Dear Famous fan,

We are getting very excited about our brand new upcoming Festival and wanted to update our loyal friends.

The very first Famous Grouse Festival takes place on Friday 12th & Saturday 13th August 2011. Set outdoors at Scotland’s oldest and most visited distillery; Glenturret, an eclectic blend of music and whisky is set to transpire.

There are only 1,200 tickets available for each day and they are on sale now and selling fast.

Rocking the stage on Friday evening is the legendary Donnie Munro and Eric Faulkner with supporting acts including Jill Jackson, formerly of Speedway, Michael Marra and The Gospel Truth Choir.

Saturday 13th will see the Celtic band Skerryvore headlining with blazing bagpipes, fiddle and accordion fused with funky rhythms and soulgripping songs. Piperactive, Manran, Mike Lee and Jill Jackson will also be making an appearance.

We are also running a battle of the bands competition in conjunction with Radio Tay (www.radiotay.co.uk) to find the final up and coming Scottish band or artist that will complete the Saturday line-up.

Festival goers will be treated to three free drams of whisky with every ticket and learn about The Famous Family (The Famous Grouse, The Black Grouse & The Snow Grouse). Gordon Motion, The Famous Grouse Master Blender will be running master classes and TV celebrity mixologist Andy Gemmell will be shaking up some whisky cocktails.

Tickets are £30 per day and are on sale from www.ticketmaster.co.uk, until stocks last. We are expecting the event to sell out in advance.

Tickets are restricted to those aged 14 and above and all over 18s will be treated to three free drams (25ml measure). Disabled access and parking is available on prior request.

For all the latest festival news please visit: www.thefamousgrouse.com/festival.

We hope to see you there!
 
Yours famously,
The Famous Grouse Team

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

For the main July tasting event here at TWE Vinopolis, our good friends at The Balvenie Distillery in Speyside have offered to host an evening of malted merriment, purely in the name of education. And, of course, who better to present such a tasting but the incredibly knowledgeable and superbly qualified Dr. Andrew Forrester (Head Honcho for all things Balvenie in the UK), and TWE alumnus Sam Simmons, aka Dr. Whisky – famous for his wonderful blog… and we understand he now does something or other for Balvenie, too.

The Balvenie Whisky Academy Tasting,
with Dr. Forrester and Dr. Whisky
Monday 11th July, 7:00pm

The chaps will be pouring a few select gems from The Balvenie range and are also currently liberating a few samples from Warehouse 24 at the distillery for our enjoyment. They will be including elements from their recently launched Balvenie Whisky Academy, which aims to bring a better understanding of our favourite spirit with Charles MacLean, Gavin D. Smith, David Stewart and others discussing the history, science, and enjoyment of Scotch whisky. Check out the intro on youTube

Whether you are a complete novice or have been drinking Balvenie for years, this is a great chance to learn a lot about whisky in general and a rare opportunity to spend an evening in the delightful and engaging company of the fine gentlemen mentioned above.

In a slight change to our usual Monday arrangement, places for this evening will be released from 3:00pm, Wednesday 29th June. As always, they are limited to 2 per booking and sold on a first come, first served basis. You can reserve a place by calling us on +44 (0)207 403 8688 with payment details to hand.

Sláinte,

The Team

Kilchoman

Inaugural/100% Islay

Produced from barley that has been grown, malted and distilled on Islay. The Inaugural 100% release has been aged on the island for over 3 years in a combination of fresh and refill bourbon barrels, then finally bottled at the distillery.

Pre-order only.

£79.00

Remember!  We don’t charge for postage to the UK mainland when you spend over £100! £16.00 to most of Europe. Great Prices to the USA.

Sláinte!

Mike & Peter
 
Are looking to sell? Get in touch, auction prices paid!

enquiries@abbeywhisky.com

Abbey Whisky

www.abbeywhisky.com

enquiries@abbeywhisky.com

Specialist supplier of rare, collectable and exclusive malts.

HIGHLAND PARK REACHES OUT TO RECORD AUDIENCES AT HAY

Highland Park’s sampling platform, Keynotes, enjoyed record attendance figures at this year’s Hay Festival, aided by over 250,000 visitors to the ten day festival.

The festival saw the return of the popular Highland Park Keynotes, a series of free intimate performances from some of the Festival’s most recognised artists, combined with the opportunity to sample a complimentary dram of Highland Park 12 year old, known as ‘the greatest all-rounder in the world of whisky’.* The Highland Park Keynotes marquee saw over 15,000 brand interactions and 15 incredible performances over six days. 

