STUDENTS GRADUATE FROM SCHEME FOCUSED ON TACKLING YOUTH UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE CAPITAL

2016 London Diageo Learning for Life hospitality and bartending students graduate following a six week training course

Young unemployed Londoners complete bartending qualification

15^th April 2016, London: Last night the 2016 cohort of students from the London Learning for Life Hospitality and Bartending Course celebrated the completion of the course with a graduation ceremony at Diageo’s Global HQ in Park Royal, London. The scheme aims to help those from disadvantaged backgrounds who are struggling to find a job find their way back into the jobs market.

The young people were joined by friends and family, charity training partner Springboard, placement providers and Diageo staff to celebrate their achievement.

Over the last six weeks the students have taken part in the course which has already transformed the lives of over 100,000 people in 35 countries worldwide. The course prepared the young people for work in the hospitality industry with a mix of technical and vocational qualifications, industry visits and soft skills development (for example CV writing and confidence building). This was followed by a two week work placement in a London pub or bar, organised by Springboard through their business partners, and then a guaranteed interview with a local employer.

The Diageo Learning for Life programme is delivered in partnership with the Springboard Charity. Springboard helps young people achieve their potential, nurtures unemployed individuals into work and helps alleviate poverty by supporting people into sustainable employment in the hospitality, leisure and tourism industry.

At the graduation ceremony, students talked about their experiences of the course, as well as their aspirations for the future. Graduates include:

Baljinder Jagdev, 28, Ealing

Juggling job hunting with being a full time mum is no mean feat and Baljinder has had to tackle both since leaving her last job as a recruiter. Despite an impressive CV and a degree in law, she had struggled to get back on the career ladder.

Although Bal had never considered working in the drinks industry, she came into the programme with an open mind. The fact she could gain six new qualifications was a big part of the programme’s appeal to her.

Thanks to the skills she has gained from Learning for Life, Bal plans to follow her dream and set up her own bar with her business partner. She’s already been accepted onto the Prince’s Trust enterprise programme to begin setting up her own company over the course of the next year.

Bal is due to finish her placement with Gather & Gather, a catering services at BBC Studios.

Bal said: “Learning for Life has helped me to turn my life around. The process of signing-on was a hugely disheartening experience, especially when you’re used to having your own money and freedom. One of the best things about doing the Diageo programme is that it has restored my sense of purpose. You’re thrown into an intense learning environment from day one and surrounded by enthusiastic people, so you can’t help but look forward to going to work.

“The programme has helped me develop into a calmer and humbler person. Now I want to use my positive experience to help others improve their lives.”

Shane Quest, 23, Hammersmith

Shane lives on his own and although he has worked previously as a cashier, he longs to find a more inspiring job. Despite being highly motivated, Shane’s dyslexia has made it difficult to show his full potential when filling out job applications.

Determined to try his hand at something different, with the help of the job centre, Shane put himself forward for the Learning for Life programme.

Shane has shown a real talent when it comes to cocktail making. From understanding how to strike the perfect balance between flavours, sugars and garnishes, to providing top quality customer service, Shane’s ability has shone through.

Having gone into the programme with no prior experience, Shane completes his placement at the London Cocktail Club full of confidence and well equipped to pour the perfect pint and create his own high quality cocktails.

Shane said: “Having spent most of my time in retail, I was ready to have a go at something new and the Diageo programme has allowed me to do that. Not many 23 year olds can say they’ve created their own cocktail.

“Taking part in the programme has been a huge confidence boost. I was surprised to see the level of people, organisation and expertise that goes into running a successful bar and even more surprised that I excelled in that environment.”

Konrad Toney, 18, Shepherd’s Bush

At 18 years old Konrad is one of the youngest of the graduates. With limited work experience, Konrad has found it hard to secure a job. He spent some time in a part time role at Queens Park Rangers FC, but now has his sights on something more challenging.

During the programme he has been overwhelmed by the supportive nature of his peers and found the business side of things fascinating. He has learnt how to make advanced cocktails and understand the ingredients that go into them. He has also improved his CV and developed his experience, making him better positioned to be considered for future roles.

Konrad completed his placement at Babylon bar at Kensington Roof Gardens and is looking into taking up a vocational course in hospitality so he can apply all he’s learnt over the recent months.

Konrad said: “Learning for Life has given me the confidence, skills and experience that I need for the world of work. As a result I’m considering taking what I’ve learnt a step further and applying to do a course in hospitality or business at college.

“The nature of the programme means you’re constantly learning on the job and the networking opportunities help you meet some of the most exciting characters in the industry.”

Andrew Cowan, Country Director of Diageo GB said:

“For many young Londoners, searching for a job can be a daunting prospect. However, exciting opportunities within the hospitality industry are ripe for the taking for any individual with the right talent and drive.

“Now for the second year, I couldn’t be happier that Diageo is playing a role in providing Londoners with the skills and confidence needed to make a success within the vibrant hospitality industry we are so passionate about.

 “From becoming a master cocktail maker to starting their own bar, who knows what these students will go on to achieve!”

