Wyoming Whiskey Announces New Batches of Limited Release Whiskeys

KIRBY, WY (Dec. 18, 2017)— Wyoming Whiskey’s annual selection of Single Barrel Bourbon is now on shelves in Wyoming, Colorado, California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois.  And, thanks to the success of Double Cask, a Pedro Ximenez sherry cask-finished bourbon, production has been increased and more consistent distribution can be expected in New York, New Jersey, and Colorado, in addition to the already established Wyoming and California markets. ​

Wyoming Whiskey Head Distiller, Sam Mead, is developing these creations with the tasting input of industry specialist and master blender, Nancy Fraley.

Single Barrel Bourbon represents the top 1% of all barrels sampled in a given year, with each barrel selected for its overall quality and flavor profile. Since its initial launch in Nov. 2015, Single Barrel has historically sold out soon after hitting the shelves. Single Barrel retails for $59.99.

This year’s stock for the Single Barrel program is over 5.5 years old. According to Fraley, given the unique maturation conditions at Wyoming Whiskey, this is when the bourbon starts to develop more “matured” aromas. This batch of Single Barrel has a has greater complexity, intensity, and finesse than it has in the past.

Wyoming Whiskey Single Barrel is deep copper to mahogany in color. On the nose, you’ll find browned butter, cola, black currant, black cherry and dried dates, orange citrus blossoms, bittersweet dark chocolate, almond butter and black tea. The palate is cola, dark chocolate, buttered pastry, dried date and Mission fig, raisin and candied orange peel. Its mouthfeel is full and rich, chewy, spicy, creamy with nuts. It has a long finish that’s dry, but with lingering impressions of butter crème, candied orange peel, and dark dried fruit.  But, each barrel offers its own unique variations from the general flavor profile.

Double Cask was first released in January 2017, at which time Larry Olmsted at Forbes Magazine reviewed it, stating “…it’s no surprise that this new release is delicious…every drop is 100% Wyoming, with the finest corn, wheat, barley and water from the Big Horn Basin.”

Double Cask is Wyoming Whiskey’s fully-matured bourbon that has a second round of maturation in Pedro Ximenez sherry barrels. Double Cask retails for $69.99.

Fraley gives Double Cask excellent marks. According to Fraley, the Sherry-Finished Bourbon features dark, autumnal notes of dried apricot and fig, stewed prune, black currant and toasted nuts. There are hints of candied orange peel, vanilla butter cream, and molasses underneath. The finish is comprised of dark, dried fruit followed by warm, brown baking spices.

Fraley added that this year’s Double Cask version overall has softer tannins, a lot more finesse, has more depth and length on the palate, and is overall ‘deeper and darker’ than last year’s version. The complexity has continued to increase as well.

Stay caught up on all things WW by becoming a Whiskey Baron. You’ll receive the latest news and special offers from Wyoming Whiskey direct to your inbox. For more frequent updates, follow Wyoming Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Wyoming Whiskey

Based in Kirby, Wyoming, Wyoming Whiskey has a simple goal: to create America’s next great bourbon. The company and product is a collaboration between its partners and 97,818 square miles of Wyoming. The Mead family first came to Wyoming as ranchers in 1890 and the state defines them, and their whiskey.  They use the finest corn, wheat, barley, and water from the Big Horn Basin and promote Wyoming’s natural and human resources.  Every drop of this bourbon is 100% Wyoming. To learn more, visit http://www.wyomingwhiskey.com/.

2017 Bartender Shootout Champion, Jacob Johnson, prepares his cocktail for the judges (credit: Rich Goodwin)

Wyoming Whiskey Crowns Rocky Mountain Bartender Shootout Champion

KIRBY, WY (Dec. 7, 2017)— Wyoming Whiskey has crowned Jacob Johnson of Aspen’s Element 47 bar within The Little Nell hotel as the 2017 Ski Town Showdown Champion. His signature cocktail, coined “The Sun Also Rises”, stole the hearts and taste buds of a discerning panel of judges.

After two regional competitions between over two dozen bartenders in Aspen, CO and Jackson, WY late this fall, Wyoming Whiskey brought five finalists from each location up to a festive final competition held at the Pink Garter Theater in Jackson, WY on Dec. 1.

