SOUTHERN COMFORT PARTNERS WITH TABASCO® Brand FOR NEW FIERY PEPPER PRODUCT

Two Louisiana Icons Come Together for Chili-Pepper-Flavored Line Extension

October, 2011, LOUISVILLE, KY – Southern Comfort announces the launch of Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper, a fierce fusion of Southern Comfort and Tabasco® brand pepper sauce. The new product is set to hit shelves nationally in October 2011.

The new spicy concoction delivers a perfectly balanced mixture of genuine whiskey, and the premium flavors of Southern Comfort, infused with original Tabasco brand pepper sauce. Served as a cold shot or incorporated into a cocktail, Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper finishes off any drink with the perfect amount of heat.

“This partnership between Southern Comfort and Tabasco brand strikes the perfect balance between sweet and heat and brings together two iconic brands for a one-of-a-kind product,” said Mark Bacon, VP, Managing Director, Southern Comfort. “Fiery Pepper gives our consumers another unique way to enjoy Southern Comfort that will challenge their senses and fire up the night.”

“We’re proud to partner with another iconic brand born in Louisiana to create a spicy addition to the classic Southern Comfort line,” said Paul McIlhenny, president and CEO of McIlhenny Company, maker of Tabasco brand pepper sauce. “We look forward to a future of fiery cocktails.”

Southern Comfort will launch a large-scale advertising campaign in support of the product release consisting of a 10-week national television buy in the fall which includes commercials, integrations and custom features on ESPN, TBS, TNT, Comedy Central and Discovery among others. The headline “Sometimes a Burning Sensation is Good News” highlights a national trade and online media campaign also “spreading” this fall.

“We’re making a considerable investment both above the line and below the line during and after the initial launch of the brand,” added Bacon. “Fiery Pepper is a significant initiative for us and will be a key component of the Southern Comfort growth plan for years to come.”

Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper will be available only in the United States initially with global expansion to follow. Each bottle will be presented at 70 proof with a suggested retail price of $16.99 for a 750ml bottle.

About Southern Comfort

Southern Comfort®, a fruit, spice, and whiskey flavored liqueur, was created in New Orleans by bartender M.W. Heron in 1874. Today, it is enjoyed by friends in over 100 countries around the world and continues to grow as an icon brand. Please visit us at www.SouthernComfort.com and facebook.com/southerncomfort.

Please Drink Responsibly.

Spirit Specialty, 15-50% Alc. by Volume, Southern Comfort Company, Louisville, KY ©2011

About Tabasco® Brand Pepper Sauce

Original Tabasco brand pepper sauce was invented by Edmund McIlhenny in 1868 on Avery Island, Louisiana. Today, the iconic sauce is still produced on that very same site, the basic recipe, the process by which it’s made, and the ingredients remain virtually unchanged.

TABASCO® is a registered trademark for sauces and other goods and services; TABASCO, the TABASCO bottle design and label designs are the exclusive property of and licensed by McIlhenny Company,

Avery Island, Louisiana, USA 70513.

http://www.TABASCO.com  

REVEALS THE NAMES OF THE TOP 20 US and UK FINALIST BARTENDERS For THE AUCHENTOSHAN SWITCH

A Trans-Continental Bartender Swap

US Finalists Travel to Las Vegas For the Final Showdown on October 26, 2011

Glasgow, Scotland (October 5, 2011) – This past August, Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland’s only triple-distilled single malt, announced a bartender talent search like no other – the The Auchentoshan Switch, where two outstanding barkeeps in the US and the UK will switch places and switch countries for two weeks to work in one of New York City’s and London’s most prestigious bars. Bartenders were asked to enter by submitting a video of themselves creating a lemonade and an Old Fashioned cocktail with Auchentoshan Three Wood. Well folks, the judges have voted and the votes are in. The group of top 20 US finalists will travel to Las Vegas on October 26 to participate in the showdown hosted by the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) where the top US bartender will be named. This bartender will travel to the UK and work at famed 69 Colebrooke Row. The finale in London will take place on October 24, resulting in one bartender being sent to New York City to ply their trade.

And today we happily announce the finalists – both US and UK. Congratulations to all and may the best bartender cross the pond!

