Whisky Terroir: Ultimate Provenance from Bruichladdich’s Islay Barley Series

The latest edition of Bruichladdich’s Islay Barley Series, this one from Dunlossit Farm, is released today.

The Islay Barley Series is the ultimate expression of Islay, a single malt whose provenance and traceability is as unparalleled as the origin is unique.

Bruichladdich’s Islay Barley Series showcases the first single malt whiskies in a century to be exclusively Islay-made – from barley to barrel to bottle.

In these days of increasing production efficiency and global market raw material sourcing, the real sense of place, the terroir from which Scotch whisky originated, has been lost.

Bruichladich have set out to rectify this with a single malt that was made from barley reassuringly sown and grown on the Isle of Islay. The unpeated barley was distilled in to Bruichladdich whisky, warehoused and matured, and finally bottled still on the Hebridean island at Bruichladdich Distillery.

The terroir for this whisky is a desolate place known as the ‘headland of the the gallows’. This lonely field is a rare patch of fertility amongst the barren, rocky outcrops and peat bogs tilled continually since Neolithic times.

Evidence of Islay’s earliest farmers, dated to 6,000 years ago, was discovered in this soil only last year.

In this remote, unsullied earth, Chalice barley was grown by farmer Jim Logan in what is now called the Jubilee field (Queen Victoria’s, not Elizabeth’s), on Dunlossit land owned by Bruno Schroder, a Bruichladdich shareholder. It was harvested in September 2006 and distilled eight weeks later.

Bruichladdich’s Islay Barley Series is the ultimate in whisky terroir – where once again land and dram are united.

Non chill-filltered, and colouring-free, Bruichladdich’s Islay Barley Series “Dunlossit” was bottled at 50% ABV and retails at around £38.

Notes:
In the mid nineteenth century, 4000 acres of malting barley were grown on the island of Islay, but due to The Great War and its Islay casualties, the yield collapsed to zero.

The programme by Bruichladdich to re-establish the cereal on the island now means 800-1000 tons, a quarter of the Victorian era yield, is now harvested for Bruichladdich.

AUCHENTOSHAN PRESENTS…

A series of classically modern events that will exercise the brain with a mix of Single Malt Whisky served with a good measure of intelligent ideas and perspectives from some of the UK’s leading creative experts. 

2010 and 2011 saw the birth of Auchentoshan Presents… a series of exciting and innovative parties with forward-thinking music promoters that smacked a punch into a laid back Sunday with acts including SBTRKT, Optimo and Jaques Renault (DFA). For 2012, Auchentoshan Presents… has evolved. Scotland’s only triple distilled Single Malt Whisky is proud to announce partnerships with a collective of advocates who are contemporary experts in a variety of creative fields. Each one personifies the character of Auchentoshan by taking a traditional craft or idea and made it their own with a unique and modern attitude. This classically modern approach is what makes them stand apart, and why they fit so well with Auchentoshan.

This year’s activity follows on from a successful experiential campaign in 2011, which introduced Auchentoshan to over 3,000 advocates and influencers. Thisseries, which will be supported with PR and social media, will bring to life the Classically Modern platform by working alongside partners who have, like the whisky, mixed the very best of the past with the very best of the future.

Kirsteen Beeston, Head of Brands Marketing at Morrison Bowmore Distillers, said, “We’re really excited to be taking Auchentoshan Presents into its third year with such a great team of advocates. The aim was to evolve the series by stepping up the sharing of intelligent ideas and conversation to create the perfect backdrop to introduce both new and traditional whisky drinkers to the world of Single Malts.”

Nick Barker, Cellar Trends Brand Manager for Auchentoshan, commented, “Auchentoshan continues to gain popularity in the on-trade, with the Three Wood expression fast becoming the bartenders favourite to use in classic cocktails such as the Old Fashioned alongside modern and innovative new serves. The Auchentoshan Presents series will continue to help drive momentum by increasing awareness of Auchentoshan and its positioning with both a new and existing customer base”.

The events, which will take place across the UK from July-October, will combine a unique whisky tasting with innovative workshops in the advocates’ field of expertise. These will include advice on gentlemen’s grooming with a pop-up barbershop, to a hidden dinning experience in a secret location, to how to make a classically modern Old Fashioned and how to start a fashion label.

2012’s Auchentoshan Presents advocates are:

Murdock London – leader in traditional grooming for the modern gentleman

DJ Ivan Smagghe – globe trotting and genre defying DJ

Shacklewell Nights – pioneer of hidden dining experiences

D.S.Dundee – premium menswear brand and tailors, Scotland born and London based

DunneFrankowski – coffee creators, focusing on design, cafe culture and concepts

Soulshakers – leading mixologists who have been at the forefront of cocktail design in the UK

In conjunction with this series of events Auchentoshan has created a ‘Classically Modern’ handbook with designers Herb Lester Associates www.herblester.com. The handbook offers an informative yet easy to follow guide to Single Malt Whisky and Auchentoshan. There are also tips on grooming, a classically modern playlist, cocktail instructions and other sartorial gems given by the advocates. These will be available to everyone who attends the AuchentoshanPresents…events.

Auchentoshan, pronounced ock-un-tosh-an, is a traditional and authentic Single Malt, distilled three times and matured in the finest wood, producing a smooth and delicate spirit; a complex, modern expression of a classic Single Malt Whisky. It is a whisky that’s been produced with passion and enriched with heritage.

