Anchored in History; Created for Today. Chivas Regal Launches a Global Travel Retail Exclusive

Chivas Regal will today launch The Chivas Brothers’ Blend, the new ultimate whisky to share, exclusively to the global travel retail channel. This perfect expression of the smooth Chivas style will be a permanent part of the Chivas portfolio and will be available only to shoppers in travel retail. This is the first product launch for the brand since Chivas Regal 25 Year Old was relaunched in 2007.

The inspiration for The Chivas Brothers’ Blend came from founding brothers, John and James Chivas. The brothers first worked together at the Chivas Brothers’ Emporium in King Street, Aberdeen which was established in the mid-1800s and was known for selling fine foods and whiskies. Today, the famous Chivas Brothers’ legacy lives on, selling 4.9 million* cases in over 150 markets around the world.

Paying a contemporary tribute to this rich history, the brothers and their legendary blending skills is The Chivas Brothers’ Blend – a thoroughly modern whisky that is ultra smooth, perfect for sharing. This unique 12 year old blend uses a carefully selected range of malt whiskies including Strathisla and Longmorn to recreate the extra smooth taste that made Chivas Regal’s whiskies famous.

The Chivas Brothers’ Blend has a rich amber colour which bursts with ripe soft fruit flavours including peach and pear, and accented with runny honey, marmalade and soft candy. The rich taste echoes the nose of fresh fruit flavours, giving way to a sweet, creamy texture.

The Chivas Brothers’ Blend bottle and carton design is both unique and striking in its bold use of purple. With the etched Chivas Regal family crest on the bottle, it marries both tradition and modernity to create a product that has a regal nobility and great stand-out. The entire concept of The Chivas Brothers’ Blend brings to life the current consumer trend of revivalism where iconic items are pulled from history and refreshed for today.

Following the global Travel Retail teaser campaign ‘A New Arrival from Chivas’ to fuel travellers’ excitement and curiosity, Chivas Regal will create a consumer journey in airports around the globe that from the point of arrival to the moment of departure, travellers can experience an eye-catching activation involving out-of-store theatre, digital interaction, innovative consumer engagement activities and more.

James Slack, Global Brand Director, Chivas Regal, says, ‘We are delighted to launch The Chivas Brothers’ Blend exclusively in Travel Retail and offer a new Chivas Regal product which focuses on our heritage of craftsmanship blended with a modern twist. The result is an ultra-smooth whisky for today’s travellers who are looking not only for brand innovation but also an experience. The Chivas Brothers’ Blend is the ultimate whisky to share.’

Notes

* Pernod Ricard March 2012 MAT

Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.9 million* 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old.

The Chivas Brothers’ Blend tasting notes

Colour: rich amber
Nose: bursting with ripe soft fruit flavours, including peach and pear, and accented with runny honey, marmalade and soft candy
Taste: rich taste of fresh soft fruit flavours echoing the nose, giving way sweet, creamy texture
Finish: creamy, round and smooth

For further information visit: www.chivas.com

Austrian Whisky Association Founded AWA starts off

Ernie – Ernst J. Scheiner, The Gateway to Distilleries at www.whisky-distilleries.net

Distilling fruit and wine has a very long tradition in Austria. There are hundreds of farm and micro distillieries all over the country.

Whisky distilling is also very popular in Austria. Since 1995 when the first Austrian Distillery J. Haider started producing whisky in the region of Waldviertel – 110km west of Vienna – Austrian whisky distilleries have grown in numbers. More than 78.000 visitors were interested in whisky distillation at Haider’s Whisky Experience in 2011 where about 70.000 litres of whisky mature in warehouses. Johann Haider’s vision turned into a success story. Others followed.

(See: http://angelswhiskyclub.com/awc/Roggenhof.asp)

No wonder, about twenty Austrian micro distilleries produce whisky today. Seventeen years after Johann Haider’s first steps most of his fellow distillers joined together to form an Association of Austrian Whisky Producers which is officially named AUSTRIAN WHISKY ASSOCIATION (AWA).

