Isle of Arran Distillers claim four top prizes at international competition

The team at the Isle of Arran Distillers is celebrating four coveted awards at this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition. The independent whisky maker picked up two gold medals for its Arran 10 and 18-year-old Single Malts. The Bothy Quarter Cask and Lochranza Reserve claimed silver outstanding medals.

The International Wine & Spirits Competition is now in its 49th year and sets the international benchmark for quality. Entries are received from nearly 90 countries and each product is sampled by the judging panel, which consists of over 400 global experts.

The gold medal for the 10-year-old Single Malt at the International Wine & Spirits Competition is another in a long list of sought-after accolades that the classic expression of Arran has received. Earlier this year the dram collected the Double Gold accreditation at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, a Gold medal at the World Whiskies Awards and an impressive 91 points out of 100 at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, where it also received a cocktail commendation for the ‘Rob Roy’ cocktail.

Expert judges from across the world have been impressed with the 10-year-old’s initial rush of rich vanilla sweetness that gives way to a touch of cinnamon that adds a spicy edge to the soft and sweet texture. The citrus notes have rounded with age and reveal new depths of character against a background of sweet oak.

The 18-year-old Single Malt, that claimed a gold award at the International Wine & Spirits Competition, following a Gold Medal at the World Whiskies Awards earlier this year, is a favourite among whisky lovers for its renowned depth of character. Caramelised citrus and tropical notes on a background of toasted oak have created an intense, well rounded dram with charm and personality. This Single Malt also utilises a balanced mix of the finest aged ex-Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks to offer a full and unique maturation of the classic expression of Arran.

Speaking about the awards, Euan Mitchell, Managing Director of Isle of Arran Distillers, said: “It’s always exciting to see our whiskies perform so well on the international stage, and there aren’t many more prestigious than the International Wine & Spirits Competition.

“Our whisky represents much more than just a great taste, they also characterise the heritage of our island. The local water, microclimate and air quality all influence the spirit as it’s distilled and matured. The whisky we create couldn’t come from anywhere else but the Isle of Arran. Everything we make reflects a range of regional influences yet achieves a rare and unique personality all of its own.

“We look forward to the next stage of the company’s growth with the opening of our Lagg Distillery in Spring next year. The whisky produced at Lagg will be a heavily peated Single Malt in contrast to the unpeated style produced at Lochranza and it will remain true to our ethos as an independent whisky maker. It will continue exploring the incomparable characteristics of our home island that has seen our whisky acclaimed across the world.”

The most recent milestone for the Lagg Distillery is the completion of the steelworks. With the structure now in place, the Distillery has begun to take on its distinctive shape, overlooking the south coast of Arran and the Firth of Clyde. The new distillery has been positioned next to fields of barley that provide a portion of the malt currently used in distillation at Lochranza.

Come this autumn the copper pot stills will be installed, followed in early 2019 by the first production run of the new heavily-peated (50ppm) spirit that will become, in time, the flagship Lagg Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The Isle of Arran Distillers has released 700 of the first casks of this whisky for purchase. Each of casks, priced at £6,000, will remain at the distillery for a minimum of ten years of maturation under the careful eye of the Lagg Distillery team. The casks owners will then have the opportunity to bottle the spirit, complete with a limited-edition Lagg Cask society label, or pay an annual fee to continue the maturation process until the desired age is attained. It is expected that the casks will be laid down in early 2019. No further casks will be made available for sale to the public during the first ten years of production at Lagg.

Notes:

For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com and www.laggwhisky.com 

Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007)

Scottish Field Visitor Experience of the Year 2014 & 2015

Drinks Business Best Contribution to Wine and Spirits Tourism (2017)

Best Brewery/Distillery Tour – Scottish Outdoor Leisure Awards (2017)

Product Awards include:

Arran 10 year -old: San Francisco World Spirits Competition Double Gold Medal (2018). International Wine & Spirits Competition Gold Medal (2018). Category Winner and Gold Medal ‘Best Scotch Under

12 Years’ Islands Non-Islay at the World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018). Ultimate Spirits Challenge 91 points (2018). Ultimate Spirits Challenge Cocktail Commendation for the Rob Roy (2018). Double Gold Medal China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards (2014)

Arran 18 year-old: International Wine & Spirits Competition Gold Medal (2018) Category Winner & Gold Medal ‘Best Scotch 13-20 Years – Islands (Non- Islay) World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018)

Quarter Cask ‘The Bothy: Category Winner & Gold Medal ‘No Age Statement Single Malt’ for The Bothy Batch 3 World Whiskies Awards (2018). International Wine & Spirits Competition Silver Outstanding Medal (2018). International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018)

Arran Lochranza Reserve: International Wine & Spirits Competition Silver Outstanding Medal (2018), International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal (2018)

COMPASS BOX WHISKY CO. ANNOUNCES THE WINNER OF ITS INAUGURAL GLOBAL BARTENDER COMPETITION, THE CIRCLE 

Rosey Mitchell was revealed as the winner of The Circle after competing against
5 leading bartenders in a three-day final. 

