Royal Salute Launch Exclusive Norton & Sons Polo Jacket

Luxury Scotch whisky brand Royal Salute has launched a bespoke suit jacket, designed and crafted by Savile Row tailor, Patrick Grant of Norton & Sons. Royal Salute has partnered exclusively with the British tailor to create the jackets, which will be presented in recognition of achievement in the world of polo.

The first jacket was presented by World No.1 polo player and Royal Salute ambassador, Facundo Pieres, to High Goal Patron, Adrian Kirby. In future, recipients will also have the honour of being presented the jacket by Royal Salute ambassador, His Grace Torquhil Ian Campbell, the 13th Duke of Argyll.

As a tailor to British nobility and leaders for almost two centuries, including King Edward VII and Winston Churchill, Norton & Sons’ heritage is formidable. This history combined with the brands exquisite sense of style has created a jacket which will become an icon throughout the Royal Salute World polo series.

Facundo Pieres, Royal Salute World Polo Ambassador, commented: “Royal Salute has shown their full support and commitment to polo over the years; I am honoured to represent the Royal Salute World Polo programme globally and to be part of this fantastic journey. Polo is my life and has been in my family for decades and I hope to share this passion with the world. I am delighted to have been gifted this exclusive item in celebration of the ‘King’s of Polo’, which I will wear with pride.”

The collaboration celebrates the ‘Sport of Kings’ and encapsulates the very essence of polo, bringing to life the craftsmanship and heritage of the sport. The Royal Salute Norton & Sons polo jacket defines the ‘Kings of Polo, Today’ and encompasses true luxury away from the field of play.

Neil Macdonald, Global Brand Director for Royal Salute, commented: “Patrick Grant of Norton & Sons is the perfect counterpart for Royal Salute as he brings to life the craftsmanship and bespoke quality which reflects the ‘Sport of Kings’ off the field. Patrick is a highly respected tailor on Savile Row and with his attention to detail and clever design, this jacket will become iconic at Royal Salute polo gatherings.”

Royal Salute’s commitment to international polo is ever growing, with sponsorships of some of the world’s most prestigious polo events across America, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East.

Notes 

About Norton & Sons
Norton & Sons was established in 1821 by Walter Norton as tailors to the Gentlemen of the City of London. Originally located on the Strand, his business flourished and in 1859 then Guv’nor George James Norton was granted the Freedom of the City of London in recognition of his services to tailoring. In the 1860’s Norton & Sons moved to Savile Row to join the ranks of tailors in what was to become the home of bespoke clothing.

Norton & Sons continued to thrive in the 20th century and in the latter half incorporated the celebrated Savile Row houses Hammond & Co, J. Hoare & Co, E. Tautz & Sons and Todhouse Reynard & Co. We are proud to have been tailors to the royal households of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Prussia, Spain, Portugal and the United Kingdom, and to three US Presidents.

The firm gained eminence as a sporting tailor, making sharply cut garments for rugged and robust outdoorsmen. Men such as King Edward VII, Wilfred Thesiger and the young Winston Churchill, for whom we made everything from dinner suits to racing silks.

About Royal Salute
Royal Salute begins where other whiskies end, as only the most precious whiskies aged for at least 21 years are used to create the masterful and sophisticated blend.

Royal Salute represents the pinnacle of Scotch whisky, with a range that starts with Royal Salute 21 Year Old, and includes Royal Salute 38 Year old and Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute – the world’s oldest permanent whisky expression.

Originally crafted in 1953 by Chivas Brothers to mark the coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Royal Salute continues to celebrate inspiring and noble leadership today through its committed support of international polo.

About Royal Salute World Polo
Royal Salute is a leading international supporter of polo, ‘the king of sports and the sport of kings’. Royal Salute World Polo is truly international with a presence in every major region globally:

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

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

Ballantine’s 12 Takes Customers Beyond with the Story of Serve

Ballantine’s, the No. 1 Scotch whisky in Europe, is aiming to increase awareness of Ballantine’s 12 with The Story of Serve; an interactive online film experience. Exploring the Ballantine’s 12 Serving Ritual – a beautiful crystal decanter created by award winning designer Lee Broom – the film encourages and rewards sharing with friends via social media.

The experience is described as “a YouTube puzzle that takes you beyond”. The puzzle appears as one film, split into nine YouTube players, which have to be rearranged in the right order for the film to play. Once the puzzle has been solved, customers will discover The Story of Serve; taking them beyond the usual expectations of the way that whisky can be drunk. At the end of the film, viewers can enter a draw to win one of these exclusive decanters – which splits into three sections to hold whisky, ice and water or a cocktail combination – by sharing the experience through Twitter or via email.

Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s comments: “Our customers are spending more time online than ever before, so we have created a range of innovative activities to pique their interest, whilst also raising awareness of Ballantine’s 12. Partnering with the brilliant designer Lee Broom in creating this unique decanter highlights the credentials of Ballantine’s 12 as a contemporary whisky, taking customers beyond the usual conventions.”

The Story of Serve will be available in both English and Spanish and is optimised for web and tablet viewing. The initiative will be promoted via Ballantines.com, Facebook and selected whisky blogs. Users across the world will be able to take part in the puzzle, with customers from a wide range of countries able to participate in the competition. The competition is open now and will run until 1st July 2013.

