THE EXCLUSIVE MALTS BACH #4 IN THE US  

We’d like to let you in on some exciting news – the wildly popular Exclusive Malts is back by popular demand for a fourth time. Here’s a sneak peak of Exclusive Malts Batch #4

Linkwood’ 99 14 yr Speyside

111.60 proof

Nose:  Green Apple, Citrus, Dry Hay

Palate:  Sweet Malt, Burnt Sugar, Creamy, Slight Grassiness

Finish:  Long, Sweet, Light Smoke, Dry Finish

Linkwood Distillery, situated outside of Elgin, is little known as a single malt whisky due to the vast majority of its output going to blenders. It is a prized malt by blenders though who recognise it for being a consistently good-quality malt whisky. 

 North Highland’ 96 17 yr Highland

112.20 proof

Nose:  Peach, Very Fruity, Salty

Palate:  Sweet Start, Moves to a Balanced Spiciness with Some Citrus, Toffee

Finish:  Long, Spicy, Juicy Oak

This whisky, from a mystery North Highland distillery, has been quietly maturing since 1996 in a refill ex-Sherry hogshead. It has taken on an exceptional colour and sweet-fruit flavours with a superb balance and a long, deliciously sweet finish.

Bowmore’ 01 12 yr Islay

116.80 proof 

Nose:  Tar, Faint Peat, Slight Iodine

Palate:  Sweet Beginning, Burnt Sugar, Turns Spicy

Finish:  Soft, Sweet Juicy Oak, Very Light White Pepper

The Isle of Islay is famed for its richly-flavoured malt whisky distilleries. The whisky in this bottle was distilled at the Bowmore Distillery, the heart of the Isle of Islay and is a full-bodied, rich and smoky affair having spent 12 years in a refill ex-Sherry butt.

Bladnoch’ 92 21 yr Lowland

96.2 proof 

Nose:  Grassy, Dry Hay, Heather, Flax Seed

Palate:  Oily, Nougat, Lemon Citrus, Soft Maltiness

Finish:  White Pepper, Sweet Malt, Dry Finish

Situated on the South-West tip of Scotland is Bladnoch Distillery. A picturesque distillery tucked away in a stunning, if remote, part of Scotland. This whisky, taken from a refill ex-American oak hogshead, is a glimpse into the offerings from this pretty distillery.

 Glencadam’ 91 22 yr Highland

100.80 proof 

Nose:  Strawberry Jam, Sweet Malt

Palate:  Creamy, Vanilla Cream, Light Citrus

Finish:  Spicy Ginger, Long and Creamy

One of the few remaining distilleries on the East Coast of Scotland, Glencadam Distillery, situated in Brechin is gaining in popularity due to recent bottlings. This cask, a refill ex-American oak hogshead, demonstrates the whisky Highland qualities; robust and subtle.

Distilleries Celebrate Drams As They Open Their Doors At Spirit Of Speyside Whisky Festival

Many glasses will be raised to Scotland’s famous whisky region when the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival kicks off next month – and some of the toasts will take place in venues which are opening their doors to the festival for the first time.

Many of the most popular activities taking place during the festival from May 1 to 5 are tours and distillery tastings, and some of the hottest tickets are for venues which are not usually open to the public.

James Campbell, chairman of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, says, “Distillery tours are always quick to sell, but demand has been particularly high this year. We have even more distilleries taking part in the festival in 2014, which probably reflects the increase in production that we have seen on Speyside in recent times.

“For some venues it will be the first time that they have taken part in the Festival – indeed some of them have never even opened to the public before – so naturally visitors want to be the first to see what’s inside and learn about what’s made there.

“It’s great that so many distilleries are going beyond offering a standard tour. They have put together some excellent events which will give visitors access to key people involved in creating the spirit, and are offering the tours to small groups so there will be the feeling of it being a very exclusive event.”

Glen Keith, which reopened in June 2013 following an extensive refurbishment, will be offering manager’s tours and tastings as it invites the public to view the results of its modern revamp. Manager Graeme Cruickshank will also be inviting visitors to try Glen Keith’s single malt.

