Lifetime achievement award for Gordon & MacPhail’s David Urquhart

Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, David Urquhart, has been honoured by his industry peers with a lifetime achievement award for his services to the Scottish Licensed Trade.

David was presented with the accolade at the DRAM magazine Scottish Licensed Trade Awards 2012. Established over fifteen years ago, the awards were the first in Scotland to recognise the very best of the Scottish on-trade industry.

Due to retire this autumn, David has dedicated 40 years to the work of Gordon & MacPhail, the whisky and licensed trade industry and various local community causes close to his heart, including the Elgin Bid and the Forres bid to host the European Pipe Band Championships.

He has been committed to continuing the work of his ancestors, who have been involved in Gordon & MacPhail since its first year of trading. Established in 1895 as a family run grocers, tea, wine and spirit merchants in Elgin, the company has since grown into one of the UK’s top independent wine and spirits merchants, alongside its others business interests as a bottler and exporter of whiskies from throughout Scotland and a distiller, owning Benromach Distillery in Forres.

Commenting on his award David said: “I’m honoured to receive this award, which was a huge surprise for me. It’s come at a very timely point in my career as I prepare to retire and hand over the work that I have achieved, along with my fathers and grandfathers before me, to the next generation coming through in the business.

“As a family we have grown Gordon & MacPhail to be one of the top independent wholesalers in the UK along with our growing worldwide recognition as experts in the Scotch Whisky industry. I’m proud to have been able to be part of this.

“I’m confident I’ll be leaving my role in more than capable hands, and locally I hope to keep busy with the many community initiatives Elgin and Forres are involved in.”

Susan Young, Editor of the DRAM comments: “David Urquhart has spent the last 40 years serving the Scottish licensed trade, and helping to grow his family company, Gordon & MacPhail. His passion, commitment, determination, and above all, his integrity made David a very worthy recipient of the DRAM Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Benromach, the distillery owned by Gordon & MacPhail, was also sponsors of a special DRAM award – the Benromach Award for Success.

The judges in this category were looking for a business that had successfully grown and developed particularly over the last year – whether by growing their turnover or by further developing their business in other ways. Nominees were asked to share the secret of their success.

The gold medal and the title of Benromach Award for Success went to SimpsInns, followed by Omni Taverns (silver medal) and Fort Hotel (bronze medal).

THE MACALLAN BREAKS WORLD RECORD FOR MOST EXPENSIVE WHISKY SOLD AT AUCTION

Guinness World Records™ has awarded The Macallan the accolade of ‘most expensive whisky sold at auction’. Now the definitive world record holder, The Macallan’s 64yo, The Macallan’s 64 Year Old in Lalique, Cire Perdue sold at auction for $460,000 (£291,125), with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting charity: water, an organisation that provides access to clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations.

Coveted by bidders, the one-of-a kind Lalique crystal decanter housed the oldest and rarest Macallan ever bottled by the distillery, a 64 Year Old single malt whisky. The historic auction which took place at Sotheby’s in New York in November 2010 was the culmination of a 12-city “tour du monde” of the decanter.

David Cox, Director of Fine and Rare Whiskies for The Macallan commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded the Guinness World Record™ for the most expensive whisky sold at auction. This major accolade from such a world-renowned and respected organisation, proves once and for all that The Macallan is the world record holder.”

He continued, “We had a phenomenal response around the world to this very special and rare decanter and I feel it is a fitting tribute to the inspiring project which managed to raise a staggering $600,000 overall for charity: water.”

Silvio Denz, President and CEO of Lalique, commented: “We are enormously proud of this world record we share with our friends at The Macallan, with whom we have successfully collaborated since 2004. Over the years our crystal decanters, which are entirely handcrafted by our glassmakers, have proved hugely admired and sought after by whisky consumers and connoisseurs, as well as collectors of Lalique crystal and lovers of beautiful ‘objets d’art’. This latest achievement, which was realised through the lost-wax moulding technique, is testament to the exceptional quality, artistry and longstanding tradition that is shared by both Lalique and The Macallan.”

The Macallan and Lalique global fundraising tour raised more than $600,000 (£375,000) for charity: water to provide clean water to over 30,000 people (www.charitywater.org/themacallan).