US BARTENDER FINALISTS – In alphabetical order by last name, including the bar/city where they work:

–          Jeff Bell from PDT, New York City
–          Amber Berry from Ward III, New York City
–          Gina Chersevani from PS7’s, Washington, DC
–          David Curiel from Dalva Hideout, San Francisco
–          Michael Flannery from Michaels, New York City
–          Abigail Gullo from The Beagle, New York City
–          Dev Johnson from Employees Only, New York City
–          Charles Joly from The Drawing Room, Chicago
–          Mirjana “Mindy” Kucan from Grand Prize Bar, Houston
–          Jason Littrell from Death & Co, New York City
–          Ian McCarthy from Boiler Room, Omaha
–          Alexandra Parks from Green Russell, Denver
–          Zachary Safron from Metro, Lafayette
–          Steve Schneider from Employees Only, New York City
–          Rachel Sergei from The Jack Rose, Washington, DC
–          David Shenaut from Kask/Rum Club, Portland
–          Ezra Star from Drink, Boston
–          Lucinda Sterline from Little Branch, New York City
–          Clinton Terry from PX, Alexandria
–          Jenn Tosatto from Manifesto, Kansas City

Check out this video compilation of the US finalists: http://bit.ly/r2dxvT  

UK BARTENDER FINALISTS – In alphabetical order by last name, including the bar/city where they work:

– Martin Ball from Corrido, Manchester
– Divyesh Chauhan from Match Bar, London
– Matthew Dakers from Whistling Shop, London
– Kevin Griffin from The Raconteur, Edinburgh
– Andrew Harrod from Wabi, London
– Richard Hunt from Hawksmore, London
– Scott Ingram from Blythswood Square, Glasgow
– Alex Kratena from Artesian, London
– Simon La Moon from Zetter Townhouse, London
– Bruce Lerman from Epernay Champagne Bar, Leeds
– Antonino Lo Iacono from The Dukes Hotel, London
– Giuseppe Miggiano from The Bar at Chancery Court, London
– Khalil Moh’d Lahham from Donovan’s Bar/Brown’s Hotel, London
– Martyn Nicol from Blythswood Square, Glasgow
– Matt Roberts from Quo Vardis, London
– Andreas Tsanos from Lonsdale, Notting Hill
– Tom Walker from Bramble, Edinburgh
– Sam Watson from Purl, London
– Faye Woodcock from The Blind Pig, Glasgow

“We were so excited to have such great feedback, a cavalcade of interest, and so many great video entries for our first ever Auchentoshan Switch,” said Hannah Fisher, Auchentoshan Brand Manager. “It’s obvious that the brand is very relevant to today’s top bartenders in the UK and the US and we can’t wait to see what these incredibly talented bartenders will show us at the finale. Congratulations to all the finalists!”

THE SWITCH. The Switch will take place in early 2012 when the winning US bartender will spend two weeks behind the stick at the famed London bar 69 Colebrooke Row, while the winning British barkeep will get to spend his or her two weeks at a well known bar in New York City. 69 Colebrooke Row is home to the Drinks Factory, one of the only bar-related drinks labs in the world. There they will become incorporated into the daily bar procedures as well as visiting producers and sourcing quality ingredients. In NYC, the UK bartender will work at one of the hottest cocktail bars in Gotham’s underground scene. We’re not revealing the name of the bar just yet, but with no menus there, bartenders cook up individually prescribed concoctions according to their customer’s mood. Here the presentation of the cocktail is as dramatic as the cocktail itself. The winner will be part of both a theater of performance and a chemistry lab at the same time. And yes, there will also be some time for sightseeing as well.

ABOUT AUCHENTOSHAN SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

The award-winning Auchentoshan portfolio includes Auchentoshan Classic, 12 Year Old, Three Wood, 18 Year Old and the limited release 21 Year Old, in addition to select vintage, limited edition releases. Auchentoshan is available nationwide in the US and in more than 45 countries worldwide. The Auchentoshan portfolio is imported to the US by Skyy Spirits, LLC. Auchentoshan recently relaunched its website at www.auchentoshan.com. Join the Auchentoshan conversation on Facebook.

