The Good Dram Show – Episode 344 ‘Glenallachie’ – Scotch Whisky News
January 10th, 2020
Welcome to the first episode of the show for 2020. This week I’ll be looking at the GlenAllachie distillery range.
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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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR THE WORLD’S FIRST LIVE ONLINE WHISKY AUCTION DEDICATED TO CASKS – Scotch Whisky News
January 9th, 2020
LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER FOR THE WORLD’S FIRST LIVE ONLINE WHISKY AUCTION DEDICATED TO CASKS
Cask Trade is to host the world’s first, live, online only auction dedicated to casks of whisky later this month but the the last chance for people to enter casks in the auction is fast approaching on Friday 10th January.
Sales of whisky have raised record-breaking amounts, most recently £7.6M was raised at a Sotheby’s auction in London including several casks and an auction in Hong Kong in November raised £441,000 for a Cask of Macallan 1989.
World First
In an historic, world first, Cask Trade will host the first ever live, online auction for casks on 22nd January 2020.
Auctionyourcask.com will allow private owners and investors to sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world.
A passionate whisky collector for more than 20 years, Cask Trade’s owner Simon Aron, suffered many false promises from whisky investment companies and this drove his ambition to create a real and trustworthy market place for whisky collectors and investors, and bottlers.
“It’s a really exciting time for whisky sales as the recent Sotheby’s auction proved. I was in the room and the excitement was palpable and marked a historic moment for the spirits market. With the launch of auctionyourcask.com we offer a fresh approach to selling whisky by the cask, not just the bottle,” says Simon.
Whisky Price Growth
A mixed portfolio investment of 14 whisky casks purchased for £100,000 would appreciate at an estimated average increase of 13-18% a year (over 4-6 years), generating a target gross return of more than £214,000, an increase of approximately 114%.
Whisky, according to the recent Knight Frank Wealth Report, is 2019’s top performing luxury investment. With an increase of 40% on rare bottle values in the last 12 months, it far outstripped the more established alternative assets such as art, wine and cars.
auctionyourcask.com
The first auction on 22nd January will run until 2nd February (ending 8pm GMT) and feature approximately 24 casks including: Glen Ord barrel April 2015 estimated £2,000-£3,000; Glenrothes sherry hogshead 2009 estimated £9,000-£11,000; Bruichladdich 2007 in a first fill ex-Chateau Margaux barrique estimated £29,000-£33,000 and Springbank 1995 sherry hogshead estimated £40,000-£50,000.
Those looking to register their interest in the auction should visit www.auctionyourcask.com – the deadline for entry is 10th January 2020.
Two tastings of cask-strength whisky will be held for those who register their interest in the auction. The tastings will take place at Cask Trade’s offices on Regent Street on 15th January at 12noon until 2pm and 5.30pm until 8pm. Tickets for both tastings can be purchased from www.auctionyourcask.com/news-and-events (£10/ticket). However if you can’t make the date, a limited supply of samples will be available online after the tasting.
All casks will need to have had a recent re-gauge ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity, wherever possible, to try the whisky before they buy. Cask Trade validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee Cask Trade can offer bidders the actual hammer price. Their low buyers’ fee of 15% + VAT will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.
Cask Trade, the company behind of auctionyourcask.com, buys and sells exceptional cask whiskies. The company is unique because it only sells casks it owns outright, and it only sells whole casks: it is not a whisky cask broker and it does not offer fractional sales, as part of a fund.
Hosted four times a year the next auctions will take place in April, July and October 2020.
Ends
NOTES
Founded in 2018 by Simon Aron in partnership with several of the world’s foremost whisky masters, including Keeper of the Quaich Sir Colin Hampden-White, Cask Trade buys and sells exceptional cask whiskies. The company is unique because it only sells casks it owns outright, and it only sells whole casks: it is not a whisky cask broker and it does not offer fractional sales.
