INTRODUCING THE GLEN GRANT® FIVE DECADES SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

Master Distiller Dennis Malcolm celebrates his 50 years at Glen Grant with a limited edition whisky comprised of his best vintages from his five decades at the legendary distillery

NEW YORK CITY (September 2013) – Stepping into the Glen Grant® distillery, one is overcome with the feeling of entering a whisky cathedral.  The tallest pot stills in the world rise up in a line like organ pipes. Decades-old wooden barrels line the maturation warehouses like pews. And at the center of it all is Dennis Malcolm, perhaps the most experienced Master Distiller in Scotland, Father of the Scotch Religion and champion of whisky as it should be. As the category has blossomed, even the finer single malts have been drawn into whisky purgatory, engaged in a seemingly endless battle to over-peat and out-darken each rival expression: gimmicks that are meant to catch eyes, not taste buds. Malcolm is determined to bring crafters and connoisseurs alike back into the light by producing Scotch in its most original form: a classical and easily drinkable spirit with a beautifully light appearance.

Dennis Malcolm has spent 50 years chasing this goal, in the distillery in which he cut his teeth as an apprentice cooper at age 15. In celebration, the Master Distiller of the Glen Grant Speyside Distillery brings to you his Glen Grant Five Decades Limited Edition Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Whisky disciples rejoice! Five Decades is a single malt specially crafted to pay homage to his five decades of experience with Glen Grant; this ‘Unique Selection of the Finest Vintages’ is the marriage of the most valuable Glen Grant casks from the past 50 years, carefully hand-selected to deliver the distinctive smooth, fruity and rich taste experience for which Glen Grant is renowned. Dennis has hand-selected his favorite casks, which he personally laid down over the last Five Decades (1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s). By marrying together these slowly aged casks, each of which has reached its peak of maturity, he has created a rich yet mellow Single Malt with unusual depth and complexity.

The Glen Grant Distillery was established in 1840 in the town of Rothes, and is now the proud proprietor of an entirely Barley-to-Bottle process: all whisky, including the Five Decades, is bottled at the distillery, meaning local Speyside water is used in distillation and hands are locally sourced. In addition, Glen Grant boasts some of the tallest, most slender pot stills in Scotland, which are perhaps most key to the Glen Grant Five Decades’ signature light appearance. The process is a product of gravity: to double distill the whisky, the fermented solution must be boiled to reduce volume by evaporation. With shorter stills, the vapor somewhat counterproductively falls back into the liquid, whereas a taller still allows the vapor to rise and escape- thus the pristine appearance of the single malt. Each still has a ‘purifier’ that further refines the character of the spirit making it refreshingly light and easy to drink.

“We believe in- nay, swear by- producing Scotch in its most pure, most classic form at the Glen Grant Distillery,” says Dennis Malcolm. “Glen Grant Five Decades is the embodiment of our devotion, being a culmination of each of the best vintages from every decade I have spent in this beloved hall of whisky excellence.”

The Glen Grant Five Decades is characterized by an appearance of light golden barley, and a bouquet melding vanilla, honey and Oloroso sherry. Once on the tongue, the Five Decades instills tastes of honey and orange blossom, with intensely creamy sweet toffee and raisin fruit. The finish is smooth and lingering, with continued notes of fruit.

The Glen Grant Five Decades Limited Edition Single Malt Whisky will be available for purchase in September 2013, and available nationwide at liquor stores for $150.00

For more information go to:

www.camparigroup.com
www.glengrant.com

Notes

About Glen Grant

Glen Grant became part of the Gruppo Campari portfolio in 2006. The brand is currently the world’s number 5 selling Single Malt Whisky and is an Italian icon and market leader. The Glen Grant range includes the refined Major’s Reserve, 10 Year Old, 16 Year Old, 1992 Cellar Reserve and the 170th Anniversary Limited Edition. Glen Grant was founded 170 years ago in Speyside, Scotland by former smuggling brothers John and James Grant.  The unique and seductively smooth taste for which Glen Grant is renowned is the result of the innovative tall slender stills and special purifiers James ‘The Major’ Grant, son of founding brother James Grant, introduced over a century ago and that are still used to this day.  

