Two new Private Collection’s Released

Malt Whisky specialist, Gordon & MacPhail, has added two new expressions to its Private Collection range.

Private Collection from Ledaig Distillery St Joseph Wood Finish 45% and Private Collection from Balblair Distillery Crozes-Hermitage Wood Finish 45% are the latest editions to the series of Single Malts personally selected by the directors of the family owned firm for their outstanding quality and character.

The expression from Ledaig Distillery was distilled in 1993 and bottled in 2012 and finished in St Joseph casks for 40 months. It has developed sweet fruit and dry herbal influences. A mild spice and delicate smoke adds to the character of the whisky.

Private Collection Balblair Distillery Crozes-Hermitage Wood Finish was distilled in 1991 and bottled in 2012 and again finished for 40 months from casks from the northern Rhône region of France. The expression has developed sweet fruity notes, strawberries and banoffee pie and a lingering peppery edge.

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, said:

“For generations Gordon & MacPhail has built up a stock of Single Malts of various ages and strengths from distilleries throughout Scotland. As a result our portfolio is wide and varied and includes Single Malts to suit different tastes and price points.”

“The latest expressions released under our Private Collection range enable whisky enthusiasts to explore how the characteristics of the Single Malt are complemented by the characteristics found in these high quality French casks.”
Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection from Ledaig Distillery St Joseph Wood Finish 45% retails in USA for approximately $95, whilst Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection from Balblair Distillery Crozes-Hermitage Wood Finish 45% retails for approximately $150.

For details of availability in the USA please contact Matt Chivian at Classic Wine Imports (MChivian@martignetti.com)

About Gordon & MacPhail

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned Scotch Whisky specialist which has been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies.

Since its foundation, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.
Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 55 countries. It offers more than 300 presentations of own-bottled single malts. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

In 1993 Gordon & MacPhail purchased Benromach Distillery and re-equipped it before it was officially opening by HRH Prince Charles in 1998.

TASTING NOTES

Private Collection from Ledaig Distillery St Joseph Wood Finish 45%

The distillery was in the past known as Ledaig, changing its name to Tobermory Distillery in the 1970s. The distillery occupies the ground beside the Ledaig Burn on the foreshore of the picturesque 18th century harbour of Tobermory. Tobermory Distillery has enjoyed mixed fortunes since it was first established in 1823. It has been closed several times, most recently in the 1980s. Having reopened in 1989, Tobermory is now back in production.

Situated in the northern Rhône region of France, St Joseph was given its name in the 17th Century by the Jesuits of Tournon. Wines from the region have been sold as early as the 16th century and enjoyed at the tables of the French Kings. The red wines are generally made in the lighter style with soft tannins.

COLOUR – Dark Amber.
AROMA – Sweet wine influences with red grapes and sweet summer berries aromas. Fresh and herbal with hints of coriander and sea air.
TASTE – Rich dark chocolate flavours, with maraschino cherries and black forest gateau. A slight nuttiness is also present with a touch ash and new leather.
BODY – Medium.
FINISH – Long and Lingering.

2200 bottles have been released for sale worldwide.

Private Collection from Balblair Distillery Crozes-Hermitage Wood Finish 45%

In the village of Edderton, formerly known as the \”parish of the peats\”, lies Balblair Distillery. The distillery, named after the nearby Balblair Farm where it was originally built in the 1790\’s, moved to its present site in 1895. The buildings have changed little since then, the main characteristics being the pagoda roofed kiln, sadly no longer in operation, and the 70 foot high red brick chimney, both visible for miles around.

Crozes-Hermitage is the largest Appellation Contrôlée in the northern Rhône region of France, producing over half of the region’s total wine. Red wines are produced from the Syrah grape and tend to have a soft, delicate character.

COLOUR – Golden Amber with a hint of Red.
AROMA – Sweet and fruity with hints of strawberry and ripe banana. A toasted malt edge develops with a touch of vanilla.
TASTE – A touch of black cracked pepper followed by summer fruits and citrus flavours. A creamy milk chocolate edge lingers.
BODY – Medium.
FINISH – Long and Fruity.
Only 2000 bottles have been released for sale worldwide.

