THE MACALLAN UNVEILS NEW MASTER WHISKY MAKER

Kirsteen Campbell to lead strengthened team 

The Macallan has appointed Kirsteen Campbell, renowned throughout the industry for her expertise and knowledge, as Master Whisky Maker for its Single Malt Whisky.

She will lead a newly strengthened Whisky Mastery Team, enhanced to continue delivering the outstanding quality, natural colour and distinctive aromas and flavours of The Macallan.

The team now also incorporates the role of Master of Wood to reflect the complete whisky making process and the vital influence of wood on the character of The Macallan whisky. It seamlessly combines innovation with craftsmanship and heritage to continue The Macallan’s commitment to exceptional quality since 1824.

The six-strong Whisky Mastery Team includes: Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker; Stuart MacPherson, Master of Wood; Sarah Burgess, Lead Whisky Maker; Polly Logan, Whisky Maker; Steven Bremner, Whisky Maker; and Russell Greig, Sample Room Assistant.

Its formation will formally see maturation and whisky making working hand in hand from the very beginning of the journey to bring out the best of spirit and wood. It will additionally secure the legacy of almost two centuries of  whisky making heritage, by bringing together the next generation of whisky makers with The Macallan’s most experienced and skilled craftsmen and women. As part of the new approach, apprentices with natural sensory talent will learn the art of whisky making from the depth and breadth of experience within the Whisky Mastery Team.

Originally from Thurso in the Highlands, Kirsteen is the first woman to become The Macallan Master Whisky Maker in its long-standing history spanning almost 200 years. She will transition to the position from her current role within the brand’s parent company Edrington.

Embarking on her journey into the industry in 2001 with a degree in Food Science, Kirsteen worked in a new make spirits laboratory, where she discovered her passion for Scotch whisky and her extraordinary sense of smell.

Kirsteen joined Edrington in 2007 as a Whisky Quality Technologist and progressed her career to her most recent roles within for Cutty Sark, Naked Grouse, The Famous Grouse and The Glenrothes. She holds a Diploma in Distilling and has also worked at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute.

Kirsteen’s appointment and The Macallan’s enhanced focus on the art and science of whisky making and mastery of the team marks the next chapter in the history of the world-renowned single malt whisky. It follows a landmark year in 2018, which saw the opening of The Macallan Distillery Experience on Speyside, designed by internationally acclaimed architects, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, and paves the way for the brand’s 200^th anniversary in 2024.

Kirsteen Campbell, Master Whisky Maker, The Macallan, said: “I feel a real sense of honour and pride to be entrusted as the custodian of The Macallan, charged with leading the Whisky Mastery Team in the creation of The Macallan’s remarkable single malt whiskies. Having been a part of the wider Edrington whisky making team for over a decade, I’m really looking forward to working more closely with the team at The Macallan.

“The Macallan is at the pinnacle of whisky making across the globe and the Whisky Mastery Team will combine the whisky makers’ depth and breadth of skills and experience to drive forward The Macallan legacy for the future.”

Igor Boyadjian, Managing Director, The Macallan, said: “It is with great pleasure that we welcome Kirsteen Campbell to the position of Master Whisky Maker at The Macallan. Kirsteen will join the Whisky Mastery Team and together they will use their skills and craft to continue to create and enhance our exceptional portfolio of whiskies.

“The appointment of Kirsteen and investment in the future legacy of The Macallan, with the strengthening of the Whisky Mastery Team, comes at an incredibly exciting time as The Macallan continues to cement its position as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies. In the wake of the first anniversary of the new distillery, The Macallan is experiencing continued global growth and success, enjoying growing demand in new markets.”

For further information, visit www.themacallan.com

NOTES

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the worlds’ most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character. An obsession with excellence has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding, by Alexander Reid, on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland.

In 2018, The Macallan unveiled its new £140 million distillery and visitor experience on its Speyside estate, increasing investment in whisky, warehousing and in The Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks.  The striking contemporary architecture, cut into the slope of the land, takes its cues from ancient Scottish hills.  It stands nearby Easter Elchies House, the Highland Manor built in 1700 which has been The Macallan’s spiritual home since 1824.  The new distillery marks an important milestone, recognising the significant journey of The Macallan since 1824 and marking an exciting new chapter in the evolution of the luxury single malt.

