Limited edition launch gives whisky lovers once-in-a-lifetime chance to be part of a new Scotch legacy

-Scotland’s most northerly mainland whisky distillery unveils its name – 8 Doors Distillery-

Whisky enthusiasts are being given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, through a limited edition launch offer, to buy into Scotland’s most northerly mainland Scotch distillery, which today (6 October) unveils its name as ‘8 Doors Distillery’.

8 Doors Distillery is a new Scotch whisky micro-distillery and visitor centre set to open in John O’Groats in 2021, after planning permission was granted in March this year. The £1 million project will establish the first whisky producer in the Caithness village since 1837. It is a dream come true for its founders, local husband and wife team Kerry and Derek Campbell, who have developed a passion for Scotch over many years.

The new Highland Single Malt Whisky will be produced using the purest John O’Groats’ water extracted from a borehole on the distillery site. Its flavour profile will be deeply influenced by the local climate and its situation right beside the sea – hence its strapline ‘Whisky. From the Edge’.

With its limited edition launch offer 8 Doors Distillery is giving whisky lovers the opportunity to help create a new whisky legacy, saying the journey starts with the 874 Founders Club and the 874 Club.

John Ramsay

8 Doors Distillery is collaborating with renowned whisky master John Ramsay to create its exclusive launch products. John brings with him over 40 years’ experience in the whisky industry, having being involved in the making of some of Scotland’s most well-known whiskies including The Famous Grouse, The Glenrothes and The Macallan.

Kerry and Derek Campbell.

Kerry and Derek see their limited edition launch as the first step in an incredible journey to realise their distillery dream. They have named the 874 Club after one of the greatest journeys in the UK – the 874 miles between Land’s End and John O’Groats.

The 874 Founders Club offers the exclusive opportunity to become a member and buy one of a limited number of 50 litre and 250 litre Founders Casks. The 874 Founders Club cask packages will be available for sale exclusively through Whisky Hammer for an initial period of one month until 5 November.

Those who join the 874 Club will receive a collection of three bottles from some of the first casks laid down and can purchase these packages directly from 8 Doors Distillery.

• 874 Founders Club – the top tier of membership, limited to 250 members. Founder members will get their hands on some truly unique casks of Highland Single Malt Whisky. There are 250 cask packages available from £1,600.
• 874 Club – the core membership limited to 1,250 members. 874 Club members will get three 70cl bottles of exceptional Highland Single Malt Whisky. Matured in first-fill, tailor made casks from Spain, the three different expressions are derived from seasoning and oak types chosen by John Ramsay. These bottle packages are £420.

Both packages come with a host of benefits including a members’ card entitling the individual and a friend to free tours for life. Founders Club members will also be permanently recognised with their name on the Founders Display within the distillery.

The inspiration for the 8 Doors Distillery branding comes from the story of Jan de Groot, from whom the village of John O’Groats takes its name. Mr de Groot, a Dutchman who once plied a ferry from the Scottish mainland to Orkney, built his legendary house in the area during the reign of James IV (1488-1513). Mr de Groot’s seven descendants quarrelled about succession, so he decided to build an octagonal house with eight doors – one for him and each of his seven sons – and an eight-sided table so that nobody could sit at the ‘head of the table’.

The distillery on the 32,670 square feet site will have the capacity to produce up to 60,000 litres of whisky each year. The distillery and visitor centre will be housed in one large building and whisky will be matured in an on-site bonded warehouse.

The founders are also taking advice from Ian Evans of whisky consultancy Distilled Experience who is a former Operations and Compliance Director with William Grant & Sons.

Kerry Campbell, co-founder of 8 Doors Distillery, said: “The creation of our 8 Doors Distillery in John O’Groats and our limited edition launch is part of a dream come true for Derek and me. We have a long-held passion for whisky and for the local area in Caithness where we both grew up. We’re so pleased to be able to bring them together with the development of our distillery and visitor centre.

“We love whisky, and for us it’s more than just having an exceptional liquid in the glass.  It’s the stories that go alongside it, the memories of special occasions and get-togethers with family and friends. If we can be part of creating not only a fantastic whisky but also great memories for people who drink our whisky that would be amazing.

“We couldn’t think of anywhere better than John O’Groats to make whisky, partly thanks to the climate which we believe is perfect for distilling and maturation, and the great people who live here.  Since we’ve announced our plans to the build the distillery we’ve had lots of local support. And we’re delighted to be working with such industry experts as John Ramsay and Ian Evans for our launch products.

