Inaugural Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week Raises $100,000 for Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation

“We are humbled by the perseverance of our hospitality partners and the advocacy of the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation during this difficult time,” said Max Stefka, Senior Brand Manager, Elijah Craig Bourbon. “At the onset of the inaugural Elijah Craig Old Fashioned Week, we committed raising up to $100,000 through support from fans on social media, donations, and engagement with our ambassadors. Together we reached that goal.”BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Elijah Craig Bourbon today announced a $100,000 donation to the Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation stemming from the success of the inaugural Old Fashioned Week.  More than 22,000 registrants, and thousands of fans on social media, joined Elijah Craig from Oct. 16 – 25 on social and digital platforms to celebrate a great cocktail for an even greater cause.

As the hospitality community continues to feel the effects of COVID-19, Elijah Craig recognizes the need to rally around those who support both the brand and the industry with their creativity, passion, and hard work. The Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation (RWCF) is an advocacy and action nonprofit created by and for restaurant workers. Donations will go toward direct financial assistance, grants to non-profit partners, and to a zero-interest loan program for small businesses.

 “We are grateful for Elijah Craig’s support, especially at a time when it’s become increasingly clear that restaurant workers continue to suffer and the industry as a whole will not be coming back to health anytime soon,” said John deBary, Co-Founder and Board President of Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation. “RWCF will continue to fundraise so that we can direct much needed financial assistance to restaurant workers, bolster nonprofit organizations that serve restaurant workers in crisis, and provide zero-interest loans for restaurants while helping them consider ways they can recreate workplaces that better support their workers.”

During Old Fashioned Week, Elijah Craig hosted a lineup of live activations designed to be both educational and entertaining in support of RWCF. Highlights of the week included an “Old Fashioned Cocktail Hour” with Celebrity Chef Richard Blais and friends, “Old Fashioned Bar Trivia” with Heaven Hill Distillery Ambassadors Bernie Lubbers and Jack Choate, “The Art of Crafting Ice” with Portland-based bartender and author Jeffrey Morgenthaler, and “Elevating Your Home Bar” with Devin Kennedy, bartender at Pouring Ribbons. To relive the action, visit OldFashionedWeek.com.

ABOUT ELIJAH CRAIG BOURBON: Elijah Craig Bourbon bears the name of the Reverend Elijah Craig, known as “The Father of Bourbon,” who established his distillery in 1789 on the banks of Elkhorn Creek in modern day Georgetown, Kentucky. He is credited with being the first distiller to age his wares in charred oak barrels. The clear, unaged corn liquor became transformed into a bold amber liquid with a distinctively smooth flavor that makes Bourbon what it is today. Produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, the family of whiskeys includes Elijah Craig Small Batch, Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Elijah Craig Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

First brought to market in 1986, Heaven Hill Distillery’s Master Distillers were selecting a small number of barrels of the finest Bourbon to make Elijah Craig Small Batch long before the term “small batch” even existed. It is this attention to detail and superb craftsmanship that give Elijah Craig an ideal balance of age, robust body, and rich flavor. Elijah Craig accolades have included Whisky Advocate’s Whisky of the Year, Best Small Batch Bourbon and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Excellent Highly Recommended honors at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. For more information, please visit www.elijahcraig.com.

ABOUT RESTAURANT WORKERS’ COMMUNITY FOUNDATION: “Restaurant Workers’ Community Foundation is an advocacy and action nonprofit created by and for restaurant workers. RWCF was founded in 2018 to advocate for – and raise funds for other nonprofits working toward – gender equity, racial justice, fair wages, and healthy work environments in the restaurant industry. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, RWCF’s additional focus is on supporting workers in crisis and small business owners with the Restaurant Workers COVID19 Crisis Relief Fund.

RWCF is America’s first nonprofit using the community foundation model to support people in a particular labor segment. We are a community dedicated to making the restaurant industry more hospitable to everyone. In our normal model (prior to the establishment of the crisis relief fund) one third of the funds we raise goes to our own community-building and advocacy efforts, one third to grantmaking to other nonprofits (ones that provide career training, advocate for fair wage policies and worker rights, or provide services for restaurant workers related to gender and racial equity, and mental health and substance abuse) and one third is allocated to an impact investing fund, with which we aim to positively affect worker rights in the industry.
www.RestaurantWorkersCF.org
@RWCFUSA on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn

INTRODUCING THE MACALLAN DISTIL YOUR WORLD: THE LONDON EDITION

An extraordinary new collaboration with the Roca brothers  

The Macallan has unveiled Distil Your World: The London Edition, a unique limited edition single malt whisky providing a sensorial journey through one of the world’s greatest capital cities.

Marking the first global release in a ground-breaking series in collaboration with the Roca brothers to discover the essence of some of the world’s greatest cities, Distil Your World: The London Edition embodies London’s special charisma, and captures the people, experiences, colours and history that ultimately define the city.

