SINGLE POT STILL IRISH WHISKEYS OF MIDLETON PRESENT THEIR FIRST EVER GOOGLE HANGOUT ON AIR LIVE FROM THE GOOGLE FOUNDRY, DUBLIN  

On Monday, May 18th, in honour of World Whisky Day, the Masters of The Midleton Distillery will come together for their first ever live Google Hangout ON AIR. Broadcast live from the Foundry in Dublin’s Google HQ, the show will be streamed from 6pm GMT. The event aims to raise awareness and educate whisk(e)y lovers about Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

The event will be hosted by International Brand Ambassador, Dave McCabe, who will discuss all things Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey with Master Distiller Brian Nation, Master Blender Billy Leighton, Master of Maturation Kevin O’Gorman, Master of Whiskey Science David Quinn and Master Cooper Ger Buckley.

The seminar will cover everything from the history of Single Pot Still Irish whiskey, the Midleton Distillery’s unique maturation and wood programme as well as a tasting of some of the most revered Single Pot Still Irish whiskeys, Redbreast 12 Year Old, Green Spot, Powers John’s Lane and Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy.

The link to the live Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys of Midleton Google Hangout ON AIR will go live one hour prior to the event.

In the meantime, join us in spreading the word about the Google Hangout ON AIR and follow the Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys of Midleton on Google+ https://plus.google.com/+SinglePotStillIrishWhiskey/posts

#SinglePotStill

#WorldWhiskyDay

A NEW CHAPTER FOR THE ANTIQUARY

The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd has given its premium blended Scotch Whisky brand, The Antiquary, a new look in a move to give it a new lease of life, while still retaining the history and provenance of one of the oldest Scotch Whisky brands in the market.

The iconic diamond cut bottle remains, however it is in a taller, sleeker, and more sophisticated form. Pocket Rocket Creative has designed new labels and secondary packaging to highlight the unique shape of the bottle which, aside from the high content of malt whiskies inside, is arguably one of the brand’s biggest selling points.

The Antiquary, along with its 12 year old and 21 year old expressions, is sold worldwide, with significant market success in France, Portugal, Russia, Angola, UK and the USA. The new label designs were trialled in Chile in 2014 and will now be rolled out worldwide.

“The Antiquary has been around since 1888 and, particularly in the UK, is known as the blend that ‘my Grandfather used to drink’”, explains Jennifer Masson, Marketing Manager. “We want to challenge that perception and give this deserving institution a new lease of life. The new packaging will attract a wider, and younger, demographic without distancing our existing customers. The Antiquary is a cut above other blends in the market; with 45% malt content all three expressions are smooth and easy drinking.”

Stephen Bremner, Sales Director, expects to see an upturn in sales as a result of the redesign: “Much like the Tomatin Distillery, the Antiquary brand has been a sleeping giant. With the new packaging I expect to attract new customers in new markets, particularly in South America. We’ve tweaked the recipe for our entry level expression too, to better reflect the original recipe used by the Hardie brothers in 1888, resulting in the smoothest blend in recent years.”

Del Sneddon, lead designer on the Antiquary Project said: “The distinctive bottle of The Antiquary with its unique facets has charmed many for decades. We decided to enhance its form further by creating a bespoke label that follows the geometric shape of the front face and also improves standout. More detailing and calligraphy within the label was also added to ‘premiumise’ the design and cleaner typography for the brand name was introduced to bring it up-to-date. The outer cartons proudly depict The Antiquary’s distinguishing contours for ultimate impact.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

• The Antiquary brand is owned by the Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd, which also owns the Tomatin and Cù Bòcan single malts, along with a portfolio of blended whisky brands.
• See http://www.theantiquary.com/ and http://www.tomatindistillery.com/ for more information
• The new packaging is being rolled out worldwide gradually over the coming months – the 12 and 21 year old expressions are only available in selected markets.
• John & William Hardie began their quest to create the perfect blended Scotch Whisky more than 150 years ago. In 1888, using only the finest and rarest malts, they succeeded in creating what was considered to be superior to all other blends; The Antiquary. The name is taken from the famous gothic novel written by Sir Walter Scott, redolent with family secrets, stories of hidden treasure and hopeless love.
• Pocket Rocket Creative Ltd, based in Stirling – Central Scotland – was established in 2007 and operates with 5 staff, 3 of whom are Directors (Gary Dawson, Gary Doherty, Del Sneddon)
• Awarded World’s Best Design Agency at the World Whisky Awards, 2014

Brand Evolution

MAKER’S MARK PREVAILS IN CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT

Loretto, Kentucky, May 5, 2015 – The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida on Monday ruled in favor of Maker’s Mark and parent company Beam Suntory in a class action lawsuit alleging misleading marketing in the labeling of Maker’s Mark as “handmade.” The ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle dismissed the complaint of two Florida consumers “with prejudice,” ending the case. “In all events, the plaintiffs have not stated a claim on which relief can be granted,” the ruling concludes.

