RAISING A GLASS TO THE MASTER

Craftsmen at The Balvenie Distillery in Dufftown held a special celebration to mark their Maltmaster, David Stewart , receiving an MBE at the Palace of  Holyroodhouse on July 5th.

Mr Stewart joined William Grant & Sons, family makers of The Balvenie single malts, in 1962 and has been the Distillery’s Malt Master since 1974.

With over 50 years service he is credited with a host of achievements including pioneering wood finished whiskies.

David Mair, The Balvenie Distillery Brand Ambassador said: “I have had the privilege of working with David Stewart since 1990. His pioneering spirit and dedication to his craft, coupled with his modest, unassuming manner has made him one of the best-loved and respected craftsmen in the Scotch whisky industry.  The whole Balvenie team and indeed all William Grant & Sons employees are so proud of him and it is wonderful to see him recognised through being awarded an MBE medal for his services to the Scotch Whisky Industry.”

The Balvenie’s Craftsmen were not alone in raising a glass to toast Mr Stewart’s achievements as whisky experts and enthusiasts around the globe have joined the celebrations. A video offering congratulations from leading whisky industry figures has attracted over 79,000 views on The Balvenie’s Facebook page.

Announcing Whisky Connoisseur® – The Ultimate Travel Accessory for Whisky Lovers.

Whisky Connoisseur® Travel Kits allow you to Sip, Save and Savour while drinking responsibly. First conceived in a “Eureka moment” to save precious spirits from going down the drain at his club’s whisky tastings, Whisky Connoisseur® Founder and President, Ken Jaremco, developed the perfect way to bottle up the extra drams that were being left on the table.

“My wonderful wife generously drives us to events so I can enjoy the whiskies without worrying about keeping under the legal limit, but that means she can only have a tiny sip herself. And what about those folks who attend club events alone and live too far away to take a cab home? Then, the solution dawned on us: we need to bottle up the extra whisky that we are leaving on the table. Eureka! Whisky Connoisseur® was born.”

Using their fellow West Coast Whisky Club members as an eager focus group, the Jaremcos developed a series of prototypes and quickly discovered this was a unique niche that needed to be filled. The response was overwhelming. Most of the feedback was focused towards responsible drinking: sharing a dram at an event and packaging up the majority to sip in the comfort of home.

Ken and Lou worked painstakingly to develop a kit worthy of the concept of a whisky connoisseur and to pay homage to whisky history and its skilled producers. Each component was built on a central theme of connoisseur quality and how each subtle nuance would contribute to the overall feeling when tasting whisky with friends.

Finally, after fine-tuning the details over many shared drams, three unique Whisky Connoisseur® kits were perfected, each suited for different situations: the Travel Kit, which comes in Deluxe Leather or stylish and rugged Duck Cotton Canvas; the Share-A-Dram Kit, ideal for transporting spirits to share with friends; and the Master Class Kit, perfect for when you attend a tasting or distillery tour and don’t want to leave any of the special sips behind.

Feedback to the Whisky Connoisseur® kits has been extraordinarily positive. “Many folks say that the kits are such a simple idea yet so useful,” Ken Jaremco explains. “Whether at a club tasting event or a whisky festival with master classes, you can enjoy the camaraderie of like-minded aficionados without compromising your gentlemanly/ladylike ethics or behaviour. The kits are a godsend. Not a single drop of the precious spirit goes down the drain. Good for the environment, good for the pocket book, good for the conscience and good for the soul.”

Each kit includes pharmaceutical-grade glass bottles with stoppers, a self-venting, no-spill funnel, and a Sample Ledger Booklet with perforated pages. The travel kits feature imported Glencairn® tasting glasses, and the Deluxe Leather kit includes a handsome Whisky Connoisseur® Tasting Journal with handy “Tips to Tasting Whisky” written by Ken Jaremco, perfect for rookie whisky tasters as well as those with more experience.

