A Scotch Whisky Blend Made Just for New York

Great King Street to Release the First of its Limited Release Regional Blends

GREAT KING STREET, the Blended Scotch whisky specialist brand launched by the Compass Box Whisky Company last year, has announced they will launch next month their NEW YORK BLEND, the first of the brand’s Limited Release regional blends.

Compass Box founder and Great King Street whiskymaker John Glaser explains: “We were approached by the New York Whisky Fest last year asking us to debut a new whisky at this year’s festival, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to start a series of regional blends, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time. What better place to begin than New York?”

Glaser has long been inspired by the old Scotch whisky blending houses of 120 years ago who commonly made different blends for regional tastes. He has also been inspired by the ways in which blends were made in this period, delivering far more flavour than those of today. These things have formed the basis of his whiskymaking approach for the Great King Street brand.

For the New York Blend, Glaser made two key discoveries that inspired this one-off, limited edition bottling. One was an ancient New York Times article describing an 1890s bartender named Patrick Duffy who was responsible for instigating the importation of branded Scotch whisky in glass bottles for the first time into New York. Second, was an old Scotch blend recipe from a Glasgow blending house from the same era. Glaser fashioned a blend based on the old recipe and dedicated the bottling to Duffy, and the New York Blend was born.

What sets this Great King Street blend apart from Scotch whisky blends of today is flavour. The New York Blend uses lots of peaty single malts, plenty of sherry cask-aged single malts, and a much higher proportion of malt to grain whisky (80%/20%) than is typically used today (generally 30%/70%).

The Great King Street “New York Blend” will be launched on Saturday, October 27th, 2012 at the New York Whisky Fest at the Marriot Marquis hotel in Manhattan. Only 1,840 bottles are being released and it will be available primarily in the New York metropolitan area and via the Compass Box Whisky Company web site. The suggested US retail price will be $75.00. Glaser plans more Great King Street regional blends in the future, but for now he is mum about the details of where or when!

ABOUT GREAT KING STREET www.greatkingstreet.com
“This is more than a brand; it’s a mission. A mission to get people – all people – to take a fresh look at Blended Scotch; to join in the Rebirth of the Blend: in how Blends are made, how they are viewed, how they are consumed.” – John Glaser, Whiskymaker

Great King Street is a new range of whiskies solely dedicated to Blended Scotch Whisky. The first in the range, the Artist’s Blend, launched in 2011. The name and label are inspired by Compass Box’s registered office address in Scotland – 24 Great King Street, in Edinburgh. By applying the same skill, techniques and philosophy used for the Compass Box Signature Range of whiskies, Great King Street will offer a style and approach to Blended Scotch that has not existed before. The keys are using individually chosen casks from some of Scotland’s best distilleries, a high proportion of malt whisky, truly excellent quality grain whiskies, and the careful use of new French Oak aging for added complexity. All bottled at a natural colour and without chill-filtering. They call whiskies made with this approach ‘craft blends’.

Glaser explains, “In a world where malt whisky gets all the attention, people often overlook the pleasures of good Blended Scotch. We believe that Great King Street will change this. There are good reasons why the blending of grain whisky and malt whisky has been the mainstay of the Scotch industry for over 100 years. Well-made Blended Scotches have an elegance and approachability that make them a joy to drink. Great King Street will offer a new and compelling alternative for both whisky enthusiasts who ordinarily drink only malt whiskies, and for whisky novices.”

ABOUT COMPASS BOX (www.compassboxwhisky.com)
The Compass Box Whisky Company is a boutique Scotch whiskymaker and craft blender, started in 2000 by John Glaser. Compass Box produces and bottles a range of Scotch whiskies, available in over 25 countries around the world. A four-time winner of the Whisky Magazine Innovator of the Year award, Compass Box is known throughout the whisky world for quality, innovation and passion for great whisky. The Compass Box signature range of whiskies includes Asyla, Oak Cross, The Peat Monster, The Spice Tree and Hedonism. They also produce limited release whiskies annually, and Orangerie, a Scotch whisky infusion. Their latest creation is a ground-breaking range of Blended Scotch whiskies called Great King Street. The first in the range is Artist’s Blend.

ABOUT JOHN GLASER
American ex-pat John Glaser started Compass Box Whisky Company from the kitchen of his west London home in 2000. Having started his career on a path to become a winemaker, then re-routing himself through the corporate world and ending up as marketing director for Johnnie Walker in London, Glaser has a unique perspective on both the creation and the marketing of Scotch whisky.
Glaser established Compass Box based on his commitment to evolving practices in the industry to make great Scotch whisky more approachable and relevant to more people. From the beginning, his vision has been to create one of Scotland’s finest and most exciting whisky companies, re-establishing the standards for quality and style in the industry.

