The Spirit of Unity Blended Whisky.

As sent to the Royal Mile customers who ordered specifically from them;

The response to this initiative to aid Japanese Disaster Relief has been overwhelming and as such all stock has been completely pre-sold.

This is the first time that there has been this level of cooperation between different independent distilleries to produce one bottle of whisky and due to the complex nature of the project there has been a delay.

Please rest assured that as soon as we receive the stock, your order will despatched as swiftly as possible.

Here is the latest information we have available:

“As the Spokesperson for the Spirit of Unity Project I would like to bring you up to date with regards to the availability of the bottles.

In bringing together such a unique bottling there are inevitably going to be a few hitches along the way and unfortunately this has been the case. As a result of some issues with the packaging we are now looking at bottling the whisky on May 18th with the stock available for despatch to Royal Mile Whiskies and then onwards to actual consumers/customers as soon as possible. Your patience in this matter is greatly appreciated and rest assured we are pulling out the stops to ensure you get your hands on the bottles as quickly as we can.

In terms of the objective of the project we are collaborating with an organisation called Refugees International Japan to put the funds to the best use possible. The CEO of RIJ, Jane Best, has recommended funding a number of long-term projects in the affected Tohoku area to assist with the rebuilding of this shattered community. More information on how the money is being spent will follow in due course.

Thank you once again for your terrific support of this very worthwhile cause” (Euan Mitchell, MD Isle of Arran Distillers)

We would hope that the inconvenience of this delay can be put into perspective and seen as relatively nothing compared to the hardship still being experienced in Japan. The most important thing is that the money raised by your generosity is already being used to get the disaster hit areas back on their feet. Here is a brief report from David Kroll who visited the affected areas late last month;

“Both Jane (from RIJ) and I have been up to the affected areas in the past couple of weeks and came back with very similar conclusions, namely that the first-aid stage is over. People have shelter and food, but haven’t even started to rebuild houses or livelihoods. If anything, there is too much short-term aid – people no longer need blankets and bottled water and indeed many places are now refusing to take any more.

Jane’s advice therefore, with which I concur, is to continue to make contacts locally and just wait a while for things to develop. Once the rebuilding starts for real, it should be a lot easier to identify projects that will make a real and long-lasting difference to people’s lives.”

For each bottle sold through Royal Mile Whiskies £40.94 (retail price, less VAT and Duty) per bottle has gone towards the relief effort. This equates to a grand total of £29,231.16 raised.

Thank you all for your great contribution.

The seven distilleries involved; 

THE ARRAN MALT
THE BENRIACH
BLADNOCH
THE GLENDRONACH
GLENGYLE
KILCHOMAN
SPRINGBANK

“The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention.”

Japanese proverb

Slainte!
Royal Mile Whiskies
Whisky Magazine’s ‘Retailer of the Year 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011’
379 Royal Mile
Edinburgh EH1 1PW

3 Bloomsbury Street
London WC1B 3QE

info@royalmilewhiskies.com

SPIRIT OF SPEYSIDE WHISKY AWARDS WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Chivas Brothers scored a double win at this year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Awards.  Aberlour A’bunadh picked up the prize in the ’12 Years Old and Under’ category and The Glenlivet 18 Year Old came first in the ’13 to 20 Year Old’ class.  The ‘Over 20 Year Old’ category was won by Glenfiddich 30 Year Old.</p> <p>The Awards took place at the Knockando Distillery on the opening night of the Festival (Thursday, 28th April) and were presented by Festival Chairman Jim Royan.  Now in their seventh year, the Awards are firmly established as one of the most prestigious annual whisky competitions, and still remain the only malt whisky awards to be judged by the consumer at the final stages.

The criteria for the Whisky Awards are that all entrants should be single Speyside malts, proprietary bottlings only and must be ‘generally’ and ‘commercially’ available.  Fifty-two malt whiskies were entered into the competition earlier in the year, and the winners progressed through two rounds of blind tastings.Global Brand Director for Malts at Chivas Brothers, Neil Macdonald, commented: “To win two ‘best of the best’ awards at this esteemed awards ceremony is exceptionally flattering and really highlights the popularity of our malts with whisky lovers around the world.  What is great about the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards is that ‘real’ consumers decide the winners – and ultimately these are the people who are buying and enjoying our whiskies.” Jim Royan said:  “The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival attracts thousands of whisky enthusiasts from around the world each year who come to taste our whiskies, visit our distilleries and spend time talking about and learning about their favourite brands with other like-minded connoisseurs and experts. 

