With Burn’s Night just round the corner we wanted to share the latest in the Opinions Welcome series from Laphroaig, featuring poet Elvis McGonagall. The film is part of Laphroaig’s ongoing #OpinionsWelcome global campaign, gathering honest opinions about Laphroaig from friends and foe alike.

You can watch the film here.

Entitled ‘An Ode Tae Laphroaig,’ the film features a poem written and performed by Elvis McGonagall, the award-winning Scottish poet, who is also a stand-up comedian and a poetry slam world champion. Rabbie Burns is famous for his odes to objects like haggis and mice, so an ode to Laphroaig seemed like an ideal accompaniment to any Burns Night celebration.

www.laphroaig.com/opinions
@laphroaig
#opinionswelcome

‘An Ode Tae Laphroaig’

The “How-Do-You-Pronounce-It?” malt
Wi’ which some Sassenachs find fault
Aw’ storm-lashed-sea-spray-smoky-salt
Let’s exalt Laphroaig

Islay rain on heather, moss and grass
Through kiln ‘n cask, frae grain tae glass
A snort, a drop, a dram o’ class
Crack open the Laphroaig

A richt rambusteous “amber bead”
No yin fur faintheart or weak-kneed
A muckle skelp aboot the heid
Pure radge that Laphroaig

Uisge beathe – nae moonshine booze
The nectar that the angels choose
Ambrosia, immortal muse
Bottled poetry Laphroaig

In seven pot stills by the ocean
Liquid joy, sweet peaty potion
A burning kiss of deep devotion
Ooh la la Laphroaig

Tastebuds flyin’ as high as a kite
Brain burstin’ oot in fairy lights
A deoch-an-doris tae cap the night
Just wan more Laphroaig

Queen o’ the Hebrides’ golden tears
Distillation o’ two hundred years
Skal, Prost, Salud, Kampei, Cheers
Slainte-mhath! Laphroaig!

Copyright Elvis Mcgonagall
April 2015

DIAGEO ARMS CONSUMERS WITH COMPREHENSIVE NUTRITIONAL AND ALCOHOL INFORMATION ABOUT ITS BRANDS

Revamped website – DRINKiQ.com – to support consumers in making informed choices 

TUESDAY 19 JANUARY 2016: With the launch of its newly revised DRINKiQ.com, Diageo is advancing its commitment to give consumers greater transparency and help them to make more informed choices about alcohol. To this end, the company has significantly enhanced the nutrition, calorie and alcohol content information available about all its brands. This includes a breakdown of calories, carbohydrates and protein as well as, for the first time, detailing saturated fat, sugar, caffeine and sodium content.

Today’s announcement builds on Diageo’s global commitment in March 2015 to start voluntarily providing nutrition and alcohol content information per standardised serving on all its brands. In the first move to fulfil this commitment, the first shipment of Crown Royal labelled with macronutrient and calorie information was released in the US in October 2015.

This valuable new information is now available on its responsible drinking website DRINKiQ.com, offering information about low-calorie drinks at a time when more consumers are concerned with leading a balanced lifestyle following the festive period.

DRINKIQ.com includes useful new tools such as a simple to use ‘Drinks Calculator’, to help people calculate and track their alcohol and calorie intake. It also provides responsible drinking tips and advice on how food, age, size and gender affects how the body processes alcohol, alongside the enhanced ‘What’s in your Drink’ tool.

Carolyn Panzer, Alcohol in Society Director, Diageo said: “As people become more and more interested in their diet and lifestyle choices, we need to play our part. We know that consumers want nutritional information about what they drink – just as they do with the foods they eat; they also want a clear and easy way to know how much alcohol they are drinking. We believe passionately in helping people to understand what’s in their drink and to make informed choices about drinking or not drinking. Alcohol is alcohol. There is no drink of moderation – only a practice of moderation.”

