| Ulf Buxrud, with his book Japanese Whisky – Facts, Figures and Taste is the winner for Sweden in the GOURMAND WORLD COOKBOOK AWARDS 2008 in the category Best Spirit’s Book. As such, he will be enlisted for "The Best in the World" | |
| 17 Dec 08 | The World’s Most Peated Whisky Bruichladdich distillery announce the release today of the world’s the most heavily peated whisky ever.The inaugural bottling of Octomore, a single malt Scotch whisky distilled at Bruichladdich from barley peated to 131 ppm, is three times more peaty than any other whisky ever produced. 6000 bottles were produced at natural cask strength of 63.5% ABV, selling at £79 a bottle.Such was demand amongst ‘peat freak’ whisky aficionados that stocks were sold out before the whisky was released. http://www.bruichladdich.com/latest_news.htm |
| 15 Dec 08 | Global thirst drives first green distillery Monday Dec 15, 2008 The global thirst for "a wee dram" rose to an all-time high last year, with exports reaching 2.8 billion ($7.64 billion), earning Britain 90 a second. And as the pound's slump continues, those heady numbers could rise further, say analysts. But meeting this extraordinary demand has posed major problems and forced manufacturers to launch an urgent construction programme that will see the opening of Scotland's first major new distillery for more than 30 years. Built on a vast industrial scale, the plant at Roseisle on Speyside will be one of the country's largest distilleries. More than 120m long and three storeys high, with 14 huge 6m-high copper stills, it will have a combined output of 10 million litres of whisky a year. The distillery - financed by drinks conglomerate Diageo - has been built to stringent ecological standards, emitting only a fraction of the carbon dioxide produced by standard distilleries. Roseisle will be Scotland's first green distillery. The idea of making whisky in an ecologically friendly way could be crucial if the industry is to expand to meet the demand for Scotch. In 2007 overseas sales rose by 8 per cent on the previous year, accounting for 25 per cent of all Britain's food and drink exports. The first nine months of this year saw a 10 per cent increase. Whisky has become especially popular in emerging nations such as Brazil, China and India, where it represents prestige and social status. However, the sudden rise in global demand caught distillers by surprise and triggered investments of more than 500 million to boost production. Construction of Roseisle alone will cost 40 million."After 30 years of industry retrenchment, it was fantastic to get an order like that." The distillery's output will be stored in wooden casks for a minimum of three years - more likely for at least five to six years - before it is ready to be mixed with grain whisky to make blended whisky. Brands will include Johnnie Walker, the world's biggest-selling Scotch, sales of which broke the 1 billion mark last year. A WEE SUSTAINABLE DRAM * Distilleries usually burn oil to distil fermented brews of malted barley and water. Roseisle will also burn the dried remains of its basic barley ingredient to generate that heat, halving its fuel bill. * In addition, liquids left over from distilling - known as top ale - will be piped into anaerobic fermenters to generate methane. This, in turn, will be burned to provide further heat. The distillery will be linked with two local maltings, where its waste water will be used to dampen and germinate the barley that is eventually used as its basic ingredient. This will mean there will be no overall increase in water consumption when the new distillery comes on line. http://www.nzherald.co.nz |
| 13 Dec 08 | Alcohol Anomalous Available at Wasabi in the Taj Mahal Hotel in Delhi, in its first few weeks only, the scotch — most notably a 20-year-old malt, Yoichi — has appealed to many whisky drinkers. Yoichi comes from Japan and is a much-appreciated brand all over the world. Apparently, Yoichi was also named the best single malt in the world at the World Whisky Awards earlier this year. A 30 ml Yoichi at Wasabi could cost you close to Rs 1,500. According to the manager at Wasabi, Japanese malts have been extremely well received. Though the hotel is not sure how long they will be stocking the whisky, by the looks of it, they won’t give up on it any time soon. Yoichi is not the only Japanese malt available. There is Yamazaki as well. Priced a little bit lower than Yoichi, the Nika is a less strong whisky. A 30 ml drink of Nikka will cost you Rs 1,050. Sentory is another Japanese whisky which is being introduced in this country and is available at the Metropolitan Nikko hotel in New Delhi. According to the hotel’s general manager Aubrey Mullerworth, Japanese malts go extremely well with food. “We get customers who are willing to try different types of whisky