The Lakes Distillery took receipt of its stills in June, we followed the three handmade copper stills as they travelled between Edinburgh and our site on the banks of Bassenthwaite Lake before being lifted through the roof. It was quite a sight!
HIGHLAND PARK DELVES INTO ITS DARK ORIGINS FOR MAJOR NEW RELEASE
Highland Park today announced the launch of a new core expression inspired by the cunning spirit and courageous personality of its founder, Magnus Eunson.
Establishing a secret bunker in the hills of High Park in Orkney, Magnus ‘Mansie’ Eunson became a famed dark distiller back in the late 1700s, creating whisky for the people of Orkney to offer relief from the villainy of the tax collector. By day he worked tirelessly in his church providing spiritual guidance to the people of Orkney, but in the dead of night, he hand crafted what was to ultimately become the best spirit in the world, warming hearts and uniting all who tasted it.
Dark Origins, a stunning, non-chill filtered single malt with an ABV of 46.8%, will start to appear on shelves in July and roll out internationally throughout autumn 2014.
It uses twice as many first fill sherry casks than in the classic Highland Park 12 year old resulting in a naturally darker, richer flavour with sherried spice, a chocolate twist and the signature sweet smoke fans of the Orcadian elixir have come to know and love.
Highland Park is one of the few distilleries not using distiller’s caramel and so Dark Origins takes its natural colour from the interaction between spirit and cask which Highland Park believes consistently rate amongst the best casks in whisky.
Gerry Tosh, Global Marketing Manager, said: “Cask management is so very crucial to our work at Highland Park. We have strived to raise the bar, working tirelessly in sourcing the right wood and then working and finessing the balances to ensure we create single malt that is rich, warm and enticing in flavour. Dark Origins sits in the heart of our core range complimenting them perfectly – distinct in itself, but always and forever a classic Highland Park.”
The tasting notes:
Colour: Rich mahogany
Nose: Sherried spice and ripe bananas combine with toasted hazelnuts and baked apple
Palate: Well-balanced, dry peat at first mellowing out to maraschino cherries, warm dark chocolate entices the palate
Finish: Enduring sweet smoke
Dark Origins will be exclusively available from Harrods from 1 July – 14 July at an RRP of £64.95. It will be available from specialist independent whisky retailers, at the Highland Park distillery and http://www.highlandpark.co.uk/ thereafter.
To learn more you can follow us on https://www.facebook.com/HighlandParkWhisky, on Twitter @HighlandPark and on Instagram on @highlandparkofficial
Notes:
About Highland Park:
Established in 1798 on Orkney, Highland Park is one of the most remote Scotch whisky distilleries in the world. For over 200 years, the distillery has combined time old tradition and the very best craftsmanship to achieve perfection. Its range of 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 30 and 40 year old single malts is consistently acclaimed by connoisseurs and experts. Highland Park has won a string of prestigious awards across its portfolio, most recently including category winner at the 2011 World Whisky Awards for its 25-year-old single malt and ‘best whisky in the world 2009’ for its 21-year-old expression in the World Whisky Awards, as well as four double gold awards in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2009.
This display of sportsmanship drew a discerning crowd of over 2,000 and those in attendance were treated to sensational match played by the Princes and some of the best polo players in the world. The day culminated with the Piaget Team and world-class player, Facundo Pieres (of the Ellerstina Piaget and also a World Polo Ambassador for Royal Salute) leading his team, which also included female player Corinne Ricard, to a triumphant victory against the Royal Salute team and fellow Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador Malcolm Borwick (member of the England team for more than 10 years).
Lorenza Cavalli, UK Brand Director, Piaget – Official Team Sponsor said, “Piaget created the world’s first charity polo team and, on our 140th anniversary, we wanted to honour this occasion by taking part in such a worthy event as the Goldin Group Charity Polo Cup. We are delighted to be part of the Goldin Group Charity Polo Cup.”
Piaget, Swiss watchmaker and jeweller, and possesses a strong heritage with polo spanning more than three decades. Highlights include sponsoring The Piaget World Cup at West Palm Beach and creating the world’s first charity polo team, Chukkers for Charity, made up of movie stars, which made a horse-back appearance down New York’s 5th Avenue. In 1979, the iconic Piaget Polo watch was born – renowned for streamlined design and seamless integration of the case, bezel and bracelet, it is a harmony of aesthetics and comfort created for high performance.
