Whisky Innovators Team Up to Unveil DELILAH’S Limited Edition whisky to
Celebrate 20th Anniversary of Legendary Chicago Punk Rock Whisky Bar
Unique Style of Compass Box Whisky is created; a Shot and a Beer, Please!

“Everyone who comes to Delilah’s knows you can drink your whisky any way you like. It’s a mutual perspective John Glaser and I share that inspired our collaboration,” said Mike Miller, owner of Delilah’s. I have a deep appreciation and respect for John’s philosophy and talents and am honored to mark twenty years of combining great music and great whiskies with a Compass Box whisky blended uniquely for us and our community.”

– Mike Miller, Owner of Delilah’s

Through a shared vision that a great whisky should be enjoyable to all, boutique Scotch whiskymaker and craft blender, Compass Box Whisky Co., and Delilah’s, Chicago’s legendary punk rock bar have collaborated to create DELILAH’S – a limited edition Compass Box whisky to celebrate the bar’s 20thanniversary. Only 6,000 bottles of this eponymous craft Scotch whisky will be available in select markets worldwide – 4,800 of them in the US – following its debut in Delilah’s bar in Chicago on 29th August 2013.

DELILAH’s is a combination of single malt and single grain whiskies aged in a mix of experimental new American oak barrels which give the whisky a delicious sweetness. Bottled at 40%, DELILAH’S has an intense richness yet is subtly complex with honeyed and seductive fruity notes and hints of cereals and vanilla cream.

“Mike wanted a Scotch whisky that, in his words, ‘thinks it’s a Bourbon,’ so we sourced some single malts aged in new American oak hogsheads, something that’s very hard to find in Scotland,” said John Glaser, Compass Box founder and whiskymaker.“The result is a Scotch with a big, luscious vanilla-oak character that has echoes of Bourbon flavor. This makes it dangerously easy to drink neat and perfect served as a shot with a beer—the way a lot of whisky is enjoyed at Delilah’s!”- John Glaser, Compass Box founder and whiskymaker Just as this commemorative whisky is a twist on more traditional Scotch, so Compass Box has used it to create a twist on the Mint Julep, the perfect refreshing way to celebrate summer and Delilah’s anniversary:

Delilah’s Julep
2 oz Delilah’s whisky
1/3 oz honey syrup
10 mint leaves,
Crushed ice
Fill glass with crushed ice, add whisky and syrup. Rub mint leaves around rim of glass before mixing in.

Delilah’s Anniversary Day – Thursday, August 29th, 2013 #DelilahsWhisky

In the spirit of Mike Miller and with the support of their local communities, a celebration dubbed “Delilah’s Day” will take place on August 29th at Delilah’s, unveiling its eponymous Scotch whisky along with artwork by eight local artists who have each created a one-of-a-kind piece inspired by their personal connections with Delilah’s. Their works will be on display at the bar through Thursday, 3rd October.

The evening would be incomplete without the music that made Delilah’s known as one of the best rock bars in Chicago and beyond. DJ and bar owner Casino El Camino from Austin, TX, a longtime friend and inspiration for Miller and his own bar, will be spinning throughout the night. Other DJs will include Jump Up! Records’ Ska, Reggae DJ Chuck Wren, and a visit from Fisto the Clown.

In addition to being served at the iconic bar itself, DELILAH’S will be available from 30th August for approximately £52 (70cl) at fine spirits shops in selected markets worldwide, but especially the USA. For more information on DELILAH’s, visit www.compassboxwhisky.com and www.delilahschicago.com
.
ABOUT JOHN GLASER – American ex-pat John Glaser started Compass Box Whisky Company from the kitchen of his west London home in 2000. Having started his career on a path to become a winemaker, then re-routing himself through the corporate world and ending up as marketing director for Johnnie Walker in London, Glaser has a unique perspective on both the creation and the marketing of Scotch.

Glaser established Compass Box based on his commitment to evolving practices in the industry to make great Scotch whisky more approachable and relevant to more people. From the beginning, his vision has been to create one of Scotland’s finest and most exciting whisky companies, re-establishing the standards for quality and style in the industry.

ABOUT COMPASS BOX (www.compassboxwhisky.com) – The Compass Box Whisky Company is a boutique Scotch whiskymaker and craft blender, started in 2000 by John Glaser. Compass Box produces and bottles a range of Scotch whiskies, available in over 25 countries around the world. A four-time winner of the Whisky Magazine Innovator of the Year award, Compass Box is known throughout the whisky world for quality, innovation and passion for great whisky. The Compass Box signature range of whiskies includes Asyla, Oak Cross, The Peat Monster, The Spice Tree and Hedonism. They also produce limited release whiskies annually, and Orangerie, a Scotch whisky infusion. Their latest creation is a ground breaking range of Blended Scotch whiskies called Great King Street. The first is called Artist’s Blend.

