Booker’s® Bourbon Roundtable Selects Fourth Batch In 2015 Limited-Edition Release Collection

Booker’s® Bourbon, one of the few bourbons available uncut and unfiltered1, announces the release of the fourth batch in its 2015 collection, Batch 2015-04, also referred to as the “Oven Buster Batch.” This latest expression was hand selected during an exclusive tasting by Fred Noe, 7th Generation Master Distiller, and the Booker’s® Bourbon Roundtable – a small collection of esteemed bourbon experts, enthusiasts and writers. The latest release of Booker’s® is a true testament to the full-bodied bourbon first created by the late Booker Noe, 6th Generation Master Distiller and Fred Noe’s father.

“I’ve always been fond of cooking with bourbon,” said Annis Wickham Noe, wife of Booker and mother of Fred. “Years ago, as I was preparing a pork roast, I mistakenly reached for a bottle of my husband’s namesake bourbon to pour over the roast. The oven sparked from the bourbon’s high proof and the door flew open – that’s how the Oven Buster nickname was born!”

“Oven Buster Batch” is the second batch this year that was selected by the Booker’s® Bourbon Roundtable, with the guidance of Noe. The Roundtable was also joined by special guest Fred Minnick, author of “Bourbon Curious: A Simple Tasting Guide for a Savvy Drinker,” who contributed his knowledge of whiskey to help the group choose a batch that properly honors Booker Noe’s whiskey preferences and pays homage to the bourbon’s full-body flavor profile.

The Roundtable panelists who helped select Batch 2015-04, “Oven Buster Batch,” included the following members:

• Chuck Cowdery, Blogger and Author of “Bourbon, Strange: Surprising Stories of American Whiskey”
• Geoff Kleinman, Founder and Managing Editor of DrinkSpirits.com
• John McCarthy, Spirits Writer and Senior Managing Editor of Men’s Health Magazine
• Jack Robertiello, Spirits Writer and Spirits Competition Judge
• Tony Sachs, Spirits Writer and Blogger for Huffington Post

Noe, the Roundtable Panelists and Minnick selected Booker’s® “Oven Buster Batch” with the following characteristics:

• Proof: 127
• Age: 6 years, 5 months and 20 days
• Nose: Vanilla with oak
• Finish: Long, smooth, pleasant finish
• Sipping Suggestions: With ice or cut with water

Uncut and unfiltered1 – like all Booker’s® Bourbon batches before it – “Oven Buster Batch” features the robust flavor and natural proof that Booker’s® Bourbon is known for and will be available nationwide beginning mid-August with a suggested retail price of $59.99 per 750 mL bottle.

Booker’s® Bourbon is quality screened to remove only pieces of charred barrel wood from the liquid

About Booker’s® Bourbon

Booker’s® Bourbon was inspired by a 200-year-old family tradition and came to life when Booker Noe selected the first bottles of Booker’s as holiday gifts for his friends and family. With its instant popularity within Noe’s close circle, Booker’s Bourbon was soon after bottled and made available on shelves for everyone to enjoy. Booker’s Bourbon is one of the only bourbons bottled unfiltered* and at its natural proof, which varies from batch to batch. Crafted in small batches and aged for six to eight years in charred oak barrels, which are stored in the center of the rack house, Booker’s Bourbon is hand-selected barrel-by-barrel by Fred Noe to ensure every bottle contains a robust, full-bodied whiskey that has a taste, aroma and proof that matches Booker’s whiskey preference.

For more information on Booker’s Bourbon, visit: http://www.bookersbourbon.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 http://www.beamsuntory.com/ and www.drinksmart.com.

Single Malt Whisky Distilling Returns to Edinburgh after a 90 Year Absence

Single malt whisky distilling is poised to return to Scotland’s capital after a 90 year absence, following the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to enter into a lease with a new distillery at the Engine Shed near Holyrood Park.

Whisky expert and former Master Distiller for The Macallan, David Robertson, is behind plans to open the Holyrood Park Distillery – a £2 million boutique micro-distillery and visitor experience at the Engine Shed building in the heart of the city.

The proposal is now subject to a planning application.

David Robertson, project lead and master distiller of the Holyrood Park Distillery, said:  “We are very excited by the prospect of resurrecting the proud tradition of distilling single malt whisky in Edinburgh, following a 90 year absence of whisky distilling in the capital.

“The production and export of whisky is perhaps Scotland’s most iconic industry, supporting huge numbers of jobs, and visiting a distillery is a must for most visitors to Scotland. It seems to us that the one place missing a single malt distillery is Edinburgh, the capital of the country known for the world’s most famous whisky – Scotland. We hope to be able to create an immersive and entertaining visitor experience, supporting the local economy through jobs and training opportunities, while reinforcing the capital’s position as a world class tourism destination.

