£10 MILLION CAMBUS COOPERAGE FOR WHISKY CASKS BRINGS ANCIENT CRAFT INTO 21ST CENTURY

by Pat Roberts

Recognising the still-growing demand around the world for Scotch, particularly in the emerging markets of Asia and Latin America, Diageo is investing in growing Scotch whisky production capacity across Scotland. To accommodate additional production, a good supply of top quality oaks casks is needed, so Diageo has built a new state-of-the art Cooperage at Cambus, near Alloa in Fife.

Robot loading cask for firing

The coopers there will craft around 250,000 casks each year – all of which will be used to mature Scotch whisky for Diageo’s world leading brands, such as Johnnie Walker and J&B Rare, and Diageo’s famous collection of single malt Scotch whiskies like Talisker, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Oban and The Singleton of Glen Ord.

The Cambus site – the first new cooperage to be built in Scotland for decades – has been designed “by the coopers for the coopers”, drawing on generations of skill, craft and experience and combining it with the state-of-the-art British engineering – never before used in a cooperage – to dramatically improve the working lives of the coopers.

Diageo has invested £10 million* in the new purpose-built cooperage. It employs over 100 people: 40 coopers, 39 operators and team leaders and has eight apprentices. A further 20 people are involved in maintenance, transport and support services.

The new Cambus cooperage was opened on 28 November by His Royal Highness, the Earl of Wessex, who toured the new cooperage and met a range of time-served coopers, including some with decades of experience in the trade, as well Diageo’s apprentice coopers who are now able to hone their skills in a custom-built coopering school within the new cooperage.

Calum Bruce, Prince Edward, Brian Law

Calum Bruce, 51, one of Diageo’s longest serving coopers with 35 years’ service, having started in the trade at age 16, explained the difference the new ways of working had made to the coopers.

He said: “A lot has changed over the last 35 years, but the basic skills have stayed the same. But Cambus is something different altogether. We still use the same skills to do the same job, but the difference is the machines now do a lot of the heavy lifting so we don’t have to spend time and effort on hard labour and we can focus on the skilled part of the job. That is what has really transformed the way we work.”

Brian Law, one of eight apprentices currently learning their trade on Diageo’s four-year apprentice scheme, also welcomed the investment the company has made in the future of the trade. He said: “It is a really exciting time to be learning my trade as a cooper. At Cambus, Diageo has an investment in the future of coopering and that’s also an investment in the futures of all the guys who work here.”

Classic coopering skills& strength are still needed

“We wanted to maximise the craft skills which are the core of the job, while using smart technology to minimise the back-breaking bending and heavy-lifting which causes physical damage to the guys doing the job.”

Tom Duncan, a manager at Cambus, was one of the team tasked with leading the new cooperage project and explained the ethos behind the cooperage: “It’s not often you get to start with a blank sheet of paper and design something like this from scratch. From the start the basic principal was that this would be a cooperage designed by coopers for coopers.”

“We wanted to maximise the craft skills which are the core of the job, while using smart technology to minimise the back-breaking bending and heavy-lifting which causes physical damage to the guys doing the job.”

To achieve this, the Diageo team turned to Leicester-based engineering firm CI Logistics, which works primarily in the car industry, and together they custom-designed a series of mechanical conveyors to move the casks – which weigh up to 85kg when empty – around the cooperage between the hand-craft elements of the process. The result is the world’s most unique and innovative cooperage.

*Note: £10 million = €11.7 million or US $ 15.8 million

TheWhiskyBarrel.com Whisky Shop Reveals New Logo

Online whisky shop TheWhiskyBarrel.com today reveals its new insignia.

The new logo has been designed by Craig Mackinlay of Breeze Creative, the Glasgow based design company, who have worked with many of Scotland’s successful distilleries.

Craig Mackinlay explains “The new logo design enhances TheWhiskyBarrel.com by reflecting the modern look and feel of the company’s online whisky shop”.

Alastair Brown, Managing Director of The Whisky Barrel says “Our new logo design enhances our online web presence by clearly defining what we do. It blends our modern approach to a historic industry. Craig has designed one hell of a doodle”.

The previous logo, created in 2007, served the company for four years will be retired with a half bottle of Loch Dhu which still hasn’t sold.

You can follow our whisky musings on Facebook, Twitter and The Whisky Barrel Blog.

