The Sazerac Company Completes Purchase of 19 Brands

from Diageo 

Louisville, Kentucky (Dec. 21, 2018) – The Sazerac Company, one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers, has completed the sale of 19 brands from Diageo, a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across the spirits and beer categories.

The brands purchased by Sazerac are Seagram’s V.O., Seagram’s 83, Seagram’s Five Star, Myers’s, Romana Sambuca, Yukon Jack, Booth’s, Goldschlager, Popov, Relska, The Club, Black Haus, Peligroso, Grind, Piehole, Parrot Bay, Stirrings, Scoresby and John Begg brands.

            “We are excited to close on the sale of these 19 iconic brands from Diageo and we look forward to further developing these brands globally within the Sazerac portfolio,” said Jake Wenz, Sazerac’s chief operating officer.

About the Sazerac Company

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.

The Verdict Is In: Peated Whiskies Win!

It’s that time of year when we look back and reflect on our achievements, and this year has given us a lot to be thankful for.

Whisky Advocate has compiled a list of their Top 20 Whiskies of the year, and two ImpEx expressions have earned spots!

In addition, a number of ImpEx expressions have won prestigious medals from renowned competitions.  Check out some of the highlights below.   <

While Penderyn Myth won a Gold Medal in the ‘Best In Class’ category, Celt won a Silver Medal in the ‘Malt Peated Medium’ category from Whiskies Of The World, placing at #17 on Whisky Advocates Top 20 list, where it earned 91 points! 

Check out Jonny’s tantalizing description below the image.

“Blender Aista Jukneviciute finishes Celt in peated Islay quarter casks that enable the sooty charcoal smoke and maritime notes to sink their claws into the fresh lemon, mandarin, and buttery, toasty aromas.  Sweet citrus, dark fruits, chocolate, and spicy smoke linger on the finish. Forget Daenerys, this is the whisky of dragons.” ~ Jonny McCormick

Coming in at #15 with 91 points, Kilchoman Loch Gorm, the yearly limited release fully matured in Sherry casks made the grade!  

At the intersection of Sherry and peat, this dream-of-a-dram delivers on both in a way that appeases any peat-pleasured palate.

“The first edition of Loch Gorm appeared in 2013, and it remains the distillery’s only whisky to be fully matured in Sherry casks. The 2018 iteration comprises the contents of nineteen oloroso Sherry butts filled in 2007, 2008, and 2011, the oldest of which are some of the first Sherry casks filled at Kilchoman. These rich, confident aged whiskies converge in the best Loch Gorm to date, showcasing the expression’s trademark blend of succulent Sherry, cooked fruits, and earthy peat, along with flavors of honey, ginger, sultanas, and spice.” —Gavin D Smith

To top it all off, Kilchoman Sanaig – the core expression matured in Bourbon casks and finished in Sherry casks won  ‘Best Peated Whisky’ at the 2018 Whisky World Cup!  

‘Kilchoman has outclassed the opposition in the previous rounds. Giants like Lagavulin, Ardbeg and Bowmore have disappeared. It was only a matter of time until these Islay icons were to be replaced. And having the new smoke champ from the same island proves that Islay remains the centre of peated whisky in the world.’ ~ Henrik Aflodal, Whisky World Cup orgnaniserAnd finally we would be remiss if we didn’t mention how well received Port Askaig 33 has been this year.  Prominent bloggers distant parts of the world gave this expression really high marks in their reviews.  The two of note that we’re sharing with you are 91 and 92 points, from Dave Broom of ScotchWhisky.com and Ruben Luyten from WhiskyNotes.com, respectively.  

“There’s no sense of things being forced here, just nature being allowed to gently take its course. What a lovely way to end the year.” ~ Dave Broom

Thanks again for being part of our family and enjoying these fine whiskies with us.  We truly appreciate all of our supporters and everyone we do business with.  It means the world to us when our whiskies are enjoyed in good company.  So Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones, and may the peat keep you warm this winter 🙂

We look forward to bringing you more excellent whiskies in 2019! 
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Please feel free to reach out for more details on the bottlings: office@impexbev.com

Samples of rare whisky for tasting

£635,000 of fake whisky exposed, as new tests lift the lid on rare whisky market 

RW101 partners with SUERC to uncover the true extent of fake bottles in the secondary market for antique whisky

Analysis reveals fake whisky now infiltrating every major route to market for rare whisky

RW101 advises buyers to request absolute proof of authenticity before considering antique bottles 

Laboratory tests at the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC) on 21 different bottles of rare Scotch whisky, potentially worth around £635,000, have confirmed them all as modern fakes.

