World Series of Poker to be presented by Southern Comfort 100 Proof 

LAS VEGAS – July 2012 – Southern Comfort 100 proof announces it will be the presenting sponsor of the ninth season of the World Series of Poker Circuit Tour with a record 20 stops on tap for this year’s series.

A WSOP gold bracelet will be on the line for WSOP Circuit grinders in a season-culminating National Championship event taking place at Harrah’s New Orleans just after the final Circuit stop, from May 21-23, 2013. With Southern Comfort 100 Proof on as the Presenting Sponsor, the WSOP will bring the nationally televised finale to where it all began – for both poker and Southern Comfort – New Orleans, Louisiana.

Southern Comfort 100 proof will have title sponsor designation at all 20 circuit events throughout the US as well as at the National Championship in New Orleans. In addition, Southern Comfort 100 proof will receive logo placement on the inner rail and flop box of the feature table which will be nationally televised. As part of the sponsorship agreement Southern Comfort 100 proof has spirits category exclusivity at all WSOP events for the 2012-2013 tour year.

“This marks a tremendous milestone for Southern Comfort 100 proof as the first major sponsorship we’ve ever done for the brand,” said Jason Kempf, Southern Comfort US Brand Director. “We look forward to partnering with the WSOP and their massive following to build awareness for Southern Comfort 100 proof and open up exciting new opportunities for both parties.”

The World Series of Poker Circuit Events Presented by Southern Comfort 100 Proof will begin August 9 at Imperial Palace Biloxi in Mississippi with a 12-ring event schedule, with the Main Event set to begin on Saturday, August 18.

The tour continues almost non-stop through December 17, and then after a short holiday break resumes on January 3 and continues without break through May 20, 2013. Scheduling the National Championship immediately adjacent to the final event will create a “last shot” phenomenon that is sure to bring excitement to the Crescent City.

Once again a points-ranking system for all ring tournament participants will be used and will reward those players who participate in multiple events – with the Top 100 players qualifying for the Southern Comfort 100 World Series of Poker National Championship (May 21-23, 2013 in New Orleans).

Each WSOP Circuit stop Main Event winner will receive an automatic berth into the Southern Comfort 100 World Series of Poker National Championship. Automatic bids will also go to the “Casino Champions” at each participating venue. A Casino Champion is defined as the player at each stop whom accumulates the most points throughout the 12-event gold ring schedule.

“We’re coming off the best year of participation in the history of the WSOP Circuit and the addition of these new markets really brings our vision to life,” said WSOP Executive Director Ty Stewart. “We want to have the #1 regional tour to go alongside the number one super event in poker. We believe we have the best offering in terms of value and ROI at these stakes and the most exciting championship format,” added Stewart. “We’re thrilled to add a big-time marketing partner like Southern Comfort 100 Proof, who is a natural fit for this platform and will truly help grow the profile of the tour.”

The 2011-12 WSOP Circuit Tour featured 17 stops and exceeded 70,000 entries in official ring events, easily making it the #1 domestic poker tour. Highlights included a record 3001 players for the opening event at Horseshoe Hammond. A number of the 2011-12 Main Events exceeded $1,000,000 in prize pool.

The entire 2012-13 schedule is as follows:

WORLD SERIES OF POKER 2012-2013 CIRCUIT TOUR SCHEDULE

TOURNAMENT DATES & TOURNAMENT LOCATION

August 9-20, 2012 IP Casino Resort & Spa (Biloxi, MS)

September 13-24, 2012 Horseshoe Bossier City (Louisiana)

September 27 – October 8, 2012 Horseshoe Southern Indiana

October 11-22, 2012 Horseshoe Hammond (Chicago)

October 27 – November 7, 2012 River Rock (Vancouver, Canada)

November 8-19, 2012 Harveys Lake Tahoe

November 29- December 10, 2012 Harrah’s Atlantic City

December 6 – 17, 2012 Harrah’s Rincon (San Diego area)

January 3-14, 2013 The Bicycle Casino (Los Angeles)

January 10-21, 2013 Choctaw Durant (Dallas/Oklahoma)

January 24 – February 4, 2013 Harrah’s Tunica (Mississippi)

February 7-18, 2013 Caesars Palace (Las Vegas)

February 14-25, 2013 Palm Beach Kennel Club (Florida)