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PREPARE FOR A CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH ARDBEG SUPERNOVA 

— This year’s limited edition arrives with a mission – to take Ardbeg Committee Members on a journey of unbelievably peaty proportions —

In October this year, still in the glow of winning Distillery of the Year 2019, Ardbeg Distillery will take its Committee Members on a journey like no other – as Supernova 2019 makes one more brief and earth-shattering return.

The Supernova Series is a collection of limited edition Committee favourites, first released in 2009 and most recently in 2015 to celebrate the groundbreaking Ardbeg space experiment. This experiment saw Ardbeg become the first whisky brand in space, where a vial of Ardbeg spirit orbited the earth for three years aboard the International Space Station.

Still in pursuit of the phenomenal, this year’s Supernova limited edition challenges sensory perceptions of what a whisky can be, as it transports the taste buds to peaty parts unknown.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks at Ardbeg, said: “Supernova is the peatiest expression we produce at Ardbeg. The way the flavours build and build and then explode in a burst of pungent peat and smoke is truly astonishing.”

Mickey Heads, Ardbeg Distillery Manager, said: “The incredible peat explosion in Supernova probably explains why these bottlings have been so popular with the Ardbeg Committee over the years. Supernova 2019 is the fifth edition in the series, and I’m sure it will be snatched up in no time at all.”

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NOTES: 

Tasting Notes:

ABV:             53.8%

Colour:          Pale Bronze

Aroma:         Clouds of pungent aniseed, menthol and eucalyptus are underscored with sweet notes of treacle toffee. Hints of peppermint, a frisson of fennel, and a mysterious camphorous scent in the far distance… With water, more toffee notes emerge with a burst of dry, earthy peat.

Taste:           A tingly, peppery mouthfeel leads to a veritable explosion of intense, earthy, smoky notes – a nebular of bonfires, soot, charred oak, birch tar and menthol.

Finish:           Unbelievably long, with layers of treacle toffee, aniseed, oak tannin, clove and just a hint of bittersweet, tangy Seville orange on the aftertaste.

RRP: £140 

Ardbeg:

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.

Ardbeg Committee:

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee. The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 130 countries. Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings. Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events. The Committee, chaired by Mickey Heads, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards:

Ardbeg is the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whisky. Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions. Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ twice by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible (2008, 2009) and has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013). At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’. The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100. Both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail were awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2019, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded ‘Master Distiller of the Year’ for the third time in four years. Ardbeg 10 Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year.

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.  Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking:

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

COTSWOLDS DISTILLERY ANNOUNCES NEW PEATED CASK WHISKY

The Cotswolds Distillery is set to release the inaugural batch of its peated cask single malt whisky

The whisky is aged in ex-peated quarter casks to develop a balanced rich and fruity flavour with notes of peat smoke

The Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky Peated Cask will be bottled at cask strength and will be available on the Cotswolds Distillery online shop and from specialist retailers with an RRP of £64.95

The award-winning Cotswolds Distillery is set to release the first batch of its Single Malt Whisky Peated Cask, the first-ever whisky matured in peated barrels in the Cotswolds.

Available for sale from the 1st October, the whisky is made using un-peated local barley which is mashed and fermented before being distilled in bespoke copper pots. The whisky is then aged in ex-peated quarter casks from Scotland, creating a balanced rich and fruity flavour with subtle notes of peat smoke.

Dan Szor, founder and CEO of the distillery said: “The subtle notes of smoke and peat which these wonderful Islay casks impart to our Cotswolds Single Malt complement the fruity notes of our spirit without overwhelming it.  The result is an eminently drinkable and very moreish dram, even at cask strength.

What started as an experiment now becomes the newest addition to our growing core range of Single Malt Whiskies.”

The release comes following a year of success for the distillery’s whisky offerings. The flagship Single Malt Whisky has won multiple awards across the world including the World Whisky Awards, San Francisco World Spirits Competition and International Wine & Spirits Awards, while the Founder’s Choice cask has won multiple gold medals and was the only whisky to be given three stars at this year’s Great Taste Awards.

Consisting of 2,950 bottles per batch, the peated whisky is bottled at cask strength (59.3% ABV) with no added colouring. The whisky is available from specialist retailers and the Cotswolds Distillery’s online shop from October at an RRP of £64.95.

Notes 

Peated Whisky

Peated Single Malt Whisky is available to purchase from the Cotswolds Distillery online shop and via specialist retailers.