“We have asserted all along that the complaints in this case were frivolous and without merit, and we are very pleased the court agreed with our position so emphatically,” said Rob Samuels, chief operating officer of Maker’s Mark. “This ruling is very good news, and it should send a strong message to those who would seek to gain from similar baseless and irresponsible litigation,” added Kent Rose, senior vice president and general counsel of Beam Suntory.

The case dismissed by the court is Dimitric Salters and A.G. Waseem, etc. v. Beam Suntory Inc. and Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc., etc.

About Maker’s Mark® Bourbon

In 1954, at a small Victorian distillery in Loretto, Kentucky, Bill Samuels, Sr., fulfilled his dream to create a pioneering handmade bourbon that, for the first time, would appeal both to bourbon and to non-bourbon drinkers alike, that tasted good and exemplified good taste, and wouldn’t “blow your ears off,” which was the measure by which bourbons were judged at the time. He decided to make his whisky in small-batches of 19 barrels, developed a proprietary barrel char to enhance the softness and sweetness of his whisky, and then rotated each barrel by hand to ensure exposure to consistent temperatures throughout the warehouse, and, ultimately, he aged each barrel to taste. Bill Samuels,

Sr., unknowingly and unintentionally, fired the shot that started the Bourbon Revolution, and transformed bourbon from a “commodity” into a premium handcrafted spirit, giving rise to the modern era of bourbon. Today, Maker’s Mark continues to make its bourbon the same way Bill Samuels, Sr., did 60 years ago, in small batches by craftsmen who hand-dip each bottle. In 2010, in tribute to his father’s spirit of innovation, Bill Samuels, Jr. unveiled Maker’s 46®, a totally new bourbon that reflects the distinct character of Maker’s Mark® but has a bigger, bolder and complex taste without any hint of bitterness. Maker’s Mark® Bourbon (45% alc./vol.) and Maker’s 46® (47% alc./vol.) are distilled, aged and bottled by the Maker’s Mark Distillery, Inc., in Loretto, Kentucky. In 1980, the distillery was designated a National Historic Landmark, becoming the first distillery in America to be so recognized, and has also been decreed as the “world’s oldest operating bourbon whisky distillery” by Guinness World Records®. The Maker’s Mark Distillery is one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually. For more information, please visit the Maker’s Mark® website (www.makersmark.com)

Sazerac Canadian whiskies win 18 top awards in five different tasting competitions 

NEW ORLEANS, lA.  (May 6, 2015) – Four Canadian whiskies from the Sazerac Company rounded up 18 high awards in five recent tasting competitions. The Canadian whiskies brought home medals and distinctions from the Canadian Whisky Awards, Ultimate Spirits Challenge, San Francisco World Spirits Competition, North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition and the Denver International Spirits Competition.

“It’s an honor to receive each of these awards,” Kevin Richards, marketing director of whiskeys and specialty brands, said. “We’re proud to see our Canadian whiskies ranked so well across these five competitions.”

2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

The distinction of “Excellent, Highly Recommended” was awarded to Caribou Crossing. Royal Canadian Small Batch and Rich & Rare Reserve were each awarded the distinction of “Very Good, Strong Recommendation,” and Legacy Canadian was distinguished as “Good, Recommended.”

            Caribou Crossing, Royal Canadian Small Batch and Rich & Rare Reserve were each designated as “Tried & True.”

            This competition, in its sixth year, is judged by a panel of the spirit industry’s most renowned judges including award-winning authors, buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners, who rate each spirit on a 100-point scale.

            Complete results for the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge can be found at www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2015results.

2014 Canadian Whisky Awards

An independent panel of whisky writers, bloggers and journalists selected the winners of the Canadian Whisky Awards through a blind taste test. The panel designated Royal Canadian Small Batch as “Sippin’ Whisky of the Year Multi-Markets.” Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian Small Batch were each awarded silver medals. Legacy Small Batch received a bronze medal.

Complete results for the 2014 Canadian Whisky Awards can be found at http://www.canadianwhisky.org/news-views/canadian-whisky-awards-2014-canadas-top-whiskies.html.

            San Francisco World Spirits Competition

            More than 1,580 entries were submitted for a blind tasting at the 15^th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, where 41 of the industry’s finest spirits experts reviewed each entry, ultimately awarding Caribou Crossing, Royal Canadian Small Batch, Rich & Rare Reserve and Legacy Canadian each bronze medals.