ABOUT UNITED STATES BARTENDERS’ GUILD (USBG) (www.usbg.org)

The United States Bartenders’ Guild is an organization of beverage professionals dedicated to the continued refinement of our craft. Such refinement is achieved through advanced product education; original hand crafted cocktail competitions; and aggressive involvement with other professionals in the beverage industry throughout the country and internationally. It is our intention, desire and main focus to become the most skilled, knowledgeable and professional group of bartenders in the industry. With the resurgence and ever increasing popularity of the cocktail, there is a high demand for creative and professional bartenders. As an industry leader the USBG is responsible for raising the bar and creating new trends to keep our competitive edge. The USBG is currently in the following locations: Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Denver, Hawaii, Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New Orleans, New York, North Texas, Northern California, Oregon, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Rhode Island, San Diego, St. Louis, Tampa Bay.

ABOUT 69 COLEBROOKE ROW – LONDON (www.69Colebrookerow.com)

Tucked away off the Islington Green end of Essex Road, 69 Colebrookee Row bears an impressive pedigree. Opened in mid 2009, it’s the brainchild of Tony Conigliaro, widely acknowledged as one of the UK’s pioneering drinks creators. The tiny space, with a capacity of only 40 people, is identifiable only by a lantern and has no name at all. Entry is via video entryphone, booking by phone, text or email only. When you step inside, the interior blends 1950s Italian café style with a film noir feel: large ceramic sinks behind a wooden bar add a touch of old Berlin.

ABOUT SKYY SPIRITS, LLC

The eighth-largest spirits company in the US, Skyy Spirits, LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM), together with its affiliates Gruppo Campari. Launched in 1992 with the introduction of its flagship brand, SKYY® Vodka, Skyy Spirits has grown exponentially, building a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers. Skyy Spirits manages Gruppo Campari’s portfolio in the US with such leading brands as SKYY® Vodka, SKYY90®, All Natural SKYY Infusions®, Campari®, Wild Turkey® Straight Kentucky Bourbon, American Honey®, Russell’s Reserve®, Glen Grant® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Cabo Wabo® Tequila, Espolón® Tequila, Ouzo 12®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur®, Frangelico®, Carolans Irish Cream®, Irish Mist® Liqueur, Sagatiba® Cachaça and Jean-Marc XO Vodka®. Skyy Spirits is also the exclusive US distributor of The Glenrothes® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Garioch® Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Flor de Caña® Rum, Midori® Melon Liqueur, Hibiki® Whisky and The Yamazaki® Single Malt Whisky.

Skyy Spirits was founded and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. More information on the company can be found at www.skyyspirits.com, www.facebook.com/skyyspirits, Twitter: @SkyySpirits and www.camparigroup.com. Please enjoy Skyy Spirits brands responsibly and in moderation.

Alistair Walker (second right, front row) with members of Tryst and the prestigious Howard de Walden trophy

BENRIACH SPONSORSHIP HELPS SCOTTISH ACTORS BECOME BRITISH CHAMPIONS

A TEAM of Scottish actors sponsored by BenRiach have become British champions.

Falkirk’s Tryst Theatre were crowned the best in the UK at the culmination of a nationwide drama festival involving over one thousand theatre groups.

The team fought off challenges from the top English, Welsh and Northern Irish teams to lift the coveted Howard de Walden Trophy in Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre.

Tryst’s three actors performed Act One of the comedy “Art” by Yasmina Reza.

Adjudicator Mike Tilbury praised Tryst’s performance for its polish and professionalism and said: “This was acting of the highest standard – slick, comedic and highly entertaining.”

Tryst Director Alan Clark said: “We are very grateful to Alistair Walker and BenRiach for their generous sponsorship. With all the costs we faced in getting to Swindon, we couldn’t have done it without them.

“The celebrations went on long into the night, thanks to some excellent BenRiach Curiositas!”

BenRiach’s Alistair Walker said: “Congratulations to Tryst. We know winners when we see them. As we have won a number of awards ourselves this year, it’s great that we assisted Tryst in becoming the best in their field.”

A. Smith Bowman Master Distiller Joe Dangler to Retire Oct. 1st

Fredericksburg, VA. (Sept. 2011) – Joe Dangler, a longtime fixture at A. Smith Bowman Distillery, will be retiring as Master Distiller effective Oct. 1st, 2011.

Dangler spent 33 years at A. Smith Bowman, starting as bottling plant superintendent in 1978 before being promoted to assistant plant superintendent and next plant superintendent. The A. Smith Bowman board of directors then elected Dangler vice president, production, where he remained until assuming the role of master distiller in 2003.

