BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY SPIRITS RECOGNIZED

AS “OUTSTANDING” IN

INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRITS COMPETITION

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (July 30, 2014) – Buffalo Trace Distillery is continuing its tradition of being the world’s most award-winning Distillery with several new honors from the 2014 International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC). All 12 Buffalo Trace spirits entered into the competition received high honors, including its new Wheatley Vodka that is available exclusively at the Buffalo Trace Distillery Visitor’s Center.

The following results were released in London, England on July 23:

Gold Outstanding Medal was awarded to:

• Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon

Gold Medals were awarded to:

• Buffalo Trace Bourbon
• Eagle Rare 17 Year Old Bourbon
• Col. E. H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon
• Benchmark Bourbon

Silver Outstanding Medals were awarded to:

• Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon
• Col. E. H. Taylor Single Barrel Bourbon
• Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20 Year Old Bourbon
• William Larue Weller 12 Year Old Bourbon

Silver Medal was awarded to:

• Stagg Jr. Bourbon

The “Gold Outstanding” and “Silver Outstanding” medals are awarded based upon the highest scores within each of those respective categories.

“To be able to present such a variety and fare so well with each entry, it’s an honor.” Buffalo Trace Distillery’s Master Distiller, Harlen Wheatley, said. “We are proud and very humbled by these results.”

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 www.iwsc.net.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1786 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com

MCLEANSCOTLAND whisky tour company … have had their best year ever for whisky tours of Scotland. Working on tours all year round, the first whisky tour was back in January, Speyside in the snow, a grand trip with Dutch clients.

From then each month saw them take tours all over Scotland, visiting Speyside, Orkney, Highlands, west coast distilleries including Mull, Skye and Islay.

May was the busiest month of the year, with 8 whisky tour groups (all over Scotland).

At the end of September they travel to Arran, before another tour with Russian clients in early October, with two more trade shows whisky festivals; Manchester Whisky Lounge Festival, and Chester Whisky Festival, both in October. They will be happy to see you at either show!

It doesn’t end there, November sees more tours and even December they have a whisky tour from South Africa in conjunction with Diageo.

Their guests came from Germany, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Canada, USA, Holland, England, plus the SA trip as above.

Each guest (or couple) receive a specially made wallet with brochures, excellent tour notes, maps and many suggestions where to eat, drink etc whilst on tour.

Their tours are mostly designed with the client, to give exactly what is needed, then they go that wee bit further and add in some historic sites, castles, fantastic scenery and above all … fun!

To contact them; whisky@mcleanscotland.com

www.mcleanscotland.com

They also run the worldwide whisky club, with Patron Charles Maclean (keeping it in the family).
www.angelswhiskyclub.com

THE ONE JOINS WHISKY WORLD ELITE

More information is available at http://www.lakesdistillery.com

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, ex Dewars 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 in late 2014. 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.

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. 

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.

THE BenRiach Distillery Company has won 11 medals, including two Gold Outstanding medals, across its three brands at this year’s International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Founded in 1969, the International Wine and Spirit Competition is one of the most prestigious in the world. It exists to award excellence to wines and spirits worldwide, encouraging consumer and trade recognition for quality products. Judging for the Competition is unique in that it has two stages; first, the products are tasted blind by expert panels, selected from over 300 fully experienced and qualified industry judges. Then, products which receive the top medals are subject to technical analysis before results are released; this crucial stage ensures winners receive complete validation.

The company’s full list of awards is:

• Gold Medal – Outstanding           BenRiach 12 Years Old
• Gold Medal – Outstanding           Glenglassaugh 30 Years Old
• Gold Medal                                        Glenglassaugh 40 Years Old
• Silver Medal – Outstanding         BenRiach 17YO Septendecim
• Silver Medal – Outstanding         BenRiach 15YO Pedro Ximenez Finish
• Silver Medal – Outstanding         BenRiach 10YO Curiositas
• Silver Medal – Outstanding         GlenDronach 15YO Revival
• Silver Medal – Outstanding         GlenDronach 18YO Allardice
• Silver Medal – Outstanding         Glenglassaugh Torfa
• Silver Medal                                      Glenglassaugh Evolution
• Silver Medal                                      Glenglassaugh Revival

The judges described the Glenglassaugh 30 Years Old, winner of a Gold Outstanding medal, as; “A complex fruity and spicy whisky with dried fruit and raisins, aromatic pipe tobacco and a spicy oaky mouth feel. Some fine vanilla toffee with a long spicy finish.”

