LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT WHISKY

by Neil Ridley & Gavin D Smith 

Taste, try & enjoy whisky from around the world

As with any subject, the more you know about whisky, the more you can appreciate and enjoy it. In Let me tell you about whisky, we aim to equip you with enough knowledge to be able to find your way around the whisky section of a specialist drinks retailer and to help you feel confident choosing a whisky in a bar or restaurant. At the same time, we don’t intend to blind you with too much science or bog you down in irrelevant facts. This is the best whisky primer on the market – No jargon. No snobbery. No previous knowledge assumed! Including over 200 recommended whiskies to try from around the world, with original tasting notes as well as whisky and food matching (so that you get it right every time) – we aim to demystify whisky, without taking away the magic.

Neil Ridley, is one of the UK’s new breed of passionate whisky writers and consultants to the drinks business.  Since his early 20’s, Neil has been fascinated by the complexity found in whisky and in 2008 developed the irreverent whisky website Caskstrength.net with his colleague Joel Harrison, which has won several online awards and is now read by an excess of 70,000 international viewers a month. Neil writes regularly about whisky for a wide range of drinks and lifestyle publications such as Whisky Magazine, Square Meal, Imbibe, The Mayfair Magazine (where he is Food & Drink Editor) The Spirits Business, as well as daily and luxury publications including The Evening Standard, City AM, Aston Martin, Bentley and Sunseeker International. He is on the judging panel for the World Whisky Awards, the prestigious IWSC Awards and chairman of The Spirits Business’ Whisky Masters awards.

Gavin D Smith is a professional freelance journalist and author, based in the Scottish Borders. He specialises in drink-related topics and is the author of some 25 published books, a dozen of which are devoted to whisky.  As a journalist he contributes on a regular basis to Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate, Whiskeria, Whisky Etc, The Keeper, Drinks International, The Malt Whisky Yearbook, Beers of the World and Scotland Magazine. He is also contributing editor for www.whisky-pages.com  and www.forwhiskeylovers.com. He regularly undertakes writing commissions for leading drinks companies and hosts whisky events. He is a Keeper of the Quaich.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT WHISKY is published by Pavilion, an imprint of Anova Books Group

RRP £16.99

Published 28th March 2013

Ardbeg rockets to the top! 

— Ardbeg is the star at the World Whisky Awards in London with hat-trick of wins — 

— Iconic Islay malt is named ‘World’s Best Single Malt’, ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ and the ‘Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year’ — 

Ardbeg completed a hat-trick of prestigious awards at the renowned World Whisky Awards held in London on 21^st March.

Ardbeg scooped the World’s Best Single Malt 2013 accolade and received further recognition when its latest limited edition, Ardbeg Galileo, was also declared Best Islay Single Malt.

However, two awards were simply not enough, as Jackie Thomson, Ardbeg distillery visitor centre manager, was named Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year, confirming her growing reputation in the industry.

The latest Limited Edition release Ardbeg Galileo was launched to celebrate the Islay distillery’s world-first experiment in space on the International Space Station.

Ardbeg, the Ultimate Islay Malt, has never done things by halves, and these three prestigious awards just go to prove it.

Dr Bill Lumsden, director of distilling and whisky creation, explained: “As Ardbeg’s visitor centre manager Jackie Thomson lives and breathes Ardbeg. Her enthusiasm and passion for the Ultimate Islay Malt is clear to the thousands of smoky malt drinkers who make the pilgrimage to the distillery.

“We’re all so proud of Jackie and her achievements. She embodies Ardbeg’s commitment to providing an unforgettable experience, and everyone who meets her is inspired.”

Allan Little, Ardbeg senior brand manager, said: “Receiving these awards is amazing. We’re over the moon to be recognised as the World’s Best Single Malt 2013, Best Islay Single Malt and Jackie is an inspiration to us all every day.

“We are thrilled she has been acknowledged as the Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year, as she’s the ultimate visitor centre manager.”

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.