“We believe our limited edition offer provides an unmissable opportunity for whisky lovers across the world to join our 874 Club and be part of the creation of a new Scotch legacy. It truly is whisky from the edge.”

“And we’re pleased to be working with another independent Scottish family-run business, Whisky Hammer, as part of our launch campaign.  We’ve had direct experience of their premium service and passion for the whisky that passes through their doors so we can’t think of a better partner to launch our founders casks with.”

John Ramsay said: “It has been wonderful to collaborate with Kerry and Derek at 8 Doors Distillery to help them realise their dream of a whisky that reflects the unique environment of John O’Groats. Having worked in the industry for many years, it’s great to be involved in producing the first whisky from Scotland’s most northerly mainland distillery.

“8 Doors Distillery is particularly exciting for me as it’s the first Scotch whisky project I’ve been involved with since I retired in 2009 after 43 years in the industry. When I met Kerry and Derek and found out more about their desire to create a distillery in John O’Groats I wanted to get on board.

“One of the things that really appeals to me is their commitment to producing a whisky that involves maturation as much as distillation. They realise the importance of high-quality casks.

“We are developing a flavour profile that brings to life the local climate and the influence of the sea. Once the spirit has been matured on-site in carefully selected first-fill casks from Spain designed to our specifications, I believe we will be bringing something original to the world of whisky from this remote part of Caithness.

Daniel Milne, co-founder of Whisky Hammer, said: “We’re excited to team up with Kerry and Derek at 8 Doors Distillery, and expect demand to be high for their exclusive 874 Founders Club cask packages. It’s great to see people with such a passion for Scotch bringing something new to the world of whisky. We would urge anyone interested in being part of this legacy to visit our site as soon as they can.”

Highlands and Islands Enterprise is investing up to £198,000 in the new venture. Keith Muir, the agency’s head of business growth in Caithness and Sutherland, said:  “This is a fantastic development, and it is great to see a project coming forward even in these difficult times that will be of real benefit to the tourism sector and to the local community.

“We are delighted to be able to help this local young couple fulfil their dreams of creating a new distillery in John O’ Groats. We look forward to the launch of 8 Doors Whisky and wish Kerry and Derek every success.”

Anyone interested in buying exclusive 8 Doors Distillery casks (available from midday on 6 October) or bottles (available from morning of 6 October) to create a new Scotch legacy should visit: https://www.8doorsdistillery.com/874-club-memberships

Link to film about 8 Doors Distillery: https://player.vimeo.com/video/445005864

Video iFrame code for inserting into websites: <iframe src=”https://player.vimeo.com/video/445005864” width=”640″ height=”360″ frameborder=”0″ allow=”autoplay; fullscreen” allowfullscreen></iframe>

Link to website: www.8doorsdistillery.com

Social media channels:

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/8doorsdistillery
Twitter – https://twitter.com/8doorsdistiller
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/8doorsdistillery/

Douglas Laing Unveils Old Particular “Harmony” as part of The Spiritualist Single Cask Series 

Leading independent bottler, Douglas Laing & Co, today reveals their “Harmony” Single Cask Single Grain, the second release of their Old Particular “Spiritualist” Series trilogy for 2020.

The Spiritualist Series has taken inspiration from the “mindfulness” phenomenon and encourages Whisky enthusiasts to take some time out from the bustle of their daily lives and enjoy a moment of harmonious calm. Having launched the Series with “Balance”, an Islay Single Cask Single Malt, this second release, “Harmony”, is described as “an uplifting Single Cask Single Grain” with a “vanilla’d oak style” coupled with “sweet hard candy, warming allspice and rich cocoa”.

For 28 years, the Whisky has been matured in a single Sherry butt and has been bottled at a punchy natural cask strength of 52.6%.

Cara Laing, Douglas Laing’s Director of Whisky said: “I love Single Grain so thoroughly enjoyed trying numerous samples for this latest release of our Spiritualist Series. I kept returning to this particular cask as we felt it was indeed a perfect harmony of oak and spirit character. After 28 years in a Sherry butt, you could expect the oak cask to dominate in terms of flavour, but the wood, time and the spirit have interacted harmoniously resulting in layers of flavours that come together beautifully.”