United by an insatiable curiosity, quest for knowledge and dedication to mastery, The Macallan and the Roca brothers, owners of El Celler de Can Roca in Spain, twice named Best Restaurant in the World, explore different cultures and source inspiration for their own worlds of whisky-making and gastronomy.

Distil Your World: The London Edition is inspired by the long-standing partners’ journey and exploration through an uncharted London, with the purpose of distilling its soul and capturing the unique essence, aroma and flavour of the city in an exceptional single malt whisky.

In homage to its birthplace, the edition will be unveiled to the world in a highly coveted window display in Harrods’ world-famous flagship store in Knightsbridge, London on 1st November 2020. Over the years the renowned Hans Crescent window has hosted iconic displays from some of the world’s leading luxury brands and will showcase The Macallan’s remarkable whisky on a global stage.

During their adventure, The Macallan’s Whisky Maker Steven Bremner and Joan, Josep and Jordi Roca spent time with the craftspeople and creators who fuel London’s inimitable creativity and entrepreneurial drive; the committed leaders who add to its vibrancy; and the special thinkers who understand its past and anticipate its future. They truly immersed themselves by discovering emblematic buildings and going behind the scenes to uncover the unique flavours and scents that define London and unearthing its vibrant community spirit.

Ultimately, this journey led them to their own complex and sensorial map of the city and with this map as inspiration, they masterfully selected the perfect combination of six first fill European oak Oloroso seasoned casks to translate London’s values into an extraordinary single malt with unique tasting notes representing the spirit of the city.

A character led whisky with encapsulating nuances of orange caramel, curry spice and Earl Grey tea, rare to find in The Macallan single malts, this expression takes the taste buds and imagination on a journey of discovery, bringing London’s soul and unique character to life, while retaining The Macallan’s renowned signature taste. Seeking out these distinctive flavours among thousands of casks was a complex and highly skilled process, but Steven Bremner and the Roca brothers’ mastery of flavour, aroma and craftsmanship enabled them to distil the essence of London into a remarkable whisky.

Steven Bremner, Whisky Maker at The Macallan, said: “London is an international city, a melting pot of culture, cuisine, architecture, and art and its rich heritage and myriad of cultures, combined with a timeless spirit and an innovative nature, made it the ideal playing field for this journey of mastery. It is not just about being there, but about immersing yourself and dedicating time to understand what’s underneath everything you see, and we are proud to have collaborated with the Roca brothers on this exploration.

“Like the London soul, our single malt whisky, matured in its unique sherry seasoned oak casks, delivers rich complexities, harmonious flavours, and vibrant aromas. This whisky is something new – with London notes like curry or the sweetness of Earl Grey tea – but it keeps The Macallan’s signature taste, and that’s the difficult part.”

Josep Roca, said: “The places we visited, the people we met, all that now takes shape in this whisky – our own distillation of the London essence. There is part of umami, the subtle touch of curry, orange, vanilla and raisin. There are some special notes that are really rare to find.”

Distil Your World: The London Edition is housed in a striking presentation box featuring a triangular engraving design to represent the map of London and red detailing inspired by the city’s red bricks. As well as the limited edition whisky, the box contains a luxurious book capturing the different inspirations behind this single malt, alongside rich London photography, which combined, form a picture of London as created by Steven Bremner and the Roca brothers. 

The Macallan Distil Your World series is the next step in the brand’s long-standing partnership with the Roca brothers. They have previously worked together on a range of ventures, including The Macallan Edition No.2 which was inspired by the brothers’ distinctive and dynamic characters and 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.

Limited to 2,000 bottles worldwide, Distil Your World: The London Edition has an RRSP of £2,630 and will be available globally from November 2020, including in Harrods, The Macallan Boutique in London Heathrow and The Macallan Estate Boutique.

For further information visit www.themacallan.com

Whisky Maker’s Notes:

ABV: 57.5%

Colour: Autumn chestnut

Aroma: Nutmeg, sweet Earl Grey tea, orange caramel, lemongrass, kaffir lime, soy sauce and polished oak

Palate: Wood and curry spice, Earl Grey tea, treacle sweetness, aniseed. Slightly salty with a complex umami feel

Finish: Long, viscous, complex and savoury 

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.

CHRISTMAS COMES EARLY FOR WHISKY FANS AS THE GLENALLACHIE

ADDS A 21-YEAR-OLD TO ITS RANGE 

The multi-award-winning Speyside distillery unveils limited release cask strength single malt in the run-up to Christmas 

After a remarkable period of innovation and achievement, which saw a 50^th award win in just 3 years, The GlenAllachie Distillery is celebrating the festive season by adding a very small batch release expression to its range – Batch One of The GlenAllachie 21-year-old Cask Strength single malt Scotch whisky.

With a very limited release of only 1,600 bottles available worldwide, 21-year-old Cask Strength Batch 1 (RRP £199) has been issued on limited allocation and substantially oversubscribed by global distributors. The expression, which will be batch-released on an annual basis, is intended to cater to both whisky enthusiasts and the festive gifting market.

