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.
Tickets on sale Today at 10am!
This is your reminder: tickets for Spirit of Toronto 2013 go on sale Tuesday April 2 at 10:00am!
These may be purchased as follows:
Online through Roy Thomson Hall’s website
Ardbeg rockets to the top!
— Ardbeg is the star at the World Whisky Awards in London with hat-trick of wins —
— Iconic Islay malt is named ‘World’s Best Single Malt’, ‘Best Islay Single Malt’ and the ‘Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year’ —
Ardbeg completed a hat-trick of prestigious awards at the renowned World Whisky Awards held in London on 21st March.
Ardbeg scooped the World’s Best Single Malt 2013 accolade and received further recognition when its latest limited edition, Ardbeg Galileo, was also declared Best Islay Single Malt.
However, two awards were simply not enough, as Jackie Thomson, Ardbeg distillery visitor centre manager, was named Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year, confirming her growing reputation in the industry.
The latest Limited Edition release Ardbeg Galileo was launched to celebrate the Islay distillery’s world-first experiment in space on the International Space Station.
Ardbeg, the Ultimate Islay Malt, has never done things by halves, and these three prestigious awards just go to prove it.
Dr Bill Lumsden, director of distilling and whisky creation, explained: “As Ardbeg’s visitor centre manager Jackie Thomson lives and breathes Ardbeg. Her enthusiasm and passion for the Ultimate Islay Malt is clear to the thousands of smoky malt drinkers who make the pilgrimage to the distillery.
“We’re all so proud of Jackie and her achievements. She embodies Ardbeg’s commitment to providing an unforgettable experience, and everyone who meets her is inspired.”
Allan Little, Ardbeg senior brand manager, said: “Receiving these awards is amazing. We’re over the moon to be recognised as the World’s Best Single Malt 2013, Best Islay Single Malt and Jackie is an inspiration to us all every day.
“We are thrilled she has been acknowledged as the Global Icon Visitor Centre Manager of the Year, as she’s the ultimate visitor centre manager.”
Ardbeg prides itself on being the ‘Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky’. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.
Ardbeg Galileo is the limited edition 12 Years Old Single Malt Whisky, which is a special vatting of different styles of Ardbeg laid down in 1999. The spirit has been matured in ex-Marsala wine casks from Sicily that add fruity aromas to Ardbeg’s famed smooth and peaty house style.
Notes
About the Ardbeg space experiment
The ground-breaking study blasted off when samples of the Ardbeg-crafted molecules took off for the International Space Station (ISS) in the unmanned Russian Progress 45 cargo spacecraft.
The spaceship was launched via a Soyuz booster rocket at 10.11am GMT on 30 October 2011 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. It docked with astronauts at the International Space Station at 11.41am GMT on 2 November 2011. The experiment is being led by US-based space research company NanoRacks LLC and was unveiled at Edinburgh’s International Science Festival.
About Ardbeg
Ardbeg prides itself on being the ‘Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky’. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts.
Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded by the formation of ‘The Committee’ in 2000 from thousands of Ardbeg followers across the globe keen to ensure, “the doors of Ardbeg never close again.”
Ardbeg was voted ‘Scotch Whisky of the Year’ three years in a row by Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible.
Ardbeg Embassies
Ardbeg Embassies are a network of customers who love the whisky and have agreed to profile Ardbeg to their consumers. Most are independent premium whisky stores.
Responsible Drinking
Ardbeg and The Glenmorangie Company advocate responsible drinking and suggest that drinkers savour Ardbeg in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.
Whisky ‘Holy Grail’ Uncovered in Scotland
We are very proud to announce that after months of keeping an incredible discovery under wraps we can finally reveal it to the world. TWE have recently been involved in one of the most exciting whisky projects that we have … Continue reading >>
Reserve Your Place for the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Spring Events
This year The Kentucky Bourbon Festival will kick off the Spring Events by adding a new twist “Racing with the Spirits” on Friday evening April 26, from 7:00 until 10:00 at theGuthrieOpportunityCenter. Guests will join in the fun during an evening of horse racing videos. Wager on horses named after your favorite Master Distillers as well as some of their finest specialty brands and Bourbons. Prizes, entertainment, food, fun and much more. Tickets for this event are $45.
The fun continues on Saturday night. Enjoy your favorite Kentucky Bourbons from ten different establishments while enjoying cuisine from Ladyfingers Catering. Be there for the unveiling of this year’s new poster as well as the announcement of the winners of the scholarship. Tickets are $40.