Ardbeg Galileo is the limited edition 12 Years Old Single Malt Whisky, which is a special vatting of different styles of Ardbeg laid down in 1999. The spirit has been matured in ex-Marsala wine casks from Sicily that add fruity aromas to Ardbeg’s famed smooth and peaty house style.

Notes 

About the Ardbeg space experiment

The ground-breaking study blasted off when samples of the Ardbeg-crafted molecules took off for the International Space Station (ISS) in the unmanned Russian Progress 45 cargo spacecraft.

The spaceship was launched via a Soyuz booster rocket at 10.11am GMT on 30 October 2011 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It docked with astronauts at the International Space Station at 11.41am GMT on 2 November 2011. The experiment is being led by US-based space research company NanoRacks LLC and was unveiled at Edinburgh’s International Science Festival. 

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. 

Ardbeg Embassies

Ardbeg Embassies are a network of customers who love the whisky 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.

Reserve Your Place for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Spring  Events 

This year The Kentucky Bourbon Festival will kick off the Spring Events by adding a new twist  “Racing with the Spirits” on Friday evening April 26, from 7:00 until 10:00 at theGuthrieOpportunityCenter.  Guests will join in the fun during an evening of horse racing videos.  Wager on horses named after your favorite Master Distillers as well as some of their finest specialty brands and Bourbons.  Prizes, entertainment, food, fun and much more.   Tickets for this event are $45.

The fun continues on Saturday night.  Enjoy your favorite Kentucky Bourbons from ten different establishments while enjoying cuisine from Ladyfingers Catering.  Be there for the unveiling of this year’s new poster as well as the announcement of the winners of the scholarship. Tickets are $40.

For more information or to purchase tickets, Call the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Office at 502 348-3623 or visit www.kybourbonfestival.com

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is a non-Profit organization.  All Kentucky Bourbon Festival Press releases can be downloaded from the web site http://www.kybourbonfestival.com/ in the press room.

Arran Distillers to Launch Oldest Malt to Date

Independent Scotch whisky producer, Isle of Arran Distillers, is set to release its oldest malt to date next month (April 2013).

The 16 Year Old single malt is some of the first spirit distilled by the award-winning business.

Available as a very limited edition with just 9,000 bottles released worldwide, it is the first in a trilogy of special malt whiskies planned the countdown to the Arran 18 Year Old malt, scheduled for spring 2015.

Made from un-peated malted barley and matured in a mixture of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, this highly anticipated whisky has a unique flavour with a light golden colour.

Commenting on the latest release James MacTaggart, master distiller at Arran, said: “Our first 16 year old whisky encapsulates everything that is great and unique about Isle of Arran malt whiskies.

“The spirit is non-chill filtered and contains no artificial colours so it retains a full range of aromas and flavours – it smells of honey and ginger and has a smooth taste with waves of sweetness and spice.”

Priced at £59.99 for 70ml, the Arran Malt 16 year old has an ABV of 46% and is a collectible bottle. Next spring will see the release of the Arran Malt 17 year old, with the 18 year old released the following year.

Euan Mitchell, managing director at Isle of Arran Distillers, said: “This malt is one of our finest whiskies yet and a strong edition to the Arran portfolio. As an independent distillery we always try to do things a bit differently and the 16 year old will not disappoint.

“It’s satisfying to see the whisky, which we laid down when the distillery first opened, finally come of age and become available for the public to enjoy.”

Notes

The Arran Malt 16 Year Old is released at the beginning of April and RRP is £59.99 for 70cl.

For more information visit http://www.arranwhisky.com/

* Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007); Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005); Best New Exporter (2004).

Product awards include: ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the World Spirits Competition 2012. Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards 2012. ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.. ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008), Best Whisky Liqueur (2007).

Sentebale and Royal Salute Celebrate Third Year of Polo Cup Partnership in Greenwich 

The Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup is set to take place for the first time inGreenwich,Connecticutin theUSon Wednesday 15 May.