Speyside is known internationally for its wealth of quality malt whisky, and the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards gives us the opportunity to highlight some of the very best malts on offer in the whisky capital of the world.”

Notes:

– The dates for next year’s Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival are Thursday, 3rd-Monday, 7th May.  www.spiritofspeyside.com
– Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival receives funding from EventScotland and is also financially supported by many other private and public partners
– EventScotland is the national events agency.  EventScotland is working to make Scotland one of the world’s leading event destinations. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors.  For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org
– The Year of Active Scotland is a Scottish Government initiative being delivered by EventScotland and VisitScotland which began on the 1st January 2011. For more information go to www.eventscotland.org/activescotland
– A series of focus years running from 2010 to 2013 will ensure co-ordinated national activity that will spotlight some of Scotland’s great assets as we journey towards 2014.  The four focus years are centred on domestic and international tourism and the development of the events industry in Scotland. These focus years will celebrate our reputation as a land food and drink, as an active nation, as a place of culture and creativity and as a place of natural beauty.
– EventScotland in partnership with Volunteer Development Scotland is delivering Event Team Scotland, a new web – based portal which matches volunteers across Scotland with exciting sporting and cultural events.  For more information please visit www.eventteamscotland.com
– Further media information and photographs from Caroline Keith at theKeithconsultancy on 01463 811000 or 07734 543923

Maker’s Mark Bourbon Memorial Day Recipes for the Grill and Backyard Bar

It’s time for barbeques, beaches, backyard dinner parties, and poolside cocktails. Yes, spring is here and summer is just around the corner! Whether grilling this Memorial Day or just taking some time to sit on the porch and enjoy the warm weather, Maker’s Mark has just the thing to delight and refresh. The Maker’s Mark Spring-Time Manhattan cocktail will wake up those taste buds with a classic drink adapted to melt away the winter blues. And, when entertaining lots of guests, try whipping up a batch of Maker’s Mark Fancy Bourbon Punch. It’s easy to make and pairs well with Maker’s Mark Kobe Beef Burgers. These delicious burgers created by Frites n’ Meats, the acclaimed New York-based food truck, puts a gourmet twist on everyone’s favorite Memorial Day meal.

Spring-Time Manhattan

Recipe Created by Josh Lewis, General Manager and Mixologist , Blush (Santa Barbara, CA)

1 ½ parts Maker’s Mark

½ parts Maurin Quina Liqueur

1 bar spoon Stirrings Ginger

4 dashes Peychauds Bitters

1 heaping bar spoon of Orange Marmalade

Method

1.    Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass.

2.    Fill with ice and shake until frost forms on the tin.

3.    Strain into chilled cocktail glass.

4.    Garnish with a fresh orange twist.

Fancy Bourbon Punch

Recipe by Matt Wallace, Mixologist, Seven Grand (Los Angeles, CA)

1 liter Maker’s Mark

1 cup granulated sugar

Peels of 3 lemons and 1 orange

Juice of peeled fruit

1 liter of strong tea (preferably green tea)

250 ml champagne (club soda can be used for a less fancy version)

Freshly grated nutmeg

1.    Combine sugar and citrus peels in the bottom of a punch bowl. Muddle together until sugar starts to clump together. Let sit for about 2 hours, (while not necessary, this does add a little complexity).

2.    Brew the tea for about 30 minutes, remove loose tea or tea bags, and allow to cool.

3.    Add the juice of the peeled fruit, tea, and Bourbon. Stir.

4.    Top with Champagne just before serving and stir gently. Top with freshly grated nutmeg and serve.

Hiassam and Ali Beydoun Recipe by Owners and Chefs, Frites N’ Meats

Prep Time: 4 hours.  Cook Time: 3 hours. Level: Easy.

Maker’s Mark Kobe Beef Burger

Serves 4

4 six-ounce Kobe beef hamburger patties (regular ground beef can be substituted)

½ cup plus 2 teaspoons Maker’s Mark

4 cloves garlic, finely minced

4 pieces plum tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise

2 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 large onions, cut in half and thinly sliced with the grain

Salt and black pepper

Extra virgin olive oil

4 soft hamburger buns, brioche preferably

1.    Marinate the burger patties; Place them in a shallow baking dish and pour a ½ cup of Maker’s Mark over the burgers. Sprinkle the patties with ¼ of the minced garlic. Refrigerate for two hours, then flip the patties; sprinkle with another ¼ of the garlic. Refrigerate another two hours.