AWA’s objectives are the promotion of Austrian Whisky in Austria and internationally, the represention of the distillers’ interests and activities. Their prime motivation of safeguarding high quality standards of their products united the whisky distillers.

They fully agreed that Austrian Whisky should be produced only according to the Regulations of the European Union. (See REGULATION (EC) No 110/2008 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 15 January 2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and the protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks and repealing Council Regulation (EEC) No 1576/89;
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:039:0016:0054:EN:PDF)

Some of the AWA’s ideas to implement further measures of quality control were also taken from The Scotch Whisky Regulations of 2009. They adapted some terminolgy and regulations of “Blended Whisky, Single Malt, Single Grain, Blended Malt and Blended Grain.” (See: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2009/2890/made)

The members of the Austrian Whisky Association guarantee that

• the distillery is in Austria
• the malted grain may be bought from commercial malsters according to legal regulations
• the whisky is distilled in Austria
• the minimum maturation period is for three years
• their spirit filled into a cask matured in Austria only
• flavouring additives are not added except they are resulting from cask maturation
• the production and reducing water is Austrian and observes the specific national drinking water legislation
• the lowest alcohol bottling strength is 40% a.b.v.

The elected chairwoman Jasmin Haider, who is the driving force behind Austria’s new whisky quality management, said : „From now on we’ll be able shape the future of Austrian Whisky positively. Our whiskies will be promoted at home and internationally. Austrian whiskies will certainly gain a wider recognition as they are based on high standards of production and quality.“

Contact: 

Austrian Whisky Association  

Bundesinnung der Lebensmittelgewerbe

Wiedner Hauptstrasse 63

A-1040 Wien

E-mail          office@austrian-whisky.at

Web              www.austrian-whisky.at

SULLIVANS COVE named Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year in 2013 Whisky Bible

Sullivans Cove, Tasmania’s luxury single malt whisky, has been named Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray’s 2013 Whisky Bible.

Sullivans Cove French Oak Cask HH509 scored 96.5/100, the highest score ever achieved by a Southern Hemisphere whisky, and was named Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year. It is one of only 60 out of 4500 whiskies to have scored 96.5 and above, placing this exceptional whisky in the top 1% of whiskies ever made.

Now in its 10th year, Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible aims to annually score every whisky available on the market. The book currently list 4,500 whiskies, each individually tasted, evaluated and rated by Murray, with the 2013 edition adding 1,300 whiskies to the list.

2012 has been a fantastic year for the boutique Tasmanian producer, winning Gold at the World Whisky Masters, being named Australasian Distiller of the Year at the Wizards of Whisky and now completing the grand slam with Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year.

Speaking from LA where he is currently on tour promoting the USA launch of Sullivans Cove, Chief distiller Patrick Maguire was delighted with the results: “This is the second time this week that I have been called up with great news. First it was Australasian Distiller of the Year and now Jim Murray’s Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year! This is the greatest moment of my distilling career. To be awarded that kind of score by Jim Murray is just unbelievable. I would like to say a big thanks to the team back home; this is true testament to our hard work and its just such a great feeling to know that you have made an historic whisky. Huge party at the distillery when I get back!”

According to Murray, Sullivans Cove French Oak Cask HH509 “…re-wrote the Australian whisky books…it is not just the best whisky I tasted from Taz (sic), but it walked off with Southern Hemisphere Whisky of the Year. Not only that, it made its way to the Whisky Bible World Whisky of the Year taste off conducted among the six best whiskies I had tasted this year, hob-nobbing with the likes of Buffalo Trace, Ardbeg and Ballantine’s 17.”

This adds to Tasmanian whisky’s growing reputation for excellent whisky. In addition to Sullivans Cove, which has now won its third “Liquid Gold” award, Old Hobart Distillery and Nant Distillery have both achieve “Liquid Gold” status. Jim Murray awards Liquid Gold status to whiskies that score 94/100 or higher in his Whisky Bible and these whiskies are considered to be the very finest currently available in the world.

