E. H. Taylor, Jr. Bourbon Named World Whisky of the Year

Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Whiskeys Sweep Whisky Awards with Wins in

5 of the 6 American Whisky Categories  

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Oct. 16, 2017) Buffalo Trace Distillery dominates the American Whisky Category, according to Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2018, winning the top prize of World Whisky of the Year for its Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon, and also taking home Bourbon of the Year, Rye of the Year, Best American Whisky No Age Statement, Best American Whisky 9 Years and Under, Best American Whisky 10 Years and Over, Best Rye No Age Statement, and Best Rye 11 Years and Over.

            The E. H. Taylor Four Grain scored a remarkable 97.5 out of 100 and is described by Jim Murray as “nothing could match the astonishing beauty of its surprisingly delicate weight and complexity combined. It was as if time stood still in the tasting room, I just knew…”

            Buffalo Trace Distillery’s complete list of winners from Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2018 are as follows:

• 2018 World Whisky of the Year – Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon
• Bourbon of the Year – Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon
• Rye of the Year – Thomas H. Handy Sazerac 126.2 Proof
• Best American Whisky No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels) – George T. Stagg 144.1 Proof
• Best American Whisky 9 Years and Under – Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection Organic 6 Grain Whisky
• Best American Whiskey 10 Years and Over (Multiple Barrels) – Colonel E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain
• Best Rye, No Age Statement – Thomas H. Handy Sazerac 126.2 Proof
• Best Rye, 11 Years and Over – Sazerac 18 Years Old

            This is the first time so many top whisky winners have been made by the same distillery in the 15 years Jim Murray has been giving the awards in his Whisky Bible.

            “To not only be named World Whisky of the Year, but also to win 5 of the 6 American Whisky categories and 2 of the 3 Rye Whisky categories is simply remarkable,” said Mark Brown, president and chief executive officer, Buffalo Trace Distillery.  “It is truly a testament of the skill and dedication of not only our Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley, but to all of our team members at the Trace. We are simply thrilled.”

            The E. H. Taylor, Jr. Four Grain Bourbon joins numerous other whiskies produced at Buffalo Trace Distillery that Jim Murray has also named the World Whiskey of the Year, including Thomas H. Handy Sazerac, 128.6 proof in 2013, the Sazerac 18 Year Old Rye Whiskey in 2010, The George T. Stagg Bourbon 129 proof in 2006, and the George T. Stagg Bourbon in both 2005 and 2004. In all, six whiskies produced by Buffalo Trace have been named to Jim’s top spot in the past 15 years, an astonishing accomplishment.

            Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2018 can be pre-ordered at http://whiskybible.com/

 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 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whisk

The Dalmore 50 sells out as Richard Paterson completes his year of celebrations

The Dalmore’s Master Distiller Richard Paterson has completed the final leg of his world tour celebrating 50 years in the whisky industry.

Widely considered to be the greatest whisky maker of his generation, Richard’s 50th anniversary milestone was celebrated with a series of tasting events around the world while showcasing a selection of bottles including the renowned The Dalmore Paterson Collection, the recently released The Dalmore Quintessence, and The Dalmore 50.

Over the past twelve months Richard has hosted eight 50^th anniversary events around the world, meeting with connoisseurs and industry experts in cities including Paris, Singapore, London and Las Vegas.

The global tour provided an opportunity for a selection of The Dalmore’s customers, alongside many people with whom Richard has worked over the years, a chance to celebrate his special milestone with an exclusive tasting of the exceptionally rare, champagne-finished The Dalmore 50.

All fifty bottles of the Domaine Henri Giraud champagne finished 50 year old single malt, which were prepared to order, have now sold out.

Similarly, The Paterson Collection, a one-of-a-kind collection created to honour those who have shaped, influenced and inspired Richard’s whisky career has also been sold. The twelve individual expressions were purchased earlier this year for £987,500 by a young Chinese collector. The collection encompasses some of The Dalmore Distillery’s oldest and rarest whiskies.