Anne Pierce, MBE, Chief Executive Officer of Springboard said:

“Springboard is pleased to partner with the Diageo Learning for Life programme and of our key role in delivering the programme not only in London, but throughout Scotland and also in Runcorn.  Over 600 graduates have participated on 55 courses to date, with 71% going into sustained employment.  The course offers great opportunities to young unemployed people by providing them with key employability skills, on-the-job work experience, industry qualifications and on-going support and mentoring. 90% of graduates say the course increased their self-confidence and motivation to work.

“As a result of Springboard’s support the graduates have developed their hospitality skills and knowledge and can all be extremely proud of their achievements. The skills they have developed will open doors to amazing opportunities with many of the hospitality business partners we work with and it’s great to see the positive transformation in these young adults.’’

NOTES 

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, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, 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.

About The Springboard Charity

The Springboard Charity helps young, unemployed and disadvantaged people improve their prospects in life through a career in hospitality, leisure and tourism.

Springboard provides a range of opportunities for sustainable employment, or vibrant careers in hospitality, leisure and tourism through;

• Free specialist careers information
• Taster work experience opportunities
• Development programmes to help maximise the chances of obtaining sustainable employment
• Pre-employment and mentoring programmes
• Educational teaching resources, information, support and student activities to teachers in schools and colleges

Springboard equips people with the knowledge and skills they need to achieve their potential.

Springboard also works closely with the industry to help attract more talent and address skills shortages. In doing so, it has the support of over 180 different industry establishments and suppliers.

For more information about Springboard, visit: www.springboard.uk.net/

Reawaken the Spirit of Outlander at The Scotch Whisky Experience

As the second series of Outlander hits TV screens, Edinburgh’s five-star visitor attraction, The Scotch Whisky Experience, has launched a unique package to awaken the spirit of times gone by.

The new Outlander Whisky Tasting has been created in response to interest from visitors from across the world about Scotland’s hidden past, with a focus on the country’s ‘ghost distilleries’.

This exclusive tasting is hosted by a Master of the Quaich in the World’s Largest Collection of Scotch Whisky, which comprises 3,384 bottles and gives a snapshot of the drink’s long and illustrious past.

Julie Trevisan Hunter, Master of the Quaich at The Scotch Whisky Experience, explains: “Some of Scotland’s most famous distilleries have been closed and dismantled over the years, but their spirit and character remain in bottlings which lay unopened, until now. This tasting offers whisky lovers the one-off opportunity to travel back in time and experience some rare and unusual whiskies, which are now part of the drink’s extensive 500-year history.

“Whether as a toast at clan gatherings, or a dram by the fire, Scotch Whisky has maintained its presence in Scotland’s cultural and historic landscape for centuries and its flavour truly captures the spirit of our country. We hope that our new Outlander Whisky Tasting will help awaken the spirit of time gone by and allow our visitors to experience a small slice of the country’s past.”

Whiskies included in the tasting are: The Cally 40 year old; Port Ellen; Brora 35 Year Old; and Ghosted Reserve Blend. The experience is available for between two and twelve guests and is accompanied by an exclusive price tag of £485 per person.

Located at the top of Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile, The Scotch Whisky Experience has been educating visitors about Scotland’s national drink for more than a quarter of a century, with more than 300,000 people passing through its doors each year.

For more information, log-on to www.scotchwhiskyexperience.co.uk or call 0131 220 0441.

ENDS

You can find The Scotch Whisky Experience both on Twitter and Facebook.

Meeting of two spirited souls – Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival brings together giants of the whisky industry

What do you get when you take the master distiller behind the world’s best-selling single malt, one of the whisky industry’s most respected writers, a collection of drams drawn from casks laid down over 40 years ago, and a room full of people passionate about our national drink?

No one actually knows. But that’s the real beauty behind one of the most eagerly anticipated talk and taste events on the bill of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival later this month.

A meeting of two great whisky minds will take place when Alan Winchester, master distiller of The Glenlivet, and whisky expert Dave Broom team up to share their favourite drams from the iconic distillery.

Dave explains, “Every whisky has its own story and we’ve had great fun choosing the whisky that we will taste and share at this event. But in terms of planning, that’s as far as it goes.

“Anything could – and probably will – happen. You can do a tasting in a very formulised way, where you reach a conclusion in a slow and steady fashion, and that’s a very valid approach to some tastings.

“But for one such as this we didn’t want to over-prepare for fear that we might lose a degree of spontaneity. We want there to be unpredictable elements, and for the whisky to dictate how we get from point A to point B.”

During the tasting on April 30, audience members will be able to sample drams from casks laid down as long ago as 1959: a time long before Alan – who has been in the industry for over 40 years – had started on his career.

The sorcerer, who conjures up truly magical drams with the basic ingredients of barley, water and malt, was once an apprentice who started out at the age of 16 as a summer tour guide at Glenfarclas.

Within a just matter of weeks he knew whisky was the industry he wanted to work in. He was taken on as a distillery trainee at the end of his first season as a guide, and has worked with the amber nectar ever since.

Over the years he has been involved in every aspect of the trade mastering the complex skills needed to work as a mashman, brewer and stillman – and always bringing enthusiasm to every job he has tackled along the way.

Until his appointment as master distiller of The Glenlivet four years ago, Alan has worked at many distilleries during his long career, almost all on Speyside – an area recognised all over the world as a byword for the only the finest Scotch malt whisky.

He’s been a staunch supporter of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, right back to the early days in the 1990s when it was little more than an idea on paper. The Festival, which takes place from April 28 to May 2, is now in its 17^th year and comprises almost 500 events.

