Bleatings from Speyside – Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Programme is a Shear Delight

For black sheep who don’t follow the flock, if whisky tours or tastings aren’t your thing, then there are craft opportunities by the bagful to be had during this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival which takes place from April 30-May 4.

Three Bags Wool is a speciality craft shop in Aberlour where festival visitors can spend an afternoon making a needle felt sheep scene.

All the tools, equipment and materials will be provided to enable people to work on their own masterpiece. No experience is needed but the workshop comes with its own warning – this craft activity may prove addictive!

You’ll leave with your own hand made artwork and a basic knowledge of needle felting.

Or how about branching out and trying wood turning under the expert guidance of master carver Julian Schmechel at Burnside of Ballintomb Furniture Makers?

With just four places per session, these day-long workshops include lunch and would be just the thing for anyone wishing to learn wood carving, as no experience is needed.

Meet local craft workers and see them in action at the Speyside Crafts Market in Grant Hall in Rothes. The friendly, knowledgeable stall holders will represent a wide range of local crafts and will be happy to demonstrate their skills and chat to visitors on May 2.

Meanwhile exhibitors from Creative Cairngorms and other craft businesses will display their expertise and have a range of their creative output for sale at an open day at The Glenlivet Distillery also on May 2 which will include bee-keeping, embroidery, information about  salmon in the River Spey and its tributaries, as well details of activities in the area.

Should you make purchase of some of the finest liquid produce from Speyside, then you’ll need a glass from which to drink it. So why not have a go at making your own from a selection of Speyside timber at a green wood crafting workshop?

This is a centuries-old craft will see participants learning how to select, cleave and carve out freshly felled logs using a selection of hand tools and devices, including carving axes, drawknives, carving knives, shaving horses and pole lathes.

Or watch a master glass blower at work in a demonstration at The Macallan Distillery. Small groups will be taken on a guided tour with tutored nosing and tasting of four expressions of The Macallan plus its new-make spirit.

The experience ends with Tom Young from the Angel’s Share Glass Works in Bridge of Allan demonstrating the handcrafting of ‘hanging angels’ or ‘water droppers’.

From stitching to woodcarving there’s all kinds of arts and crafts featuring in this year’s festival programme alongside comedy, food, activities, music and of course whisky events.

With almost 400 events over the five day festival, there will be lots to do and see across the region.

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival takes place from April 30 to May 4, 2015.

Visit www.spiritofspeyside.com to buy tickets and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_Speyside

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY NAMED

THE WORLD’S MOST INNOVATIVE WHISKEY MAKER

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye deemed the World’s Best American Whiskey

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (April 2, 2015) – Whisky Magazine recently awarded Buffalo Trace Distillery with the title of Innovator of the Year at the Whiskies & Spirits Conference in London. According to Whisky Magazine, the 240+ year-old-Distillery was named the World’s Best Whisky Brand Innovator due to its, “ …maintaining a continuous commitment to experimentation and research in the production of premium American Whiskeys,” said Managing Editor, Rupert Wheeler.

One clear example is Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye Whiskey, which the Distillery produces once each year. Handy won top honors at the 2015 World Whiskies Awards when the rye whiskey was named the World’s Best American Whiskey. In addition, eight other whiskeys from Buffalo Trace won awards at this prestigious competition.

Over the years Buffalo Trace Distillery has become known for innovation and experimental whiskies, including the Single Oak Project. This experiment has been called the most extensive bourbon experiment ever undertaken and examines seven critical variables which resulted in 192 unique bourbons, currently being rated by whisky connoisseurs. Results and findings are expected to be released later this year.

 The Distillery also just recently built and filled Warehouse X, an experimental warehouse comprised of four independently operating chambers that will allow specific environmental factors to be tested, to determine their effect on aging barrels. Although not quite a year into the first experiment, measuring how light affects barrel aging, already the Distillery has obtained valuable data.

In addition to Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year and Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye’s World’s Best American Whiskey designation, two whiskies received three American overall awards. Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 20 Year was the overall winner for Best Age Statement Bourbon and the overall winner for Best Bourbon, and Thomas H. Handy Straight Rye Whiskey was the overall winner for Best American Rye.

