We don’t do many press releases, but as an award-winning small independent bottler we wanted to get the message out about our new Winter 2020 outturn as they are all very different and have all been driven by consumer feedback and requests (sometimes demands!).

“Despite all the surreal times, tough times and frankly sad times we have all been through during 2020, the last twelve months have been an exciting year for GreatDrams as a business; we have started exporting our limited edition whiskies abroad, we have rebuilt our website and brand from the ground up, we have refocussed the company to offer more bottlings than ever before, to act as a cask brokerage too and we through challenging times we have built a thriving online virtual whisky (and gin) tasting platform too” – Greg Dillon, co-founder of GreatDrams.

As a company of two people, husband and wife duo Greg & Kirsty Dillon, we are able to be really nimble when it comes to what we do with our range, what we release and when we release new limited edition whiskies.

“Every whisky we release is limited edition, never repeated and never released for the sake of it”, as Kirsty likes to explain, “we deliberately set the company up to only release small releases of each product a it keeps it interesting for us, and for our customers who come back time and again, and really shape what we do as a business”.

And now we have three new releases going into the final few months of the year.

KNOCKDHU SINGLE CASK SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

This whisky is the first Port Cask-matured single malt we have released, having spent its whole maturation period in a First Fill Ruby Port Barrique. The flavour profile, a thick spirit owing to reduced reflux in the stills and the use of worm tubs in the process, is full of with luscious berry fruity notes and an indulgent dark chocolate note has a thick, creamy mouthfeel that will bring you back time and again.

“For the lucky few who have already got their bottles of this release, virtually all have said its their favourite of our releases to date; the rich flavour profile is stunning and we have been blown away by the positivity received for our Knockdhu already,” notes Greg.

Age: 8 Years Old     |     Distilled: 23rd April 2012     |     ABV: 48.2%     |     Only 183 bottles ever released

CHRISTMAS 2020 SPECIAL RELEASE SINGLE CASK SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

This much anticipated, and requested, Christmas Series release is a Single Cask Single Malt whisky from the Blair Athol Distillery in the Highlands. For this release we wanted something truly indulgent and Christmassy with a lovely sherried character to it – big winter fruit notes, some zesty orange and lime and subtle, soothing spice and a hint of marzipan notes create a luxurious flavour profile to conjure the flavour of Christmas cake, and with it a dram to reminisce with and to celebrate with those you love, no matter how surreal the year has been.

“Last year our Christmas release sold out in nine days which was hugely unexpected, so we are excited to see what happens with it this year!” – Kirsty

Age: 9 Years Old     |     ABV: 46.2%     |     Only 150 bottles ever released

GIRVAN 30 YEAR OLD SINGLE CASK SINGLE GRAIN SCOTCH WHISKY

An ancient grain whisky from the Girvan Distillery – distilled in 1989, this 30 Year Old has spent thirty years patiently sleeping, maturing, developing… This limited edition Girvan 30 Year Old Single Cask Single Grain Scotch Whisky bottling is a release of just 96 bottles globally. With fruity and buttery notes being the most forward, a lovely vanilla sweetness develops on the palate to give a luxurious texture, and a rather indulgent whisky to sip, savour and celebrate with.

Our oldest release to date, bottled at natural cask strength, this whisky comes from the Girvan distillery in Ayrshire, having been distilled just after Christmas, 1989.

Age: 30 Years Old     |     ABV: 54.5%     |     Only 96 bottles ever released

All our releases are non-chill filtered and of natural colour.

“We have been toying with when to release our ancient Girvan for a while now and it felt right to do so now as it is just over 30 years old, is so rich and luxurious in its flavour composition and, frankly, like all our releases, we fell in love with it… who doesn’t love an ancient grain whisky?!” – Greg

In addition to new releases, GreatDrams is now taking bookings for private virtual whisky and gin tastings September through December, so far since lockdown was announced GreatDrams’ virtual tastings – public and private – have had over 2,000 participants and has added a fun dimension to what we do. Greg notes that he “never expected to do virtual tastings, and set the first one up as a way to get around 20 people to have a drink with him to alleviate the monotony of lockdown and it just spiralled from there”.

To get in touch and talk whisky contact info@greatdrams.com or to buy limited edition whisky www.greatdrams.com/whisky-shop

ABOUT GreatDrams

www.GreatDrams.com
www.twitter.com/GreatDrams
www.Instagram.com/GreatDramsGreg
www.Facebook.com/GreatDrams

GreatDrams is all about raising spirits.

We launched GreatDrams, a family business, to bring great quality, limited edition whiskies to the people. Never repeating a release and never compromising on flavour. Award-winning from our first dram, we aim to make great whisky more approachable and available to whisky drinkers.