The focus of the event was to create the best Wyoming Whiskey cocktail the West has ever seen. Wyoming Whiskey Ambassador and world-renowned cocktail guru, David Kaplan of Death & Co. judged both the regional and final competitions. Reigning WW Shootout Champion, Chad Taylor, and Arbor Snowboard athlete, Mark Carter, judged the Finals alongside Kaplan.

Bartender Shootout finalists pose for a photo with the judges and emcees (Credit: Rich Goodwin)

“Here’s to all of our participating bartenders who had the guts to be judged in a rowdy venue.  They showed a greater passion for this competition than we ever expected.” said David DeFazio, COO of Wyoming Whiskey. “And a round of applause for Jacob who started a rivalry that will be revisited for years to come.  He crushed it.”

Emcee Jeff Moran (left) toasts with Wyoming Whiskey Co-Founder David DeFazio (Credit: Rich Goodwin)

Johnson’s creation secured him the $2,500 cash purse, a pair of Blizzard skis and Tecnica ski boots, $500 for the charity of his choice, and in true Wyoming fashion, the coveted Ski Town Showdown Champion’s belt buckle.

1st Place —Jacob Johnson, Element 47 at The Little Nell in Aspen, CO  

“The Sun Also Rises”

•  2 oz Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon
• .5 oz Sierra Maestro Oloroso Sherry (15 Year)
•  1 Barspoon Bols Crème de Cacao White
•  1 Barspoon Pernod Absinthe Supérieure
•  Pinch of Salt
•  Rosemary Ice Ball

2nd Place— Amber Pollock, Backwards Distilling in Casper, WY

“No Unnecessary Travel”

•   1.5 oz Wyoming Whiskey Outryder Straight American Whiskey
•    .75 oz Graham’s Six Grapes Reserve Port
•    .5 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
•    .5 oz Almond Orgeat
•   2 Barspoon Allspice Dram

3rd Place—Christina Molofsky,  Piste Mountain Bistro at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort 

“Newton’s Dilemma”

•   2 oz Wyoming Whiskey Outryder Straight American Whiskey
•   1 oz Granny Smith Apple Juice
•   .5 oz Genepy des Alpes
•   Garnish: Small Pine Branch

Participants walked away with gear from sponsors such as Blizzard Skis, Tecnica, NewWest Knifeworks, Arbor Snowboards, Ibex, Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Mountain Khakis.

Stay caught up on all things WW by becoming a Whiskey Baron. You’ll receive the latest news from Wyoming Whiskey direct to your inbox. For more frequent updates, follow Wyoming Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Wyoming Whiskey

Based in Kirby, Wyoming, Wyoming Whiskey has a simple goal: to create America’s next great bourbon. The company and product is a collaboration between its partners and 97,818 square miles of Wyoming. The Mead family first came to Wyoming as ranchers in 1890 and the state defines them, and their whiskey.  They use the finest corn, wheat, barley, and water from the Big Horn Basin and promote Wyoming’s natural and human resources.  Every drop of this bourbon is 100% Wyoming. To learn more, visit http://www.wyomingwhiskey.com/.

THE MACALLAN SHERRY OAK 40 YEARS OLD: 2017 RELEASE

A RARE SINGLE MALT

Just 465 bottles to be released worldwide, following the successful 2016 release 

December 18^th, 2017 (New York, New York) – The Macallan, the world’s most admired single malt Scotch whisky, unveils its latest exceptional whisky in the coveted Sherry Oak range, The Macallan 40 Years Old. This highly collectible, limited-release whisky represents only the third non-vintage release of a 40 year old expression to come from the iconic Speyside distillery, and will be sought after by connoisseurs around the world. The Sherry Oak 40 years old reveals the unrivalled commitment to the mastery of wood and spirit, for which The Macallan has been known since it was established in 1824 and marks the pinnacle of the Sherry Oak Range.

Exclusively matured in hand-picked Oloroso sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez, Spain, this rich and intense single malt is a testament to The Macallan’s exceptional oak casks, which are sourced, crafted and seasoned under the watchful eye of the Master of Wood and delivered to the demanding specifications of the Master Distiller and his team.

Once filled, the maturing spirit has remained undisturbed in the same casks for 40 years and it is these oak casks that are the single greatest contributor to the outstanding quality, natural color and distinctive aromas and flavors which lie at the heart of this rare Macallan single malt whisky.

