Poker Run Features Ride through Scenic Countryside

Bardstown, KY – Take a scenic ride through the countryside on Saturday, September 17, 2011 when you join us for the Kentucky Bourbon Poker Run.

Registration for the Run is at 10AM at the Nelson County Judicial Center, 200 Nelson County Plaza. The 90-mile ride begins at 11 AM with three stops along the way. Water will be provided at each stop.

All participants will receive goodie bags, a t-shirt and a voucher for the festival food court. Cash and merchandise prizes will be given for the best poker hands, as well as many door prizes.

Registration is $25 per person. Proof of insurance is required at registration. For reservations call 800-638-4877 # 4 or 502-348-3623 # 4. Must be 21 to participate.

The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is a non-profit organization. Visit our website www.kybourbonfestival.com v.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY BOTTLES WHEAT AND RYE WHITE DOGS

Now Three White Dog Varieties Are Available

FRANKFORT, Franklin County, Ky (Aug., 2011) – Buffalo Trace Distillery has done it again with two new un-aged whiskies – White Dog Wheated Mash and White Dog Rye Mash. These two new additions are joining the existing White Dog Mash #1. These clear whiskeys are bottled at barrel fill proof and allow consumers to experience what whiskies taste like before barrel aging

The Wheated Mash White Dog from Buffalo Trace is distilled from corn, barley and wheat. The soft wheat offers less bite and ages gracefully to eventually become W.L. Weller and Pappy Van Winkle Bourbons. This whiskey goes into barrels at 114 proof, the same strength as this White Dog.

The Rye Mash White Dog is made from corn, barley, and rye grains. Rye tends to be more spicy and complex. When aged, this White Dog will become the critically acclaimed Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey. The proof of this clear whiskey is the same as if it were going into a barrel for aging – 125 proof.

The two new releases will join Buffalo Trace White Dog Mash #1, the same recipe used to make its flagship bourbon. The Distillery set the liquor industry aglow when it released its un-aged Mash #1 for sale a few years ago. Originally intended to be sold in the Buffalo Trace Gift Shop as a novelty item, until media outlets latched on to it, bartenders demanded it, and liquor stores asked for it. Now several other distilleries have jumped into the market, allowing consumers and bartenders even more products with which to experiment.

“We’ve been genuinely surprised how fast White Dog has grown in popularity,” said Kris Comstock, brand manager. “Hopefully bartenders and consumers will come up with some creative cocktails using the Wheat and Rye. If nothing else, you can see how these whiskeys taste before and after barrel aging.”

The three Buffalo Trace White Dog offerings will be available in 375ml bottles only and suggested retail pricing is $15.99 per bottle. All three White Dog offerings are packed in one case.

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 whiskey 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. 

WHISKEY FANS DESCEND ON BUSHMILLS FOR ‘WORLD WHISKEY GAMES’

Pairs of whiskey fans from around the world will this week descend on the Old Bushmills Distillery in Northern Ireland, in a bid to barrel-roll, beach-golf and whiskey-taste their way to be named the winners of the BUSHMILLS™ Irish Whiskey competition, ‘Make it 2 Bushmills’.

The competition offers two friends the chance to win two weeks working at the world-famous Old Bushmills Distillery, where they will make their own unique blend of BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey, stay in luxury penthouse accommodation and get £5,000 spending money. Then, the winning friends will get VIP access to the ultimate BUSHMILLS party back in their home country.

BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey Master Distiller Colum Egan said: “I can’t wait to welcome the eleven pairs of Make it 2 Bushmills finalists to the three-day global final, Bushcamp.

It’s going to be like the world whiskey games! We’ve got a few great challenges lined-up to test the finalists’ friendships, teamwork and creativity, like barrel-rolling and golfing on the beach.

“BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey is hand-crafted in small batches at the Old Bushmills Distillery, so we’ll have a whiskey-tasting challenge that will make the most of our exceptionally smooth blends and malts, too.”

