COMING EARLY 2016 

Whisky Hammer is an exciting new malt whisky auction website, specialising in rare and hard to find bottles, based in North East Scotland – where some may argue the best whisky in the world is produced. 

Whisky Hammer will offer an unbeatable auctioneer service, giving whisky enthusiasts the opportunity to value, buy and/or sell. 

Our website is currently under development and will go live in early 2016. 

Register your interest at… www.whiskyhammer.co.uk 

Facebook: Facebook.com/whiskyhammer

Twitter: @whiskyhammer

Instagram: Instagram.com/whiskyhammer

BROWN-FORMAN BREAKS GROUND ON

NEW $50 MILLION SLANE DISTILLERY

US Ambassador joins Conyngham and Brown families for historic occasion

Distillery and Visitor Centre to be completed late 2016

The US Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin F. O’Malley, was guest of honour today at the official ground breaking ceremony for the $50 million (approximately €44 million) Slane Distillery on the historic Slane Castle Estate in Co. Meath, home of Henry Conyngham, the eighth Marquess Conyngham, and his son Alex Conyngham, Earl of Mount Charles.

The distillery, which will also include a Visitor Centre, is being built by leading US Drinks firm Brown-Forman Corporation, the owners of Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort and Woodford Reserve which bought all shares of Slane Irish Whiskey Company from the Conyngham family earlier this year.  The Conynghams remain centrally involved in the development of the new distillery and the new whiskey brands which will be introduced in early 2017.

This is the first new distillery Brown-Forman has built outside of the US and represents its entry into distilling Irish whiskey, one of the fastest growing spirits categories over the last few years.  When completed by the end of 2016, Slane Distillery will create nearly 25 new full-time jobs while the construction process will support approximately 80 jobs.  The Slane Distillery and Visitor Centre will be a welcome new attraction to the Boyne Valley tourism trail.

The US Ambassador signed the first cask that will be filled with whiskey from the distillery and commented on the significance of the occasion, “There are so many links between Ireland and the great state of Kentucky – people, music, horses and a great tradition of making the finest whiskies.  This is a truly modern linkage – combining the best in creativity and expertise to bring new products to the world at a time of huge opportunity for Irish whiskey.  I am very pleased to welcome this latest wonderful partnership between our two countries”, said Kevin F. O’Malley.

“This is a great coming together of two historic families – the Browns of Kentucky and the Conynghams of Slane.  We are very proud to join forces to bring exciting new Irish whiskeys to the world. The commencement of work on the distillery is just a first step in developing a new Irish whiskey brand and welcoming guests to the new distillery”, said Henry Conyngham.

Brown-Forman executive vice president and chief brands & strategy officer Lawson Whiting said Irish whiskey was one of the most exciting spirits categories in the world and Slane provided the perfect opportunity to begin distilling Irish whiskey.  “Brown-Forman brands are founded on heritage, quality and authenticity and there is nowhere as real as this beautiful and historic part of Ireland.  We will leverage our wood and whiskey making prowess to create world class whiskey at Slane”.

The distillery and visitor centre, which is in the historic stables complex adjacent to the castle, will see the 18^th Century buildings restored and converted to house both the production operations and the consumer experience.  The first Slane Irish whiskeys will be launched to market in early 2017 – initially using high quality whiskey purchased from other Irish distilleries and finished to Slane’s exacting recipes and specifications while the first whiskey from the distillery is laid down to mature.  Upon completion it will have a potential output of more than 600,000 cases.

Alex Conyngham said the partnership with Brown-Forman provided a unique range of possibilities for a new Irish whiskey brand.  “Whiskey by its nature requires a long-term approach and we look forward to bringing people on a journey of discovery with us.  We will offer a range of blended, pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys in the premium and super premium segments.  Visitors will be able to come here and literally see where the grain is growing and how we are producing it with care”.

For more information about Slane Distillery and Slane Irish Whiskey, please visit http://www.slaneirishwhiskey.com/. Follow the progress of Slane Distillery at www.facebook.com/slanewhiskey, via Twitter @SlaneWhiskey and via Instagram @SlaneWhiskey.