About The Macallan:
Founded in 1824, The Macallan is one of the world’s most admired and awarded single malt whiskies. The reputation of The Macallan is based on a product of outstanding quality and distinctive character, founded upon a set of guiding principles, the Six Pillars. An obsession with quality has been the hallmark of The Macallan since its founding by Alexander Reid on a plateau above the river Spey in north-east Scotland. The distillery is surrounded by a 150 hectare estate, with Easter Elchies House, a Highland Manor built in 1700, at its heart. Traditionally known for maturation in Spanish oak, sherry seasoned casks, The Macallan’s range of outstanding single malts includes :Sherry Oak, matured in Spanish oak casks seasoned with sherry; Fine Oak, matured both in sherry casks of Spanish and American oak and in American oak casks seasoned with bourbon; the 1824 range, exclusive to Global Travel Retail. In addition, The Macallan is well known for its great range of vintage whiskies, dating back to 1926, and is considered the most sought after of all single malts among collectors and connoisseurs at auction. Please savour responsibly.

www.themacallan.com

About Lalique:
LALIQUE is more than just a name. It is René LALIQUE’s (1860-1945) talent, a genius destined to revolutionise the world of jewellery, beginning in 1885 with his famous ″Art Nouveau″ jewellery sets, true works of art, which are now highly sought-after by museums and collectors. A brilliant master glassmaker of the Art Déco movement, René LALIQUE’s creations were highly eclectic. Indeed, it was René LALIQUE, who was responsible for the great technological and commercial revolution which even today continues to influence the way bottles of perfume are created and packaged. René LALIQUE’s imagination has proved to be the source of a vast and varied collection, including bowls, vases, statuettes and perfume bottles. They were produced at the Wingen-sur Moder factory in Alsace, opened in 1922.René Lalique’s creations belong to the international artistic and cultural patrimony. His works are displayed in more than 40 Museums worldwide including the Museum of Decorative Arts in Paris, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon, Victoria and Albert Museum in London and the Lalique museum in Hakone, Japan. A national Lalique museum was opened in Wingen-sur-Moder, in the Alsace region of France on 1 July 2011. In February 2008, the Swiss company Art & Fragrance acquired Lalique SA from the Pochet Group and Silvio Denz became Lalique’s President and CEO.www.lalique.com

About charity: water
charity: water is a non-profit organization bringing safe and clean drinking water to people in developing nations. Unsafe water and lack of basic sanitation cause 80% of all sickness and disease, and kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. charity: water gives 100% of the money raised to direct project costs, funding sustainable clean water solutions in areas of greatest need. Just $20 can give one person in a developing nation clean water for 20 years. In four years, charity: water has brought clean drinking water to over 1.4 million people in 17 countries.
www.charitywater.org

About Sotheby’s
Founded in 1744, Sotheby’s is a global company specialising in art auction, private sales and art-related financing activities. Founded in 1744, Sotheby’s is the oldest and largest internationally recognised firm of fine art auctioneers in the world with an international network of 98 offices in 38 countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas, including 17 worldwide auction centres. Nearly 1,000 sales a year are held around the world. Central to Sotheby’s ability to achieve great successes is the well-established global name recognition, a reputation for knowledge and expertise, an extensive distribution network, and long-standing client relationships around the world, of which Sotheby’s is extremely proud.

www.sothebys.com

THE MACALLAN CELEBRATES EIGHT DECADES WITH SIR PETER BLAKE, GODFATHER OF POP ART

Today (25th June 2012), Sir Peter Blake, considered the “godfather” of British Pop art, will be 80 years old and to celebrate this momentous achievement, The Macallan has produced a unique, limited edition art piece, The Macallan and Sir Peter Blake celebrate eight decades.

Sir Peter has a long- standing connection with The Macallan, having designed the label which adorned the first 12 bottles of the highly collectable Macallan 1926, bottled back in 1986. For this project he has teamed up with art director, David Holmes, designer of the earliest Macallan advertising campaign and creative force behind the brand’s most recent Royal commemorative limited edition bottlings, celebrating the marriage of William and Kate in 2012 and more recently the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

The Macallan and Sir Peter Blake celebrate eight decades consists of an oak box, divided in to eight sections, each decade having a backdrop and artefact designed, inspired or chosen by Sir Peter Blake, a miniature of The Macallan distilled in that decade (1930 through to 2000’s), with labels designed by Sir Peter and a small book of illustrations and text about Blake’s life.

