A. Smith Bowman Distillery Releases Limited Edition Port Finished Bourbon

Fredericksburg, VA. (Nov., 2013) – A. Smith Bowman Distillery announces the last release in its Abraham Bowman line for 2013, the Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Port Finished Bourbon.

This bourbon is 12 years old, and the barrels used to age it have had a long journey. In October of 2011 four used bourbon barrels that had held Bowman Brothers Bourbon since 2007 were given to a local Fredericksburg winery. The winery in turn aged their port wine inside these barrels for 15 months. The barrels were then returned to A. Smith Bowman in April 2013 and subsequently filled with bourbon that had been made in March 2001. The bourbon was finished inside the port barrels for an additional four months. In August of 2013, the A. Smith Bowman team tasted the bourbon and felt it was ready to bottle.

“The Port Finished Bourbon has aromas of dark cherry and dried stone finish with brown spice, vanilla, and caramel. It has a great palate weight and body, with a silky smooth mouth feel, said Brian Prewitt, master distiller, A. Smith Bowman Distillery. “The flavors of grain and spice pleasantly linger on the palate in the finish.”

Unlike the previous Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon that was released in the fall of 2012, this year’s release has been aged four more years (12 years and four months total) but spent less time in the used port barrels – four months this time, and eight months last year. A different winery was used as well for the barrel exchange.

The Abraham Bowman Limited Edition Whiskey Port Finished Bourbon is part of a series of limited edition whiskies. Each edition is a different expression that is released a few times a year. “The Abraham Bowman brand is a fun line to experiment with, and I’m looking forward to coming up with more creations in the future,” added Prewitt. The Abraham Bowman Port Finished Bourbon will be available starting in late November. It is a very limited supply. Suggested retail pricing is $69.99 and Alcohol by Volume is 50% (100 proof.)

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

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

ROYAL SALUTE CELEBRATES THE SPORT OF KINGS WITH LIMITED EDITION POLO BOTTLE 

Royal Salute, the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, is launching its first-ever World Polo Limited Edition in celebration of its shared values and intrinsic links with polo, the ‘sport of kings’.

The new offering, which contains a special batch of the legendary Royal Salute 21 Year Old, is expected to be highly sought-after by whisky collectors and connoisseurs around the world when it launches in markets and global travel retail from December.

The striking new bottle celebrates the international footprint of polo, featuring the names and locations of various Royal Salute World Polo events, including: The Royal Salute Polo Cup in Jeju, Korea; The Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup in Jodphur, India; The Royal Salute China Open in Bejing, China; and The Royal Salute Jubilee Cup in Greenwich, USA. A white “sporting stripe” emblazoned on the front of the gift box is an instantly recognisable design cue that further highlights the expression’s sporting links and provides strong on-shelf presence.

Neil Macdonald, Royal Salute Global Brand Director comments: “With the expansion of the Royal Salute World Polo Series and with Facundo Pieres, the world’s No.1 polo player joining the team as our global brand ambassador, Royal Salute’s links with polo are now stronger than ever. For that reason, we felt it was extremely fitting for us to mark Royal Salute’s relationship with this prestigious sport by launching this special Limited Edition.”

“We’re delighted to be able to offer Royal Salute fans across the world the opportunity to own this unique new batch of our prestigious 21 Year Old, which our Master Blender, Colin Scott, has crafted with the utmost care. We believe this new expression will be a real collectors’ item and will appeal to our loyal fans’ passionate connection to both the brand and its polo associations. It is a distinctive whisky that befits the traditions and values of Royal Salute; combining age and craftsmanship to create a Scotch whisky of finesse and rich complexity. These factors combined are guaranteed to create great interest across the globe this Christmas.”

Colin Scott, Master Blender for Royal Salute, continues: “Creating this whisky has been a great honour. It has immeasurable depth with rich aromas and scents of apples, ripe plums and creamy toffee with a hint of spiciness and a long, luxurious finish. It’s an exquisite taste, for an exquisite sport – a like-minded union with shared values.”

Royal Salute World Polo Limited Edition will be rolled out globally from December 2013 with a RRP of 150 $USD.

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/

Whisky Live Toronto 2013 Leaves Sweet Aftertaste

Thursday, November 21^st, 2013 (Toronto) – The eighth annual Whisky Live in Toronto was a great success, with an increase in the number of visitors enjoying the event at its new location at The Westin Harbour Castle. This distinguished tasting event included a flavorful dinner buffet, live musical entertainment, educational master classes and the exclusive opportunity to sample a variety of international and local whiskies.