A passionate whisky collector for more than 20 years, Simon Aron suffered many false promises from whisky investment companies and this drove his ambition to create a real and trustworthy market place for whisky collectors and investors, and bottlers:
The company’s casks are held in the best HMRC bonded warehouses, regularly visited and approved by Cask Trade whisky masters. All stock holdings have a complete paper trail…
- Delivery orders from supplier to Cask Trade
- Invoices for transfer of ownership, storage insurance, re-gauging, sampling or movement
- HMRC-issued WOWGR (warehouse keepers, warehouse premises, owner of goods and registered consigners): a fully regulated and closely monitored license requiring due diligence on suppliers as well as customers.
Included in its extensive list of customer services, Cask Trade’s rigorous processes means that the company will guarantee to buy back from its clients the casks they buy from and have had managed by Cask Trade. It also offers…
- Regular sampling and re-gauging of casks
- Re-racking (sherry wine, port etc)
- Estimates of bottles and strength in cask (effects of angels’ share 0ver years of maturations)
- Financial modelling for each cask based on age and rarity with estimated % returns
- Costings for bottling, labelling and shipping (duty & tax)
- Regularly updated whisky investment guide which includes statistics from two authoritative third parties (independent of Cask Trade)
- Cask Trade will arrange for clients to receive samples of their whiskies and visit their barrels(s), upon request – wherever possible.
Cask Trade has started the first live auction website dedicated to exceptional whisky casks: auctionyourcask.com.
Hosted four times a year and helping private owners/investors sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world. All casks will be re-gauged ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity to try the whisky before they buy. – Wherever possible. We validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee we can offer you the actual hammer price. Our low buyers’ fee of 15% + VAT will offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.
https://www.auctionyourcask.com
Whisky Price Growth
Whisky, according to the recent Knight Frank Wealth Report, is 2019’s top performing luxury investment. With an increase of 40% on rare bottle values in the last 12 months, it far outstripped the more established alternative assets such as art, wine and cars.
From page 78 – https://content.knightfrank.com/resources/knightfrank.com/wealthreport/2019/the-wealth-report-2019.pdf
Data collected by Rare Whisky 101 suggests the four-year growth from December 2014 in rare whisky has increased over 160%, compared to just 2.47% for the FTSE 100. https://www.rarewhisky101.com/indice
The same report by Rare Whisky 101 claimed via the BBC that they had performed a controlled test of 55 rare bottles, of which over a third were fakes.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-46566703
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2007 Dailuaine 12 Year Old “Old Particular” Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt at K&L California – Scotch Whisky News
January 9th, 2020
A Staff and Customer Favorite Single Malt of Astounding Refinement
2007 Dailuaine 12 Year Old “Old Particular” Single Sherry Butt Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky ($64.99)
“Absolutely unique, perfectly balanced and undeniably delicious by any measure.”
— David Othenin-Girard
Dailuaine is one of the great, underrated gems in the Diageo portfolio. Always an exquisitely crafted spirit, we were amazed when we found a first fill sherry cask—a rare surprise we latched onto immediately. Such a treatment carries with it the expectation of bold, sweet flavors, but this being Dailuaine, refinement is the name of the game. Beautifully balanced but also with a tantalizing undercurrent of exotic spice, ripe fruit, and woodsy notes, it deftly melds its more savory elements with the inherent sweetness of the malt. We could go on and on about flavors this 12-year-old reveals, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t point out it only costs $64.99. This is an outstanding value for a spirit of pedigree and caliber and very well could be the smartest Scotch buy of 2019. We’ve already sold through a significant portion of our allotment and expect the remainder to go quickly. If you love an evolved and complex single malt that’s not a bruiser, then you need to add this Dailuaine to your collection.
