Happy Birthday to PennyPacker Bourbon!

It has already been a full year since PennnyPacker Kentucky Straight Bourbon has been launched in the U.S. market in May 2013. Over the course of the past year, PennyPacker has received tremendous feedback, including 91 Points from the Tasting Panel Magazine, 87 Points from Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, Three Stars in the Spirit Journal’s Hall of Fame Issue among several other awards. PennyPacker has also been reviewed and featured on several websites and blogs, including WhiskeyIntelligenc.com, Bourbonblog.com, BourbonandOak.com, DrinkHacker.com, and many more.

With National distribution, PennyPacker has made its way from New York to California with appearances in various Chain Retailers such as Total Wine & More, Spec’s, Kroger’s, and more. PennyPacker is also being featured in bars and restaurants across the nation as a house-pour bourbon or used in Specialty cocktails, including “Blackberry Fig Infused PennyPacker” at Sip Rooftop Bar in Greenville, SC and the “Spring Packer” featured at The Strand Smokehouse in Astoria, NY.

What’s more is that out of approximately 130 labels imported/distributed by Niche Import Co. PennyPacker Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey has quickly made its way into the Top 5.

On the rocks. Neat. In a fancy cocktail. In a simple mixed drink. However you drink it, raise your glass, and join us in wishing PennyPacker aHappy 1st Birthday!

Niche Import Co.
At Niche Import Co., a woman owned company, it is our mission to form strategic partnerships with international wine and spirit producers from around the world to import, define, find and maintain distribution channels for high quality specialty brands in the U.S. market.

We are determined to offer outstanding service and competitive pricing to our clients through a dedicated understanding of our brands, their history, the market and target end-user within each geographic region in order to give them the energy, focus, and resources they require to thrive and grow.

Quality in your glass; quality in life. Drink responsibly.

To learn more about our products and services, please visit: www.ourniche.com

THE 1975 and TIRED PONY Rock the World’s Only Whiskey and Music Festival in an Irish Distillery 

Bushmills Live™ 2014: A special blend of established and up-and-coming artists take to the stage at age-old distillery  

Bushmills Village: 13^th June, 2014

Global stars including THE 1975 and Gary Lightbody and Peter Buck’s supergroup TIRED PONY came together along with friends of BUSHMILLS to complete an unforgettable day at ‘Bushmills Live 2014’ – the festival of handcrafted whiskey and music that took place yesterday at the Old Bushmills Distillery on Ireland’s north coast.  

They were joined by rising stars JAMES VINCENT MCMORROW, LUKE SITAL-SINGH, DAVID C. CLEMENTS, MATTHEW AND THE ATLAS, LEVITY BREAKS and RUBBLEBUCKET on what was a fantastic day of music.

The intimate festival on Ireland’s north coast was attended by 700 music and whiskey fans from around the world, including countries as far-flung as the US, Bulgaria, Portugal and Russia. 

Artists more used to playing to crowds of thousands performed a series of small gigs in centuries-old buildings at the Old Bushmills Distillery where the art of whiskey-making, perfected over generations, is practiced every day. 

Gary Lightbody from TIRED PONY said: “Last night was TIRED PONY’s first gig in Ireland and it was unlike any other gig we’ve played before. The atmosphere was great.”                                                                                                                                  

Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery, Colum Egan, said: “Bushmills Live 2014 was a great success. 

“I was looking around and everywhere people were smiling and having a great time, enjoying the wonderful music  – and the exceptional whiskey, in moderation of course. 

“THE 1975 and TIRED PONY were sensational and it was fantastic to continue to provide a platform to up-and-coming talent. The atmosphere backstage was like an old school reunion with so many friends of the festival in attendance – the craic was brilliant!”

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

GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES LATEST BATCH OF GRANDEUR 24 YEAR-OLD 

THE Russian writer Leo Tolstoy said that “spring is the time of new plans and projects”…and the season sees the latest project by GlenDronach coming to fruition with the launch today (11 June) of its newest batch of the Grandeur 24 year-old single malt. 

Designed for the serious connoisseur, the Grandeur 24 Years Old is yet another example of the sweet, gutsy, full-bodied style for which award-winning GlenDronach is renowned. 

Matured for almost a quarter of a century in the finest sherry casks to create the luscious and luxurious Grandeur 24 Years Old, it’s a classic, traditionally-crafted Highland single malt. 

At 48.9% vol and beautifully gift-boxed, this remarkable whisky has been specially selected by Master Distiller Billy Walker from some of the oldest and most unique Oloroso sherry casks at the Forgue distillery. 

