Town of Oban plays host to new whisky festival Oban, 16th January 2017 The resort town of Oban, home to one of Scotland’s most venerated distilleries, is to be the location for a new whisky festival celebrating the water of life.

The West Coast Whisky Fèis will take place in July of this year, and is the brainchild of Oban Whisky and Fine Wines, a local retailer of the spirit.

Euan Finlayson, proprietor of Oban Whisky and Fine Wines, said, “we wanted to create an event that shows off the incredible whiskies that the west coast has to offer. The aim is to offer a range of whiskies and masterclasses that can appeal to newcomers and aficionados alike.”

The main venue for the event will be Skipinnish Cèilidh House. This will have exhibits from distillers that are based all along the west coast of Scotland. Ticket holders will be given their own dram glass and will be able to take samples from all of the exhibitors who are present. Water will be available to allow people to cleanse their palates between tasting and there will also be spittoons to allow attendees to try the different whiskies without ending up too worse for wear.

In addition, Oban Distillery will be holding masterclasses in their own premises. These will be based around their world famous whiskies. Other masterclasses will be available on the day. The other exhibitors will be more than happy to have a chat about their produce as well.

Local food producers will be selling their wares in the Cèilidh House should anyone get a bit peckish after a few drams. There will also be a nosing competition where attendees can attempt to identify various whiskies by smell alone. The entrant who is closest to being correct will win themselves a bottle of single malt whisky.

There will be a Fèis shop in the Cèilidh House where attendees can pick up a bottle of whichever whiskies took their fancy during their sampling session. Subsidised delivery will be available for people who don’t want to have to lug bottles around with them after they leave.

The Cèilidh House will be open from 12pm to 6pm on 22nd of July 2017. There are likely to be other supporting events during the day which will be announced via the event’s Twitter and Facebook feeds closer to the time. Samples are included in the event ticket price and masterclasses are available for an additional fee.

For further information, please visit www.westcoastwhiskyfeis.co.uk.

Sláinte! 

Press enquiries to: James Galbraith, james@whiskyfix.com, +44/0 1631 570586 Latest updates at: www.facebook.com/westcoastwhiskyfeis/, twitter @westwhiskyfeis

GLEN GRANT WHISKY TOASTs BURNS NIGHT WITH a HAGGIS COCKTAIL 

Speyside whisky teams up with Edinburgh bar to create The Chieftain, an ‘offally braw’ haggis-inspired cocktail  

Edinburgh, 13 January 2016 – For Burns Night, multi award-winning Scotch Whisky, Glen Grant, has partnered with The Bon Vivant bar in Edinburgh to create the ‘The Chieftain’, a haggis-infused cocktail named after Robert Burns’ famous description of Scotland’s national dish, the “great chieftain o’ the pudding race”.

Created by Will Cox of The Bon Vivant, The Chieftain’s recipe is inspired by a traditional Burns Supper menu and includes the ingredients found in the occasion’s centerpiece.

Haggis is traditionally made from sheep’s offal (heart, liver and lungs) minced with onion, oatmeal, salt and spices. The Chieftain comprises of an oat-washed Glen Grant 10 Year Old combined with an offal stock syrup to replicate the unique meaty haggis flavour.  It is served with a pickled red onion, representing the ‘heart’, a salt and pepper air, representing the ‘lungs’, a turnip cordial, a nod to the famous ‘neeps’ accompaniment, and a haggis rim.

Will Cox said: “The opportunity to team up with one of Scotland’s most iconic whiskies, Glen Grant, to make a Burns Night cocktail was too good to miss.  It was very challenging, but we had a lot of fun coming up with The Chieftain and are looking forward to serving it to customers with a haggis bon bon or two on Burns nicht.”

Nick Williamson, Marketing Director Campari UK, said: “With the bard’s birthday being such a well-loved celebration, we want to mark the occasion with the same creativity the man himself approached his work.  The bar team at the Bon Vivant has done a remarkable job with The Chieftain and we look forward to raising a glass or two in celebration come the 25^th January.”