The pairs of finalists representing eleven countries were elected by public vote on Facebook. They are:

· Johan Lolos and Mathias Gilles, Students from Belgium

· Marin Aganderov and Kiril Todorov, Students from Bulgaria

· Ondřej Šimeček and Jiří Tlach, a Hospitality Product Manager and an Insurance Officer from Czech Republic

· Andreas Andricopoulos and Martin Georg Kosman, Bartenders from Germany

· Keeley Sutcliffe and Tom Lawrence, a School Supervisor and a Telesales Manager from Great Britain

· Richard Beatty and Michael Weijzig, an IT Consultant and a Social Worker from the Netherlands

· Richard Roberts and Carol Roberts, a Customer Service Assistant and a Care Worker from Northern Ireland

· Peter Majernik and Vladimir Majernik, a Hotel Concierge and a Hotel Porter from the Republic of Ireland

· Nikolay Fedoseev and Ilya Rybalsky, a Graphic Designer and a Chemical Engineer from Russia

· Sean Tickner and Jonathan Oliff, an Orthotist / Prosthetist and a Brand Strategist and Marketing Consultant from South Africa

· Curt Neeb and Paul Kowalski, an Inventory Specialist and a Graphic Designer from the USA.

Bushcamp will be judged by the BUSHMILLS Master Distiller Colum Egan and some famous fans of BUSHMILLS, including Kevin Baird of Two Door Cinema Club, Jonathan Galkin of DFA Records and Rob Allanson of Whisky Magazine.

It will take place from Tuesday to Thursday (16th – 18th August) at the Old Bushmills Distillery, in Bushmills village and the surrounding area, with the winning pair of friends being announced on Wednesday evening.

Fans of BUSHMILLS can follow all of the action on the BUSHMILLS Facebook page, facebook.com/bushmills1608 or by following @BushmillsGlobal on Twitter.

Old Bushmills Distillery worker Darren Smyth prepares the Make it 2 Bushmills trophies in preparation for Bushcamp, which will this week see whiskey fans descend on Bushmills for the ‘World Whiskey Games’.

Colum Egan Biography
Colum Egan is Master Distiller at the Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim, where BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey is hand crafted in small batches for an exceptionally smooth taste. Since 2002, Colum has been responsible for all the critical stages of whiskey production, all of them carried out at the distillery itself. That’s very handy when your job is to ensure that the production of the whiskies is done to perfection – as Colum likes it to be. Colum lives in the little coastal town of Ballycastle with his wife and two sons and says that he has found his dream job.

Kevin Baird Biography
Kevin is the bass player and vocalist in Northern Ireland indie rock band Two Door Cinema Club. Their debut album Tourist History has gone Gold in the UK, selling over 100,000 copies and recently they’ve made a splash by picking up both the Choice Music Prize for Irish Album of the Year and the award for Best New Band at the 2011 mtvU Woodie Awards. Kevin is a big BUSHMILLS fan and is looking forward to meeting some others at Bushcamp.

Jonathan Galkin Biography
Jonathan Galkin is the co-founder and head of operations for DFA Records worldwide, an independent record label that he launched in 2001.

Rob Allanson Biography
As the Editor of renowned Whisky Magazine, Rob a vast knowledge of all things whisky, from the science to the romance. He travels to distilleries and major whisky conventions around the world, reporting on the latest news in the industry on his blog and in the magazine, which is published worldwide eight times per year. In his spare time, Rob is a keen biker, charity advocate, husband and dad.

About BUSHMILLS
BUSHMILLS Irish Whiskey is hand crafted in small batches at Ireland’s oldest working distillery in Co. Antrim, Northern Ireland. The brand portfolio includes six exceptionally smooth and multi-award winning whiskeys: BUSHMILLS Original, BLACK BUSH, BUSHMILLS 10 Year Old Single Malt, BUSHMILLS 16 Year Old Single Malt and BUSHMILLS Malt 21 Year Old Single Malt and BUSHMILLS 1608. BUSHMILLS is the only distillery in Ireland to make triple-distilled Malt Whiskey.

Royal Salute Wins Gold at Top International Spirits Competition

Royal Salute, the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, is celebrating after winning a Gold ‘Best in Class’ medal for its 21 Year Old expression, at the prestigious International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2011.

