NEW English Whisky Coronation 60th Anniversary

2013 Sees Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II celebrate The 60th Anniversary Of her Coronation. To help celebrate this momentous occasion we have hand selected just 7 wonderful oak casks of Single Malt Whisky to create a unique whisky worthy of the event. This is the 3rd in a series of Royal commemorative bottlings. The 1st was the wedding of William & Kate and the 2nd was the Jubilee.

Limited Stock Available
PURCHASE NOW – £64.99

THE WHISKY SHOP TOASTS DESIGN AWARD

The Whisky Shop’s premium flagship London store, which has raised the bar for whisky retailing across the globe, has won a prestigious design award.

Universal fit-out specialists Portview in partnership with project managers, Leckenby Associates and luxury retail design consultancy, gpstudio have scooped the 2013 National Association of Shopfitters (NAS) Design Partnership Award for Retail for creating a truly unique customer experience at The Whisky Shop’s new concept store in the heart of Piccadilly.

The Whisky Shop project fought off stiff competition in the hotly contested retail category, which included the new Burberry 44,000 sq ft global flagship on Regent Street and the bespoke Christian Louboutin boutique in Selfridges, London.

Located across from world famous London landmark The Ritz Hotel, The Whisky Shop was designed to be luxurious, accessible and educational to both whisky novices and connoisseurs, leading them on a whisky 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.  The Piccadilly store is widely regarded by the industry as the leading specialist whisky retailer in the world.

Interactive tasting displays, an information bar featuring iPad technology and a futuristic whisky library showcasing an unrivalled collection under fluorescent angel wings, in reference to whisky terminology ‘the angels’ share’,  are just some of the features which position the store at the pinnacle of whisky shopping destinations.

Andrew Torrance, Managing Director of The Whisky Shop, said: “Our vision for the Piccadilly store was to take whisky retailing to a new level by dispelling many of the common myths about whisky.  It is fantastic that The Whisky Shop has been recognised with this prestigious design accolade in the face of world-class competition including Burberry’s new global flagship store on Regent Street.

“The partnership team of Portview, Leckenby Associates and gpstudio brought a fresh and innovative approach to the design and fit-out of the store, tapping into the heritage of whisky as a product whilst also challenging perceptions and ripping up the rule book of traditional whisky retailing.  Their visual and experiential treatment of the space has brought a theatrical quality to the art of retail.”

Simon Campbell, Managing Director, Portview Ltd, said: “We are always delighted to work on high-quality projects with distinctive brands such as The Whisky Shop which allow us to bring our experience to a prime location.  Working on site brought its challenges in terms of noise disruption and scheduling deliveries in a busy area, which we are proud to say we managed effectively.  The team created a bespoke environment which maintains the integrity of The Whisky Shop’s premium products and truly reflects their heritage, achievements which are recognised by this award from our own industry.”

Craig Leckenby from Leckenby Associates, said: “”It is very rare to get a project team that are all as committed and talented as the team that worked on The Whisky Shop – a lot of hard work in the early stages helped make this project run smoothly right up to hand over which was on time and on budget.  It was not an easy project but those are always the best ones to deliver.”

Gregor Jackson from gpstudio said: “The design had two main objectives – educating and informing the consumer, and conveying a sense of the skill and craftsmanship involved in the creation of this fascinating luxury product.  We wanted to make a strong statement whilst remaining welcoming and accessible, and it’s great to see our work recognised by industry peers.”

The NAS Design Partnership Award recognises excellence in interior design and shopfitting contracting with emphasis on the special partnership between designer/architect and contractor that high quality contracts such as these demand.

The NAS Design Partnership winners were announced at an Award Ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London on Thursday 16^th May 2013.

The Whisky Shop is the UK’s largest whisky only specialist with 21 stores nationwide.  For further information please visit www.whiskyshop.com or contact 0141 427 2977.

