Raasay Distillery is home to the UK’s most north-westerly population of rare Brown Long-Eared Bats, as well as a colony of Common Pipistrelle bats, which were discovered nesting in the roof of Borodale House, prior to the distillery build.

On Wednesday 1st August from 7pm- 11pm the distillery will be hosting a very special interactive evening giving visitors the chance to learn more about the distillery’s furry friends and to help monitor their summer movements through an after-dark ‘Bat Safari’.

Raasay’s nocturnal residents were carefully looked after throughout the distillery build and were temporarily re-homed in bat boxes in the surrounding trees. When the building work was complete and it was safe to return, that bats were settled into their very own ‘Bat Hotel’ in Borodale House.

The distillery’s Batman and Robin (ecologists Ross Preston and Janie Steele) will chat to visitors about how they have looked after these unusual creatures and will discuss the importance of these curious creatures as ‘indicator species’ for any other localised environmental problem.

After a distillery tour, tasting and bat talk the fascinating evening will culminate after dark with a ‘Bat Safari’ in which visitors will head outside to observe these extraordinary nocturnal mammals in their natural habitat. Guests will also be able to try out bat detectors to listen their sonic communications, and will help complete an invaluable summer survey of the Raasay Distillery bats.

The event is open to all ages with a range of batty craft activities for younger guests taking place throughout the evening as an alternative to the distillery tour and whisky tasting. There will also be tea and coffee available, alongside a licensed bar.

More information, including a full programme and link to purchase £10 tickets can be found here

Glenmorangie breaks ground on a multi-million-pound expansion

Ardbeg is crowned Distillery of the Year at esteemed whisky awards

SAZERAC’S Tennessee Distillery IS GETTING A NEW HOME 

            MURFREESBOBO, tn (July 11, 2018) Last July, Master Distiller John Lunn and Distiller Allisa Henley started cranking up their pot stills and distilled their first Tennessee whiskey for Sazerac in Newport, TN.  Now one year later, John and Allisa are looking forward to moving their operation to Murfreesboro, TN as Sazerac starts planning for a new distillery, including bottling, barrel warehouses and a visitor center on the 55 acres it recently purchased.

The initial plan is to build two barrel warehouses, each of which will hold approximately 20,000 barrels.  A visitor center which overlooks the property’s iconic five acre lake is also planned, all to be operational in 2020.

“Murfreesboro is one of the fastest growing cities in the country,” said Mayor Shane McFarland. “We are excited about Sazerac’s investment in our community and look forward to celebrating a brand new Tennessee Whiskey from our hometown.”

Meanwhile, John and Allisa are continuing to distill Tennessee whiskey on their three pot stills at the Newport, TN location. After the new distillery in Murfreesboro is built, all stills and barrels will be moved.  With the oldest whiskey being only a year old, the barrels still have many years to rest before being bottled and sold, giving John and Allisa plenty of time to determine  brand name for the Tennessee whiskey, the age of the whiskey and even a name for the new distillery.

The two just burned their second batch of sugar maple in John’s backyard to make the charcoal they use for the Lincoln County process, essential for making Tennessee whiskey. To be classified a Tennessee whiskey the whiskey must be filtered through maple charcoal, which distinguishes it from bourbon whiskey.

“We’re looking forward to having a new home for our distillery in Murfreesboro and we’re excited about being so close to Middle Tennessee State University and partnering with their students in the fermentation program,” said Master Distiller John Lunn.

Although the main focus for John and Allisa will be Tennessee whiskey, they note they enjoy having the freedom to conduct a few experiments if they like. “Sazerac is known for experimentation, and we look forward to continuing that tradition with experimental spirits in Tennessee,” stated Distiller Allisa Henley.

Sazerac’s new Tennessee distillery will employee 20-25 full time workers. The new site will give complimentary tours and tastings when the visitor center is open.  Tourism projections for visitors within five to ten years of opening is 50,000.  Employment opportunities will be posted online at www.sazerac.com in late 2019 or early 2020.

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.

