Bournemouth bar, Smokin’ Aces, awarded the Imbibe Whisky List of the Year 2017 

Smokin’ Aces Cocktail Bar & Whiskey Lounge in Bournemouth has beaten some of the best bars from across the UK to be crowned Imbibe Whisky List of The Year 2017 in association with Maxxium.

The menu, including a list of Old Fashioned’s and a breakdown of blends and malts, won for their comprehensive yet carefully edited menu of whisk(e)y’s that’s organised geographically, helping the consumer.

Industry expert, author and judge for the competition, Michael Butt, commented: ‘I don’t know how this could be any better.’

‘It’s pushing forward the relevance to their market and that’s really good’ added fellow judge Joel Harrison. ‘What appeals to me is that it would get people into the category rather than just keep them there, and for whisky I think that’s really important.’

The on-trade competition featured an extraordinary line-up of contenders, and other winners were from bars in Birmingham, Exeter, Sheffield, and London.

Judges for the competition included Michael Butt, Monica Berg, Jared Brown, Anistatia Miller, Neil Ridley, Joel Harrison, Michelle Brachet, Peter Dorelli, Alessando Palazzi and Lyndon Higginson, as well as the award-winning Imbibe editorial team.

The Imbibe Drinks List of the Year 2017 competition opened for entries last year and serves to reward the very best drinks lists from bars across the UK. 

 Notes

For further information visit www.imbibe.com or smokin-aces.co.uk

Imbibe launched Drinks List of the Year in March 2016 as a competition that aims to find and reward the best cocktail and spirits lists in bars across the UK. Judges notes on all winners are available on request.

Launched in March 2007, Imbibe magazine has rapidly become the UK’s leading magazine for on-trade drinks professionals working in premium UK establishments. Imbibe is an ABC-audited magazine, with more than 15,650 drinks buyers and servers in the UK receiving the magazine. Copies are available upon request.

Limited Edition Jim Beam® Distiller’s Cut Offers Bourbon Lovers a Memorable Taste For The Holidays

CHICAGO, Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Jim Beam®, the world’s No. 1 bourbon, has released Jim Beam® Distiller’s Cut, a premium, unfiltered*, 100-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This limited time offering was personally selected by Fred Noe, Jim Beam’s seventh generation Master Distiller, and is available nationwide.

“We skipped the chill filtration process, so the liquid gets from barrel to bottle a little differently,” said Noe. “The result is unique to other Jim Beam offerings, with a fuller taste and longer finish compared to your typical bourbon.”

Jim Beam Distiller’s Cut is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey aged five to six years that features a medium body and combines caramel sweetness with charred oak, enriched with light fruit notes. The premium expression offers a smooth and complex mouthfeel with a warm, lightly charred oak finish – the perfect gift for a bourbon lover looking to try something different this holiday season. It has a dark amber color with aromas of soft charred oak, sweet caramel, vanilla and hints of dried fruit.

“At Jim Beam, we are consistently innovating to offer our consumers a wide range of products. Jim Beam Distiller’s Cut is different from our other products because of the post-aging process,” said Rob Mason, Vice President of North American Whiskey at Beam Suntory. “Our Master Distiller has decided to release this batch at a time when bourbon drinkers, more than ever, are anxious to discover something unique.”

After aging, bourbon typically goes through a chill filtration process, which involves forcing the liquid through a dense filter to remove fatty acids formed during distillation. Jim Beam Distiller’s Cut skips this step, which results in a fuller taste and palate feel. This can also cause the liquid to look cloudier compared to filtered bourbons, especially on the rocks.

Jim Beam Distiller’s Cut is best enjoyed neat or on the rocks and has a suggested retail price of $22.99 for 750ML. Find it at select retailers nationwide starting this month, on shelves alongside Jim Beam’s other premium offerings including Jim Beam Black® Bourbon, Jim Beam® Double Oak Bourbon finished in oak, Jim Beam® Rye Whiskey and Jim Beam®Bonded Bourbon.

