Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño Stays True to Win the Ballantine’s Sponsored BMW Masters

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño today showed his true courage and conviction, holding his nerve on the 18th Green to secure the title at the prestigious BMW Masters at Shanghai’s Lake Malaren Golf Club; a prestigious European Tour event also sponsored by Ballantine’s, the world’s No. 2 Scotch whisky.

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño shot a four under par final round to finish on eleven under for the Championship, holding off Francesco Molinari and Thongchai Jaidee who both finished ten under par.

Earlier in the week Ballantine’s, which has recently announced a new global marketing campaign ‘Stay True, Leave An Impression’, asked the players at the BMW Masters to write a word that represented what inspired them to ‘Stay True’ and ‘Leave An Impression’ on the game of golf, with a range of answers from family through to patience.

After his performance over the last four days, Fernandez-Castaño’s choice of the word ‘winning’ could not be more appropriate:

“It doesn’t get any better than this.  The first event of the first ever Final Series and I got the victory.  There’s never a bad time for a victory, but this has been just the perfect one.”

He had not been looking at the leaderboards all day until he first glanced over on the 15th hole and noticed his long name at the top. He afterwards admitted that it affected his game, but he stayed true to himself to earn the victory, despite a double bogey on the final hole:

“You don’t have a three shot advantage that often, so there’s many things going on in your mind.  I didn’t want to mess up and I almost did, so it’s a weird feeling! As I said, I’m not used to having a three shot advantage when I’m playing such a big tournament like this, but hopefully I’ll get many more opportunities and next time I’ll do better.

It’s pretty much like playing at home and it’s been great to see the crowds this week – they have been pretty amazing! There’s definitely bigger crowds than in previous years, and that just shows that golf is growing here in China and there is big potential and a bright future ahead.”

To find out more about the Ballantine’s campaign, Stay True, Leave An Impression, as well as Ballantine’s and golf, please go to http://www.ballantines.com/

Caption:

BMW Masters 2013 Champion Gonzalo Fernandez-Castaño is presented with a bottle of Ballantine’s 30 year old whisky by Pernod Ricard Managing Director Horace Ngai.

Notes

About Ballantine’s:
Ballantine’s is the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No.2 Scotch whisky in the world and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 120 trophies and medals at international competition 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.

Ballantine’s association with golf can be traced back to at least 1960, when the Ballantine’s Tournament took place at Wentworth golf course. More than fifty years later, Ballantine’s sponsors both the BMW Masters and the AAM Scottish Open, and has also been title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship and an Official Sponsor of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in 2009 and 2011.

Greetings Society Members,

Just sending a quick newsflash to lead you into the weekend….

New Society Bottling

I have some great news for you…the new Society release has been bottled and will be ready for dispatch by the middle of next week! A large majority of the bottling has been reserved already but there are still a few bottles available if you have not yet ordered one. The price for the new Springbank 12 year old Port bottling is £55.00.

For bottles being reserved in Campbeltown and sent out to addresses within the UK, I will be able to take payment for your bottles from Monday onwards. I have some of your payment details on file but for the others could I please ask you to get in touch with me as soon as you can to arrange the payment and delivery. If you would prefer to phone rather than email these over, you can reach me on 01586 55 2009.

Unfortunately bottles which have been reserved to be sent to our European Cadenhead’s shops will not be delivered there until 2014 as the last of the 2013 orders have already been organised/sent. The Baden store have told me their next order will be in Spring 2014 and the other shops will most likely place their next order between January and March 2014. I will let you know as soon as I can when the shops will be receiving their next order which will include the Society bottles. Can I kindly ask that you wait until you have heard from me before phoning the shops to ask if they have arrived.

Some of the Cadenhead’s shops have been in touch with me to say that there have been Society bottles reserved in their shop for a few months which have never been paid for or collected. We have agreed that from now on, shop owners will keep these unpaid bottles reserved for two months before giving other Society members the chance to purchase them. I feel this should be long enough to collect the bottles as it is unfair to expect the shop owners to keep them unpaid for a long period of time. If you are unable to physically get to the shops you could perhaps get in touch with the shop and have the bottles posted out to you.

