Thousands of votes across 37 countries have been cast by whisky lovers to select a new limited edition from The Glenlivet, with its Exotic expression revealed today as the winner, with 39% of the vote. 

The announcement follows a global campaign by The Glenlivet, during which the brand reached out to whisky fans around the world giving them the chance to select the next The Glenlivet expression for the first time ever. The winning expression will be named “The Guardians’ Chapter” in recognition of the significant part the distillery’s fan club – The Guardians of The Glenlivet – has made to the voting. The new whisky – which is non-chill filtered, 48.7% proof and described as a rich, indulgent single malt – will be bottled in limited quantities and distributed around the world from March 2014, priced at $85 (or equivalent). 

The winning ‘Exotic’ single malt was created using a subtle mixture of casks including Hogsheads and American oak barrels with the addition of a proportion of whisky from Spanish ex-sherry butts to provide a rich, exotic twist.  The resulting whisky displays the signature fruitiness of The Glenlivet with the addition of rich, warm spicy notes. Rich and indulgent on the nose, it offers aromas of moist and sweet, candied apples balanced with a hint of orange marmalade. The taste combines juicy raisins with an undertone of dark chocolate orange zestiness, well balanced with a subtle warmth of spice, complementing a long and slightly dry finish. 

The campaign began in September 2013, with Master Distiller Alan Winchester revealing the three expressions he had hand-picked for fans to choose from. The three expressions – which were selected to spark debate over single malt style preferences – were named according to their taste profile, with the options being Classic, Exotic and Revival. Fans of the brand were invited to tasting events held across the globe where they sampled and voted for their favourites. 

In addition to the tasting events, a series of special evenings entitled the ‘Expression Sessions’ were held in London, New York and Mumbai. Designed to bring the styles of the three expressions to life through aligned cultural interests, the events included a range of speakers, including artists, academics, musicians and explorers. The London event saw design expert, Stephen Bayley, talking about ‘classic’ car design whilst explorer Benedict Allen described what encountering the ‘exotic’ meant to him. Videos and findings from the events, alongside the percentage breakdown of the final results, can be found on the brand’s website, http://www.theglenlivet.com/. 

Alan Winchester comments: “The story of The Guardians’ Chapter doesn’t end here. This is an opportunity to savour a unique, limited edition, single malt that’s already been admired and desired by thousands of whisky lovers.   Our Guardians have written a new chapter in the distillery’s distinguished history; this will be their legacy and I’m really pleased with the enthusiastic response we received and the selection the Guardians have made.”  

Nikki Burgess, Global Brand Director for The Glenlivet, adds: “Deciding on a new Scotch whisky expression is normally a privilege reserved for a very select handful of experts, revered for their knowledge and experience. With The Glenlivet Guardians’ Chapter, we wanted to recognise the passion and expertise of our Guardians in an original and inspiring way by inviting them to write the next chapter in The Glenlivet’s history. We’ve had an excellent response from fans across the world, particularly in the USA, the world’s no. 1 single malt market, and we are sure that our founder, George Smith, would be proud of the smooth and complex whisky that will bear his and The Glenlivet’s name when it goes on sale next year.” 

To become a member of The Guardians of The Glenlivet community, please visit: www.theglenlivet.com/guardians

Notes: 

Tasting Notes 

The Glenlivet Guardians’ Chapter ‘Exotic’ – 48.7% ABV – Non Chill-Filtered

Nose: Rich and indulgent with hints of moist fruitcake and sweet, candied apple, balanced with a tang of orange marmalade.

Taste: Plump, juicy raisins with an undertone of dark chocolate orange zestiness. Well balanced with the subtle warmth of spice permeating through.

Finish: Long and slightly dry 

About The Glenlivet

The Glenlivet is the No. 2 single malt Scotch whisky in the world. Crafted in the remote Livet Valley since 1824, it is the only whisky with the unchallengeable right to be called The Glenlivet. 