For more information on new Jim Beam Distiller’s Cut, follow Jim Beam on Twitter (@jimbeam) and Instagram (@jimbeamofficial) or visit http://www.jimbeam.com.

*Jim Beam® Distillers Cut Bourbon is only quality screened to remove barrel char pieces from the liquid.

Jim Beam® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 50% Alc./Vol.

©2017 James B. Beam Distilling Co., Clermont, KY.

About Beam Suntory Inc.
As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Beam Suntory Donates $100,000 to Holiday Meals for the Military

Chicago – November 20, 2017 – Beam Suntory, the world’s third-largest premium spirits company, has donated $100,000 to Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that builds strong, stable, and secure military families so they can thrive in the communities that they’ve worked so hard to protect. Since 2008, the world leader in bourbon has supported Operation Homefront, raising its total cash and in-kind contribution to more than $3.4 million. The funds will support Holiday Meals for Military, a program providing more than 8,400 family meals across the country this holiday season, run by Operation Homefront.

The Holiday Meals for Military program dates back to Thanksgiving 2009 at a supermarket in Utica, N.Y., near Fort Drum. A soldier, there with his wife and infant, had a handful of groceries they could not afford. A Beam Suntory employee in line behind them intervened and picked up the $12 cost, but was inspired to do much more.

“The holidays can be a particularly difficult time for military service men and women and we are proud to support those who defend our freedoms and their families, who are truly our nation’s silent heroes,” said Beam Suntory Chairman and CEO Matt Shattock. “It’s been incredibly inspiring to see this program grow from that first donation to the distribution of thousands of meal kits today.”

“The holiday season can be a very challenging time of the year for military families – particularly those who are on a very tight budget,” said Brig. Gen. (ret.) John I. Pray Jr., president and CEO of Operation Homefront.  “Our highly valued Holiday Meals for Military program has provided meals to more than 300,000 military family members over the past several years and I am proud to say Beam Suntory has been a driving force behind our important work.  We are grateful to an amazing Beam team for all they do to help us help these deserving families thrive – not simply struggle to get by – in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.”

Beam Suntory employees are also volunteering to help pack meal kits across the country. Since Holiday Meals for Military’s inception, Beam Suntory employees have volunteered thousands of hours to help pack and distribute family meals.

DISCOVER A NEW TRILOGY OF LUXURY WHISKIES CRAFTED AT THE HOME OF THE WORLD’S OLDEST SCOTCH MATURATION WAREHOUSE

Introducing the Vintner’s trilogy from bowmore islay single malt scotch whisky,

a unique collection of luxury whiskies matured in wine casks

Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Whisky has announced the launch of the Bowmore® Vintner’s Trilogy. Launching from September, the trilogy will feature a collection of exceptional single malt whiskies; Bowmore® 18 Year Old Double Matured Manzanilla, Bowmore® 26 Year Old Wine Matured and a final 27 Year Old bottling to be released in 2018. The trilogy has been created in the Hidden Depths of Bowmore®’s No.1 Vaults, the world’s oldest scotch maturation house, imbuing the signature Bowmore® flavour with attributes of the finest ex-wine, sherry and port casks.  

DISCOVER HIDDEN GEMS

Nestled on the edge of the island of Islay, with the tumultuous waves of the Atlantic crashing against the walls of the maturation warehouse, expertly chosen casks transform single malt whisky into Bowmore®’s liquid gold. Within the maturation warehouse lays hidden casks waiting to be discovered as a result of generations of distilling expertise and the unique sea-buffeted atmosphere within the No. 1 Vaults. Bowmore®’s legendary No. 1 Vaults, established in 1779, is the birthplace of coveted whiskies including the latest premium collection that is the Vintner’s Trilogy. Explore the depths of the legendary vaults and discover the hidden casks, matured for 18 years or more, to create the Vintner’s Trilogy. Matured in manzanilla sherry, wine, bourbon and Islay malt barrels, these whiskies boast extra layers of flavour unique to this collection.