The BenRiach 12 Years Old impressed the competition’s judges with: “Currant buns, a light whisky with hints of raisins and sultanas, spicy citrus fruits and a lightly waxy mouth feel. A very well balanced spicy finish.”

And notes of “Fine spices in a great nose of chocolate, liquorice and vanilla toffee aromas. Lovely wood phenols and well balanced tannins, sandalwood and nutmeg tones in a long lasting aftertaste”, resulted in a Gold Medal for the Glenglassaugh 40 Years Old.

BenRiach’s Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We are delighted to win these awards, especially as they are spread across all three of our brands. A number of these products are relatively new releases, such as the Glenglassaugh 30 Years Old, 40 Years Old and Torfa, so it is nice to see them getting some industry recognition. To receive a Gold Outstanding Medal for the BenRiach 12 Years Old is also particularly satisfying as it is one of our core range expressions. It’s a major achievement for a small independent to make the UK spirits producer shortlist and we are thrilled with these results.”

KANPAI!  BONHAMS HONG KONG PRESENTS ASIA’S LARGEST JAPANESE WHISKY AUCTION

200 lots of rare and collectable Japanese whisky take centre stage

Bonhams Hong Kong, pioneer of whisky auctions in the city, is offering the largest sale of Japanese whisky in Asia.  The Rare Single Malt Whisky Auction will take place on 15th August 2014 at 7pm at the new Bonhams Hong Kong Gallery located at Suite 2001 in One Pacific Place, Admiralty.

With global appreciation and demand for rare Japanese single malts at an all-time high, Bonhams Hong Kong is offering 200 lots including legendary collections from the Japanese distilleries of Karuizawa and Hanyu which ceased production in 2001 and 2000 respectively.  A comprehensive range of over 170 bottles of Karuizawa whisky will be presented, including the impressive collection of Karuizawa – Non distilled in years 1981, 1982, 1983, 1989, 1994 and 1999; the Karuizawa Geisha series; Karuizawa vertical years ranging from year 1969 to 1995; the Karuizawa black and white series and the extremely rare Karuizawa-1965-21 year old in a crystal decanter.

The renowned and award-winning Hanyu Ichiro’s ‘Playing Card Series’ is highly sought after by Japanese whisky enthusiasts around the world, with the ‘full deck’ collection rarely seen on the market.  For this sale, Bonhams offers the most comprehensive collection of Hanyu Ichiro’s Playing Cards whisky in the auction history of Hong Kong. Highlights include Six Full House with Six of Hearts, Six of Diamonds, Six of Spades, Five of Hearts and Five of Diamonds, and a set of Royal Flush with Ace of Clubs, Two of Clubs, Three of Clubs, Four of Clubs and Five of Clubs.

Building on the success of the whisky sale in May 2014, Bonhams once again presents the highly collectible Yamazaki 50 year old. With only 150 bottles released worldwide, the Yamazaki 50 year old is the rarest and oldest Japanese single malt whisky.

Enquiries

For further information and images call Andrew Currie on +44 (0)207 468 5871, or email andrew.currie@bonhams.com or press@bonhams.com.

The Macallan single malt whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, has reported strong consumer engagement and sampling figures after the launch of The Macallan Lifestyle Lounge experience in the windows of Harrods.

The luxury whisky brand took over windows five and six on Brompton Road from 2^nd – 10^th July and created a gentleman’s lounge in the window display of the world’s most famous luxury department store.  The sampling activity kicked off with an exclusive event showcasing some essential skills every gentleman should master led by Maxxium’s Mixxit team; including a master class by Wayne Collins in the art of creating a classic whisky cocktail, The Macallan Old Fashioned, and a tutored session from David Miles on how to expertly nose and taste a whisky.

The space was created to celebrate the award winning The Macallan 1824 Series, with over 1,000 consumers sampling the Series’ four expressions; Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby over the course of nine days. Consumers explored the whiskies via style pillars, each perfectly designed to represent the four single malts through the world of fashion, grooming and lifestyle.  To complete the experience The Refinery, London’s luxury Grooming Emporium for men, was on hand to offer complimentary treatments such as wet shaves, hairstyling and massages.

Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director at Maxxium UK, commented: “We wanted to create an experience for consumers to engage with The Macallan in a very different environment and one that reflected the brand’s luxury credentials.  With Harrods as the perfect host, The Macallan Lifestyle Lounge achieved great stand out, intrigue and interaction with consumers passing through.  With a high trial to conversion rate it’s important we allow people to taste The Macallan for themselves. Sampling is therefore a key part of The Macallan’s investment plan, which will allow us to grow the brand’s popularity and introduce new consumers to whisky. Venturing into the world of men’s lifestyle through The Macallan Lifestyle Lounge provided us with an excellent platform to do just that.”  

