BALLANTINE’S RELEASES UNIQUE BLEND

TO MARK 2013 BALLANTINE’S CHAMPIONSHIP

Ballantine’s, the No.2 ultra-premium and Prestige Scotch whisky range in Asia-Pacific, has unveiled the 2013 Ballantine’s Championship Blend after exclusively bringing together Master Blender Sandy Hyslop and winner of the 2012 Ballantine’s Championship, Bernd Wiesberger, to create the sixth unique expression of the prestigious blend.

The 2013 Championship Blend has been created with a selection of exceptional whiskies, aged for at least 41 years, and is being released to commemorate this year’s tournament which is taking place in Icheon, South Korea from 25 – 28 April 2013.

Just ten individually numbered bottles of this rare limited edition will be produced, with one being gifted to Wiesberger as reigning Ballantine’s Championship winner and collaborator in the creation of this year’s blend.  A bottle will also be reserved for the 2013 champion and another will be auctioned during the tournament for charitable causes.

This exclusive and exceptional blend is presented in a prestigious bottle with a handcrafted and gold finished metal band which bears the individual bottle number alongside the signatures of its two creators, Sandy Hyslop and Bernd Wiesberger. The bottle also features Ballantine’s unique crest carefully etched onto the glass, enhancing the brand’s proud heritage and excellence. The bottle sits in a solid wooden cabinet with a premium leather cover featuring the iconic Ballantine’s ‘B’ and gold coloured metal band. Interior leather panels on each of the cabinet doors, bearing a quote from Hyslop and Wiesberger, and a leather bound booklet complete the luxurious presentation of the 2013 Championship Blend, highlighting Ballantine’s association with golf and the uniqueness of the blend.

Since the inaugural event in 2008, Ballantine’s has established the unique tradition of creating an exclusive Championship Blend each year, created by Master Blender Sandy Hyslop with the reigning Championship winner. Wiesberger becomes only the fourth person in history outside of Ballantine’s expert blending team to be invited to work with a Master Blender in creating a Ballantine’s blend, with previous winners, Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell MBE and Marcus Fraser having been granted the same privilege over the past five years. This year, Sandy Hyslop personally guided Wiesberger through a tasting of extremely rare and high quality grain and malt whiskies to assess which flavours he preferred before carefully blending the golfer’s selection.

Sandy Hyslop comments: “It was a pleasure to introduce Bernd Wiesberger to the art of blending while creating the 2013 Ballantine’s Championship Blend. We’ve created a truly unique blend that reflects Bernd’s own taste and character but is still true to Ballantine’s signature style – soft, sweet, elegant and balanced. I’m delighted with the results and I believe this Championship Blend is a fitting tribute to the shared flair, craftsmanship and excellence of Ballantine’s and professional golf.”

Bernd Wiesberger added: “It has been a privilege and an honour to join Ballantine’s Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop, in creating this special whisky. It will have a place of honour in my home, sitting alongside the Ballantine’s Championship trophy until an occasion so special that I am willing to drink it.”

Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, says: “The Ballantine’s Championship Blend is a unique tradition that celebrates the shared values and heritage of Ballantine’s and golf, so we are thrilled to release this year’s unique expression, one of the rarest and most exclusive whiskies ever produced by our Master Blender, Sandy Hyslop. The synergy between Ballantine’s and golf has never been stronger and we are extremely proud to be associated with one of the most prestigious golf events in Asia, where our sponsorship investment, both at the top of the game and at grass roots level, marks our deepening commitment to world-class golf.”

Ballantine’s association with golf can be traced back to 1960 when the first Ballantine’s Tournament took place at Wentworth Golf Course in the UK. Since Ballantine’s became the title sponsor of the Championship in 2008, many professional golfers have demonstrated their world-class talents at the Ballantine’s Championship and the event has fast become one of Asia’s most prestigious golfing events, with over 45,000 spectators in 2012 and coverage broadcast to 300 million homes worldwide.