BOWMORE 18 YEAR OLD DOUBLE MATURED MANZANILLA

The first of the Vintner’s Trilogy, Bowmore® 18 Year Old is matured in both ex-bourbon barrels and ex-manzanilla sherry barrels, taking on a rich antique gold colour. On the nose, notes of treacle, salted caramel, ripe blackcurrants, soft stone fruits, vanilla fudge and spiced Seville oranges sit alongside subtle hints of menthol and chamomile. These aromas develop into bitter oranges and a burst of peat smoke on the palate to create this refined whisky. Bowmore®’s 18 Year Old Double Matured Manzanilla will be available from specialist whisky retailers at RRP $127| €110 | £105.

BOWMORE 26 YEAR OLD WINE MATURED

The second in the trilogy, Bowmore® 26 Year Old Wine Matured spends time in ex-bourbon barrels and wine barriques, developing a burnt amber colour. Redcurrant jam, camphor oil and cherry pie intermingle with earthy smoke on the nose, developing into spiced oak, tropical fruits such as papaya and mango and a honeyed sweetness with the addition of water. A full-bodied whisky, on the palate the flavours develop into oak spiced smoke and rich dark chocolate with a long finish and a hint of salt typical of Bowmore®. Bowmore®’s 26 Year Old Wine Matured will be available from specialist whisky retailers at RRP $540 | €420 | £400.

BOWMORE 27 YEAR OLD

The final whisky in the trilogy set to be released in 2018, Bowmore® 27 Year Old will complete the collection. 

David Turner, Bowmore® distillery manager, comments: “The Vintner’s Trilogy is a collection of three liquid gold whiskies which have been meticulously matured over time in our No.1 Vaults. The unique, sea-buffeted atmosphere inside the oldest scotch maturation warehouse in the world has created three perfectly balanced whiskies full of flavour, with each whisky offering an individual taste journey through their time maturing in manzanilla sherry, wine, bourbon and Islay malt casks.”

 www.bowmore.com

Facebook.com/BOWMORE

Twitter.com/BOWMORE

Instagram.com/BOWMORE

Notes:

The Vintner’s Trilogy collection and its name has been inspired by Bowmore®’s use of ex-wine and sherry barrels to create their perfectly balanced whiskies. The trilogy celebrates the distillery’s legendary Scotch maturation warehouse, the No. 1 Vaults, the oldest in the world. 

ABOUT BOWMORE®

Founded in 1779, Bowmore® is the oldest distillery on Islay, one of the Scottish isles which make up the region known as the ‘Islands’ in the lexicon of Whisky.  The other regions are the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands.  Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore® is no exception; the malt is carefully smoked in a peat-fired kiln, using skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

Bowmore®’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of its Single Malts. Today, it prides itself as one of the rare distilleries which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by a traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery.  Water for the whiskies is specially drawn from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones – the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.

Bowmore® Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of its spirit. The legendary Bowmore® No. 1 Vaults is where most of the whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the vault’s sea-facing wall.

They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavours.  It is this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore® Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.

Awards:

ISC 2017 | Gold for 12 Year Old

ISC 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old (GTR)

ISC 2017 | Silver for Vault Editions Atlantic Sea Salt

ISC 2017 | Silver for 18 Year Old (Domestic)

ISC 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore No.1

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore 10 Year Old

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore 15 Year Old

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Silver for 12 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Gold for 12 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old (GTR)

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 10 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 18 Year old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for Bowmore No.1

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for Vault Editions Atlantic Sea Salt

Bowmore supports www.drinkaware.co.uk

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit http://www.beamsuntory.com/ and www.drinksmart.com.

