Crown Royal kicks off largest-ever responsible drinking initiative

Brand encourages football fans to ‘stay in the game’ through moderation and hydration, launches campaign reminding fans to take Water Breaks as football season begins in America

Whether at bars, stadiums or at home, enjoying cocktails and adult beverages can be essential parts of the football experience. But every so often, there’s a fan whose overconsumption can ruin the game for themselves and those around them.  So Crown Royal, America’s best-selling Canadian whisky, is building upon its “Hydrate Generously” platform that started in 2017, and is now launching its largest-ever responsible drinking campaign, called “The Water Break.”

Water Breaks are a must for professional football players, but what about the fans who support their teams, win or lose? This season, Crown Royal is introducing the first off-the-field Water Break – a movement that encourages responsible game day consumption and reinforces the importance of drinking in moderation and hydrating between alcoholic beverages.

“Crown Royal is taking responsible drinking to the next level with an initiative that’s more than just a message; we are looking to change behaviors and ultimately make a positive social impact. Simply put, the Crown Royal Water Break reminds sports fans to not ruin the game day celebrations for everyone else by overconsuming,” said Sophie Kelly, Senior Vice President of North American Whisk(e)ys at Diageo. “Our Water Break platform is an integrated campaign and the new spot will run in homes, bars and stadiums, and will air nationally and locally all over the country. This season make sure you moderate your drinking and hydrate to stay in the game. TAKE A WATER BREAK!”

The campaign will debut with a nationally televised 30-second commercial to air during the opening game of the American football season.  The spot features a referee signaling a time out for an official Crown Royal Water Break, encouraging a moment for fans everywhere to take a break and hydrate between alcoholic beverages. The campaign will continue to air during the first half of games throughout the entire season.

https://youtu.be/dFStecG879Q

The brand will also partner with a roster of American football legends to remind fans of the importance of taking Water Breaks.  In select markets in the U.S., these former greats will get back in the action by assisting Crown Royal in distributing tens of thousands of gallons of water in stadiums and bars to create a safer, more enjoyable game day. Consistent with the brand’s long-standing commitment to responsible drinking, this is the next in a series of social responsibility efforts that have included providing fans with free, safe rides home around big events and public service announcements promoting responsible drinking.

Five cities will play host to the 2018 Fall Whiskey Tasting Festival happening across various venues on September 29th. Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Houston, and Minneapolis are expected to bring in crowds from each of these locations and together, elevate the experience with the best whiskeys in these cities.

“Always sad to see summer come to an end but we have a tasty brown spirit to warm the heart and bring that smile back to join a variety of brands, great venues and of course other whiskey lovers this September,” William Holdeman, Social Scene president says.

It’s fall and whiskey is waiting for you. Join the special fall whiskey tasting event that will excite your pallet and tease your taste buds! Get ready to engage your senses, connect with others and enjoy a memorable moment. Enjoy an intimate setting with whiskey reps showcasing a few of their top brands.

Package Includes

The organizers have prepared an experience that you should not miss at the 2018 Fall Whiskey Tasting Festival. Enjoy the following perk as you purchase your tickets: 

• 2 Hour Whiskey Tasting (2 1/2 for VIP, VIP Start Time 3:30PM)
• 15 Tasting Tickets (.25 oz Pours)(More available for purchase – 100% charity)
• Featured Food & Drink Specials
• Vote for Top Brands (Use #FallWhiskeyFestival #Chicago, #Denver, #Dallas, #Houston, #Minneapolis and Tag Venue!)
• Fun Giveaway (VIP Only)
• VIP Perks
• First Time Lyft users, use code BeSocial for $5 in rides! 

You can also avail of 20% discount by using discount code DWF (Drink With Friends). 

Venues & Brands 

Various venues and brands are participating at the 2018 Fall Whiskey Tasting Festival. Social Scene has partnered with great spaces and connected with different whiskey brands to offer only the best to the attendees.