“The Festival has really worked to raise the profile of Scotch whisky over the years. People can come to the area and see that whisky plays a very important role in communities – and to meet the folk who actually make it on their own doorstep is an added bonus,” says Alan.

“I’ve done a lot of different events with Dave over the years – on top of mountains and on the edge of lochs – so this will be something a bit more laid back than what we are used to and we’re looking forward to sharing the different cask styles.

“I really enjoy taking part in events like this because it means I get to meet with and talk to whisky drinkers – the people who go out and buy The Glenlivet.

“I’ll be sharing stories from my own career, but also about the history and heritage of distilling and how we have seen this fantastic evolution over the past 50 years that has led to an increased variety within each distillery’s range.

“We’re delighted to be able to share with the audience drams from every decade since the 1950s.”

Alan takes his role as master distiller seriously: he knows the buck stops with him and he is personally responsible for every single centilitre of product – potentially some 10.5m litres of alcohol a year – that runs through The Glenlivet’s stills.

And it’s quite a responsibility. The Glenlivet, founded in 1824 by George Smith, is regarded as the dram that started it all as the first legal distillery in the parish. Others soon followed suit, and now the industry is worth billions to the UK economy.

Guests at The Glenlivet Over the Decades will be able to learn why its drams are regarded as the best in the world, in addition to being the biggest selling with over one million cases enjoyed in 2015.

However, more than that, the relaxed chat and storytelling from two of the most charismatic figures in the whisky industry will be just as enjoyable as the drams.

Dave also has a long history in the whisky industry, spanning back to a time when, as a student, he worked on the Black & White bottling line. He’s worked behind bars, on the counter in spirit shops and even an Australian vineyard.

He’s written no less than 12 books on whisky, penned innumerable columns for a host of international publications and regularly hosts tasting events.

Dave is also the man behind scotchwhisky.com – a website launched last year that has quickly become a bible to the trade and a fantastic source of education and entertainment to whisky lovers around the globe.

“I never turn down an opportunity to do an event with Alan because the man knows a ridiculous amount of things about whisky. I’m there because I’m regarded as the expert, but the reality is that I will be learning just as much as everyone else in the room,” says Dave.

“Alan never ceases to amaze me with his stories, which are as enlightening as they are entertaining. I think events like this are proof, to me at least, that you can never actually stop learning when it comes to whisky.

“They are also what makes the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival so great. It is an amazing experience for visitors to meet people like Alan who are so passionate and proud of what they do – it’s literally an opportunity to learn from the master.

“Speyside is a large and diverse area and in the very early years of the Festival only a handful of distilleries were participating. Now the Festival is covering a much wider area and it’s heartening to see that it’s no longer just people going around a distillery and tasting whisky at the end of a tour.

“The Festival is now showing that Speyside is a living and working landscape and that the whisky is very much a part of people’s lives rather than just a product.”

As one of the world’s biggest festivals celebrating of Scotland’s national drink, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival features a packed programme of almost 500 events, with music, crafts, and food themes running alongside a wide range of distillery tours and tastings.

Tickets for all events in the 2016 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme, including The Glenlivet Over the Decades, are available to buy now at www.spiritofspeyside.com/. The Festival is also active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter and on Instagram.

Picture caption:

Dave Broom (left) and Alan Winchester will come together in a meeting of great whisky minds for The Glenlivet Over the Decades at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

Notes

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors travelling to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options. Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2014 to 2020. The Scottish Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme.

Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design

2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design will run from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.

Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed fashion, textiles and design sector.

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, supported by partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate

Whisky Month 2016

• May is Whisky Month in Scotland, inviting visitors and locals to sample Scotland’s national drink and explore the subtle blend of stories and provenance behind our vast array of marvellous malts.
• In 2016, Whisky Month will also celebrate the 2016 Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design, turning the spotlight on other related areas, such as the famous feats of engineering and innovation in today’s whisky industry as well as the distinct architecture of many of Scotland’s wonderful distilleries.
• To encourage even more visitors to sample Scotland’s whisky a series of eBooks are available. Each book focuses on one of the country’s five distinctive whisky-producing regions in Scotland – Campbeltown, Islay, Speyside, Lowland and Highland. VisitScotland’s The Land of Whisky guides can be downloaded at visitscotland.com/see-do/food-drink/whisky/distilleries
• Find out more and search for events, recipes and trails at visitscotland.com/see-do/food-drink/whisky/whisky-month and join the conversation using #WhiskyMonth

WHAT’S THE COST OF SURFING THE INTERNET? ‘EARTH MODE’ BROWSER PLUG-IN HELPS USERS UNDERSTAND THEIR IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Johnnie Walker® partners with Earth Day Network to plant trees to offset users’ carbon footprint

19 April 2016: You might not realise it but the amount of time you spend and what you do online takes its toll on the environment.

Research* suggests that the average online user consumes 130 kgs of carbon a year – the equivalent to driving 740 km in a car –  which could be offset by planting four trees.

A new plug-in for Google’s Chrome browser launched ahead of Earth Day on Friday (22 April) will help educate people about how much energy they consume online by calculating their digital carbon footprint and, as a result, inspire them to think about their everyday energy efficiency.

