DIAGEO GLOBAL TRAVEL EXTENDS JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE™ FOOTPRINT INTO INDIA AND TAIWAN 

Diageo Global Travel is proud to announce the opening of two JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE™ retail showcase stores in travel retail – one in Mumbai, India and another in Taipei, Taiwan.  

Following the success of the JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE launches in Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul and continuing the brand’s mantra of ‘Keep Walking’, the new JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSES in Mumbai and Taipei are multi-sensory embassies for luxury Blended Scotch Whisky, designed to educate and inspire travellers by providing them with a luxurious and engaging shopping experience that encapsulates the history, provenance and pioneering spirit of the JOHNNIE WALKER^® brand. 

Travellers can fully immerse themselves in the history of JOHNNIE WALKER and its famous liquids through a number of striking wall installations; and in deluxe mentoring spaces specialist brand ambassadors will invite them on a sensorial journey to touch, taste and smell the rare elements that make up JOHNNIE WALKER. 

To celebrate the inauguration of the Houses, a limited edition bottle of JOHNNIE WALKER^® BLUE LABEL™ has been created. The JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE™ ART COLLECTION – Mumbai Edition will be exclusively available at Mumbai International Airport. 

Doug Bagley, Managing Director, Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: “We are delighted to bring not one, but two JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSES to life in partnership with our customers in key travel retail channels globally. This reinforces our long-term commitment to providing travelers with a luxurious, unparalleled shopping experience in one of the fastest-growing retail channels worldwide.  Both airports are key travel hubs, handling a combined 63 million passengers a year which make them perfect locations for JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSES within our burgeoning industry. We are confident that they will surprise and delight consumers with an unmatched retail space and deliver a luxurious shopping experience.” 

Lawrence Law, Global General Manager Johnnie Walker Houses, said: “I’m delighted to see the extension of the JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSES into travel retail. It’s a move that highlights the esteem with which we hold our commercial travel retail partners. We believe it’s important to immerse consumers in our brand and these houses will provide them with the first luxury retail experience beyond our flagship JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSES.”

JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE™ MUMBAI

The JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE™ MUMBAI, in collaboration with DFS Group and Flemingo International, launching 2 September 2014, is located in the prestigious departures concourse of Terminal 2 of Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. To celebrate the opening, an exclusive JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE™ ART COLLECTION – Mumbai Edition – has been created. The special bottle shows a unique interpretation of the original JOHNNIE WALKER journey from Scotland to India in 1883* and reflects the brand’s long heritage as one of the world’s first international brands. 

Abanti Sankaranarayanan, Managing Director, Diageo India, said: JOHNNIE WALKER is the iconic luxury Scotch in India. In line with the consumers’ desire for unique experiences and evolving taste palates, we launch the JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE at the Mumbai International Airport. The JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSES globally are our global embassies for luxury Scotch whisky and we are proud to extend this world class experience to our Indian consumers. The new JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE will be home to some of the rarest and most luxurious blends from Diageo’s portfolio that are unrivalled in taste, heritage and craftsmanship.” 

Manishi Sanwal, Managing Director, Mumbai Duty Free, said: “We are delighted to offer exciting retailer opportunities to customers departing Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. With the innovative JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE, we are certain world travelers will discover a stimulating and unique offer within our store.” 

JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE™ TAIWAN

The JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE™ TAIWAN, launching late September 2014, will be located in the departures concourse immediately after immigration at Terminal 2 of Taoyuan International Airport, Taipei. JOHNNIE WALKER first traded in Taiwan in 1925 highlighting the brand’s long travel heritage. Within, travellers can purchase a range of unique, exclusive whisky collections, that are exclusively available at JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE TAIWAN. 

A spokesperson from Everrich Duty Free, said: “We are pleased and proud to partner with Diageo Global Travel to launch the JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE TAIWAN. Our customers are looking for luxury shopping spaces that combine innovation, exceptional service and unique experiences – the JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE encapsulates all that we want to offer our distinguished clientele.” 

Starting this month, all consumers will be able to access their own copy of JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE Edit, a commissioned quarterly title dedicated to the art of good living that brings together curated content from world-class contributors, stylists, photographers and creative talent, will also be available to all patrons of the newly launched properties. Inspired by the JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE philosophy of Living Luxury, the periodical’s first edition explores the subject of fame and its relationship with affluence across art, design, literature, music, drama and the epicurean world. The title is also available digitally via Magzter.

