http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/Vinopolis.aspx

BOWMORE

 ® ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY LAUNCHES

THE DEVIL’S CASKS

A SPELLBINDING DRAM RICH WITH FRUITCAKE, CHOCOLATE AND DELICIOUSLY DARK FRUITS

Bowmore, Islay’s first Single Malt Scotch whisky, has announced the launch of The Devil’s Casks – a devilishly delicious dram which has been matured exclusively – and unusually – for 10 years in the finest first fill sherry casks. This non chill-filtered, small batch release is bursting with Bowmore’s hot and fiery characteristics, deep mahogany colour and rich fruitcake flavour.

Created to celebrate one of Islay’s most famous tales – a story shrouded in myth and legend – 6,000 bottles of The Devil’s Casks will be released in October, just in time for Halloween. The story goes that the Devil himself was spotted in the round church of Bowmore and chased by local congregation down into the No. 1 vaults at the Bowmore distillery. Here, as the warehousemen were filling casks and loading them aboard the paddle steamer (The Maid of Islay) the devil was lost. It is believed he escaped in a cask of Bowmore bound for the mainland.

The devil is in the detail when it comes to packaging for this delectable treat – the perfect addition to any whisky connoisseur’s collection. A deep red box tells the story of the legend alongside smoke illustrations and a Devil’s pitchfork suggesting the Devil himself isn’t far away!

TASTING NOTES:

Colour: Deep mahogany

Nose: Dark fruits, birch tar, the warmth of old leather, brandy, fruitcake and maple syrup.

Taste: Rich fruitcake, tarry chocolate, lingering dark fruits, tobacco and angelica root.

Finish: Exceptionally long, full-bodied finish.

Bowmore’s Master of Malts Iain McCallum: “Ten year’s maturation in first fill sherry casks has brought out Bowmore’s fiery characteristics. The notes in this dram are hot and seductive. This small batch release is quite simply, devilishly good!”

540 bottles of the Devil’s Casks has been released in the UK priced at £50.99 RRP, 56.9% ABV.

Bowmore The Devil’s Casks is available from October.

BENRIACH SINGLE MALT TOP IN CHINA

THE BenRiach 12 year old Sherry Wood Matured single malt has been voted the best in China.

A total of 120 single malts and blends were judged for the first official guide to whisky in Mainland China and the BenRiach 12 year old Sherry Wood Matured expression, scoring 95 points, has won the Platinum Signature Award. This means that it is the best available 12 year old single malt in China according to the China Whisky Guide 2013.

The rich, aromatic Single Malt has been created in BenRiach’s Elgin distillery by marrying together whiskies matured in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry Butts sourced from Jerez in Southern Spain.

It has already won numerous awards including two trophies in the prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition.

BenRiach Chief Executive Billy Walker’s tasting notes show how special this 12 year old is.

Nose: Mocha, dark chocolate, sultanas and rich spices.

Colour: Deep gold – bronze.

Taste: The combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks gives a wonderful balance of mocha and dark chocolate interwoven with figs, sultanas, vanilla, fruits and rich spice.

Billy Walker said: “We’re delighted to win this new award and achieve further recognition for our expressions. China is the world’s second biggest economy and it’s our long-term aim to educate Chinese consumers with a desire for heritage luxury brands about our whisky culture with brands such as BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh.”

He added: “At the luxury end, China is the biggest market in the world and the potential is vast. Western spirits currently account for less than 2% of the Chinese drinks market which is worth £42bn. Burgeoning wealth and steady urbanisation mean that this £42bn market will keep getting bigger, so we are well placed to capitalise on this growing trend and awards like this help boost our reputation.”

Springbank Society Newsletter

September 2013

Greetings Society Members,

I hope you have all had a great Summer and experienced some good weather like we did here in Campbeltown. So hard to believe it is September already….won’t be long until we have to start thinking about what we are asking Santa for this year….!

Anyway, thought it was time to give you a little update on what has been happening here during the last couple of months and give you an insight into what releases we have coming out soon. As promised, this newsletter is SLIGHTLY shorter than my first one…..

