Cloud hosting from iomart lifts World Whisky Day spirits

Global whisky event toasts website support from UK cloud company

UK cloud services company iomart Group plc (AIM:IOM) has come to the rescue of World Whisky Day after the website set up to celebrate Scotland’s most famous export crashed on launch day last year.

iomart has placed the World Whisky Day website on its Cloudsure platform to ensure that it enjoys 100 per cent uptime and can be accessed through all time zones for this year’s event which takes place on Saturday May 18.

Aberdeen University student Blair Bowman set up World Whisky Day after realising there was no designated day to celebrate the iconic spirit. He set up a website and asked people to post their events and messages but it crashed under the weight of interest from supporters across the globe.

Blair Bowman explained: “When I rang up the hosting company we were using in California they couldn’t even find my details. They said it would take 48 hours to fix and I said it can’t because it’s World Whisky Day today! I ended up manually inputting hundreds of events myself. Thankfully iomart have come to the rescue so the website won’t crash again. ”

Phil Worms, marketing director for iomart, added: “Blair got a fantastic response to his launch of World Whisky day last year, it was even trending worldwide on social media, but he wasn’t able to capitalise on this because the website was on a server that couldn’t take the spike in traffic and the hosting company’s support staff weren’t responsive enough. We’ve put the website on our Cloudsure platform so that it has the scalable and reliable hosting plus round-the-clock technical support to ensure that this year’s event is the toast of the world whisky community.”

iomart Group provides secure and bespoke cloud and manage hosting through seven fully owned and managed UK data centres connected via a high speed fibre network.

About iomart Group  

iomart Group plc is one of the UK’s leading providers of cloud and managed hosting services. By owning and managing its own infrastructure and fibre network, iomart offers world-beating levels of service to its customers. iomart Group operates through subsidiaries: iomart Hosting, Melbourne Server Hosting, RapidSwitch, Easyspace and iomartcloud. www.iomart.com

Famed Islay Distillery Names Latest Whisky “Ardbog” 

— World leading single malt celebrates peaty roots with new expression — 

— Launch to take place at Islay Festival on “Ardbog Day” – 1 June 2013 – where activities will include bog welly tossing, peat-tasting and organoleptic orienteering tasting —

The famed peat bogs of the Hebridean island of Islay are set to be celebrated after it was announced Ardbeg, the Ultimate Islay Malt, has named its new whisky…Ardbog.

Ardbog follows the highly acclaimed 2012 Limited Edition Ardbeg Galileo, which scooped the ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whisky Awards 2013.

Ardbeg – the world’s peatiest whisky* and four-time winner of World’s Best Whisky awards– will launch the single malt on 1 June, named “Ardbog Day” this year in a nod to Ardbeg’s latest release.

Ardbog Day is set to take place at Ardbeg’s distillery on the south coast of Islay. And Ardbeg is calling on its 85,000 fans from 130 countries worldwide to visit Scotland and compete in such eclectic events as bog welly tossing, peat-tasting and even organoleptic orienteering tasting.

The Islay Festival of Malt and Music (the Feis Ile) – of which Ardbog Day marks the culmination – runs from 26 May to 1 June 2013. It has become a key date in the calendar of malt whisky aficionados around the world, with thousands of them making the trip to the Island of Islay annually.

The Ardbeg Distillery is also organising ‘Ardbog Day’ parties around the world for those who cannot make the annual pilgrimage to Islay and their favourite distillery, with gatherings taking place from San Francisco to Sydney to the centre of London.

Distillery Manager Michael Heads said: “Every year we welcome hundreds of Ardbeg fans from all over the world to the distillery to have a lot of fun, and we’re hoping this year will be no different.

“Bog welly tossing we’ve done before, but organoleptic orienteering tasting – where participants use their navigational skills to find the manager and his team at each control point and savour some extraordinary drams – now that should be interesting!”

The Limited Edition Ardbog will be launched at Ardbog Day. It is bottled at 52.1% ABV and will be available from www.ardbeg.com.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distillation and Whisky Creation, explains: “The overall combination of effects in Ardbog truly conjures up the impression of ancient, primeval, salty peat bogs, but reassuringly this is combined with some classic, intense Ardbeg notes of leather, toffee and smoke.