Key features of the new site include:

• An enhanced What’s In Your Drink section which details comprehensive nutritional, and alcohol content per serve information for all of Diageo’s brands, alongside ingredient information. This includes a breakdown of calories, carbohydrates and protein as well as, for the first time, detailing saturated fat, sugar, caffeine and sodium content.
• A new, simple to use, Drinks Calculator to help consumers easily calculate and track the amount of alcohol they are drinking per serving and how many calories they have consumed for a range of common drinks, instead of expecting them to do the maths.
• Tips on responsible drinking – including the chance to explore how food, age, size and gender affects how the body processes alcohol.                                                                                                          

The site also includes the truth behind common myths around alcohol consumption – such as:

• “Spirits contain more alcohol than beer and wine”. In fact 25ml of distilled spirits (e.g. Smirnoff, Tanqueray) contains 1 unit of alcohol, versus over 2 units in a pint of lager. Spirits also have fewer calories than wine or beer – 25ml of distilled spirits has approximately 55 calories compared to 125 calories in an average 175ml  glass of wine or around 180 calories in a pint of lager.

• “Eating food means I can drink more”. In fact eating food only slows down how quickly alcohol is absorbed – it does not prevent it from having an effect on the body.
• “Drinking coffee sobers people up faster.” Coffee might make people feel more awake, but the alcohol still remains in the body and takes about one hour per one drink to process.

The new DRINKiQ.com is mobile-friendly and easy to use so that consumers can quickly access information about what’s in their favourite cocktail on their phone whenever they want.

The site is available in 24 countries and 12 languages, and has been designed to ensure content is tailored to the environment and regulation in the consumer’s location, particularly legal purchase age.  

Notes

DRINKiQ.com was first introduced in 2008 when Diageo led the industry in launching a responsible drinking website.

Diageo’s decision to extend the nutritional information it provides is in response to consumer demand for more nutritional information about what they drink. For example:

• Research from NewsCred in February 2015 demonstrates the consumer desire for information on balanced lifestyles.[1]

• 47% of people in the UK have become more health conscious in the past 12 months
• 76% of people in the UK say that brands now have a responsibility to provide consumers with health content

•  27% of people in the UK say they feel informed regarding health issues
• The Nielsen Global Health & Wellness Survey of 30,000 people in 60 countries found half (49%) of global respondents believe they are overweight, and half (50%) are trying to lose weight.[2] 

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, http://www.drinkiq.com/, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

[1] ‘Health and the high street: How retail, food and drink brands are shaping UK health with content’,   NewsCred, February 2015.

[2]   ‘We are what we eat: Healthy eating trends around the world’, Nielsen, January 2015

GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES NEW GRANDEUR 25 YEAR-OLD

AWARD-WINNING GlenDronach today (18 January) welcomes 2016 by launching batch 7 of the GlenDronach Grandeur series, an extraordinary limited edition expression for the serious connoisseur.

This latest batch of Grandeur, bottled at 50.6% abv, has been exclusively matured for over 25 years in the finest Oloroso sherry casks.

It is another sumptuous and long-aged representation of the incredibly smooth, complex and full-bodied style for which the Aberdeenshire distillery is renowned.

This bottling, batch number 7 of the Grandeur releases, is limited to 1180 bottles. Individually numbered by hand, each one is a one-off and truly unique, making it a very special single malt – showing the finest sherry oak casks, expert maturation and traditional crafted Highland single malt in perfect harmony.

Grandeur has been specially selected by Master Distiller, Billy Walker, from some of GlenDronach’s oldest and most unique Oloroso sherry casks. A vast selection of barrels, hogsheads, puncheons and butts have been maturing in the traditional dunnage warehouses since the 1960s, and it is the most extraordinary and remarkable of these which have been chosen for this very special bottling.

Appearance: Rich red wood flecked with gold.

Nose: An abundance of classic sherried fruits, rich damsons, dates and sweet plum juice infused with freshly sliced ginger and cracked black pepper. Softer notes of orange chocolate and walnut loaf add a delicate balance to the robust dark sherry influences.

