Two 1792 Bourbons Receive First Place Honors

at 2020 International Whisky Competition

Four Whiskies From Barton 1792 Distillery Receive Medals

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (July 16, 2020) – Two 1792 Bourbons earned first place titles at the 2020 International Whisky Competition. With 91.2 points, 1792 Full Proof was named the Best Cask Strength Bourbon Whiskey, and with 90.3 points, 1792 Single Barrel was named Best Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey.

Two more 1792 Bourbons were honored at the IWC. With 92.8 points, 1792 12-Year-Old came in second place for Best Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Best Bourbon Whiskey and for Best Kentucky Whiskey. With 92 points, 1792 Bottled-in-Bond came in third place for Best Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Best Bourbon Whiskey and for Best Kentucky Whiskey.

The International Whisky Competition launched in 2010 with a vision of creating a true competition, offering just three medals per category, like the Olympics. The IWC brings the best whiskies from around the world to be tasted and rated by a professional tasting panel. Complete results for the 2020 International Whisky Competition can be found at https://www.whiskycompetition.com/2020-results.

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 by “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.”  To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.

‘Dial a Dram’ for Glen Moray’s new 2020 Distillery Edition

Glen Moray has today (15^th July) unveiled three new limited edition ‘wine-finish’ expressions for its annual Distillery Edition release – which this year will be available to buy through a ‘Distillery dial-in’ service, especially for fans who can’t visit the whisky’s Elgin home in person.

Whisky enthusiasts will be keen to get their hands on the trio of single cask malts – the oldest wine-finished whiskies the Distillery has ever released, each one bursting with the flavours of full maturation in hand-selected Chardonnay, Burgundy and Chenin Blanc casks respectively.

The Distillery Edition is usually reserved exclusively for Distillery visitors, and isn’t sold in shops or online. Whilst Glen Moray is re-opening to visitors today, the team is aware that the ongoing effects of lockdown mean some may not be able to make the trip.

To ensure whisky fans don’t miss out, Glen Moray will offer personal phone consultations over peak visitor season in July and August, where four members of their team – all with a serious passion for whisky – will guide callers through the range, make recommendations, answer questions and take orders in person.

Brand Ambassador and Distillery Visitor Centre Manager Iain Allan will lead the effort alongside Hannah Levy (Assistant Manager), Ieva Hancock (Visitor Centre Assistant) and Laurie-May Macdonald (Café Supervisor). Iain came up with the idea as a contrast to all the virtual, online whisky events that have been taking place during lockdown, and as a way to deliver a personal touch during the buying process. He commented:

‘Buying a bottle of Glen Moray from our annual Distillery Edition is as much about the experience of a visit to the Distillery as it is about buying a wonderful new whisky. For the many people who would normally make the trip and take away one of these special bottles, we wanted to find a way to make the range available but avoid making it just a basic transaction over email or the internet. Everyone working at the Distillery enjoys nothing more than talking about whisky with fellow enthusiasts, answering questions and sharing behind the scenes stories of how Glen Moray is made. So if you can’t make the visit in person this year, please just pick up the phone and dial our distillery team.’

The three expressions in the 2020 Distillery Edition range have been fully matured in ex-wine casks for between 16 and 17 years, after being laid down between 2003 and 2004 in the Distillery’s Warehouse 1 – home to Glen Moray’s curious casks and maturation experiments.

Chardonnay Cask (cask 7670)

Colour: Tawny

Nose: Opens with sweet freshly cut pineapples drizzled in toffee sauce then sprinkled with white pepper.  A very sweet and enticing aroma.

Taste: Raspberry jam and freshly buttered warm toast, followed by hints of bubblegum and citrus.  A flavour which is subtly complex.

Finish: Drier wood spices coming to the fore and leaving you wanting more.

Burgundy Cask (cask 213)

Colour: Auburn

Nose: Aromas of almond and marzipan are at the forefront, covering over lighter notes of fresh orange peel and pine resin.

Taste: A first sip brings out flavours of chocolate coated cherries with a slight earthy note hiding in the background. With the slightest drop of water this is allowed to become more pronounced along with a previously hidden tang of lemongrass.

Finish: The grand finale of this whisky is a crescendo of spices filling the palate with a glorious warmth.