With more than thirty industry exhibitors, 1,400 consumers, press and industry guests sampled from more than 125 different expressions and gained an understanding of the whisky lifestyle. Via Allegro Restaurant treated guests to whisky and food pairings, demonstrating which whiskies are best paired with cheese and which are tastiest with chocolate. At their display, The Balvenie gave visitors the opportunity to experience first-hand what goes into making a whisky from grains to barrel, while master classes sold out with people interested in cultivating their whisky knowledge.

This year’s proudest moment was when Show Producer Dave Sweet presented a $2,000 cheque to Wounded Warriors Canada raised from the proceeds of admission tickets. Since its inception in 2006, Wounded Warriors has become the beneficiary of the nation’s empathy towards Canadian soldiers.  Be it corporations, celebrities or everyday citizens, Wounded Warriors is a success story borne out of a horrible tragedy that continues to support those in need.

“The Canadian whisky industry is a proud supporter of the Wounded Warriors endeavor,” says Sweet.  “Our modest contribution to this worthy cause is a result of both the attendees and all of the brands supporting and participating in Whisky Live to make this possible. We look forward to expanding our support and partnership with Wounded Warriors next year.”

This year’s event enjoyed sponsorships and partnerships with Whisky Magazine, The National Post, Whiskey Water, Zenan Glass, Celtic Life International Magazine and Scotland Magazine, in making it the largest Whisky Live Toronto in several years. Whisky Live Toronto 2014 is expanding the hall to accommodate the anticipated visitor growth and additional booths.  It returns to Toronto at the Westin’s sister property, the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel downtown on October 18, 2014.

THE EXCLUSIVE MALTS BACH #3 IN THE US

We’d like to let you in on some exciting news – the wildly popular Exclusive Malts is back by popular demand for a third time. Here’s a sneak peak of Exclusive Malts Batch #3

Speyside’ 03 10 yr
112.60 proof
Originating from a mystery Speyside Distillery, this cask is a rich lesson in the subtleties of  the Speyside region. Oozing honey-laden barley and oaky-sweet spice, the 10 years this whisky spent in a single ex-American oak hogshead barrels have clearly not been lazy days.

RRP $89.99

Mortlach’ 95 18 yr Speyside
108.60 proof

Mortlach whisky has a huge role to play in defining some of the biggest Scotch whisky blends. The most discerning of palates will feel they have tasted it in many of their favorite brands. There is a reason it is so highly sought by the blenders – the malt whisky is sheer class.

RRP $129.99

Laphroaig’ 05 8 yr Islay
111.80 proof

This young and assertive cask from Laphroaig Distillery will not disappoint anyone looking for a rich, smoky and seaweed-laden ride. At cask strength it is a brute bully, but with a few drops of water the real subtleties of this whisky will shine through.

RRP $84.99

Longmorn’ 85 28 yr Speyside
103.20 proof

One of the greatest cult whiskies Scotland has to offer, Longmorn is a large distillery quietly providing the heart to many great blends. However, as a stand alone single malt, it is up there with the best. Expect rich, ripe fruit mixed with glorious oak and honey — an absolute stunner.

RRP $249.99

Craigellachie’ 00 12 yr Speyside
111.60 proof
Situated in the heart of Speyside, Craigellachie Distillery very quietly gets on with making whisky for one of the largest Scotch blends. This cask is full of American Oak influence with creamy-vanilla and sweet oak. A rare gem.

The Exclusive Blend’ 91 21 yr
92.00 proof

A rich, fruity and oak-sweetened blend Scotch whisky, made with an unusually high proportion of malt whisky and aged in ex-Sherry oak casks.

Elliott Erwitt’s Great Scottish Adventure: The World’s Most Influential Living Photographer^[1]

Puts the Focus on the Heartland of The Macallan 

For the fourth edition of its award-winning Masters of Photography series, The Macallan – the world’s most precious single malt whisky – has commissioned the most influential living photographer^[2], Elliott Erwitt to capture the spirit of its heartland in his ‘Great Scottish Adventure’. The Masters of Photography: Elliott Erwitt Edition sees Erwitt interpret the unique richness and depth of Scottish character through his shrewd observational skill and subtle humorous style.

