Beer Finished Whiskey is Foundation of Collaboration Between Indie Whiskey Producer, Oak & Eden, and Craft Brewer, Rahr & Sons 

Dallas-based indie whiskey producer, Oak & Eden has announced the upcoming release of their third small batch creation, The Ale Series, a two-part product collaboration with Rahr & Sons Brewery (Fort Worth, TX) to create Rahr Soaked Malted Oak and Rahr Soaked Hopped Oak. As with all products in the Oak & Eden lineup, these collaborative expressions begin with Oak & Eden’s fully aged whiskey before they are finished with their patented “spire” — a 5” long spiral cut piece of wood that finishes the whiskey in the bottle, as opposed to a secondary barrel. The Rahr Soaked Malted Oak consists of Oak & Eden bourbon infused with a heavily toasted American Oak spire soaked in Rahr & Sons Iron Thistle Scottish Ale. The Rahr Soaked Hopped Oak consists of Oak & Eden rye infused with a lightly toasted American Oak spire soaked in Rahr & Sons Dadgum IPA.

“This has been a collaboration like no other,” says Joe Gillidenzopf, CEO of Oak & Eden, “Most people wouldn’t think beer and whiskey would go hand-in-hand, but the unique combination of sweet, oaky notes coming from our whiskey, mixed with the depth and character of Rahr & Sons beers produce a rich sensation of whiskey on the palate with beer on the finish.”

The Ale Series will be releasing in June 2019 and will be on the shelves early July in Texas and Oklahoma. To learn more, visit oakandeden.com/rahr.

SMOKEHEAD ‘TAKE OVER’ THE BLACK CAT

WHAT: Smokehead Islay Single Malt Whisky will be throwing a one-off night that’s not for everyone at The Black Cat in Edinburgh. A high voltage folk music session kicks off from 9:30pm as well as a fiery show from Beltane organiser Lasadh at 10pm. Smokehead serves will be on offer throughout the night, including a Smokey Bloody Mary, Smokey Caipirinha and Smokehead & Irn Bru reduction Old Fashioned.

WHY: Smokehead Islay Single Malt Whisky has teamed up with renowned global biking sensation Tyler Lunceford, challenging him to create his boldest motorcycle ever. US born, he recently moved to Edinburgh and opened a workshop in Leith, and will produce a custom Ducati for Smokehead. The project is at the halfway point (let’s celebrate at the Black Cat) and will run until September 2019, when the finished model, ‘The Smoker’, will be unleashed: https://www.smokehead.com/the-refinery Tyler will be in attendance on the night.

HOW: Smokehead is not for everyone, but this event is open to everyone.

WHEN: The event is on Thursday, June 20^th 2019 at 9pm – 1am

WHERE: The Black Cat, 168 Rose St, Edinburgh EH2 4BA

Please drink responsibly. www.drinkaware.co.uk

The Black Cat Facebook event

https://www.facebook.com/events/449338142558856/

www.smokehead.com

f: www.facebook.com/smokeheadwhisky

i: www.instagram.com/smokeheadwhisky

#smokehead 

NOTES 

About Smokehead:

• Smokehead is an Islay Single Malt Whisky and has been given a bold new look by Ian Macleod Distillers.
• Originally launched in 2006, Smokehead has been labelled the wild one of Single Malt Whisky and is not for everyone.
• Award-winning premium Scotch whisky that has an attitude-led positioning and heavily peated taste. 

About Ian Macleod Distillers:

• Established in 1933, Ian Macleod Distillers is one of Scotland’s leading independent, family-owned distillers, blenders and bottlers.
• Ian Macleod Distillers is the world’s 10th largest Scotch Whisky company, producing and selling over 15 million bottles of spirits every year.
• Ian Macleod Distillers has built up an enviable portfolio of premium quality spirits and is proud brand proprietor of Glengoyne, Tamdhu, Rosebank and Smokehead Scotch whiskies and Edinburgh Gin to name but a few.