Chenin Blanc Cask (cask 341)

Colour: Auburn

Nose:  A delightful combination of pear drops and freshly made camomile tea.  A robust honeycomb and apple pairing completes the wonderful flavours exuding from the glass.

Taste: Ginger and Seville orange create the opening salvo of a flavour laden explosion on the palate. Tropical fruits mingle with camomile notes, with almonds following the strong opening.

Finish: With all its opening intensity this whisky softly fades into a whisper of ginger, floral hints and a mineral finale.

All three expressions are non-chill filtered, bottled at cask strength and with natural colour. They are available to buy at the distillery, or by calling Iain and the team at Glen Moray Distillery to chat or book a phone consultation on 01343 550900, 9am and 5pm.

Glen Moray Distillery will re-open today (Wednesday 15^th July), Monday to Friday from 9am until 5pm (not weekends) will a full list of health and safety measures in place. Visitors are asked to pre-book tastings and café visits due to limited numbers. Distillery tours are not currently available.

www.glenmoray.com

www.facebook.com/GlenMorayDistillery

www.instagram.com/glen_moray_whisky

www.twitter.com/glenmoraydist

GLEN MORAY

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

NORTH UIST DISTILLERY ACQUIRES HISTORIC BUILDING 

NUNTON STEADINGS WILL BECOME BASE FOR WHISKY PRODUCTION 

North Uist Distillery today (16th July 2020) announced the acquisition of the iconic Nunton Steadings on the Isle of Benbecula.

Nunton Steadings was the scene of several important chapters in island history and is one of the oldest surviving structures in the Western Isles.

Now the local landmark is set to be the site of another historic development, as the base for production of the first whisky to be legally distilled in the southern islands of the Outer Hebrides.

Jonny Ingledew, Master Distiller, and Kate MacDonald, Creative Director, are delighted to have completed the purchase of the steadings, which will be redeveloped as a distillery and visitor centre, and give the couple the space to distil whisky and build on the success of their popular range of premium ‘Downpour’ gins launched in 2019.

“Our main goal has always been to put the islands on the whisky map and therefore we are incredibly excited to have secured Nunton Steadings which will allow us to fulfill our whisky dream,” commented Jonny.

Kate and Jonny plan to make whisky using a grain that local crofters produce, Bere barley, which is one of the oldest cereals grown in the UK.

“At one time all whisky would have been made from Bere barley but it was changed out for higher yielding barleys. Bere tastes incredible and is not mass produced, so it retains a remarkable flavor that we want to harness,” explained Jonny.

Jonny and Kate are keen to work with crofters to create a supply chain of Bere barley on the islands with the intention of one day being able to malt the barley, allowing for full grain to glass production in the new premises, Nunton Steadings.

Nunton Steadings was constructed in its current form in the early 1700s on the site of a nunnery dating back to 1300. Bonnie Prince Charlie took shelter there while on the run in the aftermath of Culloden.

Built on what was then a substantial farm, the structure was seized with the land when crofters raided Nunton in the aftermath of the Great War. Local crofters housed cattle and stored animal feed inside the building until it fell into disrepair and was transferred to the Uist Buildings Preservation Trust, later renamed Nunton Steading Trust, which saw the building renovated in the late 1990s. Nunton Steading Trust placed the building on the market earlier in 2020.

Kate MacDonald commented: “Nunton Steadings has beautiful original features, such as the cobbled floors on the south side of the building, which will be the perfect home for our whisky casks during maturation.

“We will be providing tours which will cover the whisky and gin production process and also share the stories of this historic building and the surrounding areas.”

North Uist Distillery is now working on ambitious plans to bring Nunton Steadings back into use as a hub for the community and visitors with pop up events and a visitor centre.

Kate and Jonny are keen to give the community ownership of this venture and will be running a crowdfunder later in the year to raise money to procure whisky equipment, which has been sized to create a single cask with each production run. It is anticipated the kit will be purchased in March 2021, once finance is secured, with production commencing in 2022.

IMAGES:

Images credit Am Pàipear)

Aerial shots of Nunton Steadings credit Richard Davis

NOTES

Nunton Steadings, a u-shaped building and prominent local landmark, is set in an ideal location, close to the main centre of population, Balivanich, on the Isle of Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides.

Studio Hebrides architecture firm and Allen Associates process engineers are now working with the North Uist Distillery team to redevelop Nunton Steadings into a distillery and new visitor centre on Benbecula.

