CHIVAS BROTHERS ANNOUNCES PLANS TO INVEST £40M IN WORLD CLASS FACILITY IN SCOTLAND

– Plans for a new plant, equipment and facilities in Dumbarton –

– Proposal to move Paisley-based operations to Kilmalid site by end of 2019 – 

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, has announced its intention to invest in a new state-of-the-art facility over the next three years at its Kilmalid site in Dumbarton.

Testament to the company’s firm commitment to Scotland, the £40 million investment will deliver a world-class operation with outstanding performance.

Plans include a bottling hall and office set for completion by the end of 2019, which will be newly designed and purpose built, providing a more integrated and engaging environment for all Chivas Brothers employees.

The proposal is a response to an extensive review of the company’s current operations and would see the closure of the Paisley site in three years’ time.

The transfer of activities from Paisley to Kilmalid is scheduled to start in 2018 and by the end of 2019 all Chivas Brothers employees based in Paisley would move over to work at the company’s Kilmalid site.

The new integrated operation will build on Chivas Brothers’ rich 80-year history in Dumbarton.

Laurent Lacassagne, Chairman & CEO at Chivas Brothers, said:

“Our proposal is the next step towards achieving our leadership ambition and is a clear signal that we see a strong future ahead for both the industry and our business. This £40 million investment will enhance and improve our operations and support the development of our global and iconic brands.

“This is a project of significant size and scale for Chivas Brothers which is why which we are announcing our proposal three years in advance. We want to provide ample opportunity to manage the transition of our business effectively and for our employees to adjust and adapt to working from a new site.”

The company is at the beginning of a three year process and aims to start the transfer of operations and activities from Paisley to Kilmalid from 2018, creating an integrated operation by the end of 2019. 

Notes

About Chivas Brothers

Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits. Chivas Brothers’ award-winning portfolio features some of the world’s most revered Scotch whisky brands including Chivas Regal, the world’s first luxury whisky and the No.1 Scotch whisky in China; Ballantine’s, Europe’s No.1 Scotch whisky; The Glenlivet, the single malt whisky that set the standard; and Royal Salute, the world’s only exclusively prestige Scotch whisky range. The portfolio also includes two of the world’s leading English gins – Beefeater, the world’s most awarded premium gin, and Plymouth gin – plus a selection of highly acclaimed single malt whiskies, including Aberlour, Longmorn, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore. The range is completed by a collection of blended Scotch whiskies operating in many of the world’s key whisky markets which includes 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.

www.chivasspirit.com/

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the world’s n°2 in wines and spirits with consolidated Sales of € 8,558 million in 2014/15. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has undergone sustained development, based on both organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard holds one of the most prestigious brand portfolios in the sector: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Kahlúa and Malibu liqueurs, Mumm and Perrier- Jouët champagnes, as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, Graffigna and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard employs a workforce of approximately 18,000 people and operates through a decentralised organisation, with 6 “Brand Companies” and 85 “Market Companies” established in each key market. Pernod Ricard is strongly committed to a sustainable development policy and encourages responsible consumption. Pernod Ricard’s strategy and ambition are based on 3 key values that guide its expansion: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust and a strong sense of ethics.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 index.

Please click here for a photo of Chivas Brothers’ ‘Kilmalid site’

Five Questions: Kirsteen Campbell, master blender, The Famous Grouse

Kirsteen Campbell is master blender for both The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark. We caught up with her to ask her about blended whisky, single malts and more.

What are the key stylistic and flavour profiles of Famous Grouse you keep in mind when creating a new batch? First and foremost, it’s important to ensure consistency for every batch – while there might be slight tweaks in terms of casks batch to batch, it’s essential that the flavour remains the same. For Famous Grouse we are looking for its signature sherry style – dried fruits and spices from European oak balanced with sweet vanilla and citrus notes from the American oak. It’s also important to consider a lovely smooth mouthfeel and good-quality grain whiskies play a big role in this.

What is the core single malt that The Famous Grouse couldn’t do without? The Famous Grouse contains some highly renowned single malts, including The Macallan and Highland Park. Another malt which is very important is Glenturret.

What’s the single-most important skill for a master blender? You have to have a natural nosing ability to be able to smell and pick up aromas but it is also essential to be able to describe what you are detecting, particularly pulling apart quite complex aromas. A lot of being skilled as a master blender does come down to experience and learning what flavours work well together and picking up ones which don’t work quite so well.