Another distillery in owner Diageo’s portfolio that hums along under the radar quietly churning out whisky that provides the heart and soul of some of the world’s most important blends. Rarely seen as a single malt, we’ve developed a crush on Dailuaine over the last few years here at K&L. Fortunately for us and our customers, our suppliers have acquired a number of sherry casks that have been made available at extraordinary prices. For less than $65 bucks, this 12-year-old delivers all of the meaty intensity that we’ve had in previous bottles with a more elegant wood profile. A deep amber in color, the balance of wood to spirit at the classic 12-year age statement is just perfect. There is a bit of burnt orange peel, sweet dried fruit, and a subtle nuttiness that intertwines with and highlights the rich and meaty spirit. It’s a shame that Diageo doesn’t choose to celebrate this unique malt with its own bottling, but as always, we are happy to pick up the slack.
David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 22, 2019
Dailuaine is another one of these great Diageo properties that’s been left out of the conversation for so long. We’ve had some fun Dailuaines in the past but never something in first fill sherry. This isn’t one of those ultra dark ones, but there’s no denying the exquisite influence this lovely sherry cask has had on the mild little single malt located just outside of Aberlour. The nose begins with a huge wild honey note, behind that hints of espresso bean and roasted nuts. The palate is very rich and oily, sweet dried fruits and spice. With water this becomes rather exotic – mango, ginger, harissa, clove, bay and savory hints of leather, antique wood and anise. Still big and oily on the palate with with this exotic bouquet expanding over the palate indefinitely. An undeniable sweetness, that doesn’t make me think PX, but maybe some type of old Palo Cortado or fine Moscatel. For everyone that’s disappointed it’s not some ultra dark bomb, I challenge you to open a bottle and tell me this isn’t THE BOMB. Absolutely unique, perfectly balanced and undeniably delicious by any measure.
Andrew Whiteley | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 23, 2019
If oily doesn’t mean anything to you yet when it comes to Scotch, it will after you taste this. The malt itself is slick and supple with a slightly funky meaty quality a la Mortlach. Baked apples and red berry and quince compote represent the fruity side of the whisky which bounces off of the savory complexity from the sherry wonderfully. It’s as if you’ve stored loose leaf black tea in a Cuban cigar box. A slight hint at the umami of strong type baijiu comes up on the finish—insanely complex for the modest 12 year old/$65 combo. Not as dark as previous Dailuaine casks we’ve had, but frankly a better whisky than previous casks if you prefer nuance, balance, and complexity. While I haven’t decided yet on what I think the very best value is in our current single cask selection, this is certainly in the top 3.
Jackson Lee | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: December 06, 2019
I’m pretty on board with most of the things the other reviewers have said about this whisky here. Unique and different from almost every other Scotch I’ve tasted in this year’s rounds of D.I.s, I wasn’t sure what to think of it at first. The nose is sour and savory with an underlying sweetness. Initially I got molasses, sour apple/cherry, overripe fig, and raisin bagels. The sour/sweet/spice combo had my mind reeling. Once I sipped it, there was a different story to be told and my brain immediately got back in line. Like the other reviewers have mentioned, the texture is absolutely beautiful. Notes of sweet sherry, umami, and grilled peach skins rode on a full-bodied and silky mouthfeel. If you’re looking to try something new and fun, this is the Scotch for you.
Neal Fischer | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 29, 2019
Here’s my holiday gift to myself for 2019. Andrew and David picked a lot of great single barrels for our Scotch program this year, but this is one of the more unique casks, I feel. While Dailuaine isn’t bottled as a single malt very often, it can fall into a fairly typical Speyside character of fruit and sweetness. This 12 year Old Particular bottling, however, packs an umami punch. There are a lot of savory and spicy notes which combine with cocoa scents that nearly give the impression of Mexican mole sauce. In the background there are dark honey notes and a little orchard fruit, but the savory side is the star. On the palate this Scotch is even more spicy and fun with notes of leather and English breakfast tea. Adding water brings out a little more fruit character and brown sugar, but the spice stays strong. Check this one out.