TOMATIN DISTILLERY EARNS 2013 TRIPADVISOR CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE
Honoured as a Top Performing Distillery as
Reviewed by Travellers on the World’s Largest Travel Site

 Inverness – /05/13 – Tomatin Distillery today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding traveller reviews on TripAdvisor, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Only the topperforming 10 per cent of businesses listed on TripAdvisor receive this prestigious award.

To qualify for a Certificate of Excellence, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, as reviewed by travellers on TripAdvisor, and must have been listed on TripAdvisor for at least 12 months. Additional criteria include the volume of reviews received within the last 12 months.

“We are very pleased to receive a TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence,” said Graham Eunson, Distillery General Manager. “We strive to offer our customers a memorable experience, and following our recent upgrade to a Four Star Visitor Attraction by Visit Scotland, this accolade is evidence that our hard work is translating into positive reviews on TripAdvisor.”

“TripAdvisor is delighted to celebrate the success of businesses around the globe, from Sydney to Chicago, Sao Paulo to Rome, which are consistently offering TripAdvisor travellers a great customer experience,” said Alison Copus, Vice President of Marketing for TripAdvisor for Business. “The Certificate of Excellence award provides top performing establishments around the world the recognition they deserve, based on feedback from those who matter most – their customers.”

NOTES

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. The Visitor Centre, which hosts 20,000 visitors per annum, received a £150,000 upgrade in 2011 which resulted in an upgraded star rating to 4* from Visit Scotland.

Website: www.tomatin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tomatin1897Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tomatin1897

The distillery was established in 1897, and while historically the whisky produced was primarily sold for use in other brands of blended whisky, the company is now very focussed on growing the Tomatin single malt brand in its own right.

The company’s most popular blends are The Antiquary, The Talisman and Big ‘T’.

The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo: http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/index.htm

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel site*, enabling travellers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travellers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 200 million unique monthly visitors**, and over 100 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 30 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors. *Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, worldwide, January 2013 **Source: Google Analytics, worldwide data, March 2013

Canadian Whisky Eh?

Sun Network’s Byline with Brian Lilley, recently took an 8-minute break from politics to discuss the rise of Canadian connoisseur whisky. In an interview that includes some on-camera sipping, Lilley asks whisky writer and author, Davin de Kergommeaux, why Canadian whisky doesn’t get more respect at home.

While sampling high-end examples from four Canadian distilleries the two agreed that whisky lovers overlook Canadian whisky at their own peril.

THE VIDEO

Echlinville House, Gransha Road, Kircubbin, Co Down BT22 1AJ

History made as a second Northern Irish distillery starts operations

Echlinville Distillery has now been granted the first licence to distil spirits in Northern Ireland in over 130 years by HM Customs and Excise.

The granting of this crucially important licence was announced today by Shane Braniff, a local business man from the Ards, who launched the ever successful Feckin Irish Whiskey brand in 2005.

The licence award coincides with planning approval for a new state-of-the art distillery complex on the Echlinville Estate, just outside Kircubbin on the Ards Peninsula.The investment planned will include a visitors’ centre, restaurant, bar, distillation hall, maturing warehousing and museum.

Mr Braniff, outlining his plans, said:  “We have been planning this distillery now since 2005. It will bring many tangible benefits to the Ards Peninsula in terms of additional employment and as an attraction for tourists and other visitors.

“The success we are enjoying with the Feckin Irish Whiskey, particularly in the US, has led us to invest in this new distillery. As our experience with Feckin has demonstrated, demand for Irish Whiskey is growing strongly in global markets. In fact, Irish whiskey is now the fastest growing brown spirit worldwide.

“Our plan is to continue with Feckin Irish Whiskey, the unique Feckin Spiced Irish Whiskey and then   develop a range of drinks that can be sold almost immediately without having to wait the three years for our whiskey to mature, and finally to develop a premium/super premium malt whiskey.

“It is great that Echlinville Distillery is now up and running. We have had equipment in place since last Christmas but could not even turn it on until now. The road ahead is not going to be an easy one for us. Our competitors are mostly large Cooperation’s with millions of pounds/ dollars to spend in marketing and design. We are going to have to think outside the box in every approach we take with this business.