In 2019 we were crowned Cheshire Drinks Producer of the Year at the Taste Cheshire awards, picked up one double gold and one gold at the Great Taste awards and were awarded 91.5 points and 80.5 points in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020 respectively for our two core releases of the year. We will introduce whisky drinkers to their next favourite dram.

We are experts in finding incredible tasting rare casks of whisky. Each bottle is hand numbered, is limited edition, only a finite amount of it will ever be bottled, and it is all available exclusively from us; once they’re gone, they truly are gone.

We also help ordinary people, businesses and anyone who’s interested in owning a cask of whisky make that dream or commercial objective a reality. Get in touch to discuss owning your own part of whisky history.

We love what we do and are constantly searching for whisky that not only has a story behind every drop and means something to us, but tastes sensational.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Continues Expansion

 $1.2 Billion Investment Underway to Increase Bourbon Supply For Future Years

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Aug. 11, 2020) Buffalo Trace Distillery is grateful it has been able to survive Prohibition, the Great Depression, numerous floods, two World Wars, and is now working hard navigating through a pandemic, all the while never ceasing to make whiskey.  Currently in the middle of a $1.2 billion infrastructure investment, this National Historic Landmark has made great strides in the past year. Still, Buffalo Trace predicts it will be a few more years before their whiskey supply catches up with demand, as consumers’ taste for its whiskeys continue to increase.

In the past year, this 247-year-old Distillery has installed four new cookers, four new fermenters, opened a new high speed-bottling hall, and completed construction on three more barrel warehouses. Here are more details on each project:

Just before the end of 2019, Buffalo Trace started cooking corn in its four new 22- foot tall cookers.  The cookers are responsible for pressure-cooking the milled grain before the mash is cooled and fermented.  The new cookers span three floors in height and give Buffalo Trace 80,000 gallons of cooking capacity, which is more than two and a half times the volume of the old cookers. The roof of the 1930s era Mash House was removed to install the massive cookers into the building.  New cookers for the other grains were also installed to cook rye, wheat and malted barley.

Four new fermenters were also added last summer in the 1880s building that formerly housed the larger bottling operation.  Each of these 93,000 gallon vats are slightly bigger than the twelve existing fermenters in use since 1933. A new cooling tower, which cools down the grains after they are cooked into mash, was also added.

A new $50 million high-speed bottling hall was completed in late 2019, located on site near the distribution center.  The bottling hall is 110,000 square feet and offers improved efficiency, flexibility and overall quality for the Distillery’s award-winning brands.  Happily, it came online just in time to also package hand sanitizer, which the company started producing on March 27^th in response to Covid-19.  The hand sanitizer is being made for some of the world’s largest organizations in healthcare, government, military, retail, airline, pharmacy and financial industries.  The Distillery plans to continue to supply hand sanitizer for as long as the need is there.

 Three new barrel warehouses have been completed in the past year, EE, FF, and GG, joining four other newly filled warehouses. Each warehouse holds 58,800 barrels, costing about $7 million each to build and another $21 million each to fill with barrels.  Barrel warehouses HH, JJ and II are in various stages of construction now. Fifteen new barrel warehouses will be built on the 200 acres of land known as the “Whiskey Farm,” purchased adjacent to Buffalo Trace a few years ago. Every warehouse at Buffalo Trace is heated during the winter months, a rarity for bourbon warehouses, but a tradition started by E.H. Taylor Jr. in the 1800s. The reason for heating the warehouses is to keep the bourbon moving in and out of the wood to yield more flavor and color as barrels mature during the cold Kentucky winters, rather than lying dormant when the temperature drops.

Also in the works are eight more fermenters, a new dry house (the area where spent mash is dried and shipped out), a water treatment facility, a second still house, more barrel warehouses, and in the future, another craft bottling hall.  Another craft bottling hall will allow Buffalo Trace to produce more single barrel and small batch bourbons.

 Tours resumed July 1, and guests are now able to see the expanded Visitor Center at Buffalo Trace, which backs up to the recently completed fermenter expansion and includes additional tasting rooms and more retail space. The expanded Visitor Center triples the size of the former space, to accommodate for the ever-increasing interest in bourbon tourism, which accounted for nearly 300,000 visitors to Buffalo Trace in 2019.

Even with all this expansion progress, demand for Buffalo Trace Bourbon and other whiskeys made at the award-winning Distillery continues to outpace supply, as most of its whiskeys age for eight years or more.  “Although we’ve been increasing production on all of our bourbons for the past several years, the consumer demand also continues to increase,” said Kris Comstock, senior marketing director. “We understand fans are frustrated when they can’t find our brands on liquor store shelves.  While we are bottling and shipping record amounts, overall demand outstrips supply, and as a result our brands will continue to remain allocated to ensure every state receives some each month.”

