Isle of Arran Distillery break ground on new Lagg site

Work has officially started to build the new Isle of Arran Distillery on the south of the island at Lagg. A ground breaking ceremony marked the start of ground works with the construction of 3 vital warehouses.

Situated overlooking the cliffs at Lagg, on the south coast of the island, the new site sits alongside fields of barley that are currently used in distillation at Lochranza. The building will include a Visitor Centre and pot stills for distillation as well as the warehousing, which will allow enough capacity to increase production to 1.2 million litres.

In response the popularity of Machrie Moor, the peated Arran Malt, Master Distiller of the Isle of Arran Distillery, James MacTaggart, plans to dedicate production at Lagg to more heavily peated single malts.

MacTaggart said: “Having been at capacity at Lochranza for some time, the prospect of starting production at Lagg is extremely exciting.

“The Arran Malt continues to grow in popularity – the extra storage alone will enable us to lay down more of the award-winning Arran spirit.

“I’m also very much looking forward to expanding our peated range. By moving production of Machrie Moor and concentrating the distillation of peated malts on the south of the island, I’ll also be freed up to create more of our extremely popular limited editions at Lochranza.”

Euan Mitchell, Managing Director at the Isle of Arran Distillery, added: “The past 21 years has seen the ‘Arran Waters’ flow around the world. We are relatively young compared to some other Scotch whisky distilleries and we have a fresh, dynamic approach coupled with big ambitions to introduce more people to top quality malt whisky.”

Construction at Lagg begins as the popularity of distillery visits reaches an all-time high. The distillery site at Lochranza welcomed record numbers of visitors in 2016 with over 104,000 people making the trip to the distillery. This number is expected to rise to a combined 166,900 by 2018 once the new visitor centre in Lagg has been opened.

Mitchell continues, “Visitors to Lochranza have been growing year-on-year making the Lagg site of even greater importance. By 2018, we hope to be extending the same warm welcome welcome on the south of the island that visitors enjoy at Lochranza.”

The Visitor Centre at Lochranza will soon re-open after the completion of extensive renovations including a complete re-design of the reception area and a tasting bar to help accommodate larger groups of visitors. In the distillery itself, four brand new stills have been installed with a new spirit safe will support the production of 700,000 litres per annum, or 140 casks a week.

Notes For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com/ * Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.)

Scottish Field Visitor Experience of the Year 2014 & 2015.

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.) ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2012). Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards (2012). Double Gold Medal for the 12 year-old Cask Strength in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2013). Double Gold for both the 10 year-old and 12 year-old Cask Strength at the China Wine & Spirits Best Value Awards 2014.

Wemyss Malts 2017 Single Cask Whisky Release

Independent bottler Wemyss Malts have started 2017 by releasing a selection of new single cask whiskies ranging from 14 to 28 years old. Nosed, tasted and selected by the celebrated whisky writer Charlie Maclean, each bottling has a descriptive name illustrating the whisky’s character and have been bottled non-chill-filtered and in their naturally colour.

The full single cask list of the initial 2017 release comprises:

“The Ship’s Decanter” a (24YO) single cask from Bunnahabhain distillery, bottled cask strength at 45.6%

“Scallop Divers Dram” a (28YO) single cask from Bunnahabhain distillery, bottled at 46%

“Peppered Biltong” a (20YO) single cask from Clynelish distillery, bottled at 46%

“Mango Anise Sorbet” a (21YO) single cask from Braeval distillery, bottled at 46.0%

“Spiced Apple Strudel” a (14YO) single cask from Craigellachie distillery, 70cl bottled at 46.0%

“Apple Syllabub” a (26YO) single cask from Bladnoch distillery, bottled at 46%

“Tiramisu Layers” a (19YO) single cask from Invergordon grain distillery, bottled at 46%

“Hedgerow Berries” a (20YO) single cask from Glenrothes distillery bottles at 46.0%

William Wemyss, Founder and Managing Director at Wemyss Malts, commented: “Following the successes of our multiple single cask releases and the launch of our first Batch Strength blended malts in 2016, Wemyss Malts has entered 2017 in a very strong position which is reflected in our newest release of single cask whisky. Hand-picked from our cask stocks, our first 2017 release reflects the scope and variety of our maturing single cask whisky, from the fruity and oily “Spiced Apple Strudel” to the pair of Bunnahabhain casks “The Ship’s Decanter” and “Scallop Divers Dram” which really demonstrate how diverse single cask whisky can be. ”.

