QUEUES ROUND THE BLOCK AS ALDI 40 YEAR OLD WHISKY DRAWS A CROWD

British shoppers have been queuing outside Aldi stores in an attempt to secure a high quality 40 year old single malt whisky for the bargain price of just £49.99.

The first supermarket ever to sell a 40 year old single malt, discounter Aldi today released 3,000 bottles of the whisky throughout its 450 UK stores. With such a limited run of a high end whisky retailing for less than £50, Aldi stores across the UK saw shoppers queuing from 5am, with the product selling out in record time.

Aldi’s Spirits Buyer said: “From the moment the news broke that we were launching a 40 year old single malt whisky, we’ve seen huge demand and excitement from our customers, so it’s been no surprise that it sold out within minutes. Our shoppers appreciate great quality products at great prices.

“We look forward to rewarding our customers in the future and will continue to offer great value premium products.”

The Speyside Single Malt comes from one of Scotland’s finest distilleries and has been matured in European Oak Sherry casks, resulting in a very intense and rich flavour. The beautiful decanter is presented in a stylish gift box.

With an aroma of dark chocolate and dried figs, the sweet taste gives off a marmalade zestiness, and the dry oak tannins fade into a lingering sweet and mellow finish.

Glenbridge 40 Year Old Single Malt Whisky – £49.99, 70cl, 40% ABV

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Benromach picks up silver and bronze at Malt Maniacs

Speyside’s smallest whisky distillery, Benromach has another duo of top awards to celebrate. Their Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Benromach 30 Years Old has won a silver medal in the 2011 “Malt Maniacs” Awards.

Matured in first fill and second fill Sherry casks, the 30 year old Single Malt, scored 85 points.

And it wasn’t the only Benromach whisky to receive a top accolade as their 2001 Cask Strength vintage received a bronze award.

Malt Maniacs, which is in its ninth year, say theirs is “probably the world’s most independent whisky competition and perhaps the most gruelling!”

Under the management of Gordon & MacPhail, Benromach is handcrafted by just two experienced distillers. Using their unique skills they have developed the distillery’s portfolio which includes the popular Benromach 10 Year Old and Benromach Organic – the world’s first fully certified organic Single Malt.

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, said: “To be awarded a silver and bronze medal ahead of another 171 fine whiskies is a wonderful achievement.

I am delighted that our flagship Benromach range continues to be honoured at respected events like these.”

The “Malt Maniacs” award is the latest accolade for the whiskies from Speyside’s smallest working distillery. Top awards include Benromach’s flagship Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Benromach 10 Year Old being awarded a gold medal at TheFiftyBest.com tasting event in New York City. Benromach 30 Years Old was described as “magnificent, one of the outstanding malts of the year”, scoring 95.5 points out of 100, in Jim Murray’s famous Whisky Bible 2012.

Benromach 30 Years Old has a RRP of £149.99 in the UK. Benromach Cask Strength has a RRP of £40.50 in the UK. Prices in Export markets will vary depending on import charges and taxation

Notes

1. Benromach distillery is Speyside’s smallest. Based in Forres, just two expert distillers make this, golden malt whisky.

2. Established in 1898, Benromach distillery changed hands many times and was virtually derelict when bought by family firm Gordon & MacPhail in 1993. Drawing on generations of whisky expertise, the company carried out a painstaking refurbishment and the distillery was officially re-opened by Prince Charles in 1998.

Other Benromach expressions include:

Benromach 10 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.

Benromach 30 Years Old

Matured in 1st fill and refill Sherry casks Benromach 30 Years Old is complex, with hints of rich Sherried Christmas cake and a touch of marzipan. Some mixed spices emerge. Smooth and creamy with mouth warming qualities.

Please visit www.benromach.com for details.

Dalmore Releases 1995 Vintage

Dalmore Distillery has released a 1995 vintage whisky that will be exclusively available at The Whisky Shop.

Named ‘The Distillery Manager’s Exclusive’ the whisky was chosen for release by Distillery Manager Ian Mackay and his team up at the newly refurbished Dalmore Distillery Visitor Centre.

