Glen Scotia offers dinner and a dram with Charles MacLean  

Dinner and a dram with world famous whisky writer Charles MacLean is on the menu for a handful of lucky Scotch enthusiasts at this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival.

Campbeltown, once regarded as the “Victorian Whisky Capital of the World”, is one of Scotland’s five malt producing regions. The independent Glen Scotia distillery, founded in 1832, is one of three surviving distilleries located in the town.

The exclusive event, organised by Glen Scotia, kicks off this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival and will also introduce the Limited Edition Glen Scotia 2017 Campbeltown Festival Bottling.

The cask was hand-picked by a panel including Iain McAlistair, distillery manager at Glen Scotia, and Charles MacLean, regarded as one of the industry’s foremost experts, from casks matured in the distillery’s refurbished dunnage warehouse, which dates from the 1830s. Just over 200 bottles of the Limited Edition malt are available.

The Glen Scotia Whisky Dinner takes place at Ardshiel Hotel on Tuesday 23rd May. The hotel’s award-winning whisky bar is acknowledged as one of the best in the industry and is thought to have the world’s largest selection of single malts, with over 700 varieties stocked.

The ticketed event, for 55 guests, will feature the finest local foods, including seafood from local producers and locally sourced venison. Each course of the dinner will be accompanied by a specially selected Glen Scotia dram and attendees will receive their bottle of the 2017 Campbeltown Festival whisky a day before general release.

Following the meal guests will have the opportunity to question author Charles MacLean, who has been researching and writing about whisky for over 35 years, conducting talks and tastings internationally.

Iain McAllister, Glen Scotia distillery manager, said: “It is a real honour to have Charles MacLean leading our first Glen Scotia Whisky Dinner, which also kicks off this year’s Campbeltown Whisky Festival.

“His participation is testament to how iconic the Campbeltown region is to the whisky world. One of the original five Scotch regions, Campbeltown was the epicentre of whisky making in the Victorian era and was known for its distinctive character and maritime influences.

“Our Whisky Dinner offers a chance to get to know Glen Scotia better and savour the wonderful whisky experience that is available here in Campbeltown.”

Charles MacLean said: “Campbeltown and Glen Scotia are undergoing a renaissance. Its people have a real passion for the place and its distilleries, and the fantastic work being done by Iain and the wider team at Glen Scotia is part of the spark that is reigniting the town.

“Whisky fans who attend the Whisky Dinner will have a chance to discover for themselves the fine malts that are being produced at Glen Scotia and gain a unique insight into why Campbeltown is such an important part of Scotland’s whisky map.”

Tickets are available from glenscotiashop@lochlomondgroup.com at a cost £150 including a bottle of the Limited Edition Glen Scotia 2017 Campbeltown Festival Whisky.

Jura Tastival celebrates flavour with inspiring new ways to enjoy single malt whisky. Each year, we invite whisky fans from across the world to join us for a full schedule of exciting events.

Kicking off on Thursday 1st June on the Isle of Jura, we will also be bringing Tastival to cities across Europe – keep an eye on our social channels for updates.

Nestled just off the west coast of Scotland, accommodation fills up fast on the Isle of Jura during the celebrations. However, neighbouring Islay offers a range of alternatives, with our complimentary ferry and shuttle bus service from Port Askaig making it easy to combine a trip to Tastival with a visit to Feis Ile. See here for more information to help start planning your journey now.

We look forward to raising a dram with you soon.

The Team at the Jura Distillery

IRISH SINGLE MALT WHISKEY CROSSES ANOTHER FINISH LINE WITH THE RELEASE OF THE TYRCONNELL® 16 YEAR OLD LIMITED EDITION 

Named in honor of an Irish racehorse victorious against all odds, The Tyrconnell® whiskey places a bet on its newest offering 

Chicago, IL (March 7, 2017) – In 1876, people gathered at The Curragh, considered Ireland’s most important thoroughbred racecourse, to watch the 10^th running of the National Produce Stakes Horse Race. A beautiful, chestnut brown two year old colt took his place at the starting gate. Nose flaring, jockey set to go, the colt was ready to run.

The name of this chestnut colt was Tyrconnell and, as he ran down the home stretch to incredulous cheering, history was made. Tyrconnell crossed the finish line in first place, victorious against all odds. The surprise win captured the imagination of the assembled crowd, which included the Watts, a local family who had built a thriving whiskey distillery. They choose to commemorate the occasion by creating a limited edition, small batch whiskey that bore the name of the champion. Now, more than 140 years later, The Tyrconnell brand continues to push the boundaries with the special release of The Tyrconnell® 16 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey.

