THE NAKED TRUTH 

The Naked Grouse blended Scotch whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, has unveiled its updated new look. Reinforcing the brand’s premium positioning, the distinctive updated packaging exudes quality, combining craft and luxury to reflect the simple, hand-crafted blend inside.

The Naked Grouse is a unique and expertly crafted, small batch blended Scotch whisky containing hand-blended world- renowned malts that combine to produce a sweet, rich and smooth taste. The exceptional blend was inspired by William Gloag of The Famous Grouse family and his pioneering discovery of sherry cask maturation. This innovative process, along with an enduring legacy of expertise, creates a stunning example of the blender’s art. 

The subtle enhancements highlight the honest simplicity behind The Naked Grouse. The simple yet striking bottle, etched with a picture of the drink’s emblem, now comes complete with a cardboard and string neck tag describing the brand story and craftsmanship behind this unique blend. 

Johna Penman, Marketing Controller of Maxxium UK commented: ‘As an award-winning liquid, The Naked Grouse reflects our passion to create a simple, great tasting, premium spirit. We are very proud of the collaborative effort and innovative processes behind the making of The Naked Grouse and feel it’s important for us to engage with our target consumer and celebrate the growing interest in artisan craft brands in the UK.  The recent rise in popularity of craft positioned brands presents an opportunity to tell our story and recruit new consumers into Blended Scotch, making it a more relevant category for a new generation of drinkers. ’ 

The whisky is available in high end bars and retail outlets such as Sainsbury’s. RRP £25 

www.drinkaware.co.uk 

Notes

About Maxxium UK

• Maxxium UK Ltd is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Inc and Edrington.

• Its UK portfolio of premium brands includes: blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse, Teacher’s and Cutty Sark), malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Ardmore), imported whiskey (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Canadian Club, Red Stag), cognac and brandy (Courvoisier and Fundador), sherry (Harveys), vodka (Stolichnaya), tequila (Sauza), rum (Brugal and Cruzan), liqueurs and specialities (Sourz, Bols liqueurs, Galliano, Vaccari, After Shock)

WORLD-CLASS GOLFER IAN POULTER ANNOUNCED AS FOUNDING CAPTAIN OF INNOVATIVE NEW BALLANTINE’S ONLINE GOLF CLUB

Ballantine’s, the world’s No 2 Scotch whisky and part of the Pernod Ricard family of brands, yesterday announced the launch of the Ballantine’s Golf Club; a unique and innovative online Golf Club, inspired by golf and its lifestyle and aimed at those who share an appreciation of golf and a love of fine whisky. Ian Poulter will be the Club’s first ever Captain and registrations for the Club are open now at www.ballantinesgolfclub.com, with the site due to launch in full this October 2014. 

Membership to the Ballantine’s Golf Club will offer unique access to exclusive content, invitational events, whisky tastings, VIP hospitality and a range of member rewards, as well as the chance to meet and play with top players and participate in a member-only global tournament. 

Leading Sports Presenter, Di Dougherty, hosted the launch event – held just ahead of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, at which Ballantine’s is the Official Whisky Sponsor – and announced Ian Poulter as the inaugural Club Captain. Ballantine’s also screened a world premiere of ‘Moments of Truth’, a mini-documentary featuring Ian Poulter and offering a unique insight into Poulter’s own back story and psyche; watch it in full at www.ballantinesgolfclub.com. 

The ‘Moments of Truth’ film is part of a series, which will focus on moments in golf that have changed the course of a golfer’s career, seeing them Stay True to themselves and to their own courage and determination. The ‘Moments of Truth’ series will feature exclusive stories from respected figures in the world of golf over the coming year, all of which will be showcased within the Ballantine’s Golf Club. 

Throughout the season, http://www.ballantinesgolfclub.com/ will be updated with further exclusive content including ‘Shot Makers’, which features swing and course management tips from professionals, ‘Captain’s Diary’ updates from Ian Poulter and further mini-documentaries. The site will then be fully populated and unveiled in October 2014, when registered members will have an even wider range of content at their fingertips. 

Ian Poulter said: “It is an honour to be the Founding Captain of the Ballantine’s Golf Club. Ballantine’s has long had an association with golf and it’s fantastic to be a part of a truly unique club where, like me, the members will share an appreciation of whisky and the true spirit of golf”. 