“We are located on the Ards Peninsula  which boasts a very unique micro climate and is well suited to the production of whiskey. It may be the most suited location in the whole of Ireland, Scotland and the rest of the UK. I do believe this gives us an edge. We have the experience and the skills in place along with some great equipment to produce some of the best tasting whiskey’s ever experienced .

“In addition, we have a longstanding distribution agreement in the US with World Spirits, a division of Minneapolis-based Phillips Distilling Company. This gives us access to an established distribution network that covers virtually every state in America.

“No business has any right to success. It must be earned. I believe we have the best location, we will employ the best people, we must engage with the best partners and finally we must produce the best possible product with no compromising whatsoever to quality.”

The new Echlinville Distillery is already registered as an Invest Northern Ireland client and has received some assistance to date in the development of its business plan, marketing strategies and new product development.

Notes

Echlinville Distillery takes its name from the Echlinville Estate, a graded B1 listed site of great historical importance, which was owned during the 18^th and 19^th century by the Echlin family, who originally moved to Northern Ireland in the year 1613 when Robert Echlin, originally from Fife in Scotland, took up his post as Bishop of Down and Connor.

The Echlin family through this period in time were very influencial and powerful, and in 1779 one of the bishop’s descendants, Charles Echlin, formed the Echlinvale Volunteers with another well-known individual as their chaplin, William Steele Dickson. Mr Dickson later became heavily involved with the United Irish Rising of 1798.

The Echlinville apple tree which can still be purchased in Ireland and the UK also originated from this stately home.

Echlinville Distillery has already planted around 100 acres of its own malted barley to be used exclusively in its own whiskey production, giving not only full traceability on raw materials, but also reducing the distillery’s carbon footprint. Echlinville whiskey will truly be the greenest of whiskeys.

While the history of whisky is long and proud, with legend telling of Saint Patrick bringing the craft of distillation to Scotland, the history of the Quaich is no less long or illustrious.

 The word Quaich comes from the gaelic “cuach” which means cup and they have been used for centuries to welcome or bid farewell to guests, or as a mark of comradeship or friendship. Sharing a dram of whisky from a Quaich has long been symbolic of binding people together in love, friendship or comradeship or to welcome or bid farewell to favoured guests. Today quaichs are often given as a gift to someone held dear.

This two handled Scottish drinking cup may have originated with the practise of drinking whisky from a scallop shell and progressed to forming these shallow cups from wood, stone or horn. Over the years the cups became more elaborate and highly skilled craftsmen fashioned wooden quaichs with beautiful celtic designs. From the 17^th century, as metals came to be more commonly used, quaichs have been made of  brass, pewter, silver or a combination of all three. The original outer shape was retained but the thick bases were thinned to reduce the the weight.

Quaichs originated in the Highlands and weren’t used in Lowland Scotland until the time of Bonnie Prince Charlie when the quaich travelled south in the canteens of the Prince’s army. The quaichs of the army were reputed to have glass bottoms enabling the drinker to keep an eye on those around him; a sad reflection on treacherous times.

Alex Scott & Co Ltd, a long established Aberdeen based company would like to offer you the chance to win a beautiful quaich so you may sup your dram in the traditional way and our gift set even provides a miniature of MacAllan Gold single malt whisky for the first filling.

To enter simply email the answer to the following question along with your name and address to sales@kiltmakers.co.uk using the subject line Quaich Competition, and we will draw the winner, at random, from the correct answers. Closing date June 19th, 2013…….. Please don’t forget to title your email Quaich competition.

What is the Centenary Quaich?

1. Quaich which resides in the Scottish Parliament building and is used for ceremonial occasions.
2. An international rugby union trophy contested annually by Ireland and Scotland.
3. A annual flat race run at Ayr races each September with the Centenary Quaich also being the name of the trophy.
4. A quaich presented to Queen Victoria by her loyal Scottish Subjects at the turn of the twentieth century.