North Uist Distillery started to trade in 2019 with ‘Downpour’ dry Scottish gin, described as a strong and bold-flavoured premium gin, drenched in extra-strength botanicals, crafted to capture the spirit of life in the Hebrides.

Later in 2019, North Uist Distillery launched ‘Downpour Sloe and Bramble’, which uses local heather and brambles as the main botanicals, making the product a real taste of North Uist.

Both the ‘Downpour’ gins are available to purchase from the website (www.northuistdistillery.com).

Earlier this month (July 2020) North Uist Distillery won ‘Gold’ in the Spirits Business Gin Masters 2020 for both the original ‘Downpour’ and ‘Downpour Sloe and Bramble’.

Having been awarded Visit Scotland’s ‘We’re Good to Go’ stamp of approval, we are thrilled to announce that we will reopen our distillery doors to visitors from Saturday 1st August 2020.

This means we are adhering to the respective Government and public health guidance, have carried out a COVID-19 risk assessment and have the required processes in place to reopen safely and with confidence.

The distillery’s popular  Glengoyne Tasting Experiences will return, and can be attended by a maximum of 20 people from ten households. While the unique Malt Master experience will be available to book for up to four people from a maximum two households.

Each experience will allow visitors to enjoy in-depth insights into Glengoyne’s history, and of course taste our award-winning whiskies.  Tickets must be booked in advance, with up to five sessions available per day.

Protecting our colleagues and visitors continues to be our top priority, so we are asking our visitors to wear masks or face coverings on arrival and while moving around on site. There will be dedicated hygiene stations, with readily available hand sanitizer, around the site.

Access to the stills is prohibited; however, guests are welcome to enjoy our Tasting Experience whilst we share the wonder-filled tales of Glengoyne and our award-winning range. All whiskies will be served in sealed containers for guests to pour themselves.

A video showing the distillery’s revised measures is available to watch.

Glengoyne’s distillery shop will also reopen, with guests being asked to register on arrival for contact tracing before being able to browse and purchase Glengoyne’s range of whiskies and other gifts.

For more information, or to book an experience visit www.glengoynewhisky.com. Alternatively, you can email reception@glengoyne.com

A warm welcome awaits you.

Sláinte!

Glengoyne Distillery

GET IN TOUCH

Glengoyne Distillery, Dumgoyne, Near Killearn, Glasgow G63 9LB
Tel. +44 (0)1360 550 254

Email: reception@glengoyne.com

Facebook | Twitter |  Youtube | Pinterest

Annabel Thomas

INDEPENDENT ORGANIC WHISKY DISTILLERY LAUNCHES LIMITED EDITION CASKS FOR 2020

Scotland’s leading 100% organic whisky distillery Nc’nean launches 60 limited edition casks to the public – an exciting opportunity to own one of the premium, personalised barrels, filled with spirit distilled in the year of the distillery’s first ever release.

To celebrate the defining year for Nc’nean and to acknowledge the historic importance of 2020, the distillery will stencil each cask with ‘Hope lies in dreams’.

“An acknowledgment of the global changes, challenges and hope that 2020 has come to represent to many” says Annabel Thomas, founder of Nc’nean.

Nc’nean is a young, independent, organic whisky distillery with a strong sustainable ethos and innovative approach to spirit making.

Made by nature, not by rules.
£3,000 – £4,600
www.ncnean.com/pages/buy-a-cask 

Pioneering sustainable production, Nc’nean is excited to launch 60 limited edition casks to the public, with the latest addition of specially selected seasoned sherry casks as well as the previously available ex-Bourbon or STR ex-wine barrels. Each specially chosen to offer a distinct taste derived from active properties in the wood after five to ten years of maturation. The sherry barrel will develop sweet notes of
dried fruit and toasted nuts, the perfect balance between sweet and savoury.

2020 marks a year of new and exciting developments as well as a year of challenge and change at the distillery, and to celebrate such a defining year, Nc’nean will hand paint ‘Hope lies in dreams’ on each of the limited edition casks.

Annabel Thomas speaks on the limited edition cask release, “2020 has been the most anticipated year for us here at Nc’nean, our whisky release has been in planning and prep for seven years. Like the rest of the world we’ve had to adapt, re-think and do things differently, something we’re well versed in.

