Old Forester, the Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky, is partnering with The Whisky Shop to offer shoppers a unique opportunity to meet Brand President, Campbell Brown. Through an exclusive tasting, shoppers will have the chance to meet the great great grandson of the brand’s founder – George Garvin Brown – whose signature remains on the bottle today.

Held at The Whisky Shop’s flagship store in Piccadilly on 7th December, guests will be welcomed with the brand’s signature serve, the Whisky Smash. Old Forester’s Master Bourbon Specialist – Jacquelyn Zykan – will join Campbell and, together, they will take guests on a journey of the whisky’s unique history. As the only bourbon to be bottled pre, during and post prohibition, the tasting is a one-of-a-kind opportunity to discover this special whisky and learn about its heritage, which is as rich as its taste.

Date: Monday 7th December

Time: 5.30 – 7pm

Location: 70 Piccadilly, London, W1J 8HP

Cost: Free; to book a place, call The Whisky Shop on 020 7499 6649

 ONE OF THE SCARCEST WHISKIES IN THE WORLD AT BONHAMS CHRISTMAS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH

The Royal Brackla 60 year-old 1924, estimated at £3,500-4,500

Bonhams Annual Christmas rare and fine whisky sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 9 December features one of the scarcest whiskies in the world – a bottle of The Royal Brackla 60 year-old 1924 estimated at £3,500-4,500.

The Royal Brackla 60 year-old 1924 was never officially released by the distillery and its appearance on the market has a fascinating history.  In 1985, over-production within the industry led to Royal Brackla’s closure. In 1991, its owner, United Distillers, decided to re-open the distillery. To mark the occasion, casks, which had been found in 1984 lying undisturbed in one of the warehouses and subsequently bottled at James Buchanan & Co., were released from bond.

This special issue of 62 bottles of very rare 60 year old Royal Brackla was presented to local dignitaries who attended the re-opening ceremony and to the workforce whose hard work had ensured the distillery was ready to resume production on time.

Leading the sale in value is a single lot of the Bowmore Trilogy. The three bottles – Black Bowmore-42 year old-1964, released in 2007; White Bowmore-43 year old-1964 released in 2008 and Gold Bowmore-44 year old-1964 released in 2009 – are much sought after by whisky connoisseurs and collectors. The Bowmore Trilogy is estimated at £12,000-14,000.

Other bottles in the sale include The Macallan Select Reserve-52 year old-1946 estimated at £5,000-6,000 and Dalmore-50 year old-1926 with an estimate of £4,000-5,000.

Bonhams Whisky Specialist Martin Green said, “This is a particularly strong sale and I’d happily settle in front of the Christmas fire with a glass from any of the bottles we have on offer.  If I had to pick a favourite, however, I’d go for the Royal Brackla 60 year-old for its incredible rarity. I’ve never been lucky enough to try it so this would be the perfect opportunity.”

NOTES

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. Today, the auction house offers more sales than any of its rivals. The main salerooms are in London, New York and Hong Kong. Sales are also held in the UK in Knightsbridge and Edinburgh; in the US, in San Francisco and Los Angeles; in Europe, in Paris and Stuttgart and in Sydney, Australia. Bonhams also has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of forthcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.

Secure the ultimate Christmas gift for the whiskey lover in your life with an exclusive membership to the Boann Cask Society and Boann Cask Collection 

Ireland’s newest craft distillery offers two unique opportunities to become part of the revival of Irish whiskey, the Irish whiskey Renaissance 

Looking for the perfect present for the whiskey lover in your life? Why not consider gifting them with exclusive membership to the Boann Cask Society and Boann Cask Collection, which will allow members to become part of history in the making of Ireland’s newest and most innovative craft distillery.

Located in the heart of the Boyne Valley and opening in 2016, the Boann Distillery will create the finest whiskeys from specially designed nano-copper pot stills in its state of the art distillery in Drogheda, Co Louth.

The Cooney family, creators of the Boann Distillery, are excited about the distillery nearing completion and are keen for whiskey lovers to play a role in the renaissance of Irish Whiskey. The distillery will honour the timeless tradition of Ireland’s master distillers by creating the finest Irish Malt and Pot Still Whiskeys for discerning drinkers and collectors around the world. From milling to mashing, distilling, maturing and bottling, every drop of Boann malt and pot still whiskey is crafted within the quietude of the unique family distillery.

Boann Distillery Head Distiller, Ainé O’Hora, learnt her trade from the internationally renowned Master Distiller, John McDougall. He is the only man alive to have distilled all five types of Scotch whiskey and Irish whiskey. Their shared passion and wealth of knowledge means every detail of Boann Distillery has been meticulously considered. 