With the launch of the Whisky Connoisseur® series, the Jaremcos’ original “simple idea” is now set to transform the niche whisky accessories market. It is the perfect travel buddy to pack along on a fishing trip, for the cabin après ski, after golf in your AirBnB, on a business trip, or even for a picnic in your own town. Bottle a dram of your favourite whiskies and tuck the kit into your luggage or travel gear—Whisky Connoisseur® kits are multi-functional, meant to be taken along anywhere and everywhere for a taste of home away from home.

Here are some testimonials that speak to Whisky Connoisseur®’s utility and convenience:

“I can’t imagine a better way to travel with, share and/or enjoy whisky than with my Whisky Connoisseur® kits. They really are ‘a Dram come true.’”

• Dave Mason, President, West Coast Whisky Society “Great idea and great kit – I never realized how much I needed this until I got one! It is now in regular use to swap whiskies with friends and family, allowing us to ‘try before we buy’ any new whisky or to trade some of the more elite whiskies from our collections. It also goes on distillery tours—very useful for when generous measures are on offer (e.g. Lagavulin Warehouse Tour) as it allows me to taste some and take some home—and, when taking my turn at the driving, I just bottle the full samples to enjoy later. The ledger and tags make it simple to ensure that nothing gets mixed up. This kit makes a wonderful present for any keen whisky drinker.”
• Ian R, North East England. Needless to say, these kits are the ideal gift for the whisky connoisseur in your life. Perfect for Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, birthdays or Christmas, or as a special gift for someone who is going on a “bucket list” trip to visit distilleries in Scotland, Whisky Connoisseur® solves that age-old dilemma of what to buy for “someone who has everything.”

PURCHASE DETAILS 

• For purchase details and sources of supply, contact: info@whiskyconnoisseur.ca
• For whisky clubs and societies, corporate orders, retail sellers, brand ambassadors and whisky distilleries, contact: info@whiskyconnoisseur.ca

Ken Jaremco is available to be interviewed about the Whisky Connoisseur® series. Please contact him by email to arrange a telephone or in-person interview. Photos are available upon request.

Email:  ken@whiskyconnoisseur.ca                Telephone: 1-778-552-5760

Sláinte mhaith!

OUR STORY

Let me introduce ourselves…

We’re Ken and Lou Jaremco, and we’ve been partners in life and business for 40 years. We’ve traveled the world in pursuit of business opportunities and for pleasure, and after decades in the manufacturing business we think we’ve found the perfect retirement project. Best of all, it’s all about whisky: our love of whisky, our friendships with the people we’ve met through whisky, and our desire to save precious drams of whisky form going down the drain.

My first exposure to scotch was J&B in the late ‘70s. I developed a taste for it and decided I should explore other brands, which at that time were limited to blended scotch. One Christmas, Lou bought me a bottle of Chivas Regal – it was as good a gift as a man could ask for. I drank blended scotch for many years and continue to do so as the mood strikes me.

Then, one fall day, our neighbours Michael and Barbara Smith changed our lives forever when Mike introduced me to single malt scotch. This was nearly 20 years after my introduction to blended scotch and I never looked back. Over the years that followed, Mike and I enjoyed hundreds of different single malts and never found a bad one. Some are better than others and some have an acquired taste. There are so many ways to describe them: smoky, peaty, sherry, oaky, hints of citrus, vanilla, spices, chocolate, coffee, honey-flavoured, and so on. At first, these are difficult to detect, but over time taste profiles became easier to identify. Mike shared freely his vast collection of knowledge and spirits in the manner in which it was meant to be shared: unreservedly and without conditions.

In 2004, I joined the West Coast Whisky Society, a club with about 100 members based in Vancouver, BC. It was a new and wonderful experience to share a dram with like-minded friends in an environment where chitchat and precious spirits were abundant. The club presented many a good whisky during tasting events. At first, Lou endured my desire to attend, and—the wonderful wife she is—drove me to and from these events so I could enjoy the whiskies without worrying about keeping under the legal limit. But somewhere along the way, she also developed a fondness for some of the spirits, especially the sherry or port finishes.

