| 25 Jan 12 | Major Indian investment in Scotch Whyte & MacKay are 'a long way from building a new distillery' The Scottish whisky industry is set for a multi-million-pound investment boost from India as demand for the tipple grows unrelentingly on the subcontinent. Scottish Development International (SDI) has confirmed that a major drinks industry firm in India is planning to build a new distillery in Scotland in order to supply the growing middle-class thirst there for genuine Scotch. And while India's biggest whisky maker, United Beverages, which owns Scotland's Whyte & Mackay, has ruled out building a new distillery in Scotland for the time being, the firm has pledged to invest in the expansion of two of its Scottish-based distilleries in coming months. Mark Dolan, manager of India for SDI, said a "very serious beverage company" that has "been around for over 100 years" was looking at making an investment in a distillery. Dolan said: "We see interest in India for investment in Scottish distilleries, and [a company] that wants to build a greenfield distillery." However, he declined to name the interested firm. He added: "Whisky was once seen as the drink of the elite class [in India]. But the middle class is growing by 100,000 more on a yearly basis so demand for Scotch and malts is growing." Meanwhile, industry insiders believe Whyte & Mackay's Invergordon plant in Easter Ross is ripe for investment. A spokesman for Whyte & Mackay, which produces single malt labels including Dalmore, Fettercairn and Jura, said the firm is "looking at potential expansion of two distilleries in Scotland" but added that it was "far, far away" from being able to build a new distillery. Vijay Mallya, who many label as India's Richard Branson, bought Whyte & Mackay for £595m in 2007 for his United Breweries Group (UB). And while the firm last week reported a 63.78 per cent fall in net profit, dragged down by a cost increase in raw materials and higher duties in certain Indian states, UB received the nod from shareholders to raise up to $225 million (about £145m), through foreign currency convertible bonds. |
| 19 Jan 12 | BenRiach's Septendecim, its newest addition to its celebrated peated range, will be available worldwide later this month, the distillery announced today.. The new 17 year-old has been matured only in ex-bourbon casks and continues BenRiach's quirky trend of using Latin names - such as Authenticus, Curiositas and Heredotus Fumosus - for its richly-peated expressions. The tasting notes confirm Septendecim - Latin for "seventeen" - is a magnificent, multi-layered malt with fantastic length. The colour is rich summer gold with a freshly harvested barley impression. On the nose, it's full of energy and vibrancy - a complex mix of fresh peaty aromas constructed around a central core of apples and toasted nuts dowsed in wild mountain honey. And on the palate, it gives sweet concentrated peat flavours which dominate from the start. Bold and intense, the peaty heart is united with honey-infused raisins, roasted nuts and a luxurious leather impression. Sales Director Alistair Walker said: "Septendecim is a real robust heavyweight, full-bodied and beautifully balanced with enormous impact. It's another fine example of our distillery going back to its nineteenth-century roots - a time when, unlike today, the majority of Speyside distilleries were producing peated whiskies." Peated malt whisky production only represents approximately six weeks' worth of the annual production at BenRiach, but the peated whiskies have become an important part of the distillery's product portfolio as they offer something unexpected from the Speyside region. Septendecim is non chill-filtered and bottled at natural colour, with a strength of 46% vol. Unlike the recently-launched BenRiach Solstice, the Septendecim is not a limited release and should be continually available for years to come. |
| 17Jan 12 | DUBLIN & DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- "As one of the world's fastest-growing spirits companies, Beam is excited to enter one of the world's fastest-growing spirits categories" The acquisition includes the Kilbeggan, Connemara, Tyrconnell and Greenore brands, as well as aging inventory and Cooley's malt and grain distilleries in Dundalk and Kilbeggan, Ireland. Cooley is one of only three sources for Irish whiskey and was the category's only remaining independent producer. The purchase price was approximately $95 million on a debt-free basis. Beam expects the acquisition to be earnings neutral in 2012 reflecting substantial initial brand investment, and increasingly accretive in future years. "As one of the world's fastest-growing spirits companies, Beam is excited to enter one of the world's fastest-growing spirits categories," said Matt Shattock, president and chief executive officer of Beam. "We look forward to combining our whiskey expertise, brand-building firepower and strong routes to market with the experience, talent and passion of the Teeling family and the Cooley team to help take these award-winning brands to the next level. On behalf of the 3,200 Beam associates worldwide, we are delighted to welcome Cooley's talented workforce to the Beam family." Shattock added that Cooley's flagship Kilbeggan brand will join the ranks of Beam's Rising Star brands, which, along with the company's global Power Brands, are a focus for brand-building investment. "Beam can do in 10 years what it would take Cooley, on its own, 30 years to do," said John Teeling, chairman of Cooley Distillery. "The market opportunity for Irish whiskey is now and it is substantial. Beam has particular strengths in the main fast growing Irish whiskey markets and so will be well able to take advantage of this Irish renaissance. It is a bittersweet moment for myself and the other founders as we cede control but, having rebuffed many suitors, we were happy that Beam, which is a pre-eminent whiskey company, will build on the strong foundations laid down over 24 years. I want to thank the staff, shareholders, and close colleagues who have been on the journey. It is only the beginning." The Irish whiskey category grew 11.5% in 2010 to 4.86 million cases according to Impact Databank. The leading markets for Irish whiskey, according to Impact, are the United States, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, South Africa and Germany. Cooley currently sells approximately 250,000 9-liter cases per year – divided among its brands, private label products and bulk sales to third-party customers – and has production capacity to support substantial future growth. |