The new Chrome plug-in comes from Johnnie Walker®, makers of the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky, who are partnering with Earth Day Network to urge people to take a small but progressive step towards helping the environment.

Earth Day Network is a global movement that aims to inspire, challenge ideas, ignite passion, and motivate people to take action on environmental issues.

By measuring online usage over four weeks, the plug-in calculates the user’s annual consumption of energy.  To offset it, Johnnie Walker will plant up to 75,000 trees as part of Earth Day Network’s Canopy Project, which has planted more than three million trees since 2011 in areas in need of reforestation, such as in East Africa.

Michael Thornton, Chief Executive of Carbon Analytics, which helps businesses manage their environmental impact, has worked with Johnnie Walker on the development of Earth Mode and says it is sometimes difficult for people to understand how using the internet creates a carbon footprint.

He said: “Each time that you use a website or search the internet it requires a lot of energy to provide the data.  Cumulatively across the world, this creates a large carbon footprint. The Earth Mode plug-in is an easy-to-use calculator that is a helpful tool for understanding that footprint.  Individuals will be able to see their carbon usage displayed as the equivalent of everyday activities such as using a microwave, driving a car or taking a flight.”

Guy Escolme, Johnnie Walker global brand director, said: “We believe that everyone wants their tomorrow to be better than today and Earth Mode gives people the opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment.  It is just one environmentally-friendly act but we hope it will educate and inspire users around the world to take other small actions to help Earth Day achieve its goal of reaching three billion ‘Acts of Green’.

“Johnnie Walker is proud that our parent company Diageo has reduced its carbon emissions by 33% over eight years and one of the ways they have done that is to make its 35,000 employees across the world aware of the energy they use every day. Diageo aims to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2020.”

Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network said: “Carbon footprints seem like a foreign concept to far too many of us, perhaps especially those of us in urban environments or not living along a coastline. But we should all be aware of what our energy needs and consumption are doing to our shared global environment.”

“The more readily-available the information on our carbon footprint becomes, the more in contact with it in real-time we are, the more of an impact it will have. No more out-of-sight-out-of-mind. Now, like tracking the battery life on our cell phones, we will know what our computer usage is costing. And it will be eye-opening.”

The Johnnie Walker Earth Mode plug-in is available from the Chrome Store for PC and Mac users. Once installed, users click on the Johnnie Walker ‘Striding Man’ icon to reveal a drop-down window that displays real-time online energy usage, and shows how many trees will be planted to offset their annual carbon footprint.

To download the plug-in, click here

For more information on using the plug-in visit: https://youtu.be/9f3Da6WJuKI

www.facebook.com/JohnnieWalker

@Johnniewalker_

#earthmode #billionactsofgreen 

Enjoy Johnnie Walker responsibly.

Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. 

Image captions: 

IMAGE: EARTH MODE is a new plug-in from Johnnie Walker® for Earth Day 

Notes

*Research conducted by Carbon Analytics concludes that an average internet user consumes 130kgs of carbon a year. Using sources provided by Earth Day Network, we estimated that the average tree consumes 34kgs of carbon a year, therefore requiring the planting of four trees per person to offset their annual online carbon consumption average of 130kg. 

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 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, 2014), 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 including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, 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 www.diageo.com.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

The Johnnie Walker, Keep Walking, Red Label, Black Label, Double Black, Green Label, Gold Label Reserve, Platinum Label and Blue Label words and associated logos are trademarks © John Walker & Sons 2016.

About Earth Day Network:

The first Earth Day on April 22, 1970, activated 20 million Americans from all walks of life and is widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement. Growing out of the first Earth Day, Earth Day Network (EDN) works with tens of thousands of partners in 192 countries to broaden, diversify and mobilize the environmental movement. More than one billion people now participate in Earth Day activities each year, making it the largest civic observance in the world. For more information, visit www.earthday.org.

About Earth Mode:

Earth Mode is a new plug-in for Google’s Chrome browser which is available to PC and laptop users only. It is available for download from Monday 18 April – 16 May 2016.  

Earth Mode Calculation Approach:

Carbon Analytics arrived at an algorithm for converting online energy usage into carbon by taking a cross section of measurable variances into consideration: country power mix, browsing device, local network use and data throughput.

First they estimated the energy impact of a users’ activity by:

• User device and network time of use
• Data usage and processing throughput

Then they took the overall energy used and looked at the location of the user to calculate their carbon footprint.  Location is one of the key factors because where you live affects how much energy is required to provide the online data.

So essentially the formula is based on:

• Energy impact = time of use + data throughput
• Carbon footprint = energy x location factors

About Michael Thornton:

Michael Thornton is Founder and CEO of Carbon Analytics, an award-winning London based environmental impact assessment firm whose mission is to bring environmental impact data quickly, affordably and accurately to the world’s businesses. Carbon Analytics is committed to removing the barriers to environmental management, and to guide as many companies as possible on their journey to building great, sustainable businesses.

Get baking with the Great Whisky Cake Off at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

The popularity of the Great British Bake Off has taken the UK by storm, inspiring an entirely new generation to get in the kitchen and create their own edible masterpieces. The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival allows visitors to channel their inner Mary Berry by baking a cake which contains Speyside’s most famous export – a few dashes of single malt whisky.