When matured exclusively in sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez, the robust, fruity and full bodied ‘new make’ spirit is transformed into a whisky of great richness and character. Crafted from an intriguing combination of three casks – 2 sherry butts and 1 sherry hogshead, The Macallan Sherry Oak 40 years old is a rich and complex whisky displaying a natural deep copper color.

On the nose there are hints of sultanas, gingers and wood spice against a backdrop of sweet cinnamon and citrus, while the palate opens with soft cinnamon spices leading into date and figs, before giving way to a long, rich finish with a lingering cinnamon spice.

Nick Savage, The Macallan Master Distiller, said: “After a gentle slumber for over 40 years in our exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks, this rare single malt is full of rich flavor and a beautiful natural color. The Macallan Sherry Oak 40 years old is an outstanding and distinctive addition to our collection of unique, mature whiskies and is testament to our enduring desire to create peerless single malts. We invest more in sherry seasoned casks than any other distillery in sourcing, crafting, seasoning and caring for our casks to create the depth, complexity and richness of flavor for which The Macallan is renowned.”

The Macallan Sherry Oak 40 years old forms part of The Macallan Sherry Oak Range which features a series of single malt whiskies matured exclusively in hand-picked sherry seasoned oak casks from Jerez for richness and complexity. Each expression is characterized by spice, dried fruits and mature oak with a depth of flavor developing through the range.

To create The Macallan Sherry Oak Range, The Macallan works very closely with fully integrated ‘tree to finished seasoned cask’ companies in Spain, to identify the oak trees, fell them sustainably, saw and air dry the oak staves, before shipping them to Jerez in southern Spain for further air-drying to reduce the moisture further still. The casks are then crafted and seasoned for 18 months with dry Oloroso sherry, before making the journey up to Scotland where they are filled with The Macallan ‘new make’ spirit to mature for decades.

The Macallan Sherry Oak 40 years old has an ABV of 44%. The 2017 release will be available starting in late December 2017 and will be limited to 465 bottles worldwide, with only 70 bottles allocated to the USA at a suggested retail price of approximately $9,000.

For further information visit www.themacallan.com

Whisky Makers Notes:

Color: Deep Copper

Aroma: Sultanas with gingers and wood spice. A background of sweet cinnamon and citrus emerges

Palate: Opens with soft cinnamon spices, quickly developing into a mouth coating of date and figs

Finish: Long, rich with a lingering cinnamon spice

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s finest single malt whiskies.  The story of The Macallan is built on the Six Pillars, each influencing the whisky in its own distinct way.  From the spiritual home of Easter Elchies House; curiously small stills giving richness to the pure spirit; finest cut or the best of the best of the distillation, to exceptional oak casks which account for up to 80% of the final flavor in the whisky; natural color and finally peerless spirit, The Macallan itself.

Wood sits at the heart of The Macallan. The vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, together with true mastery, set it apart from the rest. For more information on The Macallan, visit http://www.themacallan.com/. The Macallan can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

We Won! Icons of Whisky Scotland – Online Retailer of the Year 2018 – TheWhiskyBarrel.com

We’ve been rushed off our feet but finally (!) we have found a moment to properly acknowledge this amazing news. Wow! Now that is what we call an early Christmas present.

We are utterly thrilled to have recently been chosen as Whisky Magazine’s Icons Of Whisky Scotland, Online Retailer of the Year 2018. Sadly we couldn’t be there in person at the Award Banquet held in Edinburgh. Customer orders must come first! But now as we start the final week before the festive holidays, we can now raise one huge dram to celebrate.

As we have marked our 10th anniversary this year (2007-2017), this award is the absolute cherry on the cake. What a year it has been. As a Scottish, independent, family owned and run whisky retailer, this is a huge measure of success and recognition.

Thank You.

We would like to say thank you to the judging panel at Whisky Magazine for recognising the role we play within the wonderful industry of Scotch Whisky. Importantly we need to say a big thank you to all the wonderful companies who we work so closely with. They keep us stocked up on some of the finest Scotch Whisky, Scottish Gin, Rum and worldwide whiskey.

Finally, a huge thank you to all our utterly fabulous customers. The insatiable appetite, knowledge and support for Scotch Whisky in particular is what helps us, the indy bottling companies and distilleries continue to thrive.

