ICE EDITION SPARKLES WITH USC CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY

SCORING 99 OUT OF 100

Highland Park ICE Edition, distributed by Maxxium UK, has been awarded Ultimate Spirits Challenge’s (USC) highest award of excellence in the single malt Scotch category.

Achieving an outstanding score of 99 out of 100, ICE Edition has earned the accolade of Chairman’s Trophy.  This award is only granted for the highest rated products considered to be the best by their competitive performance among their peers in each product category.

Jason Craig, Brand Director, Highland Park, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be recognised with the Chairman’s Trophy for our ICE Edition. This award will sit proudly in our international trophy cabinet.

“Our Master Whisky Maker showed great bravery to break from Highland Park’s traditional sherry cask and aromatic peat house style to release our first ever solely bourbon cask aged single malt whisky. These prestigious awards focus on the quality and consistency of the finest spirits in the world and the recognition warms our Viking soul.”

Other accolades for Highland Park included a score of 98 points, for our 18 year old (awarded Finalist and Tried and True Award) and 96 points was awarded to both Highland Park’s 12 year old and 15 year old.

Now in its seventh year, the Ultimate Spirits Challenge led by chairman, F. Paul Pacult, included many of the world’s most famous spirits authorities as part of the New York-based judging panel.

USC judging chairman and founder, F. Paul Pacult, commented: “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 category with greater in-depth attention and analytical precision, resulting in truer, more accurate assessments.”  

Notes: 

Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park Single Malt Scotch Whisky is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world. For over 217 years, the distillery has combined time old tradition and the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection.   

TASTING NOTES:  HIGHLAND PARK ICE EDITION – 17 year old – 53.9% ABV 

Colour:  Naturally radiant and vivid in colour; glacial, mirror-like brightness

Nose:  Vivid aromas of cool, fresh pineapple and ripe mango sorbet come to life – in this celebration of glacial character.  Silvery shards of smoke give way to the frosty kick of root ginger.

Palate:  Like the Ice Giants themselves, the palate is powerful yet mellifluous.  In true Highland Park style, the combination of a silvery, misty peat smoke is inter-twined with pearlescent vanilla seeds and overtones of molten orris root.

Finish: Beautifully balanced, the creamy, rich, oily finish snowballs into long lingering woodiness and dry, feverish spices, providing a scintillating and harmonious whisky to savour.

www.highlandpark.co.uk/

AMRUT TAKES ANOTHER BIG HAUL; WINS 3 GOLD AWARDS FOR QUALITY AT MONDE SELECTION, BRUSSELS

Amrut has done it again, this time bringing in a haul of 3 Gold Awards in the 2016 World Quality Selections by Monde Selection, Brussels. The organizing committee and the jury have bestowed upon the award for the following three expressions of Amrut Single Malt Whisky

1. Amrut Spectrum Indian Single Malt Whisky – Gold Award

2. Amrut Portonova Single Malt Whisky – Gold Award

3. Amrut Intermediate Sherry Matured Single Malt Whisky – Gold Award

We are extremely delighted to share this with you and would like to remember you and thank you for taking this journey with us! We at Amrut are proud & thankful not just of our awards but our community of consumers, importers, reviewers and admirers all around the world.

Please feel free to use this information in your communications, promotions or anything that you may intend to do to promote the brand. Do find below the link to download the medal:

MEDAL DOWNLOAD LINK: Click Here

Do write back in case you’d need more information. The formal ceremony of the giving away of awards will be held in Budapest on the 30th of May, 2016.

