it is bottled at 10 years-old, which is being specially held aside for cask owners.

The opening of Lagg Distillery, the company’s second site on the island, last year was a significant milestone in the island’s unique whisky story. Its distinctive shape is now a fixture on the island’s Southern coastline, bringing distillation back to its traditional heartland in that area of the Isle of Arran.

The spirit produced there, and available to purchase in casks, is expected to mature into the rich, earthy, smoky, Lagg Single Malt which will be very different in character to what the distillers currently produce at their original distillery in Lochranza.

Director of Operations & Production for Lagg Distillery, James MacTaggart said: “Since we opened Lagg Distillery in 2019, we’ve been delighted to see how many whisky fans have already supported our journey by buying a cask and becoming part of our unique Lagg Cask Society.

“It really is a once in a lifetime opportunity to get involved with a distillery right at the very start of its story and to share in a brand-new island adventure with our pioneering whisky company.

“Purchasing a cask goes much deeper than just the financial benefits and represents an emotional investment, buying into the passionate people on the Isle of Arran that make our whisky and forming a lasting connection – it’s hard to put a price tag on that.”

When purchasing any cask of whisky, it is not a finished product but instead a work in progress that will mature over the coming years with plenty of patience required. The very nature of Scotch whisky means that it takes a long-term view, with spirit having to mature for at least three years and often aging much longer than that.

For further information on how to purchase the last remaining casks to be filled at the Lagg Distillery and becoming a member of the Lagg Cask Society, visit www.laggwhisky.com

Notes: 

Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for:

Drinks Business Best Contribution to Wine and Spirits Tourism (2017)

Best Brewery/Distillery Tour – Scottish Outdoor Leisure Awards (2017)

Best Visitor Experience – Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (2018)

Product Awards include:

Arran 10 year-old: Gold Medal ‘Best Single Malt 12 Years & Under, World Whiskies Awards (2019) San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal (2018). International Wine & Spirits Competition Gold Medal (2018). Category Winner and Gold Medal ‘Best Scotch Under 12 Years’ Islands Non-Islay at the World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018). Ultimate Spirits Challenge 91 points (2018). Ultimate Spirits Challenge Cocktail Commendation for the Rob Roy (2018). Double Gold Medal China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards (2014)

Arran 18 year-old: Gold Medal & Category Winner ‘Best Single Malt 13 – 20 Years, World Whiskies Awards (2020)  Gold Medal ‘Best Single Malt 13 – 20 Years, World Whiskies Awards (2019) International Wine & Spirits Competition Gold Medal (2018) Category Winner & Gold Medal ‘Best Scotch 13-20 Years – Islands (Non- Islay) World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018) Scottish Field Whisky Challenge – Gold Award for Best Whisky £50-100 (2018)

Quarter Cask ‘The Bothy’: Best Scotch Island Single Malt, World Whiskies Awards (2020 & 2019) Category Winner & Gold Medal ‘No Age Statement Single Malt’ for The Bothy Batch 3 World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Wine & Spirits Competition Silver Outstanding Medal (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018)

Arran Barrel Reserve:  Silver Medal ‘No Age Statement Single Malt’ World Whiskies Awards (2020)

Speaker launches whisky to celebrate Palace of Westminster’s 150^th

The Speaker of the House of Commons is celebrating the 150^th anniversary of the Palace of Westminster with the launch of a limited-edition single malt whisky.

It was a century and a half since rebuilding work was completed on the iconic building, following a devastating fire in 1834.

To celebrate this milestone, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the 158^th Speaker of the House of Commons, has selected ‘Point of Order’ – a 23-year-old scotch – with the help of Chief Whips from the four main political parties.

Artfully matured in a traditional European oak Sherry cask by Murray McDavid, the single malt was created at the Glentauchers Distillery, which has been producing whisky in the Highlands since the late 1800s.

A beautifully balanced whisky with aromas of vanilla fudge and fruit cake, ‘Point of Order’ boasts sweet spices on the palate and a finish of chocolate and nuts.

Sir Lindsay said the special edition whisky would make ‘a very special gift for someone who loves the Palace of Westminster’.