AfterBrazilfamously played host to the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup in 2012 and a successful 2011 in theUK, this year marks the third year Royal Salute proudly partners with the charity that was founded by Prince Harry and Prince Seeiso in memory of their mothers in 2006. Sentebale works with local grassroots organisations to help some ofLesotho’s most vulnerable children get the support they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

Cathy Ferrier, CEO, Sentebale, commented: “Sentebale’s annual polo fundraising event has gone from strength to strength over the years. We are delighted to be working with our title sponsor Royal Salute once again and are most grateful to Peter Brant for hosting us at his Greenwich Polo Club. We hope to raise even more money this year from the event enabling us to help many more children.”   

Christian Porta, Chairman and CEO, Chivas Brothers, said: “Royal Salute is honoured to be partnering with Sentebale for the third year, after two fantastic events in theUKandBrazil. As a leading international polo partner, we are proud to include the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup in our calendar of events and look forward to the continuation of this relationship in years to come.”

The finale to Prince Harry’s official tour of theUS, the Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup will take place at Greenwich Polo Club, which holds a number of exclusive polo tournaments throughout the season, including the Royal Salute Jubilee Cup.

The Prince will lead the Sentebale Land Rover team, with Nacho Figueras captaining the St. Regis team which will also include owner of the Greenwich Polo Club, Peter Brant. Distinguished guests from all over the world will gather to watch exhibition polo at its finest, including His Grace Torquhil Ian Campbell, the 13th Duke of Argyll. 

Royal Salute also partners with Greenwich Polo Club on the Royal Salute Jubilee Cup which will be hosted this year in September. Royal Salute recently announced a partnership with Argentine polo player, Facundo Pieres as a new ambassador and face of the Royal Salute World Polo Series.

Royal Salute has a global programme of Polo sponsorship covering four continents. The whisky’s involvement with Polo is founded on the game’s incredible power, skill and elegance; qualities which blend perfectly with Royal Salute 21 Year Old Scotch whisky.

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 ofLesotho’s people.

• 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 children, 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:

• Argentina Campeonado Abierto de Polo, Palermo, Buenos Aires
• Australia Sydney Gold Cup, Sydney andPortsea Polo,Victoria
• Brazil Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup, São Paulo and Copa Ouro São José Polo,  São Paulo
• China Royal SaluteChina Open,Beijing
• India Royal Salute Maharaja ofJodhpur Golden Jubilee Cup, Jodphur
• Italy Polo Gold Cup, Cortina d’ Ampezzo
• South Korea Royal Salute Polo Cup, Jeju
• Spain Sotogrande, Cádiz
• UAE Royal Salute Nations Cup,Dubai
• USA Foundation Polo Challenge,Santa Barbara and Royal Salute Jubilee Cup,Greenwich,New York
• 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 ofGreenwich,CTand 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

Master Blender Billy Leighton (left) and Master Distiller Barry Crockett (right) of Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard

St. Patrick’s Day may be over for another year but Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, maker of the world’s No.1 Irish whiskey, Jameson, is continuing its celebrations having been named Whisky Distiller of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Awards – Global 2013, for the second year running. 

Further success followed as Redbreast 12 Cask Strength scooped the Best Irish Pot Still award. 

The awards underline an impressive year for Irish Distillers, with sales of its flagship whiskey Jameson reaching four million global cases.  Other recent highlights include the successful launch of Yellow Spot into the Single Pot Still range, as well as the launch of the coveted Midleton Single Cask Releases in February this year. 

Peter Morehead, Production Director for Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, says: “As one of the most respected whisky awards in the world, we are incredibly proud to be recognised once again by the Icons of Whisky Awards. We have been vocal about our ambitions for the Irish Whiskey category over the next 10 years as we aim to increase global awareness and appreciation for the quality of Irish whiskey, so these awards are greatly appreciated by all the team as the ultimate recognition of our ambition to grow the popularity of Irish Whiskey around the world.” 

“It’s a momentous time in the history of Irish Distillers as we say goodbye to our legendary Master Distiller Barry Crockett after 47 years at the Midleton Distillery, so we would like to thank him for his immense contribution to the company and we shall look forward to continued success in the future as Brian Nation takes the reins.” 

