ROYAL CANADIAN SMALL BATCH CANADIAN WHISKY WINS GOLD AT 2018 INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRIT COMPETITION 

         MONTREAL, CANADA (Sept. 12, 2018) – Judges awarded four Canadian whiskies from the Sazerac Company with high honors at the 2018 International Wine & Spirit Competition, awarding one Gold, one Silver Outstanding, and two Silver medals.        

Gold medal:

• Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whisky

Silver Outstanding medal went to:

• Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky

Silver Medal winners were:

• High River Canadian Blended Whisky
• Rich & Rare Reserve Canadian Blended Whisky

The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs.

All entries are first blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary, by professional expert judges (by glass, not bottle) and then the top products are sent for detailed chemical and microbiological analysis. This analysis is crucial as in some instances the results of this analysis may lead to marks being deducted or even outright rejection.

Complete results for the 2018 International Wine & Spirits Competition can be found online at www.iwsc.net.

About Sazerac

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

TWO A. SMITH BOWMAN SPIRITS TAKE HOME HONORS AT THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL WINE AND SPIRITS COMPETITION

Fredericksburg, VIRGINIA (September 6, 2018) – Judges awarded two spirits from A. Smith Bowman Distillery with one Silver Outstanding and one Silver medal at the 2018 International Wine & Spirit Competition, held earlier this summer in London, England.

Awarded a Silver Outstanding medal was John J. Bowman Single Barrel Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Silver Medal winner was Bowman Brothers Small Batch Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs.

All entries are first blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary, by professional expert judges (by glass, not bottle) and then the top products are sent for detailed chemical and microbiological analysis. This analysis is crucial as in some instances the results of this analysis may lead to marks being deducted or even outright rejection.

Complete results for the 2018 International Wine & Spirit Competition can be found at www.iwsc.net.

About A. Smith Bowman

1. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. Its various brands have won more than 100 awards in the past five years, including “World’s Best Bourbon” in 2016 for its Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon and again in 2017 for its John J. Bowman Single Barrel at the World Whisky Awards.  For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY BOURBONS RECEIVE TOP AWARDS

AT 2018 INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRIT COMPETITION 

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (September 5, 2018) – Eight bourbons from Barton 1792 Distillery received high honors at the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition held in London, England earlier this summer. Among those honors received were five Silver Outstanding Medals for Barton 1792 Distillery.

Barton 1792 Distillery bourbons awarded “Silver Outstanding” include:

• 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• 1792 Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• 1792 High Rye Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• 1792 Bottled in Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Other Barton 1792 Distillery bourbons receiving awards include:

• Very Old Barton 90 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Silver Medal
• Very Old Barton 80 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Bronze Medal
• Kentucky Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Silver Medal

The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs.

All entries are first blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary, by professional expert judges (by glass, not bottle) and then the top products are sent for detailed chemical and microbiological analysis. This analysis is crucial as in some instances the results of this analysis may lead to marks being deducted or even outright rejection.

Complete results for the 2017 IWSC can be found at www.iwsc.net

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2017 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.

The Whisky Barrel releases their latest exclusive bottling, an Orcadian Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. 

Specialist online whisky shop, TheWhiskyBarrel.com, is proud to release a very limited Orcadian Blended Malt Scotch Whisky from the parish of St Ola.

The Orkney Islands, located off the north coast of Scotland, are full of mystery and intrigue. The island was in many ways shaped by the Vikings who settled in Orkney over one thousand years ago. There are age-old tales of Viking settlers, the striking St Magnus Cathedral (or ‘Light of the North’) and even Pictish ruins.

As well as the striking ‘Light of the North’, St Ola is home to both Highland Park and Scapa Whisky Distilleries. In other words, St Ola is the home of Orcadian whisky.

TheWhiskyBarrel.com could not possibly pass up the chance to take the very first St Ola Scotch Whisky. This blended malt might only be eight years old but it is full of flavour and certainly a credit to Orkney.

With an ABV of 66.2%.  There are 82 numbered bottles available so there will be a limit of two bottles per customer.

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

St Ola® Orcadian Blended Malt 8Year Old Exclusive |2010| TheWhiskyBarrel.com| 66.2%

Tasting notes 

Colour: Light golden straw.

