Jim Beam Donates $100,000 To Fund Holiday Meals For Military Families

Fort Campbell, Ky. – December 9, 2014 – Jim Beam® Bourbon, the world’s No. 1 bourbon, is adding more happy to the holidays this year with a $100,000 donation to Operation Homefront, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting United States military families. Presented today by Frederick “Fred” Booker Noe III, seventh generation Jim Beam master distiller, along with his son, Freddie Noe IV, in a ceremony at Fort Campbell, Ky., the funds will help provide holiday meals for military families.

“Bourbon is just about as American as you can get,” said Noe. “So at Jim Beam we’re honored to support our military heroes who defend our great country every day. They are part of our family, and we salute them.”

The donation marks the latest demonstration of Jim Beam’s long history of support for the military and Operation Homefront. Since 2008, Jim Beam has donated more than $2.5 million to the organization through a variety of charitable programming efforts.  The Holiday Meals for Military program began Thanksgiving 2009 as the result of a chance encounter in a supermarket in Utica, N.Y., near Fort Drum.  A soldier, his wife and infant had a handful of grocery items they could not afford, so a Jim Beam employee picked up the $12 cost for the groceries.  Since that time, the program has grown from initially providing 500 meal kits to military families in 2009 to providing 8,000 this holiday season, and Jim Beam continues to be a major supporter of the program.

“Thanks to continued support from Jim Beam and other sponsors, this season we’re providing 8,000 military families at 21 different active duty bases with a Holiday Meal kit, which includes everything they need for a holiday dinner,” said Stacey Crooks, Senior Director of Corporate Relations for Operation Homefront. “We’re incredibly grateful for the generous donations Jim Beam has provided over the years and for its commitment to honoring and assisting our country’s military families. Having Fred Noe and his son volunteer their time today is the icing on the cake and means so much to our military families.”

Jim Beam has a long history of support for the military that can be traced all the way back to the 1700s. If not for the land grant given to the Beam family for all their service during the revolutionary war, the brand’s Kentucky distillery may not have existed. Today, the company is proud to employ numerous veterans and active military personnel, and has promised to hold the jobs of those called to active duty.

The 21st Annual Awards have all been posted on the Whisky Advocate blog! There are thirteen awards: eleven categories for the whisky/whiskey of the year, the distiller of the year, and our Lifetime Achievement awards. Except for the Lifetime Achievement category, there is only one winner in each category.

The Whisky Advocate Awards exist to recognize excellence in the world of whisky. Now in its 21st year, the program is simply about the world’s greatest whiskies and distilleries, and the individuals who make and promote them. As always, these awards are not simply assigned to the whiskies that get the highest ratings in our reviews. The winners might be the highest-rated, or they might instead be the most significant, or the most important, or represent a new direction for a category or niche.

These awards are the oldest and longest-running annual whisky awards program. There is no fee, there are no entry requirements. We taste and sample over the course of the year, at year’s end we consider and confer, and then we make our decisions based solely on the merits of the whiskies…as we have done for over twenty years. We give you our word: that’s how it will continue to be.

The winners are listed below, with a link to the formal write-up on the Whisky Advocate blog. We hope you enjoy the selections, and wish you the best in the coming year!

Craft Whiskey of the Year: St. George Single Malt Lot 14

American Whiskey of the Year: Sazerac Rye 18 Year Old

Canadian Whisky of the Year: Canadian Club Chairman’s Select 100% Rye

Irish Whiskey of the Year: Midleton Very Rare 2014

Japanese Whisky of the Year: Ichiro’s Malt The Joker

World Whisky of the Year: Broger Burn Out

Blended/Blended Malt Whisky of the Year: The Last Drop 50 year old

Speyside Single Malt of the Year: Craigellachie 17 year old

Islay Single Malt of the Year: Signatory (distilled at Laphroaig) 1998, 60.8%

Highland/Islands Single Malt of the Year: Arran Devil’s Punchbowl III The Fiendish Finale

Lowlands/Campbeltown Single Malt of the Year: Rosebank 1992 21 year old (Diageo Special Releases 2014)

Lifetime Achievement Awards:
Colin Scott, Chivas Bros.;
Duncan McGillivray, Bruichladdich
Distiller of the Year: Beam Suntory

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES LAST EXPERIMENTAL COLLECTION BOURBONS OF 2014 

An Expansion of the Aging Experiment on Three Different Warehouse Floors

Using 12-Year-Old Wheated Bourbon 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Dec. 9, 2014) Earlier this year, Buffalo Trace Distillery released an experiment consisting of barrels aged for the same length of time on different floors in the same warehouse.  The experiment was met with great interest, as many bourbon connoisseurs are thirsty for knowledge about how atmosphere affects the taste of their favorite spirit.