London, Thursday 16 August 2018. Compass Box, the Scotch whisky blending house announced Rosey Mitchell as the winner of The Circle at a reveal party in London last night.

The Circle launched earlier this year and encouraged the most inventive bartenders from around the world to compete for a one-of-a-kind opportunity – a place to work side-by-side with Founder and Whiskymaker, John Glaser to create a Compass Box Limited Edition blend, which will be sold internationally.

THE CIRCLE FINALISTS

Bartenders from Argentina, France, USA, Spain and the UK competed in regional heats, which saw the following six leading bartenders secure a spot in the final. 

1. Adriano Marcellino | BrukBar, Buenos Aires
2. Baptiste Etcheverry | Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos, Barcelona
3. Charlotte Pederson | Little Red Door, Paris
4. Max Venning | Three Sheets, London
5. Meredith Barry | Vol 39, Chicago
6. Rosey Mitchell | Three Sheets, London 

THE FINAL  

The three-day final was designed to encourage the bartenders to cross-boundaries with a series of blending, cocktail and design challenges.

The finalists worked closely with Compass Box Whiskymakers John Glaser and Jill Boyd, experimenting with different aromas and flavours before creating their own bespoke blend.

The bartenders got creative behind the bar, building their own signature serves inspired by their home city and bespoke highball serves featuring their very own blend.

The programme of challenges culminated in a final pitch, which was presented to and judged by a panel of experts including Ryan Chetiyawardana of Super Lyan, Matt Whiley of Scout, Sandrae Lawrence of The Cocktail Lovers, Ivan Dixon of Enotria & Coe and Compass Box’s John Glaser.

THE WINNER

The final pitch saw the bartenders present their blend and signature highball serve as well as a design inspiration for their whisky, with Rosey receiving top-marks and the title of The Circle winner 2018.

Rosey Mitchell from Three Sheets, commented of her win: “It’s been an incredible couple of days, something I am so excited to be a part of. I have never been in a competition quite like it, John Glaser and everyone involved have truly changed the game and I can’t wait to start blending and see where the future holds.”

Commenting on Rosey’s win John Glaser, said: “I’d like to congratulate Rosey and welcome her to the Compass Box circle. The Circle is all about finding like-minded creators who aren’t afraid to do things differently, if it means doing things better, and we’ve certainly found that in all our finalists. Rosey created a blend and serve that I would be proud to put a Compass Box label on, and I’m excited about what we can create together.” 

The Circle judge and Founder of Super Lyan, Ryan Chetiyawardana said: “This was such a personal competition and it covered so many different aspects of the craft; all the bartenders should be incredibly proud. Rosey did an amazing job and I’m super excited to see what she will create with John. Compass Box has always been a brand close to my heart, and it’s great to see that The Circle competition is a fittingly progressive challenge to bartender’s passion and creativity.”

The Compass Box Limited Edition blend, created in collaboration with Rosey will be available worldwide from Spring 2019, coinciding with the launch next year’s competition.

www.compassboxwhisky.com

About Compass Box

Compass Box is a leading independent Scotch whisky blending house, which is kind of a workshop for whisky. Its whiskies span the flavour spectrum of Scotch, including blended malt whiskies, blended grain whiskies and blended Scotch whiskies. They are not bound by one single style of Scotch and the only limit is their imagination.

In 2000, John Glaser set up Compass Box from his kitchen with the idea to explore where others wouldn’t, to create flavours that others weren’t. John wanted to push Scotch forward rather than maintaining the status quo and fifteen years later he’s still doing the same thing with no plans to change. 

Compass Box is six-time Whisky Magazine Innovator of the Year and in 2015, John Glaser was named by Whisky Advocate as one of the most influential figures in the history of Whisky – and one of only three still alive today.

The Circle

The Circle is the Compass Box global bartender competition, which launched in 2018. The competition encourages the most inventive bartenders from around the world to compete for a chance to create a limited edition Compass Box blend with Founder and Whiskymaker, John Glaser.

The Circle is made up of like-mined creators, boundary crossers and experimenters.

THE VIKINGS ARE COMING:

Highland Park partners with world’s largest sailing Viking ship on 2018 East Coast Tour  

NEW YORK (Aug. 13, 2018) — Highland Park, the Orkney Single Malt with Viking Soul is proud to present the Draken Harald Hårfagre Expedition America East Coast Tour 2018.   The partnership brings together these two modern and bold Viking spirits to inspire people to seek adventure, embrace challenges and realize their daydreams just as the founders of both the Draken and Highland Park did. 

The Draken is no replica but a genuine recreation of a Viking ship brought into existence through ambition, relentless teamwork and expert knowledge on Viking history, the Norse sagas, archaeology and traditional boat building. The tour will see the Norwegian ship travel the US east coast from Maine to South Carolina, visiting 14 harbors over the span of four months.