| 10 Jan 12 | This is now official: MORRISON BOWMORE APPOINTS RACHEL BARRIE AS MASTER BLENDER Commenting on the appointment Andrew Rankin says, "Rachel is one of the most experienced Master Blenders in our industry and I am extremely delighted that she will be joining our team here at MBD. We have a very strong blending team within the company and this appointment will massively strengthen and reinforce our commitment to producing the ultimate in quality Single Malt Scotch Whiskies." Barrie's background before joining MBD is steeped in the whisky industry. Barrie comes to Morrison Bowmore from The Glenmorangie Company where she held the positions of Product Development Manager and ultimately their Whisky Creator and Master Blender and was responsible for creating some of their award-winning whiskies including Glenmorangie Signet and Ardbeg Corryvreckan. Prior to that, Barrie worked for Macdonald & Muir Ltd as the Quality Lab Manager and for the Scottish Whisky Research Institute as a research scientist. http://www.whiskymag.com |
| 05 Jan 12 | Sure, writing about food all day may sound glamorous, but sometimes this job is hard, people. For example, when we taste ArKay, the world's first alcohol-free whisky. First of all, the reasons for this beverage sort of make sense: due to religious or dietary restrictions, not everyone can consume alcohol. But that doesn't mean they shouldn't be able to at least simulate the taste experience. "We want everyone to know that ArKay is beverage that they can enjoy," stated Zeshan Ahmed, Vice President for ArKay Beverages, in a press release. "Our product conforms to strict Halal standards and the fact that it contains no alcohol whatsoever, is just one way that we let the consumer know we are respectful of their needs and beliefs." However, this taste experience doesn't come close to mimicking what actual whisky tastes like. Our eight intrepid tasters were unanimous in that this alcohol-free whisky tastes, well, pretty awful. The smell alone was reminiscent of "shoe cleaner" and was "horribly offensive, similar to that of a litter box." The taste made one taster "want to puke." Another said, "This tastes like I'm licking a horse saddle -- I can't tell if it tastes like leather or shoe polish." If you love the taste of whisky but can't drink it, we recommend that you abstain rather than trying this replica made from artificial and natural flavors. Sometimes, there's just no substitute for the real thing. |
| 02 Jan 12 | The whisky industry in Scotland, one of the most popular in the world, has not been affected by the economic downturn because of developing overseas markets, especially in India, China and Brazil, a report said. Scottish whisky exports increased by 23 percent last year, Sky News reported. Whisky has become one of Britain's biggest exports at a time when the country's economy was ailing. The drink is now worth over 4.5 billion pounds (Rs.370 billion) a year. Every second, 125 pounds (around Rs.10,300) are being poured into the British economy through revenue and jobs centred around whisky. 'Obviously their economies are doing very, very well. There's a growing middle class which obviously has growing disposable income,' said Iain Weir, marketing director of the Gelngoyne Distillery, near Loch Lomond in Scotland. 'They are aspirational with regards to their consumption and I'm delighted to say whisky, and in particular single malt whisky, is very much on their shopping list. I think they very much appreciate the history and the provenance and authenticity that comes with Scotch whisky,' he said. But there is also a concern that if such a demand continues, it could outrun supply. Rosemary Gallagher, from the industry's governing body, the Scottish Whisky Association, says distillers were prepared. 'Companies have seen this demand coming and have planned ahead. Scottish whisky is a long term industry. So companies have invested one billion pounds in infrastructure in the last five years, expanding distilleries and opening new warehouses, so we're geared up for demand,' she said. http://www.southafricanews.net |
| 22 Dec 11 | Scotch whisky group wins injunction in India The Scotch Whisky Association has been granted a temporary injunction against two Indian companies that they claim have been passing off a local whisky as the genuine article, the trade group said Thursday. At issue are the labels and packaging of brands Royal Barrel, Glenmon and F&G. A court in Goa leveled the injunction against the makers, forbidding them from calling their products "Scotch Whisky" and preventing the sale of local whiskies under the name "Glenmon" or any name with the word "Glen." According to the court, the brand name was "dishonestly adopted by the defendants" who "misled the general public." The Indian companies are appealing the court's action. http://www.marketwatch.com |
| 22 Dec 11 | BENRIACH LAUNCHES NEW SOLSTICE 17 YEAR-OLD TODAY (December 22), on the winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, BenRiach is delighted to announce the launch of its new 17 year-old Solstice single malt. It's the Elgin distillery's second Solstice expression, following the heavily-peated Solstice 15 year-old launched this time last year which Jim Murray in his Whisky Bible describes as "spellbinding". Just like the original Solstice release, this BenRiach has been distilled from heavily peated malted barley, then matured in ex-bourbon casks before finally being finished in tawny port casks. The winter Solstice is the point at which the Earth is tilted at its furthest from the sun and it's the day of the year with the fewest daylight hours. Worldwide, many cultures regard the Solstice as representing rebirth and festivals...and Billy Walker's tasting notes confirm the 17 year-old is the perfect celebratory midwinter malt. In appearance, it shows distinct rose characteristics, with a bright copper crest. On the nose, lascivious fruits with a fabulous aroma of stewed summer berries including strawberries, blackcurrants and red currants. The berry component is richly locked together by a muscular peaty blast. Latter traces of fortified wine and grape-like qualities become apparent. On the palate, initial dry-roasted nutty notes advance to become a heavy peaty affair. Subtle notes of dried raisins and candied fruit. Clean and very enticing with the dominant peat flavours lingering on the palate. Smooth and very long. A unique mix of fruit and peat which marry with extraordinary precision in classic proportions. Sales Director Alistair Walker said: "Our new malt is a superb marriage of peat and fruit, a worthy successor to our 15 year-old...and just as spellbinding. "With the wind howling and the rain battering against the window, it's a wonderfully warming late-night dram. The original Solstice was one of our most popular releases over the last couple of years, so hopefully the second edition will be as well received." The bottling strength for the Solstice 17 year-old is 50%. It's presented in a rigid gift box and a limited quantity is available worldwide. |