Based on these results, Rare Whisky 101 (RW101), one of the world’s leading experts in rare whisky, has estimated that around £41M worth of rare whisky currently circulating in the secondary market, and present in existing collections, is fake. That’s more than the entire UK auction market which RW101 has predicted to exceed £36M by the end of 2018.

On the back of growing concern surrounding the proliferation of fake whisky in the secondary market, RW101 teamed up with geochemistry experts at SUERC, home to one of the UK’s four Radiocarbon Accelerator Units, to randomly sample, forensically test and analyse a range of different whiskies.

From 55 bottles of Scotch whisky that were acquired by RW101 from different sources through the secondary market, 21 were confirmed as either outright fakes or whiskies not distilled in the year declared. All malt whisky samples purporting to be from around 1900 or earlier were found to be fake.

The results, from more than nine months of testing, indicate that the problem of fake rare Scotch whisky in the secondary market is much more prevalent than originally thought, infiltrating all major routes to market for rare and vintage whisky.

Of particular note are three bottles of rare whisky acquired recently by RW101 through three different channels – a bottle of Ardbeg 1885 acquired from a private owner, a bottle of rare Thorne’s Heritage early 20^th Century blended whisky purchased from an auctioneer and a bottle of Ardbeg purported to be bottled in the 1960’s bought from a retailer. All three were proven to be fakes.

If tests had proven all 21 bottles to be genuine, collectively they could have been valued at around £635,000. Individual bottles could have fetched anything from £2,500 for the lowest value bottle right up to an estimated £150,000 for the oldest, most valuable bottle.

Commenting on the findings, co-founder of Rare Whisky 101 David Robertson said: “We are clearly disappointed to discover that, without exception, every single “antique” pre-1900 distilled whisky RW101 have had analysed over the last 2 years has proven to be fake. It is our genuine belief that every purported pre-1900 – and in many cases much later – bottle should be assumed fake until proven genuine, certainly if the bottle claims to be a single malt Scotch whisky. This problem will only grow as prices for rare bottles continue to increase”.

Co-founder of Rare Whisky 101 Andy Simpson added: “As we have always stated, each buyer must seek to assure themselves of the authenticity and veracity of any potential acquisition. The exploding demand for rare whisky is inevitably attracting rogue elements to the sector. While we know that the vast majority of rare whisky vendors aren’t knowingly selling fake whisky to unsuspecting buyers, we would implore auction houses, retailers, brand owners and buyers to refrain from selling or purchasing any pre-1900 distilled Scotch whisky unless it has a professional certificate of distillation year/vintage by a carbon dating laboratory.” 

The science of detecting levels of radiocarbon in whisky

The process through which these whiskies have been dated is based on the evolving science of identifying levels of radiocarbon (or C-14) within the liquid.

Radiocarbon is produced continuously in the upper atmosphere at a virtually constant rate so that everything, while alive, has approximately the same level of radiocarbon. During the industrial age, high levels of fossil fuel burning released large volumes of non-radioactive carbon which diluted radiocarbon levels.

However, everything changed in the 1950s with the onset of the Cold War and the commencement of atmospheric nuclear weapons tests, leading to an increase in atmospheric radiocarbon levels which, in turn, were absorbed by all living organisms. These levels continued to increase until 1963, when the test-ban treaty ensured that radiocarbon levels would steadily decline over the ensuing decades.

So, what has all this got to do with fake whisky? Put simply, minute levels of radiocarbon were absorbed by the barley as it grew, providing each whisky with its own radioactive date signature. This means that the scientists at SUERC are able to establish that any whisky with low radiocarbon levels must have been distilled prior to the nuclear era and any whisky with higher levels of radiocarbon must have been distilled after 1955. Such is the accuracy of the process that SUERC are able to pinpoint likely distillation years to within a 2 to 3 year period post the 1950s. For samples pre-dating the 1950s, the technique provides a wider vintage band.

