Glen Scotia unveils new festive Sherry Double Cask Finish

One of Campbeltown’s three surviving distilleries, Glen Scotia, has released a new limited-edition Glen Scotia Sherry Double Cask Finish, with only 15,000 bottles available worldwide.

Presented in a striking black and gold gift carton, the 11 Year Old single malt Scotch whisky showcases warming flavours of cinnamon and nutmeg and subtly spicy notes, perfect for enjoying over Christmas and the festive period.

When the Glen Scotia distillery was opened in 1832, Campbeltown was known to Victorians as the ‘Whisky capital of the World’ and was home to more than 30 distilleries. Many of the Christmas traditions we now enjoy today first originated in the Victorian era, from Christmas trees to gifts, making the Glen Scotia Sherry Double Cask Finish a very fitting Christmas gift for whisky fans across the world.

Using a series of unpeated distillations from 2008, this wonderfully enticing single malt was matured in first fill bourbon barrels before being finished in a combination of hand-selected Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso hogshead sherry casks for a further 10 months, imparting a distinct, sweet flavour. The whisky was then married back together in bourbon casks before bottling at cask strength.

On the nose the Glen Scotia Sherry Double Cask Finish delivers aromas of spiced rum, toffee and juicy plums, along with a rich, velvety mouth feel.  On the palate, the liquid offers sweet vanilla, raisin and warming cloves, before mellowing into a long, nutty and dry finish.

Glen Scotia is a whisky made by history, reflecting the centuries of craftsmanship and experience associated with the fifth and smallest malt producing region. The Glen Scotia Sherry Double Cask Finish plays homage to Glen Scotia’s heritage, dating back to 1832 and steeped in Victorian values.

Master distiller, Iain McAlister, said: “I’m very proud of The Glen Scotia Sherry Double Cask. This is the first single malt that we’ve produced that uses a combination of two sherry casks, and the results are stunning. This limited edition single malt really showcases our signature Glen Scotia style, and paired with casks that were readily available in the town during the Victorian era truly makes it a whisky made by history.

“The combination of the sherry and bourbon casks create a delicious, warming flavour that evokes all the traditional scents and tastes of Christmas, making it the perfect dram to enjoy with friends during the festive season, or a lovely gift for someone special.”

Priced at £65 and available to purchase from specialist and online whisky retailers, including The Whisky Shop from October, the Glen Scotia Sherry Double Cask Finish has an ABV of 54.1%.

The Glen Scotia Sherry Double Cask Finish will be available to purchase at www.thewhiskyshop.com.

Tasting notes: 

Nose:   Spiced rum, juicy plum, toffee and citrus peel

Palate: Rich velvety mouthfeel

Sweet vanilla and salted butter

Raisins and sultanas with warming spice of clove, cinnamon and nutmeg

Finish:  Long, nutty, dry finish 

About Glen Scotia:

• Independent distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832.
• Glen Scotia is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.
• To raise awareness of the importance of the Campbeltown region to Scotland’s whisky history, Glen Scotia campaigned for Campbeltown to be recognised as the “whiskiest place in the world”. A parliamentary motion on the issue lodged at Westminster received cross party support.
• Glen Scotia 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch whisky was awarded a Double Gold medal at the prestigious 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for the second year running. Almost 30,000 spirits were judged by the competition, the largest number of entries in its 19-year history. A Double Gold Medal is awarded when every judge on the panel gives a Gold medal to the expression.
• Glen Scotia Double Cask was awarded a Gold Medal at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2019.
• Glen Scotia 18 Year Old won Best Campbeltown Malt at the World Whisky Awards 2018.
• Images and interviews with key staff from Glen Scotia are available upon request.
• glenscotia.com /Twitter: @GlenScotiaMalts

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES

1995 VINTAGE O.F.C. BOURBON WHISKEY 

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Nov. 17, 2020) — Buffalo Trace is releasing a new O.F.C. Vintage bourbon this fall. In 1995, while Amazon sold its first book and and eBay made its debut as “AuctionWeb,” Buffalo Trace quietly distilled and tucked away its bourbon for 25 years, and now has something wonderful in store for the bourbon connoisseurs of 2020.