About Campari America

Campari America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Davide Campari-Milano S.p.A. (Reuters CPRI.MI – Bloomberg CPR IM).  At the heart of Campari America are two legends in the American spirits industry.  The first, Skyy Spirits, was founded in San Francisco back in 1992 by the entrepreneur who invented iconic SKYY Vodka.  The second is the world-famous Wild Turkey Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, where they have been making the world’s finest whiskies since the 1800’s.  Both companies were purchased by Davide Campari-Milano and together they form Campari America, which has built a portfolio unrivaled in its quality, innovation and style, making it a top choice among distributors, retailers and consumers.  Campari America manages Gruppo Campari’s portfolio in the US with such leading brands as SKYY® Vodka, SKYY Infusions®, Campari®, Wild Turkey® Straight Kentucky Bourbon, American Honey®, Russell’s Reserve®, Glen Grant® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Cabo Wabo® Tequila, Espolón® Tequila, Appleton® Estate Rum, Wray & Nephew® Rum, Coruba® Rum, Ouzo 12®, X-Rated® Fusion Liqueur®, Frangelico®, Cynar®, Carolans Irish Cream®, Irish Mist® Liqueur, Sagatiba® Cachaça and Jean-Marc XO Vodka®.  Campari America is also the exclusive US distributor of Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Glen Garioch® Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, McClelland’s® Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Flor de Caña® Rum, Midori® Melon Liqueur, Hibiki® Whisky, Hakushu® Single Malt Whisky, and The Yamazaki® Single Malt Whisky. 

Campari America is headquartered in San Francisco, California.  More information on the company can be found at http://www.campariamerica.com/, www.facebook.com/campariamerica, Twitter: @CampariAmerica and http://www.camparigroup.com/.  Please enjoy Campari America brands responsibly and in moderation.

Introducing, The Glen Grant Five Decades 

Five Decades of Excellence

Glen Grant Five Decades is a single malt specially crafted by Dennis Malcolm to celebrate and pay homage to his five decades of experience with Glen Grant. Dennis has hand-selected his favorite casks, which he personally laid down over the last Five Decades (1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and 2000s). By marrying together these slowly aged casks, each of which has reached its peak of maturity, he has created a rich yet mellow Single Malt with unusual depth and complexity. This whisky is carefully hand-selected to deliver the distinctive smooth, fruity and rich taste experience for which Glen Grant is renowned. 

Scotch Whisky as it Should Be

As the scotch category has burgeoned, rival spirits have attempted to differentiate themselves through excessively peaty flavors and exagerated “dark” editions – all gimmicks meant to catch eyes, not taste buds. Glen Grant’s Dennis Malcolm, probably the most experienced master distiller in Scotland, cut his teeth as an apprentice cooper in the distillery in which he is now leading the effort to re-introduce Scotch in its purest form: a beautifully light and excessibly drinkable whisky. As the only Speyside Distillery to bottle every whisky on site, Glen Grant is a fitting face to the scotch category, producing scotch whisky as it should be.

Glen Grant is as famous for innovation as it is for its scotch. The founder, James Grant, was the first to install electric lighting in a distillery, and established the distilleries signature pot stills – some of the tallest in Scotland. These taller stills help achieve the delicacy signature to Glen Grant’s scotches; during distillation, vapors from the fermented solution rise, and taller stills allow the vapor to escape, resulting in a unique light color and easy taste. It is safe to say that the scotch category continues to benefit from this historic distilleries’ progressive, yet respectfully traditional outlook on whisky distillation.

Tasting Notes

Appearance: Light golden barley

Bouquet: A rich and smooth marriage of vanilla, honey and oroloso sherry

Palate: Mouth-feel of orange blossom and honey, intensely creamy, with sweet toffee and mellow raisin fruit

Finish: Smooth and fruity lingering aftertaste

Proof

The Glen Grant Five Decades Single Malt Whisky is bottled at 46% ABV (92 Proof)

Pricing and Distribution

The Glen Grant Five Decades Single Malt Whisky will be available in the United States for purchase in September 2013 at approximately $250.00 for 750ml.