Old Particular “Harmony”, a single Sherry Butt bottling, is offered without colouring or chill-filtration and is expected to retail at £89.99.

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING:

www.douglaslaing.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/douglaslaingwhisky

Twitter: @dlaingwhisky

Established over 70 years ago, Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading creator and purveyor of the finest Scotch Whiskies, specialising in Single Cask Single Malts 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 non-chill-filtered to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards is testament to this ethos.

In 2015, the firm announced the launch of its first “umbrella” brand – Remarkable Regional Malts – a collection that encompasses Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (Islands), and Big Peat from Islay, offering the consumer The Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions.  The firm’s second umbrella brand, Exceptional Single Casks encompasses Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old Particular and Xtra Old Particular.

We are proud to announce the release our first 50 Year Old single malt Scotch Whisky, our oldest ever whisky

Only 50 bottles will be available for sale; they are available through specialist retailers across the globe.

Each buyer will be invited to an exclusive experience at The Glenrothes Highland Estate and Distillery, where they will meet the distillery team, many of whom have honed their whisky making mastery over the decades that the 50-year-old was quietly maturing in the warehouses at Rothes.

This whisky is presented in individually numbered handmade faceted crystal decanters which are then housed in an exquisite lacquered black case.

Laura Rampling, new Master Whisky Maker at The Glenrothes, explained what awaits whisky connoisseurs with this milestone release:

“This 50-year-old single malt is a dramatic blend of aromas with layers of complexity only a whisky of this age can deliver – truly luxurious, dark and fragrant.”

Laura will oversee the next chapter in our rich history, bringing with her a nose for detail and expertise earned through her career in the whisky industry. On her appointment, Laura said “Whisky is a real passion of mine and I look forward to working closely with my colleagues, both at the distillery and wider brand team, to champion the quality, craftsmanship and prestige of this hidden gem to whisky enthusiasts all over the world.”

We will hear more from our Master Whisky Maker later on!

The Dalmore launches 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select Single Malt

The latest addition to The Dalmore Principal Collection 

The Dalmore is proud to present The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select Single Malt, the latest addition to The Dalmore’s Principal Collection and an elegant evolution of the distillery’s legendary house style.

The new offering from the Highland Single Malt maker celebrates the inextricable affinity between The Dalmore and sherry. It is an exquisite union of the finest oak, and a unique blend of rare and aged sherry, born from an enduring passion to create exceptional single malts that honour the sanctity of the cask.

To realise his vision, Master Distiller Richard Paterson selected three cask partners from Andalucia. Tevasa, Vasyma, Paez. Together they curated the perfect oak casks and created a bespoke sherry blend to season these casks in order to realise the exact flavour profile desired by Paterson.

This single malt begins its life in American white oak ex-bourbon casks where it spends ten years maturing; meanwhile our European and American Oak oaks are selected precisely for their active, extractive qualities, and crafted into casks. A bespoke sherry blend of aged oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry is crafted by our coopers, and further customised for each maker ahead of seasoning and filling the casks for a full finish of up to three years. The result is an assemblage of sherry cask finishes, each gifting layers of sherry and oak influence for a sweet fruit and decadent spice drinking experience.

This elegant single malt balances nutty flavours of crushed almonds, dark chocolate and a dusting of cinnamon with a sweet Pedro Ximénez influence and hints of sweet mangoes, panna cotta and lemon sponge cake. The aroma is enticing and fragrant of caramelised orange, ginger and sultanas, laced with honey.

It is the exceptional maturation process for this bottling that ensures that this whisky embodies the essence of Dalmore’s house style, while exemplifying the influence of sherry for a more complex, elegant and refined drinking experience.

Richard Paterson said: ‘The 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select is elegance personified and an excellent addition to our Principal Collection. Its full finish in oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry casks reveals a more floral, light and refined side to The Dalmore. It is a truly decadent whisky which celebrates the deep-rooted alliances with our cooperage partners to source the most exquisite casks and truly showcase the depth of The Dalmore’s character.’

Paterson, who has been the creative force behind the brand for over fifty years, joined in 1970. He has developed a fearsome reputation for the curation of exquisite casks, sourcing exceptional casks from the world’s finest bodegas and wineries to craft unique and unforgettable expressions.

The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select is now available to purchase at The Whisky Shop in the UK at an RRP of £69. The expression is also available across major Asian markets including Taiwan and China and will be made available in the US from 2021.

