Black Bull Scotch Whisky Wins Fourth Gold Medal of the Year: Blend at Scottish Field Whisky Challenge 2011

Black Bull 12 year old, the deluxe blended Scotch from whisky specialists Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd has been awarded a gold medal for Best Blended Scotch Whisky at the 2011 Scottish Field Whisky Challenge. This incredible achievement saw Black Bull go up against 40 of the world’s leading whisky brands, both luxury and affordable. Independently rated and tasted blind by a renowned panel of whisky experts, Black Bull was again recognised as the very best in its field. The announcement of the award makes 2011 a quadruple gold medal year for Black Bull whisky, coming on the back of successes at the World Whisky Awards and the International Wines & Spirits Competition in April and August respectively.

Comments from Judge Darren Leitch of Whisky Shop:
“On the nose some mild peat notes, ginger biscuits and leather sandals filled with sand. Flavour wise there is a lot going on, with a good combination of pastel fruit sweetness, heather , vanilla and oak. A malty sweet finish which trails off with a soft oaky tone and a trace of peat.”

The Scottish Field Whisky Challenge is an annual competition celebrating the very best the whisky industry has to offer. Each year, a panel of experts takes part in a series of rigorous blind tastings to recognise the finest products on the shelves today.

The Black Bull brand dates back to 1864. Following a rebranding in 2008, Black Bull’s stature has grown, winning critical acclaim and a plethora of awards from the International Wine and Spirits competition, Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible and the New York International Wine and Spirits contest.

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky selects whiskies from distilleries throughout Scotland, bottling a range of luxury single malt and grain Scotch whiskies as well as its award winning range of blended whiskies from its base in Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

www.duncantaylor.com

Tullibardine Ltd, which owns and operates the Tullibardine Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky distillery based in Blackford, Perthshire has been sold to the Picard family based at the Château de Chassagne-Montrachet, Burgundy, France.

In a joint press release today, both sets of shareholders were pleased to announce that a successful sale of the business had just been concluded. The sale of the whisky business to the French Group further strengthens their interest in Scotch Whisky following the purchase of the Highland Queen brand from the Glenmorangie company in 2009.

Michel Picard, Chairman, said today: “The purchase of Tullibardine Distillery provides synergies and a platform for growth for our Scotch whisky business. Tullibardine is a wonderful Single Malt Scotch whisky and we look forward to working with the team at the distillery to increase the profile, awareness and sales of the brand over the coming years.”

Alan Williamson, Chairman of Tullibardine said: “The shareholders of Tullibardine are delighted to conclude a sale of the business to the Picard family. The business will undoubtedly benefit from the skills, expertise and distribution which the Group can create for the Tullibardine brand and we wish them every success over the years to come. We have been custodians of the Tullibardine brand for the last 8 years and the time is now right for us to hand it over and for Picard to take it to the next level. We wish them every success.”

Chivas Regal 18 Year Old by Vivienne Westwood Scoops Top Design Award

Chivas Regal 18 Year Old by Vivienne Westwood, the innovative limited edition combining two British luxury brands, has won a coveted design award from the French marketing publication, Stratégies Magazine.

The limited edition, created by one of the world’s most acclaimed fashion designers, picked up the Packaging Design award in the Event Design Category at the 25th Annual Grand Prix Stratégies du Design awards, held in Paris on October 5th.

Launched in February 2011, Chivas Regal 18 Year Old by Vivienne Westwood is now available in more than 25 markets. The distinctive bottle proudly appears cloaked in a luxurious and unique three-piece coat featuring Vivienne Westwood’s Union Jack print, as first seen in a Gold Label collection in Paris. The pattern was particularly fitting for Chivas Regal, with the current design of the Union Flag dating back to 1801 and whisky brand owner Chivas Brothers’ roots also being traced back to this iconic year.

Organised by France’s most respected marketing title, the coveted Grand Prix Stratégies du Design is judged by leading professionals in design, including chief executive officers and directors of some of the world’s top design agencies. It recognises significant design innovations across fields as broad as packaging, product design, merchandising, web design, signage and interior design. The awards are frequently credited as being among the first to highlight emerging trends in marketing and communications and identifying designs that become reference points in their field.