Nose: A lovely sweet nose, accompanied by notes of Crème brûlée and heather honey. 

Palate: There are traces of light peat smoke, along with traditional leather and burnt orange. 

Finish: Long and oily. 

Price: £58.00 GBP / $62.60 USD (+ P&P) 

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

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STEEL BONNETS RECOGNISED WITH PROMINENT WHISKY AWARD

Steel Bonnets, The Lakes Distillery’s blend of English and Scotch malt whisky, has been awarded a Gold Medal in the World Whisky Ultra-Premium category (whiskies priced over £51) by the prestigious Spirits Business Awards.

The Luxury Masters competition aims to reward the finest luxury spirits on the global stage.  Chaired by The Spirits Business and assessed by a panel of leading spirits specialists, Steel Bonnets was the only World Whisky in its category to secure a Gold Medal award.

Speaking following a blind-tasting, the panel of whisky experts from across the globe commented that Steel Bonnets was ‘full and warm’ with ‘green apple, slight wood smoke’ and a palate of ‘cinnamon and plum.’ 

Created with the highest quality malt whiskies from both sides of the border, Steel Bonnets is a combination of The Lakes Single Malt from England and some of the most respected malts from Scotland.  It is the world’s first blend of English malt and Scotch malt whisky.

The name pays homage to the memory of the English and Scottish people who lived in the Border Marches from Berwick-upon-Tweed in the East to Carlisle in the West during the 13^th – 17^th centuries.

Paul Currie, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of The Lakes Distillery said:  “I’m incredibly proud that Steel Bonnets has been recognised by some of the world’s leading whisky experts for its excellence. Our Master Whiskymaker Dhavall Gandhi has created something very special.

“This is the third year of the competition and the excellence demonstrated in our category confirms the emphasis leading whisky makers are putting on taste and quality.  With the growing trend for customers to spend more and drink less this is an increasingly important award for premium spirits.

“Our ambition is to establish The Lakes Distillery as a luxury global whisky brand and this recognition is another significant step towards this. Steel Bonnets now sits alongside world brands including Sullivan’s Cove of Tasmania and Chivas Regal Ultis, both Gold award winners and I’m absolutely thrilled.”

The Lakes Distillery Master Whiskymaker, Dhavall Gandhi, said: “I’m honoured that Steel Bonnets has received a Gold Medal. It is very rewarding that the knowledgeable tasting panel appreciated this unique whisky.”

For more information, please visit: www.lakesdistillery.com 

Notes:

The Lakes Distillery employs 85 people and is led by a team of four: 

Paul Currie, Founder and Chief Operating Officer, as one part of the father-son team behind the Isle of Arran Distillers, Paul has whisky in his veins!

Nigel Mills CBE, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, was the driving force that saw the Mills convenience store brand grow from 11 newsagents to a chain of 77 convenience stores and eight supermarkets.

Dhavall Gandhi, Operations Director and Whiskymaker, joined the Distillery after fine-tuning his skills at Macallan and is instrumental in crafting the Lake District’s only single malt whisky.

Alan Rutherford OBE, Chairman, a leading figure in the whisky world, as testified by his OBE for services to the Scotch Whisky Industry and as the former production director at Diageo.

WHAT’S NEW IN KENTUCKY BOURBON

Bourbon Distilleries Add New Features to Attract and Enhance Guests Experiences 

KENTUCKY, September 6, 2018: Kentucky has long been hailed as the epi-center of the bourbon industry. As America’s only native spirit (as declared by Congress in 1964) and Kentucky its birthplace, bourbon-tourism is one of the leading economic drivers for the state that is currently responsible for crafting 95% of the world’s supply.

A $8.5 billion industry, bourbon tourism has generated a distillery building boom within the state, with bourbon companies expanding their production facilities to accommodate tours and building state-of-the-art visitor centers which include restaurants, tastings, classes and interactive exhibits, all destinations within themselves. With interest soaring, distilleries across the U.S. are extending their visitor experiences beyond spirit tastings to bourbon-themed trails, festivals, museum exhibitions, boat tours and train rides.

