IRISH DISTILLERS AND MITCHELL & SON REUNITE THE SPOT FAMILY WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF BLUE SPOT

– Highly anticipated Blue Spot has been reimagined at cask strength, paying homage to the bonding tradition from which it was born

– Launch marks the reuniting of the original Spot whiskey family for first time since 1960s

Irish Distillers, maker of some of the world’s most enjoyed whiskeys, has once again joined forces with the Mitchell family to unveil its reimagined Blue Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey.

With the most recent existing record of Blue Spot dating back to 1964, the launch will signal the end of a 56-year wait among the global whiskey community for the re-introduction of Blue Spot, reuniting the historic Spot Family for the first time in over half a century.

The story of the legendary Spot Irish whiskey range began in the early 1900s when celebrated wine and spirits merchants, Mitchell & Son, began maturing whiskey from the local Jameson Distillery in Bow Street in their underground cellars in Dublin City Centre. Blue Spot takes its name from the blue daubs or ‘spots’ of paint that the Mitchells used to mark the barrels to signify that the whiskey in those casks were to be matured for a minimum of seven years.

Building on the foundation of bourbon and sherry casks, the reimagined Blue Spot includes whiskey aged in Madeira casks, inspired by the historical inventory of Mitchell & Son and typical of the Spot style of whiskey. The Midleton masters, in collaboration with the Mitchell family, were influenced by archive documents dating back to 1935 showing Madeira wine casks imported to Ireland which, once emptied, would have been used to mature whiskey.

The team at Irish Distillers’ Midleton Distillery have been sourcing Madeira wine seasoned casks for over 20 years. These casks are carefully handcrafted in a cooperage in the north of Portugal and then sent to the island of Madeira. Once seasoned, the casks are shipped back to Midleton and filled with pot still distillate and left to mature, allowing the Madeira wine influence to impart wonderful flavours of stewed apples, hazelnuts and sweet spices. These Madeira casks, along with ex-Bourbon and ex-sherry casks are then hand-selected and married together to achieve the perfect flavour balance. Bottled at cask strength, the result is a luxuriously rich and characterful whiskey.

Kevin O’Gorman, Master Distiller at Irish Distillers, comments: “It is with absolute pleasure that we reintroduce Blue Spot and bring a piece of Dublin’s rich whiskey history back to life. Over the years I have had the honour of collaborating with the Mitchell family, who for generations have celebrated the influence of fine wines on Irish whiskey, as we have reintroduced expressions to the beloved Spot range. I am incredibly proud to celebrate with Jonathan and Robert Mitchell on this historic day as Blue Spot takes its place alongside Green, Yellow and Red Spot, reuniting the whole family once again.”

Jonathan Mitchell, Managing Director at Mitchell & Son, continues: “It’s been a privilege to shed light on the history of whiskey bonding in Ireland and the role our family had to play in it as we relaunch Blue Spot. The inclusion of whiskey aged in Madeira casks adds flavours that would have been originally introduced into Irish whiskey by the Mitchell family. As the full Spot range comes back to life, we find ourselves bursting with pride for the role our family played in the creation of this treasured range of whiskeys.”

A non-chill filtered, cask strength release that will see ABV varying annually, Blue Spot is available from this month at the RRP of €80 in Ireland, UK, France, Canada, Northern Ireland and Global Travel Retail, and in the USA from February 2021.

Tasting notes:

Nose: A light mix of pineapple, kiwi, green banana and lime zest followed by Pot Still spices, baked apple, hazelnut and toasted wood.

Taste: A smooth mouthfeel with a subtle mix of fruit, a hint of clove oil and cracked black peppercorns. Sweet spices, vanilla and cinnamon add to the wood’s nutty contribution.

Finish: A lasting and distinctly palatable balance of exotic fruits and spices.