“Most importantly, our goal is to create beautiful, hand-crafted single malt whiskies which will stand shoulder to shoulder with the other great single malts that are now being produced in Scotland and elsewhere. The Engine Shed building is the ideal location for us to realise this ambition. With its history dating back to the 1830s, it will provide a fantastic home for us to create a small, but world class distillery and tourist destination of which Edinburgh can be proud.”

The Holyrood Park Distillery will be developed with the visitor experience fully integrated into the design of the facility. Visitors will be able to follow the distillation process from start to finish, experiencing at first hand the creation of Edinburgh’s only single malt.

The boutique distillery will also host an education facility to be used as a community and school resource for learning about whisky distilling and the rich history of the site. Visitors will be able to enjoy locally sourced food and drink at an on-site restaurant and bar and ambitions stretch to establishing a weekend market for local crafts and products in the courtyard.  Subject to final design and receipt of planning permission, there are also plans to provide facilities for community events.

Holyrood Park Distillery will initially employ up to 25 staff at varying levels, from trainees right up to experienced distillery operators, tourism and production managers. The business aims to start distilling whisky by Summer 2016 and release a single malt whisky within four years. Due to the small scale of the operation, it will produce only 100,000 litres of alcohol per year, resulting in around 250,000 bottles of mature single malt in 8 to 12 years’ time.

Edinburgh has a long and proud history of whisky production. Back in the late 1700s there were eight licensed distilleries and it is estimated that there may have been as many as 400 illegal stills in Edinburgh. Urban production fell out of fashion but is currently enjoying a boom, with urban distilleries popping up in some of the world’s iconic cities including New York, London, Dublin, Glasgow, Portland, Nashville, New Orleans, LA, Detroit, San Francisco and Austin.

Glen Sciennes was the last single malt whisky distillery to operate in Edinburgh, and was also located in the St. Leonard’s area. The distillery’s maltings were sited near the Engine Shed before its closure in 1925 and later demolition.

The Engine Shed building was built in the 1830s as a goods warehouse for the Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway, also known as “The Innocent Railway”. Under the ownership of Lothian Regional Council, the building was renovated and, most recently, leased by a social enterprise providing a supportive living and working environment for people with learning disabilities.

Curtain rises on world’s most exclusive whisky

Whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail raised the curtain today (Wednesday 2 September 2015) at The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, on what it believes to be the world’s most exclusive single malt Scotch whisky.

Mortlach 75 Years Old by Gordon & MacPhail is the latest offering in the Generations range from the family-owned Scotch whisky firm. It was unveiled by members of the Urquhart family, together with whisky writer and connoisseur – and occasional film star – Charles MacLean.  He was joined by renowned Scottish author Alexander McCall Smith.

On 17^th November 1939, John Urquhart, the first generation of the family to be involved in Gordon & MacPhail, instructed the first-fill Sherry cask to be filled with new-make spirit from Speyside’s Mortlach Distillery. Seventy-five years later, the cask was emptied and the precious amber liquid was carefully transferred into beautiful crystal decanters.

With notes of dried apricots and pomegranate, followed by hints of spice and creamy vanilla, the latest release to the luxury Generations range has a smooth and lingering smoky finish which remains long after the dram has been savoured.

Founded in 1895, Gordon & MacPhail is known the world over as the custodian of some of the oldest and rarest single malts. The fourth generation of the Urquhart family involved in the business uphold the same traditions and dedication to whisky which embedded in the company’s philosophy since it was first established.

Stephen Rankin, great grandson of John Urquhart introduced the special whisky saying: “We’ve been anticipating this moment for a long time.  Having been nurtured and cared for by four generations of our family it gives us great pleasure to release this unique and incredibly rare single malt.

“Our family has been immersed in the whisky industry for more than one hundred years and we’ve built up an expertise and knowledge, handed down from generation to generation.”

Members of the third and fourth generation of the Urquhart family poured the single malt for the assembled guests before Charles MacLean invited everyone to join him in tasting the whisky, describing it as “Smooth and highly sophisticated – elegant as a grande dame…the Ingrid Bergman of malts!

“Gordon & MacPhail is one of the few, if not the only company in the world who could have produced this rarest of whiskies. Generations of the Urquhart family have taken a long term view to maturing Scotch whisky, guided by a simple family saying – The future is shaped by what we do today. Today reveals what we did in the past. This philosophy has enabled the current generation to unveil this exquisite whisky,” he added.

Generations Mortlach 75 Years Old by Gordon & MacPhail is presented in the iconic teardrop-shaped Generations decanter. Each decanter is uniquely numbered and skilfully handcrafted with 75 multi-level “cuts”; each cut representing a year of the whisky’s maturation. The decanter sits on a white presentation plinth with two specially designed crystal glasses.

The decanter is packaged in a luxury Aniline leather travel bag and accompanied by a specially commissioned book, Seven Nights with Mortlach. Acclaimed whisky writer, Charles Maclean and international bestselling author, Alexander McCall Smith have joined forces to tell tales of Scotland, whisky and the people behind this special malt, accompanied by illustrations from up and coming Scottish artists.