Palate:  An elegant, vintage sherry style comprising classic Mediterranean fruits, dark sun-dried raisins, dates and fig syrup infused with delicate chocolate fondant, roasted coffee and a dusting of ground almonds. A delightful combination of sophisticated warm oak spices, freshly-cut ginger and gentle waves of caramelised orange gives a vibrant crisp contrast to the traditional Highland sherry cask characteristics.

Conclusions:   After a quarter of a century peacefully lying in our traditional dunnage warehouses, Master Blender Billy Walker has selected a combination of characterful casks which truly encapsulates the rich history and heritage between the Highland character of GlenDronach and the finest Spanish oloroso sherry casks.

Grandeur is now available from specialist whisky retailers.

Introducing Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice

New expression revealed for Speyside’s best-kept secret, Longmorn Single Malt

Longmorn has launched The Distiller’s Choice, a smooth, triple-cask matured single malt Scotch whisky, offering a new interpretation of the brand’s renowned classic toffee flavours.

Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice is a well-balanced single malt with incredible depth of flavour, presenting notes of delicate spice, sweet treacle toffee and caramel – the result of maturation in a range of exceptional American oak, ex-Oloroso sherry and traditional oak casks. The expression is a new release from Longmorn as part of a renewed focus from Chivas Brothers on the distillery, which is often referred to as Speyside’s best-kept secret.

Each bottle of Longmorn has been crafted to perfection in Speyside since John Duff established the distillery in 1894. Created to be the epitome of exquisite taste, Duff sculpted the Longmorn signature style by marrying craftsmanship and advancing technological techniques. In his pursuit of excellence, he built a railway station adjacent to the distillery to bring in the best ingredients and swiftly export the whisky. His installation of broad, smooth-shouldered stills also allowed for a lower fill level that increases contact with the copper during distillation, known by distillers as the ‘kiss of the copper’, which reaps the benefits of fresh local water drawn directly from the Moray Aquifer. These same stills are used today.

Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice is presented in distinct, luxury packaging that befits its exceptional quality; the glass bottle has high, broad shoulders, a long pouring neck and is largely transparent to showcase the quality of the whisky inside. The two labels pay homage to the founder’s railway station by replicating the style of a train ticket and inclusion of a steam train as part of the updated logo. Modern luxury cues pay homage to the golden age of progress in the late 1800s, with the striking purple colour evoking ‘The Mauve Decade’, which saw the increased availability of purple clothing, previously only available to the aristocracy.

Clarisse Daniels, Global Marketing Manager for Single Malts at Chivas Brothers, comments: “For more than a century, Longmorn single malt has been one of the best-kept secrets in Scotland, so we are very excited to be releasing The Distiller’s Choice. What better single malt than Longmorn, created in the Golden Era of Luxury, to delight discerning drinkers looking for quality, heritage and pedigree. Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice, with its soft, creamy and rich flavour profile, will be the perfect addition to the repertoire of knowledgeable Scotch whisky drinkers around the world.”

Bottled at 40% ABV, Longmorn The Distiller’s Choice will be available from January 2016 in 27 markets, including UK, Canada and France, at the RRP of $94 per litre in domestic markets (or local equivalent). Longmorn 16 Year Old will remain part of the range with more information available in due course.

NOTES

About Longmorn
Founded in 1894 by pioneering Scotsman, John Duff, Longmorn is the ultimate luxury single malt whose spirit is revered for producing a Scotch whisky with a unique depth and intensity. In setting up the distillery, Duff embraced the philosophy of intelligent luxury to combine the adventure, ambition and craft of the late 19th Century with emerging technologies to create a whisky for the growing luxury appetite. Known as the best-kept secret in Scotland, Longmorn has long been considered top class by whisky distillers, blenders and connoisseurs.