This presented a dilemma: who would drive us home? Most of the events were too far for us to take a cab. So Lou would have a tiny sip and the rest went to waste. I can’t count the number of times we had to leave drams on the table because of this. Then, the solution dawned on us: we needed a way to bottle up the extra whisky that we were leaving on the table. Eureka! The Whisky Connoisseur® kit was born. We quickly developed a prototype and found that the more we used the kit, the more uses we found for it. The next step was to try it out on the perfect test market: our fellow whisky club members.

We built a basic kit with collection bottles and some foam inserts shaped to hold our whisky society monogrammed glasses, added a funnel, and presented it to our whisky club members. The response was overwhelming. The first batch of 90 kits sold out within a few months. Word of mouth was infectious. At every meeting I would get bombarded with inquiries. The fun came from hearing the comments from members about what a good idea it was. I especially love hearing the glowing reviews from the customers who continue to bring their kits to society tasting events and practice responsible drinking on a club-wide scale.

Since then, we have painstakingly improved and modified our original design based on feedback from that early prototype, resulting in the Whisky Connoisseur® Travel Kits, which come in Deluxe Leather or stylish Duck Cotton Canvas Fabric cases, the Share-A-Dram Kit, which is ideal for transporting spirits to share with friends, and the Master Class Kit, perfect for when you attend a tasting and don’t want to leave any of the special sips behind.

Each component was built on a central theme of connoisseur quality and how it contributed to the overall feeling when tasting whisky with friends. Every element had to reflect the history of the whisky industry in the old world. It also had to pay homage to the skilled people in the industry: the coopers who make the barrels, the stillmen who craft the spirts, the distillery managers who never lose the vision of pioneers before them, and the global ambassadors who travel the world plying the trade of well-made spirits to the masses.

Our whisky club members were invaluable in providing feedback, most of which focused on responsible drinking, which meant sharing a dram at an event and packing up the majority to sip in the comfort of your home. Many commented that the kits were such a simple idea, yet so useful. Sip. Save. Savour.

The more Lou and I used our kit, the more we found places to take it on our travels. So much so that now we bring two kits, one for Lou and one for myself. Like they say, double your pleasure – double your fun. Our whisky kits are now an integral part of any travel plans we make, and at club tasting events, not a single drop of the precious spirit goes down the drain. Good for the environment, good for the pocket book, good for the conscience and good for the soul.

I have sampled many whiskies, each unique unto themselves. It’s an adventure to be sure: travelling to places around the world, meeting and chatting with folks who also enjoy a good dram, all wrapped in a special spirit called whisky. My friend Mike has since departed, but every dram I raise in his name brings back fond memories of the good times we had. Mike, you’d never believe the adventure we’re on to now. Whisky Travel Kits, who knew?

In the spirit of all the friends we’ve met along the way, and to you, our fellow whisky connoisseurs, Slainte Mhath!

Ken & Lou Jaremco

July 2016

Email:  ken@whiskyconnoisseur.ca

Telephone: 1-778-552-5760

21 Years in the Making

Isle of Arran Distillers Release Anniversary Book  

The award-winning Isle of Arran Distillers, who began whisky production in 1995 for the first time on Arran in almost 160 years, has now reached 21 years of age. As part of the on-going anniversary celebrations, a new book ‘The Arran Malt – An island whisky renaissance’ will be officially released during the popular Malt and Music Festival in Lochranza on the 2^nd July.

A complete account of the history of the distillery, from before it was even an idea in the mind of its creators to the present day, the book is illustrated with archive and contemporary illustrations as well as stunning photography of the distillery’s island home.

Researched by Neil Wilson, the respected whisky writer and one of those who originally purchased a bond in Isle of Arran Distillers, it follows the growth of this much-loved island distillery from its founding directors, Hal Currie and David Hutchison to its current status as one of Scotland’s finest malt whisky producers.

Along the way, Neil has interviewed many of the people who were involved in the company’s development as well as current employees and enthusiasts of the brand to create a true celebration of a the Arran Malt.

As the Isle of Arran Distillery looks forward to the next 21 years, and expansion with a second distillery site on the south of the island at Lagg, ‘The Arran Malt – An island whisky renaissance’ is an essential edition to the whisky lover’s bookshelf.