The first instalment of The GlenAllachie 21-year-old Cask Strength single malt features five Pedro Ximénez (PX) puncheons and hogsheads from 1997 and 1998 which have been hand-picked and married together by Master Distiller/Blender of the Year, Billy Walker (Icons of Whisky Awards, 2020).

Specially selected from The GlenAllachie’s enviable stock of over 50,000 casks, the PX puncheons and hogsheads impart rich, sherried tones upon the distinctive butterscotch and chocolate flavours of the distillery’s archetypal spirit.

The resulting first batch of the 21-year-old Cask Strength has been bottled at 51.4% and is unchillfiltered for maximum flavour. The intense mahogany colour of the whisky is drawn from its contact with the PX casks, with no artificial colouring added.

Commenting on the new addition to The GlenAllachie range, Walker said:  “There are some whiskies which are simply a pleasure to create; our 15-year-old which we launched in 2019 was one, and this new 21-year-old is undoubtedly another. Sherry casks of this vintage are scarce, so I have been carefully monitoring each since we bought the distillery in anticipation of releasing a very special and beautifully aged expression at its peak. These casks have now achieved the perfect balance of sherried depth and complexity, which we have bottled at natural cask strength to showcase the full experience that these casks deliver.

“Whisky lovers can anticipate a single malt which reveals an indulgent combination of fruit cake and treacle, alongside stewed plums, dark chocolate shavings and sweet cinnamon pancakes”.

In 2020, The GlenAllachie has launched several acclaimed releases; from a second batch of limited edition Wood Finishes to its recent Virgin Oak Series, Batch 4 of its cask strength 10-year-old single malt, and a third instalment of single cask bottlings exclusively for UK specialist retail.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie

Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie

Instagram – @theglenallachie_

TASTING NOTES

GlenAllachie 21 year old – 51.4%

• Colour: Intense mahogany
• Nose: Waves of dark chocolate, heather honey, mocha and orange zest, with notes of grapefruit and cinnamon
• Taste: A rich mix of fruit cake, heather honey and treacle, fused with stewed plums, dark chocolate, orange peel, cinnamon and ginger.

TOMATIN DISTILLERY ROLLS BACK THE YEARS WITH NEW FILL CASK AUCTION 

Monday 9^th November 2020 – Tomatin Distillery has today announced an exclusive online auction of rare whiskies, including a new fill Tomatin cask, hosted and supported by The Grand Whisky Auction, in support of its long-time charity partner, Maggie’s Highlands.

Tomatin is expecting to add a £10,000 donation to Maggie’s 2020 fund raising efforts with proceeds from the auction to bolster the charity’s cancer support network in the Highlands and Islands.

To mark the occasion, Tomatin is offering a one-off opportunity for whisky enthusiasts to purchase a new fill ex-Bourbon Tomatin barrel, a service which is not currently offered by the Highland distillery. The lucky bidder will have the opportunity to experience filling their own cask on site at the distillery, and roll the barrel into the Tomatin warehouse, where it will remain until it is matured.

The auction will also offer an array of vintage products, including a 90cl 1967 cask bottled in 1997 to celebrate the distillery’s centenary and Tomatin’s oldest whisky to date, a 5cl 50-Year-Old, boasting aromas of fresh oak and sweet apples.

Budding connoisseurs will also be able to bid on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the Tomatin Distillery, which, led by Master Distiller Graham Eunson, will allow unprecedented access to all areas of the distillery with a bespoke tasting and lunch included.

In total, 11 rare and limited-edition lots* will be on offer, with the aim to topple Tomatin’s total charitable donations to Maggie’s Highlands since 2018, over the £50,000 barrier.

Graham Eunson, Master Distiller at Tomatin, said: “It feels special to open up the Tomatin archives for such a great cause. This has been an extremely difficult time for the charity sector, and we hope to raise some much-needed funds to support Maggie’s in continuing the specialist support they provide. The auction will also offer the public, and investors, a remarkable opportunity to purchase some priceless products and experiences.”

Andrew Benjamin, Centre Fundraising Manager at Maggie’s Highlands said: “We are excited to be adding this auction to the growing list of fundraising activities Tomatin has kindly organised on behalf of Maggie’s Highlands, since 2018. The money raised by this auction with enable us to continue providing vital support to cancer patients here in the Highlands.”

Tomatin Distillery’s previous fundraising activities for Maggie’s Highlands include an annual corporate golf day at Castle Stuart Golf Links and the Lockdown Whisky Festival – an award-winning virtual tasting held earlier this year, garnering over 10,000 live participants.

Whisky fans can begin bidding on the exclusive list of Tomatin products from 6^th – 16^th November, via the auction hosted by The Grand Whisky Auction here https://www.thegrandwhiskyauction.com/live-auction.