DISTILLERY AND SALES TEAM NEWS

We have recently appointed a new regional sales manager, David Allen, who will be taking responsibility for certain markets around the world. David started his new post on Monday 19th September and is already fitting in very well with all staff. This week he is working in the Cadenhead’s Shop in Edinburgh and next week is heading to Amsterdam for a few days so we are making sure he is getting plenty of experience in! From now until Christmas the Sales Office is going to be very quiet as the Sales Team travel all over the world to attend different tastings and shows – keep an eye out for them at events happening near you soon.

Last week was a special week for Campbeltown as the Scottish Cabinet visited. On Wednesday we were lucky enough to welcome the First Minister, Alex Salmond to the distillery where Gavin treated him to a VIP tour before putting him to work filling and signing a cask of Springbank for us! During his visit he also signed some labels which will be used for a special release of Spirit of Freedom next year. Excited staff got the chance to pose with the First Minister and there are some good photos of his visit on the Springbank Distillers Facebook, please check them out if you haven’t already! Mr Salmond was interested to hear about our future plans for the distillery and is said to have enjoyed his time with us. As a special treat, he was presented with a bottle of Springbank 21 year old which he was delighted with…maybe we will gain a new member to the Society soon!!

FRANK MCHARDY RETIRES AS DIRECTOR OF PRODUCTION

As you may well know, Frank McHardy has recently retired as Director of Production at Springbank and Glengyle Distilleries after an incredible 50 years in the industry. Frank began his loving relationship with whisky in March 1963 where he was employed at Invergordon Distillery, sweeping the yard and doing odd manual jobs around the place. From there his career has taken him to Tamnavulin, Bruichladdich, Bushmills and, of course, Springbank and Glengyle.

At Springbank, we are delighted and honoured that, in two spells, Frank has spent 26 years with us – more than half his career and we consider ourselves to be very lucky to have had him. During his time in Campbeltown Frank has been a key part of the renaissance at Springbank and, even more significantly, played a major role in the rebuilding and opening of the Mitchell’s Glengyle Distillery back in 2004, designing the distillery itself and helping to source most of the equipment.

We will all miss seeing Frank’s smiling face every day but know that this is certainly not the end of his involvement within the industry and although he has “retired”, Frank will always be in demand to share his knowledge. This Sunday, he will be flying out to Australia to give his advice on plans to establish a new malt distillery in Perth and will also be sharing his thoughts and giving advice on the opening of a small Single Malt distillery in Israel. Next year he will be returning to Springnbank for the Whisky School (please see next heading below for more details) and we have also recently introduced the special ‘Frank McHardy Tour’ into our tour options where you get to spend 4 HOURS in the company of the man himself who will share his 50 years experience with you (and also a fair few drams too!)

WHISKY SCHOOL DATES 2014

Whisky School dates for 2014 have been set and once again we are offering you the chance to come and experience distillery life first hand. Next year we are planning to have 7 one week ‘courses’ of Whisky School, the first week beginning Monday 12th May 2014.

Please see below for the available dates:

TERM 1:Week commencing Monday 12th May – FULLY BOOKED

TERM 2:Week commencing Monday 19th May – FULLY BOOKED

TERM 3:Week commencing Monday 26th May – SPACES AVAILABLE

TERM 4:Week commencing Monday 2nd June – SPACES AVAILABLE

TERM 5:Week commencing Monday 9th June – FULLY BOOKED

TERM 6:Week commencing Monday 16th June – SPACES AVAILABLE

TERM 7:Week commencing Monday 23rd June – SPACES AVAILABLE

Spaces have already started to fill up very quickly so if you have an interest in this then please e-mail Janet at whiskyschool@springbankwhisky.com as soon as possible so you don’t miss out!

As always, our team of experts will be tutoring you through the week, giving you the chance to try out each stage of the process from malting, mashing, distilling, bottling and most importantly – sampling the finished product occasionally!! Although Frank has recently retired, we are delighted that he will be returning as ‘Headmaster’ for the Whisky School season in 2014. Hopefully he won’t have softened his manner too much during his retirement!

CGS4GAMBIA AUCTION BOTTLE

After some exciting last minute bidding for the bottle of Springbank being auctioned off for CGS4GAMIBA, I can announce that the final bid for the bottle was a massive £2,500!! We are delighted with the amount raised for this very worthy cause and the money will be a great help towards the schools trip to Gambia in 2014. Even if you missed out on the full bottle, the Ardshiel Hotel still have some left in theirs so if you are nearby, why not pop in a dram? It is £25.00 a nip with all proceeds going to the CGS4GAMBIA group!