Soft cover book – £19.99

Hard case book – £29.99

Available from www.arranwhisky.com/, the Lochranza Visitor Centre, Neil Wilson Publishing and Amazon

Notes:

NEIL WILSON is a whisky historian, writer and publisher specialising in the Hebridean distilleries. His other works

include Scotch and Water, The Island Whisky Trail, Ardbeg – Jewel of Islay, The Whisky Map of Scotland and Whisky In Your Pocket. He has also written for Whisky Magazine and is a contributor to http://www.scotchwhisky.com/

www.nwp.co.uk/

For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com/

* Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007), Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.) Distillery Visitor Experience of the Year (2014, 2015)

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

Whiskystats Launches its AndroidTM-App

Graz, Austria – Jul. 13, 2016

Whiskystats.net, the blog and database dedicated to analyze the secondary whisky market, has launched its Android TM-App on the Google Play TM Store. The Whiskystats-App is a mobile gateway to the Whiskystats database, which currently covers 17.000 scotch and Japanese single malt whiskies and corresponding 200.000 price observations.

“This mobile companion makes it even simpler to track the value of your personal whiskies or to keep an eye on the prices of the bottles on your wanted list”, says Johannes MOOSBRUGGER, the founder of Whiskystats.net. “Since the number of visits from mobile devices on our website is on a steady rise, it is only consequent to offer a native application for smartphone users. Now, the latest auction results are only one tap away.”

Compared to the mobile version of the website, app-users profit from the native navigation, push notifications on the latest price updates and an improved data visualization. Whiskystats members can continue to use their existing profiles on the app and manage their personal collections on the app and on the website simultaneously. New users need to register (for free) in order access the database. To enable a seamlessly transition between website and smartphone the app requires a working internet connection.

Whiskystats is the biggest public accessible whisky auction price database. The website went online in the end of 2015 and continues to gain attention ever since. The goal of the Whiskystats-Project is to “bring more transparency to the secondary whisky market”.

The Whiskystats-App can be found on the Google PlayTM Store using this link.

Johannes Moosbrugger contact@whiskystats.net twitter.com/whiskystatsnet facebook.com/whiskystats.net

Photo Credit Phil Wilkinson

EDINBURGH’S ULTIMATE WHISKY bar set to OPEN AT the scotch malt whisky society 

The Society’s 28 Queen Street venue will be closed in July for a major makeover with the new whisky bar set to open in August

Whisky fans in Edinburgh and visiting the city are in for a treat in August with the news that The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is to launch a new whisky bar, as part of a major refurbishment of its 28 Queen Street venue.

The 28 Queen Street venue has closed its doors for July as the £300,000 building project progresses on the new bar, which will open on 1^st August.

The new bar will be unique because of its constantly changing menu of whisky flavours; the Society releases a new selection of its rare single cask single malt whiskies every month, providing guests with a kaleidoscope of whisky flavours to explore. A limited range of extremely rare proprietary whiskies carefully selected for the SMWS by a special guest curator will also be available at the bar.

As part of the refurbishment project, the new bar will take pride of place on the ground floor of the Georgian townhouse venue at 28 Queen Street, visible and accessible from street level.

The Dining Room restaurant, previously on the ground floor, will move upstairs to the first floor and be expanded to include features such as a Charles Heidsieck champagne table.

A new shop area is also being established, while two new private lounges are also being created for the Society’s members.

The venue will host a free open house event on 5^th August – more details can be found here: https://www.smws.com/qs-open-house 

More information: 

Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar will open on 1^st August at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, 28 Queen Street

https://www.smws.com/qs-open-house

@SMWSUK

#SMWSkaleidoscope  

Notes:  

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society  

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society releases new whiskies each month
• The Society bottles the finest single malt whisky from around 350 single casks every year from a range of more than 132 distilleries. The very nature of the single cask means that each bottling offered by the Society is limited.
• The Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members around the world with branches in 19 countries.
• Members can choose from the world’s widest selection of single cask, single malt whiskies with only the very best selected and approved by the Society’s respected Tasting Panel.
• Exclusive Members’ Rooms are located in Edinburgh and London for tastings, dinners, meeting and presentations.
• Annual renewal after the first year is £61.50
• For more information, visit www.smws.com

Black Bull 40 year old released 

The eagerly awaited Black Bull 40 year old special release has been launched. 