The Whisky Barrel

www.thewhiskybarrel.com

facebook.com/thewhiskybarrel

twitter.com/whiskybarrel @WhiskyBarrel

www.thewhiskybarrel.com/blog

E: info@thewhiskybarrel.com

T: +44 (0)845 2248 156

Iconic Scottish drinks brand, DRAMBUIE is to premiere its exciting global marketing campaign: A TASTE OF THE EXTRAORDINARY on 28 November with London getting the first glimpse of the international campaign.

The result of 12 months work and research on both sides of the Atlantic, the new creative territory marks a major departure for Drambuie as it drives forward to the next stage of its rejuvenation and aims to attract a new generation of drinkers. Building on the success of the new bottle design introduced in 2009, the campaign will be rolled out globally in 2012, with Greece, Chile and the UK introducing A Taste of the Extraordinary in 2011.

Developed by London-based creative agency Sell!Sell!, A Taste of the Extraordinary will challenge consumers to re-evaluate their perception of the brand as a drink choice, making it more accessible and appealing, particularly to 25-44 year old professional ‘creative class’ consumers.

With an infinite, moonlit, monochrome landscape the Drambuie bottle and amber liquid is emphasised in sharp relief. Artistic influences from Dali to Escher have helped to inform this incredible, surreal landscape. The creative campaign brings an element of intrigue; crafting a new brand world that tempts consumers to explore and discover the depth and unique taste of Drambuie.

London residents and visitors will receive a preview of the new campaign in the run up to this Christmas, with posters appearing across the London Underground, along with 300 branded taxis in the eye-catching black and white zigzag design and bottle shot.

The UK campaign for A Taste of the Extraordinary will be further supported by an integrated social media and PR strategy led by Freshwater UK. Events22 is also developing an extraordinary range of consumer experiential activities that will support the campaign throughout 2012 and beyond.

The photography commissioned for the new advertising campaign is by London based photographer John Ross. John is best known for his award-winning album artwork photography for the Pet Shop Boys, Manic Street Preachers, Spiritualised and DJ Shadow. Most recently he shot the striking Crouch, Touch, Pause, Engage in time for the Rugby World Cup Final.

Vicki Wonders, Drambuie Liqueur Co.’s UK senior brand manager commented: “We’re delighted to offer consumers a sneak preview of A Taste of the Extraordinary in the UK this Christmas. A fully integrated campaign combining advertising, social media, PR and experiential activity will be rolled out later in 2012. This campaign offers an engaging platform from which we will present Drambuie to potential consumers, as well as our on and off trade partners, as we encourage them to reconsider the brand and its place in their repertoire.”

Tim Dewey, global marketing director commented “Our research in both the UK and USA found that there was a real need to educate our consumers as to what the ‘taste’ of Drambuie actually is – a unique blend of aged Scotch whisky, spices heather honey and herbs. Combining this message with our bold new direction, we are in a much stronger position to further target a new generation of Drambuie drinkers. A Taste of the Extraordinary has given us the assets to deliver an impactful campaign across all channels and markets for years to come.”

www.drambuie.com

Notes

Drambuie can be found in all good drinks specialists and supermarkets, UK RRP £23.99

About DRAMBUIE®

A unique blend of aged Scotch whisky, species heather honey and herbs, the Drambuie recipe was created more than 260 years ago exclusively for Prince Charles Edward Stuart of Scotland. 

The first commercial production of Drambuie took place in Edinburgh 1909 and became popular internationally as it was taken abroad by the Scottish Regiments in the two World Wars.

In the USA post prohibition, it became synonymous with the classic cocktail The Rusty Nail ™. Today it’s enjoyed neat, over ice and as a long refreshing drink mixed with soda, ginger beer or ginger ale.  For more information visit www.drambuie.com

About photographer John Ross

A commercial photographer, John specialises in liquids, still life, portraits and cars and is currently working on a charity book about children orphaned by AIDs in South Africa. 

John also coincidentally shares the name of the first ever maker of Drambuie. www.johnross.co.uk

About Sell!Sell!

Sell!Sell! is advertisings naughty stepchild, an independent creative advertising agency based in London. We help companies large and small to grow their business.