THE GLENLIVET MASTER DISTILLER, ALAN WINCHESTER, HONOURED WITH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

13 July 2018 –The Glenlivet is today celebrating a true industry icon as it raises a dram to its very own Master Distiller, Alan Winchester, who has been awarded one of the most prestigious industry accolades, the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Starting out as a distillery tour guide before becoming the ultimate guarantor of THE definitive Speyside malt, The Glenlivet, Alan has experienced a number of significant achievements in his 40 years in the industry. He was the man behind The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, the number one Single Malt innovation globally in the past five years (IWSR, 2016), and more recently crafted The Glenlivet Captain’s Reserve, a new Single Malt whisky selectively finished in high-quality cognac casks.

His other significant accomplishments include:

• Releasing The Glenlivet’s first series of 50 Year Old whiskies, which was named in his honour (The Winchester Collection)
• Creating The Glenlivet Smugglers Trails in 2007 in conjunction with the Crown Estate
• Becoming a Master of the Quaich in 1997 and acting as President of the Malt Distillers Association in 2008 for three years
• Serving as Chairman of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in Scotland, and subsequently receiving his Fellowship

Alan does not leave his passion for his job at work. During his travels, he enjoys visiting wineries and distilleries to continue to learn more about distillation and fermentation techniques. In addition, every year at the annual Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, Alan can be found leading walks along the highland trails, sharing his personal insight and historical perspective to the many eager walkers and whisky lovers visiting Scotland.

Now in its 23rd year, the ISC is one of the most authoritative, respected and influential spirits competitions in the world. Founded on a rigorous and independent judging process, the Lifetime Achievement Award celebrates the work and commitment of an individual who has made a significant impact on the drinks industry during their career.

Editor of Drinks International, and a judge for the ISC, comments:

“Alan has been nominated, judged, by his peers.  It is an enormous compliment to Mr Winchester for services rendered to the Scotch whisky industry down the years.  He is not only a consummate professional, but a highly approachable, likeable guy who is able to convey the mysteries and complexities of the creation of Scotch whisky, in remarkably easy to understand terms.” 

Miriam Eceolaza, Global Brand Director at The Glenlivet, comments: “It’s hard to find someone who brings quite as much enthusiasm and dedication to their job as Alan and we’re thrilled that his hard work has been recognised. The ISC is one of the most prestigious awards bodies in the industry, and the Lifetime Achievement Award in particular celebrates true excellence. It’s an exciting time for Scotch and we are lucky to have Alan as The Master Distiller of The Glenlivet.”

Alan Winchester, Master Distiller at The Glenlivet, comments: “I am honoured and touched to have received this award. I started my career at The Glenlivet in 1979, and over those years have witnessed a fair few changes. But the one thing that has remained the same is the dedication to excellence and the commitment to maintaining the exceptional quality for which The Glenlivet has become known. This passion and dedication is shared by the entire team at the distillery and I’d like to thank them for their support over the years. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Old Pulteney releases limited edition twin pack featuring world’s best whiskies 

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky has announced the release of a twin pack featuring two of the world’s best whiskies – Old Pulteney 21 Year Old and Old Pulteney 1989 Vintage.

The 21 Year Old became a classic release after being named World Whisky of the Year in 2012 by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. Now fans of the rich, full-bodied expression can get their hands on the last available UK stock, as well as the last of the World’s Best Single Malt (according to the World Whiskies Awards 2016), the Old Pulteney 1989 Vintage.

Both of these rare and exciting bottlings encompass the maritime malt’s famed power and subtlety of the sea. The limited release comprises just 276 packs worldwide, all of which will be individually numbered and accompanied by a hand signed certificate from Old Pulteney’s Distillery Manager Malcolm Waring.

Packaged in a premium case and exclusive to the UK, the release of these iconic Single Malts will be a much sought after collector’s item for any whisky connoisseur or enthusiast.

Old Pulteney 21 Year Old 

This bottle was previously crowned the winner of ‘World Whisky of the Year’ in the prestigious Jim Murray’s 2012 Whisky Bible, one of the industry’s highest accolades.

Old Pulteney 21 Year Old is a golden amber liquid with straw highlights.  The full-bodied expression is fragrant and spicy on the nose with hints of apple and pears. The taste is rich and sweet, with subtle light fruity notes and touches of honey and vanilla, followed by a dry finish.