20 Dec 11
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BORDERS MP Michael Moore has been globetrotting in his role as Secretary of State for Scotland. Sales of Scotch whisky have reached a record high in Brazil this year and Mr Moore was in South America's largest country recently to press for fairer trade measures to make the product even more attractive there. Shipments of Scotch to Brazil between January and September this year were worth more than £75million – surpassing the record total for the whole of last year, £67million. Mr Moore said that while the last decade had seen a 130 per cent rise in export value to Brazil, he was keen for the country to reduce the negative tax impact on UK products such as whisky. Reform in line with Brazil's World Trade Organisation commitments would encourage investment in the market. Leading Scotland's largest-ever trade delegation to Brazil, Mr Moore last Wednesday met Fernando Pimentel, minister of development, industry and foreign trade, raising these concerns with him. Mr Moore told us: "The numbers tell the story of a growing demand for Scotch whisky here in Brazil. But from the people I've met here and the changing demographics of this country, I am very confident that the potential for future sales is much greater. That's why I raised the issue of tax on whisky with the Brazilian trade minister at our meeting in Brasilia." Source: http://www.berwickshirenews.co.uk/ |
| 19 Dec 11 | Jim Beam to buy Cooley in E71m deal Independent Irish whiskey producer, Cooley Distillery, is to be bought by US whisky giant, Beam, in a deal worth USD95m (E71m). Cooley owns and produces the Kilbeggan, Connemara, Tyrconnell and Greenore brands. It currently sells approximately 250,000 9-liter cases per year - divided among its brands, private label products and bulk sales to third-party customers - and has production capacity to support substantial future growth. Beam expects the acquisition to be earnings neutral in 2012 and increasingly accretive moving forward. "Cooley is one of only three sources for Irish whiskey, and the only independent player, so this transaction is a unique and compelling high-return opportunity to enter one of the industry's highest growth categories," said Matt Shattock, president and chief executive officer of Beam. "We see the opportunity to leverage our combination of scale with agility to further build consumer demand for Cooley's award-winning brands, and to expand distribution off a relatively small base in key export markets for Irish whiskey across North America and Europe. Cooley's brands and distilleries have a heritage that's unmatched in the world of Irish whiskey, so they will be a great fit with our portfolio of brands with long and rich histories. We look forward to being good stewards of these iconic Irish assets. We are also eager to work with the Cooley team, led by the Teeling family, who have built Cooley with so much pride and passion, to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead." John Teeling, Chairman and Founder of Cooley Distillery, said, "Beam understands whiskey. They have the culture, experience and global strength to enable the Cooley portfolio of brands to reach their potential in the fast growing Irish whiskey category. The renaissance in Irish whiskey, most evident in the United States, is now spreading across the world. Through Beam, our brands, built on quality, will be introduced to a host of new consumers. I am certain that the marriage between Cooley and Beam will benefit all." |
| 15 Dec 11 | Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival "discover the passion behind the world's finest whisky" Festival Launch Date 2012 The online booking system will go live on Saturday 21 January 2012 Did you know that 42% of online booking sales were made in the first weekend, so it's really important to put the date in your diary now We are receiving enquiries about events every day from all over the world and excitement about the 2012 festival is building. Festival Opening Dinner 2012 There is some exciting news about the 2012 dinner – we are currently finalising the details and will update you shortly. The Macallan have kindly agreed to host the gala 'Touch of Tartan' Opening Dinner at their beautiful distillery above the river Spey in Craigellachie. The menu will feature locally sourced and produced ingredients to compliment the award winning Speyside Malts, which are such a feature of the dinner. If you have never been this is one event not to miss! Tickets cost £80.00 per person and include a three course meal, whiskies (and wine), entertainment and the announcement of the winner of the Whisky Awards 2012. And finally Help us spread the word! You can follow the festival on Facebook or Twitter at the addresses below. www.facebook.com/WhiskyFestival |
| 08 Dec 11 | NEW LOOK FOR TALISKER™ The single malt whisky itself has, of course, not changed. What's new? Powerful maritime photography on the new outer cartons and more prominent maps of Skye on both cartons and bottle labels now anchor the brand more strongly in its rugged island home and emphasise its Made by the Sea character. Stunning photography The wrap-around images on the new cartons were shot by Skye-based photographer Cailean Maclean, and feature stormy waves crashing against the Isle of Skye's rocky and mountainous coast. Cailean's photography transforms into a striking coastal vista when two cartons stand side by side. The images are reinforced by Cailean's signed commentary on each scene. Skye's rocky coast stars on new Talisker pack Cailean's photography features on most cartons, but the Talisker 18 year old carton carries an equally turbulent seascape image by Scottish photographer and Skye enthusiast Angus Bremner. 'It speaks to our roots' Mark Lochhead, manager at Talisker Distillery on Skye, is enthusiastic about the new designs: "Talisker is made by the sea in every sense of the word, just as all our lives are shaped by the elements here on Skye. To have this captured in these new designs is exciting for everyone here. At the same time it both speaks to our own roots and helps consumers understand what kind of place Skye is. "More than this, the strong impression I think the new packaging gives is of a family united, of all the expressions of Talisker now being brought together in one design family, so that Talisker can march forward strongly as a brand in its own right. And understandably, I rather like that idea!" The redesigns were carried out by Claessens International, the drinks brand design consultancy.