and who actually appreciate them.” At a whisky-tasting session, Nikko brought labels from various countries, and Kono says that the response was overwhelming. Though the hotels still believe that heavy duty costs hamper them from bringing in expensive liquor from various countries, Mullerworth has been encouraged by the response all those whiskies received. “Though most people stick to the Glenfiddichs and Blue Labels, it is nice to see people trying other stuff as well.” Sandeep Arora, the man responsible for bringing in the Japanese malts, says that Indians are now experimenting more with different types of liquor. “Gone are the days when just a normal scotch or wine would do.” Arora feels that, apart from the old connoisseurs, there is a new and young breed of drinkers which is leading to the opening of more avenues for not so well-known drinks in the country (...). Source: http://www.business-standard.com |
| 13 Dec 08 | New The Whiskyfair bottlings have been released: Caperdonich 1972 Talimburg 1984 Tullibardine 1976, 54,1% Tullibardine 1976, 54,3% Vanilla Sky 1994 |
| 12 Dec 08 | BOWMORE 12-YEAR-OLD SINGLE MALT WHISKY CELEBRATES DOUBLE AWARD WIN 11 December 2008 – Bowmore 12-year-old Single Malt Whisky has been voted The Whisky Shop 2008 Single Malt of the Year by its expert staff. The original whisky from Islay’s oldest distillery (est. 1779) was awarded the Overall Winner, as well as winning the Peat Islay category. Bowmore 12-year-old’s peat, smoke, sea salt, sweet fruit and oak flavours impressed The Whisky Shop’s staff. A single malt of rugged character, Bowmore is matured in cellars that are weather beaten by Loch Indaal’s untamed waves and distilled in a town exposed to Scotland’s natural elements. The final result is outstanding - the consumer is rewarded with a Single Malt Whisky that is warm amber in colour, with a delectable lemon and honey aroma, accompanied by Bowmore’s signature smokiness. The Whisky Shop selects a shortlist that represents its top-selling Single Malts for its annual awards. An outright winner is then carefully decided by The Whisky Shop staff who take into account the overall quality of the whisky, based on their own expertise and the customer’s opinion. David Wilson, Marketing Director at Bowmore said “We’re delighted that The Whisky Shop’s staff, who are connoisseurs when it comes to whisky, have selected Bowmore 12-year-old – we really are very proud to receive this award.” Ian Bankier, Chairman of The Whisky Shop, commented “As the oldest of Islay’s seven single malt whiskies, Bowmore has incredible prestige. The Whisky Shop considers Bowmore to be the ‘thinking man’s Islay’ – a beautifully balanced dram that is our most deserving winner.” Bowmore 12-year-old is a multi-award winner, having received Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals at the International Wine & Spirits Competition and International Spirits Challenge. This is the latest in a run of award wins for Bowmore. In October 2008, they scooped a ‘Gold Medal’ - the highest design accolade - for its new packaging at the International Spirits Challenge Awards. Bowmore also received the Trophy for Best Spirit Range and Trophy for Best Overall Spirit. www.bowmore.co.uk |
| 08 Dec 08 | Bowmore has just launched a new competition to win a bottle of White Bowmore worth £2500. More details at: http://competitions.thebowmoreway.com |
| 08 Dec 08 | Monkey Shoulder ‘Gorilla’ Nicknamed ‘The Gorilla’, Monkey Shoulder Triple Malt Scotch Whisky has just released a limited edition 4.5 litre bottle in time for Christmas. With only 85 bottles available in the UK and each individually numbered this an exclusive gift recipients will go ape for! Each handsome bottle comes individually numbered and boxed with its very own bespoke cradle and pourer. Created as a unique showpiece, the ‘gorilla’ has evolved not to increase your intake of Monkey Shoulder Triple Malt Whisky but to add a bit of theatre to your cocktail making. “Monkey Shoulder has proved a revelation in the UK’s top bars, bringing Scotch whisky to the forefront of modern cocktail creation. Some of these bars are also in line to have their own ‘gorilla’ on the back bar. But to ensure the condition ‘Monkey Shoulder’ doesn’t reappear in a new guise, bartenders are encouraged to use the cradle when pouring. Top bars playing host to the ‘the gorilla’ include The Albannach (London) and Jakes Bar & Grill (Leeds).” Monkey Shoulder uses only malt Scotch whisky from three of Speyside’s finest distilleries. The triple malt has caught the attention of the country’s leading bartenders for its smooth and rich qualities, making it ideal for mixing as well as drinking in the more traditional way. The Monkey Shoulder Gorilla is available in the UK at £333 exclusively from Selfridges in London, Birmingham and Manchester. http://thespiritworld.net |
