SCOTTISH ARTIST BRINGS PALETTE OF BENRIACH TO LIFE ON CANVAS

Single Malt Scotch Whisky BenRiach has teamed up with an award-winning Scottish artist to bring its sensory palette to life through a series of abstract paintings inspired by the Speyside distillery’s landscape, architecture and kaleidoscope of flavour.

Taking inspiration from the distillery’s extensive library of some of the world’s most eclectic casks housed in Warehouse 13, contemporary landscape artist Ellis O’Connor has been commissioned to create a trio of dramatic landscapes influenced by the 3 casks used to make up the BenRiach 10 Year Old. The deconstruction of this expression will create 3 pieces of art that fuse the flavour palette of BenRiach with Ellis’ signature painting style, the collection will be crafted at her studio on the outer Hebridean island of North Uist before being exhibited in Hackney’s underground bar, TT Liquor during Scotch Whisky Weekend in January 2020.

At the event, Ellis will appear in conversation with the BenRiach team discussing where she found inspiration for these commissions. Guests will get the chance to explore the palette of BenRiach for themselves through a ‘painting by tasting notes’ workshop where Ellis will guide them to explore the depths of BenRiach by harnessing their own creativity.

With a particular focus on the casks used to mature the BenRiach Aged 10 Years, O’Connor draws inspiration from the flavours drawn from the Oloroso sherry, bourbon and virgin oak casks which give a perfect balance of fruit, malt and oak. The bourbon cask gives vanilla and orchard fruits, Oloroso sherry gives the sweet creaminess of the malt and virgin oak gives a touch of toasted spice, all in sublime synchronicity. Following its three-cask maturation for over a decade it has been expertly combined by Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie to create a smooth, multi-layered flavour experience, thanks to its multiple eclectic casks from around the world.

Ellis, who originally hails from Dundee, studied fine art at Duncan of Jordanstone art school. Since then she has continued her studies, which has led her to travel to remote lands to partake in a number of artists’ residencies. BenRiach decided that Ellis was right for this partnership due to her unique approach to art, connection to an eclectic audience and love for whisky.

Artist Ellis O’Connor said: “Speyside is renowned for its big skies, fast flowing river and of course, whisky, so when the opportunity arose to bring this climatic corner of Scotland to life on canvas on behalf of its most creative distillery, I jumped at the chance.

BenRiach is packed full of innovation, experimental heritage and flavour and I wanted to depict that through the essence of its flagship whisky BenRiach Aged 10 Years and how it speaks to me through the colours and movement on the canvas. Each canvas will have a distinct colour that explores the flavour profile of the single malt and its cask journey.”

BenRiach Distillery Master Blender Dr. Rachel Barrie added:

“At BenRiach we are known for doing things a little differently, always exploring the creative possibilities of our Speyside malt. We have a creative approach to whisky distilling, cask maturation and blending, which Ellis has embraced in her approach to illustrating BenRiach’s eclectic mix of cask types and rich layers of BenRiach Aged 10 Years. Partnering with this talented young Scottish artist is such a wonderful way to bring BenRiach’s flavour journey to life and we can’t wait to see Ellis’ creations on canvas.”

ABOUT THE BENRIACH DISTILLERY:

Founded in 1898, Benriach Distillery has long been the home of an ingenious and artistic approach to whisky distilling and cask maturation. Today, our creative team of whisky makers continue to explore the flavour possibilities of our hand-crafted Speyside award winning Single Malts. BenRiach is an award winning liquid, including the 35 Year Old being named best Scotch Speyside Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards 2019. Additional prestigious awards include double gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition for a number of expressions and category winner at the International Wine & Spirit Competition 2019 for BenRiach Aged 35 Years winning Best Single Malt over 26 years old.

BENRIACH. EXPLORING FLAVOUR SINCE 1898. 

ABOUT ELLIS O’CONNOR:

Ellis O’Connor is a contemporary landscape artist from Dundee, Scotland living on the Outer Hebridean Island of North Uist working in the field of painting and drawing. The dynamic energy to be seen in the paintings are Ellis’ response to observed changes in the Scottish landscape. In order to immerse herself in the environment, Ellis makes much of the artwork on site where extreme weather and the elements find their way into the pieces of art. Ellis describes the process of working outdoors in wild weather as almost ‘performative’.

Some of her inspiration from site visits become the basis for larger works on canvas painted back in her studio. Here, Ellis usually works with oil paint, building up the surfaces using natural substances like sand and dried seaweed.