Glen Grant’s new range of aged single malt Scotch whiskies has continued to turn heads as it secured some of the whisky industry’s most prestigious awards in 2016, including the Glen Grant 10 Year Old winning Best Single Malt Scotch (10 Years and Younger) for the fifth year in a row in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

THE CHIEFTAIN RECIPE:

Glen Grant 10 year old, oat washed

Offal stock glaze

Salt and pepper air

Pickled red onion

Turnip cordial

Haggis butter crumb

The Chieftain will be available to buy in The Bon Vivant Bar, 55 Thistle St, Edinburgh EH2 1DY for one night only on 25^th January 2016 priced at £9. 

About Glen Grant

Glen Grant’s story began in 1840, in Rothes, Speyside – Scotland’s premier region for whisky production; by brothers John and James Grant. Still produced in Rothes today, Glen Grant is currently the world’s number 5 selling single malt Scotch whisky and holds a range of prestigious industry awards, including being awarded Jim Murray’s Best Single Malt Scotch: 10 Years and Under for four years in a row and Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks) for 2016.

The elegant and seductively smooth taste for which Glen Grant is renowned, is the result of the innovative tall slender stills and revolutionary purifiers that James ‘The Major’ Grant, son of founder James Grant, was one of the first to introduce over a century ago. Still used to this day, this lasting legacy continues to distinguish the brand.

Today, Dennis Malcolm, the multi-award winning Glen Grant Master Distiller, directs and presides over the amber liquid. Born in the grounds of Glen Grant in 1946, he has worked for Glen Grant for over five decades, with an uncommon passion and unrivalled knowledge of the industry. Dennis’ unmatched Scotch whisky experience ensures that every expression in the Glen Grant range makes the absolute best of the complex alchemy of spirit, wood and time.

The complete Glen Grant range includes the refined The Major’s Reserve, 5 Year Old, 10 Year Old, 12 Year Old, 12 Year Old Non Chill-Filtered, 18 Year Old and a selection of limited edition bottles; each with their own distinct flavour and aroma that perfectly captures the spirit of Glen Grant’s heartland.

Glen Grant became part of the Gruppo Campari portfolio in 2006. The ABV of each Glen Grant single malt Scotch whisky differs between each expression and consumers are encouraged to always drink responsibly.

ABOUT Campari UK:

Gruppo Campari’s UK subsidiary, headquartered in London. A multicultural and dynamic team composed of 40 Camparistas from 10 different nationalities. Established on March 1st 2015, it took over from J. Wray & Nephew UK, a well-established brand builder and distributor of premium Jamaican rums. At the heart of Campari UK there are two main portfolio offerings: the Italian portfolio with heritage brands such as Campari and Aperol and the white & dark spirits portfolio, led by the Jamaican rum brands Appleton Estate Rum and Wray & Nephew Overproof, as well as Wild Turkey Kentucky Bourbon. The company spans an unrivalled premium spirits and specialty offer in its quality, innovation and style and is also the exclusive UK distributor for Bulldog Gin. www.campariuk.com/

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 was founded in 1860 and today is the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry. The Group’s portfolio, with over 50 brands, spans spirits, the core business, wines and soft drinks. Internationally-renowned brands include Aperol, Appleton Estate, Campari, Cinzano, SKYY Vodka and Wild Turkey. Headquartered in Sesto San Giovanni, Italy, Campari owns 16 plants and 2 wineries worldwide and has its own distribution network in 19 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: www.camparigroup.com/ . Please enjoy our brands responsibly.

A new brand of tasting event is coming to Manchester

With the popularity of whisky on the rise, and the number of whisky related events increasing each year, there is a new venture set to introduce even more people to the taste of whisky. One For The Road Tasting Events have set up at Rain Bar in Manchester and are offering one tasting each month, each with a different theme. The events are set to be a little bit different, with some events dedicated entirely to countries outside of Scotland. English, Welsh and European whiskies all feature on the calendar as well as events dedicated to award winning whiskies and there’s even a gin tasting offered too. The Director of One For The Road Tasting Events commented ‘whisky is about much more than Scotland, whisky drinkers already know this, but does everyone else? One For The Road Tasting Events are helping avid tasters to expand their portfolios as well as introduce new whisky drinkers to spirits they may never have known existed.’ Events last for 45 minutes, and prices vary depending on what’s on offer.

All tickets are available from https://www.eventbrite.com/

KERB and Monkey Shoulder present

BURNS HOOTENANNY!