Springbank 16 year old Madeira 

Also bottled earlier on this week is a Springbank 16 year old Madeira single cask which has been bottled especially for our UK retailers. This is extremely limited with only 630 bottles available. Bottled at 56%, this whisky spent it’s first 10 years in a Refill Bourbon cask before being transferred into a Fresh Madeira for the final 6 years. It was distilled in June 1997 and bottled in October 2013. This will be available in UK retail shops including the 3 Cadenhead’s Shops in Campbeltown, Edinburgh and London. The price for this is £70 and no Society discount will be available as it is just so limited. If you would like a bottle can I ask you to please get in touch with the shop directly as I will not be taking orders for this – simply because I will not be able to keep track of how many bottles they have available. Each shop will only have an allocation of between 30 and 60 bottles and I imagine they will sell very quickly.

Ardshiel Hotel crowned THE WINNERS! 

In case you haven’t heard yet, I am delighted to tell you that the Ardshiel Hotel WON the prestigious Scottish Field Whisky Bar of the Year award ‘by a country mile’!! It is fantastic news for Flora and Marion who have invested a lot of time, effort and money into making the bar as phenomenal as it is. It is a great achievement for a hotel in such a small town to win this award as they were up against some stiff competition from much bigger bars in the cities. It is something that as a town we are very proud of and it can only help to boost visitor numbers and help to keep raising the profile on our wee town! A big thank you to all of you who took the time to vote for the Ardshiel and help to spread the news – it was definitely worth your time!

That is all for just now so I hope you all have a great weekend and will be in touch soon!

Slainte,

Mairi

Mairi Paterson

For the Springbank Society

To join the Springbank Society please contact them at society@springbankwhisky.com

Jim Beam Taps Into New Flavor With Jim Beam® Maple

Clermont, KY (October 17, 2013) – As the holiday season inches steadily closer, Jim Beam® Bourbon has tapped the warm taste of maple to reveal the latest creation in its flavored line, Jim Beam® Maple. The new expression follows the introduction of Jim Beam® Honey, and boasts the natural flavors of sweet, smooth maple. Both Jim Beam Honey and Jim Beam Maple combine rich flavors and America’s native spirit to create offerings that are both mixable and approachable.

“Jim Beam Maple – as with Jim Beam Honey – is an innovative flavor-infused bourbon that was developed to offer our fans a different whiskey option and the opportunity to try a new, creative shot or cocktail,” said Chris Bauder, General Manager of Whiskies at Beam Inc. “This is another exciting flavor experience that pushes boundaries while still honoring the proud traditions that make Jim Beam the world’s finest bourbon.”

Spirits experts are already extending high praise for Jim Beam Maple:

• Geoff Kleinman, of Drink Spirits, (September 3rd, 2013) says: “Jim Beam Maple is yet another smart and timely innovation from a company who is simply at the top of their game.”
• Colin Joliat, of lifestyle blog Guyism, (September 27th, 2013) says: “The edges are rounded-out by the sweetness of the maple, but it’s no longer…dominated by the singular taste. Now suddenly the vanilla, caramel, and oak show up to create a better balance, making you want to apologize to the bottle for ever thinking it was a one-trick pony.”

Jim Beam Maple is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey infused with natural flavors that provides a perfect balance of warm aromas, a hint of charred oak, complete with a subtle and smooth caramel finish. The natural maple flavors make the 70-proof Jim Beam Maple fantastic on its own or on the rocks, and ideal for holiday cocktails and food recipes that will appeal to bourbon drinkers both old and new. Create a festive seasonal cocktail with one of the recipes below:

Maple Toddy

Ingredients

• 1 part Jim Beam® Maple Bourbon
• 1 lemon wedge
• 1 half-moon slice of orange
• 2 whole cloves

In a pre-heated mug muddle the cloves and the fruit then pour in the Jim Beam® Maple and fill half way with steaming hot water, stir to combine and fill with steaming hot water. No garnish.

White Canadian

Ingredients

• 2 parts Jim Beam® Maple
• 1 part Kamora® Liqueur
• 2 parts half and half

Shake all ingredients with ice or build over ice in a double old fashioned glass. No garnish.

Both Jim Beam Maple and Jim Beam Honey are available nationwide and have a suggested retail price of $15.99 for 750ML. For more information please visit http://www.jimbeam.com/maple, http://www.jimbeam.com/honey, “like” Jim Beam on Facebook or follow @JimBeamOfficial.

About Beam Inc.