Allocations of favorite brands like Eagle Rare, Weller, Blanton’s and E.H. Taylor are increasing faster with each passing year and at the same time Buffalo Trace has been able to unveil  several new whiskeys, such as Weller Full Proof and Weller Single Barrel, Double Eagle Very Rare, Blanton’s Gold in the United States, Old Charter Oak, and several others.

“We promise we are doing everything we can to make more, as evidenced by our progress we’ve made in the past year with our expansion,” said Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “But great bourbon does take time to age, and we won’t comprise age, taste, or proof just to fill more bottles.  We’re just asking our fans to remain patient as we wait for our stocks to mature.”

To see a video of the progress Buffalo Trace has made on its $1.2 billion expansion in the past year, click here.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 35 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon was named World Whiskey of the Year 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.

4 year old Inchfad bottled for the NHS with profits going to Healthcare charities

Independent Bottler The Single Cask have bottled a unique single cask whisky and is donating all profits to Healthcare charities.

The COVID crisis has been tough for everyone, and continues to present challenges. The heroes of the hour are our NHS, healthcare, and frontline workers. They have, and continue, to look after us all.

As soon as warehouses in Scotland opened again after lockdown, The Single Cask decided to swing into action and bottle something special. They chose a unique single cask Inchfad, distilled at Loch Lomond in the Highlands. Inchfad is rare today, with the distillery itself no longer bottling this range. This heavily-peated single malt scotch whisky is renowned for its soft fruit and malt notes.

The Single Cask selected a four year old ex-bourbon cask, distilled in 2016. At cask strength of 61.4% the whisky has been bottled in its natural colour and without chill-filtration.

Tasting notes for this whisky are:

● Nose: barbecued, smokey pineapple with sweet malt, seasoned with white pepper and cinnamon.

● Palate: soft tropical fruit in the form of pineapple and mango, with both the malt character of the original spirit and the influence of the oak cask coming through, together with a touch of white pepper and cinnamon.

● Finish: long and satisfying with elements from both nose and palate present – smoked pineapple with malt, oak and wood spice.

All profits from the 197 bottles of this single cask expression will be donated by The Single Cask to healthcare charities in recognition of, and in support of, their ongoing efforts fighting COVID.

This 4 year old Inchfad bottled for the NHS is available to buy for £49 at www.thesinglecask.co.uk/nhs

For further queries please contact Ed Leigh: ed@thesinglecask.co.uk

Notes

About The Single Cask

The Single Cask bottles unique spirits one cask at a time. We search hard to find exceptional single malt whisky, Irish whiskey, and American bourbon. We like whiskies that showcase a distillery’s characteristics or an interesting maturation technique. But in the end, if it’s delicious, we put it in a bottle. We bottle our whiskies at cask strength, natural colour, and without chill-filtration. This keeps the whisky as pure and natural as possible; just as we found it in the cask. Our glass bottles are styled like a decanter, designed to be passed around a group of friends as they enjoy sharing a dram together. The best whisky should be opened, shared and enjoyed; not left to gather dust on a shelf. We’re passionate about what we do. We’re here to get these single cask releases into whisky-lovers’ hands.

The Single Cask be found here

● Website: www.thesinglecask.co.uk
● Instagram: @thesinglecask
● Twitter: @the_single_cask
● Facebook: @thesinglecaskuk

LOCH LOMOND WHISKIES REVEALS COMPLETE BRAND REFRESH 

Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled a complete brand refresh which includes redesigned packaging across its domestic and Global Travel Retail single malt Scotch whisky ranges.

The investment comes after strong business growth over the past five years which has seen Loch Lomond Whiskies become one of the top five fastest growing single malt brands in the world, listed in over 125 markets.

The new look packaging introduces a more contemporary aesthetic alongside simple flavour descriptors allowing consumers to easily navigate their way through the portfolio.

The restructured portfolio brings the Inchmurrin 12 year old and Inchmoan 12 year old under the Loch Lomond Whiskies brand, forming the heart of the range alongside Loch Lomond 12 year old.

These three expressions demonstrate the capability of Loch Lomond’s innovative distillation and long fermentation, which can deliver a range of flavour profiles, from the light and fruity Inchmurrin to the heavily peated Inchmoan, with Loch Lomond 12 year old in between.  Loch Lomond Original, Loch Lomond Classic, Loch Lomond 10 year old and Loch Lomond 18 year old complete the domestic portfolio.

A further three aged Loch Lomond single malts are due for release later in 2020, building the appeal of the range.