What’s the biggest misconception about blended whisky? That blends are inferior to single malts. All whiskies have their own unique style, and suit different drinking occasions. Successfully blending whiskies is a skilled process which can take months. Blends are highly complex whiskies made up from casks from several different distilleries, from a mix of wood types, delivering an enormous range of flavours – that’s something that isn’t always appreciated.

What do you like to drink when you’re not drinking whisky? I’m a big lover of wine, but my knowledge is fairly limited and I want to learn more – so much so that some friends and I have set up our own wine club!

BOWMORE VAULTS EDITION 1

The Vaults Editions are hand selected to uncover the depth and range of flavours that have made Bowmore one of the most famous whisky brands in the world. This limited release is the first edition in a four part series and showcases one of the four key flavours most associated with Bowmore. The first edition represents Bowmore’s sea salt tang in a whisky that opens out like the vast atlantic ocean itself! Bottled at cask strength of 51.5% volume.

£100 Buy Now

CAMERON’S CUT

Whisky is liquid sunshine. Or so said George Bernard Shaw.  Shining some sunshine on a whisky career that now spans four decades, Glenturret Distillery’s latest release, Cameron’s Cut, was laid down to rest in 1987 and will be bottled this winter to mark our Distillery Manager Neil Cameron’s 40th year in the industry. Neil’s lifelong passion for Scotland’s favourite drink is firmly distilled in The Glenturret brand where tradition that is at the heart of what we do: making whisky the same way it was made in 1775 when the distillery first opened. It is this passion and skill that led to his recognition as Icons of Whisky Distillery Manager of the Year 2016. This rare limited collector’s edition 29 Year Old is a unique Glenturret expression and you are being given exclusive access to our ballot to purchase one of only 209 bottles available.

There are two ballots available, one for Special Bottle Numbers and the other for General Bottle Numbers.  Visit our website here to see which special numbers are available and how to sign up to the ballots.  Applications to take part in the ballots will close at midnight on Monday 12th November.  Due to anticipated demand and the rarity of the whisky, sales of Cameron’s Cut will be restricted to one bottle per person.

TASTING NOTES

Colour: Golden amber

Nose: Well balanced, good age, fruity,  slightly sweet & sour, buttered popcorn

Palate: Spicy, lavender notes, nicely rounded, melon

Finish: Lingering, slightly dry, hint of oak

Age: 29 years old

Size: 70cl

Strength: 48% VOL

Number of bottles: 209

PRICE General Numbered Bottles: £290

Special Numbered Bottles: £390

DISPATCH DATE 12th December 2016

Compass Box Deluxe 3 Year Old

Compass Box Deluxe, a blended malt scotch whisky created from 1% three year old and 90% unstated aged malt from a distillery near Brora, along with a peaty 1st fill sherry cask matured whisky distilled on the Isle of Skye. A wonderful creation once again from the chaps at Compass Box. Scotch whisky regulations only permit producers to state the youngest whisky used within an expression, Compass Box have been campaigning for transparency. They believe that Scotch whisky producers should have more freedom and to be able to disclose the age of every component used in their whiskies.

Read more…

Wyoming Whiskey Barrel Strength Wins Liquid Gold Award in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2017

“Take a bow: absolutely superb bourbon! A micro distillery bourbon worth making a macro search for.”

KIRBY, WY (Nov. 2, 2016)— Wyoming Whiskey’s first-ever Barrel Strength Bourbon scored a “Superstar” rating of 95 out of 100 and received a Liquid Gold Award in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2017. Murray describes whiskies of this caliber as one of the “Superstar whiskies that give us all a reason to live.”

According to Murray, Wyoming Whiskey Barrel Strength “ticks plenty of boxes here for even the most hard line bourbon lover.” He described the tasting experience as “a stunning volley of molasses and, presumably, rye as there is a real crisp, juicy quality to this delivery. Sets all your taste buds on edge and they are not given a chance to stand down, as the liquorice mounts up in extraordinary degrees.”

The Barrel Strength Bourbon label was created when two special barrels were discovered by Distiller Sam Mead and industry consultant and master blender Nancy Fraley in the fall of 2015. Barrels #442 and #443 had been subjected to extreme heat in their infancy and, as a result, leaked significantly over the years. A total of 22 gallons remained in these two barrels, collectively, and only 96 bottles were made available in select markets. These bottles sold out before they could even hit the shelves and Jim Murray received a fleeting sample of what he would ultimately characterize as “Liquid Gold”.