For more than 140 years, Brown-Forman Corporation has enriched the experience of life by responsibly building fine quality beverage alcohol brands, including Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey, Southern Comfort, Finlandia, Jack Daniel’s & Cola, Canadian Mist, Korbel, Gentleman Jack, el Jimador, Herradura, Sonoma-Cutrer, Chambord, New Mix, Tuaca, and Woodford Reserve. Brown-Forman’s brands are supported by nearly 4,200 employees and sold in approximately 160 countries worldwide. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.brown-forman.com/.

ROBERT ANDERSON INDUCTED AS KEEPER OF THE QUAICH 

Tomatin Distillery’s CEO recognised for his contributions to the Scotch Whisky industry

Robert Anderson, CEO of the Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd. was invited to enter the esteemed Keepers of the Quaich society and inducted at the bi-annual ceremony at Blair Castle on Monday 5^th October.

The Keepers of the Quaich is a Scotch Whisky society with membership by invitation only, founded to acknowledge those who have contributed to the Scotch Whisky industry. This prestigious honour was given to Robert Anderson in recognition of just under 27 years of outstanding contributions to the industry. Robert joined Tomatin in 1988 as Company Accountant and has since served as Company Secretary, Finance Director, Managing Director, and finally as CEO since 2010.

Robert is delighted with the accolade: “I am honoured to have been invited to be part of this prestigious Society as recognition for my years dedicated to the industry and in particular being tasked with improving the fortunes of the company over the last five years. Through the magnificent efforts of the whole team in bringing the Tomatin brand to the attention of the wider market place, we are supporting the broader aims of the Society itself and ultimately the continuing success of the industry as a whole.”

The dignified ceremony welcomed Robert and 42 other new members from 19 countries as Keepers of the Quaich at Blair Castle, the ancient and historic home of the Earls and Dukes of Atholl, taking the total to 2,457 Keepers of the Quaich worldwide.

The society takes its name from the two handed drinking bowl which is described in the ancient Gaelic language of Scotland as a ‘cuach’; a vessel long associated with friendship and the drinking of Scotch whisky.

Notes

1. For further information on the Society please contact Annabel Meikle +44 (0)1314454045
2. The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends.

Website: http://www.tomatin.com/

1792 SMALL BATCH BOURBON WINS DOUBLE GOLD

AT 2015 NEW YORK WORLD WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION

1792 Sweet Wheat, Kentucky Tavern, each take gold 

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (Oct. 13, 2015) –Three bourbons from Barton 1792 Distillery received top honors at the 2015 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition, with two receiving gold medals and one receiving double gold. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon was awarded double gold, and 1792 Sweet Wheat and Kentucky Tavern each won gold medals.

“We feel very humbled and pleased by the recognition each of these bourbons received,” Ken Pierce, director of distillation and quality assurance, said. “We face many tough competitors from around the world at the NYWWSC and feel honored to have been judged so highly.”

The New York World Wine & Spirits Competition is one of the largest competitions for the retail beverage industry and has attracted top professional judges from broad spectrum of expertise. Considered the “Triple Crown of Competitions,” along with The San Francisco International Wine Competition and The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the competition is judged each year in New York City.

Complete results of the 2015 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition are available at http://www.nyworldwineandspiritscompetition.com/.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more visit http://www.1792bourbon.com/.

Heaven Hill Brings Back Critically Acclaimed Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon After Three Year Hiatus

Famed Distiller Also Continues Releasing Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old Single Barrel

BARDSTOWN, KY—To the delight of scores of Bourbon fans who have lamented its absence, Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel Bourbon is back. Heaven Hill Brands, the nation’s largest independent family owned and operated distilled spirits supplier, is once again offering the highly sought after and critically acclaimed American Whiskey after a three year hiatus due to inventory shortages. A past winner of the “Best Bourbon” award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel was first introduced by Heaven Hill in 1994, and quickly gained legendary status at a time when super-premium Bourbon offerings were few and far between. As demand for the rare whiskey grew, along with growing demand for Heaven Hill’s other super-premium Bourbons, there were simply not enough 18-year-old barrels that met the Master Distiller’s strict quality standards, so the bottling was discontinued in 2012. Since then, stocks have come back into line, allowing Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel to again be offered on a limited national basis at a suggested retail price of $120 for the 750ml bottle. Heaven Hill also announced it is re-releasing a limited number of barrels of Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old Single Barrel, which has been bottled, also in limited quantities, since 2013 and carries a suggested retail price of $199.

Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel quickly gained a cult following upon its release as the oldest single barrel Bourbon on the market, and one that garnered multiple medals and awards throughout the nation and the world. It captured Double Gold/Best Bourbon at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and was named one of the top 50 spirits by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Arguably a victim of its own success, the brand was furloughed just as the high-end Bourbon market exploded, and since then connoisseurs have consistently inquired about when it might return.

Heaven Hill will be releasing only about 15,000 750ml bottles of Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel this fall, packed in a three bottle case, and it will be available in most major metro markets nationwide on an allocated basis. The face label has been slightly altered since its last appearance in 2012, with the logotype now echoing the same Elijah Craig typographic treatment as the Elijah Craig Small Batch, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, and the Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old Single Barrel. The new Elijah Craig 18-Year-Old Single Barrel now presents a consistent family look with the 23-Year-Old Single Barrel, with the former using a blue and copper colored face label and the latter a green and copper color palette.

The selection process for the Elijah Craig Single Barrel is one of the most stringent at Heaven Hill. From an aging inventory of 1.1 million barrels, the second largest American Whiskey holdings in the world, Master Distillers Craig Beam and Denny Potter select only barrels that have rested at low storage, and then further choose only those that meet their strict nosing and taste criteria. While taste nuances will vary slightly from one barrel to the other, as they should in a single barrel offering, in general they have selected for complex, multi-layered taste profiles that balance the 18 years in new charred oak with sweet and spicy grain notes. As befits a Bourbon that has seen 72 variable Kentucky seasons, the finish is long and warm.

The Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old Single Barrel is even more limited in quantity than the 18-Year-Old. The additional five years of maturation gives the 23-Year-Old a honeyed, dry oakiness, while still retaining the spicy and long finish.

“We at Heaven Hill have been offering aged Bourbons and single barrel bottlings as old as 18, 23, or even 27 years, for longer than anyone else,” noted Susan Wahl, Senior Brand Manager for Whiskeys at Heaven Hill Brands. “Our experience in this arena, along with our renowned quality standards and inventory of over one million aging barrels, means we can select and bottle extra-aged Bourbons that are unlike any others in the world, and provide a unique tasting experience for the true aficionado. This is really showcased in the Elijah Craig 18 and 23-Year-Old Single Barrel bottlings.”

Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny, Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Deep Eddy Vodka; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; Hpnotiq Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila; Cinerator Hot Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky.

catawiki whisk(e)y auction

Looking for something to share at Maltstock 2016? Please read on:

Who doesn’t enjoy a glass of very fine whiskey? At the online Whiskey auctions presented by Catawiki auctions, you’ll find stunning selections of over 300 magnificent whiskeys every week.

A very special selection of whiskeys Every week, Catawiki presents bidders with exclusive listings including vintage and limited edition whiskeys by labels like Macallan, Ardberg, Highland Park, Port Ellen, Glenfiddich, Jack Daniels, and many others. Our two weekly Whiskey auctions start Fridays at 12:00 (CET). The regular Whiskey auctions end Wednesdays from 20:00 (CET), and our Exclusive Whiskey auctions, featuring various (extremely) hard to find editions, end Sundays at 14:00 (CET).

Our auctions are truly exceptional in that they are compiled and supervised by specialised auctioneers – guaranteeing a varied and high quality selection. Care to have a sniff around? Visit our auctions here.

LIMITED EDITION THREE SHIPS SINGLE CASK LAUNCHED 

Three Ships Whisky, the pioneer of the South African whisky industry, has made history yet again with the launch of a rare single cask single malt whisky to showcase the extraordinary whisky crafted at The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington.

