Amber Glen Blended Scotch Whisky Wins Silver Medal at London Spirits Competition.

London, Amber Glen Blended Scotch Whisky won a Silver medal at the first-ever London Spirits Competition, which took place in March 2018.

“We are tremendously pleased that Amber Glen performed so highly at the 2018 London Spirits Competition. As in order to receive this distinction, Amber Glen Blended Scotch Whisky needed to score 76 to 89 in three different categories: Quality, Value and Packaging”.

“Winning this award on our home ground is particularly important to us, as it is the ultimate seal of approval and attestation that our superbly crafted 3-year-old Blended Scotch Whisky was selected by the judging panel from amongst our peers, on merit for its excellence”. Said, CEO Samuel Minionis.

Amber Glen Blended Scotch Whisky is now available at selected retail stores, restaurants, clubs & bars in London, Shanghai & Kathmandu. Try it soon at a bar near you.

For more information, please contact: info@amberglen.co.uk

SCOTTISH DADS REVEALED TO BE LEAST FUNNY IN UK 

Survey reveals Dad jokes, fashion sense and dancing as the culprits of embarrassment

Highland whisky distillery Tomatin has unveiled the most embarrassing father traits after surveying the nation ahead of Father’s Day this weekend (Sunday 17^th June).

Results revealed a mere 19% of Scots thought their dads were the funniest members of their family, compared to 20.3% in the rest of the UK.

In celebration of dads across the UK and their groan-tastic gags, Tomatin surveyed the public and found 23.5% Scots found their dad’s jokes were the most embarrassing trait, compared to 14% of the rest of the UK.

Jennifer Masson, Marketing Manager of Tomatin, said, “Most dads are notorious for their fashion sense, dancing and jokes – much to the embarrassment of their children. So, we thought in celebration of Father’s Day this weekend, we would ask the Scottish public to find out what they think and what better way to raise a glass to all the dads out there!”

In close second, 15% of Scots thought their dad’s dancing was the most embarrassing trait, compared to 11.9% of the UK.

However, Scottish dads can redeem themselves, as 7.6% of the UK said their dad’s fashion sense was the most embarrassing trait, while only 6.5% of Scots said their dad’s style was a major fashion faux-pas.

Comedy veteran Fred MacAulay also delivered the top five dad jokes as voted for by the public in a quirky video.

Fred added, “The Dad joke is notoriously unfunny — steeped in captain-obvious observations and painful puns, so it was a bit of a challenge delivering them with comedy kudos, but it was really good fun.”

Watch the full video here:  https://bit.ly/2JJ6rDb 

Based in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, Tomatin Distillery is famous for its award-winning whisky range including its non-age statement ‘Legacy’ single malt, and its 12, 14, 18 and 36-year-old whiskies. Shop the full range ahead of Father’s Day online at www.tomatin.com/shop/.

The Sazerac Company Considers New Bottling Facility in New Albany, Ind.

Facility projected to bring up to 110 jobs to area 

NEW ALBANY, IND. (May 30, 2018) The Sazerac Company, one of the largest American family-owned distilling companies in the United States, announced today its intention to purchase a manufacturing facility in New Albany, Ind., where it will expand its processing, blending, packaging and distribution capabilities.  The facility, located at 707 Pillsbury Lane, is the former General Mills Pillsbury Plant, which closed in 2016.  The building has been vacant since its closing.

“We’re excited about the possibility of expanding our operations into Southern Indiana. Our contacts at the State of Indiana, the City of New Albany and the local economic development organization, One Southern Indiana, have been great partners to work with throughout this process. If all goes well, we look forward to getting our construction underway at the new facility, then on to staffing and running our new plant,” said Jeff Conder, Vice President of Manufacturing for Sazerac Co.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has offered Sazerac up to $900,000 in conditional Economic Development for a Growing Economy (“EDGE”) tax credits and up to $150,000 in training grants from the Skills Enhancement Fund based on the company’s job-creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Indiana workers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives.