Roseisle, Speyside’s newest distillery, will be opening its doors for the first time and exclusively during the festival. In a rare opportunity to step inside the distillery – the first one built by Diageo in over 30 years – guests will be guided by the manager who will share its story. The in-depth tour will end with the chance to sample a range of whiskies from the Diageo portfolio.

Tormore Distillery will also be welcoming visitors, and they will have the chance to sample its recently launched Tormore 14 Year Old and Tormore 16 Year Old Non Chill Filtered single malt. There will be an opportunity to venture on a tour with Tormore’s manager Neal Corbett: he will share the story of the the distillery, which was one of the first built on Speyside after WWII.

Tamdhu, which featured at last year’s festival for the first time, is set to return this year for one day only with VIP tours of the distillery on offer. Distillery workers will conduct guided show rounds, providing visitors with a slice of their knowledge from Tamdhu’s birth in 1897 to its current day practices. Visitors will have a chance to go behind the scenes of the distilling process before they try a dram for themselves, with sample from a handpicked single cask.

Glenburgie Distillery will also be offering touring and tasting sessions. The distillery which was founded in 1810 under a different name and became known as Glenburgie in 1878, will provide visitors with an insight into the distillery’s history before allowing them to experience the site including the barley, distillery and the warehouse. The event will round off with a tasting of the distillery’s famous whiskies in the Old Custom’s House which includes an extra special dram.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is a key event in Scotland’s Homecoming 2014 calendar, and will start Whisky Month – a four week national celebration of Scotland’s world class food and drink. Tickets for all events in the 2014 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme can be bought via the website – www.spiritofspeyside.com The Festival is also active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter. The website also offers an abundance of accommodation options in the area.

Notes

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs from Thursday, 1 May – Monday, 5 May 2014.  Check out www.spiritofspeyside.com for up-to-date news and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside  

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors travelling to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options. Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from EventScotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners

EventScotland: EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, visit http://www.eventscotland.org/

Year of Homecoming Scotland

Scotland will welcome the world in the Year of Homecoming 2014- providing a year-long programme of events alongside the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games. The Year of Homecoming Scotland will run from 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2014 throughout the length and breadth of the country.  Visitors from around the world are invited to join in a celebration of the nation’s food and drink, active pursuits, cultural heritage, nature and ancestral heritage.

Homecoming Scotland 2014 is a Scottish Government initiative being led by EventScotland and VisitScotland, supported by numerous partners. To find out more visit www.homecomingscotland.com

ARE YOU YOUR SELFIE?
WHAT YOUR PROFILE PICTURE REALLY SAYS
ABOUT YOU (ACCORDING TO THE INTERNET) 28th MARCH 2014

Does this person enjoy creating chaos, gossip, sweet harmony or conspiracy theories? These are some of the questions that Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky brand, is asking people around the world, with the launch of a new website that allows individuals to see what the images they share of themselves online says about them to others.

“Are You Your Selfie?” asks curious fans to upload their own selfies, with anonymous others then giving their opinion about who the subject of the picture really is by answering a number of light-hearted, set questions. As soon as others begin leaving their opinions, the person whose image has been uploaded is notified and will be able to view the most common “impressions” that their image has left, ultimately seeing whether the way that others perceive them is in line with the way they see themselves.

Users are then given the further option to share one or more of those “impressions” via a visual representation generated by the site on Facebook or Twitter, encouraging their friends to also take part in this unique social experiment.

A global phenomenon of the modern era, the selfie has become known for being the ultimate form of self-expression. However, through ‘Are You Your Selfie?’, Ballantine’s – renowned for its global marketing initiative ‘Stay True, Leave An Impression’, which encourages consumers to express themselves in a way that is both genuine and authentic – hopes to establish how true people are really being with their personal portraits, and whether others see them in the same light.

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s, commented: “Given the current trend for selfies amongst the millennial generation, we hope that this exciting initiative will stimulate conversation amongst Ballantine’s fans online and provoke them to think about whether they are presenting a true reflection of themselves when they share photos online.

