The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company Announces Expansion of Private Cask Sales Programme
MEDIA INFORMATION
Glenglassaugh Distillery, Portsoy. 23 October 2009.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
Glenglassaugh to expand private cask sale programme
Expanded range follows successful ‘Octave’ cask launch
The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company announces the expansion of their private cask sales programme with the launch of the Glenglassaugh 250 Club. Private cask sales were once commonplace in the Scotch whisky industry but fell out of favour in the 1980s and 1990s. On re-opening Glenglassaugh was approached by consumers internationally to make available private casks and responded with the ‘Octave’ cask offer (50 litres new make spirit at £500).
As Managing Director Stuart Nickerson explains:
“To our great delight demand for the Octave casks has rather taken us by surprise, with the 100th cask sale approaching fast. We’ve had persistent requests for larger cask sizes and types, hence the development of the 250 Club which, we think, offers the widest range of cask type of any comparable scheme and, unlike others, guarantees that future bottling costs are included in the price. The 250 Club is thus unique.”
The Glenglassaugh 250 Club cask programme offers an extensive range of cask types and sizes from first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels (approx 190 litres) at £2,500 to Port pipes (approx 580 litres) at £6,500, again for a first fill of new make pot still spirit from Glenglassaugh. All prices include 10 years storage, insurance, a range of gifts and privileges for owners and pre-payment of bottling charges.
“This is a unique offer,” says Nickerson “designed to guarantee price stability and certainty for our customers. All duties and taxes will still have to be paid, other costs including bottling are included. The price also includes a personalised tour and tasting at Glenglassaugh and lunch with a member of the distilling team. It’s a chance to meet the people behind the whisky and discuss your personal requirements for cask maturation.”
Glenglassaugh recently won the two top trophies for 30 and 40 year old whisky in the prestigious IWSC 2009 competition, sweeping aside whiskies from many of Scotland’s best known distilleries. The 40 year old whisky also won the award of the best 35-40 year old single malt scotch in Jim Murrays 2010 Whisky Bible.
“We have complete confidence in our spirit and the IWSC awards demonstrate the exceptional maturation possibilities of this outstanding Highland single malt,” commented Nickerson.
Details of the cask sales programmes may be found at www.glenglassaugh.com or by email to casks@glenglassaugh.com
Tasting Notes (new make spirit)
• Colour: Colourless, slight clouding on addition of water
• Nose: Creamy butterscotch and custard creams give way to delicate notes of sweet hay and freshly cut grass. With water, this spirit becomes very floral and fruity, pineapple cubes and lemon curd, with a hint of apricots and plums sneaking through. Fun in the garden on a summers’ day…
• Palate: Powerful at first with a wave of chilli and black pepper, giving way to a sweetness reminiscent of toffee and liquorice
• Finish: Fresh and fruity on the nose, spicy yet sweet on the palate. A lively spirit whose personality changes as you sip
Background/Further Information
About Glenglassaugh
The Glenglassaugh Distillery is situated on the Banffshire coast in the North-East of Scotland, close to the small village of Portsoy. The distillery was built in 1875 by local businessmen to satisfy the growing global demand for Scotch Malt Whisky and the site was chosen due to its close proximity to a high quality water supply and easy access to the nearby barley fields.
After a visit in the late 1880s, the highly-regarded Victorian commentator Alfred Barnard described Glenglassaugh as “too well known to need any praise.”
More recently, spirit from Glenglassaugh was used primarily in blends such as Cutty Sark and The Famous Grouse. In 1986 the then owners mothballed Glenglassaugh as part of wider cutbacks in production and the distillery has remained silent thereafter. In 2008 The Scaent Group of Amsterdam purchased the distillery and have invested more than £1m to recommence operations and to reintroduce to discerning customers the distinctive and high quality attributes of The Glenglassaugh Single Malt Scotch Whisky. For more information, please visit www.glenglassaugh.com
Redevelopment
The refurbishment and reopening of the Glenglassaugh Distillery have been managed by Stuart Nickerson, a renowned whisky expert, who was the sole consultant during the acquisition. Nickerson has worked in the Scotch Whisky industry since 1981 with a significant part of his career being with William Grants, where he was Distilleries Director. Previously, he managed Highland Park Distillery, Glenrothes and Glenfiddich Distilleries in succession. He was appointed the new Managing Director of the Glenglassaugh Distillery Company in February 2008.
One of Stuart Nickerson’s first actions was the appointment of Graham Eunson as Distillery Manager, effective from 1st April 2008. Graham joined the Distillery from Glenmorangie where he was Manager of the world famous distillery for the last 12 years. Graham has also worked at Glendronach and Scapa distilleries.
Production at Glenglassaugh was restarted on 24th November 2008 by Rt Hon Alex Salmond, Scotland’s First Minister and the distillery’s MP. Distilling was thus commenced under the guidance of Stuart Nickerson and Graham Eunson. “The Spirit Drink that dare not speak its name™” was the first product released to be made by the new management team and rapidly followed by the Octave cask and 250 Club private cask sales programme.
For further information, please contact:
Mhairi McDonald – Mhairi.Mcdonald@glenglassaugh.com – Tel: +44 (0) 1261 842367