While training for the master distiller role, Dangler had the pleasure of learning under Tom Leahy, who had a wealth of knowledge gained from working at a distillery in Louisville, Ky. Leahy remained a mentor and close friend of Dangler until the end of his life.

Under Dangler’s reign, Virginia Gentleman Bourbon won a double gold and was named “Best American Whiskey” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2003, an honor of which he is most proud.

Another of Dangler’s career highlights as master distiller was the creation of the A. Smith Bowman collection, an assortment of six spirits, consisting of three whiskeys, one rum, one vodka and one gin.

Dangler has been very active in the community, serving as board member and eventually chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, served two three year terms on the Chamber of Commerce board, and was a co-founder of the Leadership Fredericksburg program where he currently serves as Chairman of the Advisory Board. He also was a member of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) technical committee and was part of the early development of the George Washington Distillery.

Upon his retirement, Dangler plans to spend time with his wife Emily, travel, learn to play the mandolin, and buy a share of a race horse.

About A. Smith Bowman Distillery

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition. In 1935, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition of the distillation of bourbon. The original distillery was located on the Bowman family homestead in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm. In response to the rapid growth of Northern Virginia, the distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com

Amrut single malt unites two continents

Amrut Distilleries is doing its bit for international relations with the release of its latest limited edition single malt whisky.

Amrut has always been about uniting the traditions of Europe with the best ingredients of Asia. This approach has created the golden single malt which we now love. Throughout this international partnership, Amrut Distilleries has pushed the boundaries, introducing innovate – and imaginative – maturation techniques to produce award-winning malt whiskies. Now, Amrut has returned to one of its early successes and is issuing a second edition of the highly popular Amrut Two Continents Single Malt Whisky.

“The demand and appreciation from the consumers after the First Edition led us to go for the Second Edition,” says Ashok Chokalingam of Amrut Distilleries Ltd, which is releasing the new whisky in October 2011.

Using the finest barley from India’s fertile North West provinces, the single malt whisky is created at Amrut’s distillery in Bangalore, the vibrant city which sits at 3,000 feet above sea level in the tropical heat of Southern India. Four casks of Amrut Single Malt Whisky were shipped from Asia to a secret location in the temperate climate of Europe and matured for a further period of two years. Very much a product of the two continents, this whisky captures characteristics from the contrasting climates of both tropical Bangalore and the temperate European lands.

The Second Edition, however, is not just a replica of the first: different casks have been used for the maturation. Instead of ex-grain casks, second-fill bourbon casks have been used this time. The Amrut Two Continents Second Edition has also been bottled – in individually numbered bottles – at 50% abv, not 46% abv.

“The changes are immediately noticeable,” notes Dominic Roskrow, the Editor of International Spirits Magazine. “The nose is honeyed, with key lime pie and strawberries and cream. The taste is spikier, spicier and feistier than of old, with dark cherry, blood orange and unripe banana.” Danish whisky blogger Steffen Brauner agrees the Second Edition is “quite different”. He explains: “There’s a lot more of India than Europe in this. I would describe this as vanilla infused Amrut.”

Only 360 bottles of this limited edition Amrut Two Continents Second Edition will be released in the United States, while 900 bottles will go to Europe, Canada and rest of the world. “It is a slightly larger bottling than the first,” admits Ashok, but he underlines that already the feedback is that it will be highly sought-after. He also confirms that Amrut will return to the Two Continents theme in the future. “We will continue with this concept, introducing subtle variations from one bottling to the other. But it will only be released once every two or three years.” The good news is that in Bangalore, the next casks for Amrut Two Continents have already been earmarked for their voyage to a second continent.

Amrut Distilleries

Amrut Single Malt Whisky from India was launched officially in Glasgow in 2004. Since then its reputation has grown, with its range of innovative whiskies using Indian barley from the Punjab distilled in the tropical garden city of Bangalore at 3000ft.

Amrut Distilleries was named a Distiller of the Year in the Icons of Whisky 2011 and was crowned in the Rest of the World category by the independent judges of the prestigious awards, which are organised by Whisky Magazine. The award was made to Amrut “for raising the profile of Indian whisky across the globe and its innovations in the production process”. The Rest of the World title meant the Bangalore distillery was also one of the four contenders for the Icons of Whisky Distiller of the Year title.

