PLANNING PERMISSION SECURED FOR SCOTLAND’S NORTHERNMOST MAINLAND WHISKY DISTILLERY

Local husband and wife team behind new micro-distillery set for John O’Groats

A new micro Scotch whisky distillery is set to open in John O’Groats in 2021, following planning permission secured yesterday (2 March 2020) for a 32,670 square foot site which will house a distillery, visitor centre and bonded warehouse.

The micro-distillery will become Scotland’s most northernly mainland whisky distillery, thanks to its location near to the coastline of John O’Groats. The ‘end of the line’ distillery will have the capacity to produce up to 60,000 litres of whisky each year and will be the first Scotch whisky distillery in John O’Groats since 1837¹.

The distillery is the brainchild of local husband and wife team Derek and Kerry Campbell and to help bring their vision to life £198,000 of funding has been secured from Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE).

Situated in the heart of the area on a disused plot adjacent to the main car park, alongside producing whisky the venture will also offer a new visitor attraction to tourists and provide those travelling from Land’s End to John O’Groats with an opportunity to toast their journey with a dram of Scotch whisky. It is estimated that six new jobs will be created during the first year, including a Master Whisky Maker and Visitor Centre Manager.

The new distillery and visitor centre will encompass one large building which has been designed to showcase the two copper stills and traditional whisky making process, while making the most of the fantastic views across the Pentland Firth through large glass windows placed along the front of the building. A 1,500 square foot dunnage warehouse will also be built on the site to mature and store the Highland spirit.

Founder Kerry Campbell said: “With a longstanding interest in the whisky industry, I began to truly appreciate quality Scotch whisky around 12 years ago and since then have developed a growing passion for Scotland’s national drink. After many conversations with my husband around the idea of building our own distillery and creating our own whisky, I’m delighted that we are now one step closer to making these plans a reality having secured planning permission on our dream site at John O’Groats.

“We believe the whisky we will produce will be unlike that from any other distillery, due to our coastal location in John O’Groats and the impact the local climate will have on our spirit as it matures. With traditional methods at the heart of our plans and an ambition to showcase whisky distilling in John O’Groats to the world, we are looking forward to opening the doors to our micro-distillery in due course.

“The support we have received from the local community and business owners to date has been fantastic and we can’t wait to welcome them to our distillery in 2021.” 

Commenting on the funding provided by HIE, Keith Muir, HIE’s head of business growth for Caithness and Sutherland, said: “Tourism and food and drink are two key industries in Caithness, and this project features both. As well as producing a brand-new whisky, it will enhance the area’s wider visitor offering, notably around the North Coast 500. All of this encourages visitors to stay in the area longer, which benefits all local businesses and communities.

“We particularly welcome the improvement it will make to the look and feel of the John O’Groats end of the road attraction, in bringing a long disused site back into productive use. We are very pleased to support this venture and look forward to seeing it taking shape.”

Andrew Mowat, manager at the Seaview Hotel in John O’Groats, added: “The development of the new distillery and visitor centre is really exciting for the area and is another great example of the ongoing development of John O’Groats.

“It will complement the plans for the mill and brewery in the area. It will also help increase dwell time in John O’Groats, attract more visitors, increase employment and utilise a currently undeveloped site.

“We are now getting closer to achieving our aim of making John O’Groats a world class destination, with the community trusts and business community working hand in to realise this goal.” 

Work on the distillery is due to begin in summer 2020, with the aim of opening the visitor centre to the public in summer 2021.

Notes 

Records from the National Archive of Scotland show that a whisky distillery founded by James Sutherland and John Gibson in 1826 operated in John O’Groats until 1837.

Limited-edition Glenfarclas Pagoda Ruby Reserve released in

Glencairn Crystal decanters embellished with rubies

Glenfarclas has globally released it’s much awaited limited-edition Pagoda Ruby Reserve. The distillery’s oldest whisky released to date has been aged for 62 years and is beautifully presented in a stunning Glencairn decanter featuring hand-mounted precious rubies.

