On 13 February, an official launch of Karuizawa 1964 whisky with the participation of Marcin Miller from The Number One Drinks Company took place in Warsaw. The event was hosted by Wealth Solutions. Please find a link to the official video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YONYx6D7XS4&feature=youtu.be

Cask #3603 from Karuizawa, filled on 1st September 1964 and bottled on Christmas Eve 2012, is one of the oldest Japanese single malt whiskies in history. At the time of bottling it was the oldest expression of the now-closed Karuizawa. This limited edition of 143 individually-numbered bottles of Karuizawa whisky was bottled exclusively for clients of Wealth Solutions.

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

When Tomatin Distillery was established in 1897, the isolated and idyllic setting of Tomatin was almost perfect. However there wasn’t a local workforce; the local inhabitants were scattered shepherds and cattle drovers. The company began a project of construction to accommodate its workforce. Since that time the distillery has been at the heart of the community and the community at the heart of the distillery.

This legacy has continued – Tomatin remains one of the few distilleries to provide a home for its dedicated craftsmen – and is now recognised with a permanent addition to the Tomatin Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky range, “The Tomatin Legacy”.

NEW PRODUCT LAUNCH

When Tomatin Distillery was established in 1897, the isolated and idyllic setting of Tomatin was almost perfect. However there wasn’t a local workforce; the local inhabitants were scattered shepherds and cattle drovers. The company began a project of construction to accommodate its workforce. Since that time the distillery has been at the heart of the community and the community at the heart of the distillery.

This legacy has continued – Tomatin remains one of the few distilleries to provide a home for its dedicated craftsmen – and is now recognised with a permanent addition to the Tomatin Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky range, “The Tomatin Legacy”.

AROMA

Vanilla pods, marshmallow, sponge cake and fresh pineapple, mixed with citrus lemon and boiled sweets.

PALATE

Light and delicate with a candy sweetness which is peppered with hints of pine. Lemon sherbet, pineapple and crunchy green apples with a touch of freshly baked sponge cake.

FINISH

Clean, light and refreshing.

GRAHAM EUNSON

TOMATIN DISTILLERY MANAGER

NOTES

• LAUNCH DATE: 21st March 2013

• LAUNCH DETAILS: The launch will be supported by competitions on the brand’s social media channels, including a “What’s your Legacy?” campaign on Instagram, Product Film on You Tube, and competitions on Facebook and Twitter.

• 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.

• Website: www.tomatin.com

Finally, a novel about Single Malt Scotch Whisky!
Please check it out The Water of Blythe at
www.Left2Write.com

Longest Serving Whisky Worker Retires After 46 Years

Chivas Brothers’ longest serving employee Alistair McAllister has retired after 46½ years working for the company in Paisley. Alistair joined Chivas Brothers in the Stock Control department in July 1966, when he was just 17 years old. He later moved to the loading bay area, and eventually to the North Bottling Hall, where he spent the last 25 years working as a Forklift Truck Operator.

Reflecting on his time with the company, Alistair (64) said: “The time has flown by, and so much has changed in the last 46 years. When I started the bottling halls were mostly manual, with the ladies who worked there using small plastic hammers to put the tops on the bottles. Today, with huge advances in modern machinery, production is much faster.

“The area where the North Hall sits was just a field when I started. I remember it being built in the 1980s to keep up with demand. In future I think Chivas Brothers will just get busier and busier. We seem to get more orders than ever, from places like China and Azerbaijan that we never even considered 46 years ago. Scotch whisky has really grown internationally. We’re always developing new luxury products for overseas markets.”

Alistair’s colleagues surprised him with a cake, gifts and special visit by St Mirren FC mascot The Paisley Panda on his last day, which delighted the lifelong Saints supporter.

Despite admitting he’ll miss his team, Alistair says he’s looking forward to his retirement, adding: “I’m going to get a new car, enjoy any sunshine we get this summer, and maybe plan a few holidays to places like Spain and Greece. For now there’s lots to do around the house, and I’m a keen gardener, so I will certainly be keeping busy.”

Notes 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.

