CANADIAN MIST BLACK DIAMOND SET TO LAUNCH IN UNITED STATES

Premium Line Extension Promises a More Robust Expression of Canadian Mist Whisky

Louisville, Ky. (August 5, 2010) – Canadian Mist Whisky is proud to announce the release of “Canadian Mist Black Diamond”, a premium line extension which is set to hit shelves in late August.

This richer, more robust expression of Gold Medal-winning Canadian Mist is the creation of Canadian Mist Master Blender Steve Hughes, whose signature will adorn each bottle. Canadian Mist Black Diamond is blended at 86 proof and has a higher sherry and rye content to give it a more enhanced flavor and deliver the smooth profile for which Canadian Mist is known.

“Our consumers told us they wanted a premium offering from their favorite brand for those special occasions and every day celebrations,” said Hughes. “We wanted to enhance two main flavor attributes that are the key contributors to our gold medal winning formula.”

Distilled in Collingwood, Ontario, Canadian Mist Black Diamond is crafted using select grains and crisp, clear water from the pristine Georgian Bay, North America’s largest pure water source. It is rich in rye and sherry for a full-bodied flavor that can be savored straight or enjoyed in your favorite cocktail.

“Canadian Mist Black Diamond delivers the exceptional quality and taste our current consumers have come to expect from Canadian Mist,” added Alan George, Canadian Mist Brand Director. “It is truly a premium whisky experience that is ideal for celebrating life’s special occasions, or any occasion at all.”

Canadian Mist Black Diamond, a Brown-Forman product, has a suggested retail price of $14.99 for a 750ml. It will launch in six markets in August – Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan and Texas. More markets will follow in early 2011.

About Canadian Mist

Canadian Mist is an award-winning whisky distilled in Collingwood, Ontario with water from the pristine Georgian Bay, North America’s largest pure water source. Brown-Forman Corporation is a diversified producer and marketer of fine quality consumer products, including Jack Daniel’s, Canadian Mist, Southern Comfort, Finlandia Vodka, Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Early Times Whisky, Old Forester Bourbon, Fetzer Wines and Korbel California Champagnes. For more information, visit www.canadianmist.com.

The Whisky Exchange RSS Feeds

Just a reminder that The Whisky Exchange has a handy facility for whisky fans to receive alerts every time a new whisky is uploaded onto the website’s New Products page.

By subscribing to TWE’s New Products RSS feed, you will receive updates containing a photo and product description for each new item that appears on the page – and there’s also a ‘Buy Now’ button in each update to take you to the TWE site and instantly add the product to your shopping cart. 

This feed is especially helpful for aficionados who are eagerly awaiting a limited-release product and don’t want to miss out.  By subscribing to the RSS feed, you know that your feed-reader will be updated within minutes of products becoming active on the New Products page, so you don’t need to keep checking the page regularly yourself.

New Products feed: http://www.thewhiskyexchange.com/ProductNewsRss.aspx

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Bonus:  Two other feeds are also available to give whisky fans easy access to updates from The Whisky Exchange Blog and The Whisky Show, the UK’s premier tasting event, which is co-hosted by TWE.

TWE Blog feed: http://feeds2.feedburner.com/TheWhiskyExchangeBlog

The Whisky Show feed: http://www.thewhiskyshow.com/2010/feed/

On-sale NOW

August Outturn: 11 mouth-watering single casks

WOW-wee, this August Outturn explodes with a colourful cartwheel of characters.  Delve straight in this First Friday, find your saviour flavour.

125.39 Gateau de Mille-feuilles
Highland Northern
£67.40 inc. Free P&P
A stunning multi-layered dessert; ripe peach stone, vanilla pods in mucovado sugar, wood spices, custard apple and pain au chocolat.

Pair Recommendation: Buy 125.39 with 35.39 for £97 (save£12.60)

48.23 Marshmallows and barley fields
Speyside Spey
£40.20 inc. Free P&P
The palate had sweet and creamy vanilla with warm toasted marshmallows and candy floss; a spicy prickle brought candied fennel and tarragon, and zingy chocolate limes

Trio Recommendations: Buy 48.23 with 76.71 & 27.82 for £138
(save £17.70)

19.47 Dried roses in a shoe-box
Highland Eastern
£58.30 inc. Free P&P
The palate tasted of sweet biscuits and golden syrup sponge, but with the welcome muscularity of ginger cake, malt loaf and exotic teas.