Neil Macdonald, Global Brand Director of Royal Salute – Official Team Sponsor also commented, “Royal Salute Scotch Whisky is proud to celebrate its fourth year as sponsor of this iconic event, which is in aid of such worthy causes. The power and grace of the game of polo, the skill of the players, integrity and honour are values which are also inherent to Royal Salute whisky.”
Notes
The Goldin Group Charity Polo Cup Teams:
Piaget:
1. Corinne Ricard (0)
2. HRH Prince Henry of Wales (1)
3. Facundo Pieres (10)
4. John Fisher (4)
Royal Salute:
1. Tommy Kato (-1)
2. Luis Escobar (7)
3. Malcolm Borwick (6)
4. HRH The Duke of Cambridge (1)
About Piaget:
Since its founding in 1874, Piaget embodies a unique know-how combined with abundant creativity. From the famous ultra-thin Calibre 9P created in the 1950s to the world’s thinnest tourbillon movement, Calibre 600P, the exceptional talent of the Piaget craftsmen lies in their ability to reinvent time-honoured horological techniques. Originally a movement manufacturer, the Maison has not merely chosen to apply its rigorous quality criteria and its keen sense of innovation to the hidden part of timepieces. Instead, making a clean break with the accepted codes of its profession, it has made a major contribution to watchmaking by offering a new way of wearing time, endowing watches with a stunning array of precious and original cases, wristbands and dials. Piaget has patiently cultivated this jewellery expertise within its workshops over the decades, paving the way for amazing projects – a true delight for the brand’s designers who express their boundless creativity through both watches and jewellery.
Piaget and Polo – The Piaget brand pioneered sponsorship of elite sports under the direction of Mr. Yves G. Piaget, by associating its name with the world of polo in the early 1980s. Dedicated to promoting this extreme sport which reflects its own values of bold and daring, high standards and faultless accuracy – Piaget has been involved in the world of polo at Palm Beach from the start, initially by supporting the World Cup and now by sponsoring the famous USPA Gold Cup named after it.
Piaget has also been present at Punta del Este for several years, by supporting the tournament held at the prestigious Medellin club. It has succeeded in enriching the sport with its very own aura of glamour and its sense of generosity. In the 1980s, Chukkers for Charity, a team composed of movie and TV stars, was engaged in spectacular fund-raising efforts under the Piaget colors. This was a first in the polo world and has left an indelible mark on the collective memory of the sport, including their surprising and unexpected horse-back appearance on New York’s 5th Avenue in 1985.
About Royal Salute:
Polo is a game of honour and respect, two values at the heart of Royal Salute. The greatest players are masters of their craft whose sublime horsemanship and respect for their mount allows them to play the noble sport according to the purity of its code.
Royal Salute truly believes and takes pride in the values of integrity and honour; the whisky is laid down to mature for at least 21 years, the unique bottle is meticulously handcrafted from the finest hand-selected porcelain, ensuring that the utmost attention to detail is paid to every element during its creation.
Royal Salute is a leading international supporter of polo, ‘the king of sports and the sport of kings’. Royal Salute World Polo is truly international with a presence in every major region globally:
Royal Salute is a leading international supporter of polo, ‘the king of sports and the sport of kings’. Royal Salute World Polo is truly international with a presence in every major region globally:
THE 1975, TIRED PONY AND BUSHMILLS™ IRISH WHISKEY – AN EXCEPTIONAL BLEND
Bushmills Master Blender handcrafts exclusive single malts for Bushmills Live headliners THE 1975 and Gary Lightbody and Peter Buck’s supergroup TIRED PONY
BUSHMILLS Master Blender Helen Mulholland has handcrafted two exclusive single malt whiskies for Bushmills Live headliners THE 1975 and Gary Lightbody’s supergroup TIRED PONY.
The whiskies have been inspired by the bands who played at the exclusive festival on June 12 at the Old Bushmills Distillery on Ireland’s north coast, where the art of whiskey-making, perfected over generations, is practised every day.
To celebrate THE 1975’s performance, Helen hand-picked the casks from each of the years the band members were born – 1988, 1989 and 1990 – to create the Bushmills 24 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey ‘The 1975’ – Artist’s Reserve. Only eight bottles exist in the world.
