International Beverage scoops gold again with multiple IWSC medal wins

International Beverage is adding to its extraordinary 2016 medal haul with the announcement of 31 wins at one of the world’s toughest and most established industry challenges – the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).

The biggest winner was Balblair Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, the company’s premium single malt which is released exclusively in vintage format. Balblair Vintage 1990 won the IWSC Trophy for a single malt Scotch whisky over 15 Years Old, plus there were Gold Outstanding medals for both Balblair Vintage 1983 and Balblair Vintage 1990.

In a year in which IWSC organisers have seen a record number of entries to the competition, there were also impressive Gold medal wins for Old Pulteney 21 Year Old, anCnoc 12 Year Old, and for the premium blend Hankey Bannister for both its Heritage Blend and 12 Year Old expressions.

A further eight Silver Outstanding medals were awarded across the portfolio – with Old Pulteney taking four for its 12 Year Old and 17 Year Old malts, the Noss Head travel retail exclusive and the delicious Old Pulteney Stroma Malt Whisky Liqueur. The remainder were awarded to Speyburn Arranta Casks, anCnoc 24 Year Old and two Balblair travel retail exclusives – Vintage 1999 and Vintage 2004.

An additional fourteen Silver and two Bronze medals completed this remarkable IWSC medal haul – which follows in the wake of big wins for International Beverage at the International Spirits Challenge, Global Spirit Masters, World Whiskies Awards and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition earlier in the year.

International Beverage Marketing Director Karen Walker commented: “Our medal total for 2016 now sits at over 80 and counting, which is really something to celebrate and a huge achievement for the teams at our distilleries. This has been a very special year for our business and the success of our whiskies and gin, however we take nothing for granted and will continue to work hard to craft the very highest quality spirits for our consumers to enjoy.”

IWSC / International Beverage 2016 medals in full

 About International Beverage Holdings

International Beverage Holdings Limited is one of the industry’s most dynamic global drinks businesses. Established in 2006 as the international arm of ThaiBev, the company specialises in developing distinctive, premium local brands for global growth, with a portfolio that is led by a range of high quality Scotch whiskies and includes some of the fastest growing and most prestigious beers, spirits and whiskies on the market today. These high quality brands are enjoyed by consumers in over 85 global markets and include:

• Chang, Thailand’s iconic global beer brand
• Single Malt Scotch Whiskies: Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Speyburn
• Blended Scotch Whiskies: Hankey Bannister, Catto’s, MacArthur’s
• Caorunn, a super premium small batch distilled Scottish Gin infused with 5 Celtic botanicals
• Thai spirits: Phraya, Mekhong

International Beverage’s international operation is headquartered in Hong Kong, with two major bases in China and Scotland and a growing number of regional hubs around the world. The business is focused on the delivery of winning investment, sales and marketing strategies and is committed to producing brands of character, representing the care and craftsmanship of the people that make them – from the brewers of Chang Beer in Thailand, to the distillers of the fine single malt Scotch whisky Old Pulteney in Scotland. Crucially, the global development of every brand continues to be rooted in its home territory, supporting the company’s mission to build authentic brands of outstanding character.

2005 VINTAGE LIMITED EDITION CÙ BÒCAN RELEASED

Highland-based Tomatin Distillery have launched a limited 2005 vintage edition of their peated Cù Bòcan single malt.

Bottled at a strength of 50%, the whisky is stronger than its core range counterpart, and is matured in ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks. Described as having aromas of butterscotch and toffee apples with flavours of candy floss and a gentle touch of peat smoke, typical of the Cù Bòcan range, there are only 11,400 bottles of this limited edition available worldwide.

The Cù Bòcan brand is named after a mythical Highland hellhound which was rumoured to haunt the village of Tomatin and was launched in 2013 as a lightly peated alternative to the traditional fruity flavours of Tomatin single malt. The distillery has been producing peated malt for the last week of every year since 2005.

This latest release follows previous limited editions including the 1989 vintage in 2014, along with the Virgin Oak, Sherry and Bourbon expressions in 2015 with the latest release the 1988 vintage launched in May 2016.

Stephen Bremner, Sales Director commented:

‘When we started distilling peated whisky in 2005 it was intended to be used for our on-site blending activities. However when it became of age we recognised it had to be released as a single malt and so Cù Bòcan was born. Three years down the line, we are constantly looking for ways to develop the brand and experiment with new expressions. This vintage release celebrates how our light, fruity flavours when combined with peated barley make for a sensational smoky spirit.’