The Story of Serve follows a range of innovative digital activities from Ballantine’s, including the award-winning* app “Loud Blue” and the Ballantine’s 12 Taste app, which saw the creation of a new typeface inspired by the core flavours of the expression.

To explore Ballantine’s 12 ‘Story of Serve’ visit http://serve.ballantines.com

Notes:

*Ballantine’s Loud Blue won The FWA Mobile Award of the Day in January 2013

Countries featuring “The Story of Serve” include Brazil, Chile, Spain, Mexico, Japan, Venezuela, Argentina, Italy, UK, Bulgaria and Poland.

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

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.

For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com

PREMIUM CANADIAN WHISKIES FROM SAZERAC

MAKE GREAT FATHER’S DAY GIFTS

Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian Small Batch Make Great Gifts for any Budget

NEW ORLEANS, lA. (May, 2013) – Forget the tie – this year give dad what he really wants – whisky!  Two premium Canadian whiskies from The Sazerac Company are sure to make dad’s eyes light up upon opening – Caribou Crossing, the world’s first single barrel Canadian whisky, and Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian whisky.

“The premium and super premium Canadian whisky category continues to show strong growth, as consumers are re-discovering this category and realizing there are some strong players in it who have upped the ante when it comes to quality,” said Kevin Richards, Canadian whisky marketing director.

“The smooth, easy taste of Canadian whisky makes it easy to sip neat or with your favorite mixer.  With the addition of single barrel and small batch whiskies likes Caribou Crossing and Royal Canadian, more and more consumers are taking a second look at the Canadian whisky offerings and becoming interested again,” adds Richards.

Critics seem to agree with this, as both brands have won a myriad of awards since introduction, most recently at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, where Caribou Crossing won its second straight Chairman’s Trophy and a “93” rating, and Royal Canadian Small Batch was given a “very good, strong recommendation” by the judges.

The 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition also produced some medals, with both brands winning silver medals at the highly competitive tasting.

Other accolades for the brands include:

Caribou Crossing: “93” rating from John Hansell at Whisky Advocate; “2010 Canadian Whisky of the Year” by canadianwhisky.org; Double gold medal at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; a gold medal and “90” rating from Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute); a gold medal and “90” rating at the 2010 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; a silver medal and best in class at the 2010 International Wine and Spirits Competition; and a bronze medal at the 2010 Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Tasting notes for Caribou Crossing describe it as “primarily vanilla, with some crème brulee, toasted marshmallow, tangerine, peaches and cream, and gentle rye spice…” (John Hansell, Whisky Advocate.)

Royal Canadian Small Batch has its own set of hardware.  In the 2012 Ultimate Spirits Challenge the brand achieved a “90” rating; a gold medal and “90” rating from Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute); a “90” rating from Wine Enthusiast; a silver medal in the 2011 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; and a bronze medal at the 2011 World Spirits Competition.

Royal Canadian Small Batch has been described as “sweet and smoky like a Memphis BBQ. The initial sip is velvety smooth with huge flavors. There is a nutty praline sweetness that slides through the creamy rich sensations. The finish is a bold reminder that this is whisky and the citrus-spicy conclusion just leaves you with the desire for the next notable sip.”

Both brands were created by native Canadian Drew Mayville, Sazerac’s master blender.   Mayville himself hand-selects the barrel used for Caribou Crossing, choosing the most mature and flavor-rich samples available and overseeing the bottling of each individual barrel. The Royal Canadian Small Batch undergoes a similar stringent selection process under Mayville’s watchful eye.  The barrels themselves are from Sazerac’s 300,000 plus Canadian whisky barrel inventory.

The two Canadian whiskies make ideal gifts for Father’s Day, and are at price points for discriminating budgets. The Caribou Crossing retails for $49.99 for a 750 ml and the Royal Canadian Small Batch is $19.99 for a 750 ml.

The Caribou Crossing is also already wrapped in an elegant gift box, making it an even easier choice than a necktie.

About The Sazerac Company

Sazerac is one of New Orleans’ oldest family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California, Baltimore, Maryland and Montreal, Canada. For more information, please visit www.sazerac.com.

NEW English Whisky Coronation 60th Anniversary

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

Limited Stock Available
PURCHASE NOW – £64.99

THE WHISKY SHOP TOASTS DESIGN AWARD

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

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

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

Located across from world famous London landmark The Ritz Hotel, The Whisky Shop was designed to be luxurious, accessible and educational to both whisky novices and connoisseurs, leading them on a whisky journey of discovery and celebrating the heritage and craftsmanship of the product.

The Whisky Shop is the first retail store in the UK to provide a dedicated platform for some of the world’s most exclusive whiskies.  The Piccadilly store is widely regarded by the industry as the leading specialist whisky retailer in the world.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NOTES

The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends. The Visitor Centre, which hosts 20,000 visitors per annum, received a £150,000 upgrade in 2011 which resulted in an upgraded star rating to 4* from Visit Scotland.

Website: www.tomatin.com

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

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

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

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

About TripAdvisor

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

Canadian Whisky Eh?

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

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

THE VIDEO

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

History made as a second Northern Irish distillery starts operations

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Notes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What is the Centenary Quaich?

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

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

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Glenmorangie celebrates Everest world first

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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NOTES:

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

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

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

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

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