Mortlach 75 Years Old by Gordon & MacPhail was matured in a first-fill Sherry butt cask.   Only 100 decanters, bottled at cask strength (44.4% ABV), have been released for worldwide sale.

The RRP of Generations Mortlach 75 Years Old by Gordon & MacPhail is £20,000, although prices may differ in international markets due to local taxes and duty.

For more information visit www.gordonandmacphail.com/generations

Notes 

About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant who have been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of selecting, maturing and bottling Single Malt Scotch whiskies.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

Now the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 50 countries. It offers more than 300 expressions of own-bottled single malts. In 2009 and again in 2013, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, reflecting their successful growth in exports over a ten year period.

The company’s guiding philosophy states: “The future is shaped by what we do today. Today reveals what we did in the past.”

Tasting Notes for 75 Years Old Mortlach single malt Scotch whisky

Written by: Charles MacLean

Appearance: Mid-amber, with rubious lights.

Aroma (Nat. Str.): Fresh and clean; very slight nose prickle: still lively. A highly perfumed, floral top note – lily of the valley, barber’s shop, scented hand cream, soft leather lady’s dress handbag – with a fruity complex in the middle (dried figs, pomegranate, ripe pear. Peach juice); creamy vanilla (Crème Anglaise), even vanilla fudge, and a faint trace of coffee in the background.

Aroma (@30% Vol): Water reduces the floral notes with scented oil (bath oil? Teak oil?), increases the soft leather note and dries out the aroma somewhat (warm sanded hardwood).

Taste (Nat. Str.): Sweet to start, but not as sweet as expected; considerable fresh acidity and slightly mouth drying. Bitter almonds. A most unusual trace of hemp ropes and very faded creosote, lending a slight smokiness. A medium-length finish, leaving an attractive aftertaste of sandalwood.

Taste (@30% Vol): Lightly sweet; slightly oily texture; mouth drying; then slightly bitter finish. Some spice across the tongue. Warming, even at this lower strength.

Comment: A most unusual taste – never before encountered. Smooth and highly sophisticated – elegant as a grande dame – the Ingrid Bergman of malts!

About the Packaging

Generations Mortlach 75 Years Old by Gordon & MacPhail is beautifully presented in the iconic teardrop-shaped Generations decanter. Each of the 100 decanters released worldwide is uniquely numbered and skilfully handcrafted with 75 multi-level “cuts”; each cut representing a year of the whisky’s maturation.

The decanter nestles on an elegant white presentation plinth, delicately sculpted with ripples to resemble the movement of the water used to create this whisky in 1939.  Two crystal glasses, uniquely designed for the enjoyment of this exclusive Single Malt, sit either side of the decanter.

Accompanying the presentation is a book written by acclaimed whisky writer, Charles Maclean and international bestselling author, Alexander McCall Smith.  In “Seven Nights with Mortlach” the authors relate tales of Scotland, Scotch Whisky and the people behind the Single Malt.   Seven beautiful poems, written by McCall Smith, accompany the narrative.  The poems are accompanied by illustrations commissioned for the book by emerging Scottish based artists.

Completing the presentation is a luxury travel holdall.  Handmade using the finest Aniline leather, the holdall is finished with exquisite detailing.

JOHN DEWAR & SONS HELPS POWER THOUSANDS OF SCOTTISH HOMES 

Industry-wide collaboration generates energy by burning whisky by-products

Hamilton, Bermuda, August 25, 2015 – In a country famous for its award-winning, highly respectable Scotch whisky production, Scotland now boasts an innovative partnership with benefits beyond the traditional toast and good cheer.

The Rothes CoRDe, part-owned by The Combination of Rothes Distillers, is a facility that produces enough energy to power entire communities of neighboring distilleries. “A number of whisky companies are part of an industry consortium looking at sustainable ways of processing by-products from our distilleries,” says Iain Lochhead, Operations Director for John Dewar & Sons Ltd., part of the Bacardi group of companies.

The Speyside area of the Scottish Highlands is home to around 50 whisky distilleries. Rothes, in the heart of that region, is the site of a new, blended-biomass plant that generates heat and power for local communities. It works by burning draff (the spent grains used in the distilling process) with woodchips to create steam-generating electricity.

“We generate 8.3 megawatts of electricity every hour of every day. We use some onsite and export the rest – enough for 20,000 people in 8,000 homes,” explains Frank Burns, Managing Director, Rothes CoRDe. “We are powering all of the local communities.”

Another innovation is converting pot ale – the residue from copper whisky stills – into organic feedstock that local farmers use for their animals. “By recovering by-products from our distilleries, we turn them into material of purpose and value,” adds Burns. “Ultimately, everything we make, whether it’s animal feed – or even the ash from our boiler process – goes back to the land or to the farm.”

