Bunnahabhain helps whisky lovers celebrate Fèis Ìle in spirit

Virtual ‘Feis at Home’ celebrations keep the festival spirit thriving for 2020

Tasting kits allow whisky fans to join in from the comfort of their own home

Exclusive distillery news and competitions revealed to those who tune in

It’s one of the most anticipated calendar dates for the whisky fans who descend on Islay’s shores years after year, but the cancellation of this Spring’s world-famous Feis Ile festival won’t stop Bunnahabhain from throwing its (virtual) doors open to all.

While physical celebrations are on hold due to social distancing guidelines, Bunnahabhain is inviting whisky fans from across the globe to ‘Feis at Home’ and transporting them to the shores of Islay via a special live tasting of not one, but two exceptional new festival editions.

Hosted by renowned whisky expert Dave Broom*, Bunnahabhain Distillery Manager Andrew Brown will be joined by Master Blender Julianne Fernandez, Master Distiller Stephen Woodcock and Visitor Centre Manager Dr Billy Sinclair for the live stream on Friday 29^th of May from 8pm (BST). The group will lead whisky fans through a tasting and take part in a panel discussion about the two limited-edition expressions being released to mark the occasion.

Tasting kits available to purchase from the Bunnahabhain website will allow people to follow along from the comfort of their home. And it wouldn’t be Feis Ile without a few surprises…with exclusive details on a new product to be revealed live during the tasting.

Ahead of the tasting, Visitor Centre Manager, Dr Billy Sinclair will take friends of Bunnahabhain on a Facebook Live tour around the distillery and island – a chance to get the full Feis Ile experience from afar. Eagle eyed viewers will also have the chance to win a trip to the world-famous festival in person in 2021, with competition details announced on the first ‘tour’ to go live on Bunnahabhain’s Facebook page at 10am (BST) on Friday the 29^th of May.

Bunnahabhain Distillery Manager, Andrew Brown, said: 

Our world famous ‘Music and Malt’ festival here on Islay is a pilgrimage for many a Bunnahabhain fan and we love greeting them here at the distillery. We’ll miss seeing some familiar faces in person, but Feis Ile is always warm and welcoming, so we’re embracing the fact that live streaming technology will allow even more people to join in this year.” 

We’ve got a great panel of experts on board to talk through our wonderful new festival editions, and anyone who’s visited Feis Ile before will know that’s not all we’ve got up our sleeve. You’ll have to tune in to find out more, but we can guarantee a memorable festival, even if it’s not running exactly as we had planned.” 

On sale information on Bunnahabhain’s new festival editions will be announced later this week. 

Bunnahabhain’s virtual ‘Feis at Home’ events will take place on Friday the 29^th of May 

A virtual tasting and panel discussion of two new festival editions will take place at at 8pm (BST) 

Live streams from the distillery on Islay will take place at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm and 6.30pm (BST) 

Join in on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Bunnahabhain 

Tasting kits can be purchased from, priced at £16.50: www.bunnahabhain.com/ 

Please ensure orders are placed by 25th of May (UK) or 18th of May (rest of world) to avoid disappointment

For more information please contact Fiona Hayes, WIRE: fiona@wearewire.co / 07837000900

NOTES:

About Bunnahabhain:

Established in 1881 and situated on Islay’s most northerly point, Bunnahabhain is the island’s most remote distillery, overlooking a notorious passage of ocean known by seafarers as the sound of Islay.

It has long established links to the sea, previously only accessible by boat – with ships loaded up daily before transporting their important whisky cargo back to the mainland for sale.

The word ‘Bunnahabhain’ is actually Gaelic for ‘mouth of the river’ referring to the Margadale River, its source of pure spring water which is distilled in the island’s tallest stills to create the renowned malts. It’s the use of pure spring water that is piped to the distillery which gives it its unique light colouring which sets it apart from other darker liquids on the Islay landscape.

The distillery goes against the grain – quite literally – with a portfolio made up of broadly non-peated expressions, however, its peated Toiteach A Dhà expression recently won in the Scotch Islay: No Age Statement category at this year’s World Whiskies Awards. Bunnahabhain took home a further four titles in the 2020 awards ranging from silver to gold certificates – showcasing the calibre of its range. 

*About Dave Broom:

Dave Broom was born in Glasgow and has spent the past 30 years writing about alcohol. He spent 7 years as features editor on a UK drinks trade weekly then, after working a stage in an Australian winery, returned to the UK to specialise as a freelance writer on spirits.