Richard Paterson, Master Distiller at The Dalmore said: “It has been absolute privilege for me to travel the world these past six months celebrating my milestone with friends and colleagues from the wider whisky industry who have helped shape my career to date.

“To share with them a whisky which defines my working career, has been an extremely rewarding experience. Showcasing the champagne-finished The Dalmore 50 at each of these events has been a fitting way to mark these celebrations while showcasing our ability to innovate in both maturation and cask curation.”

“With all 50 bottles now sold and the sale of The Paterson Collection, which is truly a distillation of my life in the industry, this has drawn a perfect close to what has been a truly exceptional year in my life.”

Notes:

The Dalmore 

The Dalmore is the definitive luxury malt, since 1839.

Founded by Sir Alexander Matheson, a restless entrepreneur and international businessman, The Dalmore was born with a different purpose, to go above and beyond to create luxurious single malt whisky unlike any other.

An unbroken chain of exceptional whisky makers have been fulfilling Sir Alexander’s vision ever since, pioneering multi cask maturation over 100 years before this was commonly adopted by others in the industry.

Richard Paterson has been Master Distiller at The Dalmore for nearly 50 years.  The whiskies he has created during his tenure have help Richard to achieve global celebrity status.  He is the man who, with The Dalmore, created the category of super luxury single malt, a category he continues to define to this very day.

Scotch and soda is a classic pairing, redolent of smokey bars in the Mad Men era, but in recent years, it has been usurped by ubiquitous Aperol Spritzes and G+Ts as the effortless bar order. Craft whisky makers, R&B Distillers have teamed up with artisanal soft drink makers Fentimans to attempt to change our drinking habits and reinstate this matchless combination.

While some whisky drinkers believe that Scotch should not be mixed, R&B Distillers aren’t afraid to be adventurous and turn away from stereotypes of the spirit and have found that Fentimans’ premium sodas provide a disarmingly simple counterpart to its highland single grain Scotch, Borders. The whisky has been paired with Curiosity Cola, Rose Lemonade and Ginger Ale. Fentimans’ invigorating cola is brewed using cinnamon which adds depth of flavour to the traditional cola which complements the sweet vanilla notes of Borders. The herbaceous notes of the whisky are picked up by the Rose Lemonade and give the drinks a pleasing pinkish hue while Ginger Ale adds an autumnal heat to a long serve.

Brand Ambassador for R&B Distillers, Chris Hoban, comments: “Looking for a whisky alternative to the classic G&T we started experimenting with the extensive range from Fentimans because we felt their story shared our values. We were delighted to discover our personal favourites of Borders with Rose Lemonade, Ginger Ale or Curiosity Cola which are now our go-to long drinks for any season.”

Using time honoured recipes, Fentimans traditional sodas are botanically brewed, using a combination of infusion, skilful blending and fermentation of natural ingredients. Borders is an award-winning highland single grain Scotch whisky. Unusually, it is the only single grain Scotch Whisky to contain 50% wheat & 50% malted barley from one highland distillery. The whisky is a testament to the brand’s 19th century heritage and a nod to the future: Co-founder Alasdair Day’s great-grandfather blended whisky in the Coldstream and R&B hope to bring a distillery back to this forgotten region with Borders an exciting representation of what’s to come.

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky launches 1990 Vintage Cask travel retail exclusive with World Duty Free at Heathrow

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky has today released its eagerly anticipated 1990 Vintage Cask Travel Retail Exclusive in partnership with World Duty Free, a Dufry company and Heathrow Airport. The limited expression is available to purchase exclusively in World of Whiskies and World Duty Free stores in all terminals at Heathrow as part of a dedicated in-store activation until January 2018.

Taking you on a historical journey of Old Pulteney, this exquisite Vintage tells a tale of craftsmanship and dedication, dating back over a quarter of a century. This full-bodied spirit began its story in American oak ex-bourbon casks, developing its characteristically complex nature, before moving to Spanish oak where it became richer, darker and adopted a sweetness with hints of spice. The unique expression finished with a brief spell in casks which previously held heavily peated whisky – providing a unique smoky final flourish for this powerful Maritime Malt.