The Boann Cask Collection price is €650 for 10 bottles over 10 years. 

Boann Cask Society prices start at €5,800  + Excise Duty + VAT. This is a lifestyle investment for your generation and the next.

Speaking about the Boann Cask Society, Ainé O’Hora, Head Distiller, at Boann Distillery said:

“Anyone who loves and appreciates the craft of whiskey will understand what a wonderful and unique opportunity the Boann Cask Society presents. It truly is the ultimate gift for whiskey lovers. We are very excited to welcome our 500 Cask Society Members and look forward to a long and rewarding journey with them.  I’m so proud to be involved with such a beautiful product and I’m excited to share that experience with our members.” 

Benefits of becoming a member of the Boann Cask Society

• As a Boann Cask Society Member, you will own one of the first five hundred whiskey casks, complete with certificate of authenticity and named cask.
• You can fill your own cask at the distillery and bottle it once it has matured.
• You can choose Irish Malt or Irish Pot Still Whiskey and decide which barrel to mature it in – Bourbon, Sherry, Port, with a choice of finishes. John or Ainé will be available to meet with you for guidance on the finishes.
• You can enjoy personal tastings of your whiskey cask with our Head Distiller. Alternatively, Boann Distillery will send you a taster every year, on your cask’s birthday.
• You will receive an exclusive Boann Cask Society loyalty card, which offers a 10% discount on all purchases at the distillery plus priority booking of events.
• You will be rewarded with a limited edition Boann Distillery Tasting Book to record your whiskey adventure.
• You will receive a special invitation to the Boann Cask Society Party, held once a year.
• You will have your cask stored safely for you, for a minimum of three years in the Boann Cellar.
• You will experience a once in a liftetime hands on experience through the distilling, filling, maturation, ageing, blending, bottling, appreciation and enjoyment of the wonderful world of whiskey.

Boann Cask prices start at €5,800  + Excise Duty + VAT. This is a lifestyle investment for your generation and the next. 

Benefits of becoming a member of the Boann Cask Collection 

• As a Boann Cask Collection Member you will own exclusive bottlings from our distillers choice casks, hand picked as they mature in our cellar and selected by our Master Distiller, as the best expressions of our signature style.

• This offer is a 10 bottle, 10 year plan in which you will receive a bottle of the maturing malt whiskey from one year spirit, two year spirit, three year old whiskey, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten year old whiskey, building a unique and covetable vertical collection of our special whiskeys, all with a unique limited edition label. 

The Boann Cask Collection price is €650 for 10 bottles over 10 years.  

About the Boann Distillery

The Boann Distillery and Visitor Centre, a state-of -the-art distillery in the heart of the Boyne Valley, is due to open in 2016.

The Drogheda based facility will include a whiskey distillery ,craft brewery and taproom , an architecturally designed visitor centre which will host distillery and brewery tours, 120 seater restaurant , whiskey snug , private event space, a gift shop and a botanical rooftop garden.

With plans to produce craft whiskey, gin and an innovative range of craft beers for the domestic and export markets, craft beer production is already underway in the 50,000sq ft building located in the lush Boyne Valley countryside.

The Boann Distillery and Boyne Brewhouse is the brainchild of the Cooney family, who have a long history in the Irish drinks industry. Nearly 40 years ago, Pat Cooney and his late brother bought a bottling company in Tipperary called M & J Gleeson. The company started manufacturing soft drinks around 1978 and in 1986, established the Tipperary Water brand. Over the following years, the company made a number of acquisitions, including Finches soft drinks and the Gilbeys wine portfolio. In 2012, Pat Cooney sold part of the Gleeson Group to C&C and retained the Cream Liqueur and Cider facilities.

It has always been a Cooney family dream to lead a renaissance of Irish whiskey from their homeland of Drogheda and the dream has now become a reality with the opening of the new Boann Distillery and Boyne Brewhouse. Together with Cream Liqueur and Cider they hope to cover the four pillars of the Irish Drinks Industry. Pat, his wife Marie and four of their children are involved in running the business.

INTRODUCING THE ARDMORE PORT WOOD FINISH

The Ardmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, has launched The Ardmore Port Wood Finish.

The new expression is distilled with the same traditional methods used at the distillery since 1898, before being double-cask matured for 12 years in traditional American white oak ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in European half port pipes.