“In the end, we want to take this industry forward, to invest and grow, but also make sure we preserve the natural environment we rely on to support Scotch whisky for many years to come,” says David Williamson of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

As part of the Bacardi group of companies, John Dewar & Sons honors the spirit of sustainability. “We believe we are doing our part in protecting the environment of Scotland,” says Lochhead. “Since we use natural ingredients to make our whisky, we want to leave our surroundings in the same pristine condition as we find them.”

The CoRDe project is part of a broad scope of sustainability initiatives for John Dewar & Sons, producers of DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Blended Scotch whisky and the single malt brands of ABERFELDY®, AULTMORE®, CRAIGELLACHIE®, THE DEVERON® and ROYAL BRACKLA®.

As part of Bacardi, John Dewar & Sons honors the spirit of sustainability with these benchmarks at its five malt distilleries:

• 34 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions since 2006
• 46 percent reduction in water use since 2009
• 30 percent reduction of waste to landfill since 2010

Since 2006, when Bacardi began tracking its global impact on the environment, it has reduced nonrenewable energy use by nearly 28 percent and decreased its greenhouse gas emissions from production by more than 28 percent. Building on current programs and efficiencies that reduce its environmental impacts, the Bacardi Limited “Good Spirited” sustainability program sets specific goals in three areas to help reach its vision of a net zero impact:

1. Responsible Sourcing: Bacardi strives to obtain all raw materials and packaging from sustainably sourced, renewable or recycled materials while maintaining or enhancing the economic status of growers and suppliers. By 2017, the goal is to obtain 40 percent of the sugarcane-derived products used to make its rum from certified, sustainable sources – and 100 percent by 2022. This pledge from Bacardi is an industry first.
2. Global Packaging: Bacardi commits to use eco-design to craft sustainability into its brand packaging and point-of-sale materials. By 2017, Bacardi plans to reduce the weight of its packaging by 10 percent and achieve 15 percent by 2022.
3. Operational Efficiencies: Bacardi continues to focus on reducing water use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with a 2017 goal to cut water use by 55 percent and GHG emissions by 50 percent. In addition, Bacardi aims to eliminate landfill waste at all of its production sites by 2022.

To learn more about Bacardi Limited and its “Good Spirited: Building a Sustainable Future” environmental initiative for sourcing, packaging and operational efficiencies across the entire Bacardi family of premium spirits and wine brands, visit http://www.bacardilimited.com/good-spirited.

About John Dewar & Sons Ltd.  John Dewar & Sons Ltd. employs 300 people at seven locations throughout Scotland. The Company currently operates whisky distilleries in Aberfeldy, Macduff, Aultmore, Craigellachie and Nairn with ageing, blending, bottling and packaging facilities in Glasgow and additional maturation facilities in Poniel in Central Scotland.

DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, the world’s most-awarded blended Scotch; WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Blended Scotch whisky, the world’s second fastest growing Scotch; and the single malt brands of ABERFELDY®, AULTMORE®, CRAIGELLACHIE®, THE DEVERON® and ROYAL BRACKLA® are part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda.

About Bacardi Limited

Bacardi Limited, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, produces and markets internationally recognized spirits and wines. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including BACARDÍ® rum, GREY GOOSE® vodka, DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, MARTINI® vermouth and sparkling wines, CAZADORES® 100% blue agave tequila, and other leading and emerging brands including WILLIAM LAWSON’S® Blended Scotch whisky, ERISTOFF® vodka, and ST-GERMAIN® elderflower liqueur.

Founded 153 years ago in Santiago de Cuba on February 4, 1862, family-owned Bacardi manufactures its brands at 29 facilities and sells in more than 160 countries. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited. http://www.bacardilimited.com/

ROYAL BRACKLA® SINGLE MALT: THE FIRST WHISKY FIT FOR A KING

Glasgow, Scotland, 25^th August 2015 – John Dewar & Sons Ltd. has unveiled a new range of proprietary bottlings from Royal Brackla distillery, one of Scotland’s oldest and most venerable distilleries.

The new expressions of this regal single malt, ROYAL BRACKLA® 12 year-old, ROYAL BRACKLA® 16 year-old and ROYAL BRACKLA® 21 year-old will be available initially in 10 markets from September 2015; a regal opportunity to savour whisky fit for a King.

Standing on the fertile farmland of the Cawdor Estate, Royal Brackla Distillery was established in 1812 by the fiery Captain William Fraser who returned to the family farm after military service and took advantage of the fine barley it grew. Within 25 years his distillery’s reputation for spirit of sterling taste received its crowning moment when King William IV bestowed ‘Royal’ status to Brackla, in 1835. It thus became the first ever Scotch to garner a royal warrant, a revelation that led to its nickname: ‘The King’s Own Whisky’.

