INTRODUCING THE BALLANTINE’S PRESTIGE RANGE

Ballantine’s, the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No.2 Scotch whisky in the world, maintains that staying true builds depth of character. Learning from life experiences is what makes us unique and this is the ethos that frames the Ballantine’s Prestige range of whiskies. Our rich history and the many pioneering people who have been a part of our story are all reflected in the deep character of our mature whiskies.

Ballantine’s Prestige blends single malts and grain whiskies of different ages to create an extraordinary range of luxury expressions. Information can be found below on Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, 21 Year Old and 30 Year Old, including downloadable bottle shots, tasting notes and key cocktail images and recipes.

Ballantine’s 17 Year Old
Ballantine’s 17 Year Old has a fruity and harmonious taste profile that subtly conveys the character of its original distilleries and notes of oak for an extra depth of flavour, making this Scotch revered by whisky connoisseurs. The expression has been named Best Scottish Blended Whisky by Jim Murray in each edition of the Whisky Bible between 2009 and 2013.

Ballantine’s 21 Year Old
Ballantine’s 21 Year Old is a rich and intense Scotch whisky blended with a high proportion of whiskies matured in European oak that impart their character on the spicier and richer fruity finish. The expression was awarded a Gold medal at the IWSC Hong Kong and The Scotch Whisky Masters in 2014.

Ballantine’s 30 Year Old
Ballantine’s 30 Year Old is the pinnacle of the Prestige range, conveying a perfect balance of the character of distilleries that are no longer in existence and the influence of the casks. The whisky presents a powerful and opulent taste profile with concentrated notes of fruits and was awarded with a Best in Class Gold medal at the ISC in 2015 and a Master medal at the Scotch Whisky Masters in 2014.

Ballantine’s Prestige cocktails
Ballantine’s Prestige has partnered with Salts of the Earth’s Head Cocktail Counsellor, Matt Uden, to create modern bespoke serves that hero the flavour, quality and craftsmanship of each expression within the Ballantine’s Prestige portfolio. Having spent 10 years living in Asia, Matt has a deep understanding of cocktail and consumer trends both in the continent and globally.

Notes:

About Salts of the Earth
Salts of the Earth are an innovative cocktail counselling service, who create ground-breaking drinks served with mouth-watering pairings that further enhance the drinking experience.

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

Twitter @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

Twitter @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

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival introduces a second annual event uniting Speyside distilleries under one roof

Speyside’s leading malt whisky producers will unite on their own doorstep for the first time – to launch a brand new ‘dramfest’ organised by the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

Brand rivalries will be put to one side when Spirit of Speyside brings distillers from all over the region together under one roof in celebration of the area’s most famed product – malt whisky.

Plans for the first event – to take place in September 2016 – were unveiled at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival AGM yesterday (Tuesday, October 13). It will offer an alternative weekend devoted to Speyside whisky in its home and heartland and complementing the internationally-renowned Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival held annually in May.

The September whisky weekend is being introduced to sate the public’s thirst for whisky-themed events in the area that is home to more than half of Scotland’s malt whisky distilleries.

Elgin has been chosen as the central location for this Speyside showcase, which as well as whisky, will feature other drinks – including local gin and craft beer – along with fine food and produce from the region.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has become one of the leading events of its kind over the past 17 years. It attracts thousands of visitors from all over the world to Speyside during the May Day weekend to savour a selection of more than 400 events, from tastings to ceilidhs, food pairings to comedy.

Many events are sold out within hours of tickets going on sale and accommodation in the region reaches capacity. Festival organisers could see scope to introduce a second – but distinctive – event to its annual calendar, which will allow people to celebrate Scotland’s national drink in its spiritual home without the need to plan a five-day itinerary.

The event will be held from September 9-11, 2016 at Elgin Town Hall, drawing visitors after the summer season and helping provide an economic boost for the area.

As well as tastings, cocktail making, a food court, and masterclasses will be part of the offering. Distilleries, businesses and partners will be encouraged to develop themes to add to the visitor experience.

Festival chairman James Campbell says, “Our annual whisky festival has grown in size and stature to become one of the leading events of its kind in the world.

“We are now creating a brand new weekend event with the big difference that the distilleries will be together, under one roof, and that’s something that doesn’t normally happen on their home territory.

“We’ve chosen Elgin for the venue because it is central, with good transport links, and we’ll be encouraging businesses and other partners to get involved too. Further announcements on what people can expect from the new event, including its official title, will be made in the coming weeks and months.

“This is a great opportunity for distilleries and food and drink producers of Speyside to showcase their products and share what they do.

“While the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has an international audience, and overseas visitors may be among the contingent, we expect our September event to have a particular appeal to the home market, including people from the local area.

