Words cannot describe the beauty of the Balvenie Set DCS Compendium Chapter 2.

We will however, give it a go:

Available at Whisky Galore at The Green Welly Stop

1 of only 6 sets available here in the United Kingdom.

The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter Two features five extremely rare single-cask single malt whiskies and highlights the complex manner in which different oak casks influence the flavour of The Balvenie during the maturation process.

David Stewart MBE pioneered double cask maturation, or finishing, during his career at The Balvenie and this chapter showcases his vast knowledge and understanding of this process. The whiskies in Chapter Two, range in age from 15 years to 43 years, with each of the casks chosen by David imparting their own distinct flavour profile to the final expression.

Each whisky in Chapter Two hails from a different cask style – including European oak Oloroso sherry butts, first fill American oak Bourbon barrels, a European oak port puncheon and a European oak Pedro Ximénez sherry butt.

The Balvenie Aged 43 years.

European oak Oloroso sherry butt – Filled 31st October 1972.

“ The 1972 refill sherry butt may have lost some of the flavours we expect from sherry casks, dried fruits and spice, but it really shows a unique character of the balvenie, spicy but less ‘winey’ sweet, more honeyed sweetness. Very few examples like this remain and I love it.” – David C Stewart

Tasting Notes..

Nose – Fragrant, floral and fruity, fresh pineapple juice and melons, a malty sweetness and soft oak vanilla.

Taste – A syrupy sweetness, with honey, butterscotch, vanilla toffee and delicate cinnamon spice.

Finish – Lingering with gentle waves of vanilla and subtle oak spices.

The Balvenie Aged 26 years.

First fill American oak bourbon barrel – Filled 1th May 1990.

“ Seeing the different effects wood can have is still a great pleasure for me. Distilled just six months apart we can showcase first fill American Oak and European oak with 1990 casks

David C Stewart Tasting Notes..

Nose – Rich and malty, sweet toffee, vanilla fudge with layers of honeycomb and a delicate spiciness.

Taste – Rich maltiness, honey maple syrup and citrus notes, ending in delicate cinnamon spice and subtle oak vanilla.

Finish – Rich with a creamy sweetness and gentle spices.

The Balvenie Aged 25 years.

European oak Oloroso sherry butt – Filled 3rd October 1990.

“ The first few months are when an oak cask gives the bulk of its colour and a good deal of the influence over the flavour of the liquid. When I feel like the oxygen, wood and time have done their jobs it’s time to move them to another cask.” – David C Stewart

Tasting notes..

Nose – Rich and deep, elegant oaky notes followed by sweet aromas of raisins, dates and gentle ginger spice.

Taste – Velvety smooth with sweet dried fruits, a deep nuttiness and sherry oak. Gentle warm spices and a touch of oak tannin.

Finish – Sumptuous with a sherried sweetness.

The Balvenie Aged 19 years.

European oak port puncheon – Filled 6th August 1997.

“ I remember this port puncheon; it was a cask we used to finish our 21 Year Old PortWood. I decided in 1997 to fill it with a new-make and to be fair I think we forgot about it after that. I noticed it again some years ago and I’m delighted I kept it aside” – David C Stewart

Tasting notes..

Nose – Creamy toffee notes of brown sugar, hints of dried fruits and delicate spices of nutmeg and cinnamon.

Taste – Warm and inviting, with prunes, plums and figs. Tropical fruit juice, sweet wood spices and dried.

Finish – Lingering with dried fruits, oak spices and sweet wine.

The Balvenie Aged 15 years.

European oak Pedro Ximénez sherry butt – Filled 25th April 2001.

“ This 2001 cask was a butt that held gorgeous Gonzales Byass Pedro Ximénez over several decades before it came to our cooperage. It is unusual in really showing the sweetness of the Pedro Ximénez and The Balvenie as a near liqueur. It reminds me of the freedom I’ve enjoyed in my role as I filled it without having to decide how it would be used or when” – David C Stewart

Tasting notes..

Nose – Deep and intensely fruity, peaches and mango, soft vanilla with layers of brown sugar and oak spices.

Taste – Syrupy with a toffee sweetness, a touch of spicy ginger overlaid with gentle oak tannins.

Finish – A fruity sweetness with gentle oak vanilla and spices.