John Grieveson, Chief Marketing Officer, commented: “We recognise that in a growing and increasingly fragmented market the continued success of the Loch Lomond Whiskies portfolio depends on our ability to clearly communicate what makes our whiskies so unique. The breadth of flavour characteristics available across the range is unrivalled across the industry. Our investment in this brand refresh allows us to better communicate this range of flavour profiles to consumers, as well as improving stand out of the Loch Lomond Whiskies brand, and celebrating our much-loved location close to the banks of Loch Lomond.”

The new look packaging retains the familiar stag icon and features a more prominent Loch Lomond brand name and age statement to increase visibility on shelf. The outline of the famous Loch Lomond has been incorporated into the background of each gift box, celebrating the distillery’s enviable location. A simple flavour descriptor also features on both the gift box and bottle.

The design will also be rolled out across the Loch Lomond Whiskies Global Travel Retail range, better aligning the two collections, and improving brand recognition.

In 2018, Loch Lomond Whiskies entered a prestigious, five-year partnership with The Open, golf’s original championship. The partnership with The R&A includes support of the AIG Women’s British Open and showcases the full range of Loch Lomond Whiskies on a global scale.  In February 2020, Loch Lomond Whiskies concluded a new agreement with the Professional Golfers’ Association (The PGA) to become a ‘PGA Partner’ and the title sponsor of the Scottish PGA Championship. More recently Loch Lomond Whiskies, have confirmed their commitment to golf as new sponsor of the European Tour’s newly launched ‘UK Swing’ in July and August.

Founded in 1814, the Loch Lomond distillery can trace its roots back to the Littlemill distillery, which was established in 1772 and is the oldest licensed distillery in the world. Its current malt and grain distilleries, in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, close to the banks of Loch Lomond, were commissioned in 1964 with first distillation in 1966.

When it opened, Loch Lomond distillery’s ground-breaking straight necked stills were a revelation, enabling production of a lighter, fruitier spirit and greater control over the whisky’s character. Under the later ownership of the Bulloch family further distilling innovation took place with the aim of being self-sufficient. It is among only four distilleries in the Scotch whisky industry to maintain an onsite cooperage which makes and maintains 20,000 casks annually.

For further information visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com .

Loch Lomond Whiskies Domestic Portfolio:

• Loch Lomond Original (70cl)
• Loch Lomond Classic (70cl)
• Loch Lomond 10 year old (70cl)
• Loch Lomond 12 year old (70cl)
• Loch Lomond 12 year old Inchmurrin(70cl)
• Loch Lomond 12 year old Inchmoan(70cl)
• Loch Lomond 18 year old (70cl)

Loch Lomond Whiskies Global Travel Retail Portfolio:

• Loch Lomond Original (1 litre)
• Loch Lomond 12 year old (1 litre)
• Loch Lomond 14 year old (1 litre)
• Loch Lomond 18 year old (1 litre)
• Loch Lomond Madeira finish (1 litre)

Notes:

About the Loch Lomond Group

• Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria and is home to several award-winning brands that are sold in more than 125 countries worldwide.
• Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.
• Images and interviews with key staff from the Group are available upon request. lochlomondgroup.com

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

• Loch Lomond Distillery has one of the oldest heritages in the industry. It was founded by American, Duncan Thomas, the owner of the Littlemill distillery which was licensed in 1772. In the 1930s Duncan Thomas was at the forefront of innovation within the Scotch whisky industry and his innovative philosophy is ingrained into everything that is done at Loch Lomond to this day
• The multi award winning Loch Lomond whiskies range includes the Loch Lomond 12-Year-Old which has been awarded the Platinum Award in 2020, one of only 7 single malts to be awarded this honour at the San Francisco World Spirits Challenge 2020. Other expressions in the range are the single malts Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond Classic; Loch Lomond 18-Year-Old; Loch Lomond 50-Year-Old; the Loch Lomond Island’s Collection which includes the Inchmurrin and Inchmoan ranges as well as the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature and Loch Lomond Single Grain
• Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12-Year-Old has been awarded Best Highland Single Malt 12 Years and Under at the 2018 World Whiskies Awards and a Gold Medal at the 2020 San Francisco 2020 Awards
• Loch Lomond Whiskies was recently also awarded the following medals at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits Competition:
  • PLATINUM: Loch Lomond 12 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Inchmurrin 12 Year Old
  • GOLD MEDAL – Inchmoan 12 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL – Loch Lomond 18 Year Old
  • DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL: Loch Lomond 10 Year Old

“UMIKI WHISKY is awarded with “GOLD” Medal from The World Whisky Masters 2020.