Terms and Conditions:-  The winner will be notified of their win by email and the prize sent by post. No further correspondence will entered into and the judges decisions are final. The prize cannot be substituted or exchanged for cash. The competition is open to all except employees or relatives of Alex Scott & Co (kiltmakers.co.uk) or employees and relatives of Red Evolution. Important – entries will only be accepted from those who are 18 years old or over. This contest will run until Wednesday June 19th, 2013.

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Glenmorangie celebrates Everest world first

— On eve of 60-year anniversary of first ascent, Glenmorangie unearths pics it believes show the highest point a bottle of Scotch whisky has ever reached on Earth —

— Pictures taken at Camp Two on Rebecca Stephens’ historic 1993 Everest climb; the first by a British female climber —

As the world prepares to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the first ascent of Everest tomorrow (Wednesday 29 May), Glenmorangie has unearthed a world first for malt whisky.

In May 1993 Rebecca Stephens MBE became the first British female mountaineer to stand at the roof of the world – with only four years’ climbing experience.

Rebecca’s summit bid was backed by Glenmorangie, which also provided the team with Glenmorangie 10 Years Old to raise their spirits at Base Camp.

Now, 20 years on, Glenmorangie has uncovered pictures in its archive of expedition team members at Everest’s Camp Two at 6500m (21,300 ft) in the Western Cwm, holding a bottle of Glenmorangie.

This is believed to be the highest a bottle of single malt has ever reached on Earth.

The news comes almost 60 years to the day after Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay scaled the world’s highest peak. To mark the occasion, Glenmorangie will make a donation to Rebecca Stephens’ chosen charities – the Mount Everest Foundation and The Himalayan Trust UK.

Paul Skipworth, President and Managing Director of The Glenmorangie Company, who will present Rebecca with the donation, said: “In 1993 Glenmorangie supported Rebecca Stephens when she wrote herself into the record books with her historic achievement.

“The expedition team took a case of Scotland’s favourite malt whisky with them, which we thought they had enjoyed at Base Camp. We were amazed to discover last week that they had actually taken a bottle to Camp Two, which we believe to be the topmost point on Earth that a bottle of single malt has ever reached.

“Glenmorangie is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, so we identify with Rebecca’s quest to reach the summit and be the best. We are delighted to be supporting Rebecca again and taking part in this celebration of one of mankind’s greatest achievements.”

Rebecca Stephens MBE, chair of The Himalayan Trust UK, said: “The Everest 60th anniversary is a momentous landmark for all climbers. I look back on our 1993 summit as a special chapter in my life.

“The support we received on our climb was invaluable and our bottles of Glenmorangie raised spirits in every sense. It’s only when Glenmorangie showed me the pictures from their archive that I realised how significant taking that bottle up to Camp Two had been: to be honest, I hadn’t thought to mention it!”

Just weeks after her Everest conquest Rebecca returned to Glenmorangie’s Highland distillery to lay down a special cask celebrating her feat.

In 2003, 408 bottles of Glenmorangie Mount Everest were bottled to commemorate Rebecca’s achievement, some of which were sent to the 1993 Everest summit team. The proceeds of their sale raised £15,000 for The Himalayan Trust UK, which helps the Sherpa community.

In 1993 Rebecca climbed with two Sherpas, Ang Passang and Kami Tchering. “Without them it would have been impossible,” she said. Rebecca was named an honorary ‘Sherpani’ for her bravery and spirit.

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NOTES:

Pictures:
1 and 2: Just weeks after her Everest conquest Rebecca returned to Glenmorangie’s Highland distillery to lay down a special cask celebrating her feat; 3 and 4: The 1993 team at Camp Two, 21,300 feet, with a bottle of Glenmorangie. (l to r) Dr Sandy Scott, Nawang Sherpa, Harry Taylor and Rebecca Stephens; 5: Glenmorangie scales new heights, Rebecca Stephens with a bottle of Glenmorangie at Camp Two, 21,300 feet; 6: Sherpa Kami Tchering (left) and Rebecca Stephens MBE on top of the world; 7. The Glenmorangie Distillery in Tain, in the Highlands of Scotland; 8. Glenmorangie’s still house in Tain houses the tallest whisky stills in Scotland. Picture credit for 3-5: John Barry.