Glimmering bronze in colour, the 26 Year Old 1990 Vintage Cask has an aroma of spice, vanilla, toffee and sweet honey, balanced by a thin veil of warming wood smoke and oak. Bitter orange marmalade and caramel apples soon follow on the nose to create a long-lasting sensory experience for this exquisite and complex dram.

Rich in mouth feel and intense in flavour, the palate opens up with strong praline and sultana sweetness on a thick bed of warm, savoury smoke. Citrus strikes the top note with hints of vanilla lingering in the background, giving a finish, which is long and smoky.

James Bateman, Director, Global Travel Retail at International Beverage commented: “We’re very excited about the exceptional new Old Pulteney 1990 we’re releasing exclusively with World Duty Free for Heathrow airport. We’re looking forward to giving Heathrow travellers something special to pick up and enjoy at their journey’s end.” 

Nigel Sandals, Liquor Category Buying Manager UK at Dufry continues, “Customers in our World Duty Free and World of Whiskies stores are always looking for something a little different – collectors and connoisseurs want to add something unique to their collection, whilst many travellers are looking to purchase whisky as a special gift. The Old Pulteney Single Malt 1990 Vintage Cask is an exclusive and outstanding whisky and we’re delighted to have been able to work with closely with our partners at International Beverage, to make this exclusive whisky available to our customers”.

Old Pulteney 1990 is neither chill-filtered nor coloured and is bottled at its natural cask strength of 46% ABV. It has a RRP of £288 per bottle.

For further information about Old Pulteney visit www.oldpulteney.com

Notes 

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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

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

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

About International Beverage

International Beverage Holdings (www.interbevgroup.com/) was established in 2005 as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in over 80 countries and territories.

Inver House Distillers (www.inverhouse.com/) is globally integrated into International Beverage Holdings and drives the distillation and maturation of Scotch through its five distilleries. The holding was also named ‘Distiller of the Year’ 2016 and 2017 in the Scotland round of Whisky Magazine’s annual Icons of Whisky Awards.

International Beverage brands include:

• Chang Beer: Thailand’s iconic beer brand
• Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
• Blended Whiskies: Hankey Bannister
• Mekhong: ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
• Caorunn – a small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals

The company’s success is built on the combination of a strong understanding of local cultures and markets with the creation of a truly global operational network. Brand building pays respect to heritage, provenance and craftsmanship whilst delivering innovative and highly effective strategies at global level. A skilled and dedicated team of more than 12 nationalities speaking over 14 languages delivers the highest standards of customer service and attention to detail across all aspects of the business.

About Heathrow:

Heathrow is Europe’s largest airport and one of the world’s top international aviation hubs. As the UK’s global gateway, Heathrow welcomes more than 76 million passengers every year with a commitment to making ‘every journey better’. The airport is home to more than 80 airlines and is Britain’s largest cargo port, helping to drive British trade growth by connecting the nation to more than 190 destinations around the world. Following an investment of more than £11 billion over the last 10 years, Heathrow is currently ranked by passengers as the ‘Best Airport in Western Europe’ for the third year running and the ‘Best Airport for Shopping’ for eight years in a row.

Rùdhan wins gold at Global Travel Retail Spirits Masters 2017 

Premium Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, anCnoc is pleased to announce GTR exclusive Rùdhan as a gold winner at The Sprits Business Global Travel Retail Spirits Masters 2017 ¾ less than a year after it launched.

Rùdhan, the latest limited-edition travel retail expression to join anCnoc’s much acclaimed Peaty collection, was described as ‘young and vibrant’ by the judges and was one of six awarded gold in the category.

Bringing together dark peaty smokiness and light subtle flavour, the elegant dram takes its name from the peat harvesting process. The term ‘rùdhan’ [roo-an] refers to the final stage, in which the peat is stacked for several weeks to dry out ahead of burning to create the signature smokiness associated with the range.