Buffalo Trace continues that experiment, this time using wheated bourbon instead of the rye bourbon mash bill used in the previous experiment.

The Warehouse Floors Experiment was started in 2001, when Buffalo Trace filled 15 barrels with their Wheat Bourbon Mash Bill and placed five barrels on floors one, five, and nine of Warehouse K. This brick warehouse has nine wooden floors in total and was chosen for this experiment due to the variety of tastes it provides during the aging process. Here’s how the experiment panned out:

The barrels aged on the first floor of Warehouse K resulted in a bourbon with a mild nose and hints of vanilla. The flavor is described as sweet with slight caramel and butterscotch notes. The body is said to be mild with an easy and approachable palate.

Barrels aged on the fifth floor of Warehouse K yielded a bourbon with an aroma full of herbal notes and a mouth full of savory flavors and cooked cinnamon and clove balanced with caramel and butterscotch. The finish is smooth and balanced.

The ninth floor of Warehouse K resulted in a bourbon with a rich and delightful aroma of charred oak.  The initial flavor fills the mouth with toasted almonds and walnuts. The mouth feel is medium bodied with a dry finish.

“This experiment was an interesting comparison to our rye bourbon warehouse floors experiment, especially since both were aged in the same warehouse and on the same floors, said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller. “As with the rye bourbon experiment, the higher floors yielded a different taste profile than the lower floors, giving us a richer and full bodied taste. Also, we noticed a higher evaporation rate on the wheat recipe experiment vs the rye bourbon recipe experiment.  The wheat evaporated between 42-51% over the twelve years, depending on what floor the barrel was aged.  The rye experiment evaporated between 25-49% over the twelve years, with significantly less on the lower floors.  This higher evaporation rate is expected in wheated recipes, but it’s interesting to see it up close with the rye experiment.”

These barrels are part of the more than 2,000 experimental barrels of whiskey aging in the warehouses of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each of them has unique characteristics that differentiate them from all others. Some examples of experiments include unique mash bills, type of wood, and barrel toasts. In order to further increase the scope, flexibility and range of the experimental program, an entire micro distillery, named The Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. “OFC” Micro Distillery, complete with cookers, fermenting tanks, and a state-of-the-art micro still has been constructed within Buffalo Trace Distillery. Buffalo Trace has increased its commitment to experimentation with the recent addition of its Warehouse X. Although small in size, Warehouse X is designed to explore the limits of environmental influences on the quality of whiskey.

The Experimental Collection is packaged in 375ml bottles and packed 12 to a case, with three bottles from each warehouse floor in a case. Each label includes all the pertinent information unique to that barrel of whiskey. These whiskeys retail for approximately $46.35 each. These particular rare experimental bottles will be available in December.  For more information on the Experimental Collection or the other products of Buffalo Trace Distillery, please contact Elizabeth Hurst at ehurst@buffalotrace.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 being 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.

THE GLENLIVET 12 YEAR OLD LAUNCHES NEW LIMITED EDITION GIFT PACKS FOR CHRISTMAS 10 DECEMBER 2014

The single malt that started it all partners with Master Typographer Alan Kitching to create bold and original design

The Glenlivet has today unveiled a new limited edition gift pack series, aimed to increase on-shelf appeal for its 12 Year Old expression during the pre-Christmas gifting season. Created in partnership with Master Typographer Alan Kitching, the bold new packaging highlights The Glenlivet’s dedication to crafted quality and brings to life the heritage of the definitive Speyside malt.

The gifting series, which features specially-commissioned letter press artwork by Kitching, an appointed royal designer, includes The Glenlivet 12 Year Old (70cl), as well as two value added packs: one with two branded glasses and a second with 5cl miniature bottles of the 15 Year Old French Oak Reserve and 18 Year Old expressions.