| 07 Dec 08 | Scapa Scotch relaunched as Chivas shifts to luxury market Earlier this year Chivas sold its Glendronach distillery in Speyside as its chief executive Christian Porta revealed its intention to focus on 15 high end brands including Glenlivet and its flagship drink, Chivas Regal. Although overall Pernod Ricard sales soared 13% between July and September, Chivas executives have admitted they expect to struggle in the UK market next year as the consumer slowdown takes hold of the whisky market. However, they believe the premium end of the market will hold up better as wealthy drinkers continue to indulge. "We are struggling in the UK. Spain is also difficult, as is the US," said one senior executive. "But the UK only represents 5% of our market and we still have opportunities in the UK." Pernod Ricard is investing heavily in the Bric economies – Brazil, Russian, India and China – and says that Scottish whisky is also seeing strong demand in markets such as France. Last month the firm launched a luxury version of its Beefeater gin brand, Beefeater 24, in an attempt to gain market share in the high end gin market. Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh also admitted recently that he is bracing himself for a dip in the company's UK growth although he believes there will still be a market for "affordable luxuries" such as Johnnie Walker Black Label during the recession. Whisky producers last week heaved a sigh of relief after the Government decided against proposals to introduce a minimum price for alcohol in supermarkets as it seeks to crack down on the UK's binge drinking culture. Whisky bosses said although they are also opposed to heavy discounting themselves as it ruins the reputation of their brands, there is not enough evidence to show that introducing a minimum price would prevent problem drinkers from abusing alcohol. http://business.scotsman.com/ |
| 06 Dec 08 | Growth in India, Europe drives Scotch whisky industry high The Scotch whisky industry is in high spirits due to growing sales in India and Eastern Europe, while growth in western markets has been hit by the economic slowdown, industry experts believe. Despite an import tax regime that is currently under dispute, India is fast emerging as a major importer of Scotch whisky. Christian Porta, chief executive of Scotch whisky major Chivas Brothers, said he was confident of continued strong momentum for whisky exports worldwide despite the global economic crisis. He said India was one of the countries that has shown 'positive trends' in recent months. He said there were still plenty of good opportunities for growth, although some markets were becoming tougher. "We will watch the situation carefully. There are certainly countries where sales are more difficult than 12 months ago and the UK is one of these. "Some markets are slowing down but emerging ones such as India, eastern Europe, Russia and elsewhere in Asia are continuing to show positive trends and South America is very dynamic." Latest figures show that Scotch whisky exports earned 90 pounds every second for the UK last year, with the value of shipments increasing by 14 per cent to reach a new record of 2.8 billion, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). The SWA revealed export volume was also at a historic high in 2007, growing 8 per cent, with the equivalent of 1,135 million bottles of Scotch whisky shipped overseas. SWA Chairman, Paul Walsh, said: "This record export performance - generating 90 pounds every second for the UK balance of trade - underscores just how important Scotch Whisky is to our economy." http://www.deccanherald.com/ |
| 06 Dec 08 | Master Whisky Blender Honoured A whisky creator at a major Scottish distillery has been honoured for his contribution to the industry for the third time. Dr Bill Lumsden, head of distilling and whisky creation at The Glenmorangie Company, was named Industry Leader of the Year at the Malt Advocate Awards 2008. The award, which honours the "best of the best", was presented to him in recognition of his impressive contribution to the industry over the past year. http://www.ayrshirepost.net |
| 28 Nov 08 | Dear fellow whisky lover, I'm happy to report that we've managed to publish some results of the Malt Maniacs Awards 2008 ahead of schedule. On http://www.maltmaniacs.org/2008-whisky-awards.html you can find the names of all winners of the various awards, along with a handful of medal winners. We will publish more details on Saturday evening; our full report (including tasting notes and a complete score card) is scheduled for Monday, December 1. There will be an interview with Serge valentin about the results of the awards on Mark Gillespie's WhiskyCast website this weekend as well. To whet your apetites, here are the five gold medal winners this year and a selection of the silver and bronze medal winners; GOLD 91 Lagavulin 21yo 1985/2007 (56.5%, OB, 6642 Bts.) SILVER 89 Glen Grant 1955/2008 (50%, G&M for LMdW, First Fill Sherry Hogs, C#844, 88 Bts.) BRONZE 84 Glengoyne 21yo 'Sherry Matured' (43%, OB, +/-2008) That's it for now - enjoy your weekends! Sweet drams, Johannes |
