Whiskey has Balls of Steel

Balls of Steel were the first stainless steel whiskey chiller on the market. Originally made from solid high-grade stainless steel. Now, we’ve upgraded our Balls with a phase-change technology in the center called the Arctic Core.

Balls of Steel are more powerful than ever with the Arctic Core. A set can chill any whiskey without diluting the flavor with tap water and will always leave the heavenly flavors balanced and perfect like they were meant to be right outta’ the barrel.

Plus Balls of Steel were created to support men’s health. Each set sold helps raise awareness about  testicular cancer and 15 percent goes straight to testicular cancer cure research.

Check em out – http://www.originalbos.com/

BALLANTINE’S AND BOILER ROOM TAKE FANS ON JOURNEY OF MUSICAL DISCOVERY A TEASER LAUNCH VIDEO CAN BE VIEWED ATVIMEO.COM/BOILERROOMTV/STAYTRUE AND EMBEDDED INTO NEWS ONLINE NEWS STORIES USING THE EMBED CODE BELOW

Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky, today announced a global brand partnership with online music phenomena, Boiler Room.

‘Boiler Room & Ballantine’s Stay True Journeys’ aims to discover and celebrate the stories of the world’s most vibrant music scenes – from the characters who defined them, to the pioneers that are driving them forwards. The centrepiece of the project will be the production of a series of online documentaries, shot on location across the globe and featuring local musicians exploring the stories of the people, places and factors that have created each unique music culture.

A series of one-off, local events in stunning venues will also be staged throughout the year, featuring a mix of local legends and emerging talent, as well as some of the hottest international names. Tickets to the events will be exclusively available via Ballantine’s and Boiler Room channels, with a global audience able to tune-in live online via the microsite, Boilerroom.TV/StayTrue.

The first ‘Stay True Journey’ will take place in a yet undisclosed location in Mexico in March, with further destinations already lined up across three continents. More details will be announced in the coming weeks at Boilerroom.TV/StayTrue.

From its inauspicious beginnings as a lo-fi series of streamed DJ sets and live performances from a warehouse in Hackney, London, Boilerroom.tv has gone on to become one of the world’s most popular, authentic music channels, with well over six million monthly viewers and a social community of over a million.

Its unique formula of intimate, invite-only events, featuring artists performing the music of their choice, via global live-stream, has already attracted artists including Thom Yorke, Laurent Garnier, Bonobo, Skream and Mark Ronson. In the last few weeks they have broadcast shows from Berlin, London, Glasgow, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Lisbon.

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s commented: “Boiler Room is a natural partner for Ballantine’s. They’ve consistently delivered the most credible live and streamed music experiences to music lovers across the globe and, as such, epitomise the Stay True values of our brand. At a time when music is all too often viewed as disposable, ‘Stay True Journeys’ allows us to immerse fans in the stories which lie behind the world’s most exciting and authentic musical talent.”

Blaise Bellville, founder and CEO of Boiler Room added: “We don’t enter into brand partnerships lightly. What excited us about this opportunity was that Ballantine’s stands by its mantra of being genuine and authentic, with a true passion for music – where it’s come from, where it is at currently and where it’s heading. This project is going to allow us to capture and share the best of these stories, from all over the world.”

In addition to ‘Stay True Journeys’, Ballantine’s has also been supporting Boiler Room events around the world, with Ballantine’s in Mexico having previously hosted a number of events and Ballantine’s in Israel signed up to sponsor the first ever Boiler Room event in the country. Ballantine’s unveiled its new brand positioning, Stay True, Leave An Impression, in October 2013, which serves as an invitation to consumers to express themselves in a genuine and authentic way, applauding conviction and self-belief.

For more information, see Boilerroom.TV/StayTrue.

Embed the teaser launch video into news pieces using;

Boiler Room and Ballantine’s present Stay True Journeys from BOILER ROOM on Vimeo.

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 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.

www.ballantines.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

For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com

The Word extraordinary is often overused.

Defined as something beyond the expected, it should be reserved only for the truly remarkable. With that in mind, it is our pleasure to introduce the second expression from our Extraordinary Single Cask collection – the Glenrothes 1969 Single Cask #11485. With golden hues and peerless texture it is the most beautifully balanced, elegant and well-mannered single malt we have ever produced. The hogshead cask used to create this single malt has yielded just 133 bottles, meaning it is almost as exclusive as it is elegant.

FIND OUT MORE

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY EXPERIMENTS

WITH ENTRY PROOF IN LATEST RELEASE

 Four Different Rye Recipe Bourbons are the Latest

Experimental Collection Release

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Feb. 12, 2014) Barrel entry proof continues to be a topic of debate amongst whiskey makers and avid whiskey fans, with some believing different proofs lead to different results.