The Festival, situated in a small Welsh village, has grown considerably since taking off in 1988. It is now taken internationally to 12 countries and has positioned itself as one of the most important literary events in the world, being described as “The Woodstock of the mind” by ex President Bill Clinton.

This year saw headline performances from Bob Geldof, David Bailey, Chris Evans, Kevin McCloud, Brian Cox, Ralph Fiennes, Rob Lowe and Gillian Anderson who were joined by a host of Nobel Laureates and some of the world’s leading authors.

The Keynotes area had an international feel with performers hailing from eight different countries, including leading British scientist Marcus du Sautoy, comedian David Baddiel, script writer and author of ‘About Schmidt’ Louis Begley and Hanif Kureishi, one for the 50 greatest British writers since 1945.  Each artist gave short readings from their novels or shared their thoughts on subjects as diverse as mathematics, the US-Mexico border, human rights, the first British art movement, sex and class conflict in 90’s Pakistan, foreign encounters in Egypt and Muslim prejudices to name only a few.

Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director at Maxxium UK ltd said: “Highland Park has a strong relationship with the world of literature. We are delighted with the reception Highland Park Keynotes received at this year’s Hay Festival, allowing us to reach out to consumers who share our passion for literature and appreciate a good dram.  The campaign has bolstered our brand awareness south of the border and we look forward to taking Keynotes to further literature festivals later this year.”

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

www.highlandpark.co.uk

Notes

*Quoted by Michael Jackson, Malt Whisky Companion

Maxxium UK:

About Maxxium

·         Maxxium UK Ltd is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc and The Edrington Group.

·         Its UK portfolio of premium brands includes: blended Scotch (The Famous Grouse and Teacher’s), malt whisky (Highland Park, Laphroaig, The Macallan, The Glenrothes and Ardmore), imported whiskey (Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Canadian Club), cognac and brandy (Courvoisier and Fundador), sherry (Harveys), vodka (Stolichnaya), tequila (Sauza), rum (Brugal and Cruzan), liqueurs and specialities (Sourz, Bols liqueurs, Galliano, Vaccari, After Shock).

·         Across Maxxium’s whisky brands, including Blended, Malt and American, Maxxium has the leading portfolio in the UK market, attracting over 9 million drinkers annually  (GB TGI 201, Q1).

·          2 in every 3 whisky drinkers drink a Maxxium brand  (GB TGI 2011, Q1).

·         In the retail arena, 1 in every 4 whisky shoppers purchase a Maxxium brand (Kantar July 2010).

·         The whisky category is declining 3% on last year, however The Famous Grouse has shown the strength of a premium brand growing by 13% (March 11 CGA/ April 11 Nielsen).

·         Maxxium UK can deliver leading innovation to the market, The Black Grouse is the No. 1 Scotch whisky launch in recent times (March 11 CGA/ April 11 Nielsen).

·         Visit www.mixxit.co.uk for further details.

 
Highland Park:

Established in 1798, Highland Park is one of the oldest Scotch whisky distilleries. More important than age though, is the combination of traditional whisky-making techniques with obsessive attention to detail that has made Highland Park arguably the most respected single malt in the world.

Highland Park’s five keystones:

Hand-turned malt adds to the deliciously succulent, balanced layers of aromatic character found in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

Aromatic peat gives a delectably seductive, luxuriant floral sweetness to Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

Cool maturation enhances the smooth character of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

Sherry oak casks contribute to the distinctive richness and multi-dimensional complexity of Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

Cask harmonisation ensures consistency and balance in Highland Park single malt Scotch whisky.

JIM MURRAY’S WHISKY BIBLE TASTING TOUR OF THE ISLE OF ARRAN 
 
Mon 19 – Fri 23 September 2011
New two night tour – only £869 per person www.arenatravel.com 

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Due to popular demand, International whisky guru and author Jim Murray will be leading a two night whisky tour, specially arranged by Arena Travel.

Whisky lovers from all over the world have the rare opportunity to join him on a two night tour of Arran which includes the whisky distillery at Lochranza, home of the award-winning Arran Single Malt whisky.

Jim Murray’s Whisky Tour presents a unique opportunity to witness whisky-making at its very best and will give guests an unparalleled opportunity to explore the specially selected distilleries, meet the men behind the labels and sample some truly rare and exclusive drams. Jim will be on hand, offering a personal insight into each distillery and the whisky they lovingly create.