Whisky & Water…The Undiluted Truth

BOWMORE® ISLAY SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY LAUNCHES
– THE BOWMORE WATER PROGRAMME –
FOR KEY ON-TRADE ACCOUNTS ACROSS THE GLOBE

Islay, Scotland (March, 2013) – Bowmore®, the first Islay Single Malt whisky, introduces The Bowmore Water Program, a global whisky and water education program featuring hand-crafted water dispensing units and staff trainings to key on-trade accounts around the world. The program has been designed as an educational tool for the trade – and ultimately consumers – that explains what the addition of water does to your Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky and that this practice is not an aberration as some might think, but can bring about another level of sensory (smell, sight) and gustatory (taste) experiences when enjoying Islay’s most balanced single malt. The Bowmore Water Program will roll out spring 2013 in the UK as well as North America and Asia.

The centerpieces of the Bowmore Water Program are the exquisitely hand-crafted water dispensing units, which exude the essence of the Bowmore Distillery and certain to be the showpiece of any bar. In each country, Bowmore will work with their distributors to identify key on-premise accounts that are supporters of Bowmore and determine which water dispenser they would receive (Tier I, II). Once an account has been confirmed, it will receive the Bowmore water dispenser, staff training and tasting and Bowmore’s Water & Whisky Guide that describes in laymen’s terms the chemical reaction and science behind adding water to whisky.

THE WATER DISPENSERS

TIER I: THE WATER SAFE. Hand-crafted and individually numbered, this copper water dispenser is inspired by the great spirit safe that resides within the Still Room of Bowmore Distillery. The Water Safe will ideally sit in a place of prominence behind the bar and will create the ultimate in water dispensing theater.

TIER II: THE TILTER. Hand-made and individually numbered, The Tilter is a more fun and quirky dispenser that tilts on an axis and allows a fine flow of water to be dispensed from one side or small droplets from the other.

Cara Laing, Bowmore Marketing Manager, states: “We are very aware of the great debate surrounding the addition of water twhisky and wanted to tackle this head on. We’ve created these innovative and beautiful water dispensers in the hope that people will discover for themselves their favorite way to enjoy their Single Malt, whether with or without water!”

THE SCIENCE BEHIND WATER & WHISKY
Bowmore is widely acknowledged to be among the most perfectly balanced single malts in the world, striking just the right chord between smoky and sweet. The sometimes polarizing question is: why add water? Rachel Barrie, Master Blender at Morrison Bowmore Distillers along with Cara Laing, Bowmore Marketing Manager, worked together to develop the Bowmore Water Program, not to tell people how they should drink their whisky but to give whisky-lovers an option to explore and let them make up their own minds.

“Bowmore is an amazingly complex and harmonious whisky with an enigmatic flavor spectrum,” says Rachel Barrie. “The spirit takes the drinker on a sensory adventure through sweetness and ocean spices with multiple layers of fruit and smoke. Adding water allows the drinker to unlock Bowmore’s waves of flavor on a journey through its creation. The taste adventure is justbeginning.”
Rachel Barrie, whose scientific background includes a 1st class Honours degree in Chemistry and a stint as a Research Scientist at the Scotch Whisky Research Institute, explains that when water is added to whisky, certain physicochemical changes occur in the glass some of which you can see, smell and taste:

? SEE. Viscimetric whorls develop. These are the eddies and threads created when fluids of different viscosities mix.
? SMELL. As the alcohol and water combine, energy is released and the temperature of the liquid is initially increased by about 2º C (an exothermic reaction), allowing the liquid to ‘open up’ and release more of the volatile aromas. By reducing the higher alcohol strength, it enables our sense of smell to work better and the aroma paradoxically seems to increase in intensity when first adding water.
? TASTE. The addition of water and the dropping of the alcohol strength creates a ‘cooling’ effect on the tongue and makes us more receptive to salty and fruity tastes, rather than sweet and spicy. Therefore, we discover different facets of Bowmore’s taste profile than a dram taken neat.

By example, Rachel Barrie has developed tasting notes for Bowmore 12 Years Old, served neat and with 1 part water added to 2 parts whisky. Bowmore 12 Years Old is a complex and rewarding dram that combines Scottish barley, crystal clear water from the Laggan River, rich Islay peat (which both flavors the water and fires the distillery’s kilns) and a 12-year maturation in Bowmore’s legendary No. 1 Vaults.

Bowmore 12YO Neat

NOSE Honey, toffee, lemon

TONGUE A balance of honey, lemon, Islay peat

Bowmore 12 YO With Water

NOSE Fresh citrus and sea-salt, vanilla, almond and orange

TONGUE Peach, pineapple, lemon cream, brine, anise and hints of mint

NOTES:

Bowmore
The best-balanced Islay Single Malt whisky is the perfect reward after your outdoor experience.

Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldest Distillery on Islay, one of the Scottish isles, which make up the region known as the ‘Islands’ in the lexicon of Whisky. The other regions are the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands. Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore is no exception; we carefully smoke our malt and use skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

 Bowmore’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of our Single Malts. We’re one of only a few distilleries anywhere which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery. For our whiskies we draw water from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones, and it’s the same Islay peat that fires the malt-drying kiln.

Bowmore Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of our spirit. The legendary Bowmore No. 1 Vaults is where most of our whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, damp cellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the Vault’s sea-facing wall.

They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavours.

It’s this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore Single Malt Whiskies.

The Bowmore domestic product range:

Bowmore Legend
Bowmore 12 Years Old
Bowmore 15 Years Old ‘Darkest’
Bowmore 18 Years Old
Bowmore 25 Years Old

Islay
Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, and is also known as “The Queen of the Hebrides.” Its mild climate and rich peaty soil make it ideal for creating whisky, anddespite having a population of not much more than 3,000, it’s home to no fewer than eight distilleries.

www.chivasbrothers.com

The Dalmore Launches Valour for Travel Retail

The Dalmore distillery has launched a new expression, The Dalmore Valour, for sale exclusively in travel retail.

The spirit is named after the Clan Mackenzie’s act of bravery in 1263 when an ancestor of the Mackenzie Clan bravely saved King Alexander III from a charging stag. The grateful King granted the Mackenzies with a ‘Royal’ 12-pointer stag in their coat of arms. The Dalmore distillery was long owned by The Mackenzie family and every bottle of The Dalmore single malt whisky is adorned with this proud emblem, symbolising the distillery’s royal pedigree.

A unique blend of three different cask finishes, The Dalmore Valour is matured initially in first fill ex-Bourbon casks from Boston and Clermont, USA and 30 year old Matusalem oloroso sherry butts from Gonzales Byass, Jerez de la Frontera in Spain. The spirit is then finessed in Port Pipes from Duoro Region, Portugal to create a truly unique Dalmore expression.

Launching with a high profile promotional display in Qatar Duty Free in March 2013, The Dalmore Valour and will be rolled out through travel retail outlets over the course of 2013, priced at £50, €55 or $72.

The Dalmore Master Distiller, Richard Paterson

“With a distinctive aroma consisting of scents of ripe plums, creamy caramel and citrus fruits on the nose and a wonderful palate that consists of oranges, pineapple and chocolate fudge, Valour is truly an exceptional malt.

Named in honour of the Dalmore’s Mackenzie heritage, travel retail shoppers will be the first and only people to savour this latest Dalmore legend”

Travel Retail Director, Francesco Scaglione

“The Dalmore brand has had a stellar year in travel retail and we are proud to say that it is now the fastest growing malt in the channel*. This year, we will build on that momentum and continue to work closely with our partners to create innovative products and displays – the first of which is our new Dalmore Valour exclusive.”
*IWSR 2011

Tasting Notes:
• Aroma: Ripe plums, citrus fruits and creamy caramel
• Palate: Candied orange, pineapple and chocolate fudge
• Finish: Black forest fruits, coconut, figs and marzipan

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.  Crafted using a process which has been perfected over the last 150 years, The Dalmore is now the world’s fastest growing single malt. (IWSR, 2012).  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.

www.thedalmore.com

New venture opens-up whisky as tangible alternative asset class

Liquid gold an alternative to solid gold?

A FORMER Master Distiller has launched a new company in the UK that invests and trades in rare and premium whisky. The Whisky Trading Company, founded late last year and now being opened-up to wider investors, aims to deliver returns in excess of 15 percent per annum.

The company has identified 3,000 bottles as part of its initial investment (some distilled before World War II) and £450,000 has already been raised to secure options on this initial stock. The investment opportunity is now being widened as it seeks to raise an additional £2-4 million to capitalise on market opportunities.

The new venture has been set up as an Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) in the UK, delivering additional tax benefits for early investors.

Investing in the top 10 performing whiskies from the beginning of 2008 to the end of 2012 would have seen returns of 508 percent; the top 100 returned 306 percent, the top 250 returned 225 percent; and the top 1,000 saw a return of 123 percent, as per data from UK auctions (Whisky Highland).

