Official statement from the Morrison Bowmore Team:

In response to the Bonhams auction of the Bowmore 1957 Single Malt Whisky in Edinburgh today (10th October 2012): Whilst we came close to reaching the minimum reserve today, we couldn’t accept anything less, especially with all proceeds going to our chosen charities. The Bowmore 1957 is an exceptionally rare and unique bottling. With only 12 bottles in existence worldwide, it is the oldest whisky the distillery has ever released as well as the oldest Single Malt to have come out of Islay. It is a testament and a celebration of the craft and care that we, as a distillery, put into our whiskies. We’ve always appreciated that with auctions it’s down to the luck of the draw on the day. The Edinburgh auction remains open for another week and the second auction in New York will be held on 28th October 2012. There remains an opportunity for a winning bidder to take home this jewel of a Single Malt Scotch Whisky and a significant donation made to our charities.

St Columba’s Hospice Live Life Ball raises £400k

October 2012 The St Columba’s Hospice Live Life Ball, held at the newly refurbished Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, raised a record £400,000 on Saturday evening. The one-off bottle of St Columba’s ‘AOIBHINN’ Ardbeg Reserve, in a unique bottle designed by Maeve Gillies, raised £27,000 alone.

Janice Gammell, Chair of the Live Life Ball Committee, said: “This is an amazing result and I speak for the committee when I say we have been humbled by the support we have received. Raising £400,000 is more than we ever imagined and it’s a privilege to know that thousands of people over the next 35 yrs of St Columba’s Hospice will benefit from one night of generosity and kindness.”

Margaret Dunbar, Chief Executive of St Columba’s Hospice, said: “Our ambitious plans for a £26 million rebuild of St Columba’s Hospice are well underway and this amazing result will bring us one  step closer to completing the project. We offer our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who contributed to the success of this event. We will return to our spiritual home in Trinity, overlooking the Firth of Forth, in Spring 2014. Our new St Columba’s Hospice will allow us to continue to provide the highest quality of care for the people of Edinburgh and the Lothians for the next 35 years.”

Lesley Christie, Fundraising Director, St Columba’s Hospice, said: “This is without doubt our most successful fundraising event ever and we have been overwhelmed by the support and goodwill which has been shown towards St Columba’s Hospice. We are enormously grateful to our Live Life Committee for their incredible commitment to making this event such an overwhelming success, and to everyone who came long and supported us on the night.”

For further information please contact Jen Wood at St Columba’s Hospice on 0131 551 1381 / 07552 167967 / jwood@stcolumbashospice.org.uk

Notes:

ST COLUMBA’S HOSPICE has been caring for patients in Edinburgh and the Lothians with cancer and other terminal illnesses since 1977. The Day Hospice, In-Patient Unit and Community Nursing Team are all vital resources, providing specialist care to over 1,000 people and their families each year. The Hospice aims to help people live as actively as possible, from diagnosis, right up to the end of their lives. As well as the highest quality of clinical care, the Hospice also offers emotional, spiritual and practical support to patients, their families and carers. St Columba’s Hospice aims to help people face the most difficult experience they will ever go through, with confidence and dignity. All services are given completely free of charge. St Columba’s Hospice is currently being completely rebuilt to create a state-of-the-art specialist palliative care facility. The Hospice has temporarily decanted all clinical services to Kirklands House, Gogarbank for the duration of the rebuild project. St Columba’s Hospice will return to Trinity, North Edinburgh in 2014. St Columba’s is a charity, not part of the NHS. It costs over £6m per annum to keep our Hospice running and the Hospice is dependent on donations to find 67% of that money. The rebuild project will cost £26 million, £2.7 million of which still needs to be raised.

ARMORIK Millésime 2002: celebrating 25 years of Breton Whisky with a 10 years old single malt whisky

The 100 years old family distillery from northern Brittany releases its first Armorik 10 years old.

25 years ago, on the northern coast of Brittany, the first Breton whisky was released from Warenghem distillery’s warehouses. To celebrate this anniversary, we are proud to launch our first ARMORIK 10 years old.

ARMORIK Millésime 2002, Oloroso Sherry Cask N° 3261, is the first in a series of single casks launched to celebrate 25 years of whisky in Brittany. These casks, distilled in February 2002 and selected for their unique quality, have been secretly preserved in the silence and the twilight of our warehouse. Once a year, a cask from this batch will be bottled in a specific packaging highlighting the men behind this whisky.