Lagavulin 8 Year Old joins the Lagavulin family

Launched as part of the Lagavulin 200th anniversary celebrations last year – 8 Year Old will now join the Lagavulin family permanently

Lagavulin Single Malt Scotch Whisky is treasured around the world as one of the most special of all Single Malts. As part of Lagavulin’s 200^th  anniversary celebrations last year, a Lagavulin 8 Year Old was launched as a special edition. Following the incredibly positive response, an 8 Year Old bottling will now join the Lagavulin family permanently.

Inspired by the distillery’s rich heritage, the bottle pays tribute to Britain’s most famous Victorian whisky writer, Alfred Barnard. In the late 1880s, Barnard, one of the first ever whisky journalists and travellers, sampled an 8 Year Old Lagavulin during a visit to Islay, describing it as “exceptionally fine” and “held in high repute.”

Lagavulin Distillery

“The 8 Year Old is a signature Lagavulin style bottling with a liveliness that balances out the Islay smokiness. We hope that Lagavulin fans will enjoy this bottling, just as Alfred Barnard did centuries ago”

Georgie Crawford

Distillery Manager at Lagavulin

“Our aim for the 200th Anniversary was to bring Islay to life for as many people as possible, and by re-releasing this bottling as a permanent offering in our portfolio, we’ll be able to continue sharing Lagavulin’s heritage across the globe for many years to come”

Richard Walker

Diageo’s Global Head of Malts

Barton 1792 Distillery Announces New Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon  

            BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (Nov. 14, 2017) – Barton 1792 Distillery unveils the most recent limited-edition whiskey in its line of 1792 bourbons, 1792 Bottled-in-Bond Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. This Bottled-in-Bond expression remains true to its heritage and is a testament to the Bottled in Bond act, established in 1897, which revolutionized the quality of American whiskey and gave whiskey drinkers confidence is high quality whiskey made by a legitimate distiller.

This well-aged bourbon came from barrels which were each filled during the same distilling season at Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Bottled-in-Bond was then bottled at precisely 100 proof and packs a bold taste followed by a lingering finish.

Tasting notes for this bourbon describe 1792’s unmistakable spice being met with “notes of charred oak and fresh mint. Subtle caramel apple tones are delicately balance with the lingering essence of coffee and black pepper.”

This is the seventh limited edition release of 1792 Bourbon expressions. The Bottle-in-Bond joins previous releases such as High Rye, Sweet Wheat, Single Barrel and Full Proof Bourbons. The 1792 Bottled-in-Bond will be available at retail starting in December. One batch of this Bottle-in-Bond Bourbon will be released each year, in the fall. Suggested retail pricing is $35.99 for a 750ml bottle.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com

TREAT THE WHISKY LOVER IN YOUR LIFE TO A SELECTION OF AWARD-WINNING WHISKIES THIS CHRISTMAS WITH THE PEATED MALTS OF DISTINCTION® GIFT PACK

INCLUDING THE ARDMORE, CONNEMARA, BOWMORE & LAPHROAIG 

Spoil your loved ones this festive season with four award-winning whiskies in this exclusive Peated Malts of Distinction® gift pack. Explore Scotland and Ireland’s most celebrated whiskies with The Ardmore®, Connemara®, Bowmore® and Laphroaig®. 

This unparalleled collection will take you on a journey through smoky whisky, offering a varied flavour palate from silky, sweet The Ardmore Legacy and honeyed Connemara, to spicy Bowmore No.1 and the full-bodied smoke of Laphroaig Select. There is plenty for peated whisky lovers and newcomers alike to enjoy. 

TREASURED TRADITION

Each expression within the Peated Malts of Distinction gift pack is crafted with generations-old techniques passed down to produce peated whiskies for any palate and pocket.

Growing just millimetres per year, each peat bog cultivated in the creation of the Peated Malts of Distinction whiskies has a unique terroir, giving the whiskies their own distinctive character. Once cut, the peat is air-dried before being burnt in the distilleries’ smokehouse kiln beneath the malt to add a gentle or intense smoky flavour to the whiskies.