The ‘Distillery Manager’s Exclusive’ has been matured in Matusalem sherry and American white oak casks to create this exceptional whisky. It is available at The Whisky Shop priced £84.99 and is limited to 1800 bottles.

The Dalmore 1995 Vintage

Nose: Powerful and positive on the nose. This expression is full bodied and vibrant, as richly orchestrated notes of spicy cinnamon, dark roasted coffee and chocolate rise in a rhapsody of pleasure.

Taste: The music continues on the palate as enticing flavours of tangy orange peel, ginger, liquorice and walnuts lead this encore. However this is quickly followed by the final overture of ripe plums, glazed forest fruits and wild berries. ABV: 40%

Dalmore Distillery Manager, Ian Mackay

“I was delighted to be able to choose a whisky that would represent my favourite style of whisky for the Whisky Shop. I’ve selected a whisky that has been matured in two of my favourite casks, Matusalem Sherry and American White oak. However with the balance of sherry wood outweighing the American White oak, it gives the whisky a rich orange and dark berry flavour, which is my own favourite style of Dalmore. I just hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I do!”

Managing Director of The Whisky Shop, Andrew Torrance

“Ian Mackay has had over 30 years experience working in the whisky industry, and his choice of cask for us certainly didn’t disappoint. The brand has gone from strength to strength over the last few years both in liquid supremacy and packaging excellence – in fact we have just named the Dalmore 12years old as our best seller for 2011 – so having our own exclusive chosen by the Distillery Manager will be a real asset to our collection.”

www.thedalmore.com

Black Bull 40 year old, the flagship of Duncan Taylor’s award winning range of deluxe blends has seen off competition from some of the world’s most respected whiskies to be named as the overall winner at this year’s Best in Glass awards.

Held annually in London, the Best in Glass awards consist of a blind tasting of short listed whiskies by leading industry figures from the wine and spirits sector. A spokesman for the judges commented:

“The panel were wowed by the balance of this superbly put together whisky, which demonstrated incredible fruit, vanilla and complex, aged oak notes, with a rich and highly moreish character.”

Scott Watson, CEO of Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Limited, commented:

“It’s tremendous to see Black Bull 40 year old recognised with a prestigious Best In Glass award. To come out top in a blind tasting from such an esteemed panel of Independent judges is a great honour and a fantastic testament to Black Bull’s boldly Independent character.

A small batch release, the indulgent, sublimely balanced profile of Black Bull 40 year old is delivered by a 90% malt to 10% grain marriage of some of the rarest vintage whiskies in the world today.

Black Bull has always been coveted by the world’s whisky connoisseurs and we are very proud to see our key brand receiving global recognition as one of the very best in its field.”

In addition to the Best in Glass Award, Black Bull has received 5 key wine and spirits gold medals in 2011 so far. These include accolades from the World Whisky Awards, the International Wine and Spirits Competition, International Spirits Challenge and the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge.

Now in its fourth year, the Best in Glass awards subjects a shortlist of whiskies to 3 rounds of blind tasting by a panel of experienced judges.

www.duncantaylor.com

Thumbs up for Gordon & MacPhail’s whiskies

A bottle of whisky from Gordon & MacPhail’s Rare Vintage Range, Strathisla 1970, has become one of the highest scoring whiskies in the 2011 “Malt Maniacs” Awards.

Despite almost 200 entries, the Gordon & MacPhail Strathisla 1970, bottled at 43%, was among only eight whiskies to achieve a gold medal, 90 points, and was also the winner of the ‘Thumbs Up’ award,

for most exciting new release of the year in that price category.

Malt Maniacs, which is in its ninth year, say theirs is “probably the world’s most independent whisky competition and perhaps the most gruelling!”

Michael Urquhart, Joint Managing Director of Gordon & MacPhail, said: “To be awarded a gold medal and Thumbs Up award ahead of another 171 fine whiskies is a wonderful achievement. The Strathisla 1970 is testament to our approach for matching the right type of cask to this particular whisky.”

Strathisla 1970 is a robust and moreish after dinner dram with a nice depth and complexity, which display hint of festive spices, almonds and a burst of stewed fruits. Smooth and very enjoyable

The “Malt Maniacs” award is the latest accolade for the whiskies from Gordon and MacPhail. Their Miltonduff 1969 also walked away with a silver award at the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge which was held in November.

