A NORTH-EAST auction centre will be this weekend’s setting for a whisky galore sale, with almost 400 lots going under the hammer.
Saturday’s 11am auction at the Thainstone Centre, near Inverurie, is expected to attract brisk bidding.
The Thainstone specialist auctions event annually attracts interest from connoisseurs and collectors from around the country, with local people looking for a special New Year celebration dram.
As usual the sale will feature whiskies from almost every distillery in Scotland.
Among the collectable items on offer will be an unboxed, but listed as very old, bottle of John Thompson, to number five in a limited edition of only 200 bottles of special Armistice Day whisky.
Bells decanters to be sold will include royal commemoratives celebrating events from the births of Prince William and Princess Eugenie and the late Queen Mother’s 100th year to the Queen’s golden wedding. Among the final lots of the seasonal sale will be a series of Bells Christmas decanters dating from the 1980s into the present century.
The collectable and limited-edition Scotch whisky items will on view from 9am on the day of the sale. A big turnout is expected at the auction, while enthusiasts from throughout the UK and overseas will be able to bid online through the centre’s eBid@liveauction site.
Staff at Glen Dronach Distillery at Forgue, near Huntly, are celebrating two awards for its 15-year-old Revival single malt.
The north-east whisky was voted best single malt whisky of the year at the annual Dutch Whisky Awards from a line-up of 300 whiskies.
It has also taken a top accolade in this year’s Malt Maniacs Awards, an annual web-based international competition.
Revival is matured in sherry casks to produce a distinctive full-bodied flavour.
A former illicit still has been put back into use by an island's whisky distiller.
Mark Tayburn, who runs the Abhainn Dearg Distillery in Uig, on Lewis, is able to operate the small still under the distillery's licence.
Whisky was illicitly produced across the Highlands and Islands until distilling was legalised by the Excise Act of 1823.
Mr Tayburn hopes to make a distinctive whisky using the old still.
He was granted a licence for his distillery by HM Revenue and Customs in November 2008.
Mr Tayburn's decision to put the small still back into use has been welcomed by Western Isles SNP MSP Alasdair Allan.
He said: "I am happy to say Lewis has now started producing one of Scotland's most unusual whiskies in almost certainly the country's smallest licensed still."
In 2006, whisky distillers at Glenlivet recreated history by legally using a similar style illicit still and the same methods as illicit distillers once employed in Banffshire.
Ballantine's whisky brand partners with artist Julian Beever for Heathrow campaign
Ballantine's, Pernod Ricard's Scotch whisky brand, has collaborated with international pavement artist Julian Beever as part of a marketing push outside London Heathrow Terminal 3 this Christmas.
The campaign, booked with JCDecaux Airport's experiential division Sphere and devised by communication agency Circle IMC, extends Ballantine's "Leave an Impression" campaign and claims to be the first of its kind at a UK airport.
Through the work, Pernod Ricard hopes to increase awareness of Ballantine's Finest by word of mouth.
Beever finishes his drawing today (18 December), after which it will be opened to the public until Christmas.
Updates on Terminal 3's digital network will showcase the development of the drawing from its initial stages through to the final piece.
In addition to driving customers to the World Duty Free store in T3, coupons will be handed out offering the chance to win a Ballantine's branded watch.
Travellers will also have the opportunity to sample the Ballantine's range, while a gift is available with any Ballantine's reference purchased.
Nicola Greene, head of Sphere Sales at JCDecaux Airport, said: "A campaign with this level of creative flair demonstrates yet again the potential for experiential advertising at airports.
"We are really proud to be able to deliver a passenger experience that will delight travellers during their airport journey and that can only increase the brand perception of exclusive products like Ballantine's whisky."
Before the launch in London, the Ballantine's Finest Street Impression campaign was first executed in Uruguay outside a shopping mall in Montevideo, followed by Las Condes in Chile in October.
Isle of Skye 8 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky has announced a new sponsorship deal with Scottish Racing.
The exciting new partnership, to commence in January 2010, will name Isle of Skye 8 Years Blended Scotch Whisky as the sponsor of the Scottish Racing ‘Trainers’ Championship’ and official whisky partner at all five Scottish Race courses - Ayr, Hamilton Park, Kelso, Musselburgh and Perth.
The sponsorship deal includes award presentations at race days throughout the year, to the top National Hunt and top Flat racehorse trainer at each individual track, as well as to the top overall Scottish Flat and Jump trainer with runners at all five Scottish racecourses over the year. In addition, Isle of Skye 8 Years Old will be stocked in bars at all of the courses. Promotional activity will also include a range of joint marketing initiatives such as on course advertising support, website promotion and point of sale.
Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers, commented: “The sponsorship of Scottish Racing will form a key part of our 2010 (and beyond) marketing programme. We are delighted to be working with Scottish Racing to promote Scotland’s unique, popular and highly regarded racecourses. Scottish Racing is built on a commitment to tradition and excellence, values that sit very well with Isle of Skye 8 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky.
Commenting on the new sponsorship deal, Jonathan Garratt, Commercial Manager of Scottish Racing said: “Isle of Isle of Skye 8 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky will be our official whisky partner for 2010 and we could not wish for more enthusiastic supporters. Whisky is one of the major ingredients within Scotland’s hospitality experience and we are very proud to be associated with this top quality blend, which I am sure will go down very well with all our customers.”
The Scottish Racing partnership is an integral part of Ian Macleod Distillers’ brand development strategy for Isle of Skye 8 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky, which aims to raise the profile of the award-winning whisky throughout Scotland and beyond. This builds on last month’s announcement that Isle of Skye 8 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky was stepping up its sponsorship of Scotland’s number one National Hunt racehorse trainer, Lucinda Russell and her team at Arlary House Stables.
The five Scottish racecourses stage approximately 100 fixtures each year and welcome more than 320,000 visitors for both Flat and National Hunt (Jump) racing.
Isle of Skye 8 Years Old Blended Scotch Whisky will be available at all of the public bars at the five racecourses, along with three other Ian Macleod brands, award-winning Glengoyne Highland Single malt, London Hill Gin and Watson’s Trawler Dark Rum.
Isle of Skye 8 Years Old Blended Scotch whisky is available at 8 Years Old, limited edition 21 and 50 Years Old. An exceptionally smooth and mellow Scotch whisky containing a high proportion of carefully selected Island and Speyside Malts, the 8 Years Old has been described by whisky expert Jim Murray, as “an absolute must for any Islay-philes out there – in fact, a must for everybody. Your taste buds are beaten up and caressed simultaneously. One of the most enormous yet brilliantly balanced whiskies in the world.”
The Isle of Skye 8 Years Old is available in a range of sizes - 1.5 litre, 70cl, 35cl and 5cl with a recommended retail price of £13.99 for 70cl.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
15 Dec
2009
Highland Park Reveals New Bottling The Earl Magnus Edition 1
The internationally acclaimed and award winning distillery, Highland Park announces the launch of its latest premium single malt whisky, The Earl Magnus Edition 1 - a perfectly-balanced natural strength bottling taken from hand selected casks from the turn of the last century.
This limited edition expression provides lovers of this award winning single malt liquid with the opportunity to experience or collect a very distinct bottling that captures a time in history through its tasting and the story that is told.
The bottling celebrates the life of Earl Magnus, an 11th century Christian; a man of peace and great authority who shared the rule of the Orkney Earldom with his treacherous cousin Haakon. Envious at the increasing popularity of his cousin, matters between the two reached a crisis and in a bitter twisted rivalry, Haakon had his cousin slaughtered. Magnus’s body was laid to rest on Egilsy and later at Birsay it was said that miracles of healing were experienced around his tomb.
The story is legendary as is the new edition from Highland Park. Bottled at 52.6% abv this unique 15 year old full natural strength expression delivers a beautiful balance of ginger and lemon notes, cumulating with delicate aromatic blends of ginger and vanilla, combined with the signature heather peat smokiness of Highland Park. Distinct in taste, the bottling and gift box combines current artisan design elements of the classic Highland Park style and these have been skilfully maintained and blended with historic drawings taken from preserved archive bottles at the Highland Park distillery.
Key design elements include the composition of the light brown glass itself. With natural looking flaws, bubbles and an unusual orange peel texture the glass making reflects the techniques used over 150 years ago.
The bespoke light brown glass bottle is offset with an archive inspired label that depicts Earl Magnus in a stained glass window. It is sealed with a black stopper, coated in black wax stamped with the classic Highland Park ‘H’. Stoelze Flaconnage, the specialist bottle makers have created this ancient looking bottle that consumers can keep long after the liquid has been savoured.
The bottle is presented in an open window wooden gift box that is simple in design and etched with modern Highland Park branding and the historic tale of Earl Magnus – the story of his remarkable life, how he came to his brutal and tragic death and how years later his life was eternally remembered through his canonisation and the building of St Magnus cathedral, a magnificent structure that stands not far from the distillery – the home of Highland Park.
Jason Craig, Global Controller of Highland Park, said: “Orkney has a wonderful and magical heritage born out of an incredibly colourful history; with troubles, strife, heroism and a lasting legacy of historical structures and ancient and mysterious standing circles on our island. We hope our Highland Park drinkers and collectors will love this limited edition bottling that captures a period of remarkable history, delivers a full strength 15 year old and is big on flavour and aroma which is succinct and distinguished in taste.”
Earl Magnus Edition 1 will be available from late December in the UK from specialist independent whisky retailers throughout the UK, the Highland Park distillery and www.highlandpark.co.uk at a RRP of £85.00.
Earl Magnus Detail:
Age: 15 year old from 1994 and earlier years
Strength: 52.6% abv
Appearance: Golden honey, clear and bright
Aroma: Cedarwood and lemon. Mango chunks with hints of ginger and cinnamon bark
Palate: Vanilla, balanced smokiness, milk chocolate and crystallised ginger
Aftertaste: Medium sweet with lingering spiciness
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
15 Dec
2009
Glenfiddich offers a true taste of Scotland
The world's most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, Glenfiddich, distributed in the UK by leading drinks company First Drinks, is investing in a heavyweight integrated Christmas communications campaign worth over £1 million.
The number one malt whisky brand in the UK, Glenfiddich has a heavyweight advertising campaign planned across top end glossy magazines and newspaper supplements, reaching 3.5 million target consumers.
Off-trade in-store support is also being upweighted this year, focusing on the point of purchase. The creative will run under the strapline "Discover the true taste of Christmas" referencing Glenfiddich's Christmas Day beginnings in 1887 when the first spirit ran from the Glenfiddich stills.
The brand's status as the world's most awarded single malt Scotch whisky will also be communicated to consumers, reinforcing the brand's quality credentials.
"Glenfiddich continues to pioneer the single malt category with a comprehensive range. From the iconic 12YO through the 15YO, 18YO and 21YO expressions, Glenfiddich is the essential malt whisky.
"Other rare, exclusive bottlings and limited editions such as the 50YO, a flawless expression priced at £10,000 per bottle, have cemented our status as a favourite with consumers the world over.
"The brand really is a must-stock for retailers whether they are targeting the lucrative gifting market or consumers buying their favourite malt for themselves, as well as bars looking to capitalise on the Christmas season," says Andy Corris, Senior Brand Manager for Glenfiddich at First Drinks.
"Our Christmas programme this year will communicate the fact that due to our heritage, we are the ideal malt whisky for the festive season.
"Our advertising campaign will reach millions of consumers, and outlets must make sure they have adequate stock of the number one malt whisky brand in the UK as we will be top of mind with drinkers, and actively sought out".
The campaign will also incorporate an online focus from Glenfiddich Explorers, the brand's relationship marketing programme, which seeks to drive brand engagement with drinkers and demonstrate new and exciting ways to enjoy Glenfiddich.
Target consumers will be contacted via the brand's customer database and invited to pick their favourite variant of Glenfiddich.
A subtle hint is then emailed to friends and family, encouraging them to purchase Glenfiddich as the perfect Christmas present.
Glenfiddich will wrap up its 2009 activity with The Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Awards, which take place in Edinburgh on Tuesday 8th December. Now in its twelfth year, the event recognises individuals who are leading the way within Scottish culture.
English whisky goes on sale for first time since 19th century
It is hardly whisky galore, but English whisky will go on sale next week, the first time in more than 120 years that a distillery south of the border has produced the drink.
The St George's distillery in Roudham, Norfolk, will be hoping to do for English whisky what wine producers in the home counties have done for sparkling wine, which has proved more than a match for French champagne.
St George's single malt has already received favourable reviews in its pre-whisky form – the spirits have to mature for three years before being officially designated whisky.
Keir Sword, proprietor of Royal Mile Whiskies, the whisky retailer in Edinburgh, has tasted the peated and non-peated varieties of St George's and thinks English whisky has what it takes to become a decent tipple.
"Both should improve over time and they will be good whiskies," he said.
The English Whisky Company, which owns the St George's distillery, was started by farmer Andrew Nelstrop and his father James. After deciding on what some might say was a crazy venture in 2005, they distilled the whisky in November 2006. In a publicity coup for the Nelstrops, their distillery was officially opened in March 2007 by Prince Charles.
Andrew Nelstrop, managing director, recently took the product to Paris for the Whisky Live show and came back heartened by the response.
"This is a spectacular event, again our first ever whisky show," Nelstrop wrote on his company's website, "and one that I was very proud to be a part of, although a little scary watching a whisky buff taste whisky older than myself on the neighbouring stand and then head over to our stand to taste 18-month old spirit.
"With enormous relief, not one person showed disdain. Given the French are normally not shy in showing their disapproval, I have declared the show a roaring success!".
St George's, which has cost £2.4m to produce so far, uses barley from East Anglia and water from the Breckland aquifer, through a 160ft borehole in the garden. The company plans to produce between 150,000 and 200,000 bottles a year, holding back about 1,000 barrels for 20-year-old whisky.
The whisky is being shipped to Japan, Singapore, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. Next year, the company hopes to crack the US market and Hong Kong.
The Scotch whisky business is not quaking yet. As the Scotch Whisky Association pointed out, there are 109 distilleries in Scotland, one in Wales, one in Northern Ireland, and one in England. Scotch outsells the next largest whisky category (US) by more than three times worldwide.
"It is testament to the global success of Scotch that other countries are also looking to make whisky and we welcome our Norfolk friends to the world whisky family," said a spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association.
A NORTH-EAST auction centre will be this weekend’s setting for a whisky galore sale, with almost 400 lots going under the hammer.
Saturday’s 11am auction at the Thainstone Centre, near Inverurie, is expected to attract brisk bidding.
The Thainstone specialist auctions event annually attracts interest from connoisseurs and collectors from around the country, with local people looking for a special New Year celebration dram.
As usual the sale will feature whiskies from almost every distillery in Scotland.
Among the collectable items on offer will be an unboxed, but listed as very old, bottle of John Thompson, to number five in a limited edition of only 200 bottles of special Armistice Day whisky.
Bells decanters to be sold will include royal commemoratives celebrating events from the births of Prince William and Princess Eugenie and the late Queen Mother’s 100th year to the Queen’s golden wedding. Among the final lots of the seasonal sale will be a series of Bells Christmas decanters dating from the 1980s into the present century.
The collectable and limited-edition Scotch whisky items will on view from 9am on the day of the sale. A big turnout is expected at the auction, while enthusiasts from throughout the UK and overseas will be able to bid online through the centre’s eBid@liveauction site.
Staff at Glen Dronach Distillery at Forgue, near Huntly, are celebrating two awards for its 15-year-old Revival single malt.
The north-east whisky was voted best single malt whisky of the year at the annual Dutch Whisky Awards from a line-up of 300 whiskies.
It has also taken a top accolade in this year’s Malt Maniacs Awards, an annual web-based international competition.
Revival is matured in sherry casks to produce a distinctive full-bodied flavour.
Shipments increase but value drops as customers opt for cheaper brands
SHIPMENTS of Scotch whisky abroad are up despite the recession, according to industry figures.
Exports grew by 1.5% in the first nine months of this year, accounting for more than 807million bottles.
The value was down 3.5% to £2.11billion on the same period last year, which was an industry record, but was still the second best performance to the end of September.
The reduction of about £80million was blamed on drinkers switching to cheaper brands.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) reported that, despite weak economic conditions and a reduction in stocks, which hit exports in the first quarter of the year, the industry was confident of future growth as international conditions improve.
SWA chief executive Gavin Hewitt said the industry was looking forward to a good last quarter of the year now that the Christmas and New Year period was in full swing.
“Distillers have been resilient through the recession, investing for future opportunities and underscoring Scotch whisky’s increasing importance to the domestic economy,” he said.
“Scotch whisky exports, which already represent 20% of Scotland’s manufactured exports, are showing the way in bringing the Scottish economy out of recession.”
The SWA said the international spread of exports helped mitigate the impact of weaker economic conditions in certain countries. Within the top 10 markets the value of exports increased in France, South Africa and Venezuela, but was down in the US, Spain and South Korea.
The UK market continued to struggle with releases from bond down 11%.
The SWA said this raised questions over plans for minimum pricing of alcohol in Scotland.
It pointed to “negative impact” of trade barriers being introduced against whisky overseas if a precedent is set with minimum pricing at home.
The export figures were announced as the SWA held a reception at Dover House, the Scotland Office HQ at Westminster last night.
Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “This is another impressive performance from the Scotch whisky industry and I congratulate everyone involved for generating such high sales during a global recession.
“It’s greatly encouraging that the sector is continuing to punch above its weight on the international stage.”
Liberal Democrat MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Jamie Stone said whisky’s success in bucking the recession could be undermined if the SNP get their way on minimum pricing.
“The slightly cheaper brands, which have been flourishing during this recession, would be hit hardest by these proposals,” he said.
“This argument has been put to me by the likes of Whyte and Mackay who own the Invergordon Distillery in my constituency, which provides vital jobs in a remote part of Scotland.”
Award-winning Glengoyne Distillery has challenged some of Scotland’s best known and highly respected independent whisky retailers to select a rare limited edition single cask from the Glengoyne warehouses that they would be proud to name The Scottish Merchants’ Choice.
Taking place in Glengoyne distillery’s state-of-the-art Blending Room, the group of six whisky connoisseurs nosed, sampled and debated a wide range of Glengoyne’s finest malts before collectively selecting a 12 Years Old, Sherry HHD cask 57.8% vol. to have the honorary title of The Scottish Merchants’ Choice.
Not only tasked with selecting this exceptional single cask, the merchants’ had to unanimously agree on all of the Merchants’ Choice values, from the bottle, packaging and label design and wording, to its name and tasting notes.
With a great first impression of butterscotch, cloves, leather, spice and Seville oranges, the nose of the Scottish Merchants’ Choice is described as fabulously balanced with an underlay of chocolate. An elegantly rich and fresh palate with sundried fruits, pears and a hint of pepper that plays nicely to the finish.
Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers, brand owners of Glengoyne commented: “These fine gentlemen are the experts and the critics. It is their job and passion to know and understand Scottish malt whisky better than anyone else. We are delighted to have been able to give them the opportunity to showcase their expertise and skill in choosing the perfect dram.
“We have already had enquires from some of our English independent whisky retailers as to when they will get the chance to make their Merchants’ Choice. I think a bit of healthy North-South rivalry has some great potential.”
Just 284 bottles of this limited edition bottling are now available (just in time for Christmas), from the six selection panel whisky specialists (see below), with an RRP of £99.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
04 Dec
2009
Ballantine's launches whisky bottle that flashes to the music beat
Pernod Ricard-owned blended Scotch whisky brand is launching a bottle that flashes like a graphic equaliser in time to the music.
Designed by London-based packaging agency The Core, the Ballantine's Finest self-illuminating bottle, which can be powered by batteries or mains, is only available to the on-trade.
The bottle design is modelled on a graphic equaliser, the dark blue spray coated bottle appears to react to the tonal quality of audio passing through it, by lighting up intermittently to achieve back-of-bar standout.
The working bottle forms part of an on-trade campaign for Ballantine's Finest, entitled ‘Listen to Your Beat'. Rolling out across bars and nightclubs in the UK and other markets, the campaign is based on the idea that ‘by listening to your own beat and following your own instincts, you will make choices that leave an impression on others.'
Global marketing director for Ballantine's, Peter Moore, said "The ‘Listen to Your Beat' campaign will energise our on-trade accounts by engaging consumers in a creative and eye catching manner."
Another 'Unfiltered' Success for The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Glasses were raised at The Scotch Malt Whisky Society this week as it added yet another trophy to its long list of accolades, scooping the Periodical Publishers Association Scotland (PPA) award for Best Magazine Design: Business & Professional.
The award went to the Society's internationally renowned members' magazine 'Unfiltered', and was presented at a gala evening held in Edinburgh. The event was hosted by BBC Scotland's Cathy MacDonald and was attended by a sell-out audience of almost 400 leading figures from the Scottish magazine industry.
Kai Ivalo, sales and marketing director of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, comments: "We are thrilled to have won. While we already know how much hard work goes into creating a wonderful magazine, it's fantastic to hear that other people believe the same.
"As one of the many ways in which we engage with our members, Unfiltered represents the quality that the Society has to offer malt whisky lovers."
Alan Ramsay, deputy managing director of Connect Communications, which publishes Unfiltered, said: "Unfiltered's success is a real feather in the cap for our head of design Renny Hutchison, project manager Jim Byers and everyone who contributes to the magazine editorially and creatively."
Unfiltered provides the Society's 26,000 members worldwide with an entertaining insight into the world of whisky, with recommendations on the finest drams and curious stories on all things malt.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
01 Dec
2009
Recession continues to hit Speymalt
Elgin whisky group predicts profits may fall to about £650,000 in current year
The worldwide recession is continuing to hit profits at Speymalt Whisky Distributors.
The firm, which trades as Elgin-based Gordon and MacPhail and owns Benromach distillery at Forres, said yesterday that pre-tax profits for the year to February 2009 were just under £698,000.
This compared with £1.349million for the previous 12 months, however, the latest profits were affected by more than £272,000 of repairs to the stonework of the company's retail premises in South Street, Elgin, built in 1895.
Turnover in the past financial year was down 4.1% to £15.822million, with sales in the UK and export markets both down.
Joint managing director Michael Urquhart said yesterday that the impact of the recession may lead to profits dropping again to about £650,000 in the current financial year.
He added: "Hopefully, the world will be out of recession in the next couple of years, but we are not out of the woods yet as current financial events in Dubai show."
On a brighter note, Mr Urquhart said sales of Benromach had risen by 13% during the last financial year.
Turnover in the current financial year is also expected to rise to about £17.5million.
He said: "Despite a slight drop in overall sales, the company has continued to invest in stocks of new spirit, both in distillation at Benromach and the purchase of new spirit from other distilleries. Investment in the Benromach brand continued."
Mr Urquhart said Benromach 10-year-old, launched in September, had been well received by all sectors of the trade.
Benromach is now exported to 35 countries.
Mr Urquhart said the company was delighted to be awarded the Queen's Award for Enterprise in the International Trade category in April in recognition of a 94% increase in overseas sales in the previous five years.
He added: "Trading in the new financial year has been very buoyant in the UK, with sales increasing 30%, due in part to the excellent tourist season in Scotland and the company's wine and spirit distribution division winning a number of new contracts including one to supply the Nicolas chain of wine and spirit outlets in the UK with all their spirits."