By producing the artwork she hopes it will give people a chance to connect with that landscape and respect nature that is so wild around us, to then cultivate a deeper understanding and inspire others to make a difference.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE BENRIACH DISTILLERY:      

Visit: www.benriachdistillery.co.uk

Instagram: @BenRiach

Twitter: @BenRiach

Facebook: /TheBenRiach

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON ELLIS O’CONNOR

Visit: ellisoconnor.com

Instagram: @ellisoconnor

Twitter: @ellisoconnor

Facebook: @ellisoconnor

Upcoming Whisky Cask Sale on Wednesday 27^th November at 2pm.

We have a number of excellent casks from across the Highlands and Islands – not forgetting Speyside!

If you are a true lover of Islay, and of Bruichladdich Distillery in particular, we have casks of Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Lochindaal, a trio of different expressions from the famous re-born distillery on the shores of Loch Indaal.  There is also an exceptional cask of Bruichladdich 1989 which has now reached a very significant age for bottling.

Campbeltown was once considered the whisky capital of Scotland and is represented by two casks in the sale, one cask of Glen Scotia 1992 which is always very popular and a very special cask of Springbank 1992 which is a rare cask of the first truly organic Single Malt Scotch Whisky produced in Scotland by Springbank for Da Mhile Whisky and laid down to mature in ex-sherry hogsheads.  This cask has now passed its 27^th birthday and is perfect for bottling now or to hold on to for its 30^th birthday!

The Highlands and Speyside are nowadays the home of the bulk of Scotch Malt Whisky Distilleries with some cracking Single Malts available from distilleries that are less well known to the general public or who rarely release official bottlings.  We have a number of casks available from this region including a rich and sherried Aultmore 2009; an elegant Linkwood 2008 and a young Royal Brackla that was maturing in an ex-sherry Butt and has now been re-racked into a fresh Fenando de Castilla Oloroso Sherry Hogshead – definitely a whisky to watch out for!

As usual we will be holding a Pre-sale Tasting Event at The Trades House in Ingram Street, Glasgow.  A limited number of tickets are available so drop us line on 0141 225 8181 or e-mail stewarts@mulberrybankauctions.com to reserve a ticket.

The full printed catalogue should be released asoon, to request a copy contact us using the same details, we will also send out digital copies of the catalogue as soon as it is ready.

Littlemill 26 Year Old TWB Exclusive

Bottled in 2015 by Hunter Laing, a while before exclusive bottlings fully took off. We’ve brought this old stalwart into the 2019 limelight. A wonderful chocolatey whisky. Last bottles, featuring a now historic TWB logo!

Buy – Littlemill 26 Year Old 1988 – £299.95

THE STORIES BEHIND THE DRAM: THE RARE BALVENIE STORIES RANGE ARRIVES IN CANADA

The newest collection of rare whiskies from The Balvenie represent tales of character and craft, made by hand at The Balvenie Distillery in Dufftown, Scotland.

Toronto, ON- The much anticipated Balvenie Stories collection arrives in select Canadian markets just in time for holiday and gift-giving season.

“The Balvenie Stories collection is about paying tribute to the craftmanship and the people behind the creation of this handcrafted whisky,” comments Jamie Johnson, Canadian Brand Ambassador, The Balvenie. “It is a celebration of the craft, tradition and technique behind each barrel, each bottle, each dram.”

Featuring three new expressions in The Balvenie Stories range, arrival of the new releases will be staggered in Canada. Just in time for the…

Read more

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 285: Talisker 41 Year Old 1978 Bodega Series

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky vlogger, tries the oldest Talisker to date: the Talisker 41 Year Old Bodega Series. This is the second release in a triptych of sherry finished malts from stocks of 1978. Last year saw the release of the Talisker 40 Year Old Bodega Series, finished on Amontillado casks from the Delgado Zuleta bodega. This release is finished on Manzanilla casks from the same bodega and is thus the oldest (and most expensive) Talisker to date. Part three is probably for 2020. With a price tag of around 3.500 EUR (well, it comes in a very nice box) it certainly is not for everyone and that it is a pity. For it is simply divine.

https://youtu.be/zz_5KjYxP4g

One Thousand Men Are Walking

By Joshua Dyer

One thousand men are walking

Walking side by side

Singing songs from home

they walk toward the light milord

they walk towards the sun

they smoke and laugh and smile together

no foes to outrun

these men live on forever

in the hearts of those they saved

a nation truly grateful

for the path of peace they paved

they march as friends and comrades

but they do not march for war

step closer to salvation

a tranquil steady corps

the meadows lit with golden beams

a beacon for the brave

the emerald grass untrampled

a reward for what they gave

they dream of those they left behind

and know they dream of them

forever in those poppy fields

there walks one thousand men

 A. SMITH BOWMAN BOURBON WIN GOLD MEDAL

 Bourbon Awarded Medal at New York World Wine & Spirits Competition 

FREDERICKSBURG, VA (Oct. 30, 2019) – Isaac Bowman Port Finished Virginia Straight Bourbon won a gold medal at the 2019 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (NYWSC).