BALLANTINE’S ENCOURAGES CONSUMERS TO CHANGE THE PLAN WITH NEW ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN

Ballantine’s Finest, Europe’s No 1 Scotch whisky, is aiming to connect the younger generation of Finest fans with the latest addition to its successful ‘Plan Ballantine’s’ campaign – the release of a new television commercial, which highlights the brand’s increased association with music.

The new 30-second television advert entitled ‘Change the Plan’ follows on from the brand’s successful ‘Transformation’ commercial, which was released in 2011 and has now been seen in over 85 countries.

The new advert follows a similar theme to the first, with characters raising questions such as “Follow the crowd?”, “Lower my sights?” and “Keep my feet on the ground?”, followed by the answer “That’s never going to be the plan. Change the Plan. Leave An Impression. This is Plan Ballantine’s”.

Ballantine’s Brand Director Peter Moore commented “Ballantine’s is all about leaving an impression so with this new advert, we’re aiming to do just that by inspiring consumers to change the plan, to really live their lives. We are very proud of this new advert and we’re confident that its strong reference to music will score highly with Ballantine’s Finest’s global target audience, as we know this is something that resonates strongly with them.”

The Plan Ballantine’s campaign features a wide range of global marketing activity, including print, radio and outdoor advertising as well as experiential events, PR, digital activity and social media.

Notes

Click here to view the TV commercial

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No 1 ultra-premium Scotch whisky in Asia Pacific and the range sells over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 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.

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.

For further information visit: www.chivasbrothers.com

The new Speyburn 25 Year Old unveiled

Speyburn Distillery, the producer of Speyburn Single Malt Scotch Whisky, is pleased to announce that the successor of the World Whiskies Awards 2012 Gold-Medal-winning Speyburn 25 Year Old will soon be available in markets around the world featuring exciting new packaging. The relaunch of the much-admired premium expression of Speyburn follows a successful year for the Scottish brand.

The oldest and most exclusive Speyburn yet has been a hidden gem and a favourite for whisky aficionados for years. It didn’t come as a surprise when earlier in 2012 the coveted Speyburn 25 Year Old ‘Solera’ was named by the World Whiskies Awards panel as the best in its category. Now, the new and reinvented premium expression from the iconic Speyside distillery has arrived. It’s simply called Speyburn 25 Year Old.

The Whisky

The whisky for this all-new Speyburn came from American oak Fino sherry and exbourbon casks of the highest quality. The spirit matured entirely on site at Speyburn Distillery, on the banks of Granty Burn. The whisky is bottled at premium strength of 46% ABV. It is unchill-filtered and shows its natural colour.

Speyburn 25 Year Old has a vibrant and bright aroma, rich with lime honey and lemon peel notes, accentuated by fragrant tropical fruit. The taste is rounded and smooth. Sweet to begin with, it opens up with toffee, creamy vanilla and pink grapefruit flavours and drifts gently towards a long and warming finish.

The Packaging

Speyburn 25 Year Old is presented in the new Speyburn bottle encased in a silver wooden box. Two engraved collapsible metal tasting cups are also included making it the perfect gift for an outdoors enthusiast. Each pack is signed personally by the Distillery Manager Robert Anderson.

Recommended retail price: £195

 Notes

· The Speyburn Distillery was founded in 1897 by John Hopkins.
· The Distillery still features unique Henning’s Pneumatic Drum Maltings which are the only example in the world. Although they stopped working in 1967 they still attract regular visitors as a vital part of Scotch whisky’s rich history.
· Speyburn draws production water from Granty Burn famed for its purity and world-class salmon fishing
· Speyburn 25 Year Old ‘Solera’ recently won the Best Highland Single Malt Whisky award at Whisky Magazine’s World Whiskies Awards 2012
· Speyburn is part International Beverage Holdings, the international arm of ThaiBev. Other well-known whisky brands in the International Beverage Holdingsportfolio include anCnoc, Balblair, Catto’s, Hankey Bannister and Old Pulteney.

Bunnahabhain Discovers Rare 40 YO Islay

Bunnahabhain has announced that it will release a one-off rare single malt that has lain undiscovered for four decades at the Islay distillery.

Bunnahabhain distillery, which is located on the north-east of the isle, will release only 750 bottles, which will be individually numbered and hand signed.