• Improper City – 3201 Walnut Street, Denver, Colorado 80205
• Bottled Blonde – 505 N Good Latimer Expy, Dallas, Texas 75204
• 508 Bar – 508 N 1st Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55401 

“We are so excited for another whiskey event, Fall Whiskey Festival Tasting and to be adding Texas to our list of markets in Dallas and Houston!” Holdeman says.

Among the participating whiskey brands are Art of the Spirits Whiskey LLC, Isanti Spirits, Koval Distillery, Tighe Brothers Distillery, Wood’s High Mountain Distillery, and more brands will be announced soon!

About Social Scene 

Social Scene creates a “scene” an environment to connect people, build relationships and create memories through online campaigns and on-premise social events; focusing on providing exposure to our partnering brands, venues and clients to connect with a great social audience – Experiential Marketing.

Social Scene builds brand awareness for partnering venues and brands, connecting them with a targeted audience to build relationships and create memories. Visit BeSocialScene.com for the most up to date events and to partner on an upcoming experience.

Want to build a live or online experience around your company’s brand or venue? Email info@besocialscene.com or send a message directly at BeSocialScene.com. Be Social. Be Seen

Amrut plays with Portuguese Madeira Casks for the first time:

Releases India’s first Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky 

Amrut Distilleries, India, known for their popular range of Single Malt Whiskies in India and overseas have done something new yet again! The distillery is very pleased to announce the launch of the ‘Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt Whisky’ – the first time ever for an Indian distillery to produce a Madeira finish Single Malt propelling Amrut to a whole new level.

To create this masterpiece, the team at Amrut Distilleries travelled to the Portuguese Madeira Islands, off the coast of Africa, to handpick Barrels that had aged the right type of Madeira that would complement Amrut’s signature characters. The barrels were then shipped to our distillery in Bangalore, India and filled with aged spirits from our stable. The robust flavours of the Madeira left behind in the staves pairs exceptionally well with Amrut’s nectars, creating a whisky unlike ever before, waiting for you to see the depths a whisky can embody and delight all your senses. The Master Distiller at Amrut Distilleries, Mr.Surrinder Kumar, has crafted this very meticulously, ensuring the Madeira makes its presence felt without stealing the show on its own.

“Amrut had really worked their way around to make this bottling with a near perfect balance of aromas.”, says Ashok Chokalingam, Amrut Distilleries. “We are very delighted with this bottling and the flavours emanating out of this whisky is truly mind boggling. It is a fantastic addition to Amrut stable and yet it is distinctive. We have pretty much produced every style of whisky and pushed the boundaries on maturation techniques that are possible. A few more are now in the pipeline to complete the course” he observes.

4800 bottles have been bottled and are now heading to the North American, European & Asia Pacific markets to be picked up by lucky customers who can lay their hands on them! “The angels of India have done it again”, concludes Ashok, “this land can make whiskies that will amaze and stun you every single time.”

Tasting Notes: (prepared by Ashok Chokalingam)

Style: A fruity affair with signature Amrut characters enveloped around it.

Nose: Almond (perhaps Marzipan) wrapped up in Toffee, Coconut shavings and complemented by Vanilla pods and Golden syrup.

Palate: Almond cake, sweet Orange, Toffee with a fruity tease, velvety. You hesitate to swallow the whisky as the middle ground is so palatable.

Finish: Citrus finish with a hint of Toffee and a refreshing end.

Rare whisky marks 20^th anniversary at Benromach Distillery 

All profits from the sale of Benromach Cask No 1 single malt whisky will be donated to charitable causes

Twenty years after family owned Benromach Distillery was reopened by His Royal Highness The Duke of Rothesay, a rare single malt whisky has been released to mark the occasion.  

Benromach Cask No 1 is an incredibly rare and limited-edition expression taken from the first cask that was laid down when the distillery reopened after many years of closure. The cask itself was signed by HRH The Duke of Rothesay, Prince Charles, during the distillery’s official reopening ceremony on 15^th October 1998.