Each of the value added packs contains a booklet detailing The Glenlivet’s brand story and the partnership with Kitching, which was inspired by the shared tradition, craftsmanship and skill found in both the art of letter press printing and the creation of quality, single malt whisky.

The story of The Glenlivet, which started in 1824 when George Smith founded the first licensed distillery in the parish of Glenlivet, is explored on the packaging alongside references to its rich heritage. These include King George IV’s request for “Glenlivet” by name in 1822, together with other examples of how this renowned single malt set the standard of quality and craftsmanship that went on to define the Speyside style of whisky.

Nikki Burgess, Global Brand Director of The Glenlivet, comments: “The Glenlivet has worked with Alan Kitching to create a design for our flagship expression that is both bold and eye-catching; something that will stand out this Christmas while also highlighting some of the key moments in the brand’s inspiring history.

“Letterpress printing is a traditional technique which mirrors the time-honoured craftsmanship of The Glenlivet. We have then presented the prints in an eye-catching way on pack, resulting in a contemporary gift that we anticipate will appeal to whisky fans.”

The Glenlivet limited edition gift packs will be available from December 2014 in a number of markets including US, Canada, South Africa, Portugal and Belgium, priced as per The Glenlivet 12 Year Old.

NOTES 

About Alan Kitching
Alan Kitching is renowned for his creative approach to traditional printmaking techniques. Alan has shows in London and Barcelona, and has contributed to various exhibitions in Europe. He has conducted his workshops and given talks to industry, art schools and design conventions in the UK, Europe, Australia and South Africa.

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 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

BALLANTINE’S BRINGS HISTORY TO LIFE WITH NEW LIMITED EDITION PACKS FOR CHRISTMAS 2014

Ballantine’s, the No.2 Scotch whisky in the world, has unveiled a unique selection of limited edition gift packs for its Finest and 12 Year Old expressions, each of which brings to life a story which delves into the history, heritage and craftsmanship of the Ballantine’s brand.

Having recently commissioned a historian to trace the history of Ballantine’s from the early times of its founder, George Ballantine, the design of the two new Ballantine’s Finest gift packs is inspired by one particularly engaging story, which captures the theory behind the square-shaped design of the bottle itself.

‘The Briefcase Story Edition’ explores the unusual shape of the iconic Finest bottle, which some say was created so that American socialites could hide the whisky easily in their briefcases during the years of prohibition, should the cops come calling. Others suggest that it’s the perfect shape for a salesman to hold two bottles in his briefcase, one to show to a client and another for…perhaps celebrating the achievement of a personal sales target?

These interesting packs are available in two styles; the 2014 Briefcase Tin is shaped in the style of a classic briefcase and includes eye-catching effects such as authentic metallic corner protections, to draw attention amongst more mature whisky enthusiasts.

For those who prefer a more contemporary style, the 2014 Briefcase Zip is equally striking, boldly featuring materials such as satin lycra, and modern zip grips that imitate a padlock and key.

The third seasonal gift pack began with the specialness of the Ballantine’s 12 Year Old – its preciousness and the need for it to be kept in a safe place, where one would keep his valuables. The Safe Limited Edition represents a vintage safe which features a combination dial and embossed silver elements; a visual manifestation of the rich, smooth and complex 12 Year Old blend, formed of many flavours that seduce the senses and invite the customer to unlock the unique flavour combination.

One can also imagine George Ballantine having a large, solid safe in his office, guarding his valuable recipes and notes, relating to a lifetime’s commitment to his passion around whisky and what has become the highly cherished Ballantine’s.
Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, comments: “We are excited to launch these intriguing limited editions, which will appeal to both Ballantine’s fans and whisky collectors. We wanted to share the richness of the Ballantine’s story on these innovative packs, and hope that this unique approach helps retailers to capture sales during the competitive festive season.”

To encourage customer engagement, there is a series of marketing initiatives available for markets, including print advertising and in-store displays. The gift packs are available now in markets including Greece, India and Chile (The Briefcase) and Portugal, South Africa and Peru (The Safe), priced in parity to Ballantine’s Finest (RRP $14) and Ballantine’s 12 Year Old (RRP $24.50).