2.    While the burgers are marinating, preheat the oven to 300°F. Place the cut tomato halves on a parchment lined sheet tray, cut side up. Brush the tomatoes lightly with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, the minced thyme, and the remaining minced garlic. Place in the oven and allow the tomatoes to slow roast for about 1½-2 hours until they are slightly dehydrated and begin to color. Once the tomatoes have cooled, sprinkle 1 teaspoon of Maker’s Mark over the tomatoes. Refrigerate until needed.

3.    While the tomatoes are cooking, caramelize the onions. Heat a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the vegetable oil and onions to the pan. Season the onions with salt and cook until they begin to soften, stirring often, about 10 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for 15 minutes more until they begin to break down more and color slightly. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the onions, stirring occasionally, for roughly 2 hours, or until the onions caramelize deep golden brown. Add water to the pan as necessary if the onions begin to stick to the pan. Once the onions are cooked, transfer to a small container and stir in 1 teaspoon of Maker’s Mark. Refrigerate until needed.

4.    Heat the grill, grill pan, or griddle to high heat. Remove the burgers from the marinade, lightly brush both sides with olive oil, and season well with salt and pepper. Cook your burgers to desired doneness.

5.    To assemble, lightly toast bun if desired. Add the burger patty and top with caramelized onions and two pieces of tomatoes. Enjoy!

The Whisky Pod Lands at Glengoyne
 
Glengoyne: Following a successful debut at The Whisky Show and Whisky Live London, connosr.com, the social network for whisky lovers, took their video review booth – the WhiskyPod – on the road for an exclusive event, hosted in partnership with Glengoyne distillery. A lucky group of 25 Connosr members were treated to a VIP visit to the distillery and a tasting of some very special whiskies.

The tasting was the first time that a Connosr event has been hosted in partnership with a distillery and to celebrate Glengoyne provided some of it oldest, rarest and most special bottlings including the Glengoyne 40 Years Old. The VIP guests also tasted, amongst others, the award winning 17 Years Old and 21 Years Old from the core range and the 23 Year Old Single Cask.

Each of the guests were then asked to review the drams in the WhiskyPod to create a special collection of video tasting notes which can be viewed online. Glengoyne WhiskyPod videos

Reviewers included Gavin Thompson who commented: “The Glengoyne 40 Years Old is unadulterated pleasure, absolutely gorgeous. It’s not just that though, the whole night has made it for me, on my first ever distillery tour, to actually have a 40 year old whisky in my hand is a real pleasure.”

Pierre Thiebaut, founder of Connosr.com said: “Glengoyne has been a loyal supporter of Connosr since it was created, spotting the potential of the online whisky community early on, so it seemed fitting that our very first exclusive event was in partnership with Glengoyne and its team.

“We knew that, while they are quite traditional in the way they make whisky, they are very forward thinking in they way they communicate. As such we thought they’d make an excellent partner for the first bespoke WhiskyPod event. And we weren’t wrong, they pulled out all the stops and it was a great evening.

“Our members who attended on the night thoroughly enjoyed the event and the feedback we had was excellent – there was a real buzz about the evening. Everyone was blown away by the selection of whiskies. The response since has been terrific, the videos from the night are a high traffic area for us at the moment so, all in all, it’s been an unqualified success.”

Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Glengoyne said: “Online communities have become such an important place for whisky fans to gather in order to share news, views and opinions so we are always looking for new ways to reach out to them and reward them. We are currently in the process of updating our website to make it more accessible for social media users and are always looking for innovative groups and events like Connosr to work with, both on and offline, in order to reach new audiences.”

For more information on Glengoyne and future events see www.glengoyne.com Follow @TheGlengoyne or visit the Facebook page. www.connosr.com

For more information and to become a member visit

WHISKY SECTOR DOMINATES THE POWER 100, 2011 SURVEY OF WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL DRINKS BRANDS

• Scottish brands dominate global whisky sector

• Johnnie Walker remains world’s most dominant whisky brand

• America contributes five whisky brands to The Power 100

• Jameson is the only Irish whisky brand to feature

Whisky brands continue to dominate the annual The Power 100 table of the world’s leading alcoholic drinks brands, published this week by brand valuation and strategy consultancy Intangible Business, contributing more than a quarter of the brands in the survey.