He has written 12 books, two of which [Rum and Drink!] won the Glenfiddich Award. ‘Whisky: The Manual’ was awarded Best Spirits Book at the Spirited Awards in 2015 and the ‘World Atlas of Whisky’ has been called “a landmark publication”.

His most recent book, “The Way of Whisky: A Journey into Japanese Whisky’ appeared in 2017 and was awarded the John Avery prize at the Andre Simon Awards in 2018.

As well as regular radio and TV work, in 2018/9, he wrote and presented the whisky culture documentary ‘The Amber Light’ (directed by Adam Park).

He has been contributing editor at both Whisky Magazine and scotchwhisky.com and continues to write for a large number of international titles. He launched his new website thewhiskymamual.uk in 2020

The other part of his life is involved with training and speaking. He regularly gives talks at international whisky events. He designs in-house training courses for distillers, and was one of the team which developed (and continues to maintain) the Single Malt Flavour Map.

He has been a tutor on Diageo’s influential Malts Advocates Course for 20 years. He also advises on spirit quality and new product development for a number of distillers around the world.

In 2013, he was awarded the Communicator of the Year at the ISWC awards and in 2015 was voted Best Spirits Writer at the Spirited Awards. He is a Master of the Quaich.

About Andrew Brown, Bunnahabhain Distillery Manager

Andrew Brown’s Bunnahabhain journey began in May of 1988, when the distillery found itself short staffed for unloading malt boats coming into its famous pier. After helping out on a few occasions, he was given a full time role as a warehouseman, and joined the small, hardworking team, of Bunnahabhain Distillery.

He quickly moved on to work in the warehouse and mash house, as the relief mashman, learning the ropes from the team around him on running the still house & boilers. In 1997 he took on the role of Assistant Team Leader, progressing to become the Bunnahabhain Distillery Manager in 2010

It’s a position he has proudly held for over 10 years and has seen the production at Bunnahabhain increase substantially in that time.

Finding it impossible to choose one whisky as a favourite, he opts for three, all Bunnahabhain (of course) – 40 year old, Auld Acquaintance then after this the 18 year old.

About Julieann Fernandez, Blender

Julieann Fernandez’ whisky journey started while she was at university with a placement at Chivas Brothers. Working in the Kilmalid lab doing analytical chemistry and new product development created a true passion for whisky and following her graduation with a BSc (Hons) in Forensic Science, Julieann joined the Scotch Whisky Research Institute as an Analytical Research Scientist.

From there, Julieann returned to Chivas Brothers, moving around the business and learning all aspects of distilling; from grain and malt to developing her organoleptic skills.

She joined Distell in 2017 as Blender and works alongside Senior Blender, Kirstie McCallum, on the single malt, blend and limited-edition portfolios. Julieann is currently studying towards her Diploma in Distilling.

About Billy Sinclair, Bunnahabhain Visitor Centre Manager

Biologist, geneticist, conservationist, diving instructor and commercial coxswain – Billy Sinclair has packed a lot into life. He holds an honours degree in Biology and Biochemistry, and a PhD in Biochemistry and Genetics. He also has more than 50 scientific papers to his name. If you want to know about antibiotic resistant bacteria in remote Australian communities, the evolutionary history of Scotland’s pine forests, paternity testing in rare pigs, or survival strategies in ancient, deep-sea cousins of the octopus, Billy’s your man. In his 25-year career, he’s travelled the globe, working in Scotland, Ireland, England and Australia. He’s also led student field trips in Egypt, Australia and The Gambia. And in 2015 he embarked on a new adventure, when he moved with his family to Islay and added a new passion — serious Scotch whisky — to his long, long list.

His favourite dram (if he’s forced to choose) is the Bunnahabhain 18-year-old.

About Stephen Woodcock, Master Distiller

Stephen Woodcock started his career in chemistry, managing chemical plants to create coloured pigments for the paints, inks and plastic industries.

With parents working in the drinks industry, his father owned a pub and mother worked for Allied Distillers – so maybe it’s not surprising that he ended up there too. He joined Diageo in 2009 as the business leader responsible for pre-distillation. It’s a chemical process after all, just like any other. But a last-minute change of plan saw him take on the management of Dundashill Cooperage in Glasgow instead, where he simultaneously took on a General Certificate in Distillation. It wasn’t until the Dundashill site (sadly) closed in 2010 that he had the chance to put that knowledge into practice.