Jeffrey Jones | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: November 23, 2019
If I had just one word to describe this single cask it would be that it is fantastic. Other words like delicious and interesting could also apply. The nose is pretty with a mixture of malt and spice. In the mouth it is rich and concentrated with spice and nut notes. With a little water it is full-bodied and mouth-coating with a depth of sweet and spicy flavors. There is a nice dry finish.
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Scotch Malt Whisky Society “January Outturn Alert” – Scotch Whisky News
January 9th, 2020
The first Outturn of the year not only brings some inspired drinking, as we celebrate our Scottish culture and heritage, it’s the first release of our new-look bottle. January Outturn is available to read online now, ahead of the full release at 9am on Friday, 10 January.
Browse the new bottling list, decide on what bottles to buy and get in touch this Friday with your order. For those who can’t wait until then, we’ve released six preview bottlings for inspiration. Only a limited number are available, be quick and order now.
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
ralfy review 807 – Deanston 12yo @ 46.3% – Scotch Whisky News
January 9th, 2020
Beam Suntory Sets Bold Ambition for India, Launches First Truly International Indian Whisky Oaksmith® – Indian Whisky News
January 8th, 2020
Beam Suntory Sets Bold Ambition for India, Launches First Truly International Indian Whisky Oaksmith® and the Iconic The House of Suntory Portfolio including Yamazaki® and Hibiki®
18th December 2019: Beam Suntory, the global premium spirits company, has launched a range of four premium spirits in India, signaling its commitment and strategy to grow in India in line with its ambition to reach USD 1 billion in revenue by 2030. The highlight of the launch is the introduction of Oaksmith® Indian whisky – created by world-renowned blender Shinji Fukuyo, Chief Blender, Suntory – using traditional Japanese craftsmanship, blended with the finest Scotch Malt whiskies and American Bourbons to make a whisky unique and authentic to Indian taste. In addition, the iconic Japanese whiskies Yamazaki® Distiller’s Reserve and Hibiki® Japanese Harmony, along with Roku® Japanese Craft gin have also been launched from The House of Suntory portfolio.
The launch of Oaksmith® and Oaksmith® Gold whisky in India is key to Beam Suntory’s growth strategy and signifies the importance of India to the company. Along with the introduction of Yamazaki®, Hibiki® and Roku®, it reinforces the company’s commitment to lead the growth and premiumisation of the Indian spirits market.
The launch event of The House of Suntory was graced by Shinji Fukuyo, world-renowned Chief Blender at Suntory, the creator of the luxury and iconic blends of Hibiki® and Yamazaki® whiskies, and Neeraj Kumar, Managing Director of Beam Suntory India, along with George Kumekawa, Representative, The House of Suntory. The event highlighted the exceptional legacy of The House of Suntory, the art of making delicate whiskies, and the importance of India for Beam Suntory globally. The House of Suntory brands are being launched across all major cities including Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Hyderabad and Bangalore.
We are thrilled by the appreciation that Hibiki® and Yamazaki® have received from consumers worldwide, and their popularity among spirits aficionados in India. The growing premiumisation of the Indian market and the appreciation for finely crafted spirits made this the right time to launch these brands, along with Roku® gin. Indians today are well-travelled and exposed to global trends, which inspired the creation of Oaksmith® for whisky lovers in India,” says Neeraj Kumar, Managing Director of Beam Suntory India. On Oaksmith® and Oaksmith® Gold, he said, “The beautiful blend incorporates years of tradition that the Beam Suntory family upholds while showcasing Shinji-san’s award-winning blending capabilities making it a whisky that, quite simply, no one else could possibly create.