Speymalt employed an average of 129 people during the last financial year.
An American rye has been voted the world's top whisky, knocking Scotch off its long-held top spot.
The 2010 edition of the Whisky Bible has voted Sazerac Rye from Kentucky the world's finest dram, ahead of last year's winner, Ardbeg, an Islay malt.
In a further blow to the Scotch whisky industry, an Indian single malt has made it into the top three for the first time. The elevation of Amrut Fusion, produced in Bangalore, signals the emergence of whiskies from previously unheralded countries of origin as a growing threat to the dominance of Scottish brands in the global market.
Jim Murray, who publishes the annual whisky guide, which is regarded by connoisseurs as the most authoritative, accused some industry figures of being complacent in the face of stiffening competition from abroad.
Earlier this year, a Japanese single malt and a blended whisky lifted awards in an annual competition run by Whisky Magazine.
"There is still a sneering attitude in some quarters that, if it is not made in Scotland, then somehow it is not proper whisky," said Murray. "I don't think the Scots have a lot to be complacent about at the moment in terms of whisky.
"There are some very, very poor casks of Scotch whisky in circulation just now.
"While the best is still exceptional, there is a lot of Scotch whisky out there which is really not good at all."
Murray awarded the Indian single malt 97 points out of a possible 100 and declared it "whisky genius".
"Hopefully the arrival of Indian whisky will act as a wake-up call for the Scotch whisky industry. If these guys in Bangalore can produce exceptional, world-class whisky, why can't Scottish distillers who have been around for 100 years or more?
"Very often, the answer is that distilleries don't take a huge amount of bother in choosing the casks they use and it has become a numbers game for them."
Whiskies produced by Ardbeg have dominated the top spot for the past three years. Rob Allanson, editor of Whisky Magazine, said Scots had to come to terms with no longer being undisputed masters of the whisky trade.
"There are some truly phenomenal non-Scottish whiskies out there just now," he said. "Some whiskies, especially those being produced in oak casks in Japan, are incredible and completely beyond anything that is produced in Scotland."
Allanson suggested a surge in the price of materials in recent years may have affected the quality of native brands.
"Because of this, maybe some distillers weren't as scrupulous when they were buying casks. We are now starting to see some of those casks coming into the market.
"You can always learn lessons from others, but the smaller Scotch whisky companies are still punching well above their weight."
Ian Hudghton, the Nationalist member of the European parliament who led a campaign to gain "protected" status for Scotch whisky, said most consumers still regarded Scottish-produced brands as the best in the world.
"The international market is the ultimate test and it shows that, if anything, the desire for genuine whisky made in Scotland is stronger than ever."
A spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association said: "Landmark regulations to protect and promote Scotch whisky show Scottish distillers are continuing to maintain the highest standards in every aspect of the production process."
Ashok Chokalingam, Amrut's international sales manager, said the first consignment of Fusion sold out within weeks of its arrival in June.
The firm is planning to introduce two more whiskies to the British market next year.
Alexandria whisky plant forced to relabel bottles over new ruling
A WHISKY plant boss has spoken of his two-year battle over new regulations which will "devalue" the firm's blended whisky.
Loch Lomond Distillery faces threats because of new government rules defining how traditional malt whisky is made.
John Peterson, distilling director of Loch Lomond Distillery, says the rules are "unnecessary" and damning on the green factory.
The Alexandria plant has been implementing innovative distillation methods in a bid to be environmentally-friendly for the last two years, and bosses say they have already smashed government climate targets.
But the company face a hazy future because their malt whisky can no longer be called by this name.
Under the new definition of Scotch malt whisky, which came into force on Monday, a true malt is classed as this if it is made in old-fashioned pot stills.
Instead the factory produce an environmentally-friendly malt mash in a single still.
Mr Peterson continued: "I've been trying to get our views across to the Scottish Whisky Association (SWA) and to local MPs for the past two years and nobody is prepared to listen.
"We are being treated unfairly and I think these regulations are unnecessary."
He said the factory will carry on as normal and confirmed that no jobs will be affected – but it will be forced to relabel its bottles.
"The SWA want us to call it grain whisky but this is misleading because it's not grain whisky. Our stock will be devalued.
"We are trying to be innovative and environmentally-friendly, and instead we are being penalised for it. It's nonsensical."
A spokesman for SWA, which has been helping to draw up the amendments to the Scotch Whisky Order 1990, said: "Loch Lomond Distillery's practice of producing a malt mash in a single still is not traditional. A single malt scotch whisky now has to be made according to traditional processes and that involves the use of pot stills.
"It will protect Scotch whisky from fake products around the world and the new regulations will ensure that consumers get clear and consistent information.
New guidelines to protect whisky from foreign imitation, including new rules on labelling and bottling, are coming into force in Scotland on Monday.
There will be a new requirement to only bottle Single Malts in Scotland, and tighter rules on the use of distillery names on bottle labels.
There will also be better protection of traditional regional names such as "Highland" and "Lowland".
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) described it as "landmark legislation".
The regulations have been drawn up by the UK government.
Secretary of State for Scotland Jim Murphy said: "It is vital that we protect our key industries. We cannot allow others to trade off our good name and to pass off inferior whisky as being produced in Scotland.
"These regulations will help protect whisky customers across the globe.
"New labelling rules will also mean that customers will have a clearer understanding about precisely where and how their drink has been produced. This will enhance the education of many whisky drinkers as well as their enjoyment."
SWA Chief Executive, Gavin Hewitt said: "This is landmark legislation for Scotch Whisky delivering important benefits for consumers, distillers, and the economy.
"Additional protection, including the requirement to bottle Single Malt Scotch Whisky in Scotland, helps safeguard Scotch from unfair and deceptive practices; the new labelling rules provide a unique opportunity to promote consumer understanding of Scotch worldwide.
"These regulations have the strong backing of the Scotch Whisky industry."
Regulation details
Some of the details of the new legislation include:
Five categories of Scotch Whisky are defined for the first time; Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.
These compulsory category sales terms will be required to appear clearly and prominently on all labels.
A requirement to only bottle Single Malt Scotch Whisky in Scotland.
New rules to prevent the misleading labelling and marketing of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies.
A ban on the use of the term "Pure Malt".
A ban on the use of a distillery name as a brand name on any Scotch Whisky which has not been wholly distilled in the named distillery.
Protection of five traditional whisky regions of production; Highland, Lowland, Speyside, Islay, and Campbeltown.
A requirement that Scotch Whisky must be wholly matured in Scotland.
Clear rules on the use of age statements on packaging.
Designation of HM Customs & Excise as the verification authority for Scotch Whisky.
Tamdhu, the 112-year-old Speyside whisky distillery whose malt is a major component of Famous Grouse, is to be mothballed as part of its owner Edrington Group's strategy to combat the impact of tough economic times on its brands.
Whisky-maker Edrington, which has its headquarters on Great Western Road in Glasgow, said the "restructuring follows a decision... to rebalance its malt whisky production levels in direct response to the global economic recession, which has affected all of the Scotch whisky industry".
The company said that as part of the restructuring, 31 jobs would be cut across five sites - Macallan and Glenrothes distilleries on Speyside, Highland Park in Orkney, its Buchley warehouse in Bishopbriggs, as well as Tamdhu.
The company said it was currently consulting with the employees who would be affected by the proposals, and that it hoped "any job losses required could be achieved through voluntary measures".
Meanwhile, the Tamdhu distillery - which is situated in the town of Knockando, Banffshire, and joined the Edrington stable with the group's £601 million takeover of Highland Distillers in 1999 - is to be put on a "care and maintenance" basis, along with its malting operation, the company said yesterday.
Tamdhu is the only distillery in Speyside to malt all its own barley on the premises.
The last distilleries to be mothballed were Springbank and Glengyle distilleries in the once-famous whisky-making area of Campbeltown, as the rocketing cost of fuel, transport and barley had forced its owners, J&A Mitchell, to call a halt to distillation of spirit for a period of up to two years, in the hope that the cost of the raw materials used to make whisky will eventually fall and allow the company to start distilling again.
Asked about the impact of Tamdhu's closure on essence and taste of Famous Grouse, the spokesman said: "Famous Grouse is made from a secret recipe, and there are many different constituents that go into it. We have a range of other malt whiskies and they will be sufficient for our blended products."
Tamdhu's traditional single-malt bottling does not mention its age, but a recent addition to its product line included a 10-year-old distillery bottling.
Edrington said that the proposed changes, which are scheduled to come in to effect in April next year, would see production concentrated at its three core distilleries - Macallan and Glenrothes in Speyside and Highland Park on Orkney.
Earlier this year, Ian Curle, Edrington's chief executive, said while announcing the group's annual results that there had been a softening of demand in a number of main markets because of the global economic slowdown.
The company also went on to say that this would affect the group's growth ambitions in the short term.
A responsible drinking message is to be included in all future adverts and printed point of sale materials for Scotch whisky, it has been announced.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) is imposing the measure to help discourage the misuse of alcohol and help tackle Scotland's problem drinking culture.
The responsible drink plea will be seen across the EU.
The SWA also supported most of the Scottish Alcohol Bill, but put forward an alternative minimum pricing plan.
The body proposed that a ban on alcohol sales below tax (duty and VAT) to prevent loss-leading would be an alternative and better floor price mechanism than the Scottish Government's minimum price proposal.
Gavin Hewitt, the SWA's Chief Executive, said: "Scotch Whisky distillers are determined to tackle alcohol misuse and support much of what is likely to be in the forthcoming Scottish Government's Alcohol Bill.
"An even tougher SWA Code of Practice - with a responsible drinking message in every Scotch Whisky advert - complements the wide range of initiatives backed by the industry.
"The Code continues to be well used by SWA members seeking advice on how to ensure compliance with its provisions. It is a good example of how self-regulation can be an effective mechanism as we work to change cultural attitudes to the misuse of alcohol."
Mr Hewitt added: "We also believe a floor price mechanism to tackle loss-leading could be introduced in the form of a ban on alcohol sales below tax. This would be a better way forward than an illegal mechanism such as minimum pricing."
A unique whisky created from blends spanning 140 years has sold at auction for more than £22,000.
The Dalmore Oculus beat its estimated price of between £15,000 and £20,000 with a hammer price of £23,000. With the buyer's premium the lot cost £27,600.
It was part of 3000 lots which went for £211,518, including buyer's premium, at the whisky sale at Bonhams in Edinburgh.
Bonhams said the price paid for the Dalmore Oculus was the highest price ever paid for a bottle of Dalmore at auction and the buyer wished to remain anonymous.
Speaking after the sale, Martin Green, whisky specialist at Bonhams, said: "There was a fantastic atmosphere in the sale room today and the auction has far exceeded our expectations.
"The Dalmore Oculus reached a fantastic sale price, especially in view of the current economic climate."
The Dalmore Oculus was created by Whyte & Mackay's master distiller Richard Paterson, who combined a rich, spicy orange zest core from cask 1781, distilled in 1951, and trace elements of the taste and smell of dried fruits, ripe bananas, toffee and almonds from an original fifty-year-old.
Rare malts were also selected from vintages distilled in 1868, 1878, 1922, 1926 and 1939.
An "incredibly intense oak, spice and bitter dark chocolate" long matured distillate from cask 1782 was added to the mix alongside the whisky's "capstone" - a "judicious amount of the revered 64-year-old" with aromatic spices and citrus zest.
Mr Paterson said: "The Dalmore Oculus is a truly exceptional expression and we knew demand would be incredibly high today.
"The sale price reflects the quality and uniqueness of the whisky and the bidder has most certainly invested in something truly magnificent that they can treasure."
Regulations protecting Scotch whisky producers are set to be to be tightened next week.
Under new measures the bottling of single malt outside Scotland will be banned while labelling is to become clearer for customers.
Use of the word 'Pure' will be banned because the term 'Pure Blend' is used to disguise the fact that the product is a blend of malts rather than a superior Single Malt.
HM Revenue & Customs will enforce the rules, which come into force next Monday (November 23). The regulations are aimed at protecting the Scotch whisky brand - particularly from imitations brewed overseas.
There will also be a tightening up of the use of distillery and regional names.
Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy said: "The Government has worked closely with the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) on these regulations which introduce a stronger legal framework to protect one of our most cherished products.
"It is vital that we protect our key industries. We cannot allow others to trade off our good name and to pass off inferior whisky as being produced in Scotland. These regulations will help protect whisky customers across the globe."
Spirit of adventure for Highland distillery making gin
Scottish product contains locally-grown plants
A HIGHLAND distillery that has produced fine whisky for years now has another string to its bow.
Balmenach Distillery near Cromdale in Speyside is now also turning out gallons of gin, a spirit more usually associated with being made south of the border.
The Balmenach gin is very much a Scottish product, to the extent that it has a Gaelic name and even uses plants grown locally including rowan berries, heather, bog myrtle, dandelion and coul blush apple.
A novel copper berry chamber, made in the 1920s, has been transformed by gin aficionado Simon Buley, one of the distillers at Balmenach, to create a premium Scottish gin called Caorunn - Gaelic for rowan berry - with the vapours of the grain spirit becoming infused with the flavours of the "botanicals".
Mr Buley had toyed with the idea of making a truly Scottish gin at the working malt whisky distillery using the ancient skills and recipes to harness the Highland water and the age-old Celtic botanicals that grow in the surrounding hills.
He said: "Our gin is made of pure Scottish Highland water, six traditional and five Celtic botanicals, and is infused in a copper berry chamber. We use traditional methods and it is a very hands-on process using our eyes, taste and expertise to ensure a quality product."
He said the advantages of making gin were that it did not have to be aged for years like whisky, and can be consumed virtually straight from the chamber.
The gin has been launched in Scotland and England and has already had a gold award in the super premium category of the Gin Masters 2009.
Marketing manager Iby Bakos said they were building up a distribution network and would be hosting Christmas promotions in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Balmenach Distillery is part of Inver House Distillers Ltd.
A team of New Zealanders will drill on the frozen continent for vintage Scotch. They will try to free bottles from two crates of McKinlay and Co whisky which were shipped there by British polar explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton as part of his abandoned 1909 expedition.
Whyte & Mackay, which now owns McKinlay and Co, wants a sample of the 100-year-old Scotch for a series of experiments. New Zealand's Antarctic Heritage Trust will use special drills to reach the crates, caught in ice under the Nimrod Expedition hut near Cape Royds.
GLASGOW is to become the toast of the global whisky industry.
The golden dram's movers and shakers are to jet in to the city next year to plot sales growth at the prestigious World Whiskies Conference.
It's a major event for the sector's decision makers which will include managing directors, chief executive officers and finance directors of some of the top distilleries from Scotland to India and from America to Japan.
Up to 120 delegates are expected to fly into Glasgow to attend the two-day event at the Radisson Hotel in April - many more than last year's event in London which conference director Ian Buxton admits was disastrous.
He said: "We were in the middle of an economic downturn and everyone was talking as though the world was coming to an end. We only had 80 delegates.
"But now the optimism has returned and that is likely to be reflected in the numbers who will attend. We expect between 100 and 120 delegates. We're getting a very good response.
"We held our conference in Glasgow two years ago. Everyone was impressed with the city. It's got good facilities and everyone's looking forward to returning in April."
The Radisson in Argyle Street was also the 2007 venue. Billed as the sector's "global summit," it's said to be an ideal way for industry chiefs and their suppliers to work together to meet sales, marketing and production challenges in an attempt to grow whisky sales.
Scotch Whisky Association officials are raising their glasses to the return to the city. A spokesman said: "Glasgow has a long and proud connection to the Scotch Whisky industry. It is the perfect place for a gathering of the world whisky community."
Distillery bosses at Glasgow-based Edrington, producers of Famous Grouse, reckon the city has stolen a march on conference centre rivals. A spokesman said: "It is a tremendous coup for Glasgow to attract a conference of this calibre.
"The event is bound to attract a high quality audience and provide spin-off benefits and provide a shop window for Glasgow to sell itself to the rest of the world."
Scott Taylor, chief executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "Glasgow produces more Scotch whisky than anywhere else in the world and it is fitting the World Whiskies Conference returns to its homeland."
Two crates of Scotch whisky which belonged to the polar explorer Ernest Shackleton are to be recovered after a century buried in the Antarctic ice.
The McKinlay and Co whisky was found buried under a hut built and used during Shackleton's unsuccessful South Pole expedition between 1907 and 1909.
The crates, which are encased in ice, were first found three years ago.
New Zealand Antarctic Heritage Trust plans to use special cutting tools to remove the crates from the ice.
The crates and bottles are expected to undergo conservation work in New Zealand before being returned to the remote hut at Cape Royds, which the trust is trying to restore to the same condition as when Shackleton's team left it.
I personally think they must have been left there by mistake, because it's hard to believe two crates would have been left under the hut without drinking them
Trust spokesman Al Fastier said he would not be tempted to sample the Scotch, saying he preferred to allow the century-old spirits to retain their mystique.
"It would be terrible to sample it and find that it was off," he told Radio New Zealand.
Distillers Whyte and Mackay, which owns the McKinlay brand, are keen to get hold of a bottle, or at least a sample of the now-extinct blend.
The company's master blender Richard Paterson said: "We might even get enough to be able to take a stab at recreating it."
Shackleton's expedition ran short of supplies on its long trek to the South Pole from Cape Royds.
They eventually fell about 100 miles (160 kilometres) short of their goal, although one team did reach the magnetic South Pole and the expedition carried out valuable scientific work.
No lives were lost, vindicating Shackleton's decision to turn back from the pole, which was first reached in 1911 by Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen.
Shackleton later said to his wife: "A live donkey is better than a dead lion, isn't it?"
The expedition's ship left Cape Royds hurriedly in March 1909 as winter ice began forming in the sea, with some equipment and supplies, including the whisky, left behind.
"I personally think they must have been left there by mistake, because it's hard to believe two crates would have been left under the hut without drinking them," Mr Fastier said.
Smokehead takes the Classic Rock Roll of Honour Awards by storm
Style icon of the whisky world, Smokehead was the drink of choice at the fifth Classic Rock Roll Of Honour awards gala ceremony, which took place on Monday 2 November at the Park Lane Hotel, London.
"Smoke and Coke" was the star of the show along with rock superstars such as Iggy Pop, who was named 'Living Legend', and Ronnie Wood, who was presented with the 'Outstanding Contribution' award. Other winners sampling Smokehead on the evening included Band of the Year, Iron Maiden and Album of the Year winners, AC/DC.
Aimed at the modern, discerning and adventurous drinker, like the music, Smokehead is powerful, intense and not for the faint hearted. Guests sampled the whisky's immense peaty flavours simply with a drop of water, over ice or in a classic combination - "Smoke and Coke".
Classic Rock Magazine's Editor in Chief Scott Rowley said, "It was amazing to see a contemporary Scottish whisky go down so well with our international rock idols."
Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers, Smokehead's brand owners commented: "It was fantastic how well Smokehead was received by the living legends of rock. The stylish and edgy personality of the whisky combined with powerful smokey flavours is perfectly suited for the heavy hitters of rock music."
Described as being like a cannonball, Smokehead is an explosive combination of peat, smoke and spice with some delicate sweetness. The single malt flavour is described as fresh, fruity and immense, with notes of sherry, iodine, toffee, smoke and sea salt. The taste hits the palate at once with cocoa, peat and some honey sweetness, before exploding with peppery spice and more earthy peat.
Smokehead is widely available throughout the UK and worldwide, RRP £29.99. Details of all stockists, including Sainsbury's can be found on the website www.smokehead.co.uk
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
11 Nov
2009
Glendronach acquisition puts BenRiach in the red
Distiller makes £1.88m loss after deal incurs impairment charge
BenRiach Distillery Company slumped into the red following a major acquisition by the whisky firm during 2008, it emerged yesterday.
Accounts from Companies House revealed BenRiach made pre-tax losses of £1.88million last year, against profits of £1.95million in 2007. But the 2008 figures were severely impacted by a £5.53million impairment charge against the value of goodwill at Glendronach, which is at Forgue, near Huntly. Had it not been for this exceptional cost affecting the balance sheet, Larbert-based BenRiach would have made further profits.
BenRiach was formed through the 2004 acquisition - from French drinks giant Pernod Ricard - of the previously mothballed BenRiach Distillery, near Elgin. The buyers were Billy Walker, who is now BenRiach's managing director, and two South African businessmen.
Glendronach was acquired from Chivas Brothers - Pernod's Scotch whisky subsidiary - in the autumn of 2008 in a deal believed to be worth £30million.
In September, Mr Walker revealed BenRiach was to pour £7million into restoring the Glendronach brand.
He said he wanted to re-establish Glendronach to its status of 40 years ago, when it was among the five most popular malts in the world.
BenRiach is investing £5million in sherry casks over four years and a further £2million on brand promotion and extra staff to boost the "sleeping giant". By 2014, the company hopes to be selling some 250,000 bottles of Glendronach annually.
But the plans for developing the business have recently been hit by floods.
Earlier this month, Mr Walker said he felt he was "pouring money down the drain" after the visitor centre and offices at Glendronach flooded for the second time in three months.
BenRiach's 2008 accounts showed turnover of £12.08million, against £8.13million a year earlier. The firm's net debt at the end of last year was £15.76million, up from £3.4million at the end of 2007.
A report from the directors said continued investment in BenRiach's products, with "particular emphasis on quality and employing people with the relevant experience", would help the company to improve its market position.
Maxxium UK launches Teacher's School of Whisky campaign
Maxxium UK announces details of its Teacher's School of Whisky campaign, including the creation of a comprehensive guide to blended Scotch, a national advertising campaign and consumer master classes.
Designed to inform consumers about blended Scotch whisky and to highlight the exceptional quality and craftsmanship of Teacher's, The Dram Good Whisky Guide will be distributed with The Independent newspaper in November.
The guide includes information on Teacher's heritage, tasting notes and serve suggestions, with contributions from master blender, Robert Hicks, descendent of William Teacher, William Burguis and whisky specialist, Dominic Roskrow.
A series of Teacher's press advertorials, created to raise the awareness of the quality of blends will appear in lifestyle magazines such as Top Gear, Golf World, Car Magazine and Readers Digest in the run up to Christmas.
Teacher's master classes will be hosted in November in Kent, Shropshire and Manchester, with tickets available via local newspapers. The events will be hosted by Robert Hicks, who will explain the role of Teacher's in the history of Scotch whisky over the last 175 years, inspire participants on how to enjoy blended Scotch and lead them through a tasting.
The chief executive of Diageo was met with angry workers at the Johnnie Walker whisky plant in Kimarnock who say they would continue to fight to keep it open.
Unite union members issued the warning after Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh and managing director David Gosnell visited the Kilmarnock and Port Dundas plants on November 9, to outline reasons for the proposed closure.
Unite also accused the firm of threatening them with a lesser severance package if they continued the campaign.
The Famous Grouse launch the famous St Andrew's day celebrations
The Famous Grouse, Scotland's favourite whisky, has announced further details of activity in the run up to St Andrew's Day, which will encourage Scots to observe their national saint's day with a proper knees-up. Forming part of the Winter Grouse Season, The Famous Grouse have invested in a support package to give the on trade all they need to create a festival atmosphere on Scotland's national day.