Whisky has retained its sector dominance in the global alcoholic drinks industry, ahead of vodka, rum/cane, flavoured spirits, and still light wine. There are 26 whisky brands included in the table, with six brands – Johnnie Walker at 3, Jack Daniel’s at 6, Chivas Regal at 8, Ballantine’s at 10, Dewar’s at 14 and Jim Beam at 19 – in the overall Top 20. 

Johnnie Walker posted an impressive performance this year with volumes growing by a striking 11%, due in large part to its penetration of Far East markets, Korea and China in particular, whose economies were less affected by the recession. This is a complete reversal of its performance the previous year where volumes fell by 11%. Because of this change in direction and improvement in the brand score by 4%, Johnnie Walker managed to grow its total score.

The Power 100 includes 16 Scotch whisky brands, five American brands and four Canadian brands. Jameson is the only Irish whiskey brand in The Power 100, at number eight in the sector and at number 22 overall, on the back of a 2% rise in its overall year on year score. The most improved whisky brand in this year’s The Power 100 is Clan MacGregor at number 82 overall and number 25 in the sector, having posted a 12% improvement in its brand score.

Intangible Business, which works extensively in the drinks industry, researched nearly 10,000 spirit and wine brands across the globe to produce The Power 100, now in its fifth year.

The league table, which assesses both the financial contribution of each brand alongside its strength in the eyes of the consumer, has been compiled by combining scores from a panel of some of the world’s leading drinks industry experts with hard data. The brands are rated according to share of market, future growth, premium price position, awareness, relevance, heritage and brand perception.

Rank Brand Overall Rank Total score 2011 Change Brand score 2011 Change
1 JOHNNIE WALKER 3 75% 1% 83% 4%
2 JACK DANIEL’S 6 39% 1% 81% 2%
3 CHIVAS REGAL 8 31% 2% 73% 5%
4 BALLANTINES 10 25% -2% 65% 0%
5 DEWARS 14 18% 2% 53% 2%
6 JIM BEAM 19 16% -3% 60% -4%
7 CROWN ROYAL 21 14% 1% 60% 4%
8 JAMESON 22 13% 2% 70% 5%
9 GRANT’S 23 13% 3% 50% -1%
10 J&B 27 12% -3% 55% -2%
11 FAMOUS GROUSE 40 8% 0% 58% 0%
12 SEAGRAM’S 7 CROWN 54 6% 1% 40% -3%
13 BELL’S 55 6% 0% 47% 0%
14 CANADIAN CLUB 59 5% 0% 55% 1%
15 MAKER’S MARK 62 5% 0% 63% 2%
16 TEACHER’S 63 5% 0% 51% 0%
17 GLENFIDDICH 65 5% 0% 64% 2%
18 BLACK VELVET 66 4% 0% 42% 0%
19 WILLIAM LAWSON’S 71 4% 0% 43% 0%
20 CLAN CAMPBELL 72 4% 0% 40% -2%
21 CANADIAN MIST 73 3% 0% 38% -3%
22 100 PIPERS 75 3% -1% 38% -1%
23 CUTTY SARK 79 3% 0% 50% 4%
24 THE GLENLIVET 80 3% 0% 63% 3%
25 CLAN MACGREGOR 82 3% 0% 51% 12%
26 WILD TURKEY 100 2% 0% 53% -2%

Overall, Smirnoff tops The Power 100 table again having achieved an overall score of 88.9%, giving it a significant margin over the other brands that make up the top ten.

Bacardi, the number one rum brand and number two in the overall The Power 100, edged Johnnie Walker into 3rd place, but was comfortably ahead of Martini Vermouth in 4th place and Absolut in 5th place.

The USA is the country with the most brands in The Power 100 with 17 brands, led by Jack Daniel’s, Gallo and Jim Beam; Scotland has 16 brands in The Power 100, led by Johnnie Walker, Chivas Regal and Ballantine’s, and France with 14 brands, led by Hennessy, Moet et Chandon and Ricard. 