The distinctive taste of Royal Salute 21 Year Old is the result of masterful blending and perfect ageing. It is made using whiskies laid down in the 1920s and 1930s, as part of Chivas Brothers inventory of finest quality aged Scotch whiskies. The deep gold colour of the whisky reflects the power and richness of the flavours, with soft fruity aromas balanced with a delicate floral fragrance and mellow, honeyed sweetness.

The IWSC judges commended this ‘glorious whisky’ for its ‘superb balance, great structure and fine texture’, with a ‘galaxy of warm fruits and a massive finish.’

Neil Macdonald, Brand Director for Royal Salute, said: “This outstanding achievement perfectly demonstrates the skill and dedication of our Master Blender, Colin Scott. We are delighted that his work and expertise continues to be recognised and celebrated by the IWSC.”

Royal Salute was first created as the ultimate tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on her coronation in 1953 and is the only Scotch whisky with an exclusively prestige range that starts at 21 Years Old.

The IWSC was founded in 1969 to promote and reward the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. Winners are selected following a rigorous two-stage judging process of professional blind tasting and a detailed technical analysis. The competition is backed by a group of vice-presidents made up of the most influential individuals in the trade and a judging panel of industry experts. This year’s competition received entries from almost 80 countries.

Notes:

Royal Salute
The pinnacle of Scotch whisky, award-winning Royal Salute was first created as a tribute by Chivas Brothers to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II upon her coronation in 1953. This defining luxury whisky has a very powerful and sophisticated style, and has become the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky brand.

Royal Salute has a long legacy of paying tribute to nobility and leadership, it is part of the brand’s DNA

• 1953: Royal Salute created to pay tribute to Her Majesty the Queen’s coronation
• 2003: Royal Salute 50 Year Old launched for the 50th anniversary of the coronation, also paid tribute to Sir Edmund Hillary’s and Sir Tensing Norgay’s on the anniversary of their successful ascent of Everest
• 2005: Royal Salute 38 Year Old launched – a tribute from Scotland, inspired by the Stone of Destiny
• 2010: Royal Salute 62 Gun Salute launched paying tribute to the craftsmanship of four master blenders who have safeguarded the Royal Salute legacy
• 2011: Royal Salute Tribute to Honour launched, the most notable and compelling symbols of Scottish royalty

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

BARDSTOWN, KY – Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. has added Walter Simonz to its sales team as Wisconsin Regional Manager. He will be responsible for management of the Heaven Hill product portfolio throughout the state.

Simonz has almost 30 years of experience in the beverage alcohol industry. His experience includes portfolio management, marketing and business analysis.

“Wally is a great addition to Heaven Hill,” said Steve Feller, Vice President, North American sales for Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. “He offers a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success.”

Simonz graduated from the University of Wisconsin. He and his family currently reside in Milwaukee, WI.

Walter Simonz

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 Glenlivet Storms Leading International Spirits Competition

The Glenlivet, the world’s No 2 malt whisky, was last week awarded one of the top trophies at the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2011.

The covetable IWSC Cask Strength Scotch Whisky Trophy was given to The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve, which also picked up a Gold ‘Best in Class’ medal in the competition. The pinnacle of the brands success at the IWSC, The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve was commended by IWSC judges as a most ‘elegant and well balanced’ whisky.

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old and The Glenlivet 21 Year Old Archive were also awarded the top Gold ‘Best in Class’ medal, while The Glenlivet Nádurra Cask Strength 16 Year Old won a Gold medal. All three whiskies received acclaim from IWSC judges; The Glenlivet 18 Year Old was referred to as ‘elegant and poised to perfection’ while judges spoke of The Glenlivet 21 Year Old Archive as ‘a grand old whisky’. The Glenlivet Nádurra Cask Strength 16 Year Old received high praise when described as ‘classy in every respect’.

Global Brand Director for Malts at Chivas Brothers, Neil Macdonald, said: “This outstanding achievement highlights the quality credentials of The Glenlivet. A pioneering spirit, inspired by The Glenlivet founder George Smith, runs through the history of The Glenlivet and is just as prevalent today as it was then – as Master Distiller Alan Winchester so perfectly demonstrates with this award-winning range.”