The Balvenie’s david stewart is the longest serving Malt Master the industry has ever known. As he enters the twilight of his career, it’s important to David that he passes on his knowledge so others can follow in his footsteps.

For more information and where to buy click here

SAZERAC COMPANY PURCHASES BUILDINGS

AT CANAL AND MAGAZINE STREET 

Plans to Open “The Sazerac House” Homeplace

to Include Museum Space  

NEW ORLEANS, LA (Dec. 15, 2016) The Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans since 1850, has purchased two buildings on the corner of Canal and Magazine Street, adjacent to the Sheraton Hotel, and only a few hundred yards from the original 1850 Sazerac Coffee House site.  The company plans to rehabilitate the nearly 200 year-old buildings into The Sazerac House visitor attraction and beverage alcohol museum.  Guests will be able to learn about the spirited history of the iconic Sazerac Cocktail, the official cocktail of New Orleans, as well as many other original New Orleans brands, along with exploring the unique role New Orleans has played in the bourbon and rum industries and in American cocktail culture.  The buildings will also include a gift shop and Sazerac company offices, with a projection of 60 employees eventually working there, 45 of which will be new positions.

The buildings, which have sat vacant for more than 30 years, date back to the mid-1800s and contain rich architectural details including wood floors, high ceilings, oversized windows, and ornate support columns throughout.  As many of the original design elements as possible will be kept as the buildings undergo renovation.  “We simply could not be happier than to have the opportunity to restore such beautiful buildings to their former glory, in a perfect location, so close to the original site of the Sazerac Coffee House that will act as our future New Orleans homeplace,” commented Mark Brown, president and chief executive officer of the Sazerac Company. “We’re excited to have this opportunity to preserve our roots, while at the same time explore opportunities to introduce our visitors to new product releases that have a special tie to New Orleans.”

Sazerac has a history of buying hidden gems and restoring them to their natural beauty. In 1992 the company bought Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, complete with ramshackle buildings, barbed wire fences surrounding the property, and an employee base which had dwindled down to 50 from its thriving post World War II days of 1,000 employees.  Today, Buffalo Trace Distillery is one of only 2,600 national historic landmarks in the United States, employing nearly 500 workers, and welcoming 165,000 visitors a year who enjoy its lush gardens and picturesque campus.

Local historic preservation architects Trapolin-Peer and Ryan Gootee General Contractors have been selected to renovate The Sazerac House and plans are being finalized for the nearly 50,000 total square foot facilities.  The historic renovation will start in the next coming months, and Sazerac expects the building to be complete by late 2018.  Upon completion, Sazerac is projecting 100,000 visitors its first year of operation. The purchase price is not being disclosed.

About the Sazerac Company

         Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in Louisiana, Kentucky, Virginia, Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, California, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac, please visit http://www.sazerac.com/.

CHARITIES TO RECEIVE O.F.C.

VINTAGE-DATED BOURBON ANNOUNCED 

Two hundred bottles of collectable bourbons have been shipped 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (December 28, 2016) Two hundred lucky charitable recipients received an extra special holiday gift from Buffalo Trace Distillery this year, as the last of the bottles of the O.F. C. Bourbon have been shipped all across the United States.  From there, it’s up to the charities to hold fundraisers of their choosing with hopes of raising thousands of dollars for their cause. The only requirement from Buffalo Trace is the charity hold their fundraiser by March 1, 2017 and report back how much money it raised.

All of the selected charities have been notified and are in the process of receiving their bottle.  The selected charities can be found on the O.F.C. Bourbon website here: http://ofcvintages.com/charities. These rare bottles are not available in stores, bars or restaurants, so true collectors will need to bid high at the various charitable events so the organizations can raise as much money as possible.

“Many worthwhile charities will receive bottles, from New York to California and most states in between,” said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director. “We expect these bottles to raise upwards of $10,000 each!  We are excited to see what kind of creative fundraisers these non-profits come up with and how much money they can raise for themselves.”

The O.F.C. Bourbon is vintage dated according to the specific year in which the bourbon was distilled at Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each hand-cut crystal bottle features the vintage year on the label.

The first release is comprised of only 200 bottles; 100 bottles from the year 1980, 50 bottles from 1982, and 50 bottles from 1983.  Each charity selected will randomly receive one of these three particular vintages.

