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Glengoyne “SECURE YOUR PLACE AT OUR 2017 LIVE TASTING” – Scotch Whisky News

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Secure your place at our 2017 Live tasting

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Calling all whisky enthusiasts, we’ve got the perfect prize for two.

In celebration of World Whisky Day, we will be giving away 7 pairs of tickets to an exclusive Live Tasting at Glengoyne Distillery on August 24th at 7pm.

Enter our one of a kind competition to be in with a chance of joining Glengoyne’s Stuart Hendry and me for the insider’s scoop, while tasting our unique and complex range of Glengoyne malts: a true whisky lover’s dream.

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HOW TO ENTER

To take part in the competition, you’ll need to:

1. Share with us your best Glengoyne photo

2. Tell us one reason why you love Glengoyne It’s as simple as that!

ENTER NOW

Good luck!

Robbie Hughes
Distillery Manager

Ivan Menezes becomes new Chairman of Movement to Work – Whisky News

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Ivan Menezes becomes new Chairman of Movement to Work

CEO of Diageo succeeds founder Marc Bolland, ex-CEO of M&S 

Movement to Work, a coalition of Britain’s leading employers tackling youth unemployment through high quality vocational training and work placements, today welcomed its new Chairman, Ivan Menezes, CEO of Diageo. It also paid tribute to its Founder and outgoing Chairman, Marc Bolland, for his vision in setting up the Movement when he was CEO of M&S and the energy he has consistently shown in increasing its scale and reach.

In 2013, Marc convened 15 of the UK’s leading employers to help tackle the challenge of over one million young people not in education, employment or training (NEET). They recognised the need to break the negative cycle of ‘no experience, no job; no job, no experience’ that traps so many of these young people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Under his leadership Movement to Work has grown to include over 240 employers of all sizes; and to become a unique collaboration across the private, public and voluntary sectors.

Movement to Work focusses on those who need the most help, including those who may have lost the confidence to seek work or who live in economically disadvantaged areas. To date the Movement has provided over 59,000 placements cumulatively, with well over 50% of participants completing placements moving into employment or returning to education. Backed by the Government, the TUC and the CBI, Movement to Work is on track to help over 100,000 young people by end-2018.

Ivan Menezes, CEO, Diageo commented: “Training our young people and helping them into work must be an imperative for all businesses that want to succeed, especially as our labour market evolves after Britain leaves the European Union. Through Movement to Work, we are able to provide the experience, skills and confidence to help young unemployed people support themselves, their communities and ultimately society as a whole. I am honoured to be the new Chairman for Movement to Work and would like to thank Marc for his achievements in founding the Movement and driving it to such success in its first four years.”

Marc Bolland, outgoing Chairman of Movement to Work, added: “As Chairman since the Movement’s inception, I am proud of the impact we have collectively made so far on transforming over 59,000 young lives. I would like to sincerely thank the leaders of the 240+ employers and delivery partners in the Movement, their staff, volunteers and the central programme team; all of whom work tirelessly to make our aims a reality. I’m very confident that the Movement, with Ivan’s leadership, will make a significant contribution to equipping many more young people with the knowledge, skills and experience to allow them to enter the job market and pursue meaningful careers.”

Movement to Work: Notes

  • Movement to Work is a charity and collaboration of Britain’s leading employers.
  • The Movement aims to support young people aged 16-24 not in education, employment or training (so-called ‘NEETs’), particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • It does this by providing high-quality vocational training and work experience opportunities to these young people; helping provide them with the skills, understanding and confidence to move towards employability.
  • Among the founding employers are Accenture, BAE Systems, Barclays, BT, Centrica, the Civil Service, Diageo, GSK, HSBC, M&S, Tesco, Unilever, and WPP.
  • A range of expert delivery partners, including Jobcentre Plus, the Prince’s Trust, Talent Match and Capita help employers to source candidates, deliver training and provide additional support.
  • As of end-March 2017, the Movement has delivered 59,400 placements across the UK.
  • Of those young people completing Movement to Work placements, over 50% have moved into paid employment, apprenticeships or further study.
  • For more details on the Movement, visit www.movementtowork.com

Marc Bolland, Head of European Portfolio Operations, Blackstone Group LP 

Marc Bolland is Head of European Portfolio Operations of The Blackstone Group L.P., one of the world’s leading investment firms, and has held this position since September 2016. Prior to this he served as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Marks & Spencer Group plc from May 2010 to April 2, 2016. At Marks & Spencer, he led an ongoing program to transform it from a traditional British retailer to an international, multi-channel retailer. He has also served as Chief Executive Officer and a Director of WM Morrison Supermarkets plc from September 2006 to April 2010.

