The most expensive bottle of Tasmanian single malt whisky 

At $10,000 Tasmania’s leading whisky distillery, Sullivans Cove, has created the most expensive bottle of Tasmanian whisky to date. Made from extremely rare French oak single malt from the distillery’s top awarded casks including French Oak HH0525 – the World’s Best Single Malt Whisky, French Oak HH0390 – the Best Australian Single Malt 2015 and French Oak HH0509 – 96.5/100 Jim Murray’s Whiksy Bible 2013, the Sullivans Cove Manifesto gives connoisseurs the opportunity to own a piece of whisky history.

Limited to only two bottles, the Sullivans Cove Manifesto decanters were hand made by Tasmanian glass sculptors Anne Clifton and Peter Bowles and each 6kg decanter comes with its own specially blown glass “spirit thief”, a hand moulded “travel” stopper made from rare Tasmanian Huon pine and Portuguese cork and a matching glass stopper for everyday use. The decanters are housed in hand made Huon pine cases lined with doeskin.

Speaking from the distillery in Cambridge, malt master Bert Cason said, “Sullivans Cove and Tasmanian whisky in general have come a very long way and we wanted to create something really special that captures this. Using whisky from our top awarded casks plus some of our finest unreleased casks, we’ve created a malt that stands head and shoulders above the rest and promises the connoisseur the treat of a lifetime, not to mention a slice of whisky history. “

One decanter is available from the distillery cellar door or online at www.sullivanscovewhisky.com, while the other is available from Dan Murphy’s Double Bay.

.A. Smith Bowman Distillery Releases Limited Edition High Rye Bourbon
Release is Extremely Limited, Mostly Only in Virginia

Fredericksburg, VA. (Aug. 6, 2015) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery announces the latest release in its Abraham Bowman line of expressions, the Abraham Bowman Limited Edition High Rye Bourbon. Using a bold bourbon recipe that contains five times more rye than A. Smith Bowman’s standard bourbon recipe, this limited release was aged for seven years and nine months in Virginia before being deemed ready to bottle. At 100 proof, it is a powerful whiskey full of flavor.

The aroma of slight peppery notes opens up to sweet vanilla, caramel, and toasted oak. Honey, praline, and spice mingle with baked apples and cherry notes in the flavor. A long, slightly dry finish lingers on the tongue.

Master Distiller Brian Prewitt leads the whiskey experiments at A. Smith Bowman and is excited to release this high rye limited edition. “This high rye bourbon has such a distinct nose and taste profile that I think fans looking for a full-bodied bourbon with lots of spice will really enjoy. It’s been fun to release experiments like these, and we look forward to creating even more interesting expressions that are a good fit for our Abraham Bowman line in the future.”

The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition High Rye Bourbon is part of a series of limited edition whiskies, named after Abraham Bowman, the commander of the 8th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolutionary War. Each edition of the Abraham line is a different expression and a new release is offered a few times a year. This is the twelfth release in the Abraham line. The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition High Rye Bourbon will be available at retail in August. However, quantity is very limited and it will mostly be available only in Virginia. It is 100 proof. Suggested retail pricing is $69.99.

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm. In response to the rapid rise of taxes in Northern Virginia, the Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

INTRODUCING THE FAMOUS GROUSE MELLOW GOLD

The UK’s number one selling Blended Scotch whisky, The Famous Grouse, has announced a new edition, The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold, will be added to the Famous Family this August.

The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold has been Blended for Smoothness and carefully crafted by Master Blender Gordon Motion. The master blender’s art is on full display, blending the finest scotch whiskies, matured in sherry and bourbon casks to deliver a smooth, well rounded whisky. Mellow Gold’s recipe has a higher proportion of sherry casks than The Famous Grouse to deliver a subtly sweeter, mellow flavour.

The introduction of this new expression follows the unveiling of The Famous Grouse’s new look packaging, which is set to be rolled out from August.

Gordon Motion, Master Blender described his new premium blend:

“In Mellow Gold we’ve carefully selected a particular combination of casks to create a rich and smooth whisky. As with all Famous Grouse expressions, we’ve used sherry and bourbon-seasoned casks – but for Mellow Gold we’ve used more first fill casks imparting a richer, sweeter flavour.

“The effect is added complexity with vanilla notes and subtly-sweet spice to create a gentle, velvety dram. Mellow Gold is a delicious achievement – and a subtle, smooth indulgence to be savoured.”