(There’s nae tastier night in toon)

Street food specialists, KERB, are joining forces with whisky mavericks, Monkey Shoulder, to bring Londoners a next level Burns Night that makes January 2017 something to get excited about 

For two magical nights, KERB and Monkey Shoulder will be transforming The Biscuit Factory into a humdinger of a Clubhoos to celebrate the great Rabbie Burns. 

WHAT: One-off Scottish street food creations from 5 star KERBanists, huge live electric Ceilidh, whisky den + cocktails galore, the addressing of the haggis, highland themed games and a poetry slam corner, all set in a secret Bermondsey warehouse. 

WHEN: 27 and 28 January, 6.00pm-12pm 

WHERE: The Biscuit Factory, 100 Clements Road, London, SE16 4DG (nearest tube: Bermondsey) 

FOOD: One-off Scottish street food creations from five star KERB traders.

MENU HIGHLIGHTS  (other and vegetarian options available):

• The Wild Game Co – Haggis Scotch eggs; Haggis Mac n Cheese
• Deeney’s – Slow cooked venison tacos (with spicy salsa and whisky crème fraiche); the famed Macbeth Toastie (Haggis, cheddar, caramelised onion, rocket & mustard)

• Ghetto Grillz – Chicken schnitzel stuffed with haggis served on celeriac & candied beets slaw

• Oyster Boy – Fresh Cumbrae Rock and Loch ryan native oysters with Tabasco or whisky dressing

• Nonna’s Gelato –  ‘Build your own’ whisky sundae:

• Raspberry sorbet
• Honey cream gelato
• Fior di latte gelato
• Pear and whisky caramel

Topped with whisky Oatmeal crumble/shortbread wafer/whisky sauce

DRINKS: Ticket holders can taste Old Fashioneds from Monkey Shoulder, the 100% malt whisky made for mixing, plus four Scottish KERB cocktail creations, great wine + local craft beers.

LIVE MUSIC: “Monster Ceilidh” (Teesside fiddler and accordion maestro meet dub-heavy electric bass) as well as live DJs before and after.

HIGHLAND THEMED GAMES: ft. Corn-hole,  “sheep shearing” and Donald Trump’s crazy golf course.

TICKETS:

• TIER 1 – £20 + booking fee (Includes entry, a complimentary Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned cocktail and entry)
• TIER 2 – £42 + booking fee (Includes entry, a dish from every trader, a Monkey Shoulder Lazy Old Fashioned)

Tickets available from www.kerbfood.com/kerbdoesburns

LOOSEN YER KILT BUCKLE AND GET DOON TO THE HOOS!

DETAILS IN BRIEF:

WHAT: two nights of Scottish themed KERBanist creations, music + drinks

WHEN: 27 and 28 January

WHERE: The Biscuit Factory, 100 Clements Road, London, SE16 4DG (nearest tube: Bermondsey)

WHO: KERB and Monkey Shoulder

TIMES: 6.00pm-12pm 

NOTES

KERB and Monkey Shoulder present Burns Hootenanny

The Biscuit Factory, 100 Clements Road, London, SE16 4DG (nearest tube: Bermondsey) 

SOCIAL:

Website: www.kerbfood.com

Twitter: @KERB / @MnkyShldrUK

Instagram: kerbfood / monkeyshoulderuk

#KERBdoesburns #monkeyshoulder 

ABOUT KERB

Since launch in 2012, KERB has firmly established themselves as the trailblazers of London’s vibrant street food scene. With five successful street food markets at Kings Cross, West India Quay, The Gherkin, Paddington and most recently KERB Camden Market; an incredible milestone, partnering with Camden Market for their biggest ever market, opening 364 days a year and with 35 of the capitals most innovative and best loved traders involved. KERB is passionate about supporting new and up and coming traders bringing spirited food and conversation to London’s most loved squares, markets and foodie destinations. 

ABOUT MONKEY SHOULDER

Monkey Shoulder is the world’s first 100% malt whisky made for mixing.

Using batches from just 27 casks, Monkey Shoulder is created by combining single malts from three of Speyside’s finest distilleries. Known for breaking conventional whisky rules and traditions, Monkey Shoulder puts the fun back into whisky drinking. Famed for its versatility, the smooth and rich taste has hints of mellow vanilla – a flavour which works well with mixers and when included in cocktails.