Last Chance for Tickets to Whisky Live Boston This Saturday 5 or 6:30 PM

Time’s running out to buy tickets for Whisky Live Boston! We’re hard at work over here at Federal gearing up for the event. We got a call just this morning informing us that we should be able to pour a brand-new product for you this weekend. We tasted it a ways back and begged the representative to send us some advance bottles to pour at Whisky Live and it looks like they should just get here in time, we’re so thrilled. On top of that we’re digging around in our basement stash to show off some real beauties that have come our way. Boston has long needed an event of this size to bring its Whisky scene together and we’d love to see this become a yearly thing. Make the effort to join us this Saturday for a great time enjoying whisky, food, music, and a chance to share in conversation with some of the true great and good of the industry. We’ll be joined by people from all around the world who have come to display the fruits of their labors, come out and see what everyone has to offer. Tickets are available at a 20% discount with the voucher code “federal”. The tickets can be purchased here for $109 for general admission at 6:30 (before the discount) or $139 for VIP admission at 5 (again, before the discount).

Joe Howell
Federal Wine & Spirits

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Email: info@federalwine.com
Phone: (617) 367-8605
Web: http://www.federalwine.com/

Whiskey in NAFTA to 2016: Market Guide

This report provides detailed analysis into the Whisk(e)y markets in Canada, Mexico and the United States. The report provides market growth dynamics and examines market consumption, consumption by major brands, consumption by channel (off- and on-premise), consumption by price segment and consumption by alcoholic strength.

Furthermore the report details for American, Canadian, Scotch & Irish Whisk(e)y by country overall consumption, consumption by price segment and by alcoholic strength. Actual data is included from 2006-2011 with forecast data provided for 2012-2016.

View table of contents: http://www.drinksector.com/toc.asp?idReport=648

Order online; http://www.drinksector.com/basket.asp?idReport=648&basketAction=auto

Whisk(e)y market guides are also available for the following regions (click on the region for more information):

Emerging Markets, Europe, Middle East, Asia Pacific & Latin America

Individual country reports are also available.

The Ambassador of Bourbon: Maker’s Mark and the Rebirth of America’s Native Spirit, a visual depiction of the Maker’s Mark bourbon brand. Featuring photography of the famous distillery at the Star Hill Farm in Loretto, Kentucky from the lens of master photographer David Toczko, The Ambassador of Bourbon flawlessly conveys the story of the iconic Kentucky bourbon’s celebrated history.

The Ambassador of Bourbon is an amazing coffee table book for your home and makes a heartfelt gift to give to family and friends this holiday season.

Having taken over 10,000 photographs at the distillery, Toczko presents more than 250 of his favorite images, including several historic shots from the Samuels’ family archives that demonstrate why Maker’s Mark truly is The Ambassador of Bourbon.

The Ambassador of Bourbon can be purchased online at Barnes & Noble and Makersmarkshop.com for a retail price of $39.95.

Just in time for election season; here are a  few fun political entertaining tips from celebrity pundit couple James Carville and Mary Matalin. As part of the Maker’s Mark Cocktail Party campaign, this couple has been poking fun at partisan rancor working up to the elections by encouraging civility at your own cocktail party!

Below are a few tips from Carville and Matalin on how to keep political discussion fun and respectful at your readers’ cocktail parties this fall.

In election season entertaining, political discussions are potential fights in a mixed political crowd. Luckily, these things can be handled in a way to make it fun. Just ask political pundit couple, Mary Matalin and James Carville, who are famous for their vocal advocacy on opposite sides of the partisan divide.

The duo have teamed up with Maker’s Mark Whisky for a humorous “Cocktail Party” campaign about putting partisan differences aside for the sake of good old Kentucky bourbon. You can see a video example of this campaign through this link.

Mary Matalin: Agree to disagree. Let’s face it, when it comes to talking politics, you’re not always going to agree with what you’re going to hear especially if it’s coming from over there (in reference to Carville).To avoid heated arguments, wait until those with opposing beliefs are finished with what they have to say and kindly respond “well, that’s a perspective”…… then resist the temptation to rip their face off..rule number one in cocktail parties: never make anyone uncomfortable in your home (even morons).

James Carville: Don’t try to change your guest’s opinions. I’ve tried with my wife the first years we were together and went to hell with that. Instead, try to understand their opinions without necessarily agreeing and find a common ground that you both can connect on.

