Arran Distillers Score Double Gold for Multi-Award Winning Malt

Independent Scotch whisky producer, Isle of Arran Distillers, is celebrating after its 14 year old malt was awarded a Double Gold medal by US-based food and drink website TheFiftyBest.com.

Now a multi-award winning whisky, Arran’s oldest spirit released in 2010, picked up the award in the Single Malt Scotch Aged 10-15 years category.

Euan Mitchell, managing director of Isle of Arran Distillers, said: “This is a fitting end to what has been a fantastic year for the distillery.

“These awards are highly regarded in the industry so we’re delighted that our oldest malt has again been recognised for its quality and character. Next year we’re planning to release our first 16 year-old malt, which I hope will be equally well received.”

The Arran Malt 14 year old was one of just a handful to be awarded the prestigious Double Gold Award by FiftyBest.com.

The spirit also won a Double Gold Award at this year’s World Spirits Competition and in 2011 was named ‘Best Island (non Islay) Single Malt Whisky, 13-20 Years by Whisky Magazine.

James MacTaggart, master distiller at Arran Distillers, added: “Our whiskies are now celebrated all over the world, but we’re not going to rest on our laurels and will continue to produce innovative and high quality malt whiskies for many years to come.”

Since it was established 17 years ago, Isle of Arran Distillers has won a number of awards including Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007).

For the full list of winners in the FiftyBest, visit here

About Isle of Arran Distillers:

* Current accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.)

Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘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.)

Also, ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the World Spirits Competition 2012. Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards 2012.

About FiftyBest.com:

TheFiftyBest.com is an award-winning online guide to fine living, featuring rated listings from on unbiased surveys and proprietary tastings judged by food, wine/spirits journalists, and connoisseurs. Adhering to strict tasting rules and rigorous methodology,

TheFiftyBest.com achieves the highest standards of spirits evaluation.

For more information, visit: www.TheFiftyBest.com

The Macallan reveals winner of ‘The Last Word’ photography competition

And the Last word is…Personality

After attracting almost 1,000 entries, over 2,500 images and 2,625 votes, luxury single malt whisky, The Macallan has announced the winner of its Masters of Photography ‘The Last Word’ competition as Martin Faltejsek, from the Czech Republic, for his image entitled, Personality.

The global competition was launched in celebration of The Macallan’s third Masters of Photography Series, collaboration with the world’s most famous photographer, Annie Leibovitz.

Celebrating Annie Leibovitz’s world famous portraits, photography aficionados were invited to upload a portrait they have taken with one word – ‘The Last Word’ – capturing the mood of their photograph. The theme ‘The Last Word’ reflects The Macallan’s standing as the last word in luxury; the ultimate Scotch for the most memorable drinking occasion.

The global competition attracted an overwhelming response with over 2,600 votes cast by the public to shortlist the top 50 images.  These were then appraised by esteemed judges from the Royal Photographic Society: Roy Robertson Hon FRPS, President of The Royal Photographic Society, Leo Palmer FRPS FPSA MPSA and Vanessa Slawson FRPS FBPPA ASWPP AFIAP DPAGB.

The judges said of the winner and the competition entries;

“The competition was very difficult to judge. The variety of subject matter and approach of the photographers provided the three selectors with an interesting but challenging task. A combination of great ideas and sound technique resulted in an excellent set of pictures. The competition was so fierce that many, quite outstanding images just failed to make the top ten positions. The winners should, quite rightly, be delighted that their work has been recognised”.

“The spontaneous yet controlled nature of [the winning] shot is very appealing. The setting and colour harmony works well to create a visually stimulating and thought provoking image.”

Martin’s photograph wins him and a friend two nights stay inEdinburghbefore being taken to the home of The Macallan, Easter Elchies House, situated on the banks of the Spey. Here Martin will be treated to a full distillery tour and photography themed visit, sampling a selection of The Macallan’s finest whiskies.  In addition, he will also receive a Fujifilm X-Pro1 camera.