The NYWSC competition is committed to three principles, legacy, integrity and experience. Through these principles, the spirits are judged by the industry’s most trusted authorities.

 “Receiving a gold  edal at the 2019 New York World Wine & Spirits competition is an honor,” Master Distiller Brian Prewitt said. “We are grateful for this recognition.”

Results from the 2019 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition can be found at https://www.nywscomp.com/results/

To find more information about A. Smith Bowman brands, please visit https://asmithbowman.com/

About A. Smith Bowman

A. Smith Bowman’s distilling roots date back to the years before Prohibition when the Bowman family had a granary and dairy farm in Sunset Hills, Virginia. They used excess grain from the family estate to distill spirits. In 1934, after the Repeal of Prohibition, Abram Smith Bowman and his sons continued the family tradition and built a more modern distillery in Fairfax County, Virginia called Sunset Hills Farm.  The Distillery was moved in 1988 and is now nestled in Spotsylvania County near the city of Fredericksburg, 60 miles away from the original location.

As a small and privately owned company, A. Smith Bowman Distillery continues the time-honored traditions on which it was founded. Considered a micro-distillery by today’s standards, A. Smith Bowman produces an assortment of hand-crafted spirits distilled from only the finest natural ingredients and using the latest technology. This micro-distillery focuses on the production of premium spirits honoring the legacy of Virginia’s first settlers. As Virginia’s oldest and most award-winning distillery, its various brands have earned numerous prestigious awards over the years, including John J. Bowman Single Barrel, which received a gold medal at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. For more information on A. Smith Bowman, please visit www.asmithbowman.com

1792 FULL PROOF WINS BEST SMALL BATCH BOURBON

Barton 1792 Distillery Bourbons Win Six Medals at 2019 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition

BARDSTOWN, KY (Oct. 23, 2019) –  1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon won a Double Gold Best in Class medal at the 2019 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition (NYWSC) and was given the title Best Small Batch Bourbon – Up to 10 Years.

Five more Barton 1792 Distillery Bourbons received medals as well. The brands were awarded as follows:

• Very Old Barton 90 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Double Gold
• 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Silver
• Kentucky Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Silver
• Zackariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Silver
• Very Old Barton 80 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon – Bronze

The NYWSC competition is committed to three principles, legacy, integrity and experience. Through these principles, the spirits are judged by the industry’s most trusted authorities.

 “It is always exciting to see our whiskies win awards, especially when one wins Best Small Batch Bourbon,” Master Distiller Danny Kahn said. “A lot of effort is put into creating these whiskies, and these awards are testament to that hard work.”

Results from the 2019 New York World Wine & Spirits Competition can be found at https://www.nywscomp.com/results/

To find more information about Barton 1792 brands, please visit https://www.1792distillery.com/

About Barton 1792 Distillery

Barton 1792 Distillery is part of Barton Brands.  Barton Brands has facilities in Bardstown, Ky., Carson, Calif., and Baltimore, Md. Barton Brands is owned by the Sazerac Company, an American family-owned company based in New Orleans, La. Barton 1792 Distillery was established in 1879 and continues today as the oldest fully-operating Distillery in the “Bourbon Capital of the World.” The Distillery is located on 196 acres and includes 27 warehouses, 22 other buildings, the Morton Spring and the Tom Moore Spring.  Distilling, aging and bottling fine Bourbon whiskey are hallmarks of the historic Barton 1792 Distillery. 1792 Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey is produced at Barton 1792 Distillery. This whiskey is named for the year Kentucky became a state and is the recent gold medal winner at the 2018 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.

“Lest we Forget”

“We will remember them”

In 2014 we released a bottling to remember those that fell in WW1.  This bottling was hugely popular and due to repeated requests for another batch, five years later we have decided to create another release to mark 100 years since the treaty of Versailles which marked the official end of WW1. The whisky itself has gentle undertones of smoke and an earthiness to it – our way of giving a nod to the battlefields.

TASTING NOTES

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