What is a limited edition? Well, at Highland Park it is an unusual or interesting whisky, differentiated by its packaging, numbered usually in hundreds rather than thousands and offered to whisky enthusiasts around the world.

For example, The Ambassador’s Cask was a series of five single cask bottlings at natural strength which ran from 2005 to 2008, beginning with 270 bottles of cask #43. The fifth and last Ambassador’s Cask was released in December 2008 and comprised 228 bottles of cask #8845, a refill sherry hogshead, distilled in 1974. The entire series is sold out bar the last few bottles of the final bottling.

Also, in 2008, to commemorate the first 180 years of The Spectator magazine, a limited edition of 180 bottles of Highland Park 30 year old was created. Highland Park was established 30 years before The Spectator so it made sense that the anniversary bottling should be a 30 year old, the age of the distillery when the magazine was launched. This limited edition has now sold out. Even I haven’t got one…

Then, earlier this year, we released the 1977 Repatriation bottling. The existence of a forgotten cache of 694 bottles of the Bicentenary 1977 Vintage came to light in Japan and it was decided to ‘repatriate’ the whisky, to celebrate its extended Japanese sabbatical. The Repatriation bottling was packaged as a coming together of Japanese and Orcadian culture: it is presented in a bespoke oak box the embellishment of which follows classic Japanese graphic form; the front of the box features an outline of Japan as well as 1977 depicted in Japanese characters; the use of red as an extra colour is typically Japanese. It is selling quickly but there are still some bottles of this highly regarded whisky available, but you know it will be gone soon.

Finally, we recently released a new natural strength 12 year old whisky called Hjarta, named after the old Norse word for ‘heart’. Limited to approximately 3,900 bottles, Hjarta is only available at the distillery, in our on-line shop and in Scandinavia this Autumn.

For more information about the Best Spirit in the World, or to buy one of these great limited editions, visit www.highlandpark.co.uk
 
 

Gerry
Head of Brand Education, Highland Park

Find me on Facebook at Highland Park Whisky or follow me on Twitter; www.twitter.com/bestspirit

Compiled by Sue

Welcome to the “irregular” Newsletter of Bladnoch Distillery. You’ll realise as you progress through it that Bladnoch is not just about whisky – it’s about Bladnoch…the whisky…the place…the people…the craic…..

 If you would like copies of earlier issues please contact Sue on bladnoch@talktalk.net

THE 2009 RAFT RACE

Regular readers will appreciate just how important this event is in the local calendar. The annual Wigtown Community Week Raft Race begins on the riverbank in the Distillery Gardens. Sundry farm vehicles appear in the car-park, driven by exotic creatures with even more exotic rafts in tow. (There’s also a fancy dress element to the race) After the registration and raft judging – up to twenty vessels are launched into the River Bladnoch – hopefully as the tide is turning and flowing downstream – though this hasn’t always been the case. Those that actually float make their way to the start – just under the Bladnoch Bridge and await the starting pistol- which was actually a horn this year! And away they go, making their way about a mile and a half downstream to Wigtown Harbour where they can look forward to ploughing their way through banks of delightfully slimy mud as they extract themselves and their craft from the river.

Winners and losers can be found celebrating and commiserating in the Bladnoch Inn in the hours following the finish while the Bladnoch team enjoy a very sophisticated BBQ on the Distillery Lawn.

I know you’re thinking “She hasn’t mentioned the Bladnoch Raft!” Well, I was saving the best until last. The “Silver Surfers” finished in our best time ever – around 45 minutes though we never did discover our position – and even overtook a number of rafts on the way downstream. This year’s design was much more streamlined – as were the crew.

Quote of the day from the youngest team member, Claire, “ I saved the day!”

 BLADNOCH WEBSITE & ONLINE SHOP

Our website changes are still ongoing…. Checkout the latest photo albums by following the “Photos” tab and we also have a section dedicated to our growing band of Miniature collectors. The webshop continues to be a great success in the UK and beyond. Just think – your favourite Bladnoch and Raymond’s exciting Forum Offers at the click of a button. WATCH OUT FOR THE 2009 CHRISTMAS BOTTLING 70cl & 5cl MINI

Log on to www.bladnoch.co.uk and click on the photo of “the girls”  to enter the shop. For those of you who still prefer the more personal contact of a phone call ring 01988 402605 and ask for Yolanda.