Hidden for 40 years, the whisky quietly matured until Master Distiller, Ian MacMillan, discovered the casks listed in the distillery ledgers: “It was an exhilarating moment to stumble on such a special find,” he said. “There are very few 40 year old Islays and unlike any other, Bunnahabhain’s taste is considered unique because the distillery does not heavily peat the fine malted barley.”

The Master Distiller recognised the significance of the discovery after finding the ‘Turney’ casks, which were filled with the precious Bunnahabhain malt over 40 years ago by eminent Glasgow wine merchants, J G Turney, and renowned for being the highest standard of quality.

Michelle Lansdowne, Senior Brand Manager at Burn Stewart, added: “ We are expecting a good deal of market interest in the 40 YO and with such limited availability of this one-off prestige bottling, it is sure to appeal to international collectors of rare malts.”

To capture the extraordinary journey, Bunnahabhain commissioned renowned illustrator, Iain McIntosh, to retrace the voyage through the specially designed labels. Each bottle is presented in a bespoke oak gift box containing a secret compartment that reveals hidden designs replicating the ‘Journey of Discovery.’

The multi-award winning Bunnahabhain is the flagship malt whisky from Burn Stewart Distillers and is exported to over 30 countries globally. Unlike its neighbouring distilleries on the Island, Bunnahabhain embodies “the gentle taste of Islay”, as it is the only non-peated Islay malt.

Bunnahabhain 40 YO
RRP: £1,999
Unchill-filtered (41.7% ABV)

Notes:
• Situated on the northern shore of Islay, Bunnahabhain Distillery was founded in 1881 by William Robertson and brothers James and William Greenless
• Bunnahabhain is Gaelic for ‘mouth of the river’ and the distillery is situated right at the shoreline, close to where the Margadale River flows into Bunnahabhain Bay
• In 2003 Bunnahabhain was sold to Burn Stewart Distilleries for £10million. Today, production stands at 2.5million litres a year. Of this, 21,000 casks are kept at the distillery for maturation and the resultant whisky is used for the Black Bottle blend and for bottling as Bunnahabhain single malt

SERGE AND HIS BELOVED BENRIACH 1976 MEGA-TASTING!

BACK in June, Serge Reijnders, a Belgian BenRiach enthusiast, hosted a unique tasting to sample nineteen BenRiach 1976 Single Cask expressions in one afternoon…and he sold out all forty places in just two days!

Collectors normally collect simply to collect – but Serge had different ideas. Such is his passion for BenRiach, he wanted to share as many of his beloved 1976 expressions as he could with his invited guests.

As 1976 is his favourite BenRiach year, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s also the year he was born. It’s not – he was born in 1978 but justifies his choice by pointing out there weren’t that many outstanding Benriachs from that year!

So where did his obsession for 1976 BenRiachs come from?

Known in the Low Countries as “that guy with all the BenRiachs”, he explained: “Bert Dexters got me started. His enthusiasm was contagious – his explanations about whisky and his insistence on writing down all the tasting notes. I was immediately sold so I joined “Cask Six”, Bert’s whisky club, and my first tasting was a few weeks later at a whisky festival where, as instructed, I noted everything we tasted.”

Serge prefers mainly fruity and sherry-matured whisky. “It took me some time to appreciate peated whisky – although I have always enjoyed whisky with only a hint of peat where the fruit or sherry comes through.”

As with many people, his love of BenRiach was started by the company’s Chief Executive and Master Blender Billy Walker and Serge tasted his first BenRiach at a Lindores tasting.

Serge takes up the story. “Then Bert Bruyneel arranged a tasting and we tasted 11 different BenRiachs including my first 1976 which was specially bottled for the Craigellachie Hotel, the first-ever 1976 bottling. I just adored it – that evening I lost my heart to BenRiach!”

Soon Serge started searching for all the 1976s that had been bottled…and once he had got them all, he found he couldn’t stop.

“I just had to get every new 1976 that was released, wherever that might be. Through Magnus Fagerstrom, currently the biggest BenRiach collector worldwide, I was introduced to his Japanese contact which helped a lot because soon afterwards the first 1976s for Japan were released.