The winners of the The Macallan Photography Masterclass:

• First      : Martin Faltejsek

The Story: Personality

“Embrace your imperfections, they make you who you are”. I profoundly stand for this. In this photo I wanted to show human/our defencelessness and how vulnerable we are. Human personality is something really strange, weird, easy-to-hurt and suggestible. I simply do not get mean people.

• Second: Jonathan Agami

The story: GENIE

Is that the singer of that band? Or is it “Your wish is my command?..” * Ivar, the leading singer of a Swedish band.

• Third:      Gabor Dvornik

The story: Life

When you are young, you run and hustle, you dare, you get wounded and you do it again and again. If you are wise enough, you learn from your errors and will do better from day to day. Life gives this experience but is a costly thing – gives you scars and wrinkles to your face.

Entrants to the competition shared their work through Twitter, Facebook and google+, with The Macallan choosing their favourite weekly pictures to appear on a dedicated Pinterest board.  Each week one portrait was chosen as ‘The Last Word of the week’ and became The Macallan’s Facebook cover picture for the following week with monthly prizes awarded by votes cast on Pinterest.

This is the second year that The Macallan has run a photography Masterclass celebrating its Masters of Photography Series.   The Series features exclusive collaborations, conjoining the art of whisky making with the artist’s interpretation of the world of The Macallan.  This year, Annie Leibovitz has interpreted the four single cask variants released for the first time and created four powerful images, featuring Scottish actor Kevin McKidd as her leading man.  Leibovitz captures the brilliance of a moment where everything comes together, showcasing the stature of whisky as an icon of taste and masculinity and confirming The Macallan as ‘The Last Word’ in luxury.

To view the entries, please visit www.themastersofphotography.com.

www.themacallan.com

ABOUT THE MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The Macallan Masters of Photography: Annie Leibovitz Edition comprises 1,000 limited edition bottles, of which there are four different versions.  Each bottle contains one of four unique single malts, crafted to reflect the mood of the signed Annie Leibovitz print that it is paired with.  The four single cask whiskies have been matured in different cask types to be completely unique and original.  The bottle and print are presented in a bespoke photo-archival box, stamped with The Macallan brand and Annie Leibovitz’s name.  

ABOUT THE MACALLAN

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries inScotlandto 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 ofSpain, North America andScotland, 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.

GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES NEW CASK STRENGTH EXPRESSION

IN A “first” for GlenDronach, the award-winning Aberdeenshire distillery has produced a new cask strength expression which has been bottled in November.

Worldwide aficionados of our unique, richly sherried malt can now enjoy a classic GlenDronach exactly as we made it – at cask strength, non-chill filtered and at natural colour.

Personally selected by Billy Walker and designed to supplement the core range of 12, 15, 18 and 21 YO vintages, the spectacular GlenDronach Cask Strength has been matured in a combination of the finest Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso Sherry casks.

The first batch comprises some 12,000 bottles.

Billy Walker’s tasting notes illustrate that this expression is destined to become just as iconic as the other wonderful vintages in the core range.

Colour
A deep golden body glistens with rich crimson.

Nose
A luscious balance of succulent sherry aromas explode in honey-drizzled golden sultanas spiced by warm oak and gentle ginger.

Palate
Intense toffee and cocoa cascade into the rich sherry-soaked dark fruits. Zested orange explodes in the long, alcohol-infused chocolate fondant.

Conclusions
Long and lingering.

GlenDronach, one of the first licensed distilleries, was founded in 1826 by James Allardice, a colourful and inventive Scot who pioneered wood finishing.

Almost two hundred years on, in keeping with this great tradition, we’ve invested heavily in our wood management programme. We mature our single malt whisky in premium quality sherry casks, hand-crafted from European oak by the most reputable and renowned bodegas from Jerez in the south of Spain.