The release of The Ardmore Port Wood Finish follows the success of The Ardmore Legacy, which replaced Ardmore Traditional Cask as the distillery’s core expression. A lightly peated, sweet dram, The Ardmore Legacy offers the ideal introduction to peated single malts.

The newest member of this emerging portfolio, The Ardmore Port Wood Finish is a unique expression with a touch of sweetness. Ruby gold in colour this single malt is full of spiced fruits with a subtle smoky finish.

Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director, Maxxium UK said: “Following the success of The Ardmore Legacy, which has established its status in the peated single malt category, the launch of The Ardmore Port Wood Finish further cements the quality and taste of the brand’s portfolio.

“The Ardmore Port Wood Finish is an excellent whisky made using the same traditional distilling methods for over 100 years. It is a unique and premium expression – with notes of sweet red apple and honey with the subtlest hint of charcoal smoke and a smooth, long, lingering finish culminating in the trademark Ardmore dryness – it is a whisky that offers a taste that sets it apart.”

The Ardmore Port Wood Finish is bottled at 46% ABV and is available from specialist whisky retailers at the RRP of £49.99.

The Ardmore Port Wood Finish

Colour: Ruby Gold

Nose: Initial nose of strawberries and summer fruits with a hint of pepper. Notes of burnt orange and cinnamon spice underlie. With water, the rich fruit aromas of red apple and cranberry intensify accompanied by sweet honey and subtle spiced wood notes

Palate: Sweet red apple and honey with the subtle hint of charcoal smoke

Finish: Initially smooth with a long lingering finish culminating in the trademark Ardmore dryness

 46% ABV. Non-chill filtered.

Notes

• Founded in 1898 by Wm. Teacher & Sons, The Ardmore distillery continues to uphold traditional distilling methods and uses only the aromatic smoke from natural, Highland peat fires to dry its malted barley.
• The Ardmore distillery stands proudly on the fringes of the Highlands, draws its water from the nearby hills and sits beside a railway line that was once at the heart of the industrial revolution at Kennethmont, Scotland.
• Ardmore Traditional Cask has numerous awards and accolades including Double Gold at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Gold (Exceptional) at the 2009 International Review of Spirits (BTI) and Gold and Best in Class in the 2008 International Wine & Spirit Competition.
• The Ardmore has a long standing history with the golden eagle, which nest by the distillery, and supports the protection and conservation of eagles through its partnership with the RSPB.

Maxxium UK Ltd is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Inc and Edrington.

Its UK portfolio of premium brands includes: blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse and Teacher’s), malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Ardmore), imported whiskey (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Canadian Club), cognac and brandy (Courvoisier and Fundador), sherry (Harveys), vodka (Stolichnaya), tequila (Sauza), rum (Brugal and Cruzan), liqueurs and specialities (Sourz, Bols liqueurs, Galliano, Vaccari, After Shock), No 3 Gin. For further information on our brands and how to enjoy them, log on to http://www.mixxit.co.uk/.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the flagship Jim Beam bourbon and Yamazaki Japanese whisky, as well as world renowned premium brands including Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s,  Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.  The company generates annual worldwide sales of approximately $4.6 billion excluding excise taxes.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial culture.  Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit http://www.beamsuntory.com/ and www.drinksmart.com.

A Vintage Celebration for A D Rattray

The team at A D Rattray independent bottlers were surprised this week when they were each presented with a bottle of 50 year old single cask whisky. The Girvan Grain 1964 Cask No 0002 is the first to be bottled as part of their Vintage Cask Collection, a new range which the company have recently added to their award-winning portfolio. Mr Tim Morrison, owner of A D Rattray and the A D Rattray Whisky Experience & Whisky Shop, said he was delighted to be able to thank everyone for their hard work over the years in this special way.

Known for quality single cask bottlings, A D Rattray pride themselves on the careful selection and monitoring of their casks, only bottling when they reach their prime.   Occasionally an older cask of exceptional quality will be rewarded with beautiful packaging and inclusion in the new range. 255 bottles of the Girvan Grain 1964 have been produced at cask strength (46.8%) appealing to collectors, whisky enthusiasts and anyone looking for that extra special whisky.

Mr Morrison said, “it is particularly fitting that this 50 year old is the first cask in our new Vintage Cask Collection range as it is the oldest whisky we have bottled to date and is from the nearest distillery to our headquarters – Girvan is just 7 miles down the road. There is also a strong family connection between the two companies as my father, Stanley P Morrison, and Charles Grant Gordon were friends and in fact I visited Girvan distillery on many occasions while it was being built in 1963. At that time I had just started working as part of the production and management team of Bowmore Distillery which had recently been acquired by my father. It all seems like a lifetime ago and to see a bottle of whisky which was distilled back then in the hands of my son, Andrew, the next generation of our family business, makes me very proud.”