This bottling, batch number 5 of the Grandeur releases, is limited to 600 bottles. Individually numbered by hand, each bottle is a one-off and truly unique, making it a very special single malt. 

Billy Walker’s evocative tasting notes paint a vivid picture of this outstanding expression. 

Appearance:  Glistening burnt amber holds a rich crimson heart. 

Nose:  A magnificent combination of honey-drenched dates and succulent raisins which gently ebb and flow with waves of delicate orange blossom, mint and cracked black pepper. Hints of glazed cherries and toasted almonds perfectly complement the seductive nose – a nose to be appreciated slowly and often. 

Palate:  A fabulously full-bodied, vibrant palate captures a multitude of classic sherry cask characteristics. The delicate sweetness of rum-soaked golden sultanas refines rich espresso, dark chocolate and treacle toffee. Zesty orange oil softens to a deep clove spice and prolongs the ever-changing palate. A sublime example of understanding the relationship between cask and single malt perfectly. 

Conclusions: The Grandeur 24 Years Old encapsulates the perfect harmony of exquisite sherry oak casks, masterful maturation and traditional crafted Highland single malt. A dram to be savoured in order to reveal the depth of dramatic flavours held in the glass. A truly memorable and captivating GlenDronach expression. 

Sales Director Alistair Walker commented: “Spring is the time to lift your spirits after a long winter and this latest batch of Grandeur does just that. This really is GlenDronach in all its sherry maturation grandeur – it’s a superb dram that brilliantly sums up everything we do well.”

DIAGEO OPENS £1.5MILLION STATE-OF-THE-ART NEW HOME FOR THE WORLD’S LARGEST ALCOHOL BRAND ARCHIVE 

Stunning new facility in Scotland features the finest liquid library in the world 

MENSTRIE, SCOTLAND, 11 June 2014.  Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks company, opened the doors to a stunning new £1.5million home for the largest alcohol brand archive in the world. 

The Diageo Archive’s fitting location, in Scotland, has been expanded with striking new facilities to store over half a million items of drinks heritage from world famous brands such as JOHNNIE WALKER®, TANQUERAY™, BAILEYS® and SMIRNOFF®. The collection is curated by a team of professional archivists dedicated to discovering and leveraging the stories behind these iconic brands. 

Christine McCafferty, Archive Manager, said, “The Diageo Archive is the largest source of drinks brand information in the world. From vintage advertisements, to film and industry accolades, we have items dating back over four centuries, from 150 countries supporting 1,500 brands and nearly 200 production sites. 

“It’s a living resource, changing daily as our teams create new advertising, new bottle designs and new innovation.” 

The Diageo Archive, located in the village of Menstrie, near Alloa in Scotland, is widely regarded as instrumental in developing the stories behind Diageo’s leading brands, as David Gates, Diageo’s global head of premium core spirits, explains: 

“In a world where people are making purchase decisions based on brand authenticity we have access to an unparalleled wealth of heritage that underpins our brands as category leaders.” 

“We feel we are literally standing on the shoulders of giants – safeguarding the legacy left by the great individuals who forged new paths for our brands. The Diageo Archive is a significant resource in ensuring we continue to build upon their pioneering journeys.” 

“It is as fundamental to the business today, as it was when first built and continues to establish credentials, support global initiatives and set cornerstones for iconic brands such as JOHN WALKER & SONS ODYSSEY™ and JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™.” 

Andrew Torrance, John Beard and Ian Bankier

WHISKY INDUSTRY HEAVYWEIGHT

 JOINS THE WHISKY SHOP BOARD

Arrival Of Former Whyte & Mackay CEO Will Assist Expansion Drive

The Whisky Shop, the UK’s largest specialist whisky retailer, has announced the appointment of former Whyte & Mackay CEO John Beard as non-executive director.

The business, which now has 23 shops in the UK, including a new flagship store in London’s Piccadilly, is gearing up for a period of further expansion in its home market as well as overseas.

The Whisky Shop is the first retailer in the UK to provide a dedicated platform for some of the world’s most exclusive and high value whiskies and is widely regarded by the industry as the leading specialist whisky retailer in the world. 

Ian Bankier, founder and chairman of The Whisky Shop, said: “Having established a sizeable footprint in the UK, we now have aspirations to expand into Europe. John brings us a wealth of experience of overseas markets and brand development and will play an important role in helping us achieve our international growth ambitions.” 

Mr Beard was until recently CEO of Whyte & Mackay Limited.  He left at the end of 2013 and recently worked with Lion Capital Private Equity in a £430m bid for Whyte & Mackay, which ultimately went to a higher bidder.