Osaka, JAPAN, 1st August 2020- At the The World Whisky Master 2020 competition – one of the world’s most progressive international spirits competition – Umiki Whisky was awarded with the “GOLD” medal within overall entrants.

About.Umiki Whisky – Ocean Fused Whisky From The Heart of Japanese Pine.

Yoshino Spirits Co. has added UMIKI Whisky – “World’s First Ocean Fused Whisky” to its portfolio, initially available in North American, Asian markets in April and rest global markets after May and onwards.
UMIKI is “World’s first Japanese Pine barrel aged whisky” and “World’s first ocean water fused whisky that uses only renewable water source for blending”

This sustainable process brings an exceptional smoothness with sea-breeze on the nose, rounded floral taste on the palate and a soothing freshness in the finish to UMIKI.

UMIKI has already picked up awards, winning Double Gold Awarded from China Wine & Spirits Awards 2020 and Gold Medal from World Spirits Award 2020.

Visit Umiki HERE

About The World Whisky Masters 2020:

In July 2020, The Spirits Business organized The World Whisky Masters competition in a drive to find and reward the finest World Whisky brands on the world stage. Chaired by The Spirits Business and a panel of leading spirits specialists, the World Whisky judged in a blind tasting, to discover the World Whisky Masters of 2020. www.thespiritsbusiness.com

ROCK TOWN’S ARKANSAS RYE WHISKEY SCORES A 95/100
AT THE 2020 INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS CHALLENGE

Little Rock, AR – (August 11, 2020) – Rock Town Distillery is pleased to announce its Arkansas Straight Rye Whiskey has scored a 95/100 at the prestigious 2020 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) held in the UK.

The IWSC is one of the oldest and most respected tasting competitions in the world.The IWSC runs a tightly structured, rigorous tasting process. They use the ‘double-blind’ method, which means samples are tasted in pre-poured numbered glasses to ensure their experts never see a bottle. Each spirit is judged by a whole panel in sync, allowing for group discussions. All spirits scoring 90 and above were re-tasted by the Judging Committee for the final confirmation, and to ensure consistency across the tasting.

Rock Town’s Arkansas Straight Rye Whiskey is distilled from a mash of 56% Rye, 34% Corn and 10% Distillers Malt. and has been aged for over 2 years in 25 gallon new charred oak barrels.

“We’re very proud of our Arkansas Rye,” says distillery founder and head distiller, Phil Brandon. “It consistently scores among the top rye whiskeys in the world, having already garnered a 94/100 in the 2020 Whiskey Bible and a Gold Medal in San Francisco in 2019. To now score a 95/100 in the UK at the IWSC is an amazing feat and we’re over the moon with excitement about it”.

ABOUT THE IWSC

Joel Harrison, IWSC Chair Judge and member of the Spirits Judging Committee has released a summary of the tasting which can be found here  You can view the full results here: https://iwsc.net/results/search

ABOUT ROCK TOWN DISTILLERY

Rock Town Distillery produces the award winning Arkansas Bourbon, Arkansas Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, Arkansas Hickory Smoked Whiskey, Arkansas Rye Whiskey, Rock Town Vodka and more which are distributed to multiple states and Canada. Winner of the 2015 US Micro Whisky of the Year in the 2015 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

Rock Town Distillery, Arkansas’ first legal distillery since prohibition, is located in downtown Little Rock at 1201 Main Street, Little Rock, AR 72202.  The distillery is open for tours 6 days a week. To find out more please visit www.rocktowndistillery.com

DIAGEO CELEBRATES ‘2015-2020 SUSTAINABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY’ ACHIEVEMENTS

Greenhouse gas emissions halved across our own business (50% absolute reduction)[1]

Improved water efficiency by 46%[2]

Achieved zero waste to landfill at all production sites and offices[3]

Over 99.5% of packaging now recyclable

435,000 women empowered through our community programmes

229.2m people reached with moderation messages from our brands

Diageo, maker of Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff and Guinness, has today celebrated the conclusion of its highly ambitious 2020 Sustainability and Responsibility Goals. Originally set in 2008, and refreshed in 2015, the goals were among the most ambitious and stretching in the industry. Diageo was among the first companies to set its greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets in line with the principles of the Science Based Targets initiative and an early adopter of absolute, rather than relative, GHG reduction targets.

On water stewardship, in 2019 Diageo was appointed a Global Goals Business Avenger[4] as the business champion for UN Sustainable Development Goal 6: “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. This financial year[5], Diageo has replenished 1,400,000m3 of water, the equivalent of 560 Olympic sized swimming pools[6], in water-stressed areas.