Notes:

*The full list of bottles and experiences available via The Grand Whisky Auction are listed below;

New 1st Fill Bourbon Barrel 2020/2

This is an unprecedented chance to be the owner of a new 1st Fill Bourbon Tomatin single malt cask that will be filled by hand and held in bond at The Tomatin Distillery.  This opportunity has never been granted before. The winner will be invited to the distillery to fill their cask at a mutually agreed time. Cask numbers are sequential and it will the next cask in line at the time.

1970 Cask #12267 

This is an incredibly rare single cask from 1970, a year we no longer have stock of. It was bottled in August 2007 at a cask strength of 51.2% ABV and was never released for general sale but was instead sold exclusively at our visitor centre or through our online store.

1981 Cask #001 

Another example of an incredibly rare vintage from Tomatin and one of the very few casks we have from that decade that have been fully matured in an Oloroso Sherry Butt. This remarkable cask was personally selected by Master Distiller, Graham Eunson, to be bottled in May 2014 yielding 405 bottles at a cask strength of 42.3% ABV.

36-Year-Old Batch #1

The Tomatin 36 Year Old has become a highly anticipated annual release and won the coveted “Best Scotch” award at the 2017 San Francisco Spirits Competition. Batch #1 was a marriage of just two casks, a Refill Hogshead and an Oloroso Sherry Butt, distilled in 1977. It was bottled in March 2015 and is limited to just 800 bottles.

1980 Single Cask

This Tomatin was matured in cask No. 994, an ex-bourbon barrel and is one of 172 bottles produced. It’s a smooth, full bodied malt, distilled on the 18/01/1980 and bottled on 07/08/2008.

30-year-old (2007) 

This 2007 edition was the first ever 30 year old bottling from the distillery which, like the 36 year old, has grown to become a hotly anticipated annual release. Unlike all succeeding editions, this first edition was limited to 1,500 bottles, finished in Oloroso Sherry Butts and bottled at a higher strength of 49.3%.

40-year-old 

Distilled in May 1967 and bottled in October 2007 this incredible 40 year old expression was fully matured in traditional hogsheads and limited to 1614 bottles.

90cl Centenary Decanter 

This whisky, distilled in 1967, was bottled in 1997 to mark the 100^th anniversary of the distillery. In total 1,000 bottles were produced of which the first 200 were bottled at 90cl and presented to staff and attendees of the centenary luncheon held on the third of September. This is one of the incredibly rare 200 90cl bottles.

5cl 50-year-old (bottled 2018)

A miniature bottle of Tomatin 50 Year Old Highland single malt Scotch whisky. This was distilled in 1967, matured in first fill Oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 45.3% ABV. In late 2018 just 70 bottles of our oldest whisky to date were released, each accompanied by a 5cl miniature.

Full set of Five Virtues 70cl 

The Tomatin Five Virtues Series was a quintet of whiskies that celebrated the five elements that contribute towards whisky production; Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water. With only 6,000 bottles of each expression produced, the collection featured artwork by Eva Ullrich and was launched in 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn3tZ6moz-o&feature=emb_logo

Behind the Scenes Tour of Tomatin Distillery

Led by Master Distiller Graham Eunson, will allow unprecedented access to all areas of the distillery with a bespoke tasting and lunch included.

Tomatin Distillery has been producing and blending malt Scotch whisky since 1897. Over the last 50 years, the distillery has borne witness to vast change. At its peak in the 1970s, Tomatin was the largest distillery in Scotland, operating 23 stills and producing 12 million litres of alcohol every year. Over the last decade, significant time has been invested in rediscovering the distillery, people and values, and in refining the business model to move away from the formerly lucrative bulk commodity market to now focus on Tomatin’s core range of single malts.

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands (near Inverness) and is famous for its portfolio of soft and mellow whiskies, including a core range, a limited-edition range and a premium archive range (prices range from £35 – £10,000). In the last ten years, Tomatin has secured over 60 prestigious awards in a variety of categories, and in 2019 the distillery celebrated its most successful year ever at the San Francisco World Spirit Competition, securing seven Double Gold awards and four Gold awards.

Samuel Gelston’s Launches Irish Whiskey Finished in Sam Neill’s Pinot Noir Casks

Samuel Gelston’s has announced the launch of its latest expression – a Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, matured in actor Sam Neill’s Pinot Noir casks.

The new release is the result of collaboration between Gelston’s owner, Johnny Neill and Sam, who is based in New Zealand. It sees the cousins bringing together the two sides of the family, whilst also merging the brilliant flavours and aromas of the two hemispheres.

The liquid has been triple distilled and matured for 19 months in ex-bourbon casks, before spending a further 21 months maturing in Sam’s French oak casks, which had previously held his prestigious Central Otago Pinot Noir.

It is malty on the nose with hints of strawberry, nutmeg and tropical fruit. On the palate it is big, rich and sweet, with a hint of dryness, a note of blackcurrant and dash of spice – all with sweet, jammy notes on the finish.

