Malt Maniacs Awards 2014 – The Winners

This year (2014) sees the 12th edition of The Malt Maniacs Awards and once again we’ve seen some very strong competition throughout the three different categories for those prestigious awards. Our three categories are based on high street price and are as follows:

Daily Drams – Whiskies with a retail price up to €50

Premium Whiskies – Whiskies with a retail price between €51 and €150

Ultra Premium Whiskies – Whiskies with a retail price over €150

Within each category we offer five Awards; Supreme Winner, Best Sherried Whisky, Best Peated Whisky, Best Natural Cask Whisky and a “Thumbs Up” Award for a whisky we believe deserves a special mention. The competition is judged 100% blind, using only numbered samples and also judged only by a panel of our amateur members.

So, without further ado here are our deserving award winners for 2014:

Supreme Champion (Winner of Winners) Kavalan Solist (OB), Sherry Cask No. S060904031

Scoring an average 92 points across all our judges

Daily Drams category

Supreme Winner – Blackadder ‘Smoking Islay’ Cask No. BA2013/451

Best Sherried Whisky – Nantou Cask No.852

Best Peated Whisky – Blackadder ‘Smoking Islay’ Cask No. BA2013/452

Best Natural Cask Whisky – Boutique-y Whisky Company Inchmurrin

Thumbs Up – Lagavulin 16y – A Classic in excellent shape for 2014

Premium Whiskies category

Supreme Winner – Kavalan Solist (OB), Sherry Cask No. S060904031

Best Sherried Whisky – Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask No. S060821047 (OB for LMDW)

Best Peated Whisky – Kavalan Distillery Reserve “Peaty Cask”

Best Natural Cask Whisky – Blackadder “Raw Cask” Bowmore 13y

Thumbs Up – Adelphi Glenrothes 7y Cask No.3529 – So young but already so good

Ultra Premium category

Supreme Winner – Yoichi 21y Heavily Peated Madeira Finish Cask No. 129459

Best Sherried Whisky – Glen Grant 59y “Book of Kells” Cask No.845 (G&M for LMDW)

Best Peated Whisky – Benriach Tawny Port Finish Cask No.451

Best Natural Cask Whisky –Karuizawa 34y Ex-Bourbon Cask No.6476 (No.1 Drinks for LMDW)

Thumbs Up – Glengoyne 25y (OB) – Only standard distillery bottling in the top ranks

In addition to our Awards we recognize quality with our Medals based upon the average attained scores across all our judges, with our coveted Gold Medals being given to any whisky achieving an average of 90 points or more.

This year four whiskies have won our coveted Gold Medals and they are:

Kavalan Solist (OB), Sherry Cask No. S060904031 92pts (91.89)

Kavalan Solist Sherry Cask No. S060821047 (OB for LMDW) 91pts (90.89)

Yoichi 21y Heavily Peated Madeira Finish Cask No. 129459 91pts (90.75)

Glen Grant 59y “Book of Kells” Cask No.845 (G&M for LMDW) 90pts (90.33)

Full details and scores for MMA 2014 can be found on the Malt Maniacs website http://www.maltmaniacs.net/ and also our Malt Maniacs & Friends (MM&F) facebook page 

PALM BAY INTERNATIONAL AND WEMYSS MALTS FROM SCOTLAND ANNOUNCE NEW IMPORT AGREEMENT IN U.S. MARKET  

December 3, 2014 – Leading wine & spirits importer Palm Bay International has been appointed exclusive U.S. importer for artisanal spirits producer Wemyss Malts. Based in Scotland, the Wemyss Malt spirits offerings include Wemyss Malts and Darnley’s View London Dry Gin.

The team at Wemyss Malts believes that much of the malt whisky terminology can be difficult to decipher, even for a knowledgeable consumer.  The expressions from the Wemyss Malt whisky range are boldly named using the aromas and tastes of the whiskys to uniquely identify each bottling. Wemyss Malts whisky range includes blended malts such as Peat Chimney, The Hive and Spice King. Additional U.S. exclusives include the Single Cask and Single Malt bottlings of Heathery Smoke and Winter Larder.