The Watts intended to make The Tyrconnell just once, but it ended up becoming their most popular whiskey, even claimed to have been the best-selling Irish whiskey in America before Prohibition. Today, The Tyrconnell is still running strong and this release marks a new chapter of innovation and imagination for the brand. Due to its age and rarity, only a limited quantity has been produced.

“Just as Tyrconnell, the racehorse, galloped to victory with unwavering concentration, the same focus and attention is given to creating every bottle of this unique Irish single malt whiskey,” says John Cashman, Global Brand Ambassador. “When looking for a new single malt expression to raise the bar for Irish whiskey, we knew right away that The Tyrconnell 16 Year Old would showcase the magic of the brand’s signature double distillation and expertise in aging, providing fans with a rich, complex spirit.”

The Tyrconnell is made of just two ingredients – the finest Irish barley and pure Irish spring water. These two simple materials are transformed by experienced hands into an Irish whiskey like no other. Produced in traditional pot stills, The Tyrconnell is one of a rare few Irish whiskeys that utilizes double distillation, allowing more of the rich and natural flavors of The Tyrconnell to remain. This creates a whiskey that carries a delicate flavor atop a creamier, more viscous presence.

The Tyrconnell matures in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels in the mild Irish climate. The agreeable environment allows for a consistent maturation which results in an approachable rich, malty whiskey with a round and lingering finish. The Tyrconnell 16 Year Old showcases the benefit of extra aging which exaggerates its trademark notes of green fruit and pear and emphasizes the aroma of stewed pear, coupled with light citrus and green apple skin. The best way to enjoy this sipping whiskey is on the rocks or neat to showcase the fruit on the nose, its rich flavor and spicy finish.

THE TYRCONNELL 16 YEAR OLD TASTING NOTES | 46% ABV

NOSE | Plenty of fruit, melon, green fruit, candied pear, vanilla custard and coconut

TASTE | Initially oily and viscous followed by the inevitable fruit explosion, finishing with a dry almond coating

FINISH | A very long, herbal spice-rich finish

The Tyrconnell 16 Year Old joins The Tyrconnell family which also includes award winning expressions created to elevate the Irish whiskey sipping experience. The portfolio includes The Tyrconnell and a collection of three 10 Year Old Cask Finishes (Madeira, Port and Sherry). This limited release expression is now available in select U.S. markets with a suggested retail price of $100.00 (750ml).

About The Tyrconnell® Single Malt Irish Whiskey

The Tyrconnell is produced at the Cooley Distillery, nestled in the foothills of the Cooley Mountains in County Louth. The Cooley Distillery, part of the Kilbeggan Distilling Company, has been the driving force behind the Irish Single Malt evolution. Most Irish malt whiskey has traditionally found its way into blended whiskeys, thus it is rare to find Irish malt whiskey bottled in its single malt form. The award-winning Tyrconnell portfolio includes The Tyrconnell, The Tyrconnell 16 Year Old Limited Edition and a trio of 10 Year Old cask finished expressions: Madeira Cask, Sherry Cask and Port Cask. The Cooley Distillery also produces the award-winning Kilbeggan Blended Irish whiskey and Connemara Peated Single Malt Irish whiskey.

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.

AMBER GLEN STRIKES SPANISH GOLD

The board and management of Amber Glen Scotch Whisky are delighted to announce that Amber Glen 3 y.o Blended Scotch Whisky was awarded a Gold Medal at the “Catavinum World Wine & Spirits Competition 2017” held in Spain on the 28th of February.

Commenting on the award, CEO Sam Minionis said: “This accolade is a testament to the smooth, mellow and rounded flavour of our provenance Blended Scotch whisky and compliments our Gold Medals for Best Value Scotch Whisky awarded at the China Wine and Spirits Awards in 2016 & 2017.

This is a great boost to Amber Glen’s momentum as we prepare to enter the all-important export markets, where our provenance is synonymous with our superb quality blended Scotch and best value will stand us in good stead amongst our worldly peers.”

Members-Only Auctions

As if there wasn’t enough excitement with free tastings and Whisky Wednesday deals, we’re now giving W Club members access to exclusive members-only auctions!

Our inaugural auction will begin on Monday 27th March and will run for 7 days, ending on Monday 3rd April. We’ll have a small selection of exciting lots on offer including Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 edition, which was limited to just 5,000 bottles worldwide with a UK allocation of only 198 bottles.

