BENRIACH’S ENHANCED PEATED RANGE TAKES CUSTOMERS BACK TO THE FUTURE!

from subtly-peated malts to peat so thick you could dance on it, the four are sure to become firm favourites!

INTRIGUINGLY, BenRiach’s revamped range of peated single malts shows the award-winning Speyside distillery going back to its nineteenth-century roots to give its twenty-first century customers a truly unique and authentic taste experience.

Back in the 1800s, the majority of Speyside distilleries were producing pungent, peated whiskies, but this trend changed in the 1960s when the US market emerged and a softer, easier-drinking style of whisky was preferred.

BenRiach was one of the first Speyside distilleries of the modern era to release a peated expression, with the 10 year-old Curiositas in 2004. The majority of the distillery’s output is the more traditional, non-peated style that most people associate with Speyside, but the peated range certainly represents a unique selling point.

Over the last few months, the distillery has been working to come up with a revamped, definitive range of four peated expressions that will be available on an ongoing basis. The final line-up can now be confirmed as Birnie Moss, Curiositas aged 10 years old, Septendecim aged 17 years old and Authenticus aged 25 years old.

From subtly-peated malts to peat so thick you could dance on it, the four are sure to become firm favourites!

Birnie Moss is an area of windswept moorland close to the BenRiach Distillery and it’s this wild place that gives our single malt its name. This is a younger expression of peated BenRiach, capturing the peaty, phenolic characteristics at their most pronounced. It’s also something of a “first” under the new owners, as it’s the first core expression that uses whisky distilled under the new stewardship of BenRiach. Initially launched around three years ago, Birnie Moss has recently been re-packaged to synchronise it with the rest of the BenRiach range.

Curiositas, the 10 year-old, is BenRiach’s core peated expression and has been available since the company formed in 2004. Traditionalists believe that peated malts achieve optimum balance of peat-bittersweet and oak infusion after ten years’ maturation, and Curiositas proves that point superbly.

Septendecim, the 17 year-old, was only launched in January and already has acquired a reputation for being a magnificent, moody, multi-layered malt with fantastic length. On the palate, it gives sweet, concentrated peat flavours which dominate from the start. Bold and intense, the peaty heart is united with honey-infused raisins, roasted nuts and a luxurious leather impression. Overall, it’s a real robust heavyweight, full-bodied and beautifully balanced with enormous impact. Septendecim is non chill-filtered and bottled at natural colour, with a strength of 46% vol.

And completing the impressive quartet is the full-bodied and audacious Authenticus, formerly available as a 21 year-old and now available and re-packaged as a 25 year-old peated single malt. At 46%, it’s bright, warm and amber gold in colour. On the nose, it offers elegant aromas of ripe pineapple, fresh mountain herbs and a profusion of sweet peat. On the palate, it’s a fantastic fusion of rich peat and smouldering embers bound together by fresh herbs – oregano, aniseed and chicory in particular. Overall, it carries terrific weight and development which leaves a powerful lasting impression long after the glass has been drained.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “Peated malt whisky production only represents approximately six weeks’ worth of the annual production at BenRiach, but the peated whiskies have become an important part of the distillery’s portfolio as they offer something new and unexpected from the Speyside region.

“We wanted to offer our consumers a range of peated BenRiachs that would span the age range – one that would both allow the development of the malt to be charted and also be available on a regular basis. Hopefully, with these four expressions, we will achieve that.”

A FIRST IN QUEBEC: THE QUEBEC WHISKY CLUB PRESENTS THE QUEBEC WHISKY DAY

Quebec, March, 2012 – The Quebec Whisky Club is happy to present the first edition of the Quebec Whisky Day on March 31, 2012. An activity never seen before in the Capital, this day is entirely dedicated to tasting sessions, information and discovery of the world of whisky.

The Master Classes

Three seminars will be taking place all day from 1:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The first session will focus on Bourbons and will be presented by Mr. Matt Jones, Whiskey Ambassador for Beam (Maker’s Mark, Jim Beam). The second session will be about Canadian whiskies and presented by Mrs. Tish Harcus, Brand Ambassador for Canadian Club. The participants will enjoy an Aboriginal-flavoured dinner before concluding the day with a session on international whiskies with Mr. Jonathan Lucks, Regional Director in Canada for the Swedish distillery Mackmyra. Plus, the Quebec Whisky Club will also participate in presenting The Founder’s Selection.

