BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY OPENING NEW DISTRIBUTION CENTER

Center to Honor Former Employee Glen Richardson 

BARDSTOWN, Ky (July 22, 2012) – Barton 1792 Distillery is opening its new Distribution Center today, July 22^nd, and will dedicate it to former employee Glen T. Richardson.

The Distribution Center is a 300,000 square foot facility with a storage capacity of one million cases of spirits. Barton 1792 upgraded the facility with a cold room for heat sensitive products, additional dock spaces, and other office improvements.

Glen T. Richardson was an employee in the shipping department of Barton 1792 Distillery for 32 years until he passed away suddenly in March 2013. He was instrumental in the purchase of the new Distribution Center in 2012. Richardson’s family will be on hand for the dedication, and a bronze plaque will be mounted on the outside wall of the Distribution Center bearing his image and name.

“We are glad we are able to honor Glen for his dedication, while at the same time we are pleased to be increasing our business footprint in the Bardstown community,” said Mark Brown, president and chief executive officer of the Sazerac Company, which owns Barton 1792 Distillery.

The Barton 1792 Distribution Center is located at 1010 Withrow Court in Bardstown in the Bardstown Industrial Park. The Distillery’s former distribution center was one third of the size of the new facility. It has been repurposed for bottling operations. 

About Barton 1792 Distillery 

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands of Kentucky, with facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, a family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.”  1792 Ridgemont Reserve Bourbon whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery.  This small batch Bourbon whiskey is the recent winner of a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. To learn more about the Distillery visit www.1792bourbon.com.

A National Historic Landmark

It has been a time of highs and lows for Buffalo Trace. After mourning the sad loss of pioneer and master distiller Elmer T. Lee, aged 93 last week, the team at Buffalo Trace has been buoyed by news that the distillery he devoted his life to has been officially labelled a National Historic Landmark in America, joining the ranks of The White House and the Empire State Building.

Elmer T. Lee

Elmer T. Lee was seen as someone who transformed the bourbon industry and became synonymous with the Buffalo Trace brand after being hired in 1949 after graduating with an engineering degree from the University of Kentucky.

Elmer’s finest achievement was arguably in 1984 with the introduction of Blanton’s, the world’s first Single Barrel Bourbon, which was bottled from unblended, individual barrels of the best aged Kentucky whiskey available.

Although Elmer retired in 1985, he never really left, and every Tuesday Elmer would make his rounds at the Distillery in his trademark cap signing bottles, posters and other memorabilia.

A Distinguished Bourbon

Over its 240 year history Buffalo Trace Distillery has been privileged to win many awards but its designation as a United States National Historic Landmark is surely the crowning achievement. An award which is only bestowed to 2,577 other properties in the country.

The award not only recognises Elmer T. Lee’s commitment and dedication, but honours all that has been accomplished by its people, its builders, its visionaries, its preservers and protectors, its rescuers and those who have simply come to love it during its long and storied history.

A testament to the legacy that Elmer T. Lee’s left is that today Buffalo Trace is the world’s most decorated distillery and is the only single distillery to be recognised as ‘Distillery of the Year’ by Malt Advocate Magazine, ‘Distiller of the Year’ by Whisky Magazine and ‘Distillery of the Year’ by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.

Taste the new Tamdhu with us

Just a few weeks ago, the ‘Can-dhu-spirit’ of Tamdhu was reborn.

However, if you were unable to attend the Tamdhu Family Day, you may not have tasted our new 10 Year Old. Or indeed, experienced the wonders of our revitalised distillery.

To right these wrongs, we’ve made a a couple of short videos. They explore the flavours of our Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, and introduce you to the beliefs we hold dear.

Our first video above takes your taste buds through our superb new 10 Year Old, while the second video below is dedicated to the stunning Limited Edition 10 Year Old.

We hope you like what you see. And if you do, there is plenty more to discover on the Tamdhu website – you may even be compelled to visit the Tamdhu shop.

Enlighteningly yours,

Tamdhu Distillery

Black Forest to Black Sea by oar as two men complete 3,200km journey to row the Danube 

— Epic adventure is supported by Ardbeg, the ultimate Islay whisky — 

Two daring Brits have completed their journey to row from the highest navigable point on the Danube to the lowest – a staggering 3,200km journey – with the support of Ardbeg, Islay Single Malt whisky.

Beginning in the heart of Europe and passing through ten countries to finish on the western fringes of Asia, Mark Hughes and Jonathan Cowie rowed in shifts of one hour each, needing to cover at least 100km per day to remain on target.

