OLD PULTENEY 21 YEAR OLD TAKES 2012 WORLD WHISKY CROWN

The most northerly distillery on mainland Britain and one of the most remote in all Scotland has won the coveted title of World Whisky of the Year in the 2012 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.

The Pulteney distillery in Wick, Caithness, scored a record-equaling 97.5 points out of 100 for its 21-year-old Old Pulteney single malt. It is only the third time that a single malt has ever won the prestigious award, and just the second Scottish distillery to do so.

This year Jim Murray tasted over 1,200 new whiskies plus many more re-tastes for the latest edition of his best-selling annual whisky guide.

Pulteney distillery, which dates back to 1826, is located in the heart of Wick and is much prized as a blending whisky. It is still relatively unknown as a single malt.

But Mr Murray, who has long admired the Highland malt, hopes that will now change – though he is the first to admit that even he was surprised when he encountered the 21-year-old.

He said: “I was on the home straight after four months of continuous tasting. By that time I was pretty sure I knew what the winner was going to be. With what I still had to taste it needed something exceptional to knock the leader off its perch. But that’s exactly what happened. To be honest, I was amazed. I knew the Old Pulteney 17-year-old was likely to be exceptional, and it was. However, I had never come across a Pulteney 21-year-old like it. Talk about coming out of leftfield….

“I first went to Pulteney nearly 25 years ago and I have never known them to produce anything other than top rate malt. Owned by a relatively small company, without the financial muscle of the major whisky barons to market their malts on the global stage, I hope that this award helps Pulteney to become better known around the world; that is the whole point of my Whisky Bible, after all”.

Second and third Whiskies of the World went to went to US bourbons George T. Stagg and Parker’s Heritage collection Wheated Mash Bill Bourbon Aged 10 years, respectively.

In picking up the second placed title with its bourbon brand, George T. Stagg, Buffalo Trace distillers continues to outperform all other competitors in the World Whisky Awards, which were first presented in1994.  Since this date, Buffalo Trace has won no fewer than seven top awards including three World Whisky of the Year titles and this year’s runner up place for its George T. Stagg bourbon.  “Buffalo Trace continues to be one of the greatest distilleries in the world today”, continues Mr Murray.  “Their ability, drive, and passion to produce whiskies of the highest quality year in, year out, without exception is truly and unreservedly astonishing’.

Jim Murray’s Tasting Note:

Old Pulteney 21-Years-Old:  If you had the formula to perfectly transform salt, citrus, the most delicate smoke imaginable, sharp barley, more gristy barley, light vanilla, toasty vanilla, roasted hazelnut, thinned manuka honey, lavender honey, arbutus blossom and cherry blossom, light hickory, liquorice, and the softest demerera sugar into the aroma of a whisky, you still wouldn’t quite be able to recreate this perfection…; t24 the sugars arrive: first gristy and malt-laden, then Demerara. This is followed by a salty, nerve-tingling journey of barley at varying intensity and then a slow but magnificently complete delivery of spice…; f24 those spices continue to buzz, the vanillas dovetail with the malt and the fruit displaying a puckering, lively intensity. Ridiculously long fade for a malt so seemingly light, the salts and spices kiss the taste buds goodnight…; b24.5 by far and away one of the great whiskies of 2012, absolutely exploding from the glass with vitality, charisma and class. One of Scotland’s great undiscovered distilleries about to become discovered, I think… and rightly so!

Jim Murray’s  Whisky Bible 2012  – World Whisky Awards

Overall Winners

2012 World Whisky of the Year – Old Pulteney 21 Years old
Second Finest Whisky in the World – George T. Stagg
Third Finest World Whisky in the World – Parker’s Heritage Collection Wheated Mash Bill Bourbon Aged 10 Years

SCOTCH

Scotch Whisky of the Year Old – Pulteney 21 Years Old
Single Malt of the Year (Multiple Casks)-  Old Pulteney 21 Years Old
Single Malt of the Year (Single Cask) – Scott’s Selection Highland Park 1981
Best Scotch New Brand – Clan Gold Blended
Scotch Blend of the Year – Ballantine’s 17 Years Old
Scotch Grain of the Year – Clan Deny Cambus 47 Years Old
Scotch Vatted Malt of the Year – Johnnie Walker Green Label 15 Years Old

