I have been talking to you for some time about our plans for the next live broadcast. Well I am extremely excited to announce that we have finally confirmed everything and this year’s broadcast will be live from the Maker’s Mark distillery in Kentucky, USA.

For those of you who know a lot about Laphroaig you will know that we mature our whisky in Maker’s Mark barrels so it is a fitting collaboration I think – plus it’s a bit sunnier there than here on Islay so it should be a lovely setting!

We will be holding the event on Friday 25th September 2009 at 20:00 (EST – Kentucky time!).  For anyone in Europe this will actually be on Saturday 26th September due to the time difference. For those of you who want to work out the time in their country then you can use this site: http://www.timeanddate.com/. As the broadcast is from the US the timing of the broadcast isn’t ideal for our European FOLs but we have made the broadcast on a Friday so hopefully those of you who don’t have work on Saturday will still be able to log into watch the show.

The broadcast will last around 40 minutes and will include a live question and answer session where you will be invited to put your questions to the panel. This will include Kevin Smith- master blender for Maker’s Mark, John Hansell – author of the famous Malt Advocate and of course myself. We will also have Simon Brooking, our US Ambassador on hand to answer any questions.

Those of you who have watched our last two broadcasts will know that we very much concentrated on tasting our range. This year as we are the guests of Maker’s Mark we wanted to do something a little different. We will of course be discussing what makes the Maker’s barrels so special for us at Laphroaig (and of course tasting some of the fine spirit) but we will also be trying a few food dishes that go well with Laphroaig and Maker’s Mark and also trying our hand at some cocktails! If any of you have any suggestions on dishes or cocktails please email them into me at info@laphroaig.com with the subject line: Distillery Live Recipes and any that we decide to make will win a special prize.

Pass this email onto your friends
As you know we always ask our ‘friends’ to help us spread the word about Laphroaig. This live tasting would be the perfect way to introduce all your friends to our unique single malt so please pass it on – unlike normal whisky tastings the web can accommodate everyone!

I’ll be writing to you again in the next couple of weeks with all the confirmed details including the website address but I just wanted to get the date and time firmly in your diaries.

I look forward to ‘seeing’ you on 25th…or the 26th for some of you!

Slàinte,

John Campbell
Distillery Manager

P.S For anyone who hasn’t noticed I am now on Twitter. I’ll be updating my Twitter page with details of the event as well as the FOL page. http://www.twitter.com/laphroaigwhisky

FOR IMMEDIATE USE:  17 AUGUST 2009 (From East Ayrshire Council)

STARS SIGN UP TO KEEP STRIDING MAN IN KILMARNOCK

Musicians Lloyd Cole, Saw Doctors front man Leo Moran and Katie Sutherland (aka Pearl of Pearl and the Puppets) took time out at the recent Kilmarnock Edition Music Festival to lend support to the campaign to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock.

The stars, also including the Ballachulish Hellhounds, were happy to sign the petition to keep the company’s historic links with the town. Lloyd Cole assured a cheering crowd: “If Johnnie Walker leaves Kilmarnock, I’ll never drink their whisky again”.

Galway band The Saw Doctors are familiar with previous Diageo attempts to cut longstanding ties to an area, with the 2007 attempt to close the original Guinness brewery in Dublin.

 Such is the importance of Johnnie Walker to the history of Kilmarnock, that references to the brand appear in the Ayrshire Innovators Exhibition currently at The Dick. On display are an 18 year old Johnnie Walker Gold Label Centenary blend whisky, a Black Label water jug and vintage adverts. In addition, as part of his photo essay series, Kieran Dodds photographed the labelling machinery at the bottling plant, featuring the trademark Striding Man, in recognition of the role Johnnie Walker continues to play in the town.

The cross-party group leading the Johnnie Walker campaign said: “Having these famous music names sign our petition and declare their support so publicly takes the campaign to a whole new level.