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

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

About Rebecca Stephens MBE:
Rebecca is the first British woman to have climbed Everest. Rebecca then went on to become the first English-speaking woman in the world to climb the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. With a passionate belief that every individual can achieve their goals, Rebecca lectures on personal and leadership development to corporate audiences and schools. She wrote a book about her ascent of Everest: On Top of the World, and a leadership book with management guru Robert Heller: “Seven Summits of Success”.  www.rebeccastephens.com

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THE MACALLAN LAUNCHES LIMITED EDITION CORONATION BOTTLING

The Macallan is celebrating the 60^thanniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s Coronation with the release of a stunning limited edition commemorative bottling.  The limited release comprises a beautifully designed box featuring two 350ml bottles of single malt whisky.   This latest offering is expected to become a rare collectors’ item with only 1953 bottles being released for sale in the UK.

The pack was designed by the acclaimed Art Director, David Holmes, who worked on the first ever advertising campaign for the brand and completes The Macallan’s trio of commemorative Royal bottlings.  The two bottles each feature a different image of The Queen, one taken in 1953 by Cecil Beaton, the celebrated photographer, who is perhaps best known for his images of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with the other featuring an image taken in 2004 by Julian Calder, one of the world’s most renowned portrait photographers.

In keeping with the distinct and stylish design of The Macallan, the labels have been created to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s reign, with the first conveying the Queen as she was in 1953, aged just 26, and the second honouring the treasured monarch she has become today.

Commenting on the special commemorative Coronation edition David Holmes said:  “I just felt that the box design should reflect the coronation itself.  Bright and celebratory, with Gold, Windsor Red and Blue as used on the Queen’s Coat of arms.  The idea of the confident red box with gold florettes underlines the respectful presentation.  A sort of, must have, rare Royal treasure case.”

The representations of the earlier and later years of Her Majesty’s reign are depicted not only by the chosen images, but also through the two whiskies chosen by our Whisky Maker.  A lively expression, symbolic of the young Queen at the start of the new Elizabethan era, is complemented by a more complex malt to represent her monumental achievements of the past 60 years.

The first whisky, matured in American oak sherry seasoned casks, is a vibrant gold spirit offering a lemon and orange citrus nose.  Ginger and summer berries flit in the background showing the exuberance of youth while hinting at a founding level of maturity.  Matured in Spanish sherry seasoned oak casks, the second whisky is a splendid mahogany sprit and presents a richly mature, elegant and refined nose.  Nutmeg, ginger, rich fruits and resin soften to give a full mouth feel.  There is great maturity on the palate, yet no sign of age.

Ken Grier, Director of Malts at Edrington, commented:  “The Macallan is honoured to pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen on the 60^th anniversary of her Coronation.  This exclusive release brings together the creative talent of David Holmes, two stunning images of the Queen which further underpin our photography credentials and it has allowed us to marry these moments from the Queen’s remarkable reign with two very special whiskies.  We are proud of the whiskies we have created for this special bottling.  They both portray the character and nobility of the Queen at two very different stages of her life and we hope that people will enjoy the story they have to tell.”

The 1953 bottles are available from The Macallan Distillery Visitor Centre for collection only and online for UK customers at www.themacallan.com at a price of £350.

Tasting Notes:

Cecil Beaton Bottle (58.1% abv):

• Colour:  Gold
• Nose:  Vibrant. Lemon and orange strike a chord.  The enveloping warmth of vanilla, banana and cinnamon temper then develop to show grace.  Ginger and summer berries flit in the background showing the exuberance of youth, yet hint at maturity as the same time.  Soft oak underpins late on, talking only when required.
• Palate:  Ginger, cinnamon and wood spice drives the palate, opening up to show rich fruits and boiled sweets.  The subtlety of the oak softens all but does not distract.
• Finish:  Full and long finish. 