He moved to Speyside to take charge of the multi-million-pound upgrade and commissioning of Inchgower Distillery in Buckie. Following that Stephen worked in seven different Speyside distilleries, learning more about predistillation and distillation processes with each move. In a bid to understand this further from a more academic perspective he completed the IBD Diploma in Distilling in 2017, and in June 2016 he joined Distell as Distilleries Manager and Master Blender. His role is to protect age old traditions, while working to refine and improve the processes of the distilleries he takes charge of, so they can keep creating the finest whiskies in the world.

Glen Scotia unveils Limited Edition 14 Year Old Tawny Port Finish for Campbeltown Malts Festival 2020 

Campbeltown distillery, Glen Scotia, has released a new limited-edition single malt Scotch whisky, the Glen Scotia Limited Edition Tawny Port Finish to celebrate this year’s Campbeltown Malts Festival.

The festival was originally planned for 19-21 May, but due to the impact of Covid 19, the Glen Scotia Distillery will now be holding the majority of the Glen Scotia festival itinerary online at www.glenscotia.com/festival from 18 May. The programme includes a special tasting video of the Glen Scotia Limited Edition 14 Year Old Tawny Port Finish hosted by acclaimed whisky author and historian, Charles MacLean.

Distilled in 2006, this wonderfully peated 14 year old single malt has been matured in a combination of refill American oak hogshead casks, medium char American oak casks and first fill bourbon barrels, before being finished in first fill Tawny Port hogshead casks.

The resulting whisky delivers blackberry, floral aromas and ocean spray on the nose, with notes of crisp green apple, peach syrup and vanilla with a honey sweetness developing on the palate, before delivering a gentle peat smoke and spice finish.

Non-chill filtered to ensure it is enjoyed as nature intended, this cask strength single malt has been bottled at 52.8% ABV with natural colour and is priced at £75, and available to buy online now from specialist whisky outlets. A total of 15,000 bottles will be available in markets across the world including Germany, the USA and Taiwan.

Iain McAlister, Distillery Manager at Glen Scotia, said: “We hope that by taking much of our festival itinerary online we can share a little of the magical Campbeltown whisky history and heritage with those who had hoped to visit the festival this year, and also to those who maybe wouldn’t ordinarily be able to make the journey to Campbeltown.

“We’re are looking forward to sharing the very special video tasting created by Charles MacLean, introducing our new Glen Scotia Limited Edition 14 Year Old Tawny Port Finish single malt, which provides a perfectly balanced combination of the maritime influences associated with Campbeltown along with the soft smoky peat and blackberries from the Tawny Port finish.”

Campbeltown was known as the whisky capital of the world during the Victorian era and was home to over 30 working distilleries. Founded in 1832, Glen Scotia reflects centuries of craftsmanship and experience associated with the region and its award-winning whiskies are renowned for their distinctive maritime influence and Campbeltown character.

For further information about Glen Scotia, visit www.glenscotia.com.

Notes

Tasting Notes 

Glen Scotia 14 Year Old Tawny Port Finish

Nose –  Blackberry, floral notes of rose and ocean spray

Taste – Silky mouthfeel, crisp green apple, peach syrup and vanilla with a honey sweetness

Finish – Gentle peat smoke with blackcurrant, raspberry and clove spice

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.
• Glen Scotia 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch whisky was awarded a coveted Platinum medal at the prestigious 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• 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

The Epicurean Unveils Edition No.2 in its Wood Series

Douglas Laing & Co has today launched a Cognac Finished Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky as part of The Epicurean Wood Series.

Following 2019’s Côte-Rôtie Cask Finish, this latest Single Cask release in The Epicurean’s Wood Series is bottled at a high alcohol strength of 48%, and offered without chill-filtration. The 100% natural, golden colour of the spirit is imparted by the Cognac-seasoned Single Cask used for maturing the award-winning Lowland Malt. With this series, Douglas Laing seeks to demonstrate the significant impact the cask can have on the Whisky.

Chris Leggat, Managing Director, led the cask selection process and said: “After many trials, blind tasting and careful planning, the casks selected for this experiment were the perfect representation of a 5-star Cognac cask. We’ve paired with our Epicurean Lowland Malt Whisky to produce this resulting limited edition: A rather exciting – certainly distinguished – addition to the family”.

Director of Whisky in her family’s firm, Cara Laing commented: “We continue to seek to open up the world of Scotch Whisky to new audiences and offer innovative experiences – our Epicurean Malt is best placed to do this. The core expression is fresh and zesty yet very light in style, accordingly the spirit lends itself exceptionally well to experimentation – be that in cocktails, or indeed with unique cask finishes, such as this latest release.”