This vintage collectible bourbon has been bottled and is set to begin reaching stores in December.  This is the fifth O.F.C Vintage release and, like its predecessors, will be very limited and extremely rare, with this year’s offer only 1,500 bottles.  Similar to previous releases, the 1995 Vintage will arrive in a wooden display box containing a provenance card. Nestled inside the wooden box lies a crystal bottle with real copper lettering in-laid in the bottle and a paper label applied by hand.  The label on the back of the bottle as well as the provenance card note the milestones for the year 1995.

The O.F.C. vintage-dated bourbons have a name derived from this National Historic Landmark’s original moniker — the O.F.C. Distillery — renowned for producing top class whiskey during its tenure.

Tasting notes for this bourbon describe cherry cordial on the nose followed by caramel and slightly smoked-oak. Dark chocolate, tobacco leaves and dates are found on the palate, followed by a lingering finish of leather, black pepper and cinnamon.

Although this is the fifth O.F.C. Vintage release, this is the fourth offered for sale. In the fall of 2016, Buffalo Trace Distillery released three vintage-dated bourbons exclusively to non-profit organizations at no charge to raise money for their causes. Those bottles, from 1980, 1982 and 1983, were auctioned at charity and raised close to $1.2 million for causes including cancer services, cystic fibrosis, leukemia and lymphoma, children’s rights, autism, military veterans, animal protection, arts foundations and many more.

Suggested retail pricing for this collectible and very limited 1995 O.F.C. Vintage Bourbon is $2,500; state taxes will vary per market.

More information about the O.F.C. line can be found at https://ofcvintages.com.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2018 and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world for 2020.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

Dream Whiskies celebrates 4 years with its best whisky competition prize yet.

With Dream Whiskies on the verge of their 4^th anniversary, they are offering a £700 bottle of the limited edition Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix in their 2020 Christmas competition for just 50p an entry!

But who are Dream Whiskies (the whisky world’s best kept secret)?

Dream Whiskies was launched by world-champion mixologist Paul Martin back in 2016, to give whisky fans the chance of winning some fabulous whiskies for the smallest of entry fees.

Based on the concept that the majority of whisky fans are priced out of the more exclusive releases, Paul wanted to offer the chance to all whisky fans, through regular whisky giveaway competitions, of winning some amazing whiskies for just a few pennies!

Since launch, Dream Whiskies has given away more than £25,000 worth of whisky prizes and has evolved from the original concept a fair bit. As a result, they now offer two ways for people to engage.

Firstly they have a subscription membership where for £4.99/month, members can enter into a weekly whisky giveaway competition where the winners select their prize from the ‘Prize Library’ of over 50 fabulous whiskies. In addition, members can also enter a weekly spot-prize giveaway, get discount vouchers for glassware & barware plus get free lifetime access to Paul’s online whisky-cocktail masterclass which retails at £60.

However, for those that don’t want to become a member, there is the ‘open-to-all’ premium competitions where a whisky of greater value is offered and players (members or not) can enter for a very low price, in the pennies.

This month it’s the Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix which is up for grabs.

Dream Whiskies players are based the UK, USA, Europe and beyond. With prize value having risen over time as the number of Dream Whiskies players has expanded………… So what’s the goal?

Paul says, ‘ultimately, I want to keep the entry fee down at the 50p but increase the prize value until I can offer the very highest value whiskies possible’. ‘My original motivation was whether I could eventually offer a £50,000 whisky as a prize’! 

‘Whilst we are quite a way from that stage, prize value is starting to grow as more players come in. We have gone from giving away £50-£100 whiskies to now offering this Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix at £700. Who knows where we may be able to take it in year 5’. 

Is it the whisky world’s best kept secret? Well, certainly from the point of view of those who already know about it. If you fancy knowing more about Dream Whiskies or having a go at winning their Glenfiddich Snow Phoenix, check out their site here: dreamwhiskies.com

Snow Phoenix Competition – https://www.dreamwhiskies.com/premium 

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY BOURBONS WIN NINE GOLD MEDALS AT 2020 INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE 

            FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Nov. 12, 2020) – Buffalo Trace Distillery spirits received 14 medals at the 2020 International Spirits Challenge. Of those, nine bourbons produced at Buffalo Trace won Gold medals, and five other Distillery whiskeys and spirits were awarded Silver medals.

