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.
Please submit your press releases, newsletters, events, tasting notes or comments.
Girvan Patent Still
Single Grain Scotch Whisky (as defined by our SWA overlords) has long had an ambiguous existence in the global whisky industry. Produced primarily to supply the overwhelming demand for Blended Scotch Whisky, it rarely sees the light of day bottled … Continue reading >>
Personalised whisky – a unique way to wish them Merry Christmas
Question: What could be better than receiving a bottle of Glengoyne on Christmas morning?
Answer: Receiving a bottle of Glengoyne adorned with a unique personalised label.
This Christmas, why not turn a gift of Glengoyne 10 yo into a treasured memento by ordering a personalised bottle for someone special? We’ll print a label carrying your unique message here at the distillery and affix it to your bottle.
For the month of December, we are offering our Personalised Glengoyne at the discounted price of £35.00 (RRP £40.00)
Plus, as a Member of the Family, if you order a personalised bottle before 14th December, you’ll receive a limited edition Silver key Chain worth £7. Simply add a Key Chain to your cart and enter the code GGKEY13 during the checkout process.
MORTLACH SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY IS REBORN
Diageo has announced the rebirth of Mortlach™, one of the most formidable and revered Single Malt Scotch Whiskies to have been created on Speyside.
For decades, Mortlach’s output has been largely captured by Diageo’s blenders to add its unique notes to complex world-class Blended Scotch whiskies – though in recent times, a very limited number of bottles of Mortlach Single Malt Whisky have been available, and sold rapidly to connoisseurs in the know.
But now for the first time, and in response to suggestions over the years that such a rewarding Single Malt Whisky deserved a wider market, it will be available in global markets in four expressions aimed at global travel and the luxury and connoisseur segment: Rare Old, Special Strength, 18-year-old and 25-year-old.
Mortlach has been described by whisky connoisseurs as “The Beast of Dufftown”, for its rich and powerful flavours, produced in an astonishingly complicated and unique distillation process which commentators have attempted to explain as ‘2.81 Distilled’.
A famous family had a hand in that.
In 1823 Mortlach was the first distillery to be built at Dufftown, now one of the epicentres of Speyside whisky distilling. Its most eminent owners were the entrepreneurial Scottish civil engineer George Cowie,and his gifted and equally ambitious son Dr Alexander Cowie.
After playing a role in the shaping of the railway industry in the 19th century, George Cowie applied his pioneering and precise approach to engineering another great challenge, the production of Single Malt Scotch Whisky. He accepted a partnership at the Mortlach distillery in 1852, before becoming sole owner in 1867.
He clearly made an impact as shortly afterwards a local newspaper wrote: “There is not perhaps a distillery in Scotland that has so many private customers as Mortlach from which spirits are sent not only over the three kingdoms to families, but to America, India, China and Australia, in all of which Mr Cowie has customers who prefer his distillation to all others …” (The Elgin Courant, 1869).
In 1896, George died and his son Alexander, who through his own pioneering work had become an enlightened traveller, returned to Dufftown from Hong Kong and assumed full control of the distillery. Harnessing his entrepreneurial energies and scientific background to oversee the development of Mortlach, Alexander paved the way for the creation of a unique distillation system precisely calculated to create the highly complex and richly flavoured whisky that we know today. Alexander developed a profound knowledge and mastery of whisky making. Indeed, his pioneering work on whisky creation and production was soon recognised in the leading role he played in Scotland’s expanding malt whisky world.
As Chairman of the North of Scotland Malt Distillers’ Association, Alexander represented the interests of over 40 distillers in the North of Scotland and spoke on their behalf at the 1908/09 Royal Commission on Whiskey, where he proudly claimed “I am a malt distiller of high flavoured whisky, a thick type of whisky”.
In a golden age of Victorian expansion and improvement, George and Alexander Cowie were typical of those generations of Scottish engineers, scientists, surveyors and entrepreneurs who, with a energetic sense of purpose, made a confident and lasting mark not just in Scotland and Britain but around the world.
At the helm of the Mortlach distillery for over half a century, the Cowies’ innovative spirit shaped the brand and liquid for centuries to come. In the spirit of these pioneers, the reborn Mortlach whiskies are a celebration of those audacious thinkers who shaped today’s world, just as their forefathers did in the era in which Mortlach was born.
Just as both generations of Cowies made major investments to expand and improve their distillery, so they would undoubtedly be proud to note that its present owners (as announced in April 2013) are investing to double the distillery’s capacity and promote its whiskies widely – a statement of intent and ambition that George and Alexander would surely endorse. The expansion will include the building of a new stillhouse, which will replicate the bewilderingly complex distillation process which makes Mortlach™ unique.
The new Mortlach expressions will be available in selected markets in mid-2014. Further details of pricing, distribution and packaging will be released in early 2014.
