Introduced in 2008, the high-profile campaign has already struck a chord with consumers in more than 60 markets, inspiring people the world over to live their lives in a chivalrous way.

The new campaign further strengthens this emotional connection between Chivas Regal and its contemporary consumers, demonstrating the ripple effect our everyday actions have – both good and bad.

Directed by the award-winning Jeff Labbé, the commercial highlights the positive impact the right attitude can have, with both 30 and 60 second versions demonstrating how one simple, chivalrous act can break a cycle of negativity.

The campaign, which has commenced activation in Europe, aims to salute those who bring an extraordinary attitude to their ordinary actions, inspiring others to ‘Live with Chivalry’.

Global Brand Director for Chivas Regal, James Slack says: “Since the campaign first launched in 2008, we have been inspiring people the world over to ‘Live with Chivalry’. The latest instalment will build on this by demonstrating the impact of gentlemanly behaviour, something we want to resonate with our audience.”

Notes

To view the new television commercial please visit:

http://www.chivas.com/en/INT/Campaigns/?item=0&length=L
 
About Chivas Regal:
Chivas Regal is a truly global brand, selling 4.2 million 9L cases annually in more than 200 countries (more than a bottle sold every second). Chivas Regal has achieved a strong global performance – No 1 in Europe and Asia, with dynamic growth in Eastern Europe, South America and most emerging markets. The Chivas Regal range is the epitome of style, substance and exclusivity and includes Chivas Regal 12, 18 and 25 Year Old.

About Chivas Brothers:
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater Gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth Gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.

In July 2010 Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.

 For further information visit www.chivasbrothers.com

Visit our new Guardians website today. When you are logged on, you will see that you are a Guardians Ambassador. Click here http://www.theglenlivet.com/guardians/ to find out more!

Throughout the year we will give you a window into The Glenlivet: inside information not only from the distillery, but also from the countries around the world where The Glenlivet is so popular.

As you would expect from ‘The single malt that started it all’, there are countless projects underway at The Glenlivet. Our blog is just a tiny piece in a much larger jigsaw.

Contributions will be made by the entire team at the distillery, including Master Distiller Alan Winchester. Our network of Ambassadors from around the globe will also be regularly tuning in to give you a glimpse of what they get up.

This all comes at a time when you, our loyal followers, enter an exciting new phase with an incredible 13,000 global Guardians members truly dedicated to The Glenlivet.

We will continue with the hugely successful Guardians Whisky Schools and introduce our exciting new ‘Ambassador’s Tour’ at the distillery to be hosted either by me or by one of my fellow Global Ambassadors.

2011 promises to be a very exciting year for The Glenlivet, so keep checking back with us to keep up-to-date.

Best wishes, Ian Logan
Guardian of Malt

Good morning to all!
 
I am writing to you today because over the past several months, each of you has contacted Lark Distillery in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia about the availability of their wonderful whiskies here in the United States.

Marsalle Company in Franklin Park, IL has been appointed the U.S. importer for Lark Whiskies, and we have been working hard in preparation for their arrival in this country.

I am very pleased to tell you that Lark Whiskies will be arriving here in the U.S. in late March, with the formal launch planned for April. We will be launching three different whiskies here in the U.S.:

Lark Single Cask Single Malt Whisky   43% abv
Lark Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky   58% abv
Lark Distiller’s Selection Single Cask Release   46% abv

We are in the process of appointing distributors in a number of states across the country. These distributors will be handling sales and distribution of Lark Whiskies in their appointed markets.

We expect to launch Lark Whiskies initially in California, New York, New Jersey, Florida, Illinois, Texas and Massachusetts, with additional markets to follow as supply will allow.

The initial quantities are limited, as you might expect with high quality, hand-crafted whiskies such as Lark. For this reason we will be rolling these products out on an allocated basis to make sure we can meet expected demand in the marketplace.

The good news here is that we expect the available supply of Lark Whiskies to increase sufficiently to meet the market’s needs by summer/fall of this year.

We are very excited about the upcoming launch, and we appreciate your enthusiasm for these award-winning whiskies. If you would like further details regarding launch timing, distributor information in your state, or if you have any other questions for us, please feel free to contact me. My contact information is listed below.