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

WORLD’S BEST BLENDED WHISKY GOES LARGE 

Whisky. Who makes the World’s best? This question appeared about two weeks ago on a billboard close to Johannesburg’s CBD.

If you haven’t seen it and don’t know the answer, we invite you to get into your car and take a journey of discovery along either the M1 North or South – head for De Korte Street. Or take this virtual journey on Facebook.

The answer to this question will then be revealed to you, and is a Proudly South African one, with top honours going to the Three Ships Premium Select 5 year old, named the World’s Best Blended Whisky 2012 at the annual Whisky Magazine’s World Whisky Awards. It is a testament to the pioneering spirit of Three Ships and being able to showcase these credentials is just reward for a team that has been on a journey of discovery, always striving to produce the kind of quality that is praised all over the world, but can be enjoyed right here in South Africa.

Taste the unpretentious yet bold 5 year old for yourself at this year’s FNB Whisky Live Festival, which is happening at the Sandton Convention Centre from 7 to 9 November. You’ll discover there Three Ships’ 10-year-old, 100% locally produced single malt that will change any impression you might have had that the art of making whisky is the preserve of the Scots only.

Private tastings by Andy Watts, master distiller and blender of the Three Ships range, can be arranged by booking it on the evening at the Three Ships stand. For more information visit www.whiskylivefestival.co.za, or visit the Three Ships Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/ThreeShips

Notes 

The Premium Select 5-year-old is is a superior blend of malt and grain whiskies. It is made using a heavily peated malted barley before being matured for 5 years to create the warm finish, the golden-red sherry tinge, full peaty character and robust, smoky nose that has impressed the world’s premier whisky judges.

BUSHMILLS IRISH WHISKEY® PARTNERS WITH LOWDEN® TO CREATE HANDCRAFTED WHISKEY BARREL OAK GUITARS

Bushmills Village: Bushmills Irish Whiskey, which has been handcrafted on the North Coast of Ireland for centuries, has partnered with world famous luthier, George Lowden, to create three special-edition guitars, handmade from barrel-oak used in the whiskey making process.

Bushmills Irish Whiskey and George Lowden Guitars are both known and loved around the world. Based in Northern Ireland, George and his team have handmade guitars for some of most famous names in the music, including Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and The Edge.

The handmade barrel oak guitars were presented to singer-songwriter Foy Vance and other artists as a thank-you for their participation in Bushmills Live, the handcrafted whiskey and music festival which took place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on 20th and 21st June 2012.

Created by George Lowden and his team of master craftsmen at his workshop in Downpatrick, County Down, the guitar-making process took more than three months and presented a series of unique technical challenges.

The oak that the guitars were made from was from former Oloroso sherry casks, used in the making of Bushmills Black Bush, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey and Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey.

The nature and curve of the whiskey barrel oak meant that each stave of wood had to be carefully sanded by hand to the necessary thickness and required shape. Each stave was then painstakingly glued together to create panels that retained the contours of the original whiskey barrel.

Those panels rested in the workshop for several weeks as the wood bound together, before they were hand-cut by George Lowden to guitar templates he has been using for almost 40 years.

Then, using hand-tools such as Japanese chisels, planes and knives, the team at Lowden assembled the guitars, incorporating the whiskey barrel oak into traditional Lowden ‘F’ and ‘O’ body designs.

The result is three guitars unlike any others ever made. With a distinct sound and even more distinct look, they are as much works of art as they are instruments.

Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery, Colum Egan, said: “To see barrels that have housed our whiskey being used in this way is remarkable. Their creation celebrates the handcrafted qualities at the heart of both Bushmills Irish Whiskey and Lowden Guitars and I want to thank George and his team for making them. Like our whiskey they weren’t made for the cupboard and it is great to see some world class musicians putting them to good use. The guitars were the perfect way to thank the musicians who performed at Bushmills Live.”

George Lowden said: “Making any guitar by hand is highly challenging but these guitars presented a few more issues than most. It was an enormous privilege to work with such special wood and it took me and my team a considerable amount of time to create them. However, what we have managed to do is to create something quite special. We enjoyed working in partnership with Bushmills on the project and were delighted that the musicians who received the guitars were so pleased with them.”