The wooden box is designed to represent eight decades in the life of Blake and also The Macallan. The artefacts* contained within the incredible box, sourced by art director Stuart Newman following Sir Peter’s guidance, represent the four elements of water, fire, air and earth, as a direct connection to the whisky making process.

Commenting on the project, Sir Peter Blake, said, “This piece is a reflection of my approach to my work, taking inspiration from the last 80 years, be it from my own art collection or my own actual work. This project has brought together an outstanding team who have truly brought this wonderful idea to life. Working with The Macallan has been great fun and this project allowed me to explore different ideas to create something special, unique and highly creative. ”

The eight whiskies contained in the box offer a journey through the character of The Macallan from the 1930s through to the 2000s. The journey begins with a number of extremely rare single malts taken from The Macallan’s prestigious Fine & Rare collection through the decades, to a stunning whisky from 2002. The oldest whisky in the collection is a 1937, then progressing to a 1949; 1952; 1969; 1976; 1989; 1997; 2002.

David Cox, Director of Fine and Rare Whiskies at The Macallan, said; “Working with Sir Peter Blake and David Holmes has been a great pleasure for us at The Macallan. They have brought such flair and creativity to the project, testament to their outstanding skill and inspiration. This wonderful box is a true celebration of both The Macallan and Sir Peter Blake over the past 80 years, a work of art in its own right from one of Britain’s greatest living artists. We’ve selected whiskies which best reflect the character of our single malt through these eight decades. We are confident that it will be eagerly sought after by Macallan collectors and art enthusiasts around the world. ”

With only 250 boxes for sale, this box of treasures is set to achieve high rarity value and collectability. A small number of boxes are available via www.themacallan.com and the remaining are allocated to key markets around the world, with a guide price of £4,500.

*The artefacts
1930s
Black and white image of distillery workers at The Macallan
Fire bucket – representing water and fire
Dancing tin duck – a replica of one of Sir Peter’s favourite’s from his own collection

1940s
Windproof matches
Tin damsel fly – still very much alive on Speyside
Small bottle with painting of the Queen Mary, one of the first pieces of art Sir Peter Blake bought as a student in the late forties
Wellington boots – representing an original pair of Tom Thumb boots that Sir Peter has in his collection, and one of his favourites.

1950s
She Devil painting on cover of book
Halfpenny

1960s
CD with cover of Beatles painting by Sir Peter Blake – – including an old advertisement created by DH and a film by Phil Sansom on the making of the Blake @ LXXX box

1970s
Teapot and roses painting – adding flowers to the bold and colourful design

1980s
Robin painting – to provide some natural life
Gnome fishing (on the Spey!)or with garden spade.
Spey Salmon – representing the fishing on the Macallan’s Easter Elchies Estate

1990s
Extract from book – W for Whisky The collage is very typical of SPB’s style

Macallan cask – representing the importance of the oak casks in the making of The Macallan

2000s
Porcelain mouse – representing the computer age.

About Sir Peter Blake
Born 25 June 1932, Sir Peter Blake is an English pop artist, best known for his design of the sleeve for the Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. During the late 1950s, Blake became one of the best known British pop artists. His paintings from this time included imagery from advertisements, music hall entertainment, and wrestlers, often including collaged elements. Blake was included in group exhibitions at the Institute of Contemporary Arts and had his first solo exhibition in 1960.

THE MACALLAN TO UNVEIL EXCLUSIVE NEW RANGE FOR THE UK

The Macallan is set to unveil its latest development on the brand with the introduction of an entirely new range, The 1824 Series, commencing in the UK market this Autumn.

The move follows extensive work with distributors Maxxium UK, and other key market partners, to meet the growing demands for The Macallan, which consistently outperforms the category.

This addition to The Macallan family will initially be launched exclusively in the UK and will be classic, signature Macallan in style and character. The 1824 Series is 100% matured in oak sherry casks from Spain, focusing on the brand’s natural colour, delivering the full bodied aromas and flavours for which The Macallan is recognised and famed.

Ken Grier, Director of Malts, Edrington commented: “The 1824 Series will introduce a new approach to The Macallan in the UK market for single malt drinkers to enjoy and underlines our ongoing commitment to leading innovation. The move represents a major step in the evolution of The Macallan and we are extremely excited to be introducing this into the UK market first.”