“The Draken ship and its journey exemplify the spirit of the modern-day Viking and everything that Highland Park stands for: determination, adventure, quality craftsmanship and rich history,” remarked Martin Markvardsen, Highland Park’s Senior Global Brand Ambassador. “Our founder Magnus Eunson was a direct descendant of the Vikings who settled on Orkney over 1,000 years ago and today, our whisky continues to be crafted in the old way by a new generation of Vikings. Highland Park is proud to be an official partner of the Draken ship and honored to support its vision and tour of the United States.”

Each stopover on the tour will offer a unique once in a lifetime opportunity to relive history in a way never before experienced. The experience will include:

• An arrival ceremony where guests are invited to greet the ship as it sails into port
• Guided deck tours from 10am to 8pm daily.
• Screenings of the new Draken documentary which traces the ship’s journey from Norway to the U.S., following in the footsteps of the Vikings who made the first transatlantic crossing and discovered the New World more than a thousand years ago.
• Talks by the captain and crew as they share their personal experience of the thrill of having relived one of the world’s most legendary sea voyages.
• Viking Village: An event installation featuring a photo and video exhibit, Highland Park whisky tasting, merchandise and other local vendors.

Construction of the Draken, the largest modern-built Viking ship in the world, began in 2010 and was completed in 2012; the ship performed its inaugural transatlantic crossing (from Norway to the United States) in 2016. The ship measures 115 feet long, with a 26-foot beam and a 79-foot mast made from Douglas fir. She carries 260 square meters of silk sails and a crew of 35 men and women from all over the world, representing a diverse mix of age, gender, nationality and background.

For the full Draken schedule including stopovers, please visit https://www.drakenhh.com/east-coast-tour-2018/ The Draken is now also accepting applications for public volunteer crew positions. To take part in this rare opportunity, visit www.drakenhh.com/join-the-crew.

About Highland Park

Highland Park is a renowned single-malt Scotch whisky from Orkney, a remote set of islands off the far north coast of Scotland. Established in 1798, the distillery combines the highest standards of craftsmanship with the pride and fierce independence of the early Viking settlers who made Orkney their home over 1,000 years ago to create a perfectly balanced single-malt Scotch whisky that stands apart. Highland Park’s range of single-malt whiskies is consistently acclaimed by whisky lovers around the globe, with the brand receiving the accolade of “Best Spirit in the World” from industry expert Paul Pacult on three separate occasions. www.highlandparkwhisky.com

About Draken Harald Hårfagre

In 2016, the Draken successfully crossed the North Atlantic Ocean, re-creating one of the most epic, mythical explorations of all time in the wake of Viking explorer Leif Ericsson. Visiting numerous ports and encountering thousands of people along her transatlantic journey, the Draken Harald Hårfagre emerged as a pillar of culture, education and enrichment, bringing the illustrious Viking age of exploration to life in today’s modern age. Curated by Sigurd Aase, construction of the Draken began in 2010, creating what would be the largest Viking ship ever built in modern times. Named after Harald Hårfagre, the king who unified Norway into one kingdom, the great dragon ship came together in the town of Haugesund in western Norway. The Draken measures 115 feet from stem to stern, is 26 feet wide, and has 260 square meters of silk sail and a 79-foot-tall mast made from Douglas fir. She is a seaworthy ship, able to sail the oceans of the world. www.drakenhh.com.

WORLD’S MOST EXPENSIVE WHISKY LEADS BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH

The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60 year old.  Estimate: £700,000-900,000

A bottle of the extremely rare The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 60 year old will be offered at Bonhams Whisky Sale in Edinburgh on 3 October. It is estimated at £700,000-900,000.

The whisky was bottled in 1986. Macallan commissioned two world-famous Pop Artists – Valerio Adami and Peter Blake – to design labels for a very limited edition of 24 bottles –12 of the Adami and 12 of the Blake labels.  The bottle is elegantly presented in a specially commissioned cabinet or Tantalus, based on the traditional ‘Brass and Glass’ distillery spirit safe. It was bought by the vendor direct from the Macallan distillery for an undisclosed sum in 1994.

Another bottle of The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong in May this year for a world-record breaking price of £814,081 (HK$8,636,250). This is the most ever paid for a bottle of Scotch whisky at public auction. At the same sale, Bonhams also sold a bottle of The Macallan Peter Blake 1926 60 year old for £751,703 (HK$7,962,500).

Although 12 bottles of The Macallan Valerio Adami 1926 were produced, it is not known how many of them still exist.  One is said to have been destroyed in an earthquake in Japan in 2011, and it is believed that at least one of them has been opened and consumed.