The Glenfarclas Pagoda Ruby Reserve joins the critically acclaimed Pagoda Reserve Trilogy, that comprises extremely rare whiskies aged 43, 48 and 59 years old. A further addition to the Pagoda Reserve Series will be released later this year with the Pagoda Sapphire Reserve 63 years old.

The Ruby Reserve is available in two editions:

• Limited Edition Silver, just 180 bottles (700ml) and 62 magnums available
• Collector’s Edition Gold, only 50 bottles (700ml) and 50 magnums available.

Prices range from £22,716 (ex VAT) for the Limited Edition Silver 700 ml decanters, to £53,546 (ex VAT) for the Collector’s Edition Gold magnum decanters (1.5 litres)

Scottish family business, Glencairn Crystal, specially created these luxury decanters to contain the rare whiskies for the Pagoda Reserve Series produced from the highest quality hand blown 30% lead crystal, renowned for its ultra-clarity.

The Pagoda Ruby Reserve decanter is a showcase of Glencairn’s bespoke craftsmanship, as their first decanter ever to encase hand-mounted precious gemstones. The front age statement features 34 hand-picked and colour matched rubies to construct the number 62, to highlight the significance of the age of the whisky.

The sides of the decanter feature Chinese Guardian Lions in a carefully selected deep red to compliment the red crystal Pagoda shaped stopper. The solid silver and gold plated collars of the two editions are both individually numbered and infilled with a unique design and the Pagoda top is also engraved representing the Silk Road. The total effect is to provide flowing movement across the decanter from base to top.

With exceptional attention to detail from the outset, The Glenfarclas Pagoda Reserve Series features some of the most exclusive whiskies ever to reach the market. George Grant Glenfarclas Distillery Director (6th Generation) along with Scotland’s Ambassador to whisky in China and Keeper of The Quaich, Stephen Notman, carefully selected the very finest, super premium timeless casks. Distilled in three iconic whisky making decades of the last century, each special vintage predates the 1972 decommissioning of the famous Pagoda shaped kiln at Glenfarclas.

Glencairn Crystal was commissioned to produce its finest crystal cut decanters to house these exquisite whiskies. Finished with valuable gemstones and precious metals, each decanter is a work of art and embraces the pagoda symbol of Scottish whisky production and the quality and rarity of the whiskies within.

George Grant of Glenfarclas Distillery commented: “I take great pleasure in releasing this extremely rare 1954, single sherry butt cask 62 year old. The Glenfarclas Pagoda Ruby Reserve is a rare piece of Scotch whisky heritage and one of the oldest whiskies on the market today”.

Scott Davidson, Glencairn’s New Product Development Director, commented: “It has been an honour to create some of our finest ever decanters to pay homage to and celebrate the exceptional whiskies in the Glenfarclas Pagoda Reserve Series. We’re especially proud of the Ruby Reserve decanter as it has enabled us to showcase the talent of our craftspeople, some of whom have over 30 years experience in working with crystal. It has been a huge developmental project for us in aspects such as developing the tall, intricate, magnetic Pagoda top and a first for us in using precious rubies to embellish the decanter. We look forward to revealing the Pagoda Sapphire Reserve decanter to the whisky world alongside Glenfarclas later in the year.”

For further information visit

 www.glenfarclaspagodaseries.com and www.glencairn.co.uk

Notes:

About Glencairn Crystal:

• In the past year alone Glencairn Crystal has been commissioned by over 30 different brands to create hand-crafted bespoke packaging for some of the oldest and most luxurious spirits ever released.
• The Glencairn Glass, created in 2001, is endorsed by the Scotch Whisky Association as the official glass for whisky. Glencairn make over 3 million per year, across hundreds of brands, distributed to over 90 countries worldwide.
• Glencairn’s clients include leading drinks companies, brands and other outlets, including: BP, Brown-Forman, Cunard, Diageo, Houses of Parliament, Muller, Google, Scottish Parliament and the majority of the Scottish Whisky manufacturers, in addition to many of the international whisky and spirit producers.

