Welcome to WhiskyIntelligence.com where we'll be gathering information on the whisky industry and scotch whisky news in the form of press releases, newsletters, events, tasting notes and comments.
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Welcome to this weeks episode of the show. To keep you entertained during the lock down I’m reviewing a number of bottlings from the independent bottling company Hannah Whisky Merchants under their Lady of the Glen label.
“UMIKI – Ocean Fused Whisky From The Heart of Japanese Pine” by Yoshino Spirits Co.
Osaka, JAPAN, 20th March 2020– Yoshino Spirits Co. has added UMIKI Whisky – “World’s First Ocean Fused Whisky” to its portfolio, initially available in North American, Asian markets in April and rest global markets after May and onwards.
The ocean is known as the source of life and the ever-green pine tree is known as the symbol of life in Japan.
To honor the life-giving ocean and the long-living pine tree that graces the coasts of Japan, filtered desalinated ocean-water from depths of Pacific ocean is blended with Japanese ocean-side distilled malt whiskies and grain whiskies in reserve after the curation is finished in Japanese Pine barrels.
This unique production process gives UMIKI its name; whereby UMI means OCEAN and KI means TREE in Japanese.
UMIKI is “World’s first Japanese Pine barrel aged whisky” and “World’s first ocean water fused whisky that uses only renewable water source for blending”
This sustainable process brings an exceptional smoothness with sea-breeze on the nose, rounded floral taste on the palate and a soothing freshness in the finish to UMIKI.
UMIKI has already picked up awards, winning Double Gold Awarded from China Wine & Spirits Awards 2020 and Gold Medal from World Spirits Award 2020.
For more information please visit www.umikiwhisky.com
About Yoshino Spirits Co.
Yoshino is a private company based in Osaka, exporting finest Japanese whisky, wine and spirits to the world. For more information please visit www.yoshinospirits.com
John Distilleries Manufactures Hand Sanitizers to Combat COVID -19
India’s leading alco-bev establishment – John Distilleries Pvt Ltd announces the production of hand sanitizers at its distilleries in Bangalore, Davanagere and Goa. These supplies will be donated to healthcare institutions in India to help overcome the shortage of hand sanitisers due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
John Distilleries is joining hands with the Government to combat the shortage of hand sanitizers by using the extra neutral alcohol (ENA) at its facilities to manufacture Alcohol Based sanitizers.
‘The demand for sanitisers especially in healthcare institutions is growing rapidly, and we would like to provide our facilities and services to assist the Government in overcoming this short supply. During these critical times, we believe it is our duty to do what we can to help authorities fight this pandemic successfully,’ said Paul P John, Chairman- John Distilleries Pvt. Ltd.
While John Distilleries is taking on this social responsibility in India, The Sazerac Company, North America’s largest producer of distilled spirits and investor in John Distilleries, is taking on massive production of hand sanitisers to combat demand across America. John Distilleries still recommends that washing your hands exhaustively with soap and water is the best way to clean hands. Hand sanitizers are suitable in the absence of water.
About John Distilleries
Established in 1996, John Distilleries grew to be a leading spirit company in less than a decade, not just in India but across the globe. With a dedicated team of nearly 2000 employees working across 10 manufacturing units spread over 7 states across India, John Distilleries has a strong portfolio of brands in various liquor categories including the globally renowned Paul John Single Malts. For more details, please contact publicrelations@jdl.in
Get ready, we’re bringing Smokehead to you.
For the next few weeks we’ll be hosting a variety of Instagram live events including tastings, boilermakers, cocktail making sessions, food, music, interviews with fellow Smokeheads, giveaways and other cool Smokehead stuff.
Grab a bottle and tune into our first Instagram live on Sunday 12th at 5pm with our brand ambassador Mikey Sim and custom Ducati aficionado, Tyler Lunceford. We’ll be talking the Original Smokehead, and maybe getting a bit sidetracked.
If you need a refill, head over to Smokehead.com, and we will do our best to get a bottle to you before we go live.
During this challenging time, £1 from the sale of each bottle purchased from www.smokehead.com will be donated to Drinks Trust to support their mission of providing care and support to our hospitality colleagues.