Notes 

*JOHNNIE WALKERwas first exported to India in 1883 

ABOUT JOHNNIE WALKER^® HOUSES

JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSES are an exclusive collection of Scotch Whisky embassies outside of Scotland. Established by the world’s number one Scotch Whisky brand, JOHNNIE WALKER, the brand pioneered its first House in Shanghai, China in 2011, followed by Beijing, China in 2012 and Seoul, South Korea in 2013.  

Each JOHNNIE WALKER HOUSE is an exploration of the brand’s heritage, inviting guests to embark on a multi-sensory mentoring journey. The Houses are a celebration of a luxurious whisky experiences across a spread of fine-dining, art and music that inspire progressive individuals to come together and create new cultural expressions globally. Innovation is integral to the Houses with unique, exclusive whisky collections are available at each location. In addition, selected patrons can work with the Master Blender to create their own personalized blends. 

ABOUT DIAGEO

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

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

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

FLAVOUR HUNTERS INVITED TO TRACK DOWN POP-UP GLORIOUS 12 WHISKY & GAME BAR IN LONDON 

12 single cask whiskies matched with 12 dishes of Scottish game tapas at Glorious 12 pop-up as The Scotch Malt Whisky Society celebrates game season. 

The British game season is off with a bang and The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has teamed up with The Wild Game Co. to pair seasonal wild game with its rare single cask whiskies at the Glorious 12 pop-up at Studio 2, New Inn Yard in Shoreditch, London from 11-13 September. 

For 3 evenings only, flavour hunters are invited to feast on a menu of Scottish game tapas, which features 12 different types of wild game, including woodcock, hare, partridge and wild boar, expertly paired with the exceptionally varied flavours of 12 of the Society’s rare single cask whiskies. 

The Scottish tapas dishes on offer include:

Grouse, toasted brioche, roasted and pureed fig Roe deer striploin with frites, béarnaise and rowan jelly Partridge, butterbean and chorizo 

Glorious 12 will offer a ticketed hosting dining experience with two sittings each night at 6.45pm and 8.45pm. Ticket buyers will delve further into the world of flavours with expert talks each evening: 

Wednesday 10th September – Media launch night Thursday 11th September – Foraging flavours with Thom Hunt Friday 12th September – Game butchery with Thom Hunt Saturday 13th September – DIY meat smoking with Ru Emslie 

The bar will also be open to walk-ins to sample some of the drams and tapas dishes on offer. 

The pop-up will be staged at Studio 2, 31 New Inn Yard, Shoreditch, with the contemporary gallery space being transformed into a Scottish tapas and whisky bar, with elements of the Scottish countryside transporting guests away from city life. 

Helen Stewart, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s UK Brand Manager, said: “The single casks that we bottle give us a wide, ever-changing variety of flavours to play with. Experimenting  with these rare whiskies alongside the wild game sourced by The Wild Game Co. has resulted in some fascinating flavour pairings.” 

Andy Waugh, founder of The Wild Game Co., said: “When it comes to game, our aim is to take people on journey of discovery so they can explore these seasonal meats, which are so often overlooked yet so available on our doorsteps. There’s not a better time than now to eat game, as it’s just come into season and pairing wild game with different types of whisky offers a whole new flavour experience.” 

The Glorious 12 Whisky & Game Bar, Studio 2, 31 New Inn Yard, Shoreditch, London, EC2A 3EY – Thursday 11th September – Saturday 13th September 

Tickets/more information:

www.smws.co.uk/glorious12 

£29 – ticket price includes hosted dining experience, 4 pairings of game and whisky and a guest talk. Only ticket buyers have access to the full menu of 12 whisky and game pairings. 

The bar is also open to walk-ins who can order a limited selection of Society drams and game tapas from the bar. 

Twitter:

@SMWSUK #Glorious12 

Guest events:

Wednesday 10th September – Media launch night SMWS Brand Ambassador Annabel Meikle and Wild Game Co. founder Andy Waugh co-host media for supper and provide an insight into whisky and game pairings 

Thursday 11th September – Foraging flavours with Thom Hunt The founder of wild adventure company, 7th Rise, Thom Hunt, will guide guests through foraging in the wild, showing how to find the best of the countryside’s hidden treasures 

Friday 12th September – Game butchery with Thom Hunt Learn the basics of butchering game, including small birds and rabbits. Thom Hunt will detail the basics of skinning and butchering small game with a live demonstration, highlighting the best cuts and describing some of his favourite recipes 

Saturday 13th September – DIY meat smoking with Ru Emslie Game specialist Ru Emslie talks guests through how to smoke meat and fish at home. The talk includes how to make your own meat smoker as well as the best ways to create delicious wood-smoked game at home.

HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES SET TO RELEASE ELIJAH CRAIG 23-YEAR-OLD SINGLE BARREL BOURBON TO SELECT MARKETS NATIONALLY 

Rare ultra-premium bottling is successor to 21-Year-Old Elijah Craig Single Barrel 

BARDSTOWN, KY—Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the country’s largest independent family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer, announces a new limited edition release of Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. Heaven Hill, who holds the world’s second largest inventory of Bourbon and the most “extra-aged” barrels of any distillery in its rickhouses, began shipping the rarity into selected markets across the country in mid-August and it will hit retail shelves in August and September. The new bottling follows up on the success of the sold-out Elijah Craig 20-Year-Old Single Barrel, released in the Spring of 2012 and named “American Whiskey of the Year” by Whisky Advocate magazine, and the Elijah Craig 21- Year-Old, released last Fall and designated “Excellent/Highly Recommended” at the 2013 Ultimate Spirits Challenge. The new 23-Year-Old bottling will carry an average retail price of $199.99 for the 750ml size, and like last year’s 21-Year-Old will be in limited distribution in top metro markets. 

The Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old Single Barrel shares much of its packaging with its predecessor, including the familiar flask shaped Elijah Craig Single Barrel 750ml bottle and cork closure with a marbled capsule. Instead of the blue label of the 21-Year-Old, this year’s 23-Year-Old will have a green label, with the 23 year age statement prominently featured in reverse white and gold type in the center. As with all previous editions of Elijah Craig Single Barrel, there will be space on the back label where the specific barrel number and “barreled on” date will be hand written. The new Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old will be available in a three bottle case of 750ml bottles, at its traditional 90 proof (45% alcohol by volume) strength. 

At 23 years of age—quite advanced for a Bourbon, which of course must by law age in a new charred white oak barrel—barrel selection becomes of tantamount importance. Barrels that age for that long on the highest floors of the rickhouse, where temperature extremes are greatest, can become too woody or tannic. The barrels for Elijah Craig 23-Year-Old Single Barrel are drawn from the middle floors of the rickhouses, where the effects of long aging are mitigated by the more moderate temperature fluctuations. This careful barrel selection, drawn from Heaven Hill’s inventory of over one million aging barrels, means the whiskey offers depth and complexity but still perfectly maintains the delicate balance between barrel and distillate. 

“All of the extra-aged limited edition American Whiskeys we have released, including the previous Elijah Craig Single Barrels as well as our Parker’s Heritage Collection and the Rittenhouse 21, 23 and 25-Year-Old, have quickly sold through to the connoisseur markets,” noted Heaven Hill Senior Brand Manager Susan Wahl. “This release, like the 21-Year-Old and 20-Year-Old Single Barrels that preceded it, will take the consumer on a tasting journey of discovery that will motivate them to move up the line, from the more widely available 12-Year-Old Elijah Craig Small Batch, to Elijah Craig Barrel Proof and on through these more aged, rarer bottlings.” 

Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Larceny , Elijah Craig and Henry McKenna Bourbons, Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila; Cinerator Hot Cinnamon Flavored Whiskey and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky. Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

Diageo Breaks Ground on New $115 Million Kentucky Distillery – The Bulleit Distilling Co.

Largest Beverage Distillery West of the Mississippi announced  

BUTTE, Mont (August 14, 2014)—Montana’s Entrepreneurs of the Year 2013, and owners of Headframe Spirits, John and Courtney McKee opened Headframe Spirits in 2012, currently they operate two distilleries in Butte, MT, and are now announcing plans to open a third facility in Butte with the capacity to rival that of large distilleries in Kentucky and Indiana. 

Last summer, Headframe Spirits entered into a year long project with Butte Silver Bow Community Development, the Community Development Block Program, and SMA Architects to evaluate three potential sites in Butte suitable for our needs of producing a full size barrel of whiskey every seven minutes.  Although a value added agricultural manufacturing facility, the goal of site selection included the need to create ties between agriculture, history, manufacturing, and tourism. 

With preliminary engineering and architectural work complete and a suitable site selected, Headframe intends to enter into negotiations with property owners – Butte Silver Bow County and Atlantic Richfield Company with the goal to take over 20 acres of a former industrial site, The Kelley Mine Yard, to redevelop it into the largest distillery west of the Mississippi.  