The packaging for O.F.C. matches the splendor of the whiskey itself, in lead free crystal bottles with detailed fluting engraved into the mold. Each bottle was manually polished to achieve maximum glass brilliance before copper lettering was in-laid in the bottle to spell out “O.F.C.” on the front.  A paper label was then hand applied below with the vintage prominently noted, along with a label on the back of the bottle noting the milestones for the vintage year of the bottle.  The bottles are packaged in a wooden display box containing a provenance card with the same information found on the back label.

      This is the second time Buffalo Trace Distillery has partnered with non-profit organizations to raise money. In 2011, the Distillery gave away 174 bottles of its Millennium Barrel, the last bourbon barrel filled on the last day of the last century. In total more than $150,000 was raised for various charities across the United States, with the top organization raising more than $7,000 for their cause.

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/.

Beam Suntory opens new global headquarters in downtown Chicago

CHICAGO (December 5, 2016) – Beam Suntory, the world’s third-largest premium spirits company, opens its new global headquarters in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart today.

The world leader in Bourbon and Japanese whisky has relocated its Americas region and global marketing personnel from Deerfield to downtown Chicago, with corporate functions following in 2017. Beam Suntory has renovated 110,000 square feet on the 16th floor of the Merchandise Mart, an architectural landmark situated on the Chicago River in the dynamic River North neighborhood.

“Chicago is one of the world’s greatest cities, and this move underscores our strategic priority of getting closer to our customers and consumers in major cities around the world,” Beam Suntory Chairman & CEO Matt Shattock said. “For a company like ours, with so many brands with heritage measured in centuries and boundless future opportunities, we feel doubly fortunate to set our global business up for continued success in the historic and dynamic Merchandise Mart.”

Beam Suntory has a stated objective of becoming the world’s fastest-growing premium spirits company. As cities are a major source of industry growth, Beam Suntory has focused resources in key cities around the world, including Chicago.

“I want to congratulate Beam Suntory for relocating their global headquarters to the City of Chicago,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Companies from around the country and across the world are bringing new jobs and new investments to Chicago in recognition of the fact that we are a great place to live and work, and Beam Suntory will be an excellent addition not just to the Merchandise Mart but to the entire City of Chicago.”

The newly refurbished space was designed to reflect Beam Suntory’s long and proud heritage, including certain walls made from oak barrel staves, copper elements inspired by stills, a story wall marking historic company milestones, and neighborhoods named for major company brands. The office also includes Fred’s Rackhouse, a fully functioning bar named for Jim Beam Master Distiller Fred Noe, that will be used for brand education and company events, as well as sit-or-stand desks and technology that allows employees to take their work anywhere.

The Merchandise Mart is the world’s largest wholesale design center and one of Chicago’s premier international business locations for internet, advertising, technology, healthcare and media companies. The Merchandise Mart became the world’s largest LEED®-EB certified building in November 2007.

LAGAVULIN BRINGS ITS YEAR OF BICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS TO A SIGNIFICANT CONCLUSION WITH LAGAVULIN 1991

A LIMITED EDITION RELEASE OF 522 BOTTLES FROM A SINGLE CASK TO BENEFIT CHARITIES ON ISLAY

Concluding Lagavulin Distillery’s memorable 200^th anniversary year on an all-time high, the iconic distillery announced today that an extra special single cask bottling of a 24 year old whisky will be released to deliver a lasting legacy on Islay. The extremely limited edition will see all proceeds, exceeding £0.5M, divided between seven charities on the island.

This extraordinary whisky will enrich everyone lucky enough to purchase a bottle, both through the quality of the whisky and the knowledge that their action is giving back to the very place this was created in.

The Lagavulin 1991 Single Malt Scotch Whisky cask of just 522 bottles was carefully selected by the distillery team and Ivan Menezes, CEO, Diageo. Bottles can only be purchased via a special ballot on The Whisky Exchange that launches today, 31st December, with bottle No. 1 being auctioned separately to raise even more charitable funds, and one bottle being donated to each of the Diageo Archive and our partners at The Whisky Exchange respectively.

