Malt Maniacs Awards 2017- A Jury Report 

Since 1997, the malt maniacs (an international collective of malt whisky enthusiasts) have been enjoying and discussing the pleasures of (single malt) whisky with like-minded whisky lovers from all over the world. Since 2003, we have organised (non stop) our very own annual ‘amateur’ whisky competition. We like to think that, over the years, our modest little initiative has evolved into one of the leading (and most independent) whisky competitions in the world. You can find more details about our collective and its history on: www.maltmaniacs.net

MMA 2017: The Rules

Our fundamentals are:

• 100% Amateur
• 100% Blind

Awards

In the Malt Maniacs Awards, medals are won on merit, similar to the system that is used by the boy scouts. The winners in specific categories receive awards instead – hence the name of our competition. There are six award categories in three price brackets. We distinguish between these six awards categories:

• Non-Plus-Ultra Award (Overall top scoring whisky out of all Malt Maniacs Awards entries that year)
• Best Natural Cask Award (Best whisky matured exclusively in ‘untreated’, regular casks)
• Best Sherry Cask Award (Best whisky matured exclusively in sherry casks)
• Best Peated Malt Award (Best whisky distilled from – relatively – peated malted barley)
• Thumbs Up Award (Most exciting new release in that price category that year)

Every bottle that is entered in our competition can win only one award (as well as only one medal). Apart from the six awards categories listed above, there are three different price brackets –

Daily Drams (the bottles with a retail price of up to 50 Euros), Premium Whiskies (the bottles with a retail price between 50 and 150 Euros) and Ultra Premium Whiskies (the bottles with a retail price of more than 150 Euros).So there are 18 ‘standard’ awards that are assigned each year – provided we can find a suitable candidate.

If we feel that a certain whisky, bottler or distillery deserves special recognition in a particular year, we sometimes add one or more ‘special’ awards.

And finally, the moment you are waiting for……!!!!

AWARDS –Supreme Winner 

Kavalan 2009/2017 ‘Solist’ (58.60%, OB, C#S090306031, Sherry Cask, 481 Bts.)

AWARDS – Ultra Premium Category

Non-Plus-Ultra Award (Ultra Premium)

Glen Grant 1965 (43.6% Gordon & MacPhail for LMDW, First Fill Sherry Cask, 19 Bts)

Best Natural Cask Award (Ultra Premium)

22yo 1993/2015 (52.70%, Chieftain’s Choice, C#3612, First Fill Sherry Butt, 579 Bts.)

Best Sherry Cask Award (Ultra Premium).

Yamazaki 25yo (43%, OB, Sherry)

Best Peated Malt Award (Ultra Premium)

Islay Distillery 25yo (48.7%, That Boutique-y Whisky Company)

Thumbs Up Award (Ultra Premium)

Glenfarclas 10yo 2005/2015 (60.9%, OB, C#2424, Sherry Cask, 634 Bts.)

AWARDS – Premium Category

Non-Plus-Ultra Award (Premium)

Kavalan ‘Solist’ 2008 (58.6%, OB, C#S081217041, Sherry Cask, 476 Bts.)

Best Natural Cask Award (Premium)

Edradour 11yo 2005/2016 (59.1%, OB for Drunken Master Bar, C#90, Sherry cask)

Best Sherry Cask Award (Premium)

Kavalan 2009/2017 ‘Solist’ (58.60%, OB, C#S090306024, Sherry Cask, 461 Bts.)

Best Peated Malt Award (Premium)

Ledaig 12yo 2005/2017 (61.1%, Cadenhead’s for HNWS Taiwan 12th Anniversary)

Thumbs Up Award (Premium)

Amrut 2011/2016 (56.50%, OB for Hot Malt, C#4122, PX Sherry Cask, 624 Bts.)

AWARDS – Daily Drams Category

Non-Plus-Ultra Award (Daily Drams)

Elements of Islay ‘Peat Full Proof’ (59.3%, The Whisky Exchange, NAS)

Best Natural Cask Award (Daily Drams)

Wemyss ‘Treacle Chest’ (46%, Wemyss Family Collection, First Fill Sherry Hogshead, 6300 Bts.)

Best Sherry Cask Award (Daily Drams)

Glenfarclas 105  (60%, OB, Sherry Cask)

Best Peated Malt Award (Daily Drams)

Caol Ila 12yo (43%, OB)

Thumbs Up Award (Daily Drams)

Laphroaig 10yo (40%, OB)

Gold Medals (GM) 

Gold Medals as you all would agree are the cream of the crop! As mentioned earlier it is not easy to get a GM in MMA and the average GM winners per competition for last 14 years has been only eight!! The maximum of 15 were in the year 2006 with minimum being 3 in the inaugural year, 2003.