Created by The Macallan Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno, and his team, the first expression in The 1824 Series will be available from September, followed by further expressions in 2013.

www.themacallan.com

Prince Harry Clinches Victory Against the Duke of Cambridge at the Beaufort Charity Polo Day

The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry competed head to head in a closely fought charity polo match on the 17th June at the Beaufort Polo Club, Tetbury, UK.

After an extremely close and high scoring match, Prince Harry’s Zedan polo team clinched victory in the final chukka against the Duke of Cambridge’s Royal Salute team, winning by 7½ goals to 7.

With polo legends Carlos Gracida (7 goals) and Miguel Novillo Astrada (9 goals) as Captains of the Royal Salute team and Zedan polo teams respectively, the spectators were treated to an exciting display of the sport.

The Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club Charity Cup raised over £60,000 for the charities Tusk Trust, Wellchild, and Child Bereavement, whose Patrons are the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Guests enjoyed the thrilling game accompanied with a drinks reception, with hostesses serving Royal Salute 21 Year Old whisky with ice to guests in the glorious sunshine.

Royal Salute Brand Director, Neil Macdonald says, “We’re delighted to once again support this very special charity polo day at Beaufort, and to enjoy such a thrilling and closely fought polo game. Some terrific defensive play by Prince Harry allowed his team to clinch victory against the Duke of Cambridge’s team by just half a goal in a tremendously exciting match.”

Royal Salute
1. Janie Dear (0)
2. Dave Allen (5)
3. Carlos Gracida (7)
4. The Duke of Cambridge (1)

Zedan Polo
1. Amr Zedan (0)
2. Prince Harry (1)
3. Miguel Novillo Astrada (9)
4. Mark Baldwin (2)

Half time: Royal Salute 2 Zedan Polo 3 ½
Full time: Royal Salute 7 Zedan Polo 7 ½

Notes:

Royal Salute Scotch Whisky

Royal Salute starts where other whiskies end, as only the most precious Scotch whiskies aged for a minimum of 21 years are used to create its powerful and sophisticated blend.

The Royal Salute range includes Royal Salute 21 Year Old, Royal Salute Hundred Cask Selection, Royal Salute 38 Year Old Stone of Destiny, and Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute – the oldest permanent whisky expression in the world, with whiskies aged for a minimum of 40 years. Royal Salute has also released a number of limited editions including Royal Salute 50 Year Old and Royal Salute Tribute to Honour.

Royal Salute World Polo

Royal Salute Scotch Whisky is one of the world’s leading sponsors of international polo, with a series of events across China, India, Dubai, U.S, Brazil, Spain, Australia, South Korea, and the UK.

Within this international programme, Royal Salute is proud to support charity polo tournaments, which have included events that have raised funds for charities whose patrons are Prince William and Prince Harry.

These events have included:
• The Metropolitan Goldin Polo Cup, Tetbury, UK 2012
• Sentebale Royal Salute Polo Cup, Sao Paulo, Brazil 2012
• The Foundation Polo Challenge, Santa Barbara, U.S 2011
• The Sentebale Polo Cup, Coworth Park, UK 2011
• The Bernard Weatherill Cup, Tetbury, UK 2011
• The Beaufort Charity Day, Tetbury, UK 2010

For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com

Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources

Scottish businesses could save £1.4 billion per year 

An innovative programme to encourage people to save money by wasting less and reusing more has been launched today by Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead.  

The Scottish Government’s ‘Safeguarding Scotland’s Resources’ consultation is proposing ambitious targets to cut Scotland’s total waste from households and businesses by 5 per cent by 2015 and 15 per cent by 2025 

For Scottish householders, who are currently estimated to produce over 2.8 million tonnes of waste every year, reducing waste thrown out by 15 per cent is the equivalent of cutting out over 6.7 million wheelie bins full of waste. That’s enough waste to fill over 40,000 refuse trucks.  

The business-focused proposals aim to tap into the estimated potential to save up to £1.4 billion per year by using raw materials more efficiently and cutting waste. 

The consultation also considers phasing out free carrier bags to encourage people to reuse bags and help cut litter. 

A new lightweight bottle of The Famous Grouse was unveiled by Edrington at the consultation’s launch. The bottle, weighs just 340 grams marking a 14% weight reduction previously not thought possible while retaining premium features like embossing and engraving.  The new bottle is set to be rolled out across the UK this winter, an initiative which will save Edrington 587 tonnes of glass every year.  

Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead, who helped unveil the new lightweight Famous Grouse bottle, said:  

“The challenge is to minimise the resources we need to deliver the quality of life we have come to expect, while reaping the economic benefits. This programme is about helping Scottish businesses become more competitive, about helping Scottish households cut costs, and about helping to preserve our environment for ourselves and for future generations.   

“This new Famous Grouse bottle is a great example of how businesses can be more environmentally friendly whilst retaining their high standards.”  

Marissa Lippiatt, Head of Business Resource Efficiency of Zero Waste Scotland, the organisation set up by the Scottish Government to deliver its Zero Waste Plan, said: 

“No one likes to see things that could be put to good use going to waste.  Preventing waste saves money and ensures we make the most of the resources we have.  Many of the raw materials we currently rely on are running out.  Using less now could safeguard our future, and it’s also the best option for the environment. 

“Scottish businesses stand to save up to £1.4 billion by taking simple steps to prevent waste and use resources more efficiently.  The Scottish Government’s proposed waste prevention targets will encourage businesses  to realise these savings and boost Scotland’s economy.” 

Julie Hesketh-Laird, Director of operational and technical affairs at the Scotch Whisky Association, said:  

“The Scotch Whisky industry is committed to delivering long term sustainability. The implementation of its industry-wide Environmental Strategy is key to achieving this. The strategy sets ambitious targets, for example to reduce use of fossil fuels and packaging materials in partnership with its supply chain.” 

Glen Gribbon, Director of The Famous Grouse at Edrington, said:  

“Edrington is acutely aware of its responsibilities to the environment and is an active participant in efforts by the Scotch Whisky Association to keep its promises and to reduce the impact of packaging on the environment. At The Famous Grouse we are constantly innovating so it’s great to see Scotland’s favourite whisky leading the way with such an initiative.” 

Business case study 

The attached photo shows Richard Lochhead, Marissa Lippiatt and Glen Gribbon, Director of The Famous Grouse, showcasing the lightweight bottle of The Famous Grouse.  This is a prime example of how businesses can innovate to become more efficient in their use of resources and energy. 

The bottle marks a technical first for a premium whisky bottle, weighing in at 340 grams – a 14% weight reduction previously not thought possible while retaining premium brand features like embossing and engraving.  Set to be rolled out across the UK this winter, the new bottle will save 587 tonnes of glass every year.  If this was rolled out across the whisky industry, over 58,000 tonnes of glass could be saved annually. 

The event, held at Edinburgh’s Scottish Malt Whisky Association, also gave the group a chance to see how The Famous Grouse whisky bottle has changed since the 1920s.   As well as the 340 gram glass bottle design, five other bottles were on display, showing a reduction in weight by 100 grams between 1925 and 2010.    

Bottle specifications (l-r): 

 *Weight reduction achieved due to introduction of narrow neck press and blow (NNPB) technology, which allows for savings of up to 30% 

**Weight reduction achieved by technical achievements made by the Edrington Group. 

Summary of the consultation 

Key elements of the consultation include: 

• ·        Measures to support business and public bodies to save on waste and materials, including delivering a single business resource efficiency service for Scotland. 
• ·        Improving the way producer responsibility measures for packaging operate to capture more for recycling in Scotland.
• ·        Introducing Zero Waste Pledges, encouraging businesses to commit to waste reductions and take the credit for their actions.
• ·        The consultation also puts forward proposals for requiring retailers to charge for single use carrier bags, with the proceeds going to good causes. This is about encouraging us all to reuse bags. 

Further details can be found here – http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Consultations/Current  

Multi award winning venue WHISKI on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile and sister venue WHISKI Rooms have just released their first independent bottling of single malt scotch whisky via their specialist whisky shop adjoining WHISKI Rooms.

“Bottling our own whisky is something we have always wanted to do and with our whisky shop staff incredibly keen to have something exclusively from us, we decided now was the right time” said Anne Still, Director of Whiski.

The new whisky is a Braeval, 12 year old single malt scotch whisky available from our shop for £49.99. Bottled at 46% and matured in a single sherry cask with only 150 bottles available.

“We had great fun choosing and went through a lot of samples, scoring each one before selecting the Braeval as our fist independent bottling” said Gareth Van Rooyen, manager of the WHISKI Shop on the Mound.

This is the first bottling from the WHISKI Group and we are very happy with it and intend to bottle many more in the future.