Each cask is limited to only a few hundred bottles with suggested retail prices ranging from £70 to £270. These bottlings will be available in selected retailers in the UK, EU and key Asian markets.

Notes:

• Edinburgh based Wemyss Malts is owned by the Wemyss family and their family seat is Wemyss Castle in Fife where they’ve lived since the 1300s.
• Wemyss Malts has a blended malt whisky range comprising: The Spice King, The Peat Chimney, The Hive, Kiln Embers – 2015’s heavily peated release; single malt single cask bottlings and blended Scotch range, Lord Elcho.
• The Wemyss family premium wines and spirits brands also include boutique gin Darnley’s View, together with the premium wine estate of Rimauresq Cru Classé in Cotes de Provence.
• The family distillery Kingsbarns, near St. Andrews, Fife has recently released two exclusive single casks whiskies for the visitor centre available at www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com

JAMESON LAUNCHES SIXTH CONSECUTIVE ST. PATRICK’S DAY LIMITED EDITION BOTTLE

Jameson, the world’s favourite Irish whiskey, has unveiled its sixth limited edition bottle ahead of its annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities. The most recent in a series of collaborations with Irish artists, this year’s bottle has been designed by Dublin-based designer and illustrator, Steve McCarthy.

McCarthy’s creative starting point came from the Jameson family motto Sine Metu – or without fear – which has been at the heart of the company since it was founded in 1780 and lives on today. He also took inspiration from a commonly used Irish saying that goes hand in hand with Sine Metu, ‘to chance your arm’.

Legend has it that in 1492, ‘Black James’ Butler and his men found themselves barricaded behind the door to St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Dublin. On the other side was Gearóid Fitzgerald who, tired of the constant fighting between the clans, decided it was time to make peace. Fitzgerald ordered his men to cut a hole in the door before extending his hand through the gap as a token of friendship. Rather than cut his arm off with a sword, Butler shook it and the long standing feud came to an end, giving Dublin one of its most famous sayings: to chance your arm.

Over 500 years later, Dublin is still a place where social barriers break easily and friendships come about in the most unexpected of ways and this has been brought to life on the label through two outstretched hands exchanging a handshake, framed by the St. Patrick’s Cathedral door of Reconciliation. The Sine Metu motto has been tattooed on to the knuckles of each hand as a reminder that when we fear a bit less, we live a bit more.

McCarthy has included some of the Irish capital’s most recognisable monuments in his bold and colourful design, such as the Ha’penny Bridge and Smithfield tower, and has also peppered the label with additional details that are reflective of his own knowledge of the city and sense of humour.

He comments: “I wanted it to feel like there was a deeper meaning to what you see. For me, the Jameson motto is very emotive and I hope that with my design I am able to speak to others around the world who have also been inspired by Sine Metu, or those who might still with this release, to fear a bit less to live a bit more.”

The release of the sixth limited edition bottle kicks off Jameson’s global St. Patrick’s Day celebrations for 2017 and will be available in markets including the USA, Ireland and Russia from February 2017, with a recommended retail price of €30 (or local equivalent).

Daniel Lundberg, Jameson Global Brand Director adds: “Our limited edition Jameson bottle for 2017 keeps the spirit of John Jameson alive and celebrates a very Irish saying that dates back to the 15^th century but is as relevant as ever today. As Jameson found when he established the Bow Street distillery in 1780, fearing less can help you reap rewards you never thought possible and we still proudly live by this ethos.

“Steve’s design perfectly balances the rich heritage of Dublin with the modern design and Irish wit of Jameson, and we hope that Irish whiskey fans will be inspired by the bottle in their own St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.”

Notes 

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard is Ireland’s leading supplier of spirits and wines and producer of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s fastest-growing Irish whiskey, experiencing 26 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 5m cases in 2015. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 50 of those experiencing double- or triple-digit growth.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Powers & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. In 2015, we completed a €220m investment which doubled our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.