With only two Single Casks of this specialist Malt released, the spirit is said to have overriding tropical style with lychee, fiery ginger, sandalwood and coconut as a result of the finishing in two specially selected French Cognac casks.

Packed in a premium gift tube, The Epicurean Cognac Finish Limited Edition is expected to retail at £59.99.

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING:

www.douglaslaing.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/dltheepicurean

Twitter: @remarkablemalts

Instagram: @theepicureanwhisky

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

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

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

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

Whiskies for a World Whisky Day with a difference

Saturday 16^th May marks the ninth World Whisky Day which happens every third Saturday in May. However this year our World Whisky Day celebrations will be different and most likely from the comfort of our own homes, so here’s some ideas for some great whiskies to try.

Glenmorangie Quinta Ruban 14 Years Old, £52

A popular whisky in Glenmorangie’s extra mature range and two years older than its predecessor, Quinta Ruban is a bold and velvety 14-year-old Highland whisky, with flavours of Seville orange and dark chocolate shining through stronger than ever. Glenmorangie is renowned for pioneering the art of extra-maturation. For this single malt, the whisky is first aged in bourbon casks, then finished in ruby port pipes and barriques from Portugal. Enjoy neat, with a little water or 2-3 large rocks of ice, for the perfect serve.

Available through www.clos19.com  www.glenmorangie.com

Ardbeg An Oa, £49

An Oa – part of Ardbeg’s core range of whiskies – is named after the Mull of Oa in the south west of Islay where the distillery is situated. The whisky is singularly rounded due to time spent in the bespoke oak Gathering Vat where whiskies from several cask types – including; sweet Pedro Ximénez; spicy virgin charred oak; and intense ex-bourbon casks, amongst others, mingle unhurriedly. The result is a dram with smoky power, mellowed by a delectable, smooth sweetness and a truly untamed single malt. Ideal for those whisky lovers who prefer a more peaty, smoky dram.

Available through www.clos19.com.  www.ardbeg.com

Glenmorangie Signet, £168

For the ultimate indulgent treat, Glenmorangie Signet is the richest whisky in Glenmorangie’s range. Released in 2009 as the world’s first single malt whisky made with dark roasted chocolate malt barley, it’s unique fusion of scarce and exceptional whiskies make it one of the most prestigious drams available. Perfect for pairing with dark chocolate.

Available through www.clos19.com.   www.glenmorangie.com

Responsible Drinking:

Glenmorangie, Ardbeg and Balcones advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

TINCUP^® Whiskey celebrates category boom ahead of World Whisky Day

Follow your adventurous spirit this World Whisky Day,Saturday 16^th May, by enjoying a dram straight from the Colorado mountains to experience why American Whiskey has continued to grow in popularity.

The American Whiskey category is as popular as ever and has seen further growth in the last year (Source: Forbes), so this World Whisky Day is the ideal time to celebrate with a TINCUP^® Whiskey, the perfect example of this exciting and flavourful spirit.

TINCUP^® Whiskey is a celebration of the rugged spirit of the Colorado mountain lifestyle. It is named after Tincup, an old mining town set on the Western Slope of Colorado, which itself was named after the tin cups from which the miners drank their daily whiskey following a shift in the depths of the Rocky Mountains. TINCUP honours this heritage with its rugged hexagonal bottle that is deeply embossed with mountain references. The bottle is also topped with a traditionally styled tin cup that can be used for sipping and sharing the whiskey.

TINCUP^® Whiskey was created by distilling legend and true American mountain man Jess Graber, it is made from a unique blend of Mid-Western rye, corn and malt. Its unusually high rye content at 32% provides a bolder, spicier flavour profile compared to ordinary bourbons, and preferred by leading bartenders for its strength of flavor when mixed in cocktails.

Aged in new charred American white oak barrels, it is bottled at 42% abv in Colorado using pure Rocky Mountain water. On the nose, TINCUP evokes notes of citrus, black pepper and ginger snaps. On the palate, TINCUP brings rye spice, cinnamon and caramel.

TINCUP is best enjoyed with friends for the perfect ending to any adventure or recently, as part of your virtual social catch ups while you’re planning the next one. Sip neat or with a few ice cubes, or use as a base for classic whiskey cocktails like the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned. TINCUP is also perfect as part of a Boilermaker serve – paired with a quality IPA or lager.