“On the nose, The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold has scents of orange peel and vanilla, perfumed with a hint of lychee. On tasting sweeter notes come to the fore, combining the delicious flavour of spiced crème brûlée with heady cedar notes, followed by a twist of lemon peel and lingering spiciness to finish.”

The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold is a great example of the nuances of the master blender’s art to create a fantastic, versatile liquid that tastes great neat or served long, over ice with lemonade and a wedge of orange.

The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold will be available in supermarkets and independent retailers across the UK from October 2015 priced at £22.

Visit http://www.thefamousgrouse.com/ for more information.

Please enjoy our whisky responsibly.

Note

The Famous Grouse (http://www.thefamousgrouse.com/)

• The Famous Grouse is the no. 1 whisky in UK and no. 5* standard blended whisky worldwide (*IWSR data 2013).
• The Famous Grouse has been the best-selling whisky in the home of Scotch whisky, Scotland since 1980.
• The Famous Grouse is exported to over 100 countries.
• Created in 1896 by founder Matthew Gloag, it was originally called The Grouse Brand.
• The brand became so popular that on August 12^th 1905 it was renamed The Famous Grouse.
• The Famous Grouse Experience is located at Scotland’s oldest working distillery – Glenturret. Originally established as a single malt distillery in 1775, today The Famous Grouse Experience is the most visited distillery in Scotland.(www.thefamousgrouse.com/experience)

A. SMITH BOWMAN wins TWO silver MEDALS AT

2015 LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION

Fredericksburg, VIRGINIA (Aug. 11, 2015) – Two bourbons from the A. Smith Bowman Distillery have each garnered silver medals at 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition.

John J. Bowman Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Bowman Brothers Straight Bourbon Whiskey were each ranked among 365 spirits that were submitted from a total of 34 countries, and were ultimately awarded for demonstrating superior quality and taste.

“It is a real honor for two of our bourbons to be awarded silver in this competition,” Brian Prewitt, master distiller, said. “It means a lot to us to be ranked among so many excellent spirits from across the globe.”

The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition was formed in 2007, with an esteemed panel of judges using a blind-tasting method to award medals to the best distilled spirits from around the world.  The award-winning entries will be displayed during the Los Angeles County Fair, Sept. 4 – 27, in “The Wine, Beer & Spirits Marketplace.”

Complete results of the 2012 LAIWSC are available at www.laspiritscomp.com.

About A. Smith Bowman

1. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  In response to the rapid rise of taxes in Northern Virginia, the Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

           As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

CHILDREN’S ARTHRITIS CHARITY GETS FUNDING BOOST FROM CHIVAS BROTHERS

Employees of Scotch whisky producer Chivas Brothers have chosen the Scottish Network for Arthritis in Children (SNAC) as their Charity of the Year for 2015. The organisation was chosen by employees at the company’s Speyside and Orkney sites. The company has donated £5,000 to the charity.

SNAC was set up by parents of children with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA). Its objective is to provide a national support network for children with arthritis and their families through the provision of factual, practical and emotional support. It aims to pull together the wider community of affected children in Scotland as well as raise public awareness of JIA.

Charities of the Year are nominated by employees, before a shortlist is created and voting takes place. SNAC holds a special place in the heart of employee Willie Templeton from the company’s Mulben warehouses in Keith.

He explained: “Two years ago when my son Kylan was diagnosed with JIA we were looking for more information about the condition and found out about SNAC. The parent information days, family weekend and activity days have been invaluable for our family.

“As SNAC is run voluntarily by parents and relies on fundraising and donations, I nominated them for Charity of the Year never imagining for a minute that we would be successful. When I found out we had won I was absolutely delighted and couldn’t wait to thank my colleagues who had voted.”

Michael Kent, Chairman of SNAC, said: “We are delighted to be chosen as Chivas Brothers’ charity partner for the next year and the £5,000 donation is a great boost help to us to fund further support to those affected by JIA.

“We are hugely grateful to everyone who supports us in whatever way they can to improve the experiences of children with JIA. The relationship with the clinical teams is as strong today as ever and SNAC work closely with SPARN (Scottish Paediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology Network). We also work closely with other similar charities throughout the UK and Ireland and represent children with Arthritis on various clinical and government committees.”