ARDSHIEL IN WHISKY BAR OF THE YEAR BATTLE

I’m sure that if you have been in Campbeltown, you will have visited the Ardshiel Hotel during your time here and will agree that they have a brilliant whisky selection. The hotel has recently been put up for the Whisky Bar of the Year Award by Scottish Field Whisky Challenge. Ten bars have made the finals and it would be fantastic if we could make the Ardshiel the winner of this award. If you would like to vote please go to www.scottishfield.co.uk/votenow or email whisky@scottishfield.co.uk leaving your choice of bar. Voting closes on 4th October and they are currently sitting in 3rd position so need as many votes as possible…let’s crown the Ardshiel the worthy winners!

EXPLORE CAMPBELTOWN LAUNCH

The Explore Campbeltown website is now live!! Just to remind you – Explore Campbeltown is a new marketing initiative founded by Springbank Distillery, the Ardshiel Hotel and Machrihanish Holiday Park. Since February we have been working together with the local businesses of South Kintyre to create a one stop website for Campbeltown with the aim of promoting all the goods and services on offer in this ‘hidden gem’ of Scotland and to try to encourage more people to visit/spend their holidays here. Over 180 businesses have signed up to the website so far and the support from the local community has been overwhelming. Some of the biggest producers in the town such as Glen Scotia Distillery, Kintyre Smokehouse and Mull of Kintyre Cheddar have joined up and agreed to put the website logo on all their produce (as well as all Springbank and Cadenhead’s products of course!) By putting the logo on all of these products we will be reaching different corners of the globe and we hope that awareness of the website and South Kintyre in general will spread worldwide. Campbeltown Courier have also agreed to carry the logo on every issue from this week onwards which will provide us with important local advertising. Please check out the website at www.explorecampbeltown.com and give us your thoughts – all feedback is very welcome!

During the Scottish Cabinets visit, the First Minister showed great enthusiasm for the project and has since made a fantastic offer. Mr Salmond has said that he wants to thank Campbeltown for its hospitality during the two day visit and would like to do something to help support the towns determination to thrive and grow. He has offered to host an ‘Explore Campbeltown’ dinner at Bute House, his official residence in Edinburgh, where all food on the menu will be Campbeltown produce, cooked by a special celebrity chef!! The meal which will celebrate our local produce, will be hosted by Mr Salmond and include specially invited guests to help promote South Kintyre and what we have to offer. As imagined, we are all thrilled at the prospect of this – it is exciting news for Campbeltown and hopefully the website will continue to help bring great opportunities our way!

MULL OF KINTYRE MUSIC FESTIVAL

A couple of weeks ago the town was jam packed with locals and visitors alike to help celebrate the 21st Mull of Kintyre Music Festival. A variety of music events took place in different venues around the town from Thursday right through to Sunday night (Sunday events designed for the ‘real survivors’ – unfortunately I was not included in this, this year!!) Each year on the Saturday morning there is a festival parade through the streets of Campbeltown and this year we decided to enter a Springbank themed float into the mix! As it was the festivals 21st birthday we decided to go with that theme and have a 21st birthday ‘bottle party’. The week leading up to the festival mainly consisted of late nights in the bottling hall, decorating giant labels to stick onto giant whisky bottles (made of wood unfortunately!!) On the day, these bottles were attached to our backs to give the idea of ‘dancing bottles’ and the float was dressed up in 21st birthday banners, balloons and even a big birthday cake. It was a great laugh and definitely worth all the effort we put in! During the winners ceremony, we were placed in 3rd position for the best dressed float and received a £50 cash prize. We have decided to put this money together with money raised from a collection at Frank’s retirement dinner and are donating a total of £246 to the Beatson hospital in Glasgow.

A fantastic festival weekend was had by all and we are already thinking about ideas for next years competition!