In The Whisky Bible 2010, leading whisky expert, Jim Murray awarded Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky the title of World’s Third Best Whisky. Murray said Fusion “has to be one of the great whiskies found anywhere in the word this year”. Admitting his No 3 choice could come as a surprise to some people, he said: “The fact that it is Indian? Irrelevant, from distillation to maturation this is a genius whisky from whichever continent.”

Fusion – which brings together two barleys: Indian and Scottish, with the latter being peated – was named the Best Natural Cask Whisky in the Daily Drams Category at the Malt Maniacs Awards 2009. It picked up the award for the best whisky matured exclusively in “untreated”, regular cask(s) in the category for whiskies with an average street price of up to 50 euros. It was also awarded a silver medal.

One of the Amrut Single Malt Whisky bottlings by Blackadder International won “The Best Daily Dram” category of Malt Maniacs 2008 Awards. All the Amrut brands entered into the same competition won silver and bronze medals.

Amrut Peated Malt Cask Strength Whisky won Silver and Amrut Single Malt Cask Strength Whisky Bronze at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2008.

Amrut is now sold widely in Europe (UK, Netherlands, France, Germany, Belgium, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Sweden, Spain), Canada, South Africa, Australia and the United States.

MCLEANSCOTLAND whisky tour company … have had their best year ever for whisky tours of Scotland. Working on tours all year round, the first whisky tour was back in January, Speyside in the snow, a grand trip with Dutch clients.

From then each month saw them take tours all over Scotland, visiting Speyside, Orkney, Highlands, west coast distilleries including Mull, Skye and Islay.

May was the busiest month of the year, with 8 whisky tour groups (all over Scotland).

At the end of September they travel to Arran, before another tour with Russian clients in early October, with two more trade shows whisky festivals; Manchester Whisky Lounge Festival, and Chester Whisky Festival, both in October. They will be happy to see you at either show!

It doesn’t end there, November sees more tours and even December they have a whisky tour from South Africa in conjunction with Diageo.

Their guests came from Germany, Russia, Sweden, Norway, Canada, USA, Holland, England, plus the SA trip as above.

Each guest (or couple) receive a specially made wallet with brochures, excellent tour notes, maps and many suggestions where to eat, drink etc whilst on tour.

Their tours are mostly designed with the client, to give exactly what is needed, then they go that wee bit further and add in some historic sites, castles, fantastic scenery and above all … fun!

To contact them; whisky@mcleanscotland.com

www.mcleanscotland.com

They also run the worldwide whisky club, with Patron Charles Maclean (keeping it in the family).
www.angelswhiskyclub.com  

Sazerac Company Announces The Purchase of Selected Brands and Manufacturing Facility

Strategic Acquisition Marks Further Expansion in Canada

Louisville, KY (Sept. 2011) – Sazerac Company, Inc. (“Sazerac”) announces that it has entered into an agreement to purchase from Corby Distilleries Limited (“Corby” or the “Company”) (TSX:CDL.A, TSX:CDL.B) certain Corby-owned brands as well as the shares of its subsidiary that owns the manufacturing and bottling facility in Montréal, Québec, for a purchase price of $32.9 million, plus the value of inventory on hand at closing. The transaction is expected to close on October 31, 2011.

The transaction involves the purchase of 17 brands, including De Kuyper Geneva Gin, De Kuyper Peachtree Schnapps, Red Tassel Vodka and Silk Tassel Canadian Whisky, as well as the Montréal-based manufacturing facility where a significant portion of the brands are produced. On closing, all employees of the facility will be employed by Sazerac, and a number of Corby-owned brands will continue to be blended, bottled and warehoused in the facility through a contract manufacturing agreement entered into with Sazerac.

“Canada has become an important market for Sazerac over the past decade and we are delighted to be able to further increase our presence in the market. We are particularly pleased at the prospect of being able to develop the De Kuyper brand in Canada,” added Mark Brown, Sazerac president and chief executive officer.

“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement on this strategic divestiture,” commented Patrick O’Driscoll, Corby president and chief executive officer. “We had some brand overlap in certain spirit categories and this transaction helps us streamline our portfolio with a more focused and targeted collection of brands, as part of our brand prioritization strategy. It also frees up more of our resources to create growth opportunities for our priority brands including Wiser’s Canadian Whisky, Lamb’s Rum, Polar Ice Vodka and McGuinness Liqueurs; resulting in increased shareholder value.”