Entrants to Grantown’s Whisky Cake Off are being asked to don their aprons and produce delicious baked treats which feature the amber nectar as an ingredient. The event takes place at the Grantown YMCA Community Centre on Sunday May 1, and non-bakers have the opportunity to judge the selection of homebakes on offer.

Festival manager Pery Zakeri feels that the variety of foodie events available during the Festival will help broaden people’s perceptions when it comes to serving whisky with culinary treats.

She says, “Grantown’s Whisky Cake Off is a really fun way to experiment with whisky, as it allows you to understand which ingredients and flavours complement certain single malts.

“We’re very proud of the wide range of food-related events available throughout the Festival, as each one is so different and will appeal to a large variety of people.

“You would never normally associate whisky with baking, but that is the beauty of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival – it allows people to see the full potential of single malts and the huge selection of food you can enjoy them with.

“Speyside single malts are so diverse, meaning that anyone can enjoy a good dram if they find the right one for them. Due to the abundance of different flavours and notes available our beloved drink can be paired with a whole host of different food.”

The Whisky Cake Off is one of many unusual events, as foodies are treated to an abundance of food-related activities throughout the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which takes place from April 28 to May 2 in Scotland’s most prolific whisky producing region.

In what can be described as the perfect pairing between Scotland’s national drink and a much-loved sweet treat, the Balvenie Street Ice Cream Shop in Dufftown is offering tastings of its five different whisky ice creams, which are created especially for the Festival. The tastings could be considered as an ideal introduction to the water of life – especially if visitors are attending the Festival with someone who has never tried whisky before. Those wishing to take part in the tastings don’t need to worry about booking a slot, as the ice creams are available throughout the Festival for £3.

The picturesque Gordon Castle, situated near Fochabers is offering another event which will certainly appeal to those with a sweet tooth; traditional afternoon tea in their Walled Garden restaurant comes with a variety of scones, cakes and sandwiches alongside whisky truffles and a bottle of their handcrafted whisky cask cider. Afternoon tea takes place from 3-5pm on May 1.

For those looking to try something a bit more savoury, Gordon & MacPhail is hosting a whisky and cheese tasting on April 29. The maturation of cheese to develop flavour is very similar to the aging process of whisky, meaning that that the two go together extremely well. This event allows whisky fans to pair their drams with a variety of different cheeses in order to create the perfect match. The tasting is on Friday April 29 from 10am – 12pm, at Gordon & MacPhail’s retail shop in Elgin.

But there are dozens of other whisky and food events on the Festival programme, which includes almost 500 different activities. There’s the chance to watch legendary food and whisky writer Martine Nouet at work in cookery demonstrations, whisky lunches and dinners at restaurants, hotels and community halls across the Speyside region, and sample a wide range of whisky flavoured foods at Aberlour delicatessen The Spey Larder. Strathisla Distillery will also be hosting a Desert Island Drams event where whisky writers match their favourite dram with six sweet and savoury tapas style dishes.

As one of the world’s biggest festivals celebrating of Scotland’s national drink, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival features a packed programme of almost 500 events, with music, crafts, and food themes running alongside a wide range of distillery tours and tastings.

Tickets for all events in the 2016 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme, including foodie events, are available to buy now at www.spiritofspeyside.com/. The Festival is also active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter and on Instagram.

Notes

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors travelling to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options. Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is part financed by the European Regional Development Fund Programme 2014 to 2020. The Scottish Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme.

Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design  

2016 will shine a spotlight on Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design through a wide-ranging, variety of new and existing activity.

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design will run from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 and will build on the momentum generated by the 2015 Year of Food and Drink as well as previous years including Homecoming Scotland 2014, the Year of Creative and the Year of Natural.

Through a series of exciting events and activity, the year will showcase Scotland’s position as an “innovation nation”, its outstanding built heritage, and its thriving, internationally acclaimed fashion, textiles and design sector.

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design is a Scottish Government initiative being led by VisitScotland, supported by partners including Scottish Government, Creative Scotland, Architecture + Design Scotland, Scottish Tourism Alliance, Scottish Enterprise, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).

The Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design events fund is managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate.

“à table, whisky from glass to plate”

The essential whisky cook companion

“Both a practical guide and an appetising armchair read, authoritative yet friendly, à table is a delight, and I commend it to you whole-heartedly.”

Charles MacLean

This attractive new cook book takes an original slant on whisky as an accompaniment to good food. Martine Nouet is an authority on both whisky and French cuisine who has honed her many years of experience as a whisky presenter and cook. Inside these pages the reader will find 60 delicious recipes divided into three sections: Appetizers, main courses, and desserts/cheeses.

The introductory chapter is devoted to the principles involved in the pairing of food and whisky, and how best to achieve balance as well as harmony. Above every recipe is a sensory calendar that indicates the season of the year, the respective lightness or richness to the palate as well as the dominant colours of the food and whisky. John Paul’s exquisite recipe photographs grace each facing page and beneath is printed a profile of select whiskies sold in specialist shops that resonate with each pairing. Walker Shortbread Company has helped funding the photography.

All the recipes have been tried and tasted by gourmet palates. Each dish was prepared by Eric Obry, amazing chef of Le Petit Gourmand in Aberlour (Speyside). Further panache is added by a lovely foreword written by world-acclaimed whisky writer, Charles MacLean, who has incidental fame for his role in Ken Loach’s film: The Angel’s Share.