Helen said: “This whiskey encompasses the core spirit of Bushmills Live – celebrating handcrafted whiskey and handcrafted music. Each of the casks has a different finish: bourbon, sherry and wine, creating a wonderful combination of flavours. The liquid is full of the honeyed, warm tones typical of BUSHMILLS, but with a spectacularly long finish that would perfectly complement ‘Chocolate’…or anything else for that matter!
To celebrate TIRED PONY’s visit to Bushmills, Helen created a personalised Single Malt Triple Distilled TIRED PONY – Artist’s Reserve blend of the Bushmills single malts. Three types of bourbon casks contributed to the blend – each representing one of the three renowned bands from which TIRED PONY was formed: R.E.M., Snow Patrol and Belle & Sebastian.
Helen explained why the bourbon finish was a particularly significant choice. She said: “U.S. Bourbon casks traditionally give deeply rich, honeyed tones. I decided to use these not only because they reference the Americana style of music that TIRED PONY play, but also because it recognizes the location where their first two albums were recorded.
“It was crafted with a touch of whiskey drawn from port finished casks, laid down in 2009 – which was also the year that the band formed. The result is a whiskey full of vibrant layers, which we hope will inspire future recordings.
“There are only ten bottles of the special TIRED PONY blend in the world – one for each member of the band and for the guest musicians who joined them at Bushmills Live, and one that will stay at the Old Bushmills Distillery for them to share with friends whenever they next visit.”
THE 1975 and TIRED PONY played the third Bushmills Live alongside a host of international and local artists including James Vincent McMorrow, Luke Sital-Singh, Matthew and the Atlas, David C. Clements, Rubblebucket and Levity Breaks.
The Artist’s Reserve bottles were created as a gift from Bushmills to the bands and are not available to buy.
CAPTION 1
Matt Healy, lead singer of THE 1975, being presented with a bottle of Bushmills 24 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey ‘The 1975’ – Artist’s Reserve by Bushmills Master Blender Helen Mulholland and Bushmills Master Distiller Colum Egan. Only eight bottles exist in the world. THE 1975 headlined this year’s Bushmills Live 2014 at the Old Bushmills Distillery in June.
CAPTION 2
Members of Gary Lightbody and Peter Buck’s supergroup TIRED PONY being presented with a bottle of Single Malt Triple Distilled TIRED PONY – Artist’s Reserve by Bushmills Master Blender Helen Mulholland and Bushmills Master Distiller Colum Egan. Only ten bottles exist. TIRED PONY performed at this year’s Bushmills Live 2014 at the Old Bushmills Distillery in June. From L-R: Richard Colburn (Belle & Sebastian), Helen Mulholland, Peter Buck (R.E.M.), Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), songwriter Iain Archer and Colum Egan.
Notes
About Bushmills Live
Bushmills Live is an annual music festival which hosts both iconic and emerging artists for a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings at the historic Old Bushmills Distillery, where the art of distilling has been perfected over generations.
Keep up with Bushmills Irish Whiskey at: Facebook: facebook.com/bushmills
Twitter: @BushmillsGlobal
About ‘TIRED PONY’
TIRED PONY are Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), Peter Buck (REM), Iain Archer, Richard Colburn (Belle and Sebastian), Scott McCaughey, Troy Stewart and producer/multi-instrumentalist Garret “Jacknife” Lee. They have released two albums: 2010’s The Place We Ran From and last year’s The Ghost of the Mountain.
About ‘THE 1975’
THE 1975 are an English alternative rock/indie band based in Manchester. The group consists of Matthew Healy (vocals/guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums) and Ross MacDonald (bass). Their self-titled debut album was released on 2 September 2013 and debuted at No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart.
About Bushmills Irish Whiskey
Bushmills Irish Whiskey is hand crafted in small batches for a smooth taste at Ireland’s oldest working distillery, in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery’s portfolio includes seven award-winning variants: Bushmills, Bushmills Black Bush™, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt, our anniversary edition, Bushmills 1608 and Bushmills Irish Honey Spirit Drink.
About Diageo
Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people and its brands, visit http://www.diageo.com/. For Diageo’s global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com.
BARTON 1792 PRODUCES THREE HIGH WINNERS AT THE
2014 LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION
BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (July 1, 2014) – Barton 1792 Distillery’s namesake brand, 1792 Ridgemont Reserve, was named Best of Category in the 2014 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition, and the Distillery’s Zachariah Harris Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Kentucky Tavern Straight Bourbon Whiskey each took silver medals in the competition.