February 28 – March 11, 2013 Caesars Atlantic City

March 14-25, 2013 Horseshoe Cleveland

March 27 – April 8, 2013 Foxwoods (Connecticut)

April 4-15, 2012 Harrah’s Cherokee (North Carolina)

April 11 – April 22, 2013 Horseshoe Council Bluffs (Iowa)

April 25 – May 6, 2013 Harrah’s Philadelphia

May 9 – May 20, 2013 Harrah’s New Orleans

May 21-23, 2013 (National Championship) Harrah’s New Orleans

Circuit schedules are subject to change. Stops may be added or removed. For more information on individual circuit events, including event schedules and structure sheets, can be found at each property website or by visiting www.WSOP.com

*The WSOP Circuit Events and culminating championship are subject to tournament rules and restrictions to be released at a later date. The timing, number and location of events are subject to change and all applicable gaming regulations.

ABOUT THE WSOP

The World Series of Poker (WSOP) is the largest, richest and most prestigious gaming event in the world awarding millions of dollars in prize money and the prestigious gold bracelet, globally recognized as the sport’s top prize. Featuring a comprehensive slate of tournaments in every major poker variation, the WSOP is poker’s longest running tournament in the world, dating back to 1970. In 2012, the event attracted 74,766 entrants from 101 different countries to the Rio in Las Vegas and awarded over $222 million in prize money. In addition, the WSOP has formed groundbreaking alliances in broadcasting, digital media and corporate sponsorships, while successfully expanding the brand internationally with the advent in 2007 of the World Series of Poker Europe. The WSOP Circuit Tour is entering its ninth season in 2012-13. For more information on the World Series of Poker, please visit www.WSOP.com

ABOUT SOUTHERN COMFORT

Southern Comfort®, a fruit, spice, and whiskey flavored liqueur, was created in New Orleans by bartender M.W. Heron in 1874. Today, it is enjoyed by friends in over 100 countries around the world and continues to grow as an icon brand. Please visit us at SouthernComfort.com and facebook.com/southerncomfort.

Drinking Responsibly Is Your Best Bet.

Liqueur, 15-50% Alc. by Volume, Southern Comfort Company, Louisville, KY ©2012

ABOUT CAESARS ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION

Caesars Entertainment Corporation is the world’s most geographically diversified casino-entertainment company. Since its beginning in Reno, Nevada, more than 74 years ago, Caesars has grown through development of new resorts, expansions and acquisitions and now operates casinos on four continents. The company’s resorts operate primarily under the Caesars®, Harrah’s® and Horseshoe® brand names. Caesars also owns the World Series of Poker® and the London Clubs International family of casinos. Caesars is focused on building loyalty and value with its guests through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsurpassed distribution, operational excellence and technology leadership. We are committed to environmental sustainability and energy conservation and recognize the importance of being a responsible steward of the environment. For more information, please visit www.caesars.com

This release includes “forward-looking statements” intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements contain words such as “may,” “will,” “project,” “might,” “expect,” “believe,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “could,” “would,” “estimate,” “continue” or “pursue,” or the negative or other variations thereof or comparable terminology. In particular, they include statements relating to, among other things, future actions, strategies, future performance, and the outcomes of contingencies of Caesars Entertainment and the WSOP Circuit Events. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and projections about future events.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future events or results and involve risks and uncertainties that cannot be predicted or quantified and, consequently, the actual events described herein may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following factors:

our ability to secure all of the locations of the WSOP Circuit Events and the time and place of such events;
rules and regulations of the gaming and other regulatory agencies that govern the WSOP Circuit Events; and
our ability to secure a party to produce and televise the WSOP Circuit Events, and or the National Championship.

Any forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and, as such, speak only as of the date made. Caesars disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this press release.

Abbey Whisky – New Blog Post

Hip-flask fill complete – Lagavulin 2011 Release / 12 Year Old

(From our friends at Abbey Whisky) I’ve been thinking long and hard this week wondering what I can fill the hip-flask with. Its one of my best friends wedding this weekend, so I wanted to make it a good one. I raided the whisky cabinet to see what I could find and came across this little gem…

Part of Diageo’s Annual Special Releases, this limited edition bottling was distilled in 1999 and left to mature in American oak casks before being bottled in 2011.