This fantastic Japanese whisky will be on offer with no reserve. In addition, to celebrate the launch of W Club auctions, there will be no buyer or seller fees for this first auction!

All you have to do to take part is join The W Club!

Membership costs just £20/year and includes 10% off selected items at The Whisky Shop, massive discounts in our Whisky Wednesday deals, free tasting events, a copy of Whiskeria delivered quarterly and much more!

JOIN NOW

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Awards goes global with judging sessions in five international destinations

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is preparing to go global in a bid to whet the appetite of international whisky enthusiasts for this year’s record breaking event. Organisers plan to tickle the taste buds of whisky drinkers in three major cities by giving them the opportunity to play a crucial role in judging its hotly-contested whisky awards.

Roving judging sessions for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Awards – voted for entirely by the public – are being held over the coming weeks in Amsterdam, Cologne and New Brunswick in Canada. It is hoped that judging sessions will also be staged in venues in New York and Stockholm.

It is hoped that the new initiative will help to introduce even more international visitors to the five-day annual Festival – which comprises almost 500 different events from distillery tours to tastings – and encourage them to plan a visit in future years.

Overseas markets are a key area of growth for the Festival, which takes place this year from April 27 until May 1. The USA, Germany and Scandinavia have traditionally been very strong for visitor numbers, and organisers are keen to expand knowledge of the event in these regions.

The event set new records in the first 24 hours of the box office opening last month: tickets were bought from a total of 24 different countries on the first day, and more event tickets than ever before were sold.

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival chairman James Campbell says the international arm of the whisky awards has the potential to grow to even more destinations in future.

He says, “We trialled this on a very small scale last year when we held a tasting and judging event at Scotia Spirit in Cologne – a Scottish speciality shop run by long-standing friend of the Festival, Peter Klas.

“It was very warmly received and it made us realise there was potential to take the awards judging to even more international destinations. It provides us with an excellent platform to promote the Festival to the whisky enthusiasts who are most likely to want to travel significant distances to be a part of it.

“It may be too late for them to make travel plans for this year’s event, but we hope that it will encourage them to put a visit to the Festival on their holiday plans in future years. The popularity of Scotch whisky is growing globally, and so too is the reputation of the Speyside area which is home to more than half of all Scotland’s distilleries.

“What we are finding is that people outwith Scotland are very passionate about whisky and they want to increase their knowledge about Scotch. To the real aficionados, making a visit to Speyside is making a pilgrimage and they feel there is no better time to do this than during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.”

During the overseas judging sessions, whisky fans will be invited to take part in a blind taste test of eight different malts in four different age categories. The finalists – drawn from across the Speyside region – were selected by a panel of industry experts following a blind taste test earlier this year.

In the non-age statement category Aberlour a’bunadh is up against Tamdhu Batch Strength 002; while in the category for malt 12-year-old and under, the Aberlour 12-year-old will battle it out with Cragganmore 2004 Distiller’s Edition.

In the 13-20-year-old section it is a head to head between The Glenlivet 18-year-old and Glenfiddich 15-year-old. The two shortlisted whiskies in the 20 years and over category are Mannochmore 25-year-old Special Release and The Macallan 30-year-old Sherry Cask.

Each of the international venues will be tasked with organising the event and encouraging people to attend, and a representative from the Festival will be on hand to oversee the voting process. They will also be able to talk to those in attendance about the event and what there is to see and do over the five days.

The event in New Brunswick takes place at the end of March and will be hosted by Frank and Jackie Scott – previous winners of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival International Ambassador Award. The whisky enthusiasts are long-time attendees of the event and make the journey to Scotland every year to take part.

Frank says, “Jackie and I are delighted, excited and truly humbled to be asked to host an awards judging session. To be given the opportunity to represent Canada for the first time is a great honour, and we look forward to working together to make the event a great success.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the best whisky festival in the world, and we hope that by experiencing the warmth and hospitality of the Festival on their own doorstep, many more Canadians will consider visiting and seeing for themselves just what it is that makes the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival so special.”

The international awards sessions have been supported by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

Stuart Turner, head of EventScotland, says, “The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is a fantastic event and we are delighted to be supporting to take the Festival to the world. It is constantly finding innovative ways to engage with whisky enthusiasts. The global judging sessions are a great addition to the Festival and are the perfect stage for people to connect with this unique event while enjoying a wee dram of Scotland’s national drink.”

Based in the heart of Scotland’s malt whisky country, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival takes place over five fun-filled days from April 27 to May 1, 2017. It comprises almost 500 events, taking place from Kingussie in the south to Forres in the west and Buckie in the east.