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.chivaspirit.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

THE HOUSE OF SUNTORY WHISKY PROUDLY INTRODUCES

SUNTORY WHISKY YAMAZAKI^® SHERRY CASK 2016 EDITION^™ 

Deerfield, IL (January 12, 2016) – It may have come as a surprise that Suntory Whisky Yamazaki^® Sherry Cask 2013 was named “World Whisky of the Year” in Jim Murray’s 2015 Whisky Bible. However, sherry cask whisky has been a constant staple of the Suntory Whisky portfolio since 1924, a year after the distillery began construction. Shinjiro Torii, the founding father of Japanese whisky first started making his whiskies by leveraging sherry casks imported from the wine of southern Spain needed to blend his famous Akadama Sweet Wine. Hence the sherry cask was the first cask used by Suntory Whisky and plays an important role in the origin of Japanese whisky. 

The House of Suntory Whisky is proud to introduce Yamazaki^® Sherry Cask 2016 (48% ABV), available as of February 1, 2016. 

The Sherry Cask – A Meticulous Selection

Over its 92-year history, Suntory Whisky has managed numerous sherry casks and sherry malts. Suntory’s Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo makes a point of visiting the Northern region of Spain himself. He does this to ensure that his selection of Spanish oak be sent to the “bodegas” (sherry wineries) to be made into the sherry casks used to store their Oloroso Sherry. Fukuyo carefully oversees this entire process, from the selection of the casks, to the charring and the aging of the sherry. After three years of aging, the sherry casks are sent back to Suntory’s Yamazaki distillery, ready to receive what becomes the distinguished Yamazaki Sherry Cask Whisky.

The Sherry Cask – The Challenge

Sherry casks are both revered and feared for their strong character, as they can easily overpower a whisky’s flavor. The Yamazaki malts can also be affected by this sherry/Spanish oak cask flavor. However, in the case of the Yamazaki Sherry Cask, Suntory’s Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo selects only those casks in which the delicate balance of chemistry between the Yamazaki malt and sherry cask can be achieved, thereby enhancing Yamazaki’s characteristically rich and multifaceted flavor. The meticulous selection process of the Spanish oak, the management of the sherry casks, and the overall aging process ensure the final award winning quality of this liquid. 

The Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016:

A Fine Blend of Maturity and Delicateness

Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo is often compared to an artist. His blends are deliberate designs meticulously chosen from more than 100 malt whiskies. Each taste is a color and aroma, specifically curated for the occasion. Fukuyo is clear that he did not blend the Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 for the novice. The Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 is created for the “Suntory Whisky Lover”—a lover of complex, refined and subtle tastes. Like the rest of the Yamazaki Cask Collection (Mizunara, Bourbon Barrel, and Puncheon), the sherry cask is a critical component that differentiates and characterizes the award winning Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky.

The Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 – The Journey

Fukuyo has designed a journey in this whisky. The Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 is undeniably where Spain meets Japan in the form of a whisky. To fully enjoy this journey, Fukuyo recommends the whisky first be served neat to showcase its nose. On its own, there is a clear and fresh top note. A raisin-like, deep sweetness that is both elegant and rich. You immediately taste the complexity of this liquid and the fine balance of maturity and delicateness. Served on the rocks, the flavor opens as you begin to taste the Delaware grape-like sweetness and its slightly bitter acidity. When cut with water, there is a soft sweetness that blossoms like the first apples of the harvest.

Tasting Notes

The Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 leverages the same lot of whiskies as was used for the Yamazaki Sherry cask 2013 for its base. These whiskies have matured for two more years. To this blend, Fukuoy adds various rare sherry cask single malt whiskies, some of which are more than 25 years old, creating a whisky that has a deep richness, mellowness and complexity of flavors.

Color:   Dark brown, a rich and decadent natural “Sherry” color

Nose:    Raisin, sun-dried tomato, clove, cocoa

Taste:    Deep, rich, sweet and sour, chocolate with hazelnuts

Finish:  Long, bittersweet, sour

Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016, a single malt whisky, is presented at 48% alcohol by volume (96 proof) and will be available in market as of February 1, 2016. The suggested retail price is $300.00. Five thousand bottles of Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2016 have been produced globally.