Jennie Norrish, Head of Communications at Chivas Brothers, added: “I’m delighted our employees in Speyside and Orkney have decided to support SNAC in 2015. The charity raises awareness of a condition that affects one in every thousand children under 16, yet many people are not even aware children can develop arthritis. I hope our donation helps them continue their important work, and we look forward to working with them throughout the year.”

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 Kiltwalk (Dunbartonshire region) and The Jake McCarthy Foundation (London and Plymouth region).

Picture caption:

(l-r) Fiona Donaldson of SNAC and Chivas Brothers employee Willie Templeton

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 SNAC:

SNAC was formed in 2009 when a group of parents attending a family event held by the clinical team realised the huge difference that support for parents and families affected by JIA could make. SNAC remains a volunteer parent-led charity supporting children with arthritis and their families throughout Scotland.

With help from the paediatric rheumatology health care professionals, who provide the educational content, SNAC runs educational days, family weekends as well as smaller local events. Their main event is their annual family weekend in Crieff Hydro where children with JIA and their families get the opportunity to meet other children and hospital professionals in a relaxed environment. The weekend consists of educational workshops for children, their siblings and parents as well as fun activities. So far SNAC has enabled 120 families in Scotland to attend this weekend.

Website: http://www.snac.uk.com/

Twitter: @SNAC_JIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SNACPage

CHIVAS BROTHERS EMPLOYEES CHOOSE DISABILITY SPORTS CLUB TO RECEIVE £5K DONATION

Employees of Scotch whisky producer Chivas Brothers have chosen Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club (DDSC) as their Charity of the Year 2015. The organisation was chosen by employees at the company’s Paisley, Glasgow and Ayrshire sites. The company has donated £5,000 to the charity.

DDSC was founded in 2010 in response to a lack of opportunities for children with disabilities to participate in physical activities. Since inception, it has developed into a thriving community resource that gives children and young people with a disability the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities.

Charities of the Year are nominated by employees, before a shortlist is created and voting takes place. DDSC holds a special place in the heart of Finance department employee Michelle Laing, whose son is a member, and who has personally raised funds for the club in the past.

Michelle said: “I was over the moon when I found out that DDSC had gained the most votes – and would therefore be our charity for 2015. My family has been involved with the club since it was founded in 2010, and it has been hugely beneficial to my son.”

DDSC Chairman Allan Clark said: “It is fantastic to be recognised by Chivas Brothers as their Charity of the Year. We are a relatively small club that makes a huge difference in the lives of our members and their families. We are in the process of expanding the DDSC to include a swimming element so the opportunity to build a relationship with Chivas Brothers is hugely exciting for us during this important time.”

Jennie Norrish, Head of Communications at Chivas Brothers, added: “I’m delighted our employees in the Paisley, Glasgow and Ayrshire region have decided to support this local charity, which provides much-needed opportunities for children and young people with disabilities to participate in sport. DDSC is a thoroughly deserving organisation, and we look forward to working with them throughout the year.”

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

Picture caption:

Michelle Laing of Chivas Brothers shakes hands with Allan Clark of Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club (centre) to mark the year-long partnership

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 DDSC:

The Dunbartonshire Disability Sports Club was developed in response to a public meeting in 2010 which highlighted that there were little or no opportunities for children and young people with disabilities to be physically active in the Dunbartonshire area. The DDSC is managed and run by a team of volunteers with the purpose of filling this identified gap in the provision of these opportunities.

For the last five years the DDSC has maintained a weekly multi-sports club at St Peter the Apostle High School in Clydebank which enables children of all ages, with all different disabilities, to get active. The DDSC is also about to launch an expansion of the club to include a swimming element. In spring 2015, the club will launch DDSC SWIM which will enable our members the opportunity to take part in two separate sessions. One will focus on our children having fun in the pool, the other will concentrate on coaching those children who can swim with the purpose of improving their skills and providing them with a pathway to competition.

Two Sazerac Canadian Whiskies win medals at

2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition 

NEW ORLEANS, lA.  (Aug. 13, 2015) – Two of Sazerac’s Canadian Whiskies were awarded medals for demonstrating superior quality and taste at the 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. Legacy Canadian Whisky received a silver medal and Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky received a bronze medal.

These whiskies were ranked among 365 spirits that were submitted from a total of 34 countries.

“To receive these medals among so many highly revered spirits across the world is a true honor,” Kevin Richards, marketing director of whiskeys and specialty brands, said. “We are very pleased with our results.”

