LINDORES ABBEY DISTILLERY ANNOUNCES GORDON & MACPHAIL AS EXCLUSIVE UK DISTRIBUTOR

Lindores Abbey Distillery is delighted to announce that it will be working with Gordon & MacPhail as its exclusive distributor in the United Kingdom. The distillery – the spiritual home of Scotch whisky – will be added to Gordon & MacPhail’s growing exclusive distributor portfolio.

Drew McKenzie Smith, founder and MD of Lindores Abbey Distillery, commented: ‘We are delighted to be working with Gordon & MacPhail. Lindores is, above all, a family business, and we admire the company’s similar family-oriented outlook. In many ways, this marks a return to the very roots of Lindores Abbey Distillery, as our inaugural limited edition bottling was a 15 year old Speyside malt supplied by Gordon & MacPhail nearly twenty years ago”.

James Taylor, Buying Manager for Gordon & MacPhail, added: ‘We are very excited to be working with Lindores Abbey Distillery and look forward to their Aqua Vitae complementing our existing portfolio of quality whiskies and spirits.”

Lindores Abbey Distillery is currently producing Aqua Vitae, a tribute to the origins of Scotch Whisky as we know it today. It is a versatile, spirit drink made from a blend of herbs, spices and single malt new make spirit and can be used in a vast array of cocktails or simply sipped neat. For more recipes visit our website here.

Gordon & MacPhail’s wholesale business serves customers throughout the United Kingdom selling whiskies and premium spirits and is one part of the multi-faceted family-owned business. Gordon & MacPhail also matures and bottles some of the world’s rarest single malts. 

The London launch of Aqua Vitae will take place today,  Monday 24^th September at Original Sin in Stoke Newington, following a series of successful Scottish launches in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow. 

NOTES   

• Lindores Abbey was founded in 1191 by David Earl of Huntingdon, on land overlooking the River Tay, given to him by his brother King William I. It was visited by Kings and Queens, warriors and statesmen. William Wallace took refuge with 300 of his men after their victory over the English.

• Built directly on the site of the Lindores dairy farm steading Drew McKenzie Smith’s great grandfather bought in 1913, the Lindores Abbey Visitor Centre has been crafted from original Abbey stone. It features an illustrated history of the Tironensian monks who founded the Abbey. The records, artefacts and scriptures of their time at Lindores are displayed within the stunning new Cloister of the venue, which will also serve as a unique event and private dining space which can seat 60 guests at its stately 52 foot oak table.

• Lindores Abbey ruins, where William Wallace rested after the Battle of Black Earnside in 1298, the burial site of the first Duke of Rothesay, and a place of exceptional tranquility and beauty, are open to the public by appointment.

Gordon & MacPhail

• Since its founding in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.
• Gordon & MacPhail bottles some of the world’s oldest and rarest single malt Scotch whiskies and sells in over 30 markets worldwide.
• In spring 2018 the company announced the relaunch of its portfolio of single malt Scotch whiskies to continue strengthening the reputation of the brand globally.  The portfolio has been streamlined into five distinct ranges: ‘Discovery’, ‘Distillery Labels’, ‘Connoisseurs Choice’, ‘Private Collection’, and ‘Generations’.

Gordon & MacPhail Retail

• Gordon & MacPhail was established in 1895 with the opening of a retail shop in Elgin, selling high quality teas, coffees, groceries and wines and spirits.  Continuing to trade today, the shop is popular with visitors and locals alike and has been awarded Visit Scotland Five Star status.   A dedicated Whisky Room is an Aladdin’s Cave for whisky enthusiasts and stocks over 1,000 different variants.  The Wine & Spirits Room stores a wide selection of wines and an eclectic mix of spirits, whilst the Grocery department continues to sell high quality goods and stock an excellent delicatessen.

