BENRIACH IN HIGH SPIRITS AS 10,000th CASK IS FILLED

AWARD-WINNING BenRiach distillery reached another fantastic milestone this week – for the first time since it changed ownership in 2004, the distillery has managed to fill 10,000 casks of single malt whisky in one year.

The cask, containing approximately 500 litres, was a second-fill Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon filled with classic-style BenRiach.

Stewart Buchanan, Production Manager at the Elgin distillery, said: “This is an amazing achievement. The distillery was built by John Duff in 1898 and we have an uninterrupted inventory of single malts dating back to 1966.

“The casks we have filled since then contain the highest-quality whisky and the many expressions are incredibly complex and varied. There is no doubt in terms of blood, sweat and tears, this has been the busiest year we have had at the distillery since it became independent. As we entered December, we had a wee suspicion that we might hit the magic 10,000 cask number for the first time so we were keeping a close eye as the cask numbers ascended and we eventually filled cask No. 10,000 on Wednesday December 14th.”

Managing Director Billy Walker said: “This milestone in our distillery production coincides with a really interesting period for BenRiach. We’ve won a number of high-profile awards recently, our worldwide sales are strong and we’re opening up new markets for BenRiach.

“This is a further indication of the current popularity of Scotch whisky and the confidence the industry has that demand will grow going forward.

“Cask No. 10,000 will no doubt attract more attention than others and it will be interesting to see how the whisky contained within it develops over the years!

“Congratulations to Stewart and everyone at BenRiach on a tremendous achievement.”

Teacher’s Scotch launches Super Premium Portfolio from India

Teacher’s 25 Year Old 700 ml, priced at Rs 26, 230 in Delhi, Rs 33,225 in Mumbai; Rs 32,368 in Bangalore and Rs 31,000 in Kolkata. Soon also available at Airport duty free at US$ 250

Teacher’s Highland Single Malt from the Ardmore Distillery 750ml priced at Rs 4210 in Delhi, Rs 5000 in Mumbai, Rs 4544 in Bangalore, Rs 3900 in Kolkata. 1 litre variant soon also available at Airport duty free at US$ 40

December 5, 2011: Teacher’s, the No 1 Scotch portfolio in India with a robust portfolio of blended Scotch whiskies announced new introductions in the super premium and luxury Scotch expressions with the global launch of Teacher’s 25 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky and Teacher’s Highland Single Malt Whisky from the Ardmore Distillery The global launch of both these premium spirits from India is a reiteration of Beam Inc’s commitment to the Indian market and a salutation to a country that made its flagship Teacher’s Highland Cream the dominant market leader across India.

Beam Inc., the 4th largest spirits company in the world is committed to its consumer insight driven innovations agenda and is encouraged with strong growth witnessed in emerging markets. India continues to be jewel in the crown emerging market for Beam with a very successful Teacher’s portfolio. Teacher’s currently markets Teacher’s Highland Cream, Teacher’s 50 – 12 Years Old and recently introduced premium innovation – Teacher’s Origin.

There are a rare chosen few, who lead a life which is a superbly crafted symphony of achievements – one shining moment leads to another lustrous one. The notes of success build upon themselves – inevitable, inexorably, leading to a high that has the world look up.

Speaking at the global launch of the two super premium expressions from India, Mr. Harish Moolchandani, CEO & Managing Director (India & Indian Sub Continent), Beam India & ISC said, We have seen some very exciting times in the last year. Teacher’s as a brand outperformed the market and expectations and its elevation to the numero uno position in India has reaffirmed our belief in the understanding we have of the Indian consumer and their requirements. Teacher’s 25 Year Old and Teacher’s Single Malt are very premium expressions that will help us break through the clutter in the Indian Scotch Whisky market and offer the finest experiences to whisky aficionados. The Teacher’s 25 Year Old is truly a feather in the cap for Beam Inc. It is for connoisseurs ready to experience the ultimate and we are certain to see it become an exclusive and aspirational expression of achievement.