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No.2 Scotch whisky in the world with the range selling over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 130 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for its outstanding quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop, continuing the brand’s tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827. In 2013, Ballantine’s continued its innovative approach by launching Ballantine’s Brasil, a spirit drink made from selectively cask steeping Scotch whisky with Brazilian lime peel.  www.ballantines.com

@Ballantines

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

Triple success for Gordon & MacPhail in major whisky awards

Gordon & MacPhail are toasting triple success in the prestigious Icons of Whisky Awards.

The Elgin-based whisky specialists won the Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year and Whisky Retailer of the Year – Single Outlet awards, while recently retired managing director Michael Urquhart was inducted into the Hall of Fame.

The Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year award went to Susan Colville, Brand Home Manager at Gordon & MacPhail owned Benromach Distillery.

“I’m thrilled to have won this award, but more importantly I’m delighted for the team that works so hard to make a visit to Benromach a pleasure,” said Mrs Colville, who won the Young Ambassador of the Year at the 2012 Icons of Whisky Awards.

The judges said: “As Brand Home Manager, Susan is the welcoming face of the distillery, offering tales from her travels and stories of her life growing up in Speyside. The distillery centre team, with Susan at the helm, offers a rare experience. You can enjoy a unique and personalised tour, followed by a dram and chat.”

The Whisky Retailer of the Year – Single Outlet award went to the company’s spiritual home, its shop in South Street, Elgin, which was opened almost 120 years ago.

The judges said: “It is still going strong to this day and is known for the aroma of home cooked local gammon and cheese which greets customers on arrival.

“The store boasts a Whisky Room which stocks around 1,000 different single malts attracting people from all around the world. This ‘Aladdin’s Cave of Whisky’ is a must see, especially if you are after the very old or rare.”

Inclusion in the Hall of Fame is a permanent tribute to individuals who have made a lasting contribution to whisky, and Mr Urquhart joins his brother David, also a former Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, who was inducted last year.

“It’s a tremendous honour for me to sit alongside some very illustrious names from the whisky industry,” Mr Urquhart said.

“I feel it is a reflection of the success of Gordon & MacPhail as a whole and I thank our employees, suppliers and worldwide customer base for their ongoing support.”

Mr Urquhart retired as Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail in September this year and is a non-executive director of the company.

Notes 

Gordon & MacPhail is one of the UK’s leading independent specialist wholesalers and distributors, stocking over 4,500 products, including an extensive portfolio of wines, spirits and UK specialist beers and ciders.

Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies. Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with “new make” spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

The world’s leading malt whisky specialist, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 50 countries. It offers more than 300 presentations of own-bottled single malts and has a stock-holding of more than 700 whiskies.

In March 2010 Gordon & MacPhail made history as it launched the world’s oldest single malt whisky – Gordon & MacPhail Generations Mortlach 70 Years Old – at an exclusive event at Edinburgh Castle.

Benromach distillery, which employs just three experienced distillers, went through many changes of ownership and closures before being “rescued” and restored by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993 and was officially opened by the Prince of Wales in 1998. In 2009, Benromach 10 Years Old – the first aged Benromach malt to be made at the distillery under Gordon & MacPhail – was launched.

BENRIACH IS “WHISKY DISTILLER OF THE YEAR”

THE BenRiach Distillery Company is the 2015 “Whisky Distiller of the Year”.

The Edinburgh-headquartered company, owners of the award-winning BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh single maIts, received the prestigious accolade at the “Icons of Whisky Scotland 2015” Awards presented by Whisky Magazine.

The “Icons” reward the people and places behind Scotland’s great whiskies, celebrating companies and individuals for their significant contribution to the Scotch whisky industry.

In 2004, whisky veteran Billy Walker and his two South African partners Geoff Bell and Wayne Kieswetter purchased BenRiach, turning it into one of Scotland’s most admired distilleries. GlenDronach distillery, Glenglassaugh distillery and a large bottling plant at Newbridge followed.

All three distilleries produce unique whiskies with extraordinary depth, balance and character.

Billy Walker said: “It is a fantastic achievement for a privately-owned, independent company to win the award for “Whisky Distiller of the Year”. I’m delighted that it both recognises the creative and innovative things we have been doing at our three distilleries over the last ten years and salutes the high-quality team we have built.”