ABOUT THE HOUSE OF SUNTORY

Suntory was established in 1899 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Since 1923, as the pioneer of Japanese whisky, Suntory Whisky has been renowned for its House of Master Blenders and for their Art of Blending. 

The Founding Father of Japanese whisky, Shinjiro Torii, built Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki, near Kyoto—a region known for the purity of its water, where the traditional Japanese tea ceremony was born. Torii dreamt of creating an authentically Japanese whisky by chosing a terrain and climate completely different to that of Scotland, thereby cultivating unique conditions for maturation.

In 1972, Torii’s son Keizo Saji, Suntory’s second master blender, built the Chita grain distillery near Nagoya to produce more of their own high quality grain whiskies. In 1973, Saji founded the Hakushu distillery amidst the deep forests of Mt. Kaikomagatake in the Japanese Southern Alps. Its high altitude and lush environment is what differentiates Hakushu from other distilleries.

With three distilleries and a great diversity in whisky making (different still shapes, five types of cask, and three varieties of wood), Suntory produces more than 100 malt and grain whiskies which amounts to the whole of Scotland’s production.

With respect to heritage and a commitment to innovation, third generation master blender Shingo Torii, and grandson of Shinjiro, now leads this most highly awarded House of Japanese Whisky. Today the House of Suntory Whisky has been named four-time Distiller of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge in London, UK (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014).

Suntory Whiskies are subtle, refined and complex. The portfolio includes two single malt whiskies and one blend: Yamazaki—Japan’s #1 Single Malt, multi-layered and profound, Hakushu—verdant, fresh, and delicately smoky, and the noble blend, Hibiki—Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky.

www.whisky.suntory.com             #SuntoryWhisky                   @SuntoryWhisky 

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.

A BITTER SWEET VALENTINE’S WITH BLACK BOTTLE

It is said that opposites attract, and Black Bottle Scotch whisky couldn’t agree more. This unique whisky’s delicate smoky and peaty flavours, balanced by notes of sweet oak and honey, show the seamless synergy that flows from expertly combining different but complementary tastes.

Try Black Bottle this Valentine’s Day (February 14) – neat, on ice, or as part of a refreshing cocktail.

Here are two cocktail recipes, conceived by internationally recognised Scottish mixologist, Mal Spence, the global ambassador for the brand.  One of these includes a dash or so of bitters, the other some heavenly sweet sugar syrup. Be daring and enjoy this bitter sweet combo of cocktails with your loved one, and make magic happen!

Black Bottle was created in 1879 in Aberdeen by tea blender Gordon Graham, an inspiration in Scotch whisky history for his uncompromising, daring spirit.

The whisky was globally relaunched in 2014, back in a black bottle as its name suggests. It now also features a blend far closer to the Aberdeen original. It retails for between R240 and R260 per 750ml bottle, from selected liquor outlets countrywide, as well as http://www.vinoteque.co.za/.

Black Bottle Bitters & Cola

Glass

Rocks

Ingredients

1 part Black Bottle whisky

2 to 3 dashes Angostura Bitters

2 parts cola

Orange wedge

Ice

Method

Fill the glass to the rim with ice cubes. Add the bitters, Black Bottle whisky and cola. Stir and add orange wedge.

Black Bottle Ti-Punch Twist

Glass

Rocks

Ingredients

1 part Black Bottle whisky

½ part sugar syrup

½ a lime

Ice

Method

Pour the Black Bottle whisky into the glass. Squeeze and drop the lime into the glass. Add the sugar syrup, some ice and stir.