A highly experienced global drinks executive, Mr Beard spent his formative career with the Bacardi Group rising to become UK CEO of £300m turnover Bacardi Brown Forman Brands, from where he moved on to become Global Chief Executive of Whyte & Mackay Limited.

John Beard said: “I’ve known Ian and his managing director Andrew Torrance for several years and watched in admiration as they have grown the business with an unwavering focus on quality.

“The Whisky Shop’s reputation amongst the industry’s key brand owners and the discerning public is an enviable one and I’m greatly looking forward to be joining the team in a non-Executive part-time capacity, supporting Ian Bankier’s leadership and Andrew Torrance’s dynamic management.”

Ian Bankier added: “The international appetite for premium whisky is growing strongly, giving us the confidence to examine a number of exciting opportunities to replicate our UK growth in overseas markets. We are looking at Europe first.”

The Whisky Shop is the UK’s largest whisky only specialist retailer with a full range available online at http://www.whiskyshop.com/ and at 23 stores nationwide, including premium flagships in London’s Piccadilly and on Manchester’s Exchange Street.

Laphroaig® Single Malt Scotch Whisky Welcomes All Opinions

Deerfield, IL (June, 2014) –Laphroaig®, the world’s #1 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, is unveiling its new global advertising and digital campaign featuring candid, real-life opinions of Laphroaig® from some of the brands biggest fans. The idea behind “#Opinions Welcome” is to inspire whisky drinkers to share their own personal Laphroaig® “tasting notes” by showcasing the often offbeat and unique descriptions that members of Friends of Laphroaig®, the brand’s distinguished loyalty group, have provided over the years, as well as first-time Laphroaig drinkers. By commemorating the passion of an enlightened few, Laphroaig® hopes to intrigue those who are unfamiliar with, but interested in trying it for the first time.

With authentic descriptions like, “Smells like medicine. Tastes like soil. My whisky of choice,” and “Salt, peat, smoke, iodine and seaweed. My friend the oceanographer said it tasted ‘like dead fish’ I was hooked,” the campaign will be brought to life through print and digital ads, as well as video content.

“Laphroaig® has long been a brand that elicited diverse and strong opinions from those who taste it, and the quotes we’ve selected to showcase at the launch of the campaign honor our long time friends and represent their affinity for Laphroaig®,” said John Campbell, Laphroaig® Master Distiller. “These authentic reactions will entice those unfamiliar with the whisky and inspire them to share their own opinions of Laphroaig®.”

At the heart of the campaign is a microsite www.Laphroaig.com/Opinionswhich will act as the central hub for the public to submit their own opinions of Laphroaig®. In addition to showcasing the content online, some of the newly generated opinions will be selected and used within future advertisements and as brand content in the Laphroaig® social media channels. To further inspire intrigue, a series of viral videos titled, #OpinionsWelcome, will feature various people tasting Laphroaig® and openly sharing their tasting experience with the liquid – whether positive or negative. The videos will premiere throughout 2014 and can be viewed at http://www.laphroaig.com//Opinions and at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_ivP4xqeZo.

Fans are encouraged to join the discussion and share their opinions by using the hashtag #OpinionsWelcome on Facebook and Twitter. 

To learn more about Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, #OpinionsWelcome, or how to become a Friend of Laphroaig®, visit www.Laphroaig.com, LIKE us on Facebook www.Facebook.com/Laphroaig, or follow us on Twitter @Laphroaig.

Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre’s New Restaurant Launched  

– ‘Irish True’ Menu with a Whiskey Infused Twist 

Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre has announced the official opening of its new restaurant ‘The Bond’. The new restaurant, inspired by Tullamore D.E.W.’s distinct ‘Irish True’ personality and locally sourced Irish produce, combines high end gastro-pub style food with a whiskey infused twist.  

The restaurant is headed up by talented French Chef Alex Avel, formerly of the Hilton in Lyon.  Diners can expect dishes of imagination and flair combining the finest local ingredients with a warm and atmospheric eating experience.  Signature dishes include Lamb Shank Redemption, a slowly braised lamb shank resting in onion and rosemary jus with seasonal farm vegetables and potatoes.  Whiskey inspired dishes include the ‘D.E.W. York D.E.W. York house burger’ and the ‘Irish Drunken Mushrooms’ flambéed in Tullamore D.E.W. Old Bonded Warehouse release. 