Thank you and Slàinte Mhath from The Whisky Barrel Family.

GENTLEMAN JACK AND WIRED TEAM UP FOR “PITCH DISTILLED”

Amateur Entrepreneur Competition Kicks Off in Detroit December 12th

Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey and WIRED Brand Lab today announce Pitch Distilled – a multi-city event series that brings together local entrepreneurs to pitch start-up business concepts. These ideas are then judged by founders from Seamless, Wanderu and Startup52 for a chance to win prize money and be featured in WIRED. In its third year, Pitch Distilled will be touring a new set of markets, hosting these events in emerging innovation hubs across the United States, including Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Denver and Houston.

“The innovation that is represented at every Pitch Distilled event never fails to inspire. We are thrilled to once again partner with Gentleman Jack on a program whose ethos is so true to the heart of our brands” said Kim Kelleher, Chief Business Officer of WIRED. “This year, the event series will bring the spirit of entrepreneurship to life from Philadelphia to Houston. We look forward to uncovering the next Big Idea in each of these markets.”

To compete in Pitch Distilled, entrepreneurs should submit proposals online at pitchdistilled.gentlemanjack.com. A panel of judges, selected by WIRED Brand Lab, will narrow down entries to three finalists per market. The finalists then receive special one-on-one mentoring from the judges, to help them craft their pitch, before they deliver it to a live audience at the Pitch Distilled events in each city. The audience selects the winning entrepreneur, who receives a $5,000 monetary prize, along with a branded feature on WIRED.com.

“We’re thrilled to bring Pitch Distilled back for the third year to a new group of markets across the US,” said Ana Kornegay, Gentleman Jack Brand Director. “Jack Daniel had an entrepreneurial spirit which led to the founding of his Tennessee Whiskey back in 1866 and we’re excited to give our friends the opportunity to let their creativity shine.”

The judges selected this year are Jason Finger, co-founder of Seamless, the revolutionary food ordering service which serves more than 10,000 enterprises and one million individuals in 22 cities throughout the world; Chike Ukaegbu, founder and lead executive at Startup52, the first accelerator in NYC focused on identifying and supporting minority and female entrepreneurs; and Polina Raygorodskaya and Igor Bratnikov, co-founders of Wanderu, a travel technology company valued at $100 million that allows riders in the U.S. and Europe to book bus and train tickets on their mobile devices.

For more information on Pitch Distilled visit http://pitchdistilled.gentlemanjack.com/. For the latest news on the Pitch Distilled, including event dates, location, and updates follow @WIREDInsider on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

About Jack Daniel’s

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow proprietor, is the first registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Double Mellowed Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Rye Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails.

Your friends at Jack Daniel’s remind you to drink responsibly.

Pitch Distilled is produced by WIRED Brand Lab, a creative and experiential in-house agency for the WIRED Media Group, which includes WIRED, Ars Technica, and Backchannel. WIRED Brand Lab connects brands with a WIRED-approved roster of writers, filmmakers, photographers, designers, and engineers, for cross-platform storytelling experiences with a distinctly WIRED-style.

Private whisky collections worth £75 Million identified  

Private whisky collections worth an estimated £75million, and with an average value of £50,000, have been identified by new research carried out by Rare Whisky 101 (RW101) in partnership with Whisky Auctioneer.

The survey of 1,542 rare whisky connoisseurs, collectors and investors from across the world has revealed some startling new insights into the booming passion pursuit of rare whisky acquisition.

As well as uncovering the estimated values of individual collections which totalled some £74.547m and 326,000 bottles, the research reveals that whisky lovers are each spending, on average, more than £10,000 every year to indulge their passion for rare whisky. A small proportion (1%) are spending more than £100,000 per annum on their treasure hunting.

The average whisky collection comprises more than 200 bottles with an average bottle value of £228.

One in ten report to be in possession of collections valued at over £100,000.

The Macallan comes out on top as the most popular brand for acquisition, closely followed by Ardbeg, Highland Park and Springbank.

Just as the market has continued to thrive in recent years, so it appears that the majority of whisky collectors, connoisseurs and investors are beginning to realise the financial potential of their liquid assets. More than half (56%) are looking to make a positive financial return on their rare whisky collection. In fact, financial value is only deemed unimportant to just 18% of respondents.