 For Best Non-Age Statement Bourbon, Buffalo Trace Kentucky Straight Bourbon received gold, Col. E. H. Taylor Jr. Single Barrel Bourbon received silver and William Larue Weller Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey received bronze.

Col. E.H. Taylor Jr. Straight Rye Whiskey won gold for Best Non-Age Statement American Rye, and W.L. Weller 12 Year won bronze for Best Age Statement Bourbon.

The 2015 World Whiskies Awards and Icons of Whisky were announced at the Whiskies & Spirits Conference in London on March 19. Whiskies in each category were subject to rigorous blind taste testing to determine the best of each category. American Icons are determined following nominations from producers, retailers, distributors and importers, which are then voted on by those in the industry before Whisky Magazine’s editorial panel reviews the votes.

To determine the 2015 World Icons of Whisky, icons in America, Scotland and the rest of the world were voted on before the Whisky Magazine editorial panel was tasked with deciding the winner for each global title in the Icons categories.

For more information about the World Whiskies Awards visit www.worldwhiskiesawards.com and http://iconsofwhisky.com/.

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 www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

HOLLYWOOD ELITE CELEBRATE THE 20^TH ANNUAL JAMESON EMPIRE AWARDS

Jameson Irish Whiskey welcomed the Hollywood elite to London this week, where the best films and filmmakers of the past year, as voted for by readers of Empire magazine and global film fans, were honoured at the 20^th Jameson Empire Awards on Sunday 29^th March.

Science-fiction box office smash Interstellar, featuring Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway, was the big award winner of the night, scooping Best Film, Best Director and Empire Inspiration Award for director, Christopher Nolan. McConaughey and co-star Jessica Chastain were in attendance at the ceremony, alongside other notable guests including Daniel Radcliffe, James McAvoy, Simon Pegg and Liam Neeson.

The Empire Awards form part of Jameson’s innovative and longstanding film marketing platform alongside its other film properties, including Jameson First Shot and Cult Film Club. Through film, Jameson engages with cinema fanatics in more than 30 countries as it seeks to maintain the momentum of Irish whiskey around the world.

NOTES

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers, John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company. In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the company decided to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility alongside the existing distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork. Irish Distillers was bought by Pernod Ricard in June 1988 and today, Jameson is the No.1 Irish whiskey in the world, selling over 4 million 9L cases worldwide and contributing more than any other Irish whiskey brand to the phenomenal global growth of the category. Irish Distillers is committed to driving continued, sustainable growth of the Irish whiskey category.

Irish Distillers’ portfolio of whiskeys is comprised of Jameson, the world’s no.1 Irish whiskey; Irish favourite Paddy; Powers, the robust super premium whiskey for discerning drinkers; and the much-acclaimed brands that comprise the Irish Distillers’ Prestige Collection – the Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton which includes the Spot range (Green Spot, Yellow Spot) and Redbreast, Ireland’s most awarded single pot still whiskey brand – and the pinnacle of the Prestige Collection, Midleton Very Rare.

http://www.irishdistillers.ie/

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.

http://www.pernod-ricard.com/

Going for Gold at San Francisco 

Tomatin Distillery has won a record number of Gold Medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for its range of single malt Scotch Whiskies, with one Double Gold and four Gold medals.

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the largest, most influential international spirits competition in America, is judged by a prestigious panel of nationally recognized spirits experts. Judging is based on a blind, consensual procedure, ensuring competitive integrity as it remains the nation’s most respected spirits competition.

This year’s shining star is one of the distillery’s latest additions to the range, the 1988 vintage batch release, which scooped a Double Gold medal. Matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Port casks, this edition is limited to just 2500 bottles per annum and was introduced to the range in April 2014.

Launched at the same time as the 1988 was the 14 Year Old, also matured using Bourbon and Port casks. This, along with the distillery’s 12 and 18 Year Old expressions, all won Gold medals in this year’s competition.

Cù Bòcan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is a lightly peated single malt also produced at the Tomatin Distillery – production switches to peated malt for just one week per year. The standard edition, using peated whisky matured in Bourbon, Sherry and Virgin Oak casks, also won a Gold medal at this year’s awards.