Over time, silently resting in our warehouses by the Dronac Burn in Forgue, the interaction of the high-quality wood and the maturing whisky produces sensational results and flavours. Oloroso casks confer a heavier scented body on our single malt whisky, often adding subtle notes of fruit and toffee, while Pedro Ximenez casks give GlenDronach a rich, dark, zesty flavour. The combination of the two results in an avalanche of sublime tastes that leave an indelible impression on the taste buds…and the new GlenDronach Cask Strength is a perfect example of Billy Walker’s astounding ability to perfectly match wood to whisky.

Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page over the coming weeks for more information on our new Cask Strength expression. If you would like to receive more information, please contact us on info@glendronachdistillery.co.uk

EARLY Christmas present for Sullivans Cove Whisky

Tasmanian Single Malt Sullivans Cove has been named World Whisky Grand Master by the world’s leading drinks magazine, The Sprits Business.

This latest accolade builds on what has been a record year for the luxury Tasmanian Single Malt, which was named “Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year” by Jim Murray and “Australasian Distiller of the Year” at Dominic Roskrow’s Wizards of Whisky earlier this year.

Global appetite for Sullivans Cove has peaked sharply and the boutique distiller has been forced to place stock on allocation to ensure that it does not run out stock before the whisky that it is currently producing is mature for bottling.

Speaking from London, judging panel chair and whisky commentator Neil Ridley said, “…Tasmania’s Sullivans Cove distillery created the biggest surprise of the day with their consistently well produced range of single malts.” Competition judge Shannon McCoy was especially impressed with Sullivans Cove’s offerings, remarking on their unique style compared to other international single malts.

Sullivans Cove’s Chief distiller Patrick Maguire couldn’t have asked for a better result, saying, “This has been an amazing year for us, many years of hard work are finally coming to fruition all at once and its fantastic to see Tasmanian single malt beginning to be recognised around the world.”

Sullivans Cove is available across Australia as well as the USA, France, Holland, Canada, the UK, New Caledonia, Singapore and Dubai.

About Sullivans Cove

Tasmania Distillery produces Sullivans Cove Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky. Sullivans Cove Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky is double distilled using only Tasmanian barley with only the purest wilderness water from local mountains and forests. Matured in hand selected oak casks and allowed to settle and clear naturally, the whiskies retain full, creamy and lingering flavours that are winning fans the world over. Each cask is bottled separately, yielding only around 450 bottles, making each bottle a rare item to own and enjoy.

Tasmania Distillery Pty Ltd

Pre-Prohibition cocktails to celebrate Repeal Day on Dec. 5th – the anniversary of the passing of the 18th Amendment and end to Prohibition back in 1933!

Repeal Day

On Dec. 5, 1933, America passed the 18th Amendment and ended Prohibition, which outlawed alcohol from 1920 to 1933 known as Repeal Day. Without Prohibition’s repeal, America’s native spirit, bourbon, would have disappeared into history. To celebrate this national heritage, here are two classic bourbon recipes courtesy of Maker’s Mark®, America’s handcrafted bourbon. Cheers!

Old Fashioned
Recipe:
•1-1/2 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
•1/2 part club soda
•2 orange slices
•2 maraschino cherries
•1 teaspoon sugar

Directions:
Muddle 1 orange slice, 1 maraschino cherry and the sugar in an Old Fashioned glass. Fill glass 3/4 full of ice. Add Maker’s Mark® Bourbon and splash of club soda. Garnish with additional orange slice and maraschino cherry.

Maker’s Mark® Manhattan
Recipe:
• 1-1/2 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
• 1/2 part sweet vermouth
• 1 teaspoon maraschino cherry juice
• 1 maraschino cherry

Directions:
Shake all together for 30 seconds. Strain into chilled Manhattan glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry (served up, no ice).

The perfect gift for someone who ‘nose’ their whisky

Speyside’s smallest distillery, Benromach, has launched a gift pack which will allow whisky lovers to get the most out of Benromach’s flagship single malt, the 10 Years Old.