The whisky trail starts in Glasgow before boarding a ferry to the Isle of Arran and the Arran Distillery in Lochranza. A new and dynamic force in Scotch whisky, the distillery started distilling in the 1990’s producing the first Arran malts in 150 years. After a tour of the facility and a special visit to its Bonded Warehouse, Jim will lead a tutored tasting of personally selected single malts.

The tour then moves back onto the Scottish mainland, where on your way back to Glasgow you will visit an additional distillery. You’ll find a full tour itinerary here.

Guests will be treated to luxurious accommodation at the Auchrannie House Hotel and Spa in the pretty coastal village of Glencoy on Arran. Jim will also host two dinners and will be on hand to share his knowledge with his fellow whisky enthusiasts at all key points during the tour.

The first ever Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible Tourof The Isle of Arran takes place on 19-21 September 2011 and costs £869 per person (twin share room) and £929 per person (single).

The Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza® is held in 14 major markets around the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

Both Novice & Enthusiasts

The Extravaganza was the first and is the only tasting event that offers both the novice and most discerning enthusiast the opportunity to properly sample the participating whiskies in a sophisticated and elegant environment, with an array of sumptuous foods that greatly enhance the attendees’ enjoyment.

Single Malt & Scotch Whisky

The Extravaganza provides our attendees an unusually wide range of the most prestigious single malt, premium Scotch and Irish whiskies in joyous camaraderie. Presented by whisky professionals, our goal is to educate our attendees in the discerning consumption of the finest spirits known to mankind. Unlike any other “whisky event”, the Extravaganza focuses exclusively on single malt & Scotch whiskies. No other category of alcoholic beverages is included in our events.

Unique Whiskies From Scotland and Around the World

The gala evening event features a sampling of over 100 of Scotland’s most prestigious single malt & Scotch whiskies as well as unique single malts from Ireland and Japan. At evening’s end, a selection of premium, imported cigars are presented for the attendees’ enjoyment after the event. Please note – smoking is not permitted within the confines of the venue.

 
Chicago
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
The Union League Club of Chicago
65 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604
Jackets Required
(No Denim or Athletic Attire)

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Boston
Thursday, October 13, 2011
The Taj Boston
15 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116

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Washington, DC
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
JW Marriott Hotel
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004

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Philadelphia
Friday, October 28, 2011
The Union League Club of Philadelphia
140 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Jackets Required
(No Denim or Athletic Attire)

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San Francisco
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Intercontinental San Francisco
888 Howard Street
San Francisco, CA 94103

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Los Angeles
Friday, November 11, 2011
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel
1700 Ocean Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90401

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Fort Lauderdale
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The Seminole Hard Rock Hotel
& Casino
1 Seminole Way
Hollywood, FL 33314

Our Company Crest

Good evening all,

You may have seen it on our labels or moulded into the back of our bottles but have you ever wondered where our Coat of Arms came from or what it stands for? I have been asked these questions on a number of occasions and even though I had a general understanding of…(please click on the link below to read the remainder of the article)…

http://blog.grantswhisky.com/2011/06/our-company-crest/

Kind regards,
Ludo

Maltstock news

Whisky Antique at Maltstock + Discount whiskysamples

Fellow whisky enthusiasts,

Less than 3 months to go until Maltstock! I know a lot of you are waiting to book your seats at the Maltstock Masterclasses. It will be another two or three weeks though, sorry. We’re still working on the schedule. We’re hoping to be able to add one or two more masterclasses very soon.

Booking your masterclasses will be the same as last year: you can e-mail us your order of preference and we will do our very best to divide all the available places as fair as possible. As soon as we have all masterclasses online we will notify you by e-mail.

5% discount at whiskysamples.eu (until 29 June)

Whiskysamples.eu is offering a 5% discount to all Maltstock newsletter subscribers. This discount is valid until Wednesday 29 June only! Simply enter “MALTSTOCK” when buying your samples. Check out the excellent range at www.whiskysamples.eu

Whisky Antique and Silver Seal

We are very happy and proud to have Whisky Antique at Maltstock. Max Righi will bring some really fine bottles from his amazing collection for you to try. And since Max is now also the world wide distributor for the excellent Silver Seal whiskies, he will be bringing a few of those as well.

Maltstock hotel

For those of you who would really like to come to Malttsock, but prefer not to stay in small dorms, we have a solution. There’s a nice little hotel just 4 kilometers from the Maltstock venue. We’re curently negociating a special Maltstock discount for you. More on this in the next newsletter. But if you are interested in staying in a hotel you can already let us know by sending us an e-mail.