As one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher’s Scotch Whisky, Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC and DeKuyper Cordials.  Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,400 passionate associates worldwide generated 2012 sales of $2.5 billion (excluding excise taxes), volume of 38 million 9-liter equivalent cases and some of the industry’s fastest growing innovations.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index.  For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Jim Beam® Expands Trail-Blazing Flavor-Infused Bourbon Line With Red Stag By Jim Beam® Hardcore Cider

Clermont, KY (October 8, 2013) – Just in time for the fall season, Jim Beam® Bourbon has introduced the newest expression to its world-leading bourbon portfolio: Red Stag by Jim Beam® Hardcore Cider. Following the flagship brand that helped spark the flavored bourbon category – Red Stag Black Cherry – Red Stag Hardcore Cider is a “Different Breed of BourbonTM” that offers a mixable and approachable spin on America’s native spirit with natural flavors of apple cider.

“Since its history making introduction in 2009, Red Stag has helped fuel rapid growth of flavor innovation in the category,” said Chris Bauder, General Manager, Whiskies at Beam Inc. “We’re excited to extend our flavor leadership with the Red Stag line, which has seen double-digit growth every year, and are confident Red Stag Hardcore Cider is the perfect, versatile flavor addition for the fall season.”

This exciting new addition to the Red Stag by Jim Beam portfolio has also already generated substantial interest from industry experts. Beverage Media notes that the product “offers great versatility in many cocktail creations or can be enjoyed chilled, on the rocks.”

Like the other Red Stag flavors, Red Stag Hardcore Cider is an 80-proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey infused with natural flavors. The new expression features crisp fruit and subtle flavors of apple cider for just the right amount of sweet and spice that’s approachable for those who haven’t considered bourbon before or who simply want to add a little fall flavor to their glass. Whether as a shot, on the rocks or mixed in a variety of creative cocktails, Red Stag Hardcore Cider is the perfect way to get into the fall and holiday spirit. Try one of the great seasonal recipes below:

Holiday Pie Punch

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam® Hardcore Cider
• 1 part Pinnacle® Pumpkin Pie Vodka
• 3 parts Apple Cider
• 1 part Fresh Lemon Sour

On the Rocks: Shake all ingredients with ice and strain over fresh ice in a tall glass garnishing with a lemon.

Warm-Up: Combine all ingredients plus a ½ part of water and 2 or 3 cinnamon sticks in a crock pot or non-reactive pan and bring to a simmer keeping heat just high enough to keep warm. To serve, ladle into heat proof mugs and float a thin wheel of lemon.

Eve’s Temptation

Ingredients:

• 2 parts Red Stag by Jim Beam® Hardcore Cider
• 1 part JDK & Sons™ Crave Chocolate Cherry Liqueur
• 2 parts Half & Half

Shake all ingredients with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a cherry on the rim.

About Beam Inc.

As one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher’s Scotch Whisky, Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC and DeKuyper Cordials.  Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,400 passionate associates worldwide generated 2012 sales of $2.5 billion (excluding excise taxes), volume of 38 million 9-liter equivalent cases and some of the industry’s fastest growing innovations.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index.  For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Red Stag Hardcore Cider is now available nationwide for a suggested retail price of $17.99 for a 750ml bottle. For more information on Red Stag Hardcore Cider, please visit www.jimbeam.com/red-stag, “like” Jim Beam on Facebook or follow @JimBeamOfficial.

Jura Launches Search for the World’s Best Stories 

Jura Whisky has launched a search for the world’s best stories, with the chance to win two all-expenses paid trips to the 2014 Jura Whisky Festival.

Starting today (31 October), Jura Whisky is calling on all budding storytellers to submit a story in 1,000 characters or less. Every fortnight for ten weeks Jura Whisky will provide a different story theme for inspiration. The themes kick off this week with Travel Adventure, followed by Day Dreams, A Brush with Death, Into the Wild and Happily Ever After.

Art Wednesday will provide further inspiration by producing a series of videos which tell the stories of interesting, influential creatives and their work. The first two videos will feature writer Marcel Theroux and musician Nick Mulvey (previously of Portico Quartet), with more to follow.

From the competition entries, three stories will be chosen each week and turned into bespoke illustrations by creative agency Holler which will be posted on to jurawhisky.com.  At the end of the ten weeks, each of the 30 winning stories will be put to the public vote to find the favourite. Voting will remain open for two weeks.