Bonhams Whisky specialist in Edinburgh Martin Green commented:” The Macallan 1926 60 year old has been described as the Holy Grail of whisky. Its exceptional rarity and quality puts it in a league of its own, and the world’s most serious whisky collectors will wait patiently for many years for a bottle to come onto the market. It is a great honour to be offering this amazingly rare whisky at our Edinburgh sale.”

The renowned international whisky consultant Charles MacLean, who writes about The Macallan Adami 1926 in the latest edition of Bonhams Magazine, added: “Macallan single malt is the darling of whisky collectors and The Macallan Adami 1926 – with its Peter Blake stablemate – sits at the very pinnacle of the distillery’s distinguished output. All the appeal of Scotch whisky – the myth, the tradition and the romance – find its ultimate expression in this bottle.”

Valerio Adami (born 1935) is an Italian artist famous for painting bold, flat forms outlined in thick, black lines, in a style reminiscent of comic art. He is among the most highly acclaimed of 20^th Century Pop Artists.

NOTES

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.

ABERFELDY® SINGLE MALT LAUNCHES MADEIRA CASKS EXCLUSIVE TO GLOBAL TRAVEL RETAIL 

Aberfeldy, Scotland, 16^th August, 2018 – ABERFELDY has announced the release of the ABERFELDY Madeira Casks, exclusively available in global travel retail.

Expertly hand crafted by ABERFELDY’S Malt Master, Stephanie Macleod, the distillery known for its Golden Dram has launched a 16-year-old and 21-year-old ABERFELDY, finished in the finest Madeira casks. Spending up to 12 months in the ex-wine casks before bottling, the extra maturation period in this combination of casks creates the perfect balance of flavour between ABERFELDY’S honeyed richness with the sweet notes of Madeira wine.

ABERFELDY is the fastest growing Single Malt in the top 15 for the last 5 years and is now the ninth-highest selling Single Malt in Asia Pacific. ABERFELDY has moved from 20th largest Single Malt in 2012 to being the 12th largest in 2017 (IWSR 2017). In a world where aged stock is increasingly rare and many age statements are disappearing from labels, ABERFELDY remains committed to proudly displaying age statements as a sign of craftsmanship and quality.

Two types of Madeira casks were sourced to finish both the 16 and 21-year-old expressions; ex-Malvasia Malmsey – the most famous and also the richest, sweetest style and ex-Bual – dark in colour, with medium-rich texture. These flavourful casks impart classic Madeira notes of caramel, peaches, orange peel and burnt sugar. Maturing ABERFELDY in this combination of Madeira wine casks elevates the maturing malt, heightening the level of complexity and adding the typical honeyed richness of distillery’s house style.

Stephanie comments: “Aberfeldy is a both an approachable yet complex dram, it has those similar sweet rich notes that Madeira wine is famously known for. By using Madeira casks I’m able to further develop the layers of flavour present in Aberfeldy’s honeyed-rich characters, resulting in a whisky with extra spiciness – the perfect complement to the Golden Dram.”

ABERFELDY Madeira Cask 16 Years Old tasting notes:

“The soft notes of honey are freshened with citrus and delicate tones of baked apples, rich spiced with cinnamon and creamy vanilla”

ABERFELDY Madeira Cask 21 Years Old tasting notes:

“Richly textured and complex whisky with notes of ripe fig baked in honey. There is a hint of walnut oil and a snap of dark chocolate”

The newly released ABERFELDY Madeira Casks, bottled at 40% ABV, join the existing portfolio of single malts as global travel retail exclusives. They will launch in airports globally, priced at $110 for the 16-year-old and $195 for the 21-year-old, available from August. 

Notes:

About ABERFELDY Single Malt Scotch whisky

ABERFELDY distillery was founded in 1898 by the dynamic Dewar brothers, John Alexander and Tommy. They built on a site just a stone’s throw from the birthplace of their father, the pioneering blender John Dewar.

Alongside the distillery, and known to contain deposits of alluvial gold, flows the Pitilie Burn; the perfect water source for the Golden Dram. While inside, time-honoured techniques like long fermentation, which imparts rare honeyed notes, safeguard the whisky’s flavour profile, renowned for its rich, sweet, smooth taste.

The single malt brand of ABERFELDY is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

Celebrate the unofficial end of summer with the ultimate cookout cocktail with Crown Royal’s newest offering, limited-edition Crown Royal Texas Mesquite. This whiskey has been hot out of the gates since its launch in May, and we’re confident Crown Royal Texas Mesquite is the perfect complement to any Labor Day meal with its rustic and refined notes of smoked mesquite and barbeque. It combines the smoky flavor of locally sourced Texas mesquite wood with the signature smoothness of Crown Royal De Luxe.

Get it while it’s hot! Crown Royal Texas Mesquite is available until the end of summer in Texas and other select states, including California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada, Maryland and Tennessee.