We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.

More information at www.irishdistillers.ie/.   

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,682 million in FY16. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier‐ Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics. Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

www.pernod-ricard.com/

Record Year for Rare Whisky as Profitable Passions Gain Favour

The booming UK rare whisky auction market has become ‘increasingly liquid’ in an exceptional year for rare Scotch, according to a new report published today by whisky analyst, broker and investment experts Rare Whisky 101.

According to the full year results for 2016 published today, both the volume and value of rare Scotch whisky sold at auction increased by record amounts. The £ value of collectable bottles of Single Malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK rose by 48.64% to a record £14.21m (2015 £9.56m). The number of bottles of Single Malt Scotch whisky sold at auction in the UK increased by 35.21% to 58,758 (2015 43,458).

The most expensive bottle to sell at auction in the UK was a bottle of 50 year old Yamazaki for £62,600.

According to the report, there are a number of factors behind this increased liquidity, created by the impact of volatile market conditions. A favourable forex rate (for those buying outside the UK), low interest rates, and the uncertainty of geopolitical change have all served to fuel demand for passion investments such as whisky, wine and art as a viable component of a balanced investment portfolio.

The past year has also seen the continued growth of the whisky auction market with more players coming to market, making the process of buying and selling more accessible to investors and collectors. In turn, the trading costs associated with selling rare whisky are reducing as some auctioneers compete for the opportunity to attract the most sought after bottles by reducing commission rates.

However, while Rare Whisky 101 sees further room for growth in 2017, they also predict a stabilisation in the market with certain brands predicted to re-trace to more affordable levels.

Whisky investment analyst and co-founder of Rare Whisky 101, Andy Simpson commented: “2016 has been another exceptional year for rare Scotch and we’re beginning to see signs of maturity within the market. The continued growth in both volume and value has added further liquidity, making rare whisky a more popular and more accessible ‘passion investment’. At the same time, the dynamic evolution of the online rare whisky auction market has made it much easier to buy and sell.

“We have no doubt that the current low interest rate environment and wider uncertainty within the market has fuelled demand for rare whisky, as investors have looked to alternative ‘passion’ investments which can offer a diversified approach to balance their portfolios and deliver positive financial returns. While it’s difficult to see the market continuing to expand at such levels over the next few years, primarily due to a finite availability of rare whisky, we do believe that there is further room for growth. As increasing numbers of investors participate in the market and demand continues to increase, it will be fascinating to see how prices move.”

Scotch achieves recognition as passion investment

In another booming year for rare whisky, the leading index for Scotch whisky, the Rare Whisky Apex 1000 Index closed 2016 up 38% for the year, outperforming strong years for Wine (Liv-Ex 24.79%), Gold (8.46%) and the FTSE 100 (12%).

As a clear sign of rare whisky’s growing popularity among passion investors, Lloyds Private Banking recently listed whisky as one of the UK’s favourite passion investments. According to Lloyds’ research, one in six UK investors holds alternative investments in their portfolios, with 3% investing in whisky. On average, £27,700 is spent on whisky as a single “passion” investment.

The auction market is changing the retail dynamic of the whisky industry

In line with the steep increases in both volume and value, 2016 also witnessed the evolution of the secondary (auction) market as a route to market for distilleries. For the first time, traditional retail routes were overlooked in favour of auction for primary market releases.

One such example is Strathearn Distillery which sold its first 100 bottles of Scotch through Perth-based Whisky Auctioneer, earning them between £315 and £4,150 per 50cl bottle of 3 year old Scotch.

The Macallan still The Number 1

Macallan maintained its dominance as the number one traded distillery on a volume and value basis, accounting for nearly 10% of the market for all bottles sold and 22% of the total value. The next closest distillery from a volume and value perspective is Ardbeg, with an 8% share of both volume and value. For the Macallan’s market defining 18 year old vintage collection 1965 – 1990, prices shot up from £19,000 at end 2015 to £46,000 at end 2016. Demand for old, rare, vintage and peerless quality single malt whisky has never been greater.