For many of these whisky lovers, investing in rare Scotch is carried out alongside a small group of other passion pursuits. One in five also collect wine (19%), one in six watches (17%), one in eight art (13%), one in sixteen Classic Cars (7%), one in twenty five stamps (4%) and one in forty coins (2%).

Despite the big valuations placed on whisky collections, it seems that most buyers are still basing their estimates on how much they originally paid to purchase their bottles, recent auction prices or media research. Less than one in ten (9%) have actually sought out a recent professional full valuation of their collections. Only one in four (24%) seek professional help with their interest in whisky.

David Robertson, co-founder of Rare Whisky 101, said: “We’ve known for many years that the secondary market for rare whisky has been growing at an exceptional rate. However, we don’t know a great deal about the worldwide community of connoisseurs, collector and investors. This research is a real eye opener for us. It’s very clear that whisky enthusiasts are prepared to invest serious sums in growing their rare whisky portfolios and many are looking to make a financial return on their investment. We anticipate that brand owners and distillers and retailers will need to develop intelligent strategies to ensure they can release and market new products to excite this dynamic new buyer.

“However, what’s more concerning is that, unlike many other passion pursuits, buyers are still not seeking professional advice on either the purchase or valuation of rare whisky. One thing this past year has taught us, brought in to sharp focus with The Macallan 1878 fake story, is that the rare whisky market is just as exposed to the problem of forgery as many other alternative assets – wine being the most adjacent. The untrained eye would not necessarily be able to spot a fake, but a professional can help to differentiate between fakes and the genuine article. An objective valuation could provide a real wake-up call for many investors and we would urge they seek expert support”

Sean McGlone, Director of Whisky Auctioneer commented:

“We’ve seen first-hand how the market for buying and selling rare whisky has boomed in recent years. However, this research provides us with some brand new insights into how our customers are collecting and investing in whisky. Since Whisky Auctioneer was founded back in 2013 we have seen a trend of record breaking values, and this is being reflected in the valuations which people are placing on their collections. I suspect that this may just be the tip of the iceberg as I’m sure there are plenty of amazing malts hiding in people’s collections around the world. The upwards trend of the average bottle price is very encouraging to see as it shows effectiveness of whisky collecting for financial return. We have built and grown Whisky Auctioneer out of our love of whisky and we take great pleasure in seeing the continued growth of our most loved passion.”

The value of rare Scotch whisky sales in the UK’s secondary market is set to top £20M for the first time this Full Year. Rare Whisky 101’s 2017 Half Year Report revealed that both the volume and value of rare Scotch whisky sold at auction had increased by record amounts during the reporting period. The £ value of collectable bottles of Single Malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK rose by  93.66% to an all-time half-year high of £11.176m (H1 2016 £5.771m). The number of bottles of Single Malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK increased by 47.25% to 39,061 (H1 2016 26,527).  The Full Year 2017 RW101 report will be published in late January 2018.

For more information on rare whisky market performance and activity visit www.rarewhisky101.com

For more information about Whisky Auctioneer, please visit www.whiskyauctioneer.com.

Notes

Images: Image 114: Iain McClune, founder and owner of Whisky Auctioneer, with the collection of 296 Karuizawa whisky bottles which sold for £770,000 earlier this year.

Image 026: Bottle of Karuzaiwa 1960 which sold for £100,100 earlier this year. 

The research was carried out through Survey Monkey among 1,542 whisky connoisseurs, collectors and investors between 17^th October and 20^th November 2017  

About Rare Whisky 101 Andy Simpson and David Robertson launched Rare Whisky 101 in 2014 with the aim of offering a whisky valuation service, brokerage and consultancy for whisky connoisseurs, collectors and investors. Having tracked every bottle sold at UK auctions over the past 12 years, the business now offers the world’s first, only and most comprehensive online single malt Scotch & Japanese whisky dataset covering some 276,000 price records over 33,000 different bottle types. In the last 12 months, RW101 have brokered around 20,000 rare whisky bottles around the globe in addition to trading in aged casks from iconic distilleries such as The Macallan, Ardbeg, Bowmore, Springbank, Mortlach, Talisker, Caol Ila, Lagavulin and Highland Park.