“Ballantine’s has always been at the forefront of innovation since its inception, thanks to the pioneering vision of our founder, George Ballantine. His determination to be original and to stay true to his convictions remains at the heart of the brand to this day, so it is very fitting that we are launching this new online social experiment, which encourages our fans to stay true to themselves.”

‘Are You Your Selfie?’ is a global platform which can be accessed by users around the world from today [Friday 28th March]. The website will also be localised later this year for a number of Ballantine’s key global markets, including Brazil and Mexico.

Visit www.areyouyourselfie.com to find out more.

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 

Available for comment

Peter Moore was appointed to the position of Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s in December 2005 and is responsible for the strategic leadership, innovation and marketing of Ballantine’s whisky worldwide.

Peter brings a wealth of knowledge to his role, with over 25 years of marketing experience within the wine and spirits industry. Under his leadership, Ballantine’s has developed the new global communication platform, ‘Stay True, Leave an Impression’ which aims to unify all brand communications across the complete Ballantine’s range.

Peter has also developed Ballantine’s global golf sponsorship programme and has overseen major packaging upgrades and new product launches – most recently Ballantine’s Christmas Reserve, Ballantine’s 17 Signature Distillery Editions and Ballantine’s 40 Year Old, a new pinnacle reference for the Ballantine’s range

WHISKY: THE MANUAL

DAVE BROOM

PUBLISHING APRIL 8, 2014 from Mitchell Beazley

 $19.99, Hardcover

World-renowned expert Dave Broom dispels the mysteries of whisky and unlocks a whole host of exciting new possibilities for this magical drink in this spirited, entertaining and no-nonsense guide.

Full of practical and fascinating information about how to enjoy all styles of whisky, it busts a few myths along the way, including the notion that whisky is a drink for old men, that single malts are better than blends, and that is has to be drunk neat.

Most whisky books tell you how to become an expert. The Manual tells you what to drink and how to drink it.  

Whenever whisky has been most popular, it has been drunk long, mixed, made into cocktails or been flavored.  The reason?  Because it tastes great that way!

Whisky: The Manual begins by detailing the history of whisky, sharing wonderful anecdotes such as the decision to dye whisky pink in the 1970s to make it more attractive to women.  It traces the emergence of whisky throughout the world— from its introduction to America and Canada through to its arrival on the shores of Japan, and provides the essentials of whisky production. The book is then divided into two parts: 

 “What to Drink” explores flavor camps, provides extensive tasting notes on the major brands, new brands and brands from around the world, demonstrating and celebrating whisky’s extraordinary diversity. 

 “How to Drink” explores how to enjoy whisky in myriad ways – using water and mixers, and in cocktails. Dave tested 103 whiskies with club soda, green tea, Coca Cola, ginger ale and coconut water and then rated how each whisky stands up to each mixer.  The results will surprise you and inspire you to experiment.   It only follows that there would also be a section on whisky cocktails, from classics such as the Manhattan and Old-Fashioned to exciting, contemporary inventions  such as the Tatami Cocktail and the Green Breeze.

Dave gives you permission to mix!

About the Author

Award-winning author and whisky expert Dave Broom has been writing about whisky for 25 years as a journalist and author. He has written eight books, two of which (Drink! and Rum) won the Glenfiddich Award for Drinks Book of the Year. He has also won the Glenfiddich Award for Drinks Writer of the Year twice and in 2013 won the extremely prestigious IWSC Communicator of the Year Award.

Dave is editor-in-chief of Whisky Magazine: Japan, consultant editor to Whisky Magazine (UK, the USA, France, Spain), and a lead columnist at Whisky Advocate (USA). He is also editor of the Scotch Whisky Review and a contributor to a raft of national and international titles including the Spectator, Mixology, and Imbibe (Europe). He is a regular broadcaster on TV and radio.           

Over his two decades in the field, Dave has built up a considerable international following with regular training/educational visits to France, Holland, Germany, the USA, and Japan. His remit has covered consumer features as well as business reports. He is also actively involved in whisky education, acting as a consultant to major distillers on tasting techniques as well as teaching professionals and the public. He was also one of the developers of Diageo’s generic whisky tasting tool, the Flavor Map.