“Two of our barrels leaked significantly during their time in the warehouse. We believe this accelerated the oxidation process and turned them into excellent barrels of bourbon,” said Wyoming Whiskey Distiller, Sam Mead. “We are honored that Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible, one of the most trusted sources in the industry, identified how special this bourbon is.”

Wyoming Whiskey Small Batch Bourbon received a score of 87, which places it in the category Murray describes as “very good to excellent whiskies definitely worth buying.” Wyoming Whiskey Single Barrel was awarded an 87.5 and falls in the same category.

Jim Murray’s Liquid Gold award is the third major accolade for Barrel Strength since its release. WhiskyCast’s Mark Gillespie gave it a 97 out of 100 in Episode 533 last fall. Lew Bryson also listed it among “Whisky Advocate’s Top 10 Whiskies for Spring 2016”. Wyoming Whiskey fans can look forward to another Barrel Strength release in late winter 2017 as long as Distiller Sam Mead approves of it.

Wyoming Whiskey continues to evolve its well-rounded whiskey offerings. This fall, they released Outryder Straight American Whiskey. Outryder is Bottled in Bond and represents Wyoming Whiskey’s first use of rye, along with corn and malted barley, to craft a straight whiskey from two distinct mash bills. These two whiskies were laid down in November of 2011 at the behest of co-founder David DeFazio. The first mash bill contains 48% winter rye, 40% corn, and 12% malted barley and the second reflects a traditional bourbon mash bill of 68% corn, 20% winter rye, and 12% malted barley. All grains used in Wyoming Whiskey products are non-GMO and grown in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming.

Sign up to become a Whiskey Baron to receive the latest news and special offers from Wyoming Whiskey. For daily updates, follow Wyoming Whiskey on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About Wyoming Whiskey

Based in Kirby, Wyoming, Wyoming Whiskey has a simple goal: to create America’s next great bourbon. The company and product is a collaboration between its partners and 97,818 square miles of Wyoming. The Mead family first came to Wyoming as ranchers in 1890 and the state defines them, and their whiskey. They use the finest corn, wheat, barley, and water from the Big Horn Basin and promote Wyoming’s natural and human resources. Every drop of this bourbon is 100% Wyoming. To learn more, visithttp://www.wyomingwhiskey.com.

1792 SINGLE BARREL NAMED BEST SINGLE BARREL BOURBON

WITHOUT AN AGE STATEMENT 

            BARDSTOWN, kENTUCKY (Nov. 3, 2016) – World renowned whiskey writer Jim Murray has honored 1792 Single Barrel Bourbon Whiskey with a top award in his 2017 “Whisky Bible.” 1792 Single Barrel was named No Age Statement, Single Barrel Bourbon of the Year.

            “Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible” contains tasting notes from more than 5,000 whiskies, and this year’s Bible marks 25 years since Murray became the world’s first full-time whisky writer.

            These honors will be published in the 2017 Jim Murray’s Whiskey Bible which can be purchased at the Buffalo Trace Distillery gift shop, select bookstores, or online at www.whiskybible.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 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 2015 Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. To learn more visit www.1792bourbon.com/.

THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS SPIRIT – A GIFT OF SINGLE MALT WHISKY 

Why not treat your loved one to the ultimate Christmas spirit with a premium single malt whisky? We have a selection of award-winning single malts to suit every budget and palate that are guaranteed to impress this festive season…

The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old

New to The Macallan portfolio, The Macallan Double Cask will be available to purchase as a Christmas gift for the first time this year. Exclusively sherry seasoned, The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old delivers a distinct American oak style, reflecting a perfect harmony of flavours and natural colour. The delicate flavour of American oak – vanilla, citrus and light oak – rises in prominence as the traditional Macallan character of rich fruit, sherry and wood spice affords a familiar back drop. This is a flavour combination which is guaranteed until the very last drop. The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old is available in specialist whisky retailers including The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt (RRP £53). 