Evan Williams is Bourbon Done Right

BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Evan Williams Bourbon today launched a new marketing campaign titled “Bourbon Done Right.” The flagship Bourbon brand of Heaven Hill Distillery, the world’s second largest holder of aging Bourbon, will utilize the new positioning to showcase real, everyday satisfaction from a real, everyday Bourbon.

As the second largest selling Bourbon in the world, the new campaign conveys the commitment to quality and the esteem with which consumers have held Evan Williams over the last decade. The new campaign showcases people enjoying their hobbies, whether building a deck or polishing their car, it shows how Evan Williams Bourbon can be used to celebrate the small moments of satisfaction that are found in everyday life and the pride that comes with it. The Bourbon Done Right campaign is brought to life across all programming platforms including a new national cable TV spot, social media, point of sale materials, and updated website at www.evanwilliams.com. National cable TV advertising will run on MLB World Series coverage on ESPN, ESPN2, TBS/TNT, MLB Network, as well as on the History Channel. Watch the new Evan Williams TV spot hitting screens this fall here.

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

“As a leader in the category, Evan Williams is a prime example of commitment to excellence and quality when it comes to Bourbon,” said Julie Cole, Evan Williams Brand Manager. “The new campaign establishes Evan Williams as the Bourbon that provides satisfaction for the consumer on their own time and in their own terms. Evan Williams invites fans to celebrate their passions with ours.”

At a suggested retail price of $14.99 for the 750ml size, Evan Williams Black is a smooth, easy to drink Bourbon named after Evan Williams who, in 1783, opened Kentucky’s first commercial distillery along the banks of the Ohio River. Today, Evan Williams is distilled at Heaven Hill Distillery’s Bernheim facility, the largest single-site Bourbon distillery in the world, located just a few blocks from the site where Evan himself built his distillery.

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.4 million barrels aging in 57 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, and previously held the titles of 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year and 2016 Rye Whiskey of the Year from “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.” For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

Wolfburn Poppyscotland Bottle

The partnership between The Carnegie Whisky Cellars and Wolfburn Distillery are excited to announce a limited edition bottle of Wolfburn to commemorate the Centenary of Armistice. A total of 1918 bottles have been produced by the Thurso based, Wolfburn Distillery and will be sold exclusively from the distillery and through the Carnegie Whisky Cellars in Dornoch. Both companies have agreed to give £5 to Poppyscotland for each bottle they sell through the joint 1918 Poppy Pledge, which will raise a combined total of £9,590.  The bottles will be available from both businesses on October 10^th 2018 for £75 and will be sold on a strictly first-come-first-served basis.

This project is important to both companies and was proposed to Wolfburn Distillery due to the owners of Wolfburn being former British Servicemen and the importance of the Poppy Appeal to all service personnel and their families.

Shane Fraser, manager of Wolfburn Distillery commented: “This is a project that we’re all very proud of – Poppyscotland is an excellent cause, and we’ve crafted a truly special dram for the occasion. It’s made from lightly peated spirit, which has been subtly married with a small proportion of whisky matured in sherry casks, so it’s a lovely mix of sweet aromas and smokey flavours. The initial reaction has been hugely positive.”

Michael from Carnegie Whisky Cellars added “Everyone we have spoken to about this project has been very excited to see the final product. Since we opened in 2016, Wolfburn distillery has been a fantastic seller for us and the distillery has been very supportive of what we are doing.  On two previous occasions they have provided the Dornoch Whisky Festival bottling, which was also split between our two companies. We are excited for what is to come from this partnership and glad to be doing this project with Wolfburn and to help raise money for the great cause that is Poppyscotland.”