This project incorporates Headframe Spirits’ proprietary continuous flow distillation technology to produce beverage alcohol both for Headframe Spirits’ own brands and for bulk sale into the beverage alcohol industry as well.  

All attempts will be made to maintain the history of the site, with production and restaurant space located in the historic hoist house.  Barrel storage, packaging, shipping and receiving will be located in the 54,000 square feet Kelley garage building. 

We also envision this site built out to act as an eastern anchor to Historic Uptown Butte, America, with a strong emphasis on tourism, outdoor event space, and economic development for our place in the world.  Onsite overnight bungalows and the restaurant were incorporated into the master plan in order to promote a more fully integrated experience onsite and in the Uptown. 

Headframe Spirits anticipates that this project will create approximately 50 new long-term jobs through this venture and ownership will be maintained in Butte.  

For additional information, please contact Headframe Spirits at  www.headframespirits.com. 

About Headframe Spirits

Montana’s Entrepreneurs of the Year, and owners of Headframe Spirits, John and Courtney McKee, are active participants of economic development in Butte, and hold great responsibility in giving back to their community. Four years ago they started their business and named it Headframe Spirits in honor of Butte’s historical past.  They now operate two distilleries in Butte, Montana with plans to break ground on the third in 2015, making Headframe the largest distillery west of the Mississippi and providing hundreds of job opportunities to the Butte community.  For more information, please visit www.headframespirits.com.

THREE BOURBONS FROM BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY WIN MEDALS AT 2014 INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION 

BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (August 21, 2014) –The results from the 2014 International Wine & Spirits Competition have been announced and three of Barton 1792 Distillery’s bourbons have won medals.

Kentucky Tavern, Zackariah Harris and 1792 Ridgemont Reserve bourbons each won silver medals in this year’s competition.

“We are pleased that each of the bourbons we entered received such a consistent evaluation by the judges,” Ken Pierce, director of distillation and quality assurance, said. “We are excited and honored by these wins.”

The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs.

All entries are first blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary, by professional expert judges (by glass, not bottle) and then the top products are sent for detailed (chemical and microbiological) analysis. This analysis is crucial as in some instances the results of this analysis may lead to marks being deducted or even outright rejection.

Learn more at http://www.iwsc.net/. 

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, a 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 Ridgemont Reserve 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/.

Whisky firms eyes expansion with support from Clydesdale Bank

Independent Scotch whisky firm JG Distillers Ltd is targeting increased growth with support from Clydesdale Bank.

The whisky blender, bottler and exporter, which trades through its wholly owned subsidiary Campbell Meyer and Co, Ltd is investing in new stock after obtaining significant funding from Clydesdale Bank’s West of Scotland Business and Private Banking Centre in Glasgow. The bespoke package includes a revolving credit facility together with general day to day banking support.

Founded in 1991 by Colin Barclay the JG Distillers Group employs 40 staff at its bonded warehouse facility in East Kilbride. The business exports a range of single malt, blended malt and blended Scotch whisky to over 40 overseas markets, including its best-selling blended Scotch whisky brands Barclays, Highland Chief and McIvor. It also supplies a range of Hart Brothers single malts featuring whisky from some of Scotland’s most acclaimed distilleries including world famous Islay distillery Ardbeg.

According to figures published by the Scotch Whisky Association in April of this year, Scotch whisky exports increased by 3% last year and were worth £4.3bn to the UK economy. The fastest growing markets were the US, India and Brazil.

Gerry McSherry, group managing director, said: “Scotch whisky continues to be one of the UK’s major export success stories, accounting for 85% of Scottish food and drink exports and nearly a quarter of the British total.”

“As demand continues to grow overseas we aim to develop new markets and expand within existing markets. Campbell Meyer is currently seeing strongest demand in the US, the Middle East and Latin America, but we supply to many more markets around the world.

“Maintaining our maturing stock portfolio is crucial to building on our success. We are delighted that Clydesdale Bank’s knowledgeable team took time to fully understand the very specific dynamics of our business and tailored a bespoke funding package that will support our growth ambitions over the years to come. The revolving credit facility gives the group medium term funding which marries well with the aging process and forward commitments required to maintain and grow our inventory.”

Neil Berry, West of Scotland Business Development Manager at Clydesdale Bank, said: “We are proud to support JG Distillers Ltd, a thriving, independent Scotch whisky group supplying blended whiskies and malts from its bonded warehouse in East Kilbride to countries all over the world.

“The company’s success is a testament to the experience, drive and expertise shown by Gerry and his team. With a track record of growing exports in key markets such as the US they are in a fantastic position to expand and develop new markets.

