Isle of Arran Distillery Visitor Centre celebrates award success 

The visitor centre of the award-winning Isle of Arran Distillery has been recognised for the second year running in the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge.

Chosen over ten other well-renowned distilleries, including runners-up Glendronach and Ben Nevis, The Isle of Arran Distillery Visitor centre retained its title as the Best Distillery Visitor Experience.

Opened by Her Majesty The Queen in 1997, the visitor centre is located right next to the distillery itself overlooking the breath-taking landscape of Lochranza.  A popular destination for whisky fans, this centre offers several packages ranging in time and cost from a smaller scale tours to more in-depth whisky experiences, all lead by friendly and professionally trained guides who are fast gaining the reputation of being the best in the business. It also boasts a thriving café selling local produce and a gift shop well-stocked with core-range and limited edition Arran Single Malts.

Visitor centre manager, Faye Waterlow, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what we do at the visitor centre. The distillery produces whisky of an exceptional quality and our aim is always to match that with our warmth, knowledge and dedication.

“The feedback from visitors is always our marker but to be recognised by Scottish Field for the second year running is a wonderful affirmation of our efforts.”

As the distillery approaches its 21st birthday, the visitor centre is expanding to include a new Blending and Tasting room which will open in March 2016. Two new stills are also being installed to meet increasing demand for the Isle of Arran Single Malts.

Euan Mitchell, managing director of the distillery commented: “Welcoming people to the distillery is very important to us. The quality and provenance of our whisky naturally attracts some very passionate visitors, including Roman Abramovich this summer, so it’s essential that our visitor experience lives up to expectations.

“With the distillery turning 21 next year, we’re looking forward to expanding and hope to welcome many more whisky fans to Lochranza.”

Notes:

For more information visit http://www.arranwhisky.com/

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

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

Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon And Quoddy® Shoes to Release Limited Edition Gift Set for the Holiday Season

Deerfield, Ill. (October 29, 2015) – Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon, a distinctive super-premium bourbon known for its trademark spicy finish, and Quoddy®, the Maine-based footwear brand with a century-old family tradition of shoemaking, have come together to create 100 limited edition gift sets for the upcoming holiday season, perfect for bourbon fans who appreciate handcrafted, American-made finds. The co-branded gift sets will be exclusively available for purchase beginning November 1 at the “Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Holiday Shop” on Huckberry.com, an online curator and retailer of products that inspire active, adventurous and stylish lives.

“At Basil Hayden’s, we make our bourbon in small batches, using a family recipe said to date back to 1796, to ensure our fans experience the highest quality product,” said Halley Kehoe, Director, Small Batch Bourbons at Beam Suntory. “We are constantly on a mission to uncover brands that share the same values, which is why we teamed up with Quoddy – a brand rooted in history and dedication to handcraftsmanship – to create a premium gift set this holiday season that we hope bourbon and shoe fans alike will enjoy!”

The Basil Hayden’s + Quoddy limited edition gift set brings to life what each brand is known for: American craftsmanship and style. Each gift set will feature four leather wrapped rocks glasses, artfully packaged in a handmade leather gift box. A pair of custom, made-to-order co-branded Basil Hayden’s + Quoddy shoes will accompany each gift set, giving bourbon fans the opportunity to don their “drinking shoes” as they sip Basil Hayden’s Bourbon.

Each pair of custom Basil Hayden’s + Quoddy drinking shoes is made using hand-sewn Horween® leather – the same leather used to wrap each rocks glass – in a rich whiskey color and feature a co-branded insole and stylishly branded exterior. As one of the oldest running tanneries in America, founded in 1905, Horween offers an unparalleled blend of quality, consistency, responsiveness and innovation.

“We were instantly intrigued when Basil Hayden’s approached us about working together, because our first thought was that they are a brand that has a lot in common with ours. They’re focused on doing things the right way – not the easy way,” said John Andreliunas, President of Quoddy. “The Basil Hayden’s + Quoddy limited edition gift set is a testament to two brands that hold true to their roots and never give up on striving toward unrivaled craftsmanship and innovation. We think fans of great bourbon and great shoes will love receiving the gift set during the holidays!”