‘To commemorate our 150^th anniversary, there are only 150 bottles available of this limited-edition single malt, which whisky-lovers can bring out on special occasions or keep as an investment for the future,’ he said.

‘I am very proud to be celebrating this moment in time with the launch of this magnificent whisky.’

Named ‘Point of Order’ after the appeals that are made to the Speaker for clarification or a ruling on a matter of procedure in the House of Commons, this unique single malt retails at £200 and is available for sale from the House of Commons shop online and other gift shops on the estate.

Notes

• See the whisky in the House of Commons shop online here.

• The new and exclusive whisky will also be available online alongside other products including: Speaker Hoyle’s Select whisky, House of Commons Churchill’s Port and House of Commons Dry London Gin
• Point of Order was bottled at 46% ABV. A 70cl bottle retails at £200
• Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley, was elected Speaker of the House of Commons on 4 November 2019, following the departure of John Bercow
• Aceo, which owns Murray McDavid, was founded 20 years’ ago by Edward Odim and his best friend at university. The company hosts whisky tastings on a 1950s’ boat, ‘The Murray McDavid’ on the Clyde in Glasgow, and during the annual Speyside Whisky Festival has taken whisky lovers to the top of local mountains to enjoy a dram.

THE MACALLAN SECURES ACCLAIMED SUSTAINABILITY ACCREDITATION

The Macallan has been awarded the prestigious Butterfly Mark from Positive Luxury for its commitment to sustainability across key areas of the business including innovation, environmental performance, and community development.

The Butterfly Mark is a third-party certification earned by brands that have adopted sustainability as a business strategy. It promotes transparency and enables people to buy better. More than 130 iconic brands worldwide have achieved the mark.

To earn the certification, luxury brands undergo a rigorous assessment to ensure they are meeting the highest standards of innovation within sustainability.  The assessment is designed to holistically evaluate a brand’s commitment to sustainability across the following areas: governance, social impact, innovation, community investment, and environmental performance.

The Macallan’s in-depth review covered all areas of the business, including how it protects The Macallan Estate, its supply chain, and its contribution to local communities.

Igor Boyadjian, managing director of The Macallan, said: “We are proud to confirm that we have been awarded the coveted Butterfly Mark from Positive Luxury.

“Sustainability is a guiding principle for The Macallan across all aspects of the business, from the way we look after our pristine 485-acre Estate, to the way we treat our people and communities. As a brand proud of our strong Scottish roots and distinguished history, we feel a deep responsibility to act with integrity to preserve our craftmanship and mastery for future generations.

“We look forward to continuing our sustainability journey in partnership with Positive Luxury and doing all that we can to encourage a more positive and progressive world.”

Brands that achieve the Butterfly Mark are assigned a bespoke set of ‘positive actions’, displayed in the form of simple symbols that illustrate the unique environmental and ethical business practices each has pursued.

The Macallan’s positive actions highlight its sustainable packaging, biodiversity protection, marine conservation and measures to promote energy efficiency. They also demonstrate The Macallan’s support for charitable causes and community development, and its dedication to fair pay and working conditions.

As a recipient of the Butterfly Mark, The Macallan will be able to display the certification on its packaging and on The Macallan website.

Diana Verde Nieto, Co-Founder and CEO of Positive Luxury, added: “We are extremely pleased to welcome The Macallan to the Positive Luxury community.

“The Macallan does fantastic work honouring the skills of artisans and craftspeople, creating sustainable packaging and implementing an environmental protection programme that supports biodiversity on their Estate.”

The Butterfly Mark originates from the success story of the Large British Blue Butterfly. This species was extinct in Britain in 1979 yet was brought back to the natural world due to the dedication of multiple organisations and individuals.

For further information on The Macallan please visit www.themacallan.com and for more details on Positive Luxury, please visit their website  https://www.positiveluxury.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 mastery of wood and spirit to which The Macallan has been committed 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 which was designed by internationally acclaimed architects and 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 pristine 485-acre Estate.

THE MACALLAN DISTIL YOUR WORLD LONDON DOCUMENTARY TO AIR ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO 

The Macallan’s ground-breaking new exploration, in collaboration with the Roca brothers, to discover the essence of one of the world’s greatest cities will be featured in an Amazon Prime Video documentary from the 7^th December.