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s added: “We have a tremendous heritage in golf dating back to 1960; however the Ballantine’s Golf Club marks a significant shift in our strategy within the sport. In addition to our continued support for tournaments across the golfing calendar, the introduction of the Ballantine’s Golf Club will allow us to reach an increasing number of golf fans, who share an appreciation of good whisky, all around the world”. 

The Ballantine’s Golf Club was inspired by the brand’s ‘Stay True’ positioning, which serves as an invitation to consumers to express themselves in a genuine and authentic way, applauding conviction and self-belief. The identity of the Golf Club reflects its members’ modern lifestyle and aspirational outlook, building on Ballantine’s strong heritage in golf in a contemporary and innovative way. 

Members can register to join the Ballantine’s Golf Club now at www.ballantinesgolfclub.com, where the first ‘Moments of Truth’ film featuring Ian Poulter can also be viewed.

Notes 

About Ballantine’s:

Ballantine’s is the No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the world’s No 2 Scotch whisky by volume, and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 130 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827. 

About Ballantine’s in golf:

Ballantine’s has a rich history in golf dating back to 1960 when the first Ballantine’s sponsored golf tournament was played at Wentworth Club in England. Ballantine’s founded the Ballantine’s Championship in 2008, remaining title sponsor of the tournament until 2013. Ballantine’s has also been a sponsor of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open since 2007 and the BMW Masters in Shanghai, China, since 2012.  

About Chivas Brothers:

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

Just Whisky’s July Auction is now LIVE. Highlights of the auction are bottles we’ve rarely seen at auction at all over the past few years. From the Moon Imports ‘Cars’ collection, an ultra low volume Aberlour (1 of 37) A’Bunadh Silver, the incredible Bowmore 1955 and very rare appearance of a beautiful Macallan Cask 888 has us excited this month. 

Of course not all the auction lots are so expensive and hard to find. Those of you into more reasonably priced drams will find plenty to bid on and enjoy. Feis Ile bottles aplenty, sherried, port finished, the smokey and sweet – you’ll find it all this month in Just Whisky’s biggest auction. 

The Auction runs until Sunday 20^th July at 8PM. Check it out at www.just-whisky.co.uk

OLD PULTENEY CELEBRATES THE HOMECOMING OF ITS CLIPPER YACHT WITH A COMMEMORATIVE BOTTLING

This week Old Pulteney – The Maritime Malt – celebrates the completion of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2014 by the crew of brave men and women on board a yacht named after the iconic Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The race started eleven months ago and saw the Old Pulteney rose of winds carried proudly to France, Brazil, South Africa, Australia, Singapore, China, United States of America, Panama, Jamaica, Northern Ireland, The Netherlands and back to the starting point in London, UK. The brand’s involvement in this classic feat of sea adventuring is a natural continuation of the long and rich maritime heritage of the town of Wick on the Caithness Coast in the Northern Highlands of Scotland, where Pulteney Distillery was built in 1826 and where it produces its multi-award-winning Scotch whisky until this day.

The staff and management at Pulteney Distillery took the opportunity to thank all the crew members and the Skipper Partick van der Zijden for their tremendous effort and for representing Old Pulteney all around the world this past year. The Old Pulteney crew have shown rare determination and courage and successfully completed the race despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Margaret Mary Clarke, the Old Pulteney Global Brand Manager, said:

“As a whisky built on its maritime history and connections, it has been an enormous thrill to be part of the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Race and to have witnessed the ‘Old Pulteney’ speed from port to port over the past year.”

Old Pulteney Clipper Commemorative Bottling

To mark the occasion Old Pulteney will release a special commemorative bottling of its whisky. Old Pulteney Clipper will be made available in July 2014 at select retailers world-wide. The limited release will feature a Clipper Round the World Yacht Race -themed packaging and the whisky itself will be a classic expression of Old Pulteney, matured in both ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. The whisky will be presented at its natural colour, non chill-filtered and at a premium strength of 46% ABV. Only 2,700 cases of this rare bottling will ever be released and the recommended retail price in the UK is £50.

The appearance of the whisky is that of polished gold. On the nose the sweetness of dried fruits and crispiness of green apples is accompanied by notes of fresh vanilla and white chocolate. On the palate waves of honey and orange zest, a rounded oaky structure and an unmistakable coastal note set this fresh and elegant Old Pulteney apart. The finish is smooth and long-lasting.