| 26 Nov 08 | Darling admits whisky duty error The chancellor has admitted to MPs that he made a mistake in raising duty on Scotch whisky, which would have led to a 29p rise in the price of a bottle. |
| 24 Nov 08 | UK: Glenglassaugh distillery sheds its mothballs 24 November 2008 | Source: just-drinks.com editorial team Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, re-opened the 133-year-old Glenglassaugh Distillery, near Portsoy in Aberdeenshire today (24 November). The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company, which is controlled by the Netherlands-based investment company Scaent Group, was created by Scaent earlier this year after the company bought the facility in February for around GBP5m (US$7.5m). "This is a very exciting time for the whisky industry," said Derek McLennan, executive vice president of the Scaent Group. "With unprecedented demand in markets such as China, India, Russia, South East Asia and South America; we look forward to introducing the world to one of the very best single malt whiskies available today - Glenglassaugh." Managing director Stuart Nickerson added: "We will initially be releasing a limited amount of 22yr, 30yr and 40yr old single malts. These whiskies are unique and have been very well received by those who have tasted them, including key whisky writers and knowledgeable whisky experts." |
| 24 Nov 08 | Alcohol duties set to rise as VAT rate slashed Alistar Darling has confirmed that he will cut VAT from 17.5% to 15% but will increase duties to on alcohol to ensure that prices remain unchanged. The Chancellor made the announcement today as part of a £20 billion package of tax cuts designed to revive the ailing economy. In his pre-Budget speech to Parliament, Darling warned that the cut in VAT rates would have to be made up for with increases in duty on alcohol, tobacco and petrol. He said he would "offset the VAT reduction" by increasing duties "by an amount which should keep the overall cost to consumers the same this year". "This temporary reduction is the equivalent of the government giving back some twelve and a half billion pounds to consumers to boost the economy. It will make goods and services cheaper and, by encouraging spending, will help stimulate growth," said Darling. The cut in VAT will come into effect on December 1 and continue for 13 months. In his speech, Darling urged retailers to pass on the cut to shoppers as soon as they could. http://www.talkingdrinks.com/ |
| 17 Nov 08 | INTERVIEW:Diageo counts on brand loyalty as economy dips Charles Allen, global brand director of malts and Scotch heritage at London-based Diageo PLC, the world’s largest alcoholic drinks group, talked with “Taipei Times” staff reporter Jerry Lin during a recent visit to Taipei about the affect the global economic downturn is having on the industry and Scotch whisky trends Allen: While some regions were growing, other regions were declining, so the general environment was flat for many years in Scotch whisky. Over the last two or three years, what is being defined by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) as a renaissance in Scotch whisky is happening. So Scotch whisky is back in growth, and that is great news for the industry and for Diageo. It really does show the results of a continuous investment by the industry and by the big brands in the future of this category. And it’s growing for a variety of reasons. First of all, in some of the more mature regions like North America and Europe, business performances have improved. So Europe is back to flat from having declined and North America is back to growth. And those are very mature and valuable markets, where a lot of Scotch whisky brands and Diageo brands are present in the market. TT: Are these two the biggest markets for Diageo? Allen: North America is the biggest market. And then what’s happened in Asia and Latin America is that growth in some of the markets within those regions has accelerated. So we’ve seen amazing growth in China, Russia, Brazil and Mexico, and India is one of the untouched opportunities for this industry. Obviously, at the same time, we are seeing different consumer trends. I think now there is a return in terms of a trend towards products that offer genuine authenticity and quality. So consumers are prepared to pay premium prices for products as long as they are reassured that they are high quality. The other trend that is really helping at the moment is the fact that consumers want to