The expedition was supported by Ardbeg, the Ultimate Islay malt, who are well known for their love of adventure. Ardbeg is currently involved in a “world first” space maturation experiment on the International Space station, and their big and untamed custom-made Orange County Chopper motorbike is currently touring the world.

Rower Mark Hughes explains: “Jonathan and I are extremely excited to have completed our adventure to row down the Danube. It has been the ultimate journey and we very much appreciate the support from the ultimate Islay malt whisky, Ardbeg.”

Allan Little, Ardbeg Brand Manager, says: “The distance these two friends have covered is really admirable. Their ambition is to raise money and awareness for two inspirational charities and we are more than happy to support them. We’d also encourage everyone to go to http://www.rowthedanube.com/ to donate.”

Mark and Jonathan set off on their ultimate journey on the June 9th from Ulm in Baden-Württemberg, Germany after being delayed by flooding. They travelled down the river Danube to complete their epic trip on the Bosphorus in Istanbul, after almost a month of rowing on July 6th.

Notes:

About Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being the ‘Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky’. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.

Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded by the formation of ‘The Committee’ in 2000 from thousands of Ardbeg followers across the globe keen to ensure “the doors of Ardbeg never close again.”

Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ three years in a row by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible and was awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’, ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ and the ‘Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year’ at the World Whisky Awards 2013.

Ardbeg Embassies

Ardbeg Embassies are a network of Ardbeg customers who love Ardbeg and have agreed to profile Ardbeg to their consumers; most are independent premium whisky stores. 

Responsible Drinking

Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Three Times Awarded the ISC “Distiller of the Year.”

From the Pioneer and Founding Family of Japanese Whisky.

*2010, 2012 and 2013 “Distiller of the Year,”

with nine 2013 “Gold” medals and a 2013 “Trophy” for Hibiki 21 Year Old.

The 2013 International Spirits Challenge (ISC) awards ceremony was held on Tuesday, July 16 in London. Suntory Liquors Limited was awarded “Distiller of the Year,” an annual honor bestowed upon the industry’s best distiller who consistently produces a variety of high-quality products. This distinction coincided with being presented the “Trophy,” the highest award in the World Whiskies category, for Suntory Liquors’ Hibiki 21 Years Old blended whisky.

Suntory Liquors Limited was honored with the “Distiller of the Year” award for the third time, having also received it in 2010 and 2012. As the company enters its 90^th year, Suntory views this prize as a significant testament to the high quality and craftsmanship of their whiskies. The judges offered high praise for the whisky, stating “Suntory is a force to be reckoned with and is really pushing the Japanese whisky category to an international level.” This is a great achievement for the House of Suntory Whisky, a family-owned House of Whisky, where a tradition of uncompromising artisanship has been handed down from father to son since 1923.

This is the first time for Hibiki 21 Years Old to be honored the top spot in the World Whiskies category by receiving the “Trophy”. There were 400 whiskies entered in this year’s competition. The judges recognized that Hibiki 21 Years Old has a rich, full aroma with plenty of oak and soft fruit flavors, a good balance and texture, and a long rich finish — noting its unblended malt and grain whiskies, the varied and distinguished range of those unblended whiskies, and the strength of its blending techniques.

●About the International Spirits Challenge

The International Spirits Challenge is a competition held every year in the UK. Entries are divided into categories such as “Whisky” or “Liquors,” and gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each of those categories. There is also one ultimate award, the “Trophy,” given to one of the gold medal winners chosen as the best of the best in its category. The “Distiller of the Year” award is given each year to one maker of a diverse range of high-quality products.

The winners in the “Whiskies” category are chosen unanimously by a panel of nine judges, including blenders from whisky distilleries from around the world, and each year these awards garner the attention of the worldwide liquor industry.

The Award-Winning Whisky

●Suntory Whisky: Hibiki 21 Years Old

This whisky is a blend of painstakingly selected ripe grain malts aged with the key Yamazaki sherry cask malt, and is vatted with other carefully chosen mellow unblended grain malts over 21 years. Hibiki 21 Years Old has aromas of sweet dried fruit and a spicy flavor, and is characterized by a solemn, refined richness and profound, lingering echoes.

▼Name of Competition

International Spirits Challenge 2013

▼Prizes and Winners:

Trophy: Suntory Whisky Hibiki 21 Years Old

Distiller of the Year: Suntory Liquors Limited

▼Awards Ceremony:

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

At Honourable Artillery Company, London, U.K.