ARMORIK Millésime 2002, 1st edition
Single Cask, 56.1%, Un-chillfiltered
Distilled: February 25th, 2002
Bottled: May 2012
Cask: N° 3261 – Sherry Oloroso
Nb. of bottles: 748

Whisky in Brittany: 25 Years of innovation

Year 1987 marked a turning point for Warenghem distillery. Our 100 years old family distillery started producing Breton whisky! Considering that Brittany, Ireland and Scotland shared the same Celtic roots, Gilles Leizour and Bernard Le Pallec decided to create a unique distillery inspired by the traditional techniques of its Scottish cousins.

Our artisanal, familial distillery boasts more than 100 years of experience in liqueurs and spirits. Driven by our motto «Tradition and Innovation», our team of 15 people passionately work to manufacture high-quality products.

Warenghem distillery’s range is sold in supermarkets and specialist shops in France and is rapidly growing on export markets such as Holland, Germany, Belgium and USA.

Follow us on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Distillerie-Warenghem/140303299334911

Or Visit us on:  www.distilleriewarenghem.com

Contact Distillerie Warenghem: info@distillerie-warenghem.com

Distillerie Warenghem, route de Guingamp, 22300 Lannion, France, +33 (0)2 96 37 00 08

Glenfarclas 1968 “My Tribute”

Private Exclusive Dinner Events

My tribute to the 175th Anniversary of the Glenfarclas Distillery Luc Timmermans has had a long love affair and collecting history with Glenfarclas and, in particular, casks dating from 1968. Not only was this the year that the distillery first began to market its single malt in its own right, and to build stocks for the future but it was also the year of his birth.

At exclusive private whisky dinners all over the world Luc Timmermans will present this exquisite whisky, the My Tribute cask, sadly Luc Timmermans last cask from the mythical 1968 vintage.

Exclusive private dinners will be organized in Belgium, Singapore & Taipei.

The presentation package holds more than just a bottle of whisky. It tells you a story about the mythical 1968 vintage and the history of this fine and independent distillery. So while you are enjoying this exquisite 44 year old whisky at home with your closest friends and family you can read and experience the story and history of this fine distillery.

The presentation pack holds :

-70cl bottle of the Glenflarclas 1968 “My Tribute” Single cask, Single Highland Malt,
-2 Crystal Cut Glencairn “My Tribute” tasting glasses
-1968 Booklet by Ian Buxton describing Luc’s story, the background and comments of Luc Timmermans and notorious whisky reviewers -Book by Ian Buxton describing the History and 175 years of independence of this great 6th Generation Family owned distillery

Since this fine cask only yielded 175 bottles only 175 people will be able to join this experience.

More information at www.glenfarclas.be

DESIGNJUNCTION PUTS THE MACALLAN IN THE FRAME

For the first time The Macallan single malt whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, hosted its own special Masterclass and sampling at this year’s designjunction. The Macallan engaged with over 5,500 people throughout the course of the five day event, which is now in its second year and took place in London’s Sorting Office, showcasing the finest selection of international design brands.

Building on the success of The Macallan’s Masters of Photography series involving iconic photographers such as Albert Watson and Rankin, the luxury single malt whisky recently commissioned Annie Leibovitz for the third edition of its award-winning Masters of Photography series.

Those attending this year’s designjunction had the opportunity to visit The Macallan Masterclass lounge for an introduction to the brand and The Masters of Photography project. This was brought to life through displays of Kevin McKidd shot in NYC by Annie Liebovitz, capturing The Macallan moment, while providing an insight into the inspiration behind The Macallan Masters of Photography series.

Guests had a unique opportunity to sample the newest arrival to The Macallan’s portfolio, The Macallan Gold, the first in the new 1824 series, exclusively available in the UK until spring 2013.

The Macallan team also distributed over 4,800 Gold n’ Soda cocktails at the VIP and press launch and at the Pecha Kucha Friday evening event, ensuring The Macallan was at the front of influencers’ minds.

Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director at Maxxium UK, commented: “Those attending designjunction had a natural affiliation with design and photography, making it an ideal platform to allow us to build our brand further. We want to reach out to both existing Macallan fans and also new consumers who share our passion for art and photography, but who may not be familiar with our single malt whisky. designjunction provided us with the perfect opportunity to do this. It was also another great way to give people a chance to see for themselves our superb collaboration with Annie Leibovitz, which has global appeal, learn more and be inspired by our Masters of Photography series.”