The Macallan Unveils First Ever Estate Expression

A Whisky Maker’s Tribute To Home and Heritage

To celebrate its iconic home and rich character, The Macallan presents Estate – an exceptional new whisky containing rare spirit distilled with barley grown on the Easter Elchies estate.

A rich and complex whisky with a remarkably long finish, The Macallan Estate was created by our Whisky Makers to celebrate the single malt’s peerless provenance and heritage.

The Macallan Estate represents a unique opportunity to experience a single malt containing spirit made from precious home-grown barley from Easter Elchies estate, which is distilled just once a year over the course of a single week. Before the release of The Macallan Estate, this spirit was limited to the most exclusive and sought-after releases of The Macallan.

The 485-acre Easter Elchies estate is set within the legendary Speyside region of Scotland, where The Macallan has been creating extraordinary single malts since 1824. Its carefully tended barley fields are located on the banks of the River Spey, overlooked by the new award-winning distillery.

The Macallan distillery, which was inspired by Scotland’s undulating hills and cut into the slope of the land to complement its Spey Valley setting, opened its doors to the public in June 2018.

Displaying a warm chestnut hue, The Macallan Estate exudes aromas of wood spice and orange oil. The sweet, subtle hint of citrus acts as the perfect counterbalance to the traditional sherried richness associated with distinctive single malts of The Macallan.

“The Easter Elchies estate lies within the legendary Speyside region of Scotland, a place of timeless natural beauty, and a place that The Macallan is proud to call home,” said Sarah Burgess, Whisky Maker for The Macallan. “With its wonderful sweet citrus hints and warming wood spice, The Macallan Estate is a rich, satisfying and complex spirit that pays homage to the fertile Speyside lands where The Macallan is located and celebrates the unrivalled craftsmanship for which we have been known since 1824.”

Presented in an elegant gift box featuring landscape-inspired designs, The Macallan Estate packaging reflects the natural stones found on the estate and includes an inlay of slate with every bottle, along with photography of the estate’s impressive barley fields on the banks of the River Spey. The Macallan Estate will be available in the U.S. market and select global markets starting this June for a suggested retail price of $250.

Tasting Notes:

Color: Conker, chestnut hue

Aroma: Warm, comforting and homely notes of cinnamon. Wood spice and orange oil, opening into dried fruits with a sweet lemon, banana and caramel.

Palate: Soft and warming with wood spice, opening into a dry oak flavor spiked with candied raisins and fresh fig. Moving into a sweet fresh orange and delicate fresh citrus.

Finish: A sweet citrus twist.

ABV: 43%

For further information visit www.themacallan.com/en-us

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s finest single malt whiskies.  The story of The Macallan is built on the Six Pillars, each influencing the whisky in its own distinct way.  From the spiritual home of Easter Elchies House; curiously small stills giving richness to the pure spirit; finest cut or the best of the best of the distillation, to exceptional oak casks which account for up to 80% of the final flavor in the whisky; natural color and finally peerless spirit, The Macallan itself.

Wood sits at the heart of The Macallan. The vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, together with true mastery, set it apart from the rest. For more information on The Macallan, visit www.themacallan.com/en-us. The Macallan can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

GLENMORANGIE GRAND VINTAGE MALT 1991 WINS WHISKY OF THE YEAR AT THE 2019 INTERNATIONAL WHISKY COMPETITION®

[LAS VEGAS, NV, June 14, 2019]  Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks at Glenmorangie Distillery becomes Master Distiller of the Year for crafting the Whisky of the Year 2019 and will receive the top prize in the industry, the Golden Barrel Trophy.

The International Whisky Competition just released its results for this year’s most respected blind tasting judging event. The top recognition, Whisky of the Year, was awarded to Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991 which scored 97 points, the highest scoring whisky of the competition.