Web

For more info, please refer to http://www.glengrant.com/int/en/limited-edition/v-decades/

Niche Presents…

PennyPacker Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky 

From Bourbon Country comes PennyPacker Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey.  PENNYPACKER has existed since the 60’s belonging to American Distillers who were located in Pekin, Illinois, but never actually launched in the United   States.  BORCO, the German spirits company  bought the brand in 1972, only to export it out of the United States, and developed it to be the leading Bourbon in the German market in the late 70’s, bigger than any other Bourbon brand in Germany at the time.

Three types of grain are used in the distilling process: maize, rye, and barley with Maize making up 70% (above average) of the product.  PennyPacker is produced according to the continuous method of distillation, which guarantees PennyPacker’s invariable character and consistently high quality.  This particularly distinguished bourbon whiskey is full-bodied, yet mild straight bourbon whiskey with a slight hint of vanilla and caramel.  The high quality of PennyPacker makes it ideal for enjoying neat, but can also be enjoyed in a number of bourbon cocktails, with water, or on the rocks.

PennyPacker embodies everything America stands for:  from the Penny to Abraham Lincoln to the American Flag.

PennyPacker has recently received 91 Points from The Tasting Panel Magazine.  Jim Murray said PennyPacker is “seriously well made bourbon with a big small-grain presence and decent age” and gave it 87 points (Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible).

Niche Import Co.

At Niche Import Co., a woman owned company, it is our mission to form strategic partnerships with international wine and spirit producers from around the world to import, define, find and maintain distribution channels for high quality specialty brands in the U.S. market.

We are determined to offer outstanding service and competitive pricing to our clients through a dedicated understanding of our brands, their history, the market and target end-user within each geographic region in order to give them the energy, focus, and resources they require to thrive and grow.

Quality in your glass; quality in life.  Drink responsibly.

To learn more about our products and services, please visit: www.ourniche.com or contact us directly at: mpersson@ourniche.com

Rare and Collectable Whisky Auction

Tuesday 10th September at 10am

Viewing times:

Monday 9th September 9am – 5pm

Tuesday 10th September from 9am

Pre-sale tasting – Monday 9th September at 7.30pm

Day 2 Rare and Collectable Whisky & Wine lots 100 – 446

www.mulberrybankauctions.com

Canadian Whisky Awards 2014

Plans are beginning to take shape for the fourth annual Canadian Whisky Awards and gala to be held in Victoria on January 16, 2014. 2013 has been another growth year for Canadian whisky and the competition is shaping up nicely. Producers – watch your inboxes for details.

Canadian Whisky News by Davin de Kergommeaux

TASMANIAN WHISKY EXPORTS CONTINUE TO GROW 

Tasmania’s Sullivans Cove whisky sent shipments to three new export markets this month. International demand for Tasmanian whisky is booming, with Sullivans Cove now exporting to 12 countries. The latest international shipments went to new distributors in Canada, Spain and Japan, where demand is being driven by local whisky fans’ increasing knowledge and awareness of Sullivans Cove and Tasmanian whisky in general.

Clint Anesbury from Japanese importer Wines and Spirits Japan said:” Japan has an established whisky industry and a growing whisky culture. Tasmania is highly regarded as a place of origin of extremely high quality produce and the Sullivans Cove single malt whisky certainly does not disappoint. We are very proud to be the Japanese importer and look forward to bringing this incredible whisky to market.”

Sullivans Cove’s volumes have trebled in the past three years, with current financial year first quarter sales equalling the total turnover of 2010. Local sales are also booming as whisky becomes increasingly popular, particularly amongst “hipster” urbanites. Sullivans Cove marketing manager Bertie Cason said:”Tasmanian whisky is fast becoming a staple on the back bar of Melbourne and Sydney’s coolest bars and this is driven by the so called “whisky revolution”. The fact that we are stocked in every Dan Murphy’s store around the country also helps, and to top it off, international orders just keep coming in. It is a great industry to be involved in at the minute.”

There are now eight whisky distilleries operating in Tasmania.

About Sullivans Cove Whisky

Tasmania Distillery produces Sullivans Cove Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky. Sullivans Cove Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky is double distilled using only Tasmanian barley with only the purest wilderness water from local mountains and forests. Matured in hand selected oak casks and allowed to settle and clear naturally, the whiskies retain full, creamy and lingering flavours that are winning fans the world over. Each cask is bottled separately, yielding only around 450 bottles, making each bottle a rare item to own and enjoy.

www.ralfy.com visits a Creek with Whisky Review 390 (1/2) – Rowan’s Creek Bourbon

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, the world’s leading Irish Whiskey producer, has unveiled a new look and line-up for its popular Powers range, reflecting the company’s vision for Powers as a contemporary, super-premium whiskey, recognised for its flavor, quality and craft.