Mr. Robert Hicks, Teacher’s Master Blender, added, Teacher’s 25 Year Old is the oldest Teacher’s blend that has ever produced by us for sale and has been specially created to show how important it is to Teacher’s. The blend is so rich and full of flavour and stays true to William Teacher Senior’s guiding principles of a high malt content blend. If he were here now, he would be exceedingly proud of this supreme Teacher’s blend. While, Teacher’s Highland Single Malt is produced at Ardmore Malt distillery in the Eastern Highlands of Scotland and was designed and built in 1898 by Adam Teacher, one of the sons of William Senior, Adam wanted a very individual single malt whisky to be distilled for use in Teacher’s and to achieve that he bought the New Pitsligo peat bed in Banff to ensure the quality of the peat used in drying the malted barley. A quality we are proud of and dedicate to you.

Teacher’s 25 Year Old – the highest note yet in William Teacher’s legendary quest for perfection.

Teacher’s 25 Year Old is a rare and exclusive blend of the finest Scotch whiskies, available in individually numbered, exquisitely crafted ceramic decanter carriers to preserve exclusivity. This expression is distilled, matured and bottled in Scotland. It contains an unusually high percentage of malt whisky. In particular, the main flavours are provided by our own Ardmore Single Malt from the Ardmore distillery, which has been producing the finest Highland peated malt whisky for the Teacher’s family since 1898. To create the blend, only the finest aged casks of at least 25 years of age are first hand selected, followed by the art of blending – which is more art than science – to craft the finished spirit. The result is a supremely characterful, rich and smooth blend with subtle hints of unique peat smoke.

TASTING NOTES:

Colour: Bright Gold

Nose: At natural strength the immediate aroma is of spice and fruit, a trace of cinnamon and possibly nutmeg that encapsulates the peach and sweet orange creaminess that has a slight hint of lemon backing. With a trace of water the whisky opens to a multitude of additional flavours that gives the whisky a magnificent complexity. The mix of soft red apples, spice and a touch of sherbet are strengthened by the distinct tang of highland peat that then finishes with a soft creamy caramel sweetness.

Body: The vast complexity is well balanced by the rich sweetness

Palate: Again without water the taste is round, smooth and soft with touches of spices, fruit and peat smoke. Just a touch of water allows the mass of fruit and many soft spice flavours to develop. This slowly fades into the tang of smoky peat that is well balanced by the nutty creamy oak flavours.

Finish: Initially sweet but fades into a surprising dryness that allows the smoke to linger on for ages

Teacher’s Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky comes from the Ardmore distillery in the Highlands of Scotland, established in 1898. It is distilled, matured and bottled in Scotland. A 100% peated Highland malt, the spirit is lightly, yet entirely peated – and has been so since 1898 when the Teacher’s family first decided to build a distillery in the Highlands. From the beginning, Ardmore was designed to create a very high quality malt whisky which would form the heart of Teacher’s Highland Cream, the Teacher family’s famous blended Scotch whisky. Today, Ardmore still uses the highest quality production methods, including traditional wooden wash backs and peats it’s malt with peat taken only from the Highlands. The result is a rich, complex malt whisky with very balanced smoky notes – the result is Teacher’s Single Malt Whisky.

TASTING NOTES:

Teacher’s Highland Single Malt From The Ardmore Distillery

Colour: Burnished gold.

Aroma: A rich softness linked with a smooth, slightly dry aroma, combined with a gentle, earthy, peat smoke.

Body: Full with subtle gentleness.

Palate: Full and rich flavours fill the mouth with a creamy peat tang and a touch of vanilla and sweet ripe fruit.

Finish: Full, succulent and quite long.

Gordon & MacPhail adds two malts to Private Collection

Two new rare Single Malt Whiskies are being added to Gordon & MacPhail’s portfolio of over 300 whiskies under the firms Private Collection label.

Sporting re-designed packaging, the two malts have been personally selected by the Urquhart family, Directors of the firm, for their outstanding character and quality.

Two new additions to this collection include Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Hermitage Wood Finish 1997 (45%) from Caol Ila Distillery. Established in 1846 the distillery is hidden in a cove near Port Askaig, on Islay. After finishing in Hermitage casks for 30 months the Caol Ila character is laced with rich, fruity overtones – blackberries and cherries combine with the earthy smokiness of the whisky. Its availability is limited to just 800 bottles and has an RRP in the UK of £45.

Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Côte Rôtie Wood Finish 1991 (45%) from Linkwood Distillery has been finished in Côte Rôtie casks for 30 months and has developed rich, summer fruit aromas with vanilla and roasted malt notes. Linkwood Distillery, established in 1821, is located on the outskirts of Elgin.

1900 bottles, priced at £61 in the UK, have been released for sale.

Gordon & MacPhail’s Joint Managing Director David Urquhart said: “The skill and care displayed in the selection of casks to match that character of individual whiskies is abundantly evident in these two Private Collection malts. These Single Malts provide the whisky enthusiast with the opportunity to discover how the whiskies are complemented by characteristics imparted by casks sourced from some of the world’s finest wineries.”

Notes:

About Gordon & MacPhail:

Gordon & MacPhail is an independent, family-owned spirit and wine merchant who have been based in Elgin, Moray, since 1895. Four generations of the Urquhart family have continued the tradition of seeking out the best and rarest Scotch whiskies.

Since its founding, Gordon & MacPhail’s policy has been to send casks to distilleries throughout Scotland, fill them with ‘new make’ spirit and mature them either at the distillery of origin or in the firm’s own bonded warehouses in Elgin.

Now one of the world’s leading malt whisky specialists, Gordon & MacPhail exports to more than 55 countries. It offers more than 300 presentations of own-bottled Single Malts. In 2009, Gordon & MacPhail was awarded the prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise in International Trade.

In 1993 the company purchased Benromach Distillery in nearby Forres. After extensively re-equipping the distillery over a five year period, Benromach was officially opened by HRH Prince Charles in October 1998. The award winning range includes Benromach 10 Years Old and Benromach Organic – the world’s first single malt to be fully certified by the Soil Association.

BENROMACH SSSHARE THE SECRET WITH THE LAUNCH OF ITS NEW WEBSITE

Benromach, Single Malt Scotch whisky, has re-launched its website www.benromach.com  to help share Speyside’s best kept secret with audiences across the world.

The new website, launched today (Friday 9 December), allows visitors to discover the secret of Benromach and explore the range of whiskies, the boutique distillery in Forres, where Benromach is handcrafted by just two experienced distillers, and the Benromach visitor centre.

Key features of the website include a step by step guide of the Benromach distilling process from malting through to maturation. Visitors can learn why Benromach is such a unique and rare, prestigious single malt, and see all the countries across the world that are discovering the malt on an interactive map.

There is a also a Benromach history timeline dating back to 1898, the year Benromach distillery opened in Forres up to the current day, including details of when and how it came into Gordon & MacPhail’s ownership.

Explaining further, Joint Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail, who own Benromach, Michael Urquhart, adds:

“Since we acquired Benromach in 1993 and re-opened the distillery in 1998 the business has grown significantly and we now want to share the secret of the success of Benromach with people all over the world as well as the people on our door step through an interactive, modern, easily accessible and informative site.

“An area of the website which we anticipate to be really popular is the ‘Secret’ section where visitors are invited to discover the Benromach Secret. The ‘Secret’ is revealed, detailing the process that our two distillery workers Manager Keith Crookshank and Mike Cross experience on a daily basis from malting, milling and mashing to fermentation, distillation and maturation, resulting in the production of the hand crafted single malt whisky.

“We have also added our social networking feeds including facebook and twitter, to the website, allowing us to share the secret on a number of online platforms.”

The launch of the new website is part of Benromach’s wider objective of raising the profile of the brand.

Last month Benromach awarded three Swedish whisky enthusiasts the Honorary Stillman Fellowship award, recognising them for their outstanding contribution to the promotion and endorsement of Scotch Whisky in Sweden. As part of their recognition they were taken on a two day tour experience of the bespoke Benromach distillery in Forres and trained in the distilling and bottling process.

Notes:

About Benromach

Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by 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.

Just two men hand-craft Benromach using the finest Scottish barely and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. They fill new spirit into the highest quality casks before being left to mature at the distillery for many years. The Benromach portfolio includes the award winning Benromach 10 Years Old and the first fully certified organic single malt – Benromach Organic.