To find out more about Bushmills Irish Whiskey or to see a gallery of images from the making of the Lowden Guitars from Bushmills barrel oak, log on to facebook.com/bushmills1608

Buffalo Trace Fans,

It is ALMOST time for the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection—

STOP! PLEASE READ! STOP! PLEASE READ!

WE HAVE MADE A MAJOR CHANGE IN HOW WE SELL SPECIAL WHISKEY RELEASES

Starting this year, the Antique Collection will only be sold online. There will be NO SALES of the BTAC in person, in the store, whatsoever. This means there will be no line at the door when we open in the morning. Please do not come to the store expecting to buy a bottle in person. You may direct the bottles for shipment, or schedule them for pick-up in person at The Party Source. The same limits—SEE BELOW—will apply as in previous releases. (Also, this same policy will apply to future Van Winkle releases.)

The 2012 Buffalo Trace Antique Collection (BTAC) will go on sale from The Party Source website only on Tuesday, October 23, at 12:00 p.m. noon EST. At that time, you will receive an email containing links to the BTAC online. You may use those links to purchase the items.

The Buffalo Trace Antique Collection consists of:
George T. Stagg
Eagle Rare 17
Sazerac Rye 18
William Larue Weller
Thomas Handy Rye

To distribute these coveted whiskeys to as many Bourbon lovers as possible, sales of the BTAC are limited as follows:

1) The BTAC is limited to ONE ORDER PER PERSON/HOUSEHOLD/ADDRESS. Attempts to place multiple orders will result in the summary deletion of the order, without notification.
2) A BTAC order may consist of ONE bottle of George T. Stagg, plus your choice of ONE additional BTAC bottle, while supplies last.
3) If you do not want any Stagg, you are not required to buy it— however you may still buy only ONE other BTAC bottle of your choice.
4) We cannot sell two bottles of the same whiskey, under any circumstances.
5) Sales of the BTAC are from our website only, first come, first serve; there is no waiting list or reservation.

The price this year for the BTAC is $69.99 per bottle

Glen Ord Distillery: condensers

DIAGEO PLANS FOR GLEN ORD DISTILLERY EXPANSION

Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business, will this week submit a planning application for the expansion of the Glen Ord distillery near Muir of Ord.

The planning application, which will be submitted to Highland Council, is the latest step in Diageo’s £1billion investment plan to expand Scotch whisky production capacity over the next five years, which was announced by Diageo in June.

As part of the investment programme Diageo plans to expand around half of its existing 28 malt whisky distilleries in Scotland, as well as building at least one new single malt distillery.

Glen Ord is a key distillery for Diageo, producing spirit for its world-leading portfolio of blended Scotch whiskies, as well as for The Singleton of Glen Ord single malt Scotch whisky.

Under the plans being submitted this week, the distillery will see the installation of 10 new washbacks (vessels for the fermentation process) and six new copper stills. This adds to the 10 washbacks and six stills which the distillery currently has and will add to the production capacity by around 5million litres of alcohol per annum. This will take the overall capacity of the distillery to over 10mla. The new washbacks and stills will be housed in existing buildings at the distillery.

An additional mash-tun will be installed as part of the investment.

Brian Higgs, Diageo’s Director of Malt Distilling, said: “Earlier this year Diageo announced plans to invest £1bn in expanding its whisky production business in Scotland in order to meet growing global demand for our brands.

“Over the next few months we will be bringing forward a number of planning applications to increase capacity at our existing distilleries and the Glen Ord expansion is an important part of that programme.”

Kirsty Dagnan, Senior Site Manager of Glen Ord Distillery, also welcomed the investment plan for the distillery.

She said: “I’m delighted that Glen Ord distillery will benefit as part of Diageo’s plan to invest in Scotland and I’m particularly pleased that the local economy will also have the opportunity to benefit from the work we plan to carry out here.

“We will be working closely with the local authority and consulting carefully with the local community in the weeks ahead as we follow the planning application process.”