IRISH DISTILLERS CROWNED WITH TOP ACCOLADES AT SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITON AND WORLD WHISKIES AWARDS 

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard continues to lead the field in the Irish whiskey category with top honours at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) and World Whiskies Awards (WWA)

Redbreast 21, from Ireland’s most awarded single pot still Irish whiskey range, was awarded ‘Best in Show’ at SFWSC, overcoming all other whiskeys – not only Irish but Scotch, American and from the rest of world. In an equally impressive feat, Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton, was crowned World’s Best Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey at WWA,

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard collected an outstanding haul of awards across its portfolio of Irish whiskeys in both competitions:

• Redbreast 21, ‘Best in Show’ (SFWSC)
• Green Spot Chateau Leoville Barton, World’s Best Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey (WWA)
• Redbreast 12, Gold Medal: Single Pot Still Whiskey (WWA)
• Jameson Caskmates, Gold Medal: Irish Blended Whiskey no age statement (WWA)
• Jameson Original, Category Winner: Irish Blended Whiskey no age statement (WWA)
• Midleton Very Rare, Best Blended Irish Whiskey and Double Gold medal (SFWSC)
• Redbreast 15, Double Gold medal (SFWSC)
• Redbreast 12 Cask Strength, Double Gold medal (SFWSC)
• Yellow Spot, Gold medal (SFWSC)
• Powers Signature Release, Gold medal (SFWSC)
• Redbreast 12, Gold medal (SFWSC)

In total, The Midleton Distillery claimed 20 awards across the two prestigious competitions. Commenting on the awards, Brian Nation, Master Distiller, stated that, “These awards are testament to the dedication and commitment of the passionate craftspeople at the Midleton Distillery; past and present. We should remember that many of the whiskeys that are receiving plaudits today were imagined and distilled many years ago and are now being brought to life by our current team of very skilled whiskey makers”

Now in its 16^th year, San Francisco World Spirits Challenge is one of the most influential spirits competitions in the world, widely recognised as one of the most reliable indicators of excellence in spirits.

World Whiskies Awards are part of the World Drinks Awards programme, launched in 2007. Presented by Whisky magazine and TheDrinksReport.com, World Whiskies Awards reward and promote the best whiskies to consumers and trade across the world.

Notes

About Irish Distillers Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers, John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company. In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the company decided to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility alongside the existing distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork. Irish Distillers was bought by Pernod Ricard in June 1988 and today, Jameson is the No.1 Irish whiskey in the world, selling over 4 million 9L cases worldwide and contributing more than any other Irish whiskey brand to the phenomenal global growth of the category. Irish Distillers is committed to driving continued, sustainable growth of the Irish whiskey category.

Irish Distillers’ portfolio of whiskeys is comprised of Jameson, the world’s no.1 Irish whiskey; Irish favourite Paddy; Powers, the robust premium whiskey for discerning drinkers; and the much-acclaimed brands that comprise the Irish Distillers’ Prestige Collection – the Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton which includes the Spot range (Green Spot, Yellow Spot) and Redbreast, Ireland’s most awarded single pot still whiskey brand – and the pinnacle of the Prestige Collection, Midleton Very Rare. www.irishdistillers.ie

About Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,558 million in 2014/15. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier- Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

BUFFALO TRACE VOTED BEST STRAIGHT BOURBON

Judges select their favorites at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (April 12, 2016) Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was distinguished as “Best Straight Bourbon” at the 16^th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition where a record-breaking 1,899 entries were submitted for a blind tasting.

Thirty-nine of the industry’s finest spirits experts reviewed each entry before ultimately awarding Buffalo Trace with its celebrated Double Gold Medal. Seven additional medals were awarded to other Buffalo Trace Distillery brands.

Double Gold

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Gold

• Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye Whiskey
• Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Wheatley Vodka

Silver

• Stagg Jr. Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

• Hancock’s Reserve Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

“We’re extremely honored to accept these awards,” Master Distiller Harlen Wheatley, said. “Quite humbling to be recognized among the world’s best.”

Complete results for the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found here.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/.

Launching the Jim Beam Devil’s Cut, Jim Beam Double Oak and Jim Beam Apple

– Also introducing other renewed Jim Beam brand products –

Beam Suntory’s Japan business (Suntory Spirits Limited) is newly launching bourbon whiskies Jim Beam Devil’s Cut and Jim Beam Double Oak and the liqueur Jim Beam Apple of the Jim Beam brand, from July 5 in Japan.