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. 

In July 2010, Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements. 

For further news of upcoming events please visit http://www.theglenlivet.com/ or www.facebook.com/theglenlivet 

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

LA DOLFINA WINS THE 2013 CAMPEONATO ARGENTINO ABIERTO DE POLO

In a dramatic and historic win, this year’s 120^th Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo (Argentine Open) Championship title has been taken by La Dolfina. This tournament marks the pinnacle of the Royal Salute World Polo Series, where the final is always passionately fought, and features some of the world’s best players, including, Adolfo Cambiaso and Pablo Mac Donough, both 10 goal players, who ultimately ensured La Dolfina took the title of ‘best polo team in the world’.

With every chukka courageously fought, La Dolfina took a 2-1 lead over Alegria in the first chukka, with Cambiaso scoring the first goal of the final. Alegria fought to catch up, and at the end of the fourth chukka, teams equalised with a score of eight-all. La Dolfina started to pull away in the sixth chukka which lead to the final score of 16-11.

This display of elite sportsmanship drew a discerning crowd of 20,000 from Argentina and all over the world. Guests of Royal Salute were hosted by English International professional polo player, Malcolm Borwick and Torquhil Ian Campbell, the 13th Duke of Argyll. Also in attendance was guest of honour Johannes Huebl, the high profile German model and photographer known for his discerning taste and artistic eye for photography. Johannes captured imagery of the final to reveal the sportsmanship, skill and passion behind the game. Johannes’ images captured during the Open were uploaded and shared with his 150,000 followers on his Instagram using #Salutethegame, enabling a wider audience to appreciate the skill, passion and craftsmanship behind polo.

Neil Macdonald, Brand Director for Royal Salute commented:

 “Royal Salute is thrilled to be supporting polo in Argentina for the second year in a row; as the ultimate polo destination it is incredibly inspiring to watch the best players in the world battle it out at Palermo. With an unpredictable run up to this hotly anticipated final, we feel that this tournament is the perfect platform on which to celebrate our own values of craftsmanship, honour, courage and skill, which are also integral to this most elegant and powerful of sports.”

The tournament is the penultimate fixture in the Royal Salute World Polo Series for 2013, showcasing the brand’s commitment to the most prestigious international polo events across the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. 

Notes:

About Royal Salute

Polo is a game of honour and respect, two values at the heart of Royal Salute. The greatest players are masters of their craft whose sublime horsemanship and respect for their mount allows them to play the noble sport according to the purity of its code.

Royal Salute truly believes and takes pride in the values of integrity and honour; the whisky is laid down to mature for at least  21 years, the unique bottle is meticulously handcrafted from the finest hand-selected porcelain, ensuring that the utmost attention to detail is paid to every element during its creation.

Royal Salute is a leading international supporter of polo, ‘the king of sports and the sport of kings’. Royal Salute World Polo is truly international with a presence in every major region globally:

• Argentina Campeonato Abierto De Polo Argentina, Beunos Aires
• Columbia Copa Uribe, Bogota, Columbia
• China Royal Salute China Open, Tang Polo Club,  Beijing
• India Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur, Golden Jubilee Cup
• Italy Polo Gold Cup, Cortina d’Ampezzo
• Korea Royal Salute Polo Club, Jeju Country Club, Jeju
• Singapore Japanese Cup, Singapore
• Spain Landrover International Tournament, Santa Maria Polo Club, Sotogrande
• UAE Royal Salute Nations Cup, Desert Palm Resort,  Dubai
• UK Westchester Cup, Guards Polo Club, Windsor, UK
• USA Royal Salute Jubilee Cup, Greenwich Polo Club, Connecticut

 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, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

In July 2010 Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.