WHISKY: THE MANUAL by DAVE BROOM

Mitchell Beazley, April 8, 2014 $19.99, 224 pages

50 full-color Illustrations

ISBN: 9781845337551, Distributed by Hachette Book Group 

Dave Broom New York book signings and tastings

Saturday, May 10, 2014

The Dead Rabbit, 30 Water St, 12:30-2:30 PM

www.deadrabbitnyc.com 

Char No 4, 196 Smith Street, Brooklyn, 4-6 PM

www.charno4.com 

The Flatiron Room, 37 West 26^th Street,   7:30 – 9:30PM

www.theflatironroom.com  

Please check individual websites for details

Ardbeg Distillery Releases Limited Edition “Auriverdes”

 – Limited Edition whisky will be released on Ardbeg Day – May 31st 2014 –  

(MARCH 28, 2014)  Ardbeg, four-time winner of the World’s Best Scotch Whisky award – is announcing the launch of its 2014 Limited Edition Ardbeg Auriverdes. The new Ardbeg will launch globally on May 31st, as part of “Ardbeg Day”- the distillery’s annual celebration of all things Ardbeg. 

“Auriverde” a Portuguese term, is the combination of auri (meaning “golden”) and verde (meaning “green”) – the colors found in the iconic Ardbeg bottle, as well as the Brazilian Flag and a reflection of the “Ardbeg Day” salute to the 2014 World Cup. 

Ardbeg Auriverdes has been matured in American oak casks, with specially toasted lids that were tailor-made for this formula. The toasting technique has given the whisky a unique flavour profile, producing a mocha coffee flavour at one end and flowing into creamy vanilla at the other – truly a dram of two halves. 

Ardbeg Auriverdes follows the highly acclaimed, Limited Edition Ardbeg Galileo, which scooped the ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whisky Awards 2013. Ardbeg Auriverdes is bottled at 49.9% ABV and will be available for U.S. purchase at select embassy liquor stores ($99.99). For an embassy liquor store locater, please visit www.ardbeg.com . 

Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distillation and Whisky Creation, explains: 

“When creating Auriverdes, I had a distinct flavour profile in mind that I wanted to achieve, so I specifically created the heart of the recipe to bring that to life. It is a unique expression of Ardbeg which has exceeded all my expectations. It has the trademark Ardbeg undertones with a distinct new taste experience and an explosive mouthfeel which gives way to complex flavours of coffee grounds, liquorice, maple smoked ham, malty/biscuit notes, white pepper and a good sweet/salty balance.” 

He continues: 

“We love to experiment and try new things at Ardbeg and we are in no doubt that Auriverdes will be a hit with our Ardbeg fans on Ardbeg Day!” 

“Ardbeg Day” runs alongside the widely celebrated Islay Festival (the Feis Ile). It has become a key event in the calendar of malt whisky aficionados around the world, with thousands making the trip to the Island of Islay annually. “Ardbeg Day” will be celebrated in the form of a “Peat Football” tournament on May 31st at the Ardbeg Distillery and at participating Ardbeg Embassies around the world.  

Ardbeg Auriverdes Taste Notes

Aroma: Tarry and herbal notes with hints of mocha

Taste: Coffee grounds pass to smoked root vegetables, while maple-cured bacon collides with hot-smoked salmon

Finish: A lingering, smoky vanilla note              

About Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being the ‘Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky’. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.

Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded by the formation of ‘The Committee’ in 2000 from thousands of Ardbeg followers across the globe keen to ensure, “the doors of Ardbeg never close again.”

Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ three years in a row by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible and was awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’, ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ and the ‘Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year’ at the World Whisky Awards 2013. 

Ardbeg Embassies

Ardbeg Embassies are a network of Ardbeg customers who love Ardbeg and have agreed to profile Ardbeg to their consumers; most are independent premium whisky stores.                                                                                                                                                      

Responsible Drinking

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption. 