A major campaign of consumer engagement to persuade whisky fans to come forward and share their favourite thing about Scotland, whether it's something that makes them smile, something that makes them proud or a unique Scottish experience, is to be launched at www.3011makeitfamous.com. Here users can share their favourite, upload a photo and find a local pub participating in St Andrew's Day celebrations.
Teams will be hitting Glasgow Central and Edinburgh Waverly train stations on the 17th and 19th November to invite commuters to join the campaign and create a photo mosaic of their suggestions in the form of a giant saltire.
From Thursday 26th through to Monday 30th November, The Famous Grouse is inviting Scots to celebrate in 860 selected outlets which will be dressed with traditional bunting, posters, table talkers, outdoor banners and flags. The top 40 top bars in key cities including; Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Perth, Stirling and Falkirk will feature handpicked bands which will perform in each venue over the five days to get the crowds in the spirit with a mixture of upbeat Scottish classics and modern hits.
The shindig will culminate with the much loved four piece Ceilidh band Kilter taking over Glasgow venue Òran Mór on St Andrew's Day. The band which consists of accordion, pipes and whistles, piano and drums, is a favourite at the The Famous Grouse tent at Murrayfield stadium during the six nations where they regularly play to a packed out dance floor.
All venues taking part will benefit from a dedicated PR campaign, a listing as part of a wider sponsorship package in Daily Record's St Andrew's Day supplement and online survey on dailyrecord.co.uk.
As well as POS kits and entertainment, The Famous Grouse is running a promotional mechanic offering consumers the chance to redeem a branded scarf is to encourage trial and reward loyalty.
Linda Sooprayen, Brand Manager for Maxxium UK, said: "We really want to encourage Scots to recapture the spirit of the country's national day. This provides an excellent opportunity for trade stockists to present the best aspects of Scottish hospitality and create a real sales drive over this festival period."
This activity comes on the back of the announcement of the 'Winter Grouse Season', the most comprehensive package of marketing activity yet from The Famous Grouse. Expected to be the highest investment in marketing activity within its competitive set, this package to support the trade runs not only during the vital sales period over Christmas but all the way through from November to March.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
09 Nov
2009
Trina Glen; Accountant and whisky company director
Trina Glen (nee Arcari), who has died aged 40 following a prolonged battle with breast cancer, was a shining light in the Scotch whisky industry, serving latterly on the main board of The Edrington Group as group strategy director.
She was born in Paisley and her formative years were spent at Ralston Primary School and Paisley Grammar, before moving on to Glasgow University to complete a degree in accountancy.
As a consequence of winning the accounting prize at Glasgow, she was offered a place with the then Deloitte Haskins & Sells in 1989, where she excelled equally in training as a chartered accountant.
DH&S were to merge with Coopers & Lybrand with the happy consequence that she met David Glen, whom she married in 1993.
The life of an auditor was not for Trina and she left the firm for a brief spell with the WM Company in Edinburgh before joining The Edrington Group in 1994 as financial controller with Robertson & Baxter. She then held a number of positions within the company, including commercial director and finance director for Highland Distillers and The Macallan, before being appointed to the Edrington board in May 2008.
In a warm tribute, chief executive of The Edrington Group, Ian Curle said that "such was Trina's sheer strength of character and personality that she touched the hearts of everyone with whom she came in contact and was much admired by everyone within the business as well as our trading partners and competitors".
Glen had been a driving force in many aspects of the business and had played a major role in turning Edrington into a leading player in the international drinks industry. In particular, she had recently overseen the transition and development of the group's distribution arrangements following the restructuring at Maxxium Worldwide.
During her time as commercial director, Glen led the commercial team at Perth and oversaw the successful development of the group's business in two important export markets: Asia and America.
Mr Curle added: "Trina's intellect, enthusiasm and commitment to the business was a major driving force in the ongoing development of the group, and her appointment to the main board reflected the high esteem in which she was held.
"She will be remembered fondly as one of the group's finest ever servants who was respected by colleagues, friends and competitors. She was a wonderful human being, a warm and considerate friend and she will be sadly missed."
Outside work, Glen was a keen sportswoman, particularly hockey, and enjoyed travelling the world with David, meeting friends
regularly and doting on her nephews and niece.
First diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 34, she faced many personal battles over the next six and a half years with such dignity and positive outlook that at times it was hard to believe she was ill.
Self-pity was not for her and she would say: "Where there is hope we all have a duty to be hopeful."
Her passionate belief in the need to maintain and support a positive mental attitude led her to found The Living Trust, a charity committed to funding projects which facilitate cancer patients continuing to lead normal lives. Such an action was typical of Glen: thinking of others before herself and using her own experiences to benefit others.
Granted her final wish, she died peacefully at home with David by her side.
As well as her husband, Trina is survived by her mother, Margaret, and sister, Sharon.
New rules outlawing the bottling of single malt whiskies outside Scotland are to be introduced as part of a drive to protect the industry and consumers.
They are part of a number of regulations which were announced by Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy.
The changes, which will come into force on 23 November, will also ban the use of the term "pure malt" and introduce improved labelling of products.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) called it landmark legislation.
Speaking at a Scotland Office food and drink seminar in Edinburgh, Mr Murphy said the regulations introduced "a stronger legal framework to protect one of our most cherished products".
He added: "It is vital that we protect our key industries.
"We cannot allow others to trade off our good name and to pass off inferior whisky as being produced in Scotland. These regulations will help protect whisky customers across the globe."
Welcoming the regulations, SWA chief executive, Gavin Hewitt, said: "This is landmark legislation for Scotch Whisky delivering important benefits for consumers, distillers, and the economy.
"Additional protection, including the requirement to bottle single malt Scotch whisky in Scotland, helps safeguard Scotch from unfair and deceptive practices.
"The new labelling rules provide a unique opportunity to promote consumer understanding of Scotch worldwide."
Five years ago, drinks giant Diageo withdrew a whisky brand which was at the centre of a row over the definition of "pure malt".
Its Cardhu Pure Malt, which was a mix of whiskies from more than one distillery, was taken off the market amid concerns that the use of the term "pure" was imprecise and could confuse consumers.
Colin Montgomerie and Gavin Hastings visit Glengoyne Distillery
Colin Montgomerie and Gavin Hastings visited Glengoyne Distillery this week as they set out on a charity walk along the West Highland Way.
The sporting stars, who are walking the famous route along with 30 Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin employees, stopped off at Glengoyne, Scotland's Most Beautiful Distillery, for a warming dram of Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky.
Hotel groups Malmaison and Hotel Du Vin organised the walk to raise money for The Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation which provides practical and emotional support to people affected by cancer. The team of staff from around the UK are aiming to help raise £100,000 by walking the 94 mile road in five days.
The team at Glengoyne Distillery presented Colin Montgomerie with a personalised bottle of Glengoyne 10 Years Old, displaying The Elizabeth Montgomerie Foundation logo and a special commemorative message on the label. Colin personally signed the special bottle to be auctioned to help raise even more money for the Foundation.
Glengoyne Distillery's Marketing Manager, Sarah Bottomley said: "We are delighted to help such an important cause in any way we can. We wish the team the best of luck and hope the drams of Glengoyne will help prepare them for the tough challenge."
Glengoyne is one of Scotland's most accessible distilleries, located just 30 minutes north of Glasgow and looking out over the breath-taking Trossachs.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
05 Nov
2009
Minimum alcohol pice plan will slash whisky exports, warn drinks chiefs
Whisky bosses fear introducing minimum prices for booze will slash exports by a fifth.
The Scottish Whisky Association claim the SNP plan will be copied in key export markets.
And they insist that will threaten the £600m-a-year whisky industry and put hundreds of jobs at risk.
MSPs are due to debate the controversial move to charge 40p per unit of alcohol in a bid to tackle booze-related health problems.
But the SWA's David Williamson last night insisted: "Minimum pricing will damage Scotch whisky at home and in our export markets, risking hundreds of jobs.
"International copycat measures against Scotch are of particular concern.
"The industry estimates that £600m in whisky exports every year - four per cent of total Scottish exports - are threatened as the proposal gives the green light to export markets to discriminate against Scotch whisky."
The SNP will need Labour's support if the plans are to succeed.
But Scots Tory deputy leader Murdo Fraser has urged Labour to reject the move.
He said: "Blanket minimum pricing is probably illegal, penalises responsible drinkers, damages the Scotch whisky industry and does nothing to tackle the root of the problem."
Glenfiddich launches digital campaign to find brand ambassador in China
SHANGHAI - McCann Worldgroup's boutique agency Can Create is hunting for a brand ambassador for Scottish whisky label Glenfiddich in China and has launched a minisite on a mainland recruitment domain to find its match.
Drawing inspiration from the Queensland state government's 'Best job in the world'' campaign, Can Create has created a minisite for Glenfiddich on zhaopin.com to recruit an ambassador who is passionate about whiskey.
The search will continue over the next two months, with Can Create banking on community forums, blogs and PR events to popularise the campaign.
According to the agency, Glenfiddich's target customers in China are "sophisticated, white-collar men in tier-one cities".
The McCann Worldgroup agency was awarded Glenfiddich's business in September following a credentials pitch that included several undisclosed agencies. Its duties include the management of Glenfiddich's brand positioning, strategy, online and offline brand communications and digital marketing. It will additionally work with IPG sister company GolinHarris, which is Glenfiddich's global PR partner.
"As the client's budget is not substantial, we need to get creative in order to raise the brand's visibility in China," said Canon Wu, chief creative director of Can Create. "We don't want to use typical, traditional PR executions - like having a product-launch, PR party or getting some journalists to visit whisky refineries in Scotland."
"The brand already has ambassadors in different parts of the world, who would represent the brand to the media or take on an educational role at hotel and PR functions to share the brand's stories," Wu continued, adding that Glenfiddich is confident in its regional sales. "The client does not really worry about the sales, as there is only a limited supply of bottles each year - in fact its sales in Hong Kong and Taiwan are pretty good. People buy and enjoy the whisky at home or at piano bars."
Glenfiddich competes with whisky brands Chivas Regal and Johnny Walker in China.
TWO rare bottles of whisky, one signed by the Duke of Edinburgh and one with an accompanying letter from Prince Andrew, will fetch up to £8,000 each at auction tomorrow.
The 50-year-old bottles of single malt, the only ones of their kind, were bottled by Gordon & MacPhail to celebrate the 70th anniversary of RAF bases Kinloss and Lossiemouth this year.
Both bottles will be star attrac-tions in the world's biggest whisky auction at McTear's in Glasgow with the sale tipped to raise over £150,000 from 600 lots.
The RAF malts, distilled in 1939 and bottled in 1989, were gifted by Gordon & MacPhail to Lossie-mouth and Kinloss earlier this year and the bottles will now be up for auction in their original boxes with a booklet detailing the history of both RAF bases.
To mark the milestone the RAF bases have been running a charity fundraising drive with the sale of the malts set to boost this.
Squadron Leader Mick Letch of RAF Lossiemouth, said: "I am delighted that we were able to secure these two fantastic bottles to help us in our fundraising efforts."
Amongst the other lots at the auction are a 50-year-old Glenfiddich which could fetch between £10,000 and £15,000.
William Grant and Sons makes pre-tax profits of £88.94m as sales rise by more than a fifth
Whisky distiller William Grant has reported a record year, with pre-tax profits surging more than a half on sales that were up by in excess of a fifth.
The firm, based at Dufftown on Speyside, said the best financial performance yet was driven by factors including a positive trading environment for its core brands and an improved mix for spirit sales. Accounts released by Companies House yesterday showed William Grant and Sons made pre-tax profits of £88.94million last year, against £86.16million in 2007.
Turnover during the latest period was £458.15million, compared with £392.89million previously.
A spokesman for the company, which is now led by former Bacardi marketing officer Stella David, who took over as chief executive from Roland van Bommel this summer, revealed corresponding figures for parent William Grant and Sons Holdings. Pre-tax profits at the holding company raced ahead 55% to £129.2million, with turnover climbing 21% to £598.3million.
The spokesman said 2009 had been a tougher year but Grant was confident of meeting its expectations for the 12 months.
Grant's whiskies include Clan MacGregor, Glenfiddich, Grant's and The Balvenie. Its other brands include Hendrick's gin, Reyka vodka, Sailor Jerry spiced rum, liqueur Solerno and fruit-flavour Taboo mixers.
The family-owned firm, established in 1887, said in its annual accounts that it continued to develop its core brands during 2008.
Overall cased volumes increased, which was attributed to a strong performance by the Grant's Family Reserve and Clan MacGregor whiskies as well as Hendrick's, Sailor Jerry and Milagro tequila, in which the firm has a 51% stake.
Grant added: "Glenfiddich and The Balvenie Scotch whiskies remained level, with value being emphasised ahead of volume." The firm said its Glenfiddich, Balvemie and Kininvie distilleries at Dufftown, along with grain and malt whisky operations at Girvan, Ayrshire, "met all distilling targets efficiently".
Grant, which last year employed 704 people on average, expected competition to intensify during 2009 following a slowdown in industry exports in a deteriorating economic climate in 2008.
It added: "The company will need to strengthen its efforts to maintain a strong cash flow in order to widen the portfolio."
One of Scotland's most distinguished whisky retailers has received complaints from some customers about its decision to stock an English brand.
Next month, the Norfolk-based St George's Distillery will launch the first English whisky for more than a century.
Hundreds of preview bottles of the "malt spirit" have already arrived north of the border and, despite rave reviews by afficionados, some Scottish traditionalists are unimpressed.
The Edinburgh-based Royal Mile Whiskies said its promotion of the English spirit had failed to please some of its customers.
"We sent out a tongue-in-cheek e-mail bulletin, complete with a picture of a bulldog, announcing we were going to be stocking English whisky," said Arthur Motley, the firm's whisky buyer. "We got some negative feedback, mostly from American Scots, who said things like, 'how could you?' and 'you've betrayed Scotland'.
"Some people were riled but, hopefully, most of the comments were meant in a light-hearted way."
The English Whisky Company's avowedly patriotic packaging has raised eyebrows in the specialist shop, which also has an outlet in London.
It risks further straining cross-border relations by announcing plans for a "commemorative bottling" if England lift the football World Cup in South Africa next summer.
Ian Hudghton, a SNP MEP who has campaigned for the European Union to protect the term "Scotch whisky", has dismissed the Norfolk newcomer as "not the real McCoy".
John Kaylor, the chairman of the Perthshire branch of the Tartan Army, was equally sceptical. "It's flattering that the English want to copy us but what's next, Shakespeare shortbread and the Lake Windermere monster?" he said. "No true Tartan Army member would ever wet their lips with English whisky."
But Jim Murray, author of the Whisky Bible, praised the southern newcomer.
"Even without the peat, we have a gloriously characterful new make," said his review.
"This first dedicated English distillery for over a century is likely to gain a name for exceptional quality."
The Kentucky-based author was dismayed by the suggestion that the whisky had offended some Scotch whisky purists, adding: "If any Scots start looking over their shoulder and get worried by this then they must be hopelessly insecure.
"This is only one small distillery and it certainly won't make a dent on the combined might of the Scotch whisky industry."
The Scottish Whisky Association has welcomed the venture. "The fact that countries outside of Scotland, including England, are keen to produce whisky is testament to Scotch whisky's continued success around the globe. We wish our friends in Norfolk well," said a spokesman.
Andrew Nelstrop, the co-owner of the English Whisky Company, said he believed the distillery had succeeded in creating a lightbodied malt with a trademark toffee sweetness.
"Much to our surprise and delight, our whisky has already attracted a lot of interest in Scotland," he said. "We are shipping about 500 bottles a month up to Scotland and we expect that to grow.
"There are a lot of Burns suppers going on in England now, and we are hoping to supply them with genuine English whisky come January."
Distillery craftsman celebrates 50-year labour of love
Last coppersmith marks milestone
THE longest-serving coppersmith in Scotland has celebrated his 50th anniversary at a Moray distillery.
Dennis McBain, 67, said his job has changed very little since he became coppersmith at The Balvenie Distillery at Dufftown in 1959, aged just 17.
He said the time-honoured handcrafted techniques are the same as when he first joined the family-run firm.
The father-of-three and grandfather-of-four, who lives at Maclennan Place, Dufftown, with his wife Barbara, said he felt honoured and proud to be known as the last resident coppersmith at a distillery in Scotland.
He said: "Finding an employer who values the old skills and is willing to keep their own craftsmen in order to preserve them is rare these days. I could have retired several years ago but I love the distillery and the people I work with."
The Balvenie is the only distillery in Scotland that still grows its own barley and malts on a traditional floor maltings. The distillery employs its own team of craftsmen, including coopers, maltmen and a coppersmith. Many have worked there for more than 40 years.
A unique whisky is expected to raise up to £20,000 when it is auctioned next month.
The Dalmore Oculus is said to be one of the most precious whiskies ever to come up for sale.
It has been assembled from some of the most exceptional whiskies of the past 140 years, and is therefore the first and last of its kind.
The whisky will go under the hammer at an auction held by Bonhams in Edinburgh on 18 November.
The unique expression of the Dalmore Oculus was created by master-distiller Richard Paterson, who drew on his four decades of experience to create it.
It is said to have been assembled with a rich spicy and orange zest core alongside the taste and smell of dried fruits, ripe bananas, treacle toffee and almonds.
Alongside these elements, rare malts selected from vintages distilled in 1868, 1878, 1922, 1926 and 1939 add a depth of flavour.
'Truly exceptional'
Finally, to intensify the whisky, an incredibly intense oak, spice and bitter dark chocolate was added to the mix alongside the whisky's "capstone" - a judicious amount of a highly-revered 64-year-old blend which offers notes of coffee, aromatic spices and citrus zest.
It will be presented for sale in a Baccarat crystal decanter.
Mr Paterson said: "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and the Dalmore Oculus is without doubt a truly exceptional expression.
"This is the most exquisite expression I have personally crafted with all the loving reference it so richly deserves to seduce the most discerning and sophisticated plates imaginable. I am confident it will appeal to epicureans, investors and collectors".
Alongside the Dalmore Oculus, Bonhams will also be selling the first section of the largest single-owner collection of whisky ever to appear at auction.
The 3,000-strong Willard S Folsom Collection of Old and Rare Single Malt Whiskies has been amassed over an 18-year period and features wide ranges of Ardbeg, Bowmore, Dalmore, Glenfiddich, Laphroaig, Springbank, Kinclaith, Killyloch, Ben Wyvis, Glen Grant, Glenmorangie, The Glenlivet, Strathmill, Mortlach and The Macallan.
Award taste of things to come for Speyside distillery
Owners thrilled by company's success
THE owners of Speyside's smallest distillery have won an award marking its progress since it reopened 11 years ago.
Gordon & MacPhail, owners of Benromach Distillery at Forres, received the "distance no object" title at the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Awards.
The distillery at Invererne Road at Forres opened in 1898 and produced blended whisky until it was mothballed in the 1980s.
It was taken over by Elgin firm Gordon & MacPhail in 1993 and transformed into a single malt distillery, which now exports to customers in 40 countries.
It launched its first 10-year-old malt last year and was the first distillery in the world to produce a certified organic single malt whisky.
Ian Chapman, the firm's marketing director, said it had been a landmark year for the company.
He added: "It has been a real journey over the past five years, but we've already seen a very important milestone with our 10-year old malt and there are more to come."
Gordon & MacPhail joint managing directors David and Michael Urquhart said: "We are thrilled that Benromach's success has been acknowledged in this way. This has been a great year for us and we'd like to extend our thanks to all of our staff and customers."
Free drams on offer to shoppers at Inverness centre
Award-winning bar gives out samples
VISITORS were able to sample a wee dram while they shopped at the Eastgate Centre in Inverness on Saturday.
Fresh from winning the coveted crown of Malt Whisky Bar of the Year, Jon Beach, owner of Fiddler's, at Drumnadrochit, handed out tasters of Balblair whisky to passers-by.
Mr Beach said: "The judges were impressed by the range of whisky and the imaginative way we present the drink.
"We serve whisky with spring water, not tap water, and a valinch (a large pipette for adding water). For a top-end whisky, we'll serve it with tablet or chocolate."
Customers at Fiddler's, which has now won the SLTN Malt Whisky Bar of the Year accolade for the third year in succession, can choose from a selection of 523 malts.
Among those to enjoy a dram were chef Albert Roux, who opened his first Scottish restaurant, Chez Roux, at Rocpool Reserve, in Inverness seven months ago.
Other food and drink traders at the centre on Saturday included Ullapool Bakery, Ardersier-based Macleod Organics and Cocoa Mountain, which trades from Balnakeil Craft Village, near Durness.
The event brought the curtain down on the shopping centre's three-day contribution to Highland Homecoming, which featured dancing on Thursday and music on Friday.
The UK's largest whisky retailer, World Duty Free, has launched a website for its World of Whiskies store, offering a range of added benefits to customers who register as members on the site.
UK airport retailer World Duty Free accounts for 25% of all UK whisky sales and will now make its range of more than 300 whisky labels available online through www.worldofwhiskies.com
Benefits to members who register include free whisky miniatures with orders, exclusive competitions, tastings and events, quarterly newsletters with news and reviews, advance notice of product launches and articles from the firm's whisky expert, Charles Maclean.
The site will also feature an interactive facility allowing members to rate and review any of the whiskies available on the website.
Jonathan Kelsey, senior brand manager at World Duty Free said: "We identified an opportunity to help extend the reach and accessibility of our whisky expertise to a much wider audience and deliver added value and benefits."
There are seven World of Whiskies stores in airports across the UK.
Firefighters pump out Brechin premises after downpour
An Angus distillery has been forced to halt whisky production after becoming flooded during Wednesday's heavy rains.
Fire crews spent more than 12 hours pumping water from Glencadam Distillery at Brechin, with staff continuing the clean-up.
Yesterday they were unable to say when production would resume.
The distillery's still room produces 17,800 litres of whisky each week, more than 3,500 litres every day.
The alarm was raised around 10.30pm on Wednesday when water began flooding into the still room.
Staff from Forfar environmental protection unit and 18 firefighters worked through the night to pump water from the still room and the dam on the site. Staff at the distillery cleared remaining water from the still room and used sandbags to block off the main lade bringing water into the building yesterday.
Glencadam manager Douglas Fitchett said work could not restart until the water level has been reduced and damage to the motors and pumps in the still room has been assessed. "Staff on site had the foresight to shut the pumps off as soon as the water started to enter," he said.
"It is purely the motors in the still house. None of the rest of the distillery is affected. But the motors have been under water for a good 16 hours now.
"The main problem would appear to be the water is coming in from our other holding dam, to the main dam within the distillery. It runs right through the distillery in the form of an old stone drain which we think has either collapsed or got blocked because of the volume of water going through it."
A company from Aberdeen was hired to pressure-wash the system last night to remove any blockages that might have built up.
Major Scottish whisky brands Chivas Regal and Glenlivet are seeing sharp falls in sales, parent company Pernod Ricard revealed yesterday.
Year-on-year sales of Chivas were down 17% in volume and 7% in organic growth value terms in the three months to September 30.
Pernod Ricard said yesterday that a quarter of the decline in Chivas was due to bringing Japanese distribution back in-house.
It also pointed out that in the same period of last year Chivas was up 10%, producing high comparative figures.
But it admitted shipments to duty free shops had fallen.