For further information:

Visit: http://www.chivasbrothers.com/ and http://www.royalsalute.com/

The Arran Distillers take great pride in all of their whisky, but occasionally James MacTaggart, the Distillery Manager, discovers a cask that truly stands out as the finest example of the Distillers art and oak cask in perfect harmony. The influence of the cask on the final character of whisky is widely acknowledged and one of the key aspects of his job is to determine when the right balance between the spirit and the wood has been achieved. Only the most exceptional examples of Single Malt are approved for bottling as Premium Cask Selection.  

Colour: Straw-Gold

Nose: Sweet oak and honey are immediately apparent in the aroma. Hints of coconut and candy appear when water is added with butterscotch and liquorice also evident.
Palate: The taste is crisp and malty with a slight nuttiness. With time the malt begins to open and the Arran hallmarks of citrus and sweet fruit emerge to coat the tongue.
Finish: Clean and fresh with a lingering creamy sweetness. Best described as mellow, smooth and bursting with flavour.

Cask #498/96  49.8% abv.  

RRP $129.99 

We hope this will be a great addition to your holiday portfolio.

Happy upcoming holidays to everyone from the ImpEx Beverages Team!

Wishing all of our supporters a very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanks to your support 2013 has been a fantastic year for us here at the distillery.

We have sold more whisky this year than ever before, so much so that we are forced to do a serious audit in January to ensure that we have sufficient stock for the next few years. In addition to selling a lot of whisky we have also made a lot of whisky this year, and we are in for a hell of  a ride if testing on some of the newer barrels is anything to go by!

This year also saw the introduction of the Cellarmaster (click the link to buy one now) which is proving very popular! If you live in Sydney or are in the area, pop into World of Whisky where we have a Cellarmaster kit on display for sale. David will talk you through it, and feel free to call us here at the distillery if you have any further questions.

The big news for next year is the much anticipated release of the Ballbreaker, our true cask strength limited release. We plan to release about 200 bottles and it is going to be a beauty! Release date is a secret, so keep your eyes on our Facebook page (and make sure you “like” us!) for further details.

In the meantime Christmas shopping is coming, the geese are getting fat, and some excellent limited release whisky is only a click away!

That’s about it from us here folks. Take care, don’t be too naughty over the silly season and we look forward catching up with you in 2014!

LIMITED EDITION LALIQUE DECANTER PAYS HOMAGE TO THE MACALLAN’S SPIRITUAL HOME

The Macallan and Lalique are delighted to present the latest masterpiece from their prestigious collaboration, The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection. The fifth decanter in the collection, The Macallan in Lalique “The Spiritual Home”, marks the penultimate decanter in this global sell out series. The whisky featured within the decanter is an exquisite and very rare 62 years old Macallan single malt whisky.

Designed and created by the legendary French crystal house Lalique, exclusively for The Macallan, and limited to only 400 individually numbered decanters, the Spiritual Home edition will be highly desired and eagerly anticipated.

David Cox, Director of Fine & Rare Whiskies for The Macallan commented, “Our inspirational partnership with Lalique is widely regarded as one of the ultimate luxury partnerships. This fifth collaboration in The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars collection further reinforces our commitment to working together to create beautiful and desirable objets d’art.
The Six Pillars of The Macallan are the inspiration behind this wonderful collection; they comprise those elements which combine to give our exceptional single malt whisky its supreme quality and distinctive character. This is the penultimate decanter on an inspirational journey to the heart of The Macallan. Easter Elchies House is the only manor home of its kind to be part of a distillery estate in Scotland and dates back to 1700 when it was built by Captain John Grant.

This collection has inspired interest from connoisseurs and collectors since its inception in 2005, representing a marriage of the finest and rarest Macallan single malt whisky and bespoke designed decanters, interpreting the Six Pillars, from the master crystal craftsmen at Lalique. There are very few distilleries that have the aged stock profile that we do, and we are privileged to have the opportunity to produce a magnificent 62 years old, originally filled to American oak sherry seasoned casks in November 1950. This is the second oldest Macallan ever released by the distillery since its foundation in 1824.”