Go to http://www.theblackbar.co.za/ and enter your details in order to be invited 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:

Be daring with @BlackBottleSA blended #Scotch this #Valentines and dish up some tasty cocktails for you and your loved one! #BlackBar

 Buffalo Trace Distillery Has Another Record Year for Visitors

Visitation has increased 190% since 2009

            Franklin Co, Frankfort, Ky. (Jan. 12, 2016) – Buffalo Trace Distillery ended 2015 on a high note, with a record number of visitors coming to see the 243-year-old National Historic Distillery. For the year ending Dec. 31, 2015, Buffalo Trace entertained 145,849 guests, an increase of 18% over the previous year.  Since the end of 2009, Buffalo Trace has seen an astonishing 190% growth in visitation.

            “Our Visitor Center expansion was completed last spring, just in time for a very busy summer and fall,” said Meredith Moody, marketing services director.  “Between the expansion, the opening of our Old Taylor House, the completion of our new technologically advanced 83,000 square foot distribution center, and the additional 282 acres of land we purchased to start our own farm-to-table bourbon, we’ve had very eventful year at Buffalo Trace Distillery.”

            And that’s not all – last year the Distillery was also awarded two very prestigious awards, the 2015 American and Caribbean Spirits Producer of the Year by the International Wine and Spirits Competition, and the 2015 Icons of Whisky World Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year.  A host of other awards and gold medals were awarded to the various brands produced by Buffalo Trace in 2015, all of which can be seen here.

            For 2016, Buffalo Trace Distillery has no plans to slow down its tourism efforts.  It will continue to offer its five complimentary tours, each followed by a complimentary tasting.  The consumer events such as the January “Legends” dinner series, Valentine’s dinner, Oaks Day festival, and more will continue to be offered.  The Distillery is also open now year round for tours, except major holidays.

“We’re excited about the future plans we have for the Distillery, most notably that we expect to reach our one millionth (cumulative) tour visitor sometime in 2016!,” added Moody.  “Our plans for celebrating that milestone are under wrap for now, but you can be sure to see something exciting from us later this year, probably in the fall.”

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1773 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 17 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named “Brand Innovator of the Year” by Whisky Magazine at its Icons of Whisky America Awards 2015.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 300 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit http://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/.

Photo Credit Jen Steele

VICTORIA, Jan. 15, 2016 The jury has decided. A whisky distilled in Windsor, Ontario, is the best Canadian whisky of 2015.  A panel of ten independent whisky experts named Lot No. 40 the Canadian Whisky of the Year at the sixth annual Canadian Whisky Awards. They announced the results of this annual blind tasting competition Thursday evening, January 14, at the Victoria Whisky Festival in Victoria, B.C.

Chairman of the judges, Davin de Kergommeaux, described Lot No. 40 as: “A rye whisky sensation. Interest in rye is surging globally and here is proof that Canada makes the best all-rye whiskies in the world.”

Other top winners include Canadian Club 100% Rye, Gooderham & Worts, Crown Royal Northern Harvest Rye, Crown Royal Hand Selected Barrel, and Masterson’s 10-Year-Old Rye.

“Canada’s whisky makers have responded to skyrocketing interest in Canadian whisky with a wealth of new high-end releases,” said de Kergommeaux as he revealed the winners. “For example, for the first time ever, a major legacy brand, Crown Royal, has bottled single barrel Canadian whisky at high proof.”

Canadian distillers released more small-batch and luxury whiskies in 2015, than ever before. Corby Distillers, for instance introduced four new whiskies including the highly innovative Wiser’s Hopped Whisky.

Forty Creek, Centennial, and Sortilège continued to maintain a strong presence for flavoured whiskies as well.

The list of all the winners is now available at http://www.canadianwhisky.org

Notes:

About the Canadian Whisky Awards

The Canadian Whisky Awards recognize the very best Canadian whiskies and encourage distillers to maintain the highest standards for making whisky. To qualify, the whisky must be distilled and matured in Canada. An independent panel of whisky writers, bloggers, and journalists selects the winners after tasting each whisky blind. Operated on a not-for-profit basis, the Canadian Whisky Awards are fully independent of the Canadian whisky industry.