All entries submitted from the Distillery in this year’s competition took home an award.
“It’s an honor that all three of our entries in this year’s Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition have received such high regards,” Ken Pierce, director of distillation and quality assurance, said. “We are very proud of our placements amongst this year’s competition.”
The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition was formed in 2007, with an esteemed panel of judges using a blind-tasting method to award medals to the best distilled spirits from around the world. The award-winning entries will be displayed during the Los Angeles County Fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 28, 2014 in “The Wine, Beer & Spirits Marketplace.”
Complete results of the 2012 LAIWSC are available at http://www.laspiritscomp.com/.
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 192 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 winner of a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. To learn more about the Distillery visit http://www.1792bourbon.com/.
A. SMITH BOWMAN TAKES SILVER AT THE
2014 LOS ANGELES INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION FOR ITS SINGLE BARREL BOURBON
Fredericksburg, VIRGINIA (June 26, 2014) – The results from the 2014 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition are in, and A. Smith Bowman Distillery had an excellent showing.
The distillery’s only entry in this year’s competition, John J. Bowman Virginia Straight Bourbon Whiskey, known for its smooth taste, earned a silver medal.
“The taste speaks for itself,” Brian Prewitt, master distiller, said. “We put a lot of hard work into our whiskeys and John J. Bowman is no exception. Being recognized like this by the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition means a lot to us.”
The Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition was formed in 2007, with an esteemed panel of judges using a blind-tasting method to award medals to the best distilled spirits from around the world. The award-winning entries will be displayed during the Los Angeles County Fair, Aug. 29-Sept. 28, 2014 in “The Wine, Beer & Spirits Marketplace.”
Complete results of the 2012 LAIWSC are available at http://www.laspiritscomp.com/.
About A. Smith Bowman
A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm. In response to the rapid rise of taxes in Northern Virginia, the Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.
As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.
RHETORIC WHISKEY INTRODUCED AS THIRD ADDITION TO THE
ORPHAN BARREL WHISKEY DISTILLING COMPANY
20-Year-Old Bourbon Will Be Progressively Aged for Future Releases
TULLAHOMA, TENN. – For the whiskey aficionado who dreams of selecting the choicest barrels from the guarded corners of historic rickhouses, Rhetoric Whiskey is a dream come true. The newest addition to the Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company is a highly limited craft bourbon that will be progressively aged and released over the coming years – the 20-year-old variant will be released this year, the 21-year-old will be released in 2015, and so on. This approach will grant whiskey enthusiasts the chance to compare these exclusive offerings as they mature and collect an enviable series of Rhetoric Whiskies.
The Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company was created in early 2014 to locate forgotten barrels of craft whiskey from around the world and share them with discerning adult fans, who are encouraged to sip slowly and responsibly. Rhetoric, the third variant to be released from the company is aged 20 years for its first release and is expected to begin appearing on select shelves throughout the U.S. in June under strict allocation due to limited supply.
Rhetoric stocks were discovered in warehouses at the Stitzel-Weller facility in Louisville, Ky., and distilled in both the New and Old Bernheim distilleries in Louisville. The whiskey is beautifully aged and hand bottled in Tullahoma, Tenn. Beginning with a smoky and leathery nose hinting of ripe apples, Rhetoric tastes of smoked vanilla, toasted rye and dried fruit before a long full finish of cherry blossom and bitter chocolate. Rhetoric carries a suggested retail price of $85.
“Aging whiskey is a fascinating process and one that whiskey aficionados around the world love learning about,” said Ewan Morgan, Orphan Barrel Master of Whiskey. “I’ve no doubt the progressive aging and release of Rhetoric will merit some spirited debate among us whiskey geeks about which year tastes best!”
Rhetoric’s packaging features an intricate gold label with a hummingbird rising above chaos and confusion to clarity and reason. The background, reminiscent of the oak barrels in which the whiskey aged, will grow deeper in color as Rhetoric is progressively aged and released in the years to come.
The Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company is headquartered in Tullahoma, Tenn. where the whiskies are bottled. Like the other Orphan Barrel whiskies, Rhetoric has long awaited a place to call home. Orphan Barrel is proud to bring Rhetoric Whiskey into the family and reminds consumers who get their hands on a bottle to sip slowly and responsibly.