Professor Gordon Cook, head of the SUERC Radiocarbon Laboratory said: “We have had significant help from the major distillers who provided whisky samples of known age that allowed us to start this work. However, it has been our collaboration with Rare Whisky 101 and their provision of really old and rare whiskies that has allowed us to really push this work forward to what we consider to be the Gold Standard technique for identifying the age of a whisky.

“It is disappointing to see the large percentage of vintage whiskies that turn out to be fake. However, we have developed a very powerful technique to beat the fraudsters and I’d advise anyone thinking about selling what they consider to be an early product to have it analysed. Recently, we have analysed four bottles of early whisky (including a rye whisky from the USA), purported to have been distilled between the mid-19^th to the early 20^th century, for members of the general public. Of these, three were genuine, so there are really old and rare whiskies in existence.” 

The secondary (auction) market for rare whisky is now big business. Rare Whisky 101 has forecasted the market in the UK alone to exceed 100,000 bottles for 2018, at a value of more than £36M. 

Three ‘rare’ bottles of single malt proven to be fakes

Notes:

Images:

About Rare Whisky 101 

Andy Simpson and David Robertson launched Rare Whisky 101 in 2014 with the aim of offering a whisky valuation service, brokerage and consultancy for whisky connoisseurs, collectors and investors. Having tracked every bottle sold at UK auctions over the past 12 years, the business now offers the world’s first, only and most comprehensive online single malt Scotch & Japanese whisky dataset covering almost 375,000 price records across over 40,000 different bottle types. In the last 12 months, RW101 have brokered around 20,000 rare whisky bottles around the globe in addition to trading in aged casks from iconic distilleries such as The Macallan, Ardbeg, Bowmore, Springbank, Mortlach, Talisker, Caol Ila, Lagavulin, Rosebank and Highland Park.

About the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC)

SUERC is a research centre within the University of Glasgow’s College of Science & Engineering. The SUERC radiocarbon laboratory is one of the longest established and largest radiocarbon dating laboratories, worldwide. It was originally situated on the main University of Glasgow campus but moved to SUERC in East Kilbride during 1986. In addition to its main focus on archaeological samples, it also provides analyses of human skeletal remains for police forces and forensic science companies, as well as analysis of whiskies and other spirits for the distilled spirits industry, auction houses and private individuals.

The Whisky Barrel releases their last exclusive bottling for 2018, the Tormore 30 Year Old 1988 First Editions Exclusive #15453. 

Specialist online whisky shop, TheWhiskyBarrel.com, is proud to release its last exclusive whisky for 2018. A single malt whisky distilled in Speyside in the late 1980s.

Tormore is a lesser well-known distillery, established in 1958 and created to be a blend supplier. The Tormore 30 Year Old was distilled in 1988, so the distillery had been operating for just 30 years.

This ‘First Editions’ release is courtesy of  Hunter Laing and Company of Glasgow and offers a great opportunity to explore this young distillery in a dram. Tormore is often overlooked which really is a great shame, as proven by the sweet, fruity and moreish character of the 30 Year Old. Not one to miss out on!

Distilled in 1988 and bottled in December 2018 from single refill hogshead #15453. Only 144 numbered bottles at cask strength selected exclusively for TheWhiskyBarrel.com.

Available exclusively from The Whisky Barrel, shipping to customers Worldwide including the United States of America, Canada and Japan. 

Tormore 30 Year Old First Editions Exclusive | 1988 | Cask #15453 for TheWhiskyBarrel.com | 45.8%

Official tasting notes: – 

Colour: Golden honey.

Nose: Caramel, citrus fruits and vanilla. 

Taste: Light and sweet with toffee ice cream, lemon and apple pie. 

Finish: Long with a subtle kick of spice. 