Inspired by the artistic genius of Rene Lalique’s legacy and Easter Elchies House, The Macallan’s spiritual home, Lalique’s Marc Larminaux interpreted the harled surface applied to the sandstone walls of Easter Elchies House by creating a textured frosted surface on three sides of the decanter, an effect created through the use of a ‘digital stamp’ of the actual wall; in contrast three sides of the decanter have been left in clear crystal. One of the frosted sides features the bold initials, JEG, replicating the initials which are incorporated in the original date stone, which can be seen high up on the western elevation of Easter Elchies House. These are the initials of Captain John Grant, who oversaw the building of the present manor house in 1700. The date stone itself, with both initials and date, is replicated in its entirety at the base of one of the side panels of the decanter. Finally, the distinctive “crow-steps” at the gable ends of the house are interpreted through the steps on the neck of the decanter, leading up to the proud standing stopper, representing one of the chimneys. A striking, unusual design, this fifth decanter in the Six Pillars series again exemplifies the artistic creativity and inspiration of Lalique.

Silvio Denz, Chairman and CEO of Lalique, said: “Following the resounding success of the first four decanters in The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection, Lalique is proud to unveil the fifth. After months of collaboration on the design of the new decanter, Lalique has created a superb example of craftsmanship that encapsulates the spirit of Easter Elchies House, the distillery’s spiritual home at the heart of The Macallan Estate.

“The spectacular shape and exquisite detail of this Fifth Pillar represent countless hours of painstaking work by Lalique’s master craftsmen. We sincerely hope that the fortunate few owners of this sumptuous new decanter take as much pleasure in admiring it as we have done in creating it”.

In 2010 the relationship was taken to new heights with the creation of the Cire Perdue decanter containing the oldest ever Macallan ever released, at 64 years old. This unique decanter and its rare contents were auctioned by Sotheby’s New York in November 2010, raising a staggering US $460,000 for charity: water, an innovative charity dedicated to providing clean and safe drinking water for people in developing countries, as well as smashing the world record price for a bottle of scotch whisky.

The Spiritual Home decanter is available in the UK from December 2013 at specialist whisky retailers, RRP £16,000.

NOTES

The Macallan 62 years old in Lalique – tasting notes:

Colour – Rich cherry

Aroma – Rich and aromatic. A strong opening of treacle toffee leads into raisin and blood orange. Later aromas of apple pie, sprinkled with ginger, cinnamon and chocolate, with layers of darker vanilla, embellished by soft burnished oak.

Taste – Rich dried fruits open up, with strong raisin flavours. Layers of sweet ginger figs and cigar leaf in viscous suspension are followed by woody oak flavours, polished yet showing complexity of age.

Finish – Long and embracing

Alcohol Strength – 53.1%

The timeless reputation of The Macallan is founded upon Six Pillars:

The Spiritual Home
Easter Elchies House proudly watches over The Macallan distillery in Speyside, Scotland. Built in 1700, this Jacobean manor house is The Macallan’s spiritual home.

Curiously Small Stills
The Macallan’s curiously small and uniquely shaped copper stills help to concentrate the flavour of the ‘new make’ spirit.

The Finest Cut
The ‘cut’ is the amount of distilled spirit collected from the stills as ‘new make’ spirit. The Macallan takes one of the finest ‘cuts’ of any distillery in Scotland; typically just 16% goes forward to fill or our casks.

Exceptional Oak Casks
The Macallan’s selection of the finest and most expensive maturation casks fundamentally influence the product’s final outstanding quality and distinctive character.

Natural Colour
The Macallan insists upon Natural Colour. It is the interaction of spirit and wood alone which delivers the rich variety of colour, aroma and taste evident through out the range.

Peerless Spirit
The Macallan remains the single malt against which all others must be judged. It is celebrated far and wide by experts and discerning drinkers as the world’s most precious whisky.