33.90 Cocktails in a chimney
Islay
£57.30 inc. P&P
Coconut, elderflower and lime aromas suggested exotic cocktails, but the Malt-meister was in a malt kiln; certainly there was peat smoke, chimneys, coal-dust, charcoal, tar and liquorice.                               

DRAMA at Hotel du Vin & Malmaison
Our August Outturn is also creating some drama at Aberdeen Malmaison & Birmingham and Brighton Hotel du Vin. 

Sample drams 19.47, 36.47, 76.71 & 3.163 at each of the three hotels
Ask at the bar for more details
                                                                                                    
Browse all bottlings at http://tinyurl.com/33qnu8d (84 different bottlings)

2010 Edinburgh Festival Events this August
Our programme of Tutored Tastings at The Vaults and 28 Queen Street is almost underway, don’t miss out on a ticket…

The Vaults: Wed 11, Fri 13, Wed 18, Fri 20, Wed 25, Fri 27 August
Queen Street: Thu 12, Sat 14, Thu 19, Sat 21, Thu 26, Sat 28 August

SMWS Whisky Tasting & Events
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Sat 7 Aug
New Outturn & Sunday Roast Tasting – The Vaults, Sun 8 Aug
New Outturn Open Tasting – London, Mon 9 Aug
Steak & Chips Tasting – The Vaults, Mon 23 Aug
London Eye Sundown Tasting – London, Fri 27 Aug
Aberdeen Preview Tasting -Caledonian Thistle Hotel, Fri 27 Aug
Harrogate Preview Tasting – Old Swan Hotel, Fri 27 Aug

Visit the Scotch Malt Whisky Society for your chance to join at www.smws.co.uk

The last of the worlds major stock of Loch Dhu Whisky, is up for grabs.

A private collector in England has put her collection of this unique black whisky on the internet for sale.

Although the collector is selling the bottles individually on her website, offers for the whole stock of several hundred bottles are being considered.

Prices including shipping to the US are around $300 per bottle.

Offers for the full stock or larger quantities are only being considered at about the same price level or higher, because of the potential for prices to rise markedly as the world stock dwindles.

Several large US hotel and entertainment corporations are already buying up stock from the site, with prices in Vegas hotels nudging $100 a shot.

Prices of Loch Dhu have more than doubled in the past year.

The site with contact details can be found at

www.loch-dhu.com

Whisky Festivals and Glenfarclas Events

Over the next few months, we will be sampling Glenfarclas at the following events. We do hope you will be able to join us.

11th August 2010
8PM Glenfarclas tasting in the Commercial Hall, Dufftown
For full details please click here. http://www.dufftown.co.uk/whisky_nosing.php

14th & 15th August 2010
Whisky Fringe, Edinburgh – Whilst we will be there, tickets have now sold out.

24th August 2010
Glenfarclas Happy Hour at the Marco Polo Hotel, Kowloon, Hong Kong

28th & 29th August 2010
Whisky Live Taipei, Taiwan

3rd & 4th September 2010
Cöpenicker Whiskyherbst, Germany

4th September 2010
Whiskymessen, Copenhagen

27th September 2010
3.30PM Glenfarclas tasting in Dufftown for the Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival.

30th September to 2nd October and 7th to 9th October 2010
Stockholm Beer and Whisky Festival, Sweden
 
1st to 3rd October 2010
Potstill Festival, Netherlands

www.glenfarclas.co.uk

Hammer Head” sounds like the name for a Caribbean rum, not a whisky. In this case, it’s not a shark reference, but the name of a long-forgotten Czech single malt whisky just being released. Tony Roberts of Stock Spirits Group shepherded Hammer Head to market, and explains the origin of the whisky and its unusual name. Plenty of new whiskies to talk about as well, along with the start of the WhiskyCast “Water of Life” Drive.

Vist WhiskyCast at www.whiskycast.com

Launch of The Arran Malt 14 Years Old

Be the first to taste The Arran Malt 14 Years Old FOR FREE!