With a huge market already well-established in fine wine investment, whisky as an alternative investment market is dynamically growing both at home and abroad. Whisky auction houses in the UK alone saw 14,000 bottles sold in 2012, a huge jump from just 2,000 in 2008. By 2020, this number is estimated to grow by 114 percent to 30,000 bottles. Globally 2012 saw around 75,000 bottles auctioned valued at £11 million, and this is expected to double in volume to 150,000 bottles in 2020 with values trebling to £33 million, suggesting the trend towards premiumisation will continue.

The Whisky Trading Company was founded in October 2012 by David Robertson, formerly Rare Whisky Director at The Dalmore and prior to this Master Distiller at The Macallan, who has over 20 years in the whisky industry, and Lindon Neil, a former investment banker at RBS and Wachovia Bank. David previously secured the sale of the world’s first £100,000 bottle, a 64-year old Dalmore Trinitas, in 2010.

Commenting on the launch of The Whisky Trading Company, David Robertson said: “There is a finite stock of premium whisky and a growing demand. Every bottle sold and taken out of circulation decreases the stock available and raises the value of the remainder. We want to capitalise on this, whilst also providing investors an attractive investment proposition given the EIS structure.

“The important point to remember about whisky as an alternative asset class is that unlike wine the product doesn’t have a cellaring period and will never perish and turn to vinegar. It is a far more stable liquid investment as a result. And the volume of premium bottles being traded continues to grow significantly year-on-year, with more than 17,000 expected through 2013.

“We want to capitalise on that and deliver significant returns to investors.”

Notes:

• EIS: The Whisky Trading Company qualifies under EIS rules in order to deliver tax benefits for investors based in the United Kingdom, depending on their circumstances. The main benefits are:
  • Income tax relief of 30 percent of the subscription (£1m cap per investor);
  • The ability to carry back the income tax relief to 2011/2012 for tax relief at 30 percent (£500k investment cap per investor);
  • Unlimited capital gains tax deferral relief;
  • Capital gains tax exemption on disposal of the shares; and
  • Unlimited 100 percent IHT relief after two years.
• Investment in alternative assets is becoming increasingly popular. An increasing number of investors are putting some of their wealth into more tangible assets such as fine wine, art, classic cars, coins, jewellery, stamps, watches and now whisky, which diversifies their portfolio. They are deemed to be investments that are less correlated with macroeconomic shocks, the performance of the macro economy and the volatility of the stock market.
• Global socio-economic trends have led to an increase in the demand for luxury goods, which includes premium whisky around the world in both mature and emerging markets.
• The most valuable whisky ever sold at UK retail was 64-year old The Dalmore Trinitas, which fetched £120,000 in Harrods in 2010.
• The most valuable globally was a 62-year-old The Dalmore Sinclair, sold at Changi Airport, Singapore, which sold for £135,000 in 2011. (First sold in 2002 for £25,000 at auction, a second bottle was acquired and drunk at Penny Hill Park Hotel in April 2005 for £32,000 and the final bottle was then placed with Changi airport in 2011.)
• The value of rare and collectable whisky depends on reputation of distillery and the quality of the whisky itself. The most sought after whiskies usually originate from a number of places: extinct distilleries, classed as “silent stills” e.g. Brora, Port Ellen, Rosebank; older aged vintage bottles; certain brands – particularly iconic brands such as The Macallan, The Dalmore, Balvenie and Glenfiddich, and, in particular, limited edition varieties – for example, Macallan released 2,012 bottles to celebrate Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee and The Dalmore have recently released their Constellation Collection – and, finally, having a bottle in its original packaging – a liquid time capsule!
• All auction figures and statistics in this press release are attributable to Whisky Highland.

About The Whisky Trading Company

The Whisky Trading Company is a specialist rare whisky merchant established in London and Edinburgh in 2012. It offers a unique opportunity for UK taxpayers to participate in the returns attainable from the rare whisky market by investing in a start-up supported by the benefits of the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS), a government-sponsored initiative to encourage investment in UK enterprise.

The company buys and trades only the rarest and super premium of whiskies and aims to deliver returns in excess of 15 percent per annum to its investors and shareholders. As with fine wine, there is finite supply and growing demand for rare whisky, with every bottle sold and consumed increasing the scarcity and this value of remaining stock. These market conditions coupled with our expertise in the industry deliver a strong investment opportunity for investors seeking to diversify their funds into alternative assets.