ABOUT WOLFBURN:

The original Wolfburn Distillery was founded just to the west of Thurso by William Smith in 1821. In its day it was one of the largest distilleries in Scotland, producing, according to HMRC records, 28,056 “gallons of proof spirit” in a single year. Taking its name from the stream that provided the water – the Wolf Burn – the distillery operated until around 1870. The reasons for its closure are lost in time, but by 1877 the newly produced Ordnance Survey maps showed it being in ruins. In 2011 plans were laid to resurrect the old distillery. Construction began in 2012 and in January 2013 the new Wolfburn Distillery commenced production, thereby becoming the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland. Situated 300m from the site of the original distillery, the new Wolfburn operates in much the same way as the old: craftsmen use traditional methods to produce fine spirit, which is laid down in best quality oak casks to await the day when it is bottled as single malt scotch whisky. Wolfburn’s single malt scotch whiskies are now available in 26 countries globally.

Wolfburn Distillery, Henderson Park, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7XW
www.wolfburn.com
www.facebook.com/wolfburn

ABOUT THE CARNEGIE WHISKY CELLARS:

The Carnegie Whisky Cellars opened in June 2016 and has quickly established a reputation for excellent service and product knowledge. Since opening the Carnegie Whisky Cellars has become a multi awards winning independent shop and became the first Scottish shop to win “Newcomer of the Year 2018 at the Drinks Retailing Awards.” We stock a large selection of both official and Independent bottled single malts from across Scotland, alongside a range of Scottish craft gins and other bespoke items.

The Carnegie Whisky Cellars, The Carnegie Courthouse, Castle Street, Dornoch, Sutherland IV25 3SD
www.facebook.com/carnegiewhiskycellars

TAKE THE TOMATIN TOUR IF YOU DARE 

Tomatin distillery brings back hauntingly good tour

Highland whisky distillery Tomatin, is gearing up to host its infamous spook-tacular Fright Night tours in celebration of Halloween on Friday 26^th of October.

The two frightful distillery tours will see 20 brave visitors picked up in Inverness on Friday evening before travelling to Tomatin where they will be in for a spine-chilling evening.

First hosted in 2016, the infamous and terrifying tours see the Tomatin transformed into a haunted distillery and staff becoming bloodcurdling ghosts and ghouls for the event.

Enjoying a cocktail on arrival, visitors will start their tour in the Malt barns, before being taken into the Mash house. Brave attendees will then go through the Stillhouse and around the Cooperage, enjoying several drams along the way, before finally ending in the Warehouses – all the while things go bump in the night.

After a few jump-scares, the tour will end at just before the witching hour in the Visitors Centre with another much-needed dram to calm the nerves.

Louise Taylor, Visitor Centre Manager at Tomatin, said: “We’re excited to host our fright night, an event that has proved very popular with our visitors in the past. This year we’ve made sure our hair-raising tour is scarier than ever with more ghouls and ghosts than ever before.

“Tomatin boasts buildings that are over 100 years old, meaning there is no end of eerie tales and fables surrounding the distillery. We look forward to having visitors take part in our creepy tour… if they dare!”

Packed with the longstanding history of Tomatin and an in-depth insight into the process of creating whisky, the tour is not for the faint of heart and is strictly for over 18s only.

Two spine-tingling tours are available: 6:30pm or 7:30pm, with each taking just over an hour. Tickets costs £20 per person and include four drinks and transport.

Spaces are limited and expected to sell fast, to purchase tickets please phone: 01463 248 144

Tomatin Distillery lies just 16 miles south of Inverness and 15 miles north of Aviemore on the A9. For additional information please visit: http://www.tomatin.com/

Notes 

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands (near Inverness) and is famous for its portfolio of thirty soft and mellow whiskies, including a core range, a limited-edition range and a premium archive range (prices range from £35 – £2,500). Tomatin is one of the fastest growing whisky brands in the UK and ranks within the Top 10 Single Malt brands in the USA. Tomatin recently reported its turnover increased by almost 25% during the company’s most recent financial year (Dec 2016 – Dec 2017). Tomatin won Distiller of the Year 2016 and Brand Innovator of the Year 2017 at the Icons of Whisky Scotland Awards.