 The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition was formed in 2007, with an esteemed panel of judges using a blind-tasting method to award medals to the best distilled spirits from around the world.  The award-winning entries will be displayed during the Los Angeles County Fair, Sept. 4 – 27, in “The Wine, Beer & Spirits Marketplace.”

Complete results of the 2015 LAIWSC are available at www.laspiritscomp.com.

About The Sazerac Company

Sazerac is one of New Orleans’ oldest family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California; Baltimore, Maryland; Lewiston, Maine; Londonderry, New Hampshire; and Montreal, Canada.  For more information, please visit www.sazerac.com.

The Royal Salute Coronation Cup

25 July 2015 – His Royal Highness, The Prince of Wales today attended the Royal Salute Coronation Cup – the UK’s most prestigious international polo match – in aid of the Polo Charities Trust. After a hard fought match featuring the sport’s top players, His Royal Highness presented prizes for England after beating South America on The Queen’s Ground. England’s Max Charlton was also named Most Valuable Player, whilst Silver Lining received the Best Playing Pony prize.

A select group of celebrities, polo aficionados and international guests such as Natalie Coyle, Henry Conway, Alison Jackson and Alistair Guy joined temporal artist Marcos Lutyens in Royal Salute’s Secret Garden, curated by the award winning gardener Stephen Woodhams, for a picnic designed to reverse the flow of time – dining amongst flowers recreating the floral displays at HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s 1953 coronation handpicked by acclaimed Chelsea Flower Show garden designer Stephen Woodhams, to celebrate the British love affair with horticulture.

Woodhams’ collaboration with Royal Salute is the latest in the inimitable whisky’s artistic collaborations with key previous collaborators joining Woodhams’ timeless floral hideaway. All explore Royal Salute’s fascination with time, since the brand’s youngest blend only contains precious, mature whiskies that are at least 21 years old.

Guests at the Royal Salute Secret Garden enjoyed lunch from British born artist Lutyens’ temporally flexible “Hampering of Time” Hamper – recalling the elegant, staged picnics of Regency England. The tailored handmade picnic basket featured Lutyens’ time inspired handmade games including a curious ‘left handed’ clock that makes time flow backwards. Lunch continued with exceptional versions of traditional picnic delicacies using only the best produce from quality British farms.

London based architect Sally Mackereth’s Neolithic Bar served Royal Salute in gold leaf porcelain cups. The bar is handcrafted from sections of petrified wooden oak trapped on the riverbed in the River Sava in Croatia for some 8,000 years.

This journey through time was designed to capture the power of polo – a game first recorded 2,500 years ago, but still thrilling crowds at Guards Polo Club today. The Royal Salute Coronation Cup is a key part of the whisky brand’s longstanding passion for the world of polo. The Coronation Cup was created to honour the coronation of HM King George V and Royal Salute was created to honour the coronation of his granddaughter, HM Queen Elizabeth II. With the The Queen’s own gardens at Buckingham Palace hosting 500 year old Mulberry trees and helliborine orchids not seen elsewhere in London for over a century, Woodhams fascination with historical gardens made him the ideal partner for the lush enclosure.

Vadim Grigorian, Royal Salute Global Brand Director,explains: “At Royal Salute, we agree with Stanford professor Robert Pogue Harrison when he says ‘a humanly created garden comes into being in and through time’. As a British brand, we are intrigued by this British gardening obsession, specifically with the time and care it takes to design an immaculate garden. It is only through time, tradition and craft where Royal Salute comes to existence, so we share similar principles with this quintessentially British tradition. And, where better to watch the oldest team sport on the planet? We at Royal Salute are deeply fascinated with polo – from its profound origins rooted in noble values to the naturally evolving symbiosis between player and horse. It is firmly planted in tradition, yet played in the modern world.”

Brigadier John Wright, Chairman of the Hurlingham Polo Association said: “This year’s Royal Salute Coronation Cup showcased international polo at its best. Both teams produced some superb sport on The Queen’s Ground and it was marvellous to see and hear the crowds cheering them on. England’s success today is testament to the hard work and commitment that James Beim and his team have brought to this game and I would like to thank everyone who has supported them, especially their fellow players who generously loaned ponies. In addition, South America put up a great fight and entertained us for six glorious chukkas. I would also like to thank Vadim Grigorian and his team at Royal Salute who have created a world-class platform on which we will promote English polo to an increasing audience.”

For more information about the Royal Salute Coronation Cup, please visit [INSERT WEBSITE] or #salutethegame at @RoyalSalute on Twitter and @RoyalSalutePolo on Instagram.