About Glenfarclas:

• Since 1865 Glenfarclas has been owned and managed by just one family, the Grants of Glenfarclas. Now in the hands of the fifth and sixth generation of the family, to this day Glenfarclas is one of only a few distilleries in Scotland to remain family owned and managed. The Grants remain committed to the vision of creating the best quality Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, in the traditional Speyside style.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY AND FRANKFORT PARKS AND RECREATION TO HOST 21^st ANNUAL EASTER EVENT

Registration is required for participation in complimentary event

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Feb. 26, 2020) – Buffalo Trace Distillery and the City of Frankfort Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites is egg-cited to host its 21^st annual Easter event this April. “Easter at the Trace” is a festival-like event, comprised of music, refreshments and other Easter activities, including photos with the Easter Bunny.

Among these activities, children ages 0-11 are invited to participate in this year’s updated egg hunt, with a different format from previous years’ hunts.  This year’s egg hunt will be scavenger-hunt style. To participate, children will collect eggs from five different festive stations, and receive stamps on their hunt card. In addition to the eggs collected from the stations, participants will receive a special prize egg in exchange for the completed stamped hunt card. This updated format is a fun, safe alternative to traditional egg hunts, and means there are no age-specific hunt times, and lots of treats to go around.

This relaxed family event will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, April 5 in the Buffalo Trace Distillery gardens.

Registration for Easter at the Trace is complimentary and begins March 5. Visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com/events and click on the “Register Now” link in the Events Stampede Calendar.  Space is limited, and registration for this highly anticipated event is expected to fill up quickly.  Early registration is recommended.

All families interested in participating must register online ahead of the event and present an original digital or printed ticket at the check-in. Every individual in attendance, parents and children, must be registered. Only original, authentic tickets will be accepted at check-in. Tickets may not be transferred, and the resell of tickets is strictly prohibited. Authentic tickets will only be available through the Buffalo Trace Distillery website. Tickets acquired through other means are not legitimate and will not be accepted. This remains a complimentary event for children and families to attend, but due to growing interest, and in order to manage crowd size and ensure a safe event for everyone, registration is required.

Buffalo Trace is located at 113 Great Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Ky. Visitors are asked to enter at the main Distillery entrance and follow event parking signs. Please allow ample time for parking. In the event of rain, the Easter Bunny will greet the children for photos and pass out treats in the Buffalo Trace Clubhouse.

            Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.  No pets please, except for service animals.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.”  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

Goldfinch whisky merchants launch very rare own bottling

– a double matured single cask Macallan aged 26 Years 

Scottish whisky merchants Goldfinch have released a very rare and exclusive own bottling of a single cask 26 Year Old Macallan.

Only 100 hand-numbered bottles of the double oak matured, sherry finished Macallan by Goldfinch are available world-wide.

The single malt was distilled at The Macallan Distillery in June 1993 and matured for 25 years in an American oak bourbon barrel, then finished by the Goldfinch team for a year in an Oloroso sherry oak hogshead cask.  It is presented in a luxurious, decanter style bottle, inside a bespoke navy blue and gold foil embossed box.

Commenting on the rare release, Andrew Macdonald-Bennett of Goldfinch said:

“We are delighted to launch this exquisite single malt from The Macallan Distillery, which is regarded as the most collectible whisky in the world.

“It is a rare gem that offers whisky lovers and collectors as well as those interested in taking their first foray into whisky investment the chance to own a very exclusive bottling of The Macallan single malt whisky.  It also perfectly reflects Goldfinch’s aim to bring rare cask whisky to the market for people to enjoy and share.

“As well as displaying all the characteristics of a Macallan of its era, the double oak sherry finish has imparted layers of complexity to create an extraordinary single malt with notes of spiced-oak, golden syrup, chocolate and oranges.”

The Macallan 26 Year Old by Goldfinch was bottled non chill filtered in November 2019 at a natural cask strength of 40.8% ABV.

It is available now from Goldfinch Whisky Merchants www.goldfinchwhisky.com priced at £1,200.00 (incl UK duty and VAT) per 70 cl bottle, with free delivery.  It is also available from Nicholls & Perks, Master of Malt and at The Gleneagles Hotel.

www.goldfinchwhisky.com  follow us on social @goldfinchwhisky

Notes:

Tasting Notes for The Macallan 26 Years Old by Goldfinch

Nose: After a brief yet welcoming breeze of butterscotch and vanilla, a dusty oak emerges with a hue of citrus fruits that flow around a distant background of stewed oranges.