“It also makes larger numbers of younger people more aware of the importance of what we are trying to do and brings in a different audience to help Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock”.

To add your name to the petition, visit http://www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com
For further information contact Carol Keohone on 01563 578154.

ends

The 3rd Limited Edition Duncan Taylor and Runrig Collaboration

Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky are pleased announce their third collaboration with Runrig, Scotland’s Premier Band, to produce a limited edition single malt Scotch Whisky bottling commemorating not only the bands most prestigious concert of the year at Scone Palace in Perthshire, Scotland but to also celebrate Homecoming 2009.
 
The “Runrig Scone Palace Homecoming 2009” bottling, limited to 750 bottles, is a cask strength “Highland Park 1987, 22 Year Old” from the Rare Auld range of Duncan Taylor single malt casks.

As in all previous exclusive Runrig bottlings they are very much sought after and sell out within days of release. The release date this year is 24th August 2009, 5 days before the concert at Scone. Orders will be despatched from 31st August. To avoid disappointment please reserve your bottle now or alternatively pick up your bottle at Scone. Note, of the 750 bottles available there is only a limited supply through Single Malts Direct. Therefore 1st come first served.

Whiskies Of Scotland, Whisky Marquee at Scone Palace

Whilst at Scone Palace on 29th August please visit our Whiskies of Scotland Marquee to meet up with the producers of the whisky and enjoy the company of many other Distillers exhibiting that day. Its free of charge and if you are over 18 you will be able to sample exquisite whiskies from not only Duncan Taylor & Co Ltd but also from Arran, Auchentoshan, Benriach, Bowmore, Glendronach, Tomintoul, Glencadam, Springbank, Glenfarclas, Brands Development and  speciality beers and ales from Brewdog brewery company.

The Whiskies of Scotland marquee will be open from 1pm through to 10.30 pm. See you there!

FOR IMMEDIATE USE: 14 AUGUST 2009

ROBERT BURNS WORLD FEDERATION JOINS SAVE JOHNNIE WALKER CAMPAIGN

A specially designed brochure setting out the story of Diageo’s proposals to cut 700 jobs in its bottling plant in Kilmarnock and the community’s reaction to this was launched at the Burns Monument Centre this week.

The brochure is being sent to every member of the Robert Burns World Federation around the world to gain more support for the “Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock” campaign. It explains how people can get involved in the campaign, either through the campaign website; by spreading the word to family, friends and colleagues or by writing directly to Diageo.

Members of the Cross Party Working Group for the campaign, set up to fight the Diageo closure plans, were very impressed with the finished product: “The brochure is an excellent way to illustrate to Burns Federation members around the world just how committed we are to having a successful outcome to this campaign. It shows how members of the public, local businesses, communities, trades unions and politicians from all parties have come together to fight for the jobs of 700 workers and their families. Containing photos from the march and rally that attracted over 20,000 people in Kilmarnock recently, the brochure demonstrates to the world the enormous pride and loyalty the people of Kilmarnock have for this brand.”

Shirley Bell, Chief Executive of the Robert Burns World Federation, and Councillors Douglas Reid, Tom Cook and Maureen McKay, members of the Cross Party Working Group, signed a letter that will accompany the brochure on its travels around the world. Shirley said: “We are delighted to be backing this campaign which is all about keeping our heritage where it belongs. An appropriate quote from Robert Burns that sums up the current situation goes:

All you who follow wealth and power with unremitting ardour, O

The more in this you look for bliss, you leave your view the farther, O

“I wish the campaign every success and I am sure that our fellow Burnsians around the world will be pleased to add their support too.”

Photo Caption

Councillor Tom Cook; John Haining; Immediate Past Present of the Federation; Shirley Bell, Chief Executive of the Robert Burns World Federation; Councillor Douglas Reid; Jim Shields, Director/Marketing Convenor of the Federation and Councillor Maureen McKay.

 
ends
Caroline Gordon

Public Relations Officer

(01563) 576521

Glendronach Distillery has come up with a quirky way to promote its new range of 12, 15 and 18-year-old malts in Belgium next month.
 