“As with all Ardbeg it is about getting the balance of many flavours right so others such as mocha coffee, cloves and even anchovies play their part!”

Ardbog is matured for ten years in traditional American oak ex-bourbon barrels and rare ex-Spanish Manzanilla sherry butts. This gives Ardbog a distinctively salty texture accentuating the salty, briny flavours already prevalent in the whisky.

Dr Bill Lumsden continues: “Every year we try to come up with something interesting and enticing for our Ardbeg fans, and we have for years laid down a range of experiments which may or may not see the light of day!

“Ardbog is one such experiment in that it combines two different styles of maturation to create a new flavour experience.

“At its heart our hallmark smoky yet fruity and floral spirit has been matured in Spanish ex-Manzanilla sherry casks for ten years, which has then been wrapped with traditional Ardbeg of the same age that is matured in American ex-bourbon oak casks. The Manzanilla maturation weaves salty flavours through the whisky which is then balanced with the maple syrup creaminess of the first-fill ex-bourbon casks.”

“This dichotomy of savoury and sweet flavours underlines Ardbeg’s status as the most complex of all the Islay Malts.”

In recent years Ardbeg has spread the word about its annual celebration through its worldwide fan club, the Ardbeg Committee, which today numbers over 85,000 members in 130 countries. To sign up to become a Committee member, log on to www.ardbeg.com 

Notes:

Ardbog and Ardbog Day

Ardbog is non chill-filtered for extra texture and mouth feel.

Ardbog Day will be celebrated at the distillery on Saturday 1 June 2013 and at participating Ardbeg Embassies around the world. For full details go to www.ardbeg.com

Ardbog Taste Notes

Aroma

Deep, enticing waves of pecan nuts, salty toffee & caramels combine with fudge, leather and with a distinct whiff of herbs, lavender and violets. The smoke is soft and aromatic, and is interwoven with salty, savoury notes, such as Iberico ham and olives.

The addition of water brings forth herbal, perfumed notes, smoked rhubarb, aged balsamic vinegar and some salty, ‘graphite’ notes reminding you of the Manzanilla cask element.

Taste

A full, oily/tingly mouth feel leads into a powerful, salty, savoury burst of flavours including salted cashews and peanuts, clove, aniseed flavoured toffee, green olives and a curious hint of anchovy.

Finish

A long, lingering aftertaste, in which the classic Ardbeg sweetness (like a hint of maple syrup) is kept in check by oak tannins, clove and coffee grounds.

About Ardbeg

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

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

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

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

Peat – de-composed vegetable matter – is the fuel that has long been used on Islay to dry the barley during malting, thus giving a distinctive smoky aroma to the whisky.

*With the phenol level of the peat in Islay-based Ardbeg measured at an average 55-60 parts per million, Ardbeg is by far and away the peatiest malt whisky in Scotland. It manages to balance this smoky intensity with an intriguing sweetness derived from its distillation that makes for a malt of famed complexity.

Ardbeg Embassies

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

Responsible Drinking

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

Inspired by the highly anticipated release of Baz Luhrmann’s adaptation of the F. Scott Fitzgerald classic ‘The Great Gatsby’, Harrods have recreated the lavish entertaining and unmistakable glamour of the Roaring Twenties, with the launch of their Great Gatsby Cocktail Bar. Harrods has transformed their Tasting Room and Wine Shop into an opulent art-deco pop-up experience, inviting customers to revisit the Jazz Age and reinvent some of the classic pours from this glitzy era, including The Macallan Blood and Sand made with Amber from the new 1824 Series.

The luxurious underground cocktail pop-up lounge area can be visited throughout the day (9^th – 20^th May) and theatrical cocktail-making sessions will take place from the main bar of the Harrods Wine Shop.