For more information or to purchase tickets, Call the Kentucky Bourbon Festival Office at 502 348-3623 or visit www.kybourbonfestival.com
The Kentucky Bourbon Festival is a non-Profit organization. All Kentucky Bourbon Festival Press releases can be downloaded from the web site http://www.kybourbonfestival.com/ in the press room.
www.ralfy.com explores a good value/quality modern single malt with Whisky Review 352 – An Cnoc 16yo
www.ralfy.com turns to the obscure and elusive side of single malt Distilleries with Whisky Review 354 – Imperial single malt (D.T. 19yo @ 53.1%)
Highland Park Loki
A year and a bit since the first release in the series, the second entry in Highland Park’s Valhalla Collection has arrived – Loki. The makeup of Loki was conceived around the same time as last year’s Thor and acts … Continue reading >>
NEW ARRIVALS
United States – Bourbon and Rye
Scotland – Single Malt Scotch
K&L Wine Merchants
http://www.klwines.com
Phone: 877-KLWines (toll free 877-559-4637)
Email: wine@klwines.com
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA
ARRAN WHISKY HAS OTHER MALTS OVER A BARREL WITH DOUBLE GOLD
– Scottish distillery gets top award in worldwide competition-
Scotch whisky producer, Isle of Arran Distillers, has scooped a top award at an international world spirits competition.
After fighting off fierce competition from hundreds of spirits from across the world, Arran is celebrating after taking home a Double Gold for its 12 Year Old Cast Strength Single Malt Scotch.
Held in San Francisco, the annual World Spirits Competition commends the finest spirits from across the globe. More than 1,400 spirits from 61 countries* were judged this year as part of the largest competition in the event’s history.
The 12 Year Old Malt, characterised by aromas of dark chocolate, toasted oak and baked apples, is released by the Distiller on Batch basis. The winning whisky is from Batch#2 released in October 2012 and limited to 12,000 bottles worldwide.
Arran’s managing director, Euan Mitchell, said the high-profile win was the perfect reward for years of hard work in bringing the Malt to market.
He said: “Over the last 17 years, Arran has built up a first-rate reputation for its award-winning products and we feel extremely proud that our 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt has added to that by winning this prestigious award.
“Like all our whisky, our 12 Year Malt is special because of the passion of the people who make it and because of our unflinching approach to quality. No artificial colouring has been used, the deep hue being achieved from maturation in the finest sherry casks, and the malt has not been chill-filtered at bottling thus retaining the full range of aromas and flavour which typify The Arran Malt.”
Since it was founded in 1995, the Isle of Arran Distillery has won a number of awards including ‘Double Gold Award’ for its 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for its 10 Year Old Single Malt at the World Spirits Competition 2012, ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011) and Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007).
James MacTagart is Arran’s master distiller and created the award-winning 12 Year Old Cask Strength Single Malt.
He said: “To see a whisky I put so much passion into making be well-received on a global scale is extremely exciting for me. I can’t wait to raise a glass of it in celebration of our win and we hope to continue producing award-winning malts for many years to come.”
For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com
* Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007); Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005); Best New Exporter (2004).
Product awards include: ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the World Spirits Competition 2012. Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards 2012. ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011. ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008), Best Whisky Liqueur (2007).
Arran Distillers to Launch Oldest Malt to Date
Independent Scotch whisky producer, Isle of Arran Distillers, is set to release its oldest malt to date next month (April 2013).
The 16 Year Old single malt is some of the first spirit distilled by the award-winning business.
Available as a very limited edition with just 9,000 bottles released worldwide, it is the first in a trilogy of special malt whiskies planned the countdown to the Arran 18 Year Old malt, scheduled for spring 2015.
Made from un-peated malted barley and matured in a mixture of ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks, this highly anticipated whisky has a unique flavour with a light golden colour.
Commenting on the latest release James MacTaggart, master distiller at Arran, said: “Our first 16 year old whisky encapsulates everything that is great and unique about Isle of Arran malt whiskies.
“The spirit is non-chill filtered and contains no artificial colours so it retains a full range of aromas and flavours – it smells of honey and ginger and has a smooth taste with waves of sweetness and spice.”
Priced at £59.99 for 70ml, the Arran Malt 16 year old has an ABV of 46% and is a collectible bottle. Next spring will see the release of the Arran Malt 17 year old, with the 18 year old released the following year.
Euan Mitchell, managing director at Isle of Arran Distillers, said: “This malt is one of our finest whiskies yet and a strong edition to the Arran portfolio. As an independent distillery we always try to do things a bit differently and the 16 year old will not disappoint.
“It’s satisfying to see the whisky, which we laid down when the distillery first opened, finally come of age and become available for the public to enjoy.”
Notes
The Arran Malt 16 Year Old is released at the beginning of April and RRP is £59.99 for 70cl.
For more information visit http://www.arranwhisky.com/
* Accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007); Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005); Best New Exporter (2004).
Product awards include: ‘Double Gold Award’ for Arran’s 14 Year Old Single Malt and ‘Gold Award’ for Arran’s 10 Year Old Single Malt at the World Spirits Competition 2012. Double Gold in FiftyBest.com awards 2012. ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.. ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008), Best Whisky Liqueur (2007).