The winner with the most votes will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to enjoy an all-expenses paid trip to Jura for the 2014 Whisky Festival to help select the new special edition festival bottling which will be launched at the 2015 Festival. Staying in the luxurious Jura Lodge, the winner will be treated to a VIP tour, taking in all of Jura’s ‘must sees’, including a speedboat trip to the Corryvreckan whirlpool, tea on the beach and a visit to Barnhill where Orwell wrote 1984.

Gemma Parkinson, Brand Manager at Jura Whisky, said: “As the nights draw in, the residents of Jura like to settle down by the fire, pour a dram and swap a story or two. In that spirit, we have launched a season of storytelling to celebrate tales worth sharing. Some of Jura’s best and most loved stories, both real and mythical, are those that have been handed down through generations of islanders over the years. That’s why we’re on the hunt to find the world’s best stories, to celebrate and reward the art of great storytelling.”

The competition, which opens today, Thursday, 31 October, and will run right through until Friday, 10 January 2014, is part of Jura Whisky’s new ‘Story Season’ campaign. The competition is open to entrants from all countries.

For more information on Jura Whisky’s search for the world’s best stories, including detailed terms and conditions, visit www.jurawhisky.com.

About Jura

Off the west coast of Scotland lies one of nature’s best kept secrets, the Isle of Jura.  Populated by a community of less than 200, known as Diurachs (the Gaelic name for the people of Jura), the island is home to Jura distillery and an award-winning range of single malt whiskies.

There are four classic bottlings in the Jura Collection, each with their own distinctive flavour profiles: the light and delicate Origin 10; the rich and full bodied Diurachs’ Own 16 year old; and Superstition and Prophecy, which are lightly and heavily peated respectively.

Jura whisky, as we know it today, was born in the late 1950s when two local estate owners – Robin Fletcher and Tony Riley-Smith – took the bold decision to rebuild the Jura distillery following decades of neglect, employing architect William Delme-Evans. By 1963 their work was complete, providing much needed economic support for an isolated island community.

The story of the distillery’s rebirth is one of many that define the unique character of Jura, the islanders and their whisky. From the Writers’ Retreat to the annual Music and Whisky Festivals, Jura continues to generate stories worth telling.

To find out more visit www.jurawhisky.com

Richard Paterson, Master Distiller for The Dalmore and caretaker of Scotland’s most precious and rare whisky stocks, is taking to Reddit for a special whisky “Ask Me Anything” from today.

Richard, who is affectionately known as “the nose”, has been the Master Distiller at the Dalmore distillery for over 40 years and has created inspiring and memorable whiskies, which include King Alexander III, Ceti and The Dalmore Constellation Collection to name but a few. Whisky distilling is in Richard’s blood having followed in both his father and grandfather steps into the whisky industry and he knows everything there is to know about the water of life.

To ask Richard a question, simply post your questions on the Whisky Reddit pages http://www.reddit.com/r/Scotch/ and Richard will reply to as many as he can next week.

The Teeling Whiskey Company Goes With The Grain

Unique bottling of Irish Single Grain Whiskey is Launched 

The Teeling Whiskey Company, Ireland’s award winning independent Irish whiskey company, has released a new bottling of Single Grain Irish whiskey, one of only a handful of such expressions in the world.

Single Grain bottlings are very rare as it is typically blended with heavier styles of Irish whiskey to create many of the well-known brands on the market today. Grain whiskey is made through the combination of unique ingredients, predominately maize/corn which is distilled through a modern technique of column distillation. This produces an exceptionally clean, smooth and sweet Irish whiskey. The smooth, sweet nature of Grain whiskey provides a natural canvas which allows the Teeling Whiskey Company to create a very unique style of Irish whiskey.

To add a depth of character, Teeling Single Grain is exclusively fully matured in Californian Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels. This creates a very distinctive rich amber colour while imparting strong spicy notes, lush red berry and grape flavours. This proprietary maturation technique produces a very unique Irish whiskey of distinctive character while still being remarkably easy to drink. Like all the Teeling whiskeys it is bottled at 46% with no chill filtration allowing for all the natural flavours of the whiskey to be retained.

Jack Teeling, founder of the Teeling Whiskey Company, commented, “It’s a little known fact that the majority of Irish whiskey sold is actually Grain whiskey so we feel it is interesting to have expressions of Single Grain whiskey in its own right.  Our new Teeling Single Grain is representative of our aim to help drive the expansion of the Irish whiskey category through unique bottlings and expressions.”