THE WHISKEYS OF BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY EARN SIX “DOUBLE GOLD” MEDALS AT 2013 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION

New Entry Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Small Match Bourbon

Earns Coveted Double Gold Medal

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky  – The whiskeys from Buffalo Trace Distillery continue to win significant awards with the latest honors from the 13^th annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), held last month. Top winners include Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old Family Reserve Bourbon, named “Best Small Batch Bourbon” and “Best Bourbon.”  Top award winners were:

• Double Gold Medal
• Gold Medal
• Silver Medal

• Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey
• Blanton’s Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
• Col. E. H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey
• Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year Old Bourbon
• William Larue Weller Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

• Eagle Rare Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey
• Elmer T. Lee Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey

• Buffalo Trace Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
• George T. Stagg Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
• Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky
• Royal Canadian Small Batch Canadian Whisky
• Benchmark Old No. 8 Bourbon Whiskey
• Rich & Rare Reserve Canadian Whisky
• Legendre Herbsaint Original Liqueur

“We’re always honored when our whiskeys win an award, especially something as prestigious as the San Francisco World Spirits Competition,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller.  “We’re delighted that one of our newer whiskeys, the E. H. Taylor Small Batch, was a Double Gold Medal winner in its first competition.”

A record number of entries into the SFWSC – more than 1,400 spirits – were evaluated by some of the finest palates in the spirits industry.  Complete results of the 2013 competition can be found at http://sfspiritscomp.com/results/browse.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Malt Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotrace.com.

Our first entry into the San Francisco Spirit Wards was with 2 whiskies, both of which performed exceptionally well.

English Whisky, Classic Single Malt Whisky, 46% (US version) won Silver

English Whisky, Peated Single Malt Whisky, 46% (US version) won Gold and Best in Class

This is amazing and a real tribute to our distillers – Well done David & Steve

Contact our importer: Purple Valley Imports USA, 2013 Whisky Importer of The Year, 1 704 497 2493

TAMDHU RE-LAUNCH CAPTURES THE SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE  

One of Speyside’s founding distilleries, Tamdhu has re-launched (Friday 3 May 2013) with a stunning new 10 year old Speyside Single Malt.

Acquired in June 2011 by Ian Macleod Distillers, leading Scottish independent family owned distiller and bottler, Tamdhu Distillery was established in 1897 by a consortium of pioneering businessmen who embodied the ‘can-dhu’ spirit of their generation.

Inspired by an age of industry and endeavour, the Tamdhu story is one of enlightenment that began, and continues to this day, on the banks of the River Spey.  Now, just as then, Tamdhu is matured in only the finest oak sherry casks with natural Speyside water from the Tamdhu spring.

The new Tamdhu 10 yo has a softness of vanilla and sugared almonds on the nose balanced by fresh oak and cinnamon. Bursting with fruit and spice, which gently yields to toffee, there is a richness of sherry oak on the palate with a gentle hint of peat smoke wisp.

Designed to maximise on-shelf presence, the packaging communicates the brand’s values and provenance with a stylish, textured black, white and gold tube, illustrated monograms and an elegant glass bottle, inspired by the Victorian era.

Commenting on the launch, Leonard Russell, managing director and third generation of the family-owned Ian Macleod Distillers, said:

“Tamdhu has a reputation for producing exceptional quality single malt and we are excited to re-launch Tamdhu today. We are committed to revitalising and growing Tamdhu not only as a brand but from an economic and investment perspective with new jobs created and significant investment in the infrastructure and fabric of the Distillery.

“The re-launch has been in the planning for nearly two years to ensure that our best casks had hit their peak before bottling. With a focus on quality, we have honoured the careful distillation process to create a premium malt Scotch whisky we believe Tamdhu’s founders would be proud of.”

Iain Weir, Ian Macleod Distillers’ Marketing Director, added:

“Tamdhu is a perfect complement to our existing portfolio of brands, delivering a premium Speyside malt and real point of difference for the category.  There has been significant interest from consumers and trade to see what we would do with Tamdhu and the Speyside Whisky Festival is the perfect platform to reintroduce the brand on its home soil.

“We are committed to growing the brand within the UK and internationally, and are confident it will prove popular with whisky enthusiasts and connoisseurs alike.”

Tamdhu 10 yo Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky is available from Waitrose, specialists and independents across the UK from 6 May 2013 with an RRP of £34.99.  It will be distributed globally over the coming months.