Palate: Golden syrup and vanilla smoothly merge with a dry oak that is overlaid with chocolate, oranges and malted barley. There is a wealth of rich and warm autumn fruits, ginger and a caramel sweetness.

Finish: A lingering mahogany with a spiced golden barley and sticky toffee sweetness that draws you towards another sip. 

Goldfinch are specialist Scottish whisky merchants dedicated to sourcing exceptional casks from Scotland’s finest distilleries to share with whisky enthusiasts and collectors around the world. Every Goldfinch release is individually crafted, exquisitely packaged and carries a clear provenance.

THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF VELVET FIG BY WEMYSS MALTS NOW AS A 25 YEAR OLD LIMITED EDITION RELEASE.

Wemyss Malts continues its 15th Anniversary celebrations this year with the triumphant return of Velvet Fig in the form of a 25 year old Sherry cask blended malt composed from casks of Highlands, Speyside and unpeated Islay whiskies.

Velvet Fig was Wemyss Malts first limited edition blended malt released back in 2014 and received its flavour led name in reference to the rich flavours from the sherry cask maturation.

The release was hugely successful and Velvet Fig later went on to win the Best Scotch Blended Malt at the 2015 World Whisky Awards. The original Velvet Fig is now sadly finished (except perhaps for a few bottles squirreled away by savvy whisky fans) and is still often fondly remembered and talked about among Wemyss Malts fan. With such fan reverence Wemyss Malts tasked themselves to bring back Velvet Fig and continue their exploration into sherry cask matured malt whiskies.

In 2019, Isabella Wemyss, Production Director for Wemyss Malts secured 5 casks of exceptional 1994 vintage sherry cask matured malt whisky from undisclosed Highlands and Speyside single malt distilleries and the blending team used these as the base to develop the new premium age statement Velvet Fig recipe.

Blender and Brand Manager for Wemyss Malts Steven Shand commented:

“With the Speyside and Highland casks as the base of the whisky we set about combining additional old casks of whisky from our stocks to add a velvety body, richness and complex wood tannin. By carefully selecting and adding several 1988 vintage casks of unpeated, sherry matured Bunnahabhain’s as the final 29% of the recipe we were able to achieve an aroma, flavour and body that did justice to the Velvet Fig name.”

The resulting whisky is an exquisitely fruity, rich and complex malt whisky with aromas of antique wood, vintage leather and velvety flavours of dark fruits and chocolate. It has the natural colour of deep copper and has been bottled non chill-filtered at 42.3%abv and carries a 25 year old age statement.

The whisky was unveiled at Wemyss Malts 15th anniversary celebration at Gosford House on the 4th of February and was initially preview released to Wemyss Malts Cask Club members.

The release will be available in the UK, EU and Asia as of the 25th of February with a suggested retail price of £126 in various spirits retailers and from wemysmalts.com.

Wemyss Malts Cask Club members will be posting their own reviews of Velvet Fig Aged 25 Years via Instagram from Monday the 24th to Thursday the 27th of February. You can find out what their thoughts are by following @wemyssmalts and the hashtag #WMCaskClub.

Notes 

 Edinburgh based Wemyss Malts is family run company operated by brother and sister William and Isabella Wemyss. The Wemyss family Castle has been home to the family since the 1300s and is featured in the company logo.
 The Wemyss Malts Cask Club, launched in 2019 offers members access to exclusive bottlings, previews of new releases, competitions and the latest news. Membership is free and can be joined via www.wemyssmalts.com/cask-club
 Wemyss Malts craft blended malt whiskies such as The Hive, Spice King and Peat Chimneyas well as Batch Strength versions and single cask whiskies.
 The Wemyss family premium wines and spirits brands also include Kingsbarns Single Malt,Lord Elcho blended Scotch whisky and Darnley’s Gin, together with the premium wine estate of Rimauresq Cru Classé in Cotes de Provence.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Announces

Blanton’s Gold will be Available in the U.S. 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Feb 27, 2020) Fans of Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon have long asked for the Gold Edition to be available in the United States. This summer those bourbon lovers will get their wish. Available as a limited release in 2020, Blanton’s Gold will be released once every year in the U.S.