The Teeling family whiskey heritage in distilling dates back to 1782 in Dublin when Walter Teeling  set up a distillery in Marrowbone Lane in the Liberties. Today, Jack and his brother Stephen, Sales & Marketing Director, are the latest generation of Teelings involved in the Irish whiskey industry. While initially starting out as an independent bottler, their aim is to bring Teeling Whiskey home by establishing the first new whiskey distillery in Dublin in over 125 years.

THE MACALLAN AMBER NAMED

THE WHISKY SHOP’S WHISKY OF THE YEAR 2013

The Whisky Shop today (Friday 1^st November 2013) crowned The Macallan Amber as its Whisky of the Year 2013.

The single malt is part of The 1824 Series which showcases two of The Macallan’s greatest strengths: oak sherry casks and natural colour.  The Macallan Amber was selected from The Whisky Shop’s extensive range of over 300 whiskies based on a combination of customer choice, sales and recommendations from store managers.

With 22 stores across the UK including new premium flagships in London’s Piccadilly and on Manchester’s Exchange Street, The Whisky Shop has over 3 million customers each year and is the first retail store in the UK to provide a dedicated platform for some of the world’s most exclusive whiskies.

The premium drinks emporium provides an experience which is luxurious, accessible and educational to whisky novices and connoisseurs, leading them on a journey of discovery and celebrating the heritage and craftsmanship of the product.

The Whisky Shop’s Piccadilly flagship is widely regarded by the industry as the leading specialist whisky retailer in the world.  The store recently fought off competition from the new Burberry global flagship on Regent Street and the bespoke Christian Louboutin boutique in Selfridges to scoop a prestigious retail design award.*

Priced at £59.99, The Macallan Amber underlines the signature style of The Macallan embracing the defining elements which have made it one of the world’s truly great single malts.  For the 1824 Series, The Macallan Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno, created four expressions by identifying the natural colour formed during maturation in different cask types to create the character informed by these colours. The expressions are Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby, all names reflecting the actual colour of the whiskies in the range, but also describing naturally occurring mineral and metals.

Ken Grier, Director of Malts, Edrington, commented: “We are delighted to receive this award for The Macallan Amber.  Amber is the second expression in our new 1824 Series of four single malts and is the perfect combination of two of the most influential factors which make this single malt whisky amongst the most distinctive and desirable, namely sherry seasoned oak casks and natural colour. The Macallan Amber, by name and appearance, boasts a floral, citrus and sweet vanilla nose with hints of toffee apple, cinnamon and ginger, finishing with soft fruits and subtle oak lingering.

“This recognition is testimony both to this innovative approach to whisky making of taking colour as the basis for shaping these whiskies, and to the long experience of our Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno.  As some 60% of the aroma and flavour of The Macallan derives from the oak maturation casks, Amber truly demonstrates the critical role of our exceptional casks.”

Andrew Torrance, Managing Director of The Whisky Shop, said: “Although it was only launched earlier this year, The Macallan Amber has already established itself as one of our leading single malts.

“Our Whisky of the Year is voted for by our customers as well as our knowledgeable store managers, which underlines the impact of this new addition to The Macallan range and The Macallan Amber is a highly deserving winner of our Whisky of the Year 2013.”

Previous winners of the award, which is now in its seventh year, are Jura Superstition, Dalmore 12 year old, Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Auchentoshan 12 year old, Bowmore 12 year old and Bunnahabhain 12 year old.

The Macallan Amber is available from The Whisky Shop’s 22 stores nationwide or online at www.whiskyshop.com

* The 2013 National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) Design Partnership Award for Retail

NOTES

Tasting Notes: 

The Macallan Amber – a floral, citrus sweet nose gains presence, commanding a chorus of sweet vanilla notes over freshly harvested grain. Raisin, sultana and cinnamon look on as toffee apples and candy floss step into the limelight. On the palate, fresh green apples and lemons mingle with cinnamon. Ginger notes hover as fruit takes over, with subtle oak lingering. The finale is light to medium, with soft fruits and cereal, slightly dry. 

The Whisky Shop 

The Whisky Shop is the UK’s largest whisky only specialist retailer with 22 stores nationwide and an online store at www.whiskyshop.com.  For further information please visit www.whiskyshop.com or contact 0141 427 2977.

Glenmorangie named world’s best dram   

— Author of renowned Whisky Bible pays homage to the “borderline perfection” of limited edition Ealanta — 

Glenmorangie Ealanta has today been named as the best dram on the planet by Jim Murray, one of the world’s leading whisky experts.