Buffalo Trace Distillery was curious as well, and began an experiment on four different entry proofs with its rye recipe bourbon more than 12 years ago. Now these bourbons have come of age and are being released along with Buffalo Trace’s findings.

            All of the experiments came off the still at a consistent 140 proof, but were put into the barrel for aging using four different entry proofs.  All of the barrels were then aged together for 11 years, 9 months and bottled at 90 proof.  Here are the details:

Rye 125 – At 125 proof, this was the highest entry proof used, which is also Buffalo Trace’s standard entry proof for its rye recipe bourbons. The result was typical of Buffalo Trace’s mash #1 findings, a well-balanced bourbon with spicy cloves mingled with sweet vanilla, caramel and toffee to create a well-rounded and complex flavor.

Rye 115 – This rye recipe bourbon was put into the barrel at 115 proof and has light oaky flavors mingled with leather and palm sugar.

Rye 105 – At an entry proof of 105, the angels were particularity generous with their share, taking the highest amount of their share in all four experiments with an evaporation rate of 26%.  The 105 entry proof produced a bourbon which had a good overall flavor with some earthy tones, followed by a buttery, light finish.

            Rye 90 – At an entry point of 90, this bourbon had a 25% evaporation rate as it aged alongside the other four experimental rye barrels in Warehouse K. The result was a bourbon with a light fruity flavor followed by some hints of dried nuts and spice, with a drier finish.

            This rye entry proof experiment follows on the heels of Buffalo Trace’s wheat entry proof experiment.  Both the wheat and the rye experimental groups of barrels were distilled around the same time, aged in the same warehouse, on the same floor, rick, and row and bottled around the same time.

A key learning for both experiments was that entry proof does affect bourbon flavor, and it does affect evaporation rates.  Also, different barrel entry proofs will produce varying flavor elements.

“Although it should not be a surprise to us, we found in blind tastings the rye recipe with the 125 entry proof, which is our standard barrel entry proof for our rye recipe bourbons, tasted the best to us,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller.  “The flavor profile was the most balanced, while still offering the most pleasant mixture of tastes. It’s gratifying to know that even in blind taste tests, we still favored our ‘standard’ method as the best of the four in the experiment.”

These rye recipe barrels are part of the more than 2,000 experimental barrels of whiskey aging in the warehouses of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each of these barrels has unique characteristics that differentiate it from all others. Some examples of these experiments include unique mash bills, type of wood and barrel toasts. In order to further increase the scope, flexibility and range of the experimental program, an entire micro distillery, named The Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. “OFC” Micro Distillery, complete with cookers, fermenting tanks, and a state-of-the-art micro still has been constructed within Buffalo Trace Distillery.

The Experimental Collection is packaged in 375ml bottles and packed 12 to a case, with three bottles of each entry proof in a case. Each label includes all the pertinent information unique to that barrel of whiskey. These whiskeys retail for approximately $46.35 each. These particular rare experimental bottles should be available in late February.  For more information on the Experimental Collection or the other products of Buffalo Trace Distillery, please contact Elizabeth Hurst at ehurst@buffalotrace.com.

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

CASK ISLAY – A New Single Malt Scotch Whisky

A D Rattray are delighted to announce a new addition to their award-winning whisky portfolio – CASK ISLAY, a Small Batch, Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Specially selected by their experts to embody classic Islay characteristics, this exciting new product will delight lovers of Islay whiskies and tempt many to try their first whisky from Islay.

When poured, the golden glow of the spirit is a promise of the warmth to come and the palate offers a journey from dry to sweet, with toffee, juicy barley and rich peat smoke.

Lively, peaty and full of flavour, CASK ISLAY is unforgettable.

Tasting Note
Colour: Golden Islay sunset.
Nose: Warm & fiery, roasting peat kiln, some citrus notes after the smoke.
Palate: Oily, burnt toffee, juicy barley and rich peat smoke.
Conclusion: Lively, peaty and full of flavour.

Notes

1. Cask Islay is available to buy from the A D Rattray Whisky Shop, Kirkoswald, Ayrshire KA19 8HY, Tel: 01655 760 308 and from selected UK and International retailers.
2. AD Rattray was founded in 1868 and has a reputation for their extensive knowledge and expertise in the whisky industry. They are best known for their Stronachie brand and a range of top quality single cask bottlings,  the A D Rattray Cask Collection.

MACALLAN 55 YEAR OLD LEADS BONHAMS EDINBURGH WHISKY SALE  

A bottle of The Macallan-55 year old in a Lalique Crystal Decanter leads Bonhams Whisky sale in Edinburgh on Wednesday 26 February.  It is estimated at between £12,000-15,000. 