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 Traditional

A rich and mellow single malt with fruit and malty tones, balanced with a hint of smoke.

Benromach Peat Smoke

Full bodied, intense and challenging with a smoky character, yet balanced with the fruity elegance of Speyside.

Benromach Origins

A series of special bottlings crafted to highlight how small changes in the art of whisky-making can help to shape the character of the final single malt.

Beam Announces Agreement to Purchase Cooley Distillery, Award-Winning Irish Whiskey Company

Beam Entering Fast-Growing Irish Whiskey Category

Opportunity to Leverage Beam’s Strong Distribution and Brand-Building Capabilities

Award-Winning Portfolio of Irish Whiskeys Includes Kilbeggan and Connemara

Dublin, Ireland, and Deerfield, Illinois, December 16, 2011 – Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM), a leading global premium spirits company, today announced that it has entered into an agreement to purchase Cooley Distillery, the award-winning independent Irish whiskey producer. The acquisition of Cooley, the industry’s only remaining independent Irish whiskey distillery, will mark Beam’s entrance into one of the spirits industry’s fastest-growing categories. The purchase price is approximately $95 million on a debt-free basis.

Cooley owns and produces the Kilbeggan, Connemara, Tyrconnell and Greenore brands. It currently sells approximately 250,000 9-liter cases per year – divided among its brands, private label products and bulk sales to third-party customers – and has production capacity to support substantial future growth. Beam expects the acquisition to be earnings neutral in 2012 and increasingly accretive moving forward.

“Cooley is one of only three sources for Irish whiskey, and the only independent player, so this transaction is a unique and compelling high-return opportunity to enter one of the industry’s highest growth categories,” said Matt Shattock, president and chief executive officer of Beam. “We see the opportunity to leverage our combination of scale with agility to further build consumer demand for Cooley’s award-winning brands, and to expand distribution off a relatively small base in key export markets for Irish whiskey across North America and Europe. Cooley’s brands and distilleries have a heritage that’s unmatched in the world of Irish whiskey, so they will be a great fit with our portfolio of brands with long and rich histories. We look forward to being good stewards of these iconic Irish assets. We are also eager to work with the Cooley team, led by the Teeling family, who have built Cooley with so much pride and passion, to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead.”

John Teeling, Chairman and Founder of Cooley Distillery, said, “Beam understands whiskey. They have the culture, experience and global strength to enable the Cooley portfolio of brands to reach their potential in the fast growing Irish whiskey category. The renaissance in Irish whiskey, most evident in the United States, is now spreading across the world. Through Beam, our brands, built on quality, will be introduced to a host of new consumers. I am certain that the marriage between Cooley and Beam will benefit all.”

With both grain and malt distilleries, Cooley is able to produce a complete range of Irish whiskey styles. The company’s Kilbeggan Distillery, opened in 1757, is reputed to be the world’s oldest distillery and produces Cooley’s flagship blended Irish whiskey. Cooley’s many accolades include being named European Spirits Producer of the Year for an unprecedented four consecutive years by the International Wine & Spirit Competition (2008-2011).

The Irish whiskey category grew 11.5% in 2010 to 4.86 million cases according to Impact Databank. The leading markets for Irish whiskey, according to Impact, are the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, South Africa and Germany.

The transaction is structured as a tender offer in which Beam will offer Cooley’s stockholders $8.25 in cash for each outstanding share of Cooley stock. The transaction is conditioned upon holders of at least 80% of Cooley’s outstanding stock accepting the offer and other customary closing conditions. Holders of over 75% of Cooley’s outstanding stock have irrevocably agreed with Beam to tender their shares in the offer. The parties expect to complete the transaction in the first quarter of 2012.

About Cooley Distillery

Cooley Distillery is the award winning independent Irish whiskey distillery. Established in 1987, Cooley takes its name from the location of its distillery, situated at the foothills of the Cooley Mountains, in Co. Louth. Cooley has an award winning portfolio of Irish whiskeys including Kilbeggan Irish whiskey, Tyrconnell Single Malt, Connemara Peated Single Malt and Greenore Single Grain Irish whiskey. To learn more about Cooley Distillery visit www.cooleywhiskey.com .