Whisky from a bygone age – Girvan Grain 1964, A D Rattray’s Vintage Cask Collection

Tasting Note

Colour: Amber.

Nose: Deep and exquisite aromas of orange peel, dark chocolate truffles, Brazil nuts, nutmeg, rich honey and coconut.

Palate: Silky. Luscious vanilla, sweet oranges, banana bread, some liquorice and spicy notes.

Conclusion: Whisky from a bygone age, in an extraordinary fresh cask.

Notes

1. Vintage Cask Collection is available to buy from the A D Rattray Whisky Shop, Kirkoswald, Ayrshire KA19 8HY, Tel: 01655 760 308 and from selected UK and International retailers.
2. A D Rattray was founded in 1868 and has a reputation for their extensive knowledge and expertise in the whisky industry. They are best known for their Stronachie and Cask Islay brands and a range of top quality single cask bottlings, the A D Rattray Cask Collection.

ROYAL SALUTE MARRIES BLENDERS’ SKILL AND BRITISHCRAFTSMANSHIP

Royal Salute, the skilfully crafted and timeless Scotch whisky, is delighted to unveil The Age Collection – a tribute to legacy and longevity. Comprising ten distinctive blends with the youngest containing only whiskies 21 years or older and the oldest containing whiskies at least 30 years old, The Age Collection gives whisky collectors a unique ‘taste’ of the passage of time and experience the subtle flavour changes from blend to blend.

Hand blended by Royal Salute’s expert master blending team, The Age Collection ascends in age year by year, with each possessing a unique story. Blends that feature include whiskies from long closed distilleries to others stored only in first fill American oak barrels.

To reinforce the brand’s ongoing investigation on time, Royal Salute commissioned British creatives Sally Mackereth, from Studio Mackereth architects, and craft workshop Jack Badger. The Age Collection is presented on Mackereth’s designed rare handcrafted plinth carved by Jack Badger using 8,000 year old Neolithic wood taken from ancient river beds in the heart of Croatia. This second instalment follows the reveal of the Royal Salute Neolithic Bar, which debuted at Salone de Mobile, Milan earlier this year.

Each blend comes in a dark blue crystal decanter hand crafted using techniques dating back to the First Century AD by Dartington, a traditional glass manufacturer based in England.

Vadim Grigorian, Global Brand Director, Royal Salute said: “The Age Collection combines timeless tradition with contemporary understanding to create a celebration of longevity and dedication in the year Queen Elizabeth becomes Britain’s longest serving monarch. As sources of this naturally preserved material are very limited, this rare oak is the perfect way to display the time and craft behind these blends. The Age Collection unites time, craft and quality; all values encapsulated by Royal Salute.”

Sally Mackereth, Studio Mackereth says: “The rich dark timber we have used for the Royal Salute The Age Collection is from ancient trees that have been trapped in the rich peat of a riverbed in Croatia, which has been preserved it for 8,000 years from the natural decaying process. To witness the tree trunks being raised from their watery lair is an extraordinary sight. To have the opportunity to work with this ancient wood is a great privilege and the piece that we have designed consciously celebrates the beauty of nature and the passage of time.”

Ben Naylor, Director, Jack Badger said: “The morta wood used for the Age Collection plinths for Royal Salute is an elusive and rare wood. The material doesn’t need us to shout about it as the beauty of the wood truly does speak for itself. Once we shaped the ancient wood into the mountains and valleys, which the bottles nestle amongst, all that was left for us to do was to enhance the colour and patina of the wood’s rippling rich grain with a French polish, which amplifies the character and detail of this unique material.”

There are only 21 sets of The Age Collections (RRP $40,000) in existence – and Royal Salute has produced a one-off limited edition set for DFS Masters of Wines and Spirits 2015, with a unique and remarkable version of the plinth carved entirely from one single morta oak tree, formed when oak lies buried in waterlogged soil for thousands of years.

For further information about Royal Salute, please visit www.royalsalute.com.

Notes

A Taste of Time

Each of these blends is a bespoke, handcrafted one-off – they’ve been through no bottling plant, just hand mixed and bottled by our Master Blender in the sampling room over the course of months. After they’re finished – and we suggest you take it slowly – the world will never taste these pinnacles of the blender’s craft again.

Each begins with the big, rich finish of the classic Royal Salute blend.