The Basil Hayden’s + Quoddy limited edition gift set will be available for purchase at the Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Holiday Shop beginning November 1 and will retail for $399.98. Quoddy’s expert craftsmen will make each gift set by hand, allowing for fifty gift sets to be initially available for consumer purchase on November 1, followed by an additional fifty sets on December 1. Each limited edition gift set includes* the following items:

• Four leather wrapped rocks glasses
• Basil Hayden’s + Quoddy co-branded leather gift box
• Pair of custom, made-to-order co-branded Basil Hayden’s + Quoddy drinking shoes

In addition to selling the Basil Hayden’s + Quoddy limited edition gift sets, the “Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Holiday Shop” on Huckberry.com will also feature a curated collection of additional American-made home barware items, hand selected by Basil Hayden’s Cultural Blooodhound, Max Wastler, to provide bourbon fans with a one-stop shop for all of their home bar gift needs during the holiday season. To go behind the scenes and follow Max as he uncovers handcrafted culture and cocktails, visit Whiskey… Among Other Things at www.BasilHaydens.com.

*A bottle of Basil Hayden’s Bourbon is not included in the limited edition gift set

About Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon

Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon is known for standing out in the crowd. The distinctive flavor was originally inspired by a family recipe said to date back to 1796 when Master Distiller Basil Hayden Sr. broke ‘the rules’ and went off-the-beaten-path mixing the spiciness of rye with the smoothness of corn to create a light-bodied, mixable and smooth bourbon.  Today, Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon is crafting its own story by providing bourbon drinkers with a unique experience from the ordinary.

About Quoddy®

Quoddy® is a made-to-order shoe company based in Maine, where handcrafted, quality leather goods are designed, stitched and coaxed into bespoke footwear made to last a lifetime. Quoddy® is rooted in centuries-old handcrafted traditions, passed down through generations, and believes in the simplicity of a wooden workbench, a piece of leather and needle and thread.

About Huckberry®

Huckberry® is an online retailer devoted to curating products that inspire active, adventurous, and stylish lives through exclusive sales, original story-telling, and unique experiences for its members.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.

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 commitment to Growing for Good.  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 www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Demand for SPEY delights in the lead up to Whisky Live Holland

A Speyside malt singled out as the signature drink of Holland’s premier whisky event is going down a storm with discerning dram lovers.

Whilst organisers are counting down the days to this year’s Whisky Live Holland, more than 80 per cent of this limited edition SPEY expression from Speyside Distillery, has already been snapped up.

Demand for the last remaining bottles is expected to be high, and all are expected to be sold before the Netherlands’ oldest and biggest whisky event gets underway on 13 November.

Some whisky lovers have been buying two bottles each, one to savour and enjoy and the other to keep, explains festival organiser Wouter Wapenaar, a Keeper of the Quaich.

Wouter was part of the judging panel that selected this limited edition SPEY expression as the exclusive bottling, after the tasters were won over by the SPEY expression’s aroma, flavour, cask finish and characteristics.

Wouter says: “Whisky Live Holland is about great whisky, and we search high and low for the very best whiskies to celebrate the show.

“We only have around 100 bottles still available and with such interest and demand it’s likely that our SPEY limited edition bottling will be sold out before the festival even starts.”

Each bottle was filled at cask strength from a 2007 single sherry cask before being hand finished with specially designed 2015 festival packaging, stating the cask and limited bottle number. With only 600 available, the rare bottles are expected to become highly collectable.

The single malt Scotch whisky is produced at the boutique Speyside Distillery near Kingussie in the Highlands, management and staff are delighted that SPEY has been specially selected as the festival bottle for the 2015 Dutch show.

Speyside Distillers Co Ltd Managing Director, Patricia Dillon says, “We are delighted to bottle this limited edition for what is a very special festival and to be exhibiting other SPEY expressions at the event with our Dutch distributor Whisky Import Netherlands and to be mingling with whisky lovers from all over the world. The exposure that will be achieved through being the festival’s bottling of the year will develop further awareness of SPEY in Europe.

“In addition, our Distillery Manager, Sandy Jamieson shall be present at the festival to share some of our SPEY secrets.”

Whisky Live Holland launched the limited edition SPEY for sale through its website just a few weeks ago.

While all bottles are likely to be sold before the event, the 6,000-plus festival visitors won’t be left disappointed as they will be able to sample a taste of SPEY from its distributor’s exhibition stand.

Details of the SPEY limited edition bottling features on the festival website, http://www.whiskyfestival.nl/

Whisky Live Holland takes place from 13 -15 November 2015 at The Hague. The oldest and biggest whisky event in the Netherlands, it is supported by importers and distributors of whisky, representing hundreds of whisky brands.