Thanks for your interest in Lark Whiskies – your patience is about to be rewarded!

Robert Imperial
Marsalle Company
11550 King Street
Franklin Park, IL 60131
847-451-6300
rob@marsalle.com

Edinburgh: The Whisky Exchange has scooped Independent Spirit Retailer of the Year, sponsored by Glengoyne, for the third time in a row at The Drinks Retailing Awards 2011.

Presented in a glittering ceremony at The Dorchester Hotel on Tuesday 1 February, the awards recognise the most outstanding retailers in the take-home drinks market, bringing together the leading lights in retail to recognise innovation and best practice across the sector. This year’s event was hosted by TV presenter and wine expert Olly Smith and marks 10 years of the prestigious awards, known in the industry to have one of the most rigorous and thorough judging processes in the business.

Sukhinder Singh of The Whisky Exchange said of the Award: “It is a real honour and true testament to the dedication and skill of the whole team to be awarded this prestigious title for the third year in a row. It is fantastic that great brands like Glengoyne are supporting independent retailers as they are a much loved by whisky enthusiasts.”

Neil Boyd, UK Commercial Manager for Ian Macleod Distillers commented: “Independents and specialists have a vital role to play in today’s marketplace which is why we chose to sponsor this important category. We were very impressed with the quality of the entrants and would like to congratulate The Whisky Exchange on a great hat-trick of awards.”

Multi Gold Award-winning Glengoyne is one of the leading premium malt whiskies in the world and has been distilled at Glengoyne distillery since 1833. The Glengoyne portfolio consists of the 10 Years Old, 12 Years Old, 12 Years Old Cask Strength, 17 Years Old , 21 Years Old and Vintage 1972 as well as other limited edition special bottlings.

Glengoyne Highland Single Malt is distilled slower than any other Scotch whisky. Its high quality and smooth taste is attributed to this slow distillation, which is about one third the normal rate.

For further details on stockists and distribution details for Glengoyne and other Ian MacLeod Distillers brands, contact Alan Wardrop, UK Sales Manager, Ian Macleod Distillers, 01506 852205.

For more information on The Whisky Exchange please visit www.thewhiskyexchange.com

For more information on The Drinks Retailing Awards visit www.drinksretailingawards.co.uk/

Distilled more slowly for the highest quality. Glengoyne – THE REAL TASTE OF MALT.

Glengoyne encourages responsible drinking

www.glengoyne.com www.drinkaware.co.uk   www.scotch-whisky.org.uk

Knob Creek® Introduces Its First-Ever Single Barrel Bourbon

Knob Creek® Single Barrel Reserve Demonstrates Continued Innovation and Leadership in the Super-Premium Bourbon Category.

Clermont, KY (February 16, 2011) – Nearly two decades after Booker Noe, grandson of Jim Beam and sixth-generation distiller, first introduced Knob Creek®, the distillery unveils its first-ever single barrel bourbon, Knob Creek® Single Barrel Reserve. In keeping with Knob Creek’s philosophy that handcrafting superior quality bourbon is worth the effort, the new Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve is naturally aged for a full 9
years and bottled at 120 proof (60% alcohol by volume).

Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve is carefully hand-selected, barrel-by-barrel, to be a unique expression of Knob Creek’s rich, mature flavor. Naturally aged in new, charred American Oak barrels, Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve is bottled at near barrel proof to maintain its strong, rich flavors and aromas. Unlike other bourbons, which are blended together from multiple barrels to create a uniform taste, each barrel of Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve, once hand-selected, is cut with water and bottled individually in order to preserve its integrity and unique flavor profile. This process allows for variations in taste, color and aroma in each batch of bourbon.

“We pay close attention to the barrels we select for Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve as we want to ensure that we’re bottling an extraordinary bourbon with a complex balance of aroma and taste,” said Fred Noe, seventh-generation Beam family distiller and son of Booker Noe. “I recommend enjoying this new bourbon neat, on the rocks or cut with a bit of water in order to best appreciate its depth and fullness of flavor.”

Incredibly smooth and nuanced, this new bourbon features even more of the rich wood and signature vanilla, caramel and smoky notes that bourbon lovers have come to expect from Knob Creek, the world’s number one selling Super-Premium bourbon.

“Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve is the latest innovation in our bourbon portfolio,” said Rob Mason, U.S. director of Bourbons at Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. “We are especially thrilled to introduce our first single barrel bourbon offering, and to further strengthen our already-established credibility in the Super-Premium category.”
Initial reaction from bourbon experts to the new expression has been extremely positive.

John Hansell, Publisher and Editor of Malt Advocate, wrote: “This is a stylish, big, broadshouldered bourbon with a thick, sweet foundation…peppered with spice…and dried fruit.”

Kevin Gray, editor at CocktailEnthusiast.com, notes: “Knob Creek drinkers, and bourbon fans in general, would do well to secure a bottle.”

Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve is available in limited quantities and retails for a suggested price of $39.99 for a 750ml bottle. For more information about Knob Creek and Knob Creek Single Barrel Reserve, go to www.knobcreek.com or visit us on Facebook® at www.facebook.com/KnobCreek.

About Knob Creek®

Knob Creek® Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey is aged nine years at a sophisticated 100 proof (50% alcohol by volume), and is named after the small town in Kentucky where President Abraham Lincoln was born. Knob Creek is the only brand that puts as much effort into our passions as you do into yours – handcrafting extraordinary bourbon with intriguing taste and bottled in unique flask shaped packaging, which has helped make it the number one selling Super-Premium bourbon in the world. Knob Creek is part of The Small Batch Bourbon Collection®, credited with driving growth in the bourbon category at the high-end. Today, these ultra-premium bourbons continue to grow at a faster pace than premium bourbons. For more information on Knob Creek, visit www.knobcreek.com.

About Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc. (“Beam Global”) is one of the world’s largest premium spirits companies, encompassing a portfolio of nearly 100 brands (including eight of the world’s top-100 premium spirits brands), more than a dozen global operating and commercial facilities and 3,500 employees worldwide. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for our brands, including Jim Beam® Bourbon, Sauza® Tequila, Canadian Club® Whisky, Courvoisier® Cognac, Teacher’s® Scotch Whisky, Maker’s Mark® Bourbon, Laphroaig® Scotch Whisky, Cruzan® Rum, Hornitos™ Tequila, EFFEN® Vodka, Larios® Gin, Whisky DYC®, DeKuyper® Cordials and Knob Creek®
Bourbon. Growth through innovation is a key strategy at Beam Global, with Red Stag by Jim Beam® Bourbon, Cruzan® 9 Rum, Maker’s 46™ Bourbon and Courvoisier® 12 Cognac and Courvoisier® 21 Cognac all being launched as new products over the past two years. Beam Global is part of Fortune Brands, Inc. (NYSE:FO), a leading consumer brands company. For more information on Beam Global, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Knob Creek® Single Barrel Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, 60% Alc./Vol. ©2011 Knob Creek Distillery, Clermont, KY. Facebook® is a registered trademark of Facebook, Inc.

We would like to share with you a great victory for Kilchoman.  The Kilchoman 2010 Summer Release has been awarded as the best Artisan Whisky of the year.  Please, click on the link below:
 
http://www.whatdoesjohnknow.com/2011/02/17/malt-advocate-whisky-awards-artisan-whisky-of-the-year-kilchoman-summer-2010-release/
 
Thank you for your continued support of our brands,
 
The ImpEx Beverage Team

ImpEx Beverages, Inc.
360 Swift Ave, Lot B, Unit #9
South San Francisco, CA  94080
650-872-1113 
fax: 650-872-1114

KENTUCKY GOVERNOR STEVE BESHEAR JOINS HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERIES FOR NEW RICKHOUSE DEDICATION CEREMONY

Company’s Nearly $5 Million Investment Necessitated by Remarkable Growth in the Bourbon Category and Heaven Hill’s Brand Portfolio

 
BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc., the nation’s largest independent family-owned distilled spirits producer and the world’s second-largest holder of aging Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, today welcomed Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear to the company’s Bardstown headquarters to help dedicate the newly constructed Rickhouse “J”.  The new whiskey aging warehouse is part of a nearly $5 million expansion to the company’s Bourbon barrel storage capacity, already the second greatest in the world at 900,000 barrels. 