#BlueSpot   #SpotWhiskeys   #SpotFamilyReunited   #PaintedWithADifferentBrush

Follow us on Instagram: @GreenSpotIrishWhiskey

Notes  

About Blue Spot

Blue Spot was originally produced by the Mitchell family who commenced trading in 1805 at 10 Grafton Street in the heart of Dublin city as purveyors of fine wine and confectionery. Seven generations later, the company is still in the wine and spirits business under the stewardship of Jonathan Mitchell and his son Robert.

The Mitchell family expanded into the whiskey bonding business in the early 1900s,  whereby they sent empty wine and fortified wine casks via horse and cart to  the local Jameson Distillery which were then filled with new Pot Still spirit and  returned to the Mitchell’s maturation cellars. There, the whiskeys matured for many years under bond until they were ready to be bottled and sold.

About Irish Distillers

Irish Distillers is one of Ireland’s leading suppliers of spirits and wines, and producer of some of the world’s most well-known and successful Irish whiskeys. Led by Jameson, our brands are driving the global renaissance of Irish whiskey. Jameson is the world’s bestselling Irish whiskey, experiencing 30 years of consecutive growth and hitting sales of 8m cases in 2019. Our brands are exported to 130+ markets, with over 70 of those experiencing double or triple-digit growth.

Irish Distillers was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and Cork Distilleries Company. In 1988 Irish Distillers joined Pernod Ricard, gaining access to unprecedented levels of investment and an extensive global distribution network. Since 2012, we have invested over €400 million to double our production and bottling capacity to meet global demand for our products.

We employ over 600 people across our operations in Cork and Dublin.

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of €9,182 million in FY19. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard’s brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group’s decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of “Créateurs de Convivialité.” As reaffirmed by the Group’s three-year strategic plan, “Transform and Accelerate,” deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard’s strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics. As illustrated by the 2030 roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), “We bring good times from a good place.” In recognition of Pernod Ricard’s strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis and is ranked No. 1 in the beverage sector in Vigeo Eiris. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation’s Global Compact LEAD company.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

River Charity Toasts Whisky Donation

The conservation charity The River Dee Trust has raised a glass to one of its biggest single donations, as it forges ahead with one of the most ambitious nature restoration projects in the Cairngorms.

The Deeside Distillery in Banchory is donating its very last four casks of whisky spirit to the Trust. One of the world’s most renowned whisky writers, Charles Maclean, has described the potential of the Deeside spirit as “superlative” and “better than gold” as an investment. He admitted the young spirit was so good, he misidentified it as a fine, 18-year-old Speyside malt. The first of the casks will be auctioned at a special event next year.

Sandy Bremner, Chairman of The River Dee Trust, said: “We are extremely grateful for this donation. It’s a challenging time for all charities, and we have committed to planting a million native trees to help cool the river as it faces dangerously rising temperatures. This donation will help us continue our work to save our iconic wild salmon and restore the whole ecosystem.”

Of the four casks of spirit being donated to The River Dee Trust, three are 250-litre ex-Oloroso. The fourth is a 200-litre Virgin American Oak cask – the only one of its kind ever produced by the distillery.

Charles Maclean has been described as “Scotland’s leading whisky expert”. He was elected Keeper of the Quaich in 1992 for his “services to Scotch over many years” and granted the rare honour of being elected Master of the Quaich, the industry’s highest accolade.

After tasting the Deeside Distillery spirit which had been left to mature in an Oloroso cask for just three years, he said: “It’s terrific, I’m amazed, really astonished at the quality of the young spirit.” With a smile, he admitted that it was so good, it led him to make one of the biggest mistakes of his whisky-tasting career. He said: “Tasting it blind, I guessed it was 18-years-old. Embarrassing!”

Deeside Distillery manager Liam Pennycook said: “We are delighted to be able to help the Trust deliver its vital work. The Dee is a magical river which touches the lives of so many people. We want to help the river through the challenges ahead, to make sure it’s in the best possible shape for those who love it now, and for future generations.”