Success across the Board for Chivas Brothers’ Scotch Whiskies at the International Spirits Challenge

Chivas Brothers, the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky, received two Trophies – the highest accolade – at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) awards ceremony which took place at the Honourable Artillery Company in London, last night.

Chivas 18, the No. 1 ultra-premium Scotch whisky in the world, picked up the coveted Scotch Whisky Blended Trophy– (under 21 years), after being selected from 401 entries.

The Glenlivet Alpha limited edition, which was launched earlier this year, triumphed with the stylish black opaque bottle impressing an expert panel of judges to receive the Best New Design & PackagingTrophy. The Glenlivet, with its signature smoothness and floral, fruity profile, also received seven gold medals at the tasting challenge.

This year’s competition was remarkable for Chivas Brothers, which scooped a grand total of 32 medals across the entire portfolio. 14 gold medals were awarded to its whisky expressions alone, highlighting once again the consistent quality of its brands.

Ballantine’s Finest, 17 Year Old and 30 Year Old expressions were also awarded gold medals, while Royal Salute, the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, was equally recognised for its 21 Year Old.

Laurent Lacassagne, Chairman and CEO of Chivas Brothers, comments: “We are honoured to be recognised so widely for our premium Scotch whiskies. The Trophies awarded to Chivas 18 and The Glenlivet Alpha and the numerous medals received across the portfolio demonstrate the continuing success of our brands – from the quality of our expressions to our dynamic innovation. We are proud to receive such acknowledgement from the internationally renowned and rigorous judging panel at the International Spirits Challenge”.

The Chivas Brothers gin portfolio continued to demonstrate its high quality after receiving a gold medal for Beefeater Dry and a gold medal for its new ultra-premium expression Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve in the Design and Packaging category.

Now in its 18th year, the ISC promotes outstanding quality spirits from across the globe. Over 1,000 entries were drawn this year from nearly 70 countries and rigorously judged for quality by a panel of independent experts.

FULL RESULTS

International Spirits Challenge

Scotch Whisky Trophy

Chivas 18

Design and Packaging Trophy

The Glenlivet Alpha

Gold

The Glenlivet 18 YO

The Glenlivet XXV

The Glenlivet 21 YO

The Glenlivet 15 yO French Oak Reserve

The Glenlivet 12 YO

The Glenlivet Nadura 16 YO

The Glenlivet Master Distiller’s Reserve

Aberlour 12 YO DCM

Royal Salute 21 YO

Ballantine’s Finest Ballantine’s 17 YO

Ballantines 30 YO

Chivas 18 Beefeater

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.

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

Photo caption The Glenlivet’s International Marketing Manager Clarisse Daniels accompanied by the Nude Brand Creation’s team receive the trophy from Christian Davis and Paul Foulkes-Arellano.       

Harrods and The Dalmore Create World’s Rarest Whisky Collection

The world’s leading luxury retailer has teamed up with one the world’s finest malt whisky brands to create a truly unique collection of rare whiskies.

The Dalmore Paterson Collection – the only one of its kind in the world – goes on sale and will take pride of place in the newly refurbished Fine Spirits Room at Harrods from 16 July 2013 for £987,500.

One Man’s Lifelong Passion
Consisting of twelve bottles, each rare expression has been individually assessed, nosed, tasted and selected by Richard Paterson, master distiller of The Dalmore, from some of the rarest, oldest and most valuable stock in the world. But he was not alone in this enviable task as Nick Fleming, wine and spirits buyer for Harrods, used his unrivalled expertise to help choose the whiskies.

Richard has chosen to name each of these whiskies, dating from 1926 up to the 1990s, in honour of those people who have influenced and inspired him throughout his career, from his own father and grandfather to the founders of The Dalmore’s parent company, James Whyte and Charles Mackay.

The personality of Richard Paterson has also been imprinted on the Collection through the creation of a personal and unique hand written ledger, spanning more than 200 pages and taking more than 1000 hours to write, capturing Richard’s every thought and step on the way to creating the collection.

Bespoke, Hand Crafted Ledger, Decanters and Cabinet
The ledger has been created by John Watson & Company Ltd, one of Glasgow’s oldest printers and long serving suppliers to the whisky industry. Each of the pages have been hand folded and individually foiled in silver with Richard’s signature before being bound in a bespoke book made of the finest calfskin leather.

Each of the twelve expressions is presented in a hand crafted full lead crystal decanter, produced by Glencairn, one of the world’s leading crystal houses. Luxury jeweller Hamilton & Inches have crafted and hand engraved the silver that adorns each bottle.