“Indiana’s business-friendly environment and skilled workforce offer companies like Sazerac the perfect recipe for continued success,” said Elaine Bedel, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC). “We’re excited to welcome Sazerac to the Hoosier state as it establishes its first facility here, increasing its manufacturing footprint and creating good jobs in southeast Indiana.”

The New Albany City Council is scheduled to vote on final approval of the company’s local incentives next week, with the $66 million project contingent upon the council’s approval. Should incentives be granted, Sazerac anticipates starting operations as early as November of this year with a staff of approximately 50 new employees.  By the close of 2021, Sazerac estimates the 460,000-square-foot former food plant could be at full capacity and fully staffed with 110 workers in total. The company intends to start with two production lines upon opening.

“When General Mills announced it would close its doors a couple years ago, we worked hard to help the employees most affected by the news. With Sazerac on the verge of coming to New Albany, I can’t help but marvel at how far we’ve come,” said New Albany Mayor Jeff Gahan. “I would like to welcome the Sazerac team to New Albany with a pledge to support their efforts to put down roots here and prosper along with us. Sazerac has a rich and storied past, and I am certain this quality company will be embraced by our community. We are excited, and we expect that this will be the beginning of a long and prosperous friendship between Sazerac and the City of New Albany.”

Sazerac has grown significantly over the past several years and has invested heavily in its manufacturing network, including large investments in its three plants in Kentucky. Its Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort is undergoing a $1.2 billion investment over the next ten years, including new mash cookers, bottling lines and barrel warehouses.  The company’s Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown completed a $15 million distillery and grain drying upgrade in 2017, and The Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro completed a $45 million addition in 2016 with a new state-of-the-art distribution center.

“We’re so pleased we’ve been able to invest in our facilities as we have grown our brands. Extending our manufacturing footprint into Indiana will support future growth,” added Conder.  “The business-friendly environment and the proximity of this facility to our three Kentucky plants make it an ideal location.”

Wendy Dant Chesser, president and CEO of One Southern Indiana said, “1si is always excited when a company of Sazerac’s prestige and success considers expanding in Southern Indiana.  This will be a double shot of good news – it not only benefits our region by creating over 100 new jobs, but also because the company is willing to make a significant investment in an existing building that has sat unoccupied for nearly two years.”  Chesser continued, “We wish Sazerac all the best and stand ready to assist them in the future.”

Pending local incentive approval, the purchase is expected to be completed June 11th.  The purchase price is not being disclosed.  

About the Sazerac Company

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

About One Southern Indiana

One Southern Indiana (1si) was formed in July of 2006 as the economic development organization and chamber of commerce serving Clark and Floyd counties. 1si’s mission is to provide the connections, resources and services that help businesses innovate and thrive in the Southern Indiana / Louisville metro area.

Since its inception, the organization has evolved to include a three-prong approach to serve its members and investors. Business Resources, as the chamber side of the organization, encompasses membership, signature events and programs which support and encourage business growth; Economic Development works to grow the regional economy through the attraction of new commerce and assists with retention and expansion of existing businesses; Advocacy supports businesses at the government level by engaging in the initiatives to preserve, protect and promote a business-friendly environment free of obstacles to growth and development of commerce. For more information on One Southern Indiana, visit www.1si.org.

RARE DALMORE MAKES EXCEPTIONAL PRICE AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH
– £900 A DRAM –  

Dalmore 50 year-old 1926. Sold for £33,750

A rare bottle of Dalmore 50 year-old 1926 tripled its pre-sale estimate to sell for £33,750 at Bonhams Whisky Sale in Edinburgh today, Wednesday 6 June, making a dram worth more than £900.  The bottle had been estimated at £10,000-14,000.

Bonhams Whisky specialist Martin Green said, “The Dalmore 50 year-old 1926 is an exceptional whisky, and I am not surprised that the bidding was so intense and the price achieved so high. It was a very strong sale overall with bidders taking full advantage of the opportunity to add some very special bottles to their collections.”