Price: £129.95 GBP / $137.33 USD (+ P&P) 

The Whisky Barrel E: info@thewhiskybarrel.com Visit www.thewhiskybarrel.comT: +44 (0)845 2248 156

Find us on: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Q) What is the product called?
A)  Tormore 30 Year Old 1988 First Editions Exclusive #15453

Q) When will this product be released/was it released?
A) Friday 21^st of December 2018.

Q) Where is it available?
A) Scotland, off-trade, TheWhiskyBarrel.com.

Q) Is this product already available in other markets?
A) Scotland only, TheWhiskyBarrel.com ships worldwide.

Q) How much is it?
A) £129.95 GBP / $137.33 USD (+ P&P)

Q) Who handles the product’s distribution?
A) In-house at TheWhiskyBarrel.com.

Q) What is the ABV of this product?
A) 45.8% ABV natural cask strength.

Q) Why has this product been launched?
A) Limited Edition single cask distillery exclusive for The Whisky Barrel. 

Notes 

The Whisky Barrel is a specialist online whisky and spirits merchant based in Fife, Scotland and  was established in 2007. The Whisky Barrel won Whisky Magazine Online Retailer 2018 and was International Wine & Spirits Competition runner-up in 2016.

N.B. Prices correct at the time of publishing and are subject to currency fluctuation.

Whisky Magazine’s Online Retailer of the Year Award 2009-2016

International Wine & Spirits Competition Best Online Retailer 2015-2016

THE MACALLAN UNVEILS THE 1978 FINE & RARE VINTAGE

New Release Joins Ranks of the Greatest Vintage Single Malts Ever Released

Monday, December 17, 2018 (NEW YORK, NY) The Macallan, the world’s most admired single malt Scotch whisky, has unveiled a new release to its highly regarded Fine & Rare collection, the 1978 vintage. This highly exclusive spirit will be limited to 243 bottles globally with only five bottles allocated to the US market this year.

Made with the very best of The Macallan’s finest maturing stock, The Macallan Fine & Rare collection features some of the greatest vintage single malts ever released. The 1978 vintage offers a unique taste of oak spice, orange and delicate peat smoke with a soft and silky finish.

“The release of the 1978 Fine & Rare vintage brings another outstanding whisky to this unique collection of mature Macallan expressions,” said The Macallan’s Whisky Maker, Steven Bremner.  “Matured in a second fill remade American oak Hogshead cask, this vintage alludes to a period in time when some peated expressions of The Macallan were laid down. The peated smoke element of this cask stands out, as it is unusual in The Macallan to find peated smoke alongside some of the characteristics synonymous with American oak – apricot, vanilla and toffee.  Being a remake refill hogshead, there is a charming mystery in not knowing which original casks were carefully crafted together to create this unique cask which has delivered an exceptional vintage. Intertwined and ever present peat smoke enhance this whisky which, on the palate, delivers oak spice and bitter orange which lifts in sweetness. The 1978 Fine and Rare vintage delivers a soft, silky and creamy mouth feel, finishing on peated orange sweetness following 39 years of maturation on Speyside.”

Jaume Ferras, The Macallan Prestige Marketing Director said, “Since launching The Macallan Fine & Rare Collection in 2002 we have created a whisky legacy of over 50 individual vintages of The Macallan. Each unique expression is unmistakably Macallan and part of an unrivalled collection representing eight decades and we are delighted to add the latest release, The Macallan 1978 Fine & Rare.  This single cask whisky was laid down in the year that Superman first burst onto cinema screens, the first test tube baby was born and NASA unveiled the first group of women astronauts.  In that same year, on November 20^th this remade Hogshead was filled for the second time, with the team on site that day having no way of knowing that 40 years later the cask would be selected to part of this incredible legacy of vintage Macallan.”

Since 2002, the Fine & Rare range has played a significant role in establishing The Macallan as the world’s most valuable and collectable single malt whisky and has picked up record breaking auction sales across the world. Perfect as a collectable, luxury gift and for celebrating special moments, the 1978 vintage joins a range of highly admired whiskies.