The Masters of Photography: Elliott Erwitt Edition is The Macallan’s most extensive, and ambitious, to date with 58 unique single cask whiskies being paired with a different signed 11” x 14” Elliott Erwitt print captured during his Scottish adventure.  Only 35 of each of the exclusive pairings are available, making a complete global release of 2,030. The Elliott Erwitt Edition comprises a bespoke photo-archival book featuring a total of 158 images, shot by Elliott during the process, with a 35/37.5cl handmade glass flask containing a single cask malt whisky concealed within its pages.

Erwitt’s rarefied ability to instinctively visualise and capture an insightful image has resulted in some of the most iconic and powerful photographs of our time, including  the incredibly poignant portrait of Jackie Kennedy at her husband’s funeral, and intimate shots of Marilyn Monroe on the set of The Misfits.

Renowned for his mastery of the ‘decisive moment’ – that creative instant when subjects appear before the camera in surprising and illuminating ways – Elliott Erwitt, has now turned his lens on Scotland. Shot against dramatically different backdrops in the Highlands and Islands, Glasgow and Edinburgh, Erwitt captures the beauty of the perfect moment. His collection showcases the traditions and eccentricities of the Scottish people, as well as, his most loved subjects – dogs.

“Photography is an art of observation – it’s about creating something extraordinary out of the ordinary. You choose a frame and then wait until the right time for something magical to come along and fill it. I realised while working on this project that this is exactly the way Bob, the Whisky Maker, works when creating The Macallan. He envisages how he wants a particular whisky to taste, selects the perfect cask to create it, and then he waits! Timing is everything,” comments Elliott Erwitt.

This collection is completely unique in terms of its scale and breadth of single cask malt Scotch whiskies,  each of which has been personally selected by Whisky Maker Bob Dalgarno to interpret the essence of its corresponding photograph.

“The incredible richness and depth of character found in every Macallan whisky lends itself perfectly to this year’s Masters of Photography offering. Selecting 58 individual single cask malt whiskies to bring to life Elliott’s 58 favourite images of his Great Scottish Adventure was wonderfully challenging – tasting the image through the whisky and the whisky through the image on such an unprecedented scale was inspiring,” remarks Bob Dalgarno, Whisky Maker, The Macallan.

The Macallan Masters of Photography series features exclusive collaborations with legendary photographers. Previous editions were authored by Rankin, Albert Watson and Annie Leibovitz.

Ken Grier, Director of Malts, The Edrington Group, says: “The creative excellence showcased by Masters of Photography has become synonymous with The Macallan. Working with Elliott Erwitt, the world’s most influential living photographer^[3] has been both an honour and personal highlight.  Elliott is legendary in the world of photography and is one of my all-time favourite photographers.   With his signature playfulness and witty juxtapositions, we couldn’t think of anyone better to capture the quirkiness of Scottish character and heartland of The Macallan. We’re proud that Elliott is now one of our Masters of Photography. His mastery of capturing the ‘decisive moment’ parallels wonderfully with the art of whisky making, making him an obvious choice for the brand.”

The Masters of Photography: Elliott Erwitt Edition is available in the UK from specialist whisky retailers, priced at £1,000.

Elliott Erwitt’s ‘Great Scottish Adventure’ Exhibition will be open for public viewing for one day on Tuesday 19 November, 12pm – 7pm, Leica Studio-S, 27 Bruton Place, Mayfair, London, W1J 6NQ.

www.themacallan.com 

www.themastersofphotography.com

NOTES 

ABOUT 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. 

THE MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The Elliott Erwitt Edition is the fourth in the award-winning The Macallan Masters of Photography series. The previous three editions were authored by Rankin, Albert Watson and Annie Leibovitz. These unique limited edition collections perfectly conjoin the art of whisky making with the artists interpretation of the world of The Macallan as seen through their photographers eye.

ELLIOTT ERWITT

Elliott Erwitt was born in Paris to Russian émigré parents on 26^th July 1928. His formative years were spent in Milan. At the age of 10 his family moved back to Paris, only to immigrate to New York a year later, before transferring to Los Angeles in 1941. While attending Hollywood High School he worked in a commercial darkroom processing “signed” prints for fans of movie stars.

In 1948 by good fortune while looking for work on exploratory trips to New York City, Erwitt met Edward Steichen, Robert Capa and Roy Stryker who liked his photographs and took a personal guiding interest becoming significant mentors. The following year he returned to Europe travelling and photographing in Italy and France thus marking the start of his professional career. Drafted in to the US Army in 1951 he continued taking photographs for various publications totally apart from his military duties while stationed in New Jersey, Germany and France.