During our first whisky sailing trip this year a certain number of places is still available:

Embarkation: Saturday May 17th 2014 from 14.00 hrs in Oban

Disembarkation: Saturday May 24th 2013 at 10.00 hrs in Troon 

For you a chance of a lifetime to come along and sail with us in Scotland ánd meet Masterblender Richard Paterson on board for a reduced price: 

EUR 750,- instead of EUR 895,- per person!! 

More information about the trip can be found here. For further questions please contact us by email or phone: + 31-10-4156600.

For online booking click here.

Welcome on board!

Kind regards,

HOLLANDS GLORIE

Liesbeth Wammes – de Graaf

Brigitte Beckers

The malt whisky sector grew by 46.7% between 2003 and 2012, according to a new report from just-drinks and The IWSR, hitting a record high in 2012 of 7.8m cases, fuelled by strong growth in Asia. 

The report, entitled ‘Global market review of malt whisky – forecasts to 2018’, shows that Asia has seen a “very dynamic” compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20.2%, reaching around 1.5m cases in 2012. While most of that growth came from Taiwan, the report adds that most countries in the Asia region are experiencing “healthy growth”. Taiwan overtook France in 2012 to become the second-largest market for malt. 

Another key driver for the malt sector has been the Travel Retail market, which has grown its share of the category from 12% in 2003 to 15% in 2012. Travel Retail sales in value terms reached US$447.7m in 2012. 

Growth has also been strong in the Americas. North America has registered a “very healthy” 6.3% CAGR over the last ten years, according to the report. In 2012, the US was the largest malt market in the world at 1.4m cases, representing a rise of almost 12% from 2011. 

The US is also the largest individual market in retail value terms (including excise duties), with a 15.5% share in 2012. The US malt category’s retail value sales climbed from US$272.5m in 2003 to just under US$613m in 2012. 

Overall, the global malt market expanded at a CAGR of 7% between 2007 and 2012 in retail value terms (including excise taxes and duties) to reach US$3.95bn. 

Europe is the largest region by retail value with a 38% share, followed by Asia Pacific at 22%, the Americas at 21% and travel retail at 11.3%. 

However, Europe’s share of the global market has fallen from almost 60% in 2003. Most of this decline can be attributed to softening sales in Southern Europe as a result of the economic crisis. 

Italy, Spain and Greece have all seen sharp declines, the report states. 

About just-drinks.com 

Established in 1999, just-drinks is a leading online resource for the global beverage industry, publishing around 20 news articles, analysis features and insights every working day. Under the direction of managing editor Olly Wehring, its experienced team of journalists, consultants and analysts provide a unique and comprehensive blend of reports and interpretation of the beverage industry, including key events, trends, interviews and research that are delivered to over 92,000 business executives per month. 

Through its web site, webinars and in-depth management briefings just-drinks offers insight into soft drinks, wine, beer, spirits and bottled water industry developments and supply-chain trends, brand and corporate strategies, CONSULT research platform, enterprise technologies such as PLM and ERP. 

Furthermore, just-drinks supplies news on manufacturing developments and how the drinks industry is performing around the world. 

For details of how just-drinks is helping decision makers make decisions, visit http://www.just-drinks.com/ 

For further information and images please contact John Newton, Public Relations at Aroq Limited on +44 (0)1527 573 734, email john.newton@aroq.com 

A.  Smith Bowman Distillery Releases Limited Edition

Double Barrel Bourbon  

               Fredericksburg, VA. (March 26, 2014) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery announces the first release in its Abraham Bowman line for 2014, the Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Double Barrel Bourbon. This new bourbon was aged a total of seven years and two months.

               This bourbon was originally put into barrels on December 12, 2006 and transferred to new barrels on April 17, 2013.  After aging an additional six months in Bowman’s standard Warehouse (A1), the barrels were then moved to the mezzanine of Warehouse K, and aged for an additional 5 months. The mezzanine allows for increased air flow around the barrels while also allowing the barrels to receive more scrutiny under the watchful eye of Master Distiller Brian Prewitt.

               “This is a bourbon lover’s bourbon,” said Prewitt. “We decided not to chill filter this bourbon to help retain more of the flavors. The bourbon is smooth and sweet in the mouth, with a pleasant marriage of spice, vanilla, and toasty oak flavors that linger delicately on the palate.” 