Stuart Whitwell, Joint Managing Director of Intangible Business, comments: “The whisky industry has posted another strong performance this year with more than double the number brands in the top 100 than any other category and continues to connect to new and existing audiences, particularly in emerging markets, with innovative and relevant marketing.

Whitwell continues: “Although not in the top ten in the sector, it’s great to see brands like The Glenlivet among our overall star performers this year.”

About The Power 100

Methodology

Nearly 10,000 brands in the spirits and wine sectors were researched to derive a list of the 100 most powerful spirits and wine brands in the world.  Power is defined by a brand’s ability to generate value for its owner.  Value is classified by a series of measures as identified below.  The population for the research is all current and potential users of alcoholic drinks.

Scoring

Hard Measures
Share of market:  volume-based measure of market share Brand growth:  projected growth based on 10 years’ historical data and future trends Price Positioning:a measure of a brand’s ability to command a premium Market Scope: number of markets in which the brand has a significant presence

Soft Measures
Brand Awareness: a combination of prompted and spontaneous awareness Brand Relevancy: capacity to relate to the brand and a propensity to purchase Brand Heritage: a brand’s longevity and a measure of how it is embedded in local culture Brand Perception: loyalty and how close a strong brand image is to a desire for ownership

A panel of 10 leading experts in the drinks industry independently ranked each selected brand out of 10 on the above measures (10 = high, 0 = low).  The scores given by the individual panel members were aggregated and averaged to reach a total score for each brand.  A total score was achieved by multiplying a brand’s weighted volume by its brand score, within a defined range.  The weighting is designed to adjust the volumes to a comparable level.  Brand score is a derivate of the 8 measures of brand strength.  This results in a ranking of the world’s most powerful alcoholic drinks brands.

About Intangible Business

Intangible Business was established in 2001 to provide an independent approach to brand valuation, brand strategy and brand development. As well as experts in brand valuation, Intangible Business is now an internationally recognised leader in all IP valuation, including copyright valuation, trademark valuation, valuing websites, valuing databases and software.

Brand value, along with other intangible assets such as patents, copyrights, licenses and intellectual property, is often a company’s most valuable asset. Given this importance, a brand valuation is critical to fully understand and monitor brand equity and to identify opportunities to realize growth potential. In legal issues, such as trademark disputes, or brand transactions such as M&A and licensing, a sound brand valuation can also help you make more informed decisions or negotiate better deals.

What qualifies Intangible Business in brand valuation is its global network of people who all focus on brand valuation from various complementary angles – brands and marketing, finance and accounting, brand management and brand strategy. This focus draws on many years’ experience, both in business and as brand consultants and has been of measurable benefit to some of the world’s biggest brands.

Dates: Friday 5th, Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th August, 2011.
Times: Friday 3 – 7pm, Saturday & Sunday 2 – 6pm
Venue: Mansfield Traquair church, 15 Mansfield Place, Edinburgh, EH3 6BB

http://www.royalmilewhiskies.com/viewindex.asp?article_id=WF_11

This year is the 10th Anniversary of Royal Mile Whiskies, Whisky Fringe.

From humble beginnings in Edinburgh City Council Chambers Rooms, just down the road from our shop on the Royal Mile, Whisky Fringe has grown into a successful, highly regarded and relaxed celebration of whisky.

Apart from the venue, little has changed over the years in terms of the set up. As with most things in life, a policy of keeping everything as simple as possible, letting the whiskies do the talking, has seen the event attain a respected word of mouth reputation. Tickets always sell out fast and as with any popular show, some people will unfortunately miss out. However having been based in such a tremendous venue as the Mansfield Traquair for the past 6 years, it is difficult to think of moving to an alternative nondescript larger venue. We would be extremely hard pressed to top the stunning setting of this beautifully restored former church.

With this partly in mind, we have extended the event this year to include the Friday afternoon for the first time. This will be a combined on-trade and general public day, allowing exhibitors to promote their brands to an even wider audience of both trade customers, in addition to actual consumers. The product focus will also be broader, with more than just whisky being available to sample. Other high quality spirits such as gin, rum, mezcal, tequila, and vodka, as well as some wines and beers, will all be on show for the Friday only. Saturday and Sunday will revert to the tried and tested format and the focus will return primarily to whisky.