The programme features whisky trams, masterclasses, cocktails, trails, books and the opportunity to meet whisky distillers, writers and other celebrities.

Demand for tickets is so high that the festival has been a complete sell out for the past five years in a row.

Speyside Distillery near Kingussie is home of the SPEY brand of malt whisky. It has been in production since 1990 and is operated by Speyside Distillers Ltd. In 2012 the SPEY brand and packaging with its specially designed unique bottle was introduced.

For further information about Speyside Distillery, visit http://www.speysidedistillery.co.uk/. Follow Speyside Distillery on Twitter @SpeySingleMalt and on Facebook at facebook.com/speysidedistillery

THE GLENROTHES LAUNCHES THE RESERVE COLLECTION WITH A NEW PEATED EXPRESSION 

Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits is delighted to unveil The Reserve Collection from award-winning Speyside distillery, The Glenrothes. 

Known for producing Vintage single malt whiskies that are chosen at the peak of their maturity, The Glenrothes is proud to introduce a new selection of non-age statement single malt. The Reserve Collection comprises: Sherry Cask Reserve, Bourbon Cask Reserve, Vintage Reserve and a brand new expression, The Peated Cask Reserve. 

The Reserve Collection

Vintage Reserve, made up of 10 different Vintages, was initially launched in the UK back in July and Sherry Cask Reserve, our first all first-fill sherry cask expression, was launched last year.

In a bid to be more transparent to consumers, The Glenrothes has renamed ‘Alba Reserve’ as the Bourbon Cask Reserve and the newly released, Peated Cask Reserve, is a first for The Glenrothes. 

Vintage Reserve is the expression that best epitomises The Glenrothes Vintage Single Malt philosophy of bottling whisky only once it has reached the peak of its maturity. Vintage Reserve marries together a good many carefully selected Vintages from the last three decades.

The Glenrothes Vintage Reserve 40% ABV

Appearance:  Brassy gold.

Bouquet:                 Unusually fragrant, soft in style, wafts of mature citrus and honeycomb accompanied with characteristic red fruits.

Palate:          Very soft silky/creamy mouth-feel. Red berry fruits swirl and dominate with    time over the nebulous nuttiness.

Finish:           Mid to long citrus and honeyed vanilla and the faint reminder of 1st fill sherry casks.

Sherry Cask Reserve is matured predominantly in European oak, which delivers a greater array of flavours than the American equivalent and, in particular, the resinous and dried fruit character underpinning the sherry top notes.

The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve 40% ABV Appearance:  Burnished gold. Nose:            Orange peel, fruitcake, vanilla, gingerbread, black cherries, pear drops. Palate:                    Spicy, ginger, oaky notes, crème brûlée. Finish:           Lingering spiciness with orange peel notes.

Bourbon Cask Reserve is matured exclusively in American oak refill bourbon casks and laid to rest in the warehouse, allowing the whisky to pull the aromas and flavours embedded in the grain of the wood.

The Glenrothes Bourbon Cask Reserve 40% ABV Appearance:  Pale straw, clear and bright.  Bouquet:                 Fresh, floral, coconut, American oak vanilla. Palate:          Soft mellow, crème brûlée and berry fruits. Finish:           Smooth, sweet, medium length.

The Peated Cask Reserve

The Glenrothes has always taken an interest in different approaches in which to showcase the depth of the distillery’s character. At first, classically by experimentation with different casks, sizes and wood then, secondly, by looking outside the current box.

By delving into the distillery’s heritage it was discovered that one of the first associations with another distillery was with a company called Highland Distilleries back in 1887. This was an association formed between The Glenrothes and the Islay Distillery Co Ltd.

The research provided the inspiration for the new expression, the task now was to identify some excellent whisky. Deciding on Vintage 1992, The Glenrothes was given a temporary home in a cask hailing from the peaty lands of Islay. It doesn’t take much time to add a kiss of peat smoke to complement but not overpower the usual Glenrothes characteristics.

Ronnie Cox, The Glenrothes Brand Heritage Director, describes the Peated Cask Reserve as:

‘A wonderful surprise. Another first! The first modern-day marriage of elegant, fruity, and, of course, mature Glenrothes with subtle but intriguing peaty mists of Islay. “

Malt Master Gordon Motion’s flavour notes appear on the front label: “Lemon fruitiness, spicy and deliciously smoky.” 