Founders Choice

Founders Choice is available to purchase from Harvey Nichols and specialist retailers Master of Malt and Gordon and MacPhail.

The Cotswolds Distillery

Located in Stourton, Shipston-on-Stour, the distillery has become a premier local attraction, offering tours and tastings daily, and now receives 30,000 visitors a year.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky was launched in October 2017. Each bottle lists the barley variety, harvest year and local Cotswolds farm it was grown on. It recently won Gold at the World Whiskies Awards 2019 and took 2 stars (one of only two whiskies to do so) in the 2019 Great Taste Awards. The distillery’s cask strength whisky release, Founder’s Choice Single Malt Whisky, was recently awarded the title of Best English Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2019.

In Jim Murray’s 2019 Whisky Bible, the Cotswolds Distillery received 5 ‘Liquid Gold’ awards. Three of their whiskies scored 95 points, with all of the distillery’s samples scoring over 88 out of 100.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky is available nationally and in 31 countries across the world. Key UK retailers include Waitrose & Partners, Majestic Wine, The Whisky Exchange, Harrods and Laithwaites.

The distillery also produces Cotswolds Dry Gin, which was named Best London Dry at the 2016 World Gin Awards and received the top Gold Outstanding award in the 2017 International Wine and Spirits Competition. Difford’s Guide recently ranked the Gin as one of the top 20 Gins available in a survey of 450 brands.

Cotswolds Dry Gin is on sale nationally and in over 30 countries.  Key national accounts include Waitrose & Partners, Majestic, Oddbins, Laithwaites, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Fortnum & Mason.

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

Laphroaig® unveils an exclusive 25-year-old whisky in celebration of the first woman of whisky 

Introducing The Laphroaig Bessie Williamson Story™

Beam Suntory’s Laphroaig has announced the release of a super-premium 25-year-old Laphroaig, which celebrates the life of Bessie Williamson, an icon of Laphroaig and the first female distillery manager to own and run a Scotch whisky distillery in the 20th century.

This unique and highly exclusive bottle is a tribute to Bessie and embodies many of her qualities including her warm, rich and unmistakably-Islay character. This is a tribute to Bessie and all that she made at Laphroaig.

Laphroaig® 25 Year Old, The Bessie Williamson Story™, will be available exclusively in the Global Travel Retail market for £410.

A celebration of Bessie Williamson

Williamson was born in Glasgow in 1910 to John Williamson, a gunner in France with the Royal Garrison Artillery and Agnes Whyte. She attended the University of Glasgow from 1927, intending to become a teacher, graduating in 1932.

After graduating with an MA in 1932, Bessie accepted a summer job at Laphroaig distillery intending to stay only a few months. She worked directly with then owner Ian Hunter, eventually taking on responsibility for US distribution following Hunter’s stroke in 1938. By the time of the Second World War she had become the full-time distillery manager and the most senior woman in Scotch anywhere in the industry.

Bessie is credited with being among the first to anticipate the coming trend for single malt scotches and to position the Laphroaig whiskies, and by extension other Islay malts, to the American market.  The Scotch Whisky Association named Williamson as its American spokesperson from 1961 to 1964 and she toured the US representing Islay whisky to buyers and distributors.

Laphroaig Bessie Williamson

A whisky of true significance; this super-premium 25-year-old Laphroaig commemorates Bessie, speaking to her success, her unique role on Islay, and her lasting impact on the Laphroaig distillery.

This expression has been aged in refill American oak hogsheads and refill barrels to allow the liquid’s individual character to shine through. The result is a whisky of lingering warmth and unmistakable character – a genuine expression of Bessie’s friendliness, individuality and strength.

The Bessie Williamson Story is presented in a beautifully crafted book that allows purchasers to discover the story of Bessie’s legacy in depth, and includes tasting notes and a message from John Campbell, the distillery manager.

The whisky is now available exclusively through the Global Travel Retail market for an RRP of £410.

John Campbell, Laphroaig distillery manager, comments: “Laphroaig is a globally recognised whisky thanks to Bessie.  It is well documented that Bessie was universally loved and respected by her colleagues at Laphroaig and the people of Islay. It is this aspect that we celebrate with this whisky, remembering her as a true icon of Laphroaig.”

Tasting Notes

Nose:

Peaty with spicy and floral notes. Sweeter notes of pear drops, green apples and bonbons that add to a sweet malty backcloth. 