“We look forward to working in partnership with JG Distillers and helping the group to achieve their substantial growth plans.”

Notes

Clydesdale Bank:

Clydesdale Bank is part of the National Australia Bank Group. Clydesdale Bank was established in 1838 in Glasgow and, as one of Scotland’s largest banks, has a proud history of innovation and support for industry and communities across the UK.

BURSARY FROM THREE SHIPS WHISKY TO SUPPORT CULINARY STUDENT 

Three Ships Whisky has awarded a bursary to Thabang Motaung, a promising student at the HTA School of Culinary Art in Randburg, at a dinner held at the school last night (14 August). The bursary will provide Thabang with much needed financial support to complete his studies for the Diploma in Professional Cookery by 2016.  

Thabang, 21 years old and from the East Rand, is dreaming about working on cruise liners to see the world. And at some point in his career he wants to find himself working alongside executive chef David Higgs at the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg. 

He started his course at HTA in March this year and was selected as the Three Ships bursary recipient for his dedication, hard work, and willingness to learn and succeed.  Thabang left school at the end of Grade 10 and includes finishing his matric as one of his goals. 

Both Thabang’s parents passed away when he was fairly young and it was his aunt Corinne that fostered his dream of becoming a chef. “I used to help my aunt preparing Sunday lunches and she shared her recipes with me, showed me how to cook a variety of dishes and stimulated my enjoyment of food and cooking. 

“Since enrolling at HTA I’ve realised just how much detail and perfection is required in preparing a meal. I have found making a sauce to complement a dish is not quite as easy as it seems and I’m working hard at perfecting the skill.” 

Thabang enjoys cooking with beef fillet, onions for their versatility, and pineapple, his favourite fruit. As part of his course he is exposed to new techniques and cooking styles from around the world, yet South African dishes interest him the most. “There are so many local ingredients from which to create unique dishes and so many traditional methods of preparing food. I would love to discover how to incorporate these in my own style of cooking.”  

Three Ships Whisky brand manager Hayley Read said this was the first year the bursary was being awarded. “We’ve been involved with HTA for a number of years now and discovered there was a real need for financial assistance for students with limited means. The bursary is our way of providing such assistance. 

“Three Ships Whisky has pioneered many firsts for the country, including being named the World’s Best Blended Whisky at the 2012 World Whisky Awards. We therefore find it only fitting to share our success with someone who has great aspirations. A little financial help goes a long way and we wish Thabang all the best in realising his dreams.” 

According to Stephen Billingham, director of HTA and president of the South African Chefs Association, Thabang is very deserving of the bursary. 

“He is eager, hard-working and determined to succeed.  I’m delighted by his strong interest in all aspects of our South African cuisine as well as the industry as such. It’s important for young chefs to realise that being part of the industry is to grow local cuisine and also to support and nurture the greater community, something for which Thabang has a natural affinity.” 

Three Ships Whisky and the HTA have for the past few years hosted a series of Gourmet Discovery dinners initiated and prepared by Executive Chef and Manager of the South African National Culinary Team, Heinz Brunner. As part of the series, the team raised funds last year for the World Chefs Tour against Hunger which saw six chefs, including Heinz, climbing Kilimanjaro to raise R280 000 to feed 7000 children daily in nine provinces. 

The HTA was established in 1996 and offers courses providing grounding in all the disciplines of the kitchen. Some of the countries’ finest chefs launched their careers here. 

Photo Caption:

(Social images left to right)

 Three Ships HTA

Stephen Billingham (HTA), Thabang Motaung (bursary recipient), Hayley Read (Three Ships Whisky) Heinz Brunner (HTA) and Mpo Morudu (Three Ships Whisky)

BOWMORE’S MUCH ANTICIPATED LIMITED EDITION, DEVILS CASKS, RELEASES SECOND EDITION

The global hysteria of Bowmore’s Devils Casks is back with the second release in the series 

Bowmore , Islay’s first distillery, is proud to announce the  second release in its sell-out Devil’s Casks series.  

Matured exclusively – and unusually – in the finest first fill sherry casks, the second small batch release of Devil’s Casks is still mischievous. Having mellowed under a cloak of smooth velvet and sublime sherry cask indulgence, it reveals even more of Bowmore’s devilish dark side. This small batch release is, quite simply, devilishly good! The expression gets its name from a legend nearly as old as the distillery itself. It was claimed that the Devil was once spotted and chased through the town, eventually hiding away in the distillery. After searching, the Devil was nowhere to be seen, having made his escape in a whisky barrel. 

