Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Thirteenth Round of

Single Oak Project Bourbon  

Experiment Focuses on Top of the Tree, Does it Taste Better than the Bottom?  

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (May 15, 2014) – Does the top of the tree taste better than the bottom of the tree?  Buffalo Trace Distillery attempts to find out with the release of its thirteenth round of the Single Oak Project Bourbon.  This release features bourbons which were all aged in barrels made from the top half of the tree, while keeping the other variables such as entry proof (at 125), and stave seasoning the same.  The remaining variables, recipe (wheat or rye), grain size, warehouse type and char level vary. 

If past online votes are any indication, fans are leaning towards the bottom half of the tree as their favorite, as barrel #82 remains in the lead, but with a new second place barrel coming on strong, #185, which is actually from the top of the tree. 

“There are so many variables which can affect the taste of a bourbon, and no one has ever considered how the top or bottom of the tree from which the barrel is made as a factor,” said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director. “It’s an interesting concept to think about, and when this project is over, we may be asking our barrel manufacturer to only give us either the top or the bottom of the tree!”

It’s not too late to get in on the act and start reviewing, as three more releases will take place before this project ends in the summer of 2015.  More than 4,000 reviews have been given so far on www.singleoakproject.com.             

The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.

To further the variety of experiments, the barrels were filled at two different proofs, 105 and 125 proof.  And if this wasn’t enough, two completely different warehouses were used, one with wooden floors and one with concrete floors.  In total, seven different variables were employed in Buffalo Trace’s ultimate experiment.

For eight years the Distillery continued with its tracking process, creating intricate databases and coming up with a potential of 1,396 tasting combinations from these 192 barrels!

The Single Oak Project Bourbon is being released in a series every three months from 2011 through 2015 until all of the 192 barrels have been released. The first release hit select stores in 2011.  This thirteenth release will reach stores towards the end of May. Like all the other releases, the quantities are very limited. Every case will contain 12 bottles, each from a different barrel. The twelfth release is made up of barrel numbers 11, 13, 43, 45, 75, 77, 107, 109, 139, 141, 171, and 173. All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle. Suggested retail pricing per bottle is $46.35.   

At the conclusion of the Single Oak Project, the Distillery plans to take the top rated Single Oak Project Bourbon and make more just like it, under the Single Oak name.

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.

BUSHMILLS LIVE™ LEGACY FUND RECIPIENT SELECTED BY THIRD BAR’S GARY LIGHTBODY AND DAVY MATCHETT

‘Levity Breaks’ announced as second recipient of £5,000 fund created by Bushmills^® Irish Whiskey and Snow Patrol frontman’s artist development business, Third Bar

Bushmills Village: 15^th May 2014: Following the success of the inaugural Bushmills Live™ Legacy Fund last year, Bushmills Irish Whiskey and artist development company Third Bar – comprising Snow Patrol and Tired Pony lead singer, Gary Lightbody, and Davy Matchett – announced that they have selected indie rock/pop band ‘Levity Breaks’ as recipients of the second annual fund.

Bushmills Live, the handcrafted whiskey and music festival, offers a stage for established and emerging indie talent. Additionally, the festival organisers are passionate about supporting up-and-coming talent in practical terms, through this Fund of £5,000. Recognising the significance this holds for Northern Ireland talent, Third Bar’s directors Gary and Davy have pledged to curate this fund again and selected Levity Breaks as an exciting emerging Northern Ireland band.

The team at Third Bar will be working with Levity Breaks to offer advice on how to invest their fund, including recording and touring costs. Additionally, Bushmills will be lending a performance platform to Levity Breaks at this year’s Bushmills Live. They will perform alongside headliners The 1975 and Gary Lightbody’s supergroup, Tired Pony, on 12^th June. 

As individuals, Levity Breaks have worked with members of the Sex Pistols and previously toured with Bushmills Live friends and past performers Snow Patrol and Iain Archer. Davy Matchett, Third Bar, is a big fan, commenting: “This band is a great example of the brilliant Northern Ireland music talent around at the moment. I love watching them live, their harmonies are perfect and I’m a fan of their material on ‘Maudlin,’ their debut EP. 