In 1953 freshly decommissioned from military service, Erwitt was invited to join Magnum Photos as a member by its founder Capa. In 1968 he became President of the prestigious agency for three terms. To date he continues to be one of the leading figures in the competitive field of photography. His journalistic essays, illustrations, and advertisements have been featured in publications around the world for over half a century. While continuing his work as a photographer, Erwitt began making films in the ’70s. His documentaries include BEAUTY KNOWS NO PAIN (1971), RED WHITE AND BLUE GRASS (1973) and the awarded THE GLASSMAKERS OF HERAT (1979). He also produced 17 comedies and special satire programs for Home Box Office in the ’80s.

While actively working for magazine, industrial and advertising clients Erwitt devotes all his spare time toward creating books and exhibitions of his work. To date he is the author of nearly 30 photography books including: Photographs and Anti-photographs (1972), Son of Bitch (1974), To the Dogs (1992), Between the Sexes (1994), Museum Watching (1998), Snaps (2001), Elliott Erwitt’s Handbook (2002), Woof (2005), Personal Best (2006), Unseen (2007), Elliott Erwitt’s Dogs (2008), The Art of André S. Solidor (2009), Elliott Erwitt’s Paris (2010), Sequentially Yours (2011), Forthcoming: Elliott Erwitt’s Kolor.

A listing of one man shows at significant public venues include: The Museum of Modern Art in New York, International Center of Photography, The Chicago Art Institute, The Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., The Museum of Modern Art in Paris (Palais de Tokyo), The Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, The Barbican in London, The Royal Photographic Society in Bath, The Museum of Art of New South Wales in Sydney, The Spazio Oberdan in Milan, various Asian venues too difficult to pronounce and many others. Private galleries scattered throughout the world display, promote and sell Erwitt’s “fine art” photographs.

Elliott Erwitt likes children and dogs.

[1] Scott, G (ed.) ‘100 Most influential photographers of all time’, Professional Photographer, October Issue, 2009, p.72-80.

Caring Chivas Brothers Employees Raise Charity Funds at the Double

Generous Chivas Brothers employees have had their charity fundraising efforts boosted by £33,000 in the last year thanks to the company’s doubling up scheme. This, in addition to the £47,000 employees raised themselves, totals £80,000 for good causes – a £10,000 increase on the amount raised last year. Beneficiaries included Macmillan Cancer Support, Cancer Research UK, Movember, Comic Relief, CHAS, Cystic Fibrosis Trust, The Prince’s Trust, NSPCC and several local charities.

Chivas Brothers employees can apply to have their fundraising efforts matched by up to £500 each year, and the grand total was raised by employees from across the company’s 28 UK sites – spanning from Orkney in the North to Plymouth in the South. They took part in fundraising activities including marathons, sponsored cycles and walks, moustache growing, party nights, zip-wires, Burns Supers, golf tournaments and more.

Vanessa Wright, Chivas Brothers’ Communications Director, said: “Every year our employees raise more and more money for good causes. We’re proud to support their incredible generosity and hope the doubling up scheme gives even more employees an incentive to raise as much as they can next year. These donations make a real difference to their recipients, from big national and international charities to small local ones.”

Notes

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.

Chivas Brothers Employee Roadshow Benefits Local Charities

Scotch whisky producer Chivas Brothers is to donate £1,000 each to local charities Erskine and CHAS, following an employee competition at its annual Roadshow.

The Chivas Brothers Employee Roadshow takes place each year in October, with events held at the SECC in Glasgow for all Paisley, Dunbartonshire, Glasgow, Ayrshire, London and Plymouth based employees; and at The Glenlivet distillery for Northern Scottish employees.

As part of this year’s show, warm up act Andy Collins invited the audience to take part in a series of musical challenges, with each half of the room competing to win £1,000 for one of the two charities. Employees were asked to sing along to pop hits and songs from the musicals, as well as performing dance moves, with points going to the best team in a series of rounds. In the end the company decided that both halves of the room had put on such a great show that it should be declared a draw – meaning a £1,000 cheque for each of the good causes.

Suzanne Roach, Internal Communications Manager for Chivas Brothers, said: “Our employees make an incredible effort every year to fundraise for local charities, so at this year’s Roadshow we decided to support this effort by including charitable giving as part of our event. The two charities were chosen because they are close to our employees hearts in this region.”