Prior to his career in retail, Marc worked across a variety of senior roles in Heineken, one of the world’s largest brewers, including having responsibility for the brand and marketing strategies. He has served as Chief Operating Officer of Heineken NV from 2005 to July 2006, and as an Executive Board Member from 2001 to July 2006.

Marc serves as Non-Executive Director on the Board of IAG and as Director of The Coca-Cola Company. He is a Trustee on the Board of the Royal Academy of Arts.

Marc received a Bachelor’s degree from the Hotelschool The Hague and then obtained an Honors Degree and an MBA from the University of Groningen. In November 2011, he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of York. 

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Ivan Menezes, Chief Executive, Diageo plc

Ivan Menezes has been Chief Executive, Diageo plc since 1 July 2013. He was previously Chief Operating Officer, Diageo plc.

Ivan joined Diageo in 1997. Since joining Diageo, Ivan has held various senior management positions with Guinness and then Diageo. In 2004 he was appointed President of Diageo Venture Markets. Prior to his appointment as COO in March 2012, Ivan was President, Diageo North America for eight years. During this period he was also made Chairman, Diageo Asia Pacific from October 2008 and Chairman, Diageo Latin America and Caribbean from July 2011.

Prior to his career with Diageo, Ivan worked across a variety of sales, marketing and strategy roles for Whirlpool in Europe, Booz Allen & Hamilton in North America, and Nestlé in Asia.

He serves as a non-executive director of Coach, Inc. in the United States and is a member of the Scotch Whisky Association Council. In addition, Ivan sits on the UK-India CEO Forum and on the Advisory Council of the China-Britain Business Council.

Ivan holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, a post-graduate degree from the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad and a BA Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. He is also currently a member of the Kellogg School of Management’s Global Advisory Board.

Ivan was born in July 1959 and is married with 2 children. 

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Buchanan’s and Windsor whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at http://www.diageo.com/. Visit Diageo’s global responsible drinking resource, http://www.drinkiq.com/, for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

TWB 10th Anniversary Exclusive: Irish Cooley, 13 Year Old, 2003, Exclusive Malts – Irish Whiskey News

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Exclusive 10th Anniversary Bottling #1

We are very excited by this! Today marks the first exclusive whiskey release of the year to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of The Whisky Barrel (see our recent blog to see what we are celebrating). First and foremost, here at The Whisky Barrel we specialise in Scotch Whisky. But we thought we’d turn that on its head and head to Ireland for our first exclusive 10th Anniversary bottling! So why not Scotch Whiskey? Well, we have more of that to come with more exclusive releases this year but we thought we would start by celebrating what has got us here. Variety. Most noteworthy, the wonderful independent bottling companies we work for are the epitome of variety in whisk(e)y. So without further ado, we introduce The Whisky Barrel 10th Anniversary exclusive bottling #1…

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Irish Cooley, 13 Year Old, 2003, Exclusive Malts, Cask #200501

New and exclusive to The Whisky Barrel we introduce Irish Cooley, 13 year old, 2003 from the fine chaps at The Creative Whisky Co. These guys are one of the newest indie bottlers we have been working with and they have proven to be fine selectors and bottlers of whiskey.  This new release is no different. This cask was selected by them and matured in a bourbon barrel. In addition to this, and under our recommendation, it has finished for around 2 months in a singe sherry hogshead, cask #200501.  We went with a short slumber in the sherry hogshead so as not to overwhelm the initially bourbon cask matured whiskey. As a result there is a beautiful sweet note to the dram. Just 180 bottles are available of this Irish Cooley 13 year old 2003 whiskey and exclusive to buy only at The Whisky Barrel marking our 10th Anniversary.

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Is It Any Good?

Of course it is. And it is a sherry fruit bomb!

Our tasting notes are as follows:

Colour– a lovely blood orange.

The nose has good amounts of vanilla and fresh apple. The first hints of spice from the sherry cask with touches of syrup. Tropical fruits emerge as well.

The palate is a grown up toffee apple. Crisp Green apple skin with a delicate sugary spiced brittle. The fruitiness makes an impression with pineapple, mango and banana.

Finally, the finish lingers with the tropical fruits and a sweet dry sherry conclusion. Overall, it is delicious whisky.

Just 180 bottles available to mark 10 years of The Whisky Barrel. So don’t miss the chance to grab a rare sherried exclusive Irish 13 year old, 2003 Whiskey. And there will be more celebratory exclusives to come soon…watch this space!

Available to buy online now exclusive at The Whisky Barrel – Irish Cooley, 13 Year Old, 2003, Exclusive Malts, Cask #200501

TWB 10 Yrs

 

The Pride of the Highlands at The Whisky Shop – Scotch Whisky News

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This week The Whisky Shop welcomes the arrival of the oldest single malt ever released by the Highland distillery of Glenmorangie. Aged 41 years, Glenmorangie Pride 1974 was laid down in the same year that Muhammad Ali beat George Foreman in the Rumble in the Jungle, Richard Nixon became the first US President to resign from the office, and the BBC introduced Ceefax!