The term ‘monkey shoulder’ harks back to whisky making heritage. It’s a reference to a condition that malt men sometimes picked up while working long shifts, turning the barley by hand. It had a tendency to cause their arm to hang down a bit like a monkey’s, hence the nickname ‘Monkey Shoulder’. Thankfully practices have changed and the condition no longer exists!

Monkey Shoulder retails for an RRP of £28 per 70cl bottle with 40% ABV. For further information visit: www.monkeyshoulder.com/

Parker Beam, Heaven Hill Master Distiller Emeritus and Bourbon Legend, passes away at age 75

Parker Beam, Heaven Hill Master Distiller Emeritus and Bourbon Legend, passes away at age 75

BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Distillery’s Master Distiller Emeritus Parker Beam, a much revered and lauded figure in the American Whiskey industry, passed away on January 9, 2017 from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, or ALS, at age 75.  Beam was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, in 2010 and had been waging a very courageous and public battle with the dreaded disease, raising enormous sums for the ALS Association of Kentucky through his Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund and Heaven Hill’s sales of his signature line of Parker’s Heritage Collection American Whiskeys.

Earl Parker Beam was born into Kentucky Bourbon royalty in 1941—his grandfather, Park Beam, was brother and colleague of James Beauregard “Jim” Beam at the original D.M. Beam & Co., predecessor to Jim Beam Brands.  Parker’s father, also named Earl, was a brother to Carl “Shucks” Beam, Master Distiller at the Jim Beam Brands Company.  Parker’s father Earl left Beam to become Master Distiller at Heaven Hill in 1946, ushering in an era of Bourbon category leadership and critical acclaim under the Beams, first through Earl, then Parker, and then Parker’s son Craig.

Parker joined Heaven Hill alongside his father in 1960, where his baptism into the distilling industry began by washing windows and scrubbing lime scale out of the cypress fermenters.  “It wasn’t glamorous,” Parker used to say, “But I learned how everything worked in the distillery, because back then you had to be chief cook and bottle washer.”  Parker learned how to culture his family’s 6-generation old proprietary yeast strain under his father’s tutelage, and eventually began to put his own unique fingerprint on Heaven Hill’s American whiskeys—it was under Parker’s supervision that the company raised barreling proof to 125, it was Parker who first created the industry’s first Small Batch Bourbon when Elijah Craig was introduced in 1986, and Parker who oversaw the launch of the company’s Single Barrel Bourbons in 1994.

Parker was also one of the most celebrated of distillers—a charter member of the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame,  winner of Whisky Advocate Magazine’s Lifetime Achievement Award, member of Whisky Magazine’s Hall of Fame, and many more honors.  And last year, the Board of Directors of the Kentucky Distillers Association, the Kentucky Bourbon industry’s trade association which dates back to 1880, voted unanimously to name the industry’s Lifetime Achievement Award after Parker.

“Parker has certainly etched his name, and that of Heaven Hill, deeply in the annals of Kentucky Bourbon history,” noted Heaven Hill President Max L. Shapira, “But he has done so with a humility and grace that will forever be admired.  His dedication to his craft, to his family, to Heaven Hill, and now to battling the scourge that is ALS, will live on far past his time.”

After being diagnosed with ALS, Parker and his wife Linda met their newest challenge head-on by creating and curating the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund through the ALS Association of Kentucky.  The fund established a research and treatment endowment that has seen millions of dollars generated through contributions, events and on-going sales of Parker’s eponymous line of super-premium American Whiskeys.

In a statement issued by the Kentucky Distillers Association, President Eric Gregory noted that “Parker Beam wasn’t just a name on a bottle – he was the living embodiment of the whiskey inside: authentic, classic, well-seasoned and distilled from old-fashioned hard work and gentlemanly integrity.  His place in our industry’s rich distilling history is beyond reproach, as few can match his 56 years of passionate service and leadership, charter selection to the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame and award-winning Bourbon portfolio crafted under his watch as Master Distiller.”

Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin also paid tribute, tweeting that “An award-winner, mentor & innovator of the highest caliber, Master Distiller Emeritus Parker Beam’s presence will surely be missed.”