A quote which has stuck with me throughout these challenging times is “Hope lies in dreams, in imagination, and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality” by influential physician and medical researcher Jonas Salk; so we will be stencilling ‘Hope lies in dreams’ onto the end of each 2020 cask.

We aim to put sustainability at the forefront of all we do here at Nc’nean, and in some ways 2020 feels like the perfect backdrop to driving change in our industry and the world’s approach to nature.

With our maiden whisky release just months away, we are releasing our next 60 casks as part of our private cask programme and wanted to make them even more special, acknowledging the global shift we’ve seen during 2020.

Nc’nean is a company which lives by the values of sustainability and diversity in a traditional industry, we hope 2020 and our approach will inspire others to take on the change our society and planet so badly need.”

Protectors of nature, Nc’nean leads the way within the whisky industry, promoting environmental change in the world of spirits, and challenging the ingrained stereotypes of whisky distilling, bringing diversity and inclusion to the whisky industry.

Nc’nean only uses renewable sources for its energy, is certified organic by the Biodynamic Association and is a proud zero waste distillery. Leftover barley feeds cows on the farm and waste pot ale from distilling is spread on local farmland as fertiliser. Nothing is wasted.

The casks are filled with Nc’nean’s 63% ABV new-make spirit which has been distilled in the year of the distillery’s first release, a remarkable moment in the distillery’s journey so far.

Each holding 195 – 220 litres, yielding over 300 bottles at 46% ABV after 5 years. The barrels are priced between £3,000 – £4,600, depending on the selected cask type and initial maturation period.

SEASONED SHERRY CASK £4,100

An exciting new edition this year, seasoned sherry casks are carefully selected to ensure a unique and complex taste once matured. Popular with lovers of fruit forward single malts, each barrel is expected to hold about 360 bottles at 46% ABV after five years.

EX – BOURBON CASK £3,000

Ex-Bourbon casks are filled with Nc’nean’s new-make spirit at 63% abv and will hold approximately 195 litres. After the “angel’s share” (natural evaporation), the barrel is expected to hold about 320 bottles at 46% ABV after five years.

STR EX – WINE CASK £3,900

Larger than ex-bourbon casks, specially selected ex-wine casks are sourced frompremium wineries in the US and Europe and specially treated in Spain or Portugal to improve their characteristics for whisky maturation. All ex-wine casks are STR treated, with the barrel expected to hold about 360 bottles at 46% ABV after five years.

CHOOSE A DIFFERENT SPIRIT RECIPE FOR A LONGER MATURATION +£500

Normally, Nc’nean uses a specific mashing approach, a fruity yeast combination and high cut points to create a whisky that will be perfect for drinking in about five years. Unique to Nc’nean, the distillery also offers a second style of spirit (adjusted mashing, yeast recipes and cut points) to create a whisky that will be perfect in ten years, but will not be ready in five years. This offer includes an additional five years of storage and insurance in the warehouses.

Samples will be taken each year to monitor the maturation and buyers will have the opportunity to extend the period after initial maturation should they wish.

Nc’nean is curious and creative in it’s approach to whisky making. The distillery practices longer mashing times and slower fermentation, and experimenting with yeasts not commonly used in distilling to create a striking spirit like no other. The high, narrow cut on the still helps to produce a purer spirit; the unusual lamp-glass-shaped stills encourage a gentle distillation and significant amounts of reflux, creating a lighter spirit that retains its fruity notes.

Notes

About Nc’nean

Nc’nean is an award winning* independent, organic whisky distillery on the west coast of Scotland. Nc’nean began distilling in March 2017 and from inception has strived to do things differently. In pursuit of new flavours in Scotch Nc’nean uses longer mashing times, slower fermentation and experiments with unusual yeasts not commonly used within whisky distilling. Nc’nean matures its whisky on site in ex-bourbon, sherry and STR casks.

The Nc’nean ethos of sustainable production is embedded in everything it does. It is Scotland’s leading organic whisky distillery and uses only renewable sources for its energy. The leftover grain feeds the cows on the farm and the waste products are spread on the fields as fertiliser. Nothing is wasted.

Its first single malt whisky will be released in late summer 2020.