Traditional production techniques help to protect a distilling heritage that spans more than two centuries and preserves the unparalleled quality of a rather special spirit. To allow for the development of intriguing complexity and fruitiness, extra time is taken at the fermentation stage, which acts for up to 80 hours; far longer than most Scottish distilleries.

The notably tall stills run at an unusually slow pace. Their height allows plenty of reflux, with the leisurely nature of the operation increasing the contact that the spirit shares with copper, thus filtering out unwanted sulphury notes. Instead, delicate and lightly perfumed notes of grass and green foliage develop, alongside inviting fruity aromas. Crucially, the whisky is finished in premium first-fill sherry casks, enriching it with notes of muscovado sweetness and dates, alongside opulent walnuts.

Stephen Marshall, Bacardi’s Global Marketing Manager – Single Malts says: “This is the one that was described as ‘The Drink Divine’ by the Royal household in the 1830s, that’s no small claim, so we had to take our time and the entire team have done an amazing job that really does justice to Royal Brackla’s incredible heritage. There’s only one whisky in the world that can be the first Royal whisky, I feel privileged to have worked on this”.

The new portfolio consists of three age statements, each bottled at 46% ABV: Royal Brackla 12 Years Old, Royal Brackla 16 Years Old and Royal Brackla 21 Years Old. Each expression has been launched in 10 initial markets around the world including Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, Sweden, Taiwan, United Kingdom, United States and Global Travel Retail.

http://www.lastgreatmalts.com/

Tasting Notes

Royal Brackla 12 Years Old, 40% ABV

Salute a superior Scotch: almonds, vine fruits, opulent spices; steeped in sherried richness. Ennobled nectar, fit for a king.

Royal Brackla 16 Years Old, 40% ABV

A royal flush of flavour: vanilla, soft caramel, ripe apricots; replete with sherry tones. Hold court with a monarch of the glens.

Royal Brackla 21 Years Old, 40% ABV

All hail a high-born spirit: summer berries, dark chocolate, star anise; infused with sherry sweetness. A member of malt aristocracy. 

About ROYAL BRACKLA Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Founded in 1812 by Captain William Fraser, ROYAL BRACKLA’s regal malt has a remarkable history. The distillery itself is over two centuries old and its malt’s nickname of ‘The King’s Own Whisky’ stems from its distinction as the first single malt to be granted a royal warrant.

High-grade barley, flawless water from the Cawdor Burn and slow distillation produce a truly refined spirit, before it’s matured in the finest first-fill oloroso sherry casks. This rich, robust whisky offers muscovado sweetness, dates and walnuts within its opulent, sherried depths.

The brand new portfolio comprises of three ROYAL BRACKLA single malts: the 12 Years Old, 16 Years Old and 21 Years Old.

The single malt brand of ROYAL BRACKLA is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

http://www.royalbrackla.com/

About John Dewar & Sons Ltd.John Dewar & Sons Ltd. employs 300 people at seven locations throughout Scotland. The Company currently operates whisky distilleries in Aberfeldy, Macduff, Aultmore, Craigellachie and Nairn with ageing, blending, bottling and packaging facilities in Glasgow and additional maturation facilities in Poniel in Central Scotland.

http://www.lastgreatmalts.com/

For more information on the new single malt expressions, the five distilleries, tasting notes, crafting, and heritage, please visit http://www.lastgreatmalts.com/

ENJOY THE LAST GREAT MALTS RESPONSIBLY. 

ROYAL BRACKLA & THE LAST GREAT MALTS DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS

Values Soar as Demand for Rare Whisky Booms

The market for investing in and collecting rare whisky continues to boom, with a record number of bottles of rare whisky sold at auction in the UK during the first half of 2015, according to figures published today by whisky analyst, broker and investment experts Rare Whisky 101.

The first six months of the year saw 20,638 bottles of single malt Scotch whisky sold in the UK on the open market, an increase of 5,374 bottles and a 35% increase on the same period last year. Compared to the first half of last year, the value of collectables sold at auction grew 33.8% to £4.604m.

The continued growth of the whisky secondary market contrasts with the fortunes of the primary market where whisky exports have seen values fall over the past year.

Whisky investment analyst and co-founder of Rare Whisky 101, Andy Simpson commented: “Demand for rare whisky and the supply of bottles at auction are both accelerating at an extraordinary rate, and this is driving up values. Even using the broadest metrics of the top 1000 bottles, we have seen a dramatic and dynamic rise in values since 2008 to end June 2015.

“Demand for desirable single malt Scotch brands and previously discontinued bottles remains exceptionally strong. The dead hand of marketing is gaining an ever tighter grip on the single malt category, where retail releases are becoming non-age stated (NAS) and the number of bottles ever more prolific.  The dearth of truly collectable releases over recent years has only fuelled demand for older and discontinued past releases where quality and rarity are powerful motivations for purchase.

“For many in the broader Scotch industry, export and sales figures appear challenging. However, the secondary market for rarities shows little of this stress. We view this as a clear future trend, with the value of scarcity increasing demand from connoisseurs, collectors and investors.”