Jim Murray, Whisky Writer, describes the exquisite dram as, “by far and away one of the great whiskies of 2012, absolutely exploding from the glass with vitality, charisma and class.”

Old Pulteney 1989 Vintage

Winner of the ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards in 2016, this polished amber dram is a divine nod to the Old Pulteney maritime heritage.

Old Pulteney 1989 Vintage contains aromas of spice and green apples wrapped in a veil of wood smoke. Further accents of honey and vanilla with a lemony top note and a faint floral scent linger on the nose.

The flavour is rich and dark with subtle spices that embody the dram, before sweeter notes of vanilla, coconut and bitter orange marmalade surface. The finish is long-lasting and satisfying.

Old Pulteney Distillery Manager, Malcolm Waring, describes it as “easily one of my favourite Old Pulteney expressions and a very worthy winner of a World’s Best accolade.”

Vicki Wright, Old Pulteney Brand Manager, said:

“It doesn’t get better than this. The twin pack speaks for itself, with each expression winning a top-respected industry award for their exceptional quality. We are incredibly proud of these exquisite bottles and hope other passionate whisky drinkers share our enthusiasm about this special collector’s release.”

The twin pack will be available in the UK only from selected whisky specialists from mid July with a recommended retail price around £600.

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

Notes 

About Old Pulteney 

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Old Pulteney is one of the world’s finest and most distinctive single malt Scotch whiskies. Known as the ‘Maritime Malt’, it is crafted in the windswept coastal town of Wick, home to the Pulteney Distillery which is one of the most northerly on the Scottish mainland. The distillery was established in 1826 in the heart of ‘Pulteneytown’, the town created to house fishermen during Wick’s famous herring boom which drew a fleet of over 1000 boats and 7000 workers to this remote and rugged harbour.

Old Pulteney is the embodiment of this place, its people and its remarkable history. The skilled Pulteney Distillery team continues to craft whisky using the most traditional and time-honoured techniques that most others have long abandoned. This includes the uniquely shaped Pulteney stills, which are reflected in the design of the Old Pulteney bottle on shelves today.

Matured in hand-selected oak casks, the resulting whisky has been acclaimed for its excellence, its smooth drinking style and faint hint of the sea. Old Pulteney holds the coveted title of ‘World Whisky of the Year’ for 2012 in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible – one of the industry’s highest accolades – and most recently the ‘World’s Best Single Malt Whisky’ of 2016 by the prestigious World Whiskies Awards. The whisky also achieved top ten status in the UK single malt market in 2012 and is flourishing in many other countries around the world. Most recently, Old Pulteney 12 Year Old and 25 Year Old won gold at the San Francisco Spirits Awards.

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Release of 2018 Parker’s Heritage Collection Limited Edition Bottling

12^th Edition of annual ultra-premium release renews partnership with Master Blender Alain Royer and continues support of ALS research and patient care

BARDSTOWN, KY— Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the 2018 limited edition release of Parker’s Heritage Collection Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in orange curaçao barrels. The 12^th edition will ship into select markets across the country beginning in September.

The 2018 edition showcases the versatility that Heaven Hill’s 1.4 million aging barrels provide for an ultra-premium, innovative Bourbon. Aged for seven to eight years in the upper floors of Rickhouse Q, the Bourbon was then aged for four months in barrels that previously held French orange curaçao liqueur. The orange curaçao finished offering is the second barrel-finished Bourbon in twelve years of the annual Parker’s Heritage Collection series. Royer also partnered on a previous edition, which featured a Cognac finished Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.

Bottled at 110 proof (55% abv) and non-chill filtered to preserve all the flavor compounds, the orange curaçao finish lends a unique flavor that complements the Bourbon without overpowering it, creating an entirely new and elegant tasting experience.

The annual release of Parker’s signature line is one of the most highly anticipated bottlings for Whiskey and Bourbon lovers worldwide, as the collection produces an innovative, highly sought after bottling each year and now serves as a remembrance of the collection’s namesake. Parker’s Heritage Collection was originally conceived to showcase the extraordinary quality and broad range of Heaven Hill’s American Whiskey holdings, as Heaven Hill boasts the world’s second largest inventory of aging American Whiskey.