Texas Mesquite Mule

Cocktail recipe developed by Texas Mixologist Brian Floyd 

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

½ oz. lemon juice

½ oz. agave syrup

4 oz. Ginger Beer

Directions: Combine Crown Royal Texas Mesquite, lemon juice and agave syrup in a shaker. Strain over ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a lemon wheel or slice of candied ginger.

Texas Mesquite Old Fashioned

Cocktail recipe developed by Texas Mixologist Brian Floyd 

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

½ teaspoon of wildflower honey

Dash of orange bitters

Directions: Add honey to a rocks glass and top with Crown Royal Texas Mesquite. Stir for 30 seconds to mix in the honey, then add ice. Add a dash of orange bitters and stir again. Garnish with an orange peel and mint sprig.

Mesquite Paloma

Cocktail recipe developed by Texas Mixologist Brian Floyd

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

3 oz. Grapefruit soda

Grapefruit wedge garnish

Directions: Combine Crown Royal Texas Mesquite and grapefruit soda into a shaker and pour into a glass over ice. Garnish with a grapefruit wedge.

Fredericksburg Fix

Cocktail recipe developed by Texas Mixologist Brian Floyd 

1.5 oz. Crown Royal Texas Mesquite

1 teaspoon of peach preserves

½ squeeze of lemon

Directions: Combine the peach preserves, lemon and Crown Royal Texas Mesquite into a shaker and shake vigorously. Strain over crushed ice and garnish with a lemon slice.

MANCHESTER UNITED ADDS TO WINNING SPIRIT WITH CHIVAS PARTNERSHIP

– Chivas Announced as Official Spirits Partner of Manchester United – 

8^th August 2018 – The original luxury blended Scotch whisky, Chivas, has teamed up with the world’s biggest football club, Manchester United, in a three-year global partnership.

The collaboration will see Chivas and Manchester United join forces to celebrate their collective belief that blended is better – in life, football and Scotch. Just as Chivas brings together Scotland’s best malt and grain whiskies to create something extraordinary in the bottle, Manchester United brings together the world’s best footballers, a dedicated club team and a legion of fans all around the world to create extraordinary results on the pitch.

The partnership was revealed to fans in advance of the Club’s first Premier League home game of the 2018/19 season on Friday 10^th August, through a film that explores the unique blend of characteristics that make up the Manchester United team. Shot in Los Angeles during the Club’s pre-season tour, the film stars an array of Manchester United first team players revealing an often unseen side to them, showing what defines who they are, both on and off the pitch.

Throughout the season, Chivas will be collaborating with Manchester United to demonstrate that blended is better – by encouraging fans to celebrate the blend that makes them unique, and showing that when players collaborate with their teammates they can achieve the greatest success.

Jean-Christophe Coutures, Chairman and CEO at Chivas Brothers, commented: “Blending has been in our DNA ever since James and John Chivas pioneered the art in 19th century Scotland. Partnering with Manchester United was therefore a natural fit; we both firmly believe that great things can be achieved when we come together – from balancing the perfect blend of malt and grain whiskies that go into our Scotch, to using the perfect combination of players’ skills on the pitch to create a winning team. We look forward to using our spirit to help showcase the spirit of the Club and its fans all around the world.” 

Richard Arnold, Group Managing Director at Manchester United, commented: “Manchester United’s history is built on teamwork and we embrace Chivas’ belief that ‘blended is better.’ Our success both on and off the pitch allows us to bring together the best mix of people who help to make our Club the global name it is today. Each individual has their own skills but the way in which they blend together is what makes us a united team. It is a pleasure to welcome Chivas as Manchester United’s Global Spirits Partner and we look forward to working together to share this belief with our fans.” 

The partnership will be brought to life through a 360 campaign activated across all touchpoints globally from August 2018. Chivas branding will also be displayed on digital perimeter boards at Old Trafford as well as throughout the stadium from the first game on Friday.

Find out more about the partnership and why blended is better at Chivas.com.

Notes

About Chivas

Chivas believes that blended is better, in life and in Scotch. The original luxury blended Scotch whisky, Chivas’ belief in blending was instilled by founding brothers, James and John Chivas, who pioneered the art of blending in 19th century Scotland. Since then, Chivas has been integral to the growth of the Scotch whisky category worldwide – by bringing together the best malt and grain whiskies to create something extraordinary.

Chivas believes in the power of blending in life, as well as in Scotch. In bringing people together to create a greater whole – which is why Chivas is proud to be the global spirits partner of Manchester United, the world’s biggest football club; and in blending ambition with generosity and using success to enrich the lives of others – which is why the Chivas Venture supports social startups with $1m in annual funding.

Chivas blends its home in Speyside, Scotland, with more than 100 countries across the globe, who together have made Chivas the global success it is today, selling more than 4.2 million 9L cases every year. The Chivas range blends timeless classics with modern innovation, including: Chivas 12, Chivas Extra, Chivas XV, Chivas Mizunara, Chivas 18, Chivas Ultis, Chivas 25, Chivas Regal The Icon, and the Global Travel Retail exclusive Chivas Brothers Blend.