believe these products are being made by real people from real places. So a lot of brands and products out there in old categories are quite faceless — the perception is that they are being produced by big corporations and factories. But the beauty of Scotch whisky is you can trace the origins right back to individual distilleries and communities. So it’s a combination of consumer trends, macroeconomic trends, and general states of market development in Scotch that is fueling this growth. You may have read in newspaper reports that we are building a brand new distillery up in Scotland, called Roseisle distillery. It will be the largest single malt distillery ever built in Scotland. It will open in March, April of next year and it will secure the future for Diageo in Scotch whisky for many years to come. That level of commitment in terms of investing in a new distillery, I think it’s a clear sign that Diageo believes long-term in this category. TT: How does this new distillery differ from the previous ones? Allen: It’s a lot bigger. In terms of output, our largest single malt distillery today produces about 6 million liters of alcohol a year. Roseisle distillery will produce about 10 million liters of alcohol. It’s almost twice the size of our largest distillery at the moment. The other difference about Roseisle is that in the past, these distilleries have grown up in communities and buildings where people have to fit things in. The Roseisle design is in one long line, from the input of raw materials to the output of whisky at the other end. It’s more efficient. TT: How is Diageo’s sales performance in Taiwan this year? Has it been affected by slowing domestic consumer spending? Allen: Taiwan is not immune to the macroeconomic climate that is happening all over the world, of course. The market is down and it is down for the total industry. Diageo’s share within that market is holding up because we have leading brands, like Johnnie Walker and some of the best malt whisky brands in the world. So we are performing well within a declining market. What we are seeing here is a reflection of what we see to varying degrees in other parts of the world. So some consumption is switching from bars and restaurants into the home. But what is staying the same largely is people’s desire and appetite for premium brands. What we are finding is that people are not abandoning our brands, because they are still very affordable within the overall context of the economy. But what we are seeing is that people may be choosing to drink these brands with their friends at home, rather than going out. So their consumption is still there, it’s just changing location. TT: What are the regions or countries where Diageo’s sales have been most impacted by the global economic slowdown? Allen: I’d say at the moment in Europe, we have a business that is very mature. We have consumers that are less loyal to our brands than consumers in Asia. What we are finding in Diageo, if we think beyond Scotch, we are seeing consumers switching categories. If a consumer feels he or she can no longer afford to drink a premium Scotch whisky, what we may find is they will switch to a premium tequila or vodka. What we find is that people trade across rather than trading down, because people don’t want to feel that they are drinking a cheaper Scotch whisky if they’ve been drinking Johnnie Walker Black Label for many years. TT: What about the North American market? Allen: The Scotch whisky category in North America, as a result of all the trends I mentioned earlier, that market has been coming back. I think we are going to see some switching between categories in North America, but our North American business is very robust. Overall, our business is in good shape. If we were to dive into individual categories, we’d see that within whisky, the top end of whisky is doing very well because these luxury consumers are people who will always have disposable income. In the mid segment, where people may have recently started drinking Johnnie Walker Black Label and suddenly they are feeling the pinch in the current economic downturn. They are the ones who are most likely to trade across into a different category. So again, if we may have some declines in Scotch whisky, we will see increases in vodka or Baileys. So the net effect for Diageo is that North America is still our No. 1 and most valuable market. And it’s the market where we are investing heavily. TT: Is Asia more resilient to the crisis than others? Allen: I think we’ll see, but there are certain consumer dynamics in Asia as there are in Latin America that can give us confidence. A lot of the growth in Asia has been driven by the economic success, the emerging middle classes and higher disposable incomes. And typically what we see in those environments is that people want