Last week’s accolades follow a host of recent award successes for Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, including Whisky Advocate awarding the company Distiller of the Year and its single pot still whiskey, Yellow Spot revealed as its ‘Irish Whiskey of the Year’. Irish Distillers also won a trophy at The Spirits Masters in November 2012. 

Notes: 

About The Icons of Whiskey

Now in its 9^th year in its current form, the Icons of Whiskey awards celebrate the people and places behind the great whiskies of the world, and are nominated by professionals in the drinks industry. Independent editorial panel of whiskey experts pick winners from the regional heats ofScotland,America and Rest of World before the overall winners are announced. 

About Jameson

Jameson is the world’s No 1 Irish whiskey. Award-winning as a result of its exceptional smoothness following its unique triple distillation process, Jameson is enjoyed in more than 120 countries worldwide. 

The core Jameson range includes Jameson; Jameson Select Reserve; Jameson Gold Reserve; Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve; and Jameson Signature Reserve (Travel Retail exclusive). 

About Single Pot Still Whiskeys of Midleton

In May 2011, Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard announced plans to underline the rich heritage of Irish whiskey with the launch of a new initiative – Single Pot Still whiskeys of Midleton. Aimed at promoting consistent communication on the provenance and quality of single pot still whiskey, the launch heralded an increase in investment in Irish Distillers’ existing portfolio, ahead of a planned roll-out of innovative extensions. Additionally, the initiative marked the adoption by the industry of new terminology for this unique style of whiskey – moving from ‘pure pot still’ to ‘single pot still’.

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

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

About Pernod Ricard – http://www.pernod-ricard.com/
Pernod Ricard is the world’s co-leader in wines and spirits with consolidated sales of € 8,215 million in 2011/12. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin & Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: ABSOLUT Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate (formerly Montana), Campo Viejo and Graffigna wines. 

Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of nearly 18 800 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 75 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.

For further information please visit: http://www.jamesonwhiskey.com/

THE MACALLAN SET TO AUCTION 1962 BOTTLE FOR SKYFALL CHARITY

As the James Bond franchise celebrates 50 years, and SKYFALL becomes the highest-grossing Bond film ever, The Macallan has announced its intention to celebrate these achievements by donating a bottle of The Macallan 1962 from its Fine and Rare collection to be auctioned for charity.

The Macallan 1962 bottle will feature a unique signed label including signatures of Bond himself, Daniel Craig along with Javier Bardem and Bérénice Marlohe.

The auction is set to take place at Sotheby’s in London, as part of the company’s Finest & Rarest Wines sale on 17^th April 2013.  All proceeds from the auction of this lot will benefit the Government Communications Fund (GC Fund) that support former and serving members of GCHQ facing hardship and distress.  At the request of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, this was one the charities that benefited from the SKYFALL world premiere held in October 2012.

1962 was the year of the first ever Bond film, Dr No, signalling the start of one of the world’s most recognised film franchises.   It was also the year that The Macallan 1962 was distilled on Speyside, Scotland.

Ken Grier, Director of Malts, Edrington, owners of The Macallan, said “Following on from The Macallan’s appearance in SKYFALL, we are delighted to further our association with the Bond franchise with this charity auction.  We are hopeful that the combination of the Bond link with the auction appeal of vintage Macallan will give us a great result.  The Government Communications fund is a very fitting recipient of the monies raised.”

Today The Macallan is one of the world’s most collectable whiskies, sitting at the top of the auction table and the owner of the current Guinness World Record™ for the most expensive whisky ever sold at auction. “The Macallan is a First Growth Malt, the tops, with all that this means in terms of excellence and excitement” comments Serena Sutcliffe MW, Sotheby’s International Head of Wine.

Notes 

About The Macallan®

Founded in 1824, The Macallan® is one of the world’s most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character, founded upon a set of guiding principles, the Six Pillars. An obsession with quality has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding by Alexander Reid on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland. The distillery is surrounded by a 150 hectare estate, with Easter Elchies House, a Highland Manor built in 1700, at its heart.