The collection itself is housed in a bespoke wooden cabinet, created by one of Britain’s leading cabinet makers, Gavin Robertson through more than 700 hours of design and craft.

The Global Market for Luxury Whisky Thrives
The global market for luxury wine spirits continues to flourish with growth of 12% forecast in 2013. This growth is fuelled by a combination of factors, including the continued rise of the Chinese luxury consumer accounting for one in four purchases of personal luxury goods, and the rise of luxury tourism accounting for 40% of global luxury spending. (Bain & Company “Luxury Goods Worldwide Market Study” 2012)

The global market for luxury whisky in particular mirrors this trend, with emerging markets such as Latin America and Asia demonstrating particularly strong demand for rare and vintage expressions. A voracious appetite for single malt is also prevalent across mature markets such as the US, where luxury whisky is one of the most dynamic sectors of the US spirits market with volume sales increasing by 16% in 2012 (CandMResearch, 2013).

The Dalmore Master Distiller, Richard Paterson

“Working alongside Harrods, we have created a collection of whiskies of the very highest quality that can truly lay claim to be the only one of its kind in the world. I personally have invested a huge amount of time ensuring that each of these twelve expressions represent the very best of the incredibly rare and valuable stocks that we nurture up at the distillery in Alness. I’m delighted that we have been able to give this collection the showcase that it deserves, with centre stage in the spirit room of the world’s number one luxury retailer.”

Direct of Foods at Harrods, Bruce Langlands

“If we had any doubts at all about selling such an incredible range of whiskies we wouldn’t have spent so much creating them in the first place with The Dalmore. It is the flagship product for our new spirits room, and has pride of place in its bespoke hand crafted cabinet. I’m more concerned that we sell it too quickly and we lose an outstanding talking point and attraction in the spirits room!”

Chief Executive of Whyte & Mackay, John Beard

“This is a true partnership between The Dalmore and Harrods, with much time and energy dedicated to creating something very special. Nobody has ever launched a whisky collection such as this before. It represents the lifetimes work of one of the whisky industy’s most dedicated, respected and loved characters – Richard Paterson. Whoever buys this will own a truly unique collection of whiskies as well as a little bit of Richard himself as he has put so much in to the creation of this collection.”

Further information on The Dalmore: Dating back to the days of King Alexander III, The Dalmore gained its iconic 12-point stag emblem in 1263 when one of the Mackenzie clan saved the king from being gored by a stag. Unlike other whiskies The Dalmore is produced in very limited quantities. Due to the distinctive distillation process no two batches will be exactly the same, ensuring that each release of the The Dalmore is unique.

The Dalmore distillery houses some of Scotland’s most precious and rare whisky stocks. Home of the record-breaking The Dalmore Trinitas 64 year old and a number of other rare expressions such as Sirius, Selene, Candela and Oculus, it is no wonder that whisky investors, collectors and aficionados keep a watchful eye on this collection.

LINKS www.thedalmore.com and www.harrods.com and THE HARRODS DALMORE VIDEO

For the fourth year, The Oak Barrel will be hosting the Sydney Whisky Fair. In 2013, a curated selection of over 40 of the highest quality international distilleries will converge on the Oak Barrel. Further expanding the Whisky Fair’s focus in bespoke and quality whiskies for the discerning drinker, guests will have the opportunity to sample over 150 of the finest Single Malts in the world.

Oak Barrel Spirits buyer and educator Dave Withers says “We have gone from strength to strength with our whisky tastings and selection. Our dedication has been recognised with nomination by Whisky Magazine for the “Icon’s of whisky” award for two years running. We are the only Australian store to be honoured in this way.” Dave expands that “Our education of the Australian imbiber has put us in a strong position to offer our customers only the very best whiskies available in Australia.” Accordingly, we will be the only venue in 2013 to offer a sample of the top three winners of Jim Murray’s ‘World Whisky of the Year.’ These are the Thomas H Handy Rye, William Larue Weller and Ballantine’s 17 Year Old respectively.”

The Oak Barrel stocks over 350 whiskies with a particular focus on independent bottlers and rare whiskies. Dave explains that “We’ve seen a big demand for distilleries with limited expressions available in Australia and so we have cultivated this interest by expanding our offering of independent bottlers, who buy and mature spirit on behalf of a distillery.” This year the Oak Barrel has worked with Scottish whisky judge/ author Charlie Maclean and the Adelphi team to bottle a single cask of Longmorn for the Whisky Fair. This independent bottling will be unveiled at the opening of the fair.