The Glenlivet Distillery in Speyside recently underwent a £10 million expansion. The new facility will help increase production by 75%, as part of Chivas Brothers’ long-term ambition for the brand to become the World’s No 1 single malt Scotch whisky.

The Glenlivet 18 Year Old – the perfect expression of age and elegance, balancing the archetypal ripe fruit notes of The Glenlivet with a drier, evocative oak influence.

The Glenlivet Founder’s Reserve 21 Year Old –This is Glenlivet at its best, incredibly smooth and envelops the mouth with delicious and mouthwatering fruity flavours. A limited edition of 1824 bottles were created in recognition of the year George Smith founded the distillery and to celebrate the opening of The Glenlivet distillery expansion.

The Glenlivet 21 Year Old Archive – a batch-produced whisky using only hand-selected casks. It is a complex whisky with sherry and wood notes integrating seamlessly with the aromatic palate.

The Glenlivet Nàdurra Cask Strength – Gaelic for ‘natural’, this 16-year-old single malt Scotch is a bold innovation and an exciting premium addition to The Glenlivet range. Non-chill filtered, Nàdurra is a smooth and fruity Speyside whisky with a softly rich, floral aroma, combined with added richness and creaminess devolved from maturation in first-fill ex-bourbon casks.

The IWSC was founded in 1969 to promote and reward the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. Winners are selected following a rigorous two-stage judging process of professional blind tasting and a detailed technical analysis. The competition is backed by a group of vice-presidents made up of the most influential individuals in the trade and a judging panel of industry experts. This year’s competition received entries from almost 80 countries.

Notes:

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

Aberlour Goes for Gold at Leading International Spirit Competition

Aberlour has been awarded two Gold medals at one of the most prestigious international spirit competitions – the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2011.

Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured won a Gold ‘Best in Class’ medal at the competition while Aberlour 18 Year Old was presented with a Gold medal.

The Gold ‘Best in Class’ is the highest medal a spirit can receive in the competition. The IWSC judges commended the ‘great depth of character’ of Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured. The judge’s praise was also given to Aberlour 18 Year Old for its ‘inviting nose’ and a ‘creamy, rich flow and deep texture.’

Brand Director for Chivas Brothers Malts portfolio, Neil Macdonald, comments: “We are absolutely thrilled with these wins for Aberlour at this prestigious competition. The result highlights the quality of this multi-faceted and distinctive single malt whisky range which continues to attract wide acclaim from industry leaders such as the IWSC judges.”

The Aberlour malt whisky range has some very distinct characteristics, due to the fact it is matured in rare ex-sherry butts and ex-bourbon casks to ensure a perfect balance of flavours. The Aberlour range has a heritage stretching back more than 1,500 years to an ancient Celtic settlement established by St Drostan. Unlike most whiskies, the Aberlour brand name is synonymous with the Speyside village in which the original distillery is still located. The range has also recently undergone a packaging revamp to give the brand a more contemporary look and reflect the quality and richness of the whisky.

Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Cask Matured – launched in 2003, this whisky is matured in sherry and traditional oak casks to ensure a depth of character as well as the spiciness and fruitiness of Aberlour.

Aberlour 18 Year Old – an intense whisky of perfect structure with notes of chocolate and orange zest, leading to a very long, smooth finish.

The IWSC was founded in 1969 to promote and reward the quality and excellence of the world’s best wines, spirits and liqueurs. Winners are selected following a rigorous two-stage judging process of professional blind tasting and a detailed technical analysis. The competition is backed by a group of vice-presidents made up of the most influential individuals in the trade and a judging panel of industry experts. This year’s competition received entries from almost 80 countries.

Notes:

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

LUCK OF THE IRISH PREVAILS AS BARTON IRISH WHISKEY WINS SILVER AND BRONZE MEDALS IN SPIRITS COMPETITIONS

Also Named “Best Buy” and Received “89” points from Beverage Testing Institute

NEW ORLEANS, LA (Aug. 2011) – Irish eyes have been smiling upon Barton Irish Whiskey lately, with its first silver medal win in the Los Angeles Wine & Spirits Competition (LAIWSC), a bronze medal win in the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), and some good marks from the Beverage Testing Institute.