Lagavulin 2011 Release / 12 Year Old

Nose: Great smell of smoke and ash hits you at first followed by a slight antiseptic/hospital smell, seaweed, bonfire, and a slight lingering sweetness at the back.

Palate: Very oily, creamy, salty brine flavours hits the back of the throat with a warm soothing feeling. A little water softens the flavours and brings flavours of lapsang souchong tea.

Finish: Long, smokey, coating the mouth with oily flavours.

Overall: A superb tasting dram.

I think I’ve hit a winner with this one. Hip-flask is full and looking forward to it’s outing tomorrow. Only problem is, do I take the bottle with me for refills, as I really don’t want to share this one!

To Buy Lagavulin 12 Year Old, 2011 Release Click Here

Wiser’s Whisky Tasting Exclusive For Globe & Mail Subscribers 

Globe and Mail subscribers are invited to join Davin de Kergommeaux, certified sommelier and author of Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, and Wiser’s® Master Blender Don Livermore for a fun and informative whisky tasting to celebrate the re-launch of Wiser’s Small Batch. 

This special tasting will also showcase Wiser’s Legacy and the welcome return of two premium Canadian whiskies, Pike Creek Canadian Whisky® and Lot 40 Canadian Whisky®. 

In the historic Suites at One King West, you will enjoy Canadian whisky, cheese pairings and tasting tips. You will leave with a swag bag featuring a copy of Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert, and Teroforma’s Whisky Stones® courtesy of Indigo. Swag bag valued at over $75! 

When: Wednesday, August 22, 2012
6:00 pm — 8:00 pm

Where: One King West (at Yonge), Toronto, ON

Cost: $75, includes whisky tasting, appetizers and swag bag including a copy of the book and Teroforma’s Whisky Stones® 

For more details and to reserve your tickets for this exclusive, Globe and Mail subscribers’ event visit the Globe and Mail website here.

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales are extremely excited to announce our new partnership!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) is the world’s foremost single malt whisky club, with over 26,000 members in 16 branches around the world. It has bottled from just under 130 distilleries thus far, with the bottlings available exclusively to Society members. The Canadian branch of The Society, launched in Alberta in October 2011, is expanding to BC and come the fall, Edgemont Fine Wines, Spirits & Ales will be the exclusive retail home in Vancouver and for the BC Mainland. The SMWS has the world’s largest selection of single cask, single malt whiskies, with the Canadian branch releasing seven new bottlings every month! Unfiltered. Undiluted. Unrivaled.

We’re thrilled and looking forward to adding their unique whiskies to our whisky wall and sharing them with you! So starting in the fall, we’ll be letting you know how you can become a SMWS member through Edgemont and gain exclusive access to their limited bottlings as well as The Society’s award winning magazine, Unfiltered and Society venues around the world. Keep an eye on our emails for more information in the coming months and, in the meantime, check www.smws.ca for more information.

Until then, if you wish to learn more, email curious@smws.ca or ourselves. We’ll make sure you get all the updates!

Old Pulteney releases the final instalment of the boat series – WK217 ‘Spectrum’

Old Pulteney Single Malt Scotch Whisky, known as The Maritime Malt, has released the third and final expression of an acclaimed series of single malts related to extraordinary boats from Wick. The inspiration for the last instalment came from WK217 ‘Spectrum’. She was built in 1920 and went down in local history as one of the first Wick drifters to use a pioneering method of fishing called Anchor Seine Netting. She was also used during World War II for harbour service duties.

Old Pulteney WK217 ‘Spectrum’ was distilled and matured at Pulteney, the most northerly distillery on Scottish mainland. American and Spanish oak ex-sherry butts of exceptional quality were used in the ageing process. The whisky has not been chill-filtered or artificially coloured. Old Pulteney WK217 has a premium strength of 46% ABV and is available in 1 litre bottles.

Old Pulteney WK217 ‘Spectrum’ follows the very successful WK499 ‘Isabella Fortuna’ and WK209 ‘Good Hope’. It is already on sale exclusively at World of Whiskies and World Duty Free at major airports around the UK. It will eventually become available across travel retail outlets throughout Europe and Middle East. Recommended retail price in the UK is £39.99.