About Royal Salute

Royal Salute is a careful blend of malt and grain whiskies – with its youngest blend matured for a minimum of 21 years. Created to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II and the 21 gun salute that honoured her, the brand is steeped in tradition and proud of its royal lineage, but is firmly engaged in the modern world by constantly pushing the art of blending into new, creative and ambitious forms. Royal Salute is deeply involved in polo – the world’s oldest surviving team sport and a game that’s expanding in the modern era. The brand sponsors more than 15 international tournaments from the UK and the USA through Argentina and China to Korea.

http://www.royalsalute.com/

About The Coronation Cup

The Coronation Cup was first played for in 1911 to honour the coronation of King George V, grandfather to our current Queen. From then until 1939, it was traditionally played by the winners of the London Open Tournaments. Although a tournament was played to mark the Coronation of HM The Queen in 1953, it was then not played for again for a further 18 years. In 1971 Lord Patrick Beresford and American polo player, Michael Butler believed that there were sufficient English players to form a team of around 23 goals who might take on an American team of similar handicap and they played for the “mothballed” Coronation Cup. A year later the Coronation Cup moved to Guards Polo Club where a second game and a Best Playing Pony Prize was introduced. When the HPA created the Silver Jubilee Trophy in 1977, to commemorate The Queen’s 25 years on the throne, Prince Charles expressed an interest in playing. He went on to captain his team in this match from 1977 – 1993. The format remains pretty much the same to this day and more than 10 different countries have sent their finest players to battle for this most historic of polo trophies.

http://www.coronationcuppolo.com/

About Stephen Woodhams Design Ltd

Stephen Woodhams Design is fuelled by a fusion of ideas and that come from many different aspects of the natural world such as dramatic landscapes, the clever play of light, the way plants grow in their native habitat, colours and reflections in water.

The Historic gardens of many different cultures are a rich source of ideas, as are the latest materials produced by cutting edge technology. We are fascinated by the juxtaposition of new industrial materials combined with traditional techniques and methods.  We believe in sustainability and try increasing the ecological diversity and richness of any landscape in which we work. Our gardens are very much a product of their time. We believe that clients should have as much or as little involvement with the design process as they wish. Ultimately we like to make connections between people and places, emotions and ideas, hearts and minds. In essence our designs are a physical combination of all the above thoughts and emotions. We see them as an expression of love for what is past and of excitement about the imaginative possibility of the present. While responding to the reality of contemporary life, we seek to acknowledge our intellectual debt to the garden designers of yesteryear.

http://www.stephenwoodhams.com/

DUSTYBID LAUNCHES ON-LINE AUCTION SITE OFFERING BOURBON ANTIQUITIES AND COLLECTIBLES 

July 27, 2015 — Dustybid [ http://www.dustybid.com/ ], an online website offering bourbon antiquities and collectibles, announced today the beta launch of its website. With its launch, Dustybid will provide a one-stop-shop for the bourbon connoisseur who is in search of hard to find and “dusty” artifacts.

From bourbon decanters, to used barrels, to elusive rare bottles such as vintage Pappy Van Winkle and even a 1967 Old Rip Van Winkle, this site fills the void sought by the ever-growing population of collectors of bourbon antiquities.

Founded by a trio of bourbon aficionados: Seth Thompson (Founder, Bourbon review), Dan Donoghue (Co-Founder bottlebluebook.com) and Justin Sloan (Cofounder of bottlebluebook.com and a Founding Member of the Bourbon Mafia), the site certainly does not lack in credentials.

As the popularity of “mainstream” bourbon has exploded in the past decade, so too has the market for rare and hard to find vestiges of bourbon’s past. “The voracious appetite for all things bourbon – especially hard to find vintage items – is truly amazing,” said Sloan.

“Seth and I – because of the circles we run in – are constantly inundated with requests to locate rare items, and we have always had to reply with the same disappointing news: there are a handful of unreliable and/or small-scale websites out there, but unfortunately there is no single database where buyers and sellers can truly capture the market for these products.   So after batting the idea around for a while, we ended up developing this site with the goal of delivering a reliable, consistent marketplace for bourbon collectibles.”

For more information on Dustybid, please visit the site at http://www.dustybid.com/.