The four casks are made even rarer by the fact that only 100 of them will ever be produced by the Deeside Distillery. Liam said: “We are developing a new, bigger distillery at Hill of Banchory. Due to regulations, we can’t move its name to another site so this will become a “lost distillery”. In every sense, this will be very special whisky.”

The first of the four casks will be auctioned at a special dinner being organised by Maryculter House to raise funds for The River Dee Trust. It will be held on Friday, September 24 next year, subject to Covid restrictions. For further information about the dinner, please contact Maryculter House on 01224 732124.

Notes

1)            The River Dee Trust is a charitable organisation tasked with understanding the catchment and the factors that influence it, leading to practical works to restore the river for future generations and a community-based education programme for all ages.

2)            Angling in the River Dee generates some £15 million annually in revenues and supports an estimated 500 rural jobs.

3)            The Deeside Distillery has been a strong supporter of the River Dee Trust since 2017. It originally produced a Twin River Dee Gin, which helped raise £10k.

4)            Maryculter House is one of the most famous and historic hotels in Aberdeen located on the banks of the River Dee and overlooking the Golf Course of Peterculter. With a classic reputation for hospitality, from the building’s founding in 1227 by the Knights Templar, this location has been offering hospitality to travellers from far and wide for many years.

River Dee Trust
River Office
Mill of Dinnet
Aboyne
Aberdeenshire AB34 5LA

www.riverdee.org

$50,000 EAGLE RARE LIFE AWARD NOMINATIONS OPEN

Charitable program offers reward to individuals who Reach Higher

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (Nov. 10, 2020) – Nominations are open for the 2021 Eagle Rare Life Award, the $50,000 annual recognition and charitable donation for an individual who, like the award’s namesake bourbon, finds ways to Reach Higher in fulfilling their American Dream. Individuals wishing to nominate someone can do so on the brand’s website at eaglerarelife.com/nominate until nominations close at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Dec. 10, 2020.

Now in its 11^th year, the Eagle Rare Life Award honors individuals whose efforts stand out as those who live a Rare Life and Reach Higher to achieve levels of excellence for themselves and their communities. Past winners include individuals who spearheaded efforts to fight childhood cancer, recognize fallen heroes of military service, lead environmental projects and create opportunities for those with disabilities. The individual or individuals are honored with the award while a $50,000 donation is made to the charity of their choice by Eagle Rare Bourbon.

The 2020 Eagle Rare Life Award winners, Captain Daniel Andrews and Captain Chris Wittman, run Captains for Clean Water, an organization focused on uniting Florida communities to protect local waterways.

Nominations will be accepted from November 10 through December 10, 2020. Unlike previous versions of the program, this year’s process will not include public voting. The winner will be chosen by a team of non-partisan stakeholders and announced in January 2021.  The winner will be recognized on EagleRare.com and through the brand’s social channels.

About Eagle Rare Bourbon

Eagle Rare Bourbon Whiskey is part of the award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery, an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, (Franklin County), Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich distilling tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Eagle Rare Bourbon is a 10-year-old bourbon that has won multiple awards, including five double gold medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For more information on the Rare Life Award or Eagle Rare Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, visit https://eaglerarelife.com

SPECIAL LIVE TASTING

On Saturday 28th November from 8pm GMT, Gordon Dundas, International Brand Ambassador, and Malt Master John Glass will be coming to you live from Facebook and YouTube for a special virtual tasting – with three places available for you to be one of our panel guests on the night.

THREE EXCEPTIONAL WHISKIES

Tasting kits are available to purchase ahead of the event, allowing you to participate in debating the drams from the comfort of your home.

Priced at £30.00, the tasting kit contains 5cl drams of The Legacy Series: Chapter Two, 18 Year Old,  Cask Strength, Batch 008 and Glengoyne Glencairn glass. Buy now for delivery in time for the Live Tasting.