Chivas. Success is a blend. www.Chivas.com 

About Manchester United

Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth. Through their 140-year heritage the Club has won 66 trophies, enabling them to develop the world’s leading sports brand and a global community of 659 million followers. Their large, passionate community provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, new media & mobile, broadcasting and match day.

www.manutd.com

HISTORICAL LORDS OF THE ISLES CASTLE EXCAVATED IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIRST 

One of Scotland’s earliest historical sites is to be explored for the very first time this month with an excavation of Dunyvaig Castle on Islay.

Archaeologists from across the UK have converged on Lagavulin Bay to take part in the ground-breaking project to uncover the history of the castle which was once a strong-hold of the Lords of the Isles, the chiefs of the Clan MacDonald, and is considered the most majestic archaeological monument on Islay.

The castle sits on a peninsula adjacent to Lagavulin Distillery and the excavation is being undertaken by Scottish charity Islay Heritage following a donation as part of the Lagavulin 200th Legacy fund.

After a year of planning, the excavation, which began yesterday (12 August) will assess the preservation and potential of underground structures and deposits and explore the surrounding landscape. This is the first step in what will be a long-term project to establish what life was like when Dunyvaig Castle was an operational fortress in the middle ages and the scene of renowned battles between the MacDonalds and the Campbells before being demolished in 1677.

An open evening for local residents around Lagavulin Bay and members of Islay Heritage was held on Friday (10 August) at Lagavulin Distillery providing an opportunity to meet the archaeologists and learn more about the plans for the excavation. This was followed by a public lecture about the project for the whole Islay community on the Saturday evening. A further event is planned for Thursday 30 August at Ramsay Halls, Port Ellen, where the archaeology team will share findings and results of the dig.

The project will see a team of 40 spend three weeks on the island, led by some of the best field archaeologists in the UK and with experts including geophysicists, archaeological scientists and palaeo-environmentalists to reconstruct the medieval landscape. The excavation will help train 30 university students in survey and excavation methods and Islay Heritage are hoping to secure additional funding to hold at least four more seasons of excavation up until 2023.

Professor Steve Mithen, Trustee of Islay Heritage, said: “The Dunyvaig excavation will be the flagship project of Islay Heritage, addressing key research questions, training the next generation of archaeologists for Scotland and making many contributions to the Islay Community. We are excited about finding what secrets remain hidden underground about this iconic monument.”

Dr Nick Morgan, Diageo Head of Whisky Outreach, who led the Lagavulin 200 Legacy project, said: “Islay is famous as the world’s greatest whisky island, but it is also one of Scotland’s most important historical locations and we are thrilled that the Lagavulin Legacy project has been able to support Islay Heritage in its mission to raise the island’s archaeological profile for both the local community and visitors to the island.

“This excavation at Dunyvaig Castle is the culmination of hard work and commitment from Islay Heritage, Lagavulin Distillery and the wider community. We’re looking forward to seeing what interesting discoveries will be uncovered over the next few weeks.”

Georgie Crawford, former Lagavulin Distillery Manager, who led the Lagavulin 200^th anniversary project, added: “We have worked closely with Islay Heritage and the local community for a number of years to reach this point so it’s very exciting to see work officially start at Dunyvaig Castle. We’re very proud to see the legacy of Lagavulin’s 200th anniversary celebrations being realised just a short distance from the distillery.”

John Raven, Deputy Head of Casework at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said: “We warmly welcome this innovative project to raise money to support Islay Heritage and its aims of raising the profile and condition of, and increasing access to, Islay’s spectacular and unique archaeology, history and culture.  It is a fantastic opportunity for heritage to make a greater contribution to the island’s economy.

“Dunyvaig Castle holds a deeply important place in Gaelic culture, and the excavations should help us better understand Medieval Gaelic culture and inform the castle’s conservation, so that it can be preserved and access opened up in the future.  We can’t wait to see the results.”

The Lagavulin 200th anniversary legacy funds were raised through the sale of a special bottling of a Lagavulin 1991 Single Malt Scotch Whisky cask which was carefully selected by the distillery team and Diageo Chief Executive Ivan Menezes. Just 522 bottles were put on sale, 521 of the bottles via a special ballot on The Whisky Exchange at a price of £1,494 – a price set to acknowledge the historic year of the first recorded distillation of Scotch Whisky – with bottle no.1 then auctioned by The Whisky Exchange, raising a further £8,395.

The Lagavulin Legacy project raised a total of £588,395 for local community causes on Islay. As well as Islay Heritage, these included the RSPB, Islay Festival Association, Islay Arts, Finlaggan Trust, McTaggart Cyber Café and Islay & Jura Community Enterprises Limited for McTaggart Leisure Centre.