About The Orphan Barrel Whiskey Project
The Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company is an endeavor to rescue long forgotten barrels of rare and delicious whiskey and share them with others. We are inspired by creativity, delicious whiskey, good times and great stories. The Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company is headquartered in Tullahoma, Tenn. However, we like to think the project is founded in dark, quiet corners of rickhouses around the world where artisanal whiskies were forgotten, just waiting to be discovered.
To-date, the Orphan Barrel Whiskey Distilling Company has released three variants – Barterhouse, Old Blowhard and Rhetoric. As new and interesting whiskies are discovered, they will be added to the family to provide adult consumers a great selection of rare craft whiskies.
One Step Closer to English Whisky Production
England’s newest and largest whisky, gin and vodka distillery, The Lakes Distillery, is one step closer to production following delivery of its stills at the site in Cumbria.
The distillery took receipt of its three handmade copper stills – wash, spirit and gin – earlier this week which were lifted into place through the roof of the building. The stills, made near Edinburgh by specialist manufacturer McMillan, have a capacity of 5,500 litres and will enable the £5m distillery to produce 1million bottles of English single malt per year, in addition to gin and vodka.
The distillery, based on the banks of Bassenthwaite Lake, sources its water directly from the nearby River Derwent and is the only distillery in Cumbria to both produce and distill its spirits on site. Last month the distillery sent a sample of the water for comprehensive analysis by the leading analytical chemist to the whisky industry in Scotland. The resulting report shows that the water is of an ideal PH level, is very soft and has a turbidity of 0.6 which is exceptional.
Paul Currie, The Lakes Distillery’s founder and managing director, said: “We will now start commissioning the stills and from September 2014 will begin production of The Lakes Single Malt, our lightly peated liquid gold which we expect to be more akin to highland whiskies.
“We have paid great attention to the plant installed in the distillery to ensure the very highest quality of our spirits. We have also introduced a number of innovations to the process which are at the cutting edge of distilling and will be the first distillery to use both copper and stainless steel in our distilling process which we believe will develop a malt with a greater character.
A select number of whisky enthusiasts around the world are invited to become part of the early stages of The Lakes Distillery story. The company has launched a Connoisseurs’ Club, where just 60 members will own their own cask of The Lakes Single Mal. They’ll to the distillery to make their own whisky, fill their own rare sherry cask, and then come to annual tasting ceremonies when they can taste their maturing whisky.
In addition, the Lakes Distillery will set aside the first 100 casks of its single malt whisky produced exclusively for members of its Founders’ Club. Each year for ten years, members will then receive one 70cl bottle and two tasting bottles, making up a collectible set of the distillery’s first ever production.
For more information on The Lakes Distillery, please visit http://www.lakesdistillery.com/
THE ONE BECOMES MANY AS LAKES WHISKY GOES GLOBAL
The first whisky from a brand new £5m distillery being built in the Lake District has already gone global.
The ONE is the first blend of whiskies from around the British Isles ever to be produced, and has been created by The Lakes Distillery team that includes former Isle of Arran Distillers co- founder, Paul Currie, and Chris Anderson, Master Distiller, formerly of Dewars.
Only a few months after its UK launch last Autumn, The ONE blend has already clinched distribution deals in The Netherlands, France and Belgium, and will launch in the UAE this May.
The Lakes Distillery managing director, Paul Currie, said on his return from an Eastern Europe trade mission this month: “To create The ONE, we searched far and wide to bring together a range of very special whiskies from the British Isles. These have been blended with great care and passion to create a perfectly balanced whisky and, as we hoped, exports have taken off in a big way already.
“As well as the distribution deals already secured, we are in talks with partners in Spain and Poland, and have other territories in Europe and Asia in our sights.
“We all know the global success story of Scotch, and now England is seeing a real whisky boom with several new distilleries planned to open this year. Our £5m development at Bassenthwaite Lake in Cumbria will be the biggest new distillery in England and the first official one in the Lakes. Building work is well underway and we plan to start production of whisky, gin and vodka in the summer and open our bistro, tours and shop to the public by the December 2014.
“The ONE is an important brand for us in the growing premium whisky sector, and it has received an outstanding response both with its smooth taste and innovative packaging. We will start production of The Lakes Malt in the summer, and we also plan for that to be a global brand. The stills arrive in the June and our experienced team, who all have decades of distillery experience, are now very excited about creating a new quality malt from scratch.”