“Magnus also put me in touch with his contact in Taiwan which allowed me to buy two bottles of cask 3033. I took one of them to last year’s Lindores Whiskyfest where everyone had to take and introduce one bottle. Someone else had cask 3557 which was specially bottled for La Maison du Whisky and another had the 1976 for Aston Morris with him. We tasted them and everyone liked the La Maison du Whisky bottling the most.”

It was that day which gave Serge the idea of doing his 1976 mega-tasting.

“Originally I thought I’d keep them for my fortieth birthday in 2018 but every time I told people about my tasting plans, they’d invite themselves over to my house! That’s when I thought: if people are so interested in attending, why not put all the whiskies in a huge tasting, and that’s what happened.”

The tasting was presented by Jurgen Vromas and cost €200 per person. The 19 whiskies were tasted in 4 groups, 3 consisting of 5 whiskies and at the end a blind tasting of 4 whiskies. The whiskies were grouped according to reputation which meant that the tasting would only get better as the day progressed.

Group 1 involved three peated whiskies and two sister casks bottled by Signatory. Journalist Johan van Samang from Whiskypassion magazine also attended the tasting and noted: “They were enjoyable but not exceptional whiskies – although we could taste the amazing character of BenRiach coming through.

“In Group 2, we tasted cask 2013 which hasn’t been bottled yet, but we could compare it with the 2014. Cask 2014 won, and also won this group.”

In Group 3, they tasted three 1976s bottled for Asia and two for Europe. In this category, the Shinanoya bottling stood out for everyone.

And finally, group 4 was the best of the best, blind tasted:

Johan said: “Cask 3557 from La Maison du Whisky was expected to win, but amazingly it didn’t even make it into the top three. Gold was won by cask 3033 for Taiwan, silver for 3029 for Shinanoya and bronze for 3032 for Japan, so Asia won convincingly from Europe.

“But what 3557 and 3033 have in common is that they are really complex, more so than the others. They go deeper, they have more layers and above all they have what makes BenRiach 1976 so special – that fantastic taste of tropical fruit.”

He concluded: “This was probably one of the hardest tastings I have ever done, but it’s also one of the most interesting and definitely the most enjoyable.

“This kind of tasting won’t be repeated very often so our thanks go to Serge for his incredible drive and passion. It’s clear the passion of the few has benefited the many BenRiach enthusiasts in the Low Countries!”

(This feature is based on an article which first appeared in the Dutch Whiskypassion magazine.)

Benromach supports Arts & Business Awards

Speyside’s smallest whisky distillery, Benromach, celebrated two of Scotland’s best assets, whisky and the arts with its sponsorship of the Arts and Business Awards 2012.

As part of the evening a delectable ice cream, using Benromach’s flagship 10 year old single malt whisky, was commissioned by Wild Thyme for diners.

For the last two years, Benromach, in partnership with the National Theatre of Scotland, has sponsored the critically acclaimed The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart which has recently completed a UK tour and is now touring North America.

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart takes theatre into pubs and other unlikely venues, where stories are told, re-told, sung and passed on. It’s an evening of supernatural storytelling, music and theatre inspired by the Border Ballads, Robert Burns and the poems of Robert Service.

The Arts & Business Scotland Awards celebrate and showcase the best examples of business partnerships with the arts and museums in Scotland. Benromach was commended for its sponsorship of Prudencia Hart in the New or Returning Sponsor category.

Michael Urquhart, Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, owners of the Benromach Distillery, said: “This partnership represents Benromach’s first ever arts sponsorship. It’s been a great success story and highlights the real difference a successful partnership can make to both businesses.

“There is no better time to sponsor such a popular arts performance which has become a massive success in the UK as well as overseas. We’re excited to continue this sponsorship and were particularly pleased when we welcomed the cast, crew and audience to Benromach distillery where the award winning artistic performance was delivered for two nights.”

Guests at the award ceremony had the opportunity to try a dram of Benromach single malt whisky as well as taste a specially commissioned Benromach ice cream which has been made by Wild Thyme for the award’s dinner.

Elly Rothnie, Development Director, National Theatre of Scotland, said: “The partnership with Benromach has proven massively successful and has helped The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart to engage in a fantastic international tour taking two of Scotland’s great assets, arts and whisky, to a global audience.”