This is the first time the Blanton’s Gold Edition has been made available in the U.S. Previously the only version of the Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon available to fans stateside was the Original Single Barrel, bottled at 93 proof. While Blanton’s Original will still be available, the Gold Edition is now joining the ranks.

“We’ve seen Blanton’s soar in popularity over the last few years, and fans have asked us for the Gold version in the U.S. too,” said Kris Comstock, senior marketing director. “We’re thrilled to fulfill their requests this summer.”

The 103 proof Blanton’s Gold Edition is the same recipe as Blanton’s Original, but the proof is greater.  The bottle showcases a horse and jockey atop its stopper, in various poses to mimic running a horse race. The eight different horse and jockey stoppers feature a letter that collectors save to spell out the brand name “B-L-A-N-T-O-N-S.”  The horse and jockey on the Gold Edition is gold in color.

Tasting notes for Blanton’s Gold describe it as having a nose marked by honey, heavy rye, dried fruits, vanilla, and chocolate. The taste is described as full and rich, marked by apricot, butter, pepper, light honey, and oak. The finish has been called long, with toffee and apple, developing on pecan and caramel.

Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon is the world’s first single barrel bourbon, created in 1984 by Elmer T. Lee. Named after former distillery president Colonel Albert B. Blanton, Elmer recalled how Colonel Blanton would handpick “honey barrels” from the center cut of Warehouse H for the many parties Blanton held.  Many years later, the Distillery called upon Elmer to create a new bourbon in 1984 and Blanton’s was born – the world’s first single barrel bourbon.

Today, Blanton’s Single Barrel has become one of the most revered and award-winning bourbons on the market.  The Blanton’s Gold Edition was the second version created, after the Original 93 proof.  Gold will be available in the U.S. on a very limited basis for a suggested retail price of $120.  For more information on Blanton’s Gold Edition visit www.blantonsbourbon.com.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.”  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

GLENGOYNE HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY UNVEILS “DUNCAN’S DRAM”

LIMITED-EDITION SINGLE CASK WHISKY TO BE RELEASED, HAND-SELECTED BY ASSISTANT DISTILLERY MANAGER, DUNCAN MCNICOLL, AFTER 43 YEARS AT GLENGOYNE DISTILLERY Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky today (27th February) revealed Duncan’s Dram, a limited-edition 17 Year Old Single Cask bottled in honour of Assistant Distillery Manager Duncan McNicoll, who retired in January 2020 after working at the distillery for 43 years.

To mark his many years of service, Glengoyne asked Duncan to hand-select one cask from the warehouses to be bottled under his own name. He picked cask number 561, a 17 Year Old single cask which was distilled on 24th April 2002. Only 520 numbered bottles have been produced, and Duncan has rightly been gifted bottle number one.  The remaining bottles are now available to buy from the Glengoyne Distillery shop as well as from the Glengoyne website (glengoyne.com).

Duncan began his career as a mashman at the Glengoyne Distillery in 1977, aged 20. He then worked as a stillman and latterly as Assistant Distillery Manager. He lives next door to the distillery, where his children were born and grew up.

The limited-edition single cask bottling was matured in an American Oak sherry butt, imparting a warm toffee colour with aromas of red apples, rosehip syrup, vanilla fudge, and candied lemons on the nose. It has rich, spicy oak on the palate, with flavours of dark brown sugar and lemon marmalade, and a long finish with a burst of fresh pineapple.

Robbie Hughes, Group Distillation Manager at Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “Duncan has been a beloved member of the Glengoyne family for over 40 years, so we felt there was no better way to honour his legacy than to release a whisky in his name, bottled from his favourite cask, hand-selected by Duncan himself.

“Duncan has gone from mashman, to stillman, to assistant distillery manager over 43 years, and has spent his final years passing on his tremendous knowledge to fellow members of the team, ensuring the same unhurried production methods of Glengoyne carry on for generations to come. Thank you again, Duncan.”