The endeavours of international and Australian craft distillers are a key focus of the 2013 Whisky Fair. With sixteen working whisky micro- distilleries in Australia and over 300 in America, there has never been such a diversity of flavour for whisky drinkers. “In recent times we have seen a rye whisky from Tasmania, a whisky smoked with Texas scrub oak and even whiskies made with Spelt! These small producers are pushing the envelope and represent the cutting edge of what is being done with whisky. Needless to say that we will have them on taste.” What is more, the Whisky Fair will offer to taste micro-distilled whiskies made from heirloom grain varieties, whiskies matured to Dub step music and an Australian whisky poured straight from the cask.

A limited number VIP tickets have been made available to guests so that they can sample rare whiskies not provided for the general public. Oak Barrel Manager, Simon Clarke says “We have a huge demand for whisky tastings and are fortunate to have the space at The Oak Barrel. We believe The Sydney Whisky Fair gives whisky aficionados and enthusiasts the perfect opportunity to explore and taste unique whiskies from around the world.”

There are lots of new elements to the 2013 fair including:

Ÿ  *An opportunity to taste an exclusive independent bottling by Adelphi of 21 year old Longmorn

Ÿ  *A sampling of Jim Murray’s top three ‘2013 World Whisky of the Year’ award winners

Ÿ  *A diverse selection of international micro- distilled whiskies

Ÿ  *An exclusive bottling of Australian whisky straight from the barrel

Ÿ  *An extensive range of independent bottlings including expressions not otherwise seen in Australia

BACKGROUND ON VENUE:

The Oak Barrel is one of Sydney’s oldest bottle shops. Since 1956, the Oak Barrel has prided itself on providing the best available whisky, spirits and wine – and more recently, craft beer.  It is the Oak Barrel’s belief in providing only the very best selection that has cultivated the most discerning drinkers, aficionados and connoisseurs. Through whisky master classes, an introduction to whisky program and free in-store spirits tastings, the Oak Barrel has led the industry in providing knowledge and education to Australian imbibers. Our members enjoy a rare understanding of bespoke, quality whiskies and spirits.

Tickets are on sale now and for more information visit www.whiskyfair.com.au. 

FAST GENERAL FACTS: 

Dates: 17:00 – 20:00 Friday 6th September & 13:00 – 16:00 & 18:00 – 21:00 Saturday 7th September (VIP sessions start 1 hour before advertised times on the Saturday sessions only)

Location: Tasting room, The Oak Barrel Bottle Shop, 152 Elizabeth Street, Sydney

Pictures of event and venue available on request.

For more information contact:

dave@oakbarrel.com.au or call 02 9264 3022.

SPEYBURN TEAMS UP WITH CHARITY TO CONSERVE SCOTTISH WILDLIFE

Speyburn Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has today (? July) announced it will be joining forces with the Spey Foundation to support their ongoing conservation work along the River Spey. The one year partnership will fund a project that opens up the Spey burns to wildlife by overcoming in-river obstacles that prevent salmon and sea trout from spawning. The project will also include protecting and restoring the catchment’s natural features to help improve the habitat and biodiversity of the area and the river bank.

To sponsor the conservation initiative, Speyburn will launch a nationwide ‘Salmon Run’ campaign that will be driven by sign-up to Clan Speyburn – the whisky’s free online member’s community. For every person who signs up over a one year period, the whisky brand will donate £1 to the Foundation. Clan members will also receive a welcome pack, regular newsletter, exclusive discounts and offers (including special clan bottlings) and their name added to the ‘Book of the Clan’ which is kept at the distillery.

To promote the campaign, the award-winning whisky will launch a series of initiatives, including an on-pack promotion which will be rolled out in the UK and internationally next month.  All Speyburn bottles will feature a new Salmon Run neck tag which will outline the collaboration, and a series of promotional and marketing material will be developed to support it. An innovative new nationwide competition will also launch later in the year to further encourage sign-up.

Regarded as the ‘classic salmon river’, the River Spey extends to 107 miles together with approximately 560 miles of its tributaries. The Spey Foundation plays a vital role in conserving both the burns and its wildlife through extensive research into salmon and all aquatic species within the Spey fishery.  It is this commitment that makes them the perfect partner for Speyburn single malt which is crafted in the only distillery to use water from the Granty Burn, a tributary of the River Spey, famed for its purity and its world class salmon fishing.