Notes

Tasting Notes of Ballantine’s Championship Blend 2013: 

Nose: Wonderful flavours of sweet candy apples, soft fruity pears, rich fruitcake and a hint of dark chocolate and treacle.

Taste: Silky smooth with fruit flavours in abundance. This 2013 edition also has fantastic creamy toffee / fudge flavours complemented perfectly by a delicate nutty, oaky background.

Finish: Perfectly balanced, long and lush

About Ballantine’s:

Ballantine’s is the No 2 ultra-premium Scotch whisky in Asia, No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe 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 Scotch.

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

http://www.chivasbrothers.com/

www.ballantines.com

http://www.ballantineschampionship.com/

THE ENGLISH ARE HERE, THE ENGLISH ARE HERE!

GET READY TO TRY WHISKY FROM ENGLAND

The English are giving back – St. George’s Distillery, the first new Distillery in England in over a century is launching their award winning English Whisky Single Malts the week of April 15th, 2013.

Come meet Andrew Nelstrop, Managing Director of The English Whisky Company (EWC) and enjoy their award winning Single Malt Whiskies. At the 2013 San Francisco Spirits Competition EWC Peated Single Malt was awarded Double Gold and named Best Whisky in the “Other Whisky Category” beating out 22 other world whiskies. EWC Classic Single Malt was awarded a silver medal.

Official launch events will be held on the following dates:

Sunday, April 14th – English Whisky & Cigars – Civil Cigar Lounge 5335 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington DC 20015 7 to 9 pm

Monday, April 15th – Pay Up – Then Drink Up – Jack Rose Dining Saloon – 2007 18th St, NW, Washington, DC 6 to 8 pm.

Tuesday, April 16th – An English Celebration – Dear Bushwick, 41 Wilson Ave, Brooklyn, NY, 11237 6 to 8 pm

Wednesday, April 17th – Growlers Bar, Kitchen & Dining Room – 736 South 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, 7 to 9 pm

Thursday, April 18th – Fountainhead – 1970 W Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL, 7 to 9 pm

Friday, April 19th – Delilah’s 2771 N. Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 9 on.

St. George’s Distillery is the first new distillery in England in over 100 years. Their English Whisky Co. Single Malts are made from 100% locally grown barley and are available in Classic and Peated expressions.

Purple Valley Imports USA is the exclusive US importer of The English Whisky Co and was named 2013 Whisky Magazine’s “Whisky Importer of the Year”.

Ontario’s First Single Malt Whisky

We are on target for the release of Ontario’s first Single Malt Whisky! By the end of April, we will have bottled the first few mature casks, each as a single cask offering in numbered bottles. Some casks will be bottled at cask strength while others will be bottled at a minimum 46% abv. We will never add colouring and we will never chill filter our whiskies.

Some of our first released Single Malt Whisky will be allocated to markets outside of Ontario and, indeed, outside of Canada. We will have a limited number of bottles for sale directly from us at our onsite distillery retail store.
Details on the release, including date, pricing and availability will follow.

Spirit of Toronto

Still Waters Distillery will be pouring our Single Malt Whisky as well as some of our other spirits at this year’s Spirit of Toronto show at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto on May 11, 2013. This is one of the premier consumer whisky shows in Canada and is a great opportunity to learn more about whisky from experts and sample a wide variety of spirits.

Distillery Tours

We love group tours! Contact us to book your tour. Ideal for clubs, corporate events, birthdays, etc.

Visit Us

Our award winning Special 1+11 Blend Canadian whisky, our award winning Single Malt Vodka, our small cask brandy and our selection of new make spirits are always available at our onsite retail store.

We also carry a selection of glassware, flasks, books and other merchandise at the distillery.