As the popularity of Whiskey-Highball drinks continues to increase, the mild flavor of our bourbon whiskey Jim Beam and the television commercials featuring television personality Rola have been well received, contributing to the large 62% year-on-year growth in sales volume for 2015.

Now, in order to promote the Jim Beam brand’s wide range of unique character, bourbon whiskies Jim Beam Devil’s Cut and Jim Beam Double Oak as well as the liqueur Jim Beam Apple are being newly added to the lineup.
At the same time, the packaging of Jim Beam Black, Jim Beam Rye will be renewed and Jim Beam Honey will renew its taste and packaging, in order to reinforce the Jim Beam brand.

Jim Beam Devil’s Cut
This is blended by using its unique method of extracting unblended bourbon whiskey trapped inside the cask in which bourbon was aged. It is characterized by the deep aroma of oak with a taste of bitterness.

Jim Beam Double Oak
This uses unblended bourbon whiskey that was aged a second time in a new American white oak cask, following four years of aging in a different bourbon cask. It is distinguished by a flavor that is sweet and smooth like caramel.

Jim Beam Apple
This is Apple liqueur infused with Kentucky Straight Bourbon and taste smooth, mild and refreshing taste.

Discover the secrets of Speyside Distillery during Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Speyside Distillery – the home of SPEY whisky – is opening its doors to the public for the second year in a row for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. Visitors to the Festival – which takes place from Thursday April 28 to Monday May 2 – will have the rare opportunity to see inside the picturesque distillery at exclusive behind the scenes tours and tastings.

For 360 days of the year, the skills behind producing SPEY whisky is kept a closely guarded secret as the distillery is not open to the general public.

But all that changes during the Festival – a five-day celebration of Scotland’s most famous export – when a small group of lucky visitors get to discover the secret for themselves and see what goes on behind the distillery’s closed doors.

Distillery manager Sandy Jamieson, who has 37 years of experience in the industry, says that feedback from last year’s Festival was extremely positive and he’s looking forward to doing it all over again.

He adds, “Last year we were the newcomers to the Festival, so we didn’t really know what to expect. The entire five days went by so quickly and by the end we were all overwhelmed with all the fantastic responses we received from visitors.

“It was great meeting with whisky enthusiasts who were all extremely interested in SPEY whisky and how it’s created. As the distillery is not normally open to the public, people get a real feel for how the place runs on a day-to-day basis. It’s always really rewarding meeting people who are genuinely interested in what we do.

“We keep the groups quite small, as we’re a small distillery, so it’s very personal and they’re able to ask questions and interact with me throughout.”

The picturesque distillery, which is located near Kingussie in the south of the Speyside region, is hosting exclusive distillery tours on each day of the Festival.

Guests will then have the chance to participate in nosing and tasting of four of Sandy’s specially selected single malts, which will include expressions with vintage or cask finishes such as bourbon, sherry or port.

The ticket price of £30 also includes tea, coffee and light bites, and there may be an opportunity to view Speyside Distillery’s artist in residence Joanna Miller at work. Joanna is a former student of the Princes School of Traditional Arts and has provided artistic links between SPEY and the school. She specialises in print making, with a special interest in screen printing.

This year, visitors have the chance to take home a bottle to remind them about their experience. An exclusive retail shop will be set up selling a range of rare and limited edition SPEY bottlings that are not available anywhere else in the world. The shop can only be accessed by Festival visitors, and will close down as soon as the curtain falls on the event.

Festival-goers will also be able to sit back, relax and enjoy the taste of SPEY whisky whilst on board the Strathspey Steam Railway. Speyside Distillery is providing afternoon tea with a whisky-infused twist – an on-board nosing and tasting of four different expressions and two limited editions, all accompanied by sandwiches, scones, cakes, tea and coffee. Tickets are priced at £35.