James Boulton at Claessens said: " "The new Talisker designs are born of our experience, meeting the people at the distillery and seeing at first hand how Talisker relates to its home, the Isle of Skye. Armed with that understanding and building on earlier 'maritime' designs, we have added a richness of detail and a ruggedness to reinforce what Talisker stands for and what kind of place it comes from." Phased introduction The new designs are being introduced onto bottles and cartons progressively, as new stocks are bottled and distributed. Talisker 10 year old will be the first to see the new carton in Great Britain before Christmas 2011 and the revised labels will follow shortly in the New Year. In Great Britain, for Christmas 2011, the new carton for the 10 year old will initially carry the RNLI flash that signals the brand's support for this famous British maritime charity. In some cases the new cartons will enclose the old-style bottles until stocks are sold through. The new standard carton and bottle designs for Talisker 10 year old will then launch into GB and other markets in the first quarter of 2012. The new designs for other Talisker expressions will be introduced throughout the remainder of 2012. At the same time Diageo has announced that from 2011, Talisker 25 year old and Talisker 30 year old will be available on a regular basis within the Talisker range – although necessarily in limited editions, and bottled at the traditional Talisker strength of 45.8% ABV. In the past, these long-aged expressions of Talisker have been issued at cask strength in Diageo's annual Special Releases series. |
| 02 Dec 11 | NEW CHAIRMAN FOR SCOTCH WHISKY ASSOCIATION AS EXPORTS BREAK RECORDS Scotch Whisky exports hit a record high as the Scotch Whisky Association unveiled Ian Curle, chief executive of The Edrington Group, as its new chairman. After four years as chair of the SWA, Paul Walsh, chief executive of Diageo, announced the industry export figures for the first three quarters of 2011, which show Scotch Whisky earning £125 every second for the UK balance of payments. The value of exports over the nine month period totalled almost £3billion – an increase of 23% on the same period of 2010. He said he was delighted to be handing over the chairmanship to his friend and colleague Ian Curle at such a strong moment for the industry. Mr Walsh said: “It has been a great pleasure and a privilege to chair the SWA over the past four years. As the latest export figures show, the industry is enjoying a tremendous period of growth around the world, making it one of the most important manufactured exports the UK produces. That growth is also helping drive investment by the industry in Scotland and so benefitting both the UK and Scottish economies.” Mr Curle has been with The Edrington Group – producers of the Famous Grouse – since 1986 and chief executive since 2004. He will lead the Association into an important year of celebration as it marks the Centenary of its creation in 1912. He said: “I am delighted to be taking over as chairman of the SWA at a time when the Scotch Whisky industry is in confident mood. Scotch Whisky is an iconic product and it will continue to be a prime asset and export for Scotland and the UK. I’ll work to protect the integrity of Scotch Whisky across the globe and to advance its export success. With the support of governments at home and abroad to achieve fairer taxation and reduction of trade barriers, the industry can reach even higher levels. The European Union is vital to this work.” He added that some future priorities for the SWA include completion of the negotiations between the European Union and India on a Free Trade Agreement which would reduce the onerous 150% import tariff. In the UK, a change in the current duty regime which sees Scotch Whisky being taxed more heavily than other drinks is long overdue. He said discrimination in the home market undermines the industry’s efforts overseas. The industry will also continue to focus on achieving the ambitious targets set out in its environmental strategy published in 2009 which is committed to long-term sustainability. For example, an industry goal is for 80% of energy requirements to come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2050, with an interim target of 20% by 2020. During Mr Walsh’s time as SWA chairman, the industry has invested over £1 billion in its production and manufacturing capacity in Scotland. About 10,300 people are employed in the Scotch Whisky industry. The landmark Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 were also introduced to provide more robust legal protection, particularly for Single Malt, against fakes and to help the consumer. Scotch Whisky has now achieved extra legal protection as a ‘geographical indication’ in many markets, including China and India, which means it is recognised as a product that can only be made in Scotland. Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the SWA, said: “I’d like to thank Paul Walsh for his sterling work, his commitment, ambition and his encouragement over the past four years. I look forward to working with a new chairman and vice chairman. Ian Curle will be taking on the role as chairman as the SWA enters a landmark year. Next year marks our Centenary during which we will celebrate Scotch Whisky and look to the opportunities and challenges of our next century.” Pierre Pringuet, global chief executive of Pernod Ricard, will be vice chairman of the SWA. |
| 01 Dec 11 | Dear fellow whisky lover, I'm happy to report that the complete results of the Malt Maniacs Awards 2011 are now available, in the form of two PDF documents; Full Score Card PDF - all average and indivudual scores That's all for now - I hope you do enjoy the results. All winners will be informed personally over the coming days. Sweet drams, Johannes van den Heuvel The gold medals wereL GlenDronach 39yo 1972/2011 (49.9%, OB, Oloroso Sherry Butt, C# 712, 466 Bts.) |