Marking a defining moment in the distillery’s history and a key date in this year’s 20^th anniversary celebrations, all profits from the sale of Benromach Cask No 1 will be donated to charitable causes.

The whisky, which was bottled on the 21^st August 2018 exactly 20 years after it was filled, is a cask strength (60.1% abv) 1998 vintage. All 575 bottles of this incredibly rare expression will be sold exclusively through Benromach Distillery’s Visitor Centre with a RRP of £1,000. Pre-orders can be placed from today (3^rd September) with decanters available from 15^th October 2018. 

Benromach Cask No 1 was matured in a First Fill Sherry Butt and has a sumptuous vintage character of rich fruits, smooth chocolate and warm spices, with hints of zingy citrus, coffee bean and charred oak.

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when the Urquhart family purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over five years before it was officially opened on 15^th October 1998 by HRH The Duke of Rothesay. 

Ewen Mackintosh, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, owners of Benromach Distillery, said: “As we celebrate the 20^th anniversary since Benromach was brought back to life, it is fitting that the Urquhart family has decided to donate all the profits from the sale of this product to charitable causes.  This incredibly rare expression marks a significant moment in Benromach’s history and we look forward to seeing what the next 20 years will bring.”

Keith Cruickshank, Benromach Distillery Manager, joined as a distiller in 1998. He said: “I was proud to witness HRH The Duke of Rothesay sign the first cask of our own distilled spirit 20 years ago. This unique single cask offers whisky lovers the chance to own, savour and share an incredibly special moment in the history of the Benromach Distillery.

“Benromach Cask No 1 is a treasured bottle and is the oldest and most exclusive whisky to be launched as part of the Classic range since the distillery was revived. Part of our Classic range of Speyside single malt scotch whiskies, it offers  succulent blackberries and stewed damson plum with a hint of roasted hazelnut and charred oak on the finish.”

The double doors of the striking wooden presentation box open to reveal the decanter which displays the distillation and bottling date, as well as the date the distillery was first established – 1898.  Each decanter is closed with a copper stopper, reminiscent of Benromach’s gleaming copper stills.

All 575 decanters are individually numbered and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Keith Cruickshank, Distillery Manager. A beautifully written hardback book accompanies the whisky, themed around the idea of firsts, which captures the time-honoured craftsmanship employed in every spirit cut and hand-filled cask of Benromach, beginning with Cask No 1 and continuing today with every cask that is laid down.

Benromach is one of only a few distilleries in Scotland to use traditional methods, without any automated machinery. The small team of distillers employ all their senses when crafting the classic Speyside single malt Scotch whiskies, managing the process by sight, sound and touch to create the unique, handcrafted and authentic Benromach taste.

For more information on Benromach, and to explore the wide range of expressions available, please visit: www.benromach.com

Award Winning Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Benromach

www.benromach.com

Benromach handcraft the finest Scotch whisky in a time honoured way. View our complete range of whiskies and find out more about how we make it here.

STEP INSIDE ‘THE MACALLAN MANOR’

SCOTCH BRAND REINVENTS MULTI-SENSORY WHISKY TASTING EXPERIENCE, HITTING CITIES ACROSS AMERICA THIS FALL

August 28, 2018 – The Macallan, the world’s most admired single malt Scotch whisky, announces a new immersive event series, The Macallan Manor, reinventing whisky tasting through a stunning, multi-sensorial experience. The event series embarks on a three-month tour across nine major U.S. cities this fall.

Designed to surprise and delight, The Macallan Manor transforms historic, old-world manors into luxury, first-class tasting experiences, blending the sensorial with storytelling and converting new consumers to Scotch whisky fans. The event series kicks off in New York in early September and concludes in Los Angeles in November.