For more information, please visit www.thedalmore.com.

Tasting Notes

The Aroma: Caramelised orange, ginger and sultanas, laced with honey

On the Palate: Dark chocolate and crushed almonds with a dusting of cinnamon

Finishing Notes: Sweet mangos, panna cotta and lemon sponge cake

Whisky details: Initial maturation in American white oak ex-bourbon casks and finished in American & European casks from 3 different Andalucian cooperages (Tevasa, Vasyma, Paez), each of which previously held a unique blend of aged oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry.

ABV: 70cl, 43%

About The Dalmore

For 180 years The Dalmore has been a masterpiece in the making. A Single Malt Whisky like no other, overseen by an unbroken chain of visionary whisky makers whose entrepreneurial spirit and restless pursuit of the perfect whisky endures today. Current Master Distiller, Mr. Richard Paterson, celebrates his sixth decade at The Dalmore in 2020. Richard Paterson continues to hand-select rare casks from the world’s finest bodega and wineries in which to mature the carefully composed sprit. This commitment is at the heart of our exceptional whiskies.

When asked what the greatest Dalmore he has ever made is; our Master Distiller, Richard Paterson responded: “We haven’t made it yet”

The Dalmore Single Malt Whisky is available worldwide in the finest outlets, from Harrods, London, Galleries La Fayette of Paris, Beverly Wilshire of Los Angeles, and Shangri-La, Shanghai. For those that enjoy fine travel, The Dalmore is now available at 40,000 feet with Emirates First Class, and onboard Queen Mary II of Cunard.

Worldwide demand for The Dalmore by consumers and collectors alike has continued to grow. The Dalmore is now the fastest growing single malt whisky worldwide and a Top Three Whisky Investment.*

(*Citation 1: IWSR 2011-17, Cohort: 20 single malts CAGR 11-17 26% or % change 11-17 304%. Citation 2: Rare Whisky 101: The 2016 Collectors and Investors Single Enjoy responsibly, Malt Scotch Review)

Evan Williams Unveils New Packaging for the Bourbon Franchise

First introduced in the 1950’s, Evan Williams Bourbon quickly became one of the nation’s leading Bourbons and Heaven Hill Distillery’s flagship brand. Today, the brand continues to break milestones at a historic pace, with the Evan Williams family of brands surpassing the three million case mark on an annual basis. To further bolster this growth, the evolution of the Evan Williams franchise packaging will feature key enhancements and a consistent look on the shelf.BARDSTOWN, Ky. – The Evan Williams Bourbon family, the second-largest selling Bourbon in the world, will soon grace retail shelves and on-premise establishments with a striking new look. Evan Williams Black, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond and Evan Williams Flavors will receive a new signature bottle with updated label designs.

The following designs will soon mark Heaven Hill Distillery’s continued investment in Evan Williams Bourbon:

• Evan Williams Black: Evan Williams Black carries the lineup featuring the new, signature glass defined by a curved bulb neck with new premium capsule closure decorated with the Evan Williams’ signature. The face label utilizes the iconic black and gold colors consumers have grown to love, but with a richer and vibrant gold ink throughout the label, finished by a new curve at the top to accentuate the new bottle. The label continues to feature the story of Evan Williams himself.
• Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond: Featuring the most dramatic evolutionary change, the new design clearly emphasizes the 100 proof, bottled under government supervision and single distilling season. Evan Williams Bottled-In-Bond carries over the green and white label colors, reflecting a vintage flare showcasing the rich history behind Bottled-In-Bond products and their importance to the Whiskey category. A new premium capsule closure with the iconic tax strip seals the bottle and harkens to historic bottled-in-bond packaging requirements.
• Evan Williams Flavors: Evan Williams Flavors will receive a streamlined approach consistent with the franchise with label design enhancements featuring a centered logo. The flavors will also be bottled in the new glass with the premium capsule closure.

“Evan Williams Bourbon is a testament to sustained success across the ebbs and flows of the American Whiskey category,” said Julie Cole, Evan Williams Senior Brand Manager. “We’re excited to rejuvenate the Evan Williams family packaging to both enhance the consumer experience and modernize the label design. Evan Williams was an entrepreneurial leader in the Bourbon movement, and we continue to honor his success through the award-winning Evan Williams Bourbon franchise.”