Multi-award winning Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky has added this new, exceptionally rare whisky to its distinguished range. Only 1,500 bottles of the limited edition, batch 7, Black Bull 40 year old will be available globally with a retail price of £750 per bottle.

Loyal followers of Black Bull are expecting a whisky which packs a punch following the last batch that was produced in 2011. Whisky experts and enthusiasts poured huge praise on the last production of this blend, which received 94% rating in blind taste tests by industry leaders.

The character of this latest batch has been captured in abundance, blending high quality single malts including Aberlour 1975, Macallan 1969 and Glenlivet 1968. With an ABV of 47.6% this is no ordinary Scotch Whisky.  With a ratio of 86% malt to 14% grain it charts the journey of many a fine whisky from as far back as 1966.

CEO Euan Shand commented: “Black Bull 40 year old is a world class whisky and it has been worth the wait to add it to our portfolio. We are confident that it will take its place amongst the best luxury whiskies available today and cement our position in the market place.”

On the palate, the tasting notes for the new Black Bull 40 year old reveal a style that is rich, beautifully sweet and full bodied in character. Infused with toffee apples, milk chocolate, grapefruit and mango it gives a very smooth and gentle taste with a warm syrupy finish.  A truly indulgent, perfectly balanced whisky, which is a gorgeous amber colour.

Marking a new chapter in the unfolding story of Huntly based Duncan Taylor Scotch Whiskies. The company has ownership of one of the largest privately held collections of rare Scotch whisky casks.  This latest whisky is undoubtedly a must-have for Black Bull enthusiasts.

Due to hit the shelves this week, this limited edition is available from specialist retailers. For more information log onto www.blackbullwhisky.com

NOTES: 

1. Black Bull was first released in 1864 and is blended to the same formula today as it was back then, using a large percentage of quality Speyside and Highland malts, matured in sherry and bourbon casks.
2. Black Bull Scotch Whisky is the main sponsor of the Ecurie Ecosse and McLaren GT racing car.

THE BALVENIE’S DAVID STEWART AWARDED AN MBE FOR HIS SERVICES TO THE SCOTCH WHISKY INDUSTRY

Today, The Balvenie’s Malt Master David Stewart was presented with an MBE medal by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to the Scotch whisky industry at a ceremony in The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, Scotland.

David has dedicated almost 54 years of his life to the Scotch whisky industry. His pioneering techniques have had a profound impact on Scotch whisky production methods used today. He is renowned for his groundbreaking work particularly around ‘cask finishes’ for The Balvenie and has developed a number of award winning whiskies enjoyed and loved by whisky drinkers all over the world.

Commenting on his MBE, David said: “I feel very humbled to receive this award. I started my career as a whisky stocks clerk in 1962 and I didn’t expect to become a malt master.  I feel incredibly proud. I’ve been very fortunate to work for a family run company and it has allowed me the freedom to experiment throughout my career. It’s a privilege working in this industry so to be rewarded and recognised in this manner is very humbling.”

“I’ve received a number of messages from people all around the world. I’d like to thank those who have been kind enough to congratulate me on the award and to all of the wonderful people I’ve worked with since I started almost 54 years ago.”

David has also been recognised with a number of high profile industry awards throughout his career, including the Grand Prix of Gastronomy by the British Academy of Gastronomes, and lifetime achievement awards from the International Wine & Spirit Competition and Malt Advocate magazine. He has also been named as an Icon of Whisky and a Master of the Quaich.

Simon Hunt, CEO of William Grant & Sons, said: “David’s dedication, skill and modesty have made him one of the best-loved and respected craftsmen in the business. David’s MBE is a testament to how well respected he is. He is considered to be one of the greatest master blenders and we are incredibly proud of him”

David will also be honoured with a beautiful book of congratulations, carefully designed in the style of an original whisky store register. Over the coming months pages from the book will travel across the globe, gathering well wishes and messages of congratulations from whisky enthusiasts and The Balvenie drinkers, before returning to Scotland to be bound and presented to David.