Heaven Hill, producers of such renowned American Whiskey brands as Evan Williams Bourbon—the second largest selling Bourbon brand in the US and the world—Elijah Craig Bourbon, Old Fitzgerald Bourbon, Rittenhouse Rye and Bernheim Original Straight Wheat Whiskey, required the additional barrel storage to accommodate the growth in the company’s sales and whiskey production. For the first time in 2010, Heaven Hill produced more barrels of American Whiskey and Bourbon than any other American distiller.   With 49 warehouses in Nelson and Jefferson Counties already filled to the capacity with aging whiskey, the company met the need for additional barrel storage facilities with the construction of two new rickhouses, increasing the company’s barrel storage capacity by an additional 40,000 barrels.

Heaven Hill just recently filled the company’s 6 millionth barrel of fine Kentucky Bourbon in December, thereby becoming only the second continuously operating distillery in the country to do so. 

In helping Heaven Hill President Max L. Shapira cut the ribbon and roll in the first 53 gallon, 500 pound barrel, Governor Beshear noted that “Kentucky is internationally known for its rich heritage in the Bourbon industry and this latest expansion at Heaven Hill further enhances that reputation.  The Commonwealth is pleased to partner with one of its signature industries to make these investments possible.”  The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority had previously approved Heaven Hill Distilleries for tax benefits through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act, which allows approved companies to recoup state sales and use tax on building and construction materials. 

Heaven Hill President Shapira stated that the company “is extremely pleased to be dedicating our new rickhouses, not only because of the growth in our Bourbon and American Whiskey business that has necessitated this expansion, but also because of the positive impact this has on Bardstown, Nelson County and the Commonwealth.”

Beshear and Shapira were joined by local and state dignitaries, as well as executives from the family-owned company and Heaven Hill’s 7th generation Master Distiller, Craig Beam, for the ceremony.  The new warehouse, along with Rickhouse “I” that was completed in December, will be filled in short order to accommodate the demands for Heaven Hill’s products, and will join 18 other rickhouses at the company’s Bardstown facilities and another 29 rickhouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties.
 
Guests gathered at the Heaven Hill’s award-winning visitor’s center, the Bourbon Heritage Center, and were shuttled out to the warehouse site for the dedication aboard the Heaven Hill Trolley, which is a well-known sight year round throughout Bardstown as it carries riders to all the area’s major attractions. 

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.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely. Drink Wisely.”

EARLY TIMES MINT JULEP ARTIST SEARCH CONTEST WINNER SELECTED

Marita Walizer of Oklahoma City, OK will have artwork featured on 2011 Kentucky Derby® bottle

Churchill Downs®, Kentucky Derby® and the Twin Spires design are registered trademarks of Churchill Downs Incorporated.

For the past 24 years, the Early Times Mint Julep has proudly served as the “Official Drink of the Kentucky Derby®” with a commemorative artwork bottle released for the past 13 of those 24 years. Walizer’s winning artwork will be featured on this year’s Early Times Mint Julep commemorative bottle. In addition, she will receive $5,000 and a trip for two to the 2011 Kentucky Derby.

For 11 of the 12 commemorative bottles, the paintings of Celeste Susany had graced the bottle. 2010 marked her final year with her masterwork entitled “A Golden Moment” featuring the field of contenders galloping along the back stretch while the twin spires stand majestically in the background. With 2010 marking Susany’s final year of doing the artwork for the commemorative bottle, Early Times gave consumers the opportunity to submit their own, original artwork for the chance to be featured on the 2011 Kentucky Derby bottle. Consumers logged on to the Early Times website and submitted their “What Derby Means to Me” artwork.

“It’s an incredible honor to have my artwork selected to be on the Early Times Mint Julep commemorative bottle,” said Walizer. “I grew up in Louisville and have been around horses my whole life so this really is a dream to have my artwork chosen and to attend the Kentucky Derby.”

During this year’s Derby week, more than 120,000 Early Times Mint Juleps are expected to be served at Churchill Downs®. Over the past 24 years, more than 2.5 million Early Times Mint Juleps have been served between Kentucky Oaks® and Derby Days at Churchill Downs. This year’s Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands will take place Saturday, May 7, 2011.

The newly labeled one-liter pre-mix bottle will begin hitting shelves in early April. It will be available in limited quantities throughout the United States for a suggested retail price of $14.99.

