BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey once again performed extremely well at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey Key Highlights from the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition:

• The entire Bushmills Irish Whiskey range won a medal at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• No other Irish Whiskey won more medals than Bushmills Irish Whiskey at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• Bushmills won more Gold medals than the Irish Whiskey category leader at the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt has been awarded a Gold Medal or above in eight of the 14 San Francisco World Spirits Competitions.
• Bushmills Black Bush Irish Whiskey wins a Gold medal in 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

LAPHROAIG DISTILLERY CROWNED WHISKY VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR  

Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, has been awarded the Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s global Icons of Whisky 2014 competition. 

The annual industry awards, organised by Whisky Magazine, recognise the very best people and places in the whisky industry around the world. The awards involve country heats to find the best companies in the leading whisky nations of the world, which then compete against each other for the overall Icons of Whisky. 

Laphroaig Distillery Manager, John Campbell said: “As the No.1 selling Islay single malt whisky we are thrilled to be recognised as one of Whisky Magazine’s prestigious global Icons of Whisky. For nearly 200 years, we’ve worked hard to ensure that the distillery reflects the same distinctiveness one would find in a bottle of Laphroaig. From guided tours to our Friends of Laphroaig loyalty program, we welcome visitors into the family by gifting a plot of Islay land they can call their own while offering a truly memorable experience.” 

The Whisky Magazine editorial panel noted that the Laphroaig Distillery “offers a warm welcome to visitors from across the world. From a walk through tour to owning your piece of Islay, Laphroaig has stamped its mark on the visitor [centre] experience.” 

The Laphroaig Distillery also won the Scottish Icons of Whisky last year and is the current holder of the Drammie award for best distillery tour in the world, which it has won for two consecutive years. 

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 distillery manager, 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 Laphraoig. The community comprises more than 540,000 like-minded Scotch fans from more than 190 countries.

Only One Month to Go

Start getting excited!

World Whisky Day – Saturday 17th May 2014 

With exactly one month until World Whisky Day, May 2014 certainly has plenty in store for whisky lovers.

With celebrations across Scotland and signature WWD events in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, we are particularly excited about The Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Clans and Drams Festival as it opens its doors to members and non-members alike with a month-long celebration of flavour.

Clans are famously associated with territorial battles and bloody skirmishes but the Society believes that the pleasure of exquisite whisky supersedes any family feud or clan dispute. So instead of battling over bloodlines, everyone (Scot or not) is invited into the Society’s members’ rooms in Edinburgh, Leith and London during May to ally themselves to a whisky clan.

The Society, which bottles single cask single malt whiskies from a huge range of distilleries, has created 12 special whisky clans based on flavour profiles. Every traditional family clan has a reputation that defines them, attributes such as bravery, honesty or dexterity. The Society have taken real clan mottos and personalities and attributed these to their flavour clans. Whether you’re the fiery ‘Spicy and Sweet’, or the majestic ‘Deep, Rich & Dried Fruits’, there is a whisky clan for everyone.

As well as opening its doors to non-members throughout May and pairing 26 new single cask whiskies to the 12 flavour clans, The Society is hosting a number of events including the official signature event of World Whisky Day on Saturday 17^th May.

Edinburgh Whisky Fest 2014 – 26 April 2014

Let Bottle Commence… Clan Whisky Feast – 1 May 2014

Clan Cocktails in the Society’s Secret Bothy – 2 May 2014

A Hauf ‘n’ Hauf – Beer and Whisky Tasting – 10 May 2014 

World Whisky Day – 17 May 2014

The Scottish Larder @ The Dining Room – 21 May 2014 

A Hauf ‘n’ Hauf – Beer and Whisky Tasting – 23 May 2014

Seafood And Whisky Tasting – 29 May 2014

Dunfermline Clans and Drams Tasting – 29 May 2014

Glasgow Clans and Drams tasting – 30 May 2014

Hopefully you can make it along to the Society to celebrate WWD or attend one some of their events, otherwise it sounds like a great opportunity to simply visit during this open-doors period to find your true kindred spirit and ally yourself with your whisky clan. 