Single Malt Scotch

No Age Statement (Multiple Casks) – Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX
No Age Statement (Runner Up) – Laphroaig Quarter Cask
10 Years & Under (Multiple Casks) – Ardbeg 10 Years Old
10 Years & Under (Single Cask) – SMWS 126.2 Aged 10 Years (Hazelburn)
11-15 Years (Multiple Casks) – The Macallan Fine Oak 12 Years Old
11-15 Years (Single Cask) Berry’s Own Selection Clynelish 1997
16-21 Years (Multiple Casks) – Old Pulteney 21 Years Old
16-21 Years (Single Cask)  – The GlenDronach Single Cask 1992
22-27 Years (Multiple Casks) – Highland Park Aged 25 Years
22-27 Years (Single Cask)  – Malts of Scotland Port Ellen 1983
28-34 Years (Multiple Casks) – Benromach Years Old 30
28-34 Years (Single Cask)  – Scott’s Selection Highland Park 1981
35-40 Years (Multiple Casks) – Balvenie Aged 40 Years Batch 2
35-40 Years (Single Cask) – Peerless Glen Grant 40 Years Old
41 Years & Over (Multiple Casks) – Highland Park 50 Years Old
41 Years & Over (Single Cask) – Gordon and MacPhail Glenlivet 1954

Blended Scotch

No Age Statement (Standard)-  Ballantine’s Finest
No Age Statement (Premium) – Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute
5-12 Years Johnnie Walker – Black Label 12 Years Old
13-18 Years – Ballantine’s 17 Years Old
19 – 25 Years – William Grant’s 25 Years Old
26 – 50 Years – The Last Drop 50 Years Old

IRISH WHISKEY

Irish Whiskey of the Year – Powers John’s Lane Release Aged 12 Years
Irish Single Malt of the Year  – Sainsbury’s Dún Léire Aged 8 Years
Irish Blend of the Year – Jameson Rarest 2007 Vintage Reserve

AMERICAN WHISKEY

Bourbon of the Year – George T. Stagg (143 proof)
Rye of the Year – Thomas H. Handy Sazerac (126.9 proof) Bourbon
No Age Statement (Multiple Barrels) – George T. Stagg (143 proof)
No Age Statement (Single Barrel) – Four Roses Single Barrel
9 Years & Under – Virgin Bourbon 7 Years Old (101 Proof)
10-17 Years – Parker’s Heritage Collection Wheated Mash Bill Aged 10 Years (124.2 proof)
18 Years & Over (Single Barrel)  – Elijah Craig 18 Years Old Single Barrel
18 Years & Over (Multiple Barrel) – Evan Williams 23 Year Old

Rye

No Age Statement – Thomas Handy Sazarac (126.9 proof)
11 Years & Over – High West Rocky Mountain 21 Year Old

CANADIAN WHISKY

Canadian Whisky of the Year Crown – Royal Special Reserve
Japanese Whisky of the Year – Hibiki Aged 21 Years

EUROPEAN WHISKY

European Whisky of the Year (Multiple) – Mackmyra Moment “Urberg”
European Whisky of the Year (Single) – Penderyn Bourbon Matured Single Cask

WORLD WHISKIES

Indian Whisky of the Year – Amrut Two Continents 2nd Edition
New World Whisky of the Year – Kavalan Solist Fino Single Cask

Jim Murray Liquid Gold Awards

Created to recognise whisky-making excellence around the world some 231 new whiskies, scoring 94 points or more, have been awarded Liquid Gold Awards in the 2012 Whisky Bible. 

Representing just 5.1 % of all the whiskies tasted for the 2012 edition they are, says Mr. Murray “the elite; the very finest you can find on whisky shelves around the world. Rare and precious they are liquid gold”.

A full account of the 2012 World Whisky Awards can be found in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2012 published today (24 October 2011).  And with over 4,500 tasting notes, including 1,200 of the very latest releases, the ‘Whisky Bible’ remains the definitive and most up to date guide available.

Published by Dram Good Books priced at £12.99 ($19.99), the ‘2012 Whisky Bible’ is available through good book shops.  Signed copies by the author can be purchased from www.whiskybible.com.

GLEN GARIOCH UNVEILS 25 YEAR OLD VINTAGE RELEASE

1986 special edition released just in time for Christmas

Twenty five years of patience have been rewarded with the release of Glen Garioch’s latest small batch vintage expression, the Glen Garioch 1986.

The limited edition is the fifth special addition to the Glen Garioch single malt range and is perfect for enjoying by the fire this winter.

Just 250 8.4L cases in total are being released for the UK, France, Netherlands, US and Canadian markets making it one of the most exclusive vintage releases yet by Scotland’s most easterly distillery.

Retailing at £125 from selected specialist retailers, it’s a special dram that will be an excellent addition to any collector’s range.

John Mullen, Glen Garioch brand manager, said: “This is the fifth addition to our vintage range but it is one of the most exclusive to-date.

“Our small batch casks are handpicked at the peak of their perfection and are selected to display the quality of liquid produced by our artisan Highland distillery. The 1986 adds new flavour and depth to our limited edition range.