Mr. MacLean states Martine’s book is:

“Both a practical guide and an appetising armchair read, authoritative yet friendly. À table is a delight and I commend it to you whole-heartedly.”

No library is complete without Martine Nouet’s new cookbook as it is a true shelf companion to all who care about whisky and good cuisine.

Price – £19.99 or 24.99 Euros

Distribution

– Distillery visitor centers

– Walker Shortbread shop in Aberlour (Speyside) and on their shop online

– Amazon marketplace

– On Islay – Available at The Celtic House (also online: www.theceltichouse.co.uk)

– Martine Nouet’s website – www.martinenouet.com – will give a regular update of the selling points

The author

French born, Martine Nouet, is an author and journalist who writes exclusively about food and spirits. Her love of Scottish Malt Whiskies brought her to the Isle of Islay on the west coast of Scotland and she has now made Islay her home. Martine has pioneered a new trend in the world of whisky: The sensory idea of pairing whiskies with a suitable food counterpart.

Martine has gained the esteem and recognition of whisky aficionados and the whole industry. In France she is known as “La Reine de l’Alambic – The Queen of the Still” and was bestowed the title of Master of The Quaich in April 2012; an honorific distinction awarded to very few by the whisky industry. In September 2015, she authored “Le guide Hachette des whiskies” for which she received the “Grand prix du Livre Spirits 2015” award. She hosts food/whisky pairing events and dinners all over the world.

“à table, whisky from glass to plate”

Martine Nouet – April 2016 – 160 pages

richly illustrated, 60 recipes,

50 full page photographs,

published by Ailsa Press- Islay.

CULT MALT RECALLS ITS DARK PAST

– Ardbeg Launches Dark Cove as Ardbeg Day Turns into Ardbeg Night

Ardbeg’s island home has a dark past. Centuries ago, at the dead of night, the early distillers would smuggle their whisky from the rocky shores of Ardbeg cove, to black-painted ships moored off the coast, where it would be spirited away to the Scottish mainland.  This year, the shadowy history of Ardbeg’s homeland will be recalled as part of the annual festivities of the Islay single malt, when Ardbeg Day becomes Ardbeg Night.

The yearly celebration takes place on 28th May 2016, when Ardbeg’s loyal following – the Ardbeg Committee – and their friends will be invited to attend a series of special tasting events being held at night across the world.  As they recall Islay’s past, Committee members can smuggle in a guest to the venue. Events in the UK will be held at Whistling Shop in London and Bramble in Edinburgh, further details are to follow.

Michael (Mickey) Heads, Ardbeg Distillery Manager, said: “Distilling and smuggling whisky was once rife on Islay, and before the Ardbeg Distillery was founded, the coastline roundabout was particularly notorious as a hideout for smugglers. In true smugglers’ style we will be keeping the finer details of this year’s Ardbeg Day celebrations under wraps a little longer, but rest assured they will be as intriguing as Ardbeg’s clandestine past.  We will also have a special bottling, called Ardbeg Dark Cove – which pays homage to the shadowy past of Ardbeg’s coastline.”

Ardbeg’s latest expression Dark Cove, launches on Ardbeg Day (28^th May), it is made up of whisky matured in sherry casks, married with hallmark ex-bourbon Ardbeg. 

Ardbeg Dark Cove Tasting Notes at 46.5% ABV

Aroma At first meaty, earthy and spicy, with bold notes of dark chocolate emerging against orange, treacle toffee, coffee and oak, a smoky background and a mysterious floral note.

Taste  The mouthfeel is almost tart, with raisins, dates, ginger and pepper spice surge and waves of smouldering charcoal, wood polish and creosote notes, leading to cured smoked ham and squid ink noodles.

Finish  Long, spicy and rich with notes of toffee, coffee and tar.

Dark Cove is available as a celebration of Ardbeg Day turning into Ardbeg Night. The whisky is bottled at 46.5% ABV and non-chill filtered for extra texture and mouthfeel.

The limited edition expression will be available to purchase from 28th May 2016 at Ardbeg Embassies* for a two week exclusive period. From June 11^th, Dark Cove will be available at Ardbeg Embassies, whisky specialists and department stores with a RRP of £95.99.

Ardbeg Night will be celebrated at the distillery on Saturday 28^th May 2016 and at participating Ardbeg Embassies around the world.

http://www.ardbeg.com/

Notes to Editors: 

Ardbeg Day:

Every year, the Islay Festival of Malt and Music takes place in May or June on Ardbeg’s island home.  On the Festival’s final Saturday, Ardbeg Day, the Distillery traditionally throws open its doors to welcome fans from all over the world.  In 2012 Ardbeg Day became a global event, enabling the whisky’s passionate international following to take part in a worldwide celebration of all things Ardbeg in their own country.  Recent Ardbeg Day themes have included in 2015 celebrating the single malt’s 200th anniversary by looking forward to the next 200 years.  Fans of the whisky were invited into a retro-futuristic version of Islay in 2215, where robotic dogs were the norm at Ardbeg Distillery.  15,000 people attended 135 events around the world at the 2015 Ardbeg Day global celebrations. 