ABOUT MIKE MILLER – Mike Miller has been theowner and operator of Delilah’s in Chicago since 1993. Writer, designer, film maker, teacher, spirits judge and world traveler, Mike let’s his interests and discoveries guide him and his business decisions – determined to offer to the world his vision of fun by bringing different elements of life and art together to create an ever-evolving canvas. Miller also plays pinball at and operates Bottom Lounge, a live music venue he opened in 2008 in Chicago’s West Loop.

ABOUT DELILAH’S (www.delilahschicago.com) – Delilah’s has been Chicago’s premiere cavern tavern since it opened in 1993. Delilah’s is open every night of the year and features nightly Rock and Roll DJs, local art exhibitions, film screenings and a world class selection of beer and spirits – including more than 600 whiskies! Delilah’s has been recognised internationally for its selection of whiskies, its juke box, its special custom whisky releases and for its overall atmosphere. Voted Esquire’s ‘Best Dark Bar in America!’ British beer and whisky writer Michael Jackson said “Delilah’s is the most important bar in America.”

Discover Pulteney Distillery

The home of Old Pulteney lies a long way north, but for connoisseurs of the Maritime Malt, there’s nowhere more rewarding when it comes to sampling this wonderful whisky than our historic Wick distillery. Here you’ll find yourself captivated by a location which has for nearly two centuries embodied the essence of the town’s heritage, its enduring association with the sea and its people – and a distillery tour will bring to life a dram of our award-winning single malt in a way that will linger long in the memory. Also featuring a fantastic visitor centre and Old Pulteney shop, a trip to Pulteney Distillery will reward all those who travel to this very special part of Scotland. Click here to find out more about the Pulteney Distillery.

The new Southern Comfort commercial called “Karate” which will begin airing in the US at the beginning of September. The new spot is a follow up to the “Shampoo” spot which debuted a few weeks ago. Here is a link to the new Karate spot:

THE VIDEO

Some interesting things to point out about the spot:

– For the “Whatever’s Comfortable” campaign, we were/are casting for people that naturally embody the Whatever’s Comfortable attitude. The character in the launch spot (“Beach”) was an example of that. The character getting his hair washed in “Shampoo” is also a great example of that, which is further revealed in “Karate”. The actor was chosen for the role after the creatives at Wieden + Kennedy saw his casting tape, in which it was clear that he naturally embodies the Whatever’s Comfortable attitude. Based on that casting tape (in which he did karate) the director (Tim Godsall) and the creative team wrote a second script based on who he naturally was.

– The actor is actually skilled in the martial arts and owns a handful of dojos.

– The director was Tim Godsall, who has directed all the Southern Comfort spots in the campaign.

– The song is called “I’m a Fool to Care” by Les Paul & Mary Ford.

“The Lighthouse Collection” blazes Travel Retail trail

 There’s no better time to travel abroad for Old Pulteney devotees, with our exclusive Travel Retail expressions featuring in travel outlets from the end of this month. ‘The Lighthouse Collection’ features three distinctive and colourful additions to the Pulteney range – Noss Head, Duncansby Head and Pentland Skerries. Each bears the name of a lighthouse close to our coastal Wick distillery and their launch celebrates our long-standing maritime heritage. With their eye-catching packaging, this superb trio of highly individual whiskies will soon enjoy an unmissable presence across airport duty free stores and a range of travel retail outlets – you can learn all you need to know about each of them here.

Following on from the release of the first in the Icons of Wales series – The Red Flag edition, Penderyn Distillery is pleased to announce the release of the second in the series – ‘Penderyn Independence’

Penderyn
Independence commemorates the signing of the American Declaration of Independence in 1776. The emerging statesman Thomas Jefferson, who went on to become one of America’s most famous Presidents, was one of the fifty-six men who adopted the Declaration of Independence. Wales is a small country with an equally small population yet Jefferson and fully fifteen of his fellow signatories came from Welsh roots.

‘Penderyn Independence’ is beautifully presented and wrapped in a copy of the Declaration, accompanied with a quill. The front of the presentation box also highlights the signatories from the Declaration.

The Worshipful Company of Distillers is delighted to announce a unique event taking place at the Apothecaries’ Hall, in the heart of the city of London, on Thursday 17th October 2013. Please click here to find further information about the inaugural Distillers’ Charity Auction. Run by Christie’s, the auction will be limited to 50 highly collectible lots, including bottles of great historical significance, rare bottlings, and whiskies not commercially available, generously donated from private collections as well as company archives and stocks. Click here for the application form to attend the Auction in person and receive your copy of the Auction catalogue priced £100, telling the story behind each whisky in this extraordinary collection, or register to bid by telephone.