“The light touch of old Glen Garioch smokiness coupled with a blend of cream, coconut and a little pepper make this a stand out dram. With a cask strength 54.6% ABV and non-chill filtration, it’s firmly aimed at connoisseurs.”

The 1986 is a real hardy and distinctive Glen Garioch. The smooth velvet creaminess married turns to woodspice with a pungent peat smoke and a medley of sweet juicy pears and ripe bananas on the palate.

The end result is a wave of flavour, with hints of spice, juicy fruits and a traditional old style Glen Garioch smokiness. A robust, yet refined Highland treat.

Glen Garioch only began releasing small batch limited editions last year. The 1986 now stands proudly in the range alongside the 1978, 1990, 1991 and the 1994. Vintages are only selected when it is felt they have reached the peak of their perfection.

At 54.6% ABV, Glen Garioch 1986 is available from specialist wine and spirit merchants, retailing circa £125. It is distributed by Cellar Trends in the UK.

Notes

• Glen Garioch can be enjoyed with Criffel cheese – voted the Best Scottish Cheese at the Cheese Awards in 2011. The organic semi-soft cheese has a creamy richness that enhances the smooth velvet like creaminess of the Glen Garioch 1986. The smooth texture and tangy floral taste matches with the fragrant Highland dram.
• Glen Garioch, pronounced Glen Geery, founded in 1797 is one of the oldest remaining distilleries in Scotland
• The distillery lies on rising ground at the picturesque town of Oldmeldrum, just 17 miles north-west of Aberdeen
• Glen Garioch was relaunched in October 2010 with a core range of two single malt whiskies – the Glen Garioch 1797 Founder’s Reserve, a non chill-filtered single malt bottled at 48% ABV and the Glen Garioch 12 Year Old, non chill-filtered single malt bottled at 48% ABV after maturing in bourbon and sherry casks.
• Glen Garioch is owned by the Morrison Bowmore Distillers Limited who also produce Bowmore and Auchentoshan
• Glen Garioch is distributed by Cellar Trends in the UK, tel: 01283 217 703.

SUPPORT OPERATION HOMEFRONT WITH HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES

Bourbon Heritage Center to Donate $1 From Every Visitor to Charity

BARDSTOWN, KY—Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the nation’s largest independent family-owned and operated distilled spirits producer and marketer, announces a special Holiday fundraiser benefiting Operation Homefront at the company’s acclaimed visitor’s center, The Bourbon Heritage Center. The Bourbon Heritage Center sits on the grounds of Heaven Hill in the middle of Bardstown, the “Bourbon Capital of the World®,” and was awarded the worldwide “Visitor Attraction of the Year” title during Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whiskey presentation in 2009.

The Bourbon Heritage Center will be collecting $1 from all visitors from October 1 through December 25 and will be donating 100% of the proceeds to Operation Homefront. Guests will feel the patriotism with the large red, white and blue decorated Christmas tree and holiday decor that line the Center.

“We are so happy to be able to support Operation Homefront,” said Lynne Grant, Director of Guest Services at the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center. “Many of our employees and neighbors in Bardstown and Nelson County have family in the military which makes it even more gratifying to contribute to this cause.”

The Bourbon Heritage Center welcomed more than 64,000 visitors last year, making it one of the most visited attractions on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail®. It offers guests interactive exhibits, an orientation film, a large retail store featuring branded and bourbon themed apparel and foods, and a state-of-the-art tasting room.

Bardstown-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, the world’s second largest holder of aging American Whiskey, produces such critically acclaimed brands as Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Bourbon, Elijah Craig Bourbon, Rittenhouse Rye Whisky, Bernheim Original Wheat Whiskey, and the Parker’s Heritage Collection of American Whiskeys, all crafted under the watchful eyes of sixth and seventh generation Master Distillers Parker and Craig Beam.

About Operation Homefront:
Operation Homefront provides emergency and other assistance to the families of service members and wounded warriors. As a leading national charity supporting families of service members and wounded warriors, Operation Homefront has grown from a small local charity to a strong national organization with chapters across the country. Since its inception in 2002, it has met more than 400,000 needs of military families and provided more than $128 million dollars of funding to programs benefitting military families. Moreover, it has served more than 4,200 wounded warriors and their families.

About the Bourbon Heritage Center:
* A series of interactive and educational exhibits that demonstrate the Bourbon-making process and Bourbon history, including information on Evan Williams, Kentucky’s first distiller, Elijah Craig – “the father of Bourbon” – and other Bourbon pioneers whose names are immortalized in some of Heaven Hill’s most famous Bourbon brands.