Traditionally known for maturation in sherry seasoned oak casks, The Macallan’s range of outstanding single malts includes: Sherry Oak, matured in Spanish oak casks seasoned with sherry; Fine Oak, matured both in sherry casks of Spanish and American oak and in American oak casks seasoned with bourbon; the 1824 Collection, exclusive to Global Travel Retail and the 1824 Series built on the principle of natural colour. In addition, The Macallan is well known for its great range of vintage whiskies, dating back to 1926, and is considered the most sought after of all single malts among collectors and connoisseurs at auction.

In November 2010, The Macallan set a staggering new Guinness World Record^TM for the “most expensive whisky sold at auction”. The Macallan in Lalique 64 year old: Cire Perdue was sold for $460,000 and every single penny of this was donated to charity: water to help fund life changing clean water projects in the developing world. This was arguably the defining moment in the recent history of The Macallan, but one which reinforces its position as one of the world’s greatest whiskies.

About Sotheby’s

Sotheby’s Wine auctions in 2012 brought an overall global total of $64,462,965. Sotheby’s overall total of $88.27 million for global wine auctions in 2010 is the highest in the company’s forty-two years of wine auctions. 2011 brought an overall global total of US$85,467,096. The Lafite Ex Cellars sale – of First Growth Bordeaux directly from Château Lafite-Rothschild – held by Sotheby’s in Hong Kong in October 2010 set a new record for a single standard sized bottle at auction when a bottle of Château Lafite 1869 sold for $232,692.  This means that Sotheby’s now holds the world records for a standard bottle, a bottle in any format – the Jeroboam of Château Mouton Rothschild 1945 which fetched $310,700 in February 2007 in New York – and any wine lot at auction – 50 cases of Château Mouton Rothschild 1982 which sold for US$1,051,600 at Sotheby’s New York in 2006.

Sotheby’s has been uniting collectors with world-class works of art since 1744.  Sotheby’s became the first international auction house when it expanded from London to New York (1955), the first to conduct sales in Hong Kong (1973) and France (2001), and the first international fine art auction house in China (2012). Today, Sotheby’s presents auctions in 10 different salesrooms, including New York, London, Hong Kong and Paris, and Sotheby’s BidNow program allows visitors to view all auctions live online and place bids from anywhere in the world. Sotheby’s offers collectors the resources of Sotheby’s Financial Services, the world’s only full-service art financing company, as well as private sale opportunities in more than 70 categories, including S|2, the gallery arm of Sotheby’s Contemporary Art department, and two retail businesses, Sotheby’s Diamonds and Sotheby’s Wine. Sotheby’s has a global network of 90 offices in 40 countries and is the oldest company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (BID).

Today’s the day! It’s the 27th of March and that means only one thing to whisky lovers around the world. It’s International Whisky Day! 

2013 Chairman’s Trophy Winners and Full Results Announced Today, Including USC’s First 100-Point Spirit

New York, NY (March, 2013) – Ultimate Beverage Challenge’s (UBC) fourth annual Ultimate Spirits Challenge was held at state-of-the-art Astor Center in New York City on March 11-15, 2013. Today, Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) proudly announces this year’s Chairman’s Trophy winners and Finalists in more than 30 spirits categories, including USC’s first 100-point score that honors Highland Park 25 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from Orkney.

Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2013 had a record number of entries, up 8% from last year, from more than 70 companies and 30 countries around the world. This year’s entries likewise included more craft spirits than ever before and an extraordinarily high standard of spirits across all categories.

Led by UBC Founder and Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult and Judging Co-Chairman Sean Ludford, the judges included many of the world’s most famous distilled spirits authorities, award-winning authors, spirits buyers, journalists, educators, bar owners and consultants.  The judging panels rated the distillates on the 100-point scale, using USC’s innovative multilevel evaluation system, which renders the industry’s most unassailable results. This remarkable super-group of experts named 33 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Chairman’s Trophy winners and 151 Finalists. Judges for USC 2013 were F. Paul Pacult, Sean Ludford, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tad Carducci, James Conley, Dale DeGroff, Jim Meehan, Dan Nicolaescu, Steve Olson, Julie Reiner, Jack Robertiello, Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, MW, Katie Stipe and David Wondrich.