The large majority of Corby’s remaining brands will continue to be manufactured in the Hiram Walker & Sons Limited facility located near Windsor, Ontario, which is managed by Corby on behalf of Pernod Ricard S.A.

“Corby is committed to a strategy of value growth and a focused brand portfolio that positions us for long-term growth in key categories with premium spirits and wines,” added O’Driscoll. “This divestiture is an important step in moving that strategy forward.”

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.

About Corby Distilleries Limited

Corby’s portfolio of owned-brands includes some of the most renowned brands in Canada, including Wiser’s Canadian Whisky, Lamb’s Rum, Polar Ice Vodka and McGuinness Liqueurs. Through its affiliation with Pernod Ricard S.A., Corby also represents leading international brands such as ABSOLUT vodka, Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet and Ballantine’s Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Beefeater gin, Malibu rum, Kahlúa liqueur, Mumm champagne, and Jacob’s Creek, Wyndham Estate and Graffigna wines. The existing Voting Class A Common Shares and Non-voting Class B Common Shares of the Company are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols CDL.A and CDL.B, respectively.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements concerning possible or assumed future results of Corby’s operations. Forward-looking statements typically are preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “estimates”, “intends”, “plans” or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and, as such, the Company’s results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF THE FIFTH ANNUAL EDITION OF “PARKER’S HERITAGE COLLECTION” AMERICAN WHISKEY SERIES

Alain Royer & Parker beam

10-year-old Bourbon Finished in Cognac Casks Represents Joint Effort Between Industry Legends Parker Beam and Alain Royer

BARDSTOWN, KY—Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the country’s largest independent family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer, announces the September release of the fifth edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection, a limited annual series of rare, aged American Whiskeys that pays tribute to 6th Generation Master Distiller Parker Beam. This 2011 release represents a bold new direction for the series and for the company, being the first “wood-finished” Bourbon produced by Heaven Hill, a two-time Distiller of the Year winner. It also represents a collaboration between two industry giants—Parker Beam, the legendary grand-nephew of Jim Beam who has practiced his craft at Heaven Hill for more than 50 years; and Alain Royer, 6th Generation Cognac Master Blender, founder of A. de Fussigny Cognac, now working for the Cointreau family within the Renaud Cointreau group.

This year’s release of Parker’s Heritage Collection promises to be a worthy successor to the previous four releases, which stand as some of the most critically lauded American Whiskeys in recent memory. Last year’s highly acclaimed 10-Year-Old Wheated Cask Strength Bourbon captured Whisky Magazine’s “World’s Best North American Whisky” at the World Whisky Awards. The prior release, the “Golden Anniversary” Bourbon, was Malt Advocate Magazine’s “American Whiskey of the Year” and Whisky Magazine’s “Best New Release of the Year”. And the 27-Year-Old Bourbon edition released in 2008 was the first American Whiskey to ever win “Best of Show, Brown Spirits” at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

The new release marks the first in the Parker’s Heritage Collection to utilize the practice of “wood finishing”, whereby a mature whiskey is dumped out of its original cooperage and transferred into another barrel that had previously contained a different type of spirit. Commonly used in Scotland, where the newly made spirit may age in any type of barrel (typically Scotch is aged in used Bourbon barrels, but some Scotch producers use Sherry, Port or other types of used barrels), wood finishing is less common in American Straight Whiskeys partly because by law an American Straight must spend a minimum of two years specifically in a newly charred American White Oak barrel, typically much longer. There have been other American Whiskeys finished in other types of spirit barrels over the past few years, as US producers look for a way to differentiate a very tightly defined and regulated product to meet growing connoisseur demand.

In an interesting historical twist, the very first nationally released wood-finished American Bourbon was produced in 1999. Called Distiller’s Masterpiece, it was also a Franco-American collaboration between Alain Royer and Parker Beam’s first cousin, the late Booker Noe, long-time Master Distiller at Jim Beam.

This latest edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection utilized as its base select barrels of a 10-Year-Old Bourbon that had aged in high storage on the 6th floor of Rickhouse “V” in Bardstown. Last February, 15 French Limousin Oak barrels that each held 350 liters (92.5 gallons) of 3-year-old Grande Champagne Cognac from the Frapin cellars were emptied, the barrels were then wrapped to keep them wet and leakproof, and three days later they were shipped to Kentucky. There the oversized (by Kentucky standards) casks were filled with the aged Bourbon and transferred to the 6th floor of Rickhouse JJ, where they rested for 6 months to extract the delicate floral notes that permeated the Cognac barrels. On August 22, when Royer and Beam deemed them ready, these large Cognac barrels were dumped by hand (they were too big to fit the standard 53 gallon Bourbon barrel equipment), yielding 6000 750ml bottles of a spicy, yet slightly floral and sweet whiskey.