The world launch of the first ever 14 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky from the Isle of Arran Distillery will take place in the whisky bar of the renowned Òran Mór in Glasgow’s West End on Wednesday 11th August 2010. But this is no ordinary whisky tasting………………

The Isle of Arran has a long history of whisky production, both legal and illicit, and in the past casks of the famous ‘Arran waters’ were smuggled to the mainland under the noses of the customs men. In the spirit of days gone by the first cask of The Arran Malt 14 Years Old will be brought directly from the Isle of Arran Distillery in Lochranza by boat to Glasgow Quay where a horse and cart will be waiting to transport it to Òran Mór. Accompanied by Arran’s Master Distiller, James MacTaggart,  the cask will be piped into the whisky bar at approximately 6.30pm and the first 100 samples will be poured straight from the cask absolutely free of charge – no catch, honest! Expect a great evening with delicious canapés supplied using food sourced from the Isle of Arran and music provided by Arran’s very own Robyn & Amie (“The Safe Words”).

Come and have a chat with James MacTaggart, enjoy the food, music, banter and above all be the first in the world to sample this fantastic new single malt from the Isle of Arran Distillery.

But the great drams don’t end there…..The Arran Malt 10 Years Old is Malt of the Month in Òran Mór throughout August! Make a date for your diary…..

Visit the Òran Mór  http://www.oran-mor.co.uk/page/The_Whisky_Bar_152.html

and Isle of Arran Distillery at http://www.arranwhisky.com/

ISLE OF ARRAN DISTILLERS TO DOUBLE PRODUCTION FOLLOWING 2009 RESULTS*

Award winning distillery Isle of Arran is to double production to meet rising demand.

Managing Director, Euan Mitchell, said: “Our confidence is based on the quality and provenance of our unique whiskies.

“Having delivered improved financial results, we are looking to grow significantly by doubling our production.

“We are a small but dynamic player in the Scotch whisky market and we believe our range of award-winning quality malts are able to compete with the finest whiskies available.”

Despite 2009 being a difficult financial year for the distillery due to difficult trading conditions and the collapse of drinks distributor Malcolm Cowen, Arran increased turnover to over £2 million for 2009; a 3.3% increase from the previous year.

The whisky producers also reported an operating profit of £38,223 and bottom line improvement of £120,747 over 2008. An increase in people opting for holidays in the UK also meant a record number of visits to the distillery’s visitor centre on the Isle of Arran. Dubbed by many as ‘Scotland in Miniature’, Arran is an attractive destination and the visitor centre has seen a 13% increase in turnover with net profit growing by 60% compared to 2008. 

Managing Director, Euan Mitchell, said: “We are delighted with the results for 2009. Trading was unquestionably tough but through close control of costs and maximising the sales opportunities available we have made tremendous progress.

“With new appointments, new products being rolled out and a plan to enter and expand in new markets we have great scope for growth.”

The appointments include a new agency agreement in the UK with Blavod Drinks Limited. In addition, at least five new whiskies are being launched into the market by the end of this year; one of which includes an exclusive 600 bottling being rolled out in July for the 15th anniversary of Arran distillery.

Overseas, the whisky brand is also performing extremely well, especially in the USA, where malt sales grew by 53% and Norway where the distillers, currently the second top selling malt by volume in the country, have gained three new listings. This year, the brand’s focus overseas will continue, highlighted by the appointment of regional sales manager Andy Hogan whose aim will be to grow The Arran Malt brand in North America. 

Euan Mitchell

*This was released officially some time ago

Isle of Arran 13yo 1996/2010 (57.7%, OB, Sherry, C#536, 325 Bts.)

Sample Sherry Single Cask Bottle

From the back label “Every year our Distillery Manager inspects all of the casks maturing in our Warehouses on Arran. Using his many years of experience and skill he is searching for casks which have matured exceptionally well over the years. When he has determined which casks have developed the most individual and interesting character, these are prepared as a Single Cask bottling. This high quality limited edition product is then made available for sale with each bottle individually numbered as proof of authenticity.” 

The nose right off is very good and typical Isle of Arran quality; sherry notes (dark fruits, jam, cherries, raisins, dried and concentrated) along with the  now familiar  biscuity malt that Arran is so we known for. What a sublime mixture.   59.9% demands the application of a little water. Much as previously described but now with the addition of a little cocoa and hints of the cask. The sherry and malt are the  fore ground characteristics. The undiluted taste is strong, vaguely vegetal at first and then the sherry comes crashing in; sweetness and then some slight hints of clove and tobacco followed by the malt which is more subdued at this point. With water the sample is gentler and sweeter but not overly so and despite this being a sherry cask it deals with the addition of water very well. It’s still vibrant and does not collapse. Excellent with some water. The finish is malty, vibrant and long. After the malt and sherry roil around together the oak notes make a later appearance. The sherry is not done and comes back to remain in place for the remainder of the finish. The finish is actually very long and the addition of water only increases it.