James Slack, International Brand Director for Chivas Regal, said: “We are delighted that this innovative limited edition has been recognised by leaders in the field of marketing and design. This limited edition has struck a chord with luxury consumers who recognise the strong British heritage and luxury craftsmanship that serve as the foundation to both Chivas Regal 18 Year Old and Vivienne Westwood. The skill and dedication of our Master Blender, Colin Scott, is in many ways the same as that of a fashion designer – there is a true art to what they do.”

The collaboration with Vivienne Westwood marked an important step for Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury Scotch whisky, following previous work with leading fashion houses such as Christian Lacroix.

Notes

Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.6 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old.

Vivienne Westwood began designing in 1971 along with her partner Malcolm McLaren, when London was at the forefront of cultural trends. By the end of the seventies Vivienne Westwood was already considered a symbol of the British avant-garde and for Autumn/Winter 1981 she showed her first catwalk presentation at Olympia in London. It was her Pirate collection which launched the New Romantic movement.

Today, the Vivienne Westwood brand offers 4 clothing ranges – Gold Label, Red Label, Anglomania and MAN plus seasonal accessories, jewellery, bags, eyewear and footwear collections. Vivienne Westwood is now recognized as a global brand and Westwood herself as one of the most influential fashion designers in the world today.

Chivas Regal Launches Heraldic Limited Edition Gift Tin by Dan Funderburgh

Chivas Regal, the world’s leading luxury Scotch whisky, is continuing its association with contemporary design by teaming up with award-winning New York illustrator, Dan Funderburgh, to launch a limited edition gift tin for its 12 Year Old expression.

The dark grey tin features a striking gold image of the lion emblem which appears on all Chivas Regal packaging, encapsulating the brand’s values of masculinity, regality, bravery and luxury. The image is made up of many elements of texture representing the rich layers and flavour in the whisky. The gift tin will be available in more than 70 markets world-wide.

James Slack, Brand Director for Chivas Regal, comments: “Known for contemporary, baroque designs inspired by historical ornamentation, Dan was the perfect artist to reflect the distinctive style and rich heritage of Chivas Regal. His bold, masculine design will appeal to the brand’s largely male consumer base, with increased on-shelf visibility, further strengthening Chivas Regal’s position as the most dynamic brand in the super premium Scotch whisky category.”

Funderburgh added: “Heraldic crests have always appealed to me aesthetically so I wanted to utilise this element of Chivas Regal in my design. Within the lion I included patterns that are relevant to the Chivas brand – some Scottish thistles and checks, interspersed with more contemporary geometric and global patterns. The aim was to achieve an end result that was bold, but with delicate details and a contemporary approach to the tradition of chivalry.”

Chivas Regal has long embraced the design community and has previously partnered with high profile names such as Christian Lacroix, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood.

Chivas Regal continues to invest in its Live with Chivalry campaign which launched in 2008 and has struck a chord with consumers in more than 60 markets.

Notes

About Dan Funderburgh
New York illustrator Dan Funderburgh was born in Seattle in 1978 and received a BFA from the University of Kansas in 2001 with a focus in illustration. After moving to New York in 2001 Dan established a partnership with the now Brooklyn based wallpaper studio Flavorpaper where his designs are hand screen printed. The wallpapers have been featured at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, Pulse Miami and are a part of the Cooper-Hewitt’s permanent collection.

Occasional collaborations with companies like Brooks, Furni, and Gravis have allowed his work to live on bicycle seats, furniture and luggage. Dan’s personal and gallery work includes letterpress and screen prints, sculptures and installations that play off of historical ornamentation. He is known for his intricate baroque patterns, laced with contemporary reference and dry wit. He currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York and has recently completed his first international solo show in Barcelona, Spain.

For further information visit: www.chivasbrothers.com

Chivas Regal Breaks the Mould with Innovative Short Films

Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury Scotch whisky, has teamed up with Academy Award® winning short filmmaker, Joachim Back, to create two beautifully shot and engaging short films, as part of its latest consumer campaign designed to connect with discerning modern gentlemen.

The films depict a group of sophisticated male friends in their early 30s enjoying quality time together over a glass of Chivas Regal in a bar setting, while reminiscing over legendary moments from their shared past that truly affirmed their friendship. Their memories are brought to life for viewers with stunning backdrop visuals and entertaining, comical scenes.