The Macallan Masters of Photography: Annie Leibovitz Edition sees Leibovitz bring to life the essence of the luxury brand through her unique photographer’s eye, with renowned Scottish actor Kevin McKidd cast in the role of leading man. The collection comprises 1,000 bottles of which there are four different single malt expressions crafted to reflect the mood of the signed Annie Leibovitz print, that each is paired with.  Shot against four dramatic backdrops in and around New York City, Annie Leibovitz captures the brilliance of a moment where everything comes together, showcasing the stature of whisky as an icon of taste and masculinity.

http://www.themacallan.com/

http://www.themastersofphotography.com/

About The Macallan: 

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s leading single malt whiskies.  The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognised for its outstanding quality above all else. Today this remains the foundation for the worldwide fame of The Macallan and is such that it is truly “The Last Word” in luxury and at the heart of those special moments brought alive over a glass of The Macallan. 

The Masters of Photography: 

The Annie Leibovitz Edition is the third in the award winning The Macallan Masters of Photography series. The previous two editions were authored by Rankin and Albert Watson. These unique limited edition collections perfectly conjoin the art of whisky making with the artists interpretation of the world of The Macallan as seen through their photographers eye.

The Macallan Masters of Photography Annie Leibovitz images:  

The Library – This historic location, modelled on Sir Walter Scott’s library in his home in Abbotsford in the Scottish Borders, provided a setting rich in heritage suited to McKidd’s seated, powerful and reflective moment.  The deep red mahogany 1995 whisky with rich notes of raisin and chocolate orange has a long, lingering finish which matches the contemplative mood of the shot.

The Gallery – In the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh hangs ‘Niagara Falls from the American side’ by renowned artist Frederic Edwin Church (1826-1900).  His private gallery in Upstate New York provides an indulgent backdrop to the intense, sensual moment the actor shares with his leading lady. In its accompanying 1989 single malt, burnished oak gives out a rich intensity which, like the image, has a dry finish that teases.

The Bar – Shot in the Red Spot Bar, nestled in the town of Hudson, the mood is upbeat, lively and relaxed as Kevin McKidd meets up with friends to enjoy a glass of The Macallan together.  Like McKidd, the note of Vibrant Oak in the 1991 bottle, makes a statement but is refined enough not to dominate.

The Skyline – The actor is literally on top of the world, as he stands heroically on the iconic Tudor City building against the breath-taking Manhattan skyline at day break.  The dawn light in the shot is complemented by the lemon and citrus fruit nose of the light gold-coloured 1996 whisky.

Maxxium UK:

Maxxium UK Limited is a company registered in Scotland under the Companies Acts (Registered number SC203623) and has its registered office at Maxxium House, Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4RT, to which address any notices should be sent.

Maxxium UK Limited is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Global Spirits and Wine Inc and The Edrington Group. Its portfolio of premium spirits includes: The Famous Grouse, Teacher’s and Cutty Sark blended Scotch; Highland Park, Laphroaig and The Macallan single malts; Courvoisier cognac; Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon. In addition Maxxium has premium brands across a number of other drinks categories including Sourz, Brugal, After Shock, Sauza and Harveys. Maxxium UK also represents third-party drinks brands including Stolichnaya vodka, Bols liqueurs, Galliano and The Glenrothes.

For further information on our brands and how to enjoy them log on to www.mixxit.co.uk

The timeless reputation of The Macallan is founded upon Six Pillars:  

The Spiritual Home

Easter Elchies House proudly watches over The Macallan distillery in Speyside, Scotland. Built in 1700, this Jacobean manor house is The Macallan’s spiritual home. 

Curiously Small Stills

The Macallan’s curiously small and uniquely shaped copper stills help to concentrate the flavour of the ‘new make’ spirit. 

The Finest Cut

The ‘cut’ is the amount of distilled spirit collected from the stills as ‘new make’ spirit. The Macallan takes one of the finest ‘cuts’ of any distillery in Scotland; typically just 16% goes forward to fill or our casks.  

Exceptional Oak Casks

The Macallan’s unfaltering obsession with selecting exceptional oak casks brings an unsurpassed, timeless quality to The Macallan. 

Natural Colour

The Macallan insists upon Natural Colour. It is the interaction of spirit and wood alone which delivers the rich variety of colour, aroma and taste evident through out the range. 

Peerless Spirit

The Macallan remains the single malt against which all others must be judged. It is celebrated far and wide by experts and discerning drinkers as the world’s most precious whisky.

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.

SUPERSTITION IS THE WAY

 Jura Superstition named The Whisky Shop’s Whisky of the Year 2012

One of the remotest distilleries in Scotland has won the coveted title of The Whisky Shop’s Whisky of the Year.

With its smoky, peaty repertoire offset with tastes of spice, honey and pine, The Isle of Jura Distillery’s Superstition has walked away with the 2012 Whisky of the Year award.