Pamela Stewart, Speyburn’s Brand Manager says: “Speyside water is at the heart of our single malt, so we are delighted to collaborate with the Spey Foundation to sponsor some of the truly fantastic work that they do. Our whisky has always had a deep rooted connection to fishing and the great outdoors due to the distillery’s picturesque Speyside location.

 Our new campaign encourages whisky fans to reconnect with the home of the brand through supporting the Spey Foundation and with each other through joining the Clan and sharing the whisky experience.”

Spey Foundation Director Roger Knight says: “There are numerous in-river obstacles around the Spey catchment, such as distillery weirs that may now be redundant, but which prevent salmon and sea trout from accessing the rivers and burns above these obstacles to spawn.

We are delighted that Speyburn will be helping us to overcome some of these problems, which will open-up burns not just to spawning fish, but to other wildlife as well.”

Notes

Speyburn Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky was first distilled on December 15, 1897, the diamond jubilee year of Queen Victoria. Today, Speyburn continues to use the time-honored traditional distillation methods that created the single barrel of the 1897 vintage. Speyburn is matured in American and Spanish oak casks in traditional stone-built warehouses. The result is a classic Speyside single malt; golden amber in color with a floral and citrus nose. It is medium-bodied and easy to drink, with a delicate, fruity character and a dry, complex finish. The portfolio includes Speyburn 10 year old, Speyburn 25 year old and Speyburn Bradan Orach expressions. (http://www.speyburn.com)

The Spey Foundation is a charitable Company Limited by Guarantee and is a transition of the Spey Research Trust, which was formed in the mid-1970s and since 1981 operated as a Registered Charity, administered by a Research Committee. The aim of the Spey Foundation is to advance the study of and research into salmon and all other aquatic species within the Spey Fishery. The Foundation’s work, like the Trust’s before it, plays a vital part in informing and advising the Spey Fishery Board of developments within the river and helps to determine the Board’s approach to fishery management.

The ‘Opening Up Spey Burns to Wildlife’ project will focus on overcoming in-river obstacles and improvements to the habitat within the Spey catchment, by protecting and restoring the natural features. Damage to these natural features is often caused by diffuse pollution and sediment deposition through bank erosion.  The restoration may involve fencing off areas which have been damaged by livestock, planting trees to create pockets of shade, re-instating gravel beds, moving rocks or introducing wood structures to restore the morphology and to re-establish a natural habitat area for fish to spawn and for other wildlife.  The overall effect of these works will help to improve the biodiversity of the area and the river bank.

NEW LOOK FOR STRATHISLA 12 YEAR OLD  

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, has unveiled a new, modern logo and bottle design for its award-winning Strathisla 12 Year Old single malt whisky to maintain the brand’s relevance in today’s malt market.

The new packaging combines the brand’s unrivalled heritage with a fresh, modern design and is now available in more than 25 markets including theUK,Spainand Asia Duty Free, with the RRP of £40.49 or $49.99.

Made from clear glass with a thick, solid base and wide pouring neck, the bottle has a recognisable malt feel that draws attention to the quality of the whisky. The brand’s new logo features on the label as a stylised image of what makes Strathisla the most recognisable distillery inScotland, its distinctive twin pagodas.

Nikki Burgess, the International Brand Director for Chivas Brothers’ Malts Portfolio, says: “Strathisla 12 Year Old has long been considered the connoisseurs’ best kept secret as a rare malt whisky produced in limited quantities from a world famous distillery. We are confident that the fresh approach for Strathisla, an example of Chivas Brothers’ continued commitment to innovation, will attract both adventurous and established whisky drinkers to the brand and the wider Chivas Brothers portfolio.”

Distilled at the oldest distillery in the Scottish highlands, the quality of Strathisla 12 Year Old has been consistently recognised by the world’s most esteemed international spirits competitions* and the redesigned bottle is available in both 70cl and 1l formats in a luxury gift box.

Notes:

Strathisla 12 Year Old tasting notes [40% ABV]

Nose: Rich and fruity with a complex array of hay-like aromas, balanced with a dry oakiness.

Taste: Full, rich and hay-like flavours with a mellow nutty sweetness.

Finish: Rich, mellow.

*Strathisla 12 Award Wins

Strathisla 12 Year Old has won the following accolades at spirits competitions in the last five years:

2013 – World Whiskies Awards – Best Speyside Single Malt Under 12 Years

2013 – The Scotch Whisky Masters – Master

2011 – International Spirits Challenge – Gold

2009 – International Wine & Spirit Competition – IWSC Trophy

Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits.  Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

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

For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com