This fifth edition of Parker’s Heritage Collection is bottled at a robust 100 proof and is not chill-filtered prior to bottling, which helps maintain the natural esters and compounds that provide a rich texture and mouthfeel. It will be distributed nationally, albeit in limited, allocated quantities, and available at fine whiskey retailers in major US metro markets as long as supplies last.

Packaged in the same upscale 750ml bottle as the previous four editions, the Parker’s Heritage Collection Cognac Finished Bourbon is available in a three bottle case that should start hitting retail shelves and back bars in early October, in time for the cooler weather that traditionally signals “whiskey season”. And while several of the past Parker’s Heritage Collection annual releases have been priced in excess of $100, including the 27-Year-Old Bourbon that carried a $200 national average retail price, this year’s Cognac Finished edition will retail for an average of $80 for the 750ml bottle, welcome news for whiskey lovers in these still-unsettled economic times.

“All the previous editions of my Parker’s Heritage Collection have been very special products” noted Heaven Hill’s Parker Beam. “And this one may be the most unique of them all. It has been a real pleasure to work with Alain in selecting the kind of Bourbon to use, the kind of barrels to finish this with, and the length of time and location in which to finish this Bourbon. And it has turned out to be a really great and different type of whiskey. It’s nice to know that even after 50 years here at Heaven Hill, this old dog can still learn some new tricks.” Alain Royer added “Parker and I have really enjoyed this entire process. From looking at different ages of Bourbon to use, rye versus wheated mashbills, different ages and proofs, to deciding on Cognac versus Armagnac barrels, and how long the Cognac should remain in the barrels…all these factors and variables were analyzed, discussed and tested. And what has emerged is truly emblematic of the whole collaborative process—well structured, integrated, and thoroughly enjoyable to drink.”

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 The Christian Brothers Brandies; Evan Williams and Elijah Craig Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskeys; Burnett’s Vodkas and Gin; Hpnotiq Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Lunazul and Two Fingers Tequilas, and Dubonnet Aperitif.

Whisky Exports Drive Portfolio Success

Burn Stewart Distillers, producers of Scottish Leader, Black Bottle, Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, Deanston and Ledaig whiskies, have announced its financial results for the year ended 31st December 2010.

The main highlights of the announcement are:

• Strong performance by all brands in their key markets

• Gross profit £18.3m (2009: £17.2m)

• Net profit £3.7m (2009: £1.2m)

The company which employs 250 people across its distilling, blending, bottling, commercial and administration activities in the UK, and sales administration internationally has seen continued growth across its core brands with particularly strong performances in Taiwan, South Africa and the UK.

The key drivers for this success include the 13% growth of flagship brand Scottish Leader, coupled with the growth of Scottish Leader’s market share across all key markets. Overall, cased export revenue is also on the increase – achieving 11% growth on 2009 with notable success in Taiwan, US, and Baltics.

The company continues to invest in capital expenditure, allocating £0.4m in 2010, taking the investment for the last 3 years to £2.4m. The company has also invested in a new leadership staff training programme which has reached over 20% of the company’s workforce. Over the next three years a multi million pound capital investment programme is planned to further enhance the capability of the business. Included in this plan, is the creation of a new visitor centre at Deanston Distillery, opening during Spring 2012, which aims to significantly enhance the retail and consumer experience of the brand.

The entire malt portfolio – Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, Deanston and Ledaig whiskies – enjoyed an extremely successful re-pack in 2010 with new packaging, labelling and bottle design. Furthermore, presenting un-chill filtered malts creates exciting opportunities to position the malt portfolio as niche players in the industry. Future plans for the malt portfolio include further tapping into growing markets in Taiwan, USA and Europe, coupled with a strong investment focus on Russia.

Markets providing the key focus for Scottish Leader will be Taiwan, South Africa and The Baltics. In addition, the flagship brand will also be looking to build upon and strengthen existing distribution partnerships in the Ukraine, Poland and Russia to allow for further penetration into these emerging markets, and providing the backbone for growth.