Still time to register your World Whisky Day event

It only takes a few seconds to register your event.
Click here to register your event for free.

Event ideas:
Host at an event at your local bar.
Host an event in your own home.
Get your local whisky shop to arrange a special tasting.
It’s easy to get involved. 

Donate to Just a Drop and to help give people safe and clean drinking water.

We are proud to be supporting Just a Drop, an international water aid charity. We hope that you can help us raise money for them. Each time you have a whisky on World Whisky Day why not donate £1/$1/€1 to Just a Drop.

To learn more and donate to Just a Drop click here.

In other news

We are working hard on a few exciting things so stay tuned for the following…
World Whisky Day Whisky 2014 Edition
World Whisky Day Tshirts / Hoodys and more

We will also be introducing World Whisky Day Event Packs with everything you need to celebrate World Whisky Day. To register your interest click here.

Get in the spirit, mark the date in your diary and lets raise a dram to World Whisky Day 2014. 
 
In the meantime if you want to discuss your plans or find out more about getting involved then please email info@worldwhiskyday.com or call +44 (0)131 208 2582.

Kind regards,
Blair Bowman

Founder
World Whisky Day
www.worldwhiskyday.com

DOUBLE GOLD FOR SA’S FIRST WHISKY BRAND THREE SHIPS 

South Africa’s first whisky brand has done it again. The Three Ships Select and Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish both took double gold at the 2014 San Francisco Spirits Competition. The Three Ships Premium Select 5 Year Old received gold. This prestigious competition sees all the top whisky brands from around the world compete for the attention of the international panel of judges. 

Andy Watts, master distiller at the James Sedgwick Distillery, said when they first launched Three Ships back in 1977, the South African whisky industry was non-existing. 

“We have come a long way since those first days of producing whisky in South Africa. Over the past three decades we’ve established our own unique style of whisky-making, invested in modern technology at The James Sedgwick Distillery where the range of Three Ships whiskies are produced and refined our selection of barrels for maturation.” 

The Three Ships Select, one of South Africa’s favourite whiskies, is aged for a minimum of three years in oak to produce a warm, well-balanced and gentle whisky. Hints of oak and a slight sweetness fill the mouth, ending with a clean finish. 

The Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish is the first South African whisky where both the malt and grain components are distilled and matured in SA. After an initial maturation of three years the final blend is matured for a further six months in bourbon casks. The result is a soft and warm whisky with a honeyed sweetness, vanilla notes and subtle hints of pepper and spice. 

An artful blend of selected South African and Scotch whiskies, the Three Ships Premium Select 5 Year Old has been aged for a minimum of five years in oak casks. Robust, aromatic and unpretentious, the whisky exhibits a full peaty character, ending in a lingering, warm finish.

The Three Ships Select, Three Ships Bourbon Cask Finish and Three Ships Premium Select 5 Year Old are available from leading liquor outlets for around R119, R189 and R138 respectively.

Bowmore partners with renowned chef Mark Sargeant to launch Small Batch

-Michelin star sea food expert brings ‘Taste of Islay’ to life-

Bowmore, Islay’s first Single Malt Whisky, is partnering with Michelin starred chef Mark Sargeant to help promote the distiller’s latest expression, Small Batch , bringing the ‘Taste of Islay’ to life for whisky lovers across the country.

Bowmore will be working with Sargeant – previously Head Chef at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s – to create a range of recipes that reflect the unmistakeable Bowmore flavour profiles of citrus, vanilla, smoke and salt, with Mark adding his own unique seafood skills to the mix.

Graeme Dunnet, Bowmore Ambassador said:

“We jumped at the chance to work with Mark Sargeant, he has the experience with flavours and expertise in seafood that means working with Bowmore Small Batch will come naturally to him. Mark’s recipes will help us demonstrate how you can bring the key flavours, which encapsulate the taste of Islay, to life in food.”

Mark Sargeant said:

“I particularly love Islay whiskies, as a liquid they are steeped in interesting flavour characteristics which have been exciting to bring to life in the recipes I have designed to be used with Bowmore Small Batch. I have loved having the challenge and opportunity to introduce people to this taste, the taste of Islay in the dishes.”

