For Immediate Release

Rocky Mountain Technology Ventures
Aurora, Colorado
www.RMTVentures.com
apple.development@rmtventures.com

iDistillery is a comprehensive iPhone application on Scotland whisky distilleries that includes detailed information on 127 scotch producers. This app provides in-depth information on the history, location tour hours and other interesting and useful facts and figures on each distillery. This is a must have app if you plan on traveling to Scotland to visit distilleries. Additionally, this is an excellent reference for any whisky / scotch connoisseur that wants to take their knowledge of Scottish distilleries to the next level.

iDistillery Features

Region Profiles − Detailed information and characteristics on each of the Scottish whisky producing regions including the Highlands, Lowlands, Speyside, Campbeltown and Islay.

Distilleries by Region − Provides the ability to find and sort distilleries by region simply by clicking on a given section of the map.

Critical Distillery Data − Provides data on each Scotland distillery including address, phone number, website, longitude and latitude, production status, region etc…

Production Process Overview − Detailed information on each step of the whisky production process.

Map View − Obtain a map to distilleries based on your location using on the iPhone map kit and the internal GPS. These zoomable maps are invaluable to help you find your way.

Tour Tips and Hints − Tips and hints to help you get the most out of your distillery tours.

Audio Files − Sound files for each distillery (provides pronunciation).

Distillery Overview − Information on the history, interesting facts and visitor center hours for each distillery.

iDistillery Quiz − Test your knowledge of whisky / scotch / distilleries with the distillery quiz.

Closed Distilleries − iDistillery even includes information on Scottish whisky distilleries that have long since closed down such as Port Ellen, Rosebank, Kinclaith and other producers of rare scotches.

iDistillery can be downloaded from the iTunes store at:
http://tinyurl.com/iDistillery

The entire Maltstock crew wishes everybody a dram good 2010!

The year 2009 was very special for us because we saw the realization of a dream: Maltstock!

We hope to see you all (again) at the second edition of Maltstock 3 – 5 September 2010

The new website is online: www.maltstock.com

Share and enjoy!

Bob, Teun, Arthur, Rogier, Eline and the entire Maltstock crew

Join Our American Whiskey Club

We seek out unique expressions of American whiskeys that we find to be particularly delectable and buy an allotment. The whiskey you receive in our club is meticulously taste-selected by our devoted staff. It is unique to D&M as well as your personal collection!

By joining our club, you will receive a bottle every 3 months of the best that American Whiskey has to offer – shipped right to your home or office along with background material on the producer and our staff’s tasting notes on the product.

The cost tops out at $100 but usually much lower.

In December of this 2009 our club members  received a bottle of  Four Roses Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – D&M Exclussive  Barrel # 22-1 A. Warehouse# 13N. 55.1%.  Lots of fruit on the nose: raspberry and bananas, floral with sasparilla and vanilla aromas. The palate is very floral (rose petals) with cinnamon, allspice, bananas, tropical fruit, fresh pepercorn and a touch of honey in the finish. D&M Tasting Notes.

Legend has it, the name is a result of the founder of Four Roses, Paul Jones, proposing to a Southern belle. She replied that were her answer yes, she’ll wear a corsage of roses to the upcoming grand ball. Lo and behold, the night came and the propositioned had adorned herself with a corsage of four red roses. The bourbon received this sobriquet as a result of Paul Jones wishing to draw comparison between his love and passion for that particular Southern belle and his Four Roses Bourbon.

Despite exacting measures of quality, Four Roses found itself out of the United States for over 40 years. This was a result of Seagram purchasing the Frankfort Distilling Co., and in the process acquiring Four Roses Bourbon, in 1943. Much of the Four Roses whiskey went to rounding out and beefing up blended whiskies. At the same time, the brand was moved internationally in order to focus on the growing market in countries throughout Europe and Asia. In 2002, ownership changed again. Four Roses ceased their blended whiskey production in favor of producing 100% Kentucky Straight Bourbon. At the same time, the brand was reintroduced to the U.S. market.

Four Roses is the only Bourbon on the market that produces 10 different recipes under the same label. There are only 2 different mash bills. One being 75% corn, 20% rye and 5% malted barley. The other being 60% corn, 35% rye and 5% malted barley. The other difference in their recipes comes from the 5 yeast strains that they use. All their yeast is cultured on premises by Four Roses (many distilleries buy their yeast strains in bulk and have it shipped in). The yeasts can lend to very different flavor profiles as demonstrated in Four Roses different products, they even tell you which recipe they’re using on the bottle.