Glenlivet, the world's second best selling single malt behind Glenfiddich, is down 7% in volume terms and 8% in value after a fall in shipments to the United States, where it is the best selling single malt.
Meanwhile, Ballantine's is down 13% in volume and 15% in sales, partly due to losing out to Chivas in Asia.
All three whiskies are major strategic brands for the company.
Overall, Pernod posted a 4% year-on-year decline in sales for the quarter, after a 3% fall in the previous three months. This was in line with the company's expectations, Pernod said.
Chief executive Pierre Pringuet said: "The performance of this first quarter strengthens our confidence for the current financial year."
THE team behind the rescue of a Scots brewery has begun moves to secure part of the doomed Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock.
The move would secure dozens of jobs and see a range of beers and a new adult-orientated soft drinks line bottled within a section of the Kilmarnock site, or on land previously promised to Johnnie Walker's owners Diageo by the local authority.
The firm behind the Arran Brewery, which was relaunched out of receivership last summer, has begun talks about taking on a small fraction of the 700 Johnnie Walker workers facing redundancy when the bottling plant shuts in May 2012.
The decision by Scotland's oldest brewery, Belhaven, to shut its bottling plant in East Lothian, where some of the Arran bottling took place, has led Marketing Management Services International (MMSI) to seek cost-effective alternatives.
Gerald Michaluk, who heads Glasgow-based MMSI, said the closure of Belhaven's Dunbar plant had created a bottling shortage, with his firm confident of securing the contracts to bottle beers from other Scottish microbreweries and expanding to a workforce of up to 100 within five years.
Mr Michaluk has held meetings with East Ayrshire Council, with both sides describing the discussions as positive, although Diageo has yet to offer any feedback to the firm.
The brewing giant said its main concern was addressing issues of severance payments and relocation of its workforce and added it would have a presence in Kilmarnock until May 2012.
Ian Macleod Distillers is building on the success of its award-winning Travel Retail range, with the introduction of an new exclusive, one litre Glengoyne 12 Years Old Cask Strength at this year's TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.
The overall design of the 12 Years Old Cask Strength Single Malt reflects all of the elements at the heart of Glengoyne, especially the brand's commitment to its heritage, authenticity and craftsmanship. Presented in a black matte tube with glossed embossing and gold foiling, additional exclusive luxury cues for the Travel Retail market include greater emphasis on the terms 'Cask Strength' and 'Natural Colour' and a tasting notes neck-tag booklet.
Originally introduced to the core range as a 70cl bottling in 2004, the 12 Years Old Cask Strength has earned a deserved reputation as an exceptional high quality Single Malt, previously winning double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirit Awards. From October, the 12 Years Old Cask Strength will also be available in a one litre bottle exclusively through Travel Retail outlets worldwide.
Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers commented: "Such is the quality and success of the 12 Years Old Cask Strength Single Malt domestically, we feel a luxury litre version has a deserving place in the exclusive Travel Retail market.
The new premium packaging of the one litre Cask Strength is a true reflection of the excellent, award-winning malt within, but also of the distillery's 175 years experience, exceptional whisky-making skill and high calibre ingredients that combine to make Glengoyne - 'The Real Taste of Malt'."
'Cask Strength' whisky is bottled straight from the cask in which it has been matured. There is no addition of water prior to bottling, so that the alcoholic strength remains the same as it was in the cask.
Over the next five years, Ian Macleod plans to increase its travel retail sales from eight to ten per cent of its overall business, continuing to develop exclusive travel retail products on an ongoing basis. Past successes include Glengoyne 14 Years Old Heritage Gold and Smokehead Extra Rare.
The award winning Ian Macleod Distillers portfolio, which includes Glengoyne, King Robert II, Langs and Smokehead, as well as gin, rum, and vodka, currently has combined total sales of more than one million cases, with 85% being exported to over 65 markets worldwide.
Glengoyne 12 Years Old Cask Strength litre is available globally, exclusively through Travel Retail outlets (1 litre, 57.2% vol., TR RSP of £36.00/Euro39.50/$60.00).
The Glengoyne 12 Years Old Cask Strength and other Travel Retail products in the Ian Macleod Distillers portfolio will be on display at Cannes TWFA, Red Village, Stand K22.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
16 Oct
2009
Whisky plant's closure delayed
DIAGEO is to delay the closure of its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock for six months.
However, the drinks giant could face industrial action if redundancy deals for the 700 workers at Kilmarnock, 140 at the Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow and 30 at a bottling plant in Shieldhall are not improved.
Diageo today confirmed the Ayrshire site will be axed in May 2012.
A series of redundancies will now start in October next year, when a phased closure programme begins.
A spokesman said: "The bottling plant was due to close in 2011 but it won't now close until May 2012. However, it will be a phased closure. Compulsory redundancies will not now begin until October 2010."
The decision to push back the date of closure of the plant triggered a lukewarm response from union negotiator Billy Parker, of Unite.
He said: "It would be better if the plant was to stay open. But I suppose the older ones may be jumping for joy if only because they will remain in their jobs for an extra six months.
"Remember a lot of them realise there is little prospect of them working again, while the younger ones know they are unlikely to find another job with the same pay rate."
Diageo is also to stump up loyalty bonuses, and workers who remain at the plant until the closure will pocket an extra £7,500.
Bosses are now under pressure to significantly improve their proposed redundancy terms.
Workers were this morning staging a mass meeting in Kilmarnock and were expected to call for a strike ballot.
Calls for a ballot were also likely to be supported at another mass meeting in a Glasgow hotel later in the day, to be attended by workers from the Port Dundas distillery and bottling plant in Shieldhall.
The Port Dundas distillery is due to close next year. Diageo has yet to give a date but workers predict the shutdown will happen in March.
Protesters against plant closures issue appeal over job cuts
DIAGEO workers appealed to shareholders yesterday to support their cause as the firm's plan to cut hundreds of jobs was branded "corporate greed".
Shareholders arriving at the company's AGM in London were handed a letter by protesters saying the move had been described as "akin to ripping out the heart of the Scottish whisky industry".
The drinks giant announced last month it was pressing ahead with the closure of its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock, and its Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow, affecting 900 workers across the two sites.
Diageo workers held protests outside the Kilmarnock plant yesterday.
The letter to shareholders outlined an alternative business plan, drawn up by Unite, which the union says would save money and jobs.
Bill Anderson, 59, a shop steward from the Port Dundas distillery, said the job cuts were "corporate greed, big time". Mr Anderson, who has worked for the firm for 20 years, said it was the next generation that would suffer.
He added: "These are quality jobs and I think in the climate today the country can ill afford to lose a skilled workforce."
Mr Anderson said the cuts would be more understandable if the company was in trouble or if "they had been through hard times", but he said the firm posted profits of £2billion this year. He said: "I think it is an absolute disgrace to throw the workforce on the scrapheap."
The cuts will fall particularly hard on Kilmarnock, and Mr Anderson said the move was "the destruction of a town".
The letter to shareholders read: "We know that Diageo's shareholders want a strong and thriving business. So do we, because strong businesses mean good jobs.
"But as shareholders, we think you also want one which can hold its head up high in the towns and the communities that have made you such good returns."
Mr Anderson spoke to shareholders and the Diageo board at the meeting. He said: "We are appealing to you to keep the two distilleries and keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock."
But chief executive Paul Walsh said that while some negotiations would continue, the company would not change its job cuts plans.
"Going forward we will engage in how we execute these decisions but the fundamental decisions will remain unchanged," Mr Walsh said.
He said the firm would welcome the possibility of some Kilmarnock workers moving to the other facilities if they wanted to. Although Diageo will shut its Port Dundas and Kilmarnock sites, it has pledged to create 400 jobs at its packaging plant in Fife.
Mr Walsh met protesters ahead of the AGM and agreed to meet workers at Kilmarnock on the condition they understood that there would be no change in the company's plans.
Alex Howie of the Kilmarnock factory said the closure would have a devastating effect. He added :"It's not only our jobs, it's the children coming out of school who have no prospect. It will make Kilmarnock a ghost town."
Indian group United Spirits is to sell new shares worth £190-£220million to institutions to help reduce its debt pile of almost £890million, according to a report out yesterday.
A large part of the debt was incurred in United's £595million acquisition of whisky distiller Whyte and Mackay (W&M) in 2007.
The report said the company, listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange, would sell shares after failing to sell a stake to private-equity firms or Diageo, which earlier this year was in discussions to buy a 15% holding in United.
It was also reported at that time that United, led by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya, was aiming to sell 49% of Glasgow-based W&M, although that was later denied and United said it was committed to making the Scottish business a major international spirit company.
United, the world's third largest spirit-maker by volume, could place new shares with institutions as early as this week, three different sources suggested, although the company declined to comment.
The firm said earlier it aims to cut its debt to below £500million by the end of March 2010, and in June it sold shares held in treasury to raise about £118million and pay down some loans.
It still has more than 8million shares in treasury which it could sell, but sources said it would opt to issue new shares after gaining shareholder approval last month to raise up to £220million.
Shares in United Spirits, which is valued at £1.33billion, have risen just 3.3% this year compared with a 76% rise in the main Bombay share index.
The Press and Journal reported in August that a Highland distillery was likely to bear the brunt of job cuts at Glasgow-based W&M.
It said about 100 jobs could go as a result of a review being carried out in light of the recession and also a "punitive UK legislative climate".
Up to 85 posts in Scotland were under threat, with a grain distillery at Invergordon, in Easter Ross, thought to be in line for more than 30 job cuts, potentially a quarter of its 133-strong workforce.
W&M said all seven Scottish sites were affected, with about 15 sales posts outside the country also at risk among a total payroll of 574.
The firm has malt distilleries at Fettercairn, in Aberdeenshire; Dalmore, at Alness in Easter Ross; on Jura and at Tamnavulin, on Speyside.
Strategy aims to make Moray as famous as Napa valley
A think-tank has unveiled its vision to make Moray as well known as Spain's Rioja region and California's Napa Valley.
Representatives from major whisky businesses and tourism groups in Moray formed the think-tank, which also includes MP Angus Robertson.
Their aim is to develop a marketing strategy to attract more visitors and make it internationally famous, like France's Champagne region, for example.
Mr Robertson said the group's first meeting had been a huge success.
The brain-storming session was held at the Craigellachie Hotel, in the heart of whisky country.
A number of big names were represented at the table including distillers William Grant and Sons, shortbread makers Walkers, the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, the Scottish Whisky Association, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and Moray's tourism development group.
Mr Robertson said the aim of the group was clear.
"It's how we can do every-thing we can to make sure we're heading in the same direction, so we make the most of what we have here, which is a tremendous mixture of amazing environment with the best-known industry that Scotland has to offer."
He added: "It's building on existing initiatives to ensure that in a number of years Speyside is as famous as Napa Valley or Rioja. This part of the world needs to market itself and promote itself and become noticed. It's only by everybody working together that we can."
Gordon and MacPhail managing director Ian Urquhart, representing the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, said the meeting was a worthwhile venture.
"The whisky festival is delighted to have the opportunity to speak with a wide spectrum of people from the business and public sectors to discuss ways we can help each other to develop tourism in Moray," he said.
FANS of the dram are set to get together in Drymen.
Whisky shop owner and enthusiast Cameron McCann has started a monthly whisky club to compliment his new shop within Ealain Gallery in the village.
The club, held on the last Thursday of the month, is a "relaxed, fun way to discover more about our national drink".
Cameron said: "By bringing in experts and ambassadors from the industry, they take us on a journey through their various different expressions of malts. The club will be guided by the members. If there is a particular distillery they wish to have on a club night we will endeavour to bring it in.
"The new addition to the gallery began in April this year and is proving to be a big hit for those who like a wee dram, from the serious collector to those looking for an unusual gift."
The first club night took place on September 24 when Auchentoshan Distillery were the guests.
They will be followed by: The Arran Malt, October 29; Classic Malts, November 26; Glengoyne, January 21; Bowmore, February 25; and Benriach, March 25.
The cost is £10 per night with £5 off your first bottle purchased. Club nights begin at 7.15pm and last around two hours.
For further information contact Cameron or June McCann at Ealain Gallery on 07712 765615 or 01360 660996, email: info@ealaingallery.com, or go to www.ealaingallery.com
Doing well down under - Glenfarclas 30 Years Old named Best Whisky in Australia
Speyside, October 2009 - Glenfarclas 30 Years Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been awarded the Trophy for 'Best Overall Whisky' at the 2009 Australian Malt Whisky Awards; Australia's most respected Whisky Awards. Conducted by the Malt Whisky Society of Australia, it is the second time the Glenfarclas 30 Years Old has received this prestigious honour, following a win in the inaugural 2003 awards. At the awards dinner the Glenfarclas 30 Years Old also picked up the coveted 'Members Choice' Trophy.
Independent and family owned since 1865, J. & G. Grant have been producing the award winning Glenfarclas Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky for six generations. The distillery produces a traditional Speyside whisky with a heavy sherry influence. Commenting on the Glenfarclas 30 Years Old, Peter Godden, Chairman of the Judges said, 'Pure, perfect sherry and malt combine. Clean, precise and rich with a flavour that drives on and on. A complete, perfect sherried style'.
Judging for the awards is conducted under international protocols. Craig Daniels, Chairperson of the Malt Whisky Society of Australia explained, 'Our intention is always to reward excellence in the bottle and to remove any other considerations from the equation'.
The Glenfarclas portfolio is distributed in Australia by Angove Family Winemakers. Commenting on the award, Richard Angove, Brand Manager, said, 'As distributors of Glenfarclas in Australia since 1993, Angove Family Winemakers are thrilled with this result. Glenfarclas Single Malts are the pinnacle in their category and this award is testament to the Grant family who have such history and experience in creating these malts'.
George Grant, sixth generation of the family to own and manage the Glenfarclas distillery said, 'It's great to hear that Glenfarclas is being appreciated down under'.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
08 Oct
2009
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Branches Out into India
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has expanded its global reach with the launch of a new branch in India, the largest spirits market in the world.
The Society is tapping into the aspirational Indian whisky drinkers who comprise the world's largest consumer block for the Scotch whisky industry. Branded Scotch whisky sales crossed a million cases last year, which some analysts argued was only the beginning of a large market opening up.
As part of the Society's launch, an event was held at the Taj Mahal Hotel in New Delhi. Society managing director, Paul Miles, who acted as host for the evening's launch, comments: "India is seen as a huge opportunity for the Scotch industry and this is an exciting development for the Society in a country where consumers are very interested in Scotch whisky and single malts. The enthusiasm expressed by everyone attending this event for what the Society has to offer was very encouraging."
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has over 26,000 members worldwide with Members' Rooms, in Edinburgh and London. The Society bottles 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.
Set up in 1983, The Scotch Malt Whisky Society was born out of a love of single cask, single malt whisky. Achieving rapid national and global growth, the Society has become widely acknowledged as the source of the finest and most exclusive single cask, single malt whiskies available anywhere in the world.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
08 Oct
2009
Ian Macleod Distillers Launch New Chieftain's Range
Independent bottler and distiller Ian Macleod, is to launch a range of new releases from their exclusive Chieftain's limited edition collection.
The rare casks include new bottlings from some of Scotland's finest distilleries, and showcases a complete redesign of the bottle and packaging of the Chieftain's range.
The new releases include a Glenrothes 14 Years Old, an Aultmore 12 Years Old, three Caol Ila's aged 9, 11 and 13 Years Old, an Ardbeg 11 Years Old, a Benriach 12 Years Old, a Bladnoch 16 Years Old and a Tomatin 16 Years Old.
Designed by Ron Burnett Design the new packaging emphasises its limited edition status with more details appealing to the connoisseur, collector and enthusiast. The new two-part labels, personally signed by Antony McCallum-Caron, Chieftain's Rare Malt Manager, include individual cask numbers and the number of bottles produced, as well as distillation, bottling date and wood type.
The new labels also have a refined 'Chieftain' illustration and elegant calligraphic script brand namestyle, tapered to reflect the new elegant antique bottle shape. They also feature subtle watermark landscapes and are colour coded to represent the region of production.
The new more individual rigid presentation box, in ribbed matt black with old gold lining, replaces the traditional tube-style packaging of previous Chieftain's bottlings and includes details of regional taste characteristics. The box opens and hinges from the middle to add further premium presentation value.
Designer Ron Burnett said of the new design: "Our brief was to create new premium packaging representative of the superiority and rarity of the new bottlings. The box displays the bottles in a way befitting the exceptional quality and worth of the whisky."
Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers commented: "This new release of rare casks is the ideal platform to showcase the new-look Chieftain's range. The new, more elegant, antique look bottles and premium boxes are the ideal representation of the age, rarity and exceptional quality of the new bottlings."
Since 1936, Ian Macleod Distillers, through its dedication to tradition and quality, has amassed an unrivalled cask stock from Scotland's many distilleries. The enviable collection includes extremely rare malts, some from closed or mothballed distilleries. The Chieftain's collection's hallmark is that each bottling must be fit for a King, a Leader or in the Celtic world, a Chieftain.
Further rare cask releases from the Chieftain's range are planned for later in the year.
Established in 1933, Ian Macleod Distillers is one of the largest and most widely respected independent family companies within the spirits industry. The award winning Ian Macleod portfolio, which includes Glengoyne, King Robert II, Langs and Smokehead, as well as gin, rum, and vodka, currently has combined total sales of more than one million cases, with 85% being exported to over 65 markets worldwide.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
07 Oct
2009
Popular play breaks theatre record
Full houses at Pitlochry theatre since staging Whisky Galore
A NEW musical version of one of Scotland's best loved stories has become the most popular show in Pitlochry Festival Theatre's 58-year history.
Since it opened in May, Whisky Galore - based on Compton MacKenzie's novel - has played to full houses and the theatre has had a long waiting list for returned tickets.
MacKenzie based his book on an incident in Eriskay in 1941, when the SS Politician ran aground carrying about 250,000 bottles of whisky.
In his comic novel the islanders, who have been hit by wartime rationing and have run out of whisky, set out to relieve the ship of her cargo.
It was made into a film in 1949 but this is the first musical based on the story.
Theatre chief executive and artistic director John Durnin said he knew the theatre had a hit on its hands after the show received a standing ovation on its opening night in May, but its success had exceeded expectations.
He said: "The subsequent scale of the show's popularity has been truly staggering.
"Even more extraordinary has been the way the show's fame has spread far and wide in such a short space of time, attracting theatre-goers from pretty much every corner of the UK."
Mr Durnin said bookings had been taken from as far as Bath, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff and Northern Ireland.
He added: "The Scottish Government's Homecoming 2009 campaign has undoubtedly helped pull in visitors from even further away.
"We've welcomed visitors from throughout Europe and the Baltic countries, New Zealand and Australia, and the USA."
The show will run until Saturday, October 17 and the theatre has announced it will be followed next season with another popular musical, Cole Porter's Kiss Me Kate.
A rare 1951-vintage single malt whisky with a RSP of £10,000 per bottle will be released today (Monday 5 October).
Only 12 decanters of the Sirius expression from premium whisky brand The Dalmore will be produced. Sirius will only be available to private buyers and through a limited network of World Duty Free (WDF) stores.
"The international market for high-end luxury products which have an investment value is buoyant - and the finest whiskies are playing an increasingly dominant role in this sector," says The Dalmore's Brand Director, David Robertson.
"Our partnership with World Duty Free allows us to reach an elite group of investors and whisky aficionados across the globe. We will be focusing on key target markets in Taiwan, USA and France."
Sirius will be launched in the flagship WDF store at Heathrow Terminal 5. Nigel Sandals, Category Buying Manager for Liquor at WDF, adds: "Our customer base contains some of the most knowledgeable investors in spirits in the world.
"Being able to offer the absolute best-quality luxury goods is a very strong incentive for buyers to use travel retail and World Duty Free - as they would a specialist retailer - to get exceptional value and to see a real return on their investment."
The Dalmore's 1951 Sirius Vintage is a single-cask, single malt whisky, with a cask strength of 45%.
The Dalmore Master Distiller, Richard Paterson, says: "Distinguished and elegant, age has gracefully finessed this brilliant expression. Sirius is, quite simply, one of the world's most perfect whiskies."
For more information about The Dalmore visit www.thedalmore.com
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
05 Oct
2009
EU settles row with Uruguay over tax on whisky
The The European Commission said Uruguay has amended legislation that allowed it to put European spirits, including whisky, into its highest excise tax category.
A spokesman for the SWA said: "Reform in Uruguay following the complaint has been very welcome. For the first time, Scotch whisky distillers have had the opportunity to compete on a level playing field."
Instead of using the actual transaction value of the spirits, they were divided into groups and assigned a price upon which the excise tax was levied. EU products were put in the highest category.
Under the new legislation the tax is based on the transaction value of the product, removing the discrimination.
Among the EU's other complaints was that Uruguay excluded whiskies matured for three or more years from the lowest category of tax. All whiskies produced in Uruguay are aged less than three years but European rules mean EU whiskies must be matured for at least three years.
All of these barriers have been addressed, the EU said.The changes have seen Scottish whisky exports increase by more than 30% since the SWA's 2004 complaint to the EU, to £18m in 2008.
EU trade commissioner Catherine Ashton said: "I am delighted that we have solved this issue without having to resort to World Trade Organisation litigation."
The SWA leads strident campaigns on behalf of Scottish distillers, notably lobbying to remove tax barriers and protect terms such as 'Scotch whisky' and other labels.
But it has warned that its hand could be weakened if the Scottish Government introduces minimum pricing per unit for alcohol.
The SWA believes it could lead to other countries using health reasons for tariffs.
Whisky liqueur-maker Drambuie said yesterday it had not been immune to the effects of the global recession over the past year.
It said turnover of cased goods had fallen 12% in the year, caused partly by a slowdown in consumer purchases, particularly in America, the UK and Spain, but equally by a reduction in stockholdings across the supply chain as distributors, wholesalers and retailers looked to conserve cash.
Drambuie said that as a result, operating profits from core brand sales had also declined by 12%, from £3.2million in 2008 to £2.8million in the year to June 30.
The company's accounts showed total turnover of £19.31million in the latest period, compared with £21.05million in 2007-08.
Pre-tax profits for 2008-09 came in at £1.44million, down from £1.54million previously.
Drambuie said it did not expect to see any further impact on volume in the current year as a result of the supply-chain cash squeeze.
During the past 12 months, the firm has continued its rejuvenation strategy, started three years ago, to generate significant shareholder value by rebuilding long-term growth for the brand.
This strategy is intended to broaden Drambuie's appeal beyond the conventional after-dinner liqueur-drinking occasion by offering younger consumers a more versatile repertoire of Drambuie cocktails.
The group said its balance sheet remained strong, with shareholder funds at June 30 marginally down at £17.7million. Cash in hand stood at £6.3million.
Chief executive Phil Parnell said: "The absence of debt going into this recession has been a major advantage to the company as many industry players cut back on marketing investment in order to reduce cash outflow.
"As a privately owned company, we have the flexibility to use part of our cash reserves in additional marketing investment for the longer-term growth of the brand. Such investment may adversely impact the profit-and-loss account in the short term, but should lead to enhanced brand equity and shareholder growth beyond."
Mr Parnell said the recession had delivered a short-term setback to the progress of Drambuie's brand-rejuvenation strategy, but it was confident its investment would reap rewards when the economic climate improved.