Feast your eyes on the Sell! Sell! Blog: http://sellsellblog.blogspot.com 

Amrut Portonova receives 2011 Malt Maniac Award

Malt Maniacs released their annual awards on December 1, 2011 and the limited edition Amrut Portonova received the “Best Cask Innovation Award (Premium)”. The Best Cask Innovation Award is presented for the Best whisky matured or finished in ‘special’ or unusual casks. In addition Amrut Portonova received 88.15 points and was awarded a Silver Medal.

For 2010 in addition to a number of Malt Maniac Awards, Amrut received a special award for “Young World Distillery of the Year”, which recognized the quality of whiskies being produced by Amrut.

Amrut Portonova is a unique Single Malt Whisky that was first matured in new American oak and ex-Bourbon barrels. The whisky is then transferred to Port Pipes for further maturation of 1 year and then back to ex-Bourbon barrels for finishing, Bottled at Cask Strength 61.2% abv this is a limited edition release of less than 1250 bottles worldwide.

An allocation of 312 bottles of Amrut Portonova will be available in the US by mid-December at a price of $115 per bottle.

Amrut Distilleries is a family owned distillery based in Bangalore India and has been in operation since 1948. They released their first Single Malt Whisky in 2004. Now available in 20 countries, Amrut Single Malts continue to surprise and impress critics and connoisseurs.

Since 1997, the malt maniacs (an international collective of malt whisky enthusiasts) have been enjoying and discussing the pleasures of (single malt) whisky with like-minded whisky lovers from all over the world. Since 2003, they have organised their very own annual ‘amateur’ whisky competition.”We like to think that, over the years, our modest little initiative has evolved into one of the leading (and most independent) whisky competitions in the world.” You can find more details about the collective and its history on: www.maltmaniacs.org.

Amrut Single Malts are imported by Purple Valley Imports USA and distributed in over 20 States. For further information contact Raj Sabharwal, Managing Director, Purple Valley Imports at raj@purplevalleyimports.com or 704 497 2493.

Unique and collectable whisky reaches £500 at online auction

A unique and collectable bottle of signed whisky from Speyside’s smallest distillery has been sold for £500 in an online auction with proceeds going to a local rescue charity.

Distillery manager, Keith Cruickshank, and infamous online whisky commentator, Ralf Mitchell, signed the bottle of Benromach single cask for the charitable auction, which was hosted at the Scotch Whisky Auctions.

The money raised from the sale will go to Findhorn based Moray Inshore Rescue Organisation (M.I.R.O) who are an independent rescue service manned entirely by volunteers.

Keith Cruikshank said the online auction, which finished on Sunday (November 27), was a great success.

He said: “We are thrilled by to have raised so much money for M.I.R.O, a local charity, based only a few miles away from the Benromach Distillery. It was a very unique bottle of Benromach single cask whisky, hand bottled for

Ralf Mitchell at our distillery last month, and is the only bottle to be bottled at that exact point in time so we are pleased it was such a hit with collectors and whisky enthusiasts across the globe.”

The winner also received an exclusive selection of Benromach merchandise including a sample bottle of whisky, two blender glasses, key ring, polo shirt, wallet, stow bag, calendar and a newsletter signed by David and Michael Urquhart.

Ralf Mitchell, commonly known as Ralfy, also donated a memory stick, containing Vlogs about the auction and hand written tasting notes.

Previous charitable auctions of similar products have seen funds of around £400 raised.

If you want to find out more information about Benromach and sample the unique taste of their rare whiskies 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.

Please visit www.benromach.com for details.

About Ralfy

Ralfy is an independent video based commentator who combines entertaining whisky reviews with eccentricity for independent Scotch Whisky Producers.

Ralfy is also a member of the Malt Maniacs.

Please visit ralfy.com for details.

About Scotch Whisky Auctions

Scotch Whisky Auctions is an innovative and imaginative whisky auction website offering old whisky, rare whisky and vintage whisky for auction.

Please visit www.scotchwhiskyauctions.com for details.

About M.I.R.O

MIRO is one of around 50 independent rescue services that operate around the UK. It is manned entirely by volunteers and funded by the generosity of the general public and local business. Every penny raised by MIRO goes directly into the charities funds with nothing deducted for third parties or administration.

Please visit www.morayinshorerescue.org for details.

GlenDronach releases latest batch of single cask bottlings

THE BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd. has today (December 1) released the latest batch of single cask bottlings from its GlenDronach Distillery.