Trailers of the films, entitled Here’s to Big Bear and Here’s to Twinkle, have been created in both 30 and 60-second executions to be aired as TV commercials in Brazil and Mexico from late-October. The trailers will direct consumers online to Chivas.com, where the full versions can be viewed. Print advertising in key consumer titles in each market will use QR codes to drive consumers to the films online.

To support the launch, a campaign on Chivas.com, will encourage consumers to recall and share their own friendship-affirming memories. Using state-of-the-art technology, consumers can upload their story onto the site, adding pictures and setting it to their chosen song. Users can ‘tag’ their Facebook friends into the storyboard, which will then appear on their Facebook pages.

James Slack, Global Brand Director for Chivas Regal, says: “With this hugely innovative project, we have moved away from a traditional TV commercial and created a platform that will appeal to modern, discerning consumers who enjoy film and popular culture.

“These films, which celebrate true friendship, will further strengthen the emotional connection between Chivas Regal and our contemporary consumers, appealing to our current drinkers but also attracting new consumers to the brand.”

In line with Chivas Regal’s ongoing Live with Chivalry campaign, which launched in 2008, the films feature men who embody the masculine values that the brand embraces such as loyalty, brotherhood, honour and a sense of passion and luxury.

Notes

The new short films can be viewed at www.Chivas.com from 31 October 2011

Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.6 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old.

Chivas Regal delivers innovative added value with ‘The Art of Hosting’ campaign

Original luxury Scotch whisky Chivas Regal is launching an innovative campaign in Travel Retail to reward travellers with genuine added value. In partnership with private nightclub Le Baron, ‘The Art of Hosting’ campaign includes a limited edition gift-pack, in-store displays and an exclusive website which brings entertaining at home to life, as a sensory, 360 degree, virtual party experience.

The Chivas Regal 12 Year Old Le Baron limited edition gift-pack launches this November in Travel Retail outlets across Europe, Asia, the Gulf and will reach the US in March 2012. It will retail at the standard Chivas Regal 12YO price and in some markets the bottle will come with a digital card containing a unique code that will allow travellers access to locked content and the ability to download an exclusive ten track playlist, selected and mixed by the Le Baron Club DJ. The site also showcases seven short films featuring the Le Baron gentlemen, Andre and Lionel, advising users on how to be the ultimate host.

James Slack, Global Brand Director, Chivas Regal said, “Capitalising on the global trend for entertaining at home, Chivas & Le Baron will attract attention and inspire our customers in The Art of Hosting. We also want to communicate in an engaging way and this is why we have created a strong digital platform to support the travel retail campaign. We are confident travellers will be as excited by the promotion as we are.”

Using highly visual in-store displays which combine quality, originality and creativity, the activation will captivate travellers and offer inspiration on generating the right atmosphere and experience when entertaining at home.

In addition Chivas Regal 12 YO has produced 20 bespoke trunk bars – the ultimate hosting package, which will be used wholly for travel retail competition prizes. Created by prestigious French luxury trunk company Pinel and Pinel, the trunk bar includes a bottle of Chivas Regal 12YO, four branded glasses, cocktail shaker, music docking station and iPad 2. Other activities include a gift-with-purchase of a branded trolley bag or holdall.

Notes

Chivas Regal
Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.6 million 9L cases annually in more than 150 countries across Europe, Asia Pacific and Americas. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old.

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.

Le Baron
Le Baron is a private nightclub and now the most exclusive after dark spot in Paris. Not only does it entertain the French capital; the spirit of Le Baron travels well too, with clubs in Tokyo and soon New York and London. It’s also exported for contemporary art fairs and film festivals, from Miami to Cannes. André Saraiva is a nightlife impresario and renowned graffiti artist, amongst other pursuits. Lionel Bensemoun is a world famous party and event host. Together they create the mood. They set the trends. And they’re always one step ahead.

BALBLAIR 2001: NEW VINTAGE, NEW LOOK, NEW HOME

Rarely has a small Highland distillery so many exciting things to communicate at once! First and foremost, Balblair Single Malt is proud to announce the launch of its new vintage expression, Balblair 2001. The whisky, presented in an updated packaging, has been unveiled earlier today at Balblair’s Brand Home – a stunning new visitor facility at the distillery.