Darnley’s View London Dry Gin celebrates the meeting of Mary Queen of Scots and her husband Lord Darnley at the family seat of Wemyss Castle in 1565. The London Dry gin has six key botanicals, including juniper, elderflower, orris root, coriander, angelica and lemon peel. The elderflower, which grows at the Castle, inspired the choice of botanicals for this London Dry Gin.

William Wemyss, Founder and Managing Director of Wemyss Malts, commented; “The U.S. is extremely important for us due to the rising interest in craft spirits, and we’re delighted to announce our agreement with Palm Bay International. Palm Bay® will bring us additional coverage in this market and we look forward to growing with them as they increase focus on craft imported spirits.”

Palm Bay International will import the following expressions from the Wemyss Malts portfolio. Prices noted are approximate suggested retail per 750ml:

• Blended Malts: Peat Chimney, Spice King & The Hive: 12 year ($74.00) & 8 year ($45.99)
• Single Malts: Picnic in the Park ($115.00), A Day at the Coast ($115.00), Smoke on the Rocks ($135.00), Winter Larder ($135.00), Matter of Smoke ($138.00), Beachcomber ($138.00), The Dunes ($189.00), Heathery Smoke ($249.00)
• Gin: Darnley’s View London Dry Gin ($32.99)
• Malts available in the following states: NY, NJ, CT, MA, CA, WA, PA, NH
• Darnley’s View available in the following states: WA, MD, DC, NJ, NY, TX, OR, FL, GA, MA, NV, CA, MO, CT 

About Wemyss Malts

The Wemyss (pronounced ‘weems’) family seat is Wemyss Castle in Fife where they have lived since the 1300s.  The family’s connection with the whisky industry dates back to the turn of the 19th century when John Haig’s first distillery was built on family land. Even today, barley from their estate in Fife is grown for many of Scotland’s leading distilleries.  The Wemyss Malts whisky and gin portfolio is available in over 20 markets worldwide. The Wemyss family built a new single malt distillery in Fife at Kingsbarns which opened on December 1st 2014.

About Palm Bay International

Palm Bay International, a dynamic family-owned company offers one of the nation’s most comprehensive portfolios of imported wines and spirits, including over 50 suppliers from around the globe. Among Palm Bay International’s most valued assets is its remarkable network of long-term partnerships with the foremost wholesale companies in all 50 states, as well as Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. With the crucial collaboration of these partners, Palm Bay International’s portfolio is able to meet the needs of every level of the industry, from independent restaurants and retail stores, to chain accounts, supermarkets, hotels, airlines, cruise ships, duty-free accounts and U.S. military bases. This impressive roster of brands, accounts and relationships positions Palm Bay® as a major source of fine wines and spirits and an industry leader in the U.S. marketplace. For more visit http://www.palmbay.com/.

IMPRESS WITH A BAIN’S CAPE MOUNTAIN WHISKY GIFT PACK THIS FESTIVE SEASON

Whether you’re looking for a gift for your boss, best friend, your dad or simply to thank the hosts at a Christmas dinner, the proudly South African Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky gift set won’t fail to impress.

Awarded the title of the World’s Best Grain Whisky at the 2013 World Whisky Awards, the whisky in addition also took gold for the fifth consecutive year at the 2014 International Spirits Challenge held in London recently.

The gift sets are all unique and together with a bottle of Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky range from glassware to ice buckets, water carafes and ice rocks, beautifully packaged in a bespoke box.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is made from only three natural ingredients – water, yeast and grain – and owes its exceptional smoothness and distinctive flavour profile to the double maturation process in carefully selected oak barrels previously used for maturing bourbon. It spends three years maturing in these barrels whereafter it is transferred to a fresh set of ex-bourbon barrels in order to extract the maximum flavour from the wood. Regular tastings by the master distiller and his team ensure the maturation produces the desired quality and style.

The result is a delicious combination of floral, banana, honey, toasted hazelnuts and toffee aromas and by adding a splash of water the whisky opens up to include wood, vanilla and spice. Beautifully balanced vanilla, cocoa butter and light spices from the oak casks lead to a warm mouth-feel and long, smooth finish.

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is distilled and matured at The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington in the Boland and is inspired by the natural beauty of the Bain’s Kloof Pass. The whisky is crafted from the finest South African grain and pays tribute to Andrew Geddes Bain, the pioneer road builder who built Bain’s Kloof Pass in 1853 to connect Wellington to the interior.

The Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky gift sets are available from leading liquor outlets and retails for about R199.

Chivas 18 Showcases its Spirit of Generosity with New Print Campaign

Chivas 18, one of the world’s leading ultra-premium Scotch whiskies, has unveiled a new global and visually impactful print advertising campaign, “generosity in every drop”, to drive awareness of the expression among modern gentlemen and support its position in the increasingly competitive luxury category.

The striking campaign features Chivas 18 elevated amongst a scene of falling crystal droplets that encapsulate a selection of the blend’s 85 tasting notes and represents an evolution from the brand’s former successful advertising platform, “every taste a new experience”.

The campaign takes inspiration from the brand’s recent collaborations with Pininfarina, the prestigious Italian design company, who created a patented ‘droplet’ shape for the whisky blend that led to the successful launch of three limited editions in 2013 and more recently the delivery of luxury experiences in the on and off trade through ice making tools, which recently launched in November 2014.

To create the adverts, Chivas 18 has worked with a selection of leading craftsmen who embody the brand’s spirit of generosity, brotherhood and luxury. Peter Layton, designer of the crystal droplets depicted, is one of the world’s most widely respected glass artists. He has influenced and nurtured international leading glassmakers and continues to support his professional community by running his studio as a collective at which his peers are free to use the kilns to develop their skills. Popular food stylist Peter Smith and Dan Tobin Smith, a globally acclaimed and contemporary photographer who has shot for Dior and Alexander McQueen, have also collaborated closely to produce this modern campaign.

Richard Black, Global Brand Director for Chivas Regal, comments: “We are thrilled to be launching this campaign, which is not only visually beautiful and contemporary, but will also further support our position in the ultra-premium category by conveying our values of generosity and luxury. Chivas 18 is an award-winning whisky created by Chivas Regal Master Blender Colin Scott, who has crafted our exceptional Scotch blends for over 24 years, and we are certain that the new creative will raise awareness of the expression’s complex and sophisticated flavour profile among whisky enthusiasts and modern gentlemen.”

In support of the campaign, Chivas Regal has created a series of photographs and videos showcasing the creation process of the advert that can be downloaded/watched at http://youtu.be/mPhCupRzgr8 and http://youtu.be/5x4VWJktfEs

The advertising campaign comes in a dynamic year for Chivas Regal, which has seen the brand launch ‘The Venture’, a global competition to win up to $1m funds for promising social entrepreneurs that use enterprise and innovation as a force for good, and the Chivas Masters, a successful global cocktail competition that celebrates the skill of the master bartender.

Booker’s® Bourbon Roundtable Selects Their Final Batch Of 2014

Whiskey Experts Take Part in Beam Family Tradition with Master Distiller Fred Noe

Clermont, KY (November 25, 2014) – Booker’s® Bourbon announces the release of Batch No. 2014-6, hand-selected by Fred Noe, Beam’s 7th Generation Master Distiller, and the “Booker’s Bourbon Roundtable” of whiskey writers and experts. Batch No. 2014-6 was selected by secret ballot vote at the Noe family home in Bardstown, Kentucky where the brand’s namesake, Booker Noe, tasted each new batch of Booker’s Bourbon with friends and family.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the uncut, unfiltered bourbon, the Booker’s Bourbon Roundtable paid homage to Booker’s tasting tradition of gathering personal friends around his kitchen table to choose the next batch. This selection marked the first time the Roundtable came together for a live, in-person tasting; they had previously selected all batches through virtual tastings.

“We brought the group to Kentucky to select their last batch of the year in the best way we knew how – by getting together at my dad’s house to taste his favorite bourbon,” said Fred Noe. “Booker’s was founded on my dad’s love for great bourbon, so by bringing the Roundtable together at his house, we were able to keep his tasting traditions alive.”