to demonstrate their growing social standing and success. What better way to demonstrate success than going out to a restaurant or bar, buying a bottle of Singleton or Johnnie Walker, having it on the table, because it serves as a beacon, if you like. Other people in the bar will look at people at that table enjoying a high quality bottle of Scotch and that says a lot about you. And that consumer dynamic is more prevalent in emerging markets than in mature markets, where people now are expressing their status in different ways. So that gives me more confidence that Asia will be more resilient. TT: Will Diageo cut its marketing spending, reduce staff or pay to help save costs? Allen: I can’t comment on individual aspects of that. I think what we’ll see in the brand agenda is we’ll see more focus spent against activities and plans that we know work. For example, the Johnnie Walker brand, which is our lead whisky brand, we’ll see a lot more focus on the growth of Johnnie Walker Blue Label, that’s our premier brand within the Johnnie Walker lineup. We know what motivates consumers around the world. We spent a lot of money to understand consumers. And we’re doing that continuously, and that won’t stop. Even in these recession environments, we have to keep our fingers on the pulse of our consumers. We have to know what they’re thinking, what their motivations are, and we’ll deploy our activities in a more focused manner in these periods against the things that we know work, which will maintain our market share, which will prepare us when things get better. TT: Does Diageo see the turmoil as an opportunity to expand? Allen: Scotch whisky is a long-term business. We’re forecasting way into the future. The past is a good indicator of what may happen in the future, so is the global economy and individual market GDP growth. But we don’t know, we can only speculate. So we are taking decisions right now about how the Scotch whisky industry may look like in 20 to 25 years. The conclusion we’ve come to is that in order to supply that opportunity we see, we need to build new capacity. I remember reading the reports in the newspapers when we made this announcement about Roseisle, there was a lot of speculations about whether this is the right thing to do. We believe we got it right. But what we can’t do is arrive in 20 and 25 years, and sit back and say, we wish we had some more whisky. There is a saying in English: You have to speculate to accumulate. We are speculating based on some good evidence in our belief that we will need certain amounts of Scotch whisky in 20 to 25 years and beyond. To ensure we can supply that demand that we anticipate, we have to put a new capacity. Interestingly, since Diageo announced its building this new distillery, most of the other industry players have done things or announced things about how they are also increasing their capacity. So the outlook is positive, the outlook is being driven by what we are seeing in these big emerging markets and some fairly robust assumptions about growth rates. And this industry doesn’t have to grow by much to get bigger. The current Scotch whisky industry’s business may be 80 million cases a year, Diageo has just under 40 [percent] to 42 percent of that globally. That’s a big business. You only have to grow a couple of points a year off that base and you have a big business on your hands. Source: http://www.taipeitimes.com |
| 14 Nov 08 | Silo collapse at whisky facility The silo collapse spilled hundreds of tonnes of barley across the site |
| 13 Nov 08 | Diageo reviewing collaboration with United Spirits LONDON: Diageo , the world's largest alcoholic drinks group, said it was reviewing a possible collaboration with India's United Spirits after Indian media reports concerning Diageo taking a stake. "We are reviewing a possible collaboration with United Spirits," said a Diageo spokesman on Thursday. Market talk that Diageo, the maker of Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff vodka, may take a minority stake in United Spirits has continued for a while with European drinks makers keen to increase their presence in India's fast-growing drinks market. Earlier, the Economic Times in India reported that Diageo was in exclusive talks to buy a minority stake of 14.99 percent, initially. The same paper reported a year ago that Diageo was in talks to buy a slightly smaller stake. United Spirits is the world's No. 3 spirits maker by volume and is controlled by flamboyant tycoon Vijay Mallya through his UB Group. "There was a meeting with Diageo yesterday. We have entered into exclusive discussions with them for a limited period," Mallya told the Indian paper. The paper, citing unnamed sources, said United Spirits was seeking to price the deal at almost double Wednesday's closing share price of 771.1 rupees, with the stake sale raising $450 million (301 million pounds) to $500 million. The proceeds could be used to reduce United's debt of $1.2 billion from its purchase of Scottish spirits maker Whyte & Mackay in 2007, it added. http://www.iht.com |