Mary Matalin: As strategists, you have to always keep your eye on all aspects of your objective…for a successful party, make sure your hor d’oeuvres and nibbles include some that are bite size and can be enjoyed without flatware or plates; no one wants to be trapped with a blowhard on an empty stomach!

James Carville: Overall, let loose and enjoy yourself! At the end of a day, it’s a cocktail party! No one wants angry partisanship to ruin conversation; try witty or charming partisanship instead.

Mary Matalin: Agreed.

New 2013 Edition of Malt Whisky Yearbook
t h e  f a c t s , t h e p e o p l e , t h e n ews , t h e s t o r i e s

*The Distillery Section completely revised with all the latest news
 *The chapter on Foreign Distilleries now bigger than ever – no less than 188 distilleries
 *New exciting articles by distinguished writers such as Charles MacLean, Ian Buxton, Gavin D Smith, Dominic Roskrow, Neil Ridley, Ian Wisniewski and Jonny McCormick
*Completely new Japanese chapter by Nicholas Coldicott
 *More than 250 tasting notes, including Japanese malts and independent bottlings
 *Meet brand ambassadors, retailers and whisky evangelists in Working on the Frontline
 *Learn about Whisky Cocktails and Whisky Tapas
 *Expanded section on Independent Bottlers
 *Last year´s success, Meet the Manager, continues with ten new interviews
 *The Whisky Year That Was – the most comprehensive summary you´ll find of the news and trends in the industry
 *All the latest info on bottlings, web sites, whisky shops, books as well as the latest statistics and figures
 *More than 500 colour photos

All in all – the most updated whisky book on the market! 

Published by MagDig Media Ltd.
Publication date; 1 October 2012
Number of pages; 300
ISBN 978-0-9552607-9-7
Recommended retail price in UK; £13.95
Contact; ingvar.ronde@magdig.com http://www.maltwhiskyyearbook.com/

MORRISON BOWMORE DISTILLERS SCOOPS DISTILLER OF THE YEAR

Distillery manager and brand ambassador hailed as industry icons in awards hat-trick

Morrison Bowmore Distillers has cemented its position as the single malt specialist by being voted Whisky Distiller of the year at the 2013 Icons of Whisky Awards Scotland.

Glasgow-based MBD, the producer of four single malt brands – Auchentoshan, Bowmore, Glen Garioch and McClelland’s – was applauded by the judges for transforming a bulk blend business into a single malt specialist and reinvigorating all its brands with some “stellar releases”.

The awards celebrate the people and places behind the greatest whiskies in the world and two long serving MBD employees also won individual awards.

Eddie MacAffer, Bowmore Distillery Manager won the inaugural Distillery Manager of the Year category for 46 years of committed service, and Iain McCallum landing Brand Ambassador award, being hailed as “a new breed of ambassador who manages to mix a mastery of hard-core technical knowledge with a rare passion for the fun aspect of whisky.”

Mike Keiller, CEO, Morrison Bowmore Distillers said: “To see off such stiff competition and land a hat-trick of awards is a massive boost for us. Compared to any of our peers, we’re a small company so it’s immensely flattering to see both our business growth and individual expertise recognised. Being a single malt specialist requires considerable care and patience, but we’re certainly reaping the rewards of our investment.”

The 2013 Icons of Whisky Scotland were announced at an awards ceremony at Edinburgh’s Prestonfield House on Friday 7th Sept 2012. The judging process included regional heats in the U.S, Scotland and other international markets.

Distiller of the Year: Morrison Bowmore Distillers Brand Ambassador of the Year: Iain McCallum Distillery Manager of the Year: Eddie MacAffer

For further information on Morrison Bowmore Distillers please visit www.morrisonbowmore.co.uk and www.suntory.com

Notes

ABOUT MORRISON BOWMORE DISTILLERS (www.morrisonbowmore.com) Founded in 1951, Morrison Bowmore Distillers Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Suntory Limited and is one of the major names in Scotch whisky. With three Malt Whisky Distilleries situated in the major production areas of Islay (Bowmore), the Highlands (Glen Garioch) and the Lowlands (Auchentoshan), as well as significant blending, bottling and warehousing facilities, the company has established a leading role in the export of Single Malts.  The success of Morrison Bowmore Distillers Limited is based upon maintenance of traditional values and innovation in the marketplace.