* The Evan Williams Theater shows “A Portrait of Heaven Hill,” a short informative film on the history of Bourbon, the Bourbon-making process, and Heaven Hill Distilleries. The theater, located at one end of the Center, accommodates 75 in traditional theater-style seating.

* A highlight of the Center is the one-of-a-kind barrel-shaped “Parker Beam Tasting Room,” which seats 22. The dramatic space gives legal age visitors a unique environment in which guided samplings of the company’s world-renowned whiskeys are conducted.

* Eye-catching display items such as old advertisements, photographs, and even a sample of the very first “white dog” (new, unaged Bourbon) that was distilled at Heaven Hill in 1934. Interactive exhibits include informative distillery models and a high-tech “smelling station,” where visitors can nose authentic bourbon at various ages.

* One wall re-creating a rickhouse, complete with various Heaven Hill Bourbon – branded barrels stacked up to the ceiling. The company’s replica milestone barrel heads, beginning with the first barrel filled, are also on display on this wall.

* The center’s gift shop features Kentucky crafts, branded merchandise, bourbon-themed foods and gifts, and a special bottling of Evan Williams Master Distillers’ Select Bourbon available for purchase and customized personalization.

Guests can visit the Heaven Hill Bourbon Heritage Center at 1311 Gilkey Run Road in Bardstown, KY. For more information call 502-337-1000 or visit www.bourbonheritagecenter.com .

Founded in 1934, Bardstown, KY-based Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams Bourbon; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; HPNOTIQ and HPNOTIQ Harmonie Liqueurs; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; The Christian Brothers Brandies; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul Tequila and Rittenhouse Rye Whisky.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

THE WAIT IS OVER – A WORLD OF WONDERFUL WHISKIES AWAITS!

How do I get them? you ask. Join The Society now, we reply!

The Canadian branch of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is open for business. For details on how to join visit www.smws.ca. But for more instant gratification, here’s a quick overview.

Initial membership is $230. Upon joining you will receive the exquisitely-designed Membership Pack (pictured above) which includes the coveted membership card personalized with your name and membership number; a handsome lapel pin; a Society handbook; a tasting note book; and best of all – four 100ml bottles of The Society’s extraordinary single cask, single malt whiskies to tantalize your tastebuds!

But more than the Membership Pack, joining The Society puts you in the enviable position of being able to purchase our rare and unique whiskies, not available to non-members. The Society only bottles single cask whisky which means quantities are limited. Once an expression is sold out, it’s gone forever, never to be replicated. But don’t let that deter you! If you miss the chance to buy one, there’s always another fantastic choice on offer.

Members will receive a monthly bottling list called Outturn which outlines each month’s new bottlings. Quirky yet informative tasting notes written by our Tasting Panel of industry experts and enthusiasts accompany each bottle description making it easy for you to find the perfect dram. The month’s Outturn is available on www.smws.ca.

Membership also entitles you to receive our quarterly award-winning magazine Unfiltered – a glossy, colourful, sometimes whimsical look at the whisky industry.

Don’t delay – there’s a space on your shelf for a great new whisky (or two, or…). www.smws.ca

Here’s just one great example of the whiskies now available:

7.70 Naughty Nectar 19 year old Speyside

The nose conveyed elegance and maturity – perfumed honey, dried coconut and exotic fruits. These impressions carried through to the palate, with vanilla giving overall impressions of tutti frutti or Neopolitan ice cream – ‘Nectar!’ ‘Absolutely fabulous!’ and ‘Decadent and naughty!’ were some of our responses. The reduced nose, still sweetly enticing , also had intimations of worn leather, canvas, cigarette packets and celery salt. The reduced palate seemed like a heavenly garden – beehives, flowers, washing on the line and canvas chairs in the sun, with sherbet fountains! From the distillery next-door to Benriach.

Bowmore Unveils Islay Taste Map With Martine Nouet

The ultimate companion and guide to Islay Single Malt whiskies

This autumn, Bowmore, the first Islay Single Malt whisky, has collaborated with esteemed whisky writer Martine Nouet to create the Islay Taste Map. In a bold move to support the Islay category as a whole, the map, which is the first of its kind, is the ideal guide to the complex and very varied characters of Islay’s eight magical distilleries: Ardbeg, Bruichladdich, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Kilchoman, Lagavulin, Laphroaig and Bowmore. Launched as an educational tool for both the on- and off-trade, the map will also be available for consumers to access online from November.

Bringing to life the ancient elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water that make up Islay’s mild yet uncompromising climate, the map uses colour-coordinated taste profiles to illustrate how each of the elements is reflected in the whiskies from each distillery. From the peaty and mossy cues of EARTH; the floral notes of heather and sweet meadow in AIR; the smoke, bonfires and burnt wood of FIRE; to theocean air, sea salt and wet sand of WATER – each distillery has a unique taste profile. The map also explains how the whiskies taste indoors and out alongside a character profile and tasting notes.