With 20 stores across the UK and around 3 million customers each year, the winner of The Whisky Shop’s Whisky of the Year is based on a combination of customer choice, sales, and recommendations from store managers.

Previous winners of the award, which is now in its sixth year, are Dalmore 12 year old, Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Auchentoshan 12 year old, Bowmore 12 year old and Bunnahabhain 12 year old.

Commenting on The Whisky Shop’s Whisky of the Year 2012, a title which will officially be bestowed upon Jura Superstition on 1st November, David Brown, Sales Director at Whyte & Mackay said:

“I am absolutely delighted to learn that Jura Superstition has been selected as the Whisky of the Year by The Whisky Shop.

“Jura Superstition has long been recognised for its unique character which comes from the very special Island of Jura located off the West coast of Scotland. Lightly peated in flavour, Jura Superstition doesn’t have the polarising nature of many of the Island whiskies, which is probably the secret of its success.”

Andrew Torrance, Managing Director of The Whisky Shop said of Jura Superstition:

“Jura Superstition has a sensational taste, uniquely combining Jura’s core character with subtle, peated tones.

“This truly is a consumer favourite, with the Whisky of the Year being voted for by our customers as well as our store managers, who base their decisions on customer reaction to the 300 plus products we offer across our stores.

“With the consumer confidence behind it, Jura Superstition is a much deserved winner of Whisky of the Year 2012.”

Dominic Roskrow, Editor of Whiskeria magazine concluded:

 “Isle of Jura has always enjoyed an intense and passionate following but the distillery has reinvented itself in recent years, with stylish new packaging, an upgrading of its core range and the launch of exciting new malts. Superstition is a unique whisky, using a gentle wave of peat to do to the core Jura fruity characteristics what salt and vinegar do to fish and chips – enhance and enrich the experience without overwhelming it. It has taken Jura in to a new direction and for that alone it deserves this accolade.”

NOTES

 The Whisky Shop – part of Glenkeir Whiskies – is the UK’s largest whisky only specialist, with 20 shops nationwide offering more than 300 products. For more information on the Whisky Shop visit www.whiskyshop.com

Taster’s Club Whiskey Launches Scotch of the Month Club, Bourbon of the Month Club

Taster’s Club Online Whiskey Shop has launched a Scotch of the Month Club, mailing top whiskys to their members every month. All members are also enrolled in a unique Whiskey 101 course to learn all about whisky styles, distilleries, regions, production techniques and more.

“I like to call it a drinking/learning club”, says Taster’s Club founder Mack McConnell. “We make sure you’re drinking the right stuff, while we teach you all about it via Whiskey 101.”

They don’t only do scotch, however; Bourbon and American Whiskey fans can sign up for the Bourbon of the Month Clubs as well.

Members can choose one of two different Scotch memberships, which focus on Single Malts. Members can also choose one of two different bourbon memberships, which focus on the best of bourbon and American whiskey.

Learn more about Taster’s Club Whiskey of the Month.

“We’ve found that these clubs are awesome gifts and they account for about half of our memberships,” says McConnell. “The other half is whiskey fans who want to get to know the world of whiskey at a deeper level. They love going through the Whiskey 101 content, getting to know their passion at a deeper level”.

Taster’s Club can ship anywhere in the US, except the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Montana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas and Utah.

WILLIAM LAWSON’SR HIGHEST RANKED SCOTCH WHISKY IN IWSR ELITE BRANDS LIST

London, date September, 2012 – The outstanding international growth of WILLIAM LAWSON’SR Blended Scotch whisky has been recognised by the IWSR (International Wine & Spirit Research) in its recently published 2011 Elite Brands list.

The Bacardi-owned whisky has successfully established itself in the Elite Brands list for a 5th consecutive year and is proud to have risen three places to number six in the list this year; ranking higher than any other Scotch whisky.

WILLIAM LAWSON’S passed the milestone of achieving impressive sales of more than 2 million nine litre cases worldwide last year and has also recently been acknowledged by the IWSR as the fastest-growing of the 2011 Top 50 international spirits brands, with a massive 46.1% value increase in 2011 vs. 2010.

The strict criteria to join the Elite Brands list set by the IWSR has remained unchanged since 2007, but has become tougher to meet in recent years and as a result the list has reduced from 22 brands in 2009 to just 11 brands this year.

The IWSR is one of the most comprehensive suppliers of volume and value data for the global drinks industry. An Elite Brand must sell more than one million cases worldwide, and demonstrate an international presence, with at least 40 per cent of sales outside its main market. These spirits must also achieve a consistently steady compound annual growth rate of 5% over the last five years. WILLIAM LAWSON’S achieved a hugely impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 10.4% over the last five years.