Johnny Neill

Johnny Neill, owner of Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whisky, said; “The Neill family have been making quality spirits for generations. My Great, Great Grandfather Harry Neill set up the successful McCallum Neill & Co in Australia in 1851, and Percival, one of his younger brothers set up Messrs Neill & Co in Dunedin in 1882 – Percival was Sam Neill’s Great Grandfather.

Sam Neill

“Sam and I have continued this legacy in our respective sides of the world – I’ve been focused on the creation of artisanal spirits using local ingredients, whereas he has dedicated nigh on 30 years winegrowing super premium pinot noir. For the first time in 150 years, we’re bringing together the expertise from both sides of the family  – the result being an incredibly exciting sweet, honeyed and very inviting Single Pot Still Whiskey”.

Samuel Gelston’s Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey finished in Pinot Casks (40% ABV, 70cl), is available via the Drop Store now.   

NOTES

More about Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whisky

Samuel Gelston’s Old Irish whiskey was founded in 1830 by Samuel Gelston. It was a time when Irish whiskey was famous around the world.

Samuel, a wine and whiskey merchant from Belfast, made it his mission to source, blend and bottle the best Irish whiskey from across Ireland. At the time there were 88 licensed distilleries on the island, and Samuel selected the very highest quality liquids for each bottle.

In 1869, upon Samuel’s death, the business was bought by Harry J. Neill. Harry had previously left Ireland’s shores with his younger brother Percival in order to make their fortunes in the Australian Gold rush of 1851. Having set up and subsequently sold his successful provisions business in Melbourne & Geelong, Harry returned to Belfast and purchased Gelston’s. His brother travelled on to New Zealand to set up Messrs Neill & Co in Dunedin in 1882.

Harry was the son of a Belfast merchant and French wine importer and was passionate about whiskey – indeed his grandfather and great grandfather had been whiskey distillers in Comber in the 1750s and 1760’s. He therefore continued their and Samuel Gelston’s legacy of sourcing, blending and bottling the very finest whiskeys, and developed the Gelston’s Irish whiskey brand around the world.

However, the Irish Whiskey landscape faced serious challenges as it entered the 20^th century, and the combined effects of World War I, the Irish War for Independence and finally Prohibition, resulted in the near collapse of the Irish Whiskey industry – which, in turn, led to the demise of Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey.

The brand remained with the Neill family, and five generations on it has now been brought back to life by Harry’s great great grandson, Johnny Neill. Johnny and well-known master distiller Frank McHardy made it their mission to journey across Ireland again to source, bottle and blend the best liquids they could find and Samuel Gelston’s Old Irish Whiskey was reborn.

The current collection includes Samuel Gelston’s Single Malt, Single Pot Still, 5 Year Old Single Malt, 10 Year Old Single Malt, 15YO Single Malt, 26 Year Old Single Malt. Cousins, Johnny & Sam Neill, descendants of Harry and Percival have joined forces on the latest launch that marries Johnny’s Irish Whiskey with Sam’s Pinot Noir New Zealand Wine Casks.

This exciting brand is back doing what it did best.

More about H J Neill Ltd

HJ Neill Ltd are craft spirit purveyors responsible for Samuel Gelston’s Irish Whiskey, The Pleasure Gardens Distilling Company, Mary-Le-Bone Gin, Yattendon Distillery and the Berkshire Botanical artisan spirit collection. 

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

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

LAPHROAIG’S UNFORGETTABLE TASTE CELEBRATED IN NEW INTEGRATED CAMPAIGN

• New above the line campaign ‘You’ll always remember your first Laphroaig’ aims to encourage drinkers to experience the unique flavour of the world’s most divisive single malt.
• Capturing the genuine public reactions of their first sip the TVC will appear across broadcast, video on demand, and other digital platforms from 26 October.

2nd November 2020: Laphroaig, the UK’s number one peated single malt*, has announced the launch of a new fully integrated above the line campaign. It is aimed at capturing the unique reactions of consumers attempting to describe the smoky flavour of this iconic Islay single malt.

Basking in the divisive, yet unforgettable, taste of Laphroaig, the campaign will appear across broadcast TVC (30”) with social and digital media (15”) going live from 1 December.

‘You’ll always remember your First Laphroaig’ is the next chapter of Laphroaig’s Opinions Welcome advertising campaign and the idea that everyone has their own, often unexpected but always unique reaction to this whisky. The new creative plays on this concept via the coming together of first time Laphroaig drinkers.

Filming genuine members of the public across a variety of ages and backgrounds, each individual is handed a bottle and glass and invited to enjoy their first sip. Beginning with trying to pronounce the name of the infamous liquid, what ensues is a variety of facial expressions that range from hesitant and unsure, to full-blown dislike, pleasant surprise and deep love for the taste – each perfectly capturing the experience without the need for words. The film concludes with two of the brand’s newest and biggest fans fervently nodding and proclaiming their newfound love for Laphroaig.

Perfectly articulating Laphroaig’s personality in a way that transcends traditional whisky advertising, the playful yet honest persona positions the experience of drinking a Laphroaig as a memorable one, no matter the outcome.