Potential customers can register interest in purchasing a bottle of Lagavulin 1991 priced at £1,494 with The Whisky Exchange. The pricing reflects the significant and historic date that marks the first ever recorded distillation of Scotch Whisky. To ensure that demand for these rare bottles is managed fairly, the ballot on 12^th February will be drawn and the bottles allocated at random.

Georgette Crawford, Distillery Manager at Lagavulin comments: “We will all be raising a dram to years gone by and an exciting future ahead of us and this incredible island, as we close a year of spectacular celebrations for the 200^th anniversary of the distillery. This whisky is truly memorable in its complexity and unique in the way our distinctive distillery’s character shines through. The range and ambition of the projects we are supporting is something that as an Ileach I feel very deeply about and I am so proud to see the proceeds of our iconic whisky benefit the local community in such an unforgettable way.”

Nick Morgan, Head of Whisky Outreach adds: “We all work in Scotch because we love it. Lagavulin is a whisky and a place that stirs us all both personally and professionally. Being able to launch a bottling like this that will have a deep impact on the magical island of Islay for generations to come is a career highlight. This is just one way in which we want to express our affection for the people who have welcomed us (Ileachs and others) to work and live on Islay for the last 200 years.”

Sukhinder Singh, co-founder of The Whisky Exchange, says of the bottling: “As soon as we heard about this special project, we wanted to be involved. For me, Lagavulin is one of the most amazing whiskies from Scotland, and the 16 year old in particular is a personal all-time favourite. We look forward to working with our friends at Diageo to secure a lasting legacy for the whole of Islay through this historic, one-off limited release.”

To learn more about the charities set to deliver these legacy projects, and for more detail of bottling please visit http://www.malts.com/

To register interest in the ballot, please visit https://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/feature/lagavulinlimitededition

NOTES  

Tasting notes:

Appearance:      Lovely, deep olive-hued chestnut becoming clear orange-hued amber in sunlight. Fresh and lightly oily with water.

Nose:               Instant and insistent, yet light, clean and detailed throughout. Charred oak and rich, mature fruits are backed by subtle milk chocolate and vanilla. Agitation reveals a recollection of new make and the characteristic Lagavulin note of fresh newsprint, developing burnt caramel, subtle spent match and a slightly sapid note of moist earth. Later, ripe red apple and a fine hint of smoked fish sprinkled with olive oil. Water changes all this, yielding fresh, sweet notes of candied peel, marzipan and sugar icing, of subtle maple smoked foods, and finally of honey and dark chocolate.

Body:                Medium to rich; smooth. Softly fluid with water.

Palate:              Hot and sweet. A moment of woody dryness; then calmer, with soothing, sweetly minty chocolate notes and comforting honey laced with a subtle chilli-like heat. A bitter-sweet, charred astringency rises in the mid-palate, carrying notes of cocoa and espresso toward the finish. Water brings succulent, sweet-spicy warmth and a balancing ripe fruit acidity. Then drying cocoa, crystallised ginger and peppermint lead smoothly to late, silky tannins.

Finish:               Gentle, well balanced and fresh throughout. Quietly persistent with tart, red berry notes, a little cedar and a spicy, smoky-gingery warmth that makes for a pleasing aftertaste.

Lagavulin Legacy Charity information

The proceeds received by Diageo from the sale of the Lagavulin 1991 bottling will be donated to the following registered charities in the following proportions, to fund projects on Islay which are designed to enhance the understanding of the rich and diverse history of Islay and enhance the life of the local community.

 The origins of Lagavulin

Local records suggest that Lagavulin was already a centre of whisky production in the early 18th century. There had almost certainly been many other illicit stills before John Johnston founded the first legal distillery at Lagavulin Bay in 1816. As with all Scottish distilleries, it passed through the hands of different owners, including the celebrated Sir Peter Mackie, whose company became White Horse Distillers, forever associated with Lagavulin. White Horse joined The Distillers Company Ltd. (eventually Diageo) in 1927. In 1989, Lagavulin, now normally bottled at 16 years rather than the original 12, became one of the six Classic Malts of Scotland™

About Diageo:

Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

The LAGAVULIN word and associated logos are trade marks. © 2016

Visit malts.com for further information.