For more information or to download the full report visit: http://www.rarewhisky101.com/my_media/RW101%20Annual%20report%202016.pdf

Notes: 

Images: Rare Whisky 101 co-founders Andy Simpson and David Robertson

(high res images available on request)

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 over 200,000 price records across 27,000 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.

Exclusive new Loch Lomond Whiskies takes off at

World Duty Free Glasgow Airport 

A world first has landed at Glasgow Airport, with the launch of the inaugural global travel retail (GTR) range from award-winning independent distiller, Loch Lomond Group.

Four expressions that showcase the innovation and craft championed at Loch Lomond distillery in Alexandria are now available at World Duty Free’s Glasgow Airport store.

The new collection, priced from £25 to £75, features two single malt Scotch Whiskies: the Loch Lomond 12-year-old single malt, which contains spirit from two types of stills; and Loch Lomond Inchmurrin Madeira Cask Single malt, which is produced exclusively from the distiller’s unique pot stills with rectifying heads.

The new collection also features the Loch Lomond Single Grain, which is exclusively distilled with 100% malted barley through a Coffey (continuous) still, and the Loch Lomond Signature, a premium blend which is matured via the distiller’s 100 cask solera process.

The launch is in response to growing demand for Loch Lomond award-winning Scotch Whiskies, which are now available in 90 markets internationally. It incorporates distinctive new one litre bottles and newly designed packaging. The inspiration for the premium packaging came from the magnificent Loch Lomond distillery. Designers worked to reflect the Group’s commitment to whisky craftsmanship; from the distinctive stills, to the working cooperage, aiming to tell the story of the unique parts that come together to create the innovative liquid inside.

World Duty Free’s Glasgow Airport store is the first stop in an ambitious worldwide roll-out of the bespoke GTR range, which will launch in Nordic markets later this month. Canada and the US are also set to offer the range.

As the local airport, Glasgow was chosen for the launch to emphasise the provenance of the range, which incorporates four expressions each with their own unique flavour and character revealing the innovative techniques used at the distillery.

André de Almeida, managing director of Global Travel Retail at Loch Lomond Group, said: “We’ve been keen to introduce a global travel retail range for some time now following increased demand for our Loch Lomond whiskies overseas. It means a great deal to us to offer the new range at World Duty Free in Glasgow Airport, less than 15 miles from our spiritual home in the heart of Loch Lomond – one of Scotland’s most beautiful and popular visitor destinations.”

“We’re confident that we are offering something new and unique and a sense of discovery for whisky drinkers around the world.”

A tasting table will be available at Glasgow Airport during February and March, enabling World Duty Free’s shoppers to sample the new range and encouraging travellers to take a little piece of Loch Lomond home with them.

Notes 

About the Group:

• Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria and is home to a number of award-winning spirit brands that are sold in more than 100 countries worldwide.
• Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whisky since 1814.
• Images and interviews with key staff from the Group are available upon request.
• http://www.lochlomondgroup.com/ 

Brands and variants in the GTR range

Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch whisky 1lt

Loch Lomond Signature Blended Scotch whisky 1lt

Loch Lomond 12 year old Single malt Scotch whisky 1lt

Loch Lomond Inchmurrin Madeira Cask Finish Single malt Scotch whisky 1lt

Glen Scotia Campbeltown 1832 Single malt Scotch whisky 1lt (GTR exclusive)

Glen Scotia 16 year old Single malt Scotch whisky 1lt (GTR exclusive)

Glen Scotia Victoriana Single malt Scotch whisky 70cl 

About the brands:

Loch Lomond Group’s eponymous brand is the Loch Lomond range.