The Roundtable panelists – an exclusive group consisting of top whiskey experts, enthusiasts and writers – who hand-selected Batch No. 2014-6 with Fred Noe and Booker’s grandson, Freddie Noe, included the following members:

• Chuck Cowdery, Blogger and Author of “Bourbon, Strange: Surprising Stories of American Whiskey”
• John McCarthy, Spirits Writer and Senior Managing Editor of Men’s Health Magazine
• Jack Robertiello, Spirits Writer and Judge
• Tony Sachs, Spirits Writer and Huffington Post Blogger
• Fred Minnick, Spirits Writer, Judge, and Author of “Whiskey Women: The Untold Story of How Women Saved Bourbon, Scotch, and Irish Whiskey”

Currently available nationwide, Booker’s® Bourbon Batch No. 2014-6, the second to last batch of 2014 and the Roundtable’s last selection this year, was chosen based on the following characteristics:

• Proof: 127.7
• Age: 7 years, 2 months and 2 weeks
• Nose: Vanilla with some toasted nuts
• Finish: Long, smooth finish

About Booker’s® Bourbon

Booker’s® Bourbon was inspired by a 200-year-old family tradition and came to life when Booker Noe selected the first bottles of Booker’s as holiday gifts for his friends and family. With its instant popularity within Noe’s close circle, Booker’s Bourbon was soon after bottled and made available on shelves for everyone to enjoy. Booker’s Bourbon is one of the only bourbons bottled straight-from-the-barrel, uncut and unfiltered, and bottled at its natural proof, which varies from batch to batch. Crafted in small batches and aged for six to eight years in charred oak barrels, which are stored in the center of the rack house, Booker’s Bourbon is hand-selected barrel-by-barrel by Fred Noe to ensure every bottle contains a robust, full-bodied whiskey that has a taste, aroma and proof that matches Booker’s whiskey preference.

For more information on Booker’s Bourbon, visit: http://smallbatch.com/bookers.

About Beam Suntory Inc.

As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the flagship Jim Beam bourbon and Yamazaki Japanese whisky, as well as world renowned premium brands including Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Pinnacle vodka, and Midori liqueur.  The company generates annual worldwide sales exceeding $4 billion excluding excise taxes.

Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and entrepreneurial culture.  Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Sipping Suggestions: With ice or cut with water

WhiskyBrother brings in 400 bottles of rare premium selected whisky from a single cask 

WhiskyBrother, an iconic speciality whisky store in Hyde Park (Johannesburg, South Africa) is delighted to announce the arrival of a new whisky bottled from a single cask.  The cask in question was personally selected by well-known whisky enthusiast and founder of the store, Marc Pendlebury, chosen on behalf of the store, and was bottled exclusively for WhiskyBrother.

Earlier this year Pendlebury travelled to Scotland to fulfil his dream of selecting a whisky directly for the cask to be bottled for WhiskyBrother, a dream that far preceded his plan to open a whisky shop.  On a cold Monday in February just outside the quaint town of Pitlochry, an afternoon was spent tasting various single malts from across Scotland in the maturation warehouse of the independent bottler, Signatory.

The benefit of an independent bottler is the huge selection and variety of whisky that they can offer.  It is often a misconception that independent bottlers produce whisky.  Independent bottlers buy casks from distilleries across Scotland and in some cases around the world, and bottle it under their own label.  They are also not restricted to a core range, style or age.  Pendlebury explains that, “every release is different, and the whisky selected solely on its merits and interest factor.  The practise dates back centuries and independent bottlers are an integral part of the whisky world, although not widely known by South African whisky drinkers”

Out of the several whiskies that were tasted at the independent bottler, three samples were brought back to South Africa for final selection.  “The winning cask was chosen solely on the whisky we thought was best, we didn’t concern ourselves with which distillery it came from or how old it was,” explains Pendlebury.

The selected cask which was distilled on the 28^th of August 1998 and bottled on the 24^th of March 2014, has finally arrived.  “It is interesting, is a cask strength, limited, individually numbered, presented in a beautiful bottle, very well priced for what it is, tastes brilliant (in our humble yet experienced opinion) and best of all, we get to share it with our fellow South African whisky enthusiasts,” says Pendlebury.

“It is a rare experience to try a single cask 15 year old Glenlivet whisky, particularly one that was matured in a 500 litre butt, which previously contained Oloroso sherry.  The unique aspect is that the wood absorbs the flavours from the sherry, which are then subsequently imparted into the whisky contributing to its full-bodied profile,” explains Pendlebury.  The 500 litre cask yielded exactly 419 bottles, evidence of the angel’s share and leakage over the casks lifetime.