2019 Official results: www.whiskycompetition.com/2019-results

The 10th edition of the International Whisky Competition took place in Las Vegas over three days, from May 15 to 17 and received whiskies from all over the world from what distilleries believe to be their very best. A world-class tasting panel made of whisky, spirit, beer and wine experts blind tasted each whisky on an individual basis (8 minutes per whisky).

Each whisky was scored using a comprehensive 100-point scale system developed by Sebastien Gavillet, IWC Head of Tasting Panel. This process and the fact that only three medals are awarded in any category make the International Whisky Competition the most followed whisky competition and one of the most professional competitions of its kind in the world.

We warmly congratulate Dr Bill Lumsden, as well as his team, for creating such an exceptional whisky. This is the third time in the last four years that Dr Lumsden receive the highest awards for his whisky creations.

Last year’s Whisky of the Year was Aberlour A’Bunadh, which scored 97.4 points. Glenmorangie Distillery will receive the Golden Barrel Trophy for winning the Whisky of the Year during a ceremony to be held this summer in Tain, Scotland.

About the International Whisky Competition®

The International Whisky Competition is the most followed Whisky Competition on Social Media and brings whiskies from around the world to be blind tasted and rated by a professional tasting panel using the most comprehensive tasting method available. 15 criteria are required to produce the tasting notes as well as aroma and flavor profiles for the International Whisky Guide. Unlike other competitions, the judges are presented with one whisky at a time, to ensure each whisky gets the proper attention. It’s the only competition in the spirits world to deliver unique medals designed to promote each of the winning whiskies. Only 3 medals (Gold, Silver & Bronze) are awarded per category. The Whisky of the Year (highest score during the competition) gets rewarded with the Golden Barrel Trophy.

“The Olympics of whisky competitions.” – Jim McEwan, Master Distiller.

For more information about the International Whisky Competition, please visit whiskycompetition.com or contact:

USA – Sebastien Gavillet, Head of Judges / s.gavillet@whiskycompetition.com +1 702 234 3602

Canada – Sylvain Allard, Managing Partner / s.allard@whiskycompetition.com +1 418 271 6678

SAZERAC CANADIAN WHISKIES AWARDED GOLD AND SILVER MEDALS AT 2019 DENVER INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS COMPETITION 

Montreal, Canada (June 6, 2019) – Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky received a Gold Medal at the 7th Annual Denver International Spirits Competition, while High River Canadian Blended Whisky and Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whisky were awarded Silver Medals. Judges voted for the best spirit entries in 102 different categories.

            Gold Medal Winner:

• Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky

Silver Medal Winners:

• Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whisky
• High River Canadian Whisky

The Denver International Spirits Competition is conducted double blind by a seasoned panel of beverage professionals. The judging panel consists of sommeliers, retail buyers, journalists, mixologists and beverage directors. All judges undergo a daily calibration class designed to maintain consistent evaluation and scoring of all spirits.

Complete results of the 2019 Denver International Spirits Competition can be found at http://www.denverspiritscomp.com/

About Sazerac

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

SAZERAC SPIRITS AWARDED TOP HONORS AT WORLDWIDE COMPETITION

Glenfarclas receives 6 total medals including 4 gold

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (May 23, 2019) Sazerac is proud to announce 11 gold and silver medals were awarded by the San Francisco World Spirits Competition to Glenfarclas, Janneau and Père Magloire which the company imports. The 19^th annual competition had a record-breaking year featuring 3,000 entries from across the globe. A panel of 44 respected industry experts judged each entry by conducting blind taste tests, ultimately awarding the Sazerac Company’s import brands with five gold medals.

Gold medals are awarded to spirits that are near the pinnacle of achievement and set the standard for each category. Silver medals go to outstanding spirits that show refinement, finesse and complexity.

Gold

• Glenfarclas 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
• Glenfarclas 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
• Glenfarclas 25 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
• Glenfarclas 105 Cask Strength Single Malt Scotch

Silver

• Glenfarclas 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
• Glenfarclas 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch

Complete results for the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/.