In development for over a year, the map has been created in collaboration with esteemed whisky writer and Islay resident Martine Nouet. Known as the ‘The Queen of the Still’, Martine was carried away by Islay’s distinct yet varied fragrances when she first visited the island 20 years ago.

Founded over two centuries ago in 1779, Bowmore is the first recorded distillery on Islay and one of the oldest in Scotland. As with all Islay Single Malts, Bowmore whiskies are renowned for its peaty smokiness. The Distillery carefully smokes its own malt just as their ancestors did centuries ago, using skills handed down from generation to generation. Nurtured and matured in the legendary warehouses below sea level, the No. 1 Vaults, Bowmore Single Malt is widely acknowledged to be amongst the finest and most perfectly balanced in the world.

For more information and to download the map visit www.bowmore.com (The map will also be available for consumers to access online from November, 2011)

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

Bowmore

The best-balanced Islay Single Malt whisky is the perfect reward after your outdoor experience.

Founded in 1779, Bowmore is the oldestDistillery on Islay, one of the Scottish isles, which make up the region known as the ‘Islands’ in the lexicon of Whisky. The other regions are the Highlands, Speyside and the Lowlands. Islay malts are famous for their characteristic smokiness and Bowmore is no exception; we carefully smoke our malt and use skills handed down from generation to generation to craft a perfectly balanced Single Malt.

Bowmore’s adherence to traditional production methods helps to shape the character of our

Single Malts. We’re one of only a few distilleries anywhere which still produces its own floor malted barley, hand-turned by traditional wooden malt shovel and hand drawn machinery. For our whiskies we draw water from the Laggan River, with its rich peaty overtones, and it’s the same Islay peat that fires the malt drying kiln.

Bowmore Distillery’s close proximity to the sea is also vital in determining the final character of our spirit. The legendary Bowmore No. 1 Vaults is where most of our whiskies spend their long lives resting quietly in the cool, dark, dampcellars below sea level, oblivious to the waves thrashing the Vault’s sea-facing wall.

They mature in oak casks, previously used for bourbon, sherry or claret, gradually developing rich and mellow flavours.

It’s this combination of peat, barley, sea breeze, water, wood, people and tradition that together create the perfectly balanced warm and smoky character of Bowmore Single Malt Whiskies.

The Bowmore domestic product range:

· Bowmore Legend

· Bowmore 12 Years Old

· Bowmore Darkest 15 Years Old (sherry cask finished)

· Bowmore 18 Years Old

· Bowmore 25 Years Old

Islay

Islay is the southernmost island of the Inner Hebrides, and is also known as “The Queen of the Hebrides.” Its mild climate and rich peaty soil make it ideal for creating whisky, and despite having a population of not much more than 3,000, it’s home to no fewer thaneight distilleries.

Non-Profit Organizations off to an Amazing Start with Help of Buffalo Trace Millennium Barrel

With Over Two Months to Go, Chances Still Available to Win this Collector’s Edition Bottle!

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Oct. 2011) – Nearly $50,000 has been raised for charity to date through Buffalo Trace Distillery Millennium Barrel auctions. With more than two months and 100 non-profit fundraising events to go, the Distillery hopes to reach its goal of raising $200,000 for charity.

The Millennium Barrel bourbon was the last bourbon barrel of the twentieth century Buffalo Trace Distillery filled on Dec. 31, 1999 and set to age in the Distillery’s warehouse V, the world’s only bonded single barrel aging warehouse.

In June of 2011, the company bottled this single barrel of whiskey, which yielded 174 handwritten and individually numbered bottles. Each Millennium Barrel bottle was packaged in a numbered hardwood showcase box that includes a piece of the historic barrel’s charred oak stave.

Buffalo Trace Distillery then offered all 174 bottles to non-profit organizations wishing to raise funds for their charity. The only caveat was that the bottles had to be auctioned off by Dec. 31, 2011. Interested parties can check on upcoming charity fundraisers for their chance to win this piece of history at http://buffalotracemillennium.com/charities.html

“Some of these non-profits have found some really creative ways to raise money for their organizations. We’re excited so many people are supporting such worthwhile causes and encourage bourbon fans everywhere to go to the Buffalo Trace Millennium Barrel website to help support these groups,” said Kris Comstock, Buffalo Trace Bourbon brand manager.

Comstock referred to the New York Cares non-profit organization that raised $6,255 for their organization by creating it as a special prize offer only premier ticket holders to the event were eligible to win. There have been several other organizations across the country that have upped their dollars raised through other creative ways, such as combining the collector’s edition bourbon with other upscale prizes.