In addition, a special commemorative 10 yo bottling, which is matured in 100% first fill sherry casks, has been released by Ian Macleod Distillers. Only 1000 limited edition bottles are available to buy online priced at £100.

The Tamdhu re-launch is being supported by a new dedicated website, social media, advertising and promotional campaign. For more information, please visit www.TAMDHU.com or call Ian Macleod Distillers on 01506 852205.

Devilish Spirit Wins Prestigious Design Award

The Devil’s Punch Bowl whisky has won a top award at the recent World Whiskies Design Awards for its innovative packaging and demonic design.

The whisky from Isle of Arran Distillers, released last year as the first in a trilogy of wicked spirits, came top in the ‘Best Single Malt under £99’ category where it was described by judges as “brooding, dark and conceptualised”.

The story behind the design helped The Devil’s Punch Bowl clinch the top spot as the whisky is named after the glacial hollow Coire na Ciche on Arran, which evokes a very sinister atmosphere and is only accessible by boggy footpaths.

When it was released last year just 6,660 bottles were made, which sold out in record time.

Commenting on the design the judges said: “Excellent piece [of design work] with a great story that has been well executed in the design. Fantastic use of typography too.”

Revealing a demonic obsession, Arran Distillers is set to unveil the Devils Punch Bowl part 2 in June this year.

Euan Mitchell, managing director of the distillery, said: “A lot of hard work goes into producing an exceptional spirit. That same care and attention goes into the design and all other elements of every product.

“So it is satisfying when our products are recognised by the industry and our peers.

“With our next release we’re continuing to push boundaries and challenge the notion of what quality malt whiskies should look like. I believe our distillery is based in the most beautiful part of Scotland, but we don’t rest on our laurels by using images of rolling mountains and bubbling springs – there’s a much more devilish side to Arran than that.”

The second whisky in the Devil’s Punch Bowl trilogy will be released in June 2013 and available in specialist whisky shops and at www.arranwhisky.com.

For more information visit 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 Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2013’ for the Arran 12 Year Old Cask Strength, ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the San Francisco 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 in the World Whiskies Awards for Arran Gold (2007).

THE MACALLAN UNVEILS INNOVATIVE 1824 SERIES

Range inspired by the colourful world of The Macallan

The Macallan, distributed by Maxxium UK, has today unveiled The 1824 Series, a range showcasing two of its greatest strengths; oak sherry casks and natural colour.

Grounded in an unwavering commitment to sourcing the very best oak sherry casks, the most expensive in the industry, The 1824 Series showcases the signature style of The Macallan, embracing the defining elements which have made it one of the world’s truly great single malts.

Bob Dalgarno, The Macallan Whisky Maker, has created four expressions by identifying the natural colour formed during maturation in different casks types to create the character informed by these colours. The expressions are Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby, all names reflecting the actual colour of the whiskies in the range, but also describing naturally occurring mineral and metals.

This innovative approach to whisky making is the first to derive the final character from the natural colours drawn into The Macallan from the oak sherry casks over the years of maturation. It has allowed Bob Dalgarno to assess the broadest range of casks delivering an unrivalled range of natural colours.  The casks chosen for the range deliver a gradation of colour from light to dark, with the wood character defining each expression’s flavour, moving from lighter, lemon citrus to richer, dried fruit notes.   As the whiskies become darker and richer, so the pool of casks able to deliver this character becomes smaller and rarer.

Bob Dalgarno, Whisky Maker, The Macallan, said, “The Macallan world of colour is the true inspiration of the 1824 Series.  Using colour to drive and define a whisky differs dramatically from the conventional age approach, allowing us to explore different casks and take a more flexible approach to our stock.  We have been able to work creatively with the full range of matured stock available, rather than working to a pre-determined character based on age. For me, the key thought in this range is that a great single malt doesn’t need to be 30 years old to taste like a 30 year old.”

By drawing on his broadest range of skills in cask selection, Bob has been unshackled by the need to draw on casks selected first and foremost for their age.  His expert skills ensure consistency through the effective management and selection of the casks which provide the spectrum of natural colour and character essential to The Macallan.