The Macallan 55 year old is regularly included in the world’s top 10 most desirable whiskies.  Aged in Spanish Oak, it is said to have mace, ground ginger and nutty notes and was bottled in a Lalique decanted modelled on perfume bottle design dating from 1910. The bottle for sale is numbered 220 out of 420.  

Another highly desirable from the sale distillery, The Macallan 1951, is one of 632 bottles and is estimated at £9,000-11,000. 

Three exceptional bottles of Bowmore are presented in one lot estimated at £12,000-15,000.  They are Black Bowmore-42 year old-1964, number 557 out of an edition of 827 bottles; White Bowmore-43 year, number 183 of 732 and Gold Bowmore, number 83 from an edition of 701.

Bonhams whisky specialist, Martin Green, said, “The Macallan 55 year old is one of the great whiskies and fully deserves its iconic status.  The link with Lalique adds further lustre and we are very pleased to be able to offer it as the leading bottle in a strong and varied sale.”  

NOTES

Bonhams

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further two in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.   

IRISH WHISKEY CHEER CONTINUES AS JAMESON REVEALS

NEW LIMITED EDITION FOR ST. PATRICK’S DAY 

Jameson, the world’s favourite Irish whiskey, is celebrating its rich Irish heritage ahead of St Patrick’s Day with the release of a new Limited Edition design for its iconic bottle, inspired by the sights, sounds and atmosphere of its hometown, Dublin.

The new limited edition bottle, which is the fourth to be released by Jameson in celebration of St Patrick’s Day, has been designed by award-winning Irish illustrator, Dermot Flynn, and will be sold in 40 markets worldwide – demonstrating the continued growth and popularity for Irish whiskey, driven by the ever-increasing popularity of this iconic brand.

Dermot’s illustrated label features the world-renowned Dublin pub, The Stag’s Head; historical figures such as W.B Yeats; and a selection of ‘local Dublin’ phrases to bring the city to life. The bottle has been created for this limited period and will be available in Travel Retail and through on and off trade customers in markets including Russia, Japan and Australia from February 2014.

Daniel Lundberg, Global Brand Director for Jameson, says: “In addition to its smooth, balanced taste, one of the things that whiskey fans around the world tell us they love about Jameson is its intrinsic Irish character. Jameson embodies the down-to-earth character of Dubliners so with this new limited edition, we wanted to bring that to life and celebrate the great city which inspired John Jameson to make his now iconic whiskey for the first time over 230 years ago. The new bottle design has been very well-received by our customers around the world resulting in more markets than ever selling this year’s edition, so we’re hopeful that Irish whiskey fans around the world will love it too and make it a part of their special St Patrick’s Day celebrations, wherever they may be.”

The release of the new Jameson Limited Edition will be accompanied by promotional activity in markets, with the brand providing its customers with a range of marketing materials and displays to ensure strong stand-out for the iconic bottle in the run up to St Patrick’s Day, which is celebrated each year on 17th March.

Jameson will be continuing its popular Jameson St Patrick’s Live celebrations this year with activity including its annual Live Broadcast, which sees presenters from radio stations from around the world descending on Dublin to broadcast live from the Old Jameson Distillery on St Patrick’s Day; and an exclusive gig in the city, featuring various leading Irish acts and headlined by the critically-acclaimed band, White Lies.

About Jameson

Jameson is the world’s No 1 Irish whiskey. Award-winning as a result of its exceptional smoothness following its unique triple distillation process, Jameson is enjoyed in more than 120 countries worldwide. The core Jameson range includes Jameson; Jameson Select Reserve; Jameson Gold Reserve; Jameson Signature Reserve (Travel Retail exclusive) and Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve.

For further information please visit http://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/

BALLANTINE’S ENCOURAGES ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT WITH THE BAR PROJECT

 Ballantine’s offers the French public a chance to create the bar of their dreams,

which will be brought to life for a limited period in the heart of Paris  

Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky, is aiming to capture the imagination of aspiring entrepreneurs with the launch of The Bar Project; a competition which offers consumers a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see the bar of their dreams brought to life in Paris later this year.

Inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of its founder, George Ballantine, The Bar Project by Ballantine’s is being piloted in France and sees the brand challenge budding entrepreneurs in the country to design a bar which is a true reflection of their personality. 

Entries will be judged by a panel of leading French business, design and bar experts including renowned French interior designer, Laura Leonard, and Simon Baldeyrou, CEO of Deezer, one of the world’s leading music streaming services. The three most innovative entries as judged by the panel will then be put to the public vote in May. The overall winner will then see their concept brought to life in the famous Parisian club, “Le Chacha”, opening with a VIP launch event in September 2014 and remaining open to the public until mid-October 2014. 