“With more than 100 non-profits events still scheduled before the end of the year, we hope to reach our goal of $200,000 for these worthwhile causes,” Comstock added.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Malt Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky “Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year.” Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotrace.com .

Lutwyche launches first luxury men’s shoe in partnership with The Dalmore

Lutwyche, Britain’s leading men’s tailor, has taken its first step into men’s luxury shoe market with the production of its first shoe bearing the Lutwyche brand.

The Dalmore brogue is the product of an innovative collaboration with luxury single malt The Dalmore. Reflecting the Dalmore’s affiliation with the stag, whose head adorns every bottle of single malt whisky, the benchmade shoe is made from sustainably sourced deerskin and branded with the regal Dalmore stag’s head crest. Upon purchase, each shoe will be personalised with the customer’s name and each customer will also receive a bottle of The Dalmore’s award-winning King Alexander III single malt whisky.

For Lutwyche, famous for its tailor made suits, the collaboration with The Dalmore marks the brand’s introduction to the luxury men’s shoe market, having previously produced and marketed shoes bearing the Lodger brand.

The new Lutwyche shoes will continue to carry the same qualities of custom-fit and near bespoke comfort and quality, that differentiated the Lodger from the rest of the benchmade market. Central to the production process is the use of the latest cutting edge technology that sits alongside traditional craftmanship in the creation of each and every shoe. Exceptionally soft, supple and luxurious, deerskin leather is unparalleled in its ability to mould to the foot with repeated wear.

The Dalmore Lutwyche will only be available to buy from Thursday October 27th for one month only through Lutwyche’s Clifford Street store. The shoes cost £550, including a bottle of King Alexander III single malt whisky worth RRP£150.

The Dalmore
The Dalmore is the third fastest growing malt in the world, and the distillery owns some of the rarest and oldest stocks in Scotland.

A bottle of The Dalmore 62 Sinclair recently sold in Changi Airport, Singapore, for £125,000, making it the most expensive bottle very sold outside of auction. The first whisky to break the six figure barrier, The Dalmore Trinitas was bought in Harrods for £120,000.

In the last two years The Dalmore has sold a number of rare and expensive whiskies in record time. Dalmore’s Sirius peaked at £10,000 a bottle, and with only 10 available worldwide, the bottles sold out in four days and now change hands for twice that price.

The global whisky market is currently undergoing a significant boom in sales and as part of this growth Dalmore is seeing a real appetite for rare, luxury stocks.

Lutwyche
An established name within the luxury market, the celebrated tailor and Lutwyche founder, Tony Lutwyche, is internationally renowned for his ready-to-wear, made-to-measure and bespoke suits.

By taking on board the very best in luxury fabrics and the finest English tailoring skills, Tony Lutwyche has been described by FT How to Spend It as ‘The most important figure in English tailoring’. Having built up a formidable reputation over the last 10 years, Lutwyche has become the suit of choice amongst leading elite.

Lutwyche irrevocably changed the fate of English tailoring when, in 2006, he acquired England’s last remaining tailoring workshop in Crewe; placing him in the enviable position of making the only ‘Made in England’ suits available internationally. The exclusive ‘Lutwyche Collection’ is available in the US through Saks 5th Avenue, New York and Beverley Hills stores.

The Lutwyche store opened in London’s Mayfair (15 Clifford Street, London, W1S 4JZ) in November 2010, marking the UK launch of Lutwyche’s elegant hand-finished ready-to-wear suit range, now sold alongside its bespoke and made-to-measure services.

Dalmore King Alexander III
This release takes its name from the fact that in 1263 an ancestor of the Clan Mackenzie, later owners of Dalmore distillery for many years, saved King Alexander III from being gored by a stag.

Having made the maturation journey through no less than 6 different casks; French wine barriques, Madeira drums, Sherry butts from Jerez, Sicilian Marsala barrels, port pipes from the Douro and Bourbon barrels from Kentucky, the whisky was expertly brought together and harmonised by Master Blender Richard Paterson to create this complex malt.

Aged aromatic oloroso butts and Madeira drums provide citrus orange, spice and nuts, whilst redolent bourbon barrels deliver warm vanilla notes. Rich Port and Marsala woods add hints of wild berries and fleshy plums, enhanced with red fruits from vintage Cabernet Sauvignon barriques.

The overall result is a skilful confection that provides great harmony and sophistication, offering a very different Dalmore experience, while retaining all the malt’s core values. 40.0% ABV, 70cl, £150.00, specialist whisky merchants.