EDRINGTON ANNOUNCES PLANS TO DEVELOP THE MACALLAN ESTATE IN SPEYSIDE AND

CREATE THE WORLD’S FINEST DISTILLERY

Edrington, Scotland’s premier producer and distributor of global spirits brands, today announces plans for an iconic new Speyside distillery and visitor centre for The Macallan, the world’s most prestigious Scotch malt whisky.

The company will work with the world-renowned architects Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners to build the new distillery and visitor centre. 

Edrington plans to invest over £100 million in The Macallan estate to sustain the craftsmanship, attention to detail, and innovation that have become the hallmarks of the brand.

The Macallan is recognised around the world as the ultimate marque of excellence and innovation , and the new facility will embody these characteristics in a design that complements the natural beauty of the area and The Macallan Estate.

Creating a site of major architectural significance in the heart of Speyside will consolidate The Macallan’s position as one of the world’s leading luxury spirits.  Over time the distillery is expected to deliver additional capacity to meet the growing demand from existing and new international markets.

Ian Curle, chief executive of Edrington said: “This is a confident investment in the future of The Macallan and its home on Speyside. Our plan for the estate includes a contemporary distillery that embodies the international style of The Macallan and builds on the brand’s tradition of quality and craftsmanship. As this long-term investment develops it will bring significant employment and economic benefit to the local community.”

Ken Grier, Edrington’s director of malts said: “As a leading luxury single malt, it was imperative that we selected an architect that understood and respected the importance of the history of The Macallan but had the experience and skills to create a building that is inspirational in its interpretation of contemporary luxury. In selecting RSHP, we have chosen a partner that shares our values and pushes the boundaries of style and quality.

“Easter Elchies House plays an integral role in the history and future of The Macallan. The proposal from RSHP will retain the integrity and importance of Easter Elchies House and the estate in the future. We are confident that this will give international visitors an outstanding impression of both The Macallan and Scotland and will build on the brand’s position as the definitive luxury spirit.”

Graham Stirk, senior partner, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners said: “We are delighted to be working with The Macallan to realise their vision for the new distillery. This is a rare and fascinating project set within a great parkland estate. Our aim will be to reveal both the mystery of the place and the process, within this dramatic setting. “

Subject to receiving planning consent, work on the project will begin in autumn 2014 and is due to be completed in spring 2017.

Edrington
Edrington owns some of the leading Scotch whisky and rum brands in the world, including The Macallan, Brugal, The Famous Grouse, Cutty Sark and Highland Park. In addition to its core brands, Edrington acquired Snow Leopard vodka in 2013.

Edrington directly controls its route to market in sixteen countries, and operates the remainder through joint venture and third party agreements. Over the past five years the company has increased the international nature of its business through the acquisition of the Brugal and Cutty Sark brands and sales and distribution companies in key markets.

Edrington is headquartered in Scotland and employs more than 2,200 people worldwide, with over 60% employed overseas.

Edrington is owned by a charitable trust, The Robertson Trust, which donated £15.3 million to a variety of charitable causes last year. 

The Macallan

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies.  The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else. Today this remains the foundation for the worldwide fame of The Macallan and is such that it is truly “The Last Word” in luxury and at the heart of those special moments brought alive over a glass of The Macallan.

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners

Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (RSHP) is an award-winning, international architectural practice based in London renowned for buildings such as Centre Pompidou, Lloyd’s of London, The Millennium Dome, Terminal 5 Heathrow and The Leadenhall Building, currently under construction. The quality of its designs has been recognised with some of architecture’s highest awards, including two RIBA Stirling Prizes, one in 2006 for Terminal 4, Madrid Barajas Airport and the other in 2009 for Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre, London.

RSHP employs around 200 people in offices across the world – London, Shanghai and Sydney. A democratic philosophy is employed at every level, to enable all staff to collaborate and contribute their individual expertise. Weekly meetings – open to all employees – provide a vital forum for discussion of current competitions and on-going projects, as well as a platform for creativity and new solutions appropriate to each design. This collegiate approach to the work of the practice is embodied in a constitution that consciously brings a social dimension to our work and takes the form of, among other initiatives, a staff profit-sharing scheme and significant contributions to charity.