So this year we are not far away from our average number, which are:

1. Kavalan 2009/2017 ‘Solist’ (58.60%, OB, C#S090306031, Sherry Cask, 481 Bts.)

2. Kavalan ‘Solist’ 2008 (58.6%, OB, C#S081217041, Sherry Cask, 476 Bts.)

3. Edradour 11yo 2005/2016 (59.1%, OB for Drunken Master Bar, C#90, Sherry cask)

4. Glen Grant 1965 (43.6% Gordon &MacPhail for LMDW, First Fill Sherry Cask, 19 Bts)

5. Yamazaki 25yo (43%, OB, Sherry)

6. Kavalan 2009/2017 ‘Solist’ (58.60%, OB, C#S090306024, Sherry Cask, 461 Bts.)

7. Ledaig 12yo 2005/2017 (61.1%, Cadenhead’s for HNWS Taiwan 12th Anniversary)

8. Kavalan 2009/2016 ‘Solist’ (57.10%, OB, C#S090306012, Sherry Cask, 498 Bts.)

9. Undisclosed 22yo 1993/2015 (52.70%, Chieftain’s Choice, C#3612, First Fill Sherry Butt, 579 Bts.)

10. Amrut 2011/2016 (56.50%, OB for Hot Malt, C#4122, PX Sherry Cask, 624 Bts.)

11. Edradour 11yo 2004/2016 (57.6%, OB, C#426, 674 Bts.)

12. Glenlivet 2007 (66.6%, Signatory Vintage for Whisky Live 2017, C#900188, 343 Bts.)

13. Kavalan 2010/2017 ‘Solist’ (59.40%, OB for LMDW C#0100505013A, Port Cask, 196 Bts.)

Final words 

The MMA cannot take place without the participating companies submitting their bottles to us. So, a big thank you to them! The MMA2017 has been a very good year and as the next MMA will be the 15^th anniversary of the awards, so malt lovers, expect something special in MMA2018!!

The Scotch Whisky Industry Review is celebrating the release of the 40^th edition of its authoritative annual publication – every one of which has been authored by the leading industry analyst Alan S Gray.

Alan stated “it has been a pleasure to report on this fascinating industry for the past four decades and I have witnessed many significant changes over that period. It is particularly pleasing that the latest release of the Annual Review reflects a lot of vitality in the industry including the influx of a varied number of new entrants.”

Alan notes “A major feature of recent years has been the opening of new malt distilleries – 23 since 2012, including 10 in 2017 alone.”

In addition, the Review relates that over thirty new distilleries are currently at the planning stage – a marked contrast to earlier periods when, for example, 55 distilleries were closed between 1980 and 2002 (although several were subsequently re-opened) and only 9 new distilleries built in the 25 years from 1987 to 2012.

The latest Annual Review details increases in the value of Scotch Whisky exports reflecting both increases in volume and, in recent times, a favourable exchange rate. The detailed figures show that the USA continues to be the #1 market in terms of value, with France #1 in volumes, whilst growth export markets worthy of note include Asia (with Japan and India particularly strong.)

Detailed Case Sales by brand and by company are also included together with a comprehensive list of operational malt distilleries along with their capacities.

The Review also provides information regarding visitor numbers for those distilleries (around 50% of the total) which actively cater for visitors.

The Annual Review – and associated subscription service which includes 10 newsletters published throughout the year – is available via www.scotchwhiskyindustryreview.com

Notes:

The Scotch Whisky Industry Review is the single most authoritative source of business information on the Scotch Whisky industry –comprehensive in its coverage and painstaking in the accuracy of its research. The Review contains 284 pages packed with fascinating and useful information and is used as a reference by all the leading Scotch Whisky companies and influencers.

The Review is published annually and having started life in 1977 is now in its 40th edition.

Every edition of the Review has been compiled by the recognised leading independent industry analyst, and Master of the Quaich, Alan S Gray.

See www.scotchwhiskyindustryreview.com

Contact information ;

Alan S Gray       Tel : 01698 425373        alan.gray@scotchwhisky.net

Alan Gordon      Tel : 07714 100036        alan.gordon@scotchwhisky.net

Glen Scotia Grand Tour set to offer whisky lovers a taste of Campbeltown 

Award-winning distiller Glen Scotia is to stage a tour that will enable whisky fans around the world to experience the essence of Campbeltown – Scotland’s smallest Scotch-producing region.