Exclusively matured in first and second fill bourbon barrels before being married together, Bowmore Small Batch offers subtle salt, spices and bourbon oak smoke combined with a trademark honey and creamy malt character. This is all framed against the gentle peaty smokiness Bowmore is famed for.

NOTES:

Bowmore

The best-balanced Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the perfect reward after your outdoor experience. Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldest Distillery on Islay, one of the Scottish isles, which make up the region known as the ‘Islands’ in the lexicon of Whisky. The other regions are the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands. Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore is no exception; we carefully smoke our malt and use skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

Bowmore’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of our Single Malts. We’re one of only a few distilleries anywhere which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery. For our whiskies we draw water from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones, and it’s the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.

Bowmore Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of our spirit. The legendary Bowmore No. 1 Vaults is where most of our whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the Vault’s sea-facing wall.

They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavours.

It’s this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The Bowmore domestic product range:

• Bowmore Small Batch

• Bowmore 12 Years Old

• Bowmore 15 Years Old ‘Darkest’

• Bowmore 18 Years Old

• Bowmore 25 Years Old

Islay

Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, and is also known as “The Queen of the Hebrides.” Its mild climate and rich peaty soil make it ideal for creating whisky, and despite having a population of not much more than 3,000, it is home to no fewer than eight working distilleries.

Mark Sargeant

Mark Sargeant is the owner of Rocksalt and The Smokehouse, two critically acclaimed seafood restaurants in Kent. Mark earned his stripes during a fourteen year tenure with Gordon Ramsay, opening Restaurant Gordon Ramsay as Sous Chef and winning three Michelin Stars before moving onto the Head Chef position at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s, where he won a further Michelin Star and was awarded Chef of the Year.

A QUINTET of victories for Ian Macleod Distillers at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the most prestigious and highly regarded spirits competition in the USA, has announced a quintet of medals for Ian Macleod Distillers brands’ Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Glengoyne scooped the DOUBLE GOLD Medal for its 18 and 21YO malts, the GOLD medal for its 12YO malt and SILVER medal for its 15YO malt whilst Tamdhu lifted the DOUBLE GOLD Medal in the Single Malt Scotch category and DOUBLE GOLD Medal for Packaging.

Held at the distinguished Hotel Nikko in San Francisco, the 2014 San Francisco World Spirits Competition was the largest in its 14-year history with Glengoyne and Tamdhu fighting off stiff competition from 1,474 entries. Spirit entries were evaluated by 39 of the finest palates from the industry including spirits experts from noted restaurants and hotels, well-known spirits journalists from major national media, spirits buyers for large purveyors, and spirits consultants.

Commenting on the awards, Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “We are delighted with the success of both Glengoyne and Tamdhu at this year’s San Francisco Spirits World Competition. It is extremely gratifying to receive independent recognition for something that we already knew – that Tamdhu and Glengoyne are both excellent whiskies.” 

Ian Macleod Distillers is one of Scotland’s leading, independent family owned distillers. The company acquired the Glengoyne brand in 2003 and Tamdhu in 2011. 

For more information, please visit www.ianmacleod.com, www.glengoyne.com or www.tamdhu.com. 

www.drinkaware.co.uk www.scotch-whisky.org.uk 

·      Ian Macleod & Company Ltd was established on 26 October 1933.

·      Ian Macleod Distillers currently produced and sell over 15 million bottles of spirit per year.

·      Ian Macleod Distillers is also a major supplier to the Buyer’s Own Brand market. They have supplied own-label spirits to some of Europe’s largest supermarket groups for over 40 years.

THE MACALLAN UNVEILS MASTERS OF TASTE COLLABORATION WITH THE WORLD’S BEST RESTAURANT, EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA 

The Macallan today unveils its latest exciting collaboration – The Macallan Masters of Taste – bringing together the supreme craft and innovation of two of the world’s leading masters to create the ultimate taste experience. 