Auchentoshan Presents…National Tour:

Auchentoshan Presents… Murdock London & their pop-up classically modern barbershop and gentleman’s grooming workshop

GLASGOW – Friday 13th July – The Corinthian (6-10pm)

LONDON – August tbc – Zetter Townhouse

Murdock was established by Brendan Murdock in 2006 to offer unique barbering services, classic grooming products and artisan accessories. They have firmly established themselves as a primary destination for the new gent-about-town. Alex Glover, Master Barber at Murdock in Liberty, will be hosting a pop-up barbershop and grooming workshop as part of Auchentoshan Presents…The night will include a talk on traditional grooming for the modern gentlemen, how to shave, and what products to use. Those that arrive early will be booked in for a complimentary barber experience of a wet shave, beard trim, express trim or hot towel facial. Consumers can then sit back and relax with Auchentoshan cocktails, tasting and sartorial delights.

Auchentoshan Presents… Soulshakers classically modern cocktail workshop

LEEDS – Sunday 26th August – The Wardrobe

Soulshakers will host a cocktail workshop and teach how to make a classically modern Old Fashioned.

Soulshakers have been in the vanguard of the cocktail renaissance since 2002. They havebeen responsible for some of the most successful bars, clubs and restaurants open today, raising the standard of drinks made on planes, at home and at music festivals around the world.

Auchentoshan Presents… Ivan Smagghe, Q&A and classically modern DJ Set

MANCHESTER – Sunday 9th September – Common

Ivan Smagghe belongs to the top table of DJs that journalists like to describe as “The DJ’s DJ” He has created “genre-defying/defining” mixes for Bugged Out!, Death Disco, Fabric, Paris concept store Colette and the label Kill The DJ, which he founded and continues to A&R. He will be playing a classically modern set and taking part in a Q&A for Auchentoshan Presents…

Auchentoshan Presents… D.S.Dundee tailoring and classically modern fashion workshop & DunneFrankowski coffee workshop

BRIGHTON – October date TBC

D.S.DUNDEE is a premium menswear brand, Scotland born and London based. Inspired by British and Scottish heritage, sartorial style and casual classics, DSD creates a contemporary wardrobe – a one-stop shop for the discerning modern man. D.S.Dundee will be bringing down their founders and tailors to talk about how to set up a fashion label and tailoring tips. They are joined by DunneFrankowski who will be holding a coffee and whisky workshop Victor Frankowski is certified as a sensory judge for coffee competitions; he runs DunneFrankowski with Rob Dunne, teaching coffee-tasting and exploring links between coffee,design, and business.

Auchentoshan Presents… Shacklewell Nights classically modern Hidden Dining experience

EDINBURGH – October 28th– Secret location

Claire Roberson is one of the pioneers of London’s secret dining scene with Green Onions Secret Supper Club and more recently with Shacklewell Nights, both of which have received huge praise and sell out in hours. Claire will be creating a pop-up dining experience with whisky and food matching for Auchentoshan Presents…

All events will be complimentary except Shacklewell Nights event where there will be a charge; people can sign up for a place through the Auchentoshan website or Facebook.

For more details on events and to reserve a place visit www.auchentoshan.com / or www.facebook.com/auchentoshan

UK Distributor: Cellar Trends on 01283 217703 or auchentoshan@cellartrends.co.uk

Notes:

Auchentoshan – The Modern Classic

A traditional and authentic single malt, distilled three times and matured in the finest wood

A whisky produced with passion and enriched with heritage

Favours the classic but with a nod to the contemporary

It’s a combination of two worlds; old and new

It’s a throwback to the future

It’s style not fashion

The very best of the past with the very best of the present…

Auchentoshan Classic is available to buy from a wide range of retailers including Asda, Waitrose, and a range of on line retailers and ßwhisky specialists with a RRP approx £27.00.

As Glasgow’s closest Distillery, Auchentoshan is truly unique as it is the only distillery to use a third still in the whisky making process. It means Auchentoshan is the only Single Malt Scotch whisky to triple distil every single drop. This third distillation takes the new spirit to 81.5% ABV (not 70% which is achieved through only distilling twice) making it the highest distillate of any Scottish distillery. The result is a light and delicate single malt of unmistakable smoothness.

Awards 2011

IWSC

Gold Medal, 1975 Bourbon

Best in Class Silver, 18YO

Best in Class Silver, Classic

International Spirits Challenge

Silver Media, 1975 Bourbon

Silver Medal, Valinch

Silver Medal, Three Wood

Scottish Design Awards

Best Packaging – Auchentoshan Travel Retail Award

Awards 2012

San Francisco Spirits Competition

Double Gold Medal, Three Wood

Silver Medal, Classic

Silver Medal, 12YO

World Whiskies Awards:

Best Lowland – Auchentoshan 1999 Wine Matured

Ultimate Spirits Challenge:

94 points/Excellent-Highly Recommended – Auchentoshan Three Wood

Ultimate Cocktail Challenge:

Chairman’s Trophy – Best Scotch Whisky in a classic Rusty Nail cocktail – Auchentoshan Three Wood

The Gateway to Distilleries

Illustrated Web-Guide published

Ardbeg, Bowmore, Chichibu, Cooley, Dalmore, Glenmorangie, Glenlivet, Glenfarclas, Midleton, Slyrs and their neighbours can be easily visited. More than 120 distilleries are illustrated and described in full detail by thousand photographies.

“Join in a picturesque journey to the distilleries of Scotland, Ireland, Mainland Europe and Asia. Meet the people behind the labels and learn more about the making of uisque beatha, the water of life.” says the editor Ernie J. Scheiner.

Historic aspects, details of production processes are explained for the whisky enthusiast. A comprehensive list of independent bottlers, whisky festivals and literature is also added.

It is an excellent teaching website about the whisky industry.

See www.whisky-distilleries.net

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