UPCOMING RELEASES

In the next couple of months we have two exciting releases coming out. The first is our new version of Longrow Red which has very recently been bottled and is ready for purchase. Bottled at 53.7%, the 11 year old Longrow Red has been matured for 6 years in refill bourbon hogsheads and a further 5 years in Australian Shiraz hogsheads. The price of this is £49.00 per bottle and you will also receive your 10% discount on this – what a bargain! There are only 9000 bottles available for worldwide distribution and it is proving to be just as popular as last years version so please order soon if you don’t want to miss out. The next wood expression to be released will be a Springbank 9 year old Gaja Barolo. This was matured in refill bourbon casks for the first 4 years and the final 5 are in fresh Gaja Barolo casks. This will be available in October so more details on price will be released then. We still have some of the popular Campbeltown Loch 21 year old available for purchase. The price is £66.00 and you will also receive your 10% Society discount on this.

NEXT SOCIETY BOTTLING

The next Society bottling will be released in November…just in time for Christmas! It will of course be the cask which was chosen by a selection of Society Members on the afternoon before the Open Day. In my previous newsletter I told you it was 11 years but I made a slight mistake – it will actually be 12 and has spent all those years in a Fresh Port Hogshead. As it is a hogshead that means we are only going to get 300 bottles from it. To begin with we will have to strictly limit the allocation to 1 per person in order to keep it fair for all members. If we have not sold it all within the first 2 months you may have the chance to purchase another. If you would like to reserve your bottle now then please email me and I will add you to the reserve list. Well, that is all for now folks and look – it was a wee bit shorter than the last one! I also took Janet’s tip and put the new releases at the bottom to make sure you read it all!!

Looking forward to hearing from you soon!

Slainte,

Mairi

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

Cù Bòcan has stalked residents of the remote Highland village of Tomatin for centuries, his legend embellished by the hellhound’s increasingly fractious behaviour.

Sightings are rare, once in a generation, always terrifying. A distillery worker, out walking late, was once relentlessly pursued by an imposing black beast, steam spiralling from flared nostrils, teeth bared.

Compelled beyond all natural reason to feel the hound’s dense fur he stopped and reached out, hand trembling, only to see the ghostly spectre – Cù Bòcan – dissolve before his eyes leaving nothing but a vacuum of deathly silence and an inky blue cloud of smoke, soon spirited away across the peat moorland…

THE WHISKY

Cask Type:

Matured in a combination of Virgin Oak, Bourbon and Sherry casks.

Strength:

46% alc./vol.

Availability:

September 2013

Distribution:

Worldwide

Price:

RRP £43.99 per 70cl bottle

This whisky is described as “light smoke intertwined with rich citrus and exotic spices”.

AROMA

Coconuts and cream with some botanic notes, parsley and coriander. The smoke emerges after a minute followed by a mix of lime, grapefruit and tangerines with rich almond and aniseed.

PALATE

Initially feather light, followed by a honeyed smoke. The rich spice of cloves, cinnamon and star anise create an enigmatic elegance.

FINISH

Light with a hint of sweet smoke.

NOTES

• LAUNCH DATE: 3rd September 2013

• LAUNCH DETAILS: The launch will be announced online via the company’s Twitter account – a link to www.cu-bocan.com will be published where all the details of the whisky and its story will be revealed. A selection of whisky bloggers and writers received teaser samples with no details of the whisky contents or brand, just instructions to log on to Twitter at 7pm on 3rd September.

• The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends.

• Website: www.tomatin.com  / www.cu-bocan.com Facebook: facebook.com/cubocan facebook.com/Tomatin1897

INTRODUCING THE GLEN GRANT® FIVE DECADES SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm celebrates his 50 years at Glen Grant with a limited edition whisky comprised of his best vintages from his five decades at the legendary distillery

NEW YORK CITY (September 2013) – Stepping into the Glen Grant® distillery, one is overcome with the feeling of entering a whisky cathedral.  The tallest pot stills in the world rise up in a line like organ pipes. Decades-old wooden barrels line the maturation warehouses like pews. And at the center of it all is Dennis Malcolm, perhaps the most experienced Master Distiller in Scotland, Father of the Scotch Religion and champion of whisky as it should be. As the category has blossomed, even the finer single malts have been drawn into whisky purgatory, engaged in a seemingly endless battle to over-peat and out-darken each rival expression: gimmicks that are meant to catch eyes, not taste buds. Malcolm is determined to bring crafters and connoisseurs alike back into the light by producing Scotch in its most original form: a classical and easily drinkable spirit with a beautifully light appearance.