This relative newcomer to the “hot” Irish Whiskey category was rated “Highly Recommended” with a score of 89 points and a “Best Buy” at the 2011 International Review of Spirits, conducted by the Beverage Testing Institute.

“We’ve only had this product on the market for about a year, so to receive these accolades so quickly is exciting,” said Lori Logan, brand director, Irish Whiskies. “We’ve always known our Barton Irish Whiskey had a taste and quality that over delivered for the price, especially compared to the competition. To have it rated so highly and be named a best buy just reinforces what both on premise accounts and consumers are quickly discovering – Barton Irish Whiskey is a great product at a great price!”

Logan acknowledges the award-winning taste of the Barton Irish Whiskey is due to its partnership with the much famed Cooley Distillery in Ireland. Cooley distills and blends Barton Irish Whiskey in Ireland at its highly acclaimed distillery, named the 2010 Distillery of the Year by Malt Advocate Magazine, 2008 World Distiller of the Year and 2008 European Distiller of the Year. The product is double distilled and matured in former bourbon barrels for a minimum of four years, giving it its smooth and slightly sweet taste profile which is traditionally associated with the best Irish Whiskey.

The Irish Whiskey category has experienced strong growth trends over the past ten years. According to the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA), Irish Whiskey has had a 10 year growth of more than 230% and is expected to exceed 1.5 million cases by the year 2013.

“It’s a great category to be in right now,” continued Logan. “The growth has been steadily climbing over the past few years, and is expected to keep on going. To be able to offer a premium product that is 33% more liquid than our competitors for the same price just makes it even better!

Barton Irish Whiskey is available in a 1 liter size for $19.99.

About The Sazerac Company

Barton Irish Whiskey is bottled and distributed by the Sazerac Company. Sazerac is one of New Orleans’ oldest family owned, privately held companies and has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California; and Baltimore, Maryland. For more information, please visit www.sazerac.com.

Kilchoman Spring 2011 Release Wins IWSC ‘Gold Best in Class’ Award

Kilchoman Distillery is delighted to announce that the Spring 2011 Release has won the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition 2011 ‘Gold – Best in Class’ award in the non aged Islay single malt category.

The Spring release is 3 years of age and is a combination of 3 and 4 year single malt matured in bourbon barrels and then finished in oloroso sherry butts for 5 weeks prior to bottling.

Anthony Wills, Managing Director, commented, ‘this award is recognition for the small team at Kilchoman who have dedicated themselves to producing top quality Islay Single Malt at a relatively young age and shows what can be achieved’.

Visit Kilchoman Distillery at www.kilchomandistillery.com  

The Whisky Barrel launches new online shop

To commemorate the third anniversary of TheWhiskyBarrel.com, Scotland’s specialist online whisky store, we thought it was about time to give our shop a facelift. Today, the company launches TheWhiskyBarrel.com 2.0.

Featuring an all new and easier to use interface, improved product and distillery descriptions and a simplified secure order process.

A new blog discusses whisky tastings, interviews, industry profiles and news from Scottish and international contributors.

Alastair Brown, Managing Director of The Whisky Barrel, says, “We’ve come a long way since launching in 2008. Three years on we felt it was about time to spruce up our web shop and our approach was to make the new site even easier to use reinforcing our commitment to customer service.”

The Whisky Barrel’s catalogue features over 1,000 whiskies including the latest distillery releases, our favourites from independent bottlers as well as our own exclusive casks which are a connoisseurs and collectors paradise. We ship our delicious single malts and blends mail-order worldwide direct from Scotland.

With over 500 years distilling history in Scotland, whisky is often described as our nation’s greatest gift to the world. Our provenance is paramount. Our reputation is your guarantee.

The Whisky Barrel
www.thewhiskybarrel.com

facebook.com/thewhiskybarrel
twitter.com/whiskybarrel

E: info@thewhiskybarrel.com
T: +44 (0)845 2248 156