Maltstock tickets

As mentioned before, all tickets have to be purchased in advance. There will be no ticket sales at the Maltstock gates. Also there’s only limited availibilty. And we’re filling up fast. So to avoid dissapointment, get your tickets now. They can be purchased either through the Maltstock webshop (click here), or if you want to pay by credit card, through The Whiskyshop Dufftown (click here). And remember you still get a 10% discount at all the whiskies in The Whiskyshop Dufftown if you have bought a Maltstock ticket. Delivery of the bottels is possible at Maltstock, since Mike from the whiskyshop will be at Maltstock.

Any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Hope to see you all in September, see you at Maltstock!

Arthur, Bob, Eline, Rogier & Teun
www.maltstock.com

BUSINESS WORLD ENJOYS A TASTE OF THE MACALLAN

The Macallan single malt whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, is investing in a business sampling programme at some of the UK’s most prestigious events on the business calendar, engaging with over 2,850 people. 

The aim of the programme is to engage and educate consumers.  The brand will sample The Macallan Fine Oak at a host of events including the prestigious National Business Awards, attracting some of UK’s leading entrepreneurs and business heavyweights.

Kicking off at the Restaurant and Bar Design Awards next month, The Macallan will showcase its pioneering Ice Ball Serve at this contemporary event.  Guests will be able to enjoy the theatre of this innovative serve, with a perfectly formed sphere of ice in each glass.

Other national events will include the Law Awards of Scotland in Glasgow on 8 September, and the National Chamber of Commerce Awards in London on 24 November, which is considered to be one of the UK’s most prestigious business awards on the calendar.

In addition to business events, The Macallan Lounge will also tour some of the UK’s top lifestyle events, heading to London in November for the Top Gear Live Show.  The theme will be motor racing masters with one of Nigel Mansell’s Formula 1 racing cars showcased in The Lounge.

The Macallan Lounge will also be visiting The Holiday and Travel Show, January 2012, as well as appearing in The Photographic Masterclass area of The Gadget Show Live, April 2012, showcasing the latest innovations in the world of photography.   The Macallan Masters of Photography will be showcased at both of these events.

The Macallan Lounge, a travelling ‘lounge bar’, offers an elevated sampling experience where consumers are invited to meet with friends, relax and enjoy a complimentary dram of The Macallan Fine Oak 10 year old. The Macallan Lounge aims to achieve over 28,000 brand interactions and gain exposure to 230,000 consumers during the programme.

Peter Sandstrom, Marketing Director at Maxxium UK ltd, commented: “We have a tailored marketing strategy for The Macallan and sampling is a key part of the brand’s investment plan.  These events offer strong platforms to further build our brand, reaching both existing Macallan fans and introducing the brand to new consumers.  We are confident that the awareness of The Macallan is high and the best way to introduce whisky is getting it into people’s hands and allowing them to try it out for themselves. The Macallan tends to have a high trial to conversion rate so when people taste it they tend to like it.” 

Maxxium UK:

Maxxium UK Limited is a company registered in Scotland under the Companies Acts (Registered number SC203623) and has its registered office at Maxxium House, Castle Business Park, Stirling, FK9 4RT, to which address any notices should be sent.

Maxxium UK Limited is part of the global sales and distribution alliance between Beam Global Spirits and Wine Inc and The Edrington Group. Its portfolio of premium spirits includes: The Famous Grouse, Teacher’s and Cutty Sark blended Scotch; Highland Park, Laphroaig and The Macallan single malts; Courvoisier cognac; Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon. In addition Maxxium has premium brands across a number of other drinks categories including Sourz, Brugal, After Shock, Sauza and Harveys. Maxxium UK also represents third-party drinks brands including Stolichnaya vodka, Bols liqueurs, Galliano and The Glenrothes.

For further information on our brands and how to enjoy them log on to www.mixxit.co.uk

The timeless reputation of The Macallan is founded upon Six Pillars:

The Spiritual Home

Easter Elchies House proudly watches over The Macallan distillery in Speyside, Scotland. Built in 1700, this Jacobean manor house is The Macallan’s spiritual home.

Curiously Small Stills

The Macallan’s curiously small and uniquely shaped copper stills help to concentrate the flavour of the ‘new make’ spirit.

The Finest Cut

The ‘cut’ is the amount of distilled spirit collected from the stills as ‘new make’ spirit. The Macallan takes one of the finest ‘cuts’ of any distillery in Scotland; typically just 16% goes forward to fill or our casks. 

Exceptional Oak Casks

The Macallan’s unfaltering obsession with selecting exceptional oak casks brings an unsurpassed, timeless quality to The Macallan.