The Macallan Masters of Photography: Capsule Edition:  Daido Moriyama

‘Remix, Remixed’

To celebrate the 75^th birthday of the contemporary Japanese photographer Daido Moriyama and acknowledge his contribution to the art of photography, The Macallan will launch The Macallan Masters of Photography: Capsule Edition: Daido Moriyama – Remix, Remixed.

This limited edition offering of only 500 bottles, exclusive to Asia Travel Retail, features a remix of Daido Moriyama work from his renowned book of the same name “Remix” along with some other specially selected material. Each specially bound book, which includes a series of inspired French fold pages, has been hand signed by the photographer himself. The aim was to showcase his impactful style by bringing it to a wider audience, pairing it with a one-off cask strength single malt Scotch whisky from The Macallan. 

The whisky chosen by The Macallan’s Whisky Maker Bob Dalgarno brings alive the subtleties of the photographers work.  Matured in a first fill sherry seasoned oak cask (cask no. 15,245), the whisky is indulgent and sumptuous, and showcases the dark character of The Macallan (58.9% ABV).  Measuring 75 on The Macallan colour scale this is one of the darkest single casks ever released and is priced at $1,750 (USD). 

Ken Grier, Director of Malts at Edrington, commented:  “We took our inspiration for this capsule edition of The Macallan Masters of Photography following an exclusive event by Daido Moriyama, supported by The Macallan at The Tate Modern, entitled ‘Menu’.  350 guests gathered and selected their personal menu of Daido Moriyama’s photographs which were then bound into a silk screened book cover and signed by Daido. 

“This made such an impression that we were moved to further celebrate his work by creating a very distinctive limited edition.  We felt passionately about capturing Moriyama’s challenging perspective and style.  His influence over the photographic world in both Japan and the rest of the world has been profound and we’re relishing marking his life and work with this latest release.”

Tasting Notes:  Daido Moriyama – Remix, Remixed (58.9% ABV)

• Colour:  Darkest cherry
• Nose:  Opulent and intense. The cask shows its darker side. Raisin, fig, date and clove are the heavyweights of the group supported by ripe apple, black cherry, chocolate, ginger and resinous wood.
• Palate:  Viscous, orange peel, citrus oil. Ginger, wood spices and clove. Treacle shows later with a depth of sweetness then bitter chocolate
• Finish:  Long and warming..

About The Macallan: 

Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the world’s 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. 

http://www.themacallan.com/

Please savour The Macallan responsibly.

BenRiach Distillery Company expressions win five awards and twelve medals in 2013 “Malt Maniacs” Competition

BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh single malts have won five main awards and a total of twelve medals in the 2013 “Malt Maniacs” Awards.

The five awards are:

Ultra Premium Category – Best Peated Whisky: BenRiach 1985 cask #7188 / 27YO / Batch 10

Premium Category – Best Sherried Whisky: GlenDronach 1994 cask #68 / 18YO / Customer Exclusive

Daily Drams Category – Best Sherried Whisky: GlenDronach 2002 cask #710 / 10YO / Customer Exclusive

Daily Drams Category – Best Peated Whisky: BenRiach 10YO Curiositas

Daily Drams Category – Thumbs Up Award: BenRiach 10YO Curiositas

In addition, the three brands scooped a total of nine silver and three bronze medals.