About Whisky Auctioneer

Whisky Auctioneer specialises in auctioning whisky, whether it be fine, old, rare, collectable or affordable.  Formed in 2013 and based in Perth, central Scotland, Whisky Auctioneer aims to be the most comprehensive website available for the buying and selling of whisky.

WOOLF SUNG COLLECTION LAUNCHED ‘THE HUNTER’ – GLENGLASSAUGH 40 YEAR OLD

Fine wine and spirits merchant Woolf Sung Ltd are proud to announce the launch of the Woolf Sung Collection; a range of ultra-premium, independently bottled, single malt Scotch whisky aged for more than 25 years.

‘The Hunter’ is the inaugural release. A 40 year old Highland single malt distilled at the Glenglassaugh distillery in 1972, and bottled in 2013 at a cask-strength of 42.9%abv.

The label is a one-of-a-kind design and each is hand numbered. The bottle is beautifully presented in a stainless steel, black powder coated, bank vault case. Each case is embossed with Woolf Sung’s unique release number. Only 160 bottles have been produced of this wonderful whisky.

The aroma opens with an abundance of herbs, dried fruits and a hint of black pepper. With time, fresh apples give way to more robust notes of sherry and dark chocolate. On the palate notes of crab-apple and cinnamon present themselves, followed by more black pepper and plenty of rich oloroso sherry. Water brings zesty ginger, Seville orange marmalade and roast coffee beans. Finally, spicy oak and pearl barley contribute to a long, sumptuous finish.

These will soon be on sale at selected spirits retailers and directly from Woolf Sung Ltd at £950 (inclusive of VAT).

Website. woolfsung.

Diageo celebrates 20 year anniversary 

This weekend, Diageo plc, the maker of some of the world’s most iconic drinks including Johnnie Walker scotch, Smirnoff vodka, Tanqueray gin and Guinness stout is celebrating its 20^th anniversary.

Created on 17 December 1997, through the merger of Grand Metropolitan plc and Guinness plc, Diageo has become a global leader in beverage alcohol, with its products being sold in 180 countries.

Over the past 20 years Diageo’s share price has increased by 340%¹, market capital has grown 440%¹ and earnings per share (pre-exceptional items) are 220%² higher.

The milestone is being celebrated around the world by the company’s 30,400 employees. From a time capsule ceremony at Cardhu distillery in Scotland, the home of Johnnie Walker, to employees in Lagos, Nigeria and Sydney, Australia toasting the occasion with a dram of Johnnie Walker Black Label.

In London, to mark the celebration, Diageo’s Chief Executive, Ivan Menezes, along with the company’s talented team of Scotch Whisky Blenders and fellow members of the senior leadership team opened the market at the London Stock Exchange.

Ivan Menezes, Diageo Chief Executive said: 

“I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the past 20 years, which is testament to the commitment of our talented employees past and present.  Diageo is a young company created from the incredible entrepreneurial legacy of John Walker, Pierre Smirnoff, Charles Tanqueray, Arthur Guinness and many more – and this spirit continues today. 

“Our brands are part of celebrations globally every day, as we mark this milestone, it is not only the growth of our brands and business that I will be toasting, but the way we do business. We have made great strides in diversity and inclusion, minimising our environmental impact, our contribution to the communities where we operate and in our aim to reduce the harmful use of alcohol around the world.” 

E¹Percentages calculated comparing number from 17 December 1997 and 4 December 2017.

²EPS calculated using numbers from 30 June 1998 and 30 June 2017.