The Glenrothes Peated Reserve 40% ABV

Appearance: Mid gold.

Bouquet:       Nettles, new leather, peat, nutmeg and white wine.

Palate:          Peat smokiness, light vanilla, spices and citrus peel.

Finish:                    Spicy and lingering. 

The Glenrothes Peated Cask Reserve will be sold exclusively through M&S in the UK from November; it will be priced at £45 per bottle.  

Notes:

The Glenrothes was founded in 1879.

Only 3% of the distillery capacity is bottled as Single Malt to ensure exceptional quality.

Of the 22 Vintages released to date, 14 have entirely sold out.

Owned by Berry Bros. & Rudd Ltd, the wine and spirit merchants established in 1698, The Glenrothes is an award winning Speyside Single Malt Whisky of exceptional quality from the town of Rothes in Speyside -Scotland’s whisky heartland.

Established in 1879, the Glenrothes is a pioneer in Scotch Whisky. All our single malt is vintage malt. When we say vintage, we mean whisky distilled and put in cask in a single year. When judged to be at its peak of maturity, character and flavour, then we carefully marry selected vintages together as Reserves, or bottle them individually as Single Vintages.

At The Glenrothes, maturity matters more than age. A combination of many factors, including our unusually slow distillation process in tall copper pot stills, deliver our characteristic sweet, fruity and elegant spirit. Further flavours are derived from our extensive knowledge of maturation in oak casks. Each expression has its own unique personality, underpinned by the distinctive, hallmark characteristics of the distillery – ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and an exquisite spicy finish all encased in the creamiest of textures and with a complex and well-poised balance.

The Glenrothes is only selected for bottling when it has reached its zenith of maturity; each cask is carefully checked, nosed and tasted many times. An age statement does not reveal the maturity of the whisky and so the Glenrothes is bottled only when ready, meaning mature and at its peak of perfection. Malt whisky matures at its own pace as shown by the two casks selected.

Some of our recent awards and accolades for current bottlings:

The Glenrothes, Vintage Reserve

• Gold, Scotch Whisky Masters 2015

• Double Gold, China Wine & Spirits Awards 2015

• Gold, The Asian Spirits Masters 2015

• “Officially Amazing”, Guinness World Record holder for largest Burns Supper, 2015

The Glenrothes Sherry Cask Reserve

• Double Gold, WSWA 2015
• Recommended, Whisky Magazine, Issue 123, February 2015
• Difford’s Guide, Exceptional 5 out of 5 stars 2014

The Glenrothes Bourbon Cask Reserve

• Excellent, Highly Recommended (92/100), Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2014

We’ve moved to 855 Harrison (between 4th and 5th in SoMa)

• Triple the size
• Tons of free parking on site
• More wines, spirits, and craft beers

Come by and check out our new shop a few blocks north of our previous venue. We could not be more excited about the location, access and parking, and a vast amount of additional space that was badly needed. Whether shopping on the floor or picking up your will calls we think you’ll like this new spot as much we do.

Over the next several weeks we’re continuing to add the finishing touches, set up the tasting bar, install additional signage inside and out, and bring over some additional wines we have coming in. Additionally, we have hundreds of temperature controlled storage lockers on site that are wrapping up construction. Those will be available soon – stay tuned for an upcoming announcement and rental rates.

K&L Wine Merchants http://www.klwines.com/ Phone: 877-559-4637 Email: wine@klwines.com San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

“Best wine Web site in the US” – Wall Street Journal “Great for rare and hard-to-find wines.” – Time “The cellar to search first.” – Smart Money “Best Wine Web Site” – Publishers of The Wine Spectator

They also sell quite a bit of WHISKY ~ W.I.

MAKER’S MARK® INTRODUCES MAKER’S MARK PRIVATE SELECT™ BARREL PROGRAM

Loretto, KY (October 6, 2015) – Maker’s Mark® is bringing real innovation to the bourbon industry with a first-of-its-kind barrel program, Maker’s Mark Private Select™. The new experience will allow retail customers to “make their own Maker’s™” by finishing fully-matured cask strength Maker’s Mark® Bourbon in a single barrel made up of their custom selection of oak staves. The program will kick off in limited release in November 2015, with bottled product available for sale by retail participants beginning March 2016.