Oaksmith® is a celebration of mastery and global collaboration, combining the best of East and West in a bottle. Blended by Shinji Fukuyo himself, Oaksmith® is a harmonious blend of matured Scotch Malts that adds a strong flavour profile & American Bourbon whiskey, aged for at least four years in American Oak barrels which lends it an unmatched smoothness. That gives the brand its unique name and also inspires the round bottle labels celebrating its distinctive craftsmanship. Befitting the unique and distinct flavour palate, the exquisite six-sided bottle with beveled edges and a tall neck has an equally unique and ergonomic design that is an ode to the finest Japanese craftsmanship and makes it stand tall in this category. The company is celebrating its international pedigree with the use of the world map in all its creative expressions.
Much like The House of Suntory, Oaksmith® blend is made using the finest ingredients and sincerity of process that is a hallmark of Beam Suntory’s Japanese heritage which is unique to this brand in the entire Indian whisky category. From seed to sip, the whisky is meticulously crafted to achieve a blend like no other resulting in a bold spirit that is rich on the nose yet approachable and well-balanced on one’s palate with a bright, smooth and unexpectedly long finish. The unique offering will be available at the price of an Indian whisky and the flavourful palate will be well suited to both beginners and connoisseurs alike. There will be two variants of the product – Oaksmith® and Oaksmith® Gold – which will launch on 19th December 2019 in the state of Maharashtra, followed by the rest of the country in due course. Oaksmith® Gold will be priced in the range of INR 800 to INR 1300, while Oaksmith® will be priced in the range of INR 600 to INR 900 depending upon the state of launch. Both the variants will be premium in their respective categories due to the international quality of blend and craftsmanship they offer.
A relentless quest for perfection and commitment to using only the highest- quality ingredients encapsulates Suntory’s philosophy to create the finest spirit possible. Shinji Fukuyo, Chief Blender at Suntory, said, “My travels across the world have helped me understand and appreciate sophisticated flavour profiles. Blending spirits is about creating a harmonious flavour by weaving culture and tradition along with one’s own form of self-expression. This is an art in itself and I am very grateful that people globally have appreciated the quality and artistry of Hibiki® and Yamazaki®, and hopefully now, Oaksmith®.” On Oaksmith®, he added, “While making this blend, I wanted to ensure that it resonates specifically well with the Indian audience while being truly international in its spirit. I travelled across the country to understand the different food cultures and flavours. Eventually what I saw, heard and tasted, helped me explore a variety of flavour profiles and finalize this harmonious blend which has the best of America, Scotland and Japanese craftsmanship. I am extremely proud as the final product completely reimagines what the future of Indian whisky can be.”
About Beam Suntory
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all around the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands, Suntory whisky Kakubin and Courvoisier cognac, as well as world-renowned premium brands including Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s and Legent bourbon; Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig and Bowmore Scotch whisky; Canadian Club whisky; Hornitos and Sauza tequila; EFFEN, Haku and Pinnacle vodka; Sipsmith and Roku gin; and Midori liqueur.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good. Headquartered in Japan, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.
About Suntory
Suntory was established in 1899 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Since 1923, as the pioneer of Japanese whisky, Suntory Whisky has been renowned for its House of Master Blenders and for their Art of Blending. The founding father of Japanese whisky, Shinjiro Torii, built Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki. Nestled in the outskirts of Kyoto, this region was the birthplace of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony and is known for the purity of its waters. Torii dreamt of creating an authentically Japanese whisky by choosing a terrain and climate completely different to that of Scotland, thereby cultivating unique conditions for maturation. In 1972, Torii’s son Keizo Saji, Suntory’s second master blender, built the Chita distillery near Nagoya to produce more of their own high-quality grain whiskies. In 1973, Saji founded the Hakushu distillery amidst the deep forests of Mt. Kaikomagatake in the Japanese Southern Alps with the goal of producing malt whiskies distinct from those made at Yamazaki. Its high altitude and lush environment are what differentiates Hakushu from other distilleries.