Scotland – Pre-Arrival

Kilchoman K&L Exclusive Single Sherry Barrel Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky 750ml ($115.99)
Getting to taste fresh Kilchoman, right of the still, was one of the highlights of the trip this year for David and me. Something magical is going on inside this tiny farm distillery. Their formula is so delicious, even as a white dog, that it hardly needs much aging at all. However, we were very curious to see what five years in a first-fill sherry cask would do to soften up some of the spice. Sitting in the warehouse with manager John MacLellan, we tapped into one of the fresh butts and poured ourselves a sample. This malt is loaded with fresh earth, chewy oils, petrol and peat smoke, mossy, dried grass, and a maritime sea air note that really hangs on the finish. It’s a beast of a whisky, showcasing everything we love about both Kilchoman and sherry-aged Islay whisky. Of all the Kilchoman whiskies we’ve tasted, this one by far had the most maturity and was precocious beyond its years. It was only a matter of seconds before David and I looked at each other, nodded, and added another distillery-direct cask to the list. Years from now, when Kilchoman is one of the most sought-after malts in the world, no longer bottling private casks, we’ll look back and say, “We used to buy them right out the warehouse.” These are heady days for Islay fans. (David Driscoll, K&L Spirits Buyer)

United States – Bourbon and Rye

Larceny Kentucky Bourbon 750ml – 9 available ($22.99)

BACK IN STOCK…

Bourbon and Rye

Old Potrero Single Malt 18th Century Style Whiskey 750ml – 8 available ($69.99)

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

The remARKabLE Partnership Continues
anCnoc Releases Second in the Series from Peter Arkle Collaboration… with a Little Magic Added to the Mix

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has today (10 September) unveiled the second in the series of Limited Edition releases from its collaboration with internationally renowned Scottish illustrator, Peter Arkle.

The partnership launched in April this year, and has seen Arkle develop an exclusive range of limited edition designs for anCnoc; each based on a unique aspect of Knockdhu Distillery, home of the single malt in Huntly, Aberdeenshire.

anCnoc’s eagerly anticipated new edition is inspired by Arkle’s visit to the distillery’s warehouse, where the whisky is aged over decades. Arkle found this tranquil, dark space to have an enchanting atmosphere – almost magical – with “an incredible sense of time passing”. This is conveyed in his evocative black and white illustration on the bottle, showing rows of casks disappearing into the darkness.

The New York-based illustrator comments:
‘Working with anCnoc as a collaborative partner on its limited edition campaign has been an incredible thrill, and I am delighted with this new release. My illustration aims to capture the essence of what makes the whisky so special – time, as the sense of time passing was almost tangible inside the warehouse. I hope that drinkers get as much enjoyment from my design as they do from the magic inside the bottle!”

This dramatic design proves striking against the golden liquid inside – a new expression which has been hand selected by Knockdhu Distillery Manager Gordon Bruce.

Matured in American and Spanish oak sherry barrels, it is a refreshingly light dram, which is reflected in its soft colour and amber highlights. Spicy vanilla and rich coffee aromas are followed by fresh lemons, cooked green apples and just a hint a coconut, allowing for a sweet, warm and spicy taste.

Gillian Gibson, anCnoc Brand Manager commented:
“anCnoc is a malt tied very closely to the arts, and as our partnership with Peter Arkle blossoms, it is clear to see that he has captured the spirit of ‘a modern tradition’ perfectly by bringing a contemporary twist to the traditional world of whisky. We are incredibly excited to release the next in the series of anCnoc’s Limited Edition campaign. Peter’s unique design gives our drinkers a sneak peek into our warehouse, while the whisky inside makes for a delicious dram – an ideal choice to add to any whisky lover’s collection.”

A fourteen minute film, shot in Scotland and New York is available to view at www.anCnoc.com,  charting the extraordinary journey of this creative partnership.

The release will be available in USA, Russia, selected European markets as well as being on general release in the UK through independent retails and on line at anCnoc.com. RRP: £49.99

Notes
About anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is produced at the Knockdhu Distillery which was established in 1894 and is one of the smallest and most enchanting in the Scottish Highlands. It’s renowned the world over by malt enthusiasts for producing a single malt that makes every day a special occasion. The new limited edition product joins the popular anCnoc 12 year old, a light yet complex dram and a yearly vintage, currently the 1998, which is bottled in its natural form producing high intensity malt. Known for championing the contemporary visual arts and this new campaign builds on anCnoc’s grassroots arts sponsorships in cutting-edge Scottish galleries, which to date have generated a vibrant and modern environment for drinking whisky.

About Peter Arkle
Peter Arkle is been a freelance Scottish illustrator, based in New York City. Born in Penicuik he graduated from St. Martin’s School of Art and the Royal College of Art in London, before moving to New York, where his unique style flourished. He has been working freelance since 1993, contributing to books, newspapers and magazines such as The New Yorker, Newsweek and Oprah, in addition to leading global brands and businesses.