Dennis Malcolm has spent 50 years chasing this goal, in the distillery in which he cut his teeth as an apprentice cooper at age 15. In celebration, the Master Distiller of the Glen Grant Speyside Distillery brings to you his Glen Grant Five Decades Limited Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Whisky disciples rejoice! Five Decades is a single malt specially crafted to pay homage to his five decades of experience with Glen Grant; this ‘Unique Selection of the Finest Vintages’ is the marriage of the most valuable Glen Grant casks from the past 50 years, carefully hand-selected to deliver the distinctive smooth, fruity and rich taste experience for which Glen Grant is renowned. Dennis has hand-selected his favorite casks, which he personally laid down over the last Five Decades (1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s). By marrying together these slowly aged casks, each of which has reached its peak of maturity, he has created a rich yet mellow Single Malt with unusual depth and complexity.

The Glen Grant Distillery was established in 1840 in the town of Rothes, and is now the proud proprietor of an entirely Barley-to-Bottle process: all whisky, including the Five Decades, is bottled at the distillery, meaning local Speyside water is used in distillation and hands are locally sourced. In addition, Glen Grant boasts some of the tallest, most slender pot stills in Scotland, which are perhaps most key to the Glen Grant Five Decades’ signature light appearance. The process is a product of gravity: to double distill the whisky, the fermented solution must be boiled to reduce volume by evaporation. With shorter stills, the vapor somewhat counterproductively falls back into the liquid, whereas a taller still allows the vapor to rise and escape- thus the pristine appearance of the single malt. Each still has a ‘purifier’ that further refines the character of the spirit making it refreshingly light and easy to drink.

“We believe in- nay, swear by- producing Scotch in its most pure, most classic form at the Glen Grant Distillery,” says Dennis Malcolm. “Glen Grant Five Decades is the embodiment of our devotion, being a culmination of each of the best vintages from every decade I have spent in this beloved hall of whisky excellence.”

The Glen Grant Five Decades is characterized by an appearance of light golden barley, and a bouquet melding vanilla, honey and Oloroso sherry. Once on the tongue, the Five Decades instills tastes of honey and orange blossom, with intensely creamy sweet toffee and raisin fruit. The finish is smooth and lingering, with continued notes of fruit.

The Glen Grant Five Decades Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky will be available for purchase in September 2013, and available nationwide at liquor stores for $150.00

For more information go to:

www.camparigroup.com
www.glengrant.com

Notes

About Glen Grant

Glen Grant became part of the Gruppo Campari portfolio in 2006. The brand is currently the world’s number 5 selling Single Malt Whisky and is an Italian icon and market leader. The Glen Grant range includes the refined Major’s Reserve, 10 Year Old, 16 Year Old, 1992 Cellar Reserve and the 170th Anniversary Limited Edition. Glen Grant was founded 170 years ago in Speyside, Scotland by former smuggling brothers John and James Grant.  The unique and seductively smooth taste for which Glen Grant is renowned is the result of the innovative tall slender stills and special purifiers James ‘The Major’ Grant, son of founding brother James Grant, introduced over a century ago and that are still used to this day.  

About Campari America

Campari America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM).  At the heart of Campari America are two legends in the American spirits industry.  The first, Skyy Spirits, was founded in San Francisco back in 1992 by the entrepreneur who invented iconic SKYY Vodka.  The second is the world-famous Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where they have been making the world’s finest whiskies since the 1800’s.  Both companies were purchased by Davide Campari-Milano and together they form Campari America, which has built a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers.  Campari America manages Gruppo Campari’s portfolio in the US with such leading brands as SKYY® Vodka, SKYY Infusions®, Campari®, Wild Turkey® Straight Kentucky Bourbon, American Honey®, Russell’s Reserve®, Glen Grant® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Cabo Wabo® Tequila, Espolón® Tequila, Appleton® Estate Rum, Wray & Nephew® Rum, Coruba® Rum, Ouzo 12®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur®, Frangelico®, Cynar®, Carolans Irish Cream®, Irish Mist® Liqueur, Sagatiba® Cachaça and Jean-Marc XO Vodka®.  Campari America is also the exclusive US distributor of Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Garioch® Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, McClelland’s® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Flor de Caña® Rum, Midori® Melon Liqueur, Hibiki® Whisky, Hakushu® Single Malt Whisky, and The Yamazaki® Single Malt Whisky. 