Liquid gold burns brighter

The top 100 performing bottles of Investment Grade Scotch (Rare Whisky 101 Apex 100 Index) increased by 8.93% compared to the same period last year.  The rising values have yielded an overall increase of 506.24% between 2008 and 31 June 2015. The Apex 250 and 1000 have recorded growth of 385.81% and 245.08% over the same time frame.

Bowmore rockets up rankings, but Balvenie takes a tumble

Leading rare whisky brands, Brora and The Dalmore, retain their positions as the top two ranked distilleries, but there has been significant movement elsewhere within the Investors Distillery Index. The biggest risers are Bowmore, up 13 places from 18 to 5, Ardbeg up 10 places from 19 to 9, and Glenfiddich which climbed 16 places to 23. Balvenie tumbled 10 places from 3 to 13.

Caveat emptor….worst performing whiskies continue to decline

Conversely, the negative indices plumbed new depths, continuing a downward negative trend. Despite producing a marginally positive performance (+0.16%) through the first half of 2014, the Negative 100 Index has experienced a significant -6.74% decline during the first half of 2015. From 2008 to the end of June 2015, the Negative 100, 250 and 1000 are down -67.84%, -60.2% and -44.12% respectively.

Japanese whisky experiencing meteoric ascent

While values for collectable single malt Scotch have made impressive gains during the first half of the year, their performance pales in comparison to some Japanese brands. Karuizawa, for example, has increased by 66.05% at the half year point, outperforming any other single malt Scotch brand.

For more information or to download the full report visit http://www.rarewhisky101.com/

Notes 

About Rare Whisky 101 Andy Simpson and David Robertson launched Rare Whisky 101 in 2014 with the aim of offering a whisky valuation service, brokerage and consultancy for whisky collectors and investors. Having tracked every bottle sold at auction over the past 12 years, the business now offers the world’s first and only online single malt Scotch whisky and most comprehensive dataset. In the last 12 months, RW101 have brokered around 15,000 rare whisky bottles around the globe in addition to trading in aged casks from iconic distilleries such as The Macallan, Ardbeg, Bowmore, Springbank and Highland Park.

For Peat’s sake don’t get dram-atic. You shall go to the ball!

Midlands Whisky Festival 2015, Friday 18^th and Saturday 19^th September 2015

www.whiskyfest.co.uk

Are you a whisky lover who would give your eye teeth to taste the finest single malts ever produced but can’t quite make the four figure price tag for a bottle of the best?

Now you can try the dream drams that you may think are the exclusive indulgence of oligarchs and oil barons. The Midlands Whisky Festival, Friday 18^th and Saturday 19^th September 2015 at Stourbridge Town Hall, provides an opportunity for ticket holders to taste the finest rare whiskies, some of them from distilleries long closed down but whose historic stock has been acquired by other distilleries and collectors.

And if you’re muddled by your malts or puzzled by peat, then the festival’s Masterclasses by experts from the likes of Laphroaig, celebrating its 200^th anniversary this year, and Nikka, the award-winning Japanese distiller (International Spirits Challenge 2015 Distiller of the Year) will teach you all you need to know about the world of whisky. There will be around 40 exhibitors over the two day event including artisan chocolatier Matthieu De Gottal (@gottalchocolat) whose speciality is, of course, whisky chocolates, and a chance to take a break from whisky-tasting with food provided on site by local bistro, French Connection.

The Midlands Whisky Festival, established in 2011 is the brainchild of Nickolls and Perks, an independent wine and spirits merchants in Stourbridge which dates back to the 18^th century. Still occupying the same timber-framed corner building on Lower High Street, which was leased to William Nickless in 1797 for an annual lease of five shillings*, Nickolls and Perks, owned by the Gardener family since 1945, boasts an extensive inventory of some 2000 whiskies and spirits as well as wines and champagnes from all over the world.

Now in its fourth trading century as wine merchants, Nickolls and Perks is one of the finest specialist shops in the UK with customers from all corners of the globe sourcing the rare and special releases that it procures through its unique and historic associations with producers. Whiskies range in price per bottle from a modest £17 to an eye-watering £43,000, the price of a Macallan Lalique 50 Year Old 1st Release 46 %, which has just been sourced on behalf of a collector client.

The atmospheric ‘corner shop’ with its historic cellars is the perfect setting for regular wine and spirit tastings and it was the phenomenal demand for whisky tastings which gave rise to the Midlands Whisky Festival, now a twice yearly event in March and September to showcase the new Spring and Autumn releases. Tickets for the festival, priced £30 to £150* can be bought in advance at www.whiskyfest.co.uk

Colin Dunn, from Diageo, a regular attendee and exhibitor at the festival said:

“The Midlands Whisky Festival owes its fast-growing success to the expertise and passion of the team at Nickolls and Perks who want to create the best possible experience for whisky lovers. Through their associations with major whisky producers and their in-depth knowledge of the subject, they put together an event which inspires and educates, and steeps the visitor in the magic and history of the world of whisky. It is one of my favourite Whisky Shows of the year and if I wasn’t exhibiting, I would be attending!”