It has selected a single cask from the 1996 vintage, straight from one of the distillery’s warehouses in Aberdeenshire, and is taking it round Belgium…in the back of a van!
 
“Cask in a Van” is the title of GlenDronach’s unusual week-long road show.
 
Regional Sales Director James Cowan explained: “To help make our launch in Belgium more memorable, we’re taking a delicious 1996 limited edition GlenDronach on the road in a special liveried van. As our advertising slogan says, we’re taking the brand “on a journey of re-discovery”.
 
“It’s never been done before so it should be a great hit with Belgian malt whisky fans.”
 
James came up with the idea in tandem with his Belgian importer Mario Groteklaes, who runs The Nectar in Heusden-Zolder.
 
Mario added: “We’ll visit seven major customers for an in-store tasting of the new range of 12, 15 and 18-year-olds, plus a sample of the 1996 whisky straight from the cask which they can decant into their own personalised bottles. As it’s a limited edition, it’s going to be a highly collectable item.
 
“We will also undertake less formal tastings – for example a barbeque is planned in one of the Belgium market towns.”
 
GlenDronach launched its new range of malts in April and the first 3000-bottle consignment sold out in Belgium in just three weeks.
 
Mario said: “GlenDronach has always been a well-known brand here, especially the “old” fifteen-year-old. That, and the good publicity given to the new fifteen and eighteen-year-olds by some Malt Maniacs, and on some forums, made it easy to introduce the new range to about one hundred specialised liquor stores throughout Belgium in just one week.”
 
Watch out for the distinctive GlenDronach van somewhere in Belgium between 29 September – 3 October.
 
Attached is a picture of the van.
 
ends                                                                                        13 August 2009
 
INFORMATION – James Cowan, 00441324 682220

http://www.glendronachdistillery.com/

As local and international support for the campaign to “Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock” continues to grow, East Ayrshire’s Leisure Services team have been busy creating their own home grown iconic “striding Man” logo in flowers as a display for this year’s municipal exhibit at Ayr Flower Show.

Featuring a range of plants including begonias, the display was the brainchild of John Roxburgh, Assistant Outdoor Amenities Manager who was faced with a tough challenge, having just a few week’s notice to design, source plants and construct the exhibit –  a process which would usually take months.

Members of Cross Party Working Group for the “Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock” Campaign, set up to fight the Diageo closure plans, were very impressed with the results: “Municipal exhibits at Ayr Flower Show are always a showcase for East Ayrshire, displaying the range of skills available within the Council. This year the exhibit has a triple purpose. Firstly it reflects the versatility and green fingers of our own staff, who have redesigned and achieved a magnificent result in a short timescale. Secondly it demonstrates our support for another skilled workforce, that of Johnnie Walker whose employees face an uncertain future. Lastly, it reaffirms the strength of our community, striding forward together and united in showing Diageo just what loyalty to each other and to the brand means to the people of Kilmarnock.”

A stall situated at the exhibit collected a phenomenal 4500 signatures in support of the petition to “Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock”. Already thousands of people from all over the world have put their names to the campaign both in person and online at the www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com  website.

As promised, you are among the very first to find out about new bottlings of Highland Park. With this in mind, I am delighted to announce the release of Hjarta, a natural strength 12 year old expression, limited to approximately 3,900 bottles. Available now from the distillery, our on-line shop and in Scandinavia during autumn this year.

Orkney has never forgotten its Scandinavian heritage; Hjarta is the ancient Norse word for ‘heart’ and the whisky has been launched to mark the total refurbishment of our visitor centre, itself a celebration of the rich history of the Islands.