Buffalo Trace bourbons receiving Gold medals:

• Buffalo Trace Bourbon
• Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Bourbon
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon
• Stagg Jr. Bourbon
• Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon
• Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon
• W. L. Weller Special Reserve Bourbon
• W. L. Weller 12 Year Old Bourbon
• W.L. Weller Antique 107 Bourbon

Silver medals were awarded to:

• Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. Straight Rye Whiskey
• W.L. Weller
• W.L. Weller Full Proof Bourbon
• Buffalo Trace Distillery Bourbon Cream

All spirits entered into the ISC are subjected to intense blind tastings conducted by panels of more than 50 respected and experienced industry professionals. Each judge assesses the products according to age, region and variety, which is determined by the entrant and verified by the chairman.

Results from the 2020 International Spirits Challenge can be found at https://www.internationalspiritschallenge.com/2020/en/page/2020-results.

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

Angel Share Artworks Launch Their Contemporary Whisky Flavour Charts

Launched in August 2020, Angel Share Artworks is reinventing the whisky flavour chart, using graphics to explore the incredible stories and themes that have shaped whisky. We empower whisky enthusiasts around the world to better understand their palate and elevate their appreciation and enjoyment of whisky.

Our unique tasting system

The use of visual imagery to identify taste is a scientifically proven method of stimulating flavour recall. The original graphic system provides visual cues for the whisky tasting experience, in three simple steps, you can assess the colour, activate the flavours and pick out tasting notes.

The unique Beyond The Keyhole sensory system – integrating colour assessment and tasting notes with great design – allows Angel Share Artworks to create an infinite number of themes and styles to suit individual tastes, as well as branded distillery editions.

Over 175 select whisky flavours are on their whisky flavour charts – organised into 8 categories and 31 sub-categories – helping enthusiasts to easily distinguish the tasting notes. From fragrant to smoky and fruity to woody, pick your own and unlock the mystery of whisky.

Born out of the 2020 lockdown

Craig Townsend worked as a Design Director at a creative agency in London before the national (UK) lockdown in March 2020. The industry was devastated by the pandemic and the agency where he worked, wasn’t immune to this.

While visiting friends just before the lockdown, he observed them tasting and discussing wine. He began wondering if there was a way to enhance his own experience of tasting whisky, being a whisky fan himself.

Then lockdown hit. After leaving his role, Craig decided to combine his design experience with his passion for whisky. He set about creating a contemporary, interactive whisky tasting system to explore the enthusiast’s whisky palate and enjoy as a unique whisky wall art.

For an entire month during lockdown, Craig and his wife went on a treasure hunt to shoot over 175 flavours using their makeshift photography studio. Finding and shooting flavours

like; apple, bark, chocolate, nuts, wine and some of the more obscure off-notes such as sweaty trainers, car tyres, tar and mining lamps! Whilst being immense fun, it took up a lot of space in the home they share with their 1 year old daughter.

Once the imagery was shot and edited, the design phase began. Using Craig’s skills in visual storytelling, each series of artworks presents a new theme inspired by whisky.

The Origin Series

The Origin Series is inspired by origin mysteries, represented here as a pyramidal stairway, leading to a portal to another world. This series has two editions: The Solas Edition – meaning light in Scots Gaelic – and The Dorcha Edition – meaning dark in Scots Gaelic.

The Contour Series

The Contour Series explores the theme of ‘terroir’ in whisky – how the local environment impacts flavour. There are 8 regional styles of Scotch, our Contour lines are a representation of the geology and geography of these styles of whisky.

More to come

There are many more series to come and new learning materials for Whisky Enthusiasts. Look out for our collaborations with distilleries in the future.

What people are saying about us

“An Angel Share Artwork is really helpful for those starting their whisky journey and looking for guidance on their palate vocabulary, and there’s even some more obscure tasting notes for those who have been on the scene a little longer!”

– The Edinburgh Whisky Club, @TheEdinburghWhiskyClub

“It’s a great idea to have whisky aromas and flavours in a handy chart which can assist with experiencing your dram. Especially since it can be quite tricky to pick out and identify certain aromas. It’ll be of great assistance at my future whisky tastings.”