Ewan Andrew, Chief Sustainability Officer, said: “As we close our 2020 targets, we are incredibly proud of the progress we have made and grateful to our employees and selected partners who have helped us deliver transformational progress. Through our programmes, we have made a positive impact on millions of people, in communities all around the world. We have been agile and moved quickly to adapt to the global changes around us. We are excited about the decade of action ahead and will continue to lead the way, driven by the knowledge that our future success is intertwined with the success of the living planet around us.”

The 2020 targets were selected to align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and designed to cover Diageo’s three main focus areas: reducing environmental impact, building thriving communities and promoting positive drinking. Key highlights delivered include:

• Cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from direct operations by 509,000 metric tonnes, delivering on its commitment to reduce absolute emissions by 50%[7].
• Reducing emissions by over a third (33.7%) across its total value chain, going beyond its original 30% target[8].
• In water stressed areas, replenished 100% of the water used in our final product.
• Ensured that over 99.5% of its packaging is recyclable and achieved 45% recycled content in its packaging.
• Achieved zero waste to landfill in all operational sites and offices.
• Supported more than 250,000 people through its projects focused on clean water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in 2020.
• Empowered 435,000 women to date through its community programmes.
• Championed diversity such that 39% of leadership positions are now held by women, going beyond its original target of 35%.

The full report can be accessed here.

Diageo has also long supported the World Health Organization’s goal of reducing harmful drinking by 10% across the world by 2025 and has set itself stretching targets to reach in this area over the next five years. So far, it has reached over 229 million people with moderation messages via its brands and helped educate 1 million young people, parents and teachers about the dangers of underage drinking.

Despite this significant progress, however, Diageo has not quite achieved all its ambitious goals. As reported in 2019, it has not met the full improvement it wanted in the quality of wastewater it discharges, with 90% of its operational sites meeting the stretching target (noting it remains within consent levels granted by local regulators). However, Diageo did deliver a 46.3% improvement in water use efficiency against a target of 50%, only missing the goal due to delayed water recycling projects in Africa and lower packaged volumes in some markets both as a direct result of COVID-19 impacts. It has also found reducing the overall weight of its packaging by 15% more challenging than expected, still delivering a strong 11% reduction with the starting point on lightweight glass making it a tough challenge. Having delivered the goal of 80% of raw materials sourced locally in Africa 2 years early it slipped to 79% over the last quarter of the year, as a direct result of COVID-19 volume impacts.

Over the last decade pursuing its sustainability and responsibility goals, Diageo has adapted its programmes to improve their impact and has seen the benefit of an increased holistic and aligned approach within the business and with our vital third party partners. No business can deliver meaningful targets alone and it will be crucial that this focus and partnership approach is maintained as the world continues to combat both climate change and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reflections from the last five years of working towards these goals are:

• The importance of linking sustainability to core business strategies.  Diageo’s clean water, sanitation and hygiene programme is an integral part of its water strategy, focusing on communities directly connected to its core business while supporting Diageo’s successful drive to replenish water in water-stressed areas.
• How important it is to have total alignment within the business and strong sponsorship from leaders, as well as effective execution monitoring.
• Inclusion and gender equality should be built into every community programme, rather than treated as a separate objective.
• Early investment in infrastructure and a process of continuous improvement are key to success.
• It is possible to increase Diageo’s impact through long-term, strategic NGO partnerships with organisations like CARE International UK and WaterAid. Diageo benefits from its partners’ in-depth knowledge of local contexts and programme design, so that together we can address issues such as inequality, water stress and climate change.

In the coming months, the company will also be announcing a new set of targets to help further support in the delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals over the critical decade to 2030.

[1] Baseline year is 2007

2 Baseline year is 2007

3 By 30.06.2020

4 https://business.globalgoals.org/business-avengers

5 1.07.2019 to 30.06.2020

6 One Olympic swimming pool contains 2.500 m3 water

7 Baseline year is 2007

8 Baseline year is 2007

About Diageo 

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

[1] Baseline year is 2007

[2] Baseline year is 2007

[3] By 30.06.2020

[4] https://business.globalgoals.org/business-avengers

[5] 1.07.2019 to 30.06.2020

[6] One Olympic swimming pool contains 2.500 m3 water

[7] Baseline year is 2007

[8] Baseline year is 2007

Ogden’s Own Distillery Embraces Flavor Innovation with Launch of Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey

The Newest Member of the Ogden’s Own Portfolio Delivers an Irresistible Fan-Favorite Offerings to its Porter’s Lineup of Flavored Whiskeys

(Ogden, UTAH – August 11, 2020) – Ogden’s Own, an award-winning leading distiller of craft spirits and the largest independently owned distillery in the state of Utah, is pleased to officially introduce the newest offering to its fan-favorite line of Porter’s flavored whiskeys: Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey. Serving as a prime example of Ogden’s Own’s willingness to take risks through experimentation with bold, unconventional flavor profiles through its beloved Porter’s line, Porter’s Peanut Butter is now officially available for sale at the Ogden’s Own Distillery Store at 615 W. Stockman Way, and will soon become available to Ogden’s Own customers nationwide via the brand’s retail and online partners.