Maxxium UK launches Teacher's School of Whisky campaign
Maxxium UK is to launch a new campaign for Teacher's to inform consumers and licensees of the quality credentials of blended Scotch whisky and Teacher's own rich history and heritage.
Launching in October, the Teacher's School of Whisky campaign will include advertorials in men's lifestyle magazines and national newspapers, regional consumer master classes, consumer PR and trade support through education and in-outlet activity.
Maxxium UK's brand manager for Teacher's Janette Peat says: "At Maxxium UK we have the country's leading Scotch whisky portfolio so we are keen to drive value in the category through education.
"Our campaign will dispel the myth that blends are inferior to malts by highlighting the craftsmanship that goes into making a blend and the skill required to ensure its flavour is consistent year after year.
Full details of the new Teacher's School of Whisky activity will be announced soon.
Glengoyne 12 Years Old joins award-winning core range
Glengoyne Distillery is launching an exciting new edition to its acclaimed core range: Glengoyne 12 Years Old Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Like all of Glengoyne's Single Malts, the 12 Years Old is distilled from air-dried barley, untainted by harsh peat smoke, capturing the authentic 'Real Taste of Malt'. At 43% strength, with a natural, golden colour, the 12 Years Old has scents of coconut oil, lemon zest, honey and dried malt. With a warming mouthfeel, its initial palate is of toffee apples and cinnamon spice, while a touch of water brings out ginger, fresh orange and shortbread. The balanced finish is further mellowed by hints of sherry and soft oak.
Developed by agency, Ron Burnett Design, the bottle and tube presentation perfectly aligns the 12 Years Old within the existing Glengoyne 10, 17 and 21 Years Old core range. The metallic gold/copper coloured tube mirrors the rich colour of the malt within, while tasting notes and details on Glengoyne's tradition, craftsmanship and whisky making process, bring the Single Malt to life.
Available to domestic and international markets, Ian Macleod Distillers, brand owners of Glengoyne, plan to export the 12 Years Old Single Malt to over 60 markets worldwide and predict it will rapidly become a top best seller with specialists, second only to the Glengoyne 10 Years Old in overall sales volumes.
Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers, commented: "The 12 Years Old is a very welcome addition to the Glengoyne core range. The decision to introduce the 12 Years Old is an integral part of our ongoing successful marketing and sales strategy to continue to grow and develop the Glengoyne brand. It is also in response to international demand, particularly from Western Europe, where our customers are looking for a high quality, intermediate step between the Glengoyne 10 and 17 Year Olds."
Glengoyne 12 Years Old will be available from October to UK and international markets RRP £33.99 ($56.00 €39.50).
For further information on UK distribution contact: Harvey Miller Wine & Spirit Agencies www.hmwsa.com 08445 611 252. For international distribution contact Ian Macleod Distillers www.ianmacleod.com
Multi-gold award winning Glengoyne Highland Single Malt is one of the leading premium malt whiskies in the world and has been distilled at Glengoyne distillery since 1833. Along with the core range, Glengoyne produce a number of limited edition casks each year, including most recently the super premium Glengoyne 40 Years Old.
Curious to discover more visit: www.glengoyne.com
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
September 2009 Scotch Whisky News
30 Sep
2009
Whisky giants Diageo announce ad campaign to cash in on Scottish roots... weeks after axing 900 workers
WHISKY giants Diageo are launching a multi-million pound ad campaign cashing in on their Scottish roots - as 900 workers face the axe.
Bosses want to relaunch Johnnie Walker at the same time as severing all links with Kilmarnock, the birthplace of the famous whisky.
They have kept their plans under wraps, fearing a backlash.
But a secret document leaked to the Record reveals the proposals for the ads, which will feature a wacky TV chef called Bruce Campbell.
Last night, furious union official Georgina Cunningham said it was "a slap in the face" for the workers who face life on the dole.
A casting agency will audition actors for the role of Campbell in Glasgow tomorrow. And shooting is to begin on November 9.
An industry insider said: "Diageo won't be happy when this gets out because they are embarrassed by the money being spent when hundreds of folk are losing their jobs.
"They didn't want any backlash and thought it could be done secretly.
"But it's difficult to audition for Scottish actors and shoot it in Scotland without anyone getting a sniff."
Georgina, shop steward for the union Unite at the Kilmarnock plant, said: "This is a slap in the face and a disgrace that they tried to be so sneaky about it."
Diageo have refused to back down on plans to close their Kilmarnock plant and a distillery in Port Dundas, Glasgow, with a total loss of 900 jobs.
The secret document detailing the huge TV and poster campaign says Campbell "should be very Scottish to the point his Scottishness is part of what we find funny about him".
But the ads will not be shown in Scotland as they are aimed at wooing younger drinkers in South Africa, the world's fifth largest market for Scotch.
A Diageo spokeswoman said: "The campaign, which is still in the very early conceptual stage, is designed to promote a wide variety of our brands ... to the important South African market."
The Glenrothes launches John Ramsay legacy bottling as malt master retires
The Glenrothes single malt is launching a limited edition John Ramsay Legacy bottling to mark the Malt Master's retirement this month.
His final gift to The Glenrothes, the John Ramsay Legacy bottling is a non-Vintage selection of 30 casks personally chosen by John to create an impressive single malt in celebration of his longstanding relationship with the Speyside distillery. The casks are all 2nd fill American Oak sherry casks from Vintages ranging from 1973 to 1987.
Bursting with aromas of spice, blood orange and vanilla, this limited edition single malt has a rich palate of fruit and mango with a long, mature unmistakably American oak finish. Only 100 bottles of this Legacy bottling (46.7% abv) are available in the UK.
John Ramsay, Malt Master for The Edrington Group, says: "My signature and tasting notes have been on each and every label of The Glenrothes since 2004. This final bottling has given me a wonderful opportunity to craft a single malt which embodies the exceptional quality and distinctive style of The Glenrothes and I am truly delighted with the result."
Since joining The Edrington Group in 1991, John Ramsay has held the esteemed position of overseeing the quality of the Group's whisky portfolio, including The Glenrothes' Vintages and non-Vintage Select Reserve.
Ronnie Cox, Global Brand Ambassador for The Glenrothes, says: "John Ramsay's outstanding efforts have resulted in a fine selection of The Glenrothes Vintages, each with their own and unique personality. In 2005, John also created a house style non-Vintage single malt that truly typifies the character of The Glenrothes distillery with ripe fruits, citrus, vanilla and hints of spice. In creating The Glenrothes Select Reserve, John has enabled us to make our single malt more accessible to whisky lovers around the world."
"With the John Ramsay Legacy bottling, he continues to impress. As with all expressions of The Glenrothes, this limited edition should be shared with likeminded friends. Together with everyone at the distillery, I would like to raise a toast to John for his exceptional contribution to The Glenrothes single malt and the legacy he leaves us with."
Each 70cl bottle of the John Ramsay Legacy limited edition is individually numbered and beautifully presented in a bespoke oak box designed to showcase the rare single malt. A booklet scripted by John Ramsay, including tasting notes, is also kept in a hidden drawer at the base of the box.
The Glenrothes John Ramsay Legacy bottling is available from the start of October at specialist retailers across the UK and on The Glenrothes website www.theglenrothes.com (RRP £699).
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
29 Sep
2009
The Macallan Burns Celebratory bottling
To mark the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns's birth, The Macallan has produced a celebratory bottling which is now available to buy from The Macallan distillery shop at Easter Elchies in Speyside, Scotland, priced £199.
A limited edition of only 250 bottles has been produced and it's envisaged that these will sell out quickly. The liquid comes from two casks chosen by The Macallan's whisky maker Bob Dalgarno - one from 1997 and one from 1998, both numbered 1759, the year of Burns's birth. The significance of the cask numbers was recognised by Bob and he felt it only appropriate to produce a special bottling for the homecoming year. The rarity of the liquid is a fitting commemoration to Scotland's famous poet.
The whisky, which is a sherry oak expression with an ABV of 46 per cent, has been placed in a decanter made to an original design, based on the head and shoulders of The Macallan standard bottle. It's exquisitely packaged in a handmade Scottish red pine wooden box designed by master cabinet maker Harvey McLean, whose workshop is only a few hundred yards from Burns's birthplace in Alloway. The box carries a specially commissioned enamel plate featuring a portrait of Robert Burns. Each presentation box comes with a unique numbered printing of an individual Burns poem and a copy of an ancient map of 'Burns Country.'
Ken Grier, Director of Malts for The Edrington Group, commented: "To bring a due sense of historical perspective to this celebratory bottling, we managed to persuade David Holmes and Nicholas Salaman to return to The Macallan to work on this unique project and their work is featured in the accompanying brochure carried within the presentation box. We have created a unique bottling celebrating the birth of the nations bard, linking Scotland's Master of Poetry with The Macallan - Masters of Spirit and Wood."
Holmes and Salaman are the two men who helped to bring The Macallan to the attention of a wider public over a period of 30 years. They worked on The Macallan advertising account when the brand was barely known outside Speyside. They produced over 100 advertisements, posters and commercials in a campaign, through their advertising agency Holmes, Knight Ritchie, that gradually grew in size as The Macallan itself developed - from 101st in the single malt league to number two by value worldwide.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
28 Sep
2009
Glengoyne Distillery celebrates a summer of success
Scotland's most beautiful distillery, Glengoyne, has reported its busiest summer season in its 175 year history with a massive 43% upsurge in visitor numbers in August alone.
Last month, 7,672 tourists visited the picturesque distillery located in the heart of the Trossachs, compared to 5,366 for the same period in 2008.
Stuart Hendry, Glengoyne's Brand and Development Manager commented: "It has been a fantastic summer for the distillery. Over the past few years we have seen our peak season extending further into early spring and later autumn months. Easter for example, was busier than the last two years combined - we even had several dozen visitors queuing up on Easter Sunday morning waiting for us to unlock the gates! Overall, our numbers to date for 2009 are up over 20% on last year which we are thrilled about."
Set in its stunning location at the beginning of the West Highland Way and in easy reach of Glasgow city centre and Edinburgh, Scotland's most southerly Highland distillery has always been a popular choice with tourists exploring Scotland. The weak pound against the euro has helped bring visitors, particularly from Northern Europe to the distillery, all eager to learn about Glengoyne's 'Real Taste of Malt'.
Stuart Hendry continued: "The 'stay-cation' effect has certainly had an impact on the number of distillery visits. We have consistently seen an increased proportion of Britons, especially from Northern England, touring Glengoyne this summer. The distillery is located on a main tourist route heading north and our investment in new and clearer signage seems to have paid off in attracting passing visitors.
"We are also fortunate that wet weather does not hinder the Glengoyne experience for our guests and I am sure in some respects it may have even helped us. Being located in such a popular walking and hiking region, I hope having the chance to blend your own whisky or enjoying a warming dram on a tour, would be an appealing alternative to walking in the rain."
Glengoyne Distillery offers an unrivalled visitor experience and wide menu of tours and tastings. One of the most popular tours, the Master Blender Session, even gives visitors the opportunity to have a go blending their own whisky to take home with the in the state-of -the-art Glengoyne Blending Room for just £30.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
27 Sep
2009
My Health: Charles MacLean, whisky expert
I rarely have days when I don't have a whisky, though there are mornings when I give it up for life.
Most of my evaluation work is done in the mornings, because that's when your nose and palate is freshest. I drink it for pleasure in the evenings. Does it have health benefits? I think it probably does - I very rarely catch a cold and I can't ever remember catching flu. They used to believe it had disinfectant qualities - it's very pure and clean.
A study done a few years ago by the Rowett Institute in Aberdeen found that whisky drinkers absorb higher levels of phenols from the blood than red wine drinkers. Phenols help protect against cardiovascular disease. My father, who was a surgeon, would say to his patients, "when you reach 40, give up smoking and take up drinking, in moderation".
I think the essential thing is not to think about your health but to listen to your body. I'm a great believer in the body telling you when there's something up. It may be exercise or lack of it, food or lack of it, or overdrinking - or lack of it!
I'm 58 and I do enjoy robust health. It's my view that to some extent, ill-health can be self-generated. I'm not talking about serious illness, but poor health. I think you can become obsessed about your health to the detriment of enjoying your life. I'm really a stranger to the doctor. I'm not on board for check-ups - perhaps I should be.
I'm fortunate that I live right next to the Pentlands. I have two dogs and my duty of the day is to hammer up the hill by the ski slope at Hillhead and jog down again. It takes about 50 minutes. It's a pain in the neck, but I think that, drinking
and smoking as I do, it's important. It's mortification of the flesh: the only pleasure in it is self-righteousness when you get to the top - and it is a lovely view.
*Charles MacLean will be appearing at the Wigtown Book Festival on Friday, October 2 at 9pm (£10) and Saturday at noon (£8). For tickets, visit www.wigtownbookfestival.com
More than 24,000 visitors were attracted to at least 375 events
A whisky festival that showcased the heritage, folklore and culture of Speyside raised almost £1million for Moray's economy, it emerged last night.
Organisers of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, which was held over 10 days in May, revealed more than 375 events attracted about 24,000 visitors - raising more than £950,000 for the area.
The market research study showed record numbers of international visitors had come to the area and local businesses said it was an excellent kick-start to the summer season.
Andy Cameron, owner of the Daavar bed and breakfast in Church Street, Dufftown, said the festival was so busy it was a challenge to cater to the surge of tourists.
He said: "It was really hard work because it was so well attended. We were full over the 10-day period. And certainly the restaurants that held gala dinners were extremely busy."
Among the events included were live music and community events, whisky awards, chef and photographic competitions, and tours and tastings at distilleries.
The first Malt Whisky School - a master class for a select number of whisky enthusiasts - also featured for the first time at the event.
Last night, festival organiser Pamela Looper said it was a great success.
Festival chairman Jim Royan added: "It would not be possible without the generous support of our funders, partners, sponsors and members and we wish to thank all those who were involved for their support and hard work in making their own events and the festival as a whole such a success."
The festival's annual meeting will be held on October 2 at Knockando Distillery. Anyone who wishes to attend should contact Ms Looper on admin@spiritofspeyside.com to confirm.
The meeting will be followed by workshops to generate feedback for next year's event which is expected to be held from April 29 to May 3.
Tullibardine Distillery manager John raises glass to 50 years in whisky trade
TULLIBARDINE Distillery manager John Black is a man who was, literally, born into his trade.
Having just raised a glass to 50 years in the whisky industry, he comes from a line of people who have been in the industry for 150 years.
As such, he instinctively knows more about the business than those with years of training.
Born at what is now Cardhu distillery, the son of a distiller, he began his life on a cottage on the grounds of the distillery.
He also had many cousins who were involved in the industry so it was inevitable he would end up working with whisky.
John has worked at various Scottish distilleries, starting as a shift manager at Cardhu before his career took him to 11 different distilleries.
He worked up to the position of distillery manager and ended up at Tullibardine in the Perthshire village of Blackford.
However, he admits that, since he began his career, the industry has gone through many changes.
General operations have changed and many businesses have been forced to downsize as centralisation took hold.
That meant many people had to move sideways to take up roles for firms that support the industry, which is a vast departure to the world in which John cut his teeth.
He said: "In my day the distillery was the heart and soul of the whisky industry, from barley to bottle. Nowadays, many distilleries have downsized and the processes have become automated."
His current job marries many different skills, from guiding tours around Tullibardine to choosing from the range of vintages and expressions for his signature John Black range.
A typical day begins with John taking a tour around the distillery and talking to the shift workers to establish if there are any issues and what the priorities are for that day.
Throughout the morning there are often meetings to discuss management issues and production levels.
The rest of the day is normally taken up with visitor tours, including John's own 'connoisseur's tour' for those who are more knowledgeable about their whisky. Every day can be different and John never knows at any one time who he may meet.
And his past guests on distillery tours have included the head of the Greek Orthodox Church and Michael Howard. All of this means that daily life at the distillery is always different and unpredictable.
John concedes that the industry has changed vastly nowadays with some universities offering a BSC honours in Brewing and Distilling and an Institute of Brewing exists. However, in his opinion there is no substitute for the hands-on approach when it comes to learning your trade.
He added: "I would value experience above academia any day. These days, a distillery manager will get paid in the region of £30,000 to £40,000 however this depends on the size of the distillery.
"Some of the larger companies will have more than one distillery so, obviously, with more responsibility comes higher wages.
"The perks include an endless supply of whisky and a company car. Personally, the perks I value the most are non-material, such as meeting important dignitaries such as the Head of the Greek Orthodox Church."
All in all the job of distillery manager is almost a vocation rather than a job.
It requires dedication and, of course, a deep love of the product.
However, as John Black demonstrates, it's one that can be deeply rewarding and has many perks with which the average job just can't compete.
The online store, shopforwhisky.co.uk, the offshoot of Edinburgh's Scotch Whisky Experience, has launched a distribution service to 95 destinations worldwide.
The internet based shop features a wide selection of regional malts to rare blends which has over 300 varieties of whiskies in stock. It is part of one of Scotland's top tourist attractions, the Scotch Whisky Experience, that tells the story of Scotland's national drink past and present and holds the 'World's Largest Collection of Scotch Whiskies' displaying almost 3,500 bottles.
Susan Morrison, general manager at the Scotch Whisky Experience said: "It is absolutely fantastic to be able to offer this new service and ensure that Scotch whisky lovers everywhere can enjoy their chosen malt or blend. In addition, with an extensive range of products mirroring those available in our in-house store, our many international visitors will now be able to continue with their love of Scotch in their home countries."
New organic Islay tastes like tipple 200 years ago
First organic Islay whiskyBy Rory Reynolds
TOP whisky distillers are to bottle the world's first organic Islay single malt whisky this week.
Bruichladdich Organic - believed to be the only organic single malt in continuous production - comes from a single variety of barley, from a single farm, in a single year.
The privately-owned distillery has labelled the whisky "Anns an t-seann doigh" - Gaelic for 'the way it used to be'.
Distillers say that this is a return to the way that whisky was made 200 years ago and reckon the taste is so unusual that experts won't even know which country it's from.
Mark Reynier, managing director of Bruichladdich, said: "Whilst we think we're being really progressive if you go back 200 years, everything was organic."I come from a wine background and I've seen the difference in the quality of the grapes in organic farming.
Ultimate
"We have 23 farmers in Scotland growing organic barley for us, but each edition of this whisky comes from just one farm in one year - making is the ultimate single, single malt.
"Every different edition will be grown from a different farm - next year the edition will be a different taste.
"In this whisky you really taste the barley, and you don't find that in single malt much now.
"We're a small private companies and we can do these things and this is a real landmark for us."
The current edition, which is in the process of being bottled this week, is distilled from Chalice barley grown by William Rose at Culblair, near Inverness in summer of 2003.
Bruichladdich, which was relaunched in 2000 after being closed for six years, has released a number of unusual takes on the traditional Islay single malt.
Infinity
These include a bourbon edition and a single malt called Infinity - with a specially designed long-lasting taste.
Their X4 edition, which featured in BBC2's Oz and James Drink to Britain, is said to either make the drinker immortal - or kill them.
The world's first organic single malt was first bottled in 1992 by Springbank.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
21 Sep
2009
First Whisky Galore festival held
The first Whisky Galore Festival has been held on Barra, the island in the Western Isles where the 1949 comedy was filmed.
Guests included three sisters who were young extras in the film based on the book by Compton MacKenzie.
Other events during the weekend celebration included whisky tastings, workshops and a golf tournament.
The famous book and film were inspired by the grounding of the ship SS Politician off Eriskay in 1941.
The vessel had about 250,000 bottles of spirit aboard.
Author Compton MacKenzie used the event as the basis of his book Whisky Galore in 1947 and an Ealing comedy followed in 1949.
Earlier this year, a musical of Whisky Galore was performed at the Festival Theatre in Pitlochry.
Resisting the temptation to open the bottle would seem to be the most challenging aspect of investing in whisky, but for those with the willpower there are some tasty financial returns, with rare examples soaring as much as tenfold in value over the past decade.
One of the most sought-after brands is Macallan of Craigellachie in the Speyside region of the Highlands. Last month a limited edition 50-year-old bottle of Macallan sold for £11,750 at auction. The same whisky could have been bought for £200 in 1983.
However, the record is £32,000 for a Dalmore 62 Single Highland Malt Scotch Whisky at the Pennyhill Park Hotel in Bagshot, Surrey, in 2005.
It was one of only 12 bottles produced in 1943 and was bought by a businessman, who then sat back and drank almost all of it at the hotel with five extremely grateful friends.
Other great Scotch single malt producers loved by connoisseurs include Ardbeg, Bowmore, Highland Park and Springbank.
A limited edition Black Bowmore distilled in 1964 and bottled in 1993 initially sold for £80, but can now change hands for £2,000. Other serious labels include Bruichladdich, Glenfiddich, Talisker and Balvenie.
Andrew Bell, 28, whisky specialist with McTear's Auctioneers in Glasgow, says: 'If you want to invest, you must first have a love of whisky.
The main ingredients required for success are passion and patience.
'What you are after is simple --fantastic-tasting drams. But palates vary and while some prefer peat or smoky flavours, others might like a grassy or sweet taste.'
The whiskies that tend to attract most investor attention are limited numbers aged in the cask between ten and 60 years before being bottled.
Once bottled, the whisky can be stored indefinitely.
Some of the most valuable whiskies are from distilleries that have closed down, such as Brora, Dallas Dhu, Glen Flagler, Rosebank and Port Ellen.
Bell says: 'Port Ellen, which closed in 1983, was produced on Islay in the southern Hebrides, one of the best areas for top quality whisky distilleries.
'A 27-year-old Port Ellen that cost £130 at the Feis Ile - the Islay Festival of Malt and Music - in May last year might now fetch £1,000 because of quality and rarity.'
Investors can also buy into a cask before the whisky has been bottled and avoid duty if it is later sold back to producers and kept in a bonded warehouse.
Whisky must be kept in a cask in bond for at least three years before it can be called whisky, but it is usually kept for a decade or more. The cask is what gives the spirit all its taste and colour. About two per cent evaporates in storage every year and this is known as 'the angel's share'.
However, it is not recommended for novice connoisseurs to buy casks. They should seek expert advice and be wary of a market that has been hit by past scams.
Sukhinder Singh, 41, director of The Whisky Exchange in Park Royal, north-west London, says: 'A great idea is to buy one bottle to enjoy on special occasions as a drink and another to be stored for investment purposes.
'Price tends to reflect quality and age, but this does not necessarily mean an older whisky is better - the value is more about rarity and quality.'
Sukhinder believes a great place to start is at a specialist whiskytasting event. 'Drinking whisky is like a journey - a life cycle,' he says. 'There is so much diversity and complexity that it can make a lot of sense to have guidance.'
Distilleries offer tasting tours while local societies can also help. Specialist events include The Whisky Show at Guildhall, City of London, on November 6 and 7, though a ticket costs £100.
Although a rare and historic bottle may be worth thousands of pounds, this is no guarantee it will be drinkable. A sign to look out for is the level of whisky in the bottle. If it is high this is a good sign, but down to the shoulder or label and it may have oxidised and be flat.
Whisky should still be kept at a constant temperature away from direct sunlight and heat. It is also advisable to wet the cork occasionally to prevent it shrinking.