Please drink your Mortlach responsibly.
About Diageo
Diageo is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, JεB, Windsor,Buchanan’s and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One vodkas, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.
The Mortlach word and associated logo are trade marked. © Diageo 2013
The discontinued Mortlach 16 year old is now available to order.
The Whisky Shop have limited stocks of the Mortlach 16yo and we expect this beautiful dram to sell out very quickly.
The Mortlach 16 year old Flora and Fauna expression is a full – bodied sherried single malt that is one of our all time favourite drams. The rich sherry flavours sets this champion apart from any other Speyside whisky and is widely regarded as a cult classic. Bottled at 43% volume and part of the award winning Flora and Fauna range it is something to be savoured for as long as possible.
With exciting news coming out today regarding the new expressions which will be launched next year to replace the Mortlach 16 year old we can only hope that they come close to matching the staggering quality of this whisky know as the ‘Beast of Speyside.’
We would like everyone to get a chance to purchase a bottle before it disappears forever!
Now only £45.99 reduced from £77.99 Save £22.00
For more information on this exciting development in the whisky industry simply visit The W Club website by clicking here.
THE GLENLIVET DISTILLERY VISITOR CENTRE WINS
VISIT SCOTLAND’S ‘BEST VISITOR ATTRACTION 2013’ AWARD
The Glenlivet Distillery Visitor Centre, has been recognised for its contribution to the Scottish tourism industry. The Glenlivet’s state-of-the-art distillery visitor centre was named ‘Best Visitor Attraction 2013’ at the Scottish Thistle Awards ceremony, organised by VisitScotland, held on 15th November.
The prestigious award was presented to members of The Glenlivet team at a glittering ceremony at Stirling Castle, hosted by popular GMTV presenter Lorraine Kelly.
The Glenlivet Distillery Visitor Centre, which attracts over 40,000 tourists annually from around the world, re-opened for the 2013 summer season featuring a raft of improvements focused on enhancing the tourist experience. The free exhibition traces the fascinating history of The Glenlivet from its beginnings as the first licensed distillery in Scotland’s Livet Valley, to its current global position as the world’s number 2 single malt whisky. A wide selection of guided tours are also available and guests have the opportunity to hand-fill and purchase a personalised bottle of The Glenlivet 18 Year Old single cask selection.
To ensure the finest visitor experience, The Glenlivet Distillery Visitor Centre team places a strong emphasis on obtaining and analysing visitor feedback. With visitors coming to Scotland from as far afield as Japan, China, South America, Facebook and other social media sites are increasingly important channels in allowing the public to access to information about activities taking place at the distillery.
Caroline Mitchell, Visitor Centre Manager for The Glenlivet, comments; “We are delighted that The Glenlivet visitor centre has been recognised for its excellence. To be named the Best Visitor Attraction in Scotland is a great honour and means a lot to the whole team at The Glenlivet. We have an excellent team at the distillery and visitor centre, who work tirelessly to ensure we provide our visitors with the best experience possible. We have made a number of improvements to the visitor experience at The Glenlivet over the past year, taking into account the feedback of our guests, so it’s great to have these efforts recognised with a Thistle award.”
Now in their 21st year, the Scottish Thistle Awards celebrate excellence and quality within the tourism industry. They are widely recognised as the mark of excellence and professionalism across the industry, awarding the contributions of local businesses to making Scotland a top visitor attraction.
Notes:
Photo caption
The Glenlivet team: Caroline Mitchell, Lesley McIntosh, Manuela Calchini (VisitScotland) and Karen McGillivary accepting the award from TV presenter Lorraine Kelly
About The Glenlivet
The Glenlivet is the No. 2 single malt Scotch whisky in the world. Crafted in the remote Livet Valley since 1824, it is the only whisky with the unchallengeable right to be called The Glenlivet.
About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater gin, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport.
In July 2010, Chivas Brothers launched The Age Matters campaign to help consumers understand the importance of Scotch whisky age statements.
For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com
The one(s) you have been waiting for this side of Xmas. Our first confirmed festivals of 2014 and with early-bird offers at that!
Whether you are a seasoned whisky drinker or an interested novice, here are our first two confirmed Whisky Festivals for 2014. These events are a real ‘must-do’ for anybody who enjoys a dram and a yarn in good company.
As always, your full-day ticket price includes:
FREE Glencairn Crystal Tasting Glass
FREE Festival Guide
FREE Bottle of Water
FREE Access to sample ALL ‘On The Counter’ Drams for no extra cost
FREE 2 WHITE Under The Counter Dram tokens
FREE Bluffer’s Guide to Whisky tasting for newcomers (subject to availability on the day)
Perhaps the biggest news of all is that we are running our famous Early-Bird offer of 2 tickets for £40 for the first 100 lucky punters to sign up! After this, tickets will be £30 (full day) or £20 (half day). Both events take place from 12pm to 5pm, with the half-day tickets valid from 2.30pm. Last pour is at 4.45pm.