NOTES  

About Lagavulin

Local records suggest that Lagavulin was already a centre of whisky production in the early 18^th century. There had almost certainly been many other illicit stills before John Johnston founded the first legal distillery at Lagavulin Bay in 1816. As with all Scottish distilleries, it passed through the hands of different owners, including the celebrated Sir Peter Mackie, whose company became White Horse Distillers, forever associated with Lagavulin. White Horse joined The Distillers Company Ltd. (eventually Diageo) in 1927. In 1989, Lagavulin, now normally bottled at 16 years rather than the original 12, became one of the six Classic Malts of Scotland™. 

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories.  These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, 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.

About Diageo in Scotland

• Scotland is one of Diageo’s largest spirit supply centres responsible for producing nearly 50 million cases of leading brands of Scotch whisky and white spirits and over four million cases of Ready To Drink brands annually.
• Around 85% of Diageo’s production in Scotland is sold overseas.
• Diageo in Scotland currently employs around 3,500 people.
• Diageo currently operates 28 malt distilleries and one grain distillery and has a 50 per cent share in a further grain distillery.
• As well as engineering and technical support functions, there are extensive warehousing and packaging operations in Scotland and the company’s Scottish headquarters are in Edinburgh.

Colorado Startup Launches New Business In

Support of Craft Distillery Industry

Distilling Craft, a distillery consultancy agency, officially launches new website and podcast aimed at supporting new and existing craft distillery owners. 

Evergreen, CO, August 9th, 2018 – The craft distillery industry reached over $3 billion in retail sales in 2017, according to the American Craft Spirits Association—a 25% increase from the previous year. One report by Grand View Research, Inc. estimates that the global craft spirits market will reach $80.43 billion by 2025. It’s clear that the industry is growing and, with the passage of the new Craft Beverage Modernization and Tax Reform Act (CBMTRA) last year, everyone is taking notice.

Distilling Craft is a new consultancy agency that is opening its doors in support of business owners and entrepreneurs who are starting a distillery. The company offers a wide range of consulting services for both new and existing craft distillery owners—from business planning to facility design—that help these businesses build a strong foundation, avoid common pitfalls, and ensure profitability. With such a widespread distribution of distilleries across the country, Distilling Craft will have the ability to provide services remotely as well as on-site.

Devin Mills, owner and founder of Distilling Craft, says “By focusing on matching the building, equipment and processes to the needs of our clients, we hope to help distillery owners produce the exact spirits they and their customers want.”

In addition to the launch of their new website, www.distillingcraft.com, Distilling Craft has also launched a new distilling podcast. Distilling Craft Podcast will focus on the intricacies of distilling, covering topics like advanced distillation methods and the study of fermentation. Having been featured in an episode of Discovery Channel’s Moonshiners which premiered earlier this year, Devin, the podcast host, is regarded as an expert in the field of distilling.

About Distilling Craft

Distilling Craft is a full-service craft distillery consultancy firm that combines the goals, vision, and unique spirits of each distillery with their technical expertise and years of craft distillery experience to build successful, profitable distilleries.

About The Hive & Co.

The Hive & Co. is a female-owned digital design and marketing agency that empowers small business owners in their quest to build profitable, sustainable businesses.

Old Pulteney unveils new collection to signal brand evolution

New expressions set sail for the maritime malt

14 August 2018 – Distilled and matured by the sea, Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky is the true maritime malt and we’re excited to embark on a new voyage with the launch of our new core collection featuring our flagship 12 Years Old, Huddart, 15 and 18 Years Old.   This move marks a reinvigoration of the core range for the award-winning Caithness-based distillery, complemented by distinctive new design and packaging.

This new collection signals an evolution for the brand, with a renewed vigour around the maritime malt yet staying true to Old Pulteney’s rich heritage and traditions.  This introduction supports a wider drive to ensure strong consumer relevance and appeal, with the new whiskies consistent with the renowned house style and provenance; yet bringing some new flavours to the fore.

Defined and shaped by its stunning coastal location, Old Pulteney has a highly distinctive character infused by the unique combination of brisk sea air and meticulous cask selection.   Each of the new whiskies tell their own story and bring their own part of the Old Pulteney legacy to life.

Celebrating the birthplace of Old Pulteney, Huddart (ABV 46%) is rich gold in colour. A distinctively smoky take on its signature single malt scotch whiskies, Huddart is richly warming and combines influence from the salt-infused sea air with peat smoke, delivering a mellow and smoky whisky with real character, depth and identity. RRP £45.

A naturally rich, amber-coloured whisky, the 15 Years Old expression (ABV 46%) is Old Pulteney’s most balanced and smoothest single malt whisky yet. Bursting with aromas of rich dried fruit, ripe apples and citrus, with honey sweetness and a generous chord of creamy vanilla, 15 Years Old effortlessly brings together two different sides of the flavour spectrum. RRP £70.