We hope you can join us for an unforgettable evening,

 Brian W. Morrison
The Master

A flavour of lots on offer

 1964 Bowmore
1946 Macallan (pictured)
1956 Bowmore (pictured)
Johnnie Walker Director Blends set
Hazelwood collection
Dalmore 1964 One Off bottling
Laphroaig HRH visit
50 Years Old North British
Macallan Easter Elchies opening
Glenury Royal 50 Years Old one off

 For more information or to reserve a catalogue, please contact:
Assistant Clerk, Mrs. Kim Lyons
Email: KLyons@lbmw.com
Telephone: 020 7960 7173

Old Pulteney set to sail the world

The countdown is on to the start of one of sailing’s most prestigious occasions – the Clipper 2013-14 Round the World Yacht Race – with this year’s race featuring an Old Pulteney yacht for the first time! Established by sailing legend Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, a friend of Old Pulteney, the event is the world’s longest ocean race and our sponsorship of one of the yachts in the 12-strong fleet marks a wonderful global opportunity to celebrate the brand’s maritime heritage and long-standing involvement with sailing. Skippered by Dutchman Patrick van der Zijden, our yacht has been named Old Pulteney and you can find out all you need to know about our involvement with this wonderful event here.

WHISKY SHOP OPENS IN MANCHESTER

Luxury drinks retailer, The Whisky Shop, today (Thursday 22^nd August) opened the doors to its newest store located in the heart of Manchester’s retail area.

Located at 3 Exchange Street, close to exclusive retailers Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, The Whisky Shop is designed to be 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 is the first retail store in the UK to provide a dedicated platform for some of the world’s most exclusive whiskies.  Its flagship London store in Piccadilly which opened late last year is widely regarded by the industry as the leading specialist whisky retailer in the world.

The Manchester opening is just the latest in a series of exciting developments for the business in 2013.  Following on from the opening of its flagship London store in November 2012, the retailer acquired specialist whisky store, Loch Fyne Whiskies, for an undisclosed sum in May.

The London Piccadilly 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.*  The Whisky Shop’s commitment to design excellence is set to continue in its Manchester store.

The store is spread over two floors, showcasing almost 600 sq ft of retail space.  Featuring slate and timber flooring, glass display vitrines and a new fully-glazed shop front featuring copper signage, the store has a comfortable but luxurious feel.

Prominent space in the main retail section is given to The Whisky Shop’s key retail partners Diageo and Brown-Forman.  Located up a few steps from the main retail area is The Whisky Shop Library which features an array of rare and exclusive whiskies.  Situated at the top of the Library stairs are inset angel wings, in reference to whisky terminology, ‘the angels’ share’ and a signature symbol of The Whisky Shop.

Andrew Torrance, managing director of The Whisky Shop, said: “These are very exciting times for The Whisky Shop. Manchester has a fantastic retail offering and we’re delighted to be opening our newest store in this vibrant and interesting city.

“Our aim is to inform and entertain our customers.  Whisky is a wonderful and diverse drink that should be enjoyed rather than revered.  We look forward to bringing The Whisky Shop experience to Manchester.”

Paul Simpson, managing director of Visit Manchester, said:  “The Whisky Shop’s decision to open a second flagship store in Manchester is a testament to both its retail and its food and drink offering. We are certain the brand will experience great success in the already thriving area in and around Exchange Street, and wish it all the best as a new business in the city.”

Ffion Jones, Brand Manager – Super Premium American Whiskey, UK at Brown-Forman, said: “Brown-Forman is delighted to be partnering with The Whisky Shop on the launch of its second premium flagship store in the UK, following the success of the London Piccadilly store.   There is no doubt that the new Manchester store will provide an excellent platform to showcase Brown-Forman’s leading range of American Whiskey, as well as allowing us to interact with consumers in store to educate them on the growing American Whiskey category.”

Nick Temperley, Head of Diageo Reserve Great Britain, said: “I am very proud that Diageo Reserve Brands are partnering with The Whisky Shop in Manchester. The interactive and innovative retail space created will highlight the history and range of the Johnnie Walker brand and educate shoppers on the vibrancy of the malt whisky category, showcasing the range of flavours across our malt whisky brands.”

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

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

BEST OF SOUTH AFRICAN WHISKIES AT DUTY FREE  

South Africa’s international award-winning whiskies, the Three Ships range and Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, both carrying the title of World’s Best, are being showcased for the first time in the concourse promotional area at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

Held in the main walkways, the concourse promotion offers greater visibility for these proudly South African and multi-awarded whiskies. Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky took World’s Best Grain Whisky at the 2013 World Whisky Awards whilst the Three Ships Premium Select 5 Year Old, received World’s Best Blended Whisky at the same competition in 2012, ahead of those from traditional whisky-producing countries such as Ireland, Scotland and the USA.