Mr Walker added: “We will continue to introduce our wonderful portfolio to new markets. Currently we are trading in some 40 countries worldwide with other emerging markets entering the negotiation stage, so the future for all our brands is tremendously exciting.”

The “Icons of Whisky Scotland 2015” cap a very successful year for the BenRiach Distillery Company. In August the company posted record pre-tax profits of £8.9m for 2013 boosted by unprecedented demand for its high-end whiskies in Asia, North America, Russia and Europe.

THE PLOUGH HARBORNE LAUNCHES 60 STRONG WHISKY LIST

The Plough in Harborne is launching a new whisky menu showcasing a selection of rare, exclusive, award-winning and artisan whiskies from all over the world including Japan, Australia, India and America.

The new menu which launches on Monday 15^th December will be home to three single malts that are no longer available to buy in the UK; the Edradour 11 year old Burgundy Cask Finish,  the Miltonduff Batch 1 single malt (of which only 122 bottles were produced) and the Milford 15 year old malt from New Zealand.

Past winners of the World Whiskies Awards will also feature alongside hand-crafted whiskies produced in micro-distilleries such as Copper Fox in Virginia, Corsiar in Nashville TN and Few Distillery in Illinois.

Further to the Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 being named as ‘best in the world’ by the 2015 World Whisky Bible Japanese whisky has been recognised as ‘coming of age’ and 10 varieties will be available at The Plough.

The list also boasts a selection of new world whiskies from Sweden and France alongside the only whisky to be made in New York; Hudson Baby Bourbon.

James Thewlis, responsible for Product Development at The Plough, said:

“Our aim is to introduce people to new flavours and a unique experience whilst introducing some of the finest and lesser known whiskies. We’re passionate about working with artisan producers and we’re hugely inspired by what some of these distilleries are doing; they are producing a truly world class product and we’re proud to showcase that at The Plough.”

The new whisky menu complements The Plough’s existing spirits list which takes in a broad range of hand-crafted spirits including vodka made from grapes distilled in a disused aircraft hangar and rum aged for seven years and made using sugar cane from the oldest plantation in Japan.

Whisky shots on the list start from £3.30 and go up to £15.

About The Plough 

The Plough, Harborne has been serving fresh home-cooked food and the best coffee and Sunday lunch in the neighbourhood for 11 years.  Established in 2003 The Plough has undergone extensive renovation since its launch boasting a quirky and eclectic interior and an ‘outdoor lounge’ that is airy, light and unrestricted by season.  With a focus on quality and provenance, ingredients are carefully sourced locally to minimise the environmental ‘tread’ of the business where possible. No stranger to accolades The Plough has been recognised for its coffee, Sunday lunch and interior – named by the Independent as ‘best coffee shop’, celebrated by The Times for the best Sunday Lunch in the region and awarded the ‘Best Restaurant / Bar Design’ at the Northern Design Awards.  

Follow The Plough story here: 

Instagram : @ploughstagram

Twitter : @PloughHarborne

Facebook : The Plough Harborne

21 High Street, Harborne B17 9NT

First New Copper Pot Stills Arrive in Dublin in over 125 years

Landmark day for Teeling Whiskey distillery in Newmarket  

Friday, 5th December – Reviving the Spirit of Dublin, the Teeling Whiskey Company (TWC) this week witnessed the historic arrival of three new, handcrafted copper pot stills at the new whiskey distillery, located in Dublin’s Newmarket in The Liberties.

The pot stills mark a milestone for the Teeling family, bringing whiskey production back to their ancestral roots in Dublin 8. The new distillery will be a modern revival of the Teeling distillery that thrived in the area in the 18^th century.

Crafted in Sienna in Italy by Frilli Impianti, who have been making distilling equipment since 1912, the traditional copper pot stills travelled 2,275 kilometres to their new home in The Liberties, where they were assembled on-site. The 15,000 litre wash still, 10,000 litre intermediate still and 9,000 litre spirit still will be at the heart of the distillery and are essential for creating the distinctive flavour of Teeling Whiskey.