About Heaven Hill Distillery: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 1.2 million barrels aging in 53 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Larceny Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Pikesville Rye Whiskey, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky and Parker’s Heritage Collection. Heaven Hill Distillery currently holds the titles of Whisky Magazine’s Distillery of the Year and Whiskey Advocate’s American Whiskey of the Year. For more information, please visit http://www.heavenhill.com/home

CHIVAS STARTS GLOBAL SEARCH FOR ITS NEXT MASTER

9th January 2017: Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky, has launched its search for the 2017 Global Chivas Master. Now in its fourth year, the Chivas Masters cocktail competition is built on Chivas’ belief that great bartending is measured not only by the achievements of an individual, but by the ability to work together as a team. This year’s competition is set to celebrate the impact of Asia’s innovative and booming cocktail scene on the world, by holding the Global Final in Tokyo for the first time ever.

National stages of the competition will challenge entrants to celebrate the versatility and international appeal of Chivas Regal, through the creation of three new cocktails showcasing its smooth, rich and generous house style. Bartenders will be invited to take inspiration from the classic cocktails of New York, where Chivas was first launched in 1909; local flavours from their individual countries; and the celebrated traditions of Tokyo’s bartending scene, which is renowned for its extraordinary craftsmanship, kind service and precision.

The move to hold the Global Final in Tokyo – whose unique cocktail customs fascinate bartenders from across the world – continues Chivas Regal’s exploration of Asia’s cocktail capitals, following last year’s final in Shanghai. The most talented competitor from each market will be invited to spend an immersive week in Tokyo at the Chivas Masters Global Final, where the internationally-acclaimed panel of judges will share some of their insights and expertise through inspirational masterclasses.

The ultimate winner will not only impress with their individual bartending skills, but – crucially – will also prove their ability to work with an international bartending team, and collaborate and share success with international peers, through the Chivas Masters Collective team challenge. The 2017 Global Chivas Master will win the opportunity to travel to an iconic bar in the city of their choice, to work alongside some of the world’s most influential bartenders.

Max Warner, International Brand Ambassador for Chivas Regal, comments: “2016 was a year of firsts for the Chivas Masters: the first time the final of a global cocktail competition had been held in Shanghai, and the first time the concept of the Chivas Masters Collective was realised. The 2017 Chivas Masters competition is set to build on these innovations, cementing Chivas Regal’s commitment to hospitality and collaboration – traits central to the bartending industry – and set against the backdrop of Tokyo, one of the world’s great cocktail capitals. We welcome entry from bartenders from across the world, who believe they epitomise our values of brotherhood and generosity.”   Do you think you have what it takes to be the next Chivas Master? Visit chivas.com/chivasmasters to find out more about the competition, or get in touch with your local Pernod Ricard representative.

 NOTES

About Chivas Regal Launched in 1909, Chivas Regal is the world’s first luxury whisky and is considered to be a timeless classic, renowned for its benchmark quality and taste, style, substance and exclusivity. A truly global brand, Chivas Regal has been integral to the growth of the Scotch whisky category worldwide and today sells 4.5 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across the globe. With generosity, entrepreneurship and integrity at the heart of Chivas Regal, the brand launched its successful Win the Right Way campaign in 2014, which aims to inspire a new generation whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others. The Chivas Regal range includes Chivas 12, Chivas Extra, Chivas 18, Chivas 25, the pinnacle of the range ultra-prestige blend, Chivas Regal The Icon and the Global Travel Retail exclusive, Chivas Brothers Blend. Launched in October 2016, Chivas Regal Ultis is the first blended malt Scotch whisky from the House of Chivas and represents the true essence of Chivas Regal. www.pernod-ricard.com

About Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch. www.chivasbrothers.com @ChivasNewsRoom

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

Buffalo Trace Distillery Donation Helps Raise $215,000

for Emeril Lagasse Foundation

Over a Quarter of a Million Dollars Raised through Buffalo Trace Donations Since 2013

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Dec. 13, 2016) For the past twelve years, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation has held a fundraising weekend which raises money for children’s charities nationwide. In 2013 Buffalo Trace Distillery joined the fundraising weekend as a sponsor of the foundation’s Friday night Festivities, Boudin, Bourbon & Beer. For the past three years Buffalo Trace Distillery has donated a live auction package to Emeril’s signature event, the Carnivale du Vin wine auction, and has helped raise over a quarter of a million in funds.