Rachel Barrie, Master Blender, Morrison Bowmore Distillers, said:

“The first edition of this expression was one of the most sought after whiskies of 2013. This second small batch release will no doubt emulate that success thanks to its devilishly tasty dark side, in debt to the first-fill sherry casks it has been carefully mellowed in.” 

Product details:

RRP: £60.00

Retailing: Available at specialist whisky retailers globally

Tasting notes:

Colour: Deep mahogany

Nose: Breathe in rich sherried sweetness with dates and sultanas smothered in the indulgence of treacle toffee, pecan and maple syrup.

Taste: Sip the sublime velvet taste of dark chocolate fudge infused with sherried dark fruit, sea-salt and walnut oil.

Finish: Savour the long-lasting finish with sun-dried raisins and salted treacle.

NOTES

Bowmore

The best-balanced Islay Single Malt whisky is the perfect reward after your outdoor experience. Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldest Distillery on Islay, one of the Scottish isles, which make up the region known as the ‘Islands’ in the lexicon of Whisky. The other regions are the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands. Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore is no exception; we carefully smoke our malt and use skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

Bowmore’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of our Single Malts. We’re one of only a few distilleries anywhere which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery. For our whiskies we draw water from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones, and it’s the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.

Bowmore Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of our spirit. The legendary Bowmore No. 1 Vaults is where most of our whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the Vault’s sea-facing wall.

They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavours.

It’s this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore Single Malt Whiskies.

The Bowmore domestic product range:

• Bowmore Small Batch

• Bowmore 12 Years Old

• Bowmore 15 Years Old ‘Darkest’

• Bowmore 18 Years Old

• Bowmore 25 Years Old

Islay

Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, and is also known as “The Queen of the Hebrides.” Its mild climate and rich peaty soil make it ideal for creating whisky, and despite having a population of not much more than 3,000, it’s home to no fewer than eight distilleries.

JAPANESE WHISKY A SELLOUT AT BONHAMS

HONG KONG AUCTION

A bottle of Yamazaki-50 year old fetches HK$257,250

Bonhams Hong Kong continues to take the lead in the sale of rare single malt whiskies in the city with a successful auction of Japanese and Rare Whisky on 15 August.  The 200 lots of Japanese whisky on offer were snapped up with great gusto, resulting in a sellout with every single lot sold. The whisky sale, which also included 64 lots of Scottish single malts, totaled HK$6,564,898, with an overall 97% of the lots sold.

Spirited bidding among the whisky aficionados in the packed saleroom and online drove the prices of their favourite malts above their presale estimates, proving that the demand for rare single malt whiskies and in particular Japanese ones remain at an all time high.  As expected, the highly collectible Yamazaki-50 year old, one of the rarest and oldest Japanese single malt whiskies of all time and the true connoisseur’s dream, fetched HK$257,250, 70% above the presale low estimate of HK$150,000.

Other prized Japanese whisky scored equally well, with Hanyu Ichiro’s Playing Card series from the silent distillery also achieving prices above presale estimates. A set of ‘Royal Flush’ featuring Ace of Clubs, Two of Clubs, Three of Clubs, Four of Clubs and Five of Clubs sold for HK$159,250.  While the set of ‘Six Full House’ consisting of Six of Hearts, Six of Diamonds, Six of Spades, Five of Hearts and Five of Diamonds achieved HK$100,450.

Collectables from Karuizawa, another renowned Japanese silent distillery, attracted their equal share of bidders.  Leading the pack were the Karuizawa命之水 black and white series which sold for HK$116,375 and the extremely rare Karuizawa-1965-21 year old in a crystal decanter which fetched HK$104,125.

The most coveted Scottish single malt remains the Macallan.  The top lot of the sale went to a bottle of Macallan 55 Year Old limited edition in a Lalique crystal decanter which achieved HK$294,000 after intense bidding.

Also hotly contested were the extremely rare Macallan 1948 – 51 year old and the Macallan 1951 which sold for HK$153,125 and HK$147,000 respectively.

Not one to rest on its laurels, the Bonhams Hong Kong wine department is actively seeking consignments for the next Fine and Rare Wines, Cognac and Single Malt Whisky Auction to be held on 18 November. Consignments will close on 30 September. More liquid treasures will go to block at the next sale to quench the thirst among collectors for the finest wines, spirits and the ‘water of life’. 

Notes

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is the world’s third largest international auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 27 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to http://www.bonhams.com/.