Julian Caulder Bottle (55.7% abv):

• Colour:  Mahogany
• Nose:  Rich in maturity, elegant and refined.  Abundant in dried fruits, raisins, sultanas, dates and figs.  This is a world traveller.  Burnished oak has grown in stature developing depth and complexity.
• Palate:  Rich fruits, ginger, nutmeg and resin soften to give a full mouth feel.  Viscous and fruity, there is a great maturity on the palate yet no sign of age.
• Finish:  Never ending.

Ballantine’s Renews Sponsorship of Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open

Ballantine’s, the No.1 whisky in Europe and the No.2 ultra-premium and prestige Scotch whisky range in Asia-Pacific, has reinforced its association with golf by renewing its sponsorship of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for a further two years.

Recognised as of one Scotland’s most iconic golfing events, this year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open will take place from 11-14 July 2013 at Castle Stuart Golf Links in Inverness – close to Ballantine’s spiritual home, the Glenburgie Distillery – for the third year in a row.

The news of the brand’s extended golf sponsorship follows the hugely successful 2013 Ballantine’s Championship, which took place in South Korea last month and was won in style by Australian Brett Rumford after an exciting three-way playoff. Rumford went on to win the Volvo China Open the following week, becoming the first Australian in 41 years to win back-to-back European Tour titles.

The global reach of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open was a significant factor in Ballantine’s decision to renew its sponsorship, with the key objective of building brand awareness in key markets worldwide while also strengthening the brand’s golfing association. Ballantine’s presence at this year’s tournament will include branded bars for spectators, prominent on-course signage and player awards, including a bottle of Ballantine’s 12 Year Old for an eagle on the 12th hole and a bottle of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old for the lowest daily round.

Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, Peter Moore, comments; “Ballantine’s and golf share a strong historical and geographical heritage that continues to leave a lasting impression on the world, so we’re delighted to be extending our support of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open for another two years. This prestigious tournament highlights to the world the connection between Scotland and golf and, with our sponsorship, we aim to celebrate the core values that Ballantine’s shares with this great sport; integrity, originality, inner strength and tradition.”

Last year’s Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open winner, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, clinched the title in a closely-fought final round against Italy’s Francesco Molinari. He was rewarded for his outstanding performance with a coveted bottle of Ballantine’s 30 Year Old in the tournament’s landmark 30th year. The 2013 tournament is expected to attract a world-class field once again, following the participation of golf stars such as Padraig Harrington, Luke Donald, Phil Mickelson and José María Olazábal in the 2012 Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open.

Ballantine’s association with golf started in 1960 when the first Ballantine’s Tournament took place at Wentworth Club. More than fifty years later, Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the high-profile Ballantine’s Championship, one of Asia’s leading golf tournaments and part of the prestigious European Tour, and has been an official sponsor of the Scottish Open since 2007.

Notes:

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No 2 ultra-premium Scotch whisky in Asia, No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 120 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.

• Ballantine’s has been title sponsor of the Ballantine’s Championship since 2008
• Ballantine’s is an official sponsor of the BMW Masters, Barclay’s Scottish Open & The Mission Hills Golf World Cup
• The first Ballantine’s sponsored golf tournament was played in 1960 at Wentworth Golf Club, England

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 Scotch.

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

For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com

Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup Celebrated with Royal Flair

Today marked the conclusion of Prince Harry’s tour of the United States, culminating with the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup in Greenwich, Connecticut. There was Royal jubilation as The Sentebale Land Rover team was victorious in a close match, which saw Prince Harry scoring the winning goal. The Sentebale Land Rover team took home the trophy, which was presented by Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers and top model Karolina Kurkova, with a victory of 4-3 over the St Regis Team. As the final amounts are being tallied at the end of the event, Sentebale have already reached a record breaking target of over 1 million U.S. dollars.

This year’s Polo Cup, the third consecutive partnership for Sentebale and Royal Salute, again drew a high profile crowd who travelled from all over the world to gather at the renowned Greenwich Polo Club, owned by businessman, art collector and polo patron, Peter Brant. Distinguished guests included His Grace Torquhil Ian Campbell, the 13th Duke of Argyll.