The 1978 Fine and Rare vintage will be limited to five bottles in the US market this year, with a suggested retail price of approximately $11,700 USD per 750ml bottle. For purchasing inquiries, please emaiml: Inquiries.us@themacallan.co

Tasting Notes:

Color:  Autumn oak

Nose:  Initial rich ginger and antique oak, moving into dried apricot, vanilla toffee and deep orange oil with a dash of nutmeg and peat smoke intertwines

Palate:  Oak spice, bitter orange turning sweet, balanced with delicate peat smoke

Finish:  Soft, silky and creamy, finishing on peated orange sweetness

ABV: 59.2%

Bottles Produced: 243

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.us.themacallan.com. The Macallan can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

TOMATIN RELEASES ITS FIRST 50 YEAR OLD DISTILLERY BOTTLING

Tomatin, the award-winning Highland whisky distillery, has today (Monday 17^th December) announced the release of its highly anticipated single malt, the Tomatin 50 Year Old, distilled on 24^th November 1967.

Following 50 years of maturation at the distillery, the deep-honey coloured expression has been bottled in its most natural form, yielding just 70 special bottles at 45.3% abv.

Stephen Bremner, Managing Director of Tomatin, said: “It is with great pleasure that we announce the release of Tomatin’s oldest expression – the Tomatin 50 Year Old. This special expression has been quietly resting for half a century,  and it is wonderful to see it presented in all its glory.”

The whisky, finished in a first fill Oloroso Sherry Butt, cask number 35817, is encased within an individually numbered, handblown Glencairn crystal decanter. The decanter is luxuriously presented within a striking Italian crafted wooden box, furnished with soft, premium Italian leather. Sealed with a wooden transit cork, an engraved, solid brass gold-plated and glass stopper is also provided. Each box comes with an individually-numbered book, hand-signed by Distillery Manager, Graham Eunson. Finally, a premium leather carry bag completes the presentation. 

The Tomatin 50 Year Old delivers a myriad of rich and complex flavours. On the nose, aromas of freshly felled oak in an orchard of apples, pears and plums can be expected. Once on the palate, it releases bursts of exotic tropical fruits and dried apricots, sweetened with flavours of vanilla toffee, crème caramel and flame raisins. Spice and fruits balance perfectly, providing a luxurious and velvety finish.

Graham Eunson, Distillery Manager at Tomatin, said: “This dignified expression is elegant and flavourful – a complex whisky with layers of taste sensations to delight the senses. Those privy to a taste of this whisky can expect warming spices which are mellowed by lashings of Manuka honey.”

The Tomatin 50 Year Old is the distillery’s oldest expression and is expected to retail at £10,000 for a 70cl bottle in the UK within specialist retailers.

Notes: 

Tomatin Distillery has been producing and blending malt Scotch whisky since 1897. Over the last 50 years, the distillery has borne witness to vast change. At its peak in the 1970s, Tomatin was the largest distillery in the world operating 23 stills and producing 12 million litres of alcohol every year. Over the last decade, significant time has been invested in rediscovering the distillery, people and values, and in refining the business model to move away from the formerly lucrative bulk commodity market to now focus on Tomatin’s core range of single malts, the release of Tomatin 50 year old is a testament to that dedication.

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands (near Inverness) and is famous for its portfolio of 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 recently announced that it is officially the fastest growing top ten single malt whisky 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.

About The Tomatin 50 Year Old:

• Cask Number: 35817
• Cask Type: First fill Oloroso Sherry Butt
• Strength: 45.3% alc./vol.
• Distilled on: 24^th November 1967
• Number of bottles: 70

Benromach recognised at Icons of Whisky Scotland Awards 2019

Susan Colville named Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year 

Benromach Distillery is celebrating success at the prestigious Icons of Whisky Scotland awards, picking up the Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year Award and being highly commended in the Visitor Attraction and Distillery Manager categories.

Announced in a ceremony held in Edinburgh’s Surgeon’s Hall, the awards, which are organised by Whisky Magazine, pay tribute to the expertise that is poured into every bottle of whisky made around the world. Only those working in the industry can nominate an individual or brand, with the final winners chosen by a panel of expert judges.

Susan Colville, Brand Home Manager was recognised for the outstanding contribution she makes to the many thousands that visit Benromach Distillery each year. After receiving the coveted title of Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year, an accolade which Susan previously won in 2015, she will now go forward to compete for the global title which will be announced on the 29^th March 2019 in London.