World Whiskies Awards

We are delighted that 2 of our expressions won in their categories for Best Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky at the recent World Whiskies Awards. Fighting off competition from other high quality whiskies, Tomatin 12  won the 12 Years and Under category and Tomatin 18 won the 13 to 20 Years category. We are extremely proud of this achievement, highlighting the consistently high quality of spirit produced here at the distillery. www.tomatin.com/news

Belladrum Art Competition

Something a bit different, we are continuing our connection with local music event, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, by calling upon artists, sculptors, makers and designers to create a work of art using ex-Tomatin whisky casks which will be displayed at the festival in August and for years to come. This will generate a lot of exposure for the brand and should have some exciting results! www.tartanheartfestival.co.uk/tomatin.html

THE PERFECT WHISKY MATCH – THE DAVIN PROJECT INVITATION 

Hi and thank you for participating in this next grand adventure!  One of the things I love to do is promote good whisky and for those of you who don’t know me that well I also love to promote whiskies from Canada.  Why?  Well because I have been drinking it most of my adult life, I’m a proud Canadian and I truly feel there are several great Canadian Whiskies on the market that most of the world will never get to try.

Davin de Kergommeaux is a certified Malt Maniac, a writer for several large whisky magazines and as of last year published what I consider the “epitome” of what Canadian Whisky history is.  The book not only debunks many myths and common mistakes but truly enlightens the reader with why Canadian whisky is different and worth drinking. It is not surprising to me that his book has won Bronze for best Spirits Book of 2012 and is shortlisted again for a prestigious American award.  The idea to do a whisky book review/twitter tasting came to Davin and me in February and we quickly started working on accomplishing that goal.  To our surprise and delight, 32 people replied to the invite & I felt bad I had to turn away more than half.  The great part of this particular adventure is that this (we believe) has never been done before.  So thank you, again for taking the plunge and joining us!

For the month of April, please read the first 9 chapters.  Canadian whisky has a very distinct style, not only in the way we make it, but the way it smells and tastes.  You will find so much information in these chapters that will really help you once we start the tastings!  And as of this date, feel free to tweet about the upcoming event, take/post pictures (as some of you have and they’ve been great!)  Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, wherever you want!  All the hype we can create, the better.   The schedule will be as follows on Twitter (HASHTAG – #DavinTT):

Thursday May 2^nd at 5:00pm EST (contact me if you need to know what time this will be in your region) we will discuss chapter 10 – 13.  Feel free to ask Davin any questions, promote discussion amongst the participants, etc.   We will take 30 minutes (no more) to do that.  At 5:30pm, we will open mystery bottle “week 1”, nose/taste, discuss, share our thoughts.  At the end of the hour, we will reveal which of the four distilleries the sample came from and what the whisky was.

Thursday May 9^th at 5:00pm EST, we will discuss chapter 14 – 17.  Follow same format:  Q&A, discussion, etc.. until 5:30, then bottle “week 2”.  At the end of the hour, we will reveal etc.

Thursday May 16^th at 5:00pm EST, chapter 18 – 21.  Same format, and end with whisky “week 3”

Thursday May 23^rd at 5:00pm EST, chapter 22 – 25.  Same format, end with the last mystery sample.  And of course take a few minutes to thank Davin, etc…

For those of you who are bloggers, we encourage you to blog about the book, the experience, the whiskies and/or Davin.  If that’s at all possible before the end of May or first week of June, that would be awesome!   My blog will be up by May 31^st so if anyone has theirs done by then, I’d be happy to add it to mine, etc..   Just let me know.  Let the fun begin!   If you have any questions, feel free to get a hold of me.

CHEERS!

Johanne (@whiskylassie)

Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “Tamdhu was one of the first Speyside distilleries. It was built by a consortium of local entrepreneurs in 1897 on the banks of the River Spey and represents one of the most cutting edge distilleries of its time.

“The Distillery TAMDHU DISTILLERY LAUNCHES A DRAM FINE WHISKY FETE

Saturday 4 May: 12-4pm 

Making an exciting return to the world of Speyside whisky is Tamdhu Distillery, one of the pioneering Speyside distilleries. The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival will play host to the re-launch of this celebrated malt on Saturday 4 May 2013.