Key milestones  

• Diageo plc is created through the merger of Grand Metropolitan and Guinness. The company is listed on the London and New York stock exchanges in December 1997.
• In 2001, Diageo and Pernod Ricard acquired Canadian alcoholic beverages business Seagram’s. The acquisition brought Crown Royal Canadian whiskey and Captain Morgan rum into the Diageo brand family.
• Our Water of Life programme was launched in 2007, to provide safe drinking water and sanitation to people across Africa. Since launch, the programme has reached more than 10 million people in 21 countries.
• The Nolet Family and Diageo formed a new 50/50 company in 2008 to sell, market and distribute Ketel One vodka.
• In 2008, Diageo launched DRINKiQ, an online resource to arm consumers with the tools needed to make informed choices about drinking, including the decision not to drink.
• Diageo launches the Learning for Life skills programme in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2008. The programme now runs in more than 40 countries, and has reached more than 120,000 people.
• In 2011, Diageo became the first global company to own a majority stake in the fast growing Chinese White Spirits category through the acquisition of a controlling share of Shui Jing Fang.
• Diageo also acquired Mey Içki, the leading spirits company in Turkey in 2011.
• Diageo acquired Meta Abo Brewery in Ethiopia and Ypióca Cachaça in Brazil in 2012.
• In 2013, Diageo began its acquisition of United Spirits Limited in India.
• Diageo became the first alcohol beverage company to sign up to the UN Women’s Empowerment Principles in 2013.
• Diageo gained full control of Don Julio tequila in 2015.
• Diageo was named as one of the top 25 most diverse and inclusive companies in the 2016 Thomson Reuters Diversity and Inclusion index.
• In 2017, Diageo acquired the fast growing tequila Casamigos.
• Diageo announced its investment to bring back two lost distilleries, Port Ellen and Brora in October 2017.
• Diageo celebrated training 1 million responsible drinking ambassadors in 2017 and launched its Drink Positive campaign aimed at promoting moderation and tackling misuse. 

About Diageo 

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

DIAGEO SECURES 5 MILLION PLEDGES NEVER TO DRINK AND DRIVE AND ANNOUNCES 50 MILLION PLEDGES AS NEW TARGET TO TACKLE DRINKING AND DRIVING 

14 December 2017: Diageo has secured over 5 million pledges never to drink and drive through its global programme Johnnie Walker #JoinThePact, beating its target a year ahead of its goal. Diageo also announces a tenfold increase in its next target, aiming to secure 50 million pledges by 2025 – with 2 million pledges already secured towards this goal thanks to recent activity in India.                                                             

Over 7 million adults have now signed the declaration never to drink and drive, which is supported by Johnnie Walker’s sponsorship of Formula 1 partnerships and fronted by former and current F1 drivers including Mika Häkkinen, Stoffel Vandoorne and Fernando Alonso.

Diageo started the #JoinThePact campaign in 2008 as part of its efforts to tackle drink driving around the world. The target of 5 million pledges has been reached early thanks to a global effort to secure pledges, with the #JoinThePact campaign already activated in over forty countries across five continents. From the heights of Nepal to the streets of Sao Paulo, the campaign has travelled the world raising awareness among consumers and encouraging millions to make a commitment never to drink and drive.

Mika Häkkinen, Johnnie Walker’s Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador, will visit London this week to celebrate reaching the target and kick off a festive push for pledges in the UK, including visiting the Houses of Parliament today to encourage MPs to sign up. Over the Christmas period, Diageo GB is partnering with Ei Group, a leading UK pub company, to encourage customers to make a pledge to never drink and drive and provide safe rides home over the festive period*. The activity is timed to support the Department for Transport’s annual THINK! road safety campaign.

Charles Ireland, General Manager, Diageo Great Britain, Ireland and France, said: “This is a busy time of year for our business and for the pubs that we work with across the country – however responsibility remains our number one priority. Our partnership with Ei Group will ensure the message to never drink and drive is seen by people as they are celebrating, and potentially deciding how to get home. We’re proud of our track record in tackling drink driving in the UK and around the world, but we are not complacent and are determined to do more.”

Paul Harbottle, Commercial Director, Ei Group, said: “We are dedicated to taking care of customers through responsible retailing and playing a positive role in the many communities where our publicans operate. Giving people a positive action they can take, like making a pledge never to drink and drive through #JoinThePact in return for a safe ride home, is a great way to engage people on an important issue like drink driving at this time of year. We’re delighted to be partnering with Diageo to share this important message.”

Earlier this month, #JoinThePact was launched in India, with activity taking place in Mumbai and Delhi. The Caparo T1, a two-seater supercar with Johnnie Walker responsible drinking branding, was driven by Mika Häkkinen in the streets of Delhi, to raise awareness for the campaign and promote responsible drinking – engaging the public, media and fans alike.

In Mexico, a #JoinThePact TV commercial was launched in October this year – the first time a branded responsible drinking advertisement has run on national television in the country. The Johnnie Walker film ‘Glass Car’, featuring Fernando Alonso, aired nationwide and throughout the Mexican Grand Prix.