Glen Ord Distillery has already benefited from significant investment by Diageo in recent years. In 2011 Diageo invested over £3million to increase the capacity of the distillery by around a million litres by installing additional washbacks.

Last month Diageo submitted Proposal of Application Notices (PANs) in relation to three possible sites for a new distillery, although no final decision has been taken on the location. The sites identified for possible development are Teaninich, Ross-shire, and Glendullan and Inchgower, both on Speyside. All three locations are adjacent to existing Diageo distilleries.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES COLONEL E.H. TAYLOR, JR. SMALL BATCH BOURBON WHISKEY

100 Proof Small Batch Whiskey coming soon

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Oct. 2012) – Buffalo Trace Distillery pays homage to former Distillery owner E. H. Taylor, Jr. with a small batch, Bottled-In-Bond, 100 proof bourbon whiskey aged in Taylor’s warehouse.

Taylor built his iconic brick warehouse for barrel aging in 1881 and the Warehouse is still in use today. After seven years on the sixth floor, his namesake bourbon whiskey tastes of caramel corn sweetness, mingled with butterscotch and licorice. The aftertaste is a soft mouth-feel that turns into subtle spices of pepper and tobacco.

The Small Batch Bourbon is the sixth and latest release in the line of the E. H. Taylor, Jr. collection of whiskeys, rounding out the collection of Old Fashioned Sour Mash Bourbon, Single Barrel Bourbon, Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon, Barrel Proof Bourbon and Straight Rye Whiskey. The Taylor collection was first released in early 2011. Like the previous five releases, this whiskey will have very limited availability and will be packaged in a vintage label and canister reminiscent of Taylor’s bottles over one hundred years ago.

“We’ve had a tremendous response to our E. H. Taylor, Jr. whiskeys,” said Kris Comstock, Bourbon marketing director. “We’re honored to pay tribute to a pioneer and legend like Taylor.”

Edmund Haynes Taylor is widely considered one of the founding fathers of the bourbon industry, fighting for the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, nearly three decades after he purchased the distillery that is known today as the Buffalo Trace Distillery. During his time, Taylor implemented several innovative methods still used today by Buffalo Trace, such as climate controlled aging warehouses. In addition to his bourbon interests, Taylor had political ties. He was the great-nephew of President Zachary Taylor and elected the mayor of Frankfort, state representative to the Kentucky General Assembly and a member of the State Senate.

The inaugural bottling of Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey will be available in November. The suggested retail price is $39.99 per 750ml bottle.

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

Van Winkle Bourbon Available Soon

Coveted Bottles Remain in Short Supply, Other Changes Announced 

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Oct., 2012) – Finally, the wait is nearly over! Van Winkle bourbons will be back on shelves in late October.  The popularity of Van Winkle whiskeys remains unmatched, but still in short supply. Known for their smoother and sweeter flavor, Van Winkle bourbons are aged years longer than most others and garner an impeccable reputation among connoisseurs.  “When bourbon ages over 15 years, much is lost to the angel’s share.  Many barrels often yield less than 20 gallons, out of the original 53 gallons produced,” said Julian Van Winkle, president, Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery. “However, our patience creates bourbon with unrivalled flavor.”

Although Van Winkle bourbons have become increasingly popular worldwide in recent years, less is sent overseas than ever to allow more of this coveted bourbon to remain in the United States.  “Because demand has escalated so much here, we’ve decided to scale back exports to help supply our American fan base,” continued Van Winkle.

Furthermore, there will be more Old Rip Van Winkle 10 Year Old Bourbon at 107 proof. “We prefer the taste of our 10 year old bourbon at 107 proof. The rich flavor is compounded by the high proof,” added Van Winkle. “We’ll no longer bottle our 10 year old whiskey at 90 proof. Therefore, there will be more 107 proof available. For those who will miss the 90 proof Old Rip, we suggest adding a little more water to their glass. As Pappy used to say, ‘why ship all that water across the country!’”