The vintage creation is currently being rolled out worldwide and is expected to retail at £49.99. A list of stockists can be found here: www.tomatin.com//shop.

Notes

1. The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends.
2. Website: www.cu-bocan.com   and www.tomatin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/cubocan www.facebook.com/Tomatin1897

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tomatin1897

3. The distillery was established in 1897, and while historically the whisky produced was primarily sold for use in other brands of blended whisky, the company is now very focussed on growing the Tomatin single malt brand in its own right.Tomatin Distillery produces Cù Bòcan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Tomatin Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
4. The company’s most popular blends are The Antiquary, The Talisman and Big ‘T’.
5. The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo: http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/index.htm

DIAGEO WELCOMES ALCOHOL INDUSTRY PROGRESS AGAINST PRODUCERS’ COMMITMENTS

Global efforts to tackle harmful drinking by Diageo helped industry build momentum  

Diageo welcomes today’s release of the latest Producers’ Commitments Report by the International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), which shows signatory companies have stepped up implementation of their Commitments to contribute to the global target of reducing alcohol-related harm by 10% by 2025.

Diageo is one of 12 leading producers of beer, wine, and spirits who are signatories of the Commitments to tackle alcohol-related harm. This is the third annual report following a ground-breaking agreement for the alcohol industry to collaborate in 2012, and the first since the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were agreed by governments in 2015.

Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive, Diageo, said: “I am proud of Diageo’s significant contribution towards the industry’s overall progress in reducing the harmful use of alcohol, particularly our work to prevent underage drinking and ensure the next generation has a positive relationship with alcohol. We are three years into the most ambitious initiative our industry has ever collectively undertaken to address harmful drinking and, while we have made good progress, there is still more work to be done. At Diageo, we are committed to doing more.”

2015 report – Diageo highlights: Reducing underage drinking

This year’s report highlights particular progress in programmes to prevent underage drinking. Collectively, the 12 signatory companies implemented 257 underage education initiatives in 2015, a 49% increase on the previous year. These programs directly engaged nearly 30 million unique adult influencers such as parents, teachers, and community leaders on the importance of respecting legal age limits on buying alcohol. Over 192 million additional individuals were reached through education programs, mass media and social media campaigns.

Diageo underage initiatives, which took place in 29 markets last year, include ‘Smashed’, an award winning theatre and education programme that informs young people about the dangers of alcohol. Launched in the UK more than a decade ago, it has reached over 300,000 young people in more than 1,400 schools across the UK. Building on this success, the Smashed Project is now being rolled out globally, with projects running in Vietnam, Taiwan, Jamaica, Peru, Thailand, China and Mozambique this year, aiming to reach over 135,000 young people around the world.

To see an example of Diageo’s work to combat underage drinking in Mexico, go to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqYyfjan1YE

Reducing drinking and driving

In 2015, IARD members and industry organizations supported 345 drinking and driving prevention programs. Diageo supported drinking and driving prevention programmes in 39 countries last year, including its flagship #JoinThePact programme. To see how this was activated in the UK in December last year, go to https://youtu.be/IxqAhJAK-2c?list=PL7yKiyUVNV3fZm6ZViDrIiNgJNFYmL0gH

Diageo’s strong track record in drink driving programmes also led the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) to select Diageo as a partner for a two-year partnership entitled “Road Safety Initiative for Cities” which aims to improve road safety globally earlier this year. Scheduled to start in late 2016, training will be run in 15 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin and Central America, focusing on countries with the highest death rates related to road traffic accidents, with over 60 countries invited to participate.

Providing consumer information and responsible product innovation

Diageo is committed to providing consumers with the information they need to make informed decisions about drinking as part of a balanced lifestyle and has been providing nutritional information for its brands on its responsible drinking website, DRINKiQ.com, since 2006. Last year, 100% of Diageo products produced in countries including Brazil, Kenya, Mexico and Nigeria carried one or more responsible drinking symbols on their packaging, alongside a link to DRINKiQ.com which appears on all Diageo products.

At the start of 2016, Diageo relaunched DRINKiQ.com, making the site available in 12 languages across 25 countries, featuring enhanced alcohol content and nutritional information for all its brands, including a breakdown of calories, carbohydrates and protein as well as, for the first time, detailing saturated fat, sugar, caffeine and sodium content.