BUY NOW

Glengoyne Distillery, Dumgoyne, Near Killearn, Glasgow G63 9LB
Tel. +44 (0)1360 550 254

Email: reception@glengoyne.com

TyndrumWhisky.com

Pre Order

Ledaig Sinclair

Inspired by the founder of Tobermory Distillery, John Sinclair, the Sinclair Series celebrates the heritage and creative approach to distilling. This first expression from the series sees the smoky Ledaig signature expression finished in hand selected Rioja casks in honour of the Spanish treasure buried deep off the shoreline.

PRE ORDER NOW >

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 350: Mortlach 12 Year Old 2007 Carn Mor

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, was able to able to taste this Mortlach from Morrison & Mackay in their Carn Mor Strictly Limited series thanks to his buddy Manny. It’s a vatting of two very active sherry casks, that yielded some 700 bottles, albeit at 47.5%, which Mark does not believe to be cask strength. It was not love at first sight, but eventually the malt grew on him.

https://youtu.be/j8bBcR-U9X8

Glenmorangie brings sun-kissed Spanish sweetness to a unique small-batch whisky

— Rich and indulgent limited edition is finished in rare Malaga wine casks —

Indulgently sweet and rich, Glenmorangie’s latest small-batch Highland single malt Scotch whisky brings the sun-kissed flavours of the south of Spain to whisky lovers old and new.
Enriched by the honeyed intensity of famed Malaga wine casks, 12-year-old limited edition Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish brims with chocolate, fruit and gentle spice.

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers have been on a ceaseless quest to create delicious single malt whiskies for more than 175 years. In Scotland’s tallest stills, whose necks are as high as a giraffe, they distil a more delicate spirit, ripe for experimentation. And captivated by the sweet, fortified wines made in the area surrounding southern Spain’s ancient city of Malaga, Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Whisky Creation, began to dream of the luscious tastes their casks might bring Glenmorangie.

Malaga wine casks are almost never used in Scotch whisky. But fascinated to lace Glenmorangie’s delicate creaminess with their intense sweetness, Dr Bill sourced a rare handful of first-fill Malaga ‘dulce’ casks (which once contained wines at the sweeter end of Malaga’s range). Then, in a unique experiment, he filled them with an eight-year-old whisky wonderfully softened by bourbon casks and left it to mellow in their depths.

After four years of finishing, Dr Bill was astonished by the whisky’s extraordinarily rich flavours, which wrap spice, raisins and dates around Glenmorangie’s vibrant citrus notes. And in July 2020, he hand-selected the very best of these casks to be bottled for the Distillery’s Barrel Select Release, which will be available from selected retailers.

Dr Bill said: “The honeyed aromas and fruity, chocolatey tastes of Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish take me straight to the sun-kissed south of Spain, where Malaga’s famed fortified wines are made. By finishing our soft, creamy whisky in Malaga ‘dulce’ casks, we’ve created an indulgently sweet and rich small-batch single malt. Our Barrel Select Release is delicious treat for whisky lovers old and new.”

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish is available now from Clos19 and selected whisky specialists, RRP: £75.

https://www.glenmorangie.com/

Follow Glenmorangie on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Glenmorangie

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheGlenmorangie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glenmorangiecom

NOTES  

Tasting Notes:

Glenmorangie Malaga Cask Finish is bottled at 47.3% ABV.

Colour: Chestnut

Nose: Sweet and rich, with honey, mead, toffee, baking bread and a hint of fragrant tea leaves. There is a subtle, perfumed top note, like stewed herbs and red fruits, and the suggestion of milk chocolate or cocoa powder. A few drops of water release more fragrance, like wood incense, roasting chestnuts and hints of muscovado sugar.

Taste: A rich, oily texture leads to an explosion of flavours – sultanas, raisins, dates, tangy mandarin orange, milk chocolate, honey and more brown sugar. There is always a vibrancy from the citrus, but it is harmoniously woven with the rich, sweet, syrupy flavours. Spices then emerge, like cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and sweet star anise.