Stay safe, stay indoors, Smokeheads
We’ve got some legendary bottles of single malt, grain and blended Scotch whisky. Here is a choice selection of the last few bottles of these remaining lines including Ardbeg, Clynelish and Imperial.
Shop – Collectable Scotch Whisky
Closed Distillery Series, Part 2. This week we’re looking at a Speyside with a name change and a Highland who should really still be around. Caperdonich: Oroginally called Glen Grant No.2, they used to send the distillate over the road to GG1 via an over-road pipe, that only lasted for five years. Reopened in 1965 and named Caperdonich, the distillery was eventually demolished in 2010. Glenury Royal: Founded by a man who was the first to walk one thousand miles in one thousand hours…you hope his whisky is better than his achievements. Founded in 1825 and closing in 1983, Glenury went under radar for a long time, it’s now a highly sort after bottling with a high value price tag.
Canadian craft distillery wins World’s Best
and Canadian Best at World Whiskies Awards
Saanich BC, Canada, March 27, 2020: Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery’s peated single malt whisky new-make has been named Worlds Best Whisky New Make at the 2020 World Whiskies Awards, UK (http://www.worldwhiskiesawards.com/). These prestigious annual awards are the most competitive, attracting top international whisky brands. The Vancouver Island based distillery claimed several top WWA’s including:
This Scottish influenced distillery & brewery uses traditional distillation techniques, copper potstills, and BC-grown barley to make surprisingly smooth, and remarkably fruity and complex single malts.
Dr. Graeme Macaloney, President & Whiskymaker said of the awards: “It’s a truly amazing accomplishment for our young distillery. There are some really fantastic distilleries, years and decades older, with more mature whiskies who regularly compete for these awards. These awards are a testament to our world class expertise including the late-great Dr. Jim Swan, ex-DIAGEO Master Distiller Mr. Mike Nicolson, and the rest of our team who focus on quality every day.”
The Best in World New-Make has since been matured into Macaloney’s Peated Mac na Braiche, the first ever peated single malt whisky in Canada to be peat-smoked at the distillery using Canadian barley and local peat in a combined soaker-smoker. It is available at top liquor stores, the distillery Visitor Centre, and online via the distillery’s website.
The other Gold and Bronze medal whiskies will be part of Macaloney’s ‘inaugural whisky launch’ being planned for the near future. Pre-orders for these limited release, numbered bottles may be made by contacting the distillery shop on a first-come basis.
About us: Macaloney’s Caledonian Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery is a destination craft distillery & brewery funded by Canadian single malt whisky & beer enthusiasts from coast-to-coast via an on-going Frontfundr equity crowdfunding campaign. The Visitor Centre gift store is open 7 days per week and under normal circumstances offers kilt-clad guided tours & tutored tastings.
Contact:
For media or trade enquiries:
Graeme@MacaloneyDistillers.com
To reserve inaugural whiskies or for private cask:
For online ordering of current whiskies:
htps://victoriacaledonian.com/product-category/whisky/
For equity crowdfunding:
https://www.frontfundr.com/Company/caledonian-brewery-distillery
Favourite Whisky Returns to Boost Spirits
Available April 23rd
There is nothing more reassuring in any down time than to see an old favourite back on the shelf. Originally known as chapter 7, and these days quite a bit older and far more refined, the Small Batch Rum Cask single malt whisky from The English Whisky Co. has been lovingly created by the team to keep you company in these trying times.
Bottled by the expert team at The English Whisky Co.; The Rum Cask release is available in two options: 156 bottles of 59.9% Single cask, cask strength (RRP £75) and 300 bottles at 46% strength Small Batch rum cask whisky. (RRP £47.50).
The English Rum Cask single malts have arrived just in time to toast St George’s Day on 23rd April.
Distilled in March 2014 and produced in rum casks, The English Rum Cask whiskies are sweet, soft and slightly spicy on the nose, with a mixture of vanilla and rum and raisin ice cream. They are fresh and citrusy with notes of tropical fruits, oaky and slightly nutty with a hint of marzipan.
On the palate the rum cask is soft, oily and spicy, again with citrus notes. The spice is slightly peppery with a hint of raisins, malty with fresh oak and salty and dry on the finish.