As F Paul Pacult said in Wine Enthusiast magazine; “To say Highland Park is a cathedral in the religion of single malt whisky is an understatement. Think Mecca. Think Vatican.” For many whisky enthusiasts, a visit to Highland Park is a pilgrimage. Once there, pilgrims should find the quintessence of Highland Park – the soul of the whisky – a place of warmth and welcome that will stay with the visitor forever.

Natural Orcadian materials are used throughout; Neolithic and Pictish designs adorn the walls and the floor is made of Caithness flagstones. The tasting bar is made from a retired washback, which had given 37 years of unwavering service, and is circular in form reflecting a significant theme in Orcadian design.

The whisky has been created by Max MacFarlane, Whisky Maker, and is bottled at 58.1%. He has supplied the following tasting note for Hjarta:

TASTING NOTES
Colour: Deep amber, clear and bright.
Nose: Close scrutiny of this intense 12 year old cask strength malt reveals a glorious combination of rich, dried fruits, aromatic spice and heather, caramelised pineapple and fresh lemon peel subtly intertwined with hints of delicate smoke.
Palate: Rich flavour delivery, mouth-coating silky vanilla sweetness and hints of coconut converging in an exquisite balance of sweet, heather peat smokiness.
Finish: Long, gentle and smoky.

Hjarta is available at £65 per bottle.

Unless you are in Scandinavia, you can only acquire Hjarta by travelling to the distillery or by visiting the website.

For more information about the Best Spirit in the World visit www.highlandpark.co.uk

Gerry
Head of Brand Education, Highland Park

FOR IMMEDIATE USE:  AUGUST 2009

FAMOUS AUTHOR BACKS KEEP JOHNNIE WALKER IN KILMARNOCK CAMPAIGN

Famous Scottish author William McIlvanney added his support to the swelling campaign to Keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock, when he visited recently to make a film for BBC’s The One Show.

Willie, who was born in Kilmarnock in 1936 and now lives in Glasgow, spent the day with the BBC film crew. They visited various locations around town, including Grange Street and West George Street, where Willie spoke to several ex-Johnnie Walker workers.

He also chatted to passers-by in Bank Street about the plight of hundreds in the town facing joblessness and the fight to save 700 Johnnie Walker jobs in Kilmarnock.

Mr McIlvanney, who had been abroad when the 20,000 strong mass rally was held, said: “I couldn’t believe the passion in the place. I only wish I had been able to be at the march.”

He added: “It was the Kilmarnock Edition of Robert Burns that introduced his poems to the world – poems which had at their core a profound belief in the dignity and importance of the ordinary worker.

“It is bitterly ironic that what is probably the second most famous product of Kilmarnock, Johnnie Walker whisky, is now being used to subvert that belief, to demonstrate utter contempt for the ordinary workers who, over generations, have made the product the respected world brand it is today.

“It’s enough to make Robert Burns turn in his grave at a thousand revs a minute.

“Diageo, the current owners of Johnnie Walker, can have no motivation for closing down the plant in Kilmarnock but greed.  Having made over £2 billion profits last year, they are trying to devise ways of making more, regardless of the devastating impact their soulless pursuit of

money will have on the lives of those who made their product so profitable in the first place. There can be no response to such contempt for people but total opposition.”

Other well-known Scots backing the campaign include the Proclaimers, Biffy Clyro, Eddi Reader, Trashcan Sinatras and poet Rab Wilson.

For more information, visit www.keepjohnniewalkerinkilmarnock.com.

Note to editors:
William McIlvanney was born in Kilmarnock in 1936, the youngest of four children of a miner who took part in the 1926 General Strike. His father died when Willie was eighteen, an experience reflected in his first novel Remedy is None. Willie was educated at Kilmarnock
Academy and was the first member of his family to go to university. He was an English teacher in Ayrshire, before becoming a full-time writer in 1975.
Remedy is None (1966) won the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize. Docherty (1975), a moving portrait of a miner whose courage is tested during the depression, won the Whitbread Novel Award. Other works include The Big Man, The Kiln, Laidlaw, The Papers of Tony Veitch and Weekend. Some of his stories are set in Graithnock, a fictional town based on Kilmarnock.
ends