Susan Colville said: “I’m overwhelmed to receive this award again and it is particularly special to receive this at the end of our 20^th anniversary celebratory year.  2018 has brought many highlights, ranging from the launch of Benromach Cask No 1 which raised money for charitable causes to hosting the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival opening gala dinner. We’re looking forward to growing our visitor numbers further in 2019 and giving every guest the up-close and personal tour experience, we’re known for.”

Earlier this year, Susan was made a Keeper of the Quaich, joining the international and select society which recognises those who have shown outstanding commitment to the Scotch whisky industry.

Benromach’s Keith Cruickshank was highly commended in the Distillery Manager of the Year category at the Icons of Whisky Awards. Benromach Distillery was also highly commended in the Visitor Attraction of the Year category in recognition of the personal experience the whole team strives to deliver to visitors every day.

Keith Cruickshank, Benromach’s Distillery Manager, said: “As our 20^th anniversary year comes to an end, it is gratifying for the team at Benromach to be recognised at the Icons of Whisky Awards.  Being acknowledged in this way by others working in the industry is particularly special.”

Notes 

Benromach Distillery

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when the Urquhart family realised a lifelong dream to own a distillery and purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five-year period before it was officially opened by HRH The Duke of Rothesay in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, the Urquhart family wanted to create a single malt whisky that has a classic Speyside character: beautifully balanced with a light touch of smoke.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A five star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world-famous Malt Whisky Trail.

Hankey Bannister 21 Year Old Expression re-launched as new blend and design unveiled

Hankey Bannister, the award-winning blended Scotch whisky from International Beverage, has today (Thursday 13^th December) unveiled a striking new design and blend for its 21 Year Old Partners’ Reserve Blended Scotch Whisky.

The company’s Master Blender Stuart Harvey has hand selected rare and exceptional casks to craft the blend, each allowed to rest for a minimum of 21 years in the finest Spanish ex-sherry and ex-bourbon oak, as well as American oak ex-bourbon casks. The result is an indulgent and luxurious Scotch, perfect for special occasions and gifting.

The influence of contrasting wood imbues Hankey Bannister 21 Year Old Partners’ Reserve with a complex, characterful flavour. Spanish casks slowly create distinctive aromatic nuances of spiced citrus fruit, with chocolate and raisin on the palate. Creamy vanilla and toffee overtones are derived from the American oak, culminating in a smooth, creamy, slightly spicy chocolate finish.

Complementing the quality of the whisky is a new super-premium geometric bottle, enhanced by gold foil decoration, an embossed metallic label and a dark wood cork closure. A soft leather-like, subtly embossed box completes the exquisite packaging.

The new 21 Year Old release is part of Hankey Bannister’s ongoing investment to bring the story and sartorial appeal of its pioneering founders to life – the ‘style’ of flamboyant London socialite Beaumont Hankey and the ‘substance’ of his astute business partner, Hugh Bannister.

Hankey Bannister Brand Manager Lynne Buckley commented: ‘We believe that this striking new pack works brilliantly in communicating Hankey Bannister’s substance with style brand story, whilst also reflecting the exceptional quality of the whisky. There is huge demand in the global marketplace for a blended whisky that combines a high quality product with a distinctive brand story and, with Hankey Bannister, we are spoiled on both counts. Our founders provide us with a rich brand proposition. And whilst centuries may have passed, the qualities they stood for – tradition, craftsmanship, originality, sophistication and style – are all completely relevant for modern-day whisky drinkers.’

Hankey Bannister 21 Year Old Partners’ Reserve is crafted to an original recipe from single malts selected from International Beverage’s five distilleries, which are then expertly combined with more delicate Grain whiskies to produce a unique blend. Produced as a small batch of just 3000 bottles, it retails at £105 and will be available in Hankey Bannister’s core markets across Russia, Eastern Europe and Asia from December 2018. 

About Hankey Bannister

Messrs Hankey and Bannister’s wines & spirits business was originally established in 1757 at John Street in London’s stylish West End. When these two remarkable men took charge, their focus was on making superior Scotch whisky blends to suit the sophisticated tastes of their renowned society clients – which included The Prince Regent, William IV, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and writer Evelyn Waugh. In 1901 Hankey Bannister received its first royal warrant from George V, with a second being granted in 1940 by George VI – extended for a further ten years in 1950.