Available from our shop here

WHISKI Rooms Shop
4 – 7 North Bank Street
Edinburgh
EH1 2LP
T: 0131-225-1532

Scotch whisky brand Dewar’s announces 3-year partnership with TED

Following a successful collaboration with TEDGlobal in 2011 and TED 2012 earlier this year, Dewar’s are proud to announce a 3-year partnership with TED, launching at this year’s TEDGlobal conference in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The conference brings together renowned international speakers from a wide array of fields including technology, science, academia, entertainment and design, including visual affects guru Robert Legato (Avatar) and singer/songwriter Macy Gray. Dewar’s will be served up during the week at hosted events, included in that is the exclusive after party at The Caves, an intimate venue in the heart of Edinburgh where TEDGlobal delegates will be treated to live music from globally celebrated artists.

Earlier this year Dewar’s partnered up with TED, the non-profit organisation dedicated to “Ideas Worth Spreading” to showcase the brand new Dewar’s Hub, a revolutionary interactive experience that distilled and visualised real time Twitter conversations. Fusing beautiful visuals with incredible Kinect technology, the Dewar’s Hub allowed users to play with real-time TED conversations projected on a plinth, where you could then sort through tweets using hand motion detection and literally be part of the conversation.

“We’re partnering with Dewar’s over the next three years to focus on collaborations that grow our collective vision of exploring and spreading great ideas,” said Ronda Carnegie, Head of Global Partnerships at TED.

Tom Swift, Global Marketing Manager, Dewar’s, said: “Dewar’s is extremely proud to announce its 3-year partnership with TED. Through this collaboration, we will demonstrate our commitment to innovation and ideas, ensuring we continue to push the boundaries of creativity. We’ve got exciting plans for TEDGlobal 2012 and are looking forward to bringing them to life.”

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

www.digitalnewsagency.com/dewar’s 
www.facebook.com/dewars

About TED
TED is a non-profit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. Started as a four-day conference in California 25 years ago, TED has grown to support those world-changing ideas with multiple initiatives. The annual TED Conference invites the world’s leading thinkers and doers to speak for 18 minutes. Their talks are then made available, free, at TED.com. TED speakers have included Bill Gates, Al Gore, Jane Goodall, Elizabeth Gilbert, Sir Richard Branson, Nandan Nilekani, Philippe Starck, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Isabel Allende and former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown. The annual TED Conference takes place each spring in Long Beach, California, along with the TEDActive simulcast in Palm Springs; the annual TEDGlobal conference is held each summer in Edinburgh, Scotland.

TED’s media initiatives include www.TED.com, where new TEDTalks are posted daily, the Open Translation Project, which provides subtitles and interactive transcripts as well as the ability for any TEDTalk to be translated by volunteers worldwide, and TEDBooks, short e-books by speakers that elaborate on a single idea originally presented on TED’s stage. TED has established the annual TED Prize, where exceptional individuals with a wish to change the world are given the opportunity to put their wishes into action; TEDx, which offers individuals or groups a way to host local, self-organized events around the world, and the TED Fellows program, helping world-changing innovators from around the globe to become part of the TED community and, with its help, amplify the impact of their remarkable projects and activities.

Dalmore The World’s Fastest Growing Malt

Luxury brand The Dalmore is officially the world’s fastest growing single malt, according to new figures from leading research analysts IWSR.

The data reveals that the Dalmore is currently the fasting growing malt year on year with value growth of 69 per cent, taking over from Whyte & Mackay’s other single malt brand Jura which is now the second fastest growing malt in the world with value growth of 56 per cent. The phenomenal performance of the two brands compares with average growth of only 12 per cent across the top 25 malt brands globally.

The Dalmore also takes the top billing as the fastest growing Top 10 malt brand in Travel Retail with year on year value growth of 95 per cent. Jura is again the second fastest growing brand with value growth of 75 per cent. Both compare favourably with the category average value of 8 per cent.

In the last two years, The Dalmore has established an enviable reputation for its rare and exclusive whiskies. The last bottle of The Dalmore 62, released from the personal collection of master distiller Richard Paterson, was sold at Changi Airport in Singapore for £125,000 in late 2011. This broke the previous retail record set by the same brand after the final bottle of Dalmore 64 was sold in Harrods for £120,000 earlier in the year.