The late Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam, for whom the acclaimed series is named, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease) in 2010. The past five editions from 2013-2017, including the “Promise of Hope” Bourbon, the “Original Batch” Straight Wheat Whiskey, the Kentucky Straight Malt Whiskey, the 24-Year-Old Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon, and the 11-Year-Old Single Barrel, respectively, have raised over one million dollars toward ALS research and patient care through contributions made by Heaven Hill for each bottle purchased. Heaven Hill will continue with this cause-related campaign, and will again contribute a portion of the proceeds from the average national retail cost of $89.99 of each 750ml bottle sold of this year’s release to the ALS Association. With every past edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection quickly selling out, the company expects to continue to generate significant dollars for this effort in Parker’s memory.

“We are excited to resume our partnership with Alain Royer as we continue to innovate with barrel finished products,” said Susan Wahl, Group Product Director at Heaven Hill Distillery.  “Parker appreciated thoughtful, new ways to enjoy Bourbon, as evidenced by his original collaboration with Royer.  This newest edition blends both Parker’s imprint, as the Bourbon was distilled by him several years ago, but also the imprint of our current Master Distiller, Denny Potter, who worked through countless samples to find the perfect balance of flavor and Bourbon. We are proud to continue offering the Parker’s Heritage Collection in his memory and continue to support ALS research and patient care efforts.”

Packaged in the same upscale 750ml bottle as the previous eleven editions, but with a beige colored label, the newest Parker’s Heritage Collection edition reflects the care and craftsmanship of its contents. Available in a three-bottle case, it will be featured on the shelves and back bars of the nation’s finest spirits retailers and on-premise accounts starting in September. With previous releases having won multiple awards from Whisky Advocate magazine, Whisky Magazine and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the series stands as some of the most critically lauded American Whiskeys in recent memory. Past bottlings have won awards ranging from “Best North American Whiskey” to “American Whiskey of the Year” to “Best of Show, Brown Spirits.”

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.4 million barrels aging in 56 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the title of 2018 San Francisco Spirits Competition Best Bourbon, 2017 Whisky Advocate Whisky of the Year, and previously held the titles of 2016 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year, 2016 Whisky Advocate American Whiskey of the Year and 2016 Rye Whiskey of the Year from “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.” For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

THE MACALLAN REVEALS LATEST LIMITED-EDITION WHISKY: EDITION NO.4

AN EMBODIMENT OF THE NEW SPEYSIDE DISTILLERY

New York, July 11, 2018 – The Macallan has unveiled Edition No.4 – a new limited-edition whisky. The fourth release in the innovative Edition Series, Edition No.4 embodies the craftsmanship and pioneering design of the new Macallan Distillery in Speyside, Scotland, which opened in June 2018. The liquid  demonstrates the mastery of whisky making on the estate since 1824 and is another exceptional example of The Macallan’s dedication to quality.

Edition No.4 explores the whisky making process, exposing the detail of its creation for true transparency. This limited-edition whisky has been shaped by the use of incomparable oak casks, which are the single greatest contributor to the outstanding quality, natural colors and distinctive aromas and flavors of The Macallan. Nick Savage, The Macallan’s Master Distiller, has handpicked casks to reflect a modern flavor profile while staying true to The Macallan Sherry-seasoned oak casks maturation.

The meticulous attention to detail and quality in the oak cask selection brings different dimensions as each cask imparts its own influence to the whisky, delivering surprising aromas and character. Crafted from a combination of European and American oak casks, Edition No.4 presents a zesty, vibrant and invigorating single malt that brings notes of rounded honey, sweet toffee and citrus fruits.

While previous releases, Edition No.1 and Edition No.2, highlighted the influence each cask has on the taste and flavor of the whisky, Edition No.3 provided an insight into the aromas. Edition No.4 stands out by revealing the structure of the whisky, drawing parallels on how the new Macallan Distillery is constructed, and showcases the lengths The Macallan goes to when creating single malts.