Luxco Introduces Old Ezra Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon

September 19, 2018 (St. Louis) — Luxco introduces Old Ezra Barrel Strength Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey this fall. Aged a full seven years for a more robust flavor, this bourbon is bottled at barrel strength of 117 proof. This allows the bourbon to develop bold, intense flavors with the perfect balance of oak, caramel, cinnamon and pepper, with a long, warm finish.

In line with the bourbon inside, the Old Ezra Barrel Strength premium features a custom bottle showcasing two unique embossments. For the first time, the bottles are embossed with the Ezra Brooks “EB” monogram on the base of the bottle and the Lux Row Distillers logo across the top. The die-cut label with gold and copper foil embossing allows Old Ezra to stand out to authentic bourbon drinkers. In addition, the bottle is topped off with a natural cork with wooden top.

“Whiskey continues to experience strong growth – domestic whiskey is up 4.6 percent.* Old Ezra has been well-received with premium bourbon drinkers who enjoy a more full-bodied flavor and higher proof,” says Fletcher Buchman, brand manager.

The Suggested Retail Price for the 750ml bottle of this product is $39.99 and it will be available nationwide this fall.

For more information about this product, please visit Luxco.com or EzraBrooks.com.
*NABCA R12 thru July 2018

About Luxco

A leading producer, supplier, importer, and bottler of beverage alcohol products, Luxco’s mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of consumers, associates and business partners. Founded in St. Louis in 1958, Luxco remains locally owned and operated by the Lux family. In April 2018, Luxco opened its first bourbon distillery – Lux Row Distillers – bringing the Lux family’s legacy to the heart of Bourbon Country in Bardstown, Kentucky. Lux Row Distillers is home to many of the company’s bourbon brands, such as Rebel Yell, Blood Oath, David Nicholson, and Ezra Brooks. Luxco’s innovative and high-quality brand portfolio also includes Everclear Grain Alcohol, Pearl Vodka, Saint Brendan’s Irish Cream, and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company and its brands, visit www.luxco.com.

Photo Scott Mooney

With the first year of production now behind them, Raasay Distillery is opening up cask sales to the general public. Buying a cask is an “emotional investment”, often purchased to celebrate an anniversary, as a gift for future generations, or to celebrate ancestral ties to Raasay and the Hebrides.

Up to 20 Isle of Raasay Distillery whisky casks will be made available for purchase each year, on a first-come, first-served basis. This year whisky-lovers are able to buy one of the distillery’s limited edition first-fill un-peated American whiskey casks, filled in June 2018. One cask is priced at £5,000 which includes warehousing but excludes future VAT, duty, bottling, material and delivery costs. Raasay Distillery will bottle the cask at standard industry rates and will only sell to a single entity, whether that be one individual or one company.

All casks will be stored under bond at the warehouse onsite and cask owners can visit their casks by appointment. Visitors to the Raasay Distillery are able to experience first-hand the exciting journey that lead to the creation of the first Isle of Raasay single malt.

 www.hebrideanwhisky.com

THE HOUSE OF SUNTORY DEBUTS SPECIALLY-DESIGNED BOTTLE OF HIBIKI^® JAPANESE HARMONY^™ 

Artfully-designed, limited edition bottle represents both celebration and shared happiness with a kimono-inspired tabane-noshi pattern, released just in time for the 2018 Holiday Season

CHICAGO, IL (September 18, 2018) – The House of Suntory, the founding house of Japanese Whisky, has announced the release of a specially-designed bottle of Hibiki® Japanese Harmony™. Designed to represent both celebration and shared happiness in honor of the 30^th anniversary of the Suntory Whisky Hibiki® brand, the limited edition bottle will be available widely in the United States at a suggested retail price of $100 (750ml) as of October 1, 2018.

Inspired by a traditional kimono pattern, the bottle is embellished with the tabane-noshi, a traditional Japanese symbol of celebration that has often adorned precious gifts since ancient times. Several noshi are bundled together to make Hibiki Japanese Harmony’s tabane-noshi design, which is extremely auspicious and symbolizes shared happiness with others.