Distil Your World London follows The Macallan Whisky Maker Steven Bremner and the Roca brothers, owners of El Celler de Can Roca in Spain, twice named Best Restaurant in the World, as they explore the international city from an array of perspectives including food, culture, innovation, and community spirit.

In their quest to uncover the essence of the city, Steven Bremner and the three Roca brothers encounter Londoners who are experts in fields such as innovation, sustainability, and craftsmanship. Back in Girona at El Celler de Can Roca, they work together to extract the essence of London, creating a unique experiential sensory food and whisky pairing to be served in exclusive bars and restaurants across London.

During their adventure, the long-standing partners spend time with Indian chef Asma Khan, whose experience as a new arrival into London’s melting pot in 1991 and self-taught culinary skills offer a deep look into London’s multicultural side. As they tour a neighbourhood spice shop together, Asma gives a brief history lesson on Britain’s long-standing relationship with India and spices over the centuries and explains how Indian food and its spices have been part of London’s cuisine for almost 200 years. During a dining experience in Asma’s restaurant, Darjeeling Express, they discover the delicate balanced nature of using spices and the complexity of taste that can be achieved.

Steven, Joan, Josep and Jordi also meet with Laura Winningham, CEO of City Harvest London. The large-scale food redistribution charity collects high quality surplus from the food industry and redistributes it to over 300 charities and community programmes. While touring the City Harvest London warehouse, they witness a real sense of commitment and trust in the initiative. Inspired by this vibrant community spirit, they agree that exploring London’s community values is crucial to understanding the city itself.

Community spirit is something that resonates with The Macallan, which places a high value on its own relationship with its local Speyside community, as well as its global community. The Distil Your World London documentary itself will benefit City Harvest London through its online promotion via Good-Loop, a media vendor which enables brands to support charities through their advertising campaigns.

Jaume Ferras, Global Creative Director for The Macallan, said: “Distil Your World London is an exploration and journey in collaboration with the Roca brothers to create a whisky and a gastronomic experience capturing the essence of the city. It is not just about being there, but about immersing yourself and dedicating time to understanding what’s underneath everything you see and Distil Your World London is our attempt to document and share what we have learnt.

“We love the world of gastronomy. Since the origins of the estate where we live in 1543, farming has never stopped. That’s why our relationship with the Rocas is so natural, because we speak about something that we share a common language in. Food and whisky come together in perfect harmony because that’s how we have seen the world since the very beginning of The Macallan.”

Steven Bremner, The Macallan Whisky Maker, said: “We knew that we would find many things we could learn from through our exploration. It is a real challenge trying to take something as big as a city and distil its essence into a single malt whisky and the Distil Your World London  expression does not have typical flavour descriptors that you would see on a whisky.”

Josep Roca, said: “London is a food capital – open, cosmopolitan and a cultural melting pot. What you see in London is the world in a nutshell. The city has a depth: it has a history, and centuries of written cuisine. Thinking up dishes and snacks that remind us of a city is a real challenge. Encapsulating the aromas, the essence, an idea for an appetizer. For a whisky to have that kind of connection with a city is fascinating and all of these challenges arise in the kitchen at El Celler de Can Roca.”

Distil Your World London also features a selection of other characters including: London visionary Mischa Dohler – a Professor in Wireless Communications at King’s College London and director of the Centre for Telecommunications Research who epitomises London’s futuristic side; bespoke tailor Davide Taub – the Head Cutter at Gieves & Hawkes who is defined by the mastery, passion, craftsmanship and time he devotes to every piece he creates; and tea sommelier Edward Eisler – a tea lover who dedicates his life to the finest brews of Chinese tea.

The pioneering documentary marks the next step in The Macallan’s long-standing partnership with the Roca brothers. Their previous collaborations include Distil Your World Scotland, a culinary journey through Scotland to explore the country’s rich cuisine tapestry which resulted in an innovative publication and documentary which is also available to view on Amazon Prime Video as part of the Distil Your World series.