The 21 Year Old is richer and sweeter than our signature 21 Years Old blend – there’s a high proportion of malt whisky added, bringing the voluptuous hints of toffee and peach. A sensual blend with a long finish.

Nose: Rich and sweet with notes of creamy toffee and ripe peaches in syrup.

Taste: Fondant orange smothered in milk chocolate, honeycomb candy and poached pears.

Finish: Long sweet and fruity.

The 22 Year Old contains a higher proportion ofmalts from first fill American oak barrels – the casks, full of maturation potential, are sweet, adding traces of vanilla and honey like a first kiss in the buds of spring, and the thrilling shiver of the tangy nights that follow.

Nose: Honey and vanilla in abundance, soft red apple toasted almond and a sensation of treacle toffee.

Taste: Runny honey and vanilla echoing the nose, sweet homemade orange marmalade with a touch of ginger.

Finish: Long and tangy.

The 23 Year Old is the old fashioned kind, containing somewhiskies from distilleries that are no longer in existence. This blend contributes totheir legacy – flavours that can never be reproduced, like the memory of your finest hour.

Nose: Old fashioned boiled sweets (barley sugar) vanilla, a touch of milk chocolate and hazelnuts.

Taste: Incredibly creamy, smooth and perfectly balanced. Concentrated vanilla with a mixture of luxurious ice cream texture and Peach Melba.

Finish: Medium and very slightly dry.

The 24 Year Old contains whiskies matured in top quality Hogsheads. The background of subtle, nutty oak recalls the quiet moments of the outsider with a purpose. Its finish is long and slightly dry – like the wit of a wise man.

Nose: Apricot jam, subtle sweet oak notes, crusty bread and creamy banoffee pie.

Taste: Replicates the nose perfectly with a rich creamy toffee and ripe banana flavours. Also a background of subtle nutty oak.

Finish: Long and dry.

The 25 Year Old blend is the most faithful to its family – the Royal Salute bedrock malts – including Strathisla – contribute perfectly to this blend’s character, with their hints of spice, cinnamon and sweet pink lady apples. The finish is sweet and smooth like the first moment of a long holiday.

Nose: Creamy toffee, moist Madeira cake and a touch of spicy liquorice root.

Taste: Sweet red apples (Pink Lady) soaked in honey and cinnamon, soft creamy caramel toffee.

Finish: Sweet and silky smooth.

The 26 Year Old boasts two brothers from a single Glen. Rich and delicate with the floral blossom of the gorse that surrounds them, its finish is long and sweet like a summer evening.

Nose: Soft ripe fruits, predominantly peaches in syrup, and delicate notes of vanilla and toasted oak.

Taste: Luxuriously sweet with rich fruity flavours, namely raspberry and soft fudge and a delicate floral blossom (gorse) note in the background.

Finish: Long and sweet.

The 27 Year Old contains a Speyside classic – a generous proportion of malts from the first legally distilled whisky in Scotland. You could say these are where the story of fine whisky began. Speyside malts are legendarily smooth and this elegant blend offers deep fruitcake flavours and a long, spicy, tangy finish.

Nose: Old fashioned pear drop sweets stewed plums, a touch of spicy gingerbread and moist sultanas.

Taste: Deep and fruity with a concentrated desert pear and rich fruitcake flavours.

Finish: Long, spicy and tangy.

The 28 Year Old is the rich fulfilment of the 23 year old’s promise – similar in style but softer, finer with the insolent demands of peaches and fudge claiming the tongue. Compare and contrast and feel the difference.

Nose: Notes of vanilla chocolate and ripe honeydew melon, sweet clementine orange and a sensation of bonfire smoke.

Taste: Engulfs the mouth with wonderful sweet fruity flavours (peach) allied with this are flavours of rich creamy raisin fudge.

Finish: Long, full and sweet.

The 29 Year Old contains whiskies that have been matured in sherry casks – European oak with the influence of the Spanish plains. Expect ripe damson plums and a long, sleepy finish – like drifting Andalucian afternoon.

Nose: Rich and spicy, raisin fruitcake and ripe damson plums and dark chocolate ginger sweets.

Taste: Perfectly complements the nose with the sweet and tangy flavours of dark chocolate and ripe plums followed by ginger, aniseed and liquorice.

Finish: Long and fruity.

The 30 Year Old is the venerable head of the clan – there are whiskies that are older than some European countries in this blend. Based on generous, tropical base notes of Speyside single malts and the rich, sweet creamy touch of Orkney malts, its long, sweet finish may never quite leave you.