“Since the brand was first established, Hibiki has been a representation of Japanese art and design,” said Takahiro Itoga, Senior Global Brand Director at Beam Suntory. “This specially-designed bottle honors that spirit, utilizing traditional Japanese symbols to create a design representing both celebration and shared happiness. The bottle in and of itself is a work of art, making it the perfect gift for the holiday season.”

The Hibiki brand was introduced to the world in 1989 and since then has been embraced as the paragon of the Art of Japanese Whisky. It is not only Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky, but also among the most prestigious and honored whiskies in the world. Introduced in 2015, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a harmonious blend blessed with the riches of Japanese nature and craftsmanship. Inspired by the riches and subtleties of Japan’s 24 seasons of the traditional Japanese lunar calendar and mastered by Suntory’s Art of Blending, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a meticulous blend of the finest selection of malt and grain whiskies from the House of Suntory Whisky’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. This delicate blend creates a oneness unfolding a full orchestra of flavors and aromas. 

TASTING NOTES: HIBIKI JAPANESE HARMONY – 43% ABV

Luminous. Delicate. A transparency that unveils complexity.

Color: Amber

Nose: Rose, lychee, hint of rosemary, mature woodiness, sandalwood

Palate: Honey-like sweetness, candied orange peel, white chocolate

Finish: Subtle, tender long finish, with hint of Mizunara (Japanese oak) 

ABOUT SUNTORY WHISKY

Suntory was established in 1899 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Since 1923, as the pioneer of Japanese whisky, Suntory Whisky has been renowned for its House of Master Blenders and for their Art of Blending. The founding father of Japanese whisky, Shinjiro Torii, built Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki. Nestled in the outskirts of Kyoto, this region was the birthplace of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony and is known for the purity of its waters. Torii dreamt of creating an authentically Japanese whisky by choosing a terrain and climate completely different to that of Scotland, thereby cultivating unique conditions for maturation.

In 1972, Torii’s son Keizo Saji, Suntory’s second master blender, built the Chita grain distillery near Nagoya to produce more of their own high-quality grain whiskies. In 1973, Saji founded the Hakushu distillery amidst the deep forests of Mt. Kaikomagatake in the Japanese Southern Alps with the goal of producing malt whiskies distinct from those made at Yamazaki. Its high altitude and lush environment are what differentiates Hakushu from other distilleries.

At each of these distilleries, a diverse array of whiskies are produced through various fermentation techniques, shapes and sizes of giant copper pot stills, and the wide variety of cask types used. Today, roughly 1,200,000 casks of whisky are quietly maturation in Suntory’s aging cellars. This tsukuriwake—variety in the making—allows for the blending opportunities that are essential to achieving the subtle, refined yet complex taste signature to Suntory Whiskies.

With respect to heritage and a commitment to innovation, third generation master Blender Shingo Torii, and grandson of Shinjiro, now leads this most highly awarded house of Japanese Whisky. The House of Suntory Whisky has been named four-time Distiller of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge in London, UK (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014).

The portfolio includes two single malt whiskies:  Yamazaki – the pioneer of Japanese Single Malts, multi-layered and profound, and Hakushu – verdant, fresh, and delicately smoky; a single grain whisky: Chita—sublimely smooth, versatile and complex; and two blends: the noble blend, Hibiki – Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky, and Suntory Whisky Toki – ideal for Japanese highballs.

whisky.suntory.com                            #SuntoryWhisky                  @SuntoryWhisky

ABOUT BEAM SUNTORY INC.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Beloved Tour Guide, Freddie Johnson, Inducted to Bourbon Hall of Fame 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Sept. 14, 2018) – In 2002 Buffalo Trace Distillery received a rare gem when Freddie Johnson joined the team as a tour guide. Freddie was in the middle of a successful career as a network/operations engineer in Atlanta, GA when he put all of it aside to fulfill a promise made to his father, Jimmy, more than 20 years earlier. He had promised his father that he would work at the Distillery during his lifetime so they could say they had three generations of the Johnson family that worked at Buffalo Trace. Freddie took early retirement and moved back to care for his father and brother. Jimmy got him a job as a tour guide at the Distillery in 2002 but Freddie had been in and around the Distillery since he was five years old, coming to work with his father and grandfather and playing on the grounds and in the old warehouses.