Finish:  Long, mellow and nutty, with hints of hazelnut, honey and gentle oak.

RRP: £75 

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie’s Highland whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. Known as the Distillers of Tain, they’ve been honing their craft for more than 175 years. In Scotland’s tallest stills, whose necks are as high as a giraffe, they produce a delicate and fruity spirit, ripe for experimentation. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this crackerjack crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

About Dr Bill Lumsden:

Dr Bill Lumsden’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And throughout his 25 years with Glenmorangie, he has challenged himself and his team to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that a cup of coffee (Glenmorangie Signet), a long balmy day in Madeira (Glenmorangie Bacalta), a beautiful barley field by the Distillery (Glenmorangie Allta) and more. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of experience, Dr Bill has all the skills needed to bring these ideas to life. Already, he has earned the admiration of his peers many times over. For instance, he is a new entry in the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame. He has won the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year more times than anyone else. And he has been named Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge twice.

About Malaga wines:

Named after the historic city of Malaga (founded in the 12^th Century BCE) Malaga is a denominated Spanish wine zone, renowned for its sweet, fortified wines. Pedro Ximénez and Moscatel are the main varieties of grape grown, with wines made in a variety of ways. A number of different types of wine are produced in the region, classed from dry to sweet (‘dulce’). Dr Bill Lumsden sourced ‘dulce’ wine casks for this small batch release.

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

SAZERAC COMPANY NAMED AMERICAN WHISKEY PRODUCER OF THE YEAR BY 2020 INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE 

            Louisville, Ky (Nov. 11, 2020) –The Sazerac Company was named the American Whiskey Producer of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2020.

            The ISC awards its Producer of the Year titles to the best performing drink producers in the competition by scoring the achievement of all brands entered into a single category. The Sazerac Company claimed the American Whiskey title with 26 of its whiskies earning medals.

Of those medals, Sazerac whiskies received two Double Gold medals, 19 Gold medals and five Silver medals. Sazerac medal recipients include bourbon and rye whiskies, Irish whiskies and Canadian whiskies.

All spirits entered into the ISC are subjected to intense blind tastings conducted by panels of more than 50 respected and experienced industry professionals. Each judge assesses the products according to age, region and variety, which is determined by the entrant and verified by the chairman.

Results from the 2020 International Spirits Challenge can be found at https://www.internationalspiritschallenge.com/2020/en/page/2020-results.

About Sazerac

Sazerac is one of America’s oldest family owned, privately held distillers with operations in the United States in Louisiana, Kentucky, Indiana, Virginia, Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Maryland, California, and global operations in the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, India, Australia and Canada. For more information on Sazerac visit https://www.sazerac.com/.

Gift the whisky lover in your life with our first 2021 W.O.W Them At Home experience on January 14th! As a special patron of Whiskies of The World, we’re offering early bird pricing of $75, valid till 11/16. Prices to increase to $85.

By purchasing a ticket, attendees will receive at no additional cost, 10 free samples of curated sips in a souvenir box, a branded nosing glass, tasting notes and more direct to your door!

FREE SAMPLES INCLUDE

BUY NOW

For more details and upcoming W.O.W. Them at Home dates,
visit whiskiesoftheworld.com/wow-them-at-home/

Price valid until 11/1. After 11/1,  price increases to $75.
* Not available in the following markets: AL, AK, AR, DE, HI, IA, ID, MD (Montgomery County only),

 ME, MI, MN, MS, MT, NH, NC, OH, OR, PA, UT, VT, VA, WV, WY 

We’re feeling extra generous this month as we enter the season of giving, so while we eagerly await the next Outturn drop, we’re bringing you a sneak peak of six new bottlings to keep you going.  These bottles are available in limited amounts now, ahead of our big Outturn release. Grab one now to be sure you don’t miss out.

READ THE OUTTURN     ALL OUTTURN WHISKIES

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video