Guests will journey through four immersive worlds, each a unique experience created around one of The Macallan’s whisky expressions, pairing set design with storytelling and multi-sensory experiments to delve into each of the five senses.

Attendees of The Macallan Manor can expect one-of-a-kind immersive tastings taking place in unexpected locations such as an oak forest with flavor-enhancing flowers imported from the Amazonian rainforest, or  a cooperage in Spain, to name a few.. Additionally, guests can expect an unusual food menu – featuring edible clouds for starters – masterfully paired with The Macallan and designed to stimulate and intensify an already premium whisky-tasting experience.

“We are reaching a new group of consumers around the U.S. with the goal to inspire and transform them into fans of The Macallan while giving them a never-seen-before, sensorial, educational and interactive experience,” said Samantha Leotta, Brand Director of The Macallan in the Americas. “We are excited to partner with Adam Aleksander Presents on this enchanting, highly experiential event series, marrying the experiential arts with the best single malt whisky in the world.”

“The Macallan has given us wings to create our largest production to date,” said event designer Adam Aleksander. “We’re building impossible things; 7 rooms on 2 tracks, sculpting trees, making sensory machines and more, taking experiential to the next level. The idea for this event was inspired by travel from a journey I took through in 2017. Utilizing adventure theory, at The Macallan Manor small groups will move through the four rooms together. We put the quality of guest experience at number one and we hope this comes through when guests join us for the experience.”

To apply for an invitation to The Macallan Manor and for more information, visit themacallanmanor.com. The fall schedule for The Macallan Manor event series is as follows:

New York

September 11, September 12, September 13

The Down Town Association

Boston

September 20, September 21

The Algonquin Club

Miami

September 26, September 27

M Building

Austin

October 2, October 3

Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs

Denver

October 11, October 12

University Club

Chicago

October 17, October 18

International Museum of Surgical Science

Washington, D.C.

October 23, October 24

Arts Club of Washington

Atlanta

October 30, October 31

Callanwolde Fine Arts Center

Los Angeles

November 6, November 8

Greystone Mansion

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

About Adam Aleksander Presents

Adam Aleksander Presents is an award-winning experiential event design agency. Adam Aleksander focuses on creating immersive worlds for people to step into and have the time of their lives. The experiences are a mix of adventure and set design that interweaves story, performance and multi-sensory experiments. People crave “the unforgettable” and it is our mission to create that. Adam got his start by creating underground events that melded culinary with nightlife; cocktails and parties in underground settings; selling tickets to consumers.

Notes

Adam Aleksander Presents’ The Macallan Manor is directed and designed by Adam Aleksander in collaboration with the company. The Macallan has brought together some of the best designers in the country to enact this innovation:

• Adam Aleksander – Experiential Event Designer & Director
• Brian Quinn – Tasting Designer, The Noble Rot Supperclub
• Katie Fleming – Set Designer, Assistant Designer, Sleep No More
• Guy Smith – Lighting Designer, Queen of the Night
• Evan Collier – Lead Fabricator, Arch Productions, Bullet for Adolph

THE LAKES DISTILLERY MAKES HISTORY WITH ‘STEEL BONNETS’ BLENDED MALT WHISKY

The Lakes Distillery is to release the world’s first blend of English malt and Scotch malt whisky. 

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.

The name ‘Steel Bonnets’ 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.

Their life was one of constant struggle to survive, exacerbated by the armies of Scotland and England as they marched through the border lands to fight for the right to govern a united Scotland and England.

The armies took from the people of this land, and in turn they also robbed or reived from others, English and Scots alike.

In early English, to reive is to rob, and from this were born the Border Reivers nicknamed the ‘Steel Bonnets’ after the distinctive helmets they wore.

Allegiance was to kin, not kingdom.  Loyalty was to clan – to family. These loyalties had no border or king, but united them under their clan names, Rutherford, Armstrong, Graham, Fenwick and Johnstone to mention but a few.