More information about the event is available at www.spiritofspeyside.com and tickets are also available to buy on the website. The Festival is active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter and Instagram. Use the hashtag #dram17

New Distilleries and Increasing Capacity a Sign of Optimism in the Scotch Whisky Industry

Key findings from the recently published annual Scotch Whisky Industry Review (now in its 39th edition), written by industry analyst Alan S Gray are:-

Sales volumes estimated to grow at 2.3% over the five years 2015 to 2020 which compares with long-term growth of some 1.5% but only marginal growth of 0.3% between 2007 and 2015, due to a variety of factors which we refer to below:-

• A chief problem was the financial crisis which commenced in 2008 and resulted in world consumption only increasing from 347.03m litres of alcohol in 2007 (the year preceding the financial turmoil) to 348.13m LPA in 2015

• During this period the Eurozone was particularly weak, with shipments to the EU falling from 131.5m LPA in 2007 to a low of 114.7m in 2010 and still only 121.8m LPA in 2015.

• Particularly weak EU markets were Greece, Italy, Portugal and Spain:-

• Other contributory factors making for difficult trading conditions over the period were:-
  • A slowing Chinese economy combined with anti-extravagance measures by the Chinese Government
  • An EU trade embargo applied to Russia which has decimated Scotch shipments to that market

   

• Currency devaluation and a depressed economy which has seen shipments to Venezuela fall from 11.6m LPA in 2007 to only 0.8m LPA in 2015.Another factor supporting confidence in Scotch’s prospects has been the opening of over a dozen new distilleries since 2013 and plans for a further 35 or so over the next few years. Most of these are being built by new entrants to the industry, although there is also expansion of capacity by the established industry, with, for example, Edrington building a new 15m LPA Macallan Distillery due to open in 2018.The annual Scotch Whisky Industry Review also discusses Minimum Unit Pricing and the implications of Brexit. Alan Gray is a Master of the Quaich and has covered the Scotch Whisky industry for over 40 years.

• Other major areas covered by the Review include: Selling Prices, Major Markets, Production Costs, Production Figures, Issues & Problems affecting the industry, Names & Addresses of companies, List of Distilleries, Distillery Visitor Numbers, List of Brands and detailed Case Sales for Blend and Single Malt brands.
• The Scotch Whisky Industry Review 2016, published by Pagoda Scotland Ltd, is priced at £450 in the UK and £475 overseas and is available to purchase online at: www.scotchwhiskyindustryreview.com
• At the end of 2016 there were 111 malt distilleries in operation and with around 12 expected to start up in 2017 alone this would raise the total to 123 compared to 114 in 1980 and only 84 in 1986 which followed a major period of retrenchment.
• Looking ahead, however, the economic and financial clouds are lifting and trading improved substantially in 2016, with export volumes (and exports account for over 93% of Scotch Whisky sales) rising by 4.8% from 324.4m LPA to 339.9m whilst values rose by 4% from £3,855.5m to £4,008.9m, helped by sterling’s weakness against the US dollar and the Euro. 

Notes

The 2016 edition of “The Scotch Whisky Industry Review” has now been released. The Review is published annually and, having started life in 1977, is now in its 39th edition. Every edition of the Review has been compiled by the recognised leading independent industry analyst Alan Gray.

It is the single most authoritative source of business information on the Whisky industry – incredibly comprehensive in its coverage and painstaking in the accuracy of its research. The Review contains 280 pages packed with fascinating and useful information and is used as a reference by all the leading players in the Scotch Whisky industry.

In summary, the “Review” includes detailed information covering the following main areas;

• An overview of the industry and estimated consumption growth rates till 2020
• Industry Section
  • Consumption by market, production, stocks, production costs and profit margins
• Company Section
  • Names and addresses, list of distilleries (including details of around 40 new and projected distilleries), distillery capacity utilisation, and visitor numbers
• Case Sales
  • The most comprehensive Annual Case Sale figures available anywhere by Scotch Whisky type (Blend & Malt). Also 10 year record for all the major brands
• List of Bottled brands
  • List of bottled brands sold in the UK and overseas by company and category – an unrivalled list categorised by standard & deluxe blends and malts. See the brands owned by the different companies at a glance!
• Issues and challenges facing the industry
• Sponsorships
  • Information on current sponsorship deals by Scotch Whisky companies
• Appendices
  • Includes detailed figures on Scotch Whisky Broking Prices and Retail prices of Leading Brands and record of excise duty changes from 1885 onwards.