–Moa Katarina Nilsson, www.moakatarinanilsson.com

“Angel Share Artworks create beautiful flavour charts, far less boring than the traditional flavour wheels.”

– Robyn, www.WhiskyFemme.com

“A whisky tasters must have! A great piece of artwork and a brilliant visual aid for my whisky tasting nights. (…) I’m well happy! Great service, it looks beautiful.”

– 5 star Trustpilot Review

What is the meaning behind the name?

The “Angels’ Share” is an affectionate term used in whisky production, referring to the volume of whisky lost to evaporation during the critical ageing process. It is thought that the mysterious volume of whisky is so divine, it is taken to be enjoyed by angels. Angel Share Artworks is here to unlock the mystery of whisky, note by note, dram after dram.

About

We at Angel Share Artworks exist to make whisky more enjoyable, accessible and inclusive. Our artworks empower whisky enthusiasts around the world to better understand their palate and elevate their appreciation and enjoyment of whisky.

After launching our initial series in August 2020, Angel Share Artworks has had a truly humbling response from around the world, including the UK, Europe, Canada & the United States.

Angel Share Artworks is on a mission to empower whisky enthusiasts to discover their whisky palate on their own terms, and is becoming a staple gift for whisky enthusiasts. Find out more at www.AngelShare.Art.

Wood is pretty special to us whisky drinkers … Which is why we are committed to planting a tree with every artwork purchased at Angel Share Artworks, in partnership with Tree-Nation. Find out more on our website.

IRISH DISTILLERS AND MITCHELL & SON REUNITE THE SPOT FAMILY WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF BLUE SPOT

– Highly anticipated Blue Spot has been reimagined at cask strength, paying homage to the bonding tradition from which it was born

– Launch marks the reuniting of the original Spot whiskey family for first time since 1960s

Irish Distillers, maker of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, has once again joined forces with the Mitchell family to unveil its reimagined Blue Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

With the most recent existing record of Blue Spot dating back to 1964, the launch will signal the end of a 56-year wait among the global whiskey community for the re-introduction of Blue Spot, reuniting the historic Spot Family for the first time in over half a century.

The story of the legendary Spot Irish whiskey range began in the early 1900s when celebrated wine and spirits merchants, Mitchell & Son, began maturing whiskey from the local Jameson Distillery in Bow Street in their underground cellars in Dublin City Centre. Blue Spot takes its name from the blue daubs or ‘spots’ of paint that the Mitchells used to mark the barrels to signify that the whiskey in those casks were to be matured for a minimum of seven years.

Building on the foundation of bourbon and sherry casks, the reimagined Blue Spot includes whiskey aged in Madeira casks, inspired by the historical inventory of Mitchell & Son and typical of the Spot style of whiskey. The Midleton masters, in collaboration with the Mitchell family, were influenced by archive documents dating back to 1935 showing Madeira wine casks imported to Ireland which, once emptied, would have been used to mature whiskey.

The team at Irish Distillers’ Midleton Distillery have been sourcing Madeira wine seasoned casks for over 20 years. These casks are carefully handcrafted in a cooperage in the north of Portugal and then sent to the island of Madeira. Once seasoned, the casks are shipped back to Midleton and filled with pot still distillate and left to mature, allowing the Madeira wine influence to impart wonderful flavours of stewed apples, hazelnuts and sweet spices. These Madeira casks, along with ex-Bourbon and ex-sherry casks are then hand-selected and married together to achieve the perfect flavour balance. Bottled at cask strength, the result is a luxuriously rich and characterful whiskey.

Kevin O’Gorman, Master Distiller at Irish Distillers, comments: “It is with absolute pleasure that we reintroduce Blue Spot and bring a piece of Dublin’s rich whiskey history back to life. Over the years I have had the honour of collaborating with the Mitchell family, who for generations have celebrated the influence of fine wines on Irish whiskey, as we have reintroduced expressions to the beloved Spot range. I am incredibly proud to celebrate with Jonathan and Robert Mitchell on this historic day as Blue Spot takes its place alongside Green, Yellow and Red Spot, reuniting the whole family once again.”