Each year approximately 26 stands are taken by a huge variety of whisky producers and independent bottlers. These range from the big drink companies such as Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Moet Hennessey, to the more compact distillery companies such as Benriach/GlenDronach, Auchentoshan/Bowmore/Glen Garioch and An Cnoc/Balblair/Old Pulteney, right down to the most recent and newly established small scale operations such as Kilchoman. In addition Independent bottlers such as Adelphi, Compass Box, Douglas Laing, Duncan Taylor, Gordon & MacPhail create a lot of interest amongst the attending whisky enthusiasts. On average well over 200 whiskies are available to sample each day, including an exclusive one off ‘Half Time Orange’ dram! (exhibitors bring a bottle of something extra special and attendees can choose one of these exclusive drams to sample at the designated ‘half time’midway point of the day).

All attendees are also encouraged to vote for ‘The Spirit of Whisky Fringe’. This is an annual award given to the most popular spirit over the three days as voted for by all visitors. The winning spirit is then crowned ‘The Spirit of Whisky Fringe’ and is placed on display in the trophy silver coaster on display in Edinburgh shop until the following year.

A Few Quotes:-

Exhibitor quote: “We really enjoyed being involved and would love to be back again next year. It really is brilliant to see so many whisky enthusiasts in the one place, all of them on their best behaviour as well.”
 Martin Grant 2009 (Moet Hennessey – Ardbeg & Glenmorangie Whiskies)

Blogger quote: “…still setting the standard by which all UK Shows are judged”.  Ralfy Mitchell 2010 (Whisky Blogger extraordinaire! www.ralfy.com)

Punter quote: “I still wouldn’t miss it for the world!! (Shame it’s my wedding anniversary on the 16th…still, she’ll understand!!!)”  Mark Appleton 2009 (frequent Whisky Fringe goer and still happily married!)

www.royalmilewhiskies.com

Cask filled with the spirit of the Royal Wedding

A royal wedding gift honouring Prince William and his new wife TRH, The Earl and Countess of Strathearn is on display at Tullibardine distillery.

To mark the royal celebration, the cask was filled with spirit at the distillery at 11am, during the exchange of wedding vows. The wedding date is prominently printed on the cask.

The 250-litre sherry hogshead cask will be displayed in a bonded warehouse at the visitor centre.  The commemoration will be a fantastic Scottish attraction for the distillery and members of the public.

The cask not only symbolises the royal wedding but it also represents the couple’s link with Strathearn and Scotland where they first met and fell in love.  The Tullibardine distillery, is one of the most prominent landmarks in the heart of Strathearn.

It is hoped that the royal pair will sign the cask on a future visit to Scotland.  The cask will be donated to the couple as a wedding gift, and after it matures for three years, they could then choose to keep it or offer it to a charity.

Distillery Director, Douglas Ross said, “The cask is a wonderful wedding present and evokes Scottish sentiment for the royal couple. It would be an honour to have the cask signed by the couple and we hope to welcome them here on a future visit”.

The cask is now on display and visitors will enjoy the new addition to the distillery, giving their experience at Tullibardine a royal twist.

The cask is available for picture desks to take photographs by arrangement.

Notes:

Tullibardine is one of the few remaining independently owned distilleries in Scotland. Nestled at the foot of the Ochil Hills in the Highlands the Distillery draws pure spring water from source and produces one of Scotland’s finest malt whiskies. Standing on the site of Scotland’s oldest brewery dating back to the 12th century, and from where King James IV purchased beer to celebrate his coronation in 1488, Tullibardine is undoubtedly one of the most majestic malt whiskies available. 

CONTACT DETAILS
Tullibardine Distillery,
Blackford,
Perthshire,
PH4 1QG,
Scotland
Telephone: +44 (0)1764 682252

Visit Tullibardine distillery at www.tullibardine.com

POWERS AND MIDLETON EXTEND IRISH DISTILLERS SINGLE POT STILL WHISKEY PORTFOLIO

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard is today launching two new single pot still* whiskey brand extensions as part of its initiative to celebrate the provenance and quality of this unique Irish whiskey style, and to showcase the diverse flavour spectrum of the reinvigorated Irish whiskey category.

Powers and Midleton will join Redbreast and Green Spot as brand names in a formidable new portfolio of single pot still Irish whiskeys emanating exclusively from the multi-award winning Midleton Distillery in Co. Cork. The company has also announced a whiskey development programme with the aim of creating and releasing regular new expressions of single pot still Irish Whiskey across its brand portfolio each year.