Only 800 bottles of the Three Ships 10 Year Old Single Malt Single Cask PX Finish whisky, bottled by hand and numbered, have been released by master distiller Andy Watts. Distilled in 2005, the whisky was initially matured for eight years and ten months in American oak where after a small quantity was selected to spend a further 14 months in a cask in which Pedro Ximenez (PX) sherry had previously been matured.

The whisky forms part of the Masters Collection which will see a limited edition being launch, each year, over the next years under the Three Ships brand.

Presented in its purist form, the whisky is un-chillfiltered, natural in colour and bottled at 46.2% alcohol by volume to enhance the complexity and flavours of this elegant malt.

Says Andy: “Local whisky lovers have long been asking me to produce something extra special and while cask finishes have been produced for many years around the globe, it was time for Three Ships to make history for the South African whisky industry. Although the challenges presented by different cask finishes have occupied us for a number of years, we didn’t want to release a new whisky just to satisfy the demand. The product had to be right in every aspect and I believe what we have here was certainly worth the wait.”

Andy experimented with various casks for a few years before selecting the PX for the particular effect it has on whiskies with a presence of smoke and peat. “Pedro Ximenez is a white Spanish wine grape varietal used for the production of a sweet-style sherry. The raisiny richness it imparts to the cask was the perfect finishing touch I wanted to complement the smokiness of our single malt with some sweet, nutty flavours.”

Andy selected only a small percentage of the limited edition Three Ships single malt he had been working on at the time (due for release in 2016) to spend a finishing period in a single PX cask.

“The end result has not disappointed and the decision to produce only one cask has turned this whisky into a very rare collector’s item.”

The Three Ships 10 Year Old Single Malt Single Cask PX finish is complex with delicate sweet notes from the sherry cask which lifts the nose with prunes, dates, figs and fruitcake and combines effortlessly with the elegant smokiness of the malt. The whisky is powerful and lingering in its taste and finish.

Available from 27 October only online at http://www.threeshipswhisky.co.za/, Norman Goodfellows, Whisky Brother and http://www.vinoteque.co.za/. The limited edition will retail for about R850.

For more information please visit http://www.themasterscollection.co.za/ and #PXFinish.

HARLEN WHEATLEY NAMED THE FIRST

MASTER DISTILLER OF THE YEAR” AT WHISKY MAGAZINE’S

ICONS OF WHISKY AMERICA AWARDS 2016

Visitor Center Manager Highly Commended for Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Oct. 7, 2015) – Buffalo Trace Distillery’s master distiller and visitor center manager were each honored at “Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky America Awards 2016,” for their hard work at the Distillery. Harlen Wheatley was named “Master Distiller of the Year” and Matt Higgins was recognized as “highly commended” for Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year.

The category for “Master Distiller of the Year” is brand new this year, making Wheatley its very first recipient.

“Receiving ‘Master Distiller of the Year’ is a great honor, and doing so as the first recipient of this award to kind of the set the bar is extremely humbling,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller. “In every single category, we’re up against some very tough competition each year. We feel very honored to receive each of these recognitions.”

The Icons of Whisky Awards were created by Whisky Magazine to celebrate the people and places behind the great whiskies of the world. Nominees can be self-nominated or nominated by anyone working in the spirits industry.  Those working in the spirits industry then vote on the winners, with the editors of Whisky Magazine then culling down the votes into final winners. This year’s awards were announced during The Great Kentucky Bourbon Tasting & Gala on September 19th.  The winners from the Icons of Whisky America Awards will go to compete at the World Whiskies Awards taking place in London, England, in the spring of 2016.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1786 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 seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/

CHIVAS UNVEILS NEW ‘ART OF HOSTING’ LIMITED EDITION PACK

  Chivas Art of Hosting pack shot on gold background

Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury Scotch whisky, has partnered with Apolis, the socially motivated lifestyle brand, for the latest instalment of Chivas Art of Hosting. The new limited edition pack will inspire today’s gentlemen to share the brand’s spirit of generosity and will be available globally from middle of October.

As part of the iconic Scotch’s ongoing dedication to social initiatives, Chivas Regal approached Apolis to design a new and bespoke set of glass tumblers to be included in the Art of Hosting gift pack. The companies worked to take the partnership further and have joined forces to create an inspiring new social initiative that will empower existing craft communities.