| 13 Nov 08 | Dalmore 50yo whisky promises the real taste of a bygone era There is an elite group of individuals who are willing to spend a lot of money on the rarest and oldest of whiskies. Now there is some great news for this breed of collectors, as Whyte & Mackay have introduced one of the world’s oldest and rarest Scotch whiskies at last month’s TFWA World Exhibition. The firm, owned by Indian tycoon Dr Vijay Mallya, promised the new 50yo expression of The Dalmore to enrich the wine connoisseurs with a “real taste of a bygone era that no other product or brand can offer.” This whisky was first distilled 140 years ago. The Dalmore 50yo carries a suggested retail price of around £5,000 for a full-size 70cl bottle. Only 191 hand-blown Portuguese crystal decanters will be offered for sale and 50 of them will go to travel retailers. All the decanters will be individually numbered and will bear a limited edition silver neck tag. To top that, every bottle of the Dalmore 50yo will carry with it a handwritten and signed letter from The Dalmore’s creator, Richard Paterson. The 50yo whisky is said to be “soft and elegant” with a “multitude of complex flavours that linger in the mouth.” http://www.bornrich.org |
| 12 Nov 08 | Secret whisky bought at auction It is thought the whisky was hidden away during Prohibition |
Annoucing the 2008 Malt Advocate Whisky Awards Here is a listing of the award winners. A full write-up will appear in the 1st Quarter 2009 issue of Malt Advocate magazine, due out on January 15, 2009. The top ten new whiskies for 2008 (listed alphabetically) Best Buy of the Year American Whiskey of the Year Canadian Whisky of the Year Irish Whiskey of the Year Scotch Blended Whisky of the Year Scotch Malt Whisky of the Year Microdistillery Whisky of the Year Industry Leader of the Year Pioneer of the Year Distillery of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award |
|
| 12 Nov 08 | A new limied expression ofLaphroaig, the Laphroaig Triple Wood will be released at the end of this month for the duty-free. Bottled at 48%, it has been matured in bourbon casks, quarter-casks and Oloroso butts
|
| 12 Nov 08 | Tax service is on the prowl for fake whisky Imperial whisky with RFID The National Tax Service (Korea) said yesterday it has launched a trial operation to last until the end of the year of an electronic tag attached on the bottles of two types of whisky, to clamp down on fake products and track their distribution routes. A total of 15,000 bottles of 21-year-old and 17-year-old whisky carrying the Imperial label from Pernod Ricard Korea will each carry a Radio Frequency Identification sticker during the 51-day period. The tax agency will distribute a dongle, a piece of hardware that connects to mobile phones, to 24 liquor wholesalers, 10 E-Mart discount stores and 100 restaurants and bars nationwide. Whether or not the whisky is genuine can be checked by reading the RFID on the bottle using the dongle, which transfers the unique verification number of each product to the server of the National Tax Service via wireless Internet. The RFID also contains information on the whereabouts and total number of bottles of the product because wholesalers and bars are required to use readers when they receive delivery of the products. “The trial service, if successful, is expected to help repel fake whisky,” said an official in the Excise Tax Division at the tax agency. Bogus liquor is rampant in Korea because they have hefty profit margins. Whisky manufacturers have been mobilizing to fight against fake goods. Scotch Blue from Lotte Chilsung Beverages has developed a label that turns red from blue when a specially devised solution is applied. If the label doesn’t change color, it’s fake. http://joongangdaily.joins.com/ |
| 10 Nov 08 | Single Malt Named Whisky Of The Year A Scottish single malt has been awarded the title of World Whisky of the Year by a distinguished guide. Ardbeg Uigeadail was given the accolade in the Whisky Bible 2009. The honour makes it a double for the Ardbeg distillery on the island of Islay, which scooped the same title last year for Ardbeg Ten Years Old. http://www.ayrshirepost.net |
| 06 Nov 08 | Global scotch demand drinking stocks dry The sobering news comes after liquor distributor Diageo Canada, a branch of the world's largest alcohol group, told the LCBO that if it wanted to continue to sell many of its products it would have to pay more to compete with growing markets abroad. |