Changes to the range include the addition of a new Single Pot Still expression, Powers Signature Release, which will be available in Ireland and the USA from September 2013, plus new packaging and a new recipe for its seminal Powers Gold Label.

Powers Signature Release is the second Single Pot Still whiskey to be added to the Powers family, following the release of the ultra-premium Powers John’s Lane Release in May 2011. The new expression bears the hallmark spicy flavours that are typical of the Powers whiskeys, with black pepper, honey, vanilla and berries in abundance. Using the signature Powers pot still distillate, it has been matured mainly in American bourbon barrels with the subtle inclusion of whiskey matured in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks.

Powers Signature Release was introduced to whiskey fans for the first time in the US at WhiskyFest Chicago in April this year and will be on shelf in the USA and Ireland from September.

The new-recipe, new-look Powers Gold Label has taken inspiration from the brand’s history and features a higher strength abv of 43.2% and will be non chill filtered, allowing the spicy pot still character of the whiskey to come to the fore.  Being able to release a non chill filtered whiskey at strength lower than the industry norm of 46% is directly related to the proprietary triple distillation process which Powers uses.

The updated packaging reflects the super-premium nature of the whiskey and brings Powers Gold Label in line with the look of the other whiskeys within the Powers family.  The new whiskey and packaging format will be available in the USA from September 2013.

Anna Malmhake, CEO at Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, says: “Powers has been long been regarded by whiskey lovers throughout Ireland and the world as the ‘whiskey drinker’s whiskey’ and recognised for its traditional, full-bodied pot still flavours. With demand for Irish whiskey now stronger than ever, it’s an exciting time of opportunity for the category in general and for Powers in particular. The timing is ideal to harness the tremendous reputation of Powers and to showcase its quality to an ever increasing number of super-premium whiskey drinkers.”

“With whiskey drinkers increasingly prioritising craft and quality in their purchasing decisions, we see excellent growth potential for the super-premium segment of the Irish Whiskey category so we are confident that the new Powers range will be a big hit for discerning whiskey drinkers, as they continue to explore and discover the many great whiskeys that Irish Distillers’ extensive portfolio has to offer.”

The introduction of the new-look Powers range is the latest in a series of innovations from Irish Distillers, owner of the world’s leading Irish whiskey brand, Jameson. May 2011 saw the release of its award winning range of Single Pot Still whiskeys and a subsequent release of numerous other whiskeys reaffirming the company’s commitment to growing the Irish whiskey category and to improving consumer awareness and understanding of the excellent quality of Irish Whiskeys at all price points.

Notes  

Tasting notes: 

Powers Gold Label 

Nose:

Aromatic Pot Still spices, soft cinnamon, a tincture of clove oil and a dusting of white pepper in balance with russet apples and ripe pears, all on a background of charred oak. 

Taste:

The rich Pot Still spices, cinnamon, green peppers and a touch of nutmeg combine effortlessly with orchard fruits, vanilla and toasted oak. All laid upon a crisp barley core.

Finish:

The lingering Pot Still oils and spices slowly fade leaving the wood and the barley competing for the last word.

Powers Signature Release

Nose:

Opens with the undeniable aromatics of traditional Pot Still Irish Whiskey. Triple distillation in Copper Pot Stills and years of maturation in top grade oak casks produce the crisp fresh herbal notes of garden mint and bergamot, balanced with more robust spicy touches of nutmeg, fig and black peppercorns. The sweet vanilla notes are laid upon a background of Charred American Oak and the subtle use of ex-Oloroso sherry butts, from Iberian oak, brings some succulent berry fruits to the mix.

Taste:

The initial mouth coating, typical of Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, is succulently sweet with vanilla and leads into the warming flavours of the charred oak casks. Hints of black liquorice and cinnamon slowly allow some fruit to appear – melons, green apples and pears. Then, as the richness subsides, there is a crisp flinty acknowledgement of the barley.