Through the Maker’s Mark Private Select™ Experience, participants will have the opportunity to spend an immersive and educational day at the historic Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, KY, where they will roll up their sleeves and mirror the process used by Chairman Emeritus Bill Samuels, Jr. when he created Maker’s 46® in 2010.

“This innovative process of creating a personal expression of Maker’s Mark® allows the customer to create a bourbon that wanders in some intriguing ways from our traditional taste profile, while still being distinctively Maker’s Mark®,” stated COO Maker’s Mark Distillery, Rob Samuels. “We’ve never before given anyone this kind of access or opportunity to create their favorite version of Maker’s™, but we’re excited to see what folks come up with and how they like to make their Maker’s™ when given the chance.”

As with Maker’s 46®, Maker’s Mark Private Select™ will start with fully-matured Maker’s Mark® straight out of the barrel. Participants will receive an in-depth immersion that illustrates the essential role that wood plays in the taste of bourbon, and will select their preferred combination of five types of wood staves with which to finish their custom Maker’s™ expression. This collection of oak staves – each accentuating different flavors found in fully-matured Maker’s Mark® – includes Baked American Pure 2, Seared French Cuvee, Maker’s 46®, Roasted French Mocha, and Toasted French Spice. With 1,001 possible stave combinations, participants can create a customized finish and taste profile that is uniquely their own.

After aging for nine additional weeks in a single barrel with the participants’ custom stave combination, the Maker’s Mark Private Select™ bourbon will be bottled, corked and dipped at cask strength with details such as proof and stave combinations handwritten on the label.

Maker’s Mark Private Select™ Program will be available to Kentucky and Illinois based retailers in its first year and will be expanded to additional markets in 2016.

About Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
In 1954, at a small Victorian distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, Bill Samuels, Sr., created one of the finest Kentucky Bourbons. He decided to make his whisky in small-batches of 19 barrels, developed a proprietary barrel char to enhance the softness and sweetness of his whisky, and then rotated each barrel by hand to ensure exposure to consistent temperatures throughout the warehouse, and, ultimately, he aged each barrel to taste. Today, Maker’s Mark® makes its bourbon the same way its founder, Bill Samuels, Sr., did over 60 years ago, in small batches by craftsmen who hand-dip each bottle. Maker’s Mark® Bourbon (45% alc./vol.), Maker’s 46® (47% alc./vol.) and Maker’s Mark® Cask Strength™ Bourbon Whisky, (54%–57% alc./vol.) are distilled, aged and bottled by the Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc., in Loretto, Kentucky. In 1980, the distillery was designated a National Historic Landmark, becoming the first distillery in America to be so recognized, and has also been decreed as the “world’s oldest operating bourbon whisky distillery” by Guinness World Records®. The Maker’s Mark Distillery is one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. For more information, please visit the Maker’s Mark® website (http://www.makersmark.com/).

WE MAKE OUR BOURBON CAREFULLY.  PLEASE ENJOY IT THAT WAY.

Maker’s Mark®, Maker’s Mark® Cask Strength and Maker’s 46® Bourbon Whisky, 45-57% Alc./Vol. ©2015 Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc., Loretto, KY.

TASTE TAKES CENTRE STAGE IN BALLANTINE’S NEW ABOVE-THE-LINE CAMPAIGN “TRUE TASTE LASTS LONGER”

Ballantine’s, the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the world’s No.2, has unveiled a bold new above-the-line campaign that communicates the whisky’s distinctive long finish and commitment to providing authentic experiences that stay true to the brand’s ethos. True Taste Lasts Longer will cement Ballantine’s position at the forefront of the Scotch whisky industry, continuing to resonate and engage with the brand’s discerning and contemporary audience.

Returning to the original values set down by founder George Ballantine, the above-the-line campaign visually illustrates the exceptional qualities that go into producing every bottle of Ballantine’s – from the superior quality of the raw ingredients and the bold, pioneering visual identity that is synonymous with Ballantine’s, through to the renowned long finish of the whisky.

Breathing life into the new campaign, photographer Shinichi Maruyama has curated the flowing whisky motif that dominates the True Taste Lasts Longer out of home visuals. Drawing on his experience in capturing movement, colour and texture through his energetic art style, Maruyama has evoked the taste that Ballantine’s whisky leaves on the palate with a series of abstract designs. The process saw Maruyama experiment with Ballantine’s whisky, throwing liquid and capturing its movement in space.