ABOUT THE WHISKY EXCHANGE          thewhiskyexchange.com             Tel: 020 8838 9388 

Founded in 1999, The Whisky Exchange is the leading global retailer of whiskies and fine spirits, with an award-winning online shop and a flagship store in Covent Garden.

As a family company, The Whisky Exchange believes in excellent products at competitive prices and exceptional service. The company’s philosophy is simple – never rest on your laurels. The team, led by founders and brothers Sukhinder and Rajbir Singh and buyer Dawn Davies MW, is constantly trying to find new products with genuine heritage and quality in all drinks categories, while continuing to innovate and ensure its website and shop are the best in the business. Above all, the company is built on its amazing range and its people. It is responsible for the loyal and ever-expanding fanbase from around the world.

The Whisky Exchange is the most-awarded company in the industry, including Independent Spirits Retailer of the Year and Whisky Magazine’s Online Retailer of the Year.

The Whisky Exchange in numbers: 4,000 whiskies including 3,000 single malt Scotch whiskies; 500 Cognacs and Armagnacs; 400 rums; 300 gins; 200 bourbons; 150 Tequilas; one retailer.

London Shop 2 Bedford Street, Covent Garden, London WC2E 9HH. Tel: 020 7100 0088.

HIGHLAND PARK BRINGS MIDWINTER SOLSTICE TO LIFE 

Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky, the ‘Orkney Single Malt with Viking Soul’ distributed by Maxxium UK, celebrated Winter Solstice with two events for over 700 consumers.

The brand hosted its Midwinter Social events on 24 and 25 November at The Old Truman Brewery’s Boiler House, London, to mark the upcoming Winter Solstice and the official start of winter. The narrative of Highland Park is deeply rooted in Nordic traditions. An important time in the Nordic calendar and at Highland Park’s home on Orkney, Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year and is typically celebrated with good friends, bonfires, music and dance.

The celebrations, designed to bring to life the brand’s magnificent Viking heritage, were hosted by global brand ambassador Martin Markvardsen and included Highland Park whisky tastings around a fire pit for over 400 people. A selection of Highland Park cocktails were served including the warming Highland Park Hot Toddy and Orkney Old Fashioned, with Nordic inspired food curated by Root + Bone, music from Kipps and live sets from DJ Finnebassen and Eelke Kleijn.

The celebrations were broadcast to a global audience with the first event streamed live globally on Highland Park’s Facebook page, resulting in over 21,000 fans tuning in to watch.

Several trade accounts in and around Shoreditch also featured special Highland Park Winter Solstice serves on their bar menus, including Bull in a China Shop, Cocktail Trading Co. and The Culpeper. The bars which delivered the greatest upweight in sales will be rewarded with a trip to the Highland Park distillery on Orkney in the New Year.

Mike Mackenzie, Highland Park Brand Manager said: “Our Midwinter Social celebrated Highland Park’s Viking heritage in the lead up to the Winter Solstice and we had two fantastic evenings. It was the perfect environment to give consumers a taste of Orkney and our Viking soul. It was also great to see several bars in Shoreditch taking part in the celebrations, creating their own Highland Park winter inspired serves.”

Notes

For more information on Highland Park please visit www.highlandpark.co.uk

Please enjoy Highland Park responsibly, visit www.drinkaware.co.uk for the facts.

Join the conversation on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with #VikingSoul

Like Highland Park on Facebook: www.facebook.com/HighlandParkWhisky

Follow Highland Park on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@HighlandPark

Follow Highland Park on Instagram: www.instagram.com/@highlandparkofficial 

About Highland Park

Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world. For over 200 years, the distillery has combined time old tradition and the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection. Its range of 12, Dark Origins, 15, 18, 21, 25, 30 and 40 year old single malts is consistently acclaimed by connoisseurs and experts. Highland Park has won a string of prestigious awards across its portfolio, most recently Highland Park ICE Edition was awarded 99 points and the Chairman’s Trophy at the Ultimate Beverage Challenge. While Highland Park 12, 15 and 18 Year Old were all awarded 96 points or above and the Tried and True Award at the Ultimate Beverage Challenge.

www.highlandpark.co.uk

Bars that supported Highland Park Midwinter Social activity: 

• Bull in a China Shop

• Cocktail Trading Co.