Nose: Rich ripe pears, concentrated pineapple, almost tropical in appearance honeycomb candy smothered in milk chocolate.

Taste: Chocolate Orange liqueur sweets, moist raisins, rich sweet mango and pineapple, vanilla, incredibly creamy.

Finish: Long sweet and syrupy.

About Royal Salute

Royal Salute is a careful blend of matured malt and grain whiskies – with its youngest blend matured for a minimum of 21 years. Created to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the 21 gun salute that honoured her, the brand is steeped in tradition, but is firmly engaged in the modern world by constantly pushing the art of blending into new, creative and ambitious forms. Royal Salute is deeply involved in polo – the world’s oldest surviving team sport and a game that’s expanding in the modern era. The brand sponsors more than 15 international tournaments from the UK and the USA through Argentina and China to Korea.

www.royalsalute.com

About Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; The Glenlivet, the world’s No.1 single malt whisky; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.

www.chivasbrothers.com

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader 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 80 “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.

www.pernod-ricard.com

Amrut releases world’s first ever multi-wood barrel Single Malt Whisky – Amrut Spectrum ®

Amrut Distilleries, Bangalore known the world over for their popular single malts such as the Fusion, Naarangi, Herald and Greedy Angels have launched the Amrut Spectrum ® single malt, the first ever whisky in the world to be produced in a custom barrel made with not one,  but five different types of Oak. This whisky is expected to be at the forefront of innovation in the world of whisky and has anticipations running high amongst the whisky pros.

Malmo, Sweden.

Amrut Distilleries, based in Bangalore, India is a boutique distillery known for their award winning  single  malt  whiskies.  Amrut  recently  concluded  10  years after  the  launch  of their malts in 2004 in Glasgow, Scotland by N.R. Jagdale, the Managing Director through his son Rakshit  &  his  friend  Ashok.  The  brand  peaked  in  the  limelight  in  2010  when  acclaimed whisky writer, Jim Murray rated the Amrut Fusion with 97/100 points voting it the ‘3rd finest whisky in the world’ putting behind over 4000 whiskies. Amrut is also the only Indian whisky to feature in Ian Buxton’s ‘101 whiskies to have before you die’.

The  latest  offering  from  Amrut – the  Spectrum,  is  expected  to  put  Amrut  on  top  of  the game, yet again. To make this whisky, malts were initially matured for a period of 3 years in ex-Bourbon barrels after which they were transferred to a custom built barrel. This barrel was constructed at an undisclosed location in Europe with the help of a few experts. Whisky is traditionally  aged  in  a  barrel  made  of  one  type  of  wood,  which  lends  the  flavor  and complexities  to  the  malt,  however,  Amrut  wanted  to  experiment  with  a  barrel  with  five different  types  of  wood.  This  however  presented  a  challenge,  as  each  wood stave had different thickness and properties.

The  problem  was  addressed  in  Europe  with  an  indigenous  solution;  five  different  barrels were  made,  each  of  a  different  type  of  wood,  and  corresponding  staves  removed  to  be stitched  together  in  one  barrel.  The barrel therefore  consisted  of  a  mix  of  new  American Oak, new French Oak, new Spanish Oak, ex-PX cask sherry cask stave & ex-Olorosso sherry cask stave. The five different woods, some old, some new, were expected to unleash a level of complexity on the malt unlike ever before in the centuries of whisky making.

Testing the malt:
Once  the  malt  had  aged  in  these new casks  for  a  period  of three  and  a  half years  and  bottled,  Amrut  decided  to  take  another  bold  stand  by  not  releasing  the  tasting  notes themselves  and  let  the  consumers  decide.  So  off  went  Ashok  Chokalingam,  Senior  GM, International Operations, to Malmo, Sweden for a tasting session at the leading whisky club: Press Release – 12 November 2015 | Amrut Distilleries Private Limited, Bangalore, India.

Biskopen Gustavs Maltklubb. The session was also attended by Ingvar Ronde, the author of Malt Whisky Year Book, Sweden and he along with the 40 other people in attendance were absolutely amazed. To quote Ingvar after the tasting, “One of the most innovative whiskies I´ve tried in a long time and one of the best this year. With three years in ex bourbon barrels and another three and half years in casks made of – wait for it – new American oak, new French  oak,  new  Spanish  oak,  ex  PX  sherry  cask  stave  and  ex  Oloroso  sherry  cask  stave. That´s right, five different types of oak in one cask. I can´t remember when I last experienced such a complexity of flavours in one whisky and at the same time, everything was in balance. I  got  coffee,  chocolate,  tobacco,  cinnamon,  cardamom,  clove,  orange  preserve, sandalwood, walnuts, pecans, stracciatella and cocoa. This is pushing boundaries and whisky making at its best and I love it!”