With an offering spanning the finest examples of peated malts from award-winning distilleries including Laphroaig, the world’s No. 1 Islay malt, to Connemara – Ireland’s only peated malt, Peated Malts of Distinction offers a range of unparalleled diversity and quality. 

PAIRING FOR PERSONALITY

Peated Malts of Distinction encourages you to explore its range to discover your ideal peated whisky. The journey begins in the snowy climbs of the Scottish highlands with The Ardmore Legacy – a lightly peated expression that showcases hints of creamy vanilla, balanced with sweet honey and spice.

For Irish whiskey fans, Connemara is a must-have. Often described as “Islay meets Ireland”, it retains the smooth and sweet taste of Irish whiskey with the smoky taste associated with Islay Malt whiskies.

Introducing you to Islay is Bowmore No. 1. From Islay’s first distillery and the home of the world’s oldest Scotch maturation warehouse, the legendary No.1 Vaults, Bowmore is one of the most collectable single malts in the world. Meticulous maturation in the No.1 Vaults leads to a perfectly balanced peated whisky with smooth and mellow vanilla sweetness, cinnamon spice, zesty citrus and a hint of coconut culminating in a long lasting peat taste.

Heavily-peated Laphroaig has been dividing opinions since 1815. Malt masters with the confidence to seek out richer whisky experiences will relish Laphroaig Select; sparkling gold in colour, this is a full-bodied and complex whisky reminiscent of burning peat embers with hints of coconut and banana.

Treat your loved one this Christmas and help them find their favourite peated malt whisky with this exclusive gift box. The whiskies are presented in a premium wrapped closing box featuring photography of each distillery alongside 4x5cl miniatures. The gift pack is available from specialist retailers for RRP £20.

Notes: 

The Ardmore®

For Highland whisky drinkers keen to experience something more unusual, this lightly peated whisky is an interesting addition to any collection, bringing together generations-old traditions of peated malt craft with a uniquely contemporary whisky brand, taste buds will soar to new heights with The Ardmore.

www.ardmorewhisky.com

Awards:

IWSC 2017 | Silver for The Ardmore Traditional Peated

IWSC 2017 | Silver for The Ardmore Legacy

IWSC 2017 | Silver for The Ardmore Triple Wood

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for The Ardmore Legacy

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for The Ardmore Triple Wood

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Bronze for The Ardmore Traditional Peated 

Connemara®

The only remaining example of a peated Irish malt in the world, Connemara is smooth and sweet with complex peat flavours make for a robust whiskey that’s unlike any other from the Emerald Isle.

www.kilbeggandistillingcompany.com

Awards:

ISC 2017 | Silver for Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Bowmore®

Crafted at the home of the world’s oldest Scotch maturation warehouse, the legendary No.1 Vaults, Bowmore is one of the most collectable single malts in the world. Perfectly balanced, smooth and mellow with a long lasting peat taste, Bowmore is a mid-to-highly peated whisky.

www.bowmore.com

Awards:

ISC 2017 | Gold for 12 Year Old

ISC 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old (GTR)

ISC 2017 | Silver for Vault Editions Atlantic Sea Salt

ISC 2017 | Silver for 18 Year Old (Domestic)

ISC 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore No.1

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore 10 Year Old

ISC 2017 | Silver for Bowmore 15 Year Old

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Silver for 12 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Gold for 12 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Gold for 18 Year Old (GTR)

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 10 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 15 Year Old Darkest

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for 18 Year old

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for Bowmore No.1

International Spirits Challenge 2017 | Silver for Vault Editions Atlantic Sea Salt 

Laphroaig®

An alchemic blend of casks, Laphroaig is the iconic malt from Islay – the undisputed capital of peated malts and features a nose reminiscent of burning peat embers in a crofter’s fireplace with hints of coconut and banana that gives way to a deep, complex and smoky flavour with a gentle sweetness.

www.laphroaig.com

Awards:

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig 10 Year Old

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Triple Wood

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Select

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Quarter Cask

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Lore

ISC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig PX

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Double gold for Laphraoig Lore