Neil Armstrong, the first man to step on the moon, was descended from a famous Reiver family. It was said that the Armstrong clan could call on more than two thousand men and horse, fully armed, within an hour to fight off their enemies.

This union of nations and families has been brought back today in the form of ‘Steel Bonnets’.

These families are now spread all over the world and ‘Steel Bonnets’ is the perfect way to celebrate that illustrious history of family loyalty and comradeship.

Malt whisky continues to grow in popularity and was worth over £1 billion to the UK economy in 2017. The Lakes Distillery will release its first Single Malt Whisky in July when 99 bottles of The Lakes Genesis Single Malt Whisky will be auctioned with whiskyauctioneer.com.

Nigel Mills CBE, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Lakes Distillery, said: “It was very important to us that our geographical location, its people and its culture were recognised in this new blended malt whisky, ‘Steel Bonnets’. The Border Reivers were an integral part of Border history in the 300 years leading up to the union between England and Scotland in 1707, which eventually brought peace to this battle-strewn land.”

The Lakes Distillery Master Whiskymaker, Dhavall Gandhi, said: “I handpicked the individual malt whiskies to create a unique blend – something that has never been tried before. The whisky, at 46.6% ABV, has a creamy, slightly nutty and full-bodied flavour with notes of vanilla, ginger, nutmeg and hints of dried fruit. All held together with a sweet layer of woodsmoke. A fitting tribute to the history of the Border families.”

Paul Currie, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Lakes Distillery, said: “This is a milestone year for the Distillery. We are releasing our first single malts to the public, and establishing the Lakes Distillery as a luxury global whisky brand. We know that people will appreciate the incredible story behind this historic release.”

Alan Rutherford OBE, Chairman of the Lakes Distillery, said: “The Border region has a fascinating history of survival and family loyalty going back centuries. While there is a tendency to think of clanship as a uniquely Scottish attribute, on both sides of the border the tie of tribal blood was strong. ‘Steel Bonnets’ is a tribute to those people, and their families, who saw themselves as neither English nor Scottish, but rather the ‘Steel Bonnets’ Reiver warriors.”

THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY HOSTS 35^th ANNIVERSARY PARTY IN EDINBURGH’S QUEEN STREET GARDENS

Tickets are available to members and non-members of the whisky club 

On Saturday 8^th September, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is throwing open the gates to the normally private Queen Street Gardens to host a party celebrating its 35^th anniversary. The festivities start at 12pm and include food, drink and music with prices from £20 for members and £25 for non-members: http://bit.ly/2LnlF0Z

Each guest will receive a Society tasting glass on entry, which can be used to sample a wide selection of SMWS single cask whiskies, as well as whiskies from the many other distilleries that will be on hand to showcase their own malts throughout the day.

Guests will also receive a token for a dram from the SMWS Historic Stock Bar, featuring some very special Old & Rare bottlings.

If guests would like to add a little whisky education into the mix, the SMWS will be holding masterclasses all afternoon across the road in the Members’ Rooms at 28 Queen Street.

There will also be a Chapel Down bar serving English sparkling wine, the Edinburgh Beer Factory will be bringing along their Beer Van and live music will take place throughout the afternoon, along with a barbecue.

Jan Damen, UK Operations Director said: “We’re delighted to be hosting this party in the beautiful Queen Street Gardens to celebrate our 35^th Anniversary. The Society has risen from strength to strength over the years as our fantastic group of members continues to grow.

“We’re looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and welcoming some new guests to sample our wonderful range of single cask whiskies. For non-members, there will be the chance to purchase membership to the Society at the event.”