The bottle which has a cask strength of 54.8%, is particularly special because the vast majority of whisky in South Africa is bottled at an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 43%. It is felt that a cask strength whisky is in a more natural state and has a richer flavour, making this a preferred option amongst serious whisky enthusiasts. “Most whisky drinkers do not want such a high alcohol content as it can be challenging to drink.  The term ‘cask strength’ on the bottle means that the whisky has not been diluted, and has been bottled at the same strength it was when lying in the cask just before being bottled,” advises Pendlebury.

This 15 year old independent Glenlevit, Speyside single malt whisky is unchill-filtered and naturally coloured; it meets all the right criteria for a full-bodied, memorable experience.  “One can expect juicy plums and apricots, with chocolate and pipe tobacco.  Plenty of rich spice, sherry-soaked fruits, vanilla and coco, with a hint of oak, Pendlebury concludes.  The limited supply is now exclusively available at WhiskyBrother and retails at special launch price of R1,300 incl. VAT. 

About the WhiskyBrother store:

For years WhiskyBrother was just a blog started by Marc, until 2 years ago when he decide to take the plunge and extended his passion for all things whisky to open a boutique whisky store, WhiskyBrother. Situated in Hyde Park Corner shopping centre in Johannesburg, the store stocks whiskies from around the world, as well as related paraphernalia such as whisky glassware, books and magazines. Holding more than 300 different whiskies, with new stock coming and going on a monthly basis. Its aim is to be a focal point in the South African whisky community: a place to taste and explore all things whisky, no matter the knowledge or experience of the drinker.

WhiskyBrother, Hyde Park Corner, Shop number 16 D

Website:     www.whiskybrother.com

Blog:            www.blog.whiskybrother.com

Twitter:      @WhiskyBroShop

JOHNNIE WALKER® SCOTCH WHISKY TO GIVE 250,000 KILOMETRES OF SAFE RIDES HOME ACROSS THE WORLD AS PART OF FESTIVE RESPONSIBLE DRINKING INITIATIVE

Edinburgh, Scotland, 4th December 2014: As part of the JOHNNIE WALKER global responsible drinking programme, Join the Pact, the world’s leading Scotch Whisky1, today said it was giving away 250,000 kilometres of safe rides around the world during the festive season to encourage people not to drink and drive.

In Edinburgh Mika Häkkinen, former Formula 1 driver and JOHNNIE WALKER Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador came together with Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen to help launch the campaign which will run in Edinburgh and in over 60 other cities across the globe.

Join the Pact has already gathered commitments from more than 1.4 million people to never drink and drive and in September, JOHNNIE WALKER announced a goal of securing an additional five million personal pledges over the next four years.

During the festive season JOHNNIE WALKER will help people get home safely through a variety of initiatives with local transport providers. In Edinburgh, JOHNNIE WALKER is partnering with Lothian Buses to provide free bus services for revellers returning home from the city’s Hogmanay event on New Year’s Eve.

Speaking at the launch David Gates, Diageo Global Head of Premium Core Brands, said: “The involvement of JOHNNIE WALKER in Formula 1 through our partnership with McLaren Mercedes has given the brand a credible platform to run a powerful responsible drinking programme that has made real impact on a global scale. This has been ongoing for almost a decade and our recent arrangement with Formula One group to become the Official Whisky of Formula 1 will allow us to expand the programme into new territories.

“Our appeal to Join the Pact to never drink and drive is never more relevant than when millions of people around the world are planning to relax and enjoy the holiday festivities. Through activations of the programme in over 60 cities over the next few weeks, we hope to provide in the region of 250,000 kilometres of safe rides home.

“At Diageo, we take our commitment to the promotion of responsible drinking very seriously.  We really hope that everyone joins the Pact and makes that public commitment this festive season.”

In a joint message issued from today’s event, JOHNNIE WALKER Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador Mika Häkkinen along with Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen said: “We each know that driving a Formula 1 car is about staying in control, all of the time. Join the Pact is a commitment to staying in control and putting the safety of yourself, your passengers and other people ahead of everything else. It’s a choice that guarantees that everyone can enjoy their festivities and get home safely – we appeal to you to make that choice and Join the Pact to never drink and drive.”

During the launch event the three drivers demonstrated their control skills and provided rides in Edinburgh city centre to competition winners, media and special guests in a JOHNNIE WALKER branded Caparo T1 supercar and two McLaren MP4-650S sports cars.