Hankey Bannister was purchased by Inver House Distillers, now part of International Beverage, in 1988. The blend is meticulously crafted to the original recipe of its founders, using the finest Highland malts in the International Beverage portfolio, including single malts from Pulteney, Balblair, Knockdhu, Speyburn and Balmenach distilleries. These are then expertly combined with more delicate grain whiskies to produce a distinctive blend.

The resulting whisky has been highly acclaimed, with Hankey Bannister 40 Year Old winning Gold at the World Whiskies Awards 2014 and International Spirits Challenge; and Hankey Bannister Heritage Blend receiving Gold again at the World Whiskies Awards 2018.  To this day, the unique blend of charisma and acumen of Messrs Hankey and Bannister – their ‘substance and style’ – continues to be celebrated and appreciated by whisky drinkers around the world. 

About International Beverage Holdings

International Beverage Holdings Limited is one of the industry’s most dynamic global drinks businesses. Established in 2006 as the international arm of ThaiBev, the company specialises in developing distinctive, premium local brands for global growth, with a portfolio that is led by a range of high quality Scotch whiskies and includes some of the fastest growing and most prestigious beers, spirits and whiskies on the market today. These high quality brands are enjoyed by consumers in over 85 global markets and include:

• Chang, Thailand’s iconic global beer brand
• Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
• Blended Scotch Whiskies: Hankey Bannister, Catto’s, MacArthur’s
• Caorunn, a super premium small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals
• Thai spirits: Phraya, Mekhong

International Beverage’s international operation is headquartered in Hong Kong, with two major bases in China and Scotland and a growing number of regional hubs around the world, such as the USA. The business is focused on the delivery of winning investment, sales and marketing strategies. International Beverage is committed to producing brands of character, representing the care and craftsmanship of the people that make them – from the brewers of Chang Beer in Thailand, to the distillers of the fine single malt Scotch whiskies Old Pulteney and Speyburn in Scotland. Crucially, the global development of every brand continues to be rooted in its home territory, supporting the company’s mission to build authentic brands of outstanding character.

International Beverage is investing in ambitious growth across its global operation, employing over 850 highly skilled people across production, sales, marketing and finance, together forming an effective and expert international team. In 2011 the International Beverage portfolio outperformed the market with outstanding sales across all categories.

GROWING IN STRENGTH – COTSWOLDS DISTILLERY RELEASES CASK WHISKY

Cotswold Distillery launches cask strength, single malt whisky, The Founders Choice

The whisky has rich and intense maturation, fruity spirit, toffee, oak and red fruit notes

The Founders Choice is available now from specialist retailers with an RRP of £64.95

The release comes one year after the highly anticipated launch of the distillery’s flagship whisky, the Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky

Award-winning Cotswolds Distillery has launched its cask strength single malt whisky expression, the Founder’s Choice.

The whisky, aged in their shaved, toasted and re-charred American oak red wine barrels and has a rich and intense maturation. The cask has a fruity spirit, with toffee, oak and red fruit notes as well as a beautiful deep colour.

Dan Szor, founder and CEO of the distillery said: “We were very fortunate to work with the late Dr Jim Swan on developing our wood programme – one of his key innovations was the ‘STR’ cask and it has always been my favourite of all our casks. Jim’s suggestion to me was that one day we release a 100% STR-aged whisky at cask strength and, based on the extremely positive reaction from everyone that’s tried it, that is what I’ve decided to do.”

The STR casks were designed by Dr Swan to optimise the extraction of flavour and colour from the oak, giving an extremely active maturation whilst avoiding the need for smaller cask sizes, which can sometimes result in an over-oaked effect. The intensely rich single malt has notes of dark chocolate and dried figs on the nose, with a warm palate of fresh red fruits and butterscotch. The finish has hints of spicy oak, dried fruit and a lingering nutty note.

Founder’s Choice is bottled at cask strength (60.9% ABV) non-chill filtered and with no added colouring. The whisky is available in specialist retailers from November at an RRP of £64.95.