For more information on membership:

UK

http://bit.ly/2Lr81JY
Twitter: @SMWSUK 

Notes:

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society 

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an international whisky club that bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The Society only ever bottles single casks – each cask is unique, making every Society bottling a limited edition
• The Society has bottled whisky from more than 135 distilleries in its history
• The Society releases a new batch of around 30 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar and Shop in Edinburgh has over 200 whiskies on offer and is open to everybody
• The Society offers a variety of membership packages which can be tailored. Please see http://bit.ly/2Lr81JY
• For more information about the Society, visit http://bit.ly/2Lr81JY

GORDON & MACPHAIL CELEBRATES 50^TH ANNIVERSARY OF ‘CONNOISSEURS CHOICE’

The innovative range has paved the way for single malt whiskies for five decades

To celebrate the 50^th Anniversary of its ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ range, family-owned whisky creator Gordon & MacPhail is enhancing the range with a series of single malts aged 30 years and above.

George Urquhart, second-generation member of the Urquhart family that owns Gordon & MacPhail, first pioneered the ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ range in 1968 at a time when very few whiskies were bottled as single malts.  Presenting these new releases as a range effectively invented a category in a market which, up to then, had been dominated by blends. In the late 1960s the ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ range provided a platform for many of Scotland’s single malt distilleries, some of which had never before been released as single malts.

Over the past five decades, almost 100 of Scotland’s distilleries have been represented across more than 2,000 separate bottlings under the ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ banner, encompassing the entire spectrum of single malt flavours and profiles and featuring spirit from many distilleries that have been closed for decades.

Today’s range remains true to George Urquhart’s original vision and philosophy – the perfect marriage of liquid and cask to deliver exquisite whiskies in small batches often from single casks.

The new series of ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ releases is aged to a minimum of 30 years and features single malts from distilleries such as Mortlach, Caol Ila and Linkwood, among others. Available in decanter-style bottles inside engraved wooden presentation boxes, each whisky has been selected for bottling by Associate Director of Whisky Supply, and grandson of George, Stuart Urquhart at its peak, a skill handed down through four family generations.

The premium expressions are complemented by 30 further ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ single malts. Matured in Gordon & MacPhail casks in small batches, all are non-chill filtered and bottled at natural colour.

Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige and a fourth-generation member of the Urquhart family, owners of Gordon & MacPhail said: “We’re proud to be the curators of Scotland’s liquid library – the world’s most diverse stock of single malt whiskies. When my grandfather first launched ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ in the 1960s he was considered eccentric for taking such an approach. Today, he is heralded as one of the industry’s pioneers having provided whisky lovers with the opportunity to explore many whiskies never readily available as single malts. Our new releases celebrate this proud heritage, presenting unique expressions from revered distilleries that will appeal to a wide range of tastes around the world.”

Gordon & MacPhail is also releasing three new expressions in its new ‘Discovery’ range, designed as an ideal starting point for whisky drinkers to explore the wide diversity of flavours that exist within single malt Scotch. Under the ‘Discovery’ banner, Gordon & MacPhail groups new expressions in three distinct colour-coded profiles; ‘Smoky’, ‘Sherry’ and ‘Bourbon’. The latest releases are from the Ledaig, Bunnahabhain and Tomatin distilleries.

Prices for the new ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ releases start at approximately £75 RSP, rising to around £500 for the premium expressions, dependent on taxes and import duties. Whiskies in the ‘Discovery’ range retail at £50.

Earlier this year, the 123-year-old, family-owned company streamlined their existing portfolio into five new ranges, with ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ the first to be relaunched in April 2018, specifically coinciding with the 50^th Anniversary. The second range to be launched was ‘Discovery’ in May, with ‘Distillery Labels’ following in July. ‘Private Collection’ will be revealed to consumers later in the year. The launch of the next ‘Generations’ release is yet to be revealed.

For more information about the new ‘Connoisseurs Choice’ and ‘Discovery’ range and the streamlined portfolio, visit www.gordonandmacphail.com.