Sitting at the very top of the World’s Best 50 restaurants*, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain has come together with The Macallan, the world’s ultimate luxury single malt Scotch whisky, to collaborate and innovate in the field of taste and cuisine. 

The Roca Brothers – Joan, Josep and Jordi – have combined their collective vision and diverse skills to extraordinary effect that saw them secure the world number one position in April 2013. A Catalan family restaurant at heart, El Celler de Can Roca’s philosophy is grounded in an evolutionary and modern approach. 

The Macallan continues to sit at the pinnacle of single malt whisky, by combining an unwavering commitment to the highest quality with a passion and desire to innovate and challenge the traditions of whisky making. 

Together these partners share the core values of craft, mastery, skill and innovation and have collaboratively crafted a new vision of bringing the worlds of whisky making and craft cuisine together to create something totally unique. 

The Masters of Taste will see The Macallan and the Roca Brothers unite their creativity and thinking to create an ultimate experience in taste. 

Ken Grier, Director of The Macallan, said, “We are truly excited and honoured to be collaborating with the Roca Brothers to launch this major new initiative. Joan, Josep and Jordi are not only inspirational; they are world-class innovators whose commitment to their craft is exceptional”. 

Whisky and cuisine have a long-standing connection but never have any two partners come together to really explore what this could, and should mean. Our collaboration is set to break down classic perceptions of food pairing and enter into a whole new, awe-inspiring world of taste and flavour experience.” 

Commenting on the collaboration, Josep Roca of El Celler de Can Roca said, “It is both a pleasure and an exciting challenge to work with The Macallan team. We combine knowledge, effort and hard work to improve in areas that individually we could have never imagined we could achieve, and all that with a strong commitment to innovation.” 

The most immediate outcome of this exciting new collaboration will be “The Ultimate Dinner with The Macallan and Roca”, six prestigious charity dinners held at El Celler de Can Roca during June and July 2014. 

The dinners are open to a very limited number of people globally at a cost of $10,000 per head. With a key focus on charitable giving, the net proceeds from the dinners, together with a further contribution from The Macallan will go to charity. The restaurant will open exclusively for these dinners on the six dates in June and July 2014**. 

“The Ultimate Dinner with The Macallan and Roca” will involve the most exquisite combination of gastronomy and whisky making. From exclusively designed dishes, inspired by the flavour and character of The Macallan, to an outstanding range of The Macallan whiskies from unreleased single cask malts through to M, the world’s most expensive whisky, The Macallan in Lalique 62 year old and the oldest single malt ever released by The Macallan distillery. The combination of this menu and the collection of fine whiskies served are being exclusively created for these charity dinners and will not be served anywhere in the world aside from on these six occasions. 

This exciting partnership is underpinned by Spain and the significance it plays in how both partners have evolved and are shaped today. For The Macallan its inherent connection with Spain is extremely strong through its commitment to Spanish oak sherry seasoned casks. This factor is the most influential in the final flavour and character of this single malt. For El Celler de Can Roca, their Spanish heritage has heavily shaped their ethos and enabled them to establish themselves as the leading force in Spanish cuisine. 

For more information on booking “The Ultimate Dinner with The Macallan and Roca” please visit: www.themacallan.com, email themacallan@rocadinners.com, or call +34 93 222 33 44 (from 9:00 – 18:00 GMT+1 time). 

* Organised by Restaurant magazine, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of over 900 international restaurant industry experts. What constitutes “best” is left to the judgement of these trusted and well-travelled gourmets. www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners/el-cellerde- can-roca/ 

** There are only six available dates: June: Sunday 29th and Monday 30th. July: Sunday 6th, Monday 7th, Sunday 20th and Monday 21st. The restaurant will be exclusively opened on these dates

for these charity dinners only as it is usually closed on Sundays and Mondays.