Maritime Malt

The heritage of Old Pulteney Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is closely interwoven with that of the port town of Wick. Once a thriving herring fishing port where as many as one thousand vessels could crowd the harbour in the fishing season, Wick was famously reported to produce ‘barrels of silver’ (salted herring) and ‘barrels of gold’ (single malt whisky). Set up to quench the thirst of a busy port, the distillery soon became recognised for producing one of the finest spirits in the world. And even though the fishing industry in Wick is well past its prime, traditional production methods, a wealth of experience and the coastal location which lends a distinctly maritime character to the whisky, keep Old Pulteney firmly in the whisky lover’s spotlight.

AWARD-WINNING GlenDronach Distillery has today (July 14th) released Batch 10 of its renowned single cask bottlings.

Nine outstanding casks, ranging from 1990 to 2002, were selected by Master Distiller Billy Walker. Each one of these casks from the Aberdeenshire distillery is an excellent example of the typical GlenDronach character with tastes of sweet dates, raisins, dark chocolate, toasted oak spice and roasted coffee beans.

The cask details are:

1990 cask # 2970 / 24 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 51.3%

1991 cask # 1346 / 22 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 52.1%

1992 cask # 199 / 22 Years Old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 59.4%

1993 cask # 494 / 21 Years Old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 55.8%

1994 cask # 326 / 19 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 53.5%

1994 cask # 3397 / 19 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 53.8%

1995 cask # 3025 / 18 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 51.1%

1996 cask # 1487 / 18 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 54.1%

2002 cask # 1500 / 12 Years Old / Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon / 56.7%

Master Distiller Billy Walker said: “Our batch releases of single casks bottlings are eagerly awaited by whisky connoisseurs worldwide and Batch 10 is truly astonishing in both its quality and style. 

“Each cask was selected because of its excellent GlenDronach character. For example, on the nose, 1990 cask # 2970 has generous dustings of allspice over sundried raisins and roasted coffee beans with a delicate barley background. As a contrast, the 1995 cask # 3025 shows fresh green apple developing to prunes and raisins with a vibrant spice note of ginger, black pepper and soft clove oil on the palate. 

“And the youngest expression of the nine, 2002 cask # 1500, gives aromas of sweet figs and chocolate-covered raisins dusted with vanilla and spiced by subtle cigar smoke, candied peel and stem ginger. A fascinating range of expressions that will appeal to all tastes.”

INTRODUCING HAN SHAN: THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE FROM HUDSON WHISKEY’S “MAKING THE CUT” CHALLENGE AND  OUR NEW BRAND AMBASSADOR

NEW YORK – July 7, 2014 – All hail the new Hudson brand ambassador! Actually, all hug the new Hudson brand ambassador- here at Hudson Whiskey, we’re all about love over laud. The amount of love for each hand-dipped bottle of whiskey, love for each local New York-sourced ingredient we use, and love for each member of our distillery is immeasurable, which brings us to Han Shan. We fell in love with his knowledge of the whiskey landscape, his enthusiasm for Hudson, but above of all, we fell in love with him! Which is why we’re thrilled to announce Mr. Han Shan as the new face of Hudson Whiskey. 

To be honest, we fell in love with all of our delightful and charismatic candidates- “Making the Cut” was not a search for the pre-eminent mixologist or an encyclopedic spirits mind, but for the next member of the Hudson family. We took three finalists up to the Hudson distillery at Tuthilltown, New York and taught our  prospective ambassadors what it is that makes whiskey “Hudson Whiskey”, why we source everything locally, and generally what it means to be part of the Hudson clan. In the end, while we’re excited to have three new friends, we found that Han was the full human embodiment of Hudson’s ideals and identity. Congratulations! 

As the new face of Hudson, Han will circle the country, speaking with bartenders, restaurant owners, whiskey enthusiasts and journalists, hosting tastings, connecting with fans via social media and representing our brand in the national press. 