About Sazerac

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

EAGLE RARE AND STAGG JR. NAMED BEST OF CLASS BOURBON, RECEIVE DOUBLE GOLD AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS COMPETITION

Buffalo Trace Distillery whiskies win eight top awards 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (MAY 28, 2019) Buffalo Trace Distillery products were recognized with eight top awards at the 8th annual Denver International Spirits Competition, including two Double Gold honors, which were awarded to Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

In addition to the double gold winnings, whiskies from Buffalo Trace Distillery also received three Gold and three Silver awards.

            Gold recipients include:

• Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Weller CYPB Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Buffalo Trace Distillery Bourbon Cream

            Silver recipients include:

• W.L. Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Old No. 8 Brand Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

“We are so pleased to be honored with these awards,” Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley said. “Our team is dedicated to producing the highest quality whiskies on the market and being recognized for our hard work is truly humbling.”

The Denver International Spirits Competition was held in Denver, Colorado, and is the largest professional spirits competition in the Rocky Mountain Region. Winners were selected by a panel of 30 respected spirits authorities who rate entries through a double-blind process on a 100-point scale.

Complete results for the 2019 Denver International Spirits Competition can be found at http://www.denverspiritscomp.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

BARTON 1792 WHISKIES RECEIVE GOLD AND SILVER AT DENVER INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS COMPETITION 

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (June 5, 2019) The whiskies from Barton 1792 Distillery were recognized with four awards at the 8^th annual Denver International Spirits Competition, including three Gold medals.

Gold recipients include:

• Very Old Barton 90 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Very Old Barton 80 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Kentucky Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Silver recipients include:

• 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

“We are honored to receive these awards,” Master Distiller Danny Kahn said. “It is a testament to the work and passion of our entire team, and we look forward to creating world-class whiskies for years to come.”

The Denver International Spirits Competition was held in Denver, Colorado, and is the largest professional spirits competition in the Rocky Mountain Region. Winners were selected by a panel of 30 respected spirits authorities who rate entries through a double-blind process on a 100-point scale.

Complete results for the 2019 Denver International Spirits Competition can be found at http://www.denverspiritscomp.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 28 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 2017 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.

Awards Keeping Coming For Distell

International spirits producer, Distell, has received global recognition for its Scotch Whisky collection at this year’s International Spirits Challenge (ISC) and The Scotch Whisky Masters. The portfolio received 33 awards in total with Islay’s most northerly distillery, Bunnahabhain, taking home 19 accolades including Double Gold for its 25 Year Old from ISC.

These latest wins come on the back of a successful period for Distell, having collected 28 awards this year and the business recently crowned as ‘Overall Distiller of the Year’ at the Icons of Whisky Awards.

Now in its 24th year, the ISC is the premier event in promoting outstanding quality spirits from across the globe and is regarded as one of the most respected and influential spirits competitions in the world. It received more than 1,700 entries from 70 countries, which were judged by 50 esteemed spirits experts.

New for ISC 2019 is the Double Gold Award, awarded to the Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old. Positioned higher than a Gold Medal, the new Double Gold Award is a special showcase for brands which achieved exceptional scores in the blind tasting assessment. The 25 Year Old is the super-premium member of Bunnahabhain’s core range and is 100% sherry matured.

Bunnahabhain Distillery received further praise from The Scotch Whisky Masters. From 350 entries, only 12 Masters were awarded this year with Bunnahabhain An Cladach and Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dhà scooping two of the top awards. Toiteach A Dhà, meaning smoky two in Scots Gaelic, is described as a sequel to the original peaty paradox. To achieve a Masters in the awards, whiskies need to score over 90% from all judges.

The latest addition to the Bunnahabhain core range, Stiùireadair, brought home a Gold award in the same competition. Stiùireadair, pronounced Stew-Rah-Dur and meaning ‘Helmsman’ in Scots Gaelic, pays homage to the distillery’s nautical heritage and shoreline location which creates a whisky with a distinctive coastal character.