Duncan McNicoll, retired Assistant Distillery Manager, said: “While sad to be leaving the Glengoyne team, I have loved every minute of working here. It’s been such a massive part of my life, as well as my family’s. To be asked to personally select a cask for release is a true honour.

“Every single cask of whisky has its own character and flavour and no two are exactly the same, meaning this single cask release is entirely unique. With so many stunning drams to choose from it wasn’t easy picking a favourite, but I’m sure this one is a winner.”

 This Glengoyne 17 Year Old Single Cask release is available from the Glengoyne Distillery shop and from the Glengoyne website (glengoyne.com), and is priced at £189 per bottle.

Notes

o          Cask number 561

o          Distilled on 24th April 2002 (17yo) and bottled January 2020

o          Cask type is an American Oak sherry butt

o          57.3% ABV which is Cask Strength, and un-chillfiltered

o          The release comes with a neck tag telling the story of its bottling, along with a Glengoyne black canvas bag

o          520 bottles were bottled from the cask, and are available, priced at £189 per bottle from the Glengoyne Distillery shop and on https://shop.glengoyne.com/

BUFFALO TRACE NAMED THE AMERICAN

DISTILLER OF THE YEAR BY WHISKY MAGAZINE

Also named Best American Whiskey Visitor Attraction of the Year 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Feb. 18, 2020) –The Icons of Whisky America Awards by Whisky Magazine named Buffalo Trace Distillery the 2020 Distiller of the Year and Visitor Attraction of the Year at a recent ceremony in New York City. The magazine also awarded E.H. Taylor, Jr. Straight Rye as the Best American Rye Whiskey of 2020.

“From our whiskies to our guest experience, our team at Buffalo Trace is focused on producing the very best, so we’re honored to be recognized in both respects,” Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said. “These awards encourage us to continue investing in the Distillery, increase our whisky production, maintain our uncompromising quality standards, innovate through experimentation and win even more awards!”

Buffalo Trace Distillery focuses tirelessly on producing great whiskies, which have garnered more than 1,000 awards over the years, distinguishing it as the World’s Most Award-Winning Distillery.

As the popularity of its whiskies continues to grow, the Distillery has embraced an ongoing $1.2 billion investment to expand its distilling capabilities and make more whiskey. This investment includes the recent installation of four brand new 22-foot tall cookers, four new fermenters which each hold 92,000 gallons of mash, and seven new warehouses which each hold 58,800 barrels, with two more under construction and several more on the way.

The Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year award follows Buffalo Trace’s recent announcement that it welcomed nearly 300,000 visitors over the course of 2019; a record-breaking 35 percent increase over the previous year.

In keeping with the Distillery’s commitment to provide a top-notch visitor experience, Buffalo Trace has begun working to expand its Visitor Center further back into its existing building, which will ultimately triple the size of the current Visitor Center and allow the Distillery to better accommodate the continued tourism growth. This renovation comes just five years after its last Visitor Center expansion, and is anticipated to be complete later this year. The expanded space will allow Buffalo Trace to further develop its visitor experience with new tour routes, tasting and events spaces and archive exhibits. More information about Buffalo Trace’s Distillery and Visitor Center expansions can be found here.

In addition to these two Icons of Whisky America awards, and award for Best American Rye, five other whiskies from Buffalo Trace received medals at the American 2020 World Whiskies Awards.

Gold Medal Winner:

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Silver Medal Winners:

• W. L. Weller 12 Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bronze Medal Winner:

• W. L. Weller Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Whiskies in each category were subject to blind tastings in a three-round judging process to reward and promote the world’s best whiskies to consumers and trade across the globe.  The winners from the World Whiskies Awards and the Icons of Whisky Awards America 2020 will now compete with counterparts from all over the world, and global winners will be announced March 26 in London. For more information about the World Whiskies Awards visit www.worldwhiskiesawards.com, and for more information about the Icons of Whisky visit www.iconsofwhisky.com 

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year by “Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible 2018” and its William Larue Weller and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac were named 2^nd and 3^rd finest whiskeys in the world, respectively, in the “Jim Murray Whiskey Bible 2020.”  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

WHISKY MAGAZINE NAMES JOHN J. BOWMAN AMERICA’S BEST NON-KENTUCKY SINGLE BARREL BOURBON

A.Smith Bowman Distillery Highly Commended for American Visitor Attraction of the Year

 FREDERICKSBURG, VIRGINIA (Feb. 19, 2020) – John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey was named America’s Best Non-Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon at a recent ceremony in New York City where Whisky Magazine announced the 2020 American World Whiskies Awards.