Notes:

Gordon & MacPhail Whiskies

Established in 1895, family-owned Gordon & MacPhail is curator of some of the world’s finest and rarest single malt Scotch whiskies from over 100 distilleries. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued to pursue the perfect partnership between spirit and cask.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail has carefully matched spirit to the highest quality oak casks which are sent to distilleries throughout Scotland, filled with new-make spirit, and matured either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

It is this simple but endlessly complex pairing that creates an intriguing and unique portfolio of expressions – single malts that Scotch whisky lovers will not find anywhere else.

In 2018, the company unveiled its new portfolio:

• Discovery – Utterly dependable, this flavour-led range is the perfect introduction to our portfolio of quality single malt Scotch whiskies.
• Distillery Labels – A range celebrating our long-standing relationships with Scotland’s distilleries.
• Connoisseurs Choice – The heart of our portfolio – always unique, these non-chill-filtered, natural coloured, small batch expressions are genuine one-offs.
• Private Collection – Greatly-aged single malts from celebrated, little-known, or closed distilleries specially selected by members of the Urquhart family.
• Generations – A prestigious collection of old, rare, and exclusive masterpieces.

www.gordonandmacphail.com

NEW AUCTION WORLD RECORD FOR SINGLE BOTTLE OF JAPANESE WHISKY AT BONHAMS  HONG KONG

RARE YAMAZAKI-50 YEAR OLD SELLS FOR HK$2,695,000

First edition of Yamazaki-50 year old. Sold for: HK$2,695,000 (estimate HK$1,800,000-2,400,000.

A rare first edition of Yamazaki-50 year old became the most valuable Japanese whisky at auction when it sold for a new world record of HK$2,695,000 at Bonhams Whisky Sale in Hong Kong on Friday 17 August. It had been estimated at HK$1,800,000-2,400,000.  It overtakes the previous world record of HK$2,450,000 set at Bonhams Wine and Whisky sale in Hong Kong in May 2018. In total, the sale made more thanHK$26,000,000.

The oldest expression from the famous Japanese distillery, the Yamakazi-50 year old was matured in casks made from mizunara (Japanese Oak) before being bottled and released in 2005. Only 50 bottles were produced, making it one of the scarcest Japanese whiskies.

Earlier this year, Bonhams established a world record for the most valuable Scotch whisky – and the most valuable whisky ever sold at auction – of HK$8,636,250 for the Macallan Valerio Adami-1926-60 Year Old.

Bonhams Head of Fine Wine and Whisky in Hong Kong, Daniel Lam, said: “The Yamazaki-50 year old is an exceptional whisky and, of course, very rare indeed. This new world record for a bottle of Japanese whisky – just a few months after we set the previous one –  and the world record we set for Scotch whisky in May demonstrate that the auction market for single malt whisky is in good health.”

Other highlights of the sale included:

• A bottle of the Yamazaki-35 year old, sold for HK$551,250 (estimate: HK$350,000-500,000);
• A bottle of Karuizawa-1965, sold for HK$490,000 (estimate: HK$330,000-380,000)
• A bottle of the Suntory-Rolling Stone 50th Anniversary from the Yamazaki distillery, sold for HK$465,500 (estimate: HK$280,000-360,000).
• A bottle of The Macallan Fine & Rare-1937-37 year old, sold for HK$428,750 (HK$260,000-320,000)
• A vertical collection of Port Ellen Annual Release – 17 bottles from 2001-2017 – sold for HK$367,500.  (Estimate: HK$280,000-360,000)
• A bottle of Macallan Fine & Rare-1946-56 year old, sold for HK$392,000 (HK$250,000-300,000).
• A bottle of Hibiki-Arita-35 year old, produced to celebrate the 400^th anniversary of Japanese porcelain production. Only 150 bottles were released. Sold for HK$196,000 (estimate: HK$100,000-140,000).
• The Karuizawa Sumo Trio Distilled in 1981, 1982 and 1983, framed within a crafted humidor designed by Ukiyo-e artist Hachisuka Kuniaki. Only 340 sets were produced. Sold for HK$183,750 (estimate: HK$90,000-120,000)

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.