WHISKY lovers are in for a tasty treat this autumn with a dram good line-up of events taking place across the country.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the much-loved Ealing comedy, Whisky Galore!, the classic Ealing film which was set and filmed in the Outer Hebrides and based on a real-life shipwreck.
With bottles from the original wreck still seen in local pubs, it is appropriate that Barra is hosting the first Isle of Barra Whisky Galore Festival from tomorrow until Sunday.
A special mobile cinema will show the film throughout the festival and visitors can take part in a whisky hunt across Barra, visiting locations which featured in the film.
Alternatively they can enjoy lots of live music, ceilidhs or take part in a golf tournament.
In further recognition of Whisky Galore! there is still the chance to enjoy Whisky Galore - A Musical which is being performed at Pitlochry Festival Theatre until Saturday, October 17.
A tale of drams and dreams, this musical world premiere is based on Compton MacKenzie's funny, romantic and entertaining novel and features a lively score that conjures up both the 1940s and the unmistakable sounds of the Western Isles.
Not to be outdone, Speyside, Scotland's most productive whisky region, plays host to a special Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival which runs from Friday, September 25, until Monday, September 28.
The fun-packed weekend has a full programme of events, including a musical evening, a craft fair and whisky auction, with VIP tours to the Speyside Cooperage.
Glenfiddich and Balvenie distilleries have opened their doors and are offering a great selection of Connoisseurs tours with the option of combining your VIP tour with lunch or dinner prepared under the expert eye of Andy Daggert, the Spirit of Speyside Chef of the Year in 2008.
In addition, there is a range of nosing and tasting events and bus tours to distilleries not normally open to the public.
For energetic whisky lovers, there is the opportunity to paddle down the River Spey in a canoe enjoying excellent food and whisky as you go, or the chance to take to the hills following smugglers' routes of old.
The festival gets under way with an official opening party in The Square, Dufftown, on Friday, September 25, at 7.30pm which is free and open to all.
Visitors are invited to share a dram, watch a fireworks display and listen to the pipe band play before marching behind them to the Stramash in the Memorial Hall.
Finally, in the south-west of the country, one of Scotland's literary hotspots, Wigtown, celebrates whisky at its annual Stena Line Wigtown Book Festival with a special Whisky & Words mini festival running from Wednesday, September 30, until Saturday, October 3.
The programme explores the relationship between whisky and writing, and most of the events will take place at Scotland's southernmost distillery, Bladnoch Distillery.
For further information on these events and the full Homecoming Scotland 2009 programme visit www.homecomingscotland 2009.com. For full details of the autumn whisky events in Speyside click on to www.spiritofspeyside.com
Rare Ben Riach and Glendronach malts set to be a highlight of Whisky Live Paris
A NUMBER of fine and rare BenRiach and GlenDronach malts are set to be one of the highlights of Whisky Live Paris this month.
French whisky lovers are looking forward to sampling some of the vintage expressions which have been maturing in GlenD ronach's Aberdeenshire distillery over the last forty years.
Regional Sales Director James Cowan said: "Whisky Live provides the ultimate whisky experience and continues to be one of the leading consumer and trade-based whisky shows globally.
"France has long been regarded as the leading Scotch Whisky market worldwide and it is essential that we have our brands on display on this key date in the annual calendar of events.
"Although the majority of whisky sold in France is blended whisky, single malt Scotch Whisky is fast becoming a fashionable beverage within the young to middle-aged consumer groups. We hope that both BenRiach and GlenDronach will be well received by all those who visit the stand over the exhibition weekend.
"This year's exhibition has significant interest to us and we will be showcasing the newly-released GlenDronach 15-year-old and 18-year-old expressions together with some fine and rare vintage editions which will appeal to all malt whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike."
Amongst many of the products being presenting are:
BenRiach 12yo 'Sherry Wood' matured
BenRiach 16yo
Birnie Moss 'non aged'
GlenDronach 15yo
GlenDronach 18yo
In addition, James and his team will be sampling some astonishing vintage expressions from 1971, 1972 and 1996.
WhiskyLive Paris takes place at Pavillon Gabriel, 5 avenue Gabriel, 75008 Paris, from Saturday 26 - Monday 28 September 2009.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
14 Sep
2009
Pricing threat to whisky trade
More than £600m could be wiped off the value of Scotch whisky imports in over 140 markets around the world if the Scottish Government succeeds in introducing a minimum price for alcohol, the chief executive of the industry's trade body has told The Herald.
The Scottish Government plans to bring in a minimum price per unit for alcohol as part of its plans to tackle the country's drinking culture.
Gavin Hewitt, chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association, has warned minimum pricing could be used as an excuse in overseas markets employing health arguments to impose tariffs that give domestic brands a competitive edge.
However, this is the first time Hewitt has spelled out the potentially punitive toll on the industry.
"Minimum pricing is effectively a trade barrier, and such measures will be costly to our industry," he said.
"Scotch whisky is exported to 200 markets around the world, and 143 of them already impose various levels of trade barriers on Scotch whisky imports to the benefit of their own domestic brands.
"If we impose a tariff ourselves on health grounds, then Scotland sets the precedent, and the EU will not be able to argue our case in overseas markets that attempt to do the same thing. Scotch whisky exports in 2008 amounted to £3.1bn. I'd say 20% of that would be lost if the Scottish Government goes ahead with its minimum pricing plans, which basically gives the green light to countries to introduce health-based restrictions against Scotch whisky."
A 20% reduction in export value - based on 2008 figures - amounts to £620m.
"The domestic market would also be hit", Hewitt added. "Higher prices will encourage counterfeit, fraud, smuggling, organised crime and job losses."
Under the government's proposal, at 40p a unit, the minimum bottle price would rise to £11.20, compared with the £10.55 average bottle price in Scotland. At 50p per unit, the average rises to £14. Hewitt also contends that minimum pricing would constitute a violation of European Union competition rules and the WTO's GATT (general agreement on tariffs and trade) guidelines by acting as a barrier to trade.
Without naming names, Hewitt said that it was his understanding that a number of large overseas spirits firms were already preparing for legal action against the Scottish Government if its plans were legitimised.
Meanwhile, the Irish Spirits Association, which represents 11 of the largest Irish whiskey and other spirit makers, has already waded into the debate, and says that the minimum pricing plan constitutes a barrier to trade and sets undesirable precedents for other countries to follow.
At the same time, the Washington-based US Distilled Spirits Council, representing the American spirits sector, has urged the Scottish Government to abandon its push to bring in minimum pricing.
Peter Cressy, the US group's president, said: "The Scottish Government's proposal to introduce minimum prices for beverage alcohol products at the very least will adversely affect the conditions of competition in the Scottish market and also may run afoul of international trade rules.
"We would urge the Scottish Government to re-consider its approach and to focus on measures to tackle alcohol misuse that do not disrupt trade."
Nonetheless, the EC, in a statement answering a Parliamentary Question from a Labour MEP, said that the proposed minimum pricing fits within European rules on competition - a move that apparently rebuffs the drinks industry's claims about the legality of the proposal.
Justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has also dismissed the SWA's claims as flawed, insisting that the minimum pricing was being pursued as a public health policy and not market protection.
He added: "The SWA should not underestimate their ability to successfully challenge any unfair practices in any country. They've been doing that for years."
The minimum pricing plan was announced by First Minister Alex Salmond in his legislative programme on September 3 as part of a wider Alcohol and Health Bill.
The proposals are expected to start making their way through the legislative process by the end of the year, a Scottish Government spokeswoman said.
Minimum alcohol pricing may have a punitive toll on the industry.
THE owner of malt whisky brand GlenDronach is to pour £7million into restoring it to its past glory.
Larbert-based BenRiach Distillery Company bought Glendronach Distillery, at Forgue, near Huntly, just over a year ago - in a deal believed to be worth £30million - from Chivas Brothers, the whisky business of Pernod Ricard.
BenRiach managing director Billy Walker said yesterday he wanted to re-establish GlenDronach to its status of 40 years ago, when it was among the five most popular malts in the world.
When he and South African investors Geoff Bell and Wayne Keiswetter took over GlenDronach there were fewer than 20,000 bottles a year sold globally.
This year, after adding a number of expressions, such as a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old, GlenDronach will sell about 150,000 bottles.
BenRiach is to invest £5million in sherry casks over four years and a further £2million on brand promotion and extra staff to boost the 'sleeping giant'. By 2014, the company hopes to be selling some 250,000 bottles annually.
Mr Walker said: 'In recent years, GlenDronach has fallen out of view but it has maintained a kind of cult status. This new investment returns it to centre stage. We're pursuing our dream - to sell fine malt whisky all over the world and put GlenDronach back where it belongs.'
In another profile-boosting move, four GlenDronach casks are to be bottled specially for the Danish market and will go on sale there next month following a recent visit to Forgue by a group of retailers from Denmark.
BenRiach employs 30 people but hopes to create a further five positions in the near future.
Figures show whisky sector not in decline, say insiders
The Scotch whisky industry is not in crisis, in spite of mass layoffs at Diageo and recent production cuts at Chivas Brothers, and the forthcoming global export data will prove it, insiders at the Scotch Whisky Association claim.
The industry body's figures for the first half of 2009, set for release at the end of the month, will reveal an uptick in the overall value of shipments around the world, SWA insiders said.
However, they will also show that during the first quarter of the year, whisky distillers saw markedly diminished demand from trade customers, which had difficulty obtaining funds from banks amid the credit freeze - but increases in the second quarter offset the earlier decline.
"We've said all along that the whisky industry is recession-resistant, not recession-immune - and we stand by that," one insider said.
"What these latest figures will show is that global consumption overall has not decreased. The problem was that trade customers were ordering less because they were having trouble getting credit.
"These customers were simply using up existing supplies before deciding to restock. That situation changed in the second quarter."
The insider told The Herald: "To suggest the whisky industry is in decline is ridiculous. In the past two years alone, around £500m has been invested into new and rejuvenated distilleries. If that's not a sign of confidence, I don't know what is."
Such comments are noteable because Diageo, the world's biggest drinks group, earlier this week said it would continue with plans to close its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and axe headcount at Port Dundas with the combined loss of 900 posts.
The group, which last week also issued a downbeat outlook for 2010, will offset the layoffs by creating 400 jobs through the expansion of the packaging plant in Fife.
Meanwhile, Chivas Brothers, which is owned by French drinks giant Pernod Ricard and controls around 20% of the Scotch whisky market, also this week said it cut production at several distilleries as whisky sales suffered in the past six months. It said volumes of Ballantine's are down 4% and Chivas Regal off 5% year-on-year.
Earlier this year, SWA figures revealed the Scotch whisky industry has set new records for exports in 2008, earning £97 every second for the UK's balance of trade. The value of shipments increased by 8% to a record £3.1bn.
Comments by insiders suggest that the latest half-year figures, when published, will reveal that industry is on track to set a new record in 2009.
"Some markets are down, it's true. Spain, Korea and the US are down - and while this reflects the state of the economy, there are also credit and supply issues," The Herald was told.
"But there is definitely a vast improvement over the situation at the end of last year and the beginning of this year. Whisky remains a growth industry."
A bottle of whisky believed to be the world's biggest has been unveiled in a Strathspey village.
The 5ft tall bottle of single malt has been inched into place at Tomintoul's Clockhouse restaurant.
It has already become a tourist attraction, with visitors keen to have their photo taken beside the bottle.
It had to be commissioned from a manufacturer in Germany and is now filled with about 150 bottles of 14-year-old Tomintoul Distillery whisky.
It has been certified by the Guinness World Records as the largest bottle of Scotch ever produced.
'Talking point'
Irene McPherson, owner of the Clockhouse restaurant, said: "We've had quite a few people coming in just to see it and get photographed with it, so it is a talking point.
"Hopefully it'll bring in more tourists and people coming out for a run just to have a look at it."
Mike Drury, who runs a specialist whisky shop in the village, said the most worrying part of the whole enterprise was when it came to hammering in the cork.
He said: "We have massive conglomerate distillery companies and I don't know what could have been wrong with them not to have thought of it before.
"So Tomintoul - a wee little village in the middle of nowhere - has done it. The largest bottle of whisky in the world."
Diageo rejects 'unworkable' plan to save Johnnie Walker whisky jobs
Diageo is to press ahead with plans to shed hundreds of jobs after rejecting an "unworkable" alternative plan submitted by Scottish ministers
The drinks giant announced it will close the Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock, ending 200 years of links with the town, and a distillery in Port Dundas, Glasgow.
However, the loss of 900 jobs will be offset by the creation of 400 posts when a new factory is built in Leven, Fife
Diageo said the alternative blueprint, submitted by John Swinney, the Scottish finance minister, would cost the firm significantly more and still lead to 500 jobs losses.
Despite the promise of a sizeable taxpayer-funded subsidy, the firm said Mr Swinney had provided "no workable alternative to deliver what Diageo needs".
The Scottish finance minister described the rejection as "deeply disappointing", but did not respond to criticism that his plan would have cost the public purse millions of pounds and saved few jobs.
The announcement is also a blow to Alex Salmond, the First Minister, who joined a rally in Kilmarnock protesting the cuts and told the cheering masses: "We're going to achieve something for the workforces of Scotland."
The alternative plan would have seen production continue at Port Dundas and the creation of a new plant in Kilmarnock, albeit with only about half the 900 jobs being saved.
It would also have meant scrapping the 400 posts earmarked for Fife, prompting accusations SNP ministers were "playing off" one area of Scotland against another.
David Gosnell, the firm's managing director of global supply, said: "We examined the alternative proposals thoroughly. They don't deliver a business model that would be good for either Diageo or Scotland.
"We need a sustainable Scottish operation that supports our international spirits business and provides a future for the 4,000 people we would employ in Scotland after this restructuring is completed.
"I appreciate their efforts but the taskforce has no workable alternative to deliver what Diageo needs."
He said the alternative blueprint had failed to breach a "significant economic gap", with the closure of the Kilmarnock and Port Dundas plants projected to save the company £75million.
Keeping both sites open would "embed inefficiencies", he said, and Mr Swinney presented no long-term plan for saving Port Dundas other than delaying closure.
Significantly, there would still be a net loss of around 500 jobs and "no investment at Leven and minimal job creation there".
Diageo has ended its discussions with ministers, and will now focus on consulting with employees and trade unions on how the job losses will be implemented.
Mr Swinney said the "strongest arguments" had been submitted for keeping the two plants open, and insisted the alternative plan had been deliverable and cost effective.
He added: "I still do not believe that Diageo appreciate the social consequences of their financial decision in turning their backs on 200 years of history in Port Dundas and Kilmarnock."
Willie Coffey, SNP MSP for Kilmarnock, accused Diageo of acting "shamefully" and described the job losses as "a devastating blow for an intensely loyal workforce."
But Labour blamed SNP ministers for the closures. Iain Gray, the party's Holyrood leader, said: "I am deeply disappointed that John Swinney has been unable to bring forward a plan capable of convincing Diageo to save these jobs."
However, Tavish Scott, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, said: "There's no point in a political blame game, because that won't bring one job back.
"Everyone needs to pull together to help those who have lost their job today get back into work as quickly as possible."
Fresh blow for whisky trade as Chivas Brothers cuts production
Further signs that the Scotch whisky industry is feeling the impact of the global recession have emerged after Chivas Brothers admitted it has cut production at several of its distilleries.
The news, which the company said had no impact on jobs, comes just weeks after Diageo announced it is closing its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock with the loss of 700 jobs, with another 200 jobs going at the Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.
Christian Porta, chief executive and chairman of Chivas Brothers, said: "Market conditions have been tougher in the last 12 months.
"We have reduced some distilleries running on a seven day week to five days a week just to be a little bit on the cautious side."
He acknowledged this is on the back of reduced growth expectations in the near term.
Chivas Brothers, which is owned by French drinks giant Pernod Ricard, controls around 20% of the Scotch whisky market. Its whisky sales have suffered in the past six months of 2009, with volumes of Ballantine's down 4% and Chivas Regal off 5% year-on year.
Porta said that the company is continuing with plans to double output at Glenlivet, where sales volumes were up 5% year-on-year in the fist half.
He added that it is keeping open the previously mothballed Braeval and Allt-A-Bhainne distilleries reopened in the past couple of years.
"We haven't gone back and closed them down again. We just reduced the output and we will see how quickly the market recovers," Porta said. "We are very optimistic about the long term. We believe that the demand for Scotch whisky will continue to grow."
He said the industry should not repeat what he called the "mistake" of the 1990s when production was cut back sharply after the Asian financial crisis.
Asked which distilleries have cut back production, a spokeswoman said: "I cannot say which distilleries. We are just adjusting levels of distilling.
Terrified whisky workers find venomous black widows lurking in casks
WHISKY workers who found deadly black widow spiders lurking inside empty barrels expected a little more from the company than a warning to "remain observant".
And they weren't much comforted by assurances that the black widow's venom is "rarely fatal".
The terrified workers at the Diageo Cooperage in Cambus near Alloa, Clacks, were told that their protective gloves and boots would keep them safe from the arachnids.
Sub-contractors at the plant unload old wine barrels which are shipped across the Atlantic and used to store whisky, giving it colour and flavour.
Five spiders were found in the space of a week in containers from California and two were identified by experts as black widows, which have a distinctive red hour-glass mark on the lower abdomen.
Around one per cent of those bitten by the spiders die, even when given the antidote, which itself can cause a fatal reaction in some people. Symptoms, including severe muscle cramps, can vary from one individual to another.
A Diageo spokeswoman said the site had "robust" procedures in place and that workers were given detailed instruction on how to deal with the spiders.
But angry workers, especially those on night-shift, claim the safety advice is simply not good enough.
Yesterday one, who did not want to give his name, said: "The lads are now terrified it will be just a matter of time before someone gets bitten.
"Because of the nature of the job, we have come across insects from abroad before, but nothing as dangerous as this.
"The advice we have been given is a joke. We have gloves and boots but these things can be lethal and it is not easy to spot them inside the containers, especially in the dark."
SCOTS ACROSS the globe are being invited to raise a glass to toast the year of Homecoming.
First Minister Alex Salmond yesterday visited the nation's smallest distillery—Edradour near Pitlochry—to officially launch a commemorative cask of "Caledonia" whisky.
The limited edition tipple was specially created to mark Scotland's year of Homecoming.
"Whisky is one of Scotland's finest exports and our many varied malts and blends are savoured and appreciated around the world," said Mr Salmond.
"Scotch whisky is an iconic symbol at times of celebration both at home and abroad—from toasting the Bard at a Burns supper to a dram at Hogmanay.
"It is quite rightly a key part of our year of Homecoming and I am delighted to be visiting Edradour to celebrate the launch of this very special whisky to mark our celebrations."
Also present at yesterday's launch was Dougie Maclean, whose popular song "Caledonia" has been adopted as the anthem for the year of Homecoming.
He is delighted to be associated with the new whisky.
"It is very exciting to be closely involved with Edradour in the creation of this fine new whisky for contemporary Scotland," he said.
"My song Caledonia celebrates a sense of belonging and it seems to have struck a chord with people all over the world.
"As such it is more than appropriate to have a whisky associated with it."
Distillery owner Andrew Symington said the idea for a special tipple was dreamt up as he enjoyed a few measures with Mr Maclean.
"I first met Dougie at last year's Perthshire Amber Festival and, having enjoyed the event very much, decided to become a sponsor of the 2009 event," he explained.
"Over a few whiskies one night we also hatched the idea of doing a Caledonia bottling to celebrate Homecoming 2009."
Marie Christie, project director with Homecoming Scotland, "We are delighted Edradour Distillery and Dougie Maclean are working together in support of the national Homecoming celebrations.
"Whisky is a key theme of the year and Dougie's Perthshire Amber event (to be held from October 30 to November 8) looks set to be a highlight in the programme.
"Caledonia has been proven to be a hugely popular Homecoming anthem and I am sure this new whisky will prove as successful as the song."
Pernod Ricard said yesterday it expected a continuing difficult economic environment for the rest of this year and next, and an overall stagnation of the wine and spirit industry.
The French alcoholic drink giant said after reporting results for the year to June 30 that the comparison between the half-year to December 31 and a year earlier would be unfavourable, because of the very strong performance reported over the first half of the 2008-09 financial year.
It added that the second half of the current financial year would be better after last year's second half was adversely affected by the impact of the economic crisis and a strong "destocking effect".
Chief executive Pierre Pringuet said: "Despite a particularly difficult environment, the group achieved a very satisfactory performance in the year just ended. Our priorities are clear: continue to reduce debt and strengthen investments behind our strategic brands."
Among the group's 14 strategic brands are whiskies Chivas Regal, Ballantine's and The Glenlivet single malt. Pernod said The Glenlivet was among its best performing brands during the year, with volume growth of 5% and net-sales organic growth of 7% year-on-year.
Chivas Regal and Ballantine's both disappointed.
Chivas Regal volume was down 5% on the previous year and net-sales were 2% lower. Ballantine's saw volume down 4% and a net-sales organic decline of 5%.
A Chivas Brothers spokesman said: "Glenlivet sales have benefited from robust growth of the malt category, consistent investment in marketing and higher-end expressions helping to increase margins, and growth in its share of the US malt market, which The Glenlivet leads with more than double the sales of the next brand."
He said that, by comparison, markets for blended whiskies such as Chivas Regal and Ballantine's had been less robust
Chivas Brothers, the whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, also said yesterday its Chivas Regal 18-year-old had become the clear leader of the global ultra-premium Scotch category, having tripled its sales since 2004.
The company relaunched the brand in 2004. In the past year it sold more than 2.5million bottles, achieving 2% growth despite the current market.
Pernod reported "a very good performance" during the year, with strong sales growth thanks to the integration of Vin and Sprit and its Absolut vodka brand in July last year.
The group said sales were up 9% year-on-year to £6.31billion primarily as a result of the contribution of Absolut, which achieved strong growth in several countries including the UK. Organic sales growth was flat, however. Net profits for the year were £827.8million, up 12.5% on the previous year.
Diageo: 'Positive' talks over plan to save whisky jobs
DRINKS giant Diageo said today that talks aimed at saving hundreds of whisky jobs had been "positive".
Finance Secretary John Swinney met senior figures from the company,which has put 900 jobs at risk with plans to close its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow.
Mr Swinney presented Diageo bosses with details of an alternative proposal, which could see production continue at the Glasgow site and the creation of a new plant in Kilmarnock.
And he told the company there could be public money on the table.
David Gosnell, managing director of Diageo Global Supply, described this afternoon's meeting as "positive" and said the company would closely examine the alternative plans.
The drinks giant has said the redundancies at Kilmarnock and Glasgow would be "offset" by the creation of 400 jobs at its packaging plant in Fife.
However it was claimed yesterday the closure of the Kilmarnock bottling plant could cost the local economy more than s15 million a year, while every job lost may cost the public sector up to £20,000 ay ear.
Today the Finance Secretary said Diageo's current proposals would have "severe economic and social consequences within Kilmarnock and Glasgow".
A special taskforce, involving trade unions, local authorities,Scottish Enterprise and politicians, agreed the alternative proposals.
Mr Swinney and Scottish Enterprise chief executive Jack Perry presented details of these to Mr Gosnell and Bryan Donaghey, the managing director for Diageo Scotland.