Palate:

Salty tar oil paste, sweet herbs and spices, acacia honey, tomato leaves and black pepper. Unmistakeable Laphroaig coastal notes with peat smoke sweetness and earthiness bring the classic Islay spirit. 

Finish:

Warming and long lasting with floral and coastal notes. 

Colour:

Pale gold.

The whisky is best served neat, with ice or a drop of water. 

ABV:

Bottled at 43% ABV.

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Eighth Generation Beam Distiller Freddie Noe Releases Third Chapter Of Little Book™ Whiskey Series – “The Road Home”

Maker’s Mark® Introduces Its First-Ever Nationally Available Limited Release Bourbon

Leith bar toasts to first anniversary with rare Glenglassaugh

An experimental and award-winning community pub in Leith, Nauticus, has released a specially selected and limited edition single cask malt in partnership with elemental coastal distillery Glenglassaugh to mark its first anniversary, of which there are just 275 bottles available.

The renowned and industry-established duo behind the bar’s creation, Kyle Jamieson and Iain McPherson, opened Nauticus last year with the aim of showcasing the best of Scottish produce, whilst drawing on Leith’s history for global trade. Working with their team of expert bartenders, Kyle and Iain identified the perfect cask for bottling following a rigorous blind tasting session of a handful of the Highland
distillery’s rarest stock, put forward by Glenglassaugh Master Blender, Dr. Rachel Barrie.

The contents of Cask 288 was distilled in 2011 and has been matured in a Sauternes hogshead barrel for eight years before being bottled at cask strength this May. The expression was chosen for its distinctive character developed through wine cask aging.

Lustrous gold in colour, the whisky is abundant in butterscotch, baked pineapple and sherried fruit with caramel and sea air on the nose. When tasted, this develops into salted honeycomb and chocolate with pineapple fondant, culminating in a long, creamy finish.

Kyle Jamieson, co-owner at Nauticus commented:

“This single cask Glenglassaugh bottling is a special landmark for us as we celebrate our first birthday. After sampling about 12 single malts from across the Highland region, this Glenglassaugh cask was a clear winner for us and stood out with its fantastic character.“Our ethos in Nauticus is to always put Scottish produce and Leith’s rich wine and spirits history under the spotlight. We believe this specific cask captures this perfectly in whisky form.”

Dr. Rachel Barrie, Master Blender at Glenglassaugh Distillery, said:

“This limited expression is a beautifully layered whisky that has been shaped and nurtured by the distillery’s coastal location and the elements surrounding our warehouses, boasting a delicious contrast of sweet flavour from the Sauternes oak with a hint of saltiness from the North Sea air that breaths into our casks. It’s been fantastic to work with the Nauticus team to bottle a really unique single malt in celebration of one of Scotland’s most exciting bars.”

The Glenglassaugh 2011 Cask 288 is now available at RRP £64.95 from Nauticus and Royal Mile Whiskies.

Glenglassaugh 2011 Cask 288 tasting notes:

Colour: Lustrous gold
Nose: Butterscotch, baked pineapple, sherried fruit with salted caramel and a whisper of sea air
Palate: Salted honeycomb and chocolate with pineapple fondant and custard cream

About Glenglassaugh Distillery:

On the crescent beach of Sandend Bay stands Glenglassaugh Distillery, producing a luscious coastal malt, shaped by the rich abundance of land and sea, with rolling waves of flavour. A complete distillation of its natural surroundings. A whisky whose essence is distilled from the visible and invisible influences of land, sea, air and spring water. Glenglassaugh Distillery, standing on the Moray Firth coast at the edge of the beautiful Sandend Bay, lay silent and forgotten for over two decades. Its heritage stretches back to 1875 when the distillery was founded by Colonel James Moir. It was on the banks of Glassaugh stream that the distillery was built, and its name ‘Glenglassaugh’ – meaning ‘valley of the grey-green place’ – has been taken from its beautiful surroundings. Despite being mothballed for over twenty years, the distillery has a history of elegant maturation, with award-winning old vintages dating back to the 1960s, and an award winning range of boutique younger whiskies, released in the years following the distillery’s reopening in 2008. As this jewel of a coastal malt is discovered and enjoyed, it promises to become a cult, contemporary classic.