This first release of Balblair 2001 (bottled 2011) is a natural progression from previous expressions but three significant changes have been introduced and will from now on become a standard throughout the range.

• Balblair 2001 is bottled at 46% ABV
• Balblair 2001 is non chill-filtered
• Balblair 2001 in bottled at its natural colour

Distillery Manager John MacDonald commented on the changes: “We are delighted to be introducing this expression at a higher strength, uncoloured and non chill-filtered. Much time and care has gone into creating this malt and I am confident that whisky enthusiasts the world over will really enjoy this latest Balblair.”

Balblair 2001 was matured entirely in top quality White American Oak, ex-bourbon casks and therefore typical Balblair aromas of pineapple, pear and citrus are beautifully rounded off by vanilla and exotic spices. The palate is richly sweet and bursting with fresh orchard fruit. It finishes slowly and smoothly.

Speaking about the new Balblair vintage, Brand Manager Andy Hannah made a reference to the updated packaging: “The new look Balblair represents an evolution of what is already a stand-out piece of packaging within the malt category. Improved brand visibility and enhanced material finishes will help support the brand’s continued growth. The distinctive and colourful Balblair box remains, although slightly reduced in width – this means that we use less packaging and it is more convenient for trade and consumers alike.”

Balblair 2001 has been unveiled today at Balblair’s Brand Home. The new facility occupies old malting barn at the distillery and offers a tasting and brand education experience enhanced by audio-visual presentations. A small brand shop is now also operational and offers a rare opportunity to fill your own bottle of Balblair straight from the cask.

More generally about Balblair (Notes)

• Balblair is the second oldest working distillery in Scotland. It was established in 1790 by John Ross.
• Today, over two centuries later, four of the nine Balblair Distillery craftsmen still have the surname Ross.
• At Balblair only Vintages are ever released. Whiskies that have reached their absolute peak of perfection.
• Currently available Balblair Vintages include: 2000 (now being replaced by 2001!), 1991 (USA exclusive), 1990 (travel retail), 1995 (Swedish exclusive), 1989 (2nd release), 1978 and 1965.

This Thursday (November 10, 2011) the new iWhiskyWhiskey app for the iPhone and iPod touch was released into Apple’s App Store. Since 2009, the iMalt app has been the single malt whisky lovers’ prefered app for keeping track of whisky collections and tasting notes. The all new iWhiskyWhiskey app has the same great features as the iMalt app, but the focus is on all other whisky and whiskey types than single malt.

The iWhiskyWhiskey app includes more than 200 whiskies and whiskeys devided into categories based on their type. For example you will find Scotch blended malt whisky from Chivas, Irish pure pot still whiskey from Jameson, Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey from Jim Beam, Tennessee whiskey from Jack Daniel’s, Canadian blended whisky from Canadian Club and Japenese single grain whisky from Nikka. All bottles are beautifully illustrated and described in detail. You can easily add more whiskies and whiskeys yourself or you can receive them by subscribing to the iTasteNote Cloud Service.

The iWhiskyWhiskey app is also an excellent tool for keeping track of your tasting notes. A detailed and easy-to-use tasting note guide will help you to determine the color, nose, body, taste and finish and you can give each whisk(e)y an overall rating. You can add written notes as well. It is also possible to group a set of whiskies/whiskeys by a tasting event that you have attended or you can group them by the store you have bought them in. Off course you can also mark bottles that are in your collection and you can maintain a whisk(e)y wish list

The iTasteNote Cloud Service, which first came to the iMalt app, is also available to iWhiskyWhiskey users. The main features of this service is sharing of ratings and tasting notes and regular updates of brands and their whiskies/whiskeys. The iTasteNote Cloud Service does also provide online backup and it enables synchronization of data between your iPhone, iPad (when iWhiskyWhiskey HD comes out) and iPod touch. Subscribing to the iTasteNote Cloud Service gives you access to extra features and content in both the iWhiskyWhiskey app and the iMalt app.

The iWhiskyWhisky app will be offered for free in Apple’s App Store for a limited period of time. The iTasteNote Cloud Service is offered as an in-app-purchase and costs $9.99 / 7.99 € for 90 days access, $14.99 / 11.99 € for 180 days access and $19.99 / 15.99 € for 360 days access.