This landmark occasion will see the Distillery open its doors for one day only giving whisky enthusiasts a once in a lifetime opportunity to explore the sensational world of Tamdhu. Visitors will also enjoy the spectacular Whisky Fete, featuring an array of the best food and drink Scotland has to offer.

The distillery was mothballed in 2010 and reopened in January 2012 and we have been perfecting the malt since then. We look forward to welcoming festivalgoers to this unique event.”

In celebration of the Distillery’s Victorian roots, the Tamdhu Whisky Fete will guide visitors through the Tamdhu story from its early beginnings up to Tamdhu today. Informative tours and tastings will be led by the Distillery craftsmen throughout the day and visitors will be given a rare opportunity to experience one-off tastings of Single Cask samples.

The Event will also support the official global launch of the Tamdhu Core and Limited Edition Whisky, of which only 1000 bottles will be released in May. Tamdhu visitors will be among the first to taste and purchase these Tamdhu whiskies along-with other Tamdhu collectables.

An array of Scottish seasonal food, drink and entertainment will be on offer including a hog roast, ice cream, Speyside Craft Brewery and live music from Scottish ceilidh band Stravaig and more. There will also be face painting to keep the children entertained.

Tickets are priced at £30.00 and children under the age of 14 go free. Tickets are limited so don’t delay.

To buy tickets visit http://www.spiritofspeyside.com/. More info can be found at tamdhu.com.

Award-winning whisky ‘legend’ praises spirits industry 

WORLD-RENOWNED whisky and spirits expert Dave Broom today dedicated a prestigious award to ‘the wonderful distillers and blenders in the spirits industry’.

He also praised ‘the great bartenders around the world’ when he accepted the International Wine and Spirit Competition’s (IWSC) title Communicator of the Year 2013.

The prestigious title, sponsored by Veronafiere and announced at a gala dinner at the Italian wine and spirits fair Vinitaly, recognises an exceptional contribution to increasing awareness of wine and spirits.

Glasgow-born Broom, said: “It’s a great honour for me to receive this fantastic award.  It’s very humbling, because all I do is ask people in the world of spirits the question: ‘Why?’

“They give me the answers and I just pass on that information to as many folk as possible. The award is as much to the wonderful distillers and blenders within the spirits industry for giving me their time and sharing their expertise. So I’m accepting the award on their behalf and that of all the great bartenders around the world.”

Broom praised the men and women who had transformed spirits from the poor relation of wine to its equal.

He said: “When I started writing about spirits they were regarded as little more than an industrial product not worthy of deep study. Thankfully this has changed and people are now realising the artistry and creativity that goes into crafting a fantastic spirit brand is every bit as great as that required to craft a wonderful wine.”

IWSC judges recognised Broom as ‘one of the most universally accessible communicators’ and praised ‘his ability to reach live audiences around the world in both consumer and trade’.

Broom, who is based in Hove, is the contributing editor of Whisky Magazine and editor in chief of the on-line Whisky Mag Japan. He is a columnist and taster on Whisky Advocate and writes for Mixology (Germany) Drink! (China), Fine Spirits and Ginger (both France) and occasionally for The Spectator as well as many other national and international publications.

His latest book, The World Atlas of Whisky (a companion volume to The World Atlas of Wine) has been hailed as ‘a landmark publication’. Two of his previous books, Drink! and Rum, won the Glenfiddich Award for Drinks Book of the Year.

Broom, who travels the world with his master-classes as well as judging at international whisky awards, joins an impressive list of past winners including Jancis Robinson, Olly Smith, Susy Atkins, Oz Clarke and Tim Atkin.

IWSC’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Anna Grant, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Dave as this year’s Communicator of the Year. Judges were impressed by the breadth of his knowledge and the passion and enthusiasm with which he shares it. ”

It’s the second time in the title’s 18-year history that the award has gone to an expert from the world of spirits, reflecting the worldwide strength of the sector.