About Nauticus:

The story of Nauticus began with Kyle and Iain, chatting over drinks about creating a bar to champion Scottish produce wherever possible. They dug deep – spending many days researching and thinking about every element. It soon became apparent that this had not been done before – this was brand new territory! Its priority was produce made in Scotland or owned by a Scottish company; where this wasn’t feasible, Scottish heritage somewhere down the line was paramount. 18 months later, the dream is a reality and 90% of Nauticus’ products are Scottish, or have Scottish links. The name Nauticus is latin for Nautical; the owners decided on this name due to Leith’s historical ties with shipping and global trade. Leith has an extremely rich and interesting history which has inspired the bar’s menu, with each chapter relating to a period of time in and around Leith; from tea and spice routes, the gin craze, sherry trade and the key role that Leith played in the whisky boom.
Nauticus was named the 2019 Admiral Taverns’ Pub of the Year at the Great British Pub Awards in London earlier this month, and is listed in the UK’s Top 50 Cocktail Bars.

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BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY BOURBONS WIN SILVER

Four Bourbons Awarded at North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition

BARDSTOWN, KY (Sept. 19, 2019) –  Kentucky Tavern Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Zackariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Very Old Barton 80 Proof and Very Old Barton 90 Proof bourbons won silver medals at the 2019 North American Bourbon & Whiskey competition (N.A.B.W.C.).

The N.A.B.W.C. promotes excellence in bourbon, whiskey, and moonshine through a double-blind competition. The competition is based on a 100-point scale. The spirits are judged by styles and price categories.

“We are very honored to receive four silver medals at the 2019 N.A.B.W.C.,” Master Distiller Danny Kahn said. “Our team at the Distillery takes pride in creating these whiskies. We are thrilled to be recognized for our work.”

To find more information about Barton 1792 brands, please visit https://www.1792distillery.com/

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 27 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2018 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.

CROWD SOURCED BOURBON FROM BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY NAMED BEST IN SHOW

Weller CYPB and 11 Other Whiskeys Win Awards at North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition

FRANKFORT, KY (Sept. 17, 2019) – Buffalo Trace Distillery bourbon brand, W.L. Weller CYPB (Craft Your Perfect Bourbon) won “Best Of Show” at the 2019 North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition (N.A.B.W.C.). W.L. Weller CYPB is a wheated recipe bourbon and is the result of thousands of whiskey drinkers crafting their perfect bourbon at www.yourperfectbourbon.com.

In addition to the “Best Of Show” award, Buffalo Trace Distillery bourbons received 11 other awards, including two double gold medals. The bourbons were awarded as follows:

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Double Gold
• W.L. Weller 12yr Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Double Gold
• Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. Kentucky Straight Barrel Whiskey – Gold
• Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey – Gold
• Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. Kentucky Small Batch Whiskey – Silver
• Eagle Rare 10yr Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Silver
• W.L. Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Silver
• Old Weller Antique 107 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Silver
• Elmer T. Lee Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey – Silver
• McAfee’s Benchmark Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Silver
• Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Bronze

The N.A.B.W.C. promotes excellence in bourbon, whiskey, and moonshine through a double-blind competition. The competition is based on a 100-point scale. The spirits are judged by styles and price categories. The top award in the competition is “Best Of Show.”

“We’re honored to receive not only ‘Best Of Show’ but 11 other awards as well,” Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said. “Our fans sure know how to pick a good bourbon. Our W.L. Weller CYPB is proof that our fans have award-winning taste.”

To find more information about Buffalo Trace brands, please visit https://www.buffalotracedistillery.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 21 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.”  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 500 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

A. SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY BOURBONS WIN GOLD AT AMERICAN WHISKEY MASTERS COMPETITION 

FREDERICKSBURG, VA (Sept. 12, 2019) – Three bourbons from A. Smith Bowman Distillery, Bowman Brothers Small Batch, Isaac Bowman Port Finish, and John J. Bowman Single Barrel won gold medals at the 2019 American Whiskey Masters competition.

All awards are given at the discretion of the judges through a blind tasting. The panel of judges consisted of leading spirits specialists. The 2019 American Whiskey Masters was a competitive competition with more than 46 entries from 12 different companies.

“We are honored to receive gold medals for each of our core bourbons,” Master Distiller Brian Prewitt said. “Our team at A. Smith Bowman is dedicated to producing quality spirits, and these awards are a testament to that hard work.”

To find more information about A. Smith Bowman brands, please visit https://asmithbowman.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. Its various brands have won more than 100 awards in the past five 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.