Benromach to Share the Secret with the Arts

Benromach, the Single Malt Scotch Whisky, is pleased to announce that it sponsored contemporary London art gallery Beers.Lambert’s production Systems Beyond Certainty.

The show at Project Space on Vyner Street in London ran on November 2 and 3.

Systems Beyond Certainty presents constructs of time, nature and space as structured, ideological concepts that provide simultaneously real and imagined delineations to our perception of the natural world.

Five artists consider these concepts as metaphor and reality, offering a re-evaluation of their surroundings in a context that provides contemplation for the relationship between the definite and the imagined.

The exhibition is conceived through several distinct themes: the natural world, the utopian versus the dystopian, the spatial, the psychological, and the futuristic sublime. The work drives pertinent questions into

abstract representations of The Present and The Future in lieu of a constructed versus natural world – the status of normalcy or the pursuit of constructed perfection. While artists such as Kevin Cooley and Peter

Matthews seem to offer views of the constructed or natural works in crisis, other artists such as Gillian Lawler appear to present re-affirmations of these themes through the representations of the future.

Commenting on the deal, David Urquhart Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, owners of the Benromach Distillery in Forres, said:

“The Beers.Lambert is the perfect partner for Benromach. It is a pleasure to be associated with such a contemporary art gallery that features really cutting edge talent from around the world, which we feel reflects

many of the distinctive qualities of the various expressions or our malt whisky. We look forward to the success of Systems Beyond Certainty and to be able to share the secret of Benromach with the audience.”

All attendees attending the performance were invited to sample Benromach Ten Year, Benromach Organic or Benromach Peat Smoke and received a miniature Benromach 10 year old to take away.

Director of Beers.Lambert, Kurt Beers said: I wanted to combine my love of whisky and fine art which is why I have invited around 200 fine art enthusiasts to a private viewing and reception at our London gallery.

I esteem my gallery for exhibiting only the finest in emergent and stimulating visual arts internationally and I believe Benromach would be an exceptional compliment to the clean, crisp, contemporary feel of the work on exhibit.”

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.

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Toasts The Holidays

Luxury Canadian Whisky Brand Is Turning Heads in the Whiskey World; Gift Box Makes It Ideal for the Gift Giving Season

New Orleans, LA (Nov., 2011) – Since launching in April 2010, Caribou Crossing, the world’s first single barrel Canadian whisky, has been turning heads. The whisky has received a 93 rating from John Hansell at The Whisky Advocate; was named “2010 Canadian Whisky of the Year” by canadianwhisky.org; won a double gold medal at the 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition; a gold medal and “90” rating meaning “exceptional” from Tastings.com (Beverage Testing Institute); a gold medal and “90” rating meaning “excellent, highly recommended” at the 2010 Ultimate Spirits Challenge; a silver medal and best in class at the 2010 International Wine and Spirits Competition; and a bronze medal at the 2010 Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition.

Packaged in a rich, royal blue bag nestled inside an elegant gift box, Caribou Crossing makes the ideal holiday present for anyone desiring the uniqueness of a single barrel Canadian whisky coupled with a rich, smooth flavor that has whisky aficionados everywhere giving it high marks.

The barrels used for Caribou Crossing were hand-selected by Sazerac’s Master Blender Drew Mayville. He selected the most mature and flavor-rich samples available and oversaw the bottling of each individual barrel. Each bottle of Caribou Crossing has its own subtle uniqueness. Whisky buffs can expect to taste radiantly-hued nectar with a nod to the tantalizing silky texture provided by the barrel. The rye grain cuts through the wood flavors making its spicy presence known without risking the creamy vanilla custard smoothness. The finish is oak with an orangey tang.

Caribou Crossing Single Barrel Canadian Whisky is available at retail for $49.99 for a 750ml bottle.

About The Sazerac Company

Sazerac is based in New Orleans, Louisiana and is one of New Orleans’ oldest family owned, privately held companies. The company has operations in New Orleans, Louisiana; Frankfort, Bardstown, Louisville and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Carson, California; Baltimore, Maryland; and Montreal, Canada. For more information, please visit www.sazerac.com.