Jonathan Mitchell, Managing Director at Mitchell & Son, continues: “It’s been a privilege to shed light on the history of whiskey bonding in Ireland and the role our family had to play in it as we relaunch Blue Spot. The inclusion of whiskey aged in Madeira casks adds flavours that would have been originally introduced into Irish whiskey by the Mitchell family. As the full Spot range comes back to life, we find ourselves bursting with pride for the role our family played in the creation of this treasured range of whiskeys.”

A non-chill filtered, cask strength release that will see ABV varying annually, Blue Spot is available from this month at the RRP of €80 in Ireland, UK, France, Canada, Northern Ireland and Global Travel Retail, and in the USA from February 2021.

Tasting notes:

Nose: A light mix of pineapple, kiwi, green banana and lime zest followed by Pot Still spices, baked apple, hazelnut and toasted wood.

Taste: A smooth mouthfeel with a subtle mix of fruit, a hint of clove oil and cracked black peppercorns. Sweet spices, vanilla and cinnamon add to the wood’s nutty contribution.

Finish: A lasting and distinctly palatable balance of exotic fruits and spices.

#BlueSpot   #SpotWhiskeys   #SpotFamilyReunited   #PaintedWithADifferentBrush

Follow us on Instagram: @GreenSpotIrishWhiskey

Notes  

About Blue Spot

Blue Spot was originally produced by the Mitchell family who commenced trading in 1805 at 10 Grafton Street in the heart of Dublin city as purveyors of fine wine and confectionery. Seven generations later, the company is still in the wine and spirits business under the stewardship of Jonathan Mitchell and his son Robert.

The Mitchell family expanded into the whiskey bonding business in the early 1900s,  whereby they sent empty wine and fortified wine casks via horse and cart to  the local Jameson Distillery which were then filled with new Pot Still spirit and  returned to the Mitchell’s maturation cellars. There, the whiskeys matured for many years under bond until they were ready to be bottled and sold.

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers is one of Ireland’s leading suppliers of spirits and wines, and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey, experiencing 30 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 8m cases in 2019. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 70 of those experiencing double or triple-digit growth.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €400 million to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.

We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €9,182 million in FY19. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard’s brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group’s decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of “Créateurs de Convivialité.” As reaffirmed by the Group’s three-year strategic plan, “Transform and Accelerate,” deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard’s strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics. As illustrated by the 2030 roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “We bring good times from a good place.” In recognition of Pernod Ricard’s strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis and is ranked No. 1 in the beverage sector in Vigeo Eiris. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation’s Global Compact LEAD company.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

River Charity Toasts Whisky Donation

The conservation charity The River Dee Trust has raised a glass to one of its biggest single donations, as it forges ahead with one of the most ambitious nature restoration projects in the Cairngorms.

The Deeside Distillery in Banchory is donating its very last four casks of whisky spirit to the Trust. One of the world’s most renowned whisky writers, Charles Maclean, has described the potential of the Deeside spirit as “superlative” and “better than gold” as an investment. He admitted the young spirit was so good, he misidentified it as a fine, 18-year-old Speyside malt. The first of the casks will be auctioned at a special event next year.

Sandy Bremner, Chairman of The River Dee Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful for this donation. It’s a challenging time for all charities, and we have committed to planting a million native trees to help cool the river as it faces dangerously rising temperatures. This donation will help us continue our work to save our iconic wild salmon and restore the whole ecosystem.”

Of the four casks of spirit being donated to The River Dee Trust, three are 250-litre ex-Oloroso. The fourth is a 200-litre Virgin American Oak cask – the only one of its kind ever produced by the distillery.

Charles Maclean has been described as “Scotland’s leading whisky expert”. He was elected Keeper of the Quaich in 1992 for his “services to Scotch over many years” and granted the rare honour of being elected Master of the Quaich, the industry’s highest accolade.

After tasting the Deeside Distillery spirit which had been left to mature in an Oloroso cask for just three years, he said: “It’s terrific, I’m amazed, really astonished at the quality of the young spirit.” With a smile, he admitted that it was so good, it led him to make one of the biggest mistakes of his whisky-tasting career. He said: “Tasting it blind, I guessed it was 18-years-old. Embarrassing!”

Deeside Distillery manager Liam Pennycook said: “We are delighted to be able to help the Trust deliver its vital work. The Dee is a magical river which touches the lives of so many people. We want to help the river through the challenges ahead, to make sure it’s in the best possible shape for those who love it now, and for future generations.”