Please see below for an array of new and upcoming bourbon experiences available in Kentucky:

NEW

Kentucky River Tours at Buffalo Trace Distillery, Frankfort – The bourbon industry’s only boat tour  begins at the Buffalo Trace Gift shop where riders will then be transported by shuttle to a private boat dock to board the 27 foot open deck, open air vessel and being their journey down the Kentucky River. A portion of each ticket sale will be donated to Woods and Waters, a local non-profit dedicated to protecting and preserving the lower Kentucky River watershed.

Spirits of the Bluegrass: Prohibition and Kentucky, Bardstown – This exhibit, which is on loan to The Oscar Getz Museum of Whiskey History in Bardstown by Louisville’s Frazier Museum, opened May 2018 and will remain open for two years.  The collection includes artifacts, a bar, figures in the Prohibition movement and videos.

Bardstown Bourbon Company, Bardstown – This new $25 million, 45,000-square-foot distillery located in the Nelson County Industrial Park became operational in September 2016. The distillery opened a whiskey library, bar and full-scale restaurant, Bottle & Bond in June 2018.

Rabbit Hole Distillery, Louisville – This husband-wife owned craft distillery is located in the trendy Nulu section of Louisville.  The hour-long, fully immersive tour down the rabbit hole concludes with a unique five-sense tasting experience featuring the distillery’s bourbon, rye, and gin. This state-of-the-art distillery which opened on Derby Eve 2018 plans to break ground on a new restaurant soon.

Lux Row Distillers, Bardstown – The bourbon capital of the world added another distillery, which is owned by Luxco, a St. Louis-based company.  This 18,000 square-foot distillery opened in April 2018 and offers tours complete with a bourbon tasting seminar.

Old Forester Distillery, Louisville – The Brown-Forman Corporation opened the Old Forester Distillery and bourbon experience for its founding brand, Old Forester, in two historic buildings on West Main Street in Louisville’s Whiskey Row in June 2018. Building on the company’s strong bourbon whiskey heritage, this world-class distilling operation and visitor destination showcases the craftsmanship and authenticity of Old Forester, the first bottled bourbon.

Dueling Barrels Brewery & Distillery, Pikeville – Bourbon distilling has finally made its way to Eastern Kentucky with this distillery, which opened in late June 2018.  Owned by Alltech, its name is tied to the famous Hatfield & McCoy feud.  Dueling Barrels Brewery & Distillery offers moonshine, bourbon, beer and ale.

James E. Pepper Distillery, Lexington – The historic 1776 James E. Pepper bourbon label was revived with this distillery, located at the west end of formerly abandoned, now repurposed Pepper Campus, which is also home to Ethereal Brewery, Barrel House Distilling, Crank & Boom Ice Cream, Kentucky Knows and Middle Fork Kitchen.  The James E. Pepper Distillery recently opened for tours in mid-July 2018.

UPCOMING

Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center & Exhibit, Louisville – The Frazier History Museum and the Kentucky Distillers’ Association have finalized a partnership to mutually develop a Kentucky Bourbon Trail Welcome Center & Exhibit that will be located at the Frazier along Louisville’s famed Whiskey Row. The interactive, state-of-the-art experience opening in late August 2018 will include Kentucky bourbon-related historical exhibits and will educate visitors on why the Bluegrass has the perfect mix of water, climate, corn and natural conditions that make it the one, true, authentic home of America’s only native spirit. 

Michter’s Micro-Distillery, Louisville – Michter’s is renovating the historically and architecturally significant Fort Nelson Building, targeting a third quarter 2018 opening. Michter’s Micro-Distillery will be located on Louisville’s Museum Row. The Fort Nelson building’s striking exterior is a classic example of 1890s cast iron architecture.

Bulleit Distilling Company, Shelbyville – Bulleit Distilling Company opened its second location in Shelby County in March 2017. It has the latest technology in warehousing and distillation, including enhancements that help conserve and reuse resources, resulting in improved efficiency and less impact on the environment. In 2018, Bulleit Distilling Company broke ground on an environmentally-conscious 11,570 square-foot Visitor’s Center expected to open to the public in 2019. The new Visitor Center will include interactive educational experiences, a tasting area, and gift shop.