Completing the new portfolio, 18 Years Old (ABV 46%) takes its character and colour entirely from the American oak casks and Spanish sherry butts in which it has been nurtured, delivering a deep amber colour. This indulgent and deeply warming expression features notes of chocolate and spice, but allow for the influence of more vibrant, zesty flavours. RRP £115.

The new collection is complemented with the addition of the repackaged flagship Old Pulteney 12 Years Old.

The golden-coloured 12 Years Old expression (ABV 40%) is the perfect place to start your Old Pulteney journey, with a flavour which is welcoming and effortless. 12 Years Old embodies the maritime malt characteristic that has become synonymous with Old Pulteney whiskies. It has been matured for 12 years in ex-bourbon casks, marrying together the salty flavours of the sea with the influence of American oak, to bring sweetness into play, and create a classic expression. RRP £32.

The collection of four whiskies also has a striking new design, which freshens up the overall look yet created around the existing, highly distinctive Old Pulteney bottle shape.

The collection will be available from 14^th August in the UK with our preferred partners The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop, Royal Mile Whiskies, and Sutherland Brothers, thereafter, there will be a phased global roll out.

For further information about Old Pulteney visit https://www.oldpulteney.com/

Notes 

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Defined and shaped by its stunning coastal location, Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky owes much to its home town of Wick.  Established in 1826 at a time when the town was home to a thriving fishing port, Old Pulteney has a strong place in the heart and history of this coastal community.

Being distilled and matured by the sea coupled with meticulous cask selection creates a distinctive flavour which sets it apart from other single malt Scotch whiskies. 

With traditional warehouses exposed to the invigorating sea air blowing in off the North Sea, Old Pulteney captures the taste of the sea in every drop of its liquid gold; from subtle coastal chords to more defined salty notes.

Delivering a flavour spectrum from vanilla to spice with an added hint of saltiness, Old Pulteney takes you from vibrancy to indulgence.

Old Pulteney Core Collection Tasting Notes 

Old Pulteney 12 Years Old: Wholly matured in air dried, hand selected ex-bourbon casks, mostly second fill American oak.

On the palate, 12 Years Old offers a distinctive salty top note, reminiscent of the Caithness coast, whilst soft citrus pairs with dark caramel and creamy vanilla for sweetness. This is complemented by a firm bodied and smooth flavour where sweet notes of honey and cream develop into ripe, fruity overtones and fresh spice, with a long-lasting subtly salty finish.

Old Pulteney Huddart: This expression takes its name from the street on which Pulteney distillery is located, which in turn is named after Captain Joseph Huddart, a hydrographer who had provided maps and charts for the British Fisheries Society – the builders of Pulteneytown and its harbour.  He was also for a period a Director of the British Fisheries Society.

Matured in second fill American oak, ex bourbon casks then finished in ex-bourbon casks that had previously held heavily peated whisky.

After initial notes of mellow wood smoke, honey and oily leather, Huddart later blooms into crisp green apple, with creamy vanilla and a hint of burnt toffee in the background. Flavours of freshly-ground spices and soft vanilla balance the central notes of smoke and peat fire, supported by richly sweet and distinctly salty coastal flavours in the background, together reminiscent of salted caramel.

Old Pulteney 15 Years Old: Matured in second fill American oak, ex-bourbon casks, followed by a period of further maturation in first fill Spanish oak, ex Oloroso butts.

Uniting spice and sweetness together, its flavour evokes Christmas cake and fragrant spices, with layers of chocolate and a distinct dark toffee sweetness, whilst the finish delivers a hint of salty sea air.

Old Pulteney 18 Years Old: Matured in second fill American oak, ex bourbon casks, followed by a period of further maturation in first fill Spanish, ex-Oloroso sherry butts.

The rich chocolate and creamy vanilla flavour makes 18 Years Old a true indulgence, further enriched by the sweetness of honey tempered by vibrant spices. This is layered with honeyed spices and Christmas cake, whilst floral notes lend a dash of finesse, complemented by zesty hints of citrus and green apple to a lively, long finish.

About International Beverage 

International Beverage Holdings (www.interbevgroup.com) was established in 2005 as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in over 80 countries and territories.

Inver House Distillers (www.inverhouse.com) is globally integrated into International Beverage Holdings and drives the distillation and maturation of Scotch through its five distilleries. The holding was also named ‘Distiller of the Year’ 2017 in the Scotland round of Whisky Magazine’s annual Icons of Whisky Awards.

International Beverage brands include:

• Chang Beer: Thailand’s iconic beer brand
• Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
• Blended Whiskies: Hankey Bannister
• Mekhong: ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
• Caorunn – a small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals

The company’s success is built on the combination of a strong understanding of local cultures and markets with the creation of a truly global operational network.  Brand building pays respect to heritage, provenance and craftsmanship whilst delivering innovative and highly effective strategies at global level. A skilled and dedicated team of more than 12 nationalities speaking over 14 languages delivers the highest standards of customer service and attention to detail across all aspects of the business.