Ballantine’s Finest Amplifies Innovation with New Packaging

Two executions of the limited edition bottle have been created; each designed to look like a speaker, while retaining the recognisable shape and style of Ballantine’s Finest. The pouring bottle has a striking foil label depicting a speaker while the second is designed to create impressive back-bar stand-out and lights up intermittently as if pulsing to the beat of the music playing in the venue, powered by batteries or mains electricity.

The Ballantine’s Finest ‘Speaker’ bottle will be available to bars and nightclubs in key markets and follows on from the hugely successful ‘graphic equaliser’ bottle that launched in 2009 as part of the ‘Listen to Your Beat’ campaign. In 2010, the bottle was awarded a prestigious StarPack award for innovative design and 66,000 bottles were produced over three production runs.

Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s Peter Moore comments: “The ‘Listen to Your Beat’ campaign has energised our on-trade accounts by engaging consumers with creative and pioneering packaging. This latest development builds upon the brand’s reputation for innovation and highlights its ongoing association with music.”

Created by London-based packaging agency The Core, the inventive ‘speaker’ bottle is suitable for both display and pouring purposes and will be available exclusively to the on-trade.

Notes:

About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No 1 ultra-premium whisky in Asia Pacific, selling more than 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 80 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for quality as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the iconic 30 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.

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.

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

WORLD RECORD SMASHED AT BONHAMS WHISKY SALE IN EDINBURGH

£46, 850 PAID FOR BOTTLE CELEBRATING THE 110 YEARS OF LIFE OF SCOTLAND’S OLDEST INHABITANT

A rare and exclusive bottle of 55 Year Old Glenfiddich commemorating and celebrating the 110th birthday of Janet Sheed Roberts, the granddaughter of William Grant – founder of the Glenfiddich distillery – and the oldest person in Scotland sold for a world record £46,850 at Bonhams Whisky auction in Edinburgh today (14 December). The previous world record for a bottle of single malt at auction was £29,700.

The cask was filled on New Year’s Eve 1955 and over the past 55 years so much of the liquid has evaporated or soaked into the barrel that there is only enough whisky left to fill 15 bottles. Eleven of these – one to celebrate each decade of Janet Sheed Roberts’ life – will be sold at auctions round the world over the coming 12 months to raise money for charity. The proceeds of the bottle auctioned today will go to support Water Aid.

Bonhams Head of Whisky, Martin Green, said, “It’s a great privilege to have sold a bottle with such a distinguished pedigree and for such a good cause. We area all delighted.”

In total the sale raised £215,000 and 93% the lots were sold.

For further sale information please go to www.bonhams.com/whisky

Notes

Bonhams

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. The present company was formed by the merger in November 2001 of Bonhams & Brooks and Phillips Son & Neale. In August 2002, the company acquired Butterfields, the principal firm of auctioneers on the West Coast of America. Today, Bonhams offers more sales than any of its rivals, through two major salerooms in London: New Bond Street and Knightsbridge; and a further three in the UK regions and Scotland. Sales are also held in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Carmel, New York and Connecticut in the USA; and Germany, France, Monaco, Hong Kong and Australia. Bonhams has a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 25 countries offering sales advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full listing of upcoming sales, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments go to www.bonhams.com.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY RELEASES
LAST EXPERIMENTAL COLLECTION OF 2011
Bourbon made with “Rice” and “Oats” Are the Latest Two Experiments

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Dec., 2011) Those creative distillers have been up to it again at Buffalo Trace Distillery. The latest round of whiskies in the Experimental Collection are two bourbons – one made with rice and one made with oats. And like their breakfast-sounding names, both provide a hearty mouthful without being over powerful.

“For this experiment, we were curious to taste what would happen when we substituted the rye grain in our traditional recipe with other grains like rice and oats,” said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller at Buffalo Trace Distillery. “The results are very different from each other, and different than typical bourbon, but both are pleasant surprises.” This whiskey experiment yielded very few bottles, but some will be available in select U.S. stores in late December.