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Gold for Laphraoig 10 Year Old

San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2017 | Silver for Select

IWSC 2017 | Gold for Laphroaig Quarter Cask

IWSC 2017 | Gold for Laphroaig The 1815 Legacy Edition

IWSC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig 10 Year Old

IWSC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Four Oak

IWSC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Lore

IWSC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Select

IWSC 2017 | Silver for Laphroaig Triple Wood

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

The House of Suntory Whisky proudly introduces Yamazaki Mizunara 2017 edition, revealing the art of Mizunara

Nov, 2017) For over three generations, the master blenders at Suntory Whisky have devoted themselves to pursuing the harmony of Japanese nature and craftsmanship.  One of the most outstanding examples of this pursuit is found in Mizunara, a rare Japanese oak.

The wood from this rare and demanding tree inspired Suntory to take a momentous step forward in whisky making, both in perfecting new cask-making techniques and in creating flavours never before tasted in whisky. In a rare feat of craftsmanship, Suntory’s blenders have brought the essence of the noble Mizunara into a peerless liquid – tantalisingly spicy, reminiscent of incense, and uniquely Japanese.

Revealing their mastery of the Art of Mizunara, Suntory Whisky proudly introduces The Yamazaki Mizunara 2017 Edition, one of the House’s crowning jewels.

This Mizunara edition from The House of Suntory Whisky has been blended from a selection of single malt whiskies aged entirely in Mizunara casks for at least 18 years, and is certainly their most exquisite creation yet. Suntory’s Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo believes that each creation is a new journey to achieve a balance of subtlety, refinement and complexity that is the hallmark of all Suntory whiskies.

“I wanted to reveal the whisky’s soul that is the Art of Mizunara – a heightened sense and awakened palate, engaged through aromas and flavours never known before. Encountering it should be a moment of epiphany.”

Shinji Fukuyo, Chief Blender at Suntory Whisky

Found in only a few regions of Japan, the rare Mizunara oak is hard and permeable in nature, which made it a difficult wood to use to in cask making, as it is hard to shape and join with precision and does not retain liquid well. Through perseverance, Suntory’s craftsman have mastered this the art of Mizunara cask-making, identifying the perfect trees to make their casks.

Age is key to unlocking the signature taste of Mizunara and only a long maturation can provide the spiciness and incense-like flavour of sandalwood and aloe wood that Suntory considers as the quintessential “Mizunara-ness”.

Yamazaki Mizunara 2017 Edition represents Suntory’s true mastery of the Art of Mizunara – from harvesting, to cask making, to maturation, to blending. The House of Suntory invites whisky lovers to experience one of its most precious creations and encounter for the first time the defining expression of “Mizunara-ness”.

Presented in a beautiful wooden box crafted from recycled Suntory casks, the Yamazaki Mizunara 2017 Edition will be available to purchase from selected retailers from November at £1,000 RRP.

About Suntory

The House of Suntory Whisky is the founding house of Japanese whisky. A legacy of three master blenders and three generations of innovators, Suntory was created by the Founding Father of Japanese whisky, Shinjiro Torii. Suntory was established in 1899 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Since 1923, as the pioneer of Japanese whisky, Suntory Whisky has been renowned for its House of Master Blenders and for their Art of Blending. Suntory Whiskies are subtle, refined and complex. The portfolio features two single malt whiskies, one blend and one grain whisky including Yamazaki—Japan’s #1 Single Malt, multi-layered and profound, Hakushu—verdant, fresh, and delicately smoky, Hibiki— the noble blend, Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky and the mild, smooth, single grain, Chita— the serenity of Japanese whisky.

The Whisky Barrel releases their latest exclusive 10^th Anniversary Whisky!  

Specialist online whisky shop, TheWhiskyBarrel.com, is proud to release Glenlivet 11 Year Old 2006 Signatory 10th Anniversary. 