At the same ceremony, A. Smith Bowman Distillery was highly commended for the magazine’s 2020 Icons of Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year, America.

“Producing quality spirits is our top priority, so we are thrilled our John J. Bowman is receiving recognition as the category winner,” said Master Distiller Brian Prewitt. “It is also an honor to be runner-up for Visitor Attraction as we thoroughly enjoy sharing the distillery and our rich history with our guests on our complimentary tours.”

Whiskies in each category were subject to blind tastings in a three-round judging process to reward and promote the world’s best whiskies to consumers and trade across the globe.  The winners from the World Whiskies Awards and the Icons of Whisky Awards America 2020 will now compete with counterparts from all over the world, and global winners will be announced March 26 in London. For more information about the World Whiskies Awards visit www.worldwhiskiesawards.com, and for more information about the Icons of Whisky visit www.iconsofwhisky.com.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which received a gold medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com

Lux Row Distillers Re-Launches Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon 

BARDSTOWN, KY (February 19, 2020) – To pay homage to the rich distilling tradition of Daviess County, Kentucky, Lux Row Distillers is re-launching Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon – an ultra-premium family of bourbons, with three variants.

This unique bourbon launches this week and consists of a mixed mash bill of both wheated and ryed bourbons for a balanced sweetness and spice. The three variants in this line are Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Cabernet Sauvignon Finish and Daviess County Kentucky Straight Bourbon – French Oak Finish.

“The combination of mash bills really sets this bourbon apart – the smooth wheated mash bill and the traditional spicy ryed mash bill come together for a balanced taste profile,” says John Rempe, Head Distiller at Lux Row Distillers.

All three variants are bottled at 96 proof in attractive 750ml bottles with an embossed shoulder and topped with a natural cork. The Cabernet Sauvignon Finish has been rested for six months in cabernet sauvignon barrels from the Napa region in California for an additional level of complexity, while the French Oak Finish has been rested in French oak barrels for six months for a hint of dry oak.

“The secondary aging in the cabernet sauvignon and French oak barrels adds a nice extra layer of flavor with a slight sweet fruitiness and oaky caramel undertones,” adds Rempe.

The brand, bought by the David Sherman Corporation in 1993, honors Daviess County, which boasts a long history of distilled spirits and iconic distilleries that helped Kentucky earn its reputation as the home of great bourbons. One of the first distilleries in that area, Daviess County Distilling Company, with heritage dating back to 1874, was one of the few distilleries to survive prohibition.  It helped pave the way for the nearly 20 other large distilleries that operated in Daviess County by the early 1900s. Today, only three remain, but the county’s significance in bourbon history lives on.

ABOUT LUX ROW DISTILLERS

Real roots, real family, real products: Lux Row Distillers – a bourbon distillery experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail – is a family-owned venture, bringing the Lux family history and spirits tradition to the bourbon industry. Lux Row Distillers is the home of Luxco’s bourbon brands, including Rebel Yell, Blood Oath, David Nicholson and Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbons.

Located in the heart of Bardstown, Kentucky, the 18,000-square foot Lux Row Distillers includes a visitor center, barrel warehouses, a tasting room, and event space, making for an all-encompassing bourbon experience. The 80-acre property is home to an 18^th century stone house – which is registered as a National Historic Place – and a long, tree-lined driveway providing a scenic entrance to the distillery.

For more information about the distillery, visit www.luxrowdistillers.com. You can also like Lux Row Distillers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/luxrowdistillers or follow the distillery on Instagram @luxrowdistillers