Details are as follows:

Rice Bourbon Whiskey – These barrels were filled on April 30, 2002, and aged on the 7th floor of Warehouse I for 9 years and 5 months. Corn, malt and rice are the ingredients used in the recipe, resulting in a very clean aroma with the barrel notes of caramel and spice. A crisp flavor on the tongue is noticed, without any heaviness or oiliness whatsoever. A slight dryness near the end provides a quick finish. It is a very delicate whiskey.

Oat Bourbon Whiskey – These barrels have the same fill date, aging location and aging time as the Rice Bourbon. Corn, malt and oats are the ingredients used in this recipe, resulting in a pleasantly smoky nose with a rich aroma of toasted oats that offers a nice complexity. On the palette, the smokiness intrigues as hints of dried fig and stone fruit come through, and eventually give way to an earthy finish.

There are more than 1,500 experimental barrels of whiskey now aging in the warehouses of Buffalo Trace Distillery. Each of these barrels has unique characteristics that differentiate it from all others. Some examples of these experiments include unique mash bills, type of wood and barrel toasts. In order to further increase the scope, flexibility and range of the experimental program, an entire micro distillery, named The Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. “OFC” Micro Distillery, complete with cookers, fermenting tanks and a state-of-the-art micro still has been constructed within Buffalo Trace Distillery.

The Experimental Collection will be packaged in 375ml bottles. Each label will include all the pertinent information unique to that barrel of whiskey. These whiskeys will retail for approximately $46.35 each. They are 45% alcohol by volume. Each experiment is very rare and very limited. For more information on the Experimental Collection or the other products of Buffalo Trace Distillery, please contact Kris Comstock at kcomstock@buffalotrace.com .

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 .

Speyside’s smallest distillery toasts increase in sales

Sales of Benromach’s flagship Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Benromach 10 Years Old, are pouring off the shelves in the run up to Christmas with figures increasing by 40 per cent across the UK from last year.

According to new figures from Speyside’s smallest distillery, Benromach, sales of their flagship Single Malt shot up between 1 March 2011 and 30 November 2011, compared to the same period last year.

Sales south of the border increased significantly by 83 per cent during the same period.

Benromach 10 Years Old is a multi-award winning Single Malt Scotch Whisky hand-crafted at Speyside’s smallest working distillery. Initially matured in a mix of Bourbon and Sherry casks, the whisky is transferred to

European oak Oloroso Sherry casks for a final period of maturation.

The result is a beautifully balanced dram, displaying a rich Sherry character, summer fruit flavours, malt creaminess and a light peat smoke influence.

David Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, said: “Benromach 10 Years Old is an ideal, affordable Christmas present for the whisky lover who enjoys something unique and of high quality. As a boutique distillery, run by two men, we pride ourselves in hand crafting award winning, quality single malt whiskies.”

Benromach 10 Years Old is one of a range of single malt Scotch from the Speyside distillery which are available from whisky shops and fine wine and spirits retail specialists.

For more information visit www.benromach.com  

Notes:

About Benromach

Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by 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.

Just two men hand-craft Benromach using the finest Scottish barely and the purest spring water from the nearby Romach Hills. They fill new spirit into the highest quality casks before being left to mature at the distillery for many years. The Benromach portfolio includes the award winning Benromach 10 Years Old and the first fully certified organic single malt – Benromach Organic.

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 Traditional

A rich and mellow single malt with fruit and malty tones, balanced with a hint of smoke.

Benromach Peat Smoke

Full bodied, intense and challenging with a smoky character, yet balanced with the fruity elegance of Speyside.

Benromach Origins

A series of special bottlings crafted to highlight how small changes in the art of whisky-making can help to shape the character of the final single malt.

Please visit www.benromach.com for details

NEW LOOK FOR TALISKER™
by Pat Roberts

TALISKER™, the celebrated Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Isle of Skye, is being given a new family identity as it continues to grow in markets around the world.

The single malt whisky itself has, of course, not changed.

What’s new?

Powerful maritime photography on the new outer cartons and more prominent maps of Skye on both cartons and bottle labels now anchor the brand more strongly in its rugged island home and emphasise its Made by the Sea character.