SOURCE Canadian Whisky Awards

For further information: Davin de Kergommeaux (613) 563-0254

A contemporary Burns Night: Hosting a modern take on the traditional celebration

www.arranwhisky.com

With Christmas a distant memory and spring a long way away, the end of January isn’t a traditionally cheerful time unless you follow Scottish tradition and throw a party to rival Hogmanay on the 25^th. Burns Night is a celebration of the great Robert Burns, national hero and Scotland’s most beloved poet, and a great excuse to shake off the winter blues.

James McTaggart, Master Distiller at Isle of Arran Distillers who produce the world’s only official Robert Burns Malt, is well versed in how to throw a brilliant Burns Night celebration. Here he shares his top tips on how to welcome newcomers and make the evening an inclusive and modern affair:

• Set the tone  

1. “While there are many who believe there’s only one proper way to celebrate Burns Night, the most important thing is to have a good time. If a playlist of contemporary Scottish music is more appropriate to the atmosphere there’s certainly plenty to choose from!
2. “Are you going to strictly adhere to traditions? Will your guests appreciate traditional pipe music? Do you want a dress code? Before deciding on anything, work out what sort of evening you want.
3. Pick your traditions: The Selkirk Grace
4. “Instead, select activities that will suit your party and the preferences of your guests. Poetry is naturally considered very important though, so if there are any brave guests, encourage them to get up and recite some of Burns’ work. ‘My Love is a Red, Red Rose’ and ‘Ae Fond Kiss’ are firm favourites. Or, as host, take command of the Selkirk Grace as you serve dinner in a nod to the man who has inspired hundreds of years’ worth of parties.
5. “Contrary to what many people may believe, Burns Night is traditionally a very structured affair. There are set times for welcome addresses, toasts, food and entertainment. If you’re not Scottish, or familiar with these traditions, it can be an intimidating itinerary.

Some Folk hae meat that canna eat,

And some can eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat,

So let the Lord be Thanket!

“Of course, no Burns Night is complete without a rousing rendition of Auld Lang’s Syne, helped by an evening of whisky, which everyone should be familiar with.”

• Lay the table:    

1. “Or, make the meal a simple celebration of Scottish produce with a sit down meal of salmon fishcakes, venison and local cheeses served with oat cakes followed by shortbread and coffee.”
2. “For a more modern take on proceedings, create a Scottish tapas menu. Serve a guests a trio of small servings that include all the Burns night favourites such as neeps and tatties (swede and potato), haggis with a drizzle of whisky sauce and cock-a-leekie soup.
3. “Food should be absolutely central to the party. The star of the show is normally a haggis which, in a traditional sit-down dinner, is piped in by bagpipes, toasted with a dram of whisky and pierced with a dagger before being eaten.”
4. Know your whisky
5. “Whisky cocktails are increasingly popular and offer an alternative to a neat serving for those less familiar with a dram. Pick a softer whisky for mixing to give you the option of a varied menu. We developed a number of recipes with Robert Burns Single Malt, the only whisky endorsed by the Robert Burns World Federation, for this very reason.”
6. “Add a modern twist by serving a flute of different varieties ranging from strong, peaty Scotch to those with lighter palates. Or, pick a distillery and present a variety of ages. Our core range, for example, offers slightly different taste profiles from the lighter, more citrus 10yo to the richer, fruity 14yo with a touch of spice.
7. “Burns Night wouldn’t be complete without whisky and no table is set without a good selection of drams. Whisky has become very fashionable once again so you may find many of your guests will be more than happy to try something new.

• Make Merry  

1. “Introduce a modern version of this to your night with men vs women games and competitions. The whole point of Burns Night to have an amazing time so fun should be at the heart of all your preparations.”
2. “At the core of any Burns Night is the entertainment. The most popular is probably the famous Toast to the Lassies and Reply to the Toast to the Lassies. Usually incorporating quotes from Burns, these are comical monologues, light hearted and positive (with the odd sharp observation).