Over the festive season consumers can make their pledge to never drink and drive by visiting http://www.jointhepact.com/ or by tweeting #GetHomeSafely to @JohnnieWalker_.

1 IWSR (2013)

B-Roll footage of the JOHNNIE WALKER Join the Pact announcement and driving spectacular can be downloaded at https://vimeo.com/album/3159579 from 5pm (GMT). 

IMAGE CAPTIONS:

Johnnie Walker Join the Pact Edinburgh 001 – Former Formula 1 driver and JOHNNIE WALKER Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador, Mika Häkkinen, came together with Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen to help launch a JOHNNIE WALKER responsible drinking initiative for the festive season, to give 250,000 kilometres of safe rides home as part of Join the Pact

Johnnie Walker Join the Pact Edinburgh 002 – Former Formula 1 driver and JOHNNIE WALKER Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador, Mika Häkkinen, Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen are pictured at the launch of the JOHNNIE WALKER responsible drinking campaign which will run in Edinburgh and in over 60 other cities across the globe

Johnnie Walker Join The Pact 003 – Kevin Magnussen pictured driving a McLaren MP4-650S at a JOHNNIE WALKER driving spectacular in Edinburgh as part of the JOHNNIE WALKER responsible drinking campaign to give away 250,000 kilometres of safe rides home around the world during the festive season

Johnnie Walker Join the Pact Edinburgh 004 – Jenson Button pictured driving a McLaren MP4-650S at a JOHNNIE WALKER driving spectacular in Edinburgh as part of the JOHNNIE WALKER responsible drinking campaign to give away 250,000 kilometres of safe rides home around the world during the festive season

Johnnie Walker Join the Pact Edinburgh 005 – Former Formula 1 driver and JOHNNIE WALKER Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador, Mika Häkkinen, came together with Formula 1 drivers Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen to help launch a JOHNNIE WALKER responsible drinking initiative for the festive season, to give 250,000 kilometres of safe rides home as part of Join the Pact

Notes 

JOHNNIE WALKER Join the Pact will deliver 250,000 kilometres of safe rides home in more than 60 cities to include:

• USA – 50+ cities
• Sao Paulo
• Recife
• Santos
• Brasilia
• London
• Manchester
• Leeds
• Edinburgh
• Manila

About Join the Pact

JOHNNIE WALKER places great importance on responsible drinking and tackles this issue through the Join the Pact campaign, with Mika Häkkinen as the Global Responsible Drinking Ambassador. Join the Pact asks consumers everywhere to make a commitment to never drink and drive through signing a pact. Since 2006 Mika has led this call-to-action initiative, which have been activated worldwide, collecting over a million signatures.

Mika has visited over 40 countries on five continents, spoken to countless media, government officials, stakeholders and consumers delivering important messages through unique JOHNNIE WALKER experiences.

About JOHNNIE WALKER

JOHNNIE WALKER is the world¹s leading Blended Scotch Whisky¹. Established in Scotland in 1820, JOHNNIE WALKER became one of the first truly global brands, reaching 120 countries within 100 years of its founding. Today the brand is available in over 180 countries, a tribute to the pioneering vision and ambition of the Walker family which have inspired progress and great achievements for almost two centuries.

Big, bold flavour is at the heart of JOHNNIE WALKER. The range comprises unique blends, each with their own distinct character and history, which are the result of almost 200 years of blending heritage: JOHNNIE WALKER RED LABEL, JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK LABEL, JOHNNIE WALKER DOUBLE BLACK, JOHNNIE WALKER GOLD LABEL RESERVE, JOHNNIE WALKER PLATINUM LABEL AND JOHNNIE WALKER BLUE LABEL. In addition, THE JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION, a range of blends created for global travellers, is available exclusively in travel retail outlets globally.

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 http://www.diageo.com/.  Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, http://www.drinkiq.com/, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

THE ONE WHISKY JOINS ASIAN SPIRIT ELITE 

The ONE whisky, from The Lakes Distillery has been recognised as amongst the best in the world by the prestigious Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition (HKIWSC) which revealed its 2014 winners in November, awarding The ONE a Silver Legend in the Worldwide Whiskey category.