This day presented by experts from the industry fits perfectly in the Club’s mission, which is to make the world of whisky and scotch more accessible and to democratize the exercise of tastings. The founders also wish to share their passion and bring participants to another level of knowledge of whisky.

The Quebec Whisky Club is a non-profit organisation founded in 2008 by three whisky lovers. The Club is devoted to sharing knowledge and promoting scotches, whiskies, bourbons and other spirits. The activities consist mainly of workshops and tastings presented by experts. Members meet enthusiastic and passionate people wanting to become initiated or to enhance their knowledge about whisky.

Information: Elisabeth Lessard Communications Coordinator www.quebecwhisky.com

All during 2012 A.D Rattray’s Whisky Experience and Shop in Kirkoswald, Scotland, will send a voucher entitling you to a free sample of Single Cask Whisky (redeemable all during 2012 in our Kirkoswald shop) to interested parties who email emily@adrattray.com or contact us via our Facebook or Twitter (www.twitter.com/adrattraywhisky). The first 200 will also receive one of our brand new Whisky Distillery Maps.

Discover some of the finest and rarest Single Malt Scotch Whiskies at our new shop premises in Kirkoswald, South Ayrshire. Whether you are a novice to Scotch Whisky or a real connoisseur you will find your visits to the Whisky Experience absolutely fascinating.

Shop Opening Times:

Monday-Saturday 10am-6pm
Sunday 12-5pm (April-December)
Tel: +44 (0)1655 760 308

As well as being a shop we welcome guests for tasting experiences. You can view some of our sample tasting menus here.

Where:

32 Main Road, Kirkoswald, Ayrshire, KA19 8HY

Located 14 miles south of Ayr on the A77. If you are travelling south, we are on the right hand side as you enter the village. Get directions

Ballantine’s Marks Fifth Championship with Golf Limited Edition

Ballantine’s, the No 1 ultra-premium whisky in Asia Pacific, is set to launch a new Ballantine’s Golf Limited Edition pack for its 17 and 21 Year Old blends. The pack will reinforce the brand’s strong association with world-class golf ahead of the fifth consecutive Ballantine’s Championship – one of Asia’s most prestigious golfing events – which takes place from 26th – 29th April 2012 at the Blackstone Golf Club in Icheon, Korea.

The pack, which doubles as a golf accessories bag, houses a 70cl bottle alongside six branded golf tees. Inspired by the pattern of a traditional brogue golf shoe, the pack’s super premium cues include a debossed Ballantine’s Championship logo and a leather trimmed zip toggle featuring the recognisable Ballantine’s ‘B’. A parchment-style label wrap, which echoes the labelling on the bottle, adorns the pack to enhance on-shelf stand-out.

Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, says: “We are delighted to be unveiling a Ballantine’s Golf Limited Edition pack for our 17 and 21 Year Old expressions. Commemorating the fifth year of the Ballantine’s Championship, the premium design of this unique keepsake echoes the high quality and attention to detail that underlines the brand, while the additional benefit of the pack functioning as a golf accessories bag will strongly appeal to consumers.”

Since the inaugural event in 2008, many professional golfers have demonstrated their world-class talents at the Ballantine’s Championship and the tournament has left an impression on Asian golf history. The brand is committed to the tournament until at least 2013.

The Ballantine’s Golf Limited Edition packs will be available in Asia from March 2012 with the 21 Year Old pack retailing from RRP 118 USD in Asia Duty Free.

Notes:

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No 1 ultra-premium 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

TOMATIN PERFORMS EXTRAORDINARILY WELL IN NEW YORK

One of Tomatin Distillery’s single malt Scotch whiskies has received an “Extraordinary Ultimate Recommendation” accolade in this year’s Ultimate Sprits Challenge (USC), held in New York between 5th and 9th March 2012.

The Tomatin 18 year old single malt scored 96/100 in the challenge, just one point behind the overall winner in the Single Malt Scotch Whisky category of the competition into which over 60 different whiskies were entered.