Follow us on Twitter: @The_Macallan, @CanRocaCeller, #macallanmasters 

Notes

About The Macallan
Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the worlds most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character, founded upon a set of guiding principles, the Six Pillars. An obsession with quality has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding by Alexander Reid on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland. The distillery is surrounded by a 150 hectare estate, with Easter Elchies House, a Highland manor built in 1700, at its heart. Traditionally known for maturation in Spanish

oak, sherry seasoned casks, The Macallan’s range of outstanding single malts includes: Sherry Oak, matured in Spanish oak casks seasoned with sherry; Fine Oak, matured both in sherry casks of Spanish and American oak and in American oak casks seasoned with bourbon; the 1824 range, exclusive to Global Travel Retail. In addition, The Macallan is well known for its great range of vintage whiskies, dating back to 1926, and is considered the most sought after of all single malts among collectors and connoisseurs at auction.

www.themacallan.com 

About El Celler de Can Roca

Founded in 1986, El Celler de Can Roca became the best restaurant in the world in 2013. El Celler de Can Roca is a freestyle restaurant, committed to the avant-garde but still faithful to the memory of the family’s ancestors who were dedicated to feeding people. The brothers Joan and Josep Roca founded it in August 1986, in Girona. Joan in the kitchen and Josep in the dining room. The final addition was the youngest brother, Jordi, who joined the kitchen of El Celler de Can Roca in 1998. El Celler de Can Roca’s commitment to cuisine and its link to academia, has led it to champion the dialogue between the countryside and science. All the leading restaurant guides and gastronomy critics have acknowledged El Celler de Can Roca achievements over its first twenty-five years. The first Michelin star was awarded in 1995; the second in 2002 and the third on November 25, 2009. In 2014, it still holds three Michelin stars.

www.cellercanroca.com

Supergroup ‘TIRED PONY’ added to Bushmills Live™ line-up

Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), Peter Buck (REM), Richard Colburn (Belle and Sebastian) and multi-instrumentalist, writer and producer, Iain Archer to perform at festival of handcrafted whiskey and music 

Bushmills Village: April, 2014 

Tired Pony, the critically-acclaimed supergroup created by Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, were today confirmed to appear at the intimate ‘Bushmills Live’ festival on Ireland’s north coast on June 12, 2014. It will be the band’s first ever performance in Ireland. 

Lightbody’s appreciation of country music led to him calling on his friends within the music industry to help him make an album and TIRED PONY is the result. The band features Lightbody; REM’s Peter Buck; Belle & Sebastian’s Richard Colburn; and fellow artists Iain Archer; Jacknife Lee; Scott McCaughey and Troy Stewart. 

‘Bushmills Live 2014’ will be headlined by breakthrough British act ‘The 1975’ with more acts still to be announced. Whiskey and music fans will be invited to the Old Bushmills Distillery on June 11-12 for the world’s only festival of handcrafted whiskey and music in an Irish whiskey distillery. 700 festival-goers will witness emerging and iconic artists sharing the stage for a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings, where the art of making whiskey has been perfected over centuries. 

The ‘money-can’t-buy’ festival tickets are not on general release. Instead, whiskey and music fans can win the chance of enjoying the unique Bushmills Live experience, to include flights and accommodation, by entering a draw at facebook.com/bushmills.  The draw closes on April 28 (April 18 in Russia). 

Bushmills Irish Whiskey Master Distiller Colum Egan said: “I’m delighted that Gary is coming back to the distillery along with Tired Pony.  Tired Pony have had special guests perform with them in the past. Who knows who will turn up in June? 

“This year’s festival is shaping up to be the best yet. The combination of excellent whiskey, appreciated responsibly, among friends and great music can’t be beaten. It’s why we started Bushmills Live in the first place.” 

Notes

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. 

Competition:

The Facebook competition is open to people in:

Portugal, Germany, Russia, USA, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland.

From each country, one winner will win a pair of tickets to ‘Bushmills Live’.

Keep up with Bushmills Irish Whiskey at: Facebook: facebook.com/bushmills
Twitter: @BushmillsGlobal

About ‘TIRED PONY’ 

TIRED PONY are Gary Lightbody (Snow Patrol), Peter Buck (REM), Iain Archer, Richard Colburn (Belle and Sebastian), Scott McCaughey, Troy Stewart and producer/multi-instrumentalist Garret “Jacknife” Lee. They have released two albums: 2010’s The Place We Ran From and last year’s The Ghost of the Mountain. 