This is the fifth batch of GlenDronach single casks to be released by the award-winning Aberdeenshire distillery.

The five casks were bottled over the last few weeks and are available as of today.

The batch comprises five outstanding casks from 1972 to 1993. Three have been matured in Oloroso sherry butts, one in an Oloroso sherry puncheon and the fifth in a Pedro Ximinez sherry puncheon.

All five casks have been hand-selected by The BenRiach Distillery Company’s Managing Director Billy Walker, and they all share GlenDronach’s typically luxurious, richly-sherried characteristics, plus huge layers of fruit ranging from stewed pears to prunes, cherry, plums, apples…and even rhubarb crumble!

The cask details are as follows:

1972 cask # 716 / 39 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 421 bottles
1978 cask # 1067 / 32 years old / Oloroso Sherry Puncheon / 417 bottles
1989 cask # 3314 / 21 years old / Pedro Ximinez Sherry Puncheon / 489 bottles
1991 cask # 2406 / 19 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 530 bottles
1993 cask # 1 / 18 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 507 bottles

All five whiskies were reviewed by whisky writer Jim Murray in the recently-published 2012 version of ‘Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible’, and three of them scored particularly well, with a stunning 95 points or more, as follows:

1978 cask # 1067 – 95.5 / 100
1989 cask # 3314 – 95 / 100
1991 cask # 2406 – 95 / 100

Additionally, in his annual ‘Review of the Year’, Jim Murray singles out GlenDronach as the distillery with the most consistently impressive output throughout 2011 – to quote Jim: “… if there was a Whisky Bible Scotch Malt Whisky Distillery of the year, GlenDronach would be it.”

Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page over the coming weeks for more information on these new releases, tasting notes and exclusive product photography. If you would like to receive more information regarding Batch 5 releases, please contact us on info@glendronachdistillery.co.uk

The Glenmorangie Company Achieves Top Honours at World’s Leading Spirits Awards

Glenmorangie is the toast of London’s Guildhall after winning IWSC UK Spirits Producer Trophy

 Over the past five years the Company has collected more Gold Best in Class IWSC medals than any other single malt distiller worldwide

The Glenmorangie Company was the toast of the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) this week after picking up the best UK Spirits Producer award, fighting off stiff competition from vodka, gin, rum and other whisky producers.

Glenmorangie has won a remarkable total of 18 ‘Gold Best in Class’ medals over the past five years at the IWSC – the most internationally-recognised awards body. This is more than any other single malt Scotch whisky, making Glenmorangie the ‘best awarded’ of any single malt.

Since its foundation in 1969 the IWSC and its panel of judges have rewarded excellence in the world of wines and spirits. London’s historic Guildhall played host to Wednesday night’s banquet which drew 500 aficionados from across the globe.

Paul Skipworth, President & Managing Director at The Glenmorangie Company, said: “We are extremely proud of our heritage and the acknowledgement of the extra mile that Glenmorangie goes to deliver an exceptional quality of whisky. This recognition by the IWSC judges is a great honour to everyone in our team and especially our legendary craftsmen: the ‘Men of Tain’ ”

Dr Bill Lumsden, Head of Distilling & Whisky Creation at The Glenmorangie Company, said: “It’s great to receive validation from the IWSC of our ‘unnecessarily well made’ whiskies. We have the tallest stills in Scotland giving us a smoother, purer spirit; we only use our casks twice for maximum flavour – whereas other companies use theirs many more times; and we are undisputed pioneers of extra maturation. Glenmorangie was the first whisky company to use the concept of extra maturing our whisky in ex-wine casks and we are the leading experts in this today.”

David Kelly, IWSC marketing manager, said: “2011 has been a record year for the Competition, with an increase of whisky entries by 21 per cent. The quality of products entered has been particularly high, and it is no surprise that Glenmorangie has won this award.”
The follows Glenmorangie’s win at this year’s Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards in the Distiller of the Year category, beating an impressive list of nominees.

According to Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Glenmorangie’s nomination resulted from its impressive innovation “ranging from polished classics and elegant cask-finished whiskies to its 2011 release of the luxurious Glenmorangie Pride 1981 bottling.”

Mr Ewing at the BenRiach bottling line and in conversation with Mr Walker

 

BENRIACH WELCOMES SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT ENTERPRISE MINISTER FERGUS EWING TO NEWBRIDGE BOND AND HQ

THE BENRIACH Distillery Company was delighted to welcome Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, to its headquarters and bottling plant at Newbridge, Edinburgh, today (Monday November 21).