Little did Buffalo Trace Distillery know it had gained a future star of the bourbon industry. This year, 16 years after Freddie started at Buffalo Trace, he received one of the bourbon industry’s highest honors by being inducted to the Bourbon Hall of Fame on September 14, 2018.

Freddie is a man of honor, knowledge, kindness, compassion and humor.  Not a person walks by Freddie without a big smile and wave.  Freddie has become a celebrity around the National Historic Landmark Distillery.

Freddie weaves together his childhood memories with the Distillery’s rich history as he entertains thousands of guests each year on various tours around Buffalo Trace. One of the Distillery’s most popular and highly sought after tour guides, Freddie is  a third generation employee, by his paternal grandfather, Jimmy Johnson Sr., and father, Jimmy Johnson Jr., all working at what is now known as Buffalo Trace Distillery. This past April Freddie carried on another family tradition by rolling away the Distillery’s seventh millionth barrel of bourbon produced since Prohibition, an honor his father started with the first millionth barrel produced, and continued until the sixth millionth barrel in 2008.

  The Bourbon Hall of Fame honors remarkable achievements that continue to drive the bourbon industry’s new Golden Age. Recipients have world-class leadership, vision, dedication and integrity that has forever transformed this country’s signature spirit. These qualifications come naturally to Freddie.

The Kentucky Distillers’ Association created the Hall of Fame in 2001, in conjunction with the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival, to recognize individuals and organizations that have made a significant and transformational impact on Bourbon’s stature, growth and awareness.

Being inducted to the Bourbon Hall of Fame is the highest honor given by Kentucky’s signature Bourbon and distilled spirits industry.

“The Hall of Fame is a great honor, and only fitting for it to be bestowed on Freddie, said Matt Higgins, visitor center manager. “We’ve known and our guests have known for years what a special individual Freddie is; it’s so nice he’s being officially recognized for his dedication to the craft.”

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

Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon 2018 Launches this Month

(Lebanon, Ky.) September 12, 2018 – Limestone Branch Distillery introduces the 2018 variety of Yellowstone® Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon, the third and final barrel finishing experiment by Limestone Branch Distillery, set to hit the market in October. This year’s final limited edition combines hand-selected, Kentucky Straight bourbons, ranging from four to 12 years in aging and finished in No. 3 char wine casks. Same as with the 2017 edition, this year’s special edition also includes Limestone Branch Distillery’s own distillate, carefully made with their signature heirloom white corn.

“The Yellowstone Limited Edition variants have been an incredible outlet for my creativity and flair for experimenting,” says Steve Beam, president and distiller of Limestone Branch Distillery. “We started the process in 2016 and I am proud of the three limited editions we created – and how they are linked to each other.”

Beam tells the story of the evolution of these three variants. “In 2016, we finished our Limited Edition bourbon in specially selected new wine barrels, which lent their special flavor to that year’s celebrated bourbon, but their journey had barely begun. Later that year, after the bourbon was dumped and bottled, the same 28 barrels were lightly charred and we filled them with our 2017 Limited Edition bourbon. This year, we took the very same barrels – now rich with complexity – and deeply charred them before filling them with our 2018 Limited Edition.”

The barrel journey, and the hand-selected bourbon used in these products, created a rich flavor profile. Beam notes that the heavy char over bourbon-wet oak produced a rich palate of burnt sugar, deep caramel and a lingering essence of crème brulée.

Bottled at 101 proof and available in 750ml bottles signed by Steve Beam and nestled in commemorative tubes, the 2018 Yellowstone Limited Edition marks the final piece of this award-winning trilogy.