Distil Your World London will air on Amazon Prime Video from 7^th December 2020. 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.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY

TO CONTINUE VIRTUAL TOURISM IN 2021

A Pandemic Pivot Led to a New Crowd Favorite called “Whiskey Wednesday Live”

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Dec 8, 2020) – Businesses are pivoting during the COVID pandemic, including Buffalo Trace Distillery. When travel stalled in the Spring due to safety concerns, this 245-year-old distillery and tourist destination turned to new media to ensure fans could still experience Kentucky’s top bourbon attraction. On-site distillery tours have since resumed, but fans continue to enjoy virtual tourism from the comfort of their homes.

The Buffalo Trace Distillery live stream on social media each week, called Whiskey Wednesday, has been viewed by over 3.6 million people around the world since episodes began on May 13. The unscripted live program is often hosted by Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley or Bourbon Hall-of-Fame Tour Guide Freddie Johnson. Viewers get behind-the-scenes access, insights, live bourbon tastings, and learn from experts how the National Historic Landmark Distillery produces fine bourbon. The interactive show also allows fans to participate, by commenting and asking questions online.

Whiskey Wednesday airs live at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time weekly. The feed is simulcast on social channels for the Distillery and its brands. The feed can be found on the Buffalo Trace Distillery Facebook page, as well as the Buffalo Trace Bourbon YouTube account, and as replays on the Distillery Instagram feed. Past episodes are easily found on the Buffalo Trace Bourbon YouTube channel.

The show debuted with almost 30,000 viewers on Facebook and YouTube on May 13 when Harlen Wheatley showcased the grains used to make bourbon cooking in the mash house. Fans immediately began sharing the streams, posting questions for subsequent shows, and virtually visiting the Distillery in eye-popping numbers.

It only took eight episodes to hit 100,000 viewers (July 15), then one more week to reach 200,000 (July 22). The stream has averaged over 165,000 weekly viewers since July 15, when the Distillery re-opened for socially distanced tours.

“Whiskey Wednesday has given our fans and visitors a connection to us, and allowed us to connect with them, in a time when personal connections are more challenging,” Wheatley said. “If people can’t travel to the Distillery in person, what better way to tour or enjoy a bourbon tasting with us from wherever you are. We’re grateful to our fans for watching and interacting. We hope they keep doing so.”

Future Whiskey Wednesday episodes are planned to continue in 2021 and will include more bourbon tastings, behind-the scenes tours, trivia, history and special guests.

In addition to Whiskey Wednesday, fans can take a virtual tour of the property anytime on the Distillery website.  On-site distillery tours are complimentary and available too, but by reservation only.

The Buffalo Trace Distillery pandemic relief efforts go beyond providing virtual content for visitors and fans. The Distillery continues to produce hand sanitizer on an industrial scale for some of the world’s largest organizations in healthcare, government, military, retail, distribution, airline, pharmacy, and banking industries and has produced about 2 million gallons of hand sanitizer to date.

The Distillery also continues progress on its $1.2 billion infrastructure improvement and distillery expansion to increase production for future bourbon demand.

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.  To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel and Royal Canadian Small Batch Whiskies
Earn Gold Medals at International Spirits Challenge 2020 

            MONTREAL — (Dec. 9, 2020) – Sazerac brands Caribou Crossing Single Barrel and Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whiskies were awarded Gold medals at the 25th annual International Spirits Challenge. These awards were only given to brands that saw exceptional success in the blind tasting process.

The Tasting Awards were held over 12 days of intense blind tastings by panels of more than 50 respected industry professionals.  Samples were delivered to the judges in flights of numbered tasting glasses to ensure accuracy.  Each judge assessed the products according to age, region and variety, which is determined by the entrant and verified by the chairman.

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel is the world’s first single barrel Canadian Whisky and was designed to reinvent the category. Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whiskey is carefully made in very small batches with detailed attention from Sazerac’s master blender.

The International Spirits Challenge received more than 1,700 entries from nearly 70 countries around the globe in this, its 25^th anniversary year. Results from the 2020 International Spirits Challenge can be found at www.internationalspiritschallenge.com. 

About Sazerac

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