The House of Suntory portfolio includes two single malt whiskies: Yamazaki – the pioneer of Japanese Single Malts, multi-layered and profound, and Hakushu – verdant, fresh, and delicately smoky; a single grain whisky: Chita – sublimely smooth, versatile and complex; and two blends: the noble blend, Hibiki – Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky, and Suntory Whisky Toki – ideal for Japanese highballs.
Visit www.house.suntory.com for more information.
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The Scotch Malt Whisky Society “Introducing our new look” – Whisky News
January 8th, 2020
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was founded in 1983 through a spirit of friendship – a small group of people who used the discovery of single cask whisky as a reason to get together and enjoy each other’s company. As word of mouth spread about how good the whisky was, friends of friends started to get involved. That group grew to become a community, and then a club of kindred spirits.
We’ve come a long way since then, with more than 26,000 members across the world. But at our heart, we’re still that club of people who want to share their passion for a fantastic dram.
This year, we’re introducing a new monogram badge across everything we do. The monogram represents our heritage here at The Vaults but also celebrates our role above all else as a members’ club – a unique community across countries and cultures, united in our passion for sharing the best whisky and spirits in the world.
Introducing our monogram goes much deeper than making a cosmetic change – we’re working to bring your Society membership experience to life with the opening of our new Members’ Room in Glasgow, a refurbishment and expansion of our Members’ Room at 28 Queen Street, and with an increasing focus on how we can help to bring you together in person or online.
Whether it’s through hosting colourful Society events wherever you are, developing our network of partner bars around the world or building on the success of our first Gathering at The Vaults, everything we’re focussed on in 2020 will have the central aim of involving you in the Society and enhancing your pride in being part of the SMWS.
We want our members to grasp that they belong to a club that lives up to our billing as ‘All Together Unique’, not only in terms of the whiskies we bottle but because we’re a Society of kindred spirits and curious characters.
Last year ended on a high for us, with our unprecedented third consecutive accolade as Independent Bottler of the Year in the Independent Bottlers’ Challenge competition. We’re confident about continuing to bring you the world’s most exceptional whiskies, but above and beyond that we want you to share the joy of belonging to the world’s most colourful whisky club.
Our monogram still has The Vaults at its heart, just as it was in our original design, and the Society’s sense of fun and adventure that we started out with from here is stronger than ever.
Here’s to a fantastic year of sharing whisky experiences and amazing drams in 2020,
SMWS Edinburgh
Nth Ultimate Whisky Experience “Toast to the New Year in Style” – Whisky News
January 8th, 2020
Celebrating the Tenth Anniversary of the Nth Ultimate Whisky and Spirits Experience At The Wynn Hotel April 24th-25th, 2020
Celebrating a milestone year with its 10th Anniversary celebrations at the Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas, you will find an experience to deliciously overwhelm your tasting senses. Indulge in exceptional Whisky and Spirits tasting opportunities, mingle with master distillers, blenders and mixologists and learn more about the whisky and spirits world in the most unique event of its kind.
Follow our amazing journey since 2011 and come celebrate with us https://universalwhiskyexperience.com/amazing-journey/
Please visit us here for more information and tickets https://universalwhiskyexperience.com/the-nth-2020/
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Loch Fyne Whiskies “Rare and unique new additions to The Collector’s Loft 🗝️🥃” – Scotch Whiskyky News
January 8th, 2020
New Additions To The Collector’s Loft
We’ve just added seven more incredible rare expressions to The Collector’s Loft. Discover some treasure today!
This Islay single malt was released shortly after the Ardbeg distillery was taken over and reopened by Glenmorangie in the late 1990s. Aged for a minimum of 17 years, this beautiful expression revived interest in the distillery with a rich and powerful, but slightly less peaty profile than other early bottlings.
This particular bottle is signed by Stuart Thomson, the distillery manager from 1997 to 2006.
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The Talisker Wild Atlantic Challenge: The world’s toughest rowing race returns – Scotch Whisky News
January 7th, 2020
The Talisker Wild Atlantic Challenge: The world’s toughest rowing race returns
On 12th December 2019, 35 teams from around the world left the shores of La Gomera, Canary Islands to row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua. For the first time, two Diageo employees have joined the race and embarked on the challenge of a lifetime.