The Finance Secretary said he had set out the alternative plans in "extensive talks" with the company.
He stated: "Diageo have taken that proposal away and will consider it, and there will be further discussions with the Government and Scottish Enterprise to follow up the discussion we had this afternoon.
"It's important we make progress on this, because obviously there is a lot of uncertainty for the employees that are affected by the proposals Diageo put forward."
He also confirmed: "The question of public money has been discussed.
"I made it clear to Diageo there are circumstances in which the Government would be prepared to consider a contribution of public resources, and that's obviously a matter which is material to the discussions that we need to continue with Diageo."
However he added it was possible not all the 900 jobs under threat would be saved.
Mr Swinney said: "I have said all along there would be employment loss out of these proposals, there is absolutely no way we could come anywhere near to equalling the reduction in costs that Diageo envisages without there being some loss of employment."
The Finance Secretary also accepted if the company agreed to the alternative proposals, that could impact on the planned new jobs inFife.
He stated: "I quite accept the investment can not be in two places at the same time."
Afterwards Mr Gosnell said: "It was a positive meeting with the Scottish Government, and we can confirm that Diageo has now received details on the taskforce's alternative proposal.
"The next step is that we take this document away and examine itclosely. On completion of that process there will be further active dialogue with the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise.
"We believe that both sides want to see a clear way forward and we are all committed to resolving the discussions as soon as possible given the continuing uncertainty for our employees across Scotland.
"At the same time we will continue the consultation process with our staff and their representatives."
ONLY a month to go the Manchester Food and Drink Festival, which this year seems to be toasting itself with all manner of booze. As well as festivals celebrating local wine merchants (Urbis, October 2-3) and our region's beers (Albert Square, October 10-11) there is also the first Manchester Whisky Festival.
This ultimate dramfest takes place on Saturday, October 10, at the Museum of Science and Industry from noon to 6pm.
And it is not just Scotland and Ireland represented under the tutelage of 'usquebaugh guru' Eddie Ludlow of The Whisky Lounge.
A host of industry experts, from distillery managers to brand ambassadors, will be on hand in the Air and Space Hall to guide punters through the huge range of whiskies on show from as far afield as Japan, America and even India.
Free tasting glass
Fear not, Scotch won't be neglected. Among the exhibitors confirmed so far are: Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, Caol Ila, Talisker, Lagavulin, Ardmore, Macallan, Laphroaig, Highland Park, Balvenie, Glenfiddich, Bowmore, Auchentoshan, Suntory, Amrut, Gordon & Macphail, Cooley, Four Roses, Jameson, Glenlivet, Aberlour, Berry Brothers, Benromach.
Tickets cost £16, which includes entrance to the main event, all your drams for the day and a free whisky tasting glass (worth around £4).
The masterclasses cost an additional £5 each. Children are not permitted.
For tickets, go to mfdfwhiskyfestival.eventbrite.com/
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
02 Sep
2009
Warning that minimum pricing for alcohol will hurt whisky makers
Industry chief claims new government drink legislation will affect exports
New minimum pricing rules for alcohol will hurt Scotland's whisky makers and cost jobs, the chief executive of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has warned.
Gavin Hewitt, speaking at a business conference in Edinburgh yesterday, said the Scottish Government's new drink legislation would make it harder for the industry to argue against import restrictions in some of its key markets abroad.
Mr Hewitt added: "The mantra has been that this will not hurt premium products and that it will not damage Scotch.
"However, let me be quite clear, this measure will hurt distillers at home and it will hurt distillers overseas.
"It is an issue of major international significance."
He said the industry's experience of EU and international trade rules was that any such system was likely to be a trade barrier.
"An exception to international trade rules could be justified only in very limited circumstances, including if the measure is necessary to protect health, he said.
He added: "It has never happened before in relation to alcohol, nor was the argument ever made in relation to the risks associated with tobacco.
"We see little evidence that minimum pricing is necessary, given the wide range of other measures that could be brought forward to tackle alcohol misuse.
"Indeed new licensing rules, which we support, only come into effect today after a four-year delay."
Mr Hewitt said the government's minimum pricing plans were "spuriously justified" on health grounds, adding: "What message are we sending out about Scotch whisky?"
He highlighted Korean efforts to introduce discriminatory tax measures for Scotch on the grounds the high alcohol content caused greater harm to health.
"We have been able to use international trade rules to stop such blatant protectionism," he said, adding: "It would be difficult to do so in the future if we are also looking to override the same trade rules. The potential implications for our ability to grow exports is clear."
Mr Hewitt said the industry supported the government's firm line on alcohol misuse and shared its commitment to tackling the issue but added: "It could have sent out a more positive message."
Ministers believe minimum pricing will help tackle drunkenness and health problems.
The industry, however, claims it will push up the price of cheaper brands as own-label whiskies represent 25%-30% of the market.
Malts on the march: Benriach and Glendronach expand into China, Vietnam and USA
As part of its planned growth strategy for its two malts, the BenRiach Distillery Company is expanding into emerging markets such as China and Vietnam.
The company is also beefing up its presence in the USA.
Regional Sales Director James Cowan is responsible for marketing BenRiach and GlenDronach in China and Vietnam. He said: "In the past, these countries were perceived as being off the radar as target malt whisky markets.
"However, in recent years the booming economies and the rise in the number of wealthy individuals have helped to make malt whisky a more attainable product.
"Additionally, these markets are already hugely popular holiday destinations due to improved air links and the spin-off from the Beijing Olympics.
"Due to the sheer size of China - over three and a half million square miles and over 1.3 billion of a population - we intend on focus on a small number of regions rather than try to target the country as a whole. This can act as a springboard to build the brand further in due course.
"Meanwhile, Vietnam has also entered a significant period of growth within the tourism sector, and this lends itself well to the introduction of premium malt whisky throughout the relevant outlets that this industry attracts.
"Our plan is to conduct a series of organised tastings and corporate events in the months to come which will aid the brands' introduction. For any new market and particularly emerging markets, it is essential that we are closely in touch with activities on the ground, as has already been successfully proven in some of our other new te rritories around the world."
Looking at the USA, Regional Sales Director Alistair Walker commented: "BenRiach has been available in the US for four years now and we ar e gradually establishing a name for it through tutored tastings and whisky festivals across the country.
"Our US Importer Preiss Imports will be introducing the new GlenDronach range - 12, 15 and 18 year old malts - towards the end of this year.
"I believe GlenDronach has excellent potential in the US. We have been inundated with enquiries from US consumers via our website so there clearly remains an awareness for the brand in the States - an awareness that was built up during the past five decades via William Teacher's and Allied Distillers."
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
01 Sep
2009
MSPs to get update on Diageo Scots jobs battle
The battle to save 900 whisky jobs in Kilmarnock and Glasgow will switch to Holyrood this week.
Finance secretary John Swinney will update MSPs tomorrow on the progress of the alternative plan backed by the cross party task force which includes trade unions and councils.
Drinks giants Diageo plan to close the Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock, with the loss of 700 jobs, and the distillery at Port Dundas in Glasgow with the loss of another 200 jobs.
But the company want to invest £100million in a new bottling plant at their current site in Leven creating 400 new jobs.
MSPs will also debate a motion tabled by Kilmarnock MSP Willie Coffey backing the fight to save the jobs and the alternative proposals.
The parliamentary action however will come 24 hours before Swinney meets Diageo bosses to flesh out details of the survival plan.
He wrote to Diageo's global manufacturing boss Dave Gosnell last week .
But Gosnell claimed the plans lacked specific details.
He ruled out union calls for executives to take a pay cut, and claimed they had not considered cutting wages, shift allowances or perks for any worker.
But the Record exclusively revealed that the company had slashed their annual freeshare bonus by more than two-thirds, from an average of £1000 to £300.
A One Day Festival Celebrating Food & Drink Producers and Designers Based in Scotland
ScotFest, featuring the Glengoyne Tent, is opening its doors to visitors on Sunday 20th of September from 11.30 - 4.30 at Cochrane Park in Alva.
As main sponsors Glengoyne Distillery will take centre stage in the Glengoyne Tent, presenting tutored tastings and offering samples of their handcrafted, multi-award winning whisky throughout the day. The Glengoyne team will also be hosting special blending sessions where visitors can learn the art of the Master Blender to create their very own unique blended whisky.
Also appearing in the Glengoyne Tent will be renowned Chef Tom Lewis of Monachyle Mhor hotel, demonstrating how to combine Glengoyne's Real Taste of Malt with ingredients from Scotland's rich natural larder to create delicious modern dishes. Tom will also be presenting freshly made breads, whisky sausages, fresh fish and much, much MHOR.
Every visitor at ScotFest will receive a FREE gift bag on arrival, with goodies including a VIP Guest Pass for a tour of Glengoyne, Scotland's most beautiful distillery, and exclusive discounts at the ScotFest distillery shop.
Stuart Hendry, Glengoyne Brand Heritage and Commercial Manager commented: "We are extremely proud of our tradition, heritage and handcrafted whisky. ScotFest provides a great platform for us to join other independent and traditional Scottish producers and, along with Tom Lewis and the MHOR brand, demonstrate The Real Taste of Malt with The Real Taste of Food."
A tented village, ScotFest includes a wide selection of local food and drink producers providing samples to taste and enjoy alongside arts and craft exhibitors discussing their design methods and inspiration for their range of truly unique goods - perfect for early Christmas Shopping.
Entertainment will be provided throughout the day with pipes and drums, falconry and ScotFest's very own Town Crier plus Kid's Zone featuring everything from face painting to a completely weatherproof bouncy castle.
Refreshments will be provided by the British Army Field Kitchen, traditional hog roast and the ScotFest Cafe as well as the inflatable pub featuring real Scottish Ales providing a true Scottish welcome.
For further information and updates on who is exhibiting please visit www.scotfest.co.uk
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
30 Aug
2009
Whisky producer beefing up US presence
Chief executive appears to dismiss bid to save plants as drinks giant announces £2.02bn profit
BENRIACH Distillery Company said yesterday it was beefing up its presence in America and expanding into emerging markets such as China and Vietnam as part of a planned growth strategy for its malt whiskies.
The Larbert-based company started selling its BenRiach whisky in the US four years ago and now plans to relaunch GlenDronach, made at Forgue, near Huntly, there after acquiring both the brand and its distillery from Chivas Brothers last year.
Regional sales director Alistair Walker said BenRiach, produced near Elgin, was gradually making a name for itself across the Atlantic through tutored tastings and whisky festivals across the country, adding: "Our US importer, Preiss Imports, will be introducing the new GlenDronach range - 12, 15 and 18-year-old malts - towards the end of this year.
"We have been inundated with inquiries from US consumers via our website, so there clearly remains an awareness for the brand in the States."
Regional sales director James Cowan is responsible for marketing the firm's products in China and Vietnam. He said: "In the past, these countries were perceived as being off the radar as target malt whisky markets, however, in recent years the booming economies and a rise in the number of wealthy individuals have helped to make malt whisky a more attainable product.
"Additionally, these markets are already hugely popular holiday destinations due to improved air links and the spin-off from the Beijing Olympics.
"Due to the sheer size of China, with more than 3.5million square miles and over 1.3billion of a population, we intend on focus on a small number of regions rather than try to target the country as a whole.
"This can act as a springboard to build the brand further in due course.
"Vietnam has also entered a significant period of growth within the tourism sector and this lends itself well to the introduction of premium malt whisky throughout the relevant outlets that this industry attracts."
BenRiach plans to hold tastings and corporate events in the coming months to introduce its whiskies to the new Asian markets.
Protesters take fight for Scottish jobs to Diageo's HQ in London
Chief executive appears to dismiss bid to save plants as drinks giant announces £2.02bn profit
Protesters slammed Diageo's plans to axe 900 whisky jobs following the drinks giant's reporting of a £2.02billion profit yesterday.
Diageo, whose brands include Smirnoff and Guinness, said it had a "challenging" year to June, with pre-tax profits slightly lower than last year.
It plans to close its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock with the loss of 700 jobs and shed a further 200 from the distillery at Port Dundas in central Glasgow.
A cross-party campaign has been launched to try to persuade the firm to change its plans, but Diageo said it had not yet considered the proposals.
Gina McCurry, a forklift driver at the Kilmarnock plant, was among the protesters at the company's HQ in London yesterday.
She said: "Diageo are obviously making billions of profits. There is no need to close the plant.
"It's not a case of 'we're not making money', it's a case of 'we're not making enough money'."
Diageo said it will partially offset the planned cuts by creating 400 jobs at its packaging plant in Fife.
Alternative proposals aimed at saving the 900 jobs have been drawn up by trade unions, councils, Scottish Enterprise and politicians. These could see production continue at Port Dundas, as well as the development of a new plant at Kilmarnock.
Diageo chief executive Paul Walsh appeared to dismiss the bid to save the plants yesterday. He said: "I'm aware of the jobs campaign, and am aware people are almost trying to dent the image of the (Johnnie Walker) brand, which will not be good for remaining employees. So I think it's very shortsighted."
He said while the job losses were "tragic" he was focused on a viable future for the business. "The reality is that Scotch whisky's future lies beyond these shores. We have to penetrate new markets."
Mr Walsh pledged to keep an open mind on plans put forward by First Minister Alex Salmond, but warned they would have to be clear on how the Scottish Government would support the business.
He said: "I hope the content is specific. I hope the content provides options that still maintain our business objectives - being cost-competitive. And if there is a gap, I hope the letter is very clear on how the public purse is going to fund that gap."
Des Browne, MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, said he believed the firm would not pull out of Kilmarnock. "It would be devastating for our town," he said.
"They proposed that but we have a proposal to put to them which can allow them to stay there and maintain hundreds of sustainable jobs in our community," he added.
Whisky firm's premium brands hit by effects of global downturn
Drink giant Diageo forecasts more challenging year ahead after profits dip
Drink giant Diageo saw global economic woes take a chunk out of its profits in the year to June 30, with some of its key whisky brands suffering a large drop in sales.
The group said yesterday the downturn had affected all its markets, although Europe was hit harder than Asia and North America.
Diageo said organic net sales of iconic whisky brand Johnnie Walker - the world's best selling Scotch - plunged by 6%.
Net whisky sales were down 3% overall by value, although progress was made in some key markets.
Diageo's annual results came as pressure increased on the London-based firm to drop controversial plans to axe 900 Scottish jobs.
It intends to close its bottling plant at Kilmarnock - severing historic ties with Johnnie Walker - in addition to the Port Dundas distillery, in Glasgow.
Diageo - whose other whiskies include Bell's, Benmore, Buchanan's, Haig, J&B, Spey Royal, Vat 69, White Horse and a host of single and classic malt brands - delivered pre-tax profits of £2.02billion despite a "challenging" year. The latest surplus compares with profits of £2.09billion in 2007-08.
Among the group's main brands, Johnnie Walker and J&B both lost ground in terms of annual sales but Buchanan's achieved growth on the back of increased demand in Venezuela, Mexico and Columbia.
Diageo hopes to save an extra £40million a year from its restructuring plans in Scotland, where it employs about 4,500 people and produces nearly 50million cases of whisky and white spirits.
Changes elsewhere in the group are expected to generate a further £120million of cost savings in the current trading year.
Other key brands in Diageo's portfolio include Guinness, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan rum, Bailey's Irish cream liqueur and Tanqueray gin.
Underlying drink sales across the group, which also owns the Gleneagles Hotel and golf courses in Perth-shire, were flat but the weak pound and cost-cutting pushed operating profits up by about £100million to £2.6billion.
Chief executive Paul Walsh said the firm had seen growth in vodka, rum, tequila and beer sales but gin and wine had been weaker in the period and whisky and liqueurs had been the biggest target for destocking among its customers.
He added: "This has been a very challenging year, Overall, however, our results demonstrate the resilience of the business.
"While the global economy appears to be stabilising, there is still uncertainty as to the sustainability and pace of any recovery.
"That being recognised, we expect to deliver low single-digit organic operating profit growth in fiscal 2010."
Scottish Power Ltd plans to supply all the electricity for the island of Islay through a 10 megawatt tidal energy project with Diageo Plc, the Guardian reported, without saying where it got the information.
The energy company, a unit of Spain's Iberdrola SA, is close to signing a contract with the drinks group to provide electricity to eight distilleries and maltings on the western Scottish island as well as its 3,500 inhabitants, according to the newspaper. The underwater turbines that will generate the power are expected to be working by 2011, the newspaper said.
A rare collection of about 3,000 bottles of whisky is to go under the hammer at auction later this year.
The bottles are the legacy of a late US whisky enthusiast and is said to be the largest and most varied yet to appear at auction.
Californian Willard Folsom spent 18 years gathering Scotch malts after reading a newspaper article about them.
Whisky from Orkney to Speyside to the Lowlands is represented in the collection.
It features many commemorative bottles which will never be released again by distillers.
Martin Green, whisky specialist for Bonhams auctioneers, said: "In over 20 years of conducting whisky auctions, this is the most exciting collection I have ever handled.
"Many of the bottles included in the collection will never be released again or repeated by the whisky industry and so the sale of the collection provides the opportunity to buy many collectables of the future."
Mr Folsom's love affair with whisky began in 1988 when was inspired to try his first single malt by an article in USA Today.
The former United Airlines worker toured Scotland with his family to build up his collection. He died last year at the age of 64.
The whisky will be auctioned by Bonhams in Edinburgh on 18 November, with any remaining stock sold in New York and Hong Kong next year.
Battle to save Johnnie Walker whisky jobs could lead to more redundancies, warn Diageo
DRINKS giants Diageo claim a plan to rescue 900 threatened whisky jobs could mean more redundancies in the end.
The firm, who will this week report profits of £2.7billion, said any Government alternative to their proposals may force them to move 30 per cent of their spirit bottling operations abroad.
Diageo plan to close the Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow.
Bryan Donaghey, managing director of Diageo in Scotland, said: "We want to keep bottling Johnnie Walker in Scotland.
"By making that decision, we have already compromised ourselves from a purely financial viewpoint.
"What people tend to forget is that 30 per cent of the bottling activity in Cameronbridge is not Scotch. It is products such as gin, vodka and rum - spirits that do not have any heritage in Scotland whatsoever.
"At the moment, we can be competitive because we can invest and we have scale.
"Maintaining that efficiency and scale is very important and if we start to lose that scale we undermine the whole operation.
"The simple answer is yes, this bottling could move overseas. We produce Smirnoff all over the world so the argument is we can just disgorge it in different places."
The Diageo plant at Cameron-bridgeFife, produces pure grain spirit for brands including Gordon's and Tanqueray gin and Smirnoff vodka.
Soaring
It bottles the brands, as well as Captain Morgan rum, Archers schnapps and Pimm's.
Donaghey claimed bottling of these brands could be moved overseas.
The firm wouldn't say how many jobs would go if the brands were bottled elsewhere.
On Thursday, Diageo will announce increased profits and soaring sales in the US and Europe.
Campaigners have vowed to continue to fight the plans to axe the Kilmarnmock and Port Dundas jobs.
But they were dealt a blow last week when a report labelled the closure plans "sensible".
The independent study by business experts was drawn up to offer alternatives to Diageo's plan to close the Ayrshire bottling plant.
It outlined two alternatives - slimming down the existing 1950s bottling hall or building a new, smaller facility on a greenfield site in Kilmarnock.
But the plans would still result in the loss of 257 jobs in the town.
Billy Walker, the owner of BenRiach Distillery Company, has unveiled an ambitious £7m investment plan to bolster its recently acquired GlenDronach whisky brand in stark contrast to the turmoil elsewhere in the sector.
The idea behind the multimillion-pound investment is to restore GlenDronach to its former glory - back in the 1960s, it was among the top five most popular malt whisky brands in the world - and to drive it into new global markets.
Walker's Larbert-based company, with the help of "two very entrepreneurial shareholders" in South Africa, acquired GlenDronach distillery, in Forgue, Aberdeenshire, in August 2008, after having had his "eye on it" for several years. He also owns BenRiach distillery near Elgin.
Walker, the former operations director at East Kilbride distiller Burn Stewart, revealed that over the next four years he will spend £5m on sherry casks, where future batches of GlenDronach will mature for up to 33 years, and a further £2m on brand promotion and raising staff levels.
"This is a real testament to our ambitions as a small whisky distiller," Walker said.
"We are making sure the whisky coming through is of the highest quality. We could have chosen to produce our whisky in a much cheaper way, but that would have affected the quality. As a small, niche distiller, that cannot be the way forward."
He added: "After the sherry casks, the remainder of the £7m will be for recruitment and promotion. We currently employ 30 people, and we're looking for another five right now."
Walker's decision to invest £7m in GlenDronach flies in the face of the current upheaval in the sector. The past few months alone have seen Whyte & Mackay announce plans to axe 100 jobs and rival Diageo threaten to slash another 900.
Whyte & Mackay has blamed the global recession as well as the UK's "punitive" taxes for the decision to axe almost a fifth of its workforce. At the same time Diageo warned its bottling operations could be moved abroad if Scotland does not remain globally competitive.
Nonetheless, Walker said: "The industry is still very strong. Malt whisky is a strong sector - especially at the premium end of the market.
"Personally, I think Diageo has been unfairly treated. In spite of the 900 jobs, they are committed to Scotland, and they employ thousands here.
"At the end of the day, we're pursuing the same dream as Diageo - to sell good malt whisky all over the world."
Asked about his decision to acquire GlenDronach distillery, he said: "We had our eye on it for ages. Back in the 1960s, when it was owned by Teachers, it was one of the top five malt whiskies in the world - albeit the malt whisky industry in those days was much smaller. It has gradually fallen out of view, but it has maintained a kind of cult status.
"In 2002, Allied Distillers re-activated the distillery, which had been mothballed since 1996, to keep up with demand for whisky used in its blended brands. Very little went into bottles as malt.
"By the time Pernod owned the distillery, the brand had moved away from the centre of the radar. There were less than 20,000 bottles sold as malt whisky when we acquired it.
"GlenDronach was non-core to them, but for us it was a real opportunity."
Walker added that in the first year of ownership, a number of new "expressions" have been added and around 150,000 bottles have been sold worldwide.
"After five years, we expect to sell more 240,000 bottles. Our plan is to restore GlenDronach restore it to where we think it belongs."
Glasgow's whisky expert back in good spirits after life-threatening accident
WORLD-CLASS whisky blender Richard Paterson feared his career might be cut short when his drinking hand was sliced by a historic knife.
Richard, of Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay, was rearranging a knife and sword collection in the firm's Glasgow blending room when the horror accident happened.
An 18th century Bowie knife, which belonged to James Bowie who fought at the Battle of the Alamo, crashed off the wall and cut his fingers.
He injured tendons on his right hand - which he uses to lift blending glasses to his expert nose.
Master blender Richard, whose nose is insured for more than £1million because of his uncanny ability, had a plaster cast on his injured hand for three weeks. He feared his drinking hand might never be used again.
But he was celebrating this week with a dram after the cast was removed and his hand given the all-clear.
Richard said: "I rearrange the sword and knives from time to time. This time the Bowie knife came crashing down and struck my hand.
"There was a bit of blood and I had to get it seen to in hospital. There was a fear that the tendons might not heal properly.
"If I had wanted to keep drinking whisky with my right hand, I would have had to keep it in the shape it was with a cast, which was ridiculous. My hand looked like a Lego model.