About Early Times Kentucky Whisky:

Early Times Kentucky Whisky, 40% ABV, is the “Official Drink of the Kentucky Derby” made at the Brown-Forman Distillery in Louisville, Kentucky. Early Times Kentucky Whisky is one of the fine spirits produced and marketed by Brown-Forman Corporation, a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel’s, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Tequila Herradura, el Jimador Tequila, Woodford Reserve, Canadian Mist, Old Forester, Fetzer Wines and Korbel California Champagnes.  Early Times reminds you to drink responsibly. For more information on Early Times Kentucky Whisky visit www.earlytimes.com.

About Churchill Downs®:

Churchill Downs, the world’s most legendary racetrack, has conducted Thoroughbred racing and presented America’s greatest race, the Kentucky Derby, continuously since 1875.  Located in Louisville, the flagship racetrack of Churchill Downs Incorporated (NASDAQ: CHDN) also operates Trackside at Churchill Downs, which offers year-round simulcast wagering at the historic track. Churchill Downs will conduct the 137th running of the Kentucky Derby on May 7, 2011. The track’s 2011 Spring Meet is scheduled for April 30-July 4.  Churchill Downs has hosted the Breeders’ Cup World Championships a record seven times and the event will return to the track for its next renewal on Nov. 4-5. Information about Churchill Downs can be found on the Internet at www.churchilldowns.com.

Louisville, Ky (February 11, 2011) – The first Early Times Mint Julep Artist Search Contest has concluded and a winner has been selected. After receiving dozens of entries from across the country, Marita Walizer of Oklahoma City, OK was chosen as the winner for her artwork entitled “Derby Cheers”.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, we’d like to apologise for not being in touch for a while. After an incredibly eventful Christmas, and with so much going on around the capitol for Burns Night, we lamentably had to give January a miss in the tasting stakes. Fear not, however, as we have an ever-burgeoning list of tastings and events lined up for the rest of the year to entice and enliven your palates.
 
”The Whisky Exchange, Vinopolis’ – Best Independent Spirits Retailer 2011

Those of you who receive our ‘Special Offers & News’ mailings may already be aware of this, but if not we’d like to mention that last week, TWE Vinopolis was awarded ‘Best Independent Spirits Retailer of the Year 2011’, making us the winner for an impressive 3 years running now. Huzzah!
 

Canadian Whisky: Canada’s Best Wine & Spirits Blog

Feb 4, 2011.

Winners of the first annual Canadian Food Blog Awards were announced January 31, 2011, with canadianwhisky.org garnering the honours as Canada’s best Wine & Spirits blog.

Davin de Kergommeaux launched the Canadian Whisky website in July 2010. The site features Canadian whisky reviews, and discussions about Canadian whisky. “There are so many great whiskies made here in Canada that no one outside the country ever finds out about,” he said.  “This website is opening a lot of eyes to best of Canadian whisky.”

As an original member of the Malt Maniacs de Kergommeaux helped found the prestigious Malt Maniacs Awards which he has judged for the past eight years. A trained sommelier, who writes about whisky for a number of publications, including Whisky Magazine, he also judges the prestigious World Whisky Awards. In 2010 his Canadian Whisky Awards drew world-wide attention to Canadian connoisseur whisky.

The Canadian Food Blog Awards were created by Sheryl Kirby and Greg Clow, administrators of the Canadian food blog aggregator site Beer and Butter Tarts, and founders of the Canadian Food Bloggers Association. “We received over 800 nominations for 174 different blogs in 17 different categories,” said Sheryl Kirby. “In the People’s Choice category, over 500 valid votes were cast.”

From the nominations a short-list of five blogs was created for each of the 17 categories.  Judging was conducted independently by wine and spirits writers and other industry professionals. In addition to canadianwhisky.org, Wine and Spirits nominees included on the short list were Billy’s Best Bottles, Cellar Door, The Jolly Inebriate, and Vine Arts: Wine Made Simple.

“Congratulations to all the winners, as well as the finalists who made the short list,” said Kirby. “You have set the bar for standards in Canadian food blogging.”

Links:

Canadian Whisky http://www.canadianwhisky.org/

Canadian Food Bloggers’ Association  http://www.canadianfoodblogs.com/about/