Whisky enthusiasts around the world are also invited to raise a toast at 19.45 today (the year David was born) to pay tribute to his achievements. You can share your tribute to this legendary Malt Master using the hashtag #RaiseADram.

For more information on The Balvenie and David Stewart’s MBE celebrations visit The Balvenie UK’s website, Facebook and Twitter.

*An MBE or Member of the Order of the British Empire is a medal awarded by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to individuals recognised for a significant achievement or outstanding service to their profession or community

About The Balvenie: 

• The Balvenie is a unique range of single malts created by David Stewart MBE, The Balvenie Malt Master, who was awarded an MBE for services to the Scotch whisky industry in the Queen. Each has a very individual taste, but each is rich, luxuriously smooth and underpinned by the distinctively honeyed character of The Balvenie.
• The Balvenie is dedicated to the five rare crafts that are used to create The Balvenie’s distinctive taste. It is the only distillery that still grows its own barley, uses traditional floor maltings and keeps both coppersmiths and coopers on site – making The Balvenie the most handcrafted of malts.
• The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky is produced by William Grant & Sons Ltd, an award-winning independent family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and today run by his direct descendants.

WORLD TRAVELLERS CAN DISCOVER ISLAND INTENSITY AS JOHNNIE WALKER ISLAND GREEN LAUNCHES IN DUTY FREE

Johnnie Walker introduces first Blended Malt Scotch Whisky exclusive to world travellers 

Diageo GTME, 4th July 2016: Tempted to explore the fascinating world of Single Malt Scotch Whisky, but overwhelmed by choice? Johnnie Walker, the world’s No. 1 Scotch Whisky brand has introduced the perfect solution in an exciting new addition to its world famous portfolio – Johnnie Walker Island Green.

A rare blend of rich single malt whiskies from the four corners of Scotland, Johnnie Walker Island Green provides drinkers with a distinctive flavour experience allowing them to explore the character of these celebrated malts in a signature Johnnie Walker style. A duty free exclusive, Johnnie Walker Island Green is available solely to travellers, adding to its exclusiveness.

Aromas of wood smoke, pepper and spice mingle with layers of orchard fruit, gentle vanilla and sandalwood while the taste experience delivers all the character of a single malt but with greater depth and complexity amplified by the unique Island style.

Showcasing the same blended malt craftsmanship as the critically acclaimed Johnnie Walker Green Label, the exclusive taste of Johnnie Walker Island Green offers a more intense expression with a greater influence of smoky maritime malt whisky. This is balanced with robust fruity Highland malts including Clynelish™, lighter Lowland malts represented by Glenkinchie™ and the characteristically sweet and fragrant Speyside style of Cardhu™.

Jim Beveridge, Johnnie Walker Master Blender, said: “As whisky makers, we’re passionate about flavour. We captured the distinctive style of individual mature malts from the four main whisky regions of Scotland, ensuring Johnnie Walker Island Green offers all the character of a single malt, but with a richer flavour experience.”

Doug Bagley, Managing Director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: “Johnnie Walker Island Green is the perfect purchase for traditional Johnnie Walker fans or those seeking to explore the world of Scotch malts.

“The blend was recently awarded a ‘Master’ at The Global Scotch Whisky Masters 2016, the highest possible ranking available at this international competition, proving just how special a whisky it is. And, as an exclusive product to travellers which cannot be purchased outside of duty free, this is truly a unique addition to the Johnnie Walker range.”

Best enjoyed neat or on the rocks, global travellers can now discover true island intensity through the taste of Johnnie Walker Island Green.  Pick up a bottle in selected airports now and in duty free stores worldwide from July 2016.

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.

Notes

JOHNNIE WALKER ISLAND GREEN has a RRP of $60

JOHNNIE WALKER ISLAND GREEN has an ABV of 43%

JOHNNIE WALKER ISLAND GREEN is available in 1L bottles

ABOUT JOHNNIE WALKER

About Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker is the world’s number one Scotch whisky brand, enjoyed by people in over 180 countries around the world. Since the time of its founder, John Walker, those who blend its whiskies have pursued flavour and quality above all else.