The whiskies entered into the challenge were evaluated in multiple stages by highly qualified experts in a tightly controlled and conducive environment. The purpose of USC is to systemically cull from the pack and reward those distilled beverages which in the collective, and numerically arrived at, opinion of the judges stand out in their respective categories by showing uncommon quality.

Stephen Bremner, Sales Director said: “We are delighted that our whisky has been so well received by the judges in this popular contest. We work extremely hard and pride ourselves on the quality of all spirit produced at Tomatin, and blind tastings like these are a testament to our commitment to the product.”

Notes

 ABOUT ULTIMATE BEVERAGE CHALLENGE
Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) provides expert evaluation of wines and spirits for producers, importers and marketers through its three innovative annual competitions – Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Ultimate Wine Challenge and Ultimate Cocktail Challenge. Based on exacting standards, expert judges and rigorous methodology, UBC raises the standards of spirits and wine evaluation and supplies ratings and accolades to help companies build their brands with buyers, both industry and consumer. UBC was founded by F. Paul Pacult, Sue Woodley and David Talbot. Challenge and event photos, videos and press coverage can be found at www.ultimate‐beverage.com.

 The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd (located just south of Inverness in the Scottish Highlands) is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends which are sold in over 30 international markets.

 The distillery was established in 1897, and while historically the whisky produced was primarily sold for use in other brands of blended whisky, the company is now very much focussed on growing the Tomatin single malt brand in its own right.

 The company’s most popular blends are The Antiquary, The Talisman and Big ‘T’.

 The distillery is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo: http://www.takarashuzo.co.jp/english/index.htm

 Website: www.tomatin.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Tomatin1897
Twitter: www.twitter.com/Tomatin1897

Speyside’s smallest classed as ‘bold and beautiful’

Benromach Peat Smoke has been described as a ‘bold and beautiful malt’, scoring 93 points out of 100 in the Single Malt Scotch Whisky category of the Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2012.

The Ultimate Spirits Challenge, held in New York City, began with a record number of contestants as more than 650 spirits were entered from more than 70 companies and 30 countries around the world. Only the best malts went through the first round of blind tasting during the rigorous judging. Benromach was blind-tasted three times by multiple panels of the most highly-qualified experts in the industry before receiving its final ‘Excellent’ accolade.

The accolade adds to the growing list of honours for the whiskies from Benromach. The Peat Smoke batch won the Silver at the Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival in 2011, while the distillery’s other malts have also attracted recognition from the highest levels of the industry. Benromach 30 Years Old was described as ‘one of the outstanding malts of the year’ in Jim Murray’s famous Whisky Bible for 2012 and the brand’s flagship single malt, Benromach 10 Years Old, won Gold at the Great Taste Awards 2011.

Operating under the management of Gordon & MacPhail, Benromach is handcrafted by just two experienced distillers. Using their unique skills they have developed the distillery’s portfolio which includes the lauded Peat Smoke single malt and Benromach Organic – the world’s first fully certified organic single malt.

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, owners of Benromach, commented: “Our Peat Smoke batch is steadily attracting recognition from whisky drinkers across the globe. It’s a delicate smoky malt that has the elegance and quality all of Benromach’s malts are known for.

“The Ultimate Spirits Challenge is an extremely popular and highly-regarded competition across the globe. For our Peat Smoke batch to receive such recognition internationally proves that, although we may be one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland, we are also one of the best.”

Benromach single malt whiskies are available from whisky shops and fine wine and spirits retail specialists.

For more information about Benromach Distillery and the Benromach range of Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whiskies go to www.benromach.com

Notes

About the Ultimate Spirit Challenge

The Ultimate Spirits Challenge was held in New York City from March 5-9 2012. The competition provides unimpeachable results of how individual spirits and brands compare to others in their category.
Judges at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge described the Benromach Peat Smoke single malt whisky tasting notes as: “The nose is filled with the scent of sweet grains taking the lead, accented by generous wisps of smoke, baked apples, black pepper and ginger biscuits. The palate ideally balances malt with waves of smoke, spice, oak and earth. A bold and beautiful malt.”

About Benromach

Benromach distillery is Speyside’s smallest. Based in Forres, just two expert distillers make this golden malt whisky. Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by family firm Gordon & MacPhail in 1993. Drawing on generations of whisky expertise, the company carried out a painstaking refurbishment and the distillery was officially re-opened by Prince Charles in 1998.