Suggested list price for this exclusive bottle is $90.00 but our club members only paid $69.99.

Visit D&M American Whiskey Club at http://www.dandm.com/clubs_american_whiskey.php?cat=clubs&subcat=American+Whiskey+Club

The Macallan 1824 Collection – Well travelled and highly acknowledged 

 
Our Macallan team returning from the annual Global Travel Retail Exhibition in Cannes had to pay excess baggage for all the awards received for our new 1824 Collection, available exclusively in Travel Retail*.  The Macallan is already renowned as the world’s most precious whisky, but with these new feathers to our bow we are bursting with pride and wanted to share this fantastic news.

And with Christmas (W.I. apologizes for the tardiness in publishing this article/press release) just around the corner here are some award-winning gift ideas that will earn you serious brownie points…
 
As one of the only Masters of Wood in the industry, our own George Espie is the mastermind behind Select Oak, having hand-selected some of our most expensive hogshead sherry oak casks to deliver a single malt of extraordinary smoothness, remarkable sweetness and depth.

Or why not try a very special single malt made from barley grown on The Macallan Estate? Whisky Maker’s Edition has been handcrafted by our Whisky Maker, Bob Dalgarno, to produce a spicy, oily and fruity dram that is Bob’s personal favourite and will no doubt draw you in, too.

   
Estate Reserve takes you back to days gone by when liquid was drawn from a cask at marrying strength and on special occasions presented to the Directors of The Macallan Estate. Non-chill filtering makes this an especially elegant single malt.

In addition, The Spirits Masters 2009 awarded Estate Reserve the best of the best as Travel Retail Grand Master.
   
  
The crème de la crème has to be the 1824 Limited Release. This simply sublime liquid is drawn from some of the rarest Spanish sherry seasoned oak casks on The Macallan Estate and presented in a hand-made crystal decanter, hand decorated by a Scottish silversmith.

  
Remember, this range is only available in Travel Retail*, so look out for The Macallan 1824 Collection the next time you travel, and treat yourself or loved one.

You can now follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and on our own Macallan Blog.

As we say in Scotland when toasting an exquisite dram: Sláinte!
 
The Macallan
www.themcallan.com

NEW WHISKY BRAND LAUNCHES IN USA

December 2009; Ian Macleod Distillers is officially launching a brand new Scotch whisky into the USA aimed at the modern consumer. 

SMOKEHEAD is a contemporary, individual and exciting whisky, already available in premium bars and retailers across the UK and worldwide.

The brand uses innovative, ‘stand-out’ designer packaging resulting in ‘wow’ factor and brand value. The main front bottle label is uniquely placed on the bottle rear reflecting a variety of adjectives such as Robust, Outrageous, Monstrous and Boisterous, (alluding to the powerful taste of the malt inside), back through the spirit itself.

“Unlike some contemporary whisky brands that have appeared recently on the market, Smokehead is not a subtle flavour,” said Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod.  “Smokehead is a heavily peated Islay single malt scotch whisky of the highest quality!.” 

It’s like a cannonball – an explosive rollercoaster of peat, smoke and spice with some delicate sweetness. The single malt flavour is described as fresh, fruity and immense, with notes of sherry, iodine, toffee, smoke and sea salt.  The taste hits the palate at once with cocoa, peat and some honey sweetness, before exploding with peppery spice and more earthy peat.

The launch of Smokehead in the USA follows considerable consumer research, which found that consumers either love or hate Islay malts.  Those who love them, of which there is a large market, are extremely loyal and so this new product has been launched to target these “Smokeheads”.  The launch will be supported by a full sales and marketing programme.

Iain Weir concluded, “The initial reaction to SMOKEHEAD globally has been outstanding!  Smokehead won Design of the Year at the Wine & Spirit Design Awards 2007 (W&SDA) and a Gold Award on its debut at the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge (SFWC) 2006/7. We expect to create a very strong brand ideally suited to the new generation of adventurous malt whisky drinkers in the USA  who are looking for an exciting, accesible and innovative modern brand which does not use old-fashioned Scotch whisky imagery and heritage.  We are confident that this malt whisky will prove highly successful in the USA.”

Curious to discover more, please contact Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd on tel:
 00 44 1506 852205 or see www.smokehead.co.uk
In the U.S.A. contact:
ImpEx Beverages, Inc.
650-872-1114
office@impexbev.com
(Smokehead encourages responsible drinking)

Tasting notes:

Nose: Heavy smoke and peat.   Amazing richness.   Lemon, fresh ginger, plum jam.   Salty and spicy.  
Body: Like a cannonball – hits the palate at once with cocoa, peat and some honey sweetness then explodes with peppery spice and more earthy peat.   Spreads to all the areas of your mouth with more peat and light sweetness.
Finish: Even more peat, spice, mandarin – then dries up.   When you think it’s all over the peat comes back to hit you again.