Smuggling on Islay:

So substantial was the illicit whisky trade between Islay and the mainland, which Excise officers asked for a special Revenue cutter to be stationed off the island, to intercept the smuggler boats that sailed from Islay and elsewhere.  Even after John McDougall took out a licence to make whisky legally at Ardbeg, the smuggling continued.  The Excise officers complained that they could do little to stop it – but it appears to have largely died out during the late 19^th Century.

Ardbeg:

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Single Malt Whisky.  Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.  Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction.  Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following.

Ardbeg Committee:

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Committee members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions, and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings.  Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events.  The Committee is free to join at ardbeg.com.

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton.  Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking:

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption. 

*UK Ardbeg Embassies

You’re never far from an Ardbeg Embassy – the distillery’s homes from home. With the warmest of welcomes and the widest selection of Ardbeg, you can experience a little piece of Islay closer to home.

A network of Ardbeg customers who love and have agreed to educate their consumers on Ardbeg, the UK Embassies are:

• The Vintage House, 42 Old Compton Street, London W1D4LR http://www.sohowhisky.com/
• Royal Mile Whiskies, 379 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1PW http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/
• Cambridge Wine Merchants, 32 Bridge Street, Cambridge CB2 1UJ http://www.cambridgewine.com/
• The Wee Dram, 5 Portland Square, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1HA http://www.weedram.co.uk/
• Luvians Bottle Shop, 93 Bonnygate, Cupar, Fife KY15 4LG  http://www.luvians.com/
• The Whisky Exchange, Vinopolis, 1 Bank End, London SE1 9BU http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/
• Gordon & MacPhail, 58-60 South Street, Elgin, Moray, IV30 1JY http://www.gordonandmacphail.com/
• Whiski Rooms Bistro, 4,6 & 7 North Bank Street, Edinburgh, EH1 2LP http://www.whiskirooms.co.uk/

ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE^® Announces 2016 Results

Spirits Also Assessed in USC’s Innovative Cocktail Evaluation

Ultimate Spirits Challenge^®, the world’s platinum standard for spirits competitions, proudly announces the winners and full results for the just-completed 2016 Challenge. Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC), now in its seventh year, celebrates 40 Chairman’s Trophy winners, USC’s highest award of excellence, along with 157 Finalists. Ultimate Spirits Challenge was held at the specially designed Ultimate Beverage Challenge Evaluation Center in Hawthorne, NY.

Says UBC founder and USC judging chairman F. Paul Pacult, “One of the many advantages of having our own year-round facility is that instead of having to judge hundreds of spirits entries over a couple of days like other competitions do, we can, by design, break each category down into smaller flights. This means that USC judging panels can focus on each flight with greater in-depth attention and analytical precision, resulting in truer, more accurate assessments. This hyper-focus allows USC to provide useful, extensive and authoritative data to companies for use in building their spirits brands.”

WHISKY – CANADA

J.P. Wiser’s Red Letter 2015 Edition  

WHISKEY – IRELAND

Blended: Midleton Very Rare 2015

Irish Pot Still: Redbreast 21 Years Old

Single Grain: Teeling Single Grain

Single Malt: Egan’s 10 Years Old 

WHISKY – SCOTLAND

Blended Malt: Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Years Old

Blended: Buchanan’s Deluxe 12 Years Old

Single Malt: Highland Park Ice Edition 17 Years Old  

WHISKEY – USA

American: Clyde May’s Special Reserve

Bourbon: Blade and Bow Limited Release 22 Years Old Kentucky Straight

Rye: Jim Beam Pre-Prohibition Style

Single Malt: Westland  

WHISKEY – WORLD

Kavalan ex-Bourbon Oak Single Malt 

WHISKEY – WORLD – FLAVORED

Knob Creek Smoked Maple 

For complete results visit www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2016results

All products are rated on the 100-point scale by the spirits industry’s most renowned judges including award-winning authors, buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners. The judges for USC 2016 included: Founder/Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult, Jeff Bell, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tad Carducci, Gregg Glaser, Don Lee, Francis Schott, Joaquin Simo, Andy Seymour, Paul Tanguay and David Wondrich.

All spirits rated 80 points and higher receive an individual results page (accessed by clicking on “more” next to the product name) which provides all downloadable marketing materials for the product – including icons, shelf-talkers (where applicable) and a bottle image for easy consumer identification. Spirits rated 85 points and higher also receive a tasting note. If a spirit is recommended for the category’s assigned classic cocktail, it is also indicated on this page.

USC results are promoted globally via email and web publication to both trade buyers and consumers. In addition, high scoring products are featured in the Ultimate Beverage Challenge Guide published each year in the October issue of Beverage Media reaching more than 70,000 on- and off-premise spirits buyers. 

ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE…Challenging Since 2010.

ABOUT ULTIMATE BEVERAGE CHALLENGE

Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) provides expert evaluation of wines and spirits for producers, importers and marketers through its two innovative annual competitions: Ultimate Spirits Challenge and Ultimate Wine Challenge. UBC partners are F. Paul Pacult, Sue Woodley and David Talbot. Photos and more information can be found at http://www.ultimate-beverage.com/.

JOHNNIE WALKER^® & TOM DIXON:

ICONS OF TASTE AND DESIGN UNITE AT MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2016

April 15, 2016: Celebrated British designer Tom Dixon, OBE, has unveiled his immersive celebration of creative innovation with the opening of ‘The RESTAURANT by Caesarstone & Tom Dixon’ at Milan Design Week – a venue at which Johnnie Walker^® was the accompaniment of choice.