The company’s portfolio of brands was strengthened in 2010 when a partnership deal with Angostura Holdings Ltd was signed. The deal announced that Burn Stewart Distillers would be responsible for distribution and marketing of the world renowned Aromatic Bitters and premium rum range across EMEA. This addition to the company portfolio compliments future plans for growth within the Scotch market and a growing rum category.

Commenting on the results, Fraser Thornton, Managing Director, said:

“It is very pleasing to note the sustained improvement in the financial performance of the company. Our primary focus is to develop and grow the strong portfolio of brands we have and, in so doing, continue to consolidate the relationships we enjoy with key retail partners, selected overseas bulk customers and our global distributor network. We have enjoyed another year of growth and have opened up new markets as well as continuing to build our brands in existing markets. Our bold move to un-chill filtered malts has excited our consumers and the trade and has allowed us to provide a niche offering to those consumers who want to explore. The investment at Deanston will allow us to develop a new brand experience for consumers and invest in the heritage of the Deanston brand. We believe the future is very positive for the Scotch Whisky Industry and we look forward to continued growth across our entire brand portfolio.’

Notes

• Burn Stewart Distillers Limited is a fully integrated Scotch whisky producer and brand owner with three single malt whisky distilleries and a strong portfolio of Scotch whisky brands.

• The company’s head office and bottling hall are based in East Kilbride, with blending and warehousing facilities at Airdrie, both near Glasgow. The three distilleries include, Deanston in Doune, Perthshire; Bunnahabhain on the Isle of Islay and Tobermory based on the Isle of Mull.

• Burn Stewart produces and markets a well balanced range of Scotch Whisky brands to appeal to every type of Scotch consumer and distributes to over 60 markets worldwide.

GLEN GARIOCH AND EDINBURGH AIRPORT LAUNCH EXCLUSIVE VINTAGE CASK WHISKY

Only 195 bottles of the world exclusive Glen Garioch 1988 available for Edinburgh airport travellers

Glen Garioch and Edinburgh Airport’s World Duty Free have teamed up to launch an exclusive single malt whisky for Edinburgh travellers.

The Glen Garioch 1988 Vintage Single Cask was specially selected by staff from the airport’s World Duty Free team after they won a competition to sell more bottles of Glen Garioch malt whisky than any other World Duty Free airport retailer in the UK.

The winning team from Edinburgh Airport visited Scotland’s most easterly distillery at Old Meldrum, Aberdeenshire last year to hand select its own exclusive Glen Garioch cask.

Just 195 bottles of the £200 23-year-old malt are available to purchase at Edinburgh Airport’s World Duty Free store, making it a sure fire collector’s item in years to come.

The Edinburgh airport team chose the cask for its deep, sweet Seville orange notes that fuse with a hint of fragrant highland heather, leaving a long, sophisticated finish.

John Mullen, Glen Garioch brand manager said, “We’re delighted to partner with Edinburgh Airport’s World Duty Free. The team sampled many casks on a particularly bracing Highland morning and got behind the flavours to personally select their own vintage.

“The 23-year-old is an elegant and truly memorable dram with a wonderful combination of floral and sweet notes.

”The team were so passionate about the whisky they chose. It’s already flying off the shelves and is set to be sold out by Christmas”

The Glen Garioch 1988 Vintage Single Cask comes in a specially crafted oak wood box, lined with hessian. Each bottle is individually numbered and marked as Edinburgh Airport’s World Duty Free special edition. It is exclusively available at Edinburgh Airport, retailing around £200.

NOTES –

· Glen Garioch, pronounced Glen Geery, founded in 1797 is one of the oldest remaining distilleries in Scotland

· The distillery lies on rising ground at the picturesque town of Oldmeldrum, just 17 miles north-west of Aberdeen

Glen Garioch was relaunched in October 2010 with a core range of two single malt whiskies – the Glen Garioch 1797 Founder’s Reserve, a non chill-filtered single malt bottled at 48% ABV and the Glen Garioch 12 Year Old, non chill-filtered single malt bottled at 48% ABV after maturing in bourbon and sherry casks.

Glen Garioch is owned by the Morrison Bowmore Distillers Limited who also produce Bowmore and Auchentoshan.

Glen Garioch is distributed by Cellar Trends in the UK, tel: 01283 217 703.