In November of 2016 Buffalo Trace’s auction lot helped raise a whopping $215,000; $150,000 of that will specifically be assigned to Emeril’s culinary garden and teaching program.

This year’s prize package from Buffalo Trace Distillery included more than 30 highly sought after whiskies from the National Historic Landmark Distillery, including the elusive Pappy Van Winkle Rye and a very rare bottling from Buffalo Trace’s 5 Millionth Barrel, distilled in 1981. Also included in the prize pack was a trip for four to Buffalo Trace, including first class airline tickets, overnight accommodations and many other extras. This year’s winner, Noah McMahon, is excited about his upcoming trip, stating “This is a dream come true for me and my friends as we are huge fans of all of the Buffalo Trace brands. The trip to Kentucky will be once-in-a-lifetime and something we will never forget!” McMahon will be scheduling his trip to Kentucky soon.

The Emeril Lagasse Foundation was founded in 2002 by Chef Emeril Lagasse and his wife Alden and has granted more than $7.5 million to children’s charities to support culinary, nutrition and arts programs. Lagasse’s Fund a Need program, of which part of McMahon’s

donation will go towards, is a program that fully integrates both gardening and cooking elements into school curriculums.

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 1786 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 seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

MAKE IT A BURNS NIGHT TO REMEMBER WITH BALBLAIR SINGLE MALT WHISKY 

Dust off your tartan and toast the spirit of Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns, with a dram of award-winning Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

In honour of the occasion, Balblair has selected three of its perfectly timed Vintages, which compliment every stage of the traditional Burns night supper. Specially selected by Distillery Manager, John MacDonald, each of the Vintages are released at the peak of perfection.

Start the evening with a dram of Balblair Vintage 2005. Light, fruity and refreshing, this classic Vintage embodies Balblair’s house style. Full of character, the Vintage has citrus aromas of apple and honey, followed by the intense taste of sweet toffee and vanilla, rounded off by a deliciously spicy, long finish.

Why not pair your haggis, neeps and tatties with a glass of Balblair Vintage 1999. On the palate, it is full bodied, sweet and spicy in character, with hints of honey, vanilla and leather. It has signature Balblair aromas of honey and green apples, as well as hints of spice, citrus, fruits and vanilla make it the ideal Vintage to sip while absorbing the party.

And, if you’re looking to impress your friends, why not finish off with a dram of Balblair Vintage 1990. Boasting a spicy yet sweet aroma, the whisky is punctuated with notes of raisins, toffee and honey. On the palate, the Vintage it is full bodied; sweet and spicy in character with hints of zesty fruits. With a luxurious smooth finish, this expression is the perfect after dinner treat.

Notes

• Balblair Vintage 2005 1st Release (£43) is maturated in American oak-ex bourbon barrels, creating aromas of citrus orchards as well as smooth vanilla and toffee that leave a deliciously spicy, long finish. Stockists: Royal Mile Whiskies, The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malts (online), selected Oddbins & independent specialists
• Balblair Vintage 1999 2nd Release (£65) is aged in ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry butts, the honey and green apple notes are complimented by a hint of spice, citrus fruits and vanilla culminating in a smooth, long lasting finish. Stockists: Royal Mile Whiskies, The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malts (online), selected Oddbins & independent specialists
• Balblair Vintage 1990 2nd Release (£85) is matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks, but with the addition of Spanish oak ex-sherry butts. Offering a medley of spicy and sweet aromas, punctuated with notes of raisins, toffee and honey. Stockists: Royal Mile Whiskies, The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malts (online), selected Oddbins & independent specialists
• Balblair Vintage 1990 was recently awarded with the IWSC trophy for Best Single Malt Scotch over 15 years
• Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch has been recognised by internationally renowned spirits competition, International Wine and Spirit Competition, receiving eight accolades across its Domestic and Travel Retail portfolio.
• International Beverage, producer of some of the global drinks industry’s most acclaimed premium spirits including Balblair, is celebrating a momentous win in Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Scotland 2017 awards, after being crowned Whisky Distiller of the Year.