The four casks are made even rarer by the fact that only 100 of them will ever be produced by the Deeside Distillery. Liam said: “We are developing a new, bigger distillery at Hill of Banchory. Due to regulations, we can’t move its name to another site so this will become a “lost distillery”. In every sense, this will be very special whisky.”

The first of the four casks will be auctioned at a special dinner being organised by Maryculter House to raise funds for The River Dee Trust. It will be held on Friday, September 24 next year, subject to Covid restrictions. For further information about the dinner, please contact Maryculter House on 01224 732124.

Notes

1)            The River Dee Trust is a charitable organisation tasked with understanding the catchment and the factors that influence it, leading to practical works to restore the river for future generations and a community-based education programme for all ages.

2)            Angling in the River Dee generates some £15 million annually in revenues and supports an estimated 500 rural jobs.

3)            The Deeside Distillery has been a strong supporter of the River Dee Trust since 2017. It originally produced a Twin River Dee Gin, which helped raise £10k.

4)            Maryculter House is one of the most famous and historic hotels in Aberdeen located on the banks of the River Dee and overlooking the Golf Course of Peterculter. With a classic reputation for hospitality, from the building’s founding in 1227 by the Knights Templar, this location has been offering hospitality to travellers from far and wide for many years.

River Dee Trust
River Office
Mill of Dinnet
Aboyne
Aberdeenshire AB34 5LA

www.riverdee.org

$50,000 EAGLE RARE LIFE AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN

Charitable program offers reward to individuals who Reach Higher

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Nov. 10, 2020) – Nominations are open for the 2021 Eagle Rare Life Award, the $50,000 annual recognition and charitable donation for an individual who, like the award’s namesake bourbon, finds ways to Reach Higher in fulfilling their American Dream. Individuals wishing to nominate someone can do so on the brand’s website at eaglerarelife.com/nominate until nominations close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Dec. 10, 2020.

Now in its 11^th year, the Eagle Rare Life Award honors individuals whose efforts stand out as those who live a Rare Life and Reach Higher to achieve levels of excellence for themselves and their communities. Past winners include individuals who spearheaded efforts to fight childhood cancer, recognize fallen heroes of military service, lead environmental projects and create opportunities for those with disabilities. The individual or individuals are honored with the award while a $50,000 donation is made to the charity of their choice by Eagle Rare Bourbon.

The 2020 Eagle Rare Life Award winners, Captain Daniel Andrews and Captain Chris Wittman, run Captains for Clean Water, an organization focused on uniting Florida communities to protect local waterways.

Nominations will be accepted from November 10 through December 10, 2020. Unlike previous versions of the program, this year’s process will not include public voting. The winner will be chosen by a team of non-partisan stakeholders and announced in January 2021.  The winner will be recognized on EagleRare.com and through the brand’s social channels.

About Eagle Rare Bourbon

Eagle Rare Bourbon Whiskey is part of the award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery, an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, (Franklin County), Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich distilling 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. Eagle Rare Bourbon is a 10-year-old bourbon that has won multiple awards, including five double gold medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For more information on the Rare Life Award or Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, visit https://eaglerarelife.com

Glenmorangie brings sun-kissed Spanish sweetness to a unique small-batch whisky

— Rich and indulgent limited edition is finished in rare Malaga wine casks —

Indulgently sweet and rich, Glenmorangie’s latest small-batch Highland single malt Scotch whisky brings the sun-kissed flavours of the south of Spain to whisky lovers old and new.
Enriched by the honeyed intensity of famed Malaga wine casks, 12-year-old limited edition Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish brims with chocolate, fruit and gentle spice.

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers have been on a ceaseless quest to create delicious single malt whiskies for more than 175 years. In Scotland’s tallest stills, whose necks are as high as a giraffe, they distil a more delicate spirit, ripe for experimentation. And captivated by the sweet, fortified wines made in the area surrounding southern Spain’s ancient city of Malaga, Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Whisky Creation, began to dream of the luscious tastes their casks might bring Glenmorangie.