About ‘The 1975’

‘The 1975’ are an English alternative rock/indie band based in Manchester. The group consists of Matthew Healy (vocals/guitar), Adam Hann (guitar), George Daniel (drums) and Ross MacDonald (bass). Their self-titled debut album was released on 2 September 2013 and debuted at No. 1 in the UK Albums Chart. 

About Bushmills Irish Whiskey


Bushmills Irish Whiskey is hand crafted in small batches for a smooth taste at Ireland’s oldest working distillery, in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery’s portfolio includes seven award-winning variants: Bushmills, Bushmills Black Bush™, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt, our anniversary edition, 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, wines and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan’s, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, 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 and its brands, 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.

Tomatin Releases Cù Bòcan 1989 Vintage Limited Edition

NEW PRODUCT RELEASE

Following on from the launch of our standard batch release Cù Bòcan Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky at the end of last year, we are delighted to announce the release of our first limited edition expression for the range.

Casks 37470, 37471 and 37472 have been lurking quietly in Warehouse 9 at Tomatin Distillery since a rare and unintentional production of peated whisky at the distillery on 7th June 1989.

Now the beast has been unleashed in this sweet and smoky rare edition of Cù Bòcan. 

VITALS

Available: 1080 bottles available worldwide except USA from 14th April 2014

Price: RRP £199.99 per 70cl bottle

Cask Type: Matured in a Bourbon casks

Strength: Cask strength; 53.2% 

TASTING NOTES

This limited edition has been released at cask strength, non chill filtered and natural colour. The smoke is more prominent than in the standard edition but retains the instantly recognisable sweetness.

NOSE:

The initial smoke is light, like distant burning kindling and has a heathery character which quickly gives way for fresh fruits – pear accompanied by citric lime zestand sweet pineapple. After time in the glass it becomes much sweeter with honey, vanilla, coconut and custard. Herbaceous notes of basil and rocket.

AROMA: The smoke and the floral heather notes are more prominent on the palate. Sweet abundance of fresh fruits;  orange and grapefruit followed by blackberry and blueberry. Some ginger and clove spice is also hidden in the background.

FINISH: Very smooth with a long lasting earthy, yet sweet smoke.

MAKE MINE A DOUBLE! 

CONTAGIOUS SCOOPS TWO PRESTIGIOUS WHISKY AWARDS

Brand Agency Contagious has more than proved its creative prowess in the premium drinks market with wins in both the World Whiskies Design Awards 2014 and Whisky Magazine Icons of Whisky Scotland 2014.

Launched in 2012, the World Whiskies Design Awards are the annual awards which recognise excellence in bottle, label and pack design. Contagious’s work for Karuizawa 1960 scooped the Best Design award with judges commenting on a creative execution that was “…superbly crafted, tactile and full of layered intrigue…” and noting that “…with Japanese whisky making so much noise in the market, this is a great, beautifully crafted package that shouts quality.”

Karuizawa 1960 represents 41 bottles of the oldest and rarest Japanese whisky in the world. Contagious was tasked by the owner – Number One Drinks Company (onedrinks.com) – with packaging this unique spirit with a respect, authenticity and individuality to befit its remarkable character and quality. From handcrafted presentation cases (modelled on Japanese puzzle boxes) to the exquisite handmade washi paper with deckle edging for the labels; and from unique fine art calligraphy to hot metal branding, each bottle is brought brilliantly to life through layers of Eastern and Western artistry, and adorned with its own netsuke, sourced and selected from a specialist London dealer. Each bottle retailed at £12,500. All were sold in advance.

The Edinburgh-based agency’s brand home design for the Friends’ Lounge, shop and museum areas at the Laphroaig Distillery, Islay, was recognised by Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Scotland 2014, winning the Attraction of the Year award.

Background:

www.contagious.co.uk

Contagious is a creative brand agency working with clients around the world who have amazing brands. Our team of hugely talented, extraordinarily diverse, multi-disciplinary people specialise in brand communication, digital, environments and experiential design.