Other Benromach expressions include:

Benromach Ten Years Old

Benromach Ten Years Old is created from the finest Scottish barley and pure spring water from the nearby Romach hills. After being matured for at least ten years, it emerges golden in colour and displays rich fruit, sweet chocolate and delicate spicy aromas. With a rich sherry influence, the mouth-watering palate coats the senses with exotic fruit flavours, toasted malt and a delicate hint of smoke.

Benromach Organic Special Edition

Made using the finest Scottish organic barley and dried using peat smoke to produce a fresh, vibrant single malt that is smooth and creamy with a strong oak influence and sweet vanilla notes.

Please visit www.benromach.com for details.

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MULTI-PLATINUM SELLING BAND SNOW PATROL TO HEADLINE ‘BUSHMILLS LIVE’

Bushmills Village: March 2012: Bushmills™ Irish Whiskey has announced Snow Patrol as the first of a number of artists who will perform at ‘Bushmills Live’ – the handcrafted whiskey and music festival taking place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on the north coast of Ireland on 20th and 21st June 2012.

Snow Patrol, who are from Northern Ireland, are one of the world’s most popular bands, selling more than 11 million albums since their breakthrough record Final Straw debuted in 2003.

The two-day handcrafted festival will be the first ever staged in an Irish Whiskey distillery. The artists will play a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings around the distillery. Other performers announced at this stage include renowned musician Foy Vance, who along with David Holmes composed the music for the OSCAR®* winning short film, ‘The Shore’, and award-winning singer songwriter and producer Iain Archer.

Snow Patrol’s Jonny Quinn, commented: “Playing live on a bill of great artists and friends, in the Old Bushmills Distillery that’s been around for centuries – it doesn’t get much better than that!”

‘Bushmills Live’ will be a truly ‘money can’t buy experience’. Tickets for the event will not go on general release, instead fans of Bushmills Irish Whiskey can win the chance to attend the festival by entering a competition on the Bushmills Facebook page – facebook.com/bushmills1608 .

To stand a chance of winning they will have to submit a photo of themselves and friend and explain why they and their friend should be in the audience for ‘Bushmills Live’.

As well as listening to great music, those fortunate to win a ticket to the festival will also have the opportunity to make their own blend of Bushmills Irish Whiskey.

Commenting, Colum Egan, Master Distiller, Old Bushmills Distillery said: “The line-up for ‘Bushmills Live’ so far is truly remarkable. Snow Patrol, Foy Vance and Iain Archer are known and loved around the world – much like our whiskey.

“What excites me is they, like all the artists who are coming to play, are fans of our whiskey. Bushmills and music have always gone well together. Handcrafted whiskey and handcrafted music – it just makes sense!”

To win tickets to ‘Bushmills Live’ or to find out more, visit facebook.com/bushmills1608. Entry opens at 16:08 GMT on St Patrick’s Day and closes at 23:59 GMT on 27th April 2012. Terms and conditions apply.

*OSCAR® and ACADEMY AWARDS® are registered trademarks and service marks of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

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Notes

Captions

Snow Patrol

Picture 1 & Picture 2: Snow Patrol announced as the first of a number of artists who will perform at ‘Bushmills Live’ – a handcrafted whiskey and music festival taking place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on the north coast of Ireland on 20th and 21st June 2012.

3

Foy Vance

Picture 3: Foy Vance set to play at ‘Bushmills Live’. The critically acclaimed musician will perform alongside world renowned band, Snow Patrol at the handcrafted whiskey and music festival taking place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on the north coast of Ireland on 20th and 21st June 2012.

4

Iain Archer

Picture 4: Award winning singer songwriter and producer Iain Archer to play at ‘Bushmills Live’. He joins world renowned band Snow Patrol as one of the first of a number of artists revealed to perform at the handcrafted whiskey and music festival taking place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on the north coast of Ireland on 20th and 21st June 2012.

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Picture 5: The stage is set for ‘Bushmills Live’, the landmark whiskey and music festival taking place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on 20th and 21st June 2012.

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Picture 6: Colum Egan, Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery, pictured at the launch of ‘Bushmills Live’, the landmark whiskey and music festival taking place at the Old Bushmills Distillery on 20th and 21st June 2012.