Stephen Bremner, Sales Director, commented on the win: “These latest medals are testament to our commitment to producing a world-class product here at the Tomatin Distillery. Our wood policy is second to none; we produce a high quality spirit which develops into great whisky through maturation in the right casks. The result is a varied range of whiskies providing whisky consumers with a choice of flavours and styles.”

Notes

• Award information and results are available here: http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/overview
• The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends.
• Website: http://www.tomatin.com/   Download our Press Kit from the Contact Us page Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tomatin1897     Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tomatin1897
• The distillery was established in 1897, and while historically the whisky produced was primarily sold for use in other brands of blended whisky, the company is now very focussed on growing the Tomatin single malt brand in its own right.
• The company’s most popular blends are The Antiquary, The Talisman and Big ‘T’.
• The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo: http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/index.htm
• Images are available on request.

Glenmorangie and Ardbeg expressions praised at prestigious whisky awards

New Society Bottling READY FOR PURCHASE!

I have a nice Easter surprise for you all….the new Society bottling has been bottled and is now ready for purchase!!

The new release is a Longrow 13 year old and for the first 7 years, this whisky was matured in a Fresh Bourbon Barrel with the final 6 years being spent in a Fresh Chardonnay Hogshead. It was distilled in October 2001 and bottled on Monday this week (30th March). It has been bottled at a cask strength of 56.7% and is limited to 366 bottles.

The cost of this bottling is £60.00 and similar to the last few releases, will be limited to one bottle per member. If we have any bottles left after a 2 month period then it will be possible to purchase another.

I can truthfully say that this whisky is divine!! When deciding on the next Society bottling, we tasted 4 different Longrow casks in the office and this was a firm favourite amongst us!  I promise I’m not being biased when I say this could be my favourite Longrow ever! The tasting notes are as follows:

Nose:  Fresh green apples and gooseberries to the fore, with hints of lemon grass and a subtle peat influence. There are also maritime notes combined well with a smoked applewood aroma.

Palate:  A very smooth, creamy dram with notes of pine wood, vanilla and banana. Peat is also present which complements the sweet, saltiness of this whisky.

Finish:  A long and chewy finish with an intense vanilla butter cream ending. A classic Longrow whisky, oily with the peat rolling back after each sip.

If you would like to reserve a bottle then please email me ASAP as it will be based on a first come first served basis. My inbox usually goes a little crazy after a new release so please don’t panic if I don’t get back to you straight away – I will email back as soon as I can. If you get in touch within the first few days of this email being sent, the chances are that you will be able to get a bottle.

We have welcomed over 100 new members to the Springbank Society over the past few months and we are delighted to have you all on board!

For those who are not sure how the Society bottles work then it’s fairly simple. We release 2 bottlings per year and in the past there have been no set months for releases but we’re keen to make this more uniform so from now on we will release one each Spring (March/April) and one each Autumn (September/October).

When we release a new bottling, I will email you with all the details and if you would like to order a bottle (there is no obligation to do so) then you should email me back with your request and also include where you would like the bottle to be delivered to and how you would like to pay.

There are a couple of different options for delivery. You can either have the bottle sent to your home address or have it sent to one of our Cadenhead Shops for collection.

Excluding the USA (due to strict import laws), we are able to ship bottles worldwide so if you would like to know the shipping costs for 1-6 bottles to your country then please email me and I will send you over the details. Our prices include all taxes and costs on our side but does not cover any entry fees or taxes which may incur when the whisky reaches it’s destination country.

As mentioned above, we can also ship your Society bottles to the following Cadenhead Shops for collection:

• Edinburgh (UK)
• London (UK)
• Cologne (Germany)
• Berlin (Germany)
• Salzburg (Austria)
• Odense (Denmark)

If you would like your bottle delivered to any of the Cadenhead shops mentioned then PLEASE state this when ordering your bottle.

If you order your bottle to be delivered to any of our UK Cadenhead stores then payment for the bottle will be organised through me plus a £2.00 packaging fee and we will send it out with their next order (this is usually once weekly).

If you order your bottle to be delivered to any of our European stores then you will pay for the bottle when you collect it from the stated shop. The European shops usually get orders every 2-3 months so if you would like it sent there then please let me know and I can arrange it for the next shipment. Please allow a bit of time for the delivery and as soon as I have a shipping date then I will let you know. Can I kindly ask that you wait until you have heard from me before phoning the shops to ask if they have arrived.