Tickets for all of the events at Speyside Distillery are available to buy now through the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival website, http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/ The Festival comprises almost 500 different events, including distillery tours, whisky tasting, food events and music.

Speyside Distillery, home of the SPEY brand of malt whisky, has been in production since 1990 and is operated by Speyside Distillers Ltd. For further information about Speyside Distillery, visit http://www.speysidedistillery.co.uk/ and info@speysidedistillers.co.uk. Follow Speyside Distillery on Twitter @SpeySingleMalt and on Facebook at facebook.com/speysidedistillery

Picture caption – Distillery manager Sandy Jamieson will be leading tours at Speyside Distillery which is opening its doors exclusively for the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

The ultimate expression of handcrafted excellence! Composed of specially selected casks of single malt Scotch whisky (80%) and carefully matured Scottish grain whisky (20%) for binding purposes, the youngest whiskies contained within are a minimum 40 years old. Varying amounts of whisky from former American Bourbon barrels, European hogsheads and former Sherry butts (70 originating from the Speyside region, 25% from the Highlands and 5% from the Lowlands) were married together at 25 years old. After an additional 15 years of aging, this whisky was finished in sherry casks, originating from Jerez, for an additional six months before bottling.

 The Classic Cask 40yo

Tasting Notes

COLOR: Deep burnished gold

NOSE: Rich, fruity, dark vanilla, raisins & hints of Demerara rum

PALATE: Nutty with hazelnuts, oak and hints of spice.

FINISH: Extraordinarily long with traces of cedar and bits of fig

Cask and Barrel Club · 10208 NW 50th Street · Sunrise, FL 33351 · USA

Local Distilleries Fight For Level Playing Field At Iowa Legislature

Des Moines, IA, April 1, 2016 – Small, locally owned breweries, wineries and distilleries are a popular tourist draw all across Iowa. Many people enjoy sitting up to the bar to enjoy a local brew or opening a bottle of wine while listening to live music at their neighborhood winery. But according to Iowa law, you can’t enjoy these same privileges at Iowa distilleries. That’s something small Iowa liquor manufacturers are asking lawmakers to change.

House File 2431 has been discussed at length this session. The bill would allow Iowa distilleries to sell the spirits they make by the glass in their tasting rooms. The bill would also increase the current daily sales limit from two bottles per person, per day to a standard twelve bottle case. Lastly, the bill would increase a state-imposed production cap that limits the amount of spirits a micro-distillery can make annually. Currently, wineries and breweries in Iowa can sell by the glass and by the bottle with no sales or production limits.

“We feel like this is a fair bill that addresses legitimate issues for small Iowa businesses.” said Garrett Burchett, owner and distiller at Mississippi River Distilling Company in LeClaire, Iowa. “We aren’t asking for special treatment. We’re asking for equal treatment. Since we opened five years ago, a winery and brewery have both opened within a block of our distillery. Our customers expect to enjoy a similar experience when they come to our business, but Iowa law doesn’t allow for it.”

The bill has met with bi-partisan support at the ground level. The bill passed unanimously through the House State Government Committee earlier this session and also passed through the House Ways and Means Committee, with overwhelming support. However, since that time, the bill has not been able to see a vote on the House floor.

Lawmakers in both the House and Senate have voiced support. It is supported by the Iowa Chamber Alliance, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, the Iowa Corn Growers and the Iowa Association of Business and Industry.

“We see this as an economic development bill.” said Jason Gordon, Vice President of Public Affairs for the Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce. “It promotes jobs and tourism across the state as a whole, and supports small businesses and entrepreneurialism. We’ve seen so far that these types of attractions really benefit both our cities and our rural areas. We’ve already seen distilleries choose other states instead of Iowa because of these limitations in Iowa Code. We continue to ask the Legislature for support in changing that.” Each State that borders Iowa has made similar changes that match or far exceed those proposed in HF 2431. Over eighty percent of states nationwide have adopted changes for distilleries including an almost identical bill in Kentucky on Monday the 28^th of March.