Gordon & MacPhail Rare Vintage Strathilsa 1970 has an RRP of £149 in the UK. Prices in Export markets will vary depending on import charges and taxation.

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.

For more information visit www.gordonandmacphail.com

J. & G. Grant, in partnership with Glasgow based publishers The Angel’s Share, are pleased to announce the publication of Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery, by Ian Buxton. This biography of the family owned distillery has been commissioned as part of the distillery’s 175th Anniversary celebrations.

Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery is both the definitive history of the Glenfarclas Distillery, which was first licensed in 1836 and unusually has been owned and managed by the Grant family for six generations, and is also a record of a remarkable year in the distillery’s long history, preserved for the future.

The Glenfarclas story has been bought to life by renowned whisky author Ian Buxton, delving deep into the character and provenance of the Ballindalloch distillery, and carefully presented by designer Jules Akel with original material from the distillery’s archives and newly commissioned photography by John Paul.

Commenting on the project, Ian Buxton, said, “In an industry dominated by multi-nationals the Glenfarclas story is a remarkable and engaging one. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to tell it”.

Notes

• To view images and a PDF extract of Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery please follow this link; http://www.akel.co.uk/work/books/glenfarclasbook.html
• RRP: GBP 34.99 ISBN: 9781906476755
• Available online on at www.nwp.co.uk  , www.glenfarclas.co.uk  and www.amazon.co.uk.

Ballantine’s Continues its Support of World Class Golf in China

As the official Scotch whisky partner, Ballantine’s will be highly visible at the tournament, both on the course and through a dedicated VIP hospitality area. Each day, the players with the lowest round of the day will be awarded with a bottle of Ballantine’s 21 Year Old, while the winning two-man team will be presented with a rare bottle of Ballantine’s 30 Year Old.

As part of Ballantine’s ongoing commitment to professional golf globally, the brand will also be supporting China’s No 1 player, Liang Wen Chong, who is a Ballantine’s brand ambassador.

The Omega Mission Hills World Cup is a unique opportunity for Ballantine’s to further participate in China’s golf boom. In recent years, the Scotch whisky brand has provided significant support to the sport’s grass roots in the region. For example, in 2007, Ballantine’s and Liang Wen Chong co-founded the Ballantine’s Golf Fund, which aims to boost the development of professional golf in China by supporting emerging talent.

In December 2010, Ballantine’s extended the reach of this commitment by establishing the Ballantine’s Dragon Team, China’s first team of professional golfers selected by a panel of the Fund’s judges for their ambition and dedication to the sport. Members of the Ballantine’s Dragon Team are offered team training with leading golf coaches, full sponsorship of members’ participation in high level tournaments as well as sponsoring their attendance at the 2011 Ballantine’s Championship.

Peter Moore, Ballantine’s Global Brand Director, comments: “We are delighted to be continuing our support of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup, as part of our long term investment in golf, both internationally and at a local level. China is key for us and it also represents one of the fastest growing golf markets in the world. Our sponsorship efforts, both at the top of the game and at grass roots level, mark our deepening commitment to this country and its golfing prowess.”

Ballantine’s association with golf can be traced back to at least 1960 when the Ballantine’s Tournament took place at Wentworth golf course. More than fifty years later, Ballantine’s is the title sponsor of the high-profile Ballantine’s Championship, Korea’s first and only European Tour event and the country’s largest golf tournament, to which the brand is committed until at least 2013. Ballantine’s has been official supplier to the Scottish Open since 2007.

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 please visit: www.chivasbrothers.com

US Duo Leave an Impression with Victory in China

Following their two-shot victory at the 56th World Cup of Golf in Hainan, China, The USA’s Gary Woodland and Matt Kuchar are presented with a bottle of prestigious Ballantine’s 30 Year Old by Ballantine’s Brand Director Peter Moore (far left) and Con Constandis, Chairman and CEO Pernod Ricard China (far right).

Release of WhiskyCompanion 2.00 for Android mobile devices

Today WhiskyCompanion announced the release of WhiskyCompanion ver. 2.00 for Android mobile devices.