Approximately 12,000 bottles of this bourbon are being produced this fall at Limestone Branch Distillery, and the suggested retail price is $99.99.

About Limestone Branch Distillery

Steve Beam and his brother Paul Beam opened Limestone Branch Distillery in 2011, with the goal of crafting the finest whiskey in small batches, honoring their long family heritage. With a history of distilling on both sides of their family – Beam and Dant – the brothers are seventh-generation distillers. In 2015, by partnering with Luxco, they brought the Yellowstone brand back to the family, just in time to commemorate the brand’s 105th anniversary. As one of the founding members of the Kentucky Craft Bourbon Trail, Limestone Branch Distillery is located in Lebanon, Ky., in the heart of bourbon country.  The distillery is well known for its handcrafted products, including Yellowstone Limited Edition Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Yellowstone Select Kentucky Straight Bourbon and Minor Case Straight Rye Whiskey.

For more information on Limestone Branch Distillery and Yellowstone, please visit  www.limestonebranch.com, www.yellowstonebourbon.com or  www.facebook.com/limestone-branch-distillery.

2003 AND 1990 VINTAGE LIMITED EDITIONS CÙ BÒCAN RELEASED

Cù Bòcan has added two more limited edition single malts to the range with the launch of 2003 and 1990 vintage releases.

The 2003 vintage limited edition Cù Bòcan (aged 15 years old) has been bottled at a strength of 46% and sits alongside the standard edition. It has been matured in peated Islay ex-Sherry butts and is only available while stocks last. This full bodied single malt has coastal peat smoke notes which are perfectly balanced with winter spices and orchard fruits.

The special 1990 vintage release was distilled on 17 October 1990 and has been matured in peated Islay ex-Bourbon barrels. In their past lives, the casks were home to one of Islay’s peatiest potions and hints of the untamed spirit have been working their smoky magic over the years. The final creation, at 52.9% strength, is smoky, with notes of tropical fruits and warm spices. Only 1,400 bottles of this rare whisky are available worldwide.

The Cù Bòcan brand is named after a mythical Highland hellhound which was rumoured to haunt the village of Tomatin and was launched in 2013 as a lightly peated alternative to the traditional fruity flavours of Tomatin single malt. The distillery has been producing peated malt for the last week of every year since 2005, and in recent years has been experimenting with different levels of peatiness (PPM) in order to diversity their offering in the coming years.

These latest releases follow previous limited editions including the 2006 vintage in 2017, the 1988 and 2005 vintages in 2016, the Virgin Oak, Sherry and Bourbon expressions in 2015 and the 1989 vintage in 2014.

Lorraine Waddell, Brand Manager, commented:

“As the Cù Bòcan brand continues to grow – sales have grown 15% year to date on last year – our followers have been eagerly awaiting news of the next limited editions to complement the standard edition, which is available all year round.”

The 2003 vintage is currently being rolled out worldwide and is expected to retail at £85.00 and the 1990 at £230.00.

Notes 

For more information about the Cù Bòcan brand please contact Lorraine Waddell, Brand Manager on 01463 572 727 or lorraine@tomatin.com.

1. Website: www.cu-bocan.com
   1. Facebook: www.facebook.com/cubocan
   2. Twitter: www.twitter.com/cubocanwhisky
   3. Instagram: www.instagram.com/cubocanwhisky
   4. In 2005, the decision was made to produce a peated single malt and for the last week of production that year a batch of Optic Barley peated to 15ppm was used to produce about 60,000 litres of lightly peated spirit which was filled into a variety of different cask types.

1. Then, on September 3rd 2013 this lightly peated whisky produced at Tomatin was released as Cù Bòcan – A single malt at 15ppm matured in a combination of Bourbon, Sherry and Virgin Oak casks. Since then, the Cù Bòcan brand has grown with a number of vintage releases as part of the brand limited edition collection.

1. The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo: http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/index.html