“We look forward to developing our plans and helping keep one of Scotland’s most famous whisky producing regions well and truly on the map, inspiring more visitors to develop their interest and knowledge of our national tipple.”

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival’s position as a major tourism attraction in Scotland was underlined again this year when it attracted 26,389 visits to events from a record 34 different countries.

The 2016 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival – and its traditional musical arm the Spirit of Speyside Sessions – takes place from April 28 to May 2. For further information about the event visit http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/ with tickets on sale from January 2015.  The Festival is also active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter. 

Notes

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs from Thursday, April 28 to Monday, May 2.

Check out http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/ for up-to-date news and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside

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

Nova Scotia Whisky Celebrates a New Canadian Tradition

Glynn Williams today celebrates the traditions that bring family and friends together with the launch of GLYNNEVAN® Double Barrelled Canadian Rye Whisky. Born in the West and matured on the Atlantic coast by the Authentic Seacoast Distilling Company in historic Guysborough, Nova Scotia, GLYNNEVAN® is the culmination of its unique journey across our great nation.

Truly Canadian, GLYNNEVAN® whisky develops its character as it is shaped by the regions of Canada on its way to Authentic Seacoast Distilling Company’s home on Guysborough harbour. A second barreling by the sea lends a distinctive maritime character to the small-batch spirit, softening and adding depth and complexity to the whisky. At a time when so much seems to divide us, GLYNNEVAN® is the Williams family’s toast to new traditions that bring us together.

“An important belief I share with my son Evan is that character is shaped through personal journey and discovery. Travel can contribute to learning and personal development, with the journey being just as important as the destination. By exploring our limits, we learn more about ourselves,” said Glynn at the launch. “From our travels together, whether by single engine plane to Canada’s high Arctic or hiking at the southernmost point of South America, our desire for adventure has given us a strong sense of purpose in the world and strengthened the bond between father and son. GLYNNEVAN® rye whisky characterizes this spirit of adventure and life-long learning together. The GLYNNEVAN® emblem, that incorporates prairie grains and ocean waves, features the rampant lion, common to the Canadian coat of arms, the Nova Scotia flag and the Williams’ family crest, proudly illustrating the ties that bind us.”

GLYNNEVAN® opens with layers of aroma starting with sweet rye spices and honey, followed by toasted oak, vanilla, cinnamon and a hint of tropical fruit. The well-balanced taste is sweet and creamy offering vanilla, spice, hazelnut, butter, toffee and caramel sensations. A mahogany-colored whisky, at 43% alc./vol., it has a powerful, yet smooth mouthfeel, with a finish that is long and warm.

GLYNNEVAN® Double Barrelled Canadian Rye Whisky is now available at the distillery in Guysborough and throughout Nova Scotia at select Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) stores and other fine spirits retailers. Read more about GLYNNEVAN® at: www.glynnevan.com

About Authentic Seacoast Distilling Company

Authentic Seacoast Distilling Company Ltd. produces handmade, craft distilled and blended spirits including GLYNNEVAN® Whisky, Sea FeverTM Rum and FortressTM Rum at its distillery next to Osprey Shores Golf Resort on the historic Guysborough harbour. It is a key part of Authentic Seacoast Company Ltd, which also includes historic DesBarres Manor Inn, Rare Bird Pub & Eatery, Skipping Stone Café & Store, Full Steam Coffee Co., Harbour Belle Bakery, Authentic Seacoast Brewing Co. (makers of Rare Bird Craft Beer), Glanbùrn Artesian Water, Authentic Seacoast Soaps and the Authentic Seacoast Store.

Authentic Seacoast Company’s vision is to restore the proud trading legacy of a seacoast village in Nova Scotia and to create jobs in the community on a sustainable basis by producing and sharing high quality products and experiences that are authentic and memorable. The Authentic Seacoast Company embodies the fresh sea air, industrious people and proud determination that has kept this special place by the sea alive over the past four centuries.

Read more at: www.glynnevan.com www.authenticseacoast.com

Come Home to a Bottle of Bothy

New Limited Edition Release from the Isle of Arran Distillery

Monday 19^th October: The award-winning Isle of Arran Distillery has today launched its latest limited edition bottling. Named for the modest dwellings that were common to the highlands and islands, The Bothy Quarter Cask was matured in small barrels reminiscent of those used in the whisky trade in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

The multi-vintage Arran Single Malt selected for The Bothy was initially matured in first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels. It was then transferred for secondary maturation into smaller casks, made of the finest American oak.

This process produces far greater contact between the whisky and oak and a faster, more intense maturation. The end result is a full-bodied expression of The Arran Malt.

James MacTaggart, Master Distiller at the distillery said: “The centuries-old history of whisky making on the island is at the heart of everything we do and with this new bottling we’ve captured those traditions.