• Loch Lomond Single Grain Scotch whisky
• Loch Lomond Signature Blended Scotch whisky
• Loch Lomond Reserve Blended Scotch whisky
• Loch Lomond Original Single Malt Scotch whisky
• Loch Lomond 12 year old Single malt Scotch whisky
• Loch Lomond 18 year old Single malt Scotch whisky

It also produces the popular Island Collection Range:

• Loch Lomond Inchmurrin Madeira Cask Finish Single Malt Scotch whisky
• Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 year old Single malt Scotch whisky
• Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 18 year old Single malt Scotch whisky

http://www.lochlomondwhiskies.com/

@LochLomondMalts

Other brands:

• Glen Scotia Single Malt Scotch whisky (www.glenscotia.com Twitter: @GlenScotiaMalts)
• Littlemill Single Malt Scotch whisky (Twitter: @LittlemillMalt)
• Glengarry Single Malt Scotch whisky
• High Commissioner Blended Scotch whisky
• Glen’s Vodka
• Glen’s Platinum Vodka

R&B Distillers second release of Raasay While We Wait

This February, R&B Distillers are delighted to announce the release of the second batch of their lightly peated single malt whisky – Raasay While We Wait. This limited edition second iteration has spent 18 months finishing in Tuscan red wine casks, imbuing the spirit with a rounder and fruitier flavour.

After a successful first year of production, R&B Distillers have now sold out of the first release of their multi-award winning single malt, now only available at some of their stockists. R&B Distillers are in the process of building the first (legal) distillery on the remote Isle of Raasay, off the east coast of Skye, and they have chosen to create a limited second batch of 1,974 bottles to honour a renowned figure in Raasay history. In 1974, Raasay resident Calum Macleod completed a mammoth ten-year endeavour: to build a hand-constructed road across Raasay, from Brochel Castle to Arnish. R&B’s latest batch plays homage this immense and patient feat.

Masters of patience themselves, R&B Distillers began working with another Highland distillery to create whisky while obtaining planning permission to build their first distillery on the island. In November 2015, R&B launched the aptly named Raasay While We Wait a handcrafted whisky that offers a clever prediction of the taste and character of the whisky which will run from the stills on Raasay this Summer.

The inaugural release was created by combining heavily peated single malt with an unpeated single malt from one Highland distiller. This created a lightly peated single malt whisky reflecting the high minerality of Raasay water, which filters naturally through the volcanic rock of Dùn Caan. The pot stills, now on site at the new distillery, have been sourced from Tuscany and R&B decided to strengthen this Italian connection by finishing Raasay While We Wait in Super Tuscan red wine casks. Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc casks lend juicy and fruity notes to the whisky which carefully balances the 15ppm peating.

While the first batch has spent 8 weeks in the red wine casks, the second batch has been developing in complexity over the past 18 months finishing in the casks. This new iteration contains the same level of peat, but the extra finishing furnishes the whisky with a bigger, more rounded flavour and is less spicy and smoky than the original incarnation. Similarly, the whisky’s distinctive heather hue has subtly but evidently darkened.

Brand ambassador Chris Hoban comments “The second release of Raasay While We Wait has quite a bit of the smoke and earthy notes from the first release but these have been enriched with fruity, juicy, full bodied red wine notes. Where the wine notes were more prominent on the nose in the first release, with just small amounts on the palate, the second release is enveloped with plum and raisin notes, mixed in with burning peat and dark chocolate.”

In 2016, the first release of Raasay While We Wait was awarded several accolades including a Silver at the International Wine and Spirits Competition, and Bronze medals at the International Spirits Challenge and Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Alasdair Day, co-founder of R&B Distillers hopes that the second release will match this success: “We’re very excited to launch the second release of our Raasay While We Wait single malt. Given the batch nature of these whiskies we’re looking forward to hearing feedback from our customers on the difference between the first and second releases.”

Ezra Brooks® Launches New Straight Rye

Brand Adds Rye Whiskey to Family Lineup 

(St. Louis) January 12, 2017 – The iconic brand Ezra Brooks® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has a new addition to its product lineup: Ezra Brooks® Straight Rye. The brand, which dates back to 1957 and has been a part of Luxco’s portfolio of whiskeys since 1993, will continue to provide variants for consumers that celebrate the modern gentleman in all of us.

Ezra Brooks Straight Rye, a genuine straight rye whiskey, is made from the finest ingredients available and bottled at an honest 90 proof. This rye whiskey offers slightly sweet and oaky tones with a warm, spicy finish – making it perfect for crafting classic cocktails or enjoying on the rocks. It is available nationally starting this month in 750ml and 50ml bottles.