“Single pot still Irish whiskey is truly the jewel in the crown of Ireland’s rich whiskey tradition; a tradition which we have carefully nurtured over the years at the Midleton Distillery” said Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard Chairman and Chief Executive, Alex Ricard. “There has been tremendous interest in single pot still Irish whiskey in recent times so this is the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate and restore this exceptional whiskey style to its former glory. By adding the prestigious Powers and Midleton brand names to our range of single pot still Irish whiskeys, we will offer more flavour variety and create even more interest among whiskey enthusiasts and aficionados worldwide.”

Powers John’s Lane Release honours the silent distillery and spiritual home of the Powers brand at John’s Lane in Dublin. This new expression features a distillate which is true to the pot still style of the original distillery and bears the distinctive honey and spice style that made Powers famous. Bearing a 12 year old age statement, the whiskey has been matured in first fill bourbon barrels with a contribution of whiskey which has been matured in Oloroso sherry butts.

The first ongoing single pot still Irish whiskey to carry the Midleton name – Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy – pays tribute to celebrated second generation Master Distiller who, more than anyone, has shaped with the world-famous Midleton style. Representing Barry Crockett’s personal selection of first fill bourbon whiskeys with the inspired inclusion of whiskey which has matured in unseasoned American barrels, this expression displays a distinctive pot still complexity yet is refined and poised on the finish.

Both Redbreast and Green Spot benefited from the introduction of upgraded packaging in April 2011. The elegant presentation of both the Powers John’s Lane Release and Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy, similarly reflect the growing stature of the Irish Distillers’ growing single pot still portfolio.

All four brands will also bear the Single Pot Still whiskeys of Midleton quality mark on the back label in order to communicate the unique provenance and heritage of the distillery and of these exceptional whiskeys.

Notes:

* The Irish whiskey industry changed the terminology used to describe its most famous whiskey style in April 2011. ‘Pure Pot Still’ Irish whiskey is now referred to as ‘Pot Still’ Irish whiskey and for those whiskeys originating from a single distillery, the prefix ‘single’ is used, giving rise to the new industry term ‘Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey’.

Irish Distillers Limited, part of Pernod Ricard Group, distils and distributes a range of Irish whiskey, gin and vodka brands globally including Jameson, Powers, Paddy, Midleton Very Rare, Redbreast, Cork Dry Gin and Huzzar Vodka.

Tasting Notes:

Powers John’s Lane Release

Bottled at 46% ABV | Aged 12 years | Non chill filtered

Nose: An abundance of earthy aromas, leather, tobacco with layers of charred wood, dark chocolate and treacle toffee.

Taste: Full bodied spice front followed by vanilla, honey and dried apricot.

Finish: Lingering honey sweetness on toasted oak.

Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy

Bottled at 46% ABV | NAS 12-25 years | Non chill filtered

Nose: Elegant aroma of vanilla and toasted oak complimented by a touch of lime, succulent green berries, pears and green sweet pepper.

Taste: Light pepper carries onto fresh citrus, limes and mandarin orange sweetness. A hint of cinnamon with vanilla and oak reveals its years spent in American oak.

Finish: The full spectrum of flavours lasts well into the finish, slowly fading to expose the clean American oak foundation.

CAOL ILA™ DISTILLERS EDITION™ Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distilled in Islay, has taken the top Single Malt Scotch Whisky honours at The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, whose results were announced on 28 March. (WI is playing catch up today)
 
After three days of judging against dozens of single malt Scotch whiskies, it was awarded the accolade of “Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky”.

This stylish, richly flavoured and complex expression of Caol Ila has  –  after many years maturation in oak casks  –  been double-matured in dark Moscatel caskwood, hand-selected to complement the whisky’s sweetly fruity, smoky intensity.

Caol Ila™ Distillers Edition™ is not new to expert praise. It won Gold – Best in Class at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2009, Gold at the International Spirits Challenge in 2009 and 2010, and Gold at the Scotch Whisky Masters in 2010.

The supreme “Best” award, won this year by Caol Ila Distillers Edition, is given after an extensive multiple-round judging process running over three days.

The limited number of bottlings that qualify for a Double Gold Medal (which happens when the judging panel is unanimous in its assessment of a Gold Medal award) may, if the judges unanimously agree again, progress further to compete for honours in a wider super category.