The Glen Scotia Grand Tour kicks off in London in March before being rolled out internationally to countries including the US. It aims to transport whisky lovers to the Glen Scotia distillery on  the Mull of Kintyre and replicate the experience of visiting the distinctive Campbeltown whisky region.

Attendees will be fully immersed in the Campbeltown environment via an interactive pop-up event reproducing the sights of the Glen Scotia distillery and the surronding, seaside town. The 60-minute experience, begins with whisky-based cocktails and canapes, inspired by local producers, in the Victorian themed Distillery Manager’s office. Next guests will experience  Glen Scotia’s dunnage warehouse, tasting a variety of expressions from the independent distiller including a whisky exclusive to the Glen Scotia Grand Tour.

Each space has been carefully designed for an authentic experience with windows looking out on to the Kintyre Peninsula. The Victorian themed room exudes the classic style of the era, and the furniture and artefacts have been hand-chosen to create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

In the dunnage warehouse guests will find original whisky barrels from the Glen Scotia Distillery, and will sample drams straight from the cask. During the experience, attendees will be transported to the costal town through virtual projections which will light up the surronding walls.

The Glen Scotia distillery, which has a history dating back to 1832, is located in Campbeltown, on the Kintyre Peninsula.

In the Victorian age Campbeltown, which is the smallest and one of the most remote of Scotland’s five Scotch whisky producing regions, was known as the ‘whisky capital of the world’ and home to more than 30 distilleries. Today Glen Scotia is one of just three surviving local distilleries. Its award-winning whiskies are known for their distinctive maritime influence and are representative of the traditional Campbeltown character.

Iain McAlister, Distillery Manager at Glen Scotia, said: “We are the first to admit that Campbeltown isn’t the easiest to get to, but when whisky fans visit Glen Scotia they are deeply impressed by our whiskies and the unique character of the region. Our Glen Scotia Grand Tour will allow whisky lovers to share that sense of discovery and experience the lure of Campbeltown for themselves.”

Scott Dickson, Marketing Manager at Loch Lomond Group said; “Glen Scotia had been quietly producing exceptional single malts for more than 150 years and the Grand Tour is part of our ongoing strategy to put this special Campbeltown single malt whisky firmly on the map.

“This global experiential activation represents a major investment for Glen Scotia, and will increase visibility of the brand in markets worldwide. Campbeltown is known for producing some of the finest single malt whiskies and we are excited for consumers to experience the region for themselves.”

As well as learning more about Glen Scotia’s whiskies, history and heritage, those who attend the event will be in with a chance to win a trip to the distillery to experience the region for themselves.

The Glen Scotia Grand Tour will take place from Thursday 15 to Saturday 17 March 2018 at the Wine Pantry in Borough Market, London. Sessions last 60 minutes with multiple sessions each day. Attendees must be 18 years old or over.

The Glen Scotia Grand Tour follows a resurgence of the brand, which has been owned by Loch Lomond Group since 2014. Glen Scotia’s new ranges are available across a number of global markets and the brand recently launched its travel retail range in the UK comprising Glen Scotia 1832 Campbeltown and Glen Scotia 16 Year Old.

For ticket information, please visit Skiddle.com

For more information on Glen Scotia please visit www.glenscotia.com

Notes:

About Glen Scotia:

• Independent distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832.
• Glen Scotia is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.
• Glen Scotia was named Best Campbeltown Distillery of the Year at the 2017 Berlin International Spirits Competition.
• Glen Scotia Double Cask was named Scottish Field Whisky of the Year 2016
• Glen Scotia 15 Year Old won Double Gold at the San Francisco International Spirits Competition 2016
• Glen Scotia Victoriana won best Campbeltown Single Malt at World Whisky Awards 2017

www.glenscotia.com

@glenscotiamalts

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY AND FRANKFORT PARKS AND RECREATION TO HOST EASTER AT THE TRACE

Registration is required for participation in complimentary event

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Feb. 20, 2018) – Buffalo Trace Distillery is making some egg-citing changes to its annual Easter event! This year, the Distillery and the City of Frankfort Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Sites will host “Easter at the Trace,” which will be more of a festival-like event than in years’ past.