Adrian Grenier and James Corden crown winners of The Venture receiving share of $1 million fund

[July 27th, 2015]: The Venture, Chivas Regal’s global search for the world’s most promising social entrepreneurs, rewarded all five finalists the remaining share of the $1m fund at the final pitch event.  The announcement came after the five finalists pitched the potential of their start-up to create transformative social change to an expert judging panel that included actor and social entrepreneur Adrian Grenier. Algramo from Chile was awarded the largest share of the fund, receiving $300,000 to further develop the pioneering food distribution enterprise.

Other finalists to come away with funding on the night included Chipsafer ($150,000) from Uruguay who use innovative tracking devices to transform the way farmers look after their livestock; SenSprout ($150,000) from Japan who aim to make farming more efficient using a wireless field-monitoring system; Lumkani ($75,000) from South Africa, a company that uses technology to decrease the risk of devastating fires in informal settlements, and Diseclar ($75,000) from Colombia who turn waste materials into stylish furniture.

The Venture – which saw more than a thousand social entrepreneurs apply for $1million in funding – culminated at The Final Pitch event at The Herbst Pavilion, San Francisco in front of a large audience.  The evening was hosted by the Late Late Show presenter, James Corden who applauded all five of the social entrepreneurs who pitched for their commitment to using business as a force for good.

The Final Pitch event was attended by a range of high profile entrepreneurs and business leaders from Silicon Valley and beyond. Also in the audience was Golden Globe nominated actor Oscar Isaac who starred in Chivas Regal’s Win The Right Way film, which helped launch The Venture by issuing a challenge to aspiring social entrepreneurs and the world at large to re-frame their meaning of success.

The judging panel which included Adrian Grenier, Sonal Shah, Alex Ricard and Morgan Clendaniel, assessed each business based on their ability to create sustainable change through a viable business model and potential to scale.  To find out more about the winners and the other finalists who took part in The Venture visit www.theventure.com.

Adrian Grenier congratulated each of the winners on the night:

“Social entrepreneurship challenges society to reimagine what is possible and inspires us to create a better future and a better world. All of The Venture finalists tonight challenged us to imagine how business could transform a problem into an opportunity. They are all very deserving of support and show why it’s important for initiatives like The Venture to exist, to inspire as many brilliant minds from around the world as possible and to contribute to using business as a force for good.”

Speaking on behalf of the finalists Jose Manuel Moller Dominguez from Algramo added:

“What a night! I can’t believe I’ve received $300,000 in funding from Chivas – it’s truly life changing for me. The money will enable me to scale the business and really take it to the next level. I’m truly grateful for this experience and can’t wait to apply everything I’ve learnt since being in San Francisco.”

Pernod Ricard’s Chairman and CEO, and The Venture judge, Alex Ricard, expressed his and the brand’s commitment to the world of social entrepreneurship, and congratulated the winner:

“All five of the social entrepreneurs who pitched for funding tonight have founded innovative and inspiring social enterprises, each providing sustainable solutions for different issues. Ultimately Jose from Algramo demonstrated a concrete proof of concept and really convinced us that The Venture funding could deliver tremendous transformative change for their business. We’re extremely proud of the first year of The Venture and Chivas is looking forward to continuing this legacy in years to come.”

Social entrepreneurs from across the world are invited to apply for $1 million in funding as The Venture Year 2 kicks off from 10th August 2015, visit http://www.theventure.com/ for further details.

The Venture

The Venture is Chivas Regal’s global search to find and support the most promising aspiring social entrepreneurs who want to succeed whilst making a positive impact on the lives of others. With over $1 million in funding and resources, The Venture will enable social entrepreneurs from around the world realise their potential and gain exposure for their business.

About Chivas Regal

Launched in 1909, Chivas Regal is the world’s first luxury whisky and is considered to be a timeless classic, renowned for style, substance and exclusivity.

A truly global brand, Chivas Regal today sells 4.6 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across the globe. Brotherhood, generosity, entrepreneurship and integrity are at the heart of Chivas Regal so in 2008, the brand launched its successful Live with Chivalry campaign, which has inspired Modern Gentlemen in more than 60 countries around the world to pursue success with integrity.

The Chivas Regal range includes Chivas 12, Chivas 18, Chivas 25 and the Global Travel Retail exclusive, Chivas Brothers Blend. In October 2014, Chivas Regal announced the addition of a fifth permanent expression in the Chivas Regal family, Chivas Regal Extra, sitting within the super-premium range, positioned between Chivas 12 and Chivas 18.