This “super panel” of judges then re-assess the selected Double Gold winners with a view to deciding the “Best of” category awards: a process that takes the better part of the final day, nosing, tasting, evaluating and voting the best of the best in each category.

Notes
 
About Caol Ila™

Caol Ila Distillery is one of Diageo’s 28 Single Malt Scotch Whisky Distilleries and is the largest distillery on the Isle of Islay. It was established in 1846 near Port Askaig on Islay by Hector Henderson, and borrows its Gaelic name from the sea sweeping past its dramatic and almost secret location, squeezed tight between the steep cliff and the sea, hard on the eastern shores of the Sound of Islay with its fast and challenging currents. It was a spot originally chosen in 1846 partly because of the fresh water which still provides its main supply, rising from limestone in nearby Loch nam Ban, then falling to the sea just behind the distillery.

As a Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Caol Ila has enjoyed huge popularity and success since its relaunch in 2002.

Caol Ila is distributed in many markets in four complementary expressions in addition to the Distillers Edition™:

–        a 12 year old, that has won numerous Gold Medals including most recently the supreme prize, the Trophy for the best single malt whisky under 15 years old at the IWSC in 2010. It also won Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2009, Master at the Scotch Whisky Masters 2009, Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2010 and Master at the Scotch Whisky Masters 2010.

–        An 18 year old.

–        A Natural Cask Strength expression (with no age statement).

–        Moch [Gaelic for Dawn] – a new expression with no age statement, recently launched for the Friends of the Classic Malts

Enthusiasts have also enjoyed the unusual unpeated 8 year old and later 10 and 12 year old expressions of Caol Ila, figuring regularly among the annual Classic Malts Selection Special Releases.

About Caol Ila™ Distillers Edition™

Each Distillers Edition expression undergoes a second (or ‘double’) maturation in casks that have previously held a fortified wine.

This extraordinarily stylish and complex expression of Caol Ila has been double-matured in carefully selected Moscatel casks. The wood is not over-evident and instead balances perfectly with this richly flavoured single malt.

STRENGTH : 43% ABV

APPEARANCE : Clear gold

NOSE : Wonderfully concentrated pure, clean Caol Ila – peaty and medicinal, with rich fruit, spicy and fragrant. With water, the fragrant smokiness comes singing through.

BODY : Medium.

PALATE : Sweetness and maltiness strike first, then are quickly overwhelmed by peat smoke and intense, clean, crisp flavours. The signature smoky bonfires are here, and build to quite a size. Overall, drying, in a beautifully balanced, complex, elegant development, complemented with cinnamon spice.

FINISH : Long, rounded, robust and multi-layered.

About the San Francisco World Spirits Competition

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, now in its 11th year, is the oldest, largest, and most recognized spirits competition in the United States. Entries were evaluated by 33 spirits experts from noted restaurants and hotels, well-known spirits journalists from major US media, spirits buyers, and spirits consultants. Judging is based on a blind, consensual procedure ensuring competitive integrity.

SCOTCH WHISKY EXPORTS UP – DIAGEO COMMENTS

Single Malts Exports up by 18%

The Scotch Whisky Association announced this week (WI is palying catch up!) that 2010 was a record year for Scotch Whisky. Global shipments were valued at £3.45bn, a 10% increase on 2009. Scotch Whisky exports  have increased by 60% since the turn of the century, adding an extra £1.29bn in value.

Single Malt exports increased by 18% (to £577m) and bottled Blended Scotch Whisky shipments rose by 5% (to £2.6bn).

There was a comment from David Gates, Diageo’s global category director for  Whiskies. He said:

“As the largest Scotch whisky producer, today’s SWA’s figures on the increase in Scotch exports come as no surprise.

In the last financial year, we’ve seen our Scotch portfolio grow by 6% with the key driver of this growth being through Johnnie Walker in emerging markets where net sales grew 23%. Where economies are growing, Scotch is growing and sometimes spectacularly in markets such as Mexico, Eastern Europe, duty free and South East Asia through blended Scotch brands such as Johnnie Walker, J&B and Buchanan’s.

Together these markets have driven almost an additional million cases of Scotch versus the same period last year.

Diageo continues to invest in Scotch production and late last year opened the first major new malt distillery for 30 years – Roseisle – as part of a capital investment programme in Scotland of £600 million announced over the past 6 fiscal years.”