Says Ashok after the tasting, “It is the most exciting time at the distillery. As a team we have stitched this together and yet another time pushed the boundaries of innovation in whisky making.  Perhaps  for  the  first  time,  we  have  asked  a  whisky  club  to  give a  go  on  Official Tasting  Notes.  In  a  way  I  am  happy  with  that  as  I  am  dealing  with  perhaps  the  most knowledgeable  consumer  group  in  the  world  on  single  malt  whiskies.  This  is  another approach  from  Amrut  to  show  the  inclusiveness  of  the  high  end  and  knowledgeable consumers to be part of our business. My sincere thanks to the people of Biskopen Gustavs Maltklubb for their contribution”

A limited release of 1000 bottles priced at £100/ bottle @ 50% abv, these malts will soon be available with select retailers in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Canada.

About Amrut Single Malt
Amrut Single Malt was launched in 2004 as an experiment by Amrut Distilleries, a Bangalore based conglomerate that started operations in 1948. Amrut was the first ever-Indian single malt  and  was  launched  in  Glasgow,  right  in  the  heart  of  Scotland.  The  whiskies  were received well across the world owing to their quality and have grown aggressively. Amrut now  bottles  around  18  expressions  of  single  malts,  which  are  sold  in  40  countries and growing.

Tasting Notes from Biskopen Gustavs Maltklubb
On the Nose: raisins, rum, nougat, figs, oranges, tiramisu, cocoa, caramel, coffee, dried fruit, burnt rubber
On  the  Palate: sherry,  rum,  butterscotch,  chocolate,  prunes,  molasses,  pecans,  walnuts, almonds, English wine gum
To the Finish: caramelized almonds, old cognac, apricots, Brazil nuts

Rebecca Creek Distillery Adds to its Repertoire with a New Version of Texas in a Glass

Texas Single Malt Whiskey hits shelves ~ Oldest single malt distilled, aged and bottled in Texas

SAN ANTONIO  Rebecca Creek Distillery, the connoisseurs of craft spirits Rebecca Creek Whiskey and Enchanted Rock Vodka, released the Rebecca Creek Texas Single Malt Whiskey.  The single malt whiskey has been aged in American Oak for four years and the end result is Texas’ only whiskey aged in 53-gallon casks in the Texas Hill Country.

“Rebecca Creek Single Malt Whiskey brings a new taste to our craft spirits,” said Steve Ison, co-owner of Rebecca Creek Distillery. “The Single Malt Whiskey is made with 100 percent American Malted Barley, and we’re proud to introduce this new Texas whiskey across the nation.”

The Rebecca Creek Single Malt Whiskey samples were sent to Industry Consultant and Master Distiller, Eric Watson, who then assembled a panel to develop the taste profile attributes. The whiskey was sampled neat with ice.

The new single malt comes with the following unique characteristics:

• Aroma: Light caramel, light vanilla, well integrated oak, cocoa in background, smooth
• Mouth feel: Medium, light oak tannin
• Flavor: Starts with caramel and cocoa yields to mature oak notes with a finish of medium complexity
• Overall: The panel liked the whiskey and found its profile to be unique

Rebecca Creek Whiskey recently received a 93 point rating in The Ultimate Spirits Challenge produced by the #1 whiskey writer in the world, Paul Pacult. This prestigious rating put Rebecca Creek Whiskey in the Top 3 American Whiskeys in terms of taste and quality. Rebecca Creek Whiskey also earned a “Drop Dead Delicious” rating in the Manhattan Cocktail event with The Ultimate Spirits Challenge noting Rebecca Creek Whiskey as an “excellent and highly recommended” choice for an American Whiskey that won’t break the bank.

Rebecca Creek products are currently available in eight states – Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana and Nebraska, with California being added to the mix in November.

The new Rebecca Creek Texas Single Malt Whiskey hit the shelves this week, with  the suggested retail price at approximately $70. The single malt is also available for purchase at the Rebecca Creek Distillery Tasting Room (26605 Bulverde Rd, San Antonio, 78260). For more information about all of the Rebecca Creek Distillery spirits or to schedule a tour, visit rebeccacreekdistillery.com.