France is a major market for WILLIAM LAWSON’S, accounting for one-third of all sales; while Belgium, Portugal, and Spain are also important established markets. Over the last year the brand has enjoyed strong growth in Eastern Europe and Latin America; in particular Russia, Venezuela, Ecuador and Uruguay, where the brand has been in market for less than four years.

Esther Park, Global Marketing Director, WILLIAM LAWSON’S Scotch whisky, commented, “WILLIAM LAWSON’S continued presence and even higher ranking this year in the Elite Brands list is a huge accolade. We have had an incredible year around the world, with success in both established and developing markets. We are delighted to achieve this recognition and are proud to take our place amongst the world’s elite spirits.”

www.williamlawsons.com

NOTES

WILLIAM LAWSON’S and GLEN DEVERON are trademarks

About the IWSR’s Elite Brands List Criteria The criteria required to become an Elite Brand remain unchanged since 2007.
Brands must sell over 1m cases worldwide, with at least 40% of sales outside their main market to demonstrate international presence, and also maintain a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of at least 5% for the last five years of growth – i.e. 2006-2011 – to demonstrate sustained growth.

About the IWSR
The IWSR is the leading provider of data on wine, spirits and RTDs. The IWSR’s database, essential to the industry, is used by all of the largest multinational wine and spirits companies, as well as many more local companies. The IWSR has a unique methodology which, by tapping into local country expertise, allows us to get closer to what is actually consumed and better understand how markets work. The IWSR conducts face-to-face interviews with 1,200 companies in 115 countries each year, with further input from 350 companies. The IWSR tracks overall consumption and trends at brand, quality and category level for wine, spirits and RTDs, and aims to provide data that is as accurate and detailed as possible.

Ballantine’s Adds BMW Masters to Global Golf Platform

Ballantine’s, the No 2 Scotch whisky in the world, is reinforcing its commitment to golf with a sponsorship agreement with the BMW Masters for the next three years. The inaugural US$7million tournament, sanctioned by the European Tour, will take place at the Lake Malaren Golf Club in Shanghai from 25 – 28 October 2012.

As the official Scotch whisky, Ballantine’s will be highly visible at the tournament, both on the course and through a dedicated VIP hospitality area. Each day, the players scoring the lowest round of the day will be awarded with a bottle of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, while the tournament winner will be presented with a rare bottle of Ballantine’s 30 Year Old.

Sponsorship of the BMW Masters further enhances Ballantine’s impressive track record of support for European Tour golf events both in Asia and in its homeland, Scotland. Since its founding in 2008, the Ballantine’s Championship has become one of the most prominent events on the professional golf calendar. The Scottish Open, where Ballantine’s is an official sponsor, continues to attract world class talent to its links course at Castle Stuart, just miles away from the spiritual home of Ballantine’s, Glenburgie Distillery.

The BMW Masters is an excellent opportunity for Ballantine’s to support China’s golf boom. The brand continues to support China’s No 1 player, Liang Wen Chong, who in 2007 co-founded the Ballantine’s Golf Fund which aims to boost the development of professional golf in China by supporting emerging talent.

In December 2010, Ballantine’s also established the Ballantine’s Dragon Team, China’s first team of professional golfers who are offered team training with leading golf coaches, full sponsorship of members’ participation in high level tournaments as well as sponsoring their attendance at the annual Ballantine’s Championship in South Korea.

Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, comments: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the BMW Masters and are very proud to be associated with such a prestigious tournament in China that will welcome the stars of world golf such as world No1, Rory McIlroy, No3 Luke Donald and No4 Lee Westwood. Our sponsorship investment, both at the top of the game and at grass roots level, marks our deepening commitment to world class golf in China.”

Notes:

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No 1 ultra-premium whisky in Asia Pacific and the No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe, selling over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won over 80 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 iconic 30 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.

Ballantine’s association with golf can be traced back to at least 1960 when the Ballantine’s Tournament took place at Wentworth golf course. More than fifty years later, Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the high-profile Ballantine’s Championship, Korea’s first and only European Tour event and the country’s largest golf tournament, to which the brand is committed until at least 2013. Ballantine’s has been official supplier to the Scottish Open since 2007. The first Ballantine’s sponsored golf tournament was played in 1960 at Wentworth Golf Club, England, and Ballantine’s has been an Official Sponsor of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in 2009 and 2011.

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 visit www.chivasbrothers.com