“Gary and I set up Third Bar together to pass on all we’ve learned about the music industry to up-and-coming artists like these guys. It is great that Bushmills is prepared to help us support this talent financially and also give them a stage at Bushmills Live. Gary will be there to perform with Tired Pony and we are both looking forward to enjoying the Levity Breaks set.” 

David C Clements was awarded the Bushmills Live Legacy Fund last year and since then he has enjoyed great success. He returns to play the main stage at this year’s event. He said: “Since receiving the fund it’s been all change. Thanks to the help I’ve received I’ve been able to quit my day job and go full time as an artist and I’m just about to complete my first album. I’ve also supported Bushmills Live 2012 headliners Snow Patrol and Ed Sheeran since the festival last year.” 

NOTES 

About the Bushmills Live Legacy Fund

As a passionate supporter of handcrafted music and indie talent, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, together with artist development company, Third Bar, last year launched a legacy fund to support emerging artists. 

Third Bar are the curators of this Fund and last year they selected two exciting emerging Northern Ireland artists as recipients: David C Clements and VerseChorusVerse. With the help of the Legacy Fund VerseChorusVerse launched an EP produced by Bushmills Live artist and friend Iain Archer from which his second single’s video ‘Common Prayer’ was released at the beginning of March. 

Additionally, in 2012 headline artists Snow Patrol donated their performance fee to the Oh Yeah Centre, an initiative set up to help emerging artists, founded by Snow Patrol frontman Gary Lightbody. This donation was used to create Bush Gardens, an outdoor performance space at the Oh Yeah Centre, a former Bushmills bonded warehouse.  

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. 

Tickets to Bushmills Live are no longer available – tickets were not available for sale but were won via a competition on Facebook. To find out more, visit facebook.com/bushmills. 

Twitter: @BushmillsGlobal

Hashtag: #BushmillsLive 

About Levity Breaks

The band formed in mid-2010. They released their single, ‘The Floor’ (Available on iTunes) in September 2011 and released their debut EP ‘Maudlin’ on 6th October 2013. It is available through MondoTunes in all major online digital music stores. 

Levity Breaks make music with pop appeal but on closer inspection there’s an unmistakable melancholy that stirs the listener profoundly. It’s this collision of light and shade that make the music so intoxicating and far reaching with songs with universal appeal. 

Between the band, as individuals, they have previously toured with artists such as Snow Patrol, Buzzcocks, British Sea Power, Iain Archer, The La’s, Bell X1, The Frames, Nine Black Alps, The Ordinary Boys, Passenger and have featured at prestigious festivals such as Oxegen, T-Vital and The Electric Picnic. Members of the band have also recorded sessions for Universal Publishing under producer Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols. 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LevityBreaks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LevityBreaks

YouTube: http://youtu.be/9c4xhNUfsUw 

Website: www.LevityBreaks.com 

About David C Clements:

David C Clements has been playing music throughout the UK and Europe more than a decade. Although his current guise has only been implemented from the beginning of last year, he previously fronted up Belfast act, Six Star Hotel. With a series of European tours, and a few critically acclaimed albums, he knew it was time for a change. He first dabbled in producing records for local acts, such as the Lowly Knights and Napoleon, but we all knew he would not stay off the road for long. 

David C Clements, as a musical project, was born on 1st January 2012. Throughout the opening few months of 2012 David released three two track EPs online, which caused quite a stir throughout the industry, gaining him viral support from Two Door Cinema Club, a live session on BBC Radio One, a show at Union Chapel London, a Channel 4 advert and a plethora of local radio support.

He is completing his first album and has supported Snow Patrol and Ed Sheeran since the festival last year. 

Website: http://davidcclements.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidCClementsmusic

Twitter: @DavidCClements 

About Bushmills Irish Whiskey

With a heritage rooted in authenticity and quality, Bushmills Irish Whiskey is produced, aged and bottled at Ireland’s oldest working distillery in the village of Bushmills in County Antrim on the far north coast of Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery uses 100% malt barley to make triple distilled malt whiskey, which is what creates the rich, mellow and distinct flavour that is the house style. The Bushmills portfolio includes: Bushmills Irish Whiskey; Black Bush, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt, 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, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Jose Cuervo, 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, brands, and performance, visit 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. 