Notes

· Old Pulteney’s core range includes Old Pulteney 12 Year Old, Old Pulteney 17 Year Old and Old Pulteney 21 Year Old. Old Pulteney 30 Year Old is also available
· Old Pulteney 21 Year Old was named by Jim Murray as the World Whisky of the Year 2012 in the latest edition of his popular Whisky Bible
· Pulteney Distillery was established by James Henderson in 1826, at the peak of the celebrated herring fishing boom
· Pulteney remains the most northerly whisky distillery on the Scottish mainland
· The distillery uses one pair of stills, the wash still featuring a very large boil bulb, and condenses spirit with the use of traditional worm tubs

KILCHOMAN LAUNCHES A SHERRY CASK RELEASE

ImpEx Beverages, Inc. is excited to announce the arrival of
Kilchoman Sherry Cask Release

The Sherry Cask release is Kilchoman’s first fully matured sherry release.
It has been matured for 5 years in Oloroso sherry butts and has a unique flavor, different to that of previous Kilchoman releases.

This release is a limited bottling of 6,000 bottles at 46% available worldwide.
600 bottles have been allocated for the U.S.
RRP: $ 75.00/btl

Tasting Notes
Colour: Rich Golden
Nose: Soft peaty aromas and a blend of soft fruits and spice
Palate: An initial sweetness is followed by soft peaty aromas, mixed fruit and spice
Finish: Long and clean with a character and richness that belies its tender age

Glengoyne toasts the start of Fred MacAulay’s charity walk

July 2012, Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Whisky welcomed comedian and broadcaster, Fred MacAulay to the distillery on the first leg of his 96-mile West Highland Way charity walk in aid of the STV Appeal 2012. Fred, accompanied by Scottish rugby legend, Scott Hastings and STV news presenter, John Mackay on the inaugural day of the walk, aims to raise funds to help children living in poverty in Scotland.

The West Highland Way runs close to Glengoyne Distillery near Killearn. On arrival, Alan Wardrop, UK sales manager for the distillery, met Fred and his walkers, presenting them with a bottle of Glengoyne 21 Years Old as a memento and Glengoyne Auld Enemy Dram to auction for the appeal.

Fred was even able to top up his hip flask with Glengoyne 21 Years Old, providing him with a tipple for the remaining 89 miles which lie ahead!

For more information on Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Whisky, visit www.glengoyne.com

To donate to the STV Appeal, visit: http://www.justgiving.co,/WHWFredmacAulay

Notes:

Glengoyne

Award-winning Glengoyne Highland Single Malt is one of the leading malt whiskies in the world and has been distilled at Glengoyne since 1833. Using methods passed down for generations, Glengoyne is made with knowledge, passion and craftsmanship.

The Glengoyne portfolio consists of the 10 Years Old, 12 Years Old Cask Strength, 12 Years Old at 43%, 17 Years Old , 21 Years Old as well as special limited edition bottlings released every year. To buy online visit www.glengoyne.com.

Glengoyne is one of Scotland’s most accessible distilleries, located just 30 minutes north of Glasgow in a beautiful wooded glen overlooking the breath-taking West Highland Way. Tours start from just £6.50; call 01360 550 254 or visit www.glengoyne.com for more details and to book.

OLD FASHIONED CELEBRATIONS AT THE NAKED GROUSE COCKTAIL CHALLENGE FINAL

John Collingwood of No.28 in Newcastle has won first place in a nationwide cocktail challenge run by The Naked Grouse Premium Blended Whisky. His unique creation – The Bitter Sweet Grouse – triumphed at the finale event held in The Naked Grouse Boathouse by the banks of Loch Turret on the 9th July.

The competition challenged specially selected top bartenders from across the UK to create the perfect Old Fashioned whisky cocktail. The twist in the challenge was that the cocktail entries had to be crafted following an authentic recipe from 1806 using only four ingredients: spirit, sugar, bitters and water.

John impressed the judges with his complex, tasty and marketable combination. His winning cocktail contained a double measure of The Naked Grouse, 2 dashes of grapefruit bitters, 2 dashes of Angostura bitters, 10ml of The Snow Grouse whisky, 10ml of Aperol and a syrup reduction made especially for the competition using Wylam brewery beer. The drink was garnished with a twist of pink grapefruit.