Kentucky Owl Park, Bardstown – Kentucky Owl Park, a nearly $150 million lakeside complex, broke ground in November 2017.  The first phase, which includes the distillery to produce Kentucky Owl Bourbon, is targeted to open in in 2020.  Long-term plans include a freshwater lake for fishing and recreation, a gourmet restaurant, convention center and hotel, and a vintage passenger train and refurbished train station.

Castle & Key Distillery, Millville (Woodford Co.)  – The former Old Taylor Distillery has been rediscovered and renamed Castle & Key. While a botanical gin and vodka can be sampled on site today, a Rye whiskey is planned for release in 2018, with a traditional bottled-in-bond Bourbon to be available later. The gardens are being restored by Jon Carloftis and there are plans to turn the grounds’ red brick train station in to a full-service restaurant.

Kentucky Bourbon Festival, Bardstown – The Kentucky Bourbon Festival® is a weeklong celebration of the storied history and art of distilling America’s native spirit. Each year this event promotes and educates the public on the history and production of Bourbon and supports local non-profit organizations. This year’s event will take place September 12-16 in the Bourbon Capital of the World- Bardstown, Kentucky.

Bourbon & Beyond, Louisville – The Second Annual Bourbon & Beyond festival returns to Louisville’s Champions Park September 22-23, 2018. This premier bourbon, music and food festival will feature over 40 bourbon brands offering workshops and demonstrations, along with celebrity chef demonstrations and pop-ups from many of Louisville’s favorite restaurants.  A lineup of world-renowned performers will also be taking the stage including Sting, John Mayer, Robert Plant and the Sensational Space Shifters, David Byrne, Lenny Kravitz and Counting Crows.

The Bourbon Country® Burn, Lexington – Riders can choose their adventure with one, two or three days of biking to distilleries during the day and sipping Bourbon in the evenings for The Bourbon Country Burn. Bikers will embark on their journeys September 28 from the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington and will ride between 25 and 100 miles each day.

The Bourbon Chase, Lexington – This 200-mile relay race through Kentucky will take attendees across horse country, into Kentucky’s small towns and along The Kentucky Bourbon Trail. This October 12-13, runners will take their marks at the Jim Bean Factory across the finish line, 200 miles later, at Triangle Park near Alltech Brewery & Distillery.

Click HERE for a full list of ways to experience Bourbon in Kentucky. 

Kentucky

Long known as the front door to the South, Kentucky offers a world of outdoor adventures, vibrant arts scene, expansive distilleries and micro-breweries, and an explosive culinary scene. From legendary Horse Country and the grandstands of America’s most storied thoroughbred racing tracks to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail, Kentucky invites you to come and explore. For information, please visit www.kentuckytourism.com/food. Follow us on socials: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Wolfburn Releases Its Fourth Permanent Expression: Langskip

Wolfburn Distillery has today launched its fourth permanent single malt whisky expression, named ‘Langskip.  Following the global success of the Northland, Aurora and Morven expressions, Langskip is bottled at a much higher alcohol percentage (58%) – making it as close as possible to a cask-strength release.  Initial orders are already far beyond the forecast number.

‘We’ve crafted Langskip from whisky matured in casks laid down in 2013 and 2014,’ commented Shane Fraser, distillery manager. ‘It’s our oldest release to date. The casks are all first-fill bourbon barrels, which make spectacularly good whisky. The result is a truly special single malt, bursting with flavour. It is lovely to see the great reviews it has already received.’

Wolfburn’s strongest expression takes its name from the Norse word for longship – the Viking vessels that once dominated the Caithness coast. Sleek, smooth, purposeful and strong, the legacy of these ships surrounds the Wolfburn distillery – in addition to settlements and burial sites, Wolfburn’s home town of Thurso was named by the Vikings in honour of the god Thor.

‘Malt fanatics worldwide have long asked us to do a cask-strength release.’ states Shane. ‘This is as close as we can make it currently. It really is a very pure Wolfburn flavour profile – the nose and palate are both smooth and complex. We’re totally delighted with the result.’