The company, which owns the BenRiach and GlenDronach single malt distilleries, gave Mr Ewing a tour of its premises and a presentation on its activities worldwide.

Acquired last year, the Newbridge Bond, Scotland’s specialist contract bottling company, has five bottling lines including a purpose-built line for low-volume/high-value product and Scotland’s fastest miniature bottling line. Working with some of the world’s leading spirits brands, it has the capacity to produce 2 million cases per year, it can store 3 million litres in its vats and can accommodate up to 150,000 cases in its bonded warehouse.

In April 2004 the company acquired BenRiach, south of Elgin, in a deal worth over £6m.

Four years later, it also acquired GlenDronach near Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

It employs a total of 80 people at its two distilleries, Head Office and bottling plant.

Annual turnover is £15.1m, with net profit of some £2.6m.

The BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd. has three shareholders – industry veteran Billy Walker and two South Africans, Wayne Keiswetter and Geoff Bell.

Its whiskies are available in over thirty countries. Mature markets include Europe, Scandinavia and the USA, while emerging markets are opening up in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, the Phillipines and Vietnam.

Over the years it has won a number of prestigious industry accolades. In 2007 BenRiach won “Distillery of the Year” at the Malt Advocate magazine whisky awards and in 2009 it was “Distillery of the Year” at the Whisky magazine Icons of Whisky Awards. And earlier this year the company won nine awards for GlenDronach and BenRiach – two trophies, and a total of seven gold, silver and bronze medals – at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London.

Last month it augmenting its award-winning range of whiskies by unveiling the new 21 year-old GlenDronach “Parliament”. Matured in a combination of the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry casks, it continues the GlenDronach tradition of offering fruit-laden intensity in its single malts. The new expression is named “Parliament” after the colony, or “parliament” of rooks that have been nesting in the trees overlooking the GlenDronach distillery for almost 200 years.

Born in Dumbarton in 1945, Billy Walker graduated from Glasgow University in 1967 with a BSc Honours Degree in Chemistry. After spells with Ballantine’s, Inver House Distillers and Burn Stewart, in 2004 he set up his own venture – the BenRiach Distillery Company – which led to the acquisition of BenRiach and GlenDronach distilleries.

Over the last seven years the company has resurrected “sleeping giants” BenRiach and GlenDronach, bringing a range of innovative and ground-breaking malt whiskies to the market. Billy is one of the most recognisable characters in the Scotch Whisky industry where he has now been involved for over forty years. He is a Master Blender and a Master of the Quaich – the highest honour the Scotch Whisky Industry can bestow.

Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said: “Our whisky industry is a national success story and makes a huge contribution to Scotland. Exports are a large part of this and it’s encouraging to see the latest figures showing that they are up 22% in the first half of the year to stand at £1.8 billion.

“BenRiach is to be congratulated for playing its part in this and developing its brands so well over the last few years – and contributing to Scotland’s sustainable economic growth in the process.”

Billy Walker said: “My colleagues and I were delighted to welcome Fergus Ewing to Newbridge in his capacity as Scottish Minister for Enterprise.

“Mr Ewing took a great interest in our activities during his visit. I took the opportunity to emphasise that whisky is Scotland’s greatest export and vital to the Scottish Government’s number one priority – increasing sustainable economic growth. It plays a critical role in the Scottish economy, with producers employing over 10,000 workers, generating gross income of over £460m and contributing gross value added of £2.7 billion towards Scotland’s economy.”

November 2011: Drambuie 15, the premium aged whisky liqueur from the iconic Scottish brand, is to be offered onboard all British Airway’s routes from December. The award-winning Drambuie 15 will be offered as in-flight refreshment for first class and business class passengers, as well as being sold in one litre bottles through the onboard retail outlet, Highlife Shop.

Designed to appeal to discerning malt whisky drinkers, Drambuie 15 is a connoisseur expression of Drambuie, drawn from the company’s finest selection of 15 Year Old Speyside Malts. Selected for their soft, complex fragrance and flavour, the rare Speyside Malts ideally complement and balance the herbs and spicy aromas of Drambuie’s famed secret recipe.