As Alan states “No Scotch Whisky industry professional, consultant, supplier, specialist retailer, importer, distributor or Scotch Whisky connoisseur should be without a copy.

JULIAN VAN WINKLE III INDUCTED INTO

WHISKY MAGAZINE HALL OF FAME 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (March 3, 2017) – Whisky Magazine honored Julian Van Winkle III with its highest accolade Tuesday, inducting him into its Hall of Fame. Van Winkle was recognized at the 2017 Whisky Magazine Awards America presentation held in New York on Feb. 28.

“This is a great honor,” Van Winkle said. “World class whiskey is a tradition to be taken seriously and I’m very proud to be a part of. I feel extremely honored and grateful to receive this recognition.”

Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame honors those who have made a lasting contribution to whisky. With the renown and highly sought after Van Winkle line of bourbons, Julian’s mark on the industry is one that already spans generations.

As the third generation Van Winkle to produce bourbon whiskey in Kentucky, Julian began working with his father in 1977 at which time Old Rip Van Winkle produced only two labels of its wheated bourbon whiskey, 10-year 90 and 107 proof Old Rip Van Winkle. Since then Julian has added 12-year, 15-year, 20-year and 23-year bourbon labels to the Van Winkle selection. He has also added a 13-year premium rye whiskey to the whiskey portfolio. Julian and his son Preston continue to carry on the family tradition of producing high-quality bourbon, and just recently announced a limited edition, one-time bottling of Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year Old Bourbon.

Julian will join a number of noteworthy individuals in the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame, including greats like Elmer T. Lee and many more.

For more information about Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame visit http://halloffame.whiskymag.com/. 

About Van Winkle Bourbon

The Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery has a four generation history. The Van Winkle family’s involvement in the bourbon industry began in the late 1800s with Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle, Sr. He was a traveling salesman for the W.L. Weller and Sons wholesale house in Louisville. Pappy and a friend, Alex Farnsley, eventually bought the wholesale house and also partnered with Mr. A. Ph. Stitzel on the purchase of Mr. Sitzel’s distillery.  The three of them merged the two companies and became the Stitzel-Weller Distillery.     

In May of 1935 at the age of 61, Pappy opened the newly completed Stitzel-Weller Distillery in South Louisville. Its prominent brands were W.L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald, Rebel Yell, and Cabin Still.  Pappy had a heavy influence on the operations there until his death at the age of 91. His son, Julian, Jr. took over operations until he was forced by stockholders to sell the distillery in 1972. The rights to all of their brands were sold to Norton Simon, Inc. Later, United Distillers, who eventually ended up with the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, sold off all of the original labels around 1999.
After selling the distillery, Julian Jr. resurrected a pre-Prohibition label, the only one to which the Van Winkles kept the rights, called Old Rip Van Winkle. He used whiskey stocks from the old distillery to supply his brand. Julian Jr.’s son, Julian, III took over in 1981 when Julian, Jr. passed away. Julian III has continued with the Van Winkle tradition of producing high-quality wheated bourbon. His son, Preston, joined the company in 2001 and the Van Winkles look to continue that tradition for generations to come.
In 2002 the Van Winkles entered into a joint venture with Buffalo Trace Distillery in Franklin County, Frankfort, Ky. All of the Van Winkle’s whiskey production now takes place at Buffalo Trace Distillery under the same strict guidelines the family has always followed. For more information on the Van Winkle family of bourbon please visit www.oldripvanwinkle.com.

40^th Auction is Live!

Ends 19^th March from 8PM

Just Whisky’s March auction is now live and ready to be bid on. New releases galore, including the Viking Line bottle from Highland Park and Springbank’s new Local Barley release. At the top end of the scale we have the stunning 35 year old decanter from Hibiki, which is incredibly sought after.

For the full range of bottles, please visit www.just-whisky.co.uk and place your bids!

A Technical MasterpieceThe Macallan x URWERK Flask is a limited edition whisky flask like no other; visualised and designed by one of the most technically advanced and luxurious watchmakers in the world.

The result of a unique collaboration where whisky mastery meets obsessively engineered horology, the flask combines exquisite form with superior functionality.

Taking its design cues from URWERK’s distinct avant-garde watch designs, this is a bold piece of luxury drinking apparatus and will soon be available to purchase.

Limited to only 500 worldwide and available to buy for £2,000 (including international delivery) while stocks last.

For your chance to own one of these highly limited flasks, simply click the button below from 14:00 GMT on 8th March 2017.

BUY NOW

The Macallan Distillers Ltd, Easter Elchies, Craigellachie, AB38 9RX, Scotland