Silver

GlenDronach 1994 cask #68 / 18YO / Customer Exclusive

GlenDronach 1971 cask #1246 / 42YO / Batch 8

BenRiach 1985 cask #7188 / 27YO / Batch 10

GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 2

GlenDronach 1993 cask #4 / 20YO / Customer Exclusive

BenRiach 10YO Curiositas

GlenDronach 2002 cask #710 / 10YO / Customer Exclusive

GlenDronach 2002 cask #1513 / 10YO / Customer Exclusive

GlenDronach 2002 cask # 1743 / 10YO / Customer Exclusive

Bronze

Glenglassaugh 30YO

GlenDronach 12YO Original

BenRiach 20YO

An international collective of thirty-one malt whisky enthusiasts, the Malt Maniacs have been enjoying and discussing the pleasures of single malt whisky with whisky lovers worldwide for the last sixteen years.

This year, ten strictly amateur judges from the Malt Maniacs collective tasted, nosed, sampled and re-sampled all the entries.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “2013 has been an exceptional year for the company. As well as taking over Glenglassaugh and launching a number of new expressions, both there and from GlenDronach and BenRiach, we have won numerous awards at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and at the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge.

“The Malt Maniacs awards are important to us because they’re given by passionate and independent-minded whisky enthusiasts who really know their malts. The awards reflect both the extraordinary skill of our people in our three distilleries and the importance we place on our wood management programme.

“I’m especially pleased that the BenRiach 10YO Curiositas is the Best Peated malt in the Daily Drams category. It’s an absolutely phenomenal whisky and we’re delighted it has been recognised as such by Malt Maniacs.”

Ardbeg’s Mickey Heads Named as Distillery Manager of the Year

— Scottish Distillery Manager of the Year works for Iconic Islay Distillery —

Ardbeg Distillery Manager, Michael (Mickey) Heads, has won the prestigious award at the world renowned Icons of Whisky Awards.

Mickey scooped the Scottish Distillery Manager of the Year accolade and received recognition for providing consistently excellent Ardbeg whisky.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, explained: “With nearly 30 years of working in the whisky industry it is fair to say that Mickey has Scotch whisky running through his veins! He has a great passion for whisky distilling and as the Chairman of the Ardbeg Committee, a group of 100,000 enthusiasts from 140 countries across the world, he is certainly a true icon of whisky.”

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.

For more information about Ardbeg, visit www.ardbeg.com

Notes:

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.

Ardbeg Embassies
Ardbeg Embassies are a network of customers who love the whisky 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.

MUSIC TO THE EARS – ‘WHISKEY WOOD’ HEADPHONES  

DJ Duo Elijah Wood and Zach Cowie Team Up With Bushmills^TM Irish Whiskey and Grado Labs to Turn Whiskey Barrels into Cans  

Bushmills Village, 5^th December 2013; The best and most ambitious ideas often come late at night, between friends and fuelled by a glass of amber nectar. Imagine how the conversation went down between Elijah Wood, his DJ partner Zach Cowie and the Bushmills Irish Whiskey team, following their DJ set at Bushmills Live festival. 

The question posed, born out of a shared love of music and handcraftsmanship, was of how to create the perfect sound? Their response – a limited edition line of bespoke headphones created from the barrels used to age Bushmills Irish Whiskey.

 This symphonic synergy of high fidelity audio, hand-made from authentically-aged whiskey barrel wood by Brooklyn-based Grado Labs, was inspired by generations of craftsmanship and a dedication to producing supreme sound. They are available globally from Turntable Lab here at an RRP of $395 USD. 

United by their love of music, the two friends worked together to design the headphones to fit their specific aesthetic vision. They chose to work with Grado Labs, a family-owned company that ranks as the leader in design engineering for high-end audio and recording. Owned by the same family, working out of the same Brooklyn factory for more than 50 years, Grado makes every set of headphones by hand, delivering an award-winning level of quality and authenticity that meshed perfectly with Wood and Cowie’s vision.  

Elijah Wood commented: “Working with Bushmills Irish Whiskey on this project enabled Zach and I to take our shared love of music and build upon it. We worked closely with Grado to develop a line of headphones that we’re proud to wear and to share with design and music enthusiasts. It’s been a very rewarding process to get to collaborate on the creation of these headphones with such a respected, and family owned, company – between us, Grado, and Bushmills Irish Whiskey, we each have our own aesthetic, and it is so gratifying to see it all come together.” 