Porter’s Peanut Butter captures the unmistakable, one-of-a-kind essence of peanut butter and balances it with a hint of rich chocolate flavor, delivering a familiar yet subtle peanut butter presence that avoids coming across as artificial or overpowering. Instead, the gentle nuttiness and comforting warmth of the peanut butter elevates the whiskey itself, creating a balanced 66.6-proof blend of smooth Canadian whiskey and tantalizing peanut butter flavor. Porter’s Peanut Butter is an ideal candidate for any consumers looking to indulge their curiosity in the unexpected sipping experience of a peanut butter spirit, as it is completely safe to drink for those with peanut allergies and available at a cost-friendly price point of $19.99, making it hard to resist as one of the most affordably-priced peanut butter spirits on the market.

Porter’s Peanut Butter will seamlessly slot into the Ogden’s Own family of Porter’s whiskeys, which also includes Huckleberry, Peach, Apple, and Cinnamon Fire varietals, along with the limited-edition Porter’s Small Batch Rye, released in 2019. Over the years, Porter’s whiskeys have garnered significant popularity and grown into a cherished choice for consumers in both Ogden’s Own’s home state of Utah and in several states across the country. Named after Orrin Porter Rockwell, an iconic enforcer of the Old West, the hallmark of Porter’s whiskeys is their sweet-but-not-sugary flavor profiles, which make the expressions perfect for enjoying in a wide variety of forms, ranging from seasonal craft cocktails to on-the-rocks or neat sipping.

“Our top priority at Ogden’s Own has always been listening and catering to the feedback of our customers, the loyal community that has embraced our distillery and grown it into what it is today,” said Steve Conlin, CEO and Co-Founder of Ogden’s Own. “Those who know us know that we’re not afraid to take risks and think outside of the box when it comes to our products, and Porter’s Peanut Butter represents our willingness and desire to provide our fans with a unique offering that not only taps into a burgeoning consumer trend, but slots in seamlessly with our existing Porter’s whiskey portfolio. We couldn’t be more excited to see the response. After all, who doesn’t love peanut butter?”

Porter’s Peanut Butter is the first expression released at the brand-new, state-of-the-art distillery facility that Ogden’s Own cut the ribbon on in April 2020. The massive, 32,000 square-foot multi-purpose facility was constructed from the ground-up with the primary goal of helping Ogden’s Own continue to scale the distillery’s growth fueled by massive regional popularity. With a 10-fold increase in production, the new home of Ogden’s Own serves as an ideal environment for expanding the distillery’s product offerings and creates an incubator environment for innovative new expressions that push the envelope of traditional spirits while meeting the demands of Ogden’s Own’s loyal fans, much like Porter’s Peanut Butter.

Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey is now officially available for purchase at the Ogden’s Own Distillery Store, 615 W. Stockman Way, Ogden, Utah 84401, for the price of $19.99 per 750ml bottle. For more information regarding Porter’s Peanut Butter Whiskey, future availability of the product, and updates on all of Ogden’s Own brands, please visit www.ogdensown.com.

About Ogden’s Own

Ogden’s Own is based in Ogden, Utah and gained notoriety for its unique expressions and its often-satirical playfulness on stereotypes in its home state. Founded in 2009, Ogden’s Own’s first product was Underground Herbal Spirit, which was met with immediate acclaim, winning a Double Gold Medal from the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2012. The distillery then released Five Wives Vodka, which the brand is perhaps best known for today due to the national notoriety it received upon hitting the market. The name “Five Wives” was such a topic of controversy within the conservative-leaning Utah and surrounding states that Idaho refused to sell the product, prompting a national lawsuit where Ogden’s Own ultimately prevailed. Today, Ogden’s Own remains devoted to championing freedom of expression and offering its handcrafted, gluten-free products at an accessible, affordable price point. Their wide portfolio of expressions ensures that any customer can find a product that is suitable to his/her palate.

Diageo North America launches 100% recycled plastic bottle

Seagram’s 7 Crown American whiskey will move its PET formats to 100% recycled plastic bottles

A reduction of virgin plastic that is the equivalent of removing 100 million 500ml plastic bottles, which, if laid out in a row, would represent 11,957 miles (almost 5 trips between New York and Los Angeles)

Plainfield, Illinois, June 2020 – Today Diageo North America announces that its iconic blended American whiskey Seagram’s 7 Crown bottles will be made from 100% recycled plastic (rPET). The move is a first for the brand and for Diageo.