Every year, Milan Design Week sees up to half a million extra people descend on the city for the largest fair of its kind in the world. This year marks the 55^th anniversary of the prestigious festival. Its exhibitions showcase the latest in interior design and feature work from the world’s most important contemporary furniture designers.

‘The RESTAURANT’ consists of four extraordinary sculptural kitchens inspired by the elements – Earth, Fire, Water and Air – and has been created by acclaimed designer Dixon in conjunction with Caesarstone, makers of luxury quartz interior surfaces.

As well as a Johnnie Walker bar, ‘The RESTAURANT’ is also home to a stunning Johnnie Walker^® Blue Label™ bottle art installation, created and designed by Dixon, which sits in the ‘Water’ section of The RESTAURANT. The installation is a dynamic and fluid design that expresses the flow of whisky and the versatile approach to design that is necessary for creating iconic Scotch blends.

The menu at ‘The RESTAURANT’ was created and designed by Arabeschi di Latte, the Italian food design studio founded by Francesca Sarti in 2001. All guests had the opportunity to visit the Johnnie Walker bar and enjoy whisky mentoring sessions hosted by Johnnie Walker brand ambassador Tom Jones.

Speaking about the collaboration, Guy Escolme, Global Brand Director for Johnnie Walker, said: “Taste and design go hand-in-hand, so when we were approached about bringing Johnnie Walker to ‘The RESTAURANT’, and to work closely with an international designer of the calibre of Tom Dixon, we were only too happy to get involved.

“The Johnnie Walker blenders are, at heart, designers themselves. At our Blenders’ Rooms in Scotland, they experiment with flavour from a palette of more than eight million casks to create perfect Scotch blends.”

‘The RESTAURANT by Caesarstone & Tom Dixon’ is open for the duration of Milan Design Week. 

Notes

A video of designer Tom Dixon and Johnnie Walker Global Brand Ambassador, Tom Jones can be viewed here 

Photo captions:

IMAGE 1: Johnnie Walker^® Global Brand ambassador Tom Jones and celebrated British designer Tom Dixon, OBE, pictured at the Johnnie Walker^® Blue Label™ bottle art installation at ‘The RESTAURANT by Caesarstone and Tom Dixon’, part of Milan Design Week.

IMAGE 2: Johnnie Walker^® Global Brand ambassador Tom Jones and Francesca Sarti, from the Italian food design studio Arabeschi di Latte, pictured at ‘The RESTAURANT by Caesarstone and Tom Dixon’, part of Milan Design Week.

IMAGE 3: Johnnie Walker^®  Blue Label™ takes centre stage at ‘The RESTAURANT by Caesarstone and Tom Dixon’, as part of Milan Design Week.

IMAGE 4: Taste and design come together with Johnnie Walker^®  Blue Label™ at ‘The RESTAURANT by Caesarstone and Tom Dixon’, as part of Milan Design Week.

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 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, 2014), making Johnnie Walker the most popular Scotch whisky in the world.

The Johnnie Walker, Keep Walking, Red Label, Black Label, Double Black, Green Label, Gold Label Reserve, Platinum Label and Blue Label words and associated logos are trademarks © John Walker & Sons 2016. 

Enjoy Johnnie Walker responsibly.

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, 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. 

About Tom Dixon:

Established in 2002, Tom Dixon is a British product design brand. With a commitment to innovation and a mission to revive the British furniture industry, the brand is inspired by the nation’s unique heritage and produces extraordinary objects for everyday use. www.tomdixon.net/

WORTH THE WAIT

NEWPORT, OR – Rogue Spirits is thrilled to announce the release of its first straight whiskey, Oregon Single Malt Whiskey. Ocean aged for at least two years, Oregon Single Malt Whiskey is made using Rogue Farms Risk malt grown and floor malted by hand at Rogue’s Barley Farm in Tygh Valley, OR. At the Rogue Brewery in Newport, brewmaster John Maier brews the Single Malt wash before it goes across the parking lot to age in American Oak barrels.

“The real magic takes place in the Ocean Aging Room where Oregon Single Malt Whiskey slowly ages,” said Rogue Ales President Brett Joyce. “The whiskey breathes in the rich, coastal air of the Pacific Ocean which impart unique flavors along with the oak barrels, and produces a whiskey worth the wait.”

Burnished copper in color, Oregon Single Malt Whiskey has a delicate aroma of honey on the nose that gives way to sweet malted barley and butterscotch flavors studded with citrus and smoke that is supported by a balanced finish.

Oregon Single Malt Whiskey is available at all Rogue meeting halls and at select retailers throughout the United States. For more information, please visit Rogue.com and the Rogue Spirits blog.

About Rogue Ales and Spirits

Rogue Ales & Spirits is an agri-fermenter founded in Oregon in 1988, as one of America’s first microbreweries. Rogue has won more than 1,700 awards for taste, quality and packaging and is available in all 50 states as well as 54 countries. Since 2008, Rogue has remained committed to saving the terroir of Oregon hops, barley, rye, wheat, honey, jalapenos, pumpkins and marionberries one acre at a time by growing their own.