Nick Ganich, Head of Brands, Edrington-Beam Suntory UK said, “The idea that Laphroaig isn’t for everyone is what makes it such an iconic and inclusive brand. You may love or indeed dislike the taste, but what is certain is that drinking Laphroaig is a deeply personal experience that elicits great emotion and often debate amongst our customers and consumers.”

Jim Robinson, Managing Director, Warp & Woof said: “Bringing this core part of the brand’s personality to life through the campaign has been a lot of fun and something we believe will encourage thousands of soon to be die-hard fans to discover Laphroaig.”

The campaign will also feature as part of Video on Demand through Sky Go, ITV and All 4 and in a variety of formats across both Instagram and Facebook.  Furthermore, it will stretch across UK retail and e-commerce outlets featuring Laphroaig’s “Opinions Welcome” gift packs in the lead up to the key Christmas period.

To find out more about the campaign or Laphroaig more generally visit www.laphroaig.com. Alternatively subscribe to the Laphroaig UK YouTube channel or check out Facebook and Instagram for updates and news. The advert can be seen by clicking HERE

*Nielsen / CGA MAT Combined Sept 2020

Notes:

TVC credits

Agency: Warp & Woof

Production Company: Cherry Duck

Creative Director: Greg Saunders

Associate Director: Ivana Markotic

Director: Ikenna Mokwe

DOP: Chris DuMont

Producer: Dave Cockayne

Post: Adam Cant/Tom Smith

Editing: Christian Burnett

Music: Lee Baker

Sound: Christian Wells/Janis Balodis

The Fisherman’s Retreat launches its 7th edition whisky

Following the success of its previous editions, The Fisherman’s Retreat, located just beyond the picturesque town of Ramsbottom, has launched its 7th edition single malt whisky.

From buying the first few single malt whiskies to stock the bar back in 1992 to purchasing the first cask in 1995, whisky has always been at the heart of The Fisherman’s Retreat.

Now in its 29th year The Fisherman’s Retreat now stock over 500 different Scottish single malt whiskies, with the majority of these available to try by the dram or purchase by the bottle from their onsite and online shop.

The Yalumba Octavius red wine cask was filled in August 2011 with Bruichladdich spirit, the smaller cask enabled a faster maturation and being bottled in September 2019 Bottled on Islay at 50.4% ABV this is a very limited edition at only 199 bottles.

Purchases can be made via The Fisherman’s Retreat Shop at £70.00 per bottle https://www.fishermansretreat.com/shop/

International Spirits Challenge Bestows Prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award on Master Distiller Richard Paterson

The renowned industry body, the International Spirits Challenge (ISC), has awarded Whyte & Mackay’s Master Distiller and Blender with the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The accolade comes as Master Distiller Richard Paterson celebrates his 50^th year with whisky makers Whyte & Mackay.

The International Spirits Competition is widely regarded as one of the most authoritative and influential spirits competitions in the world due to its rigorous judging process conducted by a panel of independent expert judges.

Alongside the Lifetime Achievement Award, The Dalmore 35 Years Old was recognised with the award of the Supreme Champion 2020, putting the expression at the pinnacle of the spirits category, following intense and scrupulous judging from the panel.

Richard Paterson, Master Blended and Distiller said, “I am totally thrilled with The Dalmore 35 Years Old being named the Supreme Spirit Champion, and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Spirits Challenge has to be the icing on the cask of my 50th year with Whyte & Mackay.”

Justin Smith, International Spirits Challenge Director said, “The ISC is now in its 25th year and it is firmly established as the premier event for celebrating outstanding spirits from across the globe. Congratulations to all our medal winners, trophy winners and the Supreme Champion, Dalmore 35 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. They impressed respected panels of industry experts in a rigorous blind tasting process, and they deserve to celebrate their achievements. We look forward to the ISC returning bigger and better than ever in 2021.”

This September, Richard Paterson announced his intention to step back from his day to day involvement across the Whyte & Mackay portfolio to focus on leading Scotch Whisky Single Malt brand, The Dalmore, as well as personal projects.

December is set to see the previously announced single bottle of The Dalmore 60 Years Old go to auction at Harrods of London.

About Whyte & Mackay Group Ltd

Whyte & Mackay was founded in Glasgow in 1844, and today celebrates its 175th 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.

Recent years have seen the addition of several new to world spirit brands to the Whyte & Mackay portfolio, including Shackleton Blended Malt, The Woodsman Blended Scotch, Wildcat Gin and the independent experimentation arm of the business, Whisky Works.

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).

For more information, please visit www.whyteandmackayltd.com

New Irish Whiskey Experience Appoints International Design Team

International themed attraction and experience design company, Katapult , has been appointed as designers on a new whiskey experience in Ireland.

The Portmagee Whiskey Experience and Seine Boat Visitor Centre in County Kerry, will celebrate the region’s historical relationships with smugglers, fishermen and other local tales, as well as giving visitors the opportunity to taste the award-winning, triple-distilled whiskey.