“From sampling bourbon and rye straight from barrels in the rickhouse to exploring the dramatic mountain trails overlooking the distillery to late-night storytelling with the other candidates at the beautiful Hudson Valley farmhouse, Making the Cut was truly a beautiful, once-in-a-lifetime experience,” says Han of his time at the distillery. “I cannot fully express the level of my excitement to spread love for this wonderful whiskey, and for being graciously welcomed into the family.” Adds Gable Erenzo, co-founder, distiller, and former brand ambassador for Hudson: “When we started this project, I never dreamed that we would find someone as passionate and dynamic as Han. To be honest, I can’t help but see a bit of myself in him and I couldn’t imagine a more perfect friend to take over for me as ambassador. 

For a full look at Han’s journey to spirits stardom, head to HudsonWhiskey.com/MakingTheCut; who knows, maybe you’ll discover a thing or two that might help you become the next member of our little family here at Tuthilltown. You can also keep an eye on our website to find out when Han might be coming to your town so you can say hello yourself- we’re sure he’d love to meet you! 

About Hudson

Hudson Whiskey has become an iconic American Whiskey since the first of its signature 375 ml bottles were shipped in 2005.  In this short time, the micro distillery in upstate New York has quickly received acclaim not only for the quality of its marques, but also for its ground-breaking status: As well as being the first legal pot-stilled whiskey distilled in New York state since prohibition and sourcing 90% of its grains from within 10 miles of the distillery, Hudson’s signature expression – Baby Bourbon – is also the first ever New York state-produced bourbon. Hudson Whiskeys have an ABV of 46% and include a range of diverse and innovative marques including Hudson Baby Bourbon (RRP of $44.99), Hudson Four Grain Bourbon (RRP of $44.99), Hudson Manhattan Rye (RRP of $44.99), Hudson Single Malt (RRP of $44.99) and Hudson New York Corn Whiskey (RRP of $38.99) For more information, visit http://www.hudsonwhiskey.com/

About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the luxury spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distills some of the world’s leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world’s most awarded single malt Glenfiddich^®, The Balvenie^® range of handcrafted single malts and the world’s third largest blended Scotch Grant’s^® along with iconic premium spirits brands Hendrick’s^® Gin, Sailor Jerry^® Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey and Milagro^® Tequila. 

William Grant & Sons has been honored as “Distiller of the Year” by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge ten times over the past 15 years. 

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick’s Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Milagro Tequila, Grant’s, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson’s Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Montelobos Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Lillet, Art In The Age, The Knot and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit http://www.grantusa.com/.

Jim Beam Makes History, Fills 13 Millionth Barrel Of Bourbon

Clermont, Kentucky – Jim Beam® Bourbon made history today by achieving a bourbon-industry first by filling its 13 millionth barrel of bourbon since the repeal of Prohibition in 1933. The barrel was personally filled and sealed by Fred Noe, Jim Beam’s great-grandson and seventh generation master distiller, at the company’s flagship distillery in Clermont, Ky. Also on hand to celebrate the milestone was Freddie Noe, an eighth generation Beam who also works at the distillery. 

“I guess, in this case, 13 is a lucky number,” said Noe. “As a family, we’re proud of this milestone. It speaks loudly and proudly to our longevity and history, and bolsters our position as the world’s largest producer of bourbon. We’ve been making bourbon a long time and we’ve made a lot of it.”

The historic milestone, achieved less than three years after the filling of the 12 millionth barrel, underscores bourbon’s soaring popularity the world over. Domestic sales of bourbon have increased by 40 percent in the past five years and exports have topped the $1 billion mark. 

Demand for Jim Beam Bourbon is on the rise, as well – not just Jim Beam’s flagship white label bourbon, but its entire award-winning bourbon portfolio featuring Jim Beam® Black,  Jim Beam® Devil’s Cut®, Jim Beam Honey®, Jim Beam® Maple, Jim Beam® Signature Craft, Red Stag by Jim Beam®, Jim Beam® Rye and the brand new Jim Beam® Single Barrel. The Jim Beam portfolio, once limited to a single brand, now includes 20 bourbon expressions.

Fueled by the company’s commitment to innovation and pioneering the flavored whiskey category, Beam has continued to expand its operations in Kentucky to meet increased production demands while remaining true to the brand’s heritage and authenticity.  Each year, Jim Beam sells more than 7 million cases globally, and the Jim Beam brand family is up 13.1 percent in net sales year-to-date through the end of February.   