“In the past 12 months, we have seen rapid growth in the rye category, up 27 percent*, which indicates consumers are interested in more rye whiskey products,” says Fletcher Buchman, brand manager at Luxco. “Ezra Brooks’ recent packaging refresh has elevated the brand to the same high-quality of the bourbon found inside the bottle.”

Ezra Brooks’ updated look includes a new corked bottle with a premium matte-finish closure capsule. In addition, a higher end label offers the bottle a craftier look and feel. The brand has recently earned top honors at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, taking Gold for Old Ezra Seven Year and Silver for both Ezra Brooks Black Label and Ezra B 12 Year Single Barrel in 2015.

The brand family – all offered in 750ml bottles and ranging in suggested retail prices of $11.99 to $26.99 – includes:

n  Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, bottled at 90 proof and offering a mellow flavor with hints of spice and chocolate and a smooth finish.

n  Old Ezra Seven Year Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, bottled at 101 proof and aged a full seven years for a buttery long finish and deep, rich taste.

n  Ezra Brooks Bourbon Cream, bottled at 25 proof and offering a rich caramel and toffee flavor with a smooth, creamy finish.

n  Ezra Brooks Blended Whiskey, bottled at 80 proof and offering a genuine Kentucky sour mash recipe with a light, warm finish.

Lux Row Distillers – a new distillery experience currently being built in Bardstown, Kentucky – will be the future home of Ezra Brooks, along with other Luxco bourbon brands. To follow the progress of the construction and for more information, please visit http://www.luxrowdistillers.com/, as well as Facebook and Instagram pages.

For more information about Ezra Brooks, please visit http://www.ezrabrooks.com/

*Source: NABCA 9L R12 through September 2016.

For more information, please contact:

Pia Reinhold at preinhold@commongroundpr.com

Kelsey Arends at karends@commongroundpr.com

About Luxco

Luxco, Inc. is a leading producer, importer and marketer of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our consumers, associates and business partners. Founded in St. Louis in 1958, where it is headquartered, it is owned and operated by the Lux family. Its portfolio of brands include: Juarez Tequila & Triple Sec, Pearl Vodka, Everclear Grain Alcohol, Arrow Cordials, El Mayor Tequila, Ezra Brooks & Rebel Yell Bourbons, Lord Calvert Canadian Whisky, St. Brendan’s Irish Cream, Salvador’s Cocktails, Yago Sant’ gria and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company, visit http://www.luxco.com/.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society partners with World Masters Golf Championship

The recently launched World Masters Golf Championship has received a significant boost with the announcement that The Scotch Malt Whisky Society will be a partner for the championship in its inaugural year.

The World Masters Golf Championship was launched last month with a call to all amateur golfers over 50 years of age to take up a unique opportunity to play on the iconic links of Scotland – the home of golf. As well as world class golf, the participants and their supporters can now savour the world class single cask whisky of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is a club unlike any other. As well as being a place to connect with other like-minded whisky lovers, it is also internationally renowned for its mission: to provide members with an adventurous and fun journey of discovery of the world’s widest and finest collection of single cask whiskies.

Director of the World Masters Golf Championship, Hamish Grey, said: “The World Masters is a celebration of golf staged here in Scotland – the home of golf. I can think of no better fit than whisky, another Scottish icon, to link with this event. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society produces high quality and unique whisky which aligns so well to the World Masters Golf Championship.”

Kai Ivalo, Director at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, said: “We are delighted to be a partner for the World Masters Golf Championship and add a particularly Scottish welcome for the players joining us from around the world. We look forward to working together to build this event and providing participants with an outstanding whisky experience to match their enjoyment of these iconic golf courses.”

The World Masters Golf Championship provides the opportunity to play competitive golf on outstanding courses in a fun, social environment. The event is open to all golfers with an official handicap who are over 50 years of age as at 17 September, 2017.

The Championship will be staged over four days from 18 to 21 September 2017, on some of the best courses in the world, including Prestwick, Dundonald, Western Gailes and Royal Troon.

Limited to 240 entrants, it is a chance to follow in the footsteps of legends such as 2016 Open Champion Henrik Stenson.