In addition to the two options above and for any of our members living in Canada, one of our stockists in Calgary, Kensington Wine Market, are able to import Society bottles so if you would like to have your bottle sent to them for collection then please let me know this and we can get it arranged.

Campbeltown Malts Festival Update

We are still working away behind the scenes to get all events confirmed for the Campbeltown Malts Festival and we’re getting increasingly excited about the festivities – less than 7 weeks to go now!! I will hopefully have more information to share with you next week regarding Glen Scotia’s Open Day on Wednesday 20th May, Thursday evening events at Springbank Open Day on Thursday 21st May and events taking place on Friday 22nd May. For the tastings which have already been announced, we still have space on the following:

Less than 5 places available on:

• Thursday 21st @ 2.30pm – Distillery Manager’s Warehouse Tasting with Gavin McLachlan (£25 per person)

• Friday 22nd @ 12pm – Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting with Mark Watt (£25 per person)

• Friday 22nd @ 3pm – Cadenhead Warehouse Tasting with Mark Watt (£25 per person)

Few places left on:

• Thursday 21st @ 12pm – Kilkerran Masterclass with Jenny Karlsson (£25 per person)

Jenny will share some never ever tasted Kilkerran whisky with the lucky people attending her Open Day tasting. Cask samples starting from year 2004 will be opened and enjoyed at its natural strength. Just because we can!

• Thursday 21st @ 1.30pm – Springbank Masterclass with Ranald Watson & guests (£25 per person)

An opportunity to try some of the Springbank Distillers team’s favourite cask samples – some might be released, some might not, some might be old, some might be young – but they’re all brilliant drams. Also get the chance to ask anything you’ve ever wanted to know about Springbank and its whiskies.

• Thursday 21st @ 3pm – Cadenhead Masterclass with Mark Watt & Martin Mccallum (£25 per person)

A selection of current and future bottlings from Cadenheads including the now annual sample straight from the cask! What will this years special cask be? Nobody knows……

If you would like to book a spot on any of the above then please let me know and I can get this organised for you.

I think that should be all for now folks so have a great Easter Weekend and I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Sláinte,

Mairi

Mairi Paterson

For the Springbank Society

To join the Springbank Society please contact them at

society@springbankwhisky.com

Amrut Indian Single Malt launches the collectible ‘Greedy Angels’ across the world

Amrut Distilleries, India, known for their popular range of Single Malt whiskies which include Amrut Fusion, Amrut Portonova & Amrut Peated have launched 320 bottles of ‘Greedy Angels – Chairman’s Reserve’10 years old. This whisky is the first 10 YO single malts to be produced from India and are priced at circa 500 Euros.

Bangalore, India.

Amrut Distilleries Ltd., Bangalore is a boutique distillery known for their award winning single malt whiskies. Amrut recently concluded 10 years of presence in the international markets and have launched the Amrut Greedy Angels Single Malt Whisky – 10 years old to commemorate this occasion. The distillery had launched their malts in 2004 in Glasgow, Scotland by N.R. Jagdale, the Managing Director through his son Rakshit & his friend Ashok and now the malts bear unmistakable shelf presence across 40 countries. The brand peaked in the limelight in 2010 when acclaimed whisky writer, Jim Murray rated the Amrut Fusion with 97/100 points voting it the ‘3rd finest whisky in the world’ putting behind over 4000 whiskies from brands across the world. Amrut is also the only Indian whisky to feature in Ian Buxton’s ‘101 whiskies to have before you die’.

Their latest and most expensive whisky so far, the ‘Greedy Angels – Chairman’s Reserve 10 years old’ is the first 10 year old single malt to ever come out of India and is also India’s most expensive whisky so far. Given the high temperatures and humidity in India the loss of whisky during maturation is close to 10-12% in comparison to Scotland’s 1-2%. This makes ageing of these malts a very tricky affair and the quantity left for bottling quite meagre compared to what was started off with. A total of 320 bottles of these exquisite bottles are available with 284 bottles sailing to Europe & 36 to the United States of America. The specially designed package consists of a 700/750 ml crystal decanter bottled at 46% ABV and a 50 ml miniature decanter bottled at full cask strength of 71% ABV.

