Credit all photography Ian Gavan.

THE MACALLAN EMBARKS ON NEW ERA OF INNOVATION & MASTERY

NEW DISTILLERY & VISITOR EXPERIENCE IN SPEYSIDE, SCOTLAND

OFFICIALLY OPENING IN JUNE 2018

New York, May 22, 2018 – The Macallan, the world’s most admired single malt Scotch whisky, has revealed its new distillery and visitor experience – officially opening June 2, 2018.

Located on the stunning Easter Elchies estate, the property  has been home to The Macallan since 1824. From humble beginnings, the brand has become the leading international single malt by value and enjoys top positions in some of the world’s most significant Scotch whisky markets including the United States, Taiwan, and Japan.

It is the first distillery in Speyside to be designed by an internationally acclaimed and award winning architect, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, known for their groundbreaking work on projects such as the Terminal 4 Madrid Barajas Airport and International Towers in Sydney.

Edrington, The Macallan’s parent company, is investing £500 million ($674M USD approx.) in the brand of which the £140 million ($255M USD approx.) distillery is the centerpiece. This program increases investment in whisky, warehousing, and particularly in The Macallan’s signature sherry-seasoned oak casks.

When the distillery and visitor experience opens its doors, guests will be able to experience The Macallan’s Six Pillars like never before. Each of the Six Pillar exhibits feature an interactive and tech-driven interaction that brings the brand’s legendary whisky making process to life. From the sherry casks seasoned in Spain, to the curiously small stills, each point of the production is showcased for visitors to experience.

Announced in 2012, the project build began in December 2014 taking three years and six months total to complete.

Elgin-based construction company Robertson has delivered the complex architectural design, working with 25 contractors to bring the vision for the new distillery and visitor experience to life. During construction, up to 400 people specializing in more than 20 different trades were employed on site.

The striking piece of contemporary architecture is cut into the slope of the land, taking its cues from ancient Scottish hills and maximizing the aesthetic beauty of the building whilst minimizing the visual impact on the Speyside landscape, which has been classified as an ‘Area of Great Landscape Value’. The undulating timber roof structure is one of the most complicated timber roof structures in the world, comprising 380,000 individual components.

The new stills within the working distillery were crafted by Scottish coppersmiths Forsyths, who have been making the brand’s distinctive, ‘curiously small’ stills for The Macallan since the 1950s – the new stills are an exact replica of the originals. While the new distillery will allow for production to increase, the same great quality of The Macallan will remain untouched.

Ian Curle, Chief Executive, Edrington, said: “This is an exciting occasion for Edrington and The Macallan. The unsurpassed quality of The Macallan is in high demand and we face the future confidently with this new distillery. It’s an authentic, abiding, ambitious investment that will match consumer expectations for generations to come. When the doors open in June, we expect this new Macallan enterprise to deliver significant benefits for the tourism industry, Scotch whisky exports, and the economy.”

Ken Grier, Creative Director, The Macallan, said: “As The Macallan has grown globally it has been very important that we make sure we can sustain demand for this wonderful amber liquid. We’ve taken exceptional care in making sure that the spirit that is produced in the new distillery is identical to the spirit that we produced in our previous distillery. This is the beginning of a really exciting new chapter in the evolution of this wonderful brand that is The Macallan.”

Graham Stirk, Senior Partner and Lead Architect, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners commented: “The Macallan estate truly is a special place; a place we have come to love and respect hugely. The vision was always ambitious but this enabled us to challenge our own thinking to create something so dramatic and awe-inspiring. It has been an honor to play our part in shaping the next chapter for The Macallan.”

For further information visit www.us.themacallan.com.

The new distillery and visitor experience in numbers:

• £140m was invested and 60 new jobs are set to be created
• During construction, up to 400 people specialising in over 20 different trades were employed on site
• The project has taken three years and six months to complete (Dec 2014 – May 2018)
• The roof is one of the most complicated timber structure in the world, comprising 1,800 single beams, 2,500 different roof elements, and 380,000 individual components, almost none of which are equal or the same
• The new distillery will allow production of The Macallan to increase by approximately a third

About The Macallan

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world’s finest single malt whiskies.  The story of The Macallan is built on the Six Pillars, each influencing the whisky in its own distinct way.  From the spiritual home of Easter Elchies House; curiously small stills giving richness to the pure spirit; finest cut or the best of the best of the distillation, to exceptional oak casks which account for up to 80% of the final flavor in the whisky; natural color and finally peerless spirit, The Macallan itself.  Wood sits at the heart of The Macallan.  The vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, together with true mastery, set it apart from the rest. For more information on The Macallan, visit www.us.themacallan.com. The Macallan can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram

About Edrington

Edrington owns some of the leading Scotch whisky and rum brands in the world, including The Macallan, The Famous Grouse, Highland Park, Cutty Sark, The Glenrothes, Brugal and Snow Leopard vodka. Edrington is headquartered in Scotland and employs around 3,000 people in its companies and joint venture operations worldwide, with over 70% employed overseas. The company owns its route to market in 13 countries, and operates the remainder through joint venture and third party agreements. Edrington’s principal shareholder is The Robertson Trust, which has donated over £250 million to variety of charitable causes since 1961.

www.edrington.com

NEW WORLD RECORDS FOR HOLY GRAIL OF WHISKY SET AT BONHAMS HONG KONG

New World Records Set at Bonhams Hong Kong for Macallan Peter Blake-1926-60 Year Old (left) sold for HK$7,962,500 (including premium) and Macallan Valerio Adami 1926-60 year old (right) sold at HK$8,636,250 (including premium) at Bonhams Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky sale on 18 May 2018 in Hong Kong (estimated at HK$3,600,000 – 4,500,000 each)

Hong Kong – Bonhams Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky auction on 18 May in Hong Kong made history by setting new world auction records for any whisky sold at auction with the sale of two of the rarest vintage Macallan bottles.

Unseen in public in over three decades, the Macallan Peter Blake-1926-60 Year Old (lot 381) went under the hammer first for HK$7,962,500 (US$1,014,422 / £751,703) to a phone bidder, and the record was further pushed when the Macallan Valerio Adami-1926-60 Year Old (lot 608) later sold for HK$8,636,250 (US$1,100,197 / £814,081) to a bidder in the room, surpassing the original estimate of HK$3,600,000 to HK$4,500,000 each.

“These two bottles are the most significant whiskies ever produced in 20^th century and truly presented a once-in-a-generation opportunity for collectors to acquire the Holy Grail of Macallan,” commented Daniel Lam, Head of Fine Wine and Whisky, Bonhams Asia, from the auction floor. “Active bidding came in from around the world but we saw new bidders from Southeast Asia including Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia reflecting the growing appetite and appreciation for whisky among Asian collectors and further reinforcing Bonhams market leadership in Hong Kong in the field of Whisky.”

The record breaking whisky was bottled in 1986, and Macallan commissioned Peter Blake and Valerio Adami to design labels for very limited editions, to offer as corporate gifts to the distillery’s most valued customers. Only 24 bottles–12 of the Blake label and 12 of the Adami label–were ever produced.  They are elegantly presented in specially commissioned cabinets or Tantaluses, based on the traditional ‘Brass and Glass’ distillery spirit safe.

Alongside these bottles, impressive prices were also achieved throughout the auction including the oldest Expression of Karuizawa-1960-52 year old-The Dragon, one of 41 bottles, which went for HK$2,450,000 (US$312,130 / £231,035) (lot 468) against an estimate of HK$1,500,000 to HK$1,800,000–setting a new record for a single bottle of Japanese whisky.

The Hong Kong sale concluded with a robust total of HK$46,619,335 (US$5,938,674 / £4,406,694) with close to 91% sold by lot and 95% sold by value of the 645 lots. All top lots sold for two or three times their estimates, indicating a positive sign for market demand among private collectors in Hong Kong and Asia.

The benchmark of the Macallan-1926-60 year old (Peter Blake and Valerio Adami Labels) was set with the recent sale in April this year of two similar bottles by the Dubai-Airport retailer, Le Clos, for US$600,000 each. Before this, the last known sale taking place at auction was in 2007 where a bottle of the Macallan Valerio Adami-1926-60 year old sold for US$75,000.

The previous auction record for any Single Malt Whisky was last seen in 2014 in Hong Kong with the sale of the Macallan 6-litre “M” Decanter by Lalique, which fetched HK$4.9 million.

Upcoming auctions at Bonhams include Fine and Rare Wines on 24 May in London (https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24603/); Whisky on 6 June in Edinburgh (https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24753/); and, Fine and Rare Wines on 8 June in San Francisco (https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24852/).

Full details of the Fine and Rare Wine and Whisky auction available at https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/24767/

About Bonhams 

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com.