Complete results for the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/browse.

            North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition

            Caribou Crossing and Legacy Canadian were each awarded silver medals in the 2014 North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition. Royal Canadian Small Batch was awarded bronze.

            The results of North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition are decided by a panel of spirits professionals using a 100-point scale. Complete results for the 2015 North American Bourbon & Whiskey Competition can be found at http://www.whiskeycomp.com/results.html.

Denver International Spirits Competition

Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian Small Batch were awarded silver medals in the 2015 Denver International Spirits Competition. Legacy Canadian was awarded bronze.

This competition, in its fourth year, is also based on a 100-point scale and is judged by a panel of 15 respected spirits authorities. Complete results for the 2015 Denver International Spirits Competition can be found at http://www.denverspiritscomp.com/results.html.

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 http://www.sazerac.com/.

INTRODUCING CHIVAS REGAL THE ICON, A SYMBOL OF LUXURY FOR A NEW ERA

Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury Scotch whisky, has unveiled the pinnacle of the Chivas Regal range – Chivas Regal The Icon, a new ultra prestige Scotch whisky. Created with a blend of some of the rarest and oldest whiskies available to Chivas Regal, a proportion from distilleries now lost forever, Chivas Regal The Icon will be available in Dubai Duty Free from May and globally from September at an RRP of $3,500 USD in Global Travel Retail.

Blending Chivas Regal’s heritage with the unparalleled expertise of Master Blender Colin Scott, Chivas Regal The Icon is a luxury Scotch with extraordinary depth and complexity. Crafted with over 20 of Scotland’s rarest whiskies, Chivas Regal The Icon includes single malts from Strathisla, the oldest continuously operating distillery in the Scottish Highlands, Longmorn and Glen Keith distilleries. Each year the Master Blender will produce a limited number of bottles of this luxurious Scotch whisky, making it a must have product for whisky adorers and collectors alike.

Presented in an elegant bottle, each decanter of Chivas Regal The Icon has been hand-blown by dedicated master craftsmen at Dartington Crystal before being hand-filled with the luxury liquid. The glass is etched with careful precision before being dressed with finely crafted metalwork, while the green colour pays tribute to the original Chivas Regal bottle from 1909.

Richard Black, Chivas Regal Global Brand Director, commented: “We are very proud to establish a new standard in precious Scotch whisky with Chivas Regal The Icon and we will continue to lead the way in crafting luxury Scotch that impresses Chivas fans and sophisticated whisky aficionados. Chivas Regal The Icon is Chivas Regal at its very best, the new pinnacle of the range.”

Master Blender for Chivas Regal, Colin Scott, added: “Chivas Regal The Icon is a truly exquisite blend. I feel very honoured to be the Master Blender to present this luxury Scotch which features rich notes of honey, vanilla and dark chocolate balanced by subtle hazelnut influences from the cask. Chivas Regal The Icon delivers a long and luxurious finish in the smooth Chivas signature style.”

Chivas Regal The Icon has a 40% ABV and is presented in 70cl bottles.

NOTES

About Chivas Regal
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.  www.chivas.com

About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport. www.chivasbrothers.com

About Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €7,945 million in 2013/14. 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 & Spirit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector and employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people, operating through a decentralized organization 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 the NYSE Euronext exchange (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is a member of the CAC 40 index. www.pernod-ricard.com

CHARLES AVERY | LAURE PROUVOST  RODNEY GRAHAM | BEN RIVERS 

Opening preview: Wednesday May 13th, 6:30 – 8:30 pm Darbyshire, 19-23 White Lion Street, London, N1 9PD

​In collaboration with Darbyshire Framers, McLean’s Artist Malts is delighted to showcase works by

 Charles Avery, Laure Prouvost, Rodney Graham, and  Ben Rivers 

McLean’s Artist Malts is a publisher of artist editions which marry rare Scotch whisky with cutting edge contemporary art. Each project culminates in a work that plays on sight, sound, touch, smell, and of course taste. Nick Fleming, wine and spirits buyer for Harrods, said: “I see a similar discipline behind the creation of both great whisky and art, whereby craftsmen and women dedicate themselves to produce works to be discussed, evaluated and of course enjoyed. These strong, witty and relevant pieces are matched with liquid of real calibre.”  Since 2012, ​we have been inviting a pair of artists each year to create a work of art around their own small-batch, single malt Scotch whisky.  Every whisky we use has been ageing for a number of years prior to selection, it is then matched to a pair of artists, whose work demonstrate an affinity to the project. Each completed work features a distinguished bottle of whisky that has undergone a second maturation in a sherry cask, bottled at cask strength, this makes every drop unique to the respective artist and the edition. All the works ​are produced in  collaboration with  Poligrafa of Barcelona, ​who produce an accompanying printed edition.