Will Birkin, global travel retail manager, Drambuie Liqueur Co. commented: “With only a handful of the world’s finest spirits chosen to be sold by this prestigious airline this a real coup for the brand. It demonstrates the quality of the spirit and premium reputation of the Drambuie name.

“Drambuie 15 aims to appeal to existing Drambuie customers trading up and malt whisky experimenters, making it an ideal fit with BA’s discerning passengers.”

By January 2012, Drambuie 15 will be listed in the majority of the world’s major airports.

Drambuie 15 is not the only member of the Drambuie family to be enjoying travel retail success with ultra-premium bottling The Jacobite Collection – the Spirit of ‘45, seeing strong sales since it became available in global outlets. Launched at TFWA Cannes 2011, the double award-winning limited edition Collection, which retails for £3,500, has already sold more than 20 units in just two months.

Will Birkin said: “The Jacobite Collection was very well received at TFWA Cannes in September, especially in winning awards for Luxury Drinks Brand of the Year and Best Drinks Launch. Demand for the product has since been incredibly strong.”

The solid wood presentation box contains a hand-etched crystal replica of the famous Spottiswoode ‘Amen’ glass and a hand-blown crystal decanter, which holds the rare blend of precious 45 year old whiskies, infused with Drambuie’s secret recipe of herbs and spices. The Jacobite Collection is regarded by Drambuie to be the finest product it has ever created and a gift ‘truly fit for a Prince’. Each individual element of the luxurious presentation has been carefully considered to capture The Spirit of ‘45, in liquid, glass and paper.

The Drambuie Liqueur Co. Ltd is an independent, family owned business that has been producing the world-renowned Drambuie Liqueur since 1909.

For more information visit www.drambuie.com

Notes

Drambuie’s The Jacobite Collection – the Spirit of ‘45 won Best Drinks Launch at Cannes and Best Luxury Drinks Brand of the Year in the Drinks International Travel Retail Excellence Awards at the world’s largest travel retail exhibition, TFWA Cannes this week (19-23 September).

DRAMBUIE 15

Drambuie 15 won two Gold Medals in the Drinks International Travel Retail Excellence Awards at its launch in TFWA Cannes 2010.

Tasting Notes

With a nose of Drambuie’s aromatic citrus spice, fragrant grass and butterscotch notes, Drambuie 15 has a velvet soft mouth feel with a tang of lemongrass and warming malty notes, berries and heather. A finish of shortbread, fresh herbs and the unmistakable long afterglow of the Drambuie elixir, results in a refined, drier expression of Drambuie, perfect for sipping and savouring either neat or over ice.

SERVE: To sip and savour, neat or over ice.

NOSE: Drambuie aromatic citrus spice, overlaid with fragrant grassy and butterscotch notes – characteristic of aged Speyside Malt.

FLAVOUR: Velvet soft mouth feel – fragrant citrus lemongrass tang gives way to complex warming malty notes of butterscotch, berries and heather.

FINISH: Shortbread, fresh herbal notes and the unmistakable long afterglow of the Drambuie elixir.

About DRAMBUIE®

The elixir at the heart of DRAMBUIE was created more than 260 years ago exclusively for Prince Charles Edward Stuart of Scotland. It is a unique combination of aged Scotch whiskies, heather honey and a blend of herbs and spices – a recipe kept secret since 1745. In the late 19th century the drink became know as “an dram buidheach” – from the Gaelic the drink that satisfies, and was subsequently registered as Drambuie is 1893. The first commercial production of Drambuie took place in Edinburgh 1909, it became the first liqueur to be served in The House of Lords in 1916 and became popular internationally as it was taken abroad by the Scottish Regiments in the two World Wars.

In the USA post prohibition, it became synonymous with the classic cocktail The Rusty Nail ™. Today it’s enjoyed neat, over ice and as a long refreshing drink mixed with soda, ginger beer or ginger ale. For more information visit www.drambuie.com

Bowmore Unveils Islay Taste Map With Martine Nouet

The ultimate companion and guide to Islay Single Malt whiskies

The interactive taste map is now live and can be viewed here: http://www.islaytastemap.com/

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

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

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

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

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

Bowmore

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Bowmore domestic product range:

· Bowmore Legend
· Bowmore 12 Years Old
· Bowmore Darkest 15 Years Old (sherry cask finished)
· Bowmore 18 Years Old
· Bowmore 25 Years Old

Islay

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