BEAM SUNTORY DONATES $100,000 TO SUPPORT OPERATION HOMEFRONT’S HOLIDAY MEALS FOR MILITARY PROGRAM

Chicago − December 23, 2016 – Beam Suntory, the world’s third-largest premium spirits company, has donated $100,000 to Operation Homefront, a national nonprofit that provides emergency financial and other assistance to military families and wounded warriors. The donation will support the Holiday Meals for Military program, which will provide 12,000 family meals this holiday season. Beam Suntory’s donation alone funded 8,500 meals, being distributed on 28 U.S. military bases this month.

The Chicago-based spirits company has donated more than $2.5 million to Operation Homefront since 2006 as part of its commitment to supporting the communities where its employees live and work, a pillar of its Growing for Good social responsibility platform. The Holiday Meals for Military program began Thanksgiving 2009 as the result of a chance encounter in a supermarket in Utica, N.Y., near Fort Drum. A soldier, his wife and infant had a handful of grocery items they could not afford, so a Jim Beam employee picked up the $12 cost for the groceries. Since that time, the program has grown from initially providing 500 meal kits to military families in 2009 to this season’s 12,000 meals.

“Big things start with small steps,” says Ken Ruff, vice president, national accounts, Beam Suntory. “When I helped start the program, it was to support one family that I knew was in need. Back then I never would have imagined it would spur a national program with so many great partners helping so many families, year after year. It’s inspiring to see what we’ve been able to do together – and what we can still do.”

“This organization and this program are very close to the hearts of so many of us at Beam Suntory,” Beam Suntory Chairman and CEO Matt Shattock said. “I am humbled by the sacrifices military families make, and we are honored to support them.”

In addition to the donation, Beam employees are volunteering to help pack meals in Illinois and Tennessee. Since 2008, Beam Suntory employees have provided thousands of volunteer hours to the program.

“The holiday season can be an expensive time of the year, particularly for military families who live on a stretched family budget,” said John I. Pray, Jr., president and CEO, Operation Homefront. “Beam Suntory’s continued support helps Operation Homefront provide military families with grocery items necessary for a full holiday meal. It’s just one of the many ways we show our collective gratitude for their service and help them thrive in the communities they have worked so hard to protect.”

PERNOD RICARD NORTH AMERICA TO INVEST IN WEST VIRGINIA-BASED SMOOTH AMBLER

It has been announced that high-end bourbons Smooth Ambler Contradiction Bourbon, Old Scout Single Barrel Bourbon and other high-end spirits will be be distributed by Pernod Ricard USA. NBV Investments Inc. (“NBVI”), a subsidiary of Austin Nichols & Co. Incorporated (d/b/a Pernod Ricard North America) and an affiliate of New York-based Pernod Ricard USA LLC, announced that it has signed an agreement to take a majority stake in Smooth Ambler Spirits Co.

The transaction is currently subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in early 2017.

Smooth Ambler Spirits Co., founded in 2009, is located in the Greenbrier Valley of West Virginia. It uses regional natural resources and ingredients to produce gins, vodkas, rums and whiskeys, including the Old Scout Single Barrel Bourbon, which was recognized recently as the “Best Single Barrel Bourbon in the World” at Whisky Magazine’s 2016 World Whiskies Awards.

“We are very impressed by Smooth Ambler’s successful track record, and we are excited to partner with that team as they continue to produce high quality American Whiskeys.” said Jeff Agdern, President of NBVI.

 “Smooth Ambler is committed to making great spirits, using the best American ingredients,” said John Little, Smooth Ambler’s Co-Founder and Head Distiller. “The investment from NBVI will enable us to introduce our premium craft spirits to many more consumers.” Smooth Ambler plans to increase production capacity and further expand its local team in West Virginia, Little said.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard commented: “This investment illustrates perfectly our strategy of partnering with rising entrepreneurs sharing the same passion for authentic, high-quality brands. It represents a strong opportunity to enter the fast-growing, high-end bourbon market extending even more our fantastic portfolio of genuine brands in our number 1 market”.

Under the terms of the transaction, John Little will assume the role of CEO and continue to operate the company with same culture and commitment to quality. John Foster will also remain as Director of Sales and Marketing.