| 01 Dec 11 | GlenDronach releases latest batch of single cask bottlings This is the fifth batch of GlenDronach single casks to be released by the award-winning Aberdeenshire distillery. The five casks were bottled over the last few weeks and are available as of today. The batch comprises five outstanding casks from 1972 to 1993. Three have been matured in Oloroso sherry butts, one in an Oloroso sherry puncheon and the fifth in a Pedro Ximinez sherry puncheon. All five casks have been hand-selected by The BenRiach Distillery Company's Managing Director Billy Walker, and they all share GlenDronach's typically luxurious, richly-sherried characteristics, plus huge layers of fruit ranging from stewed pears to prunes, cherry, plums, apples...and even rhubarb crumble! The cask details are as follows: 1972 cask # 716 / 39 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 421 bottles All five whiskies were reviewed by whisky writer Jim Murray in the recently-published 2012 version of 'Jim Murray's Whisky Bible', and three of them scored particularly well, with a stunning 95 points or more, as follows: 1978 cask # 1067 - 95.5 / 100 Additionally, in his annual 'Review of the Year', Jim Murray singles out GlenDronach as the distillery with the most consistently impressive output throughout 2011 - to quote Jim: "... if there was a Whisky Bible Scotch Malt Whisky Distillery of the year, GlenDronach would be it." Keep an eye on our website and Facebook page over the coming weeks for more information on these new releases, tasting notes and exclusive product photography. If you would like to receive more information regarding Batch 5 releases, please contact us on info@glendronachdistillery.co.uk |
| 01 Dec 11 | Royal seal of approval for PIONEERING NEW Cooperage The new Diageo Cambus Cooperage near Alloa has been custom designed in close co-operation with the company’s coopers, drawing on generations of skill, craft and experience and combining it with the state-of-the-art British engineering - never before used in a cooperage - to dramatically improve the working lives of the coopers. HRH toured the new cooperage and met the men whose jobs it is to craft around 250,000 casks each year - all of which will be used to mature Scotch whisky for Diageo’s world leading brands, such as Johnnie Walker, Bell’s and J&B Rare. As well as meeting a range of time-served coopers, including some with decades of experience in the trade, HRH met with a Diageo’s apprentice coopers who are now able to hone their skills in a custom-built coopering school within the new cooperage. HRH, The Earl of Wessex, has a long-standing interest in coopering and is an Honorary Member of the Incorporation of Coopers. He has shown particularly strong support for coopering apprentices and has even lent his name to the Incorporation’s annual Earl of Wessex Awards for Cooperage. HRH was joined on the tour of Cambus by the Lord Lieutenant of Clackmannanshire, the Rt Hon George Reid, who also has strong links to the industry, with his great-grandfather serving a coopering apprenticeship at Glenochil Distillery in Menstrie where he remained all his working life. Tom Duncan, a manager at Cambus was one of the team tasked with leading the new cooperage project and he guided HRH and the Lord Lieutenant on the tour. He said: “It is a great honour for everyone at Cambus to have The Earl of Wessex officially open the cooperage, particularly as he has been such a strong supporter of our industry over the years.” He also explained the ethos behind the cooperage: “It’s not often you get to start with a blank sheet of paper and design something like this from scratch. We worked closely with our coopers to maximise the craft skills which are the core of the job, while using smart technology to minimise the bending and heavy-lifting involved. It’s that blend of craft and innovation which makes this different from any cooperage I’ve ever seen.” To achieve this, the Diageo team turned to Leicester-based engineering firm CI Logistics, which works primarily in the automotive industry, and together they custom-designed a series of mechanical conveyors to move the casks – which weigh up to 85kg when empty - around the cooperage between the hand-craft elements of the process. The result is the world’s most innovative cooperage. Calum Bruce, 51, one of Diageo’s longest serving coopers with 35-years service, having started in the trade at age 16, explained the difference the new ways of working had made to the coopers. He said: “A lot has changed over the last 35 years, but the basic skills have stayed the same. But Cambus is something different altogether. We still use the same skills to do the same job, but the difference is the machines now do a lot of the heavy lifting so we don’t have to spend time and effort on hard labour and we can focus on the skilled part of the job. That is what has really transformed the way we work.” Brian Law, one of eight apprentices currently learning their trade on Diageo’s four-year apprentice scheme, also welcomed the investment the company has made in the future of the trade. He said: “It is a really exciting time to be learning my trade as a cooper. At Cambus, Diageo has an investment in the future of coopering and that’s also an investment in the futures of all the guys who work here.” Richard Bedford, Diageo’s grain distilling director, who was responsible for the Cambus Cooperage project, said the increase in demand for Diageo’s world-leading Scotch whisky brands meant the new cooperage was a key part of the company’s overall investment programme for growing its production capacity in Scotland. He said: “The demand for Scotch whisky is growing around the world, particularly in the emerging markets of Asia and Latin America. To meet that increasing demand Diageo is investing in growing Scotch whisky production capacity across Scotland. That means we need more casks than ever before, so the new Cambus Cooperage is a key part of the future success of our Scotch whisky brands.” |