WEBSITES

www.lutwyche.co.uk/

www.thedalmore.com

AUCHENTOSHAN REVEALS TOP 20 UK FINALISTS OF THE AUCHENTOSHAN SWITCH

The Transatlantic Mixology Programme Like No Other

UK Finale – 24 October 2011

This summer, Auchentoshan, the only Single Malt that triple distills every drop, launched a transatlantic cocktail competition like no other, The Auchentoshan Switch. Bartenders from across the UK and US submitted video entries of themselves making an Old Fashioned using Auchentoshan Three Wood and a lemonade from scratch, for the chance to win a career-changing, 14 day switch across the Atlantic to work in one of New York City’s and London’s prestigious bars. Of the 64 UK and 60 US entries, the judging panel selected 20 from each country to go through to the finals in London and Las Vegas.

The UK final round will take place on 24 October at a Shoreditch venue where the bartenders will be put through a series of challenging mixology tasks. The final round will be judged by an esteemed panel:

·       Tony Conigliaro – widely acknowledged as one of the UK’s pioneering drinks creators and co-owner of acclaimed bar, 69 Colebrooke Row
·       Giles Looker – renowned mixologist and owner of Soulshakers Bar Consultancy
·       Neil Ridley – Imbibe journalist, whisky writer and co-founder of revered whisky blog CaskStrength

The named UK winner of the first ever Switch will cross the Atlantic to NYC to work in Apotheke, the hottest cocktail bar on the underground scene. The US finalists will attend the final in Las Vegas on 26 October, where the crowned winner will travel to London to work at the award-winning drinking den, 69 Colebrooke Row.
 
The 64 UK entries came in over the course of the two months the competition wasopen, including those from Giles Looker who traveled the UK unearthing unsung bartenders to enter. The finalists from the UK in alphabetical order by last name are:

–              Martin Ball – Corridor, Manchester
–              Divyesh Chauhan – Match Bar, London
–              Matthew Dakers – Whistling Shop, London
–              Dav Eames – Saf, London
–              Kevin Griffin – The Raconteur, Edinburgh
–              Andrew Harrod – Wabi, London
–              Richard Hunt – Hawksmore, London
–              Scott Ingram – Blythswood Square, Glasgow
–              Alex Kratena – Artesian, London
–              Simon La Moon – Zetter Townhouse, London
–              Bruce Lerman – Epernay Champagne Bar, Leeds
–              Antonino Lo Iacono – The Dukes Hotel, London
–              Giuseppe Miggiano – The Bar at Chancery Court, London
–              Khalil Moh’d Lahham – Donovan’s Bar/Brown’s Hotel, London
–              Martyn Nicol – Blythswood Square, Glasgow
–              Matt Roberts – Quo Vardis, London
–              Andreas Tsanos – Lonsdale, London
–              Tom Walker – Bramble, Edinburgh
–              Sam Watson – Purl, London
–              Faye Woodcock – The Bling Pig, Glasgow

“We are delighted to have received such great interest from the bartending world for our first ever Auchentoshan Switch,” said Hannah Fisher, Auchentoshan Brand Manager. “Despite only accepting video entries, we received a high number of entries and the quality of each has been exceptional. We can’t wait to see what these talented bartenders will show us at the final.”

Marcis Dzelzainis, Operations Manager at 69 Colebrooke Row, also commented: “All the finalists chosen have a great understanding of the structure of classic drinks and how flavours work, hence why we asked them to demonstrate a classic lemonade and an Old Fashioned. These 20 are not only highly skilled but also already very much respected in the industry.”

The Auchentoshan Switch itself will take place in early 2012, where the winners will experience world-leading mixology under the guidance of Apotheke and 69 Colebrooke Row.

Apotheke is the hottest cocktail bar in Gotham’s underground scene. With no menus, bar chefs cook up individually prescribed concoctions for the taste of the cocktail enthusiasts according to their mood.  At Apotheke, the presentation of the cocktail is as dramatic as the cocktail itself. The winner will be simultaneously part of both a theatre performance and a chemistry lab in the mixology heart of the USA – NYC.

The US winner will work at 69 Colebrooke Row and learn first hand the world of cocktail and food science in the only bar-related drinks lab in the world – The Drinks Factory. The winner will work with a team of handpicked, leading mixologists in a lab dedicated to furthering the craft of the cocktail and fully realisingprojects as they filter into the bar. Importantly, they will also become incorporated into the daily bar procedures, as well as visiting producers and sourcing quality ingredients.

Videos of entries can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/AuchentoshanWhisky 

UK Distributor: Cellar Trends
 
Notes:

Auchentoshan

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 benefit? This strength removes the impurities and harshness often associated with single malts and takes the new spirit to it’s optimum strength for reacting with the casks during maturation, allowing Auchentoshan to extract maximum flavours from the wood. The result? A delicate, smooth malt with each expression strongly showcasing the character of cask it was matured in.