The changes to the glass, label and capsule will be reflected in the 750ml, 1L and 1.75L sizes, while label changes will be reflected in the smaller sizes. The new packaging will be available nationwide, launching now and throughout 2020. New bottles will be featured throughout future marketing programs and on evanwilliams.com.

ABOUT EVAN WILLIAMS: The flagship Bourbon of Heaven Hill Distillery, Evan Williams is among the leaders in the rapidly growing American Whiskey segment as the world’s second largest-selling Bourbon. Evan Williams is a proud sponsor of Major League Baseball and the World Series, first forming a partnership with the national pastime in 2016. As an American-made and American-owned brand, Evan Williams has recognized true American heroes through their exceptional stories of honor and bravery on special edition American-Made Hero labels for the past five years, now supported by the American-Made Heroes Foundation Fund. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit as an official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.8 million barrels aging in 60 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition Distillery of the Year, Best in Show Whisky, and previously held the titles of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Word Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

MISTER SAM TRIBUTE WHISKEY ACHIEVED THE FINALIST AWARD FOR THE CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY DURING THE ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE 2020

MONTREAL (Sept. 29, 2020) – The results of the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2020 have been announced, and four whiskies from Sazerac Company’s Old Montreal Distillery received accolades. Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey received the Finalist award for the Chairman’s Trophy. The panel described Mister Sam’s flavor as “sweet and spicy aromatics combine orchards fruits like nectarine, apricot, and cherry, with intense woodsy cigar box for a pungent first impression. Pillowy in texture, the first wave of flavor is fruity, followed by the layers of vanilla kissed spice that linger after each sip.”

USC judges bestowed the Great Value award to Royal Canadian Small Batch Blended Canadian Whisky, while Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky and High River Canadian Whisky received very good and strong recommendation reviews from the panel.

Ultimate Spirits Challenge’s methodology raises the standard for competitive beverage evaluation by instituting more rigorous judging. Each product is evaluated blind by panels in multi-stages assessments to remove any inherent or individual bias. Complete results for the Ultimate Spirit Challenge 2020 can be found at www.ultimate-beverage.com

The Old Montreal Distillery was constructed in the 1920s in Montreal’s historic district. Once the home of Sam Bronfman’s Seagram empire, spirits industry leader Sazerac purchased the landmark in 2011.  After successfully completing an ambitious facility modernization, the distillery is again producing world-class whisky, including the world’s first single barrel Canadian Whisky, Caribou Crossing, and the highly coveted Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey.

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.

anCnoc releases Peatheart Batch 2 for Global Market

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky continues its journey ‘to the dark side’ with the global release today (30^th September 2020) of Peatheart Batch 2: the second consignment of its award-winning permanent peated expression.

After a limited release in Sweden, this second bottling will now be available to drinkers around the world, following the international success of Peatheart Batch 1 which was launched in 2017.

Batch 2 features the same smoky, mellow wood notes and phenol content as the original (40ppm) – but this time a more subtle smokiness is balanced with anCnoc’s brighter, fruitier flavours.

Tasting Notes

Colour: light gold

Nose: Understated peat smoke and barbecue balanced by ripe pineapples, pears and a dark, rich tone of baked toffee apples. Subtle vanilla and sparks of fresh lemon rind lend lightness and elegance to the composition.

Taste: Structured and full, with rich smoke in balance with juicy gummy bears and the light, fizzy sweetness of spun sugar. Undertones of a hay barn and fudge give it a delicious weight.

Finish: Long and growing, distinctly spicy and sweet with a warming, smoky finale.

Crafted at Knockdhu Distillery in the small village of Knock, by Huntly in Aberdeenshire, Peatheart uses peated barley in production to add a rich, smoky twist to anCnoc’s classic new make spirit, before maturation in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels.

Presented in a dramatic opaque black bottle and tube, which glisten with touches of bronze and white, it is set to be a perfect gift for whisky fans over the Christmas and New Year season.

Knockdhu Distillery Manager Gordon Bruce explained that the new batch is true in flavour and character to the original, but with intriguing differences that will delight whisky lovers. He said: ‘Despite having the same ppm as Batch 1, slight variations in maturation mean that our second Peatheart bottling offers something a little bit different, with a more refined smoky character. The combination of fresh, fruity anCnoc notes with these more mellow peat flavours creates a wonderful modern whisky that will be enjoyed by whisky fans across the spectrum. The peaty range now sits alongside our signature anCnoc whiskies to give drinkers two very distinctive sides to our whisky. Whether it’s a dram from our ‘dark’ or ‘light’ side, both represent our commitment to using the best traditional techniques and craftsmanship to make a very modern single malt whisky’.