Tim Robbins, Marketing and Events Manager at Nickolls and Perks said:

“We’ve seen a marked increase in interest in specialist and premium whiskies and spirits; this has led to the Midlands Whisky Festival growing from one day per year to two days twice yearly, making it the largest event of its type in England outside London.

The Festival offers a great opportunity to everyone to explore the diversity of whiskies and spirits on taste from Ireland, the US, Japan, India as well as, of course, Scotland.

You don’t have to be a die-hard enthusiast – there’s a lot to see and taste, for newbies and experts alike, backed up by industry professionals from the distilleries offering lots of friendly advice and information.

I think people will be amazed with the whiskies they will be tasting at the event. We can promise a fun, passionate and informative experience – people will go away with a new perception of whisky and much more confidence about their whisky knowledge.”

Notes

*Midlands Whisky Festival, Friday 17^th and Saturday 18^th September 2015

Stourbridge Town Hall, Crown Centre, DY8 1YE

http://www.whiskyfest.co.uk/   FB: midlandswhiskyfestival, Twitter: @midlandswhisky

Tickets £30 to £150 can be booked in advance online. Further info tel: 01384 394518

Friday 18 September: £30.00
Entrance at 6:00pm
Last pour 9:00 pm
Show closes at 9:30 pm
all standard drams on taste free inside venue souvenir tasting glass & show programme

Saturday Standard £40.00
Entrance at 12:00pm
Last pour 5:00 pm
Show closes at 5:30 pm
all standard drams on taste free inside venue, souvenir tasting glass & show programme

Saturday Devotee £150.00
all standard features
all premium features

PLUS selection of 8 dream drams to take home & £10 food voucher

Dream Drams

There will be more than 25 Dream Drams on offer at the Festival .Please see separate document which highlights some of the Dream Drams confirmed to date.

*Nickolls and Perks

37 Lower High Street, Stourbridge, DY8 1TA, Tel: 01384 394518

http://www.nickollsandperks.co.uk/ FB: Nicholls and Perks ; Twitter: @Nickolls_Perks

William Gardner bought the business in 1945. His grandson, also William, is the Managing Director with brother, David, Sales Director and brother Jim, Despatch Manager. William’s daughter Rhiannon is Operations Manager, son Callum is Private Client and Trade Sales Fine Wine Specialist and Dave’s son Jerome, is Retail Manager and Whisky and Spirits Specialist.

THE KILTWALK GETS FUNDING BOOST FROM CHIVAS BROTHERS

Employees of Scotch whisky producer Chivas Brothers have chosen The Kiltwalk as their Charity of the Year for 2015. The organisation was chosen by employees at the company’s Dumbuck and Kilmalid sites in Dumbarton, and at its Dalmuir site in Clydebank. The company has donated £5,000 to the charity.

The Kiltwalk is an organisation that runs annual walking events in aid of a host of children’s charities – including Yorkhill Children’s Charity, CHAS, Debra and the NSPCC. This year is its biggest yet, with events in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Perth, Dundee and Speyside – home to 13 of Chivas Brothers’ 14 malt whisky distilleries.

Charities of the Year are nominated by employees, before a shortlist is created and voting takes place. The Kiltwalk holds a special place in the hearts of a group of employees at the company’s Kilmalid site in Dumbarton, who recently won an Unsung Hero award from the charity for their hard work volunteering at its events.

Lead volunteer Allan Stewart said: “The award was the highlight of a very exciting and rewarding year. Our involvement included delivering 60,000 bottles of water to more than 40 pit stops across five events, manning registration desks, setting up start and finish lines, picking up injured walkers and much more – all in Chivas Brothers company vehicles, which our Manufacturing Director kindly gave us permission to use.”

Head of Corporate Relations at The Kiltwalk, Gemma Branney, said: “Chivas Brothers has truly embraced The Kiltwalk and everything it stands for, and has been fully committed to supporting us to help Scotland’s children.Their volunteering efforts have been second to none and now to be selected as their 2015 charity is simply tremendous.I know I speak for everyone involved with The Kiltwalk when I say I am greatly looking forward to working with the team from Chivas Brothers throughout the year ahead.”

Jennie Norrish, Head of Communications at Chivas Brothers, added: “I’m delighted our employees in Dunbartonshire have decided to support The Kiltwalk as their 2015 Charity of the Year. This is a cause very close to many of our employees’ hearts, evidenced by the work they already do for it, and we hope our donation will further help the many children’s charities it supports.”

There are four regional Chivas Brothers charities of the year in total. The others are: Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club (Paisley, Glasgow and Ayrshire region), The Jake McCarthy Foundation (London and Plymouth region) and the Scottish Network for Arthritis in Children (Northern Scotland region).