| 05 Nov 08 | Glenmorangie is bringing back the soda siphon. After decades of near-extinction this beautiful object that conjures up all the glamour, hedonism and illicit joie-de-vivre of the 'Roaring Twenties' is making a comeback and this time Glenmorangie has given it its contemporary luxury stamp. Clad in leather with a decadent embossed gold-foil Signet that makes it Glenmorangie's own, the Glenmorangie Siphon is the drinking tool for the modern connoisseur and bright young thing. Prohibition in the 1920's meant that traditional whisky drinking went underground - all those 'in the know' were seen in speakeasies where soda siphons added style to the new drinking ritual. Purist cocktails and homemade cordials were served up by barmen who knew your name. Glenmorangie has reinvented these iconic whisky soda serves and brings the Glenmorangie Siphon to the modern whisky set. Glenmorangie remains one of the world's greatest single malt whiskies since its creation in 1843. In its complexity it has the most diverse range of aromas, tastes and textures. Innovation is at the heart of the Glenmorangie spirit. From its original pioneering methods of production in the 1800's, to its Whisky Icons award as Innovator of the Year 2008 in recognition of its role in re-energising the whisky category. Glenmorangie's innovation has been paramount in engaging new and inspiring existing whisky lovers alike to delve into this complex and alluring whisky and this continues with the re-creation of the siphon. www.glenmorangie.com |
| 05 Nov 08 | 25 Years of Offering Truly Unique Single Cask Single Malt Whiskies It's been 25 years since the first sensational single malt whisky cask was selected and bottled - some 125 malt whisky distilleries and several thousand exceptional and individual whisky casks later, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society celebrates its anniversary, marking the occasion with a little something special at our London and Edinburgh Society members' rooms. Edinburgh, UK The Scotch Malt Whisky Society started 25 years ago when a group of discerning friends shared the price of a single cask of fine malt whisky. The aroma of the cask was wonderful and it tasted even better. It was the first of many! Today the Society continues to bottle only single casks from a range of 125 malt whisky distilleries. Only the very best single cask, single malt whisky is selected, having been approved by the Society's Tasting Panel. Members worldwide enjoy the many pleasures and benefits of membership, with three superb Members' Rooms, two in Edinburgh and one in London. The Society remains true to its origins, retaining its personal and companionable atmosphere in its publications, UK-wide events and premises. A Scotch Birthday Party Membership of the Society is non exclusive so any new members attending will enjoy 'all the trimmings' that you'd expect from a Society dedicated to offering the rarest whiskies The birthday celebrations will be sure to herald some big surprises. We're not giving our plans away but you can be sure that the extensive new winter single malt whisky bottling list will play a large part of the celebrations. There are some extra special single malt gems to discover amongst our fine winter whisky selection at The Vaults in Leith. Can you think of a better way to enjoy a cold Saturday afternoon? The next outstanding malt is out there; let the Society help you find it. At 28 Queen Street in Edinburgh we are tasting and exploring five fantastic drams from the first distilleries ever bottled by the Society 25 years ago, along with a tasty three-course supper. For more information about our 25th Anniversary events or The Scotch Malt Whisky Society please call the events team on 0131 555 2266 or visit http://www.smws.co.uk source:http://www.prweb.com |
| 03 Nov 08 | Scotland's whisky sector in rude health He told The Scotsman: "The industry is really healthy now. From long experience, I can say this is one of the good periods for the industry." He added: "The UK and United States may be in recession, but parts of Europe and the Far East are on a different economic track." Walker also revealed plans to bring 15- and 18-year-old whiskies to the market in time for Christmas from the Glendronach Distillery, near Huntly, which Ben-Riach bought from Chivas Brothers in August. Glendronach, which already offers 12- and 30-year-old expressions, will also be returning to its roots as a "sherried" whisky, Walker said. BenRiach beat off competition from brands including Glenmorangie, Highland Park and Benromach to take the "whisky distiller of the year" title at Whisky Magazine's Icons of Whisky Scotland Awards. The prize came a year after BenRiach was named "distillery of the year" by Malt Advocate Magazine's Whisky Awards, which are open to whisky makers throughout the world. http://business.scotsman.com |
| Previous News | |
| P.Brossard ©2008. All rights reserved. |