Campari America is headquartered in San Francisco, California.  More information on the company can be found at http://www.campariamerica.com/, www.facebook.com/campariamerica, Twitter: @CampariAmerica and http://www.camparigroup.com/.  Please enjoy Campari America brands responsibly and in moderation.

Introducing, The Glen Grant Five Decades 

Five Decades of Excellence

Glen Grant Five Decades is a single malt specially crafted by Dennis Malcolm to celebrate and pay homage to his five decades of experience with Glen Grant. Dennis has hand-selected his favorite casks, which he personally laid down over the last Five Decades (1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s). By marrying together these slowly aged casks, each of which has reached its peak of maturity, he has created a rich yet mellow Single Malt with unusual depth and complexity. This whisky is carefully hand-selected to deliver the distinctive smooth, fruity and rich taste experience for which Glen Grant is renowned. 

Scotch Whisky as it Should Be

As the scotch category has burgeoned, rival spirits have attempted to differentiate themselves through excessively peaty flavors and exagerated “dark” editions – all gimmicks meant to catch eyes, not taste buds. Glen Grant’s Dennis Malcolm, probably the most experienced master distiller in Scotland, cut his teeth as an apprentice cooper in the distillery in which he is now leading the effort to re-introduce Scotch in its purest form: a beautifully light and excessibly drinkable whisky. As the only Speyside Distillery to bottle every whisky on site, Glen Grant is a fitting face to the scotch category, producing scotch whisky as it should be.

Glen Grant is as famous for innovation as it is for its scotch. The founder, James Grant, was the first to install electric lighting in a distillery, and established the distilleries signature pot stills – some of the tallest in Scotland. These taller stills help achieve the delicacy signature to Glen Grant’s scotches; during distillation, vapors from the fermented solution rise, and taller stills allow the vapor to escape, resulting in a unique light color and easy taste. It is safe to say that the scotch category continues to benefit from this historic distilleries’ progressive, yet respectfully traditional outlook on whisky distillation.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Light golden barley

Bouquet: A rich and smooth marriage of vanilla, honey and oroloso sherry

Palate: Mouth-feel of orange blossom and honey, intensely creamy, with sweet toffee and mellow raisin fruit

Finish: Smooth and fruity lingering aftertaste

Proof

The Glen Grant Five Decades Single Malt Whisky is bottled at 46% ABV (92 Proof)

Pricing and Distribution

The Glen Grant Five Decades Single Malt Whisky will be available in the United States for purchase in September 2013 at approximately $250.00 for 750ml.

Web

For more info, please refer to http://www.glengrant.com/int/en/limited-edition/v-decades/

Niche Presents…

PennyPacker Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 

From Bourbon Country comes PennyPacker Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.  PENNYPACKER has existed since the 60’s belonging to American Distillers who were located in Pekin, Illinois, but never actually launched in the United   States.  BORCO, the German spirits company  bought the brand in 1972, only to export it out of the United States, and developed it to be the leading Bourbon in the German market in the late 70’s, bigger than any other Bourbon brand in Germany at the time.

Three types of grain are used in the distilling process: maize, rye, and barley with Maize making up 70% (above average) of the product.  PennyPacker is produced according to the continuous method of distillation, which guarantees PennyPacker’s invariable character and consistently high quality.  This particularly distinguished bourbon whiskey is full-bodied, yet mild straight bourbon whiskey with a slight hint of vanilla and caramel.  The high quality of PennyPacker makes it ideal for enjoying neat, but can also be enjoyed in a number of bourbon cocktails, with water, or on the rocks.

PennyPacker embodies everything America stands for:  from the Penny to Abraham Lincoln to the American Flag.

PennyPacker has recently received 91 Points from The Tasting Panel Magazine.  Jim Murray said PennyPacker is “seriously well made bourbon with a big small-grain presence and decent age” and gave it 87 points (Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible).