Picture captions:

CB Kiltwalk 1 – Chivas Brothers employees (l-r) Alex Malcolm, Gregor Tilley, Adam Purdie, Alan Barron and Bill Stevenson with Samantha Booth (third from left), PR Manager for The Kiltwalk.

CB Kiltwalk 2 – Chivas Brothers employees jump for joy over charity donation. Pictured (l-r) are Gregor Tilley, Alex Malcolm, Adam Purdie and Alan Barron.

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.

http://www.chivasbrothers.com/

@ChivasNewsRoom

About The Kiltwalk:

Kiltwalks are unique Scottish sponsored walking events which see walkers tackling either 26, 13 or 6 mile distances, all in the name of Scotland’s children. In three years The Kiltwalk has given £2.4 million to Scotland’s children’s causes.

In 2014 it received 165 grant nominations – that’s 165 charities, organisations and individuals picked by teams to receive a Kiltwalk grant.

Teams of five or more walkers can nominate a cause of their own to receive a grant from The Kiltwalk of up to 50% of whatever they raise. Teams of twenty or more can receive 75% of their total funds raised. These causes can include charities, appeals, schools or kids clubs so long as children are the beneficiaries.

The Kiltwalk has 17 charity partners for the 2015 events. Visit http://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk/ or email contactus@thekiltwalk.co.uk for more information or to register.

Our August auction is now live and ends on Monday 7^th September 2015!

View August Auction

We’ve had a busy month updating our website, introducing new features to make bidding and customising our auctions easier! All in time for our largest and most interesting auction to date.

It all starts this month with one of the most desirable Japanese whiskies ever bottled; Karuizawa 1964 48 year old was exclusively bottled for Wealth Solutions and limited to a mere 143 bottles. This well presented stunning whisky has rarely appeared at auction and we are excited to offer this to you in our August sale.

We are also excited to bring to auction a fantastic collection of bottles from the 1970s (and earlier); a selection of which can be seen below. These incredible bottles really show how distillery styles have changed over the last 50 years, there is also a great selection of unusual blends dating back to as far back as the 1930s.

Ardbeg Auriverdes originally released on the 31^st May 2014 was one of the most talked about releases of last year. This Gold Edition of Ardbeg Auriverdes was released exclusively to bloggers, journalists and ambassadors, never officially released to the public. 

Please remember!

There is no registration fee, our commission structure is very competitive and we offer worldwide shipping. For our terms and conditions please click here.

With close to 20 years of experience in the whisky industry, Whisky Auctioneer specialises in auctioning whisky whether it be fine, old, rare, collectable or affordable. Formed in 2013 and based in Perth, central Scotland, we aim to be the most comprehensive website for the buying and selling of whisky online.

www.whiskyauctioneer.com

Happy Bidding!

INDEPENDENT SPIRIT TAKES ARRAN FURTHER 

Isle of Arran Distillers has reported record results with the publication of their latest annual accounts.

The figures to the end of 2014 reveal that turnover rose by 21 per cent and net profit increased by 51 per cent – the best performance posted since the business started in 1995.

Success is being driven by brand sales that are ahead by 25 per cent – in marked contrast to a 7 per cent decline for the Scotch whisky industry as a whole.

The results reflect the underlying strength of the business. After a succession of healthy profits reported over the last five years, turnover for the independent distiller has more than doubled since 2010.

While 2014 saw total Scotch whisky exports fall at their fastest rate for 16 years, export sales for Isle of Arran Distillers climbed, with key markets for growth including Germany, Taiwan and Canada.

The award-winning Arran Single Malts are now available in 45 countries and further markets are being explored.

Managing director, Euan Mitchell, is delighted with the year-end results, saying: “In a challenging period for Scotch whisky our continued growth is testament to a focus on quality and a clear strategy well executed.

“Some people believe when the big companies in the industry sneeze we all catch a cold but this is not our experience. Interest in smaller, independent brands such as ours is surging and we are not even scratching the surface in global terms.”

As well as driving export sales, the Arran Malt is set for increased distribution in the UK with M&S, where two products will be available in stores later in 2015.

A key factor in the recent success of the business has been the repackaging of The Arran Malt core range, which launched in the second half of 2014. Combined with a schedule of limited edition releases, especially the final release of the acclaimed Devil’s Punch Bowl series, helped to grow sales of Arran single malts by 23 per cent over the previous year.

Euan Mitchell added: “We have invested to support the progress we expect to make.

“Two new pot stills are on order and will be installed in late 2016. This will allow production to double beyond one million litres of pure alcohol once fully commissioned.

“We have never been the kind of distillery to produce more than we expect to sell, so this boost in capacity and capability is purely a reflection of the anticipated demand for Arran malts.

“Though never complacent, we look forward with great confidence to celebrating our 21st anniversary in 2016.”

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.