Aberfeldy 1999 vintage Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Single sherry cask #3 bottled May 2018 exclusive to the distillery visitor centre. Brothers John and Tommy Dewar established. Aberfeldy Distillery in 1896 and commenced distilling there two years later in order to guarantee a supply of quality Scottish malt whiskey for their John Dewar & Sons range of blended scotch. Aberfeldy is a Highland malt whiskey distillery situated in the heart of the Perthshire countryside and these days produces malt whiskey for its Aberlour 12 Year to Aberlour 21 Year Old range of single malts. This Highland malt whiskey distiller’s four copper stills produce both un-peated and mildly peated whiskey. Aberfeldy’s old malt barns house Dewar’s World of Whiskey visitor centre.

ABERFELDY 1999 HAND FILLED SINGLE CASK #3

£499.96

ABV: 57.0% ~ VINTAGE: 1999 ~ CASK TYPE: Sherry CASK #3 ~ BOTTLER: Distillery ~ REGION: Highland

Tobermory 21 Year Old “Manzanilla Finish” Unfiltered Cask Strength Island Single Malt Scotch Whisky (750ml)

$239.99 SKU #1360820

The wonderful new limited edition from Tobermory is more proof that the new South African owners are committed to producing some of the most exciting new whiskies coming out of Scotland these days. Tobermory has always been an expensive brand, the limited production and far flung locale are part of the reason the malt is so expensive, but also the gorgeous distillery is extremely well regarded and even their entry level malts command a serious premium of some of their competitors. Here we have a well aged version of the special malt from the Isle of Mull finished for a year in dry Manzanilla Sherry casks. The beautiful slightly rustic oily malt pairs wonderfully with the racy spice and dried citrus fruit provided by the sherry.

Honoring “The Conservation Legacy”

of the North American Sportsman 

MISSOULA, Mont. May, 2018) – The conservation of wildlife and the habitats they depend upon is the reason why Theodore Roosevelt founded the Boone and Crockett Club in 1887. Prestige Imports LLC has partnered with this respected organization to create, produce, and nationally distribute a line of Boone and Crockett Club Whiskies. The Tennessee Straight Bourbon, Straight Rye and American Blended Whiskey are handcrafted in a time-honored heritage that would make the Club’s namesakes, Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett very proud.

Our Straight Bourbon Whiskey is 86 Proof, Distilled in Tennessee, aged for two years and Handcrafted.  A responsibility to conserve nature and drink responsibly is a responsibility of all citizens.

Our Straight Rye Whiskey combines small town, time-honored tradition for a rich and balanced taste at 86 Proof, distilled in Tennessee and aged for two years.

Our American Blended Whiskey uses 30% Straight Bourbon Whiskey distilled in Tennessee and perfectly blended at 80 Proof.  Our whiskey reflects the commitments sportsmen have made for over a century to conserve wild places and wild things.

Roosevelt once said, “There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in the country.” He founded Boone and Crockett as the first organization to address the destruction of America’s wildlife natural resources on a national scale. In Roosevelt’s day conservation was not a word in the English language. Using some, but saving more for tomorrow was a concept that was counter to the belief that America was the land of opportunity, and that natural resources were in unlimited supply and simply there for the taking.

Of the many accomplishments the Club has contributed a few that stand out are, the establishment of our national forests and the National Forest Service; many national parks, national monuments and the National Park Service; the national wildlife refuge system; the Bureau of Land Management, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; structured hunting seasons and game laws; and the funding mechanisms for conservation including the Federal Duck Stamp and Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson).

The Club is most widely known among sportsmen for its scoring system and as the keeper of the record books of native North American big game, as well as the ethical code of conduct of sportsmen, known as fair chase.  Please note, Boone and Crockett Club Whiskey makes a great gift for landowners, friends, family, hunters and anglers all season long. Boone and Crockett Club promotes Fair Chase and Conservation along with enjoying the “Outdoors Responsibly”.

Please visit www.booneandcrockettwhiskey.com to learn more about the historical role sportsmen have played in the conservation movement and what you can do to support this legacy of accomplishment.

Boone and Crockett Club Contact – Keith Balfourd

Prestige Imports LLC – Thomas Cleaver

BARTON 1792 DISTILLERY TAKES HOME SIX AWARDS

AT 2018 ULTIMATE SPIRITS CHALLENGE

 BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (May 17, 2018) – Judges awarded six bourbons from Barton 1792 Distillery with high honors at the 2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, and named three to be “Great Values.”

Those awarded the distinction of “Excellent, Highly Recommended” were:

• 1792 Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• 1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Very Old Barton 80 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Kentucky Tavern Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Awarded the distinction of “Very Good, Strong Recommendation” were:

• Very Old Barton 90 Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey
• Zackariah Harris Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

1792 Small Batch and Kentucky Tavern were deemed to be “Great Values.”  Kentucky Tavern also earned the distinction of “Tried & True.”