​Founded over 50 years ago alongside Joan Miro, Poligrafa are considered one of  Europe’s most respected print houses.

McLeans Artist Malts
94 Teesdale street,
Bethnal Green,
London,
E3 3HB

The Glenlivet Visitor Centre picks up Taste Our Best award

The Old Maltings Coffee Shop at The Glenlivet Visitor Centre, recently attained the Taste Our Best award for the locally-sourced and fresh food and drink it includes on its menu. It is one of only seven distilleries in Scotland to have attained this recognition.

Taste Our Best is a joint initiative between VisitScotland and the Scottish Government. Launched in 2013, the scheme is designed to recognise businesses including hotels, restaurants, cafes, takeaways, visitor attractions and B&Bs that not only offer a quality food and drink experience, but include and promote Scottish produce on their menus, to give consumers choice.

The Glenlivet is already a 5* Visitor Attraction and the Old Maltings Coffee Shop prides itself on using local food and drink suppliers, including the butcher in Dufftown (12 miles away); the baker in Grantown-on-Spey (20 miles); ice cream from Buckie (30 miles), cheese from Ardersier (40 miles), vegetables from Inverness (40 miles), dairy products from Forres (30 miles) and preserves from Conon Bridge (50 miles). All the goods they buy are from the Moray area and Highlands and Islands.

The Old Maltings’ menu includes homemade Cullen Skink, served with a wedge of fresh crusty bread from a local baker; Ploughman’s lunch consisting of a selection of Scottish cheeses, The Glenlivet whisky pickle, oatcakes and a side salad; and locally-sourced Scottish smoked salmon and Scottish beef and ham.

Results from the 2011/12 Scotland Visitor Survey highlighted that the sampling of local produce is the second highest activity undertaken by visitors when they come to Scotland.

Caroline Mitchell, Manager of The Glenlivet Visitor Centre, said: “We are delighted to have received this award, which recognises our commitment to supporting local suppliers. The team at The Glenlivet visitor centre is dedicated to ensuring all our guests have the best possible experience, and leave with a fantastic impression of the area, as well as of our world-famous Scotch whisky.

“Our visitors come from far and wide, so it’s great to have the opportunity to showcase the wonderful local produce of the Speyside region in our The Old Maltings Coffee Shop.”

 Scott Armstrong, Regional Director at VisitScotland, said: “I would like to congratulate the staff at The Glenlivet Visitor Centre on receiving this award, but it comes as no surprise, as the scope of locally-sourced food featured on their menu really is commendable.

“We know that visitors love authentic, quality Scottish food and drink and Taste Our Best is all about taking this knowledge to the next level and really encouraging the tourism industry and businesses to recognise the real benefits of sourcing, using and promoting local and Scottish produce. We have such a rich natural larder here in Moray Speyside, with some of the best products in the world right on our doorstep.

“2015 is the Year of Scotland’s Food and Drink and we hope that all the visitors to our shores this year who are experiencing the range of truly global events across the country will also get to taste the best of Scotland.”

Funded by the Scottish Government (£450K over three years) and VisitScotland (£470K in kind) with support from Scotland Food and Drink, the Taste Our Best initiative brings together the tourism and food and drink industries.

Research has shown that visitors are willing to pay up to 15% more for food that is of Scottish or regional origin and businesses that provide local food can typically enjoy higher level sales of up to 20% per year. It’s estimated that Scotland’s food and drink tourism industry is worth £2.5 million per day to the economy with sampling traditional dishes and local produce among the top activity undertaken by visitors to Scotland.

Taste Our Best replaced the EatScotland food and drink QA scheme, which is being phased out.  Further details can be found at: www.visitscotland.org/quality-foodanddrink.aspx

2015 International Whisky Competition Official Results

Awards, Scores and Winners 

International Whisky Competition Committee

Chicago, IL USA

Thursday, April 30, 2015

www.whiskycompetition.com

Highlights of 2015

Foreword

This 6th edition of the International Whisky Competition took place in Chicago on the 23rd and 24th of April. A world class tasting panel of ten whisky, spirit, beer and wine experts blind tasted each whisky on an individual basis (by opposition to flights of 6 or more whiskies, which tends to rush the judging process and contaminate the palate.) Each whisky was scored using a comprehensive 100-point scale system developed by Sebastien Gavillet, IWC Head of Judges and author of Discovering and Mastering Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This process undoubtedly makes the International Whisky Competition one of the most professional competitions of its kind in the world. No whisky scored below 76 points and each judge sampled every whisky entered.