Shane Fraser (distillery manager) and Iain Kerr (deputy manager) with Langskip bottles

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

W.L. WELLER 12 YEAR OLD KENTUCKY STRAIGHT BOURBON WHISKEY WINS THE BOURBON TROPHY AT THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION

Eighteen other Buffalo Trace whiskies also honored 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Aug. 29, 2018) – Nineteen Buffalo Trace Distillery spirits were awarded medals at the 2018 International Wine & Spirits Competition, including W.L. Weller 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, which received the Bourbon Trophy. The Bourbon Trophy is awarded to the best bourbon that is submitted in this international competition.

Buffalo Trace Distillery spirits awarded “Gold Outstanding” include:

• George T. Stagg Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• W.L. Weller 12 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Awarded Gold:

• William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

11 of the 19 Buffalo Trace Distillery spirits recognized received “Silver Outstanding” medals which are awarded based upon the highest scores within each category.

Buffalo Trace Distillery spirits awarded “Silver Outstanding” include:

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Eagle Rare 10 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr, Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Sazerac Rye 6 Year Old Whiskey
• W.L. Weller Special Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Old Weller Antique 107 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
• Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Those awarded Silver include:

• Pappy Van Winkle 20 Year Old Family Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Benchmark Old No. 8 Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

“We are excited by our placements at the IWSC,” said Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley. “The judging for this competition is very rigorous, so we feel very proud of these results.”

The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs.

All entries are first blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary, by professional expert judges (by glass, not bottle) and then the top products are sent for detailed chemical and microbiological analysis. This analysis is crucial as in some instances the results of this analysis may lead to marks being deducted or even outright rejection.

Learn more at https://www.iwsc.net/.

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.

Liquid poetry

Isle of Arran Distillers on the hunt for official poem for new distillery

The Isle of Arran Distillers have launched a competition to find the official poem for their Lagg Distillery. The winning entry will take pride of place onsite at the new distillery that is due to open in the Spring of 2019.

Budding writers have been tasked with producing a poem that beautifully captures the Isle of Arran’s history, landscape or, quite simply, it’s spirit – whisky or otherwise. The closing date for entries is Friday 14 December and the winner and two runners up will be announced on Burns Night, Friday 25 January 2019.

As well as having their poem immortalised at the Lagg Distillery, the winning entry will be exclusively published in Scottish Field magazine, the official media partner for the competition. The winning poet will also be invited to the official opening of the new Lagg Distillery & Visitor Centre in Spring of next year. The two runners up will receive an exclusive Lagg Distillery goodie bag.

The Isle of Arran Distillers have assembled an expert judging panel that will mull over each entry. Judges include Hamish Whyte, honorary research fellow in the Department of Scottish Literature at Glasgow University, Jim Carruth, Poet Laureate of Glasgow since 2014, Rachel McCormack, a renowned chef and author of Chasing the Dram, Kenny Smith, editor at Scottish Field, Graham Omand, the Lagg Distillery manager, and Faye Waterlow, the Lagg Visitor Centre manager.

Speaking about the competition, Euan Mitchell, managing director of Isle of Arran Distillers, said: “We’re thrilled to launch this competition to help celebrate the opening of our new Distillery. To us, whisky is liquid poetry and we want to include this spirit at Lagg.

“The judges and I are very excited to read the work that is inspired by the island and the ‘Arran Waters’. Who knows, we might uncover the next big literary talent! It’s also very fitting to coincide the announcement of the winning poem with Burns Night. At the Isle of Arran Distillers, we are proud to be the only whisky-maker to have a dram that’s officially endorsed by The World Robert Burns Federation.”

All entries can be submitted to Scottish Field magazine by emailing Kenny Smith at ksmith@scottishfield.co.uk with the subject ‘Isle of Arran Distillers – Poetry Competition’.  Entrants will also need to include in their name, contact information and date of birth as this competition is only open to those over the age of 18.

Poems can also be submitted by post using the following address:

Kenny Smith

Scottish Field

496 Ferry Road,

Edinburgh,

EH5 2DL

Please be sure to also include within your entry letter your name, your contact information and your date of birth.

Terms and conditions for the competition can be found on the Scottish Field and Isle of Arran Distillers websites.