A select number of whisky enthusiasts around the world are invited to become part of the early stages of The Lakes Distillery story. The company has launched a Connoisseurs’ Club, where just 60 members can come to the distillery to make their own whisky, fill their own rare sherry cask, and then come to annual tasting ceremonies when they can taste their maturing whisky.
In addition, the Lakes Distillery will set aside the first 100 casks of malt whisky produced exclusively for members of its Founders’ Club. Each year for ten years, members will then receive one 70cl bottle and two tasting bottles, making up a collectible set of the distillery’s first ever production.
More information is available at http://www.lakesdistillery.com/e-brochure/
Notes:
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 the 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 in late 2014. The Lakes single malt will begin production this summer, and will be ready to taste in 2015. 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.
Distributors
– Netherlands – launched Dec with Van Wees.
– France – launching this month with La Maison du Whisky
– Belgium – launching this month with Nectar
– UAE – launching in May with MMI
– Spain/Poland – currently in discussions with potential distributors
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 is valued at £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.
Old Pulteney Launches Limited Edition
35 Year Old Single Malt
Multi award-winning Old Pulteney Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has added a new, exceptionally rare whisky to its distinguished range, the limited edition Old Pulteney 35 Year Old. Only 450 cases of this outstanding single malt will be rolled out to global markets with a retail price of £500 per bottle.
The embodiment of Pulteney Distillery’s exceptional craftsmanship, this new expression is matured in American ex-bourbon and Spanish ex-sherry casks which have been expertly hand selected by Distillery Manager Malcolm Waring. Each striking 700ml bottle is non-chill filtered at 42.5% ABV. On the palate this full bodied expression is sweet and spicy to start then quickly develops a range of signature Old Pulteney flavours from honey, rum soaked raisins and oranges to the heavier notes of seasoned leather, pralines and a touch of the salty North Sea air. A truly indulgent, perfectly balanced whisky, it has a long slow finish and is light amber in colour.
The eye catching detail and design of the limited edition reflects the brand’s rich maritime heritage, which includes a stunning wooden box with porthole revealing the unique Old Pulteney bottle which carries the classic herring drifter, which has become a symbol of the brand.
Founded in 1826 at the height of Wick’s herring boom, Pulteney Distillery is one of the most Northerly distilleries on the Scottish mainland. It is this unique maritime heritage that gives the whisky its identity as the ‘Maritime Malt’. A long-held favourite tipple for whisky enthusiasts, many say they can taste a faint hint of the sea in Old Pulteney maltsthanks to the Distillery’s windswept location and close proximity to the North Sea.
The launch of the 35 Year Old follows the success of Old Pulteney’s 40 Year Old single malt which was released in 2012, Old Pulteney Senior Brand Manager, Margaret Mary Clarke commented:
“Old Pulteney 35 Year Old is a world class expression and we are delighted to add another high age, limited edition to our existing portfolio.
From its eye catching packaging to its superior taste, the new malt is a true reflection of Old Pulteney’s outstanding quality and craftsmanship. We are confident that it will take its place amongst the best luxury whiskies available today and cement our position as one of the UK’s top ten single malts.”
Notes
About Old Pulteney
Old Pulteney is one of the world’s finest and most distinctive single malt Scotch whiskies. Known as the ‘Maritime Malt’, it is crafted in the windswept coastal town of Wick, home to the Pulteney Distillery which is one of the most northerly on the Scottish mainland. The distillery was established in 1826 in the heart of ‘Pulteneytown’, the town created to house fishermen during Wick’s famous herring boom which drew a fleet of over 1000 boats and 7000 workers to this remote and rugged harbour.
Old Pulteney is the embodiment of this place, its people and its remarkable history. The skilled Pulteney distillery team continue to craft their whisky using the most traditional and time-honoured techniques that most others have long abandoned. This includes the uniquely shaped Pulteney stills, which are reflected in the design of the Old Pulteney bottle on shelves today.
Matured in hand-selected oak casks, the resulting whisky has been acclaimed for its excellence, its smooth drinking style and faint hint of the sea. Old Pulteney holds the coveted title of ‘World Whisky of the Year’ for 2012 in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible – one of the industry’s highest accolades. The whisky also achieved top ten status in the UK single malt market in 2012 and is flourishing in many other countries around the world.
Old Pulteney continues to celebrate all things related to its maritime heritage and is renowned for its long standing support of sailing adventure across the globe.