“This recent success is a testament to the craft and heritage of ‘America’s Native Spirit,’” said Noe, who has been on hand for a number of barreling milestones in his 30 plus years at the Beam distillery. “Globally, bourbon is in huge demand, and we’re producing it at a faster rate than ever before. We expect even less time to pass between now and the 14 millionth barrel fill than the three short years it took us to hit 13 million after 12 million.”

The 13 millionth barrel will be aged inside the distillery’s historic rackhouse D, a nine-story rackhouse re-built by Jim Beam and his son, T. Jeremiah, after Prohibition, right on the distillery grounds and open to Beam’s bourbon fans who come to tour the Jim Beam American Stillhouse. 

According to Noe, 13 million barrels of bourbon would:

• Yield more than 285 million cases of Jim Beam Bourbon;
• Fill more than 3 billion bottles of Jim Beam Bourbon;
• Create more than 56 billion bourbon cocktails – enough for every person on Earth to enjoy one Jim Beam cocktail every day for seven days straight;
• Stretch from the United States to China via the Pacific Ocean, when stacked end to end; and
• Reach the top of the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, 14,000 times when stacked end to end.

For more information on Jim Beam, please visit www.jimbeam.com, www.facebook.com/jimbeamus, or @jimbeamofficial.

CHIVAS REGAL GETS SET TO SELECT THE FIRST CHIVAS MASTER

On Tuesday 15 July 2014 in New York City, Chivas Regal, the world’s original luxury whisky, will announce the global winner of the inaugural Chivas Masters competition.

Launched earlier this year, the competition has seen the world’s best bartenders from 13 countries compete for the title, whilst in search of the next generation of classic cocktails. Throughout the competition competitors have been asked to craft a modern classic drink inspired by four great cocktail eras; the Classic Age (1880-1920) the Post War Boom (1945-1965), the Disco Years (1975-1990) and lastly the modern Age of Revivalism.

Over the course of the two-day final, a panel of industry experts will conduct a series of workshops and challenges to test the creativity, style and mixology skills of the competitors. Max Warner, Chivas Global Brand Ambassador will be joined by an esteemed panel of judges including Ago Perrone, Director of Mixology at the Connaught Bar in London to select the final Master. The judges will be assessing competitors on performance, knowledge of cocktail culture and creativity, and will be looking for a cocktail that can stand the test of time to become the next cocktail classic.

The winner of the Chivas Masters title will be announced at a cocktail evening at Nomad, New York, and will be presented with a grand prize on the night of 15th July. All competitors taking part in the competition will conclude their trip with a visit to the world’s premier cocktail festival ‘Tales of the Cocktail’ in New Orleans, where Chivas is sponsoring the Best American/International Cocktail Bar at the Spirited Awards.

For more information visit: www.chivas.com 

About Chivas Regal

Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.9 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old. www.chivas.com

About Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport. www.chivasbrothers.com

BALLANTINE’S ANNOUNCES THE WINNER OF THE BAR PROJECT 

“L’Epicerie”, a grocery-themed bar designed by Moroccan-born Abderrahim El Afsar, will be brought to life by Ballantine’s in the heart of Paris this autumn

Ballantine’s, the world’s No 2 Scotch whisky, today announced the winner of The Bar Project; an innovative and entrepreneurial challenge that took place in France earlier this year, offering consumers the unique opportunity to devise a concept for their own dream bar.  The Bar Project by Ballantine’s saw more than 100 bar concepts submitted – via Facebook – by the French public. A jury including Simon Baldeyrou, CEO of Deezer in France and Laura Leonard, a renowned interior designer, selected their top three entries, which were then put to the public vote, with “L’Epicerie” achieving almost 50% of the overall votes cast.  

The winner of the challenge, as voted for by the public, is Abderrahim El Afsar – more commonly known as “Abdou” –  whose Moroccan-inspired, grocery-themed bar concept will now be brought to life by Ballantine’s this September, within famous Parisian club “Le Chacha”. 

Abdou’s unique cocktail bar concept “L’Epicerie” enables the customer to select their own fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, with these ingredients then forming the base of their own sophisticated and delicious cocktail. Infused with plants, spice jars, fruit baskets and bouquets of fresh herbs, “L’Epicerie” evokes the sense of a Moroccan ‘night food market’. Customers will be able to browse the bar’s inviting shelves, filling their shopping basket with the finest ingredients of their choice. The experienced mixologists behind the bar will then create an innovative whisky cocktail with these ingredients, selecting the most appropriate expression from the Ballantine’s range to match, which customers will be able to drink around the large host table that forms the centrepiece of the bar. 