Bunnahabhain’s World Traveller Exclusive Range received recognition at the ISC, with Eirigh Na Greine and An Cladach winning gold and silver respectively. The third World Traveller Exclusive, Crauch Mhona, was also awarded gold at The Scotch Whisky Masters.

This news follows the announcement of a three year refurbishment programme at Bunnahabhain as Distell invest £10.5m in an extensive upgrade and refresh of the iconic distillery. As part of the works, a number of the original buildings will be carefully restored giving them a new lease of life, whilst others will be removed and relocated to create more space, allowing better operational flow across the site and to enhance the experience for visitors to the distillery. 

Derek Scott, Brand Director for Malts at Distell International, said: 

“We are delighted to have so many of our brands recognised by these prestigious competitions. The results speak for themselves and come hot on the heels of a raft of honours for our world class spirits across the collection. 

“We are particularly proud to have Bunnahabhain’s portfolio of malts recognised, reinforcing the passion and commitment from the distillery team to deliver internationally renowned products. We have ambitious plans for the distillery and look forward to sharing updates on the ongoing refurbishment programme over the coming year.” 

NOTES 

Distell’s full results at the International Spirits Challenge 2019:

• Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old – Double Gold
• Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old – Gold
• Bunnahabhain TOITEACH A DHÀ – Gold
• Bunnahabhain Cruach Mhòna – Gold
• Bunnahabhain An Cladach – Silver
• Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine – Silver
• Bunnahabhain 18 Year Old – Silver
• Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair – Silver
• Deanston 12 Year Old – Silver
• Deanston Virgin Oak – Silver
• Deanston 15 Year Old Organic – Silver
• Deanston 18 year Old – Silver
• Deanston 10 Year Old Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Finish – Silver
• Black Bottle – Silver
• Ledaig 10 Year Old – Silver

Distell’s full results at The Scotch Whisky Masters 2019:

Blended No Age Statement

• Scottish Leader Signature – Silver
• Black Bottle – Silver
• Scottish Leader Original – Gold
• Scottish Leader Supreme – Gold

Blended Aged Up To 12 Years

• Scottish Leader 12 Year Old – Silver

Single Malt Highlands and Islands No Age Statement

• Deanston Virgin Oak – Gold

Single Malt Highlands and Islands No Age Statement

• Tobermory 12 Year Old – Silver
• Ledaig 10 Year Old – Gold
• Deanston 12 Year Old – Gold
• Deanston 10 Year Old Bordeaux Red Wine Cask – Gold

Single Malt; Highlands and Islands aged 13-18 Years

• Deanston 15 Year Old Organic – Silver
• Ledaig 18 Year Old – Gold

Single Malt; Islay Aged up to 12 Years

• Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old – Gold

Single Malt; Islay – No Age Statement

• Bunnahabhain Stiuireadair – Gold
• Bunnahabhain Cruach – Mhona – Gold
• Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine – Gold
• Bunnahabhain An Cladach – Master
• Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dha – Master 

About Distell: 

• Distell is Africa’s leading producer of wines, spirits, ciders, scotch whisky and ready-to-drinks (RTDs) with a portfolio of close on 100 brands.
• Within the portfolio, Distell owns four single malts and a number of scotch brands produced across three distillery sites.
• The three distilleries include: Bunnahabhain on the Isle of Islay; Deanston in Doune, Perthshire and Tobermory based on the Isle of Mull.
• With a global network of offices and distribution partners, the company employs nearly 5000 people worldwide and has an annual turnover of R14.2 billion. (£1.09 billion)
• In Scotland, the company’s operations are based in East Kilbride where it has a bottling hall, with blending and warehousing facilities at Airdrie, both near Glasgow.
• Distell is the 2015 “Distiller of the Year” award winner at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
• Bunnahabhain Distillery was named the 2016 Tasting Panel Magazine Distillery of the Year at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).

For more visit: www.distell.co.za