Niche Import Co.

At Niche Import Co., a woman owned company, it is our mission to form strategic partnerships with international wine and spirit producers from around the world to import, define, find and maintain distribution channels for high quality specialty brands in the U.S. market.

We are determined to offer outstanding service and competitive pricing to our clients through a dedicated understanding of our brands, their history, the market and target end-user within each geographic region in order to give them the energy, focus, and resources they require to thrive and grow.

Quality in your glass; quality in life.  Drink responsibly.

To learn more about our products and services, please visit: www.ourniche.com or contact us directly at: mpersson@ourniche.com

TASMANIAN WHISKY EXPORTS CONTINUE TO GROW 

Tasmania’s Sullivans Cove whisky sent shipments to three new export markets this month. International demand for Tasmanian whisky is booming, with Sullivans Cove now exporting to 12 countries. The latest international shipments went to new distributors in Canada, Spain and Japan, where demand is being driven by local whisky fans’ increasing knowledge and awareness of Sullivans Cove and Tasmanian whisky in general.

Clint Anesbury from Japanese importer Wines and Spirits Japan said:” Japan has an established whisky industry and a growing whisky culture. Tasmania is highly regarded as a place of origin of extremely high quality produce and the Sullivans Cove single malt whisky certainly does not disappoint. We are very proud to be the Japanese importer and look forward to bringing this incredible whisky to market.”

Sullivans Cove’s volumes have trebled in the past three years, with current financial year first quarter sales equalling the total turnover of 2010. Local sales are also booming as whisky becomes increasingly popular, particularly amongst “hipster” urbanites. Sullivans Cove marketing manager Bertie Cason said:”Tasmanian whisky is fast becoming a staple on the back bar of Melbourne and Sydney’s coolest bars and this is driven by the so called “whisky revolution”. The fact that we are stocked in every Dan Murphy’s store around the country also helps, and to top it off, international orders just keep coming in. It is a great industry to be involved in at the minute.”

There are now eight whisky distilleries operating in Tasmania.

About Sullivans Cove Whisky

Tasmania Distillery produces Sullivans Cove Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky. Sullivans Cove Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky is double distilled using only Tasmanian barley with only the purest wilderness water from local mountains and forests. Matured in hand selected oak casks and allowed to settle and clear naturally, the whiskies retain full, creamy and lingering flavours that are winning fans the world over. Each cask is bottled separately, yielding only around 450 bottles, making each bottle a rare item to own and enjoy.

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, the world’s leading Irish Whiskey producer, has unveiled a new look and line-up for its popular Powers range, reflecting the company’s vision for Powers as a contemporary, super-premium whiskey, recognised for its flavor, quality and craft.

Changes to the range include the addition of a new Single Pot Still expression, Powers Signature Release, which will be available in Ireland and the USA from September 2013, plus new packaging and a new recipe for its seminal Powers Gold Label.

Powers Signature Release is the second Single Pot Still whiskey to be added to the Powers family, following the release of the ultra-premium Powers John’s Lane Release in May 2011. The new expression bears the hallmark spicy flavours that are typical of the Powers whiskeys, with black pepper, honey, vanilla and berries in abundance. Using the signature Powers pot still distillate, it has been matured mainly in American bourbon barrels with the subtle inclusion of whiskey matured in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks.

Powers Signature Release was introduced to whiskey fans for the first time in the US at WhiskyFest Chicago in April this year and will be on shelf in the USA and Ireland from September.

The new-recipe, new-look Powers Gold Label has taken inspiration from the brand’s history and features a higher strength abv of 43.2% and will be non chill filtered, allowing the spicy pot still character of the whiskey to come to the fore.  Being able to release a non chill filtered whiskey at strength lower than the industry norm of 46% is directly related to the proprietary triple distillation process which Powers uses.

The updated packaging reflects the super-premium nature of the whiskey and brings Powers Gold Label in line with the look of the other whiskeys within the Powers family.  The new whiskey and packaging format will be available in the USA from September 2013.