Stunning photography

The wrap-around images on the new cartons were shot by Skye-based photographer Cailean Maclean, and feature stormy waves crashing against the Isle of Skye’s rocky and mountainous coast. Cailean’s photography transforms into a striking coastal vista when two cartons stand side by side. The images are reinforced by Cailean’s signed commentary on each scene.

Skye’s rocky coast stars on new Talisker pack

Cailean’s photography features on most cartons, but the Talisker 18 year old carton carries an equally turbulent seascape image by Scottish photographer and Skye enthusiast Angus Bremner.

‘It speaks to our roots’

Mark Lochhead, manager at Talisker Distillery on Skye, is enthusiastic about the new designs: “Talisker is made by the sea in every sense of the word, just as all our lives are shaped by the elements here on Skye. To have this captured in these new designs is exciting for everyone here. At the same time it both speaks to our own roots and helps consumers understand what kind of place Skye is.

“More than this, the strong impression I think the new packaging gives is of a family united, of all the expressions of Talisker now being brought together in one design family, so that Talisker can march forward strongly as a brand in its own right. And understandably, I rather like that idea!”

The redesigns were carried out by Claessens International, the drinks brand design consultancy.

Evolved label design for Talisker single malt Scotch whisky

James Boulton at Claessens said: “ “The new Talisker designs are born of our experience, meeting the people at the distillery and seeing at first hand how Talisker relates to its home, the Isle of Skye. Armed with that understanding and building on earlier ‘maritime’ designs, we have added a richness of detail and a ruggedness to reinforce what Talisker stands for and what kind of place it comes from.”

Phased introduction

The new designs are being introduced onto bottles and cartons progressively, as new stocks are bottled and distributed. Talisker 10 year old will be the first to see the new carton in Great Britain before Christmas 2011 and the revised labels will follow shortly in the New Year.

In Great Britain, for Christmas 2011, the new carton for the 10 year old will initially carry the RNLI flash that signals the brand’s support for this famous British maritime charity. In some cases the new cartons will enclose the old-style bottles until stocks are sold through.

The new standard carton and bottle designs for Talisker 10 year old will then launch into GB and other markets in the first quarter of 2012. The new designs for other Talisker expressions will be introduced throughout the remainder of 2012.

At the same time Diageo has announced that from 2011, Talisker 25 year old and Talisker 30 year old will be available on a regular basis within the Talisker range – although necessarily in limited editions, and bottled at the traditional Talisker strength of 45.8% ABV. In the past, these long-aged expressions of Talisker have been issued at cask strength in Diageo’s annual Special Releases series.

NOTES

Other changes

On both bottle and carton, a redrawn, bolder Talisker font strengthens the name standout; the outline map of Skye plays a more visible role in emphasising provenance; and the more prominent ‘ESTD 1830’ motif underlines the importance of tradition at Talisker. Existing maritime cues about the birthplace of this famous whisky, such as the map of Skye, the Made by the Sea strapline, the compass graphic and the distillery co-ordinates, are retained but strengthened.

Designed to deliver bolder standout on the shelf, the familiar solid blue carton with the embossed map is giving way to the arresting maritime themes (described above), that will carry across the whole portfolio of Talisker expressions, with visual cues to differentiate each individual expression. Other copy suggests pairings with food to match each particular expression.

Greater clarity, stronger impact and better colour coordination with the carton have inspired subtle adjustments to the typography and content of the main labels on the bottles. Highlighting the provenance of Talisker, the map of Skye now stands out more ruggedly, with extra detail to invite discovery. And space has been found for Talisker’s new Sea-Lion emblem, reflecting the 19th century Talisker-Dailuaine heritage and symbolising the whisky’s Scottish heritage, powerful character and links with the sea. Colour banding on the labels and the cartons now clearly signal the different expressions.

Talisker

Talisker, in its widely distributed 10 year old expression, is a powerhouse Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a formidable peat and sea-salt nose; smoky sweetness with malt flavours; and developing warmth with a huge, peppery finish. It is the only single malt whisky made on the dramatic Isle of Skye, where the distillery has been making this award-winning single malt whisky since 1830. See www.malts.com