In his 2014 Whisky Bible Murray paid tribute to the quality of the limited edition single malt Scotch by describing it as having “one of the longest finishes of any Scotch this year…and borderline perfection.” It scored 97.5 out of 100 points.

This year 4,500 whiskies were tasted, evaluated and rated by Murray but he was blown away by Ealanta’s innovative aroma and taste profile. Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible is published annually and is regarded as a benchmark for the sector.

Glenmorangie Ealanta was released at the start of this year as the fourth annual release in the company’s award-winning Private Edition range.

Scots Gaelic for ‘skilled and  ingenious’, Ealanta is a 19 Years Old Glenmorangie, fully matured in virgin American white oak casks with a provenance that stretches all the way to the mountains of Missouri and the Mark Twain National Forest.

Dr Bill Lumsden, The Glenmorangie Company’s Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, said: “This is a wonderful award for us and testament to the ongoing success of our Private Edition range. Jim Murray has been a leading judge of whisky for three decades so this is a major coup for us.

“It’s no secret in our industry that it’s the ‘wood that makes the whisky’ and for many years my team and I have been carrying out detailed research in this area.”

Jim Murray, whose Whisky Bible celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, said: “Glenmorangie Ealanta pipped others to the post because it went out and did something different; not only did it blow one away with its deftness, beauty and elegance, but it gave an aroma and taste profile completely new to me in over 30 years of tasting whisky.”

Glenmorangie Ealanta retails at £74.99 and is available at specialist retailers including The Whisky Exchange, Master Of Malt, The Whisky Shop and Royal Mile Whiskies (Edinburgh).

NOTES

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation to create ‘unnecessarily well-made whiskies.’

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

OLD PULTENEY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY AND US SAILING

ANNOUNCE FINALISTS FOR THE 2013 MARITIME HEROES AWARD 

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky and US Sailing announced this year’s finalists for the 2013 Old Pulteney Maritime Heroes Award. Now in its second year, the Maritime Heroes Award seeks out men and women across the country who are making significant contributions to their local sailing community and the overall sport of sailing. Three finalists were chosen this year.

“We continue to be impressed by how many men and women dedicate their lives to improving and preserving the sport of sailing,” said Amy Larkin, Marketing Director of US Sailing.

Each finalist was nominated by another member of their sailing community and carefully selected by Old Pulteney and US Sailing representatives.

• Don Glasell from Chicago, IL, makes sailing more accessible to inner-city kids and the disabled as a sailing instructor with the Chicago Yacht Club and the Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Foundation.
• Rich Goben of Descanso, CA, has committed 33 years of service on several classic passenger sailing vessels teaching, training, and mentoring countless crews.
• Michael Rorke Miller from Traverse City, MI helps at-risk youth in northern Michigan through a therapeutic sailing program, SAIL Champion.

“These finalists embody everything an Old Pulteney Maritime Hero should be: dedicated, compassionate and selfless,” said Pat Graney, President of International Beverage USA. “We recognize and appreciate the lasting impressions they have made in both their local communities and the sailing community as a whole.”

The winner will be determined by public vote and recognized at an award ceremony in February 2014 during US Sailing’s National Sailing Programs Symposium in San Diego, California.  Friends, family and members of the national maritime community are encouraged to vote for their favorite finalist. Public voting for the Old Pulteney Maritime Heroes Award will be open through December 1, 2013. For official rules please visit www.maritimeheroes.com. 

About Old Pulteney

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky is crafted at Pulteney Distillery in Wick, Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1826 by James Henderson at the height of Wick’s herring boom. The distillery lies in the heart of “Pulteneytown,” which was one of the largest and most important herring fishing ports in Europe.  Old Pulteney has a long standing association with the sea and is the official scotch of US Sailing.  Its carefully crafted taste carries the windswept and rugged character of the North, the salty and fresh air of the North Sea, and the distillery’s rich maritime heritage runs through every drop of this fine malt.

About US Sailing
The United States Sailing Association (US Sailing), the national governing body for sailing, provides leadership, integrity, and growth for the sport in the United States. Founded in 1897 and headquartered in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, US Sailing is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization. US Sailing offers training and education programs for instructors and race officials, supports a wide range of sailing organizations and communities, issues offshore rating certificates, and provides administration and oversight of competitive sailing across the country, including National Championships and the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider. For more information, please visit http://www.ussailing.org/.