Says UBC founder F. Paul Pacult, “The increase in entries we’ve had for Ultimate Spirits Challenge each year is a testament to suppliers who appreciate our meticulous attention to rating and scoring their products. They understand that Ultimate Spirits Challenge also provides them with an array of useful tools to help them build and market their brands, from credible scores to insightful tasting notes to useful point-of-sale materials to our summary guide in Beverage Media.”

THE 2013 RESULTS

This year, all spirits rated 85 points and higher are featured on their own detailed results page and include relevant award information, downloadable score icon, tasting note, accolade and bottle image. New this year, USC will also provide a summary page for this year’s Award Recipients and Great Values in each category. Because of Ultimate Spirits Challenge’s partnership with Astor Wines & Spirits, all spirits that display a shopping cart icon boast a ‘click and purchase’ option for consumers who can place their order online, with direct delivery to many states in the U.S.

For a complete list of results go to www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2013results/

WHISK(E)Y – NORTH AMERICA

AMERICAN WHISKEY: Balcones 1 Texas Single Malt

BOURBON: Blanton’s Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

RYE: Knob Creek Rye

TENNESSEE WHISKEY: George Dickel No. 12

WHISKEY – IRELAND

BLENDED: Jameson 18 Years Old

IRISH POT STILL WHISKEY: Redbreast 15 Years Old

SINGLE MALT: Tullamore Dew 10 Years Old

WHISKY – SCOTLAND

BLENDED MALT: Haig Supreme 1627 12 Years Old

BLENDED: Royal Salute 21 Years Old

SINGLE MALT*: Highland Park 25 Years Old (100 points)

WHISKY – CANADA

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel

The Return of Chicken Cock Whiskey
Prohibition Era Brand Reemerges Down South

March 2012 (Charleston, SC) – Chicken Cock Distilling is proud to announce that, after nearly a century hiatus, Chicken Cock Whiskey is back and more flavorful than ever. Inspired by a 157 year-old legacy, Chicken Cock is making a triumphant return to the market with a new look and fresh flavors.

Originally established in 1856 in Paris, Kentucky, Chicken Cock quickly became a significant 19th century Bourbon brand. Forced to move production to Canada during Prohibition, Chicken Cock was smuggled across the border in tin cans, where it rose to fame as a popular pour at some of the era’s most famous speakeasies,including the eminent Cotton Club in Harlem. When patrons ordered a “Chicken Cock,” waiters would present the tin can tableside and ceremoniously open it to reveal the bottle of Chicken Cock Whiskey inside. With an aluminum package and bold, new flavors, Chicken Cock Whiskey is back to once again bend the rules in the 21 st Century.

Returning to its southern roots, Chicken Cock is bottled in Charleston, South Carolina in three different varieties – Chicken Cock Southern Spiced Whiskey, Chicken Cock Cinnamon Whiskey , and Chicken Cock Root Beer Whiskey. Each is a flavorful blend of all natural ingredients and 86 Proof American Whiskey. A salute to the legendary tin cans, the bottles are made of 100% aluminum to facilitate and retain the optimal temperature for sipping chilled shots or mixing signature cocktails. Whether in a Southern Spiked Tea (Southern Spiced & Sweet Tea), a Root Beer Julep, or a Chicken’s Inferno (Cinnamon & Ginger Beer), Chicken Cock is adding a new dimension of flavor and quality to Southern classics.

“When I discovered Chicken Cock in 2010 I knew it was a brand that needed to be brought back,” says Matti Anttila, Chicken Cock Distilling founder. “To be able to do so at a time when American whiskey is making such a resurgence and the interest in heritage brands is so high is a truly special opportunity.”

A unique blend of American ingenuity, history and perseverance, Chicken Cock is bridging the gap between generations of whiskey drinkers. With a suggested retail price of $19.99, Chicken Cock is available this month in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. For additional information, please visit http://www.chickencockwhiskey.com or follow Chicken Cock on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ChickenCockWhiskey), Twitter (@ChickenCockWsky), and Instagram (ChickenCockWhiskey).