The collaboration provides surplus glass from the manufacture of the Art of Hosting tumblers to Studio Xaquixe – an artisan glass-blowing collective from Mexico – for upcycling into luxury glass items. The resulting handcrafted wares will then be made available to purchase on the newly created platform, the Apolis Global Citizen Exchange.

Richard Black, Chivas Regal Global Brand Director, comments: “Hosting is all about sharing, and the Chivas Art of Hosting tumbler pack is for socially conscious modern gentlemen who recognise the spirit of generosity in more ways than one. Chivas is delighted to have partnered with Apolis to help a community achieve a fairer and more sustainable future.”

The Chivas Art of Hosting pack contains two Apolis-designed tumblers and a bottle of Chivas 12 Year Old Scotch whisky. The retail price will vary depending on markets.

About Chivas Regal
Launched in 1909, Chivas Regal is the world’s first luxury whisky and is considered to be a timeless classic, renowned for style, substance and exclusivity. A truly global brand, Chivas Regal today sells 4.5 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across the globe. Brotherhood, generosity, entrepreneurship and integrity are at the heart of Chivas Regal so in 2008, the brand launched its successful Live with Chivalry campaign, which has inspired Modern Gentlemen in more than 60 countries around the world to pursue success with integrity. The Chivas Regal range includes Chivas 12, Chivas 18, Chivas 25 and the Global Travel Retail exclusive, Chivas Brothers Blend. In October 2014, Chivas Regal announced the addition of a fifth permanent expression in the Chivas Regal family, Chivas Regal Extra, sitting within the super-premium range, positioned between Chivas 12 and Chivas 18.

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
@ChivasNewsRoom

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

CELEBRATING 200 YEARS WITH A RARE LAPHROAIG® 32 YEAR OLD

Laphroaig^® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky continues to celebrate its bicentenary with the release of the Laphroaig 32 Year Old.  The very special bottling, distributed by Maxxium UK, has been aged for over three decades in a single cask type.

Matured exclusively in a first-fill ex-Oloroso cask, the Laphroaig 32 Year Old is a whisky that has picked up all the flavours so typical of spirit laid down in ex-Sherry casks – the dark Christmas fruits, the nuts and spice, and at the same time possesses the extraordinary delicate balance common to old, excellent whiskies. It is an extremely rare and accomplished whisky.

On the nose the aroma of caramelised brown sugar is predominant, with notes of dark, bitter chocolate and nutmeg leading the palate, followed by a dry and lingering sherried oak finish.

Laphroaig 32 Year Old, an intensely rich single, malt will be available in October 2015 in selected specialist whisky retailers with a RRP of £750.00.

NOTES

http://www.laphroaig.com/  

Tasting Notes for Laphroaig 32 Year Old:

• Colour – Deep Mahogany
• Nose – Reminiscent of a Christmas fruit cake, the rich, sherry sweetness and the aroma of caramelised brown sugar is predominant. A drop of water reveals notes of cinnamon spiced red apples, with just a hint of bitter dark chocolate.
• Body – Intense and rich.
• Taste – The dark, bitter chocolate follows through to the palate, with nutmeg and an intense spicy oakiness. Adding a touch of water allows sweeter, sherry flavours to come through, together with just a hint of salt tang and subtle peat smoke.
• Finish – Dry, long and lingering, sherried oak finish.

Editors Notes:

• Laphroaig is the No.1 selling Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky globally
• Unmistakably peat-smoke flavours are delivered by burning local Islay peat, containing unique traces of seaweed and heather.
• One of only a few distilleries that still uses traditional malting floors and dries and infuses its own malt with the thick blue smoke from old peat-fired kilns.
• The Friends of Laphroaig programme keeps fans of the brand up to date with special offers and news from distillery manager, John Campbell. On signing up, members are allocated their own square foot of land on Islay, and their names are added to the members’ book in the friends lounge at the distillery. Members who visit the distillery are invited to collect their ‘rent’ – a dram of Laphroaig. The community comprises more than 669,000 like-minded Scotch fans from more than 190 countries.

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 exceeding $4 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.