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)

Canada Distils

a new book from

After what seems an eternity of planning, traveling from coast to coast, and writing, Blair Phillips and I are overjoyed that our forthcoming book, called Canada Distils, will be published on the Appetite by Random House imprint of Penguin Random House Canada. Thank you to everyone who has helped and hosted us in our travels so far. We’re not done yet, so don’t be surprised if we call or drop by looking for information.

The book profiles of all of Canada’s operating distilleries, large and small, along with little-known details for visitors and armchair visitors alike. There is so much more between the pages, but you’ll just have to be patient to find out what.

Shortlist announced

International Wine and Spirits Competition

Spirits Communicator of the Year 2018 

From IWSC media release:

“Four stars of the spirits industry have been chosen to go forward to the shortlist of the IWSC’s prestigious Spirit Communicator of the Year award.

“Amanda Victoria, Davin de Kergommeaux, Tom Sandham, and Eric Zandona were selected as the four finalists by a panel of judges which included Louisa Humm, head of brand communications at Pernod Ricard, drinks journalist Douglas Blyde, editor of just-drinks.com Olly Wehring, spirits consultant Veronika Karlova, IWSC general manager Adam Lechmere, and last year’s winner and editor/co-founder of Gin Foundry Olivier Ward.

“The Spirit Communicator of the Year award, sponsored by Chivas Brothers, recognises an individual or organisation whose communication skills have made an exceptional contribution towards promoting and increasing public awareness in spirits.

“The winner will be announced at the IWSC Awards Banquet on 14 November 2018 at the Guildhall in London.”

https://iwsc.net/news/iwsc/shortlist-announced-for-spirit-communicator-of-the-year-2018

The Strath / Shelter Point exclusives

Two new Shelter Point whiskies, both exclusive to The Strath liquor store in Victoria are well worth hunting down. Shelter Point is really coming into its own and The Strath has picked two of its honeyest honey barrels to release as single-cask whiskies. A Classic Single Malt distilled in 2011 and an Avant-Garde Barley from 2013 are both bottled at 57.3%.

Look for typical lush malty notes in the Classic, underscored by baking spices, citrus fruit and fresh bread. Avant-Garde Barley matured in a Vancouver Island blackberry wine barrel, bursts with jammy fruit, toasted grain and citrus hints.

Yukon’s Two Brewers

Meanwhile, in Whitehorse, Two Brewers continue to impress with their latest whiskies including Release 10, their first cask-strength whisky to date. Bottled at 58%, its grassy notes, sweet tobacco and cereals bask in a gentle bed of Werther’s caramel.

A Pedro Ximinez finish adds sweetness and ripe fruity tones to Release 9, which is bottled at 46%.

Canadian Rockies 17 Year Old

All the excitement about the recently released Canadian Rockies 21 may have overshadowed another real gem of a whisky. Sourced from Highwood Distillers in Alberta, Canadian Rockies 17 year old is one more example of the glories of slow maturation. Canadian Rockies 17, bottled at 50% abv, delivers all the spiciness, luscious corn and crisp clean woody notes we’ve come to expect in well-aged corn whisky.

Banff Whisky Experience

On September 28 & 29, the inaugural Banff Whisky Experience will offer 15 master classes for curious drammers who want to experience new whiskies. My two classes alone include whiskies very few people will have tasted before.

This is shaping up to be one of Canada’s premiere whisky events, and you certainly can’t complain about the location. The complete schedule is now available at https://www.banffwhiskyexperience.com.

Click “Buy Tickets” or go to: www.showpass.com/bwe/.

Space is limited, so book soon!

Canadian Whisky Awards 2019

Mark your calendars. The 2019 Canadian Whisky Awards have not yet been announced officially, but if you are planning to attend the gala presentation, reserve Thursday, January 17 at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria.  See you there. Invitations for producers to enter their whiskies in the awards will be forthcoming.

Blue Mountain Whisky Tasting 

On November 10, 2018, Grand Central Lodge at Blue Mountain in Collingwood, Ontario, will treat whisky lovers to a grand tasting along with food, cocktails and a cigar pairing. Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.ca or thedampub.ca.

Canadian Whisky, the book 

Everything you ever wanted to know about Canadian whisky, but didn’t know where to look. Now in the second printing of its second edition. Available at bookstores across Canada and the US, and from online sellers.