“We’re hearing that leadership in both chambers isn’t willing to move it forward without approval of the Iowa Beer Wholesalers, who, along with their large out-of-state beer suppliers, are the only organizations registered against the bill.” Said Jeff Quint, owner and distiller at Cedar Ridge Distillery in Swisher, Iowa. “This is an industry we should be laying claim to. Right now, every state surrounding us has adopted code changes that give them advantages we have been unable to obtain in our own state government.”

The political clout of the Iowa Beer Wholesalers does appear to be a big road block. According to the National Institute of Money in State Politics, the organization contributed $142,125 to Iowa Legislature candidates from 2008 to present. Of that money, $48,250 went to the campaigns of former House Speaker Kraig Paulsen, R-Hiawatha, current House Speaker Linda Upmeyer, R-Clear Lake, and Senate Majority Leader Michael Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.

The Iowa Distillers Alliance, with help from the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, has set up a website at www.IowaDistillery.com that allows Iowans to easily contact their lawmakers through an online form. As the session winds down, Iowa distillers are hoping lawmakers will look past campaign contributions to help small Iowa businesses. “There’s still time to do what is right.” said Todd Dunkel, owner and distiller at Iowa Distilling Company in Cuming, Iowa. “There’s too much upside for this bill to be ignored again this session.”

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival hits all the right notes with music event line up

Whisky isn’t the only iconic Scottish tradition that will be drawing people to Speyside over the next few weeks. In addition to drams galore, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival will be filled with the sound of music from April 28 to May 2 as visitors will have the opportunity to enjoy a whole host of one-of-a-kind musical events.

The jam-packed festival programme takes place over five days in various locations across the scenic Speyside region. People have the chance to ride the Whisky Line and find their dancing shoes to join a traditional Scottish ceilidh on a train, or find the perfect marriage of whisky and music with an event matching vintage whisky with vintage jazz.

Music features strongly on the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme, which has almost 500 different events to choose from across five fun-filled days. In addition to music there’s also whisky tastings, distillery tours, food events and comedy, ensuring there is something for everyone.

An impressive line-up of acts has been scheduled, and there’s certainly no shortage of home grown talent performing throughout the Festival. The Fochabers Fiddlers will be supporting singer Shona Brown at the Spirit of Speyside Sessions on Saturday, April 30 at Fleming Hall in Aberlour, while local act Footerin’ Aboot will be the ceilidh band playing on the Keith – Dufftown Railway Line on 29 and 30 April.

Accordionist Sandy Brechin, fiddler Charlie McKerron – member of world renowned Celtic band Capercaillie – and vocalist Brian Ó’hEadhra will be performing their own unique and entertaining musical compositions on April 28 at The Drouthy Cobbler in Elgin and on April 29 at The Fleming Hall.

Music will be on the menu all day at The Malt Barn at Glenlivet Distillery Open Day on April 30. Visitors will be able to catch performances from Glasgow-based Scottish folk band, Barluath – including lead vocalist and BBC Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2015 Finalist Ainsley Hamill,  Footerin’ Aboot, and The Bicycle Thieves, who perform covers from across the decades.

The Craigellachie Hotel will be holdings its own DogFest – an event named after its popular Copper Dog bar that includes 10 different bands and a hog roast. The line-up includes The Whisky River Boat Band, The Copper Dogs, Chris Grant and Sons O The Soil and takes place on both the Friday and Saturday of the Festival from 5pm until midnight.

In addition to these highlights, there are daily music performances taking place at a huge number of Festival venues.

Festival manager Pery Zakeri says the feedback after music events at the Festival are always extremely positive, resulting in high demand for tickets.

She adds, “Putting whisky and music events together is a natural pairing in which visitors always love to get involved. To have such a talented selection of Scottish musicians playing at the Festival shows that not only are we celebrating Scotland’s national drink, but we’re honouring Scotland’s customs and traditions as a whole.