*International Spirits Challenge 2019 – Silver medal; Wizards of whisky 2020 – Gold Medal

About Annabel Thomas

Annabel grew up in Essex and she spent her childhood summers making the 12 hour journey to family holidays on the west coast of Scotland, north of the Nc’nean whisky distillery. It was through these magical journeys of expectation and experiences of the mountains, the views and the sea, that Annabel fell in love with Scotland.The inspiration for the distillery came from a combination of two things. It began with a trip to Islay where Annabel witnessed first hand that many Scotch distilleries do things in a very similar way and often the way things had always been done, and she left wondering whether there was scope to do things differently. The second was the location itself – Annabel’s parents bought the land that the distillery is on more than 10 years ago – an area of Scotland that is wild, beautiful and in many ways perfect for a whisky distillery. From these beginnings Annabel started to develop the idea to create a distillery that practices another
of her great passions – sustainability.

The Nc’nean whisky distillery was born: a distillery made by nature, not by rules.

Barclays backs Glasgow Distillery’s global growth plans

The Glasgow Distillery Company has secured a £5.5m asset based lending facility from Barclays to support its international growth plans. In addition, Barclays has assumed full day to day banking for the distillery which re-opened in 2014 becoming the first independent single malt whisky distillery in Glasgow for over 100 years.

The funding will provide working capital to invest in increasing whisky stocks and continuing The Glasgow Distillery Company’s international expansion. While Europe is currently its biggest export market, the company has seen strong growth in Asia this year. New retail contracts have been secured in Russia with distribution deals currently being developed in Belgium and Luxembourg.

New product development is core to the distillery’s growth plans and in the last two months it has successfully launched two new products, further expanding its award winning range.

The Glasgow Distillery Company has remained operational throughout the current pandemic and pivoted its business to add hand sanitiser to production schedules and maximise e-commerce opportunities, growing online direct-to-consumer sales by 500%. The team has also created a virtual tasting experience, investing in a fully equipped tasting room which will be used to take the distillery tour to international buyers, tackling the challenge of travel restrictions.

Ian McDougall, Finance Director and Co-founder of the Glasgow Distillery Company said “We’re delighted Barclays has chosen to back the next stage of our growth plans, especially in such difficult economic circumstances. This investment will help finance our strategy to respond to increasing worldwide demand for our products. We have ambitious plans and, with the support of Barclays, our customers, suppliers and employees we are confident of our future success.”

The Barclays team was led by Stuart McAleese, Relationship Director, and Mike Kempton-Smith, Asset Based Lending.

Stuart McAleese, Relationship Director at Barclays Corporate Banking said: “The Glasgow Distillery Company is a great example of an organisation with a solid forward-thinking business plan that’s clearly focussed on continued and strategic growth. We worked closely with the founders, applying our industry expertise and understanding of the whisky sector to tailor a bespoke asset based lending funding package that will support further expansion of their award winning product range and international market reach.”

Founders Liam Hughes, Mike Hayward and Ian McDougall revived The Glasgow Distillery Company which originally opened in 1770 before closing in the early 20^th century. The business now employs 24 staff and produces The Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Signature range and Malt Riot Blended Malt as well as Makar Gin, Banditti Club Spiced Rum and G52 Botanical Vodka.

Notes

About Barclays 

Barclays is a British universal bank.  We are diversified by business, by different types of customers and clients, and by geography.  Our businesses include consumer banking and payments operations around the world, as well as a top-tier, full service, global corporate and investment bank, all of which are supported by our service company which provides technology, operations and functional services across the Group.

Glenfarclas Distillery and BI Wine and Spirits team up to bring the Spirit of Speyside to all

Though the Spirit of Speyside whisky festival, set to take place in late April, had to be cancelled due to Covid-19, the family owned Glenfarclas distillery and London based merchant BI Wine and Spirits have teamed up to release the 2020 distillery exclusive. BI will be donating 10% of sales of this unique whisky to the Moray Food Plus foodbank. The foodbank was selected in recognition of the amazing work that they do to help tackle the difficulties of food insecurity in the local Speyside community.

‘The impact of the pandemic has been widespread and has affected all in some form or another, so teaming up with BI to ensure the 2020 release was made available to those unable to make it up to the distillery was an easy decision to make’, says George Grant, Glenfarclas Sales Director and 6^th Generation family member.

Each year, different members from the Glenfarclas distillery team choose a whisky to be sold as the limited release at the festival. The honour of choosing the 2020 exclusive went to the team at the very heart of the whisky making process – the still men. John, Jimmy and Graham enjoyed a break from their day job and were delighted by the opportunity to sample some of the great casks resting at the distillery. Rumour has it, the chosen cask was the first that they sampled – but ever the professionals they are, they tried many more, just to be sure.