WhiskyCompanion for Android is a complete whisky (or whiskey if you prefer) guide for the curious amateur as well as for the experienced collector.

The App comes with detailed information and pictures of more than 2.400 whiskies (bourbon, rye, malts, single malt, cask strength, blended, etc.) from 266 distilleries in 21 countries.

The pre-loaded data for whiskies and distilleries can easily be changed, or the user can create new whiskies and distilleries supported by own camera pictures or pictures uploaded to the phone.

You can share your distillery and whisky information with other users of WhiskyCompanion. Users can create accounts on WhiskyCompanion’s network server for free, and then upload their own distilleries and whiskies. After approval of uploaded material, can uploaded distilleries and whiskies be searched and downloaded by other users.

Distilleries and distributors may use the sharing functionality to upload new whiskies and make the information instantly available to the WhiskyCompanion community.

Whiskies might be found through countries, regions or distilleries. The app also has full text search functionality for whiskies making it very easy to find your favorite whisky in the massive list.

Notes from distillery visits can be added to each distillery, and detailed comments and tasting notes (classifications) may be added to the whiskies. All distilleries visited and whiskies tasted and rated will then be available in the “My Whiskies” section, which gives a complete overview over all personal activities.

Most of the distilleries have map-location for integration with Google Map. When clicking on a distillery location, Map will launch, and this can easily be switched to Street-View. It is then possible to virtually walk around the distillery.

You can create your own tasting event with picture and key information. Then you can link whiskies to the event and add your tasting notes to those whiskies.

The user interface of WhiskyCompanion is currently localized to Finnish, Dutch, English, German, Norwegian and Swedish. More languages will follow.

The app is available for at NOK 18.00 (US$ 2.99, € 1.99, GBP 1.99) on Android Market.

For more information please search Android Market for “whisky” or “WhiskyCompanion”, or visit www.whiskycompanion.com .

Cooley to bring Poitín out of the Shadows

Cooley Distillery, the European Distiller of the Year, has launched a new range of Poitín products to showcase the traditional Spirit of Ireland.

The origin of distilling in Ireland dates back over 1,000 years. Before there was Irish whiskey there was Poitín – a clear Irish spirit famous for its alcohol strength. In homage to this ancient Irish Spirit, Cooley Distillery, Irelands only independent whiskey distiller, has released an Origin series of Poitín products to revive the traditional Spirit of Ireland.

Poitín was traditionally distilled in a small pot still and the term is a derivative of the Irish word pota, meaning “pot”. Normally distilled from barley grain or potatoes, it is one of the strongest alcoholic beverages in the world and for centuries was classified as illegal in Ireland. Poitín is one of the most long-established spirits in the world with a rich and varied history and is exclusively associated with Ireland.

Jack Teeling, Managing Director of Cooley Distillery, commented, “Poitín is at the origin of Irish Spirits and Irish whiskey in particular. Over the years it has been demonised because it was illegally produced and the end product lacked consistency, quality and credibility. We have produced a quality Poitín product using ancient techniques in our award winning distillery allowing consumers of today try this ancient Irish spirit with confidence as they are getting a high quality product.”

Cooleys’ first Poitín release is triple distilled in small copper Pot Stills from a traditional Irish Pot Still recipe of malted and unmalted barley. Bottled straight from the still with no maturation produces a surprisingly smooth spirit even for one that is bottled at 65% abv. Poitín like any quality white spirit lends itself to be consumed in a variety of ways, neat, with water, with mixers and as a component of cocktails but due to its alcohol strength it should be enjoyed in moderation.

“As Poitín is basically un-aged Irish whiskey spirit and we hope to revive the Poitín as a national product. A lot of other countries around the world celebrate and market their national high alcohol spirits. Brazil have Cachaca, Greece Ouzo, Bulgaria Rakia and the Czech’s have successfully revived Absinthe after it was effectively outlawed for over 75 years. We want to bring Poitín out from the shadows and let Irish people have a national white spirit they can be proud of,” continued Teeling.

Consisting of only 1,800 bottles this small batch release will be initially available through the Celtic Whiskey Shop and Dublin Airport as well as through good independent off-licenses.

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.