New this year, all families interested in participating must register online ahead of the event and present a printed ticket at the check-in. As in previous years, this will be a complimentary event for children and families to attend, however registration will now be required because of growing interest in this event, and in order to manage crowd size and ensure a safe event for everyone.

Easter at the Trace will begin at 11 a.m. Sunday, March 25 in the Buffalo Trace Distillery gardens and conclude at 2 p.m. The three hour event will be comprised of music, refreshments, and other Easter activities. Children will also have an opportunity to have their photo taken with the Easter Bunny as well as search for thousands of treat filled eggs on the Distillery lawn.

This year, children will have more room to hunt for eggs, as the Distillery lawn will be divided into two larger hunt areas to allow for more hunting space, rather than four smaller hunt areas. At noon, children ages 0-2 will hunt in one marked area, and then at 12:15 p.m. children ages 3-4 will hunt the second hunt area.

Following those two hunts, the two areas will be replenished with eggs and then at 12:45 p.m. children ages 5- 8 will hunt in the first hunt area, followed by the final hunt at 1 p.m. for children ages 9- 11 in the second hunt area. Registration for Easter at the Trace is complimentary and begins Feb. 25th. To register, visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com/events and click on the “Register Now” link in the Events Stampede Calendar. All participants must register online and bring a printed ticket to check-in at Easter at the Trace. Early registration is recommended as space is limited for this event.

Buffalo Trace is located at 113 Great Buffalo Trace in Frankfort, Ky. Visitors are asked to enter at the main Distillery entrance. Event parking signs will be posted. In the event of rain, the Easter Bunny will greet the children for photos and pass out treats in the Buffalo Trace Clubhouse.

Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times. No pets please, except for service animals.

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 ttitles 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.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Offers Collectible, Limited Edition Kentucky Derby Festival Bourbon Bottle

For the second consecutive year the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience will release a special edition bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel Bourbon, featuring a 2018 Gold Pegasus Pin, to commemorate the Kentucky Derby Festival. Collectors will find the pin sealed in gold wax on the neck of the 2010 vintage Bourbon, as opposed to the 2009 vintage, which featured the pin atop the cap. The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience will also be the sole location providing Pegasus Pins through March 5.

Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau and Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO Mike Berry unveiled the official 2018 pin and limited-edition bottle at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience on Friday, Feb. 16, by personally hand-dipping two of the 600 bottles. Dipped in a unique gold wax with a commemorative pin sealed to the neck, the bottle features a special face label with the Kentucky Derby Festival logo, and includes a 2018 Pegasus Pin in an envelope attached to each bottle.

This product will be available for purchase at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience for $74.99 starting Friday, Feb. 16, while supplies last.

The limited edition 2010 vintage bottle came from four barrels of Bourbon and is bottled at 109 proof, commemorating both the 63^nd Kentucky Derby Festival and 46^th Pegasus Pin anniversary. Like a fine wine, each bottle of Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Bourbon contains the exact day it was put in an oak barrel to age.

The Bourbon is matured in natural open-rick warehouses under the careful supervision of Heaven Hill’s Master Distillers, who monitor the progress of each year’s vintage to ensure it maintains its intended flavor profile and superb quality.

Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage has won five “Whiskey of the Year” awards and is one of the most critically-acclaimed specialty Bourbons produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, the world’s second largest holder of aging Bourbon.

“The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience celebrates the heritage of Kentucky’s spirit and is proud to continue a partnership with the Kentucky Derby Festival to promote the unique experiences of the Commonwealth,” said Evan Williams Bourbon Experience Artisanal Distiller Jodie Filiatreau. “We welcome all Festival Fans to join us in a toast to the 2018 Kentucky Derby Festival.”

Bringing the community together since 1956, the Kentucky Derby Festival has grown to become a whirlwind of more than 70 special events leading up to the big race in May. The Kentucky Derby Festival runs this year from April 20 – May 5. Pegasus Pins, which allow entry to Derby Festival events, may be purchased at the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience as well.

“This Evan Williams commemorative bottle really showcases two of Kentucky’s favorite things – the Derby Festival celebration and bourbon,” said Mike Berry, Kentucky Derby Festival President and CEO. “Just like the Pegasus Pins, we know fans will be adding this bottle to their Festival collection too.”

About Kentucky Derby Festival: Since 1956, the Derby Festival has worked to bring the community together in celebration. The Festival is an independent community organization supported by 4,000 volunteers, 400 businesses and civic groups, Pegasus Pin sponsorships and event participation. This involvement has made the Festival the largest single attended event in Kentucky and one of the leading community celebrations in the world.