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Picture 7: The Old Bushmills Distillery.

Biographies

About Snow Patrol

Snow Patrol are an Irish / Scottish five piece band who have sold over 11 million albums and have been responsible for several era-defining singles, including Run, Chocolate, and Chasing Cars (which spent 104 weeks in the UK Top 75 and was voted song of the decade in a Channel 4 poll).

In May 2006 Snow Patrol, with Chasing Cars, became the first UK rock act in 13 years to break the Top 5 of the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart.

Their albums have been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize, Grammys and MTV Europe Music Awards, with Final Straw landing them an Ivor Novello Award in 2005.

Snow Patrol consists of singer Gary Lightbody, guitarist Nathan Connolly, bassist Paul Wilson, drummer Jonny Quinn and keyboardist, Tom Simpson.

About Iain Archer

Iain Archer is an award-winning songwriter and producer, originally from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. He is a versatile performer who has had success in his own right and with others. He has written five successful albums under his own name, has toured extensively and has had his songs used widely on US TV shows and adverts.

In the past year he has scored a number one album and two top ten albums writing with the likes of Example, Charlie Simpson and Rea Garvery.

A prestigious Ivor Novello Award winner for his work on Snow Patrol’s breakthrough multi-platinum selling album ‘Final Straw’, Iain co-wrote the huge hit ‘Run’ which went top 5 for the band and later to number one for Leona Lewis, breaking the record for the fastest selling UK download.

He is a founding member of the band ‘Tired Pony’ that also featured the likes of Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, Peter Buck from REM, Richard Colburn from Belle and Sebastian and Tom Smith from Editors.

About Foy Vance

Foy Vance is a musician from Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. He released his debut album ‘Hope’ in July 2007 to great critical acclaim. The Independent newspaper

described him as ‘The missing link between Richie Havens and Stevie Wonder’. Three tracks from the album were used on hit US drama, Grey’s Anatomy.

His latest single ‘Be the Song’, featured in the American medical series, House.

In 2010 Foy, along with David Holmes composed the music for a short film by director Terry George, and as a result has been offered a part in the director’s next feature film as a busker. The short film, ‘The Shore’, won a 2012 ACADEMY AWARD®. Foy will release a new EP entitled ‘Melrose’ later this year.

Competition

The Facebook competition is open to people in:

· Belgium

· Bulgaria

· Germany

· Great Britain

· Netherlands

· Northern Ireland

· Portugal

· Republic of Ireland

· USA

Celebrate the coming of Spring like the Japanese with Hakushu Semei or Hibiki Kokuu cocktails

London March 2012: The Japanese are very close to nature and mark the passage of each of their traditional 24 seasons in different ways. In April the two seasons are Semei and Kokuu.

* Semei is the period of clear and bright weather leading up to the warmer weather.

* Kokuu is the time for some rain to help develop the crops for the harvest.

Suntory celebrates each season with the 24 Seasons Cocktail menu, an appropriate cocktail created by Brand Ambassador Zoran Peric.

Hakushu Semei – clear and bright weather (4 April)

Enough to raise the spirits for a good summer!

Recipe:

50ml Hakushu 12 Year Old single malt whisky

12.5ml Luxardo Maraschino liqueur

1ml Absinthe

Lemon zest

Coat an ice cube with absinthe and stir 10 times in a mixing glass. Add rest of ingredients then stir 30 times. Strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with grapefruit zest

Hibiki Kokuu – rain for a good harvest (20 April)

A bright interlude among the showers

Recipe:

40ml Hibiki 17 Year Old blended whisky

25ml Prucia golden plum liqueur

Stir ingredients with ice for about 2 minutes and serve over an ice ball in an Old Fashioned glass. Garnish with Orange zest

Suntory seasons/2

Suntory Japanese whiskies are world beaters having won more than 60 international awards since 2003 including Best Blended Whisky in the World for the Hibiki 21 and 30 year old and Best Single Malt in the World for the Yamazaki 18 year old. In 2010 Suntory was named Best Distiller in the World.

Whisky connoisseurs the world over applaud the subtle aromas and delicate flavours. In Japan whisky is often drunk with food such as sushi in a combination of two to three times water with whisky.