Industry Observers note that almost all of the bottles have been pre-sold or reserved and most of the units will end up as collectibles in shelves of aficionados. “The profile can be compared to some of the very old & rare Scottish single malts”, notes Ashok Chokalingam, GM – International Markets (Amrut), “you will spot a lot of tropical fruits, orangy citrus & a lingering finish”.

“Consumers will have to wait for quite some time before the next batch is released”, Ashok adds. “We are not sure when the next release of this ten years old malt from the Amrut stable will emanate as keeping the balance profile of the whisky is questionable given the conditions under which it matures”.

About Amrut Single Malt

Amrut Single Malt was launched in 2004 as an experiment by Amrut Distilleries, a Bangalore based conglomerate that started operations in 1948. Amrut was the first ever-Indian single malt and was launched in Glasgow, right in the heart of Scotland. The whiskies were received well across the world owing to their quality and have grown aggressively. Amrutt now bottles around 18 expressions of single malts, which are sold in 40 countries and growing.

Kensington Wine Market Has a New Owner!

As of April 1, 2015, longtime employee Andrew Ferguson is the new owner of the Kensington Wine Market. Andrew has been with KWM for 13 years (starting as our delivery driver) and has, during this time, worked his way to becoming an internationally recognized scotch expert. As a result of his hard work,  Andrew has put KWM “on the map” as one of the most respected malt whisky stores in the world. Andrew is 100% dedicated to keeping KWM’s reputation as one of the best wine stores in Canada and will work with our team, already in place, to achieve these goals. We all congratulate Andrew, and look forward to working with him.

Nancy Carten, founder of KWM, will be working with Andrew and his team over the next three years to ensure her legacy of 23 years continues.

We all look forward to continue welcoming you to the Kensington Wine Market!

  Kensington Wine Market Store Hours

Mon – Wed 10am to 8pm

Thu – Fri 10am to 9pm

Sat 10am to 8pm

Sun Noon to 6pm

Kensington Wine Market

403-283-8000

The French Connection – serving up a taste of Speyside, from glass to plate

From cheese to champagne, France is famous the world over for its food and drink – but now a French food writer is ensuring Scotland’s finest food and drink receives the recognition it deserves during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

French-born journalist Martine Nouet has been writing about food and drink for more than 25 years.

And while the nation of her birth is famed for its fine wine and champagne, Martine has developed a passion for whisky, so much so that she has become known as the Queen of the Still.

On her first visit to Scotland two decades ago, she visited Tamdhu Distillery on Speyside and became so fascinated by the distillation process, the aromas and the culture and heritage behind making malt that she fell in love with the ‘water of life’.

She now lives in Scotland, on the island of Islay, and her love of drams and her talent for cookery has seen her become widely regarded as a specialist in matching food and whisky.

Martine has an international reputation in the world of food and drink and is looking forward to sharing her skills with audiences during the upcoming Festival.

She is leading three demonstrations showing just how well whisky can be used as both an accompaniment and an ingredient to both sweet and savoury recipes.

Her from glass to plate Cooking with Malt Whisky Demonstrations take place at the Oakwood Cookery School, Elgin, on Friday, May 1. Each lasts for an hour and a half, starting at 10am, 1pm and 3pm. Each session costs £20 and tickets are available now on the Festival website.

Martine believes that whisky goes so well with food because of its very special flavours and characteristics.

She says: “Whisky has such a wide and complex array of aromas and tastes, as much, if not more, than wine and when paired with food, the two bring out new flavours.

“I’m giving three cooking demonstrations as I’d like to show people easy to reproduce recipes and show that whisky at the table is a great sensory experience. The people attending will of course taste the dishes: a seafood starter, mushroom risotto for the main and a quince jelly, pear and ricotta dessert.

“The festival helps visitors learn or develop an interest in whisky and the aim of my cookery sessions will be to harmoniously mix entertainment with education.”

Martine is also hosting a vintage dinner on Saturday, May 2 with Ronnie Cox from Glenrothes in Rothes House, as well as being part of the Victorian Picnic in the gardens of Glen Grant distillery on Sunday, May 3.