Competition was extremely tight with John taking the prize by only a single point (out of 100). All the contenders went to great lengths in their attempt to create the winning drink with one using a fire extinguisher and another carefully transporting an ice ball from the south coast of England.

Wayne Collins, Maxxium UK’s leading Mixologist, who chaired the judging panel, commented: “We have been hugely impressed by the standard of entries into our challenge. The creativity, imagination and skill shown by the UK’s bartenders has been incredible. Our aim is to create simple, authentic cocktails that let the unique characteristics of this quality whisky shine through. We were blown away by John’s creation – The Bitter Sweet Grouse – as it accentuates the whisky rather than diluting its flavours.”

John earned his place in the final by winning the Northern heat of the cocktail challenge in May. He was joined at the final by fellow regional heat champions Ed Belshaw of World Service Bar and Restaurant in Birmingham, Mark Scott of Hyde & Co in Bristol, Jamie Jones of The Yacht Club in Manchester and Sam Sidgwick of Audio in Brighton.

This elite group were invited to go on a luxurious ‘back to basics’ themed two day cocktail boot-camp in Crieff, Scotland to decide the overall champion. Additionally one bar per region was able to nominate a bartender based on sales over a two-month period from April to May to also attend.

The Naked Grouse premium blended whisky contains two of the world’s most renowned malts – Highland Park and The Macallan, which are then slow-matured in first fill Spanish sherry casks – the most expensive in the world. Fancy bows and unnecessary boxes have been left behind in order to concentrate on creating a new breed of Scotch that’s sherried, ultra smooth and easy to drink.

The Naked Grouse is available in contemporary cocktail and whisky bars across the UK and retail outlets such as Royal Mile Whiskies, www.masterofmalt.com, and supermarkets including Tesco and Asda priced at £28.21.

Notes:

About Maxxium

· Maxxium UK Ltd is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Inc and The Edrington Group.

· Its UK portfolio of premium brands includes: blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse, Teacher’s and Cutty Sark), malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Ardmore), imported whiskey (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Canadian Club, Red Stag), cognac and brandy (Courvoisier and Fundador), sherry (Harveys), vodka (Stolichnaya), tequila (Sauza), rum (Brugal and Cruzan), liqueurs and specialities (Sourz, Bols liqueurs, Galliano, Vaccari, After Shock)

About The Famous Grouse Family

The Famous Grouse finest, the original member of the famous family, is now flanked by a range of whiskies to appeal to different consumers and consumption occasions:

The Famous Grouse is smooth with a chocolate orange flavour and a long, slow finish.
The Snow Grouse is delicate and vanilla sweet – perfect for serving straight from the freezer.
The Black Grouse is rich, spicy, sweet and smoky, and is best served neat or on the rocks.
Finally The Naked Grouse, famously smooth, ultra sherried whisky ideally served on the rocks or long in your preferred cocktail.

JEEV MILKHA SINGH AND BALLANTINE’S TOAST 30 YEARS OF SCOTTISH OPEN

Ballantine’s, the No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe, celebrated its sixth successful year as an Official Sponsor of the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open at the weekend, as India’s Jeev Milkha Singh was named the overall winner of the tournament. 

Singh clinched the title in the closely-fought final round yesterday after he birdied the first extra hole in a play-off against Italy’s Francesco Molinari. He was rewarded for his outstanding performance with a coveted bottle of Ballantine’s 30 Year Old in the tournament’s landmark 30th year.

The last time Singh faced a play-off was at the 2008 Ballantine’s Championship, when he narrowly lost out to Graeme McDowell. He made up for that yesterday, and said he would enjoy celebrating his win with a dram of the prestige expression later that evening. 

Recognised as of one Scotland’s most iconic golfing events, this year’s Scottish Open took place at the challenging Castle Stuart Golf Links, overlooking the Moray Firth in Inverness, for the second year. The stunning course, which is situated close to Ballantine’s spiritual home, Glenburgie Distillery, welcomed a host of star players, including the current Ballantine’s Championship winner Bernd Wiesberger, as well as former Ballantine’s Championship winners Marcus Fraser and Thongchai Jaidee. Luke Donald, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Padraig Harrington also joined the world class field. 

Ballantine’s presence at this year’s Scottish Open included two branded bars for spectators, prominent on-course signage and player awards including a bottle of Ballantine’s 12 Year Old for an eagle on the 12th hole and a bottle of Ballantine’s 17 Year Old for the lowest round of each day. 