Excellent and not a dram to rush.

C$68

Score 90 points

Isle of Arran 10yo 1999/2010 (57.1%, OB, Bourbon, Loch Fyne Whiskies, C#41, 219 Bts.)

The very first single cask bottled exclusively for Loch Fyne Whiskies and bottled a mere 13 days prior to its 11th birthday. The label states “One of the Best” Loch Fyne Whiskies. High praise indeed.

The nose is of tobacco and fruit, toffee (not too much), fragrance, grapefruit rind and barley dust. Vanilla and hints of varnish and tinges of cedar. There is a lot going on in the glass and it’s good. 57.1% Bourbon begs for water. A little hand warming brings forth more wood spice notes and bourbon notes plus some increased toffee and honey. The taste undiluted is simply delicious. Some malt and fruit and the dryness along with some of the cedar and cocoa bitterness with is all simply wonderful. This is brilliant. A late rise of more tobacco but it’s not bitter, much more on the sweeter side. With water the taming is complete however the character of the whisky is still complete, there is still loads of vibrancy and flavour. It has not been sweetened down beyond recognition. Hints of mushy warm fruit, crème brulèe and heather. The finish is almost creamy but still very active and looong, some bourbon and malt and cocoa all very well intermingled. Oh yes, very long and sensational.

Cracker. Two bottles each. Pfft…hardly likely to share this.

£49

Score 90 points

http://www.arranwhisky.com/

Whisky Intelligence Rowan Tree Tasting Note;

Isle of Arran 13yo 1997/2010 (46%, OB, Rowan Tree Limited Edition, 6000 Bts.)

The second in the series “The Icons of Arran”, the follow up to the 2009 release of Arran Peacock and limited to 6,000 bottles. The nose is mildly perfumed (hints of rose water & lilac?) followed by really good fruit and malt. There are also hints of fizzy sherry and then grape fruit plus some hints of unlit cured tobacco. It’s both good and a departure from other bottlings of Arran. The grape fruit is very intriguing. Perhaps some vague hints of pine resin also? On to the taste which is malty followed by the grape fruit, the wood and then it becomes drier and slightly more solid; it firms up some what. Again this is a departure from previous Arrans however it’s still very good. Definitely from the malty, fragrant and fruity side of the flavour wheel. The finish is malty first and foremost followed by the grapefruit and the wood notes. The finish is warming and medium in length.

Consistent to say the least. Enjoyable. But a departure from the norm, which is fine.

£32

82 points

The announcemnet of The Rowan Tree Bottling;

ARRAN WHISKY LAUNCHES NEW LIMITED EDITION BOTTLES

Award-winning Scotch whisky producer Isle of Arran Distillers, have launched a limited edition of 6,000 bottles; The Arran Malt Rowan Tree.

This single malt Scotch whisky consists of 10 ex-Olorosso Sherry Butts carefully selected by Master Distiller James MacTaggart from the 1997 distillation. The result is a golden-coloured malt which has, over the 12 years of maturation, developed complex aromas of dark chocolate, cherries and ginger with a distinctive mint-toffee character on the palate.

The decadent tipple has been named after the equally flamboyant Scottish Rowan Trees which surround the Isle of Arran distillery and in Scottish folklore are believed to ward off evil spirits. Several species of Rowan Tree are unique to the Isle of Arran.

The Arran Rowan Tree is the second edition of the Icons of Arran Series. The first edition, ‘The Peacock’, was named after the distillery’s very own live-in peacock.

Euan Mitchell, Managing Director at Arran Whisky comments “We are very excited to be launching the second limited-edition bottling from our Icon of Arran Series in the year of our 15th anniversary. Our first, The Peacock, sold out very quickly so we’re confident that Arran Rowan Tree will have the same reception in the UK and worldwide.”

This summer, Arran Whisky will be celebrating the distillery’s 15th anniversary with July’s festivities to be announced soon.

Arran Rowan Tree, RRP £38.99, is available from The Arran Malt Shop (www.arranwhisky.com) and specialist shops across the UK and worldwide.