Peatheart Batch 2 is set to be in high demand following the critical acclaim achieved by Batch 1 – which included a coveted category gold medal at the World Whiskies Awards in 2019.

anCnoc Peatheart Batch 2 (40ppm) is bottled in 70cl at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered and with natural colour. 1700 cases of the new batch will be available in the UK and for global markets, sold in independent and specialist retailers and whisky shops from 1^st October. RRP £52.

www.ancnoc.com

https://www.facebook.com/ancnocsinglemalt/

www.instagram.com/anCnoc_whisky

www.twitter.com/anCnoc_whisky

ABOUT ANCNOC

anCnoc is produced at Knockdhu Distillery, which sits in the shadow of the ‘Black Hill’ (Knockdhu in Gaelic) near Huntly in Aberdeenshire. It was established in 1894 by the pioneering John Morrison, after he spotted an abundance of the natural resources needed to make fine malt whisky in the area: pure spring water and plentiful supplies of peat and barley.

Today, Knockdhu is known as one of the smallest and most enchanting distilleries in the Scottish Highlands, producing a refreshingly modern single malt whisky with the most traditional skills and processes. The Black Hill continues to supply pure water for the whisky making process. The distillery’s two copper pot stills replicate the original 1894 design, their bulbous bases giving anCnoc its light, fresh, fruity flavour. Old fashioned worm tubs are used to condense the vaporised alcohol. And Distillery Manager Gordon Bruce, and his team, make up one of the smallest workforces in any distillery (including many dogs!)

anCnoc’s first foray into peated whisky began back in 2014 with the launch of a new ‘Peaty’ range, inspired by the whiskies made early in Knockdhu’s history using local peated barley. 

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL BEVERAGE HOLDINGS

International Beverage Holdings Ltd is one of the drinks industry’s most dynamic global businesses.  Established in 2006 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Thaibev, the company operates as its international business arm, specialising in the development of premium local spirits for the global market. Its success is built on a strong understanding of local cultures and markets within a worldwide business network. Based in Hong Kong with regional offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, the USA and UK, the company is responsible for the sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium brands in over 85 markets. These brands are built on character, craftsmanship and quality, led by a range of award-winning Scotch whiskies and an array of vibrant beers and spirits. These include:

• Single malt Scotch whiskies Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc and Speyburn
• Blended Scotch Hankey Bannister
• Caorunn, Scotland’s leading super premium gin
• Mekhong, ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
• Chang Beer, Thailand’s iconic beer brand 

Inver House Distillers is a wholly owned subsidiary of International Beverage Holdings Ltd, producing its  Scotch whiskies and gin at five distilleries around Scotland: Pulteney, Speyburn, Knockdhu, Balblair and Balmenach. Inver House is also highly active in the warehousing and blending of Scotch whisky, with warehousing for 500,000 barrels and state of the art blending and laboratory facilities at its headquarters in Airdrie. The business has won many prestigious accolades over the years, including the Icons of Whisky Distiller of the Year Award for Scotland (2017).

www.interbevgroup.com

ARMORIK GOES PEATED!

After many years of ageing, tasting, we are finally ready to launch… our heavily peated Whisky. We are improving our game with a new line of peated single malts named Yeun Elez.

The Yeun Elez range, just like Armorik is distilled, matured and bottled at the Distillerie Warenghem, in Brittany, France.

YEUN ELEZ

GI Whisky Breton Single Malt, 46%, 70 cl Un-chill filtered – Natural colour

Yeun Elez is a peated Breton Whisky, distilled from peated (50ppm) malted barley from Scotland. Breton Single Malt Whisky, it has been distilled and matured to highlight its delicate, elegant and fruity peat. The name Yeun Elez comes from an old peat bog located in the heart of the Armorique Natural Park, which is also home to many Breton legends (such as that of Tadic Coz represented on the pack).

The legend

Located in the Monts d’Arrée, in the heart of the Armorique Natural Park, the Yeun Elez is a swamp considered in Breton legends as the Gateway to Hell.