Enlisting the support of retailers to reduce harmful drinking

The Guiding Principles on Responsible Retailing were published in November 2015 at the World Retail Congress in South Africa. Collectively, the signatories rolled out a total of 253 local responsible retailing initiatives in 75 countries where signatories are commercially active in 2015, up by nearly 20% from the previous year. Local responsible retailing initiatives are now in place in 89% of the countries in which Diageo is commercially active.

In Italy, for example, Diageo, in partnership with the Italian Ministry of Health and leading retailer Auchan, has successfully run a programme to deliver responsible drinking hints and tips direct to consumers in-store for four years. Last year, Diageo and Auchan increased the number of hypermarket participants to 150 outlets, reaching 3million consumers. 

Strengthening and expanding marketing codes of practice

In 2015, an alternative method for assessing advertising placement was adopted by the signatories to address who was being reached by alcohol advertising in data-poor environments. This information is critical to ensuring that company marketing is directed to adults through channels which have a minimum of 70% adult audience, as intended.  The 2015 data demonstrates that in Kenya, Uganda, and Nigeria, the three countries studied, alcohol advertising by signatory companies exceeded the industry standard for reaching adult audiences.

Diageo has a well-established and strict code for the marketing of all its products, the Diageo Marketing Code, and also enforces a Digital Code of Practice. To read about our policies, go to https://www.drinkiq.com/en-gb/what-diageo-is-doing/diageo-marketing-code/

As part of the Producers’ Commitments, Diageo also ensures that the same rigorous standards are followed by the companies that it works with – 94% of contracts between Diageo and commercial partners such as marketing agencies now include clauses mandating responsible marketing.  

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

The Sazerac Company Unveils Mr. Boston Website

Comprehensive site contains more than 10,000 recipes,

replaces ubiquitous red book found on bars everywhere     

New Orleans, LA (Aug. 2, 2016) – For more than 80 years, the Mr. Boston Official Bartender’s Guide has sat on bars across the world, offering not only cocktail recipes, but party planning tips and historical tidbits on drinks.  Now, the book once called the “Bible of Booze” has entered the digital age, with the launch of the website mrbostondrinks.com/, which contains more than 10,500 drink recipes, each of them entered into a drinks database as originally found in the printed books.

            The Sazerac Company bought the Mr. Boston brand in 2009 and immediately started  working on taking the famous red book into the next century by building this comprehensive website. It started by rounding up as many of the editions of the Bartender’s Guide as the company could find, which was at last count 58 out of the 75 guides published. From there, every single piece of data was entered into a custom built database, ending up with 210,780 points of data and 10,539 recipes (so far!)

            “The Mr. Boston books have covered the evolution of the cocktail in America since Prohibition, but sadly, they were let go over the years,” said Mark Brown, president and chief executive officer, the Sazerac Company. “The ties between our company and that brand are inextricably linked, with not only the Sazerac Cocktail, but our heritage in New Orleans, a city long synonymous with the cocktail culture.  It was a natural fit to bring it all together where we are ensuring the future of the brand for at least another 80 years as the ‘go to’ site for professional and amateur mixologists.”

            Upon entering the site, visitors are greeted with options to look for a specific cocktail, or explore areas such as bar basics, history, spirits, and a shop.  One can search for drinks by specific ingredients (example, bourbon, vodka, etc.) or even specific color (example, if you want to have a green party).  There are instructional articles and videos on the site such as “view types of garnishes” and “learn to make your own grenadine.”

            If one is feeling nostalgic for the former print editions, 12 of the past editions between the years of 1935-2012 have been digitized, providing users the opportunity to view an original cocktail recipe with today’s current recipe to see how the drink has evolved through the decades.

            Users can interact with the site as well, by creating their own bar book, which will allow users to “favorite” different recipes to build their book for future use and share the contents of the book with others on social media sites. Users also have the opportunity to review each recipe listed and add commentary about the cocktail which may be published on the site.

            Other features to come soon include more instructional videos, a section for rare and esoteric cocktails, seasonal drinks, a guest editorial section, and a reservoir of well written articles on cocktails to serve as a reference.

            Sazerac does plan to obtain the remaining 17 Official Bartender Guides it is missing and incorporate those recipes into the site as well.  Future plans also include establishing a physical Mr. Boston Homeplace at a location yet to be determined, as well as developing bartender recognition awards and working with bartender training schools.            “We’re very excited to see the culmination of seven years of work come together in this beautiful website,” added Brown. “We want it to be a true resource for those in the spirts industry and those making cocktails at their home bar.  We intend to keep adding to this site to make it even more robust than it is now.”