Sign up on whiskyshop.com today and get £5 off orders over £50 with the code web_offer

The oldest and rarest single malt released to date by Glenmorangie, Pride 1974 was distilled on October 30th, 1974. Laid down in two parcels: one in ex-bourbon refill casks and another in Spanish ex-Oloroso sherry casks. Maturing for 41 years, only 503 decanters have been produced of Pride 1974, each crafted by celebrated glass designer Laurence Brabant.

The nose is sweet with salted caramel toffee, chocolate truffles, Turkish delight and a hint of balsamic vinegar. The palate opens with a gentle mouth-feel, before vibrant baked apples, orange, honey, toffee and molasses balanced by double cream, cloves and aniseed. The finish lingers with soothing pecan nuts, leather and fudge notes.

£7,200 Buy Now

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Douglas Laing Old Particular at Milroys of Soho – Scotch Whisky News

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-New to store-
Douglas Laing  Old Particular

Douglas Laing’s “Old Particular” is a particularly unique series of individually hand-selected aged Single Cask Malts and Single Cask Single Grains from all over Scotland. Each is bottled exactly the way the distiller intended: Without colouring, or chill-filtration.

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From the renowned Campbeltown distiller, this Springbank 18 year single malt old has been matured in a European sherry butt & is one of only 360 Bottles.  Digestives and candy floss are deceptive on the nose as the palate opens up to a plethora of fruits. Incredible.

Buy Springbank

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490 bottles of this of this excellent heavily sherried Glenrothes.  Dark chocolate and summer berries are crept up on by a subtle ‘maltiness’.

Buy Glenrothes

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Mortlach was supposedly the favourite distillery of the infamous Milroy Brothers and this bottle is no exception.  Classic Mortlach characteristics burst through here in this epic single cask.

Buy Mortlach

Ralfy Publishes Whisky Review #650 – Scotch Whisky News

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Ralfy appreciates 17 years with Ralfy Review 650 – Craigellachie 17yo @46%vol

Ben Lomond World Whisky Day take over – Scotch Whisky News

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Ben Lomond World Whisky Day take over

Get ready to dust off your hiking boots and enjoy a wonderful walk with a unique whisky-themed twist.

Award winning Loch Lomond Single Malt Whisky is planning to ‘take-over’ one of Scotland’s most iconic summits, Ben Lomond, on Saturday 20 May to celebrate World Whisky Day.

The World Whisky Day mountain ‘take-over’ will be kick started in the UK by a team from the local distillery taking in dawn from the summit of Ben Lomond. To ‘toast’ the global day of whisky, the Loch Lomond Whisky team will offer a free dram for everyone that reaches the summit of Scotland’s most popular Munro that day.

Anyone climbing to the summit at 974 metres (3,196 ft) on World Whisky Day, will be given a card that will be stamped at the top. This can be exchanged on their return to the base at Rowardennan car park for a free miniature of the award winning 12-year-old Loch Lomond Malt to celebrate World Whisky Day and their bagging of Scotland’s most southerly Munro.

Scott Dickson, marketing manager of Loch Lomond Group said: “We want to start World Whisky Day on top; and where better to do that than at the summit of our nearest Munro. Our team will be some of the first people to arrive on the summit to watch the sun rise over the Scottish Highlands and kick start World Whisky Day in the UK.

“Ben Lomond is one of Scotland’s most popular Munros, with more than 30,000 walkers reaching its summit every year. It is also the nearest mountain to our distillery home in Alexandria, near Balloch, overlooking the same glistening waters of Loch Lomond that helped to inspire our beautiful whiskies.

“The one day take-over for World Whisky Day is a great way to make people aware of the fantastic Loch Lomond Single Malts whilst enjoying one of Scotland’s best views, in stunning surroundings.

“Having taken on Ben Lomond myself, I know that it is a challenging, but beautiful walk. The spectacular 360 degree views at the summit is one that should be rewarded with a great dram; it takes in the stunning Scottish Highlands as far as the islands in the West and even to a snow-capped Ben Nevis on a good day.”

As part of the celebration, all walkers who return from the summit of Ben Lomond with a stamped card will be entered into a free prize draw to win a bottle of the 18-year-old Loch Lomond and a bottle of 18-year-old Inchmurrin, its name taken from the largest island on Loch Lomond.

In addition to the mountain take-over, a global online competition will be launched encouraging Loch Lomond Whisky followers to submit their pictures of any peak in the world with the hashtag #SummitSnap #lochlomondwhiskies. All entrants will be in with a chance of winning award-winning liquid from the Loch Lomond Single malt family.