Hakushu 12 Year Old Single Malt and Hibiki 17 year old Blended whiskies are firm favourites in Japan and here in Europe. Celebrate these 2 Japanese seasons of Semei and Kokuu with a welcoming cocktail.

Notes: Pronouncing Suntory names

Yamazaki – (Ya-ma-zarkee)

Hakushu – (Ha-koo-shoe)

Hibiki – (Hi-bi-kee)

Hakushu single malt whisky and Hibiki blended whisky are available from: Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, The Whisky Exchange, independent specialist retailers and drinkon.com priced from:

Hakushu 12 year old £49

Hibiki 17 year old £70

The Suntory range of Japanese whiskies is distributed in the UK by Cellar Trends. For all sales enquiries contact: sales@cellartrends.co.uk

How to Drink Like the Characters of Mad Men

The liquor loving characters of the Emmy award-winning show Mad Men are back March 25th on AMC for a fifth season of drama and drinking on the job. If you’re planning to throw a viewing party and want to imbibe just like the employees of Sterling Cooper Draper and Pryce, Maker’s Mark Bourbon recommends these classic cocktail recipes for a Manhattan and Old Fashioned. Both immensely popular in the 50’s and 60’s, these drinks are now coming back into style thanks to a bourbon Renaissance. Pair them with a recipe for spiked Shrimp Cocktail from Chef Franklin Becker of New York’s Abe & Arthur’s and you’ve got yourself a party Don Draper would be proud of.

Just in case you’re a stickler for historical accuracy like the producers of the show, you’ll be comforted to know that Maker’s Mark launched in 1958 and the show is presently set in 1965. Maker’s was the world’s first premium bourbon, and to that end, was the first bourbon to use warm red winter wheat instead of rye as its main flavor grain. This made it incredibly smooth, setting it apart from the harsher tasting rye whiskies of the time.

The Perfect Manhattan

Ingredients:

1 1/2 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon
1/2 parts Sweet Vermouth
1 tsp. Maraschino Cherry Juice
Maraschino Cherries

Directions:

Shake all together for 30 seconds. Strain into chilled Manhattan glass. Garnish with a maraschino cherry (served up, no ice).

Old Fashioned

Ingredients:

· 2 parts Maker’s Mark® Bourbon

· 3 dashes of Angostura Bitters

· 1 Sugar Cube

· 1 Orange

· Maraschino Cherries

· Soda

· Ice

Directions:

Place sugar cube into the bottom of an Old-Fashioned glass and add Angostura bitters directly to the sugar cube. Add one orange slice, one cherry, and a splash of soda and muddle thoroughly. Remove the fruit remnants. Add Maker’s Mark, ice, and top off with soda. Garnish with a fresh orange slice and a maraschino cherry.

Shrimp Cocktail with Maker’s Mark® Bourbon Cocktail Sauce

Recipe by Chef Franklin Becker, Abe & Arthur’s

Prep Time: 30 minutes. Cook Time: 30 minutes. Level: Easy

Serves 4-8

24 pc. shrimp in shell, u-10

12 cups water

1½ cups dry white wine, such as Riesling

2 lemons juiced

2 bay leaves

10 pieces whole black peppercorn

1 medium onion, peeled, halved and sliced thin ¼”

1 stalk celery, sliced thin crosswise 1/8”

1 whole leek, washed and sliced thin, white and green

3 medium carrots, peeled, sliced into 1/8” thick rounds

¼ cup kosher salt

1 recipe Maker’s Mark® Bourbon cocktail sauce (recipe below)

Lemon wedges, for garnish

1. Leaving the shell and tail intact, slice down the back of the shrimp, deveining the shrimp.

2. Bring the water, white wine, lemon juice, bay leaves, peppercorns, onion, celery, leek, carrots, and kosher salt to a boil in a large pot. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 15 minutes until the vegetables are soft and the brine is flavorful. Strain through a fine mesh sieve into a new pot, discarding the solids.

3. Bring the stock back up to a simmer. Add the shrimp in shell and stir to submerge the shrimp. Remove the pot from the heat and allow the shrimp to poach for 10 minutes or until fully cooked.

4. Drain the shrimp and place the shrimp into a large bowl filled with ice. Stir the shrimp with the ice cubes and place the bowl in the freezer until the shrimp have cooled down, about 2-3 minutes.