The so-called ‘Stillmen’s Dram’ is a single cask bottling of 2009 liquid. Aged for 10 years in First-Fill Oloroso Sherry Butt #1446, this release was bottled at a cask of 60.1% resulting in a limited run of 658 bottles. Offering a complex balance of rich candied fruit and sherry oak spice, this dram is a must have for any lover of Glenfarclas.

The bottles will be made available for purchase from the 18^th July 2020 through BI Wine and Spirits’ online platform with an RSP of £100.

Gary Boom, BI’s Managing Director, said:

“BI has always been proud to work with the Glenfarclas distillery. It is a rare family owned business that has retained its integrity throughout the years. That integrity shines through with this bottling and the decision to donate 10% of profits to the Moray Food Plus was an easy decision to make. I am delighted that BI is able to team up with Glenfarclas to bring the release to collectors and drinkers who were perhaps unable to make it up to the distillery due to the global pandemic. I am thrilled the Spirit of Speyside lives on.’

George Grant, Glenfarclas Sales Director and Sixth Generation Family Member, said:

“The impact of the pandemic has been widespread and has affected all in some form or another, so teaming up with BI to ensure the 2020 release was made available to those unable to make it up to the distillery in late April was an easy decision to make. The Moray Food Plus was an obvious charity to pick as the work that they do across the Speyside community is nothing short of outstanding.”

Available at www.BIwine.com 

About BI: 

Established in 1997, BI (www.biwine.com) has grown to become a leading global fine wine merchant. Founded by South African-born Gary Boom, BI’s aim is to make the world of fine wine accessible to a broader audience. The Company has offices in London, Hong Kong, Singapore and Los Angeles, as well as a rapidly growing international customer base.

In July 2018 BI was named ‘Bordeaux Specialist of the Year’ at both the International Wine Challenge Merchant Awards, having previous won this award in 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010 and 2008. In addition in 2016 and 2015 BI was named ‘Fine Wine Retailer of the Year’ by the industry’s leading publication, The Drinks Business, and was awarded ‘Bordeaux Specialist Retailer’ at the 2015 and 2014 Decanter Retailer of the Year awards.

Innovation has always been at the heart of the business.  In 2009 BI launched LiveTrade, the world’s first online wine trading platform; as the only provider of live bid and offer prices for top Bordeaux and other regions, LiveTrade guarantees liquidity to the fine wine market.

Whyte & Mackay employees globetrot 29,000 miles for charity 

The employees of Glasgow based Whyte & Mackay have begun a virtual adventure which will see those taking part clock up enough miles to travel around the world. They have set themselves the challenge of walking, running, rowing or cycling a combined total of almost 29,000 miles over the next eight weeks to raise money for nominated charities.

The challenge – Whyte & Mackay Cares – was inspired by the heroic feats of Captain Tom Moore in the UK. Funds raised will go towards charities nominated by the team at Whyte & Mackay, which includes the Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH).
A  full lap of the earth is a little under 25,000 miles, but the course will be longer than that as the team clocks up their target distance between 1 July and 26 August with the aim of raising £50,000 for charity in the communities where their colleagues, partners and consumers live. The additional mileage will enable them to ‘visit’ some key cities along the route.

Employees based in Canada, USA, Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong, UAE, South Africa, Germany, France, Spain and Russia are taking part alongside their UK-based colleagues. The challenge was initiated by the team themselves as part of their desire to stay connected and support other people  during lockdown.

Nick Garland, Chief Commercial Officer at Whyte & Mackay, said: “Thanks goes to the organising team for leading the way and creating a fun challenge that everyone can get involved in. We’re living in unprecedented times – as has been widely recognised. That we stay connected and support our community and our friends further afield is really important, especially now. The role charities play in keeping people connected, and providing access to the support that is needed is vital. We are delighted to play our part by raising funds to support their work.”

Holly Johnstone, Communication and Partnerships Manager, said: “I am really proud to be part of this team, which is demonstrating real commitment to our communities. We all wanted to contribute to the well-being of people around the world. Where we cannot meet to fundraise in person, we are doing so online instead.”