Malaga wine casks are almost never used in Scotch whisky. But fascinated to lace Glenmorangie’s delicate creaminess with their intense sweetness, Dr Bill sourced a rare handful of first-fill Malaga ‘dulce’ casks (which once contained wines at the sweeter end of Malaga’s range). Then, in a unique experiment, he filled them with an eight-year-old whisky wonderfully softened by bourbon casks and left it to mellow in their depths.

After four years of finishing, Dr Bill was astonished by the whisky’s extraordinarily rich flavours, which wrap spice, raisins and dates around Glenmorangie’s vibrant citrus notes. And in July 2020, he hand-selected the very best of these casks to be bottled for the Distillery’s Barrel Select Release, which will be available from selected retailers.

Dr Bill said: “The honeyed aromas and fruity, chocolatey tastes of Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish take me straight to the sun-kissed south of Spain, where Malaga’s famed fortified wines are made. By finishing our soft, creamy whisky in Malaga ‘dulce’ casks, we’ve created an indulgently sweet and rich small-batch single malt. Our Barrel Select Release is delicious treat for whisky lovers old and new.”

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish is available now from Clos19 and selected whisky specialists, RRP: £75.

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NOTES  

Tasting Notes:

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish is bottled at 47.3% ABV.

Colour: Chestnut

Nose: Sweet and rich, with honey, mead, toffee, baking bread and a hint of fragrant tea leaves. There is a subtle, perfumed top note, like stewed herbs and red fruits, and the suggestion of milk chocolate or cocoa powder. A few drops of water release more fragrance, like wood incense, roasting chestnuts and hints of muscovado sugar.

Taste: A rich, oily texture leads to an explosion of flavours – sultanas, raisins, dates, tangy mandarin orange, milk chocolate, honey and more brown sugar. There is always a vibrancy from the citrus, but it is harmoniously woven with the rich, sweet, syrupy flavours. Spices then emerge, like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and sweet star anise.

Finish:  Long, mellow and nutty, with hints of hazelnut, honey and gentle oak.

RRP: £75 

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie’s Highland whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. Known as the Distillers of Tain, they’ve been honing their craft for more than 175 years. In Scotland’s tallest stills, whose necks are as high as a giraffe, they produce a delicate and fruity spirit, ripe for experimentation. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this crackerjack crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

About Dr Bill Lumsden:

Dr Bill Lumsden’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And throughout his 25 years with Glenmorangie, he has challenged himself and his team to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that a cup of coffee (Glenmorangie Signet), a long balmy day in Madeira (Glenmorangie Bacalta), a beautiful barley field by the Distillery (Glenmorangie Allta) and more. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of experience, Dr Bill has all the skills needed to bring these ideas to life. Already, he has earned the admiration of his peers many times over. For instance, he is a new entry in the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame. He has won the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year more times than anyone else. And he has been named Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge twice.

About Malaga wines:

Named after the historic city of Malaga (founded in the 12^th Century BCE) Malaga is a denominated Spanish wine zone, renowned for its sweet, fortified wines. Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel are the main varieties of grape grown, with wines made in a variety of ways. A number of different types of wine are produced in the region, classed from dry to sweet (‘dulce’). Dr Bill Lumsden sourced ‘dulce’ wine casks for this small batch release.

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

SAZERAC COMPANY NAMED AMERICAN WHISKEY PRODUCER OF THE YEAR BY 2020 INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE 

            Louisville, Ky (Nov. 11, 2020) –The Sazerac Company was named the American Whiskey Producer of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2020.

            The ISC awards its Producer of the Year titles to the best performing drink producers in the competition by scoring the achievement of all brands entered into a single category. The Sazerac Company claimed the American Whiskey title with 26 of its whiskies earning medals.

Of those medals, Sazerac whiskies received two Double Gold medals, 19 Gold medals and five Silver medals. Sazerac medal recipients include bourbon and rye whiskies, Irish whiskies and Canadian whiskies.

All spirits entered into the ISC are subjected to intense blind tastings conducted by panels of more than 50 respected and experienced industry professionals. Each judge assesses the products according to age, region and variety, which is determined by the entrant and verified by the chairman.

Results from the 2020 International Spirits Challenge can be found at https://www.internationalspiritschallenge.com/2020/en/page/2020-results.

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 visit https://www.sazerac.com/.