• The Culpeper

• Translate

• Looking Glass

 Eelke Kleijn

Eelke Kleijn is a Dutch producer and DJ hailing from Rotterdam, the Netherlands. He is known mostly for his electronic dance music, but nowadays also produces music for other media, such as television series, commercials, movie trailers and animations. 

Finnebassen

Finnebassen is a Norwegian DJ on the worldwide electronic music scene, in both performance and production.

Kipps

Kipp$ is a DJ and producer of house music.

BUSHMILLS® ANNOUNCES THE RELEASE OF ITS RARE 16 AND 21 YEAR OLD

IRISH SINGLE MALTS  

Bushmills, Co. Antrim, 19 December 2016:  Bushmills Irish Whiskey today announced the 2016 release of two rare, small batch 16 and 21-year-old single malts, both of which are matured and finished in three different cask types to create uniquely rich flavour profiles.

Both of these aged single malts from Ireland’s oldest working distillery boast a long list of international awards, recognising the immense craftsmanship that lies behind them. Only a small select number of casks of Bushmills small-batch, triple-distilled malt whiskey are matured to this age for release in these annual limited editions.

Colum Egan, Master Distiller at Bushmills Irish Whiskey, said: “To craft malts of this age and quality calls for all our expertise and knowledge. By carefully nurturing a small number of casks in our warehouses so that they age in the optimal conditions, we can draw layers of exquisite flavours from the wood, ensuring they are perfectly balanced with the unique distillery character of the unique Bushmills spirit made from 100% malted Irish barley.”

The complex and fruity Bushmills® 16 Year Old single malt has been aged for at least 16 years in a combination of Bourbon casks and Oloroso Sherry butts, before being vatted and married for nine months in large old Port pipes.

This careful ageing and finishing has produced a smooth and sweet single malt that tastes mature beyond its years, with flavours of honeyed nutty maltiness, toasted wood and sweet Port wine. Bushmills 16 Year Old single malt has won more than two dozen gold awards in international competitions.

Even rarer is the remarkable Bushmills® 21 Year Old single malt, the jewel in the crown of the Old Bushmills Distillery. Matured in American oak Bourbon and old Oloroso Sherry casks for at least 19 years, it spends two further years marrying in Madeira wine casks to craft a single malt of incredible depth, richness and complexity. With a mellow maltiness, with notes of wood and raisin, toffee sweetness, soft spice with hints of vanilla, dark chocolate, mint and leather.

The indulgent and smooth Bushmills 21 Year Old single malt is critically acclaimed, with a string of international awards to its name and has been classed at Best Irish Single Malt in Jim Murray’s 2017 Whisky Bible.

Colum Egan added: “With a heritage of more than 400 years of whiskey making in Bushmills, we know that only a combination of patience and great dedication to our craft makes such great whiskey possible.

“There is strong demand for Irish single malts, so we’re delighted to release these rare expressions for the ultra-premium end of the Irish whiskey category. Bottled at 40% ABV, they are both limited editions and will be available only from specialist independent retailers and on-trade outlets.

Notes 

TASTING NOTES

Bushmills 16 Year Old

Nose: Honeyed almonds, vanilla oakiness and delicate port wine notes.

Palate: Unique complexity, honeyed, nutty maltiness; toasted wood; sweet port wine flavours.

Finish:  Deep, sweet wine and fruit.

Bushmills 21 Year Old

Nose: Honeyed malt, wood, raisins, dark chocolate and a hint of mint.

Palate:  Wonderfully complex: mellow maltiness, wood, raisins, toffee sweetness, spice, vanilla and dark chocolate; hints of mint and leather.

Finish:  Lingering, with a slightly dry maltiness, wood and raisins.

The 1st World Whisky Forum, February 9-10th 2017

A stage for the new wave of distilleries from around the world This is where ideas are born, innovations presented and established truths challenged. The vision is to create a stage for the new wave of distilleries and whisky stakeholders from around the world who put innovation, rethinking and – of course – craftsmanship first. The world’s first World Whisky Forum is hosted at Box Distillery, Sweden, February 9-10th 2017.

There are rapid and very exciting developments in the whisky business. New, experimental projects from traditional whisky countries, and even more exciting new distilleries from countries not traditionally associated with whisky making, are challenging the business and pushing the boundaries, resulting in whisky with new expressions and styles. Some of the most prominent figures in this movement will be at World Whisky Forum.