Emma Docherty, HR Advisor at Whyte & Mackay, said: “Many of our colleagues have been unable to work in their offices during the pandemic and have had to adapt to working from home. This left some feeling isolated and we wanted to ensure our colleagues still felt connected to their teams and the wider business. To do this, we felt it was vital to put even more focus on employee wellbeing. This challenge not only encourages colleagues to exercise and take time away from their screens, it also has given a platform for colleagues across the world to connect, communicate and challenge each other.

“The Scottish Association of Mental Health (SAMH) supports those who are struggling and has a great variety of resources available, including  information and tips for those who have been impacted during the pandemic.”

The team clocked up enough miles after day one to travel from Glasgow to London. Whyte & Mackay hosted a virtual pub quiz on 1 July after the journey from Glasgow had ‘arrived’ in London that evening.

Keep track of the team’s progress over the next eight weeks by following them on Instagram @WhyteandMackayCares / #WhyteandMackayCares.

About Whyte & Mackay Group Ltd.

Whyte & Mackay was founded in Glasgow in 1844, and today celebrates its 175^th anniversary with a multi-award-winning portfolio of brands which includes The Dalmore, Jura, Tamnavulin and Fettercairn whiskies alongside its namesake Whyte & Mackay Blended Whisky.

The award-winning whisky makers are proud partners of Flor de Caña, Camus and RumChata distributing their distinctive brands in the UK, while in recent years their focus on pioneering innovation has seen them reveal a plethora of brand extensions and new to world brands. From an exclusive 50 Year-Old Highland Single Malt from The Dalmore celebrating the career of Master Distiller Richard Paterson to a full range revamp on Jura. In the last twelve months, more than five new brands have been revealed, to name a few – Shackleton, Woodsman, and Wildcat, as well an independent boutique bottling arm The Whisky Works, fronted by whisky maker, Gregg Glass.

The global spirits business is headquartered in the heart of Glasgow, and employs over 500 people around the globe, across five international offices, five distilleries and a state-of-the-art bottling plant in Scotland.
Today, with the support of its owners Emperador Inc,. Whyte & Mackay is building a progressive, passionate and ambitious company for the future. Emperador is a subsidiary of Alliance Global Group, Inc (an international conglomerate listed on the Philippine Stock Exchange).

Whiskey Website Data Proves That Drinkers

Maintain Consistent Bourbon Preference 

Crowd Sourced Brand Arriving in Stores Now 

        FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (July 9, 2020) –Buffalo Trace Distillery launched an interactive website (www.yourperfectbourbon.com) in the fall of 2015 designed to teach people about bourbon whiskey. Two years later, 2017, more than 100,000 fans had participated in crafting their perfect bourbon and the results were amazingly similar. In response, Buffalo Trace released a new product to offer fans what they were asking for. This crowd sourced brand was called Weller CYPB, short for Craft Your Perfect Bourbon. Now, just two years since the launch of Weller CYPB, the number of people using the website has tripled to 300,000, and the results remain overwhelmingly consistent. The interactive “Craft Your Perfect Bourbon” website data shows whiskey drinkers prefer wheat recipe bourbon, aged 8 years on the top warehouse floors and bottled somewhere between 90-99 proof.

Fans will again have the opportunity to enjoy this crowd-sourced favorite, as the annual release of Weller CYPB will begin arriving in stores this summer. Although very limited, one batch of this bourbon is produced each year. The recommended price is $49.99.

“Two years ago we were amazed to see the website data indicate such a strong preference amongst countless possibilities,” Senior Marketing Director Kris Comstock said. “We took that feedback from 100,000 fans to heart. Now with more than 300,000 participants, it is wonderful to see an overwhelming majority of fans still prefer bourbon with the specifications of our Weller CYPB. We are happy to continue giving bourbon drinkers more of what they crave every year.”

The Craft Your Perfect Bourbon website allows users to choose the recipe and grain percentages, select the warehouse level, how long it ages, and the proof for bottling. The latest website data shows stark differences between each variable and the next closest preference. There is nearly a 50,000 response difference between the wheated bourbon recipe and the second recipe preferred, Rye Mash #1. The data shows 23% of respondents would age their bourbon for eight years, compared to only 10% who would age their bourbon 23 years. About 73% of fans chose to age their perfect bourbon on the top floor compared to the middle or bottom floors, and nearly 48% of fans proofed their bourbon at 90-99.

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 1773 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 by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 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