Unique Medals with Winners Based on Scores

Medals are important and we believe too many medals were awarded in the past by other spirits competitions, making the public suspicious of them. That being said, we’re the only competition providing three medals for each category so that each win is unique and not duplicated with generic awards of lesser value.

Introducing Whisky Points Medallions

Borrowing from what’s been highly popular in the wine judging world for many years, we decided to apply the same logic to whisky. The whisky point medallions will showcase the score each whisky received during this International Whisky Competition. The design is simple; each whisky scoring 90 points and over has gold on black and each whisky scoring between 85 and up to 90 points will be silver on black.

A World Class Scoring System

Judges were blind tasting, judging and scoring each whisky individually during five minutes based on the four main segments and eleven sub sections below:

• Sight: Colours (0 point), Visual appeal (5 points)

• Nose: Intensity and complexity (15 points), Distinctiveness of aromas (10 points), Balance of aromas (10 points)

• Taste-Mouth Feel: Palate and balance (10 points), Alcohol, body and complexity (10 points), Distinctiveness of flavours (10 points), Balance between flavours (10 points)

• Finish: Length and finish (10 points), Quality of finish (10 points)

2015 IWC Top Award

Whisky of the Year

John Walker & Sons King George V   (97 Points)    

Diageo, winner of the new Golden Barrel Trophy

Blind Tasting Notes: “This whisky has everything that makes a complex, beautiful, majestic dram featuring all the components of perfection.”

– Adam Carmer, Owner, The Whisky Attic, Las Vegas, 2015 IWC Judge

Master Blender of the Year

Jim Beveridge, Diageo, Creator of John Walker & Sons King George V

THREE BOURBONS FROM BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY WIN TOP

AWARDS IN TWO TASTING COMPETITIONS 

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (May 7, 2015) – Three bourbons from Barton 1792 Distillery won top awards in two recent tasting competitions. Barton’s 1792 Bourbon, Zackariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Kentucky Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey brought home medals and distinctions from the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

“We are honored to receive each of these awards,” Ken Pierce, director of distillation and quality assurance, said. “We work hard to produce excellent bourbon, and are humbled by these recognitions.”

2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

Barton’s 1792 Bourbon and Zackariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey were each designated as “Excellent, Highly Recommended” at the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. Kentucky Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey was distinguished as “Very Good, Strong Recommendation.”

            Zackariah Harris, 1792 and Kentucky Tavern were each deemed to be “Great Values.” Receiving a designation as “Tried & True” were 1792 Bourbon and Kentucky Tavern.

            This competition, in its sixth year, is judged by a panel of the spirit industry’s most renowned judges including award-winning authors, buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners, who rate each spirit on a 100-point scale.

            Complete results for the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge can be found at www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2015results.

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

More than 1,580 entries were submitted for a blind tasting at the 15^th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, where 41 of the industry’s finest spirits experts reviewed each entry, ultimately awarding 1792 Bourbon a gold medal. Kentucky Tavern and Zackariah Harris were each awarded bronze medals.

Complete results for the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/browse.

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands of Kentucky, with facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 28 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Bourbon whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This small batch Bourbon whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent Best of Category winner at the 2014 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more about the distillery visit http://www.1792bourbon.com/.

A.SMITH BOWMAN DISTILLERY SPIRITS WIN TOP AWARDS

IN TWO TASTING COMPETITIONS

Whiskey takes double gold 

Fredericksburg, VIRGINIA (May 5, 2015) – Two A. Smith Bowman whiskies, received high accolades in two recent tasting competitions. The spirits brought home medals and distinctions from the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge and the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

“We always strive to create excellent spirits, and for such an assortment of our portfolio to fare so well in these two competitions, it’s an honor,” Master Distiller Brian Prewitt said. “We are humbled by each of these results.”

2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge

This competition, in its sixth year, is judged by a panel of the spirit industry’s most renowned judges including award-winning authors, buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners, who rate each spirit on a 100-point scale.

 Complete results for the 2015 Ultimate Spirits Challenge can be found at www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2015results.

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

More than 1,580 entries were submitted for a blind tasting at the 15^th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition, where 41 of the industry’s finest spirits experts reviewed each entry, ultimately awarding John J. Bowman a Double Gold Medal and awarding Bowman Brothers Small Batch a silver medal.

Complete results for the 2015 San Francisco World Spirits Competition can be found at http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/browse.

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