Bourbon a key ingredient in Festival Cooking School menu  

(Bardstown, KY)  Food and fun are on the menu at the Kentucky Bourbon Culinary Arts Cooking School Thursday, September 18 at 7 p.m. at My Old Kentucky Home in the Great Hall.   Enjoy exquisite cuisine prepared by Chef John Varanese of Varanese Restaurant located on Frankfort Avenue in the heart of the Highlands in historic Louisville.  Jim Beam Bourbons will enhance the delectable menu.  Watch as Chef John showcases his magic with Bourbon Ambassador Fred Noe at his side assisting.  

 Tickets may be purchased by visiting the Kentucky Bourbon Festival web site or by calling the office 502-348-3623 ext#4. The cost per ticket is $60 plus state sales tax. 

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is a non-profit organization.  This press release may be downloaded from our website www.kybourbonfestival.com.

Jack Daniels with Oranges:

Distinctly smooth and luxuriously rich Jack Daniel’s® Whiskey infused marshmallows expertly balanced with freshest Florida oranges.

Maker’s Mark with Bacon:

Tons of real, freshly candied bacon mixed with deliciously rich and creamy marshmallows infused with Maker’s Mark® Bourbon.

http://kck.st/1likyew

Just Whisky Auction just celebrated it’s 6th monthly online auction, and to celebrate we are continuing our free entry for all bottles until further notice! Why not come and have a look at

http://www.just-whisky.co.uk/

LAPHROAIG SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY UNVEILS LAPHROAIG SELECT 

Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, proudly reveals Laphroaig Select, the newest edition to the award-winning Laphroaig portfolio. 

Laphroaig Select’s unique character is derived from the special selection of casks chosen for maturation.  The heart of the spirit is drawn from a final maturation in new American Oak casks, rarely used for Scotch whisky. 

Representing a subtle blending of peat, oak and sweetness, Laphroaig Master Distiller John Campbell has selected the spirit from Laphroaig Quarter Cask, PX Cask, Triple Wood (European Oak casks) and a final addition of 10 Year Old to create Laphroaig Select. 

Bottled at natural colour, the new single malt offers Laphroaig’s trademark ‘peat reek’ matched by an additional layer of complexity and depth brought about by the fusion of the maturation styles and different oaks. 

Master Distiller John Campbell said; “Select is an exciting and unique expression that brings together the best of Laphroaig’s flavour profile. The inspiration for Laphroaig Select comes from perhaps our greatest family owner, Ian Hunter (1886-1954), one of the first distillers to experiment with both ‘new’ American and ‘traditional’ European oak maturation. As the world’s No.1 Islay malt whisky, we continue to stay true to our long and illustrious heritage, and this expression sits perfectly amongst our award-winning portfolio.” 

 Laphroaig Select is available in selected whisky specialists and retailers (RRP £34.99). 

Tasting notes: Laphroaig Select (ABV 40%)

• Colour: Full sparkling gold
• Nose: Burning embers of peat in a crofter’s fireplace, hints of coconut and banana aromas
• Body: Full bodied
• Palate: Deep, complex and smoky yet offers and surprises the palate with a gentle sweetness
• Finish: Really long, dry with smoke and spice  

To find out more information about Laphroaig or how to become a Friend of Laphroaig, please visit www.laphroaig.com. Please enjoy our brand responsibly www.drinkaware.co.uk  

Notes 

• Laphroaig is the No.1 selling Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky globally
• Unmistakably peat-smoke flavours are delivered by burning local Islay peat, containing unique traces of seaweed and heather.
• One of only a few distilleries that still uses traditional malting floors and dries and infuses its own malt with the thick blue smoke from old peat-fired kilns.
• The Friends of Laphroaig programme keeps fans of the brand up to date with special offers and news from Master Distiller John Campbell. On signing up, members are allocated their own square foot of land on Islay, and their names are added to the members’ book in the friends lounge at the distillery. Members who visit the distillery are invited to collect their ‘rent’ – a dram of Laphroaig. The community comprises more than 600,000 like-minded Scotch fans from more than 190 countries.