Other highlights included:

• A bottle of the Macallan 1951 that sold for £17,500.  One of only 632 bottles, it had been estimated at £10,000-12,000
• A bottle of Glenfiddich-1952. Estimated at £10,000-12,000, it sold for £16,250.
• A bottle of the Macallan 1957. Bottled in 1982 in honour of the 25th Anniversary of Rinaldi Brothers Inc., it made £8,750 against an estimate of £3,000-4,000.
• Two bottles of the Macallan-Glenlivet 35 year-old 1938. Sold as a pair for £6,875 having been estimated at £3,400-4,000.

In total, the sale made £433,150 with 92% of lots being sold.

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

ABERLOUR A’BUNADH BATCH 52 WINS WHISKY OF THE YEAR AT THE 2018 INTERNATIONAL WHISKY COMPETITION®

[LAS VEGAS, NV, June 8, 2018] Graeme Cruickshank, Master Distiller at Aberlour Distillery becomes Master Distiller of the Year for crafting the Whisky of the Year 2018 and will receive the coveted Golden Barrel Trophy.

The International Whisky Competition just released its results for this year’s most respected blind tasting judging event. The top recognition, Whisky of the Year, was awarded to Aberlour A’Bunadh Batch 52 (60.5% ABV) which scored 97.4 points, the highest scoring whisky of the competition.

Official results: www.whiskycompetition.com/2018-results

The 9th edition of the International Whisky Competition took place in Las Vegas over three days, from May 15 to 17 and received over 160 different whiskies. A world-class tasting panel made of whisky, spirit, beer and wine experts blind tasted each whisky on an individual basis (8 minutes per whisky). The judges for 2018 are Sir Adam Carmer, Sebastien Gavillet, Francesco Lafranconi, John Paddon, Debbi Peek, Alex Renshaw, Max Solano, Ron Smith and Agi Toth.

Each whisky was scored using a comprehensive 100-point scale system developed by Sebastien Gavillet, IWC Head of Tasting Panel. This process and the fact that only three medals are awarded in any category make the International Whisky Competition the most followed whisky competition and one of the most professional competitions of its kind in the world.

We warmly congratulate Graeme Cruickshank, Master Distiller at Aberlour, as well as his team, for creating such a complex, rich and perfectly balanced whisky.

Last year’s Whisky of the Year was Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Exclusive, which scored 97.3 points. Aberlour Distillery will receive the Golden Barrel Trophy for winning the Whisky of the Year during a ceremony to be held this summer in Aberlour, Scotland.

About the International Whisky Competition®

The International Whisky Competition is the most followed Whisky Competition on Social Media and brings whiskies from around the world to be blind tasted and rated by a professional tasting panel using the most comprehensive tasting method available. 15 criteria are required to produce the tasting notes as well as aroma and flavor profiles for the International Whisky Guide. Unlike other competitions, the judges are presented with one whisky at a time, to ensure each whisky gets the proper attention. It’s the only
competition in the spirits world to deliver unique medals designed to promote each of the winning whiskies. Only 3 medals (Gold, Silver & Bronze) are awarded per category.

The Whisky of the Year (highest score during the competition) gets rewarded with the Golden Barrel Trophy. For more information about the International Whisky Competition, please visit whiskycompetition.com or contact: USA – Sebastien Gavillet, Head of Judges / s.gavillet@whiskycompetition.com +1 702 234 3602 Canada – Sylvain Allard, Managing Director / s.allard@whiskycompetition.com +1 418 271 6678

The Tweeddale The Evolution: 

At 28 years-old, is the eldest Tweeddale to be released. It is fuller and more complex in character than previous expressions; with sherried and Speyside qualities, dark chocolate and black cherry on the nose, followed by wood spice and earthy notes on the palate. The Evolution of this magnificent whisky began when its creator Alasdair Day inherited his great grandfather Richard Day’s cellar book. Alasdair has explored the direction that he believes Richard Day would have taken, had he continued to blend whisky after the Second World War. £172 on Master of Malt