Abdou El Asfari, the winning designer of this impressive concept, was born in Morocco and went on to become Head Bartender at several well-known bars in the country. He moved to France in 2013 to continue to practise his passion in luxury hotels and at private parties, always staying true to his Moroccan roots and taking inspiration from the country’s opulent spices, fresh fruits and vegetables. 

Abdou commented: “I have always dreamed of creating my own bar and, thanks to The Bar Project by Ballantine’s, it’s finally come true. I have learned so much through the whole experience, and I can’t wait until the grand opening of my bar this September!” 

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, added: “The Bar Project has been a hugely successful pilot initiative for Ballantine’s in France, and we were pleased to see such high quality entries from across the country. L’Epicerie is a hugely innovative concept and one that reflects Abdou’s own Moroccan heritage and back-story. We hope to now see some of our other Ballantine’s markets continuing the success of the campaign and launching The Bar Project in their own country, giving our customers around the world the chance to participate.” 

“L’Epicerie” will open its doors to the public on the 4^th September 2014, on the first floor of Le Chacha, situated in Paris’s first district. 

For more information about The Bar Project by Ballantine’s, visit www.ballantinesbarproject.fr. 

Notes

About The Bar Project by Ballantine’s:

The Bar Project by Ballantine’s launched in France in February 2014, offering French consumers the chance to create the bar of their dreams, with the winning design to be brought to life by Ballantine’s for a limited period in the heart of Paris. More than 100 designs were submitted, which were then reviewed by a panel of experts; Simon Baldeyrou, CEO of Deezer France, Laura Leonard, renowned interior designer, Hirmane Abdoulhakime, Artisitic Director of Le Chacha Club and Mathieu Deslandes, Marketing Director of Pernod. Three finalists were chosen – “L’Epicerie”, “The Charlatan” and “Ball Cocktail” – and were put to the public vote, with “L’Epicerie” being crowned the overall winner. Ballantine’s will now work with the winning designer, Abdou El Asfari, to bring his design to life for a limited period in Le Chacha Club. The bar will officially open to the public on the 4^th September 2014. 

About Le Chacha Club:

Le Chacha is situated in the heart of Paris’s first district, a key feature of the nightlife scene. A restaurant, bar and nightclub, the décor evokes a 1930s apartment with the various rooms lending themselves to a range of uses, from showrooms to fashion shoots and even music studios. The winner of The Bar Project by Ballantine’s will be given the opportunity to transform the first floor of Le Chacha; 45 square meters will be converted into a new look in line with the winner’s vision. 

About Ballantine’s:

Ballantine’s is the No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the world’s No 2 Scotch whisky by volume, and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 120 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827. 

About Chivas Brothers:

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

Beam Suntory To Begin Distributing Suntory Whisky Brands In The United States And Germany Beginning July 1

Deerfield, Illinois, June 2014 – Beam Suntory Inc., one of the world’s leading spirits companies, today announced that it will begin distribution of the Suntory Japanese and Scotch whiskies and Midori liqueur in the United States and Germany beginning July 1st.

In both markets, distribution of brands including Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whisky, Bowmore and Auchentoshan single-malt Scotch whisky, and Midori will transition from current third-party distribution arrangements to the company’s own routes to market. As the company’s brands are already distributed together in Japan, the Beam Suntory portfolio will now be combined in markets representing more than 70% of the company’s total net sales.

“This is an important milestone in the integration of the Beam Suntory spirits portfolio,” said Matt Shattock, chairman and CEO of Beam Suntory. “Our sales force and distributors in the important U.S. and Germany markets are excited to begin selling these growing, high-quality premium Japanese and Scotch whiskies, as well as the dynamic Midori brand.  And our Beam Suntory marketing team is gearing up to help further build these brands and expand consumer demand. We see the opportunity to build a global Japanese whisky category in the years ahead, and this is the first step.”

The U.S. and Germany mark the first route-to-market transitions since the acquisition of Beam by Suntory Holdings, which was completed on April 30th. “We thank Campari for its distribution support and stewardship of the Suntory brands in the U.S. and Germany over the years,” Shattock added. 

Further route-to-market integration is expected to be completed later this year.