Natural Colour

The Macallan insists upon Natural Colour. It is the interaction of spirit and wood alone which delivers the rich variety of colour, aroma and taste evident throughout the range.

Peerless Spirit

The Macallan remains the single malt against which all others must be judged. It is celebrated far and wide by experts and discerning drinkers as the world’s most precious whisky.

For further information visit www.themacallan.com

Tennants inaugural Rare Whisky and Wine sale on 18th June featured hundreds of bottles of malt whisky, vintage port and fine wine.  All but two of the lots found new owners and the sale totalled almost £20,000, a sure sign that the commodities market is resilient to the toughest financial conditions.

Iconic bottles of whisky from closed distilleries continued to generate huge interest.  Top results included a 1970’s bottle of Bowmore selling for £660 and a 22 year old Springbank selling for £450.  The old stock from a retired off-licence owner, who closed shop in the 1980’s, also proved popular, with a bottle of Macallan 25 year old, distilled in 1957, making £720!  Vintage wine and port continued to be popular, and amongst the top sellers was a case of 1985 Taylors vintage port at £440.

Tennants are now planning a specialist wine sale in September, with magnums of 1970 Chateau Lafite, Latour and Mouton Rothschild already consigned alongside cases of 1985 Chateau Calon Segur and a bottle of Chateau Lafite from 1945!  The wine market is increasingly buoyant and the keen interest shown from Chinese bidders helps to make the current climate one of the best times to sell vintage wine and port.

The next Whisky sale is scheduled for November, and entries are coming in fast.  If you would like to consign any items for either sale, or would like further information or a valuation of your own cellar please contact Mark Littler on 01969 623780 or email mark.littler@tennants-ltd.co.uk. We have very competitive sellers rates, 15%+vat of the hammer price, and reach the world with our sales.  As proven with the last sale, the commoditites market is very strong, and resilient to the toughest financial conditions, so there really has never been a better time to sell!

Behind the scenes narrative;

Before the sale had even begun every lot was well covered with commission bids, and a packed room coupled with very active phone bidders mean that the sale was a success, totalling almost £20,000.  There was a phenomenal amount of interest pre sale, the majority from North of the border, although there was a large number of trade buyers, including several notable whisky bars!

Recent Bottles
The sale included several good recent bottlings.  Amongst the top sellers included a 1976 Laphroaig, £380, a 1975 Ardbeg, £250, and a 1957 Glen Grant, £150.  There was lots of private interest in these bottles, and needless to say many will now have been opened and sampled!  Other good performers included a litre of Loch Dhu, £120, and the four Flora and Forna series bottles also achieved a bullish £300, the latter being bid strongly by two parties in the room.  The sale highlight however came from a 25 year old Macallan, distilled in 1957, which sold for £720.

Vintage Bottles
Undoubtedly the main attraction at the sale was the vintage bottles.  The majority came from two collectors; one started buying when his grandchild was born as a 21st present (the grandchild did not end up liking whisky so after several years of debate, the decision was made to sell), and a retired off-liscence owner who retired in the early 1980’s.

Two of the best sellers of the sale fall into the vintage category, a ships label bottle of Bowmore, £660, and a 1970’s 22 year old bottle of Springbank, £450.  Sticking with the Springbank a recent bottle of cask strength made £130.  Other 1970’s bottles that did well was a 10 year old Laphroaig, £410, and a Rosebank, £300. 

There were two bottles of Balvenie over 8 year old, a 70cl and a Litre.  Surprising the 70cl sold better at £160, compared to the £130 for the litre (despite that 70cl not having a box).  There were also two bottles of Glen Flagler.  The first, an 8 year old with its original red velvet bag, made £280, the other, in original cellophane wrapper made £170.

Cask Strength
For those who like it a little stronger, there were some nice cask strength bottles on offer.  Highlights included the two Rare Malts Selections, the 35 year Millburn making £250 and the 21 year Banff selling for £190. 

Specials
There were a few more unusual  lots on offer. The first, a bottle of Old Suntory, is the subject of a whole online debate (http://nonjatta.blogspot.com/2010/02/dating-suntory-old-bottles.html).  And to solve the age old question for the topic viewers, it made £160.  Another unusual lot was the complete Beneagles Thistle and Rose chess set.  This was not the normal set of miniatures that often crop up, but a full chess set, complete with board and a 70cl full bottle of Beneagles (presumably for the winner?!).

The next Whisky sale is planned for November. 

Kind regards,

Mark Littler

Auctioneer and General Valuer