5. Peel the shell from the shrimp, leaving the tail intact. Discard the shells. Serve the shrimp ice cold alongside the Maker’s Mark® Bourbon cocktail sauce, with fresh lemon wedges.

Maker’s Mark® Bourbon Cocktail Sauce

Makes 1½ cups

1 cup Heinz® Ketchup

1 tablespoon TABASCO® Sauce

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

¼ cup freshly grated horseradish

1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar

2 tablespoons Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, flamed off

1. Combine all ingredients together in a small bowl. Keep chilled until needed.

For additional Maker’s Mark® Bourbon food and drink recipes, please visit www.makersmark.com

New York, NY (March, 2012) – The annual Ultimate Spirits Challenge (USC) was held at Astor Center in New York City on March 5-9, 2012. Ultimate Beverage Challenge LLC, the sponsoring company, proudly announces the top spirits in more than 30 categories (but here at Whisky Intelligence we only care about one….) USC began with a record number of contestants as more than 650 spirits were entered (up 15% from 2011) from more than 70 companies and 30 countries around the world.

Led by Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) Founder and Judging Chairman F. Paul Pacult and Judging Co-Chairman Sean Ludford, fourteen of the world’s foremost distilled spirits authorities, including award-winning authors, spirits buyers, journalists, educators, bar owners and consultants rated the world’s finest distillates on USC’s innovative multilevel system, rendering the most unassailable results in the industry. This remarkable super-group of experts named 31 Ultimate Spirits Challenge Chairman’s Trophy winners and more than 80 Finalists.

Said UBC Founder F. Paul Pacult, “Since we started Ultimate Spirits Challenge we have seen double digit growth in number of entries each year. Whether a product receives a Chairman’s Trophy Winner, a Finalist or a regular score, USC entrants are able to use their credible scores and insightful tasting notes to market and sell their products to bars, retailers and ultimately the consumer. USC is in the business of helping spirits companies achieve their sales goals, not by pandering to false aspirations but by telling the truth. With USC, you know the score.”

Judges for USC 2012 were: Chairman F. Paul Pacult, Co-Chairman Sean Ludford, Jacques Bezuidenhout, Tad Carducci, James Conley, Dale DeGroff, Doug Frost, MS, MW, Jim Meehan, Steve Olson, Julie Reiner, Jack Robertiello, Andy Seymour, Marcos Tello and David Wondrich.

For a complete list of results go to www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2012results/

For downloadable images (hi/lo res) go to www.ultimate-beverage.com/2012USCpics

VODKA – UNFLAVORED

Fuzzy’s Ultra P

2012 ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE CHAIRMAN’S TROPHY WINNERS

WHISK(E)Y – NORTH AMERICA

AMERICAN WHISKEY: Balcones “1” Texas Single Malt

BOURBON: Blanton’s Single Barrel

RYE: Masterson’s (should be in the Canadian category – WI)

TENNESSEE WHISKEY: George Dickel Barrel Select

WHISKEY – IRELAND

BLENDED: Midleton Barry Crockett

IRISH POT STILL WHISKEY: Redbreast Cask Strength 12 Years Old

SINGLE MALT: Bushmills 16 Years Old

WHISKY – SCOTLAND

BLENDED MALT: Johnnie Walker Green Label

BLENDED: Buchanan’s Special Reserve 18 Years Old

SINGLE MALT: Caol Ila 12 Years Old

WHISKY – CANADA

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel

WHISKY – WORLD

Japan: Yamazaki Single Malt 18 Years Old

Ultimate Spirits Challenge…like no other competition and doesn’t want to be

ABOUT ULTIMATE BEVERAGE CHALLENGE

Ultimate Beverage Challenge (UBC) provides expert evaluation of wines and spirits for producers, importers and marketers through its three innovative annual competitions – Ultimate Spirits Challenge, Ultimate Wine Challenge and Ultimate Cocktail Challenge. Based on exacting standards, expert judges and rigorous methodology, UBC raises the standards of spirits and wine evaluation and supplies ratings and accolades to help companies build their brands with buyers, both industry and consumer. UBC was founded by F. Paul Pacult, Sue Woodley and David Talbot. Challenge and event photos, videos and press coverage can be found at www.ultimate-beverage.com