Dave Broom, an internationally renowned whisky writer, will moderate our ten guest speakers and host the audience as we enjoy interesting panel debates and discussions. The theme is New frontiers in the World of Whisky and we will focus on three subjects: developing new whisky styles, learning from the past and establishing brand identity.

Speakers: Ichiro Akuto and Yomi Yoshikawa from Chichibu Distillery, Jasmin Haider-Stadler from Distillery Haider/Roggenhof, Ludo Ducrocq and Kevin Abrook from William Grant & Sons Distillers Ltd, Tony Reeman-Clark from Strathearn Distillery, Matt Hofmann from Westland Distillery, Roger Melander from Box Distillery, Patrick van Zuidam from Zuidam Distillers, Ian Palmer from InchDairnie Distillery and Steven Kersley from BrewDog. We are very pleased with this line up!

Read more about the speakers, topics and program at www.worldwhiskyforum.org. We are happy to answer all your questions regarding World Whisky Forum and the first event.

jan.groth@worldwhiskyform.org

www.worldwhiskyforum.org

World Whisky Forum is a stage for the new wave of distillers and whisky stakeholders around the world who put innovation, rethinking and, of course, the craftsmanship first. Swedish Box Distillery is the initiator, but the forum will be developed together with some of the most experienced and outspoken whisky authorities. It is a recurring event that will take place every eighteen month. Join us February 9th-10th 2017 at Box Distillery, Sweden, for the world’s first World Whisky Forum.

SAZERAC COMPANY PURCHASES TENNESSEE DISTILLERY 

East Tennessee Distillery allows Sazerac Company

to start producing Tennessee Whiskey 

LOUISVILLE, KY (Dec. 22, 2016) The Sazerac Company has purchased a distillery located in Newport, Tenn. The purchase is of the Distillery only, not any brands.  All employees at the Distillery will be retained, including Master Distiller John Lunn and Master Blender Allisa Henley.

The purchase will allow Sazerac to start producing Tennessee whiskey, using the Lincoln County process.  (The Lincoln County process is a filtration process through charcoal chips before it goes into the barrel.)

“We see a lot of potential in the distilling capabilities of this operation,” said Mark Brown, president and chief executive officer, Sazerac.  “We are excited to have the talents of John Lunn and Allisa Henley on board and we look forward to utilizing their expertise to start laying down true Tennessee whiskey.”

Sazerac will begin investment into the Distillery to modify the pot stills for the Lincoln County process. It is expected the Distillery will be up and running producing Tennessee whiskey in early 2017.  The purchase price is not being disclosed.

About the Sazerac Company

        Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in Louisiana, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, Maryland, California, United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac, please visit http://www.sazerac.com/.

R&B Distillers in Scotch at The Balmoral

Proud to pioneer handcrafted whiskies of uncommon provenance, R&B Distillers, an exciting new whisky brand, launched their new premium whiskies in November 2015. Firmly ingrained in family history whilst simultaneously being a taste of the brand’s evolving future, Raasay While We Wait and Borders, two distinct and characterful whiskies, mark a new chapter for R&B Distillers.

R&B stands for Raasay and Borders, two unique landscapes brought together through one unique whisky company. Co-founder Alasdair Day embodies this coupling. His great grandfather, Allan MacDonald, hailed from the Hebrides while his other great grandfather, Richard Day was a master-blender in the Borders in the early 19th Century. It is this history that has prompted R&B’s ongoing project to build distilleries at these twin roots in the Isle of Raasay and in the Scottish Borders.

R&B have now been granted permission by the Highland Council to bring the first legal distillery to Raasay in the Inner Hebrides, an island where illicit distilling was once rife. While the distillery is being built, R&B Distillers have released the aptly named Raasay While We Wait whisky, a preview of the calibre and flavour of whisky yet to come – every sip certain to transport the drinker to the rugged island of Raasay.