“There are only 12,000 bottles available worldwide so we expect this edition to be highly sought-after. The picturesque artwork on the bottle, coupled with a superior dram laden with heritage, makes this a beautiful collector’s item as well as a fantastic whisky to drink and savour.”

Evoking the scents and colours of autumn, The Bothy has a nose of sandalwood, malty barley and damp oak. A sweet palatte with the Arran character of fresh pineapple, green apples and toasted brioche is enriched with a kick of red chilli. Finishing with refreshing citrus notes, The Bothy delivers all the complexity and richness for which the distillery is well renowned.

Bottled at Natural Cask Strength 55.7% abv, The Bothy Quarter Cask will be available at specialist whisky shops and www.arranwhisky.com from 11am on the 19^th October priced at £54.99. 

Notes:

For more information visit 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.

Van Winkle Bourbon Available Soon

Barrels yield less 15, 20 and 23 Year Old Bourbon than usual 

            FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Oct. 14, 2015) – The long anticipated annual release of the Van Winkle bourbons is nearly here, but unfortunately some of the angels were extra greedy over the past two decades, leaving us less bourbon than in previous years.

“When bourbon ages over 15 years, much is lost to the angel’s share.  Many of the 53 gallon oak barrels often yield less than 20 gallons,” said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director. “Unfortunately this year we experienced poor yields on the older Van Winkle whiskeys.  Furthermore, we have strict quality standards here at Buffalo Trace and several of the older Van Winkle barrels did not meet those standards. This makes a drastic difference in volume, considering we have very few barrels as it is. The result is less 15 year-old Pappy Van Winkle than usual, and far less 20 year-old and 23 year-old. Frankly, about half as much as last year.”

            Known for their smoother and sweeter flavor, Van Winkle bourbons are aged years longer than most others and garner an impeccable reputation among connoisseurs.  Although the bourbons have become increasingly popular worldwide in recent years, very little is sold overseas, so that most of these coveted bottles are available in the United States.

The Van Winkle collection consists of several whiskeys. Suggested retail prices are as follows:

• $49.99 – Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 proof
• $59.99 – Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12 Year Old
• $99.99 – Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old
• $79.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15 Year Old
• $149.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20 Year Old
• $249.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23 Year Old

“Although a lot of retailers charge more than our suggested pricing, we are not asking them to do so,” said Julian Van Winkle, president, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. “We have not raised prices and do not intend to do so drastically in the future. We are committed to our quality and our pricing.”

The Van Winkle line of whiskeys has won a multitude of awards through the years, including the 15-year-old being named “Excellent/highly recommended” in the 2014 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; the 20 year-old awarded “Extraordinary/ultimate recommendation” in the 2013 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; a double gold for the 20 year-old in the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; and the Chairman’s Trophy and “Extraordinary/Ultimate Recommendation” for the 20 year-old in the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

            The Van Winkle Whiskeys will be available starting in November, but please be mindful that supply is quite limited and bottles shall be hard to find in stores, bars and restaurants. They will be packed three bottles per case. 

About Van Winkle Bourbon

The Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery has a four generation history. The Van Winkle family’s involvement in the bourbon industry began in the late 1800s with Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle, Sr. He was a traveling salesman for the W.L. Weller and Sons wholesale house in Louisville. Pappy and a friend, Alex Farnsley, eventually bought the wholesale house and also partnered with Mr. A. Ph. Stitzel on the purchase of Mr. Sitzel’s distillery.  The three of them merged the two companies and became the Stitzel-Weller Distillery.

In May of 1935 at the age of 61, Pappy opened the newly completed Stitzel-Weller Distillery in South Louisville. Its prominent brands were W.L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald, Rebel Yell, and Cabin Still.  Pappy had a heavy influence on the operations there until his death at the age of 91. His son, Julian, Jr. took over operations until he was forced by stockholders to sell the distillery in 1972. The rights to all of their brands were sold to Norton Simon, Inc. Later, United Distillers, who eventually ended up with the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, sold off all of the original labels around 1999.              After selling the distillery, Julian Jr. resurrected a pre-Prohibition label, the only one to which the Van Winkles kept the rights, called Old Rip Van Winkle. He used whiskey stocks from the old distillery to supply his brand. Julian Jr.’s son, Julian, III took over in 1981 when Julian, Jr. passed away. Julian III has continued with the Van Winkle tradition of producing high-quality wheated bourbon. His son, Preston, joined the company in 2001 and the Van Winkles look to continue that tradition for generations to come.             In 2002 the Van Winkles entered into a joint venture with Buffalo Trace Distillery in Franklin County, Frankfort, Ky. All of the Van Winkle’s whiskey production now takes place at Buffalo Trace Distillery under the same strict guidelines the family has always followed. For more information on the Van Winkle family of bourbon please visit http://www.oldripvanwinkle.com/.

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.