The gift pack includes a 70cl bottle of Benromach 10 Years Old and two Benromach Blenders’ glasses. The tulip shaped nosing glasses are designed to help whisky lovers get the most from their single malt. The deep bowl of the glass allows the drinker to ‘swirl’ the whisky, then the narrow funnel concentrates the aromas at the top of the glass.

The gift pack is made of contemporary tin plate, with subtle and sophisticated Benromach branding on it. A handy carry handle means the gift pack can be easily taken along to festive celebrations to share with others.

Michael Urquhart, Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, commented: “Nosing glasses really do improve the experience of whisky drinking, by capturing the aromas of the malt. Pour in a dram, swirl the glass and then savour the aromas of Benromach 10 Years Old – fresh green apples with a malty, digestive biscuit note and light peat smoke in the background.

“We think sharing a good single malt with friends is one of the most pleasant ways to spend an evening, which is why we decided to include two glasses.”

The Benromach Distillery, nestled in Speyside, employs just two men who make Benromach by hand, using the finest Scottish barely and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. They fill new spirit into the highest quality casks before being left to mature at the distillery for many years.

The Benromach gift pack is on sale now, RRP £34.99.

A trio pack featuring some of Benromach’s most popular expressions is also available, RRP £34.99. The pack contains three 20cl bottles of Benromach 10 years Old, along with the Benromach Peat Smoke and the Benromach Organic, which was the first certified organic single malt Scotch whisky.

For more information about Benromach visit www.benromach.com

Notes

Benromach 10 Years Old
Tasting note
Benromach 10 Years Old is created from the finest Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. After being matured for at least ten years, it emerges golden in colour and displays rich fruit, sweet chocolate and delicate spicy aromas. With a rich sherry influence, the mouth-watering palate coats the senses with exotic fruit flavours, toasted malt and a delicate hint of smoke.

Awards
Benromach 10 Years Old was awarded the title of Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky (15 years and under) at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. Furthermore the product was awarded gold at the 2011 and 2010 Great Taste Awards and in November 2011 it gained gold at TheFiftyBest.com awards in New York. For the full list of Benromach 10 Years Old’s awards, visit: http://www.benromach.com/benromach/benromach-10-years-old-strength-43-14-benromach.html

The Malt Maniacs have published their 2012 Whisky Awards;

The Malt Maniacs Awards 2012

Introducing three NEW and exceptional single malt Scotch whiskies from Auchentoshan, Bowmore and Glen Garioch.  All bottled at cask strength, all limited editions, all launching in the next few months as noted below, some in time for the holidays (in case you’re looking for a special gift or working on a gift guide).

Auchentoshan Valinch 2012 Limited Edition Vintage – Launch date: November 2012
Often referred to as the cellar master’s best friend, a ‘valinch’ is a tube that is extended into the cask to get samples for tasting to determine if the whisky is ready for bottling. An apt name for this malt since the spirit is cask-strength. This is the 2nd bottling of this limited edition. As Scotland’s only triple-distilled malt, Auchentoshan is incredibly velvety and smooth yet Valinch has a distinct kick due to its cask strength.

SRP: $59.99 (750ml; 57.2% ABV); 1,300 bottles for U.S.

Glen Garioch 1986 Vintage – Launch date: November 2012
A new introduction from this small Highland distillery, Glen Garioch 1986 is very limited with 3,000 bottles available for the entire world. It is the fifth expression in Glen Garioch’s Vintage range to date – 1978, 1990, 1991 and 1994. It’s a liquid gem from a Highland distillery, a perfect dram for the whisky connoisseur.

SRP: $249.99 (750ml; 54.6%), 250 bottles for U.S.

Bowmore Dorus Mor Small Batch Release – Launch date: January 2013
This cask-strength, 10 Years Old Bowmore can be found throughout the world by a more ‘tempestous’ name that can’t be used in the U.S., so only here it’s known as Dorus Mor, a name chosen by the brand’s Facebook fans. A heady and strong whisky from the magical island of Islay, Bowmore Dorus Mor tastes of the very sea itself, bursting with the soul of the untamed Scottish weather and shows Bowmore’s trademark peat smokiness. This formidable tour de force is worthy of its strong name.