The Van Winkle collection consists of several expressions. Suggested retail prices are as follows:

• $39.99 – Old Rip Van Winkle Handmade Bourbon 10 Year Old 107 proof
• $54.99 – Van Winkle Special Reserve Bourbon 12 Year Old
• $69.99 – Van Winkle Family Reserve Rye Whiskey 13 Year Old
• $79.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 15 Year Old
• $129.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 20 Year Old
• $249.99 – Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve Bourbon 23 Year Old

The Van Winkle line of whiskeys has won a bevy of awards through the years, including 2010 “Spirit of the Year” from Wine and Spirits Magazine for Pappy Van Winkle 23 Year Old; “Best of Show” and “Best Whiskey” at the 2010 Los Angeles Wine and Spirits Competition; Gold medals at the 2011 and 2012 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; Best of Category, Small Batch Bourbon 11 Years or Older, 2012 Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition; and 2012 Chairman’s Trophy Finalist: Extraordinary, Ultimate Recommendation at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge.

The Van Winkle Whiskeys will be available near the end of October, but please be mindful that supply is quite limited and bottles shall be hard to find in stores, bars and restaurants. They will be packed three bottles per case, rather than traditional 12 bottle cases. 

About Van Winkle Bourbon

The Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery has a four generation history. The Van Winkle family’s involvement in the bourbon industry began in the late 1800s with Julian P. “Pappy” Van Winkle, Sr. He was a traveling salesman for the W.L. Weller and Sons wholesale house in Louisville. Pappy and a friend, Alex Farnsley, eventually bought the wholesale house and also partnered with Mr. A. Ph. Stitzel on the purchase of Mr. Sitzel’s distillery.  The three of them merged the two companies and became the Stitzel-Weller Distillery.

In May of 1935 at the age of 61, Pappy opened the newly completed Stitzel-Weller Distillery in South Louisville. Its prominent brands were W.L. Weller, Old Fitzgerald, Rebel Yell, and Cabin Still.  Pappy had a heavy influence on the operations there until his death at the age of 91. His son, Julian, Jr. took over operations until he was forced by stockholders to sell the distillery in 1972. The rights to all of their brands were sold to Norton Simon, Inc. Later, United Distillers, who eventually ended up with the Stitzel-Weller Distillery, sold off all of the original labels around 1999.

After selling the distillery, Julian Jr. resurrected a pre-Prohibition label, the only one to which the Van Winkles kept the rights, called Old Rip Van Winkle. He used whiskey stocks from the old distillery to supply his brand. Julian Jr.’s son, Julian, III took over in 1981 when Julian, Jr. passed away. Julian III has continued with the Van Winkle tradition of producing high-quality wheated bourbon. His son, Preston, joined the company in 2001 and the Van Winkles look to continue that tradition for generations to come.

In 2002 the Van Winkles entered into a joint venture with Buffalo Trace Distillery in Franklin County, Frankfort, Ky. All of the Van Winkle’s whiskey production now takes place at Buffalo Trace Distillery under the same strict guidelines the family has always followed. For more information on the Van Winkle family of bourbon please visit http://www.oldripvanwinkle.com/.

SULLIVANS COVE named Australasian Distiller of the Year 

Sullivans Cove, Tasmania’s luxury single malt whisky, won a Gold and four Silver medals and was voted Australasian Distiller of the Year at the inaugural Wizards of Whisky blind tasting in London on Friday.

Founded by world-renowned whisky writer and commentator Dominic Roscrow to recognise and reward excellence in whisky making outside of Scotland, the Wizards of Whisky attracted 85 entries from around the world.

Sullivans Cove’s Distiller Patrick Maguire, who is currently on a tour of the USA promoting the launch of Sullivans Cove in the USA, was thrilled with the results: “This has been an incredible year for us. We won the World Whisky Masters a few months back, gained listing at Dubai Airport, launched in the USA and now being named Australasian Distiller of the Year is just the cherry on top! The guys have put in a huge effort back home and this is testament to our passion to make the world’s best single malt.”

Sullivans Cove is available worldwide, please check http://www.sullivanscovewhisky.com/ for local stockists and distributors.

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.