Speaking at the opening of ‘The Bond’, Cathy Sullivan, Marketing Manager Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre, said “We are delighted to officially open ‘The Bond’.  A lot of care and attention to detail has gone into designing a restaurant worthy of its beautiful setting in the Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre along the banks of the Grand Canal.  We have designed a menu that reflects the unique spirit and heritage of Tullamore D.E.W. and the rich palette of world class Irish ingredients available on our doorstep. I have no doubt our unique dishes, excellent service and rustic charm will put ‘The Bond’ firmly on the culinary map for both local foodies and the thousands of visitors to the Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre each year.” 

The 70 seater restaurant is open daily from 11am – 4pm with late opening on Fridays and Sundays from June 6th. ‘The Bond’ is part of the Tullamore D.E.W. Visitor Centre which was extensively redesigned and re-launched as an interactive experience in September 2012.     

Over 100 years since the last Scottish miners abandoned Joadja Creek shale mines in New South Wales, Joadja Whisky brings back the spirit of these brave men and women who helped forge a nation through their bravery, hard work and enterprise. The drama of this Australian Ghost Town is brought back to life by the crystal clear water of the natural spring, the local produce and the very best Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso casks imported from Spain by the founders, Valero and Elisa Jimenez. http://www.joadjawhisky.com.au/

Celebrate Father’s Day with Glen Grant the Major’s Reserve 

Show the man in your life how much you appreciate him this Father’s Day, with a Glen Grant gift pack featuring a bottle of Glen Grant the Major’s Reserve and two whisky tumblers, presented in a beautifully designed box. 

Inspired by James ‘The Major’ Grant, this easy drinking single malt is the freshest and lightest of the Glen Grant range.  Creamy and fruity on the palate, it has a slightly dry, nutty finish and is the perfect introduction to single malts for those who are moving across from blended whiskies. 

James ‘The Major’ Grant, was just 25 when he took over the distillery and was renowned for being a legendary innovator, socialiser and traveller. In 1931, Major Grant – the last of the Grants- died, leaving behind his three daughters and one of the most famous distilleries in the world. Douglas MacKessack, his grandson, was his successor. 

Served neat, on the rocks or in your cocktail of choice, celebrate Father’s Day with a whisky that was inspired by a truly great man and father. 

Recommended retail selling price: R219.99 

For more information on Glen Grant, please visit http://www.glengrant.com/

THE FAMOUS GROUSE LEADS INNOVATION AND INVITES CONSUMERS TO ‘BE PART OF SOMETHING FAMOUS’ 

The Famous Grouse Blended Scotch whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, has demonstrated its continued commitment to innovation as the brand invites consumers to personalise a bottle of their famous whisky with their own treasured photograph. 

The UK’s number one selling whisky recently adopted a new brand ethos – Be Part of Something Famous – borne out of the human truth that people ultimately desire to belong to something bigger. 

Inspiring consumers that Famous Moments Are Worth Sharing, the leading whisky brand has created a microsite (www.makesomeonefamous.com) where purchasers of any 70cl or 1L bottle can go and add a prized moment or favourite photo, absolutely free of charge. This is a significant move for the brand who, for the first time, will allow their beloved Grouse to be removed from personalised bottles and replaced by moments that are special to their consumer. 

Committed to ensuring widespread pick up of the new mechanic, this latest innovation from The Famous Grouse will be supported by a fully integrated campaign. The brand has invested in national press and digital advertising, as well as large scale activation in multiple retailers. 

On top of the brand’s new personalisation mechanic they have also unveiled a new 70cl limited edition gift pack for Father’s Day. The design of the gift carton celebrates the characteristics consumers think fathers are famous for, including The Famous Cyclist, The Famous Moustache and The Famous Bowler. The limited edition gift packs are now available in all major supermarkets with bottles that can also be personalised free of charge by visiting www.makesomeonefamous.com . 

Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director Maxxium UK, commented:

“As the UK’s leading whisky it’s important to us that we lead the category in innovation. 

“Everything we do and produce is through an effort of collaboration, with everyone playing an important role in creating something famous, however small. Be Part of Something Famous is all about extending this spirit of collaboration to consumers and offering them ways to get involved. Personalisation does this job for us. 

The new personalisation offering is available on all 1L and 70cl bottles of The Famous Grouse (RRP £17.10 and £23.10). The move follows the brand’s pre-Christmas personalisation campaign, allowing consumers to change the text only, which saw Maxxium UK working around the clock to fulfil high demand. 

The Famous Grouse is a blend of the finest malts and grains, married and matured in sherry casks.

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)

About The Famous Grouse

• The Famous Grouse is the no. 1 whisky in Scotland and no. 4 standard blended whisky worldwide (IWSR data 2012)
• The Famous Grouse is exported to over 100 countries