TINCUP^® Whiskey is available from Asda or online at Amazon, Master of Malt and The Whiskey Exchange.

Notes 

About TINCUP^® American Whiskey

TINCUP^® American Whiskey is the creation of distilling legend Jess Graber, founder of Stranahan’s^® Whiskey, Colorado’s first (legal) whiskey. Made from a unique blend of corn, rye and malt, its high rye content provides a bolder, spicier flavor profile compared to ordinary bourbons.  Aged in new charred American white oak barrels, TINCUP^® is bottled in Colorado using pure Rocky Mountain water. For more information, please visit www.tincupwhiskey.com.  On social media, please like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TINCUPWhiskeyUK, follow us on Twitter at @TINCUPWhiskeyUK and Instagram @TINCUPWhiskeyUK.

2020 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION RECOGNIZES FOUR SAZERAC CANADIAN WHISKIES

Montreal (May 6, 2020) –Mister Sam Blended Whisky was awarded a Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Two other Canadian whiskies produced at the Old Montreal Distillery, received Silver Medals: Caribou Crossing, the world’s first single barrel Canadian whisky, and Royal Canadian Blended Whisky.   High River Canadian Blended Whisky received a Bronze Medal.

The Gold Medal winning Mister Sam Blended Whisky is a tribute to the greatest whisky man of the 20th century Mr. Sam Bronfman of Seagram. This is a highly limited release, released just once a year. Sazerac’s world-renowned Master Blender, Drew Mayville, created this exclusive blend for Mister Sam, and hand-selected the individual barrels for Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky.

Throughout four days of highly controlled blind tastings, the experienced judging panels evaluated each product on an individual basis and determined which entries are worthy of a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Medal.

Mister Sam, Caribou Crossing, Royal Canadian and High River are from Sazerac’s Old Montreal Distillery in Canada.

Full results have been released and published on the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) website www.sfspiritscomp.com.

About Sazerac

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

ADD TO BASKET

Usually only available from the distillery, we’re delighted to have stock of the latest Glengoyne Teapot Dram. A hark back to the whisky which flowed from the copper teapot in the distillery canteen, this un-chillfiltered tribute dram was matured in first fill Oloroso Sherry casks. The whisky boasts swathes of sweet red apples, subtle Demerara sugar and tangy Seville marmalade.

Inspired by the days of tea breaks with a difference, when the workers at Glengoyne would receive a thrice-daily whisky ration, the cask strength Teapot Dram Batch No. 007 has been lovingly recreated by men with a hazy recollection of those times. And because the daily dram would never be taken from an old cask, this is a deliberately young, bold whisky.

CHECK OUR FULL RANGE OF GLENGOYNE HERE

Glenallachie Distillery.

IMPEX BEVERAGES WILL BRING THE GLENALLACHIE TO MORE WHISKY FANS ACROSS THE USA

The award-winning Speyside whisky company is teaming up with ImpEx Beverages to distribute its whiskies across the United States

The multi award-winning GlenAllachie Distillery is extending its reach across the USA with the news that it has appointed ImpEx Beverages as its new exclusive importer.

The appointment, which begins on May 1st, will see California-based ImpEx Beverages as the new exclusive US Importer for the brands and The GlenAllachie becoming available in more states in the US.

Through the new commercial relationship, The GlenAllachie Distillers Company core range of single malts and MacNair’s Lum Reek blended malt will be distributed into around 20 additional states including key markets such as Texas and Colorado. ImpEx has been importing and distributing whiskies and spirits across the US since 2008.

David Keir, Sales & Marketing Director at GlenAllachie, said: “We’re very excited about this partnership with ImpEx who have many years of experience building brands and I’m looking forward to working with their team growing The GlenAllachie across the USA.”

Sam Filmus, President of ImpEx Beverages, noted: “We have been following The GlenAllachie for a long time and are thrilled to now be a part of its future success in the US Market.  The quality whiskies that Billy Walker and his team produce are a fantastic addition to our premium whisky portfolio.”

The news follows a sustained period of growth and success since Master Blender and entrepreneur Billy Walker and his team acquired The GlenAllachie Distillery in 2017 and formed The GlenAllachie Distillers Co

In March, Walker won the prestigious Icons of Whisky Global Master Blender / Distiller of the Year award at the Whisky Magazine Awards. At the same awards, the MacNair’s Lum Reek 21-year-old won World Whiskies Awards World’s Best Blended Malt. The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Cask Strength Batch 3 also won Best Scotch Speyside Single Malt.