Talisker Wild Atlantic Challenge – The Wilderness Bar, rowers chatting to Matt Smith
Talisker Wild Atlantic Challenge is set to include the biggest fleet in race history, with the highest number of female participants to ever compete.
One of the world’s most incredible challenges, every year Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge inspires people all around the world, as it is truly an expedition made for the wildest of spirits; those that wish to challenge themselves in the toughest of adventures and that wish to take on a feat unthinkable to most.
Made up of thirty-five teams and over 100 rowers – from all around the world – the participants have spent months, even years, preparing for this epic adventure. Competitors will experience 40ft waves, changeable weather and living off powdered food in their incredible journey to the finish line.
“Everyone who takes this challenge on has a special spirit, a spirit that will enable them to achieve extraordinary things over the course of the race. We all have a bucket list of things in life that we challenge ourselves to try and accomplish – for the 103 rowers who leave the harbour this week this is a dream moment. It’s something they have all sacrificed a huge moment to prepare for – months and even years – and they will inspire millions of people with their stories.”
Carsten OlsenCEO of Atlantic Campaigns
Talisker is proud to be title sponsor for the sixth year. A challenge with a purpose, the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is an inspirational event which draws out the wild spirit in everyday people to achieve extraordinary things. The oldest distillery on the Isle of Skye in Scotland, Talisker Single Malt Scotch is very much a product of its rugged, coastal home. As a whisky Made By The Sea, we want to do our part to protect our oceans, the most important ecosystem of our planet.
The day before the race, Talisker served up the ultimate wild adventure creating a unique remote island wilderness experience. Only accessible by sea, it bought together a tribe of like-minded outdoor adventurers, explorers and ocean enthusiasts including Talisker Whisky Atlantic rowers, British Adventurer, James Aiken, friend of the brand Matt Smith and endurance athlete Ross Edgely all who shared their story of passion for adventure and love of the ocean.
Talisker Wild Atlantic Challenge – The Wilderness Bar from above
Guests enjoyed ‘wild’ Talisker cocktails created by Italian bartender, Giorgio Lupi, who was crowned the winner of Talisker’s Wild Spirit Bartender competition. Wild foraged food was served and prepared over an open fire by Talisker’s Wild Chef, on a FireTable, designed by filmmaker and friend of the brand, Guy Ritchie. The innovative new dining experience is a celebration of outdoor cooking and encouraging togetherness with an innovative design that allows you to sit back and relax watching your food being beautifully cooked, whilst giving warmth to your gatherings for hours.
Talisker Wild Atlantic Challenge – The Wilderness Bar, Matt Smith
For the first time, two Diageo employees are set to join the race and embark on the challenge of a lifetime. Firstly Jon Merotra, National Business Manager based in Sydney, who has been preparing for this moment for the last two years. His team of four – The Atlantic Ambition – are raising money for Alzheimer’s Society, MS UK, and CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young), and the Marine Conservation Charity which carry out vital ocean research and combat against plastic pollution.
Team ‘Atlantic Ambition’ with Diageo employee – Jon Merotra
Joining Jon on the 3000-mile voyage is Oliver Palmer. Ollie, Head of Customer Marketing, Middle East and Americas, is competing with his three friends, who together form Team Fortitude IV. The Fortitude IV squad – having also undergone months of gruelling training – is raising money for the West London Zone charity, which works with children in schools across west London to help them flourish and achieve their full potential in adulthood.
Team ‘Fortitude IV’ with Diageo employee – Oliver Palmer
With the sheer scale of the challenge at hand, both Jon and Ollie, alongside the 101 other participants, are undertaking one of the most exhaustive feats and from all at Diageo, we wish them the very best for the weeks ahead!
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