About the Evan Williams Bourbon Experience: The Evan Williams Bourbon Experience® (www.EvanWilliamsBourbonExperience.com) celebrates the legacy of Evan Williams, Kentucky’s first commercial distiller, through an immersive visitor’s center experience which brings to life the history and tradition of Kentucky’s native spirit. An official stop on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®, the facility offers guests a historical glimpse back in time to see Evan Williams’ original distillery through high definition video recreations of the Louisville wharf and Main Street in the late 18th Century, plus recreations of Whiskey Row building facades along Main Street from the 1890’s through the present. Meanwhile, visitors learn the essential differences between distilling during Evan Williams’ era and Heaven Hill’s modern Bernheim Distillery operations.

TALISKER LAUNCHES THE TALISKER BODEGA SERIES: TALISKER 40 YEAR OLD 

Talisker unveils a 40-year-old Sherry finished single malt: one of the oldest and most unique expressions to date

Talisker introduces the Talisker Bodega Series: an exploration of exceptional Sherry Cask finishes on the finest of Single Malt Whiskies, celebrating age-old sherry relationships dating as far back as the 1900s. Adding to the Talisker portfolio, this new and exclusive series of Single Malt releases will offer collectors a taste of historic wineries of the renowned Sherry Triangle, where Talisker once sourced its casks.

In late June, the first exclusive release of the Talisker Bodega Series worldwide will be unveiled; Talisker 40 Year Old. With only 2,000 bottles produced, the 40 year old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is one of the oldest from Skye’s oldest distiller and is set to be one of Talisker’s most valuable expressions to date.

The liquid has been expertly crafted using some of the most renowned sherry casks. This is to reflect an exploration of an age-old relationship rooted in craft and excellence between Talisker and one of the world’s finest and oldest sherry producers, Delgado Zuleta, from the Marco de Jerez region.

To reinterpret the flavour profile of old, and commemorate these relationships, Talisker’s Master Blender has crafted this precious 40 year old liquid using a selection of the most mature and highly prized Vintage Talisker whisky, aged in refill casks. They then worked with the Sherry Masters at Bodega Delgado Zuleta, who hand picked five very special and unusual old ex-Sherry casks that once held the Bodega’s finest award-winning 40 year old Amontillado sherry.

The result is a deep, crystal gold liquid which signifies an echo of the old Talisker, enhanced by the gentle accent of the Amontillado sherry casks, with rich raisin, peaty aromas and a rare sweet opulence and fruity smokiness. On the nose it’s mild and rich, with a light prickle. This is paired with the depth of the rich Delgado Zuleta Amontillado casks which is present in waves of fruit and sweetness enriching the traditional Talisker pepper and yielding a remarkably vigorous 40 year old that is a pleasure to drink.

This golden spirit lies in a screen-printed bottle, and is housed in a hand-crafted wood casing to evoke the many stages of this whisky’s unique history. The design is inspired by the distinguished arches of the sherry Bodegas and architecture of the sundial of Sanlucar de Barrameda where the Delgado Zuleta casks are housed.

Donald Colville, Global Talisker Ambassador comments “This Talisker 40 Year Old, is an exquisite Single Malt Scotch Whisky which captures the age-old relationships with Delgado Zuleta and the high quality craftsmanship which took place throughout the creation of this rare expression. We are delighted to launch this as the first of the Bodega series and the liquid is something that we are extremely proud of. 

It is a magnificent lion-hearted old Talisker, rich with the sophistication of age yet still full of life and retaining the make’s familiar maritime and spicy character. With only 2,000 bottles produced this is the ultimate expression of luxury. Connoisseurs and collectors will aspire to have a bottle of Talisker 40 Year Old on their shelves, as it is a stunning example of where the warmth of Spain meets the wild of Skye.” 

Talisker has combined traditional craft skills with modern maturation techniques to produce this rare and unique Talisker expression that is the epitome of an age-old relationship. This limited edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky will be a seamless addition to the finest of Whisky collections around the globe.