Commenting on this latest innovation, Ken Grier, Director of Malts, Edrington, said “As some 60% of the aroma and flavour of The Macallan derives from the oak maturation casks, this new range is a genuine opportunity to demonstrate the critical role of these exceptional casks and also to challenge perceptions about bottling at arbitrary ages.  Taking colour as the basis for shaping these whiskies, an industry first, is testimony both to the innovative approach to whisky making and to the long experience of our Whisky Maker. This truly is Bob’s work at its very best.”

Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director, Maxxium UK said: “The Macallan 1824 Series is the perfect combination of two of the most influential factors which make this single malt whisky amongst the most distinctive and desirable, namely oak sherry casks and natural colour. It is testament to our great relationship with Edrington that Maxxium UK is the first market to debut this exciting new range.”

The Macallan Gold (RRP £36), The Macallan Amber (RRP £45), The Macallan Sienna (RRP £66) and The Macallan Ruby (RRP £120) will be available at selected whisky retailers.

Notes: The 1824 Series

The Macallan has unveiled The 1824 Series, a range showcasing two of its greatest strengths; oak sherry casks and natural colour.

Bob Dalgarno, The Macallan Whisky Maker, has created four expressions by identifying the natural colour formed during maturation in different casks types to create the character informed by these colours. The expressions are Gold, Amber, Sienna and Ruby, all names reflecting the actual colour of the whiskies in the range, but also describing naturally occurring minerals and metals.

This innovative approach to whisky making is the first to derive the final character from the natural colours drawn into The Macallan from the oak sherry casks over the years of maturation. It has allowed Bob Dalgarno to assess the broadest range of casks delivering an unrivalled range of natural colours.

Bob Dalgarno, Whisky Maker, The Macallan, said, “The Macallan world of colour is the true inspiration of the 1824 Series.  Using colour to drive and define a whisky differs dramatically from the conventional age approach, allowing us to explore different casks and take a more flexible approach to our stock.  We have been able to work creatively with the full range of matured stock available, rather than working to a pre-determined character based on age. For me, the key thought in this range is that a great single malt doesn’t need to be 30 years old to taste like a 30 year old.”

By drawing on his broadest range of skills in cask selection, Bob has been unshackled by the need to draw on casks selected first and foremost for their age.  His expert skills ensure consistency through the effective management and selection of the casks which provide the spectrum of natural colour and character essential to The Macallan.

Tasting notes

Gold – a burnished gold spirit offering a lemon citrus nose, then orange peel and sweetness that softens but doesn’t eliminate the zest. A note of vanilla followed more assertive by dark chocolate – with lingering floral and light oak notes. Citrus and boiled sweets dance on the palate, along with hints of ginger and cinnamon, while soft oak tones reveal toasted apples. The finish is medium sweet, malty and slightly dry.  

Amber – a floral, citrus sweet nose gains presence, commanding a chorus of sweet vanilla notes over freshly harvested grain. Raisin, sultana and cinnamon look on as toffee apples and candy floss step into the limelight. On the palate, fresh green apples and lemons mingle with cinnamon. Ginger notes hover as fruit takes over, with subtle oak lingering. The finale is light to medium, with soft fruits and cereal, slightly dry. 

Sienna – a warm opening with a subtle vanilla nose, persistent yet not overpowering. Orange arrives, turning zesty and sharp, though tempering green apples add freshness and balance. Next comes white chocolate truffles, chewy and sumptuous, with elegant oak notes. Dates, figs and raisins lead the palate then make way for nutmeg and ginger with a splash of oranges and apples, before vanilla returns. The final fanfare is gentle, smooth and warming. 

Ruby – Spanish Oak piques the nose before reluctantly admitting rich, dried fruits and an edgy trickle of treacle. A hesitant sweetness enters, then oak returns, burnished and mature. On the palate a rush of ginger, nutmeg and resin herald orange, sultana and raisin with their restrained but pervasive sweetness. Clove is here and gone, leaving oak the undisputed maestro. The finish of this ruby-red spirit is long, lingering and reflective.