Simply click on the relevant banner to be taken to the offer on our website.
For those of you not in Scotland or the North of England, fear not, news of our London and Brighton events will be with you soon…
GIFTING
Whichever of one of our events you would like to book for your loved one, we can email you a PDF gift voucher with their name emblazoned proudly. You can then print this out and pop it in a card of your choice from your local stationer! All you need to do, once you have booked your ticket/s online is email us at info@thewhiskylounge.com quoting your booking date and the name/s of the recipients.
We have tons more Xmas ideas to give you over the next few days, including news on events everywhere in the UK, but for now I think that should be enough for you to digest.
Sláinte!
Eddie, Amanda & Joe
Team Whisky Lounge
You can now find our Virginia Highland Malt whisky at these excellent restaurants across the Commonwealth:
Pasture – Charlottesville
Rappahannock Restaurant – Richmond
Bazin’s on Church – Vienna
Bistro on Main – Lexington
Castiglia’s Italian Restaurant – Fredericksburg
Opus 9 Steakhouse – Williamsburg
Tuscarora Mill – Leesburg
Lucky – Roanoke
Click here for a list of all restaurants that carry our whisky.
Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert
The world’s first in-depth book about Canada’s national spirit.
WINNER, GOURMAND BOOK AWARDS BEST SPIRITS BOOK CANADA 2012
WINNER, 2013 IACP BOOK AWARDS WINE, BEER AND SIRITS
SHORTLISTED, TASTE CANADA BOOK AWARDS CULINARY NARRATIVES
Canadian Whisky: The Portable Expert is published by McClelland & Stewart and distributed by Penguin Random House. It is available from most book shops and on-line book sellers.
The Dalmore Single Malt Scotch Combo Pack $79.99
Jack Daniel’s Sinatra Select Tennessee Whiskey 1.0 Liter $154.99
BRING YOUR BOOKSHELF TO LIFE WITH BALLANTINE’S 12 THIS CHRISTMAS
Ballantine’s, the No. 2 Scotch whisky in the world, has unveiled an innovative new gift pack for its Ballantine’s 12 Year Old expression, which will be available to the off-trade around the world throughout the festive season.
The new limited edition pack – which contains a bottle of Ballantine’s 12 – invites whisky enthusiasts to celebrate the authenticity and originality of traditionally printed books, mirroring the authenticity of the spirit that is housed inside.
Using slight variations of the iconic Ballantine’s blue, the new pack challenges customers to look closely and discover four hardback books nestled together on a bookshelf. Each book relates to the history of Ballantine’s 12, and text has been applied horizontally and vertically across the pack to enhance its realistic appearance and on-shelf appeal. The sides, rear and lid of the pack all contribute to its visual effect, while the overall finish and embossing of the spine adds a tactile experience.
To generate customer engagement, the limited edition can be brought to life in local markets via a series of dynamic marketing initiatives, including print and online advertising, social media campaigns and in-store displays.
Peter Moore, Global Brand Director for Ballantine’s commented: “This year, we have created a limited edition for Ballantine’s 12 that echoes the authenticity and originality of the whisky blend inside. The festive period is notoriously competitive and, with this innovative and eye-catching design, we are offering retailers an opportunity to achieve stand out on-shelf. We hope that whisky fans all over the world will enjoy this unique collectible”.
The gift packs, which have been designed for the 70cl and 75cl bottles, are available now from 28 markets around the world, including Portugal, Chile, Thailand and Sub-Sahara Africa. The creative design has already started winning awards for Ballantine’s 12, with a Gold Award recently achieved at The Canmaker Magazine ‘Cans of the Year’ Awards; internationally renowned for celebrating, promoting and rewarding the huge amount of innovative work that takes place within the metal packaging industry each year.
Notes:
About Ballantine’s
Ballantine’s is the No.1 Scotch whisky in Europe and the No. 2 Scotch whisky in the world with the range selling over 70 million bottles a year worldwide. Ballantine’s has won more than 130 trophies and medals at international competitions in the past 10 years for its outstanding quality, as a result of its unique richness of character and perfect balance. The range, from Ballantine’s Finest to the exclusive 40 Year Old, is the most extensive in the world of Scotch and is maintained by the latest in a tradition of Master Blenders that dates back to 1827.
About Chivas Brothers
Chivas Brothers is the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard – the world’s co-leader in wine and spirits. Chivas Brothers is the global leader in luxury Scotch whisky and premium gin. Its portfolio includes Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Beefeater, The Glenlivet, Royal Salute, Aberlour, Plymouth gin, Longmorn, Scapa, 100 Pipers, Clan Campbell, Something Special and Passport Scotch.
For further information please visit www.chivasbrothers.com