General Manager

Salary: £28,000 – £35,000 pa

Location: Edinburgh EH1 2LP

Job reference:

Employer Type: Multiple (Restaurant / Bars & Pubs)

General Manager

We are looking for a pro-active and focused General Manager to join our vibrant team here at WHISKI Bar & Restaurant. As a multi award winning venue, there will certainly never be a dull moment taking the reins here with us.

Welcome to Whiski Bar & Restaurant
Whiski is a multi award winning whisky bar and restaurant mid way down Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and this is a high profile position within a growing company. We specialise in great Scottish food using local suppliers, have a worldwide reputation as one of the best Whisky bars in the world and specialise in live Scottish music – as you would imagine life is never dull here and WHISKY is a huge focus and passion and enthusiasm for it would be a great advantage!

We are dedicated to offering the highest levels of service to our customers and ensuring the venue runs smoothly to company standards. You will report to the directors of the business and have full accountability for all aspects of the business and all staff. You, the staff and all the customers having a great time is essential !

You
Experienced hands on General Manager who leads by example
Friendly outgoing personality a must with the ability to inspire staff
Financially driven with strong business acumen
Excellent written and spoken English
Computer literate and Social Media savvy
Restaurant and Bar experience with a knowledge and passion of whisky a bonus
A current Personal Licence Holder for the sale of alcohol

Duties
This is a “hands on” role and you will be responsible for :

Management and Training of all staff
Meeting and exceeding targets and working to budgets
Controlling the venue and all communications
Focusing on offering the highest levels of service to our customers
Driving the business forward
Managing events

There is a great package on offer for the right candidate £28,000 – £35,000 pa.

If you want to take over the reins here at WHISKI, please email your CV and we are so looking forward to hearing from you.

Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1948 launched in Poland

Gordon & MacPhail has launched a limited edition 66-year old whisky from the Glen Grant Distillery. Only 160 numbered decanters have been released for sale.

Distilled in 1948, cask number 1369 was bottled 66 years later in 2014 at cask strength (46.6%), at natural colour and is non-chillfiltered. This unique Single Malt is presented in stunning packaging. Each decanter is numbered and comes with a special mahogany box. The box contains a book by Charles MacLean, especially written and produced for the occasion. It provides information on the project, the whisky bottled and on the history of Gordon & MacPhail.

Renowned whisky expert and Master of the Quaich, Charles Maclean describes the Single Malt: “Such scents and flavours can only be achieved by long maturation in the right cask, yet neither the aroma nor the taste has been adversely influenced by wood. The best single descriptor that comes to mind is exquisite.”

The limited edition of the 66-year old Glen Grant whisky was bottled by Gordon & MacPhail for the Polish based Wealth Solutions, a company that specialises in delivering unique spirits, collectibles and works of art to demanding connoisseurs and collectors. The whisky was officially launched on 13 May 2014 in Polonia Palace Hotel in Warsaw. The event was graced with the presence of Michael Urquhart, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail and Charles MacLean.

The launch of this unique whisky was preceded by a tasting of Single Malts bottled by Gordon & MacPhail, led by Charles MacLean. Participants sampled whiskies from various regions of Scotland, including five created at the now silent distilleries of Brora, Port Ellen, St Magdalene, Rosebank and Caperdonich.

The demand for Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1948 has been such that all but one of the decanters was sold ahead of the official launch event. The owner of the last decanter will be selected among individuals who watched the event on-line and took part in a special contest.

Michael Urquhart, Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail said: “The pioneering approach adopted by my father and grandfather has today provided Gordon & MacPhail with an unprecedented portfolio of greatly aged Single Malt Scotch Whiskies. As custodians of this liquid history the third and fourth generations of the Urquhart family are honoured to release this exceptional example of whisky distilled at Glen Grant Distillery in 1948.”