Measuring 46% ABV and pale straw in appearance, the initial fruity aromas give way to the strong scent of woody smokiness. To taste, the famous earthy peat flavour is followed by warming spices and burnt sugar, ending with a long and smooth finish.

International Beverage Marketing Director Karen Walker commented: “As a brand we have seen a growing demand for Peaty expressions and launching Rùdhan to travel retail was a real opportunity for us to introduce anCnoc’s darker side to a new audience of thousands of travellers. We’re thrilled it’s received the recognition it deserves at The Spirits Business Global Travel Retail Spirits Masters.”

Rùdhan is available at $65 (USD) for 1L.  For further information visit www.ancnoc.com/peaty/rudhan

Notes

About anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is part of the Inver House Distillers portfolio, and is produced at Knockdhu Distillery – established in 1894 and one of the smallest and most enchanting in the Scottish Highlands. It is renowned the world over by malt enthusiasts for bringing a contemporary twist to the traditions of fine malt whisky, producing a single malt that is accessible and versatile for all occasions. Cutter has been ranked in the Liquid Gold category of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2016 with a score of 96.5 adding to anCnoc’s portfolio of award-winning expressions. Whiskies in this category are deemed by Jim Murray as “superstar whiskies that give us all a reason to live.”

About International Beverage 

International Beverage Holdings (www.interbevgroup.com/) was established in 2005 as the international arm of ThaiBev, one of South East Asia’s leading alcohol beverage companies. With a network of regional offices in Asia, Europe and North America, the company is responsible for the production, sales, marketing and distribution of a portfolio of premium global brands in over 80 countries and territories.

Inver House Distillers (www.inverhouse.com/) is globally integrated into International Beverage Holdings and drives the distillation and maturation of Scotch through its five distilleries.

International Beverage brands include:

• Chang Beer: Thailand’s iconic beer brand
• Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
• Blended Whiskies: Hankey Bannister
• Mekhong: ‘The Spirit of Thailand’ since 1941
• Caorunn – a small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals

The company’s success is built on the combination of a strong understanding of local cultures and markets with the creation of a truly global operational network.  Brand building pays respect to heritage, provenance and craftsmanship whilst delivering innovative and highly effective strategies at global level. A skilled and dedicated team of more than 12 nationalities speaking over 14 languages delivers the highest standards of customer service and attention to detail across all aspects of the business.

FORTY CREEK CONTINUTES TRADITION OF INNOVATION WITH MAJOR REDESIGN

AWARD-WINNING CANADIAN WHISKY BRAND DEBUTS NEW DESIGN AND PACKAGING

TORONTO, ON – Forty Creek, a brand known for reinvigorating the Canadian whisky category through innovation and attention to flavour, is debuting its first-ever packaging refresh this fall. Developed with input from Canadian whisky drinkers from across the country, the new packaging design reflects the quality of the award-winning whisky found inside each Forty Creek bottle.

Each new element of the design was chosen to help improve premium perceptions of the brand. The new Forty Creek packaging features a proprietary bottle, new aluminum cap, and an embossing that calls out the brand’s home province. Together, the new features give a physical manifestation to the innovative, premium, and bold characteristics that are at the heart of Forty Creek. Forty Creek proudly celebrates its Canadian heritage and the good place it comes from by increasing the prominence of the maple leaf in their logo.

“For Forty Creek, the new packaging was an opportunity to improve overall brand perceptions and to really communicate the premium quality in our range of whiskies,” says John Andersen, Senior Brand Manager, North American Whiskies “We were fortunate to be able to engage with both Forty Creek and Canadian whisky fans on a personal level at focus groups in Hamilton, Toronto, and Calgary. Their feedback was instrumental in guiding the direction of our new packaging design. The result is something that is as special on the outside as the whisky is on the inside.”

New Forty Creek Barrel Select and Copper Pot bottles will begin to appear on shelves in the coming weeks. New packaging for Forty Creek Cream, Spike Honey Spiced, Double Barrel Reserve, and Confederation Oak is expected to roll out between the fourth quarter of 2017 and early 2018.