In addition, The GlenAllachie also collected a remarkable hat-trick of Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. The prestigious Double Gold medals were awarded to the 12, 15, and 25-year-old Single Malts. MacNair’s Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch 12-year-old won a Gold medal.

Prior to this, in September 2019, The GlenAllachie was voted Scottish Distillery of the Year at the inaugural Scottish Whisky Awards.

The GlenAllachie has a number of new products in the development pipeline, including a new batch of Wood Finishes, with the US release expected to be in early 2021. In May, its Visitor Centre also reaches its 1st Anniversary.

Notes 

The GlenAllachie Distillery, sitting in a 20-acre site in Speyside, was designed by William Delme-Evans – the architect behind Jura, Macduff and Tullibardine – and was built in 1968. It has four stills and, unusually, two separate spirit safes, one for each set of stills.

In 2008, a new chapter began for Sam Filmus, after years in the business captaining JVS Wines Import. With ImpEx Beverages, his vision was to import premium and rare Spirits from around the world, with special emphasis on the best of what Scotland has to offer.

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

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie

Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie

Instagram – @theglenallachie_

MacNair’s Facebook – @macnairs

ImpEx Facebook – @ImpExBev

ImpEx Twitter – @ImpExBev

ImpEx Instagram – @ ImpEx_Bev

Introducing WhistlePig HomeStock Whiskey Created by WhistlePig Whiskey In Collaboration with Flaviar

Blended Together, While Apart

Limited edition WhistlePig expression crowd-blended by whiskey lovers during lock down released to raise money for U.S. Bartenders 

[May 11, 2020]: Shoreham, Vermont. WhistlePig Rye Whiskey is pleased to announce the introduction of WhistlePig HomeStock Whiskey, a whiskey blended together, while apart.  The limited edition whiskey was created via a virtual crowd blending experience in collaboration with Flaviar, a leading online spirits club. WhistlePig will donate 20% of online sales via Flaviar & Caskers from HomeStock to the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) Foundation’s Emergency Assistance Program, which provides COVID-19 Relief Grants to bartenders. HomeStock is the first variant from WhistlePig’s award-winning portfolio that stretches outside of the Rye category, also using Wheat and Barley whiskeys.

WhistlePig HomeStock Whiskey is a result of an innovative, multi-faceted immersive crowd-blending experience designed to lift spirits and raise vital funds for the U.S. bar industry community. The collaboration between WhistlePig & Flaviar and the entrepreneurial nature of both companies ensured this concept went from idea to reality in just a matter of weeks. An engaging exclusive content program was created and hundreds of WhistlePig ‘Blend Your Own’ whiskey kits were dispatched to a combination of Flaviar’s membership of whiskey enthusiasts and industry professionals, who were asked to experiment at home before submitting their preferred recipe. The at home blending kits included samples of WhistlePig Rye, wheat and barley whiskeys, along with blending tools and instructions, were universally welcomed by whiskey lovers stuck indoors.

Pete Lynch, WhistlePig’s Master Blender, is no stranger to crowd-blending, which has formed the basis of WhistlePig’s award-winning FarmStock range, but he would usually host sessions around the country in person. Adjusting to the times, he shared his expertise via a video from the WhistlePig Farm and distillery in Vermont and written instructions. With the submissions received, Lynch analyzed the data and determined the three most popular styles of whiskey submitted.

Thousands of consumers tuned in to Flaviar’s social media pages to take part in a live blending session, hosted on April 28 by spirits industry veteran, Dan Dunn and Lynch. During the live stream, all three whiskeys were blended, tasted and then voted upon to decide which should be bottled as WhistlePig HomeStock.

Despite over half of the submissions being Rye dominant, the surprise winner, with 44.1% of the votes on the night, was Blend Number 3, which involved 45% Rye, 30% Wheat and 25% Barley.

Jeff Kozak, CEO, WhistlePig Whiskey, adds “HomeStock is a truly special blend for us, not only due to how it was made but it’s the first time we’re releasing a whiskey that features something other than Rye. We’re thrilled that this blend got voted as the winner, it could be a sign of things to come from us in the future as a natural extension of our famed FarmStock range.”

Grisa Soba, Co-Founder of Flaviar, comments: “We’re going to be talking about this period in history for a long time, and what we all did to stave off cabin fever. Instead of saying they learnt how to make sourdough or banana bread like some kind of quarantine cliché, Flaviar members will be able to brag about learning to blend whiskey during lock down and being part of a piece of liquid history that they can now own and savor. Exclusive content and experiences like this have always been a big part of Flaviar and we’ve just taken it to another level.”