The Dalmore has also been active in travel retail, recently releasing a collection of its very best whiskies – the Constellation Collection – for sale exclusively through World Duty Free Group’s main tax and duty free store at Heathrow Terminal 5.

John Beard, Chief Executive of Whyte and Mackay said:

“The global whisky market is continuing to experience a significant boom in sales and, within the malt category, competition is fierce to capitalise on this growth. So it’s testament to the hard work of our staff and the consistent quality of product that both of our malt brands are growing faster than any others out there. The Dalmore, in particular, is performing extremely well in this market and we are experiencing a growing demand from the world’s top retailers, particularly in travel retail which is a vitally important shop window for luxury brands”

For more information about The Dalmore visit www.thedalmore.com. For more information about Jura visit www.isleofjura.com

Red Stag by Jim Beam® Launches National Food Truck Tour with Adam Richman

Red Stag by Jim Beam® is teaming up with food explorer and star of the popular Travel Channel® show “Man v Food,” Adam Richman, to bring the unexpected combination of Jim Beam’s newest flavor innovations and food to fans 21 or older across America through the “Track the Red Stag Food Truck Tour” this summer. Pairing his signature ‘no holds barred’ personality with a flavorful kick, Richman worked with Jim Beam to create unique menu items inspired by and prepared with the Red Stag expressions – Honey Tea, Spiced and Black Cherry.

“My partnership with Red Stag has been an opportunity to explore the innovative and delicious Red Stag bourbon expressions from Jim Beam, while tapping into some different culinary traditions to create some really unexpected dishes, like Kentucky Honey Tea Sliders,” said Richman. “I can’t wait to hit the road with the Track the Red Stag Food Truck Tour and introduce people to something different and unexpected with my signature Red Stag-infused fare.”

The Track the Red Stag Food Truck Tour hits the road in June, visiting three pre-determined cities – Tampa, Indianapolis and Chicago – and one that Jim Beam Facebook fans can help choose by voting online through June 15. In each city, food truck patrons 21+ will get a one-of-a-kind opportunity to taste Adam Richman’s unique Red Stag inspired recipes and get their photo taken in front of the truck to share on Facebook with their friends who are 21 or older. People who are 21 or older can even taste the new Red Stag by Jim Beam® expressions at participating bars in each area.

In addition to voting on the final Track the Red Stag Food Truck stop, fans can follow the Food Truck on the Jim Beam Facebook page as it makes its way through all four cities via an interactive geo-targeted map and find out where to taste the new Red Stag by Jim Beam® expressions by checking out the sampling tab. The Jim Beam Facebook page also offers access to all of the Red Stag inspired recipes Adam Richman created so fans can bring a taste of the Food Truck home. They can even check out the exclusive Red Stag by Jim Beam® cocktails created by Jim Beam mixologist, Bobby “G” Gleason, to complement each Food Truck dish.

“I love to cook and I love bourbon, so I am thrilled to launch a Red Stag-inspired food truck,” said Fred Noe, Seventh-Generation Jim Beam Family Distiller and great-grandson of Jim Beam. “Bourbon is such a versatile spirit, particularly our Red Stag portfolio of bourbons infused with natural flavors – Honey Tea, Spiced and Black Cherry – and this just shows how accessible it can be to all kinds of different palates, whether you’re a seasoned bourbon drinker or just whetting your appetite for the category.”

Red Stag Honey Tea, Spiced and Black Cherry are expertly crafted with four-year-old Jim Beam® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – the world’s number one bourbon – as a base and infused with natural flavors through a unique artisanal process. All three expressions are authentic 80-proof bourbons that are perfect for those who haven’t considered bourbon before – or those who simply want to add a little flavor to their flask.

Red Stag by Jim Beam® is now available for a suggested retail price of $17.99 for a 750ml bottle. For more information about Red Stag by Jim Beam® or the Track the Red Stag Food Truck Tour, go to www.jimbeam.com/red-stag, visit us at www.facebook.com/JimBeam or follow us on Twitter at @JimBeamOfficial.

About Beam Inc.

As one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher’s Scotch Whisky, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, EFFEN Vodka, Pucker Flavored Vodka, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC, DeKuyper Cordials, and Skinnygirl Cocktails. Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,200 passionate associates worldwide generated 2011 sales of $2.8 billion, volume of 34 million 9-liter cases and some of the industry’s fastest growing innovations. Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index. For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit http://www.beamglobal.com/ and http://www.drinksmart.com/.