About the Sazerac Company

            Sazerac is one of New Orleans’ oldest American family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California; Baltimore, Maryland; Lewiston, Maine; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Montreal Canada. For more information on Sazerac, please visit www.sazerac.com/.

TOMATIN DISTILLERY’S PUNCHY LINE UP FOR SUMMER

Highland-based Tomatin Distillery has teamed up with award-winning mixologist Calum Lawrie to create a series of summer whisky cocktails aimed at the growing market of female whisky drinkers.

Scotland’s national drink is enjoying a renewed popularity amongst women, particularly younger women, with some companies in the industry looking for new, innovative ways to experiment with different serves. Single malt is shaking off its previous image as a drink for the older gentleman, typically served neat or on the rocks. Women worldwide are developing a taste for the spirit and the Highland distillery wants to show off the versatility of the drink to this ‘new’ audience with their range of cocktails.

Jennifer Masson, Marketing Manager commented:

“Scotch whisky has had a somewhat demure reputation for decades but the fact is that there is only one way to enjoy single malt; the way you like it. Having recently rebranded our packaging we are looking at other ways to engage with new audiences. This new range of cocktails has been developed in response to demand from our customers worldwide and has allowed us to reinforce our brand positioning as the softer side of the Highlands.

Cocktails have proved an effective means of attracting new customers for Tomatin Distillery in the past, Masson continues –

“As sponsors of the local Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival held near Inverness each August, we’ve seen brand awareness among festival-goers increase by 73% since 2012 with the introduction of whisky cocktails appealing to a wide demographic who would have previously avoided the consumption of whisky due to a preconception about traditional serves.”

The cocktail series features a mix of traditional and accessible entry-level cocktails with a twist, for example a modern take on the classic ‘Old Fashioned’ whisky cocktail to create the ‘Bold Fashioned’ with luxurious coffee and nutty walnut flavours providing an intensely rich serve. The ‘Freeburn Highball’ takes its name from Tomatin’s water source – the Alt-na-Frith Burn – meaning Freeburn, to create a nicely rounded highball serve. One of the most accessible and popular is their simple but refreshing ‘Toma’tin & Tonic’, paying homage to the nation’s favourite; the gin and tonic.

Calum Lawrie, mixologist and former National Bartender of the Year went on to say:

“Summer is the perfect time to enjoy sunshine and spirits and the smooth, dynamic Tomatin malt provides the perfect base for this collection of cocktails. We want to capture the attention of new audiences and showcase new and fresh ways to enjoy this versatile drink this summer.”

These delicious summer sippers can be found at http://www.tomatin.com/enjoyTomatin and will be rolled out in bars worldwide.

Notes

The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends.

1. Website: www.tomatin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tomatin1897

Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tomatin1897

3. The cocktails were created by Calum Lawrie of Panch Drinks http://www.panchdrinks.com/
4. Belladrum Festival will take place Aug 4-6 2016: www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk/
5. Press Kit can be downloaded here: http://www.tomatin.com/contact/
6. The distillery was established in 1897, and while historically the whisky produced was primarily sold for use in other brands of blended whisky, the company is now very focussed on growing the Tomatin single malt brand in its own right.
7. Tomatin Distillery produces Tomatin Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Cù Bòcan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
8. The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo: http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/index.htm
9. Images of all cocktails are available on request. Cocktail photography by Till Britze.

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky wins silver at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2016 with travel retail exclusive Black Hill Reserve

Single Malt Scotch whisky brand anCnoc is proud to announce that Black Hill Reserve from it’s the travel retail collection has become a Silver winner at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2016.

Launched in 2014, Black Hill Reserve – named after the Knockdhu Distillery which means Black Hill in Gaelic, pays tribute to anCnoc’s Highland home. Matured in first fill American oak ex-bourbon casks and bright gold in appearance, Black Hill Reserve is crisp on the nose with notes of citrus and green apples along with a full bodied taste of ground spices and pear drops.  The finish is long and intense.

Now in its 47^th year, the International Wine & Spirit Competition aims to award excellence to wines and spirits across the world and sets the international benchmark for quality. This year, the competition received entries from over 90 countries which were judged by over 400 global experts judging products for 7 months of the year.

Stephanie Allison, Brand Manager for anCnoc says “At anCnoc, we pride ourselves on creating award winning whiskies to be celebrated the world over. Black Hill Reserve winning Silver at such a prestigious ceremony is testament to our distillery team’s hard work and passion. The coveted win couldn’t have been more timely as it comes ahead of some exciting news for the expression, with all being revealed at TFWA Cannes this year!”