The Teeling Whiskey distillery is the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years and will have the capacity to produce 500,000 litres of whiskey on an annual basis. The Teeling Whiskey brand is already on sale in Ireland and is currently in over 30 export markets.  The construction of the new distillery will guarantee future supply for the Teeling Whiskey brands and allow the creation of a range of innovative and authentic Irish whiskeys based on the traditional and unique Dublin style of distillation

Jack Teeling, founder and managing director of the Teeling Whiskey Company commented “Today is a major milestone in the development of the new Teeling Distillery, with the final pieces of the jigsaw, the copper pot stills, finally positioned in their new home in Newmarket. We are extremely proud to be returning to our ancestral distilling roots and bringing whiskey distillation back to Dublin. We look forward to the first spirit flowing from our new stills and opening our doors to the public to come see a real Dublin distillery in operation in 2015. ” 

The new Teeling Whiskey distillery received planning permission in January 2014 and started work on site in August with over 100 people employed during the construction of the distillery with 30 permanent jobs planned for following its completion. Commission of the new distillery will happen early in the New Year and with the distillery opening its door to visitors soon afterwards.

For more on Teeling Whiskey Company and its award winning Irish whiskeys, visit www.teelingwhiskey.com

THE SCOTCH MALT WHISKY SOCIETY TRIUMPHS ONCE AGAIN AT ICONS OF WHISKY AWARDS 2014 

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is celebrating after a large haul at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Awards 2014. The Society was named Independent Bottler of the Year for the second year running, and saw 13 casks win individual awards across the board.

The news has rounded off a stellar year for The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, who have seen membership figures rise, a sell-out ‘Glorious 12’ whisky and game pop up bar in Shoreditch, London, and the re-launch of their magazine, Unfiltered.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an international whisky club and bottler which bottles the world’s widest selection of exceptional single cask, single malt whisky for its members.

The Society bottles the finest single malt whisky from around 350 single casks every year from a range of more than 132 distilleries. The very nature of the single cask means that each bottling offered by the Society is limited.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society saw a large array of flavours released over the year, with Irish, extremely rare Japanese grain whiskies and a Bourbon released. The most recent outturn includes their oldest ever single cask Scotch bottling at 48 years old.

Helen Stewart, UK Brand Manager for The Scotch Malt Whisky Society comments on the wins – “We are very excited to be named Independent Bottler of the Year for a second year in a row. Our members choose from the world’s widest selection of single cask, single malt whiskies. All our whiskies are selected and approved by our respected Tasting Panel, who know a great whisky when they try one. These thirteen awards really highlight their skills.”

The full list of awards for The Society single casks below shows the quality of the whisky bottled from around Scotland:

Awards: 

Independent Bottler of The Year 2014

Campbeltown

• Campbeltown bottler of the year award
• 93.61 – Bronze 13-20 yrs
• 93.57 – Gold 21 yrs +

Highland

• 26.101 – Bronze 12yr and under
• 59.48 Silver 21 yrs + 

Islands

• 4.189 Silver 13 to 20yrs

Islay

• Islay bottler of the year award
• 10.76 Silver 12 yrs and under
• 53.184 Gold 13 to 20 yrs
• 3.203 Gold 21yrs + 

Non-Scotch

• 130.1 Gold 12yrs and under
• 131.2 Silver 13 to 20yrs 

Speyside

• 2.85 Bronze 12 yrs and under
• 21.28 Gold 21 yrs and over
• 7.100 Silver 21yrs and over

To purchase membership of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society for £122, visit www.smws.co.uk or call the sales team on 0131 555 2929 

Notes: 

About The Scotch Malt Whisky Society  

• The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is an international whisky club and bottler which bottles the world’s widest selection of exceptional single cask, single malt whisky for its members
• The Society bottles the finest single malt whisky from around 350 single casks every year from a range of more than 132 distilleries. The very nature of the single cask means that each bottling offered by the Society is limited.
• The Society was established in Edinburgh in 1983 and now has more than 26,000 members around the world with branches in 19 countries.
• Members can choose from the world’s widest selection of single cask, single malt whiskies with only the very best selected and approved by the Society’s respected Tasting Panel.
• Exclusive Members’ Rooms are located in Edinburgh and London for tastings, dinners, meeting and presentations.
• Annual renewal after the first year is £59
• For more information, visit www.smws.co.uk