Mika Häkkinen said: “It’s truly incredible that we have reached our target over a year early. I have been working on this campaign from the very beginning and it’s fantastic to see how we have reached people around the world, and I believe as a result made our roads safer. This is not the end, this job continues and we push forward to collect more pledges to never drink and drive and take #JoinThePact to new parts of the world.”

Carolyn Panzer, Director of Alcohol in Society at Diageo, commented: “Our ambitious new target of collecting 50 million pledges never to drink and drive through #JoinThePact shows our tireless determination to make progress on reducing drinking and driving. We believe that a single death caused by drinking and driving is one too many and each one can be prevented.”

Diageo has a long history of working to reduce alcohol-related fatalities and crashes and supports numerous drink drive prevention programmes around the world. These range from supporting high visibility enforcement through random breath tests to funding safe rides and free public transportation, and supporting laws to establish maximum blood alcohol concentration levels in countries where none exist.

In 2016, Diageo and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) signed a two-year partnership agreement to collaborate on the Sustainable Development goal of halving road traffic deaths. Together they have committed to reach approximately 6,000 government officials, young people, and other relevant stakeholders, through training workshops to improve road safety.

Notes 

*terms and conditions apply

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

About Ei Group plc

Ei Group plc is the UK’s leading pub company, with over 4,600 pubs across England and Wales. Founded in 1991, Ei Group plc’s purpose is to use its scale and expertise to help great pubs prosper at the heart of local communities.

We have a proud heritage in leased and tenanted pubs which is being strengthened by a flexible new strategy. The reinvigoration of the leased and tenanted estate will go hand in hand with the rollout of enhanced managed and commercial divisions to ensure that each Ei Group plc will continue to thrive at the heart of its local community. We are embracing change to help our Publicans run great British pubs and deliver shared success for all those associated with Ei Group plc.

ROCK TOWN SORGHUM WHISKEY NAMED  TO PRESTIGIOUS TOP 100 SPIRITS OF 2017 LIST

Little Rock, AR – (December 7, 2017) – Rock Town Distillery is pleased to announce it’s Sorghum Whiskey has been named one of the top 100 spirits of 2017 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. The full list can be found on Wine Enthusiast’s website by clicking this link:
http://www.winemag.com/toplists/top100spirits2017/

Rock Town’s Sorghum Whiskey was distilled from a mash of 91% Arkansas grown red sorghum grain and 9% malted barley in summer of 2015. It was aged in new charred 15 gallon white oak barrels for 17 months.

“This is quite an honor”, said Phil Brandon Rock Town’s founder and head distiller. “The sorghum whiskey received a 93/100 rating, but it’s even more exciting to be named to the top 100 list”.

From Wine Enthusiast, the list is “reflective of what’s going on in the spirits industry, where innovation is shaking things up. A banner number of small and craft distilleries were purchased by larger entities over the course of 2017—arguably, a nod toward the innovation and nimbleness these smaller players bring to the market, as well as the increasing demand and appreciation for such products.

Going forward, all these new entrants may represent a thorn in the side to legacy spirits producers. But for consumers, it means that we will likely have even more varied and exciting options to choose from than ever before. That’s a prospect worth celebrating. So raise your glass, filled with any of these finest spirits reviewed this year.”

ABOUT ROCK TOWN DISTILLERY
Rock Town Distillery produces the award winning Arkansas Bourbon, Arkansas Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey, Arkansas Hickory Smoked Whiskey, Arkansas Rye Whiskey, Arkansas Lightning, and Rock Town Vodka which are distributed to 15 states and the United Kingdom, Canada and Taiwan. Winner of the 2015 US Micro Whisky of the Year Award in the 2015 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

Rock Town Distillery, Arkansas’ first legal distillery since prohibition, is located in downtown Little Rock at 1216 E 6th Street, Little Rock, AR 72202. The distillery is open for tours 7 days a week. To find out more please visit www.rocktowndistillery.com

About Wine Enthusiast Magazine
Wine Enthusiast’s approach to wine and spirits is accessible and unpretentious, and enjoyed by novices and experts alike. Published 13 times per year, the magazine’s audience is at nearly one million strong. The magazine and its Buying Guide with more than 300,000 ratings and reviews make up the most comprehensive database in the industry available for free online at www.WineMag.com.

Rock Town Distillery
1216 E. Sixth Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72202