The ONE, the first ever blend of whiskies from around the British Isles, achieved its second silver award within six months after its official launch in September 2013, making 2014 a very exciting year for The Lakes Distillery.

The annual HKIWSC awards are an industry-noted mark of quality and excellence, and provide the Asian market with the ultimate guide to purchasing wine and spirits which are sensitive to the Asian palate and cultural consumption patterns.

Products from nearly 40 countries are entered into the competition with only those of the highest quality receiving recognition. Entries are scored out of 100 and undergo a detailed level of scrutiny including double-blind tastings and technical analysis, which ensures all products are technically sound and will be of the same high quality when they reach the consumer.

Paul Currie, founder and managing director of The Lakes Distillery, said on the win: “These awards set the benchmark for quality and the vast population of consumers in Asia eagerly anticipate the results each year. Consumers view it as the guide to Asian palates and it’s a testament to the exceptional quality of our products that The ONE has been included.

“Our lovingly crafted spirit is now listed alongside the Asian wine and spirit world’s top brands, which is where we feel it deserves to be.”

Production of The Lakes Single Malt, The Lakes Gin and The Lakes Vodka are underway and the distillery is gearing up to open Bistro at The Lakes, distillery tours and the shop to the public in mid-December.

More information about the Lakes Distillery is available at http://www.lakesdistillery.com/e-brochure/

More information abbot The Bistro at The Lakes is available at: www.lakesdistillery.com/en/bistro-and-bar  

Notes: 

The ONE and The Lakes Gin are available to buy online at http://www.lakesdistillery.com/shop/

The Lakes Distillery

Close to Bassenthwaite Lake, in an area of unimaginable beauty encircled by Cumbrian fells, is the perfect home for the first-ever Lakes Distillery.

The experienced team behind the Lakes Distillery, which includes managing director Paul Currie who co founded the Arran Distillery, Master Distiller Chris Anderson with over 30 years’ experience and Alan Rutherford a former Production Director of Diageo, are renovating the historic buildings of an old Victorian Model Farm next to the famous river Derwent and close to Bassenthwaite Lake, with the aim to produce a new world-class single malt whisky.

The water from the famous River Derwent, with its source high up in the fells, a team steeped in whisky experience, and perfect conditions for distilling are set to create a very special malt.

The Lakes Distillery will open to the public mid-December. The Lakes single malt will begin production this summer, and its blended whisky from the British Isles, called The ONE, is available to buy now.

The ONE Whisky

The ONE is the first British blended whisky ever to be produced.  As opposed to blends made only of scotch whiskies, The ONE has been carefully created from whiskies from around the British Isles, leading to a very unique whisky. This is very much an artisan blend – the team in Cumbria has enormous experience in making the very finest whiskies, and their expertise has put together this outstanding blend, which has a lightly peated character.

Blended whiskies are made up of grain and malt whiskies, and it is the quantity of malt whisky in the blend that dictates the quality – so the more malt whisky in the blend, the better the quality. The ONE has a very high malt content and its quality is very much in line with single malt whiskies.

The Connoisseurs’ Club 

The company has launched a  Connoisseurs’ Club, offering the opportunity for just 60 members to own their own very rare cask of The Lakes Malt.

Each cask is estimated to contain more than 100 bottles and members can be there on that historic first day to make the whisky themselves, fill their own Connoisseur’s Cask and see it stored in the distillery warehouse. The Connoisseurs’ Club limited membership costs £12,000, which includes the unique signature cask, exclusive annual events, accommodation at the nearby 4-star Trout Hotel, delivery, all duty and VAT. It’s estimated if kept, the cask will be worth over £20,000 in years to come. 

The Founders’ Club

The first ever distillery in the beautiful Lake District, opening later this year, is setting aside the first ever 100 casks of malt whisky produced for members of its Founders’ Club.

Each year for ten years, members will receive one 70cl bottle plus two tasting miniatures of the maturing malt, making up a collectible set of the distillery’s first ever production, all with unique, limited edition labels. These casks will not be available for the general public and are uniquely reserved for members.

Founders’ Club membership costs just £595, with an expected value of over £1,400 over the ten years period. Delivery of the first bottle will be in 2015.

Tamdhu Distillery Welcomes New Manager 

It’s the end of an era at Tamdhu Distillery as one of the whisky industry’s longest serving managers retires and makes way for his replacement.

Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky has appointed Sandy McIntyre as the new Distillery Manager, replacing Sandy Coutts who steps down after over 40 years service.

Sandy McIntyre joins Tamdhu Distillery from Diageo where he spent eight and a half years working across Burghead & Roseisle Maltings, Glenlossie and Mannochmore Distilleries and Glen Spey Distillery in Rothes in various positions including Malt Operations and Site Operations, overseeing production, quality, process and energy efficiency.

Sandy will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of Tamdhu Distillery including all aspects of production, warehousing, HR, health and safety, maintenance, spirit and cask quality as well as compliance for the site, and supporting brand development and promotion.

Robbie Hughes, Group Distillation Manager for Ian Macleod Distillers who own the Tamdhu brand, said: “We’re really pleased to have Sandy McIntyre on board with us. His previous experience will contribute greatly to the distillery. Having been re-launched less than two years ago, it’s a very exciting time at Tamdhu and Sandy will play a key role in its future.

“We would also like to take this opportunity to send our best wishes to Sandy Coutts who will now retire from Tamdhu after more than 40 successful years. We hope he enjoys a very well deserved rest!”

Sandy McIntyre said: “I am really excited to be joining Tamdhu Distillery and I’m looking forward to the challenges the role will bring. The dedicated team at Tamdhu is committed and passionate about our brand and despite only being on site for less than a month that can-dhu-spirit is already felt by myself too.

“Taking over the reins from Sandy Coutts has been a delight and pleasure as he has historical and detailed knowledge of the site and the process, and being able to draw upon that knowledge as part of my hand over has been invaluable. Tamdhu is a quality spirit from a site that prides itself on tradition and nothing is more pleasurable than showing off our people, our process and our product.”

Tamdhu is owned by one of Scotland’s leading, independent family-owned distillers, Ian Macleod Distillers. Tamdhu was born on the banks of the River Spey in 1897 – an era when anything seemed possible. When obstacles were there to be overcome, an age of the CAN-DHU ATTITUDE. Its quality is defined by the hint of peat in its malted barley, the natural Speyside water which is drawn directly from the Tamdhu spring and the 100% exclusive use of only the finest oak sherry casks.

For more information, please visit www.tamdhu.com.

Sazerac Introduces Whiskey Barrel-Aged Peychaud’s Bitters

NEW ORLEANS, lA.  (Dec., 2014) – The Sazerac Company, makers of Peychaud’s Bitters for over 100 years, is adding a new twist to its bitters line, Peychaud’s Whiskey Barrel-Aged Cocktail Bitters. Aged in Sazerac Rye Whiskey barrels for 140 days, the bitters are a flavorful marriage of the classic Peychaud’s bitters which so many cocktail fans know and love, with the spicy undertones of the award-winning Sazerac Rye Whiskey.

The roots of Peychaud’s Bitters has a long history, starting in the early 1800s, when Antoine Amedie Peychaud, an apothecary, gained fame in New Orleans for the compounding of a liquid tonic called bitters. These bitters gave an added zest to the potions of cognac brandy he served to his friends and acquaintances in his pharmacy.

By the 1870s, as American Rye Whiskey became more popular and more readily available in New Orleans, Peychaud added his bitters to Rye cocktails while working at the world famous Sazerac Coffeehouse in the French Quarter.

“We thought it would be an interesting experiment to age our Peychaud’s Bitters in our Sazerac Rye barrels. We weren’t quite sure what to expect, but after a few months, we were surprised by how well the experiment was turning out,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller, Buffalo Trace Distillery.

Wheatley closely watched the bitters as they aged in the barrels. Upon tasting the bitters at the 140 day mark, he decided the flavors were a perfect marriage of the barrel char, the rye spice, and the unique herbs and spices that make up Peychaud’s Bitters.

Each drop of Peychaud’s Whiskey Barrel-Aged Bitters adds a flavorful, spicy twist to any cocktail and is ideal in an Old Fashioned.  The Sazerac Company will begin selling limited quantities of these bitters in select markets and via the online gift shop at www.thesazeracgiftshop.com, starting in November. The suggested retail pricing for a five ounce bottle is $16.99. 

About The Sazerac Company

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