With Raasay While We Wait, R&B Distillers have crafted a single malt whisky by bringing together two expressions from one distillery: one peated, one un-peated. This precise combination is a tantalising prediction of the flavours that will be produced at the new distillery on the Isle of Rasaay, off the remote west coast of Skye. The smoky peat aroma is softened in the finishing process which occurs in French oak Tuscan red wine casks and results in a unique, lightly fruity aroma and a heather hue. Raasay While We Wait has now been awarded three prestigious international awards: In May 2016, Raasay While We Wait received a bronze medal in the International Spirits Challenge (ISC), in August this was followed with a Silver Medal at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) and in November a bronze from the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition (HKIWSC). The awards are tremendous accolades for such a young whisky.

Meanwhile, Borders echoes the soft rolling landscape of its future location in the South of Scotland. This single grain whisky is lighter and softer in flavour than the smoky peat dram of Raasay While We Wait. Matured in Bourbon casks and finished in Oloroso sherry casks, Borders has been produced to reflect a lowland style. Alasdair Day’s great-grandfather blended whisky in the Coldstream and now, over 150 years since the last distillery in the Scottish Borders, Alasdair is returning to his roots and planning to reinstate whisky in this forgotten region. In 2015, Peebles was selected by the Scottish general public as the preferred location for the new distillery. In November 2016 Borders was awards its first international award – a bronze medal in the HKIWSC.

As a precursor to the new distilleries being built, R&B Distillers also unveiled membership to their Na Tùsairean club (Scots Gaelic for ‘The Pioneers’) – an exclusive offering for whisky aficionados. The inaugural 100 casks of Raasay whisky will be bottled exclusively for Na Tùsairean members who will receive one bottle each year for ten years, gradually acquiring up a rare collection of R&B Whisky. Members will also receive miniatures so they can experience a dram of the whisky without breaking into their collector’s bottle, are entitled to the equivalent of one night’s stay per year for the duration of their membership in the luxury members accommodation.

Raasay While We Wait, priced at £56.95 and Borders priced at £49.95 are available to buy directly from the R&B Distillers website: www.rbdistillers.com

T: 0131 564 0761 E: sales@rbdistillers.com

For trade prices and further press information, please contact Kapranos PR

T: 020 3659 8914 E: harriet@kapranos-pr.com & anne@kapranos-pr.com

NOTES

RETAILERS UK:

 Master of Malt (online)

 Whiski Rooms (Edinburgh shop)

 Oban Whisky & Fine Wines (Oban)

 Shop4Whisky (online)

 JL Gill (Crieff)

 Royal Mile Whiskies (Edinburgh & online)

 Raasay Community Store (Raasay)

 Jeffrey Street Whisky & Tobacco (Edinburgh)

 The Whisky Shop (Dufftown)

 Mainstreet Trading Co. (St Boswells, Scottish Borders)

 Oblo Bar (Eyemouth, Scottish Borders)

BARS/RESTAURANTS

 Whiski Rooms (Edinburgh bar)

 Teuchters Landing (Edinburgh Leith)

 Teuchters West End (Edinburgh West End)

 Drysbrugh Abbey Hotel (Drysbrugh)

 Raasay House Hotel (Raasay)

 Sconser Lodge (Skye)

TASTING NOTES:

‘While We Wait’

Aroma: Surprisingly very little smoke on the nose but instead light fruity notes come through.

Colour: Natural colour, heather tinted imparted from Tuscan red wine oak casks.

Taste: Instantly there is peat smoke and spice (a distant campfire, black pepper, liquorice, oak and then the sea breeze) slowly this is balanced with the dry fruit from the Tuscan red wine casks (black currant, blackberry, raspberry and cherries).

Finish: A long lingering finish.

Food Pairings: Pairs well with Sconser Scallops, Smoked Salmon, game, grouse, woodcock, venison, creamy blue cheese, bacon, haggis.

ABV: 46% Non-Chill Filtered

Year released: November 2015 – 1st Release Limited Edition

‘Borders’

Aroma: Prominent sherry notes on the nose, hints of sugar-coated nuts.

Colour: Natural colour, lightly golden taken from sherry finishing casks.

Taste: Surprisingly dry on the palate with the sherry influences dominating. Walnuts balanced with vanilla, herbaceous and floral notes coming through towards the end, and just a touch of warm spice.

Finish: Lingering, dry and complex.

Food Pairings: Pairs well with Cocoa Black dark praline chocolates.

ABV: 51.7% Non-Chill Filtered

Year released: November 2015 – 1st Release Limited Edition