Building on a decade long commitment to making its packaging more sustainable, Diageo North America will remove virgin plastic from Seagram’s 7 Crown bottles across all its PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) formats: 1.75l, 750ml, 375ml and 200ml. This change will reduce the use of virgin plastic by almost 1000 tons annually – the equivalent of removing 100 million 500ml plastic bottles, which, if laid out in a row, would represent 11,957 miles (almost 5 trips between New York and Los Angeles).

The new bottles will be on shelf across the Seagram’s 7 Crown range in the United States from the end of June 2020. A variety of the brand’s formats in glass bottles will remain alongside the new recycled PET bottles. As stated on the product’s label, Diageo encourages consumers to recycle so the material can be used again for bottles or other purposes.

“Great packaging is essential for our brands. Consumers expect our packs to be of the highest quality, while also being functional and sustainable,” said Jason Sorley, Brand Director, Diageo North America. “We are very excited to have Seagram’s 7 Crown move to 100% recycled PET, reinforcing our commitment to both innovation and minimizing its environmental footprint.”

Ronald Holmes, Packaging Director, Diageo North America added: “We continue to take an innovative approach towards delivering sustainable packaging designs and are proud that this move supports our goal to increase recycled content across our brands globally to 45%. Using recycled materials to make packaging reduces the carbon footprint of our brands, raises awareness with consumers, and encourages the industry to follow.”

Last year, Diageo announced an investment to reduce the amount of plastics used in its beer packaging operations. It was followed by a Guinness Open Gate Brewery announcement that all Baltimore-brewed limited release canned multipacks available for purchase at the brewery will be sold in ecofriendly carriers as an alternative to the standard plastic rings typically used for beer.

These innovations bring Diageo closer to its ambitious targets for use of plastics. In 2018, Diageo announced new plastics targets for 2025 and beyond. Its targets aim to ensure that 100% of plastics used are designed to be widely recyclable, or reusable or compostable, and made from recycled material. In December 2017, Diageo committed to phasing out the use of plastic straws and stirrers from its offices, events, promotions, advertising and marketing globally – and advocates the same to its partners and customers. Diageo is pleased to be a signatory to Ellen MacArthur New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.

DIAGEO’S GLOBAL PLASTICS TARGETS FOR 2025

Ensure 100% of our plastic use is designed to be widely recyclable (or reusable/compostable), using plastics that allow for increased consumer recycling rates
Achieve 40% average recycled content in our plastic bottles – and 100% by 2030
Continue to invest in circular economy opportunities and other sustainable packaging breakthroughs
Accelerate our support for recycling by increasing collaboration, particularly where we have influence, and engaging with Governments, peers and consumers to facilitate improved recycling.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit and Buchanan’s whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo North America: @Diageo NA.

About Seagram’s 7 Crown

Seagram’s 7 Crown is an American icon with a rich heritage dating back to the 1930s. A blended American whiskey, Seagram’s 7 Crown has a legacy of bringing people together through its easy-to-drink, smooth liquid. Seagram’s 7 Crown is casual, approachable and has a taste profile that stands the test of time on its own and in its signature drink, the 7 & 7. For more information, visit seagrams7.com and follow us on Instagram @seagrams7. Seagram’s 7 Crown encourages all consumers to please enjoy responsibly.

Kamiki Sakura Wood Whisky is awarded with “91 POINTS” from Ultimate Spirits Challange 2020!

Osaka, JAPAN, 01th August 2020 Ultimate Spirits Challenge United State’s most prestigious and progressive international spirits competition, Kamiki Sakura Wood Whisky was awarded with “ 91 POINTS ” Excellent Highly Recommended within overall entrants.

About.Kamiki Whisky:

Kamiki Sakura Wood is a new premium expression of multiple award winning Kamiki whisky with a unique maturation of first in Japanese Cedar and later Japanese Cherry Wood – Sakura for a final note. Kamiki Sakura Wood has already won 8 awards. Kamik Sakura Wood is ; “THE FIRST WHISKY IN THE WORLD WITH JAPANESE CEDAR and SAKURA CASK FINISH”

www.kamikiwhisky.com

About the Ultimate Spirit Challenge

Ultimate Spirits Challenge is the definitive spirits evaluation company today. Ultimate Spirits Challenge provides unparalleled value, offering results that are reliable and easily understandable in today’s marketplace, creating opportunities for the industry, and establishing the platinum standard that defines what beverage evaluation should.

www.ultimate-beverage.com