The release comes one year after the highly anticipated launch of the distillery’s flagship whisky, the Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky. Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky has gone on to win nine medals and awards in its first year, and the distillery picked up a total of five ‘Liquid Gold Awards’ (scores of 94/100 or higher) in Jim Murray’s recently published Whisky Bible 2019. 

Notes

Founders Choice 

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

The Cotswolds Distillery

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

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky was launched in October 2017. Each bottle lists the barley variety, harvest year and local Cotswolds farm it was grown on. It recently won Gold at the New York World Wine & Spirits Competition and took 2 stars (one of only two whiskies to do so) in the 2018 Great Taste Awards.

Cotswolds Single Malt Whisky is available nationally and in 12 countries across the world. Key UK retailers include Majestic Wine, The Whisky Exchange and Laithwaites.

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

Speyside distillery manager crowned whisky icon of the year

A distillery manager from Speyside has been crowned the best in Scotland as part of Whisky Magazine’s ‘Icons of Whisky 2019’ awards.

Sandy McIntyre, who is Distillery Manager for Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, near Aberlour, was named whisky icon of the year at a special awards ceremony in Edinburgh on Friday 7th December.

Sandy joined Ian Macleod Distillers as Tamdhu Distillery Manager in November 2014, where he is responsible for all aspects of production and warehousing, including managing a team of 17.

The Icons of Whisky Awards recognise the people that complete the whole dynamic of the whisky industry. The Awards also celebrate the industry’s top bars, producers and retailers.

Commenting on his award success, Sandy McIntyre, Tamdhu Distillery Manager said: “I’m extremely proud to have been recognised by my industry peers with this prestigious accolade, which is a great reflection on the whole team here at Tamdhu.

“The ‘Icons of Whisky 2019’ award is the latest in a growing number of accolades for Tamdhu this year, including being part of winning Global Distiller of the Year 2018, and a Gold Award for Tamdhu 10 Year Old in the Asian Spirits Masters 2018, and Gold Awards for Tamdhu Batch Strength 003 in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2018 and International Spirits Challenge 2018.”

Christopher Coates, Scotch Whisky Editor for Whisky Magazine, added: “’Distillery Manager of the Year’ is always a hotly contested category. Sandy McIntyre has undoubtedly excelled throughout the year and has become well known in the industry for leading a motivated team through a long period of technically challenging infrastructure investment at Tamdhu Distillery.

“Sandy also made the headlines this year by leading a team that has installed one of the UK’s longest and highest fish passes, replacing a dam installed 120 years ago when the distillery was first built. We’re proud to raise a dram in honour of his achievements and name him as one of our ‘Icons of Whisky for 2019’.”

The winners of this regional heat, including Tamdhu’s Sandy McIntyre, will now go forward to be considered for the Global Icons awards, which will be presented in London on 28th March 2019. Decisions are reached following nomination and voting by the industry and consideration by a Whisky Magazine panel.

Only the best Oloroso sherry seasoned American and European oak casks give Tamdhu its natural, dark amber colour, intense richness on the palate and its deep, long finish. Tamdhu exclusively matures in sherry seasoned casks, which are crafted in the family cooperages and bodegas of Jerez for up to 6 years before beginning their journey to Scotland.

For more information on Tamdhu, visit www.tamdhu.com

 You can also follow Tamdhu on social media:

www.facebook.com/tamdhuwhisky

www.twitter.com/TamdhuWhisky

www.instagram.com/tamdhuwhisky

Notes: 

PHOTO:

Photo of Tamndhu Distillery Manager, Sandy McIntyre 

Tamdhu:

Tamdhu is 100% matured in the finest Oloroso sherry oak casks from Spain. Born on the banks of the River Spey in 1897, its quality is also defined by the wisp of peat in its malted barley and the natural Speyside water that is drawn directly from the Tamdhu spring. It is owned by one of Scotland’s leading, independent family-owned distillers, Ian Macleod Distillers.

Tamdhu’s Oloroso sherry oak casks are hand-crafted from European and American oak in the cooperages and bodegas of Jerez, in Spain’s ‘sherry triangle’.