               Prewitt also describes the bourbon to have a “beautiful deep cooper color. The nose opens up with honey and vanilla, giving way to baked apple and pear notes. Sweet caramel, brown sugar, and brown spice round out the nose.”  

The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Whiskey Double Barrel Bourbon is part of a series of limited edition whiskies, named after Abraham Bowman, the commander of the 8^th Virginia Regiment in the American Revolutionary War. Each edition of the Abraham line is a different expression and a new expression is released a few times a year.  The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Double Barrel Bourbon is on sale now. It is 100 proof. Suggested retail pricing is $69.99.  

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  In response to the rapid rise of taxes in Northern Virginia, the Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com.

THERE’S GOLD – LIQUID GOLD – IN THEM THERE HILLS!

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival launches treasure hunt with a difference 

The liquid gold rush will come to Scotland’s most famous whisky producing region as treasure hunters gather to seek out bottles of exclusive single malt that have been hidden in the Speyside landscape. 

A group of distilleries known as The Famous Five – Glenfarclas, Tomintoul, Tamnavulin, The Glenlivet and Cragganmore – have teamed up to offer bottles of single malt whisky valued at over £600 as the haul for lucky scavengers. 

The grown-up treasure hunt has been organised as part of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which will welcome thousands of whisky lovers from around the globe from May 1 to 5. 

Festival-goers will be able to take part in the hunt for free, simply by following the clues that appear at the Festival hubs in the towns of Elgin, Aberlour, Dufftown, and Tomtintoul on Festival transport and on Facebook and Twitter. 

Tomintoul and Glenlivet Development Trust – which operates in an area regarded as the beating heart of Speyside’s whisky production – is behind the Liquid Treasures event. 

Trust chairman Charlie Ironside says he hopes the treasure hunt will encourage visitors to spend more time in the Tomintoul and Glenlivet area during their trip to the region. 

He adds, “Our organisation was set up to help regenerate the rural economy, and working with large events like the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival – an event which is renowned with whisky lovers throughout the world – is key to that. 

“Thousands of visitors come to the area every year to visit our historic distilleries and learn more about the industry, and what we want to do is to encourage them to spend more time here. 

“They might come for the whisky, but we hope they will leave with a better knowledge of what else Tomintoul and Glenlivet has to offer – incredible walking and mountain biking trails, rich built and natural heritage, fantastic wildlife and some of the most breathtaking scenery in Scotland.” 

Each of the five distilleries have offered up some of their most exclusive bottlings for Liquid Treasures, which will run for the duration of the five-day festival. Details of the hidden malts will be announced nearer the event, but will be a worthy addition to any collection. 

Clues – which will test whisky knowledge rather than local geography – will be posted each day, and participants will be able to piece together the puzzle of the secret locations. Clues will also be posted on Twitter, and participants will be able to follow the latest news by using the hashtag #liquidtreasures. The hunt can be followed at facebook.com/TomintoulGlenlivet and on Twitter @TGDevTrust 

Mr Ironside adds, “This area of Speyside is where the Scotch whisky industry started, as The Glenlivet was the first licensed distillery in Scotland. The hills in these parts are alive with stories of smugglers and illicit stills, so it seems right that we should once again have people scouring the area trying to find some treasure of their own.” 

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival chairman James Campbell says that Liquid Treasures looks set to be one of the most popular events on this year’s programme. The Festival line-up includes more than 370 events, such as nosings, tastings, distillery tours, walks, art exhibitions and food pairing. 

It will also launch a brand new attraction this year – The Spirit of Speyside Sessions. A festival in its own right, the Sessions will feature performances by some of the leading acts in Scottish traditional music in venues closely linked to the whisky industry. 

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is one of the leading events for Year of Homecoming 2014 – a year-long celebration which showcases all that is great about Scotland. The Festival will also have the honour of kicking off Homecoming’s own Whisky Month in May. 