Notes ABOUT THE MACALLAN 

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies.  The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else. Today this remains the foundation for the worldwide fame of The Macallan and is such that it is truly “The Last Word” in luxury and at the heart of those special moments brought alive over a glass of The Macallan.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY’S ANNUAL 5K RACE IS A RECORD BREAKER ON ALL LEVELS

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (July 9, 2014)

Buffalo Trace Distillery held its 13 th annual July 4th 5K Race with record breaking results. A record number of runners, 811, participated, and both the men and women’s first place winners broke previous record time holders for fastest finishes. A total of 23 different states in the U.S. were represented at the 5K.

Simon Ndirangu of New York was the first place men’s winner, finishing in a record breaking time for Buffalo Trace’s 5K course of 13 minutes, 41 seconds. The previous time for this course in the men’s division was 13 minutes, 49 seconds.

Susan Jerotich of North Carolina was the first place women’s winner, finishing in a record breaking time for this course of 15 minutes, 52 seconds. The previous women’s fastest time for Buffalo Trace’s course was 16 minutes, 34 seconds.

Both Mr. Ndirangu and Ms. Jerotich took home $4,000 in winnings – $3,000 for first place plus an extra $1,000 bonus to the male and female who broke the previous fastest time records.

Second place men’s winner was Cleophas Ngetich with a time of 13 minutes, 48 seconds, followed by third place men’s winner Diribra Degefa with a time of 13 minutes, 50 seconds.

Second place women’s winner was Lilian Mariita with a time of 16 minutes, 9 seconds, followed by third place women’s winner Adriana Nelson with a time of 16 minutes, 18 seconds.

The second and third place winners for both sexes won $2,500 and $2,000 respectively. The entire 5K Race winds though Buffalo Trace’s scenic grounds and includes running by centuries-old barrel aging warehouses on this National Historic Landmark site.

One hundred percent of Buffalo Trace’s Great Buffalo Chase 5K proceeds go to the Frankfort area VFW, post 4075, which they in turn use towards putting on the fireworks show for the city of Frankfort. This year it is expected Buffalo Trace will donate somewhere around $12,500 to the local VFW.

Complete 5K race results can be viewed at http://buffalotracedistillery.com/content/great-buffalo-chase-5k-race-results

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1786 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The

Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor

Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

Literally just arrived are the latest GlenDronach Single Casks and I’m having a hard job keeping my hands off them! These single cask bottlings are always popular so be quick as they are sure to fly off the shelves.

Other recent arrivals include several from the always top quality Gordon & Macphail Rare Old Range, a couple of whiskies from 1984 that would make ideal 30th birthday presents, this year’s release of the Longrow 18 year old, the very desirable wine cask matured Glen Garioch 1998 and some interesting collectables.

Some of our new arrivals are featured below but for the full run down browse our New Scotch Whisky and New Products categories.

Plus don’t forget, we are now shipping to the USA again and at very competitive rates. Check out our Delivery page for more information.

Well, I’m off now to go and drool over those GlenDronachs…

Sláinte!
Fran and Ken
Arkwrights Whisky and Wines
www.whiskyandwines.com

NEW PRODUCTS

GLENDRONACH BATCH 10 SINGLE CASK WHISKIES

Batch 10 of these luscious, rich, sherried drams from GlenDronach has whiskies ranging in age from 12 years to 24 years. All single cask and excellent value for money with prices starting at £59.99 and going up to £137.99.

Buy Online: £ From 59.99 to 137.99

INVERLEVEN 1973 37 YEAR OLD DEOCH AN DORAS

A Chivas Brothers bottling of the little seen Inverleven from the lowland malt distillery of that name that was situated within the now closed and demolished Dumbarton grain distillery.

Buy Online: £ 325.00

MORTLACH 1984 SINGLE MALT WHISKY

Got a friend with a 30th birthday this year? Then what better gift could there be than this 1984 Mortlach (and they might even share with you if you’re lucky…)

Buy Online: £ 169.99

HIBIKI 21 YEARS OLD AND KNOB CREEK^® SINGLE BARREL RESERVE WIN TOP PRIZES IN WHISKY CATEGORIES AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE 2014

Suntory Liquors Limited Wins Fourth “Distiller of the Year” Award at the same time