Video edits created for the campaign take Maruyama’s abstract exploration of Ballantine’s long finish even further. A man enjoying Ballantine’s with friends is seen to experience the true depth of character that comes with each sip, illustrated through a montage of elemental and emotive motifs.

Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, comments: “Ballantine’s is a truly global Scotch whisky that speaks to a diverse audience worldwide through its extensive portfolio, so our whisky deserves an above-the-line campaign that can effectively communicate its quality and craftsmanship across all cultures and demographics. True Taste Lasts Longer realises this ambition, uniting our portfolio of award-winning whiskies with one visual identity. We are extremely excited to launch this campaign and continue to inspire whisky enthusiasts throughout the world with the unique taste of Ballantine’s.”

True Taste Lasts Longer launches in Brazil on 15th October followed by a global roll-out. For more information visit http://www.staytruestories.com/

About Ballantine’s

Ballantine’s is the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No.2 Scotch whisky in the world with the range selling over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 130 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for its outstanding quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, continuing the brand’s tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827. In 2013, Ballantine’s continued its innovative approach by launching Ballantine’s Brasil, a spirit drink made from selectively cask steeping Scotch whisky with Brazilian lime peel.

www.ballantines.com

@Ballantines

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

Jim Beam ® ‘Makes History’ as First Whiskey to Partner with Snapchat

Deerfield, Ill. – September 15, 2015 – Today, Jim Beam officially announces a new partnership with Snapchat, becoming the first whiskey brand to leverage the app for marketing efforts. Beginning immediately, branded Jim Beam video content, targeted exclusively at consumers of legal drinking age, will appear throughout various Snapchat Live Stories. The partnership and branded content will run in the U.S. through the end of October, coinciding with existing marketing efforts supporting new Jim Beam® Apple, Apple Liqueur with Bourbon – the latest flavored whiskey from the world’s No. 1 bourbon.

When Snapchat users watch select Live Stories – curated streams of user submitted Snaps from various locations and events – those 21 years and older will see vertical, video ads, viewable for 10 seconds, featuring the brand’s Signature Serve cocktail, “Jim Beam® Apple and Soda.” The crisp, refreshing new cocktail mixes Jim Beam® Apple and club soda over ice, with a wedge of lemon, for a delicious, refreshing cocktail all year round.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with Snapchat who provides us an excellent opportunity to create buzzworthy awareness to our fans on a relevant age-gated platform with significant reach,” said Andrea Javor, Senior Director Media at Beam Suntory. “We take pride in staying at the forefront of innovation, not only with our product offerings but also through our marketing efforts, and we consider Snapchat an excellent strategic partner to bring our crisp, refreshing new product to market.”

From a brand marketing objective standpoint, Snapchat is currently the fastest growing platform for the Jim Beam® Apple target – legal drinking age Millennials – and aligns with the brand’s priority on mobile marketing to connect with Millennial consumers where they’re consuming information. Jim Beam is also able to strategically drive contextual relevancy for the new apple-flavored whiskey through the partnership by inserting the brand into specific Snapchat Live Stories that connect with refreshment occasions.

In addition to Snapchat, Jim Beam is taking another refreshing approach toward marketing with the execution of a three-dimensional (3D) sound program for on-premise sampling and trial in key markets across the country. The interactive experience features audio content, which walks fans through the experience of making and enjoying the new Jim Beam Apple and Soda cocktail through depth and dimensional effects. The immersive 3D-sound interaction is expected to reach nearly 85,000 consumers at bars through 650 sampling events in 13 markets nationwide this fall.

Both programs are currently in-market and the next proof-point that Jim Beam continues to Make History® not only with its rich, 220-year heritage of bourbon production, but also in being a leader by its marketing executions.

For more information about Jim Beam® and new Jim Beam Apple, “like” our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/JimBeam), follow us on Twitter (@jimbeam) or visit http://www.jimbeam.com.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.

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 commitment to Growing for Good.  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 www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Jim Beam® Apple, Apple Liqueur with Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 35% Alc./Vol.

ABERLOUR UNVEILS ‘VOICE-O-GRAPH’ IN LONDON

Aberlour, the award-winning single malt, has unveiled the next phase of its ‘Made From Experience’ marketing platform in London, ahead of a world tour that started in New York this summer. The Aberlour Voice-o-Graph is a rare vintage recording booth that offers fans of music and single malt Scotch whisky the chance to capture their own experiences on vinyl.