The company was set up and is managed by whisky expert David Robertson, who has over 20 years’ experience in the whisky industry including as Master Distiller at The Macallan. He also created and sold the world’s first £100,000 bottle of whisky, a 64-year-old Dalmore Trinitas. 

The Whisky Barrel Expands Burns Malt® Whisky Range

Online whisky shop The Whisky Barrel today releases six new single casks bottlings of the retailer’s exclusive Burns Malt® series of single malt Scotch whiskies.

The new batch of casks includes single malts distilled at Bunnhabhain, Braes of Glenlivet, Dailuaine, Longmorn and Springbank Scotch distilleries plus the demolished Speyside Caperdonich distillery.

These new bottlings can be purchased on The Whisky Barrel web site:-

Bunnahabhain 23 Year Old Burns Malt / 48.2%
£47.85 GBP ($60 USD) £37.88 ex VAT.

Braes of Glenlivet 23 Year Old Burns Malt / 44.2%
£50.26 GBP ($62 USD) £41.88 ex VAT.

Dailuaine 20 Year Old Burns Malt / 54.1%
£51.69 GBP ($64 USD) £43.08 ex VAT.

Caperdonich 17 Year Old Burns Malt / 55.0%
£54.25 GBP ($67 USD) £45.21 ex VAT.

Longmorn 20 Year Old Burns Malt / 55.5%
£55.30 GBP ($68 USD) £46.08 ex VAT.

Springbank 14 Year Old Burns Malt / 54.3%
£61.30 GBP ($76 USD) £51.08 ex VAT.

The Whisky Barrel is a specialist online Scotch whisky merchant shipping fine and rare single malts and blends to consumers worldwide directly from Scotland.

http://www.thewhiskybarrel.com

The Whisky Barrel www.thewhiskybarrel.com @WhiskyBarrel E: info@thewhiskybarrel.com T: +44 (0)845 2248 156

NOTES

Q) What is the product(s) called?
A1) Bunnahabhain 23 Year Old Burns Malt

A2) Braes of Glenlivet 23 Year Old Burns Malt

A3) Dailuaine 20 Year Old Burns Malt

A4) Caperdonich 17 Year Old Burns Malt

A5) Longmorn 20 Year Old Burns Malt

A6) Springbank 14 Year Old Burns Malt

Q) When will this product be released/was it released?
A) 13th March 2013

Q) Where is it available?
A) Scotland, off-trade, TheWhiskyBarrel.com
Q) Is this product already available in other markets?
A) Scotland only, TheWhiskyBarrel.com ships worldwide.

Q) How much is it?
A) £47.85 – £61.30 GBP, outlined above

Q) Who handles the product’s distribution?
A) In-house at TheWhiskyBarrel.com

Q) What is the ABV of this product?
A) ABV natural cask strength, outlined above

Q) Why has this product been launched?
A) Third release of the Burns Malt series of Scotch whiskies.

GLOBAL SENSATION ‘OF MONSTERS AND MEN’ SET TO ROCK BUSHMILLS LIVE 2013 – ONLY INDIE MUSIC FESTIVAL IN AN IRISH WHISKEY DISTILLERY 

Bushmills Village: March 2013: The Old Bushmills Distillery today announced that it will throw open its doors to play host to world class headline acts and emerging indie talent at ‘Bushmills Live’ – a unique two-day festival celebrating handcrafted whiskey and music.

Bushmills Live will take place on Ireland’s stunning North Coast on 19th and 20th June 2013 and is the only indie music festival in an Irish Whiskey distillery.

Internationally acclaimed indie folk band, Of Monsters and Men will headline the two day festival – their first ever gig in Northern Ireland.

The Icelandic five-piece are currently enjoying enormous worldwide success having just won the 2013 European Border Breakers Award*, which honours the best new European music acts. Of Monsters and Men have been dubbed the ‘must see act’ of the year and this summer marks the beginning of a busy festival schedule for the group which will include a performance at one of the biggest international festivals, Coachella in California – making their intimate appearance at Bushmills Live unlike any other that fans will experience this year.

Only 500 tickets are available globally for Bushmills Live, which will see both iconic and emerging artists share the stage for a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings at the historic Old Bushmills Distillery, where the art of distilling has been perfected over generations.

The ‘money can’t buy tickets’ will not go on general release. Instead, music and whiskey fans can win the chance to attend the festival by entering a draw on the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Facebook page – facebook.com/bushmills1608.  Entries to the draw will open this Sunday, on St Patrick’s Day at 16:08 GMT.