Sara Bannerman, Head of Fundraising at Erskine, said: “Chivas Brothers employees have done a wonderful job in raising this substantial sum – and they clearly did it with great gusto and style! Their support will help us to continue to care for Erskine’s veterans, and is a wonderful way to show appreciation for the enormous contribution our service men and women have made.”

Samantha Reilly, Fundraiser at CHAS, added: “Memories being created, support being provided and families spending quality time together is all made possible by donations like these. Chivas Brothers have continuously shown their support to CHAS over the years, so it is wonderful to hear we were yet again in their thoughts while they were having so much fun at the Roadshow.”

The Chivas Brothers Employee Roadshow at the SECC is attended by 1,200 employees. It is an opportunity for the company to gather almost its entire workforce in one place, updating them about achievements, developments and key events from the past year, as well as setting out the strategy and challenges for the year ahead. This year’s Roadshow was particularly special, as it was the first for new Chivas Brothers Chairman and CEO Laurent Lacassagne, who joined in July.

Notes

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.

The Drop that Makes the Dram

How do you take your whisky?

It’s often the first question you hear after the satisfying sound of the cork leaving the bottle.

The answer is intensely personal and also one of the great pleasures of the drink.

As the Scottish entertainer Chic Murray put it: “There are only 2 rules for drinking whisky. First never take whisky without water. Second, never take water without whisky.”

Now Uisge Source waters make it possible for whisky lovers to get the very best from their single malt scotch whisky by adding specially-selected spring waters bottled by hand, from private sources, close to some of the leading malt whisky distilleries in the key whisky regions of Scotland.

Uisge Source waters, tailored to the whiskies they serve, is an idea that has taken off quickly and they are already on sale in the UK and Europe since their launch in late 2012. And that popularity is spreading fast with more overseas markets set to start selling the waters including Taiwan, Sweden, Germany, Norway, Canada and Macau. There is also considerable interest from whisky enthusiasts in North America.

Experts agree that whisky is best appreciated by adding a dash of water. It creates a chemical reaction in the glass releasing the oils in the whisky and revealing the complexity of hidden flavours and aromas. It also softens the alcohol “prickle” making it easier to enjoy those true flavours.

And the experts will also tell you that the best water to use to enhance your dram is the water that made the whisky or water from the same source with the same chemistry.

Whisky is a product steeped in heritage, provenance and ritual and this new product from Scotland gives connoisseurs the opportunity to enjoy the best of that heritage.

Uisge Source waters have been introduced by Graeme Lindsay who, during his years working for The Glenmorangie Company and Whyte and Mackay, noticed that the same whisky would have a different taste depending on which water was added and wondered why there was no special water for whisky.

He discovered that some Scotch whisky distilleries used to sell small bottles of their water to loyal customers and Major Grant of the Glen Grant Distillery used to host tastings next to the distillery’s water supply where he could literally collect the best water for his dram from the burn.

It is a practice that is not only backed by knowledge and experience, it is also backed by science.

Dr Stephen Cribb, Geologist, Whisky Ambassador and author of Whisky on the Rocks explains that the water used to make whisky influences the character of that whisky. He said: “Adding source water or water with similar properties will ensure that no additional chemical factors are introduced and the character remains unchanged”.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Master Distiller for The Glenmorangie Company agrees:  “It’s the provenance and sense of place which makes Single Malt Whisky so unique. Adding water from the same source can only help protect the integrity of the spirit.”

Too often, little thought is given to the water added to a great dram. Often it is simply local tap water which in many parts of the world is very poor quality and adulterated with chemicals which taint the whisky.

By using Uisge Source waters you are adding ‘more of the same’. So no foreign elements are introduced that might distort the character of the whisky.  Uisge Source waters each have a unique chemistry which means whisky drinkers can also enjoy the benefit of consistency.

The Ardilistry Spring on Islay produces a water with higher natural acidity thanks to filtration through peat, and is the only bottled water from the Scottish Islands.

Many distilleries in the Highland whisky region use hard, mineral-rich water that has spent many years filtering through brittle rock such as red sandstone and limestone. Uisge Source water from St Colman’s Well in Ross-shire has a similar high mineral content and is the most northerly bottled water from the Scottish Highlands.

The Speyside region produces a soft water that has filtered through granite, a very hard rock, so the water has absorbed fewer minerals. Uisge Source from the Cairngorms Well in Moray, one of the highest natural mountain springs in Scotland, provides a very low mineral content water like that used by most of the Speyside distilleries.