Drams of The Tweeddale The Evolution at Truefitt & Hill: 

Truefitt & Hill has been recognised as the finest traditional gentlemen’s barber in London for over two centuries. On Saturday 16th June, the barber shop will open its doors to offer the ultimate father and son experience. Sons can honour their fathers on this special day by treating them to a day of all things quintessentially British. Upon arrival guests will be offered a dram of Scottish whisky, The Tweeddale – The Evolution. Guests will be able to enjoy treatments including a haircut or Traditional Hot Towel Wet Shave, a goody bag of grooming products as well as discount at some of Mayfair’s finest gentleman’s outfitters.

Tickets are £175 and available on Eventbrite.

Membership to the An Roghainn Club: 

For those with with a very luxurious drinks cabinet, the Raasay Distillery, on the beautiful inner Hebridean island, is also offering the opportunity to join its exclusive An Roghainn Club. Members can invest in the emerging brand and have the chance to add limited release whisky to their personal libraries, as well as the opportunity to buy casks of the Isle of Raasay Distillery whisky. Membership to the An Roghainn Club is £250 and includes three full size bottles of limited release whisky.

Distinguished Father’s Day whisky FOR A DIGNIFIED DAD 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has the ideal bottle of whisky and membership offer for Father’s Day 

If your dad is a dignified chap, then The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) has the perfect gift for him this Father’s Day (Sunday 17^th June 2018), with a special offer of membership to the SMWS including a limited edition single malt ‘For a dignified dad’ for only £130.

This 20-year-old Speyside whisky has matured in a refill ex-bourbon barrel to produce a single cask whisky that has been described as “characteristically waxy, oily, herbal and delicately tropical.”

Like the father in your life, ‘For a dignified dad’ carries an air of authority and experience that coveys that with “age brings distinction and the opportunity to wax lyrical, and deserves a respectful audience.”

With a stimulating nose and aroma of “hours spent in the garden or in the shed, emerging with the smell of soil from potting plants”, this whisky was bottled from a single cask that produced only 190 bottles, making it a limited edition single malt.

FATHER’S DAY OFFER

‘For a dignified dad’ and a membership to the Society costs only £130 which is a saving of £25. The whisky is from the Old & Dignified flavour category, which is one of the SMWS 12 flavour profiles.

Membership unlocks the doors to the Society’s unparalleled single cask whiskies, tasting events, the award-winning ‘Unfiltered’ magazine and Members Rooms and partners bars around the world.

New whiskies are released each month, providing an ever-changing choice of malts to discover.

Included in the offer:

• Full SMWS Membership (costing £65)
• 70cl bottle of: 36.142 ‘For a dignified dad’ (£90) 

Father’s Day offer valid from Friday 1^st June until Monday 18^th June 2018 Online media find out more here
Print media: https://www.smws.com/dignified-dad-offer

For more information on membership:
Online media go here
Print media: www.smws.com/society-membership

Tasting Notes: 

Title: For a dignified dad              

Bottle tasting note: Characteristically waxy, oily, herbal and delicately tropical as befits the slightly more old-school make of this distillery. Textbook stuff

Full tasting note: This old-school and dignified character exudes aromas of hours spent in concentrated industry out in the garden or in the shed, emerging with the smell of soil from potting plants, damp dunnage warehouses, as well as furniture wax, notes of camphor and wood resin. After strolling past gorse bushes, crossing a pine forest and picking brambles, it’s time to wash up with coal tar soap and relax with a little aged yellow Chartreuse, mint tea or Gewurztraminer. Age brings distinction and the opportunity to wax lyrical, and deserves a respectful audience.

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 134 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 has over 200 whiskies on offer and is open to everybody
• The Society offers a variety of membership’s packages which can be tailored. Please see www.smws.com/society-membership
• For more information about the Society, visit www.smws.com