Ragnar Þórhallsson, singer with Of Monsters and Men, said: “Playing a show in such a unique location, around the centuries-old warehouses and whiskey barrels, to such an intimate audience, is an experience we are very excited about.  It’s going to make our first gig in Northern Ireland a memorable one, and not just for us, for the fans too, we hope!”

Of Monsters and Men are in good company. They join a list of fellow indie rockers such as the iconic Snow Patrol, singer-songwriters Foy Vance and Iain Archer, Elijah Wood, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Marcus Foster, The Staves, General Fiasco and David C Clements who all played electrifying performances at Bushmills Live last year.

Bushmills Live can also be credited with providing a great platform for up-and-coming music acts to launch their careers. The Staves have gone on to support Bon Iver on his global tour while Foy Vance has had continued success and is set to support Ed Sheeran on the European and US legs of his 2013 tour.

Speaking at the launch of this year’s event Master Blender at The Old Bushmills Distillery, Helen Mulholland, promised fans that they can expect to enjoy “great music between great friends.”

“Whiskey and music have always gone well together”, added Helen Mulholland. “And at Bushmills Live we like to make both by hand, bringing this fusion of handcrafted whiskey and handcrafted music together against the backdrop of our beautiful distillery with performances from artists who are friends – which makes for a cracking atmosphere!”

“It goes without saying that we’re looking forward to extending a warm Bushmills welcome to our new friends, Of Monsters and Men, and to emerging artists who we’re proud to support by creating a music platform that allows fans to discover new and upcoming talent.

“I can’t wait to reveal the rest of the line up in the coming weeks. We’re of course just as excited to open our doors to whiskey and music fans the world over who want to attend Bushmills Live, so get your entry in and good luck!” 

NOTES 

Bushmills Irish Whiskey Facebook: facebook.com/bushmills1608

Bushmills Irish Whiskey Twitter: @BushmillsGlobal

Twitter Hashtag: #BushmillsLive 

OF MONSTERS AND MEN BIOGRAPHY

Of Monsters and Men is an amiable group from Iceland whose debut album “My Head Is An Animal” is a collection of infectious folkie pop songs. With the group’s single “Little Talks”, the band (consisting of Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Ragnar Þórhallsson, Brynjar Leifsson, Arnar Rósenkranz Hilmarsson, Kristján Páll Kristjánsson) has become a breakout act all around the world.

After a breakout year, “My Head Is An Animal,” the band’s debut album, was officially certified platinum worldwide. Surpassing 1 million sales, the record remains a clarion call for the band’s invigorating style. The band capped off the year with “Little Talks” selling over 3.5 million singles worldwide, the album reaching Platinum status in Canada and Ireland, as well as Gold in multiple countries including Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States.

In 2013, Of Monsters and Men will embark on a world tour including stops in Japan, Australia, South America, UK, Europe, and heading back to North America this summer.

*More information on the European Border Breakers Awards: http://www.europeanborderbreakersawards.eu/eng

ABOUT THE COMPETITION:

To win tickets to ‘Bushmills Live’ or to find out more, visit facebook.com/bushmills1608. Entry opens at 16:08 GMT on 17th March 2013 and closes at 23:59 GMT on 5th May 2013. Winners will be notified by 9th May. Terms and conditions apply.

The Facebook competition is open to people of at least 18 years, in:

• Great Britain
• Republic of Ireland
• Northern Ireland
• Germany
• Portugal
• Russia
• USA
• Canada
• Czech Republic
• Latvia

From each, one pair of finalists will win tickets to ‘Bushmills Live’.

ABOUT BUSHMILLS IRISH WHISKEY

With a heritage rooted in authenticity and quality, Bushmills Irish Whiskey is produced, aged and bottled at Ireland’s oldest working distillery in the village of Bushmills in County Antrim on the far north coast of Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery uses 100% malt barley to make triple distilled malt whiskey, which is what creates the rich, mellow and distinct flavour that is the house style. The Bushmills portfolio includes: Bushmills Irish Whiskey; Black Bush, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 1608 and now Bushmills Irish Honey. 

ABOUT DIAGEO
Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker Guinness, Smirnoff, J&B, Baileys, Cuervo, Tanqueray, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Beaulieu Vineyard and Sterling Vineyards Wines.

Diageo is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.