Anna Malmhake, CEO at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, says: “Powers has been long been regarded by whiskey lovers throughout Ireland and the world as the ‘whiskey drinker’s whiskey’ and recognised for its traditional, full-bodied pot still flavours. With demand for Irish whiskey now stronger than ever, it’s an exciting time of opportunity for the category in general and for Powers in particular. The timing is ideal to harness the tremendous reputation of Powers and to showcase its quality to an ever increasing number of super-premium whiskey drinkers.”

“With whiskey drinkers increasingly prioritising craft and quality in their purchasing decisions, we see excellent growth potential for the super-premium segment of the Irish Whiskey category so we are confident that the new Powers range will be a big hit for discerning whiskey drinkers, as they continue to explore and discover the many great whiskeys that Irish Distillers’ extensive portfolio has to offer.”

The introduction of the new-look Powers range is the latest in a series of innovations from Irish Distillers, owner of the world’s leading Irish whiskey brand, Jameson. May 2011 saw the release of its award winning range of Single Pot Still whiskeys and a subsequent release of numerous other whiskeys reaffirming the company’s commitment to growing the Irish whiskey category and to improving consumer awareness and understanding of the excellent quality of Irish Whiskeys at all price points.

Notes  

Tasting notes: 

Powers Gold Label 

Nose:

Aromatic Pot Still spices, soft cinnamon, a tincture of clove oil and a dusting of white pepper in balance with russet apples and ripe pears, all on a background of charred oak. 

Taste:

The rich Pot Still spices, cinnamon, green peppers and a touch of nutmeg combine effortlessly with orchard fruits, vanilla and toasted oak. All laid upon a crisp barley core.

Finish:

The lingering Pot Still oils and spices slowly fade leaving the wood and the barley competing for the last word.

Powers Signature Release

Nose:

Opens with the undeniable aromatics of traditional Pot Still Irish Whiskey. Triple distillation in Copper Pot Stills and years of maturation in top grade oak casks produce the crisp fresh herbal notes of garden mint and bergamot, balanced with more robust spicy touches of nutmeg, fig and black peppercorns. The sweet vanilla notes are laid upon a background of Charred American Oak and the subtle use of ex-Oloroso sherry butts, from Iberian oak, brings some succulent berry fruits to the mix.

Taste:

The initial mouth coating, typical of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, is succulently sweet with vanilla and leads into the warming flavours of the charred oak casks. Hints of black liquorice and cinnamon slowly allow some fruit to appear – melons, green apples and pears. Then, as the richness subsides, there is a crisp flinty acknowledgement of the barley.

Finish:

Long and wonderfully complex. An unhurried journey through an impressive flavour spectrum.

ABOUT POWERS IRISH WHISKEY

The origins of Powers Irish Whiskey date back over two hundred years when James Power founded the distillery at John’s Lane, near the western gate of Dublin in 1791.

A pioneer of its time, John Powers & Son was the first Irish distiller to bottle its own whiskey back in 1886, adopting a gold label exclusively for Powers bottled at John’s Lane as a guaranteed mark of its high quality. Today, Irish Distillers is continuing the brand’s reputation for quality and innovation as it reaches out to whiskey fans who are looking to expand their knowledge of Irish Whiskeys with the new-look Powers family, which includes Powers Gold Label, Powers Signature Release and Powers John’s Lane Release.

Powers whiskies share a signature style, with a rich and spicy character that is also remarkably silky, and have always been recognised for their traditional pot still flavours and dedication to the craft of whiskey distilling. 

About Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard

Irish Distillers Group was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers, John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company. In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the board of directors decided to close the existing distilleries in Cork and Dublin, and to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility.

A site alongside the existing distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork was chosen as the location for the new distillery, as there was no room for expansion in Dublin. Both the Old Jameson Distillery and the Old Midelton Distillery currently operate as visitor centres attracting over 330,000 visitors annually. Following an early unsolicited takeover offer and one of the most protracted battles in Irish corporate history made by GrandMet, Allied-Lyons and Guinness, Irish Distillers was taken over by Pernod Ricard in June 1988 with the support of the management and employees.  

Irish whiskey brands within the Irish Distillers’ portfolio include Jameson, Paddy and Powers, with Single Pot Still brands, Green Spot, Yellow Spot, Redbreast and the much-revered Midleton, which includes prestigious expressions such Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy and Midleton Very Rare, completing the line-up.  

http://www.irishdistillers.ie/