At the 2009 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Auchentoshan 12 Year Old, Auchentoshan Classic and Auchentoshan Three Wood were all awarded a Silver Medal in the Spirits category. At the 2008 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Auchentoshan 18 Year Old also won a coveted Double Gold Medal.

THREE SHIPS HONOURS FAMOUS NAVIGATOR OF OLD

Three Ships has launched the second of a series of three commemorative editions of its 10 year-old single malt whisky honouring intrepid explorers associated with the Cape. It recalls the epic journey of Vasco da Gama, the first European navigator to reach India.

It follows on the first edition, issued at the end of last year, commemorating the journey of Bartholomew Diaz who with his three little ships was the first from Europe to round what he was to name the Cape of Storms.

The second edition will be followed next year by the last of the trio which will be dedicated to Jan van Riebeeck whose little fleet of three ships sailed into Table Bay on 6 April 1652.

However, the whisky in all three is the same – Three Ships 10 year-old Single Malt, only the second single malt to be made at The James Sedgwick Distillery at Wellington in the Cape, and the only fully-fledged whisky distillery in Africa.

Said master distiller Andy Watts: “As we consider ourselves pioneers in our industry, we wanted to honour others who before us had also ventured into the unknown. And with our name it was only logical that we would look to those who had plied the oceans in their search for new worlds.

“The top-quality facilities we have at our disposal today enable us to produce whisky to the highest international standards. This single malt, within a year of its launch, has already won us gold in two major overseas competitions in 2011 – at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and at the Wine and Spirit Competition in London.”

The first 10 year-old single malt, launched in 2003, set the tone by in its first year also garnering gold at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.

The latest single malt spent the full ten years in casks of different ages. Watts said the older small casks had contributed to the exceptional smoothness of this whisky while the wood, being American oak, had imbued it with a slight sweetness.

“This is very much intended for the discerning whisky drinker. It is full-bodied and well rounded. There is a hint of peat, but without the smokiness which is normally associated with it, and it offers a long, warm finish, with a good balance between wood and whisky.”

As in the case of the first edition, only 8 000 bottles are being made available. The distillery had sold out of the first edition within three months, and the same demand is expected of the second. It will be available in the trade for about R260 per bottle.

WELLINGTON DISTILLERY CELEBRATES 125 YEARS’ HISTORY

The James Sedgwick distillery in Wellington, the only dedicated whisky distillery in all of Africa and one which is on a par with the most modern in the world, celebrates its 125 anniversary this month.

Named after the 19th century sea captain James Sedgwick who became one of the pioneers of the South African liquor industry, it is the home of Three Ships and Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky. Andy Watts, master distiller, at the same time celebrates 20 years at the helm of the facility.

Sedgwick, who at the age of 22 received his first command as captain of a ship in the fleet of the British East India Company sailing between England and the Far East, settled in Cape Town in 1850. In addition to writing several technical publications for an international maritime audience, he also proved himself an astute businessman, founding in 1859 the firm of J Sedgwick & Company, “purveyor of quality liquor, tobacco and cigars”.

After his death in 1872, two of his sons, Charles and Alfred, continued the business which grew strongly under their leadership. In 1886 it set up – some sources say bought – a distillery at Wellington on the banks of the Berg River.

The facility’s life as a whisky distillery started 20 years ago when production of the Three Ships brand was relocated there. The move coincided with the appointment as manager of Andy Watts, a past professional cricketer who had learnt the art of whisky-making working in Scotland.

The two decades since has been a period of major innovation and achievements. In a major overhaul of the distillery, a strong focus was at the same time placed on ensuring the distillery would function in a sustainable, environmentally sensitive manner.

As part of the upgrade Forsyth’s of Scotland was commissioned to manufacture copper pot stills similar to the ones in use at the famous Bowmore distillery on the Isle of Islay off the Scottish coast. To ensure that skill and craftsmanship would be supported throughout by the latest technology, a highly advanced control room was created.

Over the years problems were solved in imaginative ways. To improve the distillery’s access to a consistent water supply, a marshland next to the distillery was turned into a dam filled with water from the river. With its abundant birdlife it today also serves as a restful adjunct to the distillery.

In recognition of the high level of innovation that fashioned the upgrade of both the distillery and its products, the Whisky Magazine in April 2011 bestowed its Icons of Whisky award on The James Sedgwick Distillery as Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year.

“The investment made in upgrading the facility has resulted in the capability to take the range of whiskies we are able to produce to the next level,” Watts said. “It has given us the confidence to compete – and today very successfully – in the international arena. Our latest Three Ships 10 year-old single malt this year alone garnered gold medals at both the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles and the International Wine and Spirit Competition.”