SRP $ $119.99 (750ml; 55.1% ABV); 2,400 bottles for U.S.

Ducks at Kilspindie partners with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Ducks at Kilspindie is thrilled to announce that it has been welcomed a partner bar of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society – the world’s foremost malt whisky club. Ducks is now an official ‘home from home’ for Society members and whisky lovers alike where they can enjoy an extensive range of the Society’s exclusive cask whiskies in the comfortable and relaxed atmosphere of Ducks’ new whisky snug.

Open to everyone, guests at Ducks will have the unique opportunity, initially, to sample sixteen of the Society’s distinctive single casks which are usually only available to members and their guests, making it the premier destination for any true malt whisky lover. The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has worked closely with bar staff at Ducks to ensure that they can share the Society’s vast knowledge with their customers, providing an authentic Scotch Malt Whisky Society experience.

Ducks will also be hosting exclusive Society tasting dinners, where meals will be served based on their ability to compliment each whisky, they are also happy to arrange private whisky tastings for groups of two to eighty people.

Commenting on the venture, Mark Van Der Vijver from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society said:
“Ducks is synonymous with superb food, drink and service in the heart of East Lothian and with their hand-selected range of SMWS single cask whiskies, they have a rare and exclusive string in their bow. Malcolm and the team are now able to offer local malt enthusiasts and Society members an ever-changing variety of SMWS whiskies across their bar, award-winning restaurant and private events.”

Malcolm Duck added:
“This is massively exciting for us at Ducks. Members of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society can now use Ducks as their own wee bar, whilst non members will also be able to sample these one off single barrel bottlings. We will be starting out with sixteen different bottles, including one from Japan. We go live on Monday 19th November, so come in and see us.”

Notes:
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society allows members to discover the very best single cask, single malt whisky anywhere in the world. Only ever bottled from a single cask, selected from a range of over 120 whisky distilleries, every Society whisky bottling is exceptional. To join the Scotch Malt Whisky Society visit www.smws.co.uk/memberships.

www.smws.co.uk

Located in the picturesque village of Aberlady, Duck’s at Kilspindie House is a relaxed, family run restaurant with rooms which offers guests two separate dining experiences; from two AA Rosette fine dining in Ducks Restaurant, to excellent bistro cuisine in Donald’s Bar Bistro. Ducks also offers twenty-three extremely comfortable en-suite bedrooms.

www.ducks.co.uk

GOURMAND WORLD WINE BOOKS AWARDS 2012

WINNER FOR CANADA – ENGLISH 

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert

In the category:  Best Spirits Book

Edouard Cointreau, President of the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, today announced that Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, written by Canadian author, Davin de Kergommeaux has been awarded Best Spirits Book of 2012 for Canada.

The book now goes on to compete against winners from other countries for The Best in the World award. Results will be announced at 8:00 PM on Saturday February 23, 2013 at the annual Gourmand Book Awards Gala. An awards ceremony is to be held in Paris in the 1,400-seat theatre at Le Carrousel du Louvre, under the Pyramid of the Louvre Museum. This event, held annually, is part of the Paris Cookbook Fair, which this year runs from Friday, February 22 to Sunday 24, 2013.

Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert was published in hardcover on May 8, 2012, by McClelland and Stewart. Established in 1906, McClelland & Stewart is one of Canada’s most revered trade book publishing houses, whose internationally acclaimed authors include such notable Canadians as Margaret Atwood, Leonard Cohen, Rohinton Mistry, Farley Mowat and Michael Ondaatje.

The Gourmand World Cookbook Awards Gala event draws a huge international presence, with books from 171 countries competing. It is the only sector of book publishing that benefits from such an Awards event involving so many countries.

All information will be available on the Gourmand World Cook Book Awards website