They are presented in distinctive 100ml glass bottles which contain enough water for up to 7 drams, roughly the number you might enjoy at a whisky tasting.

The waters have been well received by the whisky community. Whisky writer Jonny McCormick comments: “My take on this is that it should help drinkers get the very best from their whiskies and makes for good discussion. I can see that partnering the whisky with complementary regional water should retain the true and original character of the whisky – an antithesis to my experiences with whiskies dulled by tap water.”

Whisky writer Blair Bowman adds: “When I tasted Uisge Source waters with a group of whisky-loving friends we all agreed that the whiskies tasted better with Uisge Source.”

After all, it is The Drop that Makes the Dram.

For single bottle or gift pack purchase, please visit the following retail points:

Vancouver

Legacy Liquor Store

Victoria

The Strath Liquor Store

Little Jumbo  (to taste with flight of whiskies)

We are pleased to announce Arran 12 years old, Cask Strength has now arrived in the U.S.

This whisky is the single malt release from the award winning Arran Distillery.

For Batch #2 of The Arran Malt 12 Years Old Cask Strength the Master DistillerJames MacTaggart has selected a combination of 17 First-Fill Sherry Butts and 4 Second-Fill Sherry Hogsheads which have been bottled at Natural Cask Strength. The influence of the Sherry Casks has enhanced the classic Arran characteristics of sweet fruit and spicy oak to create a rich and powerful new edition of The Arran Malt. 

Awards:

Silver Medal at the International Wines and Spirits Competition 2012, Double Gold Medal San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2013.

Tasting Notes:

Colour: Autumn Gold

Nose: A sweet balance of dried tropical fruits and toasted oak

Palate: Complex and refined, notes of dark chocolate and coffee beans dominate while a drop of water brings out fresh orange zest and roasted almonds

Finish: A lingering finish with a spicy twist which tempts another sip…

RRP 67.99

www.impexbev.com

THE NATION’S NO.1 WHISKY INVITES YOU TO MAKE SOMEONE FAMOUS THIS CHRISTMAS

The Famous Grouse has the perfect gift for whisky lovers this Christmas offering its customers the chance to create their own personalised label with every purchase of The Famous Grouse (70cl.)

Shoppers throughout the UK can log on to www.makesomeonefamous.com to create a unique bottle for friends, family and loved ones: collaborating with The Famous Grouse and its iconic label in the true spirit of the nation’s No.1 blend.

After purchasing a bottle of The Famous Grouse Finest (70cl), shoppers can visit the microsite and enter the barcode to redeem a free, personalised label – making someone special famous – a fantastic way to create a truly individual gift.

From the 20th November live label-making production pods enabling on-the-spot personalisation and sampling will be available in selected stores, including, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Bolton and London.

The Famous Grouse is a quality blend of the finest malt whiskies, married with exceptional grain whiskies for the smoothest possible taste. With its perfectly balanced flavours that provide a distinctively long and clean finish, the nation’s favourite whisky is perfect for sharing with friends this Christmas.

The Famous Grouse is available to buy from all major supermarkets and online www.thefamousgrouse.com priced £15.99

www.drinkaware.co.uk

NOTES

About Maxxium

• Maxxium UK Ltd is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Inc and Edrington.
• Its UK portfolio of premium brands includes: blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse, Teacher’s and Cutty Sark), malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Ardmore), imported whiskey (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Canadian Club, Red Stag), cognac and brandy (Courvoisier and Fundador), sherry (Harveys), vodka (Stolichnaya), tequila (Sauza), rum (Brugal and Cruzan), liqueurs and specialities (Sourz, Bols liqueurs, Galliano, Vaccari, After Shock)

About The Famous Grouse (www.thefamousgrouse.com)
• The Famous Grouse is the no. 1 whisky in the UK and no. 4 blended whisky worldwide.
• The Famous Grouse is exported to over 100 countries.
• Created in 1896 by founder Matthew Gloag, it was originally called The Grouse Brand. The brand became so popular that on August 12th 1905 it was renamed The Famous Grouse.
• The Famous Grouse Experience is located at Scotland’s oldest working distillery – Glenturret. Originally established as a single malt distillery in 1775, today The Famous Grouse Experience is the most visited distillery in Scotland. (www.thefamousgrouse.com/experience)