Greenwich and New York’s most influential figures also attended the Cup, including Karolina Kurkova and her husband Archie Dury, Olivia Palermo and boyfriend Johannes Hueble, Fashion designers Valentino and Jason Wu and TV host Gayle King who eagerly watched the Royal, and Argentine polo great, Nacho Figueras, battle it out on the field. Royal Salute Polo Ambassador and Captain of the Sentebale Land Rover team Malcolm Borwick scored lead the team to an impressive victory.

Speaking of his work for Sentebale, Prince Harry commented: “It is wonderful to be here at Greenwich Polo Club in Connecticut for the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup 2013. The success of our three previous polo events has helped Sentebale make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable children in Lesotho, the Mountain Kingdom of southern Africa.”

Malcolm Borwick, Captain of The Sentebale Land Rover Team and Royal Salute Ambassador commented: “I feel very privileged to be playing polo in support of Sentebale; I admire what the charity is doing for the children of Lesotho. It is a great honour to play alongside my friends here in the USA. The Royal Salute World Polo Series has an ever increasing presence globally and events like this showcase what the brand is doing to raise the international profile of the sport, alongside great causes like Sentebale”.

Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO, Chivas Brothers commented: “Royal Salute is honoured to be partnering with Sentebale for the third year, and to see The Sentebale Land Rover team take the title. Royal Salute has a fantastic presence in the USA, with the Royal Salute Jubilee Cup also played at Greenwich Polo Club in September. The exhibition of skill and craftsmanship we have seen today is a testament to the support and success of polo on the East Coast. We are delighted to extend Royal Salute’s commitment to international polo here in America”.

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

About Sentebale Sentebale was founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso from the Lesotho Royal family in response to the plight of the neediest and most vulnerable of Lesotho’s people, many who are victims of extreme poverty and Lesotho’s HIV/AIDs epidemic.

In February, Prince Harry visited Lesotho to see the difference Sentebale’s programme were making to the children. At the end of his visit, he attended the Sentebale Gala Dinner in Johannesburg which was to mark the launch of a major fundraising campaign to build the Mamohato Centre for children and young people infected with, or affected by HIV.

Lesotho’s main operations are based in Lesotho with the fundraising and management team based in London, headed up by Chief Executive, Cathy Ferrier. Both Princes remain active patrons of Sentebale.

About Royal Salute Royal Salute is the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, and begins where others end as only whiskies matured for at least 21 years are ever selected for Royal Salute blends. In 2012, Royal Salute became the first ever brand to be officially associated with the Royal Gun Salutes at the Tower of London, as part of a long term partnership with the independent charity Historic Royal Palaces.

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: o Argentina Campeonado Abierto de Polo, Palermo, Buenos Aires o Australia Sydney Gold Cup, Sydney and Portsea Polo, Victoria o Brazil Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup, São Paulo and Copa Ouro São José Polo, São Paulo o China Royal Salute China Open, Beijing o India Royal Salute Maharaja of Jodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup, Jodphur o Italy Polo Gold Cup, Cortina d’ Ampezzo o South Korea Royal Salute Polo Cup, Jeju o Spain Sotogrande, Cádiz o UAE Royal Salute Nations Cup, Dubai o USA Foundation Polo Challenge, Santa Barbara and Royal Salute Jubilee Cup, Greenwich, New York o UK The Sentebale Polo Cup, Coworth Park, Kent & Curwen Polo Club, London And Beaufort Polo Cup, Tetbury

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.

About Greenwich Polo Club Established in 1981 by Peter Brant, the Greenwich Polo Club is the venue for high-goal polo in the Northeast. Nestled in the beautiful backcountry of Greenwich, CT and internationally recognized for its rosters of legendary teams and players, Greenwich Polo Club hosts public USPA high-goal polo matches on Sundays in June, July and September. For more information about Greenwich Polo Club, please visit greenwichpoloclub.com