“We are very pleased to be able to reintroduce The English Rum Cask editions, which are a huge favourite and remind me of rum and raisin ice cream!” explains Andrew Nelstrop, managing director at The English Whisky Co. “At times like these, it’s nice to be able to do something positive and give whisky fans something to enjoy whilst spending more time at home. We’ve also launched them just in time for us to all raise a glass to St George on 23rd April,” he adds.
A family-owned and run business, The English Whisky Co. was the founder of English whisky when it opened its doors 14 years ago. As the industry leader it uses locally sourced ingredients to produces the finest English Single Malt at its distillery in Norfolk.
The English Cask Strength Rum Cask and 46% strength small batch rum cask are available to order online from www.englishwhisky.co.uk,
PHILANTHROPIC COMMITMENTS, HAND SANITIZER PRODUCTION
BARDSTOWN, Ky. – Heaven Hill Brands announced today the commitment of financial and physical resources against COVID-19 in recognition of the need of employees, the communities in which they work and live, and the greater hospitality community.
“With facilities in the United States, Canada and Ireland, and as a family owned and operated company for 85 years, Heaven Hill has a long history of supporting our employees and their families. As part of our long-term core mission, we also take great pride in our local communities and at a time like this want to provide assistance to those in need,” said Max L. Shapira, President, Heaven Hill Brands. “We particularly share a sense of community with those affected in the hospitality industry. As a result, our sales teams are championing that effort at the local level in partnership with organizations that support our hospitality family.”
Philanthropic Commitments:
Heaven Hill Brands is pledging $400,000 across two main priorities – employee communities and hospitality professionals. Recognizing the effect of coronavirus on so many individuals, Heaven Hill will distribute donations across the following community partner funds:
In support of the hospitality professionals that partner with Heaven Hill day-to-day to support business, Heaven Hill will contribute donations directly to local market charitable organizations. The Heaven Hill sales team will mobilize efforts across their local communities to assist local non-profits directly supporting industry professionals and their families.
Hand Sanitizer Commitment:
In addition, Heaven Hill is committing parts of operations to the production, bottling and distribution of hand sanitizer. These efforts will support healthcare facilities, first responders, and high-risk populations in cooperation with local and state government. Production of hand sanitizer will shortly be underway at the following facilities:
Social distancing and sanitization protocols have been implemented to ensure employees are protected while assembling a critical product to combat the spread of coronavirus. All hand sanitizer formulas follow the approved Federal Drug Administration guidelines.
ABOUT HEAVEN HILL BRANDS: Founded in 1935, Bardstown, KY -based Heaven Hill Brands (www.heavenhill.com) is the nation’s largest independent, family-owned and operated spirits producer and marketer and the world’s second-largest holder of Kentucky Bourbon. Heaven Hill’s diversified portfolio of brands includes Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Henry McKenna Bourbons; Rittenhouse Rye Whisky; Deep Eddy and Burnett’s Vodkas; Admiral Nelson’s and Blackheart Rums; Black Velvet Canadian Whisky; Lunazul Tequila; The Christian Brothers Brandies; HPNOTIQ Liqueur; Carolans Irish Cream Liqueur; PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur; Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur.
1991 vintage single cask bottled for the the Signatory Vintage 30th Anniversary series. Highland Park 27 Year Old 1991 vintage Island single malt Scotch whisky. Single cask Palo Cortado sherry butt #15086 bottled June 2018 for the Signatory Vintage 30th Anniversary series. 545 bottles.
Highland Park Distillery is the most northerly malt whiskey distillery in Scotland and thus the closest Scottish distillery to the Arctic Circle. Highland Park was established on the periphery of Kirkwall in the Mainland of Orkney in 1825-26 by Robert Borwick, a merchant and straw plaiter in Kirkwall, and John Robertson who owned the land previously known as Rosebank but by 1825 known as Highland Park. Whisky had been distilled illicitly in the vicinity of the Parks of Rosebank by Magnus Eunson least as far back as 1798. Highland Park 12 Year Old, 18 Year Old and 21 Year Old are popular releases.