Built in the 1940s, and believed to be one of only two working examples in the world, the Aberlour Voice-o-Graph cuts directly on to a 6″ vinyl and represents one of the earliest forms of recording. From budding musicians to storytellers, to hopeless romantics recording messages of love, the Voice-o-Graph has been used to capture special moments, allowing a lifetime of experiences to be captured in 65 seconds.

Aberlour has partnered with iconic independent record store, Phonica Records in Soho, London, to offer the Voice-o-Graph to the public for two weeks in October, before moving on to Canada and  France before its final stop at the Aberlour Distillery. Whisky fans in London will also get the opportunity to sample Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask Matured, the rich, sweet and well balanced single malt Scotch whisky that demonstrates the distillery’s exceptional use of ex-Sherry casks.

Nikki Burgess, Global Brand Director for Aberlour, said: “Our ‘Made from Experience’ series reflects our philosophy of harnessing skill, passion and expertise to create uniquely crafted result. Whether it be a velvety smooth single malt or a single edition vinyl pressed in our Voice-o-Graph, we believe in celebrating and facilitating authentic and meaningful experiences.”

The Voice-o-Graph builds on Aberlour’s Global ‘Made from Experience’ series, which last year saw photographer and bassist from Mumford & Sons, Ted Dwane produce an exhibition of photographs – a curation of emotive portraits of people he had met and photographed during his experiences on the road with his band.

The Aberlour Voice-o-Graph will be available free of charge at Phonica Records, 51 Poland Street, London W1F 7LZ from Tuesday 20^th October to Monday 2^nd November between 11.30am and 7pm Monday – Saturday and from 12.30pm – 5.30pm on Sundays while daily vinyl stocks last.

For more information please visit www.aberlour.com/.

NOTES

Aberlour 12 Year Old Double Cask Matured tasting notes by Master Distiller, Graeme Cruickshank:

Colour: Golden amber with hints of ruby

Nose: Soft and rounded, with fruity notes of red apple

Palate: A fine sherried character, balanced with rich chocolate, toffee, cinnamon and ginger spiciness

Finish: Warming and lingering – sweet and slightly spicy 

About Aberlour

Aberlour was founded in 1879 by James Fleming, the Aberlour distillery is located in Scotland, in the heart of Speyside – Scotland’s premier whisky-producing region. Aberlour is a leading single malt Scotch whisky brand in France, the world’s biggest Scotch whisky market. Since 1995 Aberlour has grown strongly and is now the sixth most popular single malt Scotch whisky in the world.

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.chivasspirit.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.

http://www.pernod-ricard.com/

BLACK BOTTLE’S ‘OUT OF THE BOX’ FESTIVE GIFT SET 

From November the popular blended Scotch whisky Black Bottle will be available for a limited time in a funky gift pack with parts of the 750ml bottle literally presented outside of the box. It also includes two beautifully branded whisky tumblers. These will be available at Checkers LiquorShops countrywide for about R270 per gift pack.

Black Bottle offers a unique and ultra-versatile blend of top single malt and grain whiskies. Fresh and floral on the nose with whiffs of new-sawn oak and a hint of smoke, it opens onto a silky palate with delicate smoke and peat balanced by sweet oak and honey, to end on a lingering finish of spice.

As its name suggests, Black Bottle was originally sold in an opaque black bottle. Launched by the Graham brothers in 1879 in Aberdeen, Scotland, it soon developed a loyal following. The distinctive black bottles used were sourced from Germany. When World War I interrupted supply, the black bottle was replaced by a readily available green bottle.

Now, a century later, Black Bottle is back in black, celebrating its origins with a retro look and its original blend. The new design has been inspired by a black bottle found in the company archives dating to 1906, while the blend has been adjusted to reflect the recipe created in Aberdeen by Gordon Graham 136 years ago.

Go to http://www.theblackbar.co.za/ and enter your details should you wish to exclusive Black Bottle events.

Follow Black Bottle on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BlackBottleSA) and/or

Twitter (https://twitter.com/BlackBottleSA).

Join the conversation using: #BlackBar

 This article in a Tweet: Stunning @BlackBottleSA #Scotch #whisky festive gift pack available from @CheckersSA #LiquorShop for +/- R270 from early November. #BlackBar