Taking inspiration from the structure of the new distillery, Edition No.4 exposes the role of each cask in the making of the whisky. European oak Sherry-seasoned casks from Tevasa provide the foundation, contributing rich notes of dried fruit and delivering a layer of wood spices and root ginger, while European oak Sherry-seasoned casks from Jose y Miguel Martin and Diego Martin Rosado shape the form of the whisky, offering notes of dried fruit, dates and figs.  American oak Sherry-seasoned casks from Vasyma balance the structure, imparting vanilla, toffees and butterscotch. The capstone which completes the composition is represented through refill sherry-seasoned oak casks, bringing the bright, lively character of citrus fruits.

Nick Savage, The Macallan Master Distiller, notes: “Edition No.4 is a celebration of The Macallan’s whisky making heritage as we enter an exciting new era, marking the coming together of our history and new horizons in the creation of two structural masterpieces: a remarkable whisky and a magnificent new distillery.”

With an ABV of 48.4% and a natural color of burnished copper, Edition No.4 is a distinct whisky that pushes the boundaries of innovation and reflects the passion, traditions and craftsmanship that goes into the art of the perfect cask selection.

The Edition No.4 limited edition pack featuring a hand signed print of The Macallan Distillery by Magnum photographer Paolo Pellegrin will be available in select retailers across the US as of July 2018 for a SRP of $100.

For further information visit: https://www.themacallan.com/

Tasting notes:

Color: Burnished copper  

Nose: Bold and rounded honey with a sweet toffee apple note. Orange zest follows a background of ginger and nutmeg. Robust, polished matured oak comes at the end in contrast to the subtle green wood and floral undertones.

Palate: Nutmeg with wood spices and green cloves open up immediately, with a calm following the intense beginnings, leaving a sweet and vanilla viscous mouth coating.

Finish: Fruity with oaky sweetness, long and lasting.

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan is one of the world’s’ most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character, founded upon a set of guiding principles, the Six Pillars. An unrivalled obsession with quality has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its’ founding by Alexander Reid on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland. The distillery is surrounded by the 390 acre Macallan estate, with Easter Elchies House at its center, a Highland Manor built in 1700.

For more information visit www.us.themacallan.com. The Macallan can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

The Whisky Barrel releases their latest exclusive bottling, 

Specialist online whisky shop, TheWhiskyBarrel.com, is proud to release an exclusive single grain Scotch whisky from Strathclyde Grain Distillery to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of the Glasgow Garden Festival.

The Garden Festival took place in Glasgow between the 26^th of April and 26^th of September 1988 and attracted over four million visitors. It was one of the five National Garden Festivals and the only one in Scotland.

The National Garden Festivals were based on the German post-war ‘Bundesgartenschau’ idea for reclaiming large areas of disused or neglected land in cities. The Glasgow site is now home to the Glasgow Science Centre and a digital media village on the banks of the River Clyde.

Strathclyde Grain Distillery sits within the Gorbals district of Glasgow, just along the River Clyde from where the Garden Festival took place. The distillery is Glasgow’s only grain distillery but hasn’t always just made grain whiskies. A set of stills was installed in 1956 and the distillery produced a single malt, Kinclaith. In 1975 Strathclyde stopped producing malted whisky and turned to producing grain whisky for blends. There are no official bottlings of Strathclyde or Kinclaith available.

Strathclyde 30 Year Old 1988 is available exclusively from TheWhiskyBarrel.com. Distilled on the 9^th of June 1988 and bottled on the 10^th of June 2018. Single barrel #62125; there are just 137 bottles available. There will be a restriction of two bottles per customer in the interest of fairness.

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

Strathclyde 30 Year Old Glasgow Garden Festival | 1988 | TheWhiskyBarrel.com| 54.3%

Tasting notes 

Colour: Golden syrup.

Nose: Sweet butterscotch and toffee. 

Taste: Caramelised sugar, rich toffee and Scottish vanilla tablet. 

Finish: Medium dry, satisfying finish with hints of fudge and toffee lingering. 

Price: £130 GBP / $143 USD (+ P&P) 

Notice:-

Q) What is the product called?
A) Strathclyde 30 Year Old 1988 Glasgow Garden Festival

Q) When will this product be released/was it released?
A) Wednesday 11^th July 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) £130 GBP / $143 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) 54.3% ABV natural cask strength.

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

The Whisky Barrel is a speciaslit 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.