Competitors will have the opportunity to explore the great beauty and history of Scotland around the World Masters Golf Championship – enjoying great Scottish hospitality, and now the very best single cask whisky from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society.

Go to http://www.worldmastersgolf.com/ for full details of how to enter the Championship for the golfing trip of a lifetime or to find out more about The Scotch Malt Whisky Society visit http://www.smws.com/

Gratis photo supplied is of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Members’ Rooms at 28 Queen Street, Edinburgh.

Notes to editors:

For further information please contact Hamish Grey (0044 (0) 7771 956913) or Andy Salmon (0044 (0) 7387 159450) or Richard Goslan at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (0044 (0) 7375 123113)

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an international whisky club which bottles rare single cask, single malt whisky, and a range of other spirits
• The Society releases a new batch of around 20 single cask single malt whiskies every month
• The Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members and branches around the world
• The Society bottles the finest single malt whisky from around 350 single casks every year and has bottled whisky from a range of more than 132 distilleries in its history.
• The Society offers three levels of membership:

1. Membership Pioneer with gift box containing three samples, £122
2. Member at £61.50 – without gift box
3. Sample Subscription – free.

For more details, visit https://www.smws.com/society-membership

Triple Crown For Wolfburn 

Wolfburn distillery has won its third gold medal, this time at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards. This is the first time ever that a new entrant to the scotch whisky industry has won three consecutive gold medal awards.

“Absolutely delighted,” was how Shane Fraser, Wolfburn distillery manager, described his reaction on hearing the news. “To be honest we’ve been blown away by the response to our whisky – it’s been a truly amazing experience.”

The gold medal was awarded to Wolfburn’s ‘Northland’ expression, first released in early 2016. Wolfburn’s second permanent expression ‘Aurora’ will also be entered into international competitions during 2017.

Asked about the unprecedented achievement of winning three consecutive gold medals, Shane commented: “To the best of our knowledge this has never before been done by a new entrant to the market. When you think that Wolfburn’s single malt whisky was only released less than a year ago, it’s really quite amazing that we’ve picked up three gold medals in our first three competitions.”

Wolfburn’s Northland expression is made via a long and gentle production process, which creates a sweet, smooth spirit. This is matured in top-quality ex-bourbon quarter casks, which impart a mellow flavour to the spirit, making a wonderfully easy-drinking

ABOUT WOLFURN: 

The original Wolfburn Distillery was founded just to the west of Thurso by William Smith in 1821. In its day it was one of the largest distilleries in Scotland, producing, according to HMRC records, 28,056 “gallons of proof spirit” in a single year. Taking its name from the stream that provided the water – the Wolf Burn – the distillery operated until around 1870. The reasons for its closure are lost in time, but by 1877 the newly produced Ordnance Survey maps showed it being in ruins.

In 2011 plans were laid to resurrect the old distillery. Construction began in mid-2012 and in January 2013 the new Wolfburn Distillery commenced production, thereby becoming the most northerly distillery on the Scottish mainland. Situated 300m from the site of the original distillery, the new Wolfburn operates in much the same way as the old: craftsmen use traditional methods to produce fine spirit, which is laid down in best quality oak casks to await the day when it is bottled as single malt scotch whisky. Wolfburn’s first expressions were launched globally in 2016.

Wolfburn Distillery, Henderson Park, Thurso, Caithness KW14 7XW

www.wolfburn.com

www.facebook.com/wolfburn

Bruichladdich Octomore 7.3 Islay Barley, 63%

Exclusive Web price £148.95 (You save 10)

7.3 is the second edition of ‘Octomore from Octomore, made using barley grown on the eponymous farm. Distilled in 2010 and peated to 169ppm, this was aged in a combination of bourbon barrels and red wine casks from Ribera del Duero in Spain. Big and bold, yet also elegant with notes of oranges, honey, cinnamon and clove.

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Built in 1881 by the Harvey brothers, Bruichladdich distillery sits opposite the western shore of Loch Indaal on Islay, an island off the west coast of Scotland. The distillery produces three distinct single malts: Bruichladdich (unpeated), Port Charlotte (heavily peated) and Octomore (super heavily peated), along with The Botanist gin.