Dear Malt Messenger Subscribers,

I hope you are enjoying your summer, even if it has been a little wetter, little windier and little cooler than usual. I’m often asked, what my favourite whisky is, and in all sincerity I have often replied that my answer depends on a number of factors including: time of year, weather, time of day and my mood. This past weekend I enjoyed some rich and smooth Strathisla 40 Year ($343.99) with a Cuban cigar; the deep tobacco notes in both made an excellent pairing. I also happily sipped on some fresh, sweet, malty Arran 10 Year ($53.99) while sitting out on the deck. I find my palate and my preferences for single malt whisky changes with the seasons. Fall is the time for lightly peated medium bodied whisky like Highland Park or Springbank. In winter I reach for the big-smoky-peaty whiskies like Port Ellen, Bowmore and Ardbeg. In Spring a rich and spicy Speysider is what’s called for like Glenfarclas, Aberlour or Strathisla. And in the summer I look for something light, and refreshing like an Arran, Rosebank or the Benromach Organic.

Benromach Organic has been one of our best selling single malts for the last three years. It was until very recently the only certified organic single malt Scotch in the world. Produced from organically sourced barley, and made with organically approved distilling methods the whisky was then matured in virgin American oak casks from a wild forest in Missouri.  Because the whisky was matured in new oak, rather than used bourbon barrels, it is very buttery on the palate with a massive surge of sweet vanilla. This soft, sweet, buttery palate was the principal reason for the whisky’s success. It found admirers amoungst those looking for a softer light dram—a breakfast or summer dram if you will—and those looking to wean themselves into the word of single malts. Whether people were buying it as a “gateway-whisky” or a patio sipper, Benromach Organic never disappointed. Jim Murray gave it 91pts in his Whisky Bible and called it a “guns-blazing big’un!”
             
This whisky has been a Kensington Wine Market exclusive for the last three years, and is not available anywhere else in Canada! Sadly, Benromach distillery has confirmed that they have discontinued the Benromach Organic, and we will not be receiving any further shipments of it. Between our warehouse and the store we have but 26 bottles, and when they’re gone, they’re gone! If you’re a fan of the Benromch Organic or looking for the right “gateway-whisky” to get you into single malts, don’t delay, the Benromach Organic will soon be nothing more than a memory, or a heel in someone’s whisky cupboard… hopefully yours!

The last 26 bottles of the Benromach Organic will retail for $85.99 + GST.  They are exclusively available at Kensington Wine Market, 403-283-8000, or www.kensingtonwinemarket.com.. Jim Murray’s complete tasting note is below:  “Nose: massive oak input and the freshest oak imaginable. But sits comfortably with the young pulsing malts. Wow!!; Taste: oak arrives first again, but has enough deftness of touch to allow the rich, mouthwatering malts to prosper; Finish: plenty of vanillins and natural, sweet toffee; Balance: young and matured in possibly first fill bourbon or more likely, European (even Scottish) oak [Jim Murray’s palate didn’t know what to make of the new oak influence, and who can blame him!]; you cannot do other than sit up and take notice of this guns-blazing  big’un. An absolute treat!”
____________________

If you have any whisky questions or comments concerning The Malt Messenger please contact me by e-mail, phone, or drop by the store. Feel free to forward me any whisky news you feel should be included in a future issue of The Malt Messenger; it might just get included.

All of the products mentioned in THE MALT MESSENGER can be purchased in store, over the phone or from our website at www.kensingtonwinemarket.com.. All prices quoted in the Malt Messenger are subject to change!

Thanks for reading the Malt Messenger!

Slainte!

Andrew Ferguson
KWM Scotchguy

403-283-8000
888-283-9004
1257 Kensington Rd. NW
Calgary, AB, Canada
T2N 3P8

scotchguy@kensingtonwinemarket.com