According to the legend reported by Anatole le Braz, it is the place where the evil souls who haunted the living were thrown into hell. Tadic-Coz, knew the secret and the ritual of locking the souls of ghosts in the body of a black dog. He instructed young Jobic to guide the dog towards the underworld gates. The latter, going from presbytery to presbytery, led the black dog to the rector of Commana. Together, at sunset, they threw the black dog into the Yeun Elez swamp, condemning the ghost to hell.

« We are entering the Yeun Elez, he said to Jobic. Whatever you hear, don’t look away. It is about your life in this world and your salvation in the next. »

A.Le Braz, La Légende de la mort en Basse-Bretagne, 1893.

Tasting Notes

Pale yellow with golden reflections.

Nose: Beautiful aromatic intensity, the peat is medicinal (camphor, cloves) but supported by fruity notes, bananas, cooked peaches, and pastry (cream pastry).

Palate: The smoke rounds the palate, citrus notes bringing freshness. Nice roundness with a hint of salinity.

Final: A lingering, iodized and spicy finish, ending with a warm wood fire.

Yeun Elez is the result of the distillery’s foray into the territory of peated whiskies. We offer you a peaty variation of our single malt Armorik: We use Scottish peated barley, water from our own source and our artisanal know-how. Using our traditional pot stills, we strive to create an exceptional single malt that reflects the Breton character.

DISTILLERIE WARENGHEM – ROUTE DE GUINGAMP – 22300 LANNION – FRANCE

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TWO SAZERAC CANADIAN WHISKIES AWARDED GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS AT THE 2020 NORTH AMERICAN BOURBON & WHISKEY COMPETITION 

Montreal (Sept. 24, 2020) – The North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition has published its results for the 2020 double-blind tasting competition.  Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky received a Gold award and Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whisky received a Silver award.

The NABWC promotes excellence in bourbon, whiskey, and moonshine through a double-blind competition and is based on a 100-point scale. The spirits are judged by styles and price categories, and this year’s competition was judged virtually in light of COVID-19.

For more information about the 2020 NABWC, visit http://whiskeycomp.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.

Explosion of colour for the new Glencairn Glass range

to celebrate 20th anniversary

The world’s favourite whisky glass is now available in a new range of five different, red, green, gold, blue and black

To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the Glencairn Glass, the world’s favourite whisky glass, Glencairn Crystal Studio has introduced a new core range of coloured glasses.

Following the huge popularity of the limited edition black Glencairn Glass last year, whisky fans world-wide will now be able to purchase the Glencairn Glass not only in black but also in blue, red, green, and shimmering gold alongside the original clear glass.

Available both individually or as a full tasting set of six glasses, the new range of coloured glasses has been carefully selected and created to provide visual impact in the hand and on the bar. It has also been designed to be used in, and to enhance, the blind tasting experience by disguising the colour of the whisky.

This year the iconic Glencairn Glass celebrates its 20^th anniversary. Since its creation by the award winning Glencairn Crystal Studio in 2000, it has shot to fame as the definitive whisky glass around the world today, with over 3 million being sold each year, across 140 different countries in all seven continents including Antarctica.

Scott Davidson, New Product Development Director and son of Glencairn Crystal Founder, Raymond Davidson, commented:

“We were blown away by the massive success of our limited edition black Glencairn Glass last year which sold out almost immediately. So in response to public demand, our 20^th anniversary gift to loyal fans of the Glencairn Glass across the world is the introduction of this colourful new range, which is here to stay.  Not only are the coloured glasses a fun addition to any drinks cabinet, tasting your dram blind is the perfect way to develop your senses and to learn all about the wonderful world of whisky”.

The new range of coloured Glencairn Glasses can be purchased individually at £8 each, or in a presentation box featuring the full colour range tasting set of five glasses plus the original clear glass at £60. Available at The Glencairn Crystal online store and then also from other retailers later this year.

For more details about Glencairn Crystal Studio and The Glencairn Glass please visit: www.glencairn.co.uk and www.whiskyglass.com

Notes:

• The Glencairn Glass is endorsed by the Scotch Whisky Association as the official glass for whisky.
• Please note that the new colour range of Glencairn Glasses are not available in hand cut crystal and cannot be personalised unlike the original clear Glencairn Glass.
• Visit the new Glencairn PodGlass Series: a series of insightful and informative podcasts created this year to mark the 20^th anniversary of the Glencairn Glass. Featuring Glencairn Crystal Founder, Raymond Davidson, and guest appearances by some of the whisky industry’s most renowned and respected names.