BLADNOCH FORUM

The Forum membership continues to grow and grow with over 1500 members. I’m sure the regular offers of alternative bottlings at remarkable prices are a great draw. Our latest offers have included Caol Ila, Longmorn, Glen Grant and even a Bladnoch.

If you haven’t already signed up go to www.bladnoch.co.uk and click on the “FORUM” tab to register. A further advantage is that you will get a 10% discount on any bottle purchased from the on-line distillery shop.

BLADNOCH FOLK & BLUES FESTIVAL – August 28th – 30th 

Founded three years ago by a group of over-enthusiastic musicians, the Bladnoch Folk & Blues Festival continues to go from strength to strength.
The festival takes place in and around Bladnoch Distillery and this means that our festival can never ‘get too big for its boots’ – we have a more intimate venue, we don’t cater for tens of thousands and you don’t have to queue for hours to use a port-a-loo!

In our first few years we have had names such as Martin Taylor, Allison Burns, Michael Marra, The Paul McKenna Band and many more. Our busking competition is now the stuff of legend – last year it was too wet to be held outside and people had to busk in the ever helpful Grapes Inn, Wigtown…

On our first year, we were voted the No. 1 gig in Scotland in the Sunday Times

It is, we hope, a friendly festival, and a family oriented festival. This year we have things for the kids to do such as a climbing wall and a music workshop where the children make their own instruments out of junk!
We hope we can continue the festival in future years, but to do that we need your help! So if you like great music, please come along to the 2009 Festival!

This year’s attractions include Skerryvore, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Blabbermouth, Connie Lush, Bellevue Rendezvous,Kings of Cheeze, The Fortune Sons, Adrian Byron Burns…..and more !!

www.bladnochfestival.co.uk

NEWS FROM THE BOOK FESTIVAL – Share a dram with us this autumn

As part of Scotland’s Homecoming 2009 celebrations, this autumn we’ll be hosting a unique festival-within-a-festival celebrating the connections between whisky and writing. With music, tastings and some of the world’s top whisky experts – including Charlie MacLean, Gavin Smith, Ian Buxton and Robin Laing and Dave Broom – it will appeal to anyone who has ever curled up with a book and a dram. Watch this space for further details. To register for the whisky email newsletter contact  mail@wigtownbookfestival.com.

STAFF PROFILE – Sammy
Sammy is the newest, and youngest, member of the Bladnoch Team.

Born in the Far East – Middlesborough – she moved to the Machars with her family when she was only eight years old. I guess she must be used to our Wigtown Ways by now.

Her time is spent in the office supporting Hazel in the day-to-day administration of the Distillery.Her computer skills have already proved very valuable.

When not at work Sammy spends her time at the gym, walking, socialising and Bebo Browsing.

Welcome to Bladnoch Sammy!

RAYMOND’S THOUGHTS FROM THE DRAMMING ROOM – the fisherman’s tale

Just back from a pleasant evening’s sea fishing at the Isle of Whithorn. I don’t know whether any of you know what it’s like to go fishing with little hope of catching anything. It’s maybe the gaudy copper lures and feathers I use, purchased as bargain offers from Lidl. Oh the embarrassment of it all. Maybe they’re just kid’s playthings and not intended for use by serious fishermen. I choose a heavy lure that looks like a big fish, other fishermen standing on the rocks nearby might think I’ve managed to catch something big when I’m reeling it in. I’m embarrassed as they offer advice, “You’ll not catch much with that, pal.” Should I lie? I reply, “Managed to get a few mackerel last night” Even one huge seagull sitting on a nearby rock appears to be regarding me with scorn.