Values for Rare Whisky Continue to Climb

In spite of a significant increase in the volume of rare whisky traded during 2012, values are still rising according to figures published today by whisky investment experts Whisky Highland.

Last year saw a record number of full sealed bottles of single malt Scotch whisky sold in the UK on the open market. In 2011 there were 8,696 bottles sold, this increased by 62.7% in 2012 to 14,150. Early 2013 figures suggest this rapid growth in the market is continuing. Quarter one 2013 saw 3,789 bottles sold which represents a 34.5% increase on quarter one 2012’s 2,818.

Whisky Highland’s founder Andy Simpson commented “With this rapid increase in supply we would have expected to see a stabilisation or even a slight decline in overall values. Quite the opposite has happened, with rare and old bottles of whisky continuing to outperform many other alternative asset classes”.

The top 1,000 performing bottles of Investment Grade Scotch (the Whisky Highland IGS1000 Index) increased by 23.27% over the course of 2012, yielding an overall increase of 123.01% between 2008 and the 31^st of December 2012.

Quarter one 2013 saw a continuation of this bullish market in what is typically the quietest quarter of the year. In quarter one 2012, the IGS1000 increased by 2.68% compared to a 6.05% increase in quarter one 2013.

At the top end of the market, the IGS10 (the top ten performing bottles of Single Malt Scotch) saw a second quarter of declines to the end of 2012, when overall 2008 – 2012 yields moved from 557% to 508%. To a large extent, this decline was reversed in quarter one 2013 when the index increased to 542%. This positive momentum is being led by rare bottles from iconic distilleries. The Whisky Highland Index top 10 brands are:

No. 1 – The Macallan

No. 2 – Port Ellen

No. 3 – The Dalmore

No. 4 – Balvenie

No. 5 – Ardbeg

No. 6 – Brora

No. 7 – Bowmore

No. 8 – Glenury Royal

No. 9 – Highland Park

No. 10 – Glenlivet

Simpson commented “We are still witnessing continued increases in value for the right bottles from the right distilleries. The story is not quite so attractive at the other end of the scale with the worst performing bottles of single malt Scotch continuing to tumble further into red territory.”

The negative index, the IGS(neg)1000, saw a further decrease in value through 2012. The worst performing 1,000 bottles would have yielded an overall loss of 28.65% between 2008 and the 31^st of December 2012 (2008 – 2011 loss was 22.75%). The continuing decline in values for the worst performing bottles seems to have stabilised into early 2013 with quarter 1 figures showing an overall loss (2008 – 2012) of 28.12%.

From an investment perspective the most sought after brand remained The Macallan. Continued increasing demand is pushing prices to new record highs. The 2011 Macallan ‘Royal Marriage’ bottle originally retailed at £150. This bottle now sells for around £900.

Many silent (closed) distilleries are now suffering from exceptionally short supply as existing maturing stock continues to deplete rapidly. The likes of Port Ellen, Brora, Rosebank and Glenury Royal are experiencing unprecedented demand for an ever decreasing pool of both bottles and whisky still in the cask.

The current dynamics of increasing global demand and decreasing stock of suitable investment grade bottles has maintained a very bullish market in the face of an ever more challenging economic climate.

Simpson concluded “These results are very impressive and further cement rare Scotch’s credentials as a viable alternative investment. While it must be borne in mind that whisky values can fall, as has been seen in some areas of the market previously, the current situation remains exceptionally buoyant. I still maintain whisky should be viewed as a long term investment of 10 to 20 years although clearly short/medium term increases are being experienced at the moment.”

Notes:

For more information, visit www.whiskyhighland.co.uk

About Whisky Highland
Andy Simpson launched Whisky Highland in 2010 with the aim of offering a whisky valuation service for whisky collectors and investors. Having tracked every bottle sold at auction over the past eight years, the business now offers the world’s first and only online single malt Scotch whisky ‘Valuation Library‘.