The awards ceremony took place on Wednesday, 23 October 2012 in Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.

Notes  

• The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart originally toured Scotland in February 2011 subsequently playing at Latitude Festival, Òran Mór, Glasgow, and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2011.  The production has won three awards, a Critics Award for Theatre for Best Music and Sound, a Herald Angel and an Argus Angel at the 2012 Brighton Festival.
• Benromach sponsored some US dates of the 2012 tour with American audiences being offered the opportunity to share a dram of the Speyside Scotch Malt during the show. This sponsorship covered all US venues where state legislation allows and is part of Benromach’s venturing into the arts and their first foray into international arts touring.
• Benromach and the National Theatre of Scotland are committed to promoting responsible drinking messages within the sponsorship of The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart in accordance with the guidelines provided by the Scottish Government document ‘Alcohol Sponsorship Guidelines Scotland’.

About Benromach

Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by Gordon & MacPhail in 1993. Drawing on generations of whisky expertise, the company carried out a painstaking refurbishment, and the distillery was officially re-opened by Prince Charles in 1998.

Just two men hand-craft Benromach 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 portfolio includes the award winning Benromach 10 Years Old and the first fully certified organic single malt – Benromach Organic.

Please visit www.benromach.com for details.

About the National Theatre of Scotland

Since its launch in February 2006, the National Theatre of Scotland has been involved in creating 186 productions in 156 different locations. With no building of its own, the Company takes theatre all over Scotland and beyond, working with existing and new venues and companies to create and tour theatre of the highest quality. It takes place in the great buildings of Scotland, but also in site-specific locations, airports and tower blocks, community halls and drill halls, ferries and forests.  The Company has performed to over 810,000 people across four continents.   www.nationaltheatrescotland.com

The 11th month has arrived and with it comes Movember – the annual celebration of moustaches and men’s health.

http://www.movember.com

To help those growing a mo choose a great whisky to accompany their efforts we’ve matched up a range of different moustache styles with a selection of ‘appropriate’ drams. We’ll also be donating 5% of all the proceeds from whiskies purchased through our Whisky and Whiskers page to Movember at the end of the month.

http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/selection/movember/

You can let us know how your moustache growing antics are going over on Facebook or Twitter, as well as ask us for more whisky and whiskers recommendations – we’re fairly sure we can match up a dram to any kind of facial furniture…

http://www.facebook.com/TheWhiskyExchange

http://www.twitter.com/WhiskyExchange

Three Ships TELLS THE STORY OF JAN VAN RIEBEECK’S JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY 

In December 1651, Jan van Riebeeck of the Dutch East India Company set sail from the Netherlands. His was the momentous task of crossing the stormy southern seas to set up a pioneering refreshment station at the Cape of Good Hope.

Three Ships Whisky commemorates his epic voyage with the release of a limited edition collector’s tin – the last in a series of three – containing the brand’s superior 10-Year-Old Single Malt Whisky, and depicting the three ships that formed Van Riebeeck’s little fleet. Just 8 000 bottles of the whisky have been produced for the series which pays tribute to intrepid seafarers whose names will always be associated with the Cape.  Having honoured Bartholomew Diaz in 2010 and Vasco da Gama in 2011, this year it is the turn of Jan van Riebeeck.

This single malt – South Africa’s one and only – was launched in November 2003, with an offering of just 6 000 bottles which were sold out within six months.  “We know South African connoisseurs appreciate a good single malt, but we did not know how well they would react to one produced locally,” says SA brand manager Marcel Swain. “Clearly there is a demand for first-class, affordable whisky, and what better way than to offer this exceptional single malt as part of a limited collector’s edition.”

Swain says just like Diaz, Da Gama and Van Riebeeck, Three Ships set sail into unknown territory when it launched its first single malt.

The ten-year-old is the creation of master distiller Andy Watts, who is based at The James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, Western Cape, that is also home to the brand. “With its natural warm copper colour, this full-bodied whisky has a hint of peat but without associated smoke. The estery notes add a slighty sweet fragrance hinting of dried fruit and fudge. It has a long, warm finish with a good balance between the wood and the whisky,” Watts explains.