The main experience is set to feature a 360-degree immersive cinematic experience, set within a geodesic dome, where guests will be able to experience life on the nearby Atlantic Ocean. Other interactive elements will showcase village life in Portmagee and how the infamous whiskey is made.

Speaking on the appointment, Katapult’s Chief Creative Officer, Phil Higgins, said: “We’re really excited to have started work on this new attraction for Portmagee. The combination of the high-tech experiences and fascinating stories that we’re building into the narrative, will make this a must-visit destination.”

The project is being supported by Ireland’s national tourism development authority, Fáilte Ireland , as part of ‘The Wild Atlantic Way’ initiative to create an international tourism offer across the Western coast of the country.

Portmagee Whiskey’s John Murphy, said: “We are looking forward to working alongside Katapult and Fáilte Ireland to make this visitor centre a reality. We’re passionate about our whiskey and the village that inspired its creation. It will be a proud moment when we open the doors to our new visitor attraction next year.”

As well as working on the overall concept design and theming of the visitor centre, Katapult will be providing narrative development and executive production throughout the production and installation. The first phase of the experience is due to be open in Summer 2021.

NOTES

About Katapult

Katapult design themed attractions and experiences that amaze and engage visitors globally. Our work is enjoyed by over 50 million visitors, at 81 theme parks, in 18 different countries. As well as increasing guest experience, we thrive on helping our clients generate more income, more fans and bring the vision for their attraction to life.

AT SOTHEBY’S LONDON HALLOWEEN SALE OF “SPIRITS” 

The Macallan Red Collection Sells for £756,400 / $975,756

*Featuring The Macallan 78 Years Old, the Oldest Aged Whisky Ever to be Sold at Auction*

*Proceeds to be Donated to Food Charity, City Harvest London*

The Second Part of the Ultimate Whisky Collection Realises £1,057,364 / $1,366,431

Bringing the Combined Total of Parts I and II to £8.7 Million / $11.2 Million

*The Most Valuable Whisky Collection Ever to be Sold at Auction* 

LONDON, 31 October 2020 – This morning in London, a complete set of The Red Collection, a new classic aged collection of single malt from The Macallan, achieved £756,400 / $975,756 in Sotheby’s first annual sale of Spirits to fall on the day that Halloween is celebrated around the world, The Ultimate Whisky Collection Part II + More.  Against a low estimate of £200,000, the hammer came down as determined collectors online and in the room competed to own the only set of its kind to be made available for sale. Acquired by an Asian private collector, the set was gifted by The Macallan to City Harvest London to raise funds for the food charity which redistributes surplus from the food industry to vulnerable people across the capital. Proceeds from the sale will provide almost two and a half million meals for those in need.

The complete set of six whiskies in The Red Collection is anchored by The Macallan 40 Years Old, The Macallan 50 Years Old and The Macallan 60 Years Old, which are joined by two further highly aged bottles at 71 Years Old and 74 Years Old. The sixth and final bottle in this collection has been matured for 78 Years, making it not only the oldest bottle released from The Macallan Distillery, but the oldest age statement whisky ever offered at auction. The extremely rare set offered today differs from the standard release and is distinguished by its exclusive labels, which are illustrated and signed by Spanish artist Javi Aznarez. Only two sets feature these labels: Set #1 will remain in The Macallan’s archives and Set #2 was presented in the Sotheby’s auction.

The auction continued with the second part of the Ultimate Whisky Collection which realised £1,057,364 / $1,366,431, bringing the combined total for parts I and II to £8.7 million / $11.2 million. Sotheby’s sale of Part I in October 2019 set the record for the most valuable whisky collection ever sold at auction at £7.6 million / $10 million, an auction record any bottle of wine or spirit with The Macallan Fine & Rare 60-Year-Old 1926, sold for £1.5 million / $1.9 million, and distillery records for Bowmore, Brora and Glenfiddich and Springbank. The second part of this superlative collection included whiskies aged in excess of 50 years from The Macallan, Bowmore, Glenfiddich and The Dalmore, and exquisite independent bottles from Silvano Samaroli.

Jonny Fowle, Sotheby’s Spirits Specialist, said: “This exceptional result for The Red Collection is testament not only to the strength of the whisky market but also to the esteem with which The Macallan is held. Equally, the result of The Ultimate Whisky Collection Part II cements its position as the most valuable whisky collection ever sold at auction. The overall total for The Ultimate Whisky Collection speaks volumes of the diversity in today’s premium whisky market and the importance of provenance to collectors. A fantastic result for Sotheby’s inaugural Halloween spirits sale and City Harvest London.”

Igor Boyadjian, Managing Director, The Macallan, said: “Global communities are key to The Macallan and as part of our commitment to giving back, we are pleased to have collaborated with Sotheby’s to auction this extremely rare, complete set of The Red Collection, which features our oldest ongoing aged expressions and a selection of high aged guest releases, including the oldest bottlings our brand has ever released. This bespoke auction lot has raised an incredible amount of funds for food charity, City Harvest London, with a final sale price of £756,400, which crucially equates to almost 2.5m meals delivered to people in need. This will allow the charity to continue to make a real difference to people’s lives, and we are very supportive of their sustainable vision and efforts to support those most in need.” 