OLD PULTENEY PRESENTS THE ‘LIGHTHOUSE’ SERIES

Old Pulteney is proud to present three new additions to its single malt family, the ‘Lighthouse’ Series. The new whiskies have been developed for the Travel Retail and will be available exclusively from airport duty free stores and other travel retail outlets from August 2013. The three new expressions of the famous Maritime Malt showcase the iconic Old Pulteney coastal style from three different maturation angles. The whiskies are presented in striking packaging and highlight Pulteney Distillery’s maritime heritage by celebrating prominent local lighthouses – Noss Head, Duncansby Head and Pentland Skerries.

Old Pulteney Noss Head

The whisky featuring the distinctive Noss Head lighthouse, located just four miles north of the distillery, was matured wholly in ex-bourbon American oak casks. It’s bottled at 46% ABV, non chillfiltered and presented at its natural light golden colour. The spirit is full-bodied with pronounced notes of lemons, oranges, creamy vanilla, coconut and spices. RRP is £39.99 for 1 litre bottle.

Noss Head

Lattitude 58° 28.788’N

Longitude 003° 03.088’W

4 miles north of Pulteney Distillery

Built in 1849 by Robert Arnot. The name comes the Old Norse word ‘Snos’, a nose, relating to the nose-shaped headland where it is situated.

Old Pulteney Duncansby Head

The Duncansby Head lighthouse located slightly further north graces the packaging holding a classic Old Pulteney matured in a combination of ex-bourbon casks and Spanish ex-sherry casks of the highest quality. The style of the whisky is sweet and full bodied with notes of chocolate, honey and oranges. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV, non chill-filtered and at its natural colour. RRP is £44.99 for 1 litre bottle.

Duncansby Head

Lattitude 58° 38,641’N

Longitude 003° 01.521’W

18 miles north of Pulteney Distillery

Situated near John O’Groats at the very northern tip of Scotland, the lighthouse protects a dangerous part of the Pentland Firth where the Atlantic waters meet the North Sea. Built just after WW1 it is now equipped with a low-power self operating racon. Fully automated since 1997.

Old Pulteney Pentland Skerries

The most premium of the three new releases, Old Pulteney Pentland Skerries celebrates two lighthouse towers of the same name located at the eastern entrance to the Pentland Firth. The whisky was matured wholly in Spanish ex-sherry butts and has a robust, full-bodied style with top notes of raisins, dark chocolate and spices. Similarly to the other two, it’s bottled at 46% ABV, non chill-filtered, and not coloured. The RRP is £54.99 for 1 litre.

Pentland Skerries

Lattitude 58° 41,408’N

Longitude 002° 55,484’W

18.5 miles from Pulteney Distillery (as crow flies)

Developed with input from renowned Scottish engineer Robert Stevenson, the Pentland Skerries lighthouses were built in 1794 on the uninhabited Muckle Skerry island off the far north eastern coast, en route to Orkney. Two towers, 80ft and 60ft high, standing 60ft apart, guard the eastern entrance to the Pentland Firth.

Maritime Malt for the Traveller

Margaret Mary Clarke, Senior Brand Manager for Old Pulteney commented:

‘Old Pulteney’s Lighthouse Series represents a further investment in bringing distinctive, high quality products to the travel retail trade for the enjoyment of travelling consumers. The association with the great lighthouses of Scotland’s north easterly coast brings to life another aspect of Old Pulteney’s maritime heritage.’

The ‘Lighthouse’ Series follows the hugely successful ‘Boat’ Series for Travel Retail, which related to exceptional vessels associated with Wick Harbour. The new ‘Lighthouse’ Series will be showcased for the first time at the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition in Singapore this May.

Notes·

• Old Pulteney’s core range includes Old Pulteney 12 Year Old, Old Pulteney 17 Year Old and Old Pulteney 21 Year Old. Old Pulteney 30 Year Old and a super premium 40 Year Old are also available.·
• Old Pulteney 21 Year Old was named by Jim Murray as the World Whisky of the Year in the 2012 edition of his popular Whisky Bible
• Pulteney Distillery was established by James Henderson in 1826, at the peak of the local herring fishing boom
• The distillery uses one pair of stills, the wash still featuring a very large boil bulb, and condenses spirit with the use of traditional worm tubs