Six generations of skilled Master Blenders have pioneered and crafted bold new flavours that have transformed a small Scottish grocery store business, founded in 1820, into an international whisky business selling stylish, authentic, and iconic blends.

Today’s range of award-winning whiskies includes Johnnie Walker Red Label, Black Label, Double Black, Green Label, Gold Label Reserve, Platinum Label and Blue Label. Together they account for nearly 19 million cases sold annually (IWSR, 2015), making JOHNNIE WALKER the most popular Scotch whisky in the world.

ABOUT DIAGEO

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits, beer and wine categories.  These brands include JOHNNIE WALKER, CROWN ROYAL, J&B, BUCHANAN’S, WINDSOR, SMIRNOFF, CÎROC, CAPTAIN MORGAN, BAILEYS, DON JULIO, TANQUERAY

Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.  The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO).  For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at 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.

Kilchoman Sanaig 46% ABV SHERRY CASK MATURED

Kilchoman, Islay’s Farm Distillery, has continued its recent success at the International Whisky Competition, where it was awarded Best Peated Scotch Whisky, with medals at both the Los Angeles Spirits Competition and San Diego Wine and Spirits Challenge.

Sanaig, the latest additional to the Kilchoman range scored a stunning 92 points “Best of Category Award” at the LA Competition and Double Gold at the San Diego Wine and Spirits Challenge. The results are even more impressive given the short history of Islay’s newest distillery, having only started distilling in 2005.  Founder Anthony Wills commented “results like these are extremely pleasing, we have a belief that what we do at Kilchoman is unique and such recognition reaffirms that believe. It’s only nice to get one over on your rivals”.

First launched in the US in 2009, Kilchoman has quickly established itself in the world of single malt. Sanaig, their latest core range release has a predominantly sherry cask influence, the Scotch first being matured in Buffalo Trace bourbon barrels before being transferred to further maturation in Oloroso sherry casks.  The result of this dual cask maturation allows for both the caramel and vanilla from the Bourbon barrel to combine with the richness of the sherry casks along with the signature maritime peat smoke, saltiness and citrus sweetness of Kilchoman.

Founded in 2005, Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland and was the first distillery to be built on Islay for 125 years.  Kilchoman, the only independently owned Islay distillery is most famous as the only distillery in Scotland to produce a portion of it’s whisky from barley grown onsite, completing all stages of the whisky-making process themselves using traditional farm distillery methods. Kilchoman Sanaig is bottled at 46% ABV and is available in the majority of the US markets, priced between $70 and $75.

Tasting Notes: Kilchoman Sanaig Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky

Colour: Beech wood

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.

Notes: Kilchoman Distillery is a small family run farm distillery based on the rugged west coast of Islay. The distillery was established by Anthony Wills in 2005, the idea was to build a new distillery which took whisky production back to its roots. Anthony and wife Kathy have now been joined by their three sons: George, James and Peter.   Kilchoman produces its 100% Islay single malt from barley which is grown in fields surrounding the distillery and completes every stage of the whisky-making process at the distillery, including traditional floor malting. Kilchoman is the only distillery in Scotland to do this. Kilchoman is now very much a family affair:   Since the first bottling was released in 2008, Kilchoman has quickly established itself as a high quality Islay Single Malt Whisky with these notable awards:

• Kilchoman’s exceptional quality was recognised at the prestigious International Whisky Competition (IWC) when Anthony Wills was named Master Distiller of the Year 2013.
• Machir Bay was named Whisky of the Year at IWC 2013. Loch Gorm was also awarded Gold, Machir Bay received Silver and 100% Islay 2nd Ed was given bronze.
• Kilchoman 2007 Vintage received Whisky Advocate’s Award for Islay Single Malt of the Year 2013.
• In 2012 Machir Bay was awarded two prestigious IWSC Gold medals and a Silver medal, and was named in GQ’s Best 100 Things of 2012.
• Kilchoman won Malt Advocates Artisan Whisky of the Year 2011, only three years after the first bottling was released.