| 30 Nov 11 | J. & G. Grant, in partnership with Glasgow based publishers The Angel's Share, are pleased to announce the publication of Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery, by Ian Buxton. This biography of the family owned distillery has been commissioned as part of the distillery's 175th Anniversary celebrations. Glenfarclas – An Independent Distillery is both the definitive history of the Glenfarclas Distillery, which was first licensed in 1836 and unusually has been owned and managed by the Grant family for six generations, and is also a record of a remarkable year in the distillery's long history, preserved for the future. The Glenfarclas story has been bought to life by renowned whisky author Ian Buxton, delving deep into the character and provenance of the Ballindalloch distillery, and carefully presented by designer Jules Akel with original material from the distillery's archives and newly commissioned photography by John Paul. Commenting on the project, Ian Buxton, said, "In an industry dominated by multi-nationals the Glenfarclas story is a remarkable and engaging one. I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to tell it". Notes to editors * To view images and a PDF extract of Glenfarclas - An Independent Distillery please follow this link; http://www.akel.co.uk/work/books/glenfarclasbook.html * RRP: GBP 34.99 ISBN: 9781906476755 * Available online on at www.nwp.co.uk , www.glenfarclas.co.uk and www.amazon.co.uk. |
| 29 Nov 11 | Royal opening for Diageo's £9m cooperage TIM SHARP The site was developed by the maker of Johnnie Walker whisky in the wake of the restructuring launched in 2009 that saw it close existing cooperages at Dundas Hill in Glasgow and Carsebridge in Alloa. Richard Bedford, Diageo's grain distilling director, who was responsible for the Cambus Cooperage project, said: "The demand for Scotch whisky is growing around the world, particularly in the emerging markets of Asia and Latin America Read more on: http://www.heraldscotland.com/. |
| 23 Nov 11 | Springbank has just annouced the release of the new Springbank 21 YO for the end of this month. Distrubtion will be limited and the price will be £180. |
| 23 Nov 11 | What should I do if I'm served fake or supermarket whisky in a restaurant? Richard Browning of This is Money says: Many years ago I worked in a pub, where the landlord would replace the famous-name whisky, rum and vodka optics in the public bar with cheap, supermarket brands. 'They can't tell the difference,' he'd say of his regulars. He was right, they couldn't. Read more: http://www.thisismoney.co.uk |
| 21 Nov 11 | Fake drink detector is a winner As reported last week, a team from the University of Leicester's Space Research Centre created a hand-held gadget that can detect fake whisky through the bottle by using technology originally developed for space telescopes. It involves using an astronomical spectrometer to measure properties of light on a section of the electromagnetic spectrum to identify different materials. It is hoped the method will help save the whisky industry some of the £500 million a year it loses to sales of fake products. The project won the Innovation Champion Award and the Most Innovative Research Project at the Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards in Nottingham. The judging panel, made up of food and drink industry experts, said: "Since news of the research was released earlier this year, it has created interest around the world. "Not only does it have great potential for fighting the war against counterfeit whisky, wine and other liquids, it also has the potential to transfer to areas such as airport security." http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/ |
| 16 Nov 11 | Museum seeks stories on Gaston whisky April Bethea, http://www.charlotteobserver.com The Gaston County Museum hopes to talk to descendants of people involved "in any way" with the making and distribution of whisky during prohibition, according to a message on its Facebook page. It plans to open an exhibit on the topic in fall 2012. Anyone with information such as stories, photographs or objects they'd like to share with the museum can contact Stephanie Elliott at 704-922-7681 ext.104 or stephanie.elliott@co.stephanie.elliott@co.gaston.nc.us. The museum is located at 131 W. Main St. in Dallas, N.C. A current exhibit is entitled "Patriots or Traitors: North Carolina's Civil War." Museum website: www.gastoncountymuseum.org. |
| 15 Nov 11 | INDIA URGED TO CUT 150% TARIFF ON SCOTCH WHISKY A delegation from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is in India this week to push for fairer access to what could be the industry’s biggest market if the onerous 150% tariff on imported spirits was reduced. Currently, 250 million cases of spirits are sold in India each year. Some 140m cases of that total are whisky, but only 1.5m cases are Scotch Whisky. Although progress has been made since 2000 when the tariff was 750%, there is still a great amount of untapped potential. Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the SWA, who is in India along with a number of directors from the trade body, said the country is a top priority for the Association. Mr Hewitt explained: “There is significant demand for Scotch Whisky, particularly from the aspirational middle class, but there are major barriers to trade to overcome. The key issue is the 150% tariff levied by the Indian Government which means a £10 bottle of Scotch Whisky becomes £25 before it even enters the distribution chain. As a result of the tariff many consumers are going through the grey market to buy whisky and too often this ends up being a bootleg of a premium brand of Scotch. This means that businesses, government revenue and consumers are all losing out.” While in India, the SWA will be discussing progress on the Free Trade Agreement which is being negotiated with the European Union. If introduced, the agreement would reduce the tariff with the aim of bringing it into line with other markets, such as China where the levy is 10% or Brazil where it is 20%. An event will also be held at the residence of High Commissioner Sir Richard Stagg in New Delhi to celebrate Scotch Whisky receiving the status of a product of ‘geographical indication’. Earlier this year a decision was made to formally recognise Scotch Whisky as a product that can only be made in Scotland which means consumers in India now receive better protection from fake ‘Scotch Whisky’. Mr Hewitt said:“Scotch Whisky being granted GI status in India represents a major breakthrough as it means discerning consumers can have confidence in the quality and integrity of what they’re buying.” The SWA is also holding a trade seminar in India on the Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 which set out how Scotch Whisky must be produced, labelled, packaged and advertised. |
| 15 Nov 11 | CONSUMERS WARNED NOT TO BE MISLED BY CLAIMS OF “ALCOHOL FREE WHISKY” The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has warned consumers not to be taken in by a product which claims to be “the world’s first alcohol free whisky”. The SWA said there can be no such product and such a description is illegal in the European Union and many other countries. The SWA said it will monitor and investigate the sale and promotion of the product with a view to taking appropriate action. A company called ArKay Beverages has announced that its “alcohol free whisky” will be available from 1 December. However, the SWA explained that, internationally, whisky is understood to be a distilled beverage made from cereals and aged in wooden barrels. It said that ArKay’s promotional claim that the product is a type of whisky is illegal under UK and European law and in many other jurisdictions. There are strict laws in force in the European Union and many other countries defining what may be sold as whisky. Such laws are designed to maintain the reputation of whisky as a quality product and to protect consumers. European legislation prohibits – with very limited exceptions - the name “whisky” from being “used to describe or present in any way whatsoever” any drink other than whisky. Glen Barclay, SWA Director of Legal Affairs, said: “Such promotion is taking advantage of the high quality reputation of the product that is whisky - which is a distilled spirit produced from natural ingredients - when it is in fact just a soft drink with artificial flavourings. Not only will consumers be confused but such a product unfairly trades on the reputation of genuine whisky.” http://www.scotch-whisky.org.uk/ |
| 14 Nov 11 | Eastern promise – forecasted growth is driven by Asia-Pacific Asia-Pacific is predicted to be the fastest-growing region for the alcoholic beverage markets over the next five years, according to The IWSR Forecast Report 2011-2016. It will overtake the Americas as the second-largest region for consumption and – shortly after the remit of the report – will surpass Europe. The latest IWSR forecasts predict total spirits consumption to rise from 2.81bn cases to 3.32bn – a rise of over half a billion cases between 2010 and 2016. 85.9% of this growth will come from just two markets – China (63.2%) and India (22.7%). The next five years will be characterised by the ever-increasing importance of emerging markets especially in Asia, Central and Eastern Europe, and much of South America. The growing importance of brown spirits will also be a key trend, as will continued, and significant, premiumisation although at a slower rate than previously due to a weaker economic outlook for many countries. Premium-and-above spirits will rise from 109.35m cases to 143.07m cases. Vodka and whisk(e)y will account for 71.4% of total growth of the Western-style categories in the standard-and-above quality segments. Growth in Asia is not just restricted to spirits; 75% of the growth forecast for wine consumption comes from China which is expected to add over 240m cases between 2010 and 2016. Total wine is predicted to rise from 3.32bn to 3.65bn cases – a rise of 326m cases by 2016. Strong growth is also anticipated in the US (+45.8m cases) and Russia (+21.4m cases). While growth of wine consumption surges in many emerging economies, the stagnation of many traditional Western markets is balancing consumption levels. The share of the top 10 wine markets will rise fractionally from 70.6% to 71.1% between 2010 and 2016, with the huge growth in China being offset to some degree by falls in traditional producer countries. Beer's share is set to rise marginally by 0.7% by 2016 versus other types of alcohol as demand grows further in the emerging markets of China, Vietnam, Brazil, India and Russia – predicted to be the five fastest-growing markets. |