Mr Campbell adds, “Liquid Treasures is proving to be one of the most talked about events of the Festival, and I know that many, many people  are planning to take part. 

“The great thing about this event is that it is so accessible – it is open to absolutely everyone. I wish each and every one of our budding pioneers the very best of luck in their attempts to strike gold in Speyside.” 

Tickets for all events in the 2014 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival programme can be bought via the website – www.spiritofspeyside.com The Festival is also active on social media – facebook.com/WhiskyFestival and @spirit_speyside on Twitter. 

Picture caption: Treasure hunters will be on the search for liquid gold at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. 

NOTES

Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival runs from Thursday, 1 May – Monday, 5 May 2014.  Check out http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/ for up-to-date news and follow the Festival at www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival  or www.twitter.com/spirit_speyside 

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is committed to promoting responsible drinking. Visitors travelling to and from festival events can take advantage of a range of transport options. Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has received funding from EventScotland, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners 

EventScotland: EventScotland is the national events agency. EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. 

Year of Homecoming Scotland

Scotland will welcome the world in the Year of Homecoming 2014- providing a year-long programme of events alongside the Ryder Cup and Commonwealth Games . The Year of Homecoming Scotland will run from 31 December 2013 to 31 December 2014 throughout the length and breadth of the country.  Visitors from around the world are invited to join in a celebration of the nation’s food and drink, active pursuits, cultural heritage, nature and ancestral heritage. 

Homecoming Scotland 2014 is a Scottish Government initiative being led by EventScotland and VisitScotland, supported by numerous partners. To find out more visit http://www.homecomingscotland.com/

Gartbreck, the 9th Islay distillery aims to revive traditional methods of whisky making

Plans for what will be the 9th whisky distillery on an isle which is regarded as the Mecca of whisky have been revealed. Gartbreck Distillery will be built at Saltpan Point on the site of an old farm located on the shore of Loch Indaal near Bowmore, on the isle of Islay on the Western coast of Scotland.

Gartbreck Distillery will be unique in reviving the traditional method of whisky making which had been abandoned for the benefit of cost efficiency. Its two pots stills which will be overlooking the sea through a large glass garble will be direct heated with a live flame, it will use worm tub condensers and fermentation of the wash will take place in Oregon Pine wooden washbacks. This has nothing to do with nostalgia, the reasons of those choices being this is how Jean Donnay who has now completed the design of the distillery wants to make whisky since he believes this is how he should do in order to obtain the specific character he is aiming at.

His belief is largely based on his experience of having previously designed Glann ar Mor Distillery in Brittany under the very same lines, and having operated it successfully since 2005. Its whiskies have earned wide recognition with in particular five “Liquid Gold Awards” in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, and he has been named “Distillery Manager of the Year 2014” at the “Icons of Whisky – Rest of the World” for his distillery in Brittany.

Although reverting to time proven methods, Gartbreck’s bespoke equipment will include some technical evolution allowing in particular to significantly minimize the drawbacks usually associated with the direct heating of the stills. The distillery’s water will flow by gravity from Grunnd Loch which overlooks the distillery 900m away from it, and the floor malting and the kiln will allow to produce 20% of its needs in peated malt in using local barley from the isle.

The plans also include the production of gin in limited volume, to be sold exclusively at the distillery’s visitor centre in order to stimulate business activity during the initial period when the distillery’s whisky will not yet be available.

The highest attention has been paid by the local architects and designers to respect the exceptional location, the distillery’s building keeping a sleek silhouette for a smooth integration in the landscape. Once it will be operating at nominal capacity the distillery will be producing 55.000 LPA per year. One type of Single Malt will be produced, offering a highly peaty character for which Islay whiskies are so famous.

The new distillery will see up to 10 jobs being created. Planning Permission has been granted by the Argyll and Bute Council and it is hoped that the fundings of the 2.5M£ investment will be completed in time to start work during the third quarter 2014, with an aim to have the distillery starting operation by autumn 2015.

Contact : Martine or Jean Donnay @ info@gartbreck.com 

Gartbreck Distillery
Moss Road
Bowmore PA43 7JG
Isle of Islay
SCOTLAND