Elijah Wood has a longstanding relationship with the Bushmills Irish Whiskey brand, performing with Zach at Bushmills Live* 2012, the first time the pair had performed together outside of the United States. He also appeared in its ‘Since Way Back’ initiative that celebrates the stories of influences and friendships that have led each member to success. 

Widely known for his acting, Elijah Wood is also a music lover, DJ, and record collector. Elijah’s passion for music transcends genres, and together with his good friend Zach Cowie (aka DJ Turqoise Wisdom), they often DJ together under the moniker Wooden Wisdom. 

Featuring an all-new design, these custom-made headphones include a premium leather headband and wooden bodies made from Bushmills Irish Whiskey barrels. Designed to offer greater clarity and deeper bass, these one-of-a-kind headphones must be heard to be believed. 

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. 

Keep Up with Bushmills at:

Facebook: facebook.com/bushmills1608

Twitter: @BushmillsGlobal

About Elijah Wood

Widely regarded as one of the most gifted actors of his generation, Elijah Wood continues to challenge himself with roles spanning the spectrum of style and genre.

Wood was most recently seen in the Franck Khalfoun’s re-make of the thriller “Maniac.” The film was released limitedly by IFC in late June 2013. Additionally this summer, Wood returned for a third season of the hit FX comedy “Wilfred” which was recently picked up for a fourth and final season.  Next, Wood will be seen in thrillers such as “Grand Piano” and “Open Windows”. Announced in early October 2012, Wood, alongside Daniel Noah and Josh C. Waller formed a genre-themed production company.  SpectreVision is an independent horror film company with several current projects including “Cooties,” “A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night,” and “Toad Road.” Wood made an indelible mark in the trilogy of films based on J.R.R. Tolkein’s “The Lord of the Rings” in the lead role of the hobbit, Frodo. Directed by Jackson, the films; “The Fellowship of the Ring,” “The Two Towers,” and “Return of the King” were all critically lauded as well as being box office record setters.   

About Zach Cowie

Zach Cowie, aka DJ Turquoise Wisdom, has worked in the record business his entire adult life, at labels including Touch & Go, Sub Pop, Drag City, and Rhino; as a Tour Manager for artists including Joanna Newsom, Devendra Banhart, Vetiver, Vashti Bunyan; as a touring DJ for Animal Collective and Fleet Foxes; and most recently as a Music Supervisor/Consultant for films and television shows including Celeste & Jesse Forever, Public Enemies, Wilfred; and and fashion brand Rodarte. But first and foremost, Zach is an avid record collector, and has been DJ’ing internationally since 2001. He has also been featured in publications including Vanity Fair, Mojo, Spin, Venus, Nylon, Paste, Anthem, The New York Times, The LA Times, The Stranger, SF Weekly, Chicago Reader, Seattle Weekly, LA Record, Aquarium Drunkard and Arthur, just to name a few. You can sneak a peak into his musical diary of 2013 at www.playitlathes.com. 


About Bushmills Irish Whiskey


Bushmills Irish Whiskey enjoys a worldwide reputation as a uniquely authentic Irish whiskey with a heritage spanning four centuries.  Bushmills is a premium Irish whiskey, produced, aged and bottled at Ireland’s oldest working distillery in Bushmills Village, Co. Antrim. A community where whiskey has been shared among friends since 1608 when the area was first granted an official license to distil. Triple-distilled Bushmills Whiskey is made with the finest malted Irish barley and pure Irish water, and is the only Irish whiskey brand that offers a full range of blends (standard and deluxe) and single malts – all of which share the rich, mellow and distinct Bushmills characteristics: Bushmills Original, Bushmills Irish Honey Spirit Drink, Black Bush, Bushmills 10-Year-Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16-Year-Old Single Malt and the rare Bushmills 21-Year-Old Single Malt. 

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.