“I am very happy to be able to offer this unique, very rare, greatly aged Single Malt Scotch Whisky to Polish connoisseurs and collectors. It was created before man went into space and landed on the Moon, before he climbed Mount Everest. This is not only whisky, it’s a living witness to the second half of 20th century”, says Michał Kowalski, Vice-President of Wealth Solutions.

Watch movie about this project: Glen Grant 1948 movie

Notes

Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned Scotch whisky specialist which has been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 60 countries. It offers more than 300 presentations of own-bottled single malts.  In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade; an honour that was bestowed on the business again in 2013 with a visit from HRH The Princess Royal.

In 1993 Gordon & MacPhail purchased Benromach Distillery and re-equipped it before it was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in 1998. A four star visitor centre is open to the public throughout the year for tours and tastings. Benromach distillery is a member of the world famous malt whisky trail.

In 2010 Gordon & MacPhail made history by bottling the oldest cask ever released – a 70 Year Old Mortlach, distilled in 1938. They followed this up by releasing 100 70cl and 175 20cl decanters of 70 Year Old Glenlivet in 2011. They have now released the remaining 100 70cl decanters from this cask.

Gordon & MacPhail is proud of its Moray roots and the company, its directors and its staff play an active role in their local community by supporting local charities and sponsoring local events.

Wealth Solutions

Wealth Solutions was established in 2007 with a mission to provide unique products for Polish collectors. The company was created by real enthusiasts of exceptional goods such as fine Bordeaux wines, top quality whisky, and art. Today, we are sharing our passion with our customers—a passion for beauty, excellence and uniqueness. Our products are a tribute to human masterpieces. Over the past 7 years, more than 7,000 clients have trusted Wealth Solutions by purchasing top quality collectibles and using the company’s expertise.

In 2012, Wealth Solutions had an exclusive privilege to introduce Glenfarclas 1953 whisky. After 58 years of maturation in an oak sherry cask, its taste is exquisite. This whisky is a natural colour and non-filtered. The cask was selected by a panel including Serge Valentin – one of the most important whisky reviewer in the world. The cask yielded 400 numbered bottles. Each bottle is accompanied by a unique book written especially for this occasion by Ian Buxton, a writer and whisky reviewer. This limited edition of Glenfarclas whisky has been selected specially for customers of Wealth Solutions.

End of 2012 Wealth Solutions introduced the exceptional 48-year-old Japanese whisky from the legendary Karuizawa Distillery. Cask #3603 filled on 1st September 1964 is one of the oldest Japanese single malt whiskies in history. The whisky originates from one of the last casks from the 1960s made in the silent Japanese Karuizawa distillery. Only 143 numbered bottles of this whisky were put on sale. Each of them features exquisite presentation and comes with an exclusive publication by Dave Broom, whisky author and reviewer. This limited edition of Karuizawa whisky was bottled exclusively for clients of Wealth Solutions.

A love of Bordeaux wine has been cultivated by us and our clients for years. It is especially for them that we work with renowned partners to create unique wine collections. In 2013 Wealth Solutions introduced a special wine collection Les tresors de Bordeaux – selection of six best vintages from Château La Conseillante. Inside these six bottles one can find embodied the greatest virtues of one of the oldest vineyards of Pomerol

BENRIACH APPOINTS NEW REGIONAL SALES MANAGER 

THE BenRiach Distillery Company, owners of the award-winning BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh brands, is beefing up its sales team with the appointment of Nigel Robinson as Regional Sales Manager.

Nigel, from Cupar in Fife, joins the fast-growing company after twenty years’ experience in building brands, driving sales and managing growth.

Before joining BenRiach he was an Agent working in the whisky and animal feed industries.

Reporting to Global Sales Director Alistair Walker and working alongside the company’s other two Regional Sales Managers Douglas Cook and Donald MacLellan, Robinson (44) will be responsible for developing BenRiach’s stellar portfolio of brands across Western European markets.

Alistair Walker commented: “I’m delighted to welcome Nigel to the team. He brings a great track record in sales and excellent industry experience with him, and these will prove invaluable in developing our brands and reputation worldwide.”

Nigel said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have a joined a company that is dynamic in its approach to the market, creative with its expressions and has a fantastic range of whiskies in a strong growth sector.”