The ‘take over’ team will be at car park at Rowardennan from 8am to 6pm on Saturday 20 May to celebrate World Whisky Day.

Notes:

  • All activity is subject to the fickle Scottish weather.
  • A team from Loch Lomond Distillery aim to take photography of the sun rising from the summit of Ben Lomond (we will share these images with media as soon as possible)
  • Members of the Loch Lomond Group team are available for interview upon request (either at the top of Ben Lomond or at the Rowendennan car park).
  • High res images will be available upon request.
  • Follow the take-over on Facebook (@lochlomondwhiskies), Twitter (@LochLomondMalts) and Instagram (lochlomondmalts) via #LochLomondWhiskies #SummitSnaps and # WorldWhiskyDay:
  • Tasting notes for all whiskies mentioned are available upon request.

About the Group:

  • Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria and is home to several award-winning spirit brands that are sold in over 100 countries worldwide.
  • Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whisky since 1814.
  • Images and interviews with key staff from the Group are available upon request.
  • www.lochlomondgroup.com

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LIDL TOASTS WORLD WHISKY DAY WITH TRIO OF NEW SINGLE MALT SCOTCHES – Scotch Whisky News

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LIDL TOASTS WORLD WHISKY DAY WITH TRIO OF NEW SINGLE MALT SCOTCHES 

Three new whiskies in Ben Bracken range released in time for World Whisky Day

In the run-up to World Whisky Day on Saturday 20 May, Lidl is releasing three new single malt Scotch whiskies.

The trio of whiskies is being released under Lidl’s Ben Bracken Range – with variants from three of the most renowned whisky regions Speyside, Islay and Highland. The three new whiskies are priced at £17.49 each, which represents exceptional value for single malt Scotch.

The Speyside single malt is described as “light, elegant and refined”, while the Highland variant brings “Aromas of creme brulee, orange segments, honey-dipped brioche and marzipan.” The Islay malt is described as “Powerful and unforgettable” with notes of “Tangy sea spray, bonfire smoke and salted bananas.”

Lidl has established a strong reputation for its whisky range, with a number of its malts earning awards; in 2016, its Ben Bracken 22-year-old Islay won best Islay single malt at the World Whisky Awards; its 22-year-old blend Glen Alba also won ‘special release blended whisky’; its Queen Margot 3-year-old blend was also a winner at the Awards.

Lidl now has 8 Scotch whiskies in its range and world-recognised whisky expert Charles MacLean has praised Lidl’s whisky range saying: “The awards won testify to their outstanding quality. When this is combined with their pricing, the result is unbeatable value.”

Paul McQuade, Head of Lidl’s Scottish Buying Team, said: “We’re incredibly proud of our whisky range and with World Whisky Day approaching this is the perfect time to release our new range of Ben Bracken single malt Scotches.

“The range reflects the diverse taste of Scotch whisky through the three different whisky regions and offers everyone, from established whisky fans to the newcomer to whisky, something to enjoy this World Whisky Day.“

About Lidl:

Since establishing itself in the UK in 1994, Lidl has experienced continuous growth in Great Britain and today has over 20,000 employees, 650 stores and 10 distribution centres in England, Scotland and Wales. As part of the Schwarz retail group, Lidl is one of Europe’s leading organisations in the food retail industry. With a presence in 30 countries around the world, the supermarket, which has more than 250,000 employees globally, currently operates approximately 10,000 stores and more than 140 distribution centres in 27 countries in Europe. The family supermarket takes pride in providing its customers with the highest quality products at the lowest possible prices throughout Great Britain, from Kirkwall to the Isle of Wight. Social responsibility and sustainability are at the core of the company’s daily operations, with the company placing a strong emphasis on its responsibility for people, society and the environment.  Lidl UK is passionate about working with British producers and sources two thirds of its products from the UK, working with suppliers across the British Isles wherever possible. For more information about Lidl UK visit http://www.lidl.co.uk/

Scotch Malt Whisky Society “CELEBRATE WORLD WHISKY DAY 2017” – Scotch Whisky News

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CELEBRATE WORLD WHISKY DAY 2017

Raise a dram with the world!

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World Whisky Day is a global celebration of the water of life, so join like-minded friends across the globe as we share a dram together on Saturday, 20 May. If you’re looking for dram suggestions that don’t cost the earth, we have 50 unique single cask whiskies priced £60 and under available online now. We’ve hand-picked some colourful characters for inspiration.

Keep up to date with the day’s festivities on Twitter using the hashtag #WorldWhiskyDay

VIEW EVENTS

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

Whisky Hammer May Auction Now Live – Whisky News

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MAY AUCTION NOW LIVE (ends Sunday 28th May)

…place your bids at www.whiskyhammer.co.uk

With an incredible selection of whiskies and other fine spirits there is certainly something for everyone – whether you are looking to collect, invest, enjoy!

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