Laura Winningham, CEO, City Harvest London, said: “We are overwhelmed with the incredible support The Macallan has given us, and the fantastic figure reached. Huge congratulations to everyone who has been involved, what terrific news!  The proceeds from this auction will be critical in nourishing and improving the lives of tens of thousands of people in the very challenging months ahead, as we are able to expand our operations to include more charities and groups feeding people in London.  We are so appreciative of the continued support of The Macallan, their interest in our mission, and commitment to people and the planet.” 

ABOUT THE RED COLLECTION

Inspired by the significance of the colour red throughout the history of the brand, The Red Collection captures The Macallan’s deep respect for tradition and craftsmanship. Distilled decades ago, in The Macallan’s signature copper stills, each expression in the collection has been matured in the distillery’s oak casks under the watchful eye of several generations of whisky makers. Over time, they developed into extraordinarily elegant aged whiskies.

The colour red has deep and long-standing significance for The Macallan, beginning with Alexander Reid, the farmer and teacher who founded The Macallan in 1824, whose surname means ‘the red one’ in Scots and was originally associated with red hair.  In 1903, owner Roderick Kemp launched The Macallan Choice Old range, which was reportedly shipped in cases labelled with distinctive red print to distinguish it from The Macallan’s existing whiskies, which featured black labelling.  Almost eight decades later, in 1980, red was to feature strongly in the release of The Macallan’s then oldest vintages, dated 1938, 1940 and 1950. Allan Shiach, chairman of The Macallan at that time, tied a red ribbon around the sought-after bottlings to denote their age and value.

These three characters are featured in an animated film created to introduce The Red Collection in collaboration with Javi Aznarez, acclaimed for his striking graphic art which has featured in several films, including director Wes Anderson’s forthcoming feature, The French Dispatch. The animation is set to music recorded by Scottish violinist Nicola Benedetti, one of the most sought-after classical musicians of her generation.

Each bottle in The Red Collection is encased in a hand-crafted oak presentation box created from the same sustainable European oak used to craft The Macallan’s oak casks. These boxes are beautifully upholstered with sustainably sourced soft red leather from Scottish supplier Bridge of Weir Leather, which creates upholstery for leading luxury car brands across the globe.  The Sotheby’s set uniquely included two exclusive display cases and two bespoke tables.

Three of the bottles in the collection are also hand-signed by Kirsteen Campbell, who was appointed Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan in 2019 – the first woman to occupy the role in the history of the brand. The remaining three bottles – The Macallan 71 Years Old, The Macallan 74 Years Old and The Macallan 78 Years Old – are hand-signed by Sarah Burgess, Lead Whisky Maker for The Macallan. 

Comprising whiskies from renowned distilleries in Scotland, Ireland and Japan,

The Ultimate Whisky Collection Part II + More continues now

Full results of the sale will be available 

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. https://www.themacallan.com/en 

About City Harvest

City Harvest is part of London’s support network, enabling quality surplus food to be redistributed for free to those unable to access food. A sustainable vision for London feeding Londoners, underpinned by the belief that everyone has the absolute right to food.  Working with manufacturers, farms, retailers, studios, and markets, City Harvest vans collect healthy surplus food and deliver to over 300 charities and organisations that feed those facing food poverty.

Based in Acton and New Spitalfields Market City Harvest vans deliver to hostels, shelters, children & family centres, women’s refuges, food banks, faith groups, mental health homes, community, and youth centres across greater London. 

About Sotheby’s Wine

Sotheby’s Wine’s annual worldwide sales in 2019 significantly exceeded $100 million for the second consecutive year, led by a 20% increase in auction sales to a total of $118 million – the highest-ever annual total in Sotheby’s history.

Sotheby’s Wine, with a store located within the auction house’s worldwide headquarters on New York’s Upper East Side, offers a carefully curated selection of wines from the world’s most prestigious producers and important regions. Expertly assembled by Sotheby’s’ experienced specialists, the ever–evolving selection is built upon lasting relationships with winemakers from across the globe, with prices beginning at just $13.95. With bottles that are ready for immediate consumption, in addition to investment-worthy wines from highly sought-after vintages, each wine is chosen for its expression of its region and value for money. Each bottle selected by Sotheby’s specialist team must pass the brand’s signature “three-glass” tasting guideline, meaning that the tasters must like it enough to want to drink three glasses, or the standard amount enjoyed when sharing a bottle.

The Sotheby’s Wine Store in New York City is located at 1334 York Avenue, and is open Monday through Friday from 10AM to 7PM and Saturday from 10AM to 6PM. Along with a retail location in Hong Kong Sotheby’s Wine also offers all bottles online, 24 hours, at www.sothebyswine.com.