On the nose, HomeStock is sweet and fruity, with pipe tobacco, vanilla and orange vest.  Upon tasting, one will experience a big hit of baking spice with toffee, with nutmeg, roasted nuts, ripe berries and a great mouthfeel. The finish on HomeStock is long, spicy and lovely.

WhistlePig HomeStock Whiskey is now available for pre-order via Flaviar and Caskers, priced at $72.99 per 750ml.  

ABOUT WHISTLEPIG RYE WHISKEY

Founded in 2008, WhistlePig Rye Whiskey is the premier aged Rye whiskey, featuring the bold and often untapped flavor of Rye. WhistlePig Whiskey is leading a surge of innovation in the emerging field of North American whiskey. As the most decorated Rye whiskey – having received the coveted ‘Best in Show Whiskey’ title from the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, WhistlePig is widely viewed as the world’s finest Rye. With the opening of its distillery on its 500-acre Vermont farm in the fall of 2015, WhistlePig has also become one of the leading farm-to-bottle Rye whiskeys in the world. For additional information please visit whistlepigwhiskey.com. Please enjoy WhistlePig Rye Whiskey Responsibly.

ABOUT FLAVIAR

Founded in 2012, Flaviar is the world’s largest premium spirits club, with operations in the US and Europe. Flaviar offers a better way to experience fine spirits. Flaviar members enjoy a full suite of benefits including quarterly tasting boxes and full-size bottles sent directly to their home, invitations to exclusive spirits events, access to rare and original spirits available only to members, free shipping, over 200K member reviews and more.

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You’ve got to try this!

THE BALVENIE UNVEILS NEW EXPRESSION TO JOIN THE CELEBRATED STORIES COLLECTION 

• A new whisky from The Balvenie, The Edge of Burnhead Wood 19-Year-Old, will be released on 1^st May 2020 and joins The Balvenie Stories collection, first launched by the distillery in May 2019
• The latest whisky tells a tale of exploration and craft, culminating in the first ever expression of The Balvenie made entirely from ingredients grown on its Dufftown estate
• The Edge of Burnhead Wood is a delicately fruity and fragrant expression of The Balvenie, crafted with heather
• The Balvenie Stories collection celebrates human stories of endeavour and unexpected twists, as told by its craftsmen at the distillery in Dufftown, Scotland
• Drinkers can listen to the story behind the creation of The Edge of Burnhead Wood, as well as the three other expressions in the collection, via a specially recorded podcast series by the curators of the liquid at here

Today The Balvenie announces the release of The Edge of Burnhead Wood 19-Year-Old, the latest addition to the coveted Balvenie Stories range — a collection of single malt whiskies representing tales of character, endeavour and generational knowledge gathered at The Balvenie Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland. The expression brings the total number of bottles in the Stories range to four, joining The Sweet Toast of American Oak 12-Year-Old, A Week of Peat 14-Year-Old and A Day of Dark Barley 26-Year-Old. Each liquid brings to life a distinct narrative of the human touch, skill, and emotion behind every liquid produced by The Balvenie.

Inspired by the fragrant, heather-cloaked highlands which surround The Balvenie Distillery, The Edge of Burnhead Wood celebrates the pastoral tale of how The Balvenie craftsmen experimented with the distillery’s natural resources to find the perfect match between fresh heather and barley.  The expression, which is made from locally sourced ingredients found in the distillery grounds — home-grown barley malted at The Balvenie Maltings, water from the Convel hills, and fresh heather from Burnhead Wood — retains the familiar robust Balvenie taste, with a delicate fruitiness, as well as notes of light spice and juicy fruits. A balanced honeyed sweetness and spicy outburst with hints of cloves and caramelised baked dates develops to reveal an underlying oaky dryness, whilst a lingering oaky finish features notes of fragrant dried blossom.

Commenting on the release of The Edge of Burnhead Wood The Balvenie Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE says: “Stories are the lifeblood of The Balvenie Distillery and are deeply embedded in all the work that we do. The story behind The Edge of Burnhead Wood captures the majestic Speyside landscape and the inventive essence of The Balvenie’s loyal and determined craftspeople. In this way, The Edge of Burnhead Wood sums up the spirit of the work carried out at The Balvenie Distillery; The Balvenie remains true to the techniques and stories passed down by its craftsmen from generation to generation, while also looking forward by exploring new techniques, flavours and marriages to develop unique and original Balvenie expressions.”