| 11 Nov 11 | Tullibardine Ltd, which owns and operates the Tullibardine Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky distillery based in Blackford, Perthshire has been sold to the Picard family based at the Château de Chassagne-Montrachet, Burgundy, France. In a joint press release today, both sets of shareholders were pleased to announce that a successful sale of the business had just been concluded. The sale of the whisky business to the French Group further strengthens their interest in Scotch Whisky following the purchase of the Highland Queen brand from the Glenmorangie company in 2009. Michel Picard, Chairman, said today: "The purchase of Tullibardine Distillery provides synergies and a platform for growth for our Scotch whisky business. Tullibardine is a wonderful Single Malt Scotch whisky and we look forward to working with the team at the distillery to increase the profile, awareness and sales of the brand over the coming years." Alan Williamson, Chairman of Tullibardine said: "The shareholders of Tullibardine are delighted to conclude a sale of the business to the Picard family. The business will undoubtedly benefit from the skills, expertise and distribution which the Group can create for the Tullibardine brand and we wish them every success over the years to come. We have been custodians of the Tullibardine brand for the last 8 years and the time is now right for us to hand it over and for Picard to take it to the next level. We wish them every success." |
| 11 Nov 11 | Suntory to sell ¥1 million whiskey Shipments of Yamazaki Single Malt 50-Year-Old Whisky, limited to 150 bottles, will begin Dec. 13 or later based on orders received at department stores and liquor shops nationwide, Suntory said. When the firm introduced in 2005 and 2007 50-bottle limited editions of the Yamazaki single-malt whiskey matured for more than half a century — and carrying a price tag of ¥1 million — they sold out immediately. http://www.japantimes.co.jp |
| 10 Nov 11 | Non Alcoholic Whiskey? "Don't Drink and Drive, Unless It's ArKay", the world's first alcohol-free whiskey, which the manufacturer claims it tastes just like the real thing. If you're the kind of person who doesn't get why anyone would want to drink alcohol-free beer, so ArKay's whiskey-flavored drink is something you will probably never understand. The revolutionary whiskey drink contains 0% alcohol, but its creators promise a taste identical to the real thing. It's "designed to allow individuals with medical conditions or with religious beliefs that prohibit alcohol consumption, to drink". No more having to say no to a nice glass of whiskey just because you have to drive, you can go through liters of ArKay and not have to worry about passing out at the wheel or getting pulled over. After five years of research, the Florida-based beverage company developed the alcohol-free whiskey using artificial flavors and ingredients in accordance with European Economic Community (EEC) regulations and within the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. The so-called "Halal Whiskey" is also certified by the Islamic Food & Nutrition Council of America, which means Muslims can enjoy it guilt-free. The Arkay website says "ArKay is designed for the socialite to the construction worker" with claims that the exceptional taste of whisky without the alcohol making a perfect beverage that anyone can consume and is suitable for drinking straight up, on the rocks, or with soda or your favorite mixers. ArKay whiskey is set to Launch in the U.S. December 1st at a suggested retail price of $10 for a 1 liter bottle, and $4 for a 355ml can. |
| 04 Nov 11 | TALISKER™, the only Single Malt Scotch Whisky made in the Isle of Skye, is now the title sponsor of the of the Woodvale Atlantic Challenge, it was announced today. The Atlantic Challenge, which starts next month, is the world's toughest rowing race. It will be known as The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge. The race is biennial; the Talisker sponsorship will run for at least the 2011 and the 2013 races. Details online at: http://tinyurl.com/5rk2ycs |
| 02 Nov 11 | Master of Malt teams up with Glenfarclas for Movember 2011 |
| 27 Oct 11 | The Tempest is coming Welcome Or as we say around here, fàilte (pronounced 'foyle-ta'). We are delighted to announce the arrival of our third release of Bowmore Tempest. A violent windstorm, frequently accompanied by rain, snow, or hail. Every year we release a small batch of Tempest to bring you a little taste of a wild, stormy Islay day. Each non chill-filtered batch is a little different one year to the next but will always reflect our raw spirit and is reminiscent of tasting a dram straight out of the cask in our legendary No.1 Vaults here on Islay... A first fill Bourbon cask that is. Our newest release of Tempest has delicious notes of Seville orange zest coupled with Islay peat smoke, sweet vanilla and barley sugar. We suggest you try it with a piece of rich, dark chocolate to release the sweetness and depth of the spirit - magical! We are also excited to announce another new addition... The Islay Taste map. Working with renowned whisky writer Martine Nouet, we have created a map that explores and explains the very, very, different tastes of all 8 Islay distilleries. Watch out for it coming soon on bowmore.com and facebook.com/bowmore |
Old pulteney 21 Year old takes The most northerly distillery on mainland Britain and one of the most remote in all Scotland has won the coveted title of World Whisky of the Year in the 2012 edition of Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible. In picking up the second placed title with its bourbon brand George T. Stagg, Buffalo Trace distillers continues to outperform all other competitors in the World Whisky Awards, which were first presented in1994. Since this date, Buffalo Trace has won no fewer than seven top awards including three World Whisky of the Year titles and this year’s runner up place for its George T. Stagg bourbon. “Buffalo Trace continues to be one of the greatest distilleries in the world today”, continues Mr Murray. “Their ability, drive, and passion to produce whiskies of the highest quality year in, year out, without exception is truly and unreservedly astonishing’.
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