This competition, in its eighth year, is judged by a panel of the spirit industry’s most renowned judges including award-winning authors, buyers, journalists, educators and bar owners, who rate each spirit on a 100-point scale.

Complete results for the 2018 Ultimate Spirits Challenge can be found at www.ultimate-beverage.com/usc2018results. 

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 28 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 2017 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com.

Glenmorangie and Ardbeg strike gold at two influential competitions

A Unique Bourbon that Wonderfully Blends Salty with Sweet

Jefferson’s “Special Wheated Mashbill” Ocean Voyage #15 Aged at Sea Very Small Batch Straight Bourbon ($82.99)
“One of the most lovable little whiskies Jefferson has released in years.”
– David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer

When it comes to Bourbon, Jefferson’s is among our favorites for innovative, cutting-edge bottlings. Take for example the Ocean Voyage #15, in order to age this wheated bourbon, Jefferson’s sent it on an ocean voyage, stopping at no less than thirty ports, and crossing the equator four times. This highly unusual maturation process was done to impart a unique maritime influence on the whiskey. The end product offers a classic wheated profile of caramel and vanilla, but is also joined by flavors of brine and sea salt. This combination is every bit as delicious as it is rewarding.

While we don’t know where Jefferson’s is sourcing their bourbon, we do know it is of the top quality. Rounded, expressive, and engaging, it has the body to hold up to such a rigorous aging process, while at the same time is mellow enough to really highlight the ocean’s influence. Anyone who has enjoyed the earlier editions of the Ocean Voyage will definitely want to give the #15 a spin, as it very well could be the best to date. As you might expect, production is very limited, so this charmer won’t remain on our shelves for long. Don’t miss out on one of the more creatively matured (and delicious) whiskeys on the market today.

Jefferson’s “Special Wheated Mashbill” Ocean Voyage #15 Aged at Sea Very Small Batch Straight Bourbon (750ml) ($82.99)

This limited edition Jefferson’s Ocean Voyage is the first and only wheated bourbon to be aged at sea and visit five separate continents before being bottled. Jefferson’s Bourbon has always been a producer focused on innovation, and the Ocean Voyage program is perhaps their most ambitious yet. They’ve had incredible success with the very unusual aging regime and this is easily the best we’ve tried yet. Something about the soft sweetness of the wheated mash bill and the tangy saline of the ocean influence work absolute wonders. This is one of the most exciting and delicious new wheated bourbons released in some time. With the popularity of the Van Winkle and Weller brands, wheated bourbon has become all the rage. But simply removing the rye from a mash bill doesn’t inherently make a whiskey better; it actually makes it less flavorful. Buffalo Trace has mastered the art of crafting wheated bourbons, but some of the new wheaters don’t hold up to the hype. The Jefferson’s Ocean lays an entirely new set of flavors on top of the familiar wheated profile. It’s hard to say exactly where Jefferson’s is getting the juice, but they’ve recently purchased nearly $4 million worth of Bourbon so one would assume the source is of the highest quality. Expect a nose of rich salted caramel, rich vanilla, and sea spray. The most obvious sea influence we’ve seen on one of these since Voyage #1. On the palate it’s ultra dense and viscous with sweet corn bread and barrel spice balancing the saline.

David Othenin-Girard | K&L Staff Member | Review Date: May 18, 2018

We’ve always enjoyed the Ocean Voyage in the past, even if the slightly higher cost seemed a touch gimmicky. It’s really solid bourbon with that little salty twang, but to be honest, the spicy side of the rye mash bill kind of masked any serious ocean influence. This softer, sweeter wheated Bourbon is better suited for the subtle influence of the ocean aging. They’ve obviously started with really solid bourbon, which is the key to the success of any of the “innovative” bourbon products. The whiskey, whose origins remain a secret, could come from any of the many high quality wheat producers, although it seems to have been distilled in Kentucky. The special wheated mash bill offers a much more supple and rounded whiskey to begin with, and the sweetness balances out the briny background note perfectly without masking the obvious ocean influence. That influence comes from a journey unlike any other in modern bourbon production. Visiting more than thirty ports and crossing the equator four times, the whiskey is subjected to some of the most extreme heat and humidity our planet has to offer. The result is one of the most lovable little whiskies Jefferson’s has released in years. It might not have the pedigree of the old age-stated stuff, but I would challenge anyone to argue that it isn’t more enjoyable than any release from this great little producer in the last several years. Like all the Ocean Voyages, a portion of the proceeds go to Ocearch for the study and preservation of sharks in the North Atlantic. So, you can drink well and do good at the same time.