According to Eliska Botha, global marketing manager for the brands, these awards, coupled with the other gold medals they and the rest of the Three Ships portfolio have garnered at every major international whisky competition the past few years, have put South African whisky-making firmly on the map.

“We have always believed that the whiskies produced here in South Africa are of a quality that places them among the best. Our master distiller, Andy Watts, creates whiskies which are innovative and unique in profile to offer a spectrum of styles that appeal to a broad whisky consumer base.

“By introducing these whiskies to travelers in duty-free shops, we broaden the awareness and visibility of these proudly South African whiskies and take a step closer in exporting not only to Africa but also the rest of the world.”

The promotions of both brands are being managed by duty-free concessionaire, Big Five Duty Free. The Bains “Best of South Africa” promotion, which started mid-June and will run until the end of August, is supported by a display and an audiovisual showing how and where Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is produced.   Consumers who buy a bottle of Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky will receive a complimentary 50ml.

The Three Ships promotion was accompanied by high-visibility concourse displays and tastings, underscoring the message that South Africa produces the best whisky in the world. An interactive unit engaged consumers with the message “Where in the world is the best whisky made”, and consumers had to throw a ball into a hole positioned over South Africa in order to win a Three Ships miniature.

Consumers who purchased two bottles of Three Ships could win instant prizes such as a whisky jigger, hip flask or tote bag and received an entry towards possibly winning a Three Ships Whisky travelers’ hamper consisting of a leather carry bag, a bottle each in the Three Ships range, six crystal glasses and a copy of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

The range of Three Ships whiskies (Three Ships Select, Three Ships Premium Select 5 Year Old, Three Ships Bourbon Cask and the limited-release Three Ships 10 Year Old single malt) and Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky are produced at The James Sedgwick Distillery in the picturesque Boland town of Wellington in the Western Cape, South Africa.

The distillery is the only dedicated whisky distillery in Africa and in the past two decades, has seen a period of major overhaul. State-of-the-art equipment and new maturation cellars have been introduced with a strong focus on ensuring the distillery functions in a sustainable, environmentally sensitive manner. In recognition of the high level of innovation that fashioned the upgrade of both the distillery and its products, the Whisky Magazine in April 2011 bestowed its Icons of Whisky award on the distillery as Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year.

JAMESON LAUNCHES NEW CITY EDITIONS TRAVEL RETAIL EXCLUSIVE

Jameson is appealing to the international jet setter with the release of a new special collection called City Editions, which will retail exclusively in Travel Retail outlets from this month for a limited period.

The labels have been designed to capture the urban culture and essence of eight great cities around the world, featuring Amsterdam, Bangkok, Dublin, London, Moscow, Paris, Singapore and Sydney. To further appeal to collectors and highlight the travel theme, each label is finished with postage stamp edges. Each label will be exclusive to the corresponding city’s key international airport, with the Amsterdam edition being the first to hit the shelves in Schiphol airport from August 2013, retailing at €24.50*.

To support the launch of the City Editions range, Jameson has created an activation programme that aims to maximise visibility, consumer engagement and sales.

Upon purchase, consumers will be invited to enter a City Editions Facebook photo competition for a chance to win a retro-inspired travel trunk, which doubles up as a drinks cabinet, containing all eight limited editions, along with four bottles of Jameson Original.

To enter the competition, consumers will be asked to post a picture of their limited edition bottle or of the city they love on Facebook at www.jamesonwhiskey.com/cityedition. Entries can also be submitted in the airport via a smartphone or custom iPads in promotional spaces.

The City Editions campaign will be further activated through experiential activities including a simulated bicycle ride in Amsterdam and a virtual city scape of Moscow.

Daniel Lundberg, Global Brand Director for Jameson, comments: “Jameson has become a worldwide success thanks to its consistent quality and smooth taste, but also for its innate Irish character which continues to inspire whiskey fans all around the world. With the Jameson City Editions, we wanted to celebrate the different cultures and personalities of some of the great cities around the world and we’re delighted with the end results. We are hopeful that this special collection and the marketing activity we are activating to support the launch will capture the imagination of international jetsetters and provide them with a unique memento of their travels for them to enjoy with their friends or keep as collectors’ items.”

To find out more about the Jameson City Editions activation, please scan:

 NOTES 

*RRP: €24.50 or equivalent 

About Jameson

Jameson is the world’s No 1 Irish whiskey. Award-winning as a result of its exceptional smoothness following its unique triple distillation process, Jameson is enjoyed in more than 120 countries worldwide. The core Jameson range includes Jameson; Jameson Select Reserve; Jameson Gold Reserve; Jameson Signature Reserve (Travel Retail exclusive) and Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve.

www.jamesonwhiskey.com

About Irish Distillers
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 Midleton 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.

www.irishdistillers.ie