This is the fifth addition to The Whisky Barrel’s range of exclusive bottlings commemorating the 10^th anniversary of the retailer established in 2007 and which is now renowned as one of the world’s leading whisky and spirits merchants.

The Glenlivet 11 Year Old 2006 has been specially selected by The Whisky Barrel from the warehouses at Signatory Vintage at Pitlochry in the Scottish Highlands. The Whisky Barrel hand selected this first-fill sherry hogshead cask due to its exceptional aromas and flavours.

Glenlivet Distillery produces single malt Scotch Whisky in Ballindalloch, Moray. It was founded in 1824 by George Smith and is the oldest legal distillery in the parish of Glenlivet. Following expansion in 2010 the distillery is now equipped with fourteen stills making it one of the largest malt whisky distilleries in Scotland.

Signatory Vintage was established by Andrew and Brian Symington in 1988 at Newhaven on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth. Having taken over the business in 1997 and purchased Edradour Distillery in Pitlochry in 2002, Andrew Symington moved his bottling business into new premises next to the Highland distillery.

The Glenlivet 11 Year Old 2006 Signatory 10^th Anniversary has been aged for 11 years in a first-fill sherry hogshead cask #900552 yielding 316 bottles at natural cask strength. The whisky is richly sherried in colour and flavour.

Tasting notes: 

Colour: Beautifully dark. Shine a light on it and a lovely caramelised sugar on the cusp of catching come out. 

Nose: Rich sherry notes. Rum and raisin with soft Scottish toffee and dark chocolate. Leather boots and tobacco leaf add some real muscle but softened with strawberry and dried apricot. 

Taste: Lovely warming chewiness of the sherry. Crisp red berries giving way mil chocolate raisins, oak and a touch of apricot sherbet. The high ABV makes it a big hitter. Left to some air relaxes it and brings out a little more chocolate and toffee. 

Finish:  Long and lingering with a pleasant heat. Big spicy fruit cake with cinnamon and cloves with a touch of bitter chocolate. Dries to an oaky finish. 

Price: £79.99 GBP / $87.00 USD (+ P&P) 

Notice for Editors:-

1. Q) What is the product called? A)  The Glenlivet 11 Year Old 2006 Signatory 10^th
2. Q) When will this product be released/was it released? A) Monday 13 November 2017. 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) £79.99 GBP / $87.00 USD (+ P&P)
3. Q) Who handles the product’s distribution? A) In-house at TheWhiskyBarrel.com. Q) What is the ABV of this product? A) 63.5% ABV natural cask strength.
4. Q) Why has this product been launched? A) Limited Edition single cask bottled exclusively by The Creative Whisky Co. to celebrate 10 years of TheWhiskyBarrel.com. This is the third bottling in the 10^th Anniversary series of single cask spirits.

Note to Editors 

The Whisky Barrel is a specialist online whisky and spirits merchant was established in 2007 and celebrates it’s 10^th anniversary in 2017. The firm has been nominated for Whisky Magazine Awards and prestigious International Wine & Spirits Competition runner-up in 2016.

Previous Anniversary Releases:

#1 Irish Cooley, 13 year old, 2003 Exclusive Malts 10^th Anniversary

#2 Dumbarton 30 year old, 1987, The Sovereign

#3 Laphroaig 6 year old, 2011 Exclusive Malts 10^th Anniversary

N.B. prices correct at the time of publishing and are subject to currency fluctuation.

NEW RANGE OF TAILORED MEMBERSHIP PACKAGES FOR WHISKY CLUB WITH ADDED EXTRAS MAKE A DRAM FINE CHRISTMAS GIFT 

The gift of membership of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society can now be tailored with optional extras such as bottles, a taster pack of drams and tasting tickets to suit the whisky fan in your life 

If you’re looking for a Christmas present with a difference for the adventurous whisky fan, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (www.smws.com/) has launched a new range of membership packages (www.smws.com/whisky-club-membership), which can be tailored with optional extras.