The Bar Project by Ballantine’s is in line with the brand’s new global positioning, ‘Stay True, Leave an Impression’ which it revealed in October 2013. 

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, comments: “With The Bar Project by Ballantine’s, we wanted to create something exciting and inspiring that truly captures the essence of our brand. Our founder, George Ballantine, was very much an entrepreneur of his time and as such, he always stayed true to his convictions. This ethos remains at the heart of Ballantine’s to this day, so we’re excited to be bringing it to life with The Bar Project. 

“We’re hopeful that French consumers will relish this opportunity to unleash their creativity and their entrepreneurial spirit to leave an impression on the bar trade, just as George Ballantine did when he created our iconic blended whisky.” 

Entries into The Bar Project by Ballantine’s are open now via www.ballantinesbarproject.fr and will remain open until midnight on 22^nd March 2014. Ballantine’s is supporting the competition by partnering with French popular culture magazine and website, ‘Le Bonbon’, and with music streaming site Deezer to drive consumers to the Facebook app. 

A video about The Bar Project by Ballantine’s can also be viewed here and embedded into news pieces using the embed code:

<iframe src=”//player.vimeo.com/video/85234375″ width=”500″ height=”281″ frameborder=”0″ webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe> 

Notes

About the Competition

Entrants to the competition must be over 18 years and reside in France at the time of entry. Full Terms and Conditions apply and can be found at www.ballantinesbarproject.fr. 

About the Judging Panel

Simon Baldeyrou, CEO of Deezer

Simon Baldeyrou began his career as an investment banker, later going on to work in the world of sport; first as founder of two consultancies in marketing and finance for brands, sport clubs and sport federations, then as Finance Director of the Rugby World Cup 2007 Organizing Committee. He founded SBA Conseil, a specialist marketing consultancy, before being seduced by the power of Deezer, joining the company in September 2009 as COO of the Group. In June 2012, he was appointed CEO of Deezer in France.

Laura Leonard, Designer and Interior Architect

Laura began her career as a set designer for various TV shows, including the hugely popular reality TV show, Star Academy. She has created the sets on tours for popular musicians including Johnny Hallyday and Christophe Maé, as well as for numerous theatre productions in and around Paris. Furthermore, she has also been involved in the redesign of a number of Parisian bars and hotels, including Le Rosie, the popular bar owned by actor and socialite, Nicolas Ullman, and the renowned L’Hôtel du Temps.

Hirmane Abdoulhakime, Artistic Director of Le Chacha Club

Appointed Artistic Director of Le Chacha in February 2013, Hirmane Abdoulhakime has been responsible for reviving the venue and cementing its place on the Paris “must-go” list. He also founded “Trust the Buzz”; a platform used to identify future trends and showcase new talent, with events to date held in Paris, New York and Mexico.

Mathieu Deslandes, Marketing Director at Pernod Ricard

Mathieu Deslandes is Marketing Director of Pernod, the market company responsible for growing the Ballantine’s brand within France. With more than 20 years of marketing experience within the Pernod Ricard Group, both in France and internationally, Mathieu has worked across a number of premium and local products globally and locally, from Martell to Pastis. For Mathieu, innovation is a priority in all of its forms; from product innovation and consumption to consumer experience.

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.

For further information http://www.chivasbrothers.com/

DEMAND FOR TASMANIAN WHISKY LEADS TO SHORTAGE  

SULLIVANS COVE, Tasmania’s biggest selling whisky, is forced to limit sales of its popular French Oak variety in order to ensure continued availability for the next five years. Domestic demand for the French Oak, which was named as Australia’s best single malt by Whisky Magazine, has increased beyond supply levels and the distillery has been forced to limit exports of French Oak to provide for local demand. 

The distillery’s French Oak variety is Australia’s highest awarded whisky, having scored 96.5/100 in whisky writer Jim Murray’s 2013 Whisky Bible and was also named Spirits Business magazine’s World Whisky Grand Master. Its winning run continues with this week’s announcement of the 2014 Wizards of Whisky results where it was named Australasian Single Malt Whisky of the Year and Australasian Whisky of the Year. 

Australians are the biggest consumers of Sullivans Cove, accounting for more than 90% of all sales. This is a large turnaround from four years ago when the local market only made up around 40% of sales. The Tasmanian whisky industry is experiencing strong growth and this has been boosted by a $110,000 grant from the state government for the development of whisky trail. 

Chief distiller Patrick Maguire said: “The industry has come a very long way over the past few years and this is exactly the situation that we hoped we would be in one day, we just didn’t expect it to happen this soon. It is a great problem to have and we are making all efforts to ensure that sufficient stock remains available for our Australian customers.” 

Sullivans Cove is available nationwide at all good liquor stores including Dan Murphy’s, Vintage Cellars and First Choice