Impression A rollercoaster of peat and spice with some delicate sweetness.

Notes to Editors:

SMOKEHEAD, Ian Macleod Distillers new Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, was awarded the Design of the Year (Best Design/Best Dark Spirit Design) Trophy, the top accolade at the Wine & Spirit Design Awards 2007 (W&SDA).

SMOKEHEAD, the new Islay Single Malt launched by Ian Macleod Distillers, won a Gold Award on its debut at the Scottish Field Whisky Challenge (SFWC) 2006/7.

Ed is the other half of the BB&R spirits team. A Londoner through and through, Ed joined the team in 2002 to work at our shop in Heathrow Terminal 3. Since then his passion for all things spiritual has led him to work with Doug McIvor full time on Berrys’ spirits. In 2008 his long affair with French spirits led to him becoming Berrys’ very first Musketeer d’Armagnac.

I can remember the scene quite clearly. I was in a ski lift with my brother, who was working for Berrys at the time. “Try this” he said, as he passed me his hip flask. “Good isn’t it!” He was right. The contents of the flask were quite bewitching. All the delicacy and elegance that, in my book, Glenlivet should have.

1991 Bruichladdich, Bottled 2004 (46%)
This was my introduction to the McIvor-isms that I am now so used to. Doug described it to me as “Standing on the shore of Loch Indall eating shortbread, downwind of the maltings.” He was right, this was how I found that I did like Islay Whiskies after all.

1968 Springbank, Bottled 2003 (46%)
Oh, the wonders of Springbank; it’s the balance that gets me. The way the peat is so perfectly balanced with the rich fruitiness. This is the sort of dram that you can contemplate for hours and hours.

1965 Carsebridge Grain Single Grain, Bottled 2006 (46%)
This wasn’t the first time I had realised that Grains could be just as interesting as Malts (that honour goes to the 1989 Girvan, more to come in 2010), however it was the first time I realised just how good they could be. The level of complexity here is truly astonishing.

1982 Port Ellen, Bottled 2006 (55.6%)
What a loss! (Heavy sigh!) any distillery that makes Whisky this good deserves to survive. This wonderful bottling shows just what we have all been missing since the fateful day when the doors at Port Ellen closed for the last time. Sadly missed, not forgotten.

Visit Bery Bros. & Rudd at WWW.BBR.COM/SPIRITS

A quick update from Richard Paterson, the Master Blender.

29 Dec 2009

New Year is a great time for going out with whisky – it’s one of the traditional drinks used for first footing – and it’s also the time of year when you can jump out in the car and before you know it, someone’s invited you out for a drink. It’s easy done, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK to do – drinking and driving is the one cocktail you should never try.

Now, by way of a late Christmas present (or one for your whisky friends) we’ve recorded a Scottish voice for TomTom SatNav devices – mine – so now you can enjoy a whisky master blender telling you where to go and how to get there (it also has a couple of reminders about not drinking and driving).

I’m all for people enjoying whisky, but regardless of where you live you can’t deny that alcohol does affect driving so you shouldn’t mix the two. Enjoy the SatNav voice but remember:

If drinking, leave the car at your destination – stay over or get a cab
Always drink responsibly
Drinking and driving is one cocktail that never works.

To download and install the voice head over to Scottish Whisky Master Blender Richard Paterson on your TomTom SatNav page. http://www.themasterblender.com/free-download-scottish-whisky-master-blender-richard-paterson-tomtom-satnav/

To say the least Whisky Intelligence has raised a questioning eyebrow at this latest Scotch whisky development and cannot help but wonder about the potential for a ‘Double Marriage’ Blend of the voices of both Richard Paterson and Jim Murray on the Tom Tom…..

Tom Tom hard at work

“I’m ecstatic that in my fifteenth year of maturing whiskies in Octave casks that I now have a range that actually is called “The Octave from Duncan Taylor”.

Many years ago, more years than I care to remember, I made small casks as a Cooper at Glendronach Distillery for private clients of the Distillery. I always noticed that they produced fantastic spirit over a very short period. They were fun to make and to supplement my meager wages! I began to make Octave and Firkinsize casks for friends, family and if truth be told for anyone that would buy them. I remember filling them with whatever malts I could lay my hands on from the local “off licence”. After a few months maturation the resultant spirit was totally unlike what had come out of the bottle! In fact it was hugely better, it was invigorated! Hence our strapline “Octave Invigorated”!