The three-tin collection will be the ideal keepsake for discerning whisky lovers. It is available from selected bottle stores countrywide and retails at about R220 per bottle. Share the journey of discovery and visit the Three Ships Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ThreeShips.

Buffalo Trace Distillery Releases Seventh Round of Single Oak Project Bourbon

Will Release Number Seven Contain the Lucky Number
Deemed the Perfect Bourbon?!

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Oct. 2012) – Buffalo Trace Distillery releases its seventh round of Single Oak Project Bourbons, and is wondering if lucky number seven will hold the key in its quest to find the world’s perfect bourbon!

All of the bourbons in this release were aged in Warehouse K, a wooden floor warehouse, entered into the barrel at 105 proof from the same half of the tree, and charred at a number 3 char level. This allows the release to focus on three other variables, the recipe, rye vs. wheat; stave seasoning, 6 months vs. 12 months; and the wood grain size, tight, average, or coarse. All of the other variables such as aging warehouse, entry proof, char level, and tree cut (top or bottom) remain constant.

“This release is small, but quite a good one for comparing bourbons made from different recipes. Bourbon drinkers can taste and decide if they like wheated bourbon or rye recipe bourbon better. Especially because the entry proof, aging warehouse and tree cut remain all remain constant,” said Kris Comstock, bourbon marketing director.

So far, nearly 1,955 industry expert and consumer reviews have been logged online at www.singleoakproject.com . These whiskey reviews will determine which Single Oak Project Bourbon is the favorite of fans worldwide. Buffalo Trace looks forward to more reviews, to hear what bourbon drinkers think, and will craft the perfect bourbon based our consumer feedback.

After a year and a half into this four year project, barrel number 97 leads by a narrow margin, barely edging out barrel number 106 which led a few months ago. But even industry experts can’t agree! Jim Murray gave barrel number 63 his highest score of those released to date. His 95.5 score earned this whiskey a Liquid Gold Award in his Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2013. Of number 63, Murray calls it a “perfect spice build” and “ultra complex.” And Paul Pacult, in his December 2012 issue of F. Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal is torn between three barrels, loving numbers 10, 30 and 72.

“Obviously the search for the perfect bourbon is a long way from being completed,” continues Comstock, “Consumers and industry experts each have their own favorites. It’s a perfect time for newcomers to get involved with the project and weigh in with their reviews online to help us pick the number one bourbon.”

After a consumer reviews a bottle online, they will be availed of all the aging details and provenance of the barrel. They can interact with others who’ve also reviewed the barrel, compare their reviews, and even learn for themselves which characteristics they enjoy most, in order to help them select future favorites. Participants online will earn points after each review and most importantly, actively participate in Buffalo Trace Distillery’s quest to create the perfect bourbon!

The Single Oak Project is part of an intensive research project Buffalo Trace Distillery started conducting in 1999 by hand picking 96 trees with different wood grains and then dividing them into a top and bottom piece, yielding 192 unique sections. From there, staves were created from each section and were air dried for either 6 months or 12 months. After all the staves were air dried, a single barrel was created from each tree section, resulting in 192 total barrels. These barrels were given either a number three or a number four char and then filled with either wheat or rye recipe bourbon.

To further the variety of experiments, the barrels were filled at two different proofs, 105 and 125 proof. And if this wasn’t enough, two completely different warehouses were used, one with wooden floors and one with concrete floors. In total, seven different variables were employed in Buffalo Trace’s ultimate experiment.

For eight years the Distillery continued with its tracking process, creating intricate databases and coming up with a potential of 1,396 tasting combinations from these 192 barrels!

The Single Oak Project Bourbon is being released in a series every three months from 2011 through 2015 until all of the 192 barrels have been released. The first release hit select stores in 2011. This seventh release will reach stores towards the end of November. Like all the other releases, the quantities are very limited. Every case will contain 12 bottles, each from a different barrel. The seventh release is made up of barrel numbers 18, 26, 50, 58, 82, 90, 114, 122, 146, 154, 178, 186.

All releases will be packaged in a 375ml bottle. Suggested retail pricing per bottle is $46.35.

At the conclusion of the Single Oak Project, the Distillery plans to take the top rated Single Oak Project Bourbon and make more just like it, under the Single Oak name.