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs from Thursday, April 30-Monday, May 4 2015. Check out www.spiritofspeyside.com for up-to-date news and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside

Photo – Food and drink writer Martine Nouet is leading three malt whisky themed cookery demonstrations at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival.

Notes 

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking.

Visitors travelling to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options.

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners.

THE GLENLIVET ANNOUNCES THE ARRIVAL OF FOUNDER’S RESERVE

The Glenlivet has today announced the arrival of Founder’s Reserve in the UK and Germany. Unveiled in October last year, Founder’s Reserve is a new, permanent benchmark expression in the brand’s core range that has been created as the ultimate tribute to founder George Smith’s original vision to craft the most definitive, smooth single malt Scotch whisky.

With Founder’s Reserve, The Glenlivet’s perfectly-balanced and fruity house style is skilfully complemented with a creaminess and sweetness from the addition of First Fill American oak casks. The result is a single malt Scotch whisky of exceptional smoothness; the very quality for which George Smith’s The Glenlivet was widely admired and appreciated for in his day.

This expression is presented in a clear glass bottle that draws attention to the quality of the pale gold whisky inside. The Georgian Blue carton is both classic and contemporary in style and features George Smith’s signature, which provides stand-out appeal on shelf and honours Smith’s original style of whisky. Inclusion of the new The Glenlivet signifier, featuring the Packhorse Bridge that crosses the River Livet, appears on both the bottle cartouche and on the lid of the carton, demonstrating the brand’s rich provenance as ‘the single malt that started it all’.

Nikki Burgess, Global Brand Director for The Glenlivet, said: “We are very excited about sharing Founder’s Reserve with discerning whisky drinkers around the world. The expression now sits alongside The Glenlivet 12 Year Old in our global range and adds a twist of creaminess to the classic The Glenlivet style, which we are confident will appeal to whisky fans who seek out The Glenlivet’s benchmark quality for single malt Scotch whisky.

“The Glenlivet has been the largest contributor to the growth in single malt over the last five years and we look forward to Founder’s Reserve rolling out around the world, as its exceptional taste and link to the distillery’s past are sure to help us continue our success in the future.”

Alan Winchester, Master Distiller for The Glenlivet, added: “It has been an absolute privilege to craft a whisky in tribute to the man whose talent, dedication and vision for creating the definitively smooth single malt has led to The Glenlivet style that we know and admire today. In marrying together a selection of traditional and First Fill American oak casks from our inventory, I have been able to craft a complex whisky in The Glenlivet style with a pronounced creaminess, sweetness and smoothness that I am sure George would have approved of.

“For me, the nose has delicate aromas of citrus fruit and the sweet palate imparts zesty orange and toffee notes alongside classic The Glenlivet pear flavours, which is followed by a long, creamy and smooth finish. I’m really eager to hear what our fans old and new think about our latest interpretation of The Glenlivet through Founder’s Reserve and look forward to tasting it with them at the distillery in the coming months.”

The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve is now available at the RRP of $42 (or local equivalent) in the UK and Germany, ahead of a wider roll out throughout the year.

NOTES

The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve – Tasting Notes by Alan Winchester, Master Distiller of The Glenlivet

Nose: Delicate aromas of citrus fruit, notably sweet orange
Palate: Sweet, fruit notes of zesty orange and pears, with a hint of candy, toffee apples. Well-balanced and exceptionally smooth
Finish: Long, creamy and smooth

About The Glenlivet
Created by George Smith in 1824, The Glenlivet is the original single malt Scotch whisky, renowned for its smooth and fruity flavour profile. Today, The Glenlivet is the No.2 single malt Scotch whisky in the world and the No.1 single malt Scotch whisky in the USA, the world’s largest malt whisky market. The Glenlivet is also the biggest contributor to the volume growth of the single malt category worldwide, adding more than any other single malt whisky brand over the last five years. As the single malt that started it all, The Glenlivet is committed to continuing its legacy for crafting single malt whiskies of outstanding quality and has led innovation within single malt in recent years. Standout initiatives include the release of The Glenlivet Alpha, a mystery single malt, and the creation of The Guardians of The Glenlivet, an online hub for fans to engage with the brand and each other.
www.theglenlivet.com

@TheGlenlivet

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.2 single malt whisky; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.
www.chivasbrothers.com

@ChivasNewsRoom

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