For those of you who like historics, I actually started producing Octaves in a commercial way around 1994, selling as far afield as Japan where there still may be a few “behind bars” up in Miyagi where most of them were sold to a delightful old gentlemen with a restaurant chain. In 1999, I produced a special Millenium Octave for, yes your right, the Millenium. If anyone has any of those still around I would be delighted to hear from you.

Our new bottlings of the 2009 maturation are now out and ready for you to enjoy. Email me at octaves@duncantaylor.com

Looking back its been a busy 2009!

At the distillery the highlights include a record production in our floor malting’s, The maltings guys have worked very hard to increase the valuable supply of malt coming from our floor malting’s. During 2009 we have also seen a record number of friends visting their plots, it’s fantastic to see so many friends making the pilgrimage to Islay and enjoying our island when they get here. Last, and by no means least, our warehousemen have had their busiest year ever, laying down casks for the future. That’s all thanks to you!

I would also like to thank all of the friends who have written or e-mailed us whether it be on our website or to the distillery itself. We have always loved reading your thoughts, comments and suggestions – indeed that’s how the friends club started in the first place.

Another thanks for all of you who wrote in with your kind words about our “Distillery Live” broadcast from the Maker’s Mark Distillery in Kentucky (if you missed it a recorded version is available on the Laphroaig TV on the website). We had over 35,000 people watch it live on the night and it has already been viewed by over 100,000 people on demand. It really was a lot of fun so I’m really pleased so many of you have got to see it.

One final thing before you go off to view your personalized card. Since we launched the Triple Wood expression we have been getting literally hundreds of emails from FOLs who unfortunately missed out on getting one in our online shop (our online supply ran out in 3 days!). Well, I have been told that for any of you who will be flying soon there are still bottles available in various Travel Retail stores, and should you require help in finding one, just contact us at the distillery.

Seasons Greetings.

Slàinte,

John Campbell
Distillery Manager
Friends of Laphroaig web site

To access the private Friends of Laphroaig web site, use the link below:
http://www.laphroaig.com/friends

Greetings,

The holidays are upon us and so are some great new arrivals. It seems like we’ve been waiting for some new options in Japanese Whiskey and now we have two. We’re also featuring the resurrection of one of our favorite bottlings from Compass Box.

We’re confident that there’s something on our single malt “List” that’s perfect for anyone your list – whether they’ve been naughty, nice or slighty peaty.
hanks for looking. As always, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us.

Happy Holidays!
Jonathan & Eric
The Park Avenue Liquor Shop
292 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-685-2442
info@parkaveliquor.com
www.parkaveliquor.com
Suntory Hibiki 12 Year Old

Japanese Blended Whisky
The long-awaited new 12 year-old blend from Hibiki – and it’s a stunner. Lovely  malt from Hakushu and Yamazaki, plus some aged grain from Chita – and part matured in casks formerly home to Japanese plum liqueur! One of the best new releases of the year, without a doubt.

Our Price:$75

Suntory Yamazaki 1984

From John Hansell of Malt Advocate:
“This is the first vintage Suntory Yamazaki offered in the U.S.
A portion of this whisky is aged in Japanese Oak. Heavy aroma, with lush sherried fruit and deep juicy oak, marrying with firmly dry and spicy oak resin (the Japanese oak influence is obvious). This same profile follows through on the palate: ripe berried fruit, raisin, blackberry jam, plum spiced with cinnamon, vanilla spearmint, roasted nuts and gripping leather. All this, lying on a bed of molasses and toffee. The Japanese Oak really kicks in on its invigoratingly spicy, warm, resinous finish. Very elderly in nature, but remains very exciting and dynamic, even with all the oak.”
Our Price:$600

Compass Box: The Spice Tree

Put Spice Tree under your Christmas Tree.
The award-wining malt whisky is back!
Also returning are the big, sweet aromas of clove, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and  vanilla. The palate is full, round and sweet, with a long finish. Spice Tree is  sourced entirely from Northern Highland single malt distilleries – primarily the Clynelish distillery.
Our Price:$73

Lagavulin 12 Year Old

The 2009 release of cask-strength Lagavulin 12 Year Old is a simply superb bottling. One of the highlights of this year’s Special Releases, this will delight the big-peat fans of this beloved Islay distillery.
Our Price:$100

Sincerely,

Jonathan Goldstein