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, Whisky 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.buffalotracedistillery.com

THE GLENROTHES UNVEILS RARE CASK COLLECTION 

The Glenrothes single Speyside malt whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK is bolstering its range even further with the unveiling of a new series of single cask bottlings from the late 1960s and 1970s.

Since 1994 The Glenrothes has released less than one single cask a year. However, The Glenrothes newest series, The Extraordinary Cask Collection, will be welcomed by whisky enthusiasts who have expressed great demand for older and rarer bottlings.

The popularity of The Glenrothes spirit amongst the whisky industry’s master blenders has increased so much that, unlike some distillers, there has until now been no remaining older stock at the distillery.

However, the first of this new series, The Glenrothes 1970 Extraordinary Cask #10573 came to the attention of Ronnie Cox, Brands Heritage Director following a process of assessment where a small number of casks were subsequently selected.

Ronnie Cox said; “Extraordinary is a term associated with the heritage of the wines sourced and endorsed by Berry Bros. & Rudd. It applies equally to these casks selected for their personality and excellence, allowing them to stand alone as examples of the supremacy of The Glenrothes bloodline. The first of these is a whisky distilled in 1970 which, in keeping with The Glenrothes’ philosophy to bottle at peak maturity, is now ready to be committed to glass. The anticipation for this release is such that the first Extraordinary Cask is on allocation only.”

Commenting on the new release Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director for Maxxium UK said: “The appeal of The Glenrothes is growing from strength to strength with its reach expanding.  This will be enhanced with the release of the new Extraordinary Cask Collection, which we anticipate much excitement for within the industry and strongly believe it will be warmly received by whisky enthusiasts.” 

The shape of the instantly recognisable iconic Glenrothes bottle has been enhanced further, using hand-blown lead crystal, for the single cask decanter. It is also in keeping with the elegance of the whisky and the heritage of The Glenrothes.

Each decanter has been individually created by a master craftsman at Atlantis Crystal in Alcobaca, Portugal, using the purest form of crystal. Brass has also been used for the hand-engraved collar on the neck of the decanter, supplied by Charles Stott, of the Edinburgh-based Scottish Silversmiths. In addition, the head of the stopper is fashioned from the wood of the very cask # 10573 in which the whisky has matured.

The Glenrothes 1970 Extraordinary Cask #10573 will initially be available from Berry Bros. & Rudd and its representatives in keymarkets. Prices will start at £3,000 (€4,000 or $5,000) and upwards per bottle.

www.theglenrothes.com  

Tasting notes for The Glenrothes 1970 Extraordinary Cask #10573

Appearance: Clear and bright with rich golden hues.

Nose: Distinctly earthy and autumnal, windfall apples and cider cellar. Toffee apples with icing sugar, sponge fingers with custard, puff pastry with apple.

Palate: Lightly peppery and fresh with citrus and eucalyptus. Subtle and supple, satin feel with a texture of crêpe de chine.

Finish: Long and beguiling with very, very dark chocolate. 

Notes: 

• The Glenrothes was founded in 1879
• Little more than 2% of the distillery capacity is bottled as Single Malt to ensure exceptional quality
• Of the 16 Vintages released to date, 12 have entirely sold out
• It is matured in a combination of Spanish and American oak casks – the best of both worlds
• The Glenrothes Select Reserve won a Gold Medal at the The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2012
• The Glenrothes Select Reserve was voted Best in Class at the World Whiskies Awards 2008 and won two Double Golds at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2007
• The Glenrothes 1972 was awarded a Trophy at the 2005 International Spirits Challenge
• The Glenrothes 1978 Vintage was voted Best Speyside Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2008
• The Glenrothes 1975 won a Double Gold award at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2008
• The Glenrothes 1991 won a Gold Medal at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010
• The Glenrothes 1994 won a Gold Medal at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010
• The Glenrothes Alba Reserve won a Double Gold at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010
• “I have always felt that Glenrothes deserved to be more widely appreciated. Beautifully rounded…sophisticated after-dinner malt.” Michael Jackson’s Malt Whisky Companion
• Jim Murray, in his Whisky Bible, refers to The Glenrothes Select Reserve; “One of the softest deliveries on Speyside, the silky barley and citrus caress the tastebuds with rare tenderness” and scores it 24 out of 25