For further information, please visit www.ancnoc.com/

JACK DANIEL’S CELEBRATES 150^TH ANNIVERSARY WITH LAUNCH OF

FIRST-EVER WORLDWIDE WHISKEY BARREL HUNT

South Africa joins global scavenger hunt to give Jack fans a chance to win a trip to the Jack Daniel’s Distillery

in Lynchburg and be a part of Jack Daniel’s history

 July 29, 2016 – In celebration of the 150^th anniversary of the Jack Daniel Distillery, the first registered distillery in the U.S., Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey recently announced a global Jack Daniel’s Barrel Hunt – a global scavenger hunt to find 150 handcrafted barrels located at historic and cultural sites that will unite friends of Jack across the world.

It has been confirmed that two of these 150 coveted barrels will be hidden in different locations in South Africa and Jack Daniel’s together with KFM and 947 will be providing clues to help fans find them and stand the chance to win the incredible prizes concealed inside. Both barrel’s contents are valued at over R150,000 each and include all-expenses paid trips to Lynchburg, Tennessee, to be part of the 150^th Distillery Anniversary celebration, and New York to learn more about the New York bar and American whiskey culture. This is the ultimate opportunity to be a part of Jack Daniel’s history.

“Jack Daniel’s has grown from a local name in Lynchburg to an iconic brand in more than 170 countries by remaining true to its legacy of authenticity, independence and integrity,” said Mark McCallum, President of Jack Daniel’s. “The 150^th anniversary is a major milestone for the distillery and is a perfect opportunity to invite everyone to join us in our celebration of Jack Daniel’s with our first-ever global Barrel Hunt.”

947’s Anele Mdoda and KFM’s Rob Vember could be your travel companions

To find the barrel hidden in the city of gold, Jozi fans will need to listen to Anele’s show on 947 on Friday, 5 August and follow the Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Facebook page. After the final clue has been given the first 50 fans to crack the clue and reach the secret location – bringing with them the password and proof of passport* – will each receive a key to open the barrel. Meanwhile, in Cape Town, KFM DJ Rob Vember will keep fans in suspense with clues on Friday, 19 August before the final dash to find the second barrel. In both cities, only one key opens each barrel!

The Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey Facebook page will be integral to helping fans locate the barrels at the secret locations. Each hidden barrel in the scavenger hunt was handcrafted from the distillery and used to mature Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey before being specially fabricated for the Barrel Hunt to house prizes including a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the home of Jack Daniel’s and also NYC accompanied by DJs Anele and Rob Vember. Other prizes hidden inside each barrel include an original, one-of-a-kind bar kit made with white oak from the barrels to commemorate the historic milestone.

* Participants need to be over the age of 21 

“The barrel is key to crafting Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey as it accounts for 100 percent of its color and 70 to 80 percent of its flavor,” said Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller Jeff Arnett. “It’s an important part of our process that’s remained unchanged for 150 years, and that tradition will continue to live on in every barrel we make and each drop of our whiskey. The Barrel Hunt celebrates the distillery’s history and gives fans a chance to own a barrel and be forever linked to Jack Daniel’s.” 

Bespoke +NESS designs reveal the clues for each city

Masters at their craft – depicting architectural projects that help define the skylines, culture, and history of South African cities – SA artists Max Melvill and Jamil Randera are the talented duo that make up +NESS. Selected to be a part of the 150^th Anniversary celebration thanks to the craftsmanship evidenced in their work, Jack Daniel’s has commissioned +NESS to create a special series of works that showcase the facades of different locations, which will form the clues that ultimately uncover the whereabouts of the two SA-based barrels. Fans can look out for digital versions of these on Facebook.com/Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey and the limited edition series will be among the prizes inside the two barrels.

Stay tuned to KFM and 947 during July and August to hear more stories about what makes Jack Daniel’s so special and stand the chance of winning daily prizes.

To be in the running to win one of the two barrels in SA visit Facebook.com/Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey.

For more information on the global Jack Daniel’s Barrel Hunt, official rules and regulations, and details on locations and dates, visit www.jackdanielsbarrelhunt.com

To learn more about Jack Daniel’s and the Jack Daniel Distillery’s 150^th anniversary, visit www.jackdaniels.com. 