Isle of Arran Distillers produce the world’s only official Robert Burns Malt, it is available from specialist whisky retailers and online at www.arranwhisky.com for £29.99 RRP. The distillery is a Patron of the Robert Burns World Foundation.

Burn Night Whisky Cocktail Recipes: A Red, Red Rose

You will need:

37.5ml Burns Malt Whisky

12.5ml Chambord

125ml Cranberry Juice

20ml Lime Juice

5 Fresh Raspberries

Method:

Shake all ingredients over ice and strain into an ice filled highball glass.

Garnish with a raspberry.

Luxco Introduces New Handcrafted Irish Whiskey

The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey Launching in U.S. in January 2016

(St. Louis) January 5, 2016 — Luxco is proud to introduce its first-ever Irish whiskey, The Quiet Man, set to launch two varieties in the U.S. this month. The handcrafted Quiet Man is produced through Luxco’s partnership with Niche Drinks in Derry, Ireland, and is the first Irish whiskey bottled in Derry in more than 100 years.

The Quiet Man brand was born when Ciaran Mulgrew, managing director and co-owner of Niche Drinks, and founder of The Quiet Man, decided to create a whiskey to honor his father, John Mulgrew.

“The Quiet Man is a completely unique combination of hand selected whiskies, finished in first-fill bourbon barrels, creating sweet and spicy notes,” Ciaran Mulgrew said. “In more than 50 years behind the bar, my father saw and heard it all, but like all good bartenders, John Mulgrew was true to the code and told no tales. He was ‘The Quiet Man,’ or as they say in the pubs of Ireland, ‘An Fear Ciuin.’”

Distilled in traditional Irish whiskey pot stills matured in oak barrels and recasked in first-fill bourbon casks, The Quiet Man will be available in two varieties: The Quiet Man Traditional Blended Irish Whiskey and The Quiet Man 8-Year Single Malt Irish Whiskey, both bottled at 80 proof and sold in 750ML bottles. The Traditional Blended Irish Whiskey is aged four years and has a high malt percentage, compared to most blends, offering a mellow and ultra-smooth finish. The Single Malt offers a smooth taste and floral notes for a premium experience.

“The difference between a good whiskey and a great whiskey lies not just in picking the best ingredients and having the most skilled distiller,” Mulgrew added. “It lies in selecting the finest barrels to let the whiskey mature in. Our unique process of finishing the aging in barrels that previously held bourbon but never whiskey allows The Quiet Man to soak up those wonderfully sweet yet spicy oak flavors, and the result is two great Irish whiskies.”

The Quiet Man is currently available in Germany, South Africa, Canada and Ireland, and was first bottled in June 2015. It will be available in the U.S. in January, through a joint venture between Luxco and Niche Drinks, whose partnership dates back to 1986.

Suggested retail price is $39.99 for the blended variety and $49.99 for the single malt variety.

For more information on The Quiet Man, please visit http://www.thequietmanirishwhiskey.com/, or www.facebook.com/the-quiet-man-irish-whiskey.

About Luxco

Luxco, Inc. is a leading producer, importer and marketer of beverage alcohol products. Our mission is to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of our consumers, associates and business partners. Founded in St. Louis in 1958, where it is headquartered, it is owned and operated by the Lux family. Its portfolio of brands include: Juarez Tequila & Triple Sec, Pearl Vodka, Everclear Grain Alcohol, Arrow Cordials, El Mayor Tequila, Ezra Brooks & Rebel Yell Bourbons, Lord Calvert Canadian Whisky, St. Brendan’s Irish Cream, Salvador’s Cocktails, Yago Sant’ gria and other well-recognized brands. For more information about the company, visit http://www.luxco.com/.

About Niche Drinks

Since 1983, Niche Drinks has been producing Cream Liqueurs, Irish Coffee and Ready To Drink Cocktails of the highest quality for its retail partners in Ireland, the UK, the USA and Europe. Additionally, Niche, located in Derry, Ireland, provides its expertise to multinational drinks companies, creating brands for them to market and sell from Boston to Bangkok.