Speaking at the tournament yesterday Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, said: “We are proud to continue our support for the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open, especially as the tournament celebrated its 30th year this week. The fact that this tournament is played just a stone’s throw from Glenburgie Distillery – where one of the signature malts in the Ballantine’s blend is produced – further highlights the link between golf and our whisky.” 

Ballantine’s association with golf started in 1960 when the first Ballantine’s Tournament took place at Wentworth golf course. More than fifty years later, Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the high-profile Ballantine’s Championship, Korea’s first and only European Tour event and the country’s largest golf tournament, to which the brand is committed until at least 2013. Ballantine’s has been official sponsor of the Scottish Open since 2007. 

Notes: 

Ballantine’s is the No 1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No 1 ultra-premium whisky in Asia Pacific, selling more than 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. 

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits.  Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport. 

In July 2010 Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements. 

For further information please visit http://www.chivasbrothers.com/

Ultimate Aspiration Realised

Ballantine’s unveils the world’s most aspirational Scotch whisky to achieve founder’s vision

Ballantine’s, the No 1 ultra-premium whisky in Asia Pacific, is celebrating craftsmanship and expertise with the global launch of Ballantine’s 40 Year Old; its most exclusive blended Scotch whisky ever created.

Ballantine’s 40 Year Old has been created to fulfil founder George Ballantine’s aspiration to produce the most exceptional and exquisite whisky “only when the time is right.” Using small amounts of a rare inventory of aged whiskies, Master Blender Sandy Hyslop has blended together, by hand, a unique luxury Scotch in the famed Ballantine’s style.

A permanent expression within the Ballantine’s award-winning range, only 100 bottles of this extremely rare whisky will be released globally each year. Individually numbered bottles will be priced at a minimum US$7,000 in recognition of the exceptional quality of the whisky, the craftsmanship of the blend and its bespoke packaging.

Ballantine’s 40 Year Old was initially introduced into Korea – the brand’s leading Asian market – in March 2012 at a gala dinner attended by 240 media and VVIP consumers. The global rollout will continue with Asia Duty Free from September, followed by other significant prestige Scotch whisky markets in Asia.

Ballantine’s Master Blender Sandy Hyslop comments: “This 40 Year Old blend is something I believe George Ballantine would be proud to put his name to. It has been an honour to realise his aspiration and to contribute towards this significant moment in the history of Ballantine’s Scotch whisky”.

Ballantine’s Global Brand Director Peter Moore concludes: “Ballantine’s 40 Year Old epitomises everything Ballantine’s Scotch has stood for since the days of George Ballantine. The culmination of a unique heritage of producing high aged whiskies, Ballantine’s 40 Year Old will appeal to those who appreciate the experience of tasting such an exceptional whisky which is a unique part of Ballantine’s history.”

Presented in a wooden cabinet, the Ballantine’s 40 Year Old bottle features an etching of the Ballantine’s crest alongside Sandy Hyslop’s signature. World-renowned British silversmith Richard Fox has expertly crafted five sterling silver elements to complete the elegant presentation – the stopper, collar, seal, label and base cup, which are each individually hallmarked by the London Assay office, the mark of silver quality for more than 700 years.

Ballantine’s 40 Year Old is a 43% ABV blended Scotch with notes of pears in syrup, rich fruitcake, cinnamon and root ginger on the nose. The liquid has a complex and fruity character and a round, smooth and perfectly balanced body that imparts flavours of toffee and sweet red apple. The finale, Ballantine’s 40 Year Old’s extraordinary finish, is significant and long lasting.

Notes:

Tasting Notes
Colour: Deep and intense
Nose: Rich; Bursting with flavours of ripe pears in syrup, intermingled with rich fruitcake; A hint of cinnamon and root ginger in the background
Taste: Incredible depth; Exceptional multi-layered flavours of rich toffee and sweet soft red apple
Finish: Delightful finish that last an incredibly long, blissful time.

An exceptional Scotch whisky.
Incredible depth; Complex and fruity in the extreme; Perfectly balanced. A true reflection of the devoted skills and dedicated craftsmanship focused on its creation for over 40 years.

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.

In July 2010, Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.

For further information visit www.chivasbrothers.com