Drinkers can hear the story of The Edge of Burnhead Wood via a specially recorded podcast series, featuring the craftsmen behind the expression, as well as The Balvenie Global Ambassador Gemma Paterson and Malt Master David C. Stewart. This podcast will be available at Burnheadwood.com and on Spotify, and can be accessed by scanning a QR code on the bottle with a Smartphone.

Storytelling is carried through every aspect of The Edge of Burnhead Wood with its tale depicted on the whisky’s packaging in a bespoke illustration from British artist and printmaker Andy Lovell. Andy’s work, which draws its inspiration direct from the distillery, can also been seen across the labels for the entire Balvenie Stories range. It uses bold, hand-made gestural marks to build up images that capture the evocative light and atmosphere of the distillery’s landscape. The texture and tactility of Andy’s work emphasises the importance of the human hand in the production of The Balvenie whiskies and the spontaneity and life that comes from The Balvenie’s artisanal ways of working.

The Edge of Burnhead Wood 19-Year-Old will launch globally on 1^st May 2020 and will be available in select whisky retailers, RRP £260.00

The entire Balvenie Stories collection is currently available in select whisky retailers, at the following prices; The Sweet Toast of American Oak 12-Year-Old (RRP £45.00), The Week of Peat 14-Year-Old (RRP £65.00) and A Day of Dark Barley 26-Year-Old (RRP £600.00).

NOTES:

Stockists

The Edge of Burnhead Wood is available at Whisky retail specialists and prestige on-trade outlets nationwide. Stockists include The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt, & Grapevines﷟ 

About audio content;

The recorded stories and guided whisky tasting content is available in podcast format, and hosted on the most popular podcast platforms, allowing for playback on home devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google Home.

About The Balvenie Stories;

The Edge of Burnhead Wood – Aged 19 Years – 48.7% ABV 

• Tasting Notes:
  • Nose: Lively and vibrant, this Balvenie has notes of fig and geranium oil perfectly balanced with fresh herbal undertones reminiscent of green woodland.

• Taste:Flavours of honey, cloves and caramelised baked dates are layered on top of delicate citrus and spice. The sweetness reveals an underlying oaky dryness.

• Finish: Lingering, oaky, dried blossom.

May 2019 releases:

The Sweet Toast of American Oak – 12 –Year-Old – 43% ABV 

• Tasting Notes:
  • Nose: Lusciously malty with some sweet fudge, followed by citrusy and oak vanilla aromas with layers of spicy oak notes of ginger and cinnamon.

• Taste:Candied orange and lemon peel, vanilla toffee and butterscotch, layers of blossom honey, some melted brown sugar and oak spices at the end.

• Finish: Rich and malty with gentle waves of oak vanilla and subtle spices.

The Week of Peat – 14-Year-Old – 48.3% ABV 

• Tasting Notes:
• Nose: Gentle sweet peat smoke, lighter floral notes and delicate butterscotch honey.

• Taste: Velvety and round to taste with the peat smoke balancing citrus flavours, oaky vanilla and blossom honey.

• Finish: Gentle smoke with a lingering and creamy vanilla sweetness.

A Day of Dark Barley – 26-Year-Old – 47.8% ABV

• Tasting Notes:
• Nose: Big malty notes, soft brown sugar, vanilla toffee, blossom honey and a mild oaky spiciness.

• Taste: Syrupy with a toffee sweetness, some citrusy notes of tangy orange peel, followed by oak vanilla and a touch of cinnamon and ginger spices at the end.

• Finish: Enduring gentle waves of vanilla and oak spices.

About The Balvenie: 

• The Balvenie is a unique range of single malts created by David Stewart MBE. The Balvenie Malt Master was awarded an MBE for services to the Scotch whisky industry by Queen Elizabeth II in 2016. Each expression has a very individual taste, but is rich, luxuriously smooth and underpinned by the distinctively honeyed character of The Balvenie.
• The Balvenie is dedicated to the five rare crafts that are used to create The Balvenie’s distinctive taste. It is the only distillery that still grows its own barley, uses traditional floor maltings and keeps both coppersmiths and coppers on site – making The Balvenie the most handcrafted of single malts.
• The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons Ltd, an award-winning independent family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and today run by his direct descendants.
• For further information on The Edge of Burnhead Wood and The Balvenie entire range, visit https://www.thebalvenie.com/.