Talisker 40 Year Old will be available from selected luxury retailers globally from the end of June 2018 onwards.  In the UK (domestic), RRSP of £2,750 per 70cl bottle.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

• Talisker 40 Year Old will be available from selected luxury retailers globally from the end of June 2018.  In the UK (domestic), RRSP of £2,750 per 70cl bottle.
• ABV 50%.
• There will be further releases of The Bodega Series, each finished in different casks to complete a journey around the Sherry Triangle. Details TBC.
• Tasting Notes:
  • Appearance: Deep, limpid gold. Good beading.
  • Nose: Mild and rich, with light nose prickle. The sweet fruitiness of sultanas and pears in syrup, then orange peel, framed in oiled sandalwood, with a salty suggestion of seaweed or sea air in the middle, on a base of faintly smoky raw sugar. Water brings up a buttery note of short crust pastry and a waxy hint.
  • Body: Medium, rich.
  • Palate: Most appealing. At natural strength, the texture is very fine; oil-smooth and lightly coating.  The taste starts sweetly fruity – white grapes, more sultanas – then becomes sea-salty and savoury, before finishing hot and peppery. As the sweet waves of flavour roll out across the palate, they break over a hint of that Talisker trademark, hot chilli spice, and some scented smoke. There’s great balance and vigour throughout. Adding water may tame the fire a little, but the lion remains wild at heart.
  • Finish: Long and warming, with a late, great tongue-tingling nuttiness in the embers as the fire slips down, and a last smoky trace of snuffed candle 

ABOUT TALISKER

The TALISKER® distillery is battered by the elements on the windswept coast of the Isle of Skye and is one of the most remote distilleries in Scotland. It was founded in1830 by Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill, and the distillery has been in near-constant

operation ever since. Talisker 10 year old, Talisker Skye and Talisker Storm are widely distributed while Talisker 18 year old, Talisker Distiller’s Edition and Talisker Port Ruighe can be found in specialist stores. See www.malts.com and www.facebook.com/Talisker for

more information.

Talisker has a heritage rooted in adventure, in 1830 its founders the MacAskill brothers crossed the Atlantic Ocean from the Isle of Eigg to establish the TALISKER distillery on the shores of Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye. It has remained there ever since, producing consistently fine whiskies for almost 200 years. The TALISKER, TALISKER STORM, TALISKER PORT RUIGHE, TALISKER SKYE. Words and associated logos are trademarks. © DIAGEO 2018

TICKETS GO ON SALE FOR THE 2018 WORLD WHISKY FORUM

The Cotswolds Distillery in England will host the second World Whisky Forum in June, following the Forum’s highly successful first year at Box Distillery in Sweden.

Created by Jan Groth of Box Distillery in conjunction with Ingvar Ronde of the Malt Whisky Yearbook and acclaimed whisky writer Dave Broom, the aim is to bring together key figures in the whisky world to foster cooperation and knowledge exchange across the industry. By bringing together small producers and much bigger players, from the established whisky-producing nations and the new ones, ideas can be shared and progress made – both in terms of the industry and the product itself.

Founder and CEO of the Cotswolds Distillery, Dan Szor, attended the first conference and was struck by the spirit of cooperation and curiosity that fuelled the Forum.

Szor said: “The 2017 Forum was an eye-opening experience that demonstrated that, unlike many industries today, the whisky world is one filled with passionate individuals keen to share ideas and cooperate, irrespective of national borders or corporate allegiances. With the World Whisky movement in full flight, we are thrilled that we’ll be able to host some of our friends and heroes, and show them our own perspective on bringing something new to the whisky world. Our Cotswolds Single Malt has only just been released, so this recognition of our place in the World Whisky community makes us incredibly proud.”

The theme for this years Forum is ‘Whisky 2020’, with guest speakers addressing innovation in whisky and the future direction of the industry. The 12 speakers this year include Jota Tanaka of Fuji Gotemba distillery in Japan, Tristan Stephenson of Fluid Movement/Black Rock, Miika Lipiäinen of Kyrö Distillery in Finland and the Cotswolds Distillery’s own head distiller, Nick Franchino. Returning as moderator is Dave Broom, editor of ScotchWhisky.com and author of The Way of Whisky: A Journey around Japanese Whisky.

There are a limited number of spaces available to attend the Forum, and these are open to anyone working in the whisky industry. For more information on how to book and the full speakers schedule, please visit www.worldwhiskyforum.org

NOTES:

The WORLD WHISKY FORUM was founded in 2017 by Jan Groth of Box Distillery in Sweden. It is a stage for the new wave of distillers and whisky stakeholders around the world who put innovation, rethinking and, of course, craftsmanship first. It is a recurring event that takes place every eighteen months.

The COTSWOLDS DISTILLERY was founded in 2014 and is the first full-scale distillery in the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It was recently named Craft Producer of the Year in the Rest of World category of the Icons of Whisky Awards, and in the UK category of the Icons of Gin Awards.