Forty Creek employed Claessen’s International, the renowned design and branding agency to bring the design and packaging to life.

Forty Creek’s new packaging is featured in the brand’s new :15s television spot, which will air to a national audience, running primarily during sports programming (MLB and MLS playoffs, NBA, NHL) with a secondary focus on late-night television. In the digital space, the ad is featured as pre-roll on YouTube, as well as on TSN and Rogers Sportsnet properties.

The creative was developed by Cossette’s Toronto office, with Excelerator Media managing the media buy. National media relations for Forty Creek are managed by Your Brand Integrated Marketing Communications Inc.

About Gruppo Campari:

Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A., together with its affiliates (‘Gruppo Campari’), is a major player in the global beverage sector, trading in over 190 nations around the world with leading positions in Europe and the Americas. The Group’s portfolio includes over 50 premium and super premium brands. Internationally-renowned brands include Aperol, Appleton Estate, Campari, Cinzano, Grand Marnier, SKYY Vodka and Wild Turkey. In 2014,The Group acquired Forty Creek Distillery Ltd., a Canadian spirits company with a portfolioof brands including whisky, vodka, brandy, rum and liqueurs. Internationally-recognized for its superior taste and quality, the multi-award winning Forty Creek Whisky serves as both the fastest growing brand in its category across North America and Canada’s first successfully launched whisky brand in over 70 years. Headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, Campari owns 18 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 20 countries. The Group employs around 4,000 people. The shares of the parent company, Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM), are listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001. For more information: http://www.camparigroup.com.

Three Decades in Oak

Glengoyne Launches 30 Year Old Highland Single Malt Limited Release 

Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky today launches its long-awaited 30 Year Old limited release.

Matured exclusively in hand-selected sherry oak casks for three decades in Glengoyne Distillery’s traditional dunnage warehouses, only 6,000 bottles of this exquisite whisky, crafted from just 13 casks, will be available worldwide each year.

Glengoyne 30 Year Old is bottled un-chillfiltered, with an ABV of 46.8%. A striking rich chestnut colour, imparted from time and wood alone, this exquisite malt boasts tangy flavours of plum compote, cinnamon and cloves.

Uniquely presented in a luxurious solid oak box, featuring an oak and rose gold bung and a hessian square, the outer casing reflects the traditional cask sampling method employed by Glengoyne Distillery.

Robbie Hughes, Distillery Manager at Glengoyne Distillery, said:

“We are delighted with the exceptional quality and taste of the Glengoyne 30 Year Old, it has certainly been worth the wait!

“Meticulous time and care has been given into selecting the perfect cask make up for this special bottling, ensuring the very highest quality liquid which truly reflects Glengoyne’s character. This distinctive malt is made up of 33% first fill European oak sherry butts and 66% specially selected refill sherry butts. The refill butts impart plenty of flavour and colour but do not dominate or overpower our spirit with too much oak. They also tend to be fresher and fruitier, good for balancing the richness and weight of the sherry casks, adding pleasant top notes and complexity. In this instance, the task was finding the right mix of refill cask to best showcase the sherry exceptional oloroso sherry casks we spend six years sourcing, ensuring incredible colour and an exceptional flavour profile.

“The Glengoyne 30 Year Old highlights the quality, time and care that goes into each and every one of our malts and we are sure this limited release will delight Glengoyne fans, connoisseurs and collectors alike.”

The Glengoyne 30 Year Old Highland Single Malt is available from glengoyne.com with an RRP of £600 (46.8%ABV).

www.glengoyne.com

www.drinkaware.co.ukwww.scotch-whisky.org.uk  

Notes: 

Glengoyne 30 Year Old Tasting Notes:  

Colour: Deep Amber

Nose: Black Cherry/Sherry Trifle/Marmalade/Tea Rose/ Rum & Raisin Chocolate.

Taste: Burst of sweetness changing quickly to plum compote/ Cinnamon/Cloves/Tangy Marmalade.

After Taste: Soft oak dryness, Cinnamon.

About Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky: 

Glengoyne Distillery is owned by one of Scotland’s leading independent, family-owned distillers, Ian Macleod Distillers.

Nestled into Dumgoyne Hill and with the mountains of Loch Lomond in the distance, Glengoyne is widely considered Scotland’s most beautiful distillery. Just 14 miles north of Glasgow, Glengoyne sits on the border between the Highland and Lowland whisky regions.

Glengoyne, uncompromising in its pursuit of excellence, runs its stills slower than any other distillery in order to create the sweet, complex flavours for which the brand is known. The Glengoyne Highland Single Malt range is matured in the finest sherry casks from within its traditional dunnage warehouses.

ARDBEG TWENTY SOMETHING CELEBRATES THE ENDURING SPIRIT OF ARDBEG

Ardbeg, the iconic Islay malt whisky unveils Ardbeg Twenty Something – a rare 23-year-old whisky.

The launch of Ardbeg Twenty Something commemorates a time when the iconic Ardbeg Distillery name was almost lost forever. In the 1980s and 1990s, production slowed to a trickle and the future of the Distillery hung in the balance. During this period, only a small number of casks were laid down with the belief and vision to keep Ardbeg alive. A young Mickey Heads, now Ardbeg’s Distillery Manager, was among this group of visionaries.

Today, Ardbeg endures thanks to the perseverance of that small group of whisky enthusiasts who believed in the Distillery – and in no small part to the loyalty of the Ardbeg Committee, whose quest is to “ensure the doors of Ardbeg never close again.”

In recognition of their unwavering support, Ardbeg Twenty Something will be released exclusively to Ardbeg’s loyal fan base, the Ardbeg Committee, in gratitude for their enduring support of the Distillery.

Mickey Heads, Distillery Manager and Chairman of the Ardbeg Committee says: “This magnificent whisky was created within the retired iconic still which stands proud outside our Distillery today. It’s a glimpse back into Ardbeg’s turbulent past and reaffirms just why the Distillery couldn’t be allowed to be disappear. Ardbeg Twenty Something is for all those who believe heart and soul in Ardbeg whisky, which is why it’s fitting that this most rare of drams – a 23-year-old – will be enjoyed by Committee members.”

Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation & Whisky Stocks at Ardbeg, said: “The ex-Bourbon and Oloroso casks I selected for Ardbeg Twenty Something have delivered a beautiful dram, bursting with rich, deep flavours. It has an incredibly smoky, silky quality which is outstanding. The fact that we’re releasing this 23-year-old in honour of the Ardbeg Committee makes it even more special.”

Ardbeg Twenty Something is non-chill-filtered and bottled at 46.3% ABV. Priced at RRP £430.00 it will be made available on 2^nd November from www.ardbeg.com.

www.ardbeg.com

Follow us on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ardbeg

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Ardbeg_com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ardbeg/ 

NOTES: 

Tasting Notes:

On the nose, sweet wood smoke and vanilla cream mingle with sherry notes, burning pine cones and chocolate. Upon tasting, rich chocolate continues with vanilla pods, dried fruits and fennel. The long finish falls away with just a hint of spiciness. 

Ardbeg:

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky.  Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.  Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future.  Following a long closure period in the 1980s, Ardbeg was acquired by Allied Distillers Ltd in 1989.  Back then, the Distillery was in a dilapidated state with only a small amount of whisky distilled, mainly for blending.  In 1996 Ardbeg’s doors were closed – it seemed for good.  Thankfully, Mickey Heads and a few others believed Ardbeg would rise again and they set aside a small number of casks to protect the future of the Distillery.  But it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction.  Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.

Ardbeg Committee:

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”.  Today there are members of the Ardbeg Committee in more than 130 countries.  Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings.  Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events.  The Committee is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards:

Ardbeg is the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whisky.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ three years in a row by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.  It was also awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ and ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards 2013.  At the 2014 awards, Michael Heads of Ardbeg was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.  Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt whisky.

Responsible Drinking:

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Exhibition Showcasing the First Thousand Years of Silver in Scotland