“The wide range of performers taking part is very much in keeping with our Festival theme of providing something for everyone. You don’t even have to be a fan of traditional music, as the huge of variety of music genres available throughout the Festival are sure to satisfy even the most specialist of tastes.

“Whisky drinkers are all different, so it’s important to offer a varied selection of music events for people to enjoy whilst still retaining an element of Scottish culture.”

There are a number of events during the Festival which incorporate the best of Scottish music, food and whisky, giving a true reflection of the values and heritage that lies behind the beautiful region of Speyside.

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

Captions

MBO – Accordionist Sandy Brechin, fiddler Charlie McKerron – member of world renowned Celtic band Capercaillie – and vocalist Brian Ó’hEadhra will be performing at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

Benromach Imperial Proof wins top award in the USA 

A Benromach single malt whisky has scooped a top award at a prestigious international spirits competition in San Francisco.

Benromach Imperial Proof, launched last year in the USA, was named Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch in the category for Scotch whisky up to 12 Years Old. It is sold as Benromach 100° Proof in the UK and other markets.

More than 1,850 entries from around the world were judged by a panel of 39 industry experts including journalists, bartenders, hoteliers and drinks retailers.

And as Distillery Manager Keith Cruickshank explained: “Recognition for our classic pre-1960s style Speyside single malt is always welcome and this is a particularly highly regarded competition worldwide. We only recently launched the Imperial Proof in the US market so we’re pleased it has won this accolade.”

Benromach 10 Years Old also collected a Double Gold Medal which is awarded to spirits which are deemed to be outstanding and earned top marks from all the judges on the panel.

Regarded as one of the most respected and influential spirits competitions in the world, the San Francisco World Spirits Competition brings together a panel of carefully selected experts. With an emphasis on integrity and impartiality, all the judging is carried out using blind tastings.

Benromach Imperial Proof is bottled at 57% alc/vol and has the same classic Benromach style that draws its influence from Speyside whiskies of the pre-1960s. It is sold in the UK and other markets as Benromach 100° Proof. But as “proof” is interpreted differently in the USA from the UK, a change of name was needed when it was launched for the US market.

Benromach 10 Years Old is a classic Speyside single malt handcrafted by just three distillers. It is the flagship single malt in a range which includes Benromach 15 Years Old, Benromach Peat Smoke and Benromach Organic.

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was revived when leading whisky specialists Gordon & MacPhail purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five-year period to create a Speyside single malt whisky in a classic pre-1960s style.

For further information on Benromach please visit www.benromach.com.        

Notes 

Originally built in 1898, Benromach Distillery was brought back to life when leading whisky specialists Gordon & MacPhail purchased it in 1993. The distillery was extensively re-equipped over a five-year period before it was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in 1998.

In reopening Benromach Distillery, Gordon & MacPhail decided to create a classic Speyside single malt – a style that draws its influence from Speyside whiskies pre-1960s.

Benromach Distillery is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres. A four-star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach Distillery is a member of the world famous malt whisky trail.

Benromach Imperial Proof 

Benromach Imperial Proof is a 10 Years Old single malt whisky with a distinctive golden amber colour. Sherry aromas lead, followed by stewed apple, pear and vanilla, with toasted malt aromas complementing an underlying menthol edge. Notes of cracked black pepper with juicy fresh strawberry and raspberry lead on the tongue, with hints of orange peel and milk chocolate, combined with a delicate smoky finish.

In the USA the term “proof” is defined by alcohol content so a spirit with 50% alcohol is described as 100° proof. In the UK, a product described as 100° Proof is 57% alc/vol – higher than the 50% alc/vol the term would indicate in the USA.

Benromach 10 Years Old 

Benromach 10 Years Old is created from the finest Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. After being matured for at least 10 years, it emerges golden in colour and displays rich fruit, sweet chocolate and delicate spicy aromas. With a rich sherry influence, the mouth-watering palate coats the senses with exotic fruit flavours, toasted malt and a delicate hint of smoke.