The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Gift Tin

The Macallan brings together stunning photography with exceptional single malt whisky to create a truly extraordinary gift. Inspired by The Macallan’s commitment to exceptional oak casks, this new limited edition tin features The Macallan Gold and brings to life the natural beauty and quality of the oak used to make The Macallan’s exceptional casks through the medium of beautiful photography. This limited edition gift tin is a decorative and eye-catching keepsake for whisky enthusiasts and collectors. The Macallan Gold Limited Edition Gift Tin is available in Tesco and Waitrose (RRP £38). www.themacallan.com/

Highland Park 12 Year Old

Highland Park 12 Year Old is the ideal gift for fans of flavour and the perfect accompaniment for your Christmas pudding. This single malt is at the heart of Highland Park’s core range and is a rich and well-balanced whisky boasting a honey sweetness, followed by fruity notes with a hint of gentle smoke. Highland Park 12 Year Old is available at multiple retailers including Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Morrisons and Co-op (RRP £35). www.highlandpark.co.uk/

Highland Park 18 Year Old

For the whisky aficionado, Highland Park 18 Year Old is an ideal gift this Christmas. Named “Best Spirit in the World” by US spirits writer F. Paul Pacult, this single malt is a masterclass of balance, complexity and refinement. Displaying characteristic toffee sweetness with a full smoky finish it is a whisky that reveals more layers with every glass you enjoy. Highland Park 18 Year Old is available in all good whisky specialists including www.masterofmalt.com and www.thewhiskyexhange.com/ (RRP £99). www.highlandpark.co.uk/

The Macallan Rare Cask

Aged exclusively in sherry oak casks, The Macallan Rare Cask sees soft notes of opulent vanilla and raisin pique the nose, giving way to a sweet ensemble of apple, lemon, and orange. A single malt produced through meticulous dedication to wood – with some of the casks used to age the whisky from sherry bodegas no longer in existence – it is the perfect gift for those who are fans of craftsmanship and quality.

The Macallan Rare Cask is available in select whisky retailers including The Whisky Shop and Harrods (RRP £200). www.themacallan.com/

Notes 

Please enjoy our brands responsibly www.drinkaware.co.uk

About Maxxium UK Limited

Maxxium UK Limited is part of the sales and distribution alliance between Beam Suntory and Edrington and we are proud to represent third-party drinks brands.

For further information on our award-winning range of premium brands and how to enjoy them, please log on to www.maxxium.com/ or www.mixxit.co.uk/

SweetHaus whisky cupcakes for the first 100 visitors!  Thrill of the Grill food truck all day & music by Gina Sobel 1:30-4:30pm.  Our birthday wish is that you will help us support the Nelson County Pantry.  Make a donation while you’re here and receive a special gift!

BOOK YOUR TOUR

Saturday, November 5th Virginia Craft Spirits Showcase

Sunday, November 6th Pig & Whiskey Dinner at Rapture in Charlottesville, VA

Thursday, November 10th Capital Food Fight in Washington, DC Whiskey & Fine Spirits Festival in Washington, DC

Saturday, November 12th 1st Birthday Party Celebration at our Visitors Center EmporiYUM Food Market in Washington, DC UVA Football Tailgate at Alumni Hall in Charlottesville, VA Live Arts Gala Afterglow in Charlottesville, VA

Friday, November 18th and Saturday, November 19th Fire, Flour & Fork in Richmond, VA

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY 

Planning a holiday party?  Our Whisky Loft & Visitors Center are available for private events!  E-mail whiskyexperience@vadistillery.com for details

Caol Ila 2003 Private Collection

New 2016 expression matured in Sassicaia wine casks selected and bottled by Gordon & MacPhail. The result is a single malt with a curious mix of summer fruits, bonfire notes and milk chocolate. Nose: Cured bacon aromas lead to blueberry, strawberry, and apricot notes. A defined peat smoke edge is present. Palate: Smooth and tangy; tangerine, raspberry, and ripe banana flavours are complemented by milk chocolate. Bonfire embers linger on the finish. Caol Ila Distillery is famous for the stunning view from its still house windows looking out across the Sound of Islay and for the objects which have passed by including naval battleships, submarines and whales. Caol Ila was established in 1846 by Hector Henderson on a sheltered but rocky stretch of coast on north east Islay. Now the largest malt whiskey distillery on Islay it produces peated and some un-peated malt whisky with the distillery range including Caol Ila 12 year old and the Distiller’s Edition. Caol Ila participates in Feis Ile, the annual Islay Festival of Malt and Music.

£49.68

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