The Society is the world’s leading whisky club with a community of more than 26,000 malt-loving members around the world. The club, which was started by a group of friends in Edinburgh in 1983, specialises in single cask whisky and takes a unique approach to whisky by celebrating the flavours in the bottle through 12 unique flavour profiles.

New range of membership packages

The core annual membership of the Society costs £65 and provides whisky lovers with an array of benefits including: exclusive access to Society whiskies and other spirits; entry to the Society’s Members’ Rooms in Edinburgh and London; members’ rates for SMWS tasting events; discounted dram prices at SMWS partner bars; free subscription to Unfiltered, its award-winning members’ magazine; and savings on postage and packaging.

In time for Christmas, the Society has introduced a range of new membership packages (www.smws.com/whisky-club-membership), which allow buyers to build on the core annual membership (£65) with tailored optional extras to suit the preferences of the whisky lover in their life.

The new membership packages are:

• Pioneer (£130): the most popular option – core annual membership PLUS a beautiful welcome pack containing three 10cl sample bottles, a £15 e-voucher, SMWS journal and club lapel badge
• Champion (£110): core annual membership PLUS a specially selected bottle of the moment
• Explorer (£90): core annual membership PLUS a Taster Pack containing five 25ml samples of Society whiskies from its 12 flavour profiles
• High Flyer (£80) core annual membership PLUS a three-dram tasting flight for one person at the Society’s Kaleidoscope bars in London or Edinburgh
• Sharer (£125): core annual membership PLUS two tasting vouchers (each worth £35) redeemable at any of the Society’s partner bars and events around the UK, and its Kaleidoscope bars in London and Edinburgh

The gift that keeps on giving 

The Society releases around 20 new whiskies each month. Christmas is the perfect time to become a member as the Society releases one of its biggest-ever selections of bottles, with around 100 new bottles being released during November and December. This includes bottles with festive flavours and names such as ‘Curl up by the fire’ and ‘Hot apple and cinnamon sponge’.

Each whisky released by the Society is drawn from a single cask, which may only produce as few as 100 bottles, making each bottle a limited edition. Rather than reveal the name of the distillery where the whisky is from, The Society describes its bottles through the lens of flavour.

It releases its bottles through 12 unique flavour profiles with names such as Spicy & Dry and Old & Dignified; each bottle comes with a fun and evocative name, such as ‘Killer bee rum punch’ and ‘Hansel and Gretel at the Savoy’, and colourful Tasting Notes (‘gentle, sweet with a hint of spice like sticky rhubarb and ginger crumble or gooey vanilla cherry pie’) which detail the flavours.

In addition to its award-winning single malts, the Society now bottles an expanded range of other spirits such as gin, rum, cognac and bourbon through its new Single Cask Spirits range (www.smws.com/spirits). In December, this includes an Armagnac called ‘Amareng Amaretti’ and a bourbon called ‘A powerful concoction’.

Try before you buy

There are Scotch Malt Whisky Society Kaleidoscope bars situated in both Edinburgh and London, where guests can experience the range of whiskies and other spirits as well as a selection of fantastic food.

Visiting the bars is a great way to experience the Society for the first time and will provide the opportunity to learn about its history and its whiskies from the knowledgeable staff.

Kai Ivalo, Spirits Director at the Society, said: “It’s been an incredibly exciting year for the Society, with some of the most amazingly diverse whiskies and other spirits we’ve ever released. From our core single malts and our grain whiskies to our new selection of gin, rum, cognac and bourbon in our Single Cask Spirits range, there’s never been a better time to join the Society.”

To buy a membership of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society as a gift this Christmas, visit www.smws.com/whisky-club-membership

www.smws.com/ @smwsuk #smws www.facebook.com/thesmwsuk

Notes to editors:

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 20 single cask, single malt whiskies every month
• The Society offers a range of membership packages – visit https://www.smws.com/whisky-club-membership
• For more information about the Society, visit www.smws.com