After a very short time in which I manage to lose quite a few lures my patience ebbs and I give up in disgust. I suggest to Florence that she carries my fishing gear back to the car, so that I can walk ahead and not be quizzed by passers-by, “Any Luck?” But being brought up as a good Presbyterian she would have none of this minor deception.
Back at the harbour car-park, I’m spotted by someone I know, “Don’t worry”, he says, “I can never catch anything either, except mackerel”. Everyone can catch mackerel except me. But the craic sitting in the evening sun by the harbour is good. We take pleasure in asking other unsuccessful anglers if they’ve had any luck. If they say no, I enquire, “Not even mackerel?” and they look sheepish, which is my cue for further banter.
A small rubber boat comes in followed by a flock of noisy seagulls, the men are obviously gutting and filleting fish. …. Saved …. one of them knows me and offers me half a dozen freshly filleted fish, so I’m back at Bladnoch and they are about to go into the pan for supper………

To our many friends all over the world we would like to say “Thank You” for your continued support of The Spirit of the Lowlands

BLADNOCH DISTILLERY

BLADNOCH

WIGTOWN    DG8 9AB
01988 402605

www.bladnoch.co.uk

bladnoch@talktalk.net

PC8 Wins By a Royal Mile

PC8 wins the ‘Spirit of Whisky Fringe’ award.  

The annual Whisky Fringe tasting, organised by Royal Mile Whiskies, took place last weekend at the old church of Mansfield Traquair during the Edinburgh Festival.
 
Around 200 whiskies were available for tasting by members of the public and all visitors were given the chance to vote for their favourite spirit tasted over the weekend. 

PC8, heavily peated Bruichladdich to the tune of 40 ppm’s worth, was voted by the general public as the Spirit of Whisky Fringe 2009, and awarded the trophy.

Bruichladdich has been well received by Edinburgh’s whisky fans. In the last three years it has won this trophy twice and came second once.

This achievement was all the more impressive as this 8 year old whisky was up against contenders that were considerably older, in some cases four times the age.

PC8 is the fourth and final release in the dramatic 6 tin image series. The picture tins, having featured the distiller, his team, Islay people, now showcase Islay’s heritage.

“Ar Duthchas”, land of our fathers, portrays landmarks from Islay’s remote Rhinns peninsula, celebrating Mans’ long presence, the tangible heritage, of this special isle.

PC8, bottled on islay at 60.5%  should be compared to previous bottlings PC5, PC6 and PC7 that were rated at 95, 96 and 96.5 in the 2009 Whisky Bible by Jim Murray.

Notes for Editors
High Resolution Image & Info: http://web.me.com/markreynier/PC8_Port_Charlotte

UK distribution: Blavod, 202 Fulham Road, London SW10 9PJ  – contact: rambler@blavodextreme.com 
To Order: Phyllis Taylor 0207 3522096 
Exports: Andrew Gray andrew@bruichladdich.com

2,500 cases 12/1 available worldwide Bottled at 60.5% alc.vol

PC = Port Charlotte Islay Single Malt distilled at Bruichladdich Distillery in 2001 from barley peated to 40ppm

NEWS RELEASE
WHISKYCAST FEATURED IN ITUNES MUSIC STORE®

August 21, 2009

Haddonfield, New Jersey – WhiskyCast, the cask-strength podcast focusing on whisky news and interviews from around the world, is one of the featured podcasts this week in Apple’s iTunes Music Store ® .  It is one of 16 drinks podcasts showcased in the “Wine, Beer, Mixology” section of the store’s main podcast page.

“WhiskyCast has routinely been featured in the food and drink section of the iTunes Music Store’s® podcast directory for a couple of years now, and this is the second time it’s appeared on the main podcast page,” said WhiskyCast host and creator Mark Gillespie. “Nearly two out of three WhiskyCast listeners uses iTunes® to download each week’s episode, and this is a great opportunity to attract more whisky lovers.” The show’s audience has been growing as whisky connoisseurs and those just beginning their exploration of whisky have discovered WhiskyCast, and the show now averages more than 28,000 downloads each month.

WhiskyCast is the longest-running whisky podcast on the Internet, with 213 episodes since its debut in November, 2005. The show’s guests have included master distillers from around the world, with coverage of Scotch whiskies, Bourbons, Canadian whiskies, and whiskies from Japan, Australia and other countries. The show’s web site, www.whiskycast.com, features a global calendar of whisky events, links to whisky resources, and a complete archive of past episodes.

WhiskyCast’s sponsors are Laphroaig® Single Malt Scotch Whisky and New York’s Park Avenue Liquor Shop, which will begin offering listeners an exclusive whisky special each week beginning in September. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information:
Christina Philburn
1-856-558-1501 or christina@whiskycast.com
iTunes Music Store is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc.

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/