Notes to Editors 

About Jack Daniel’s:

Officially registered by the U.S. Government in 1866 and based in Lynchburg, Tenn., the Jack Daniel Distillery, Lem Motlow, proprietor, is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Jack Daniel’s is the maker of the world-famous Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey, Gentleman Jack Rare Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire, Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select and Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails.

Your friends at Jack Daniel’s remind you to drink responsibly.

JACK DANIEL’S and OLD NO. 7 are registered trademarks. © 2016 Jack Daniel’s. Tennessee Whiskey Alcohol 40% by Volume (80 proof). Distilled and Bottled by JACK DANIEL DISTILLERY, Lynchburg, Tennessee.

Kilchoman Sanaig Wins a Trophy at International Wine and Spirits Competition 2016 in Single Malt Scotch Whisky Category (NAS)

The rumors are true!  Kilchoman Sanaig won a prestigious award at the well-respected IWSC. Kilchoman Sanaig has been on a winning streak, having won Gold Medal, scoring 92 points “Best of Category Award” at the LA Competition and Double Gold at the San Diego Wine and Spirits Challenge.  Kilchoman Sanaig is renowned for:

• Sanaig was matured in Bourbon Barrels from Buffalo Trace, Kentucky and finished in Oloroso Sherry casks, giving it a distinctive taste that critics love
• From malting floor to distillery, Kilchoman invests home-grown quality into their Single Malt Scotches
• Sanaig is a peated malt, achieving a well-balanced smokiness
• 90 Countries Participate in the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC)
• Almost 80% of all Scotch Whisky sold doesn’t have an age statement, making Sanaig’s success in this category even more significant

Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder and Managing Director: ‘We are thrilled that Sanaig has been named the best Single Malt Scotch Whisky – No Age Statement in this year’s IWSC.The IWSC is the most prestigious awards in the industry and is reward for the dedication and hard work of Robin Bignal, Distillery Manager and his team here at the distillery.’

Tasting Notes:

Nose: Soft cooked fruits with caramel and vanilla.

Palate: Toffee, peat smoke and citrus with lingering sweetness.

Finish: A lovely balance of peat smoke, fruit and sweetness.

12 YEAR OLD GLASS PACK

70cl / 40%

£33.95
WAS £39.95

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One of Diageo’s most popular single malts, Cardhu 12 Year Old is soft, sweet and fruity, and comes with two branded glasses. Perfect summer sipping.

The BenRiach Distillery Company wins 16 medals in the 2016 International Wine and Spirits Competition

THE BenRiach Distillery Company has won 16 medals, including 3 Gold medals, across its three brands at this year’s International Wine and Spirits Competition. 

Founded in 1969, the International Wine and Spirit Competition is one of the most prestigious in the world. It was set up to highlight excellence amongst the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. Now in its forty-seventh year, it receives entries from over 90 countries, giving it global reach and reputation.

Judging for the Competition is unique in that it has two stages; first, the products are tasted blind by expert panels, selected from over 300 fully experienced and qualified industry judges. Then, products which receive the top medals are subject to technical analysis before results are released. This crucial stage ensures winners receive complete validation.

The company took three Gold, six Silver Outstanding, five Silver and two Bronze awards.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We are delighted to win these sixteen awards, especially as they are spread across all three of our brands.

“For three years running, our Glenglassaugh 30 Years Old has taken Gold so it’s clearly a magnificent dram. It was our first release from the Portsoy distillery after we took over in 2013 so it’s very special to us. It has matured in coastal warehouses for over 30 years and has an elegant sherry-cask background.

“It’s very pleasing that GlenDronach Original Aged 12 Years took Gold for a second year. This is testament to the quality of the whisky, which has matured in the finest Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks.

“And we’re also delighted to see the GlenDronach Hielan’ Aged 8 Years move up from last year’s Silver to take Gold this year. For such a young whisky, it has consistently won critical acclaim worldwide, and it’s great to see it up there taking Gold and being compared with some venerable aged whiskies.”

The full list of awards is:

GOLD

GlenDronach 8YO The Hielan’

GlenDronach 12YO Original  

Glenglassaugh 30YO

SILVER OUTSTANDING

BenRiach 10YO

BenRiach Cask Strength Batch 1

BenRiach 10YO Curiositas

GlenDronach 18YO Allardice

Glenglassaugh Octaves Peated

Glenglassaugh Revival

SILVER

BenRiach Heart of Speyside

BenRiach 25YO

BenRiach Peated Quarter Casks

GlenDronach Peated

Glenglassaugh Octaves Classic 

BRONZE

BenRiach 16YO

GlenDronach 21YO Parliament