For more information, please visit www.worldwhiskyforum.org and www.cotswoldsdistillery.org, or contact Jan Groth, Head of the World Whisky Forum +46 (0)70-494 18 01 jan.groth@worldwhiskyform.org or Zoe Rutherford, Communications Manager at the Cotswolds Distillery zrutherford@cotswoldsdistillery.com +44 1608 238 533.

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces Release of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Series

BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the release of a limited-edition series of Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey bottlings to be released each spring and fall. Bottled in an ornate decanter, the series reflects the traditions of both the Old Fitzgerald lineage and the bottled-in-bond designation. Launching this spring with an 11-year-old bottling, whiskey aficionados and history buffs alike will revel in the newest edition of the Old Fitzgerald family.

As the leader of the Bottled-in-Bond category, Heaven Hill is proud to offer a premium, allocated product within this special class that showcases the authenticity and quality of the American Whiskey portfolio. Acquired in 1999 by Heaven Hill, the legendary Old Fitzgerald line is well-known for its distilling pedigree and intriguing story behind its namesake, John E. Fitzgerald. Comprised of barrels produced from February through May of 2006, and bottled in April of 2018, the first release ushers in the latest hallmark series to the bottled-in-bond legacy.

Inspired by an original 1950’s Old Fitzgerald diamond decanter, the newest packaging will thrill collectors as the brand was traditionally bottled in artistic decanters of all shapes and sizes. The label features the time-honored graphic of a key, commemorating an important element in original labels and the brand’s slogan since the 1940’s, “Your key to hospitality.” Kentucky’s state seal and a prominent brand banner replicate a pre-Prohibition label. Spring editions will be denoted with a green label and fall editions with a black label. The age will change with each edition and will also be indicated on the bottom of the label.

Each edition’s tax strip, which has always been a signature of transparency on bottled-in-bond products, will disclose when the liquid was produced and bottled.

“For 82 years Heaven Hill Distillery has nurtured and produced historic brands of quality and heritage,” said Heaven Hill Distillery Master Distiller Denny Potter. “It is an honor to join a famous line of distillers behind the Old Fitzgerald name and to continue to uphold the tradition of the brand through its bottled-in-bond designation, which dates to the early 1900s.”

Larceny Bourbon, a descendant of the Old Fitzgerald line, tells the legend of Treasury Agent John E. Fitzgerald who held the keys to the bonded rickhouses, and helped himself from barrels containing only the finest bourbon. The agent’s selections became known around the distillery as “Fitzgerald barrels” and were used to create a soft, wheated bourbon known as “Old Fitzgerald.”

The Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond Series will be available in the 750ml size on an allocated basis each spring and fall throughout the next five years. The spring 2018 edition meets the strict requirements of a bottled-in-bond: the product of a single distillery from a single distilling season, aged a minimum of four years, and bottled at 100 proof or 50% alcohol by volume. The first edition is available at a suggested retail price of $110.00.

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 1.3 million barrels aging in 55 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 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.

FORGOTTEN SCOTTISH PRINCESS HONOURED WITH PIONEERING BLEND OF SCOTCH AND DUTCH WHISKY, THE WINTER QUEEN

• The Winter Queen whisky honours remarkable legacy of Elizabeth Stuart, eldest daughter of King James VI and I and Queen Anne of Denmark
• Latest release from innovative Fusion Whisky and Adelphi partnership that celebrates historical Scots and their influence on the world
• First blend of Scotch and Dutch whisky from firm that pioneered ‘fusion’ concept of international blends using Scotch with Japanese and Indian whiskies

SHE was the Scottish princess with Queen Elizabeth I for godmother, destined for a lifetime of exile in The Hague, and is the forgotten link between the Stuart and Hanoverian thrones.

Now the legacy of Elizabeth Stuart, eldest daughter of King James VI and I, is being honoured by a unique new whisky made from a pioneering blend of Scotch and Dutch single malt whisky.

Edinburgh-based Fusion Whisky said its new Winter Queen whisky “celebrated the story and honoured the memory” of Elizabeth Stuart, who was born in Fife in 1596, but spent most of life in The Hague.

Fusion Whisky Director Graham Langley said: “Elizabeth’s story is a superb one, and certainly deserving of a wider audience. Our Winter Queen whisky serves to honour this forgotten Scottish princess and to bring greater awareness to her remarkable life and influence.”