Broom was selected from a six-strong list, drawn from the world’s leading wine and spirits experts, including Eric Asimov, the influential wine critic on The New York Times, the Finnish writer, presenter and director, Arto Koskelo, the Swedish lecturer and broadcaster, Jan Petersen and Whyte & Mackay partner, Richard Paterson and the Irish wine journalist Jean Smullen.

PIC CAP: International Wine and Spirit Competition’s Communicator of the Year 2013, whisky and spirits expert Dave Broom.

Notes:

The International Wine and Spirit Competition was founded in 1969 and is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. All entries of wines, spirits and liqueurs are blind tasted in groups divided by variety, region and vintage as necessary. 

Previous winners of the IWSC Communicator of the Year:

1996 Jancis Robinson MW -UK

1997 Anthony Dias Blue -USA

1998 Hugh Johnson -UK

1999 Hubrecht Duijkar – TheNetherlands

2000 Carlo Petrini – Italy

2001 Andrew Jefford – UK

2002 Matthew Jukes – UK

2003 Max Allen – Australia

2004 Susy Atkins – UK

2005 Joe Wadsack -UK

2006 Oz Clarke – UK

2007 Tim Atkin MW – UK

2008 Karen MacNeil – USA

2009 Olly Smith – UK

2010 Susie Barrie MW and Peter Richards MW –UK

2011 Jared Brown and Anistatia Miller – USA

2012 Charlie Arturaola – Uruguay

DEWAR’S® LAUNCHES NEW DEWAR’S HIGHLANDER HONEY 

New Innovation – DEWAR’S Blended Scotch Whisky Infused with Natural Flavors; Perfect for “The Drinking Man”

Coral Gables, Fla., March 27, 2013 – The House of DEWAR’S® has the spirits industry buzzing with the U.S. launch of DEWAR’S Highlander Honey—DEWAR’S Blended Scotch whisky infused with natural flavors.  This unique innovation is crafted by the infusion of hand-selected Scottish honey along with natural flavors into the original DEWAR’S WHITE LABEL® blend, the #1 selling premium Blended Scotch whisky in the United States[1]. DEWAR’S Highlander Honey brings delectable sweetness with a pleasing bite to a new, urban and modern consumer–“The Drinking Man.”

“DEWAR’S Highlander Honey delivers fantastic notes of honey, but still retains the treasured characteristics of the original blend, which is renowned for its complex taste profile and its unparalleled smoothness,” says Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender for DEWAR’S. “By using DEWAR’S WHITE LABEL as the core for DEWAR’S Highlander Honey, the infusion process builds on the already present honey aromas found in the blend and creates an exceptionally well-rounded and harmonious taste profile that “The Drinking Man”  has come to expect from DEWAR’S.”

DEWAR’S WHITE LABEL has been stung by the honey bees near Aberfeldy, Scotland, and the result is alluringly smooth. The infusion of Scottish honey reveals a velvety, mellow character with influences of juicy citrus fruits. From the eyes to the nose to the palate, consumers will find a captivating blend of sweetness and bite with DEWAR’S Highlander Honey.

DEWAR’S Highlander Honey is the first offering in a strikingly modern and new “Highlander” range of products that will include unique expressions of DEWAR’S Blended Scotch whisky infused with natural flavors. The range will include innovations showcasing traditional and indigenous Scottish ingredients.

“DEWAR’S Highlander Honey is a welcome addition to The Drinking Man’s portfolio and continues DEWAR’S long history of pioneering innovation within the spirits industry,” says Arvind Krishnan, VP Brand Managing Director for the DEWAR’S brand. “Consumers are turning to brown spirits for their fullness of flavor and the rich taste they deliver. DEWAR’S Highlander Honey appeals to these consumers who seek new varieties and tastes and the DEWAR’S name assures them of quality.”