About Rebecca Creek Distillery

Based in San Antonio, Texas, the Rebecca Creek Distillery was founded in October of 2009 by Steve Ison and Mike Cameron. Their combined vision and passion for high quality spirits led to building the distillery using a blend of old and new technology to produce some of the highest quality distilled spirits available in the ultra premium category. Since its founding, the Rebecca Creek Distillery has become one of the largest artisan spirits producers in the region with our vodkas and whiskey available in multiple states across the country. Rebecca Creek products are currently available in eight states – Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Kentucky, Louisiana and Nebraska, with California being added to the mix in November. To learn more, visit www.rebeccacreekdistillery.com.

GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES THREE EXTRAORDINARY NEW EXPRESSIONS 

AWARD-WINNING GlenDronach has today (10 November 2015) launched three stunning new expressions in time for Christmas and New Year celebrations. 

They comprise the Aberdeenshire distillery’s first-ever peated release, a new 19 years old Madeira finish single malt and its latest Cask Strength bottling.

The most unusual expression of the trio is the new GlenDronach Peated which is just astonishing. In contrast to the traditional, non-peated character of The GlenDronach, this particular whisky has, unusually, been distilled using peated malted barley. Vivid harvest gold in colour and bottled at 46%, it was first matured in bourbon casks followed by a second period of maturation in the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

The result is a superb “first” for GlenDronach – a sensational and beautifully balanced smoky/fruity dram bursting with character and flavour. The delicate peat influence provides a smouldering charred wood character filled with freshly ground barley and hints of vanilla toffee, while elsewhere on the nose a delightful aroma of ripe gooseberries dusted with cinnamon sugar combines with a contrasting crisp citrus twist.

On the palate, vibrant oak spices and floral heather honey develop to rosehips and barley sugars, all warmed by a touch of white pepper. Subtle peat notes complement the palate by giving a delicate depth and dryness of glowing campfire embers.

The finish is memorable; a unique marriage of crisp fruit and barley-laden Highland characteristics is surrounded by gentle peat smoke, intriguingly reminiscent of heather burning in the distant glens. Master Distiller Billy Walker said simply: “It is absolutely phenomenal.”

From the gentle aroma of smoke to a dram bursting with ripe summer fruits and warm spices. Bottled at 46%, non chill fi­ltered and with natural colour, the GlenDronach 19 Years Old Madeira Cask Finish was initially matured in European oak casks and thereafter finished its maturation in a very small batch of superior Madeira hogsheads, giving the final whisky its own range of astonishing flavours and aromas.

In this new expression you immediately appreciate the transformative effect of the Madeira wood on the golden Highland spirit. The crisp sweetness of the hogsheads seeps gently into the rich whisky to add subtle fruity and spicy overtones – notably cinnamon, apple, citrus and pepper.

On the nose, crisp apple and pear sweeten to apricot syrup and ripe gooseberry. Cinnamon-dusted tarte Tatin and notes of green apple skin balance with the clean, crisp warmth of stem ginger and candied peel on the palate.

The top-quality trio is completed with the release of GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 5. The whisky has been matured in a combination of the best Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry casks, giving the appearance of rich amber edged with gold.

Bottled at cask strength, 55.3%, non chill filtered and at natural colour, on the nose there is a perfect combination of sweet golden sultanas, rich ­fig syrup, ground almonds, orange bitters and a gentle dusting of black pepper.

On the palate, Demerara sugar-glazed dark fruits lighten to apricot syrup infused with stem ginger and vanilla. The combination of elegant sherry influences and robust Highland style creates a perfect example of the traditional GlenDronach character.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We are thrilled today to release three exceptional Highland malts which display completely different characteristics.

“There is the unique smoky sweetness of the new Peated expression, the richly fragrant Madeira finish and the signature robust sherry character of the Cask Strength batch five. Everyone here at GlenDronach is amazed by these three magnificent expressions…and we know our customers worldwide will be too.”

All three are now available at your local retailer.

Glendalough Distillery launches global brand film

Please view the new Glendalough brand film that showcases the history and origins of Irish Whiskey and our brand.  The film charts the history of distillation, which began in Irish monasteries in the 6^th century. Irish monks were the world’s first distillers, monks like St. Kevin – the man featured on every Glendalough bottle. The film tells the epic story of St. Kevin and the Glendalough monastic settlement he came to build.     Shot over three days in the Wicklow Mountains, the film was directed by Stephen Walsh and produced by Al Butler, post production was done in The Mill, London and it is voiced by singer songwriter Jerry Fish. You’ll see it on our site, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and Facebook over the coming days and weeks.

Sláinte,

The Glendalough Team