As eldest daughter to King James VI and I and Queen Anne of Denmark, Elizabeth was always destined for a place in the history books. While still a child, she was caught up in the web of intrigue during the infamous Gunpowder Plot.  At 16 she was married to Elector Palatine Frederick V and the couple moved to Bohemia, where they reigned. But after a year the couple were besieged and forced to flee Prague, earning the couple the moniker, the Winter King and Queen.

Elizabeth spent the next 40 years living in The Hague, campaigning for her lost lands and establishing a royal court that became an artistic and diplomatic hub whose influence extended across Europe. She also became a figurehead for the thousands of Scottish mercenaries based in the Netherlands.

Dr Nadine Akkerman of Leiden University is the leading authority on Elizabeth Stuart. She said: “More politically cunning than her grandmother, Mary, Queen of Scots, and more belligerent than her godmother, Elizabeth I, she never relinquished the title Queen of Bohemia, even though she spent upwards of forty years in exile in The Hague after but a year in Prague.”

Dr Akkerman said that the thousands of letters Elizabeth wrote to statesmen and stateswomen, generals, lieutenants, ambassadors and other diplomats, showed the complex, witty and influential character of Elizabeth, whom history has largely overlooked.

She added: “During her years in exile, she changed court culture in the Netherlands and was matriarch to a family that included artists, warriors, natural philosophers and one queen mother: George I was her grandson.

The Winter Queen is the third character-led blend of international whisky launched by Fusion Whisky. Working in partnership with the acclaimed Adelphi, Fusion Whisky has established itself as a pioneer of premium blends made using Scotch and international whisky to honour remarkable Scots.

Its iconic Glover whisky was made by blending Scotch with rare Hanyu whisky from Japan in celebration of Thomas Blake Glover, the so-called “Scottish samurai”. Glover, who is better known in his adopted Japan than in his homeland, played a critical role in the country’s industrialisation, and had a part in the foundation of Mitsubishi and Kirin Group. He was the first non-Japanese person to receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Japan’s highest civic honour.

Last year the firm released The E&K whisky, which was made using Scotch and Indian whisky from Amrut Distillery in honour of the “Walking Viceroy”, Victor Alexander Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin and 13th Earl of Kincardine. Bruce served as Viceroy of India under Queen Victoria in the late 19th century, and pushed for greater infrastructure and economic growth, including the construction of 4000 miles of railway during his term of office and linking all the major Indian cities for the first time, creating a railway network of more than 20,000 miles.

Fusion Whisky’s latest title, The Winter Queen, was made using Scotch from Longmorn and Glenrothes distilleries, blended with malt whisky from the renowned Dutch Distillery Zuidam. The recipe was created by Adelphi’s managing director and master blender Alex Bruce.

Mr Bruce said: “By taking whiskies matured in different climates, we have been able to create a very new and innovative style. Like the historical characters we honour, these whiskies are themselves pioneers, challenging expectations of what blended whisky is. Crucially, these whiskies are also products of international partnerships and friendships. We’re very proud of it!”

Tasting notes:

The Winter Queen (52.7%), 1 of 866 bottles

9 year old malt whisky

A blend of Scotch malt whisky from Longmorn and Glenrothes distilleries and malt whisky from Zuidam Distillery in the Netherlands. By Adelphi and Fusion Whisky.

Nose drying; polished floor boards; chocolate and desiccated coconut; Scotch pancakes topped with bacon and coated in maple syrup; manilla envelopes; crème caramel; maraschino cherry; rhubarb crumble, dark toffee and molasses; soft and creamy mouthfeel; Sunday lunch, with quince jelly and jus.

The Winter Queen will be available through select specialist retailers, priced around £125.

IMAGES:

Image of The Winter Queen whisky from Fusion Whisky and Adelphi. Image: Tina Norris.

Portrait of Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen, as the Biblical Queen Esther, by Gerard van Honthorst. Courtesy of Hoogsteder & Hoogsteder.

Painting of Prince Maurice in the company of Prince Frederick Henry, Frederick V and Elizabeth Stuart, King and Queen of Bohemia, (on left hand side) at the Buitenhof in The Hague. By Pauwels van Hillegaert. Courtesy of Rijksmusuem.

Painting of Frederick V (1596-1632), Elector of the Palatinate, King of Bohemia, and

Elisabeth Stuart (1596-1662), Queen of Bohemia, out hunting, by Adriaen Pietersz van de Venne. Courtesy of Rijksmuseum.

 Portrait of Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen, by Gerard van Honthorst. Courtesy of National Gallery, London.