DEFINITIVELY SCOTTISH, UNIQUELY DEWAR’S

Using Scottish honey harvested near the DEWAR’S distillery in Aberfeldy, Scotland, DEWAR’S Master Blender Stephanie Macleod has taken a uniquely local approach to crafting the first expression of the “Highlander” range.  The composition and taste of honey is terroir-driven. Macleod uses honey from local bees, which draw their honey profile from the rugged terrain of the Scottish Highlands and the warm, silky texture of Scottish plants. Scottish honey gives DEWAR’S Highlander Honey a unique smooth, buttery composition.

To create the taste of DEWAR’S Highlander Honey, Macleod places Scottish honey into a mesh pouch then infuses it with other natural flavors into DEWAR’S WHITE LABEL.  The blend is then filtered through oak cask wood chips. Beyond enhancing the treasured characteristics of DEWAR’S WHITE LABEL, the DEWAR’S Highlander Honey infusion process also maintains the desired 40% alcohol by volume.

HOW TO ENJOY

“The Drinking Man” will appreciate the versatility of DEWAR’S Highlander Honey. It is perfect on the rocks, in a chilled shot drink to enhance the Scottish honey notes, or in a cocktail. A DEWAR’S Highlander Honey & Cola showcases the perfectly mixable nuances of the blend.

NEW HIGHLANDER RANGE, SAME COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION

The launch of DEWAR’S Highlander Honey and the new DEWAR’S “Highlander” range of products demonstrate DEWAR’S pioneering innovation. Committed to raising the standard within the industry, the House of DEWAR’S has established a wide range of historic accolades.  DEWAR’S is the most awarded blended Scotch whisky in the world. DEWAR’S was one of the first distilleries to double-barrel age, also known as “marrying,” its Scotch whisky blends. This process first created by Master Blender AJ Cameron and still followed today, involves placing newly created blends back into vintage oak casks for a second period of maturation, creating remarkable smoothness and depth of character.

DEWAR’S Highlander Honey will be available nationwide in April 2013 at fine wine and spirits retailers with a suggested retail price of $23.99 per 750 mL bottle. More information is available via www.Dewars.com.

About DEWAR’S

Founded in 1846 by John Dewar, DEWAR’S has grown from a small wine and spirits merchant shop in Scotland, to one of the largest Scotch whisky brands in the world.  Best known for its iconic DEWAR’S WHITE LABEL, the top-selling Blended Scotch whisky in the USA, it has expanded its family to create a portfolio of premium and super premium whiskies including DEWAR’S 12 Year Old, DEWAR’S 18 Year Old and the exclusive DEWAR’S SIGNATURE. These whiskies are crafted using the DEWAR’S double barrel ageing process. Pioneered by DEWAR’S in 1899, it involves returning the hand-crafted blend to vintage oak casks for further maturation. The result is a smoother taste with a long, lingering finish; a taste that wins medals and applause, making DEWAR’S the world’s most awarded Blended Scotch.

In 2012, DEWAR’S launched a new advertising campaign called “The Drinking Man’s Scotch” aimed at connecting with a modern man.  The campaign has intelligence and wit and uses an alluring and mysterious Scottish woman to deliver advice on living life and on drinking Scotch.  The campaign has television, print and digital extensions.

About Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.

Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. is the United States import and distribution arm of one of the world’s leading spirits and wine producers. The company boasts a portfolio of some of the most recognized and top-selling spirits brands in the United States including BACARDÍ® rum, the world’s favorite and best-selling rum, as well as the world’s most awarded rum; GREY GOOSE® vodka, the world-leader in super-premium vodka; DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch whisky, the world’s most-awarded blended Scotch and the number-one selling premium blended Scotch whisky in the United States; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin, the top-valued and fastest-growing premium gin  in  the world; CAZADORES® 100 percent blue agave tequila, the number-one premium tequila in Mexico and a top-selling premium tequila in the United  States; MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, the world’s leading vermouth and the world’s favorite Italian sparkling wines; and other leading and emerging brands. For additional information, visit www.bacardiusa.com.