Finish:

Long and wonderfully complex. An unhurried journey through an impressive flavour spectrum.

ABOUT POWERS IRISH WHISKEY

The origins of Powers Irish Whiskey date back over two hundred years when James Power founded the distillery at John’s Lane, near the western gate of Dublin in 1791.

A pioneer of its time, John Powers & Son was the first Irish distiller to bottle its own whiskey back in 1886, adopting a gold label exclusively for Powers bottled at John’s Lane as a guaranteed mark of its high quality. Today, Irish Distillers is continuing the brand’s reputation for quality and innovation as it reaches out to whiskey fans who are looking to expand their knowledge of Irish Whiskeys with the new-look Powers family, which includes Powers Gold Label, Powers Signature Release and Powers John’s Lane Release.

Powers whiskies share a signature style, with a rich and spicy character that is also remarkably silky, and have always been recognised for their traditional pot still flavours and dedication to the craft of whiskey distilling. 

About Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard

Irish Distillers Group was formed in 1966, when a merger took place between Irish whiskey distillers, John Power & Son, John Jameson & Son and the Cork Distillery Company. In an attempt to reverse the decline in Irish whiskey sales, the board of directors decided to close the existing distilleries in Cork and Dublin, and to consolidate production at a new purpose-built facility.

A site alongside the existing distillery in Midleton, Co. Cork was chosen as the location for the new distillery, as there was no room for expansion in Dublin. Both the Old Jameson Distillery and the Old Midelton Distillery currently operate as visitor centres attracting over 330,000 visitors annually. Following an early unsolicited takeover offer and one of the most protracted battles in Irish corporate history made by GrandMet, Allied-Lyons and Guinness, Irish Distillers was taken over by Pernod Ricard in June 1988 with the support of the management and employees.  

Irish whiskey brands within the Irish Distillers’ portfolio include Jameson, Paddy and Powers, with Single Pot Still brands, Green Spot, Yellow Spot, Redbreast and the much-revered Midleton, which includes prestigious expressions such Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy and Midleton Very Rare, completing the line-up.  

http://www.irishdistillers.ie/

DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

How do you feel about blended whisky?
Search your inner feelings. Go on. We dare you.

In all likelihood you are at best ambivalent, possibly hostile at worst.

And why is that?
It could be one of many things.
Perhaps your first experience with whisky was with Grandad’s dusty bottle of Macduffin’s 3 Year Old. Or in the pub you were treated to a double of the much-vaunted ‘house’ blend which was definitely more suited to staying in the bottle or stripping paint than being in your glass.

Or perhaps, like us of old, through tasting experience, marketing nonsense and years of malt whisky snobbery, you have decided that there is no way you will lower yourself to the humble blend?

For our next series we are challenging you and the wider single malt drinking public to the great Blends Vs Malts blind face-off. We are also challenging the blend to stand up, man-up and be counted, with three of them duking out with three single malts over three punishing rounds. Only those present will decide which whisky wins each round – you are the referee!

Being a ‘blind’ tasting, this means that until the end of the tasting you will only be able to use your palate to decide your favourite whiskies of the night, as we seek to remove your preconceptions and feed your imagination.

Who will the winner be? You can only decide if you are there!

As always, tickets are just £20 per person and include all 6 samples and access to a wider world.

BLENDS VS MALTS DATES & VENUES

10th September – Sheffield, The Blake 7.30pm
13th September – Newcastle Upon Tyne, Blackfriars 7pm
18th September – London, The Red Lion SW1 7pm
17th September – Brighton, The Hilton Metropole 7pm TBC
Note: Brighton date change from 19th September
21st September – Manchester, Britons Protection 7pm
25th September – Leeds, The Crosskeys 7pm
27th September – York, The Brigantes 7pm

See you there!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter – @thewhiskylounge – and like and share our Facebook page to keep bang up to date with the latest news about our events and more.

We look forward to seeing you over a dram or two soon.

Sláinte!

Eddie, Amanda & Joe

Team Whisky Lounge

Final Whisky Show 2013 Masterclass Announced

This year’s Whisky Show is rather a lot busier than in previous years. We’ve got more ‘stuff’ going on each day than ever before, with complete details appearing on the website next week, and an almost complete list of exhibitors … Continue reading >>