"But it has healed or I would have had to use my left hand all the time which would have taken a lot of adjustment.
"The hand is still a little tender but I've been having a few drams from our range to celebrate my recovery.
"I wonder now if I should get my hands insured too. After all my nose is insured for more than £1million so perhaps I should get an extension on that policy."
Richard, who is regarded as one of the foremost whisky experts in the world, has also been able to resume his popular website where he reveals some of the secrets of his trade at: www.themasterblender.com
Whyte & Mackay recently announced a major review of its 574 employees. This could lead to the loss of up to 85 jobs in Scotland.
Structures to be built on same spot as one which collapsed sending debris into house gardens
A drinks giant has been granted permission to replace two huge grain silos close to houses and in the same spot where one holding 800 tons of grain collapsed last year.
Families in the houses neighbouring the maltings at Port Ellen on the famous whisky-producing island of Islay were evacuated for two days last November when barley and debris spilled into their gardens.
The malting facility, owned by Diageo, serves six of the island's eight distilleries.
Argyll and Bute Council's planning committee yesterday gave the go-ahead for the new silos, despite a petition signed by 98 people objecting on health and safety grounds and six letters of objection from the neighbours at Bay View and Antrim View.
The council received only one letter of support for the development.
Niall Colthart, of 9 Bayview, said: "It was purely by the luck of God when it fell down that nobody was killed or injured. How they can justify putting them back up there even with health and safety conditions, is beggars belief."
Argyll Community Housing Association (Acha) properties 1-6 Bay View, were among those evacuated. Acha chief executive Alastair MacGregor said: "We are obviously concerned that this silo collapsed and spilled into our tenants gardens and that this could potentially happen again. It was fortunate that this took place during the night and not when there were children playing or people hanging up their washing.
"We are disappointed that an approval has not been granted that would relocate the silos on site, further away from human habitation."
Diageo investigations revealed the 17-year-old silo collapsed after suffering corrosion. The replacements will have additional coating to protect them.
Senior planner Richard Kerr said that siting them anywhere else within the maltings would mean considerable extra cost and operating difficulties for Diageo.
Mr Kerr said: "Unless they can replace the storage facility they have lost they will have to import processed malt from the mainland to support whisky production on the island."
Councillor Bruce Marshall said: "It is terribly important that this firm is able to continue producing whisky on the island."
Island councillor Robin Currie wanted to continue the decision for further information but did not get support.
The application was approved subject to the condition that Diageo producing a report recommending the best boundary for the site.
A spokeswoman for Diageo said: "We are fully committed to delivering a solution, and have shared the detailed design work undertaken to demonstrate how we intend to resolve current issues."
Swinney: Case against Diageo closures gains momentum
Finance Secretary John Swinney believes the case against Diageo's plans to cut 900 jobs in Ayrshire and Glasgow is "gaining momentum".
Speaking after the Cabinet, meeting in Aberdeen, discussed the Diageo issue, Mr Swinney confirmed that the Scottish Government now has an independent consultants' report on the proposals, which will be put to a meeting later today of the taskforce set up to oppose the plans.
The taskforce, comprising representatives of East Ayrshire and Glasgow councils, Scottish Enterprise, trade unions and local politicians from across the party divide, will gather at St Andrew's House this evening to discuss the report commissioned from consultants BDO Stoy Hayward into the proposals to close the Johnnie Walker blending and bottling plant in Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.
Diageo plans to streamline its Scottish operation, with Fife gaining 400 jobs at the expense of Glasgow and Ayrshire. The planned closure in Kilmarnock, historic home of the world's best-selling whisky, which has fuelled the backlash against Diageo.
The taskforce meeting, chaired by Mr Swinney, will discuss the report and use that information to begin drawing up its own counter-proposals to avoid the Kilmarnock and Glasgow closures.
Mr Swinney said: "This meeting is a crucial step forward and demonstrates that the substantial case against Diageo's proposed job cuts in Scotland is gaining real momentum."
Although the consultants' report is seen as crucial in developing an alternative business plan, it will not be made public because much of it is regarded as commercially sensitive.
Diageo has made it clear that it believes its strategy to streamline operations in Scotland is in its best interests in the fiercely competitive global spirits industry. It has promised to look at any counter-proposals, but says it would be surprised if these would provide advantages over its own carefully thought out plans.
Highland Park scoops leading accolade from drinks expert for second year in a row
HIGHLAND Park's 18-year-old single malt Scotch whisky has been crowned best spirit in the world for a second consecutive time.
The accolade was awarded by US independent whisky expert Paul Pacult in industry publication Spirit Journal.
Highland Park's latest honour marks yet another milestone for the Orkney brand, which has seen strong growth over the past four years.
Sales are up by 80% over the period, catapulting the Edrington Group subsidiary into the world's top 10 single malt Scotch whiskies for the first time in the distillery's 211-year history.
Highland Park global controller Jason Craig said: "We have had an incredible four years since setting out on an ambitious £18million masterplan for this hidden gem.
"It has since received numerous accolades for the quality of its spirit in markets such as the US but the icing on the cake has got to be being named best spirit in the world by one of the world's leading drinks experts."
The UK remains Highland Park's most important market but the brand is increasingly successful in Asia, where there is fast-growing demand for premium blends.
Mr Craig said: "We are now well-placed to grow sales of Highland Park and other Edrington expressions through two new sales-and-distribution companies we have established in Taipei and Seoul plus a regional headquarters in Shanghai."
Helius Energy has formed a joint venture with a consortium of Speyside distillers to build a combined heat and power plant that will be the first in the world to be fuelled by whisky by-products.
The £50m project will generate 7.2MW of electricity, which could be used onsite or exported to the National Grid - enough to power 9,000 homes.
The plant could also save more than 20,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year when compared with the distillers' current energy use.
A separate plant will turn the liquid co-product of making whisky, known as pot ale, into a concentrated organic fertiliser and an animal feed for use by local farmers.
Helius, which listed on Aim in 2006, was established to develop and operate biomass-fired renewable electricity generation plants.
It has formed a joint venture with the Combination of Rothes Distillers, which comprises the Edrington, Chivas Brothers, Glen Grant, Inver House Distillers, Diageo and Benriach distilling groups.
Frank Burns, general manager of Cord, said: "The ability to generate renewable heat and power and secure additional markets for our distillery co-products is an exciting development for the malt whisky industry on Speyside."
John Seed, managing director of Helius, said: "Biomass will play a major role in meeting the UK's targets for emissions reductions, and this is a model that has the potential to be rolled-out elsewhere. Drinking green whisky may give you a warm glow, but it'll also help to avoid warming the planet."
The plants will be built within the site of a Cord-owned processing facility at Rothes in Moray. Construction should begin next year and take about two years, creating up to 100 jobs.
Cord, which employs 21 people, was founded in 1904 to process the pot ale produced by whisky companies in the Rothes area.
MSP wants parliament to have debate on all issues around 'national icon'
CONSERVATIVES in Perthshire have called for a Scottish Parliament committee inquiry into the whisky industry.
It comes as whisky firms are threatening to lay off staff and the Scottish Government plans to introduce a minimum price for each unit of alcohol.
The call was made as a major summit was held in Glasgow yesterday to discuss Diageo's threat, announced last month, to cut 900 jobs.
This month Glasgow-based Whyte and MacKay revealed it wants to shed 100 jobs - with its distillery at Invergordon likely to be affected - prompting fears that other firms may follow suit.
Alex Salmond's government is also under pressure to ditch its plans for minimum pricing.
Ministers believe it will help tackle drunkenness and health problems, but the industry claims it will push up the price of cheaper brands, such as own-label whiskies that represent 25%-30% of the market.
Mid Scotland and Fife Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser wants to see a Holyrood inquiry in order to see a full debate on one of Scotland's "national icons".
He said any inquiry by the economy, energy and tourism committee must examine minimum pricing.
"The whisky industry has been hit hard in recent months and I want to see a committee inquiry undertaken to examine the issues that currently face the whisky industry here in Perthshire and across Scotland," he said.
Campaigners fighting to save the 900 Diageo jobs yesterday buried their political differences to map out the next stage of their battle.
The summit brought together figures from the Labour, SNP, Lib Dem and Tory parties.
Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson, who hosted the meeting with Glasgow council leader Steve Purcell, said later: "We leave more united than ever."
SNP Glasgow MSP Bob Doris said: "The employees are determined to protect their livelihoods and I am committed to fight alongside them for every Diageo job."
A summit aimed at saving up to 900 whisky industry jobs is taking place.
Campaigners will meet in Glasgow to map out the next stage of the campaign to save the jobs at Diageo.
Labour MSP Patricia Ferguson and Glasgow council leader Steven Purcell will host a meeting with unions which will also include cross-party politicians.
Plans by the drinks giant to close its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock could cost 700 jobs in the town, with another 200 under threat in Glasgow through the planned closure of the Port Dundas grain distillery.
Labour said Kilmarnock MP Des Browne will attend the summit, along with Liberal Democrat, Tory, SNP, and East Ayrshire Council representatives.
Ms Ferguson said: "This summit is an opportunity for politicians and unions from both sites to get round the table.
"The workforces at the Kilmarnock and Glasgow sites stand united in their determination to save their jobs."
Glendronach Distillery has come up with a quirky way to promote its new range of 12, 15 and 18-year-old malts in Belgium next month.
It has selected a single cask from the 1996 vintage, straight from one of the distillery's warehouses in Aberdeenshire, and is taking it round Belgium...in the back of a van!
"Cask in a Van" is the title of GlenDronach's unusual week-long road show.
Regional Sales Director James Cowan explained: "To help make our launch in Belgium more memorable, we're taking a delicious 1996 limited edition GlenDronach on the road in a special liveried van. As our advertising slogan says, we're taking the brand "on a journey of re-discovery".
"It's never been done before so it should be a great hit with Belgian malt whisky fans."
James came up with the idea in tandem with his Belgian importer Mario Groteklaes, who runs The Nectar in Heusden-Zolder.
Mario added: "We'll visit seven major customers for an in-store tasting of the new range of 12, 15 and 18-year-olds, plus a sample of the 1996 whisky straight from the cask which they can decant into their own personalised bottles. As it's a limited edition, it's going to be a highly collectable item.
"We will also undertake less formal tastings - for example a barbeque is planned in one of the Belgium market towns."
GlenDronach launched its new range of malts in April and the first 3000-bottle consignment sold out in Belgium in just three weeks.
Mario said: "GlenDronach has always been a well-known brand here, especially the "old" fifteen-year-old. That, and the good publicity given to the new fifteen and eighteen-year-olds by some Malt Maniacs, and on some forums, made it easy to introduce the new range to about one hundred specialised liquor stores throughout Belgium in just one week."
Watch out for the distinctive GlenDronach van somewhere in Belgium between 29 September - 3 October.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
12 Aug
2009
Distiller raises a glass despite slump in turnover
Sales of Single malt brands contribute to improved profits at Morrison Bowmore
Distiller Morrison Bowmore, maker of the single malts Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch, posted improved profits in 2008 despite a decrease in turnover.
This emerged in its latest annual report and accounts released yesterday by Companies House.
The directors said the fall in turnover reflected reduced activity in the bulk whisky market in line with their strategy of moving away from low-margin bulk and blend business. They said the company continued to concentrate on building its single malt whisky brands and increased its investment in Bowmore distilled on Islay and Auchentoshan distilled near Glasgow.
Glen Garioch is distilled at Oldmeldrum.
The directors said the improvement in profits was generated by the performance of single malt brands, with both Bowmore and Auchentoshan making significant contributions to the improvement.
The report noted that the investment behind growing single malt brands extends to the need to lay down additional stocks for sale in 12 years' time, but despite a substantial increase in stock borrowings were held flat at just under £28million.
Directors also report that, in March this year, Glasgow-based Morrison Bowmore announced an agreement with Drambuie Liqueur Company under which it is to provide Drambuie with supply chain services.
These cover whisky procurement, blending and bottling, warehousing and logistics, and the agreement will come into effect early next year.
The directors say this will double the size of Morrison Bowmore's bottling out- put.
The accounts show that the company, whose ultimate parent is Japanese drinks giant Suntory, made pre- tax profits in 2008 of £3.56million compared to £3.16million the year before.
Profits per each of its 177 employees improved to £20,000 from £18,000.
Turnover for the year was £37.11million, down from £39.66million in 2007.
Speyside's Long Distance Route: Walking the whisky trail
Speyside's Long Distance Route offers wilderness and whisky in good measure, says Bill Llewellyn
Walking the highlands of Scotland conjures images of yomping in serious gear in heavy weather - but it doesn't have to be like that. Explore the Speyside Way and you can take in Britain's grandest hills, clearest waters and freshest air without bumping into the SAS on manoeuvres.
This Long Distance Route offers gentle gradients and spectacular scenery from its start at Buckie on the east coast to its finish 65 miles away at Aviemore. There are few places that aren't strikingly easy on the eye and the glassy, rushing waters of the Spey are often all you have for company.
If you take the Caledonian Sleeper train, Speyside isn't much more than a good night's rest away. There is access to the Speyside Way via the towns and villages sprinkled along the path. Spend each night in a different place to cover as much of this glorious area as possible.
Most towns along the way are small enough to preserve an air of uncluttered calm but large enough to offer a comfortable bed with shower or bath, a decent restaurant and one or two bars. Nearby are places that contain more than just beautiful scenery: Buckie is a working port with a cherished fishing tradition; Aviemore is an alpine-style resort.
This is also the whisky trail. Speyside is home to many famous makers of single malt Scotch. Some distilleries offer tours with tastings. Even for the teetotaler, it's an interesting insight into the relationship between alcohol and society. All are within driving distance (and some within walking distance) of the Speyside Way.
Travel by…
The Caledonian Sleeper from London Euston to Inverness. It is operated by ScotRail (www.scotrail.co.uk), which offers "Bargain Berths" from £19 one way. The berths can be booked 12 weeks in advance but they sell quickly. Inverness has plenty of car- hire facilities, and Speyside is about an hour and a half's drive away. There are several bus services, too.
Stay at…
Buckie, Fochabers, Craigellachie and Grantown-on-Spey, all of which feature along the Way and are just a few minutes' walk off the path. All have b & bs or coaching inns that are cozy rather than luxurious. Prices tend to be between £60 and £80 per night, based on two people sharing a twin room. The Scottish Tourist Board's site (www.visitscotland.com) offers many places to stay. In Craigellachie, the four-star Craigellachie Hotel (www.craigellachie.com) is next to some of the Way's best walking and has a bar whose walls are lined with almost 700 whisky bottles.
Spend a morning…
On a tour of a distillery. It's best to check that the distillery you intend to visit has a tour available before setting off. Aberlour (www.aberlour.com) has a great tour for £10 and is close to the Speyside Way and Craigellachie. It is also a short walk from the Way's Visitor Centre.
Have lunch at…
The Boat Hotel (www.boathotel.co.uk) at Boat of Garten, next to the wonderful Strathspey Steam Railway (src.insch.info) There is a station opposite the hotel, and after lunch you can hop on a steam train and peruse the landscape in comfort.
Spend an afternoon…
Enjoying the stunning views from the summit of Cairngorm. You don't have to walk: there is a bus from Aviemore town centre to a base camp where you board a funicular railway (www.cairngormmountain.co.uk; last ride up at 4pm, last one down at 4.40pm). Alternatively, there are guided walks.
Spend an evening…
At The Fiddichside Inn in Craigellachie, which has the kind of bar that has virtually disappeared from the landscape. No piped music, no television, no fruit machines; just a wood-panelled room with photos of gigantic salmon and anglers for company. The inn stands beside the river from which the Glenfiddich distillery takes its name. Food along the Way tends to be hearty walkers' fare, but in Grantown-on Spey, the Ben Mhor Hotel (www.benmhor.co.uk) does an excellent pea risotto with local scallops, and great burgers.
At all costs avoid…
Shops selling overpriced tartans, tweeds and woolens.
A GLASGOW pub has ditched Johnnie Walker whisky in protest at the planned closure of owner Diageo's bottling plant in Kilmarnock and grain distillery in the city with the loss of 900 jobs.
Lebowskis bar boss Graham Suttle has stopped selling brands made by Diageo at the Argyle Street watering hole.
To support the workers, stickers have been put on bottles behind the bar urging drinkers to boycott Diageo products and declaring: "Save the soul of Johnnie Walker. Keep it in Kilmarnock."
Major blaze at Angus malt suppliers out after 24 hours
Safety checks planned before workers go back in as there is 'risk of further outbreaks'
A major blaze was finally extinguished yesterday at a malt supplier's Angus premises.
Firefighters left Greencore's Glenesk Maltings at Hillside, near Montrose, yesterday after more than 24 hours at the site.
Jets of water were poured on to burning grain after more than 27 tonnes ignited at about 8.15am on Sunday.
The fire started in a kiln of grain on the second floor of the four-storey building.
At the height of the fire, flames burst through the roof as firefighters fought to contain the blaze.
Crews from Montrose, Brechin and Forfar attended, with an aerial platform summoned from Dundee.
Firefighters based at Blackness Road in Dundee continued dampening down the grain overnight before being relieved by a crew from Arbroath. The crew left the site at noon, although officers returned throughout the day to check for hot spots using a thermal-imaging camera.
Mark Crush, station manager at Montrose, said there is a risk of further outbreaks.
He said: "The site's operators will bring in a structural engineer to make sure it's safe to go in and clear the grain.
"As they do there might be further flare-ups if there are pockets underneath that have formed a crust. If the embers are exposed they might re-ignite.
"We would attend as and when required. We can't guarantee it's completely out until it has been emptied."
The Kinnaber Road site uses barley to make the malt needed for whisky.
A spokesman for the firm confirmed no members of staff were injured.
He said: "We are still assessing both the extent of the damage and the cause at the facility. It is not impacting on operations. We are still making and delivering malt to customers."
A single bottle of whisky has sold for £11,750 at auction in Glasgow.
The 50-year-old Macallan, a bottling of three casks distilled between 1926 and 1928, sold to a private collector in California at McTear's auctioneers.
It is the most expensive bottle sold this year and the most expensive 50-year-old bottle of Macallan ever sold.
The auction of collectable whiskies saw 574 lots sold for a total of almost £155,000, making it the largest sale of its kind in the world.
Also among the lots was a 60-year-old Royal Brackla which sold for £3,800 and a limited edition 1965 bottle of Ardbeg, which sold for £3,000.
The auction featured a record collection of 60 bottles of Macallan and also included bottlings from all the major distilleries in Scotland, including Springbank, Rosebank and Highland Park.
Andrew Bell, McTear's whisky specialist, said: "We knew that out of almost 600 different lots the Macallan Anniversary 50-year-old was the stand out bottle in the sale and it's quite clear that others agreed.
"Whisky collectors from across the world joined the sale by phone and through the internet and the price paid is a reflection of its importance to collectors and investors in whisky."
Whisky makers upbeat about future despite 1,000 job cuts
Companies remain optimistic over the long-term global prospects for Scotch
Scotch whisky makers still have a bright future despite the double blow of up to 1,000 job cuts, the industry insisted yesterday.
The mood at many firms was upbeat as they looked beyond the current economic turmoil to the longer-term prospects for the nation's national drink.
Diageo, the company behind Johnnie Walker, Bell's and other whiskies, said last month it was cutting up to 900 jobs and provoked outrage by announcing the closure of its bottling plant at Kilmarnock.
On Tuesday, Glasgow-based Whyte and Mackay warned around 100 jobs could go as a result of a review being carried out in light of the economic situation and also a "punitive" UK legislative climate.
The job cutting has raised fears other whisky makers could follow suit, but there was little evidence of that yesterday and industry insiders insisted a domino effect was unlikely.
William Grant and Sons, based at Dufftown, said it had no plans to make any changes to its operations.
Family-run Grant is behind whisky brands including Glenfiddich and The Balvenie.
A spokesman for the firm, which employs more than 700 people in Scotland as part of a 1,000 global workforce, said: "There is no risk to jobs at William Grant. It is tough out there, but our brands are standing up well and people here remain positive." William Grant has three malt distilleries at Dufftown. It also has whisky and gin operations at Girvan in Ayrshire, and a customer service centre and bottling plant at Bellshill, Lanarkshire.
French drink giant Pernod Ricard was quiet on its plans for Scotland, with a spokesman saying only: "As a rule, we don't comment on speculation on sales or operations."
Pernod subsidiary Chivas Brothers employs 1,600 staff across 32 sites in the UK, including 29 locations in Scotland.
It operates 12 malt whisky distilleries, one grain facility and gin operations in London and Plymouth.
Paisley-based Chivas also has more than 300 bonded warehouses containing in excess of 6million casks of Scotch whisky.
Pernod-owned whisky brands include Chivas Regal, The Glenlivet and Ballantine's as well as the Aberlour, Strathisla, Longmorn, Scapa and Tormore single malts.
The Paris-based group's faith in The Glenlivet has meant a substantial expansion for its distillery near Ballindalloch on Speyside.
Rivals Diageo, Bacardi and Edrington Group have invested sums totalling hundreds of millions of pounds into Scotch whisky operations in the past few years in anticipation of strong global sales growth.
Edrington, whose key premium brands include The Famous Grouse, The Macallan and Highland Park, last month announced record pre-tax profits of £94.8million.
Ian Curle, the Glasgow firm's chief executive, said the group had seen a softening of demand in some of its main markets due to the global economic slowdown.
This was expected to affect growth ambitions in the short to medium term but Edrington, which employs 850 people in Scotland, was bullish about its long-term prospects. A spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association said yesterday: "The industry is well-placed to lead the economy out of recession. What we make today won't be Scotch for at least three years. There remains optimism about growing opportunities for Scotch around the world."
Work has begun on Glenmorangie's new bottling and office facility in Livingston.
The 12-acre site is expected to be completed by the middle of next year. It forms part of Glenmorangie's two-year investment programme, which also includes expansion of the Glenmorangie distillery at Tain.
Whyte & Mackay blame job losses on Alistair Darling
WHISKY giants Whyte & Mackay yesterday blamed Alistair Darling for "forcing" them to shed jobs.
The firm confirmed plans - revealed in the Record yesterday - to axe 100 workers and blamed the Chancellor's tax rises.
Chief executive John Beard admitted it was "highly unlikely" that compulsory redundancies would be avoided.
But he said a restructuring plan was needed because of the UK's "punitive" tax levels.
He said: "The key driver is the combination of commercial reality and the economic environment.
"Certainly the state of the worldwide economy is pretty clear.
"But in the UK, we are confronted as an industry with a very punitive tax regime.
"Specifically in 2008, the excise duty rise was 13 per cent for whisky."
He said Whyte & Mackay, who also produce many supermarket own brands, had been hit harder as they were more geared to the UK market than other drinks firms.
He warned further tax hikes may cost more jobs.
The Scotch Whisky Association say the average price of a 70cl bottle of whisky is £10.35, of which £7.69 goes to the taxman.
Whyte & Mackay, founded in 1844, employ 574 people - 90 per cent in Scotland.
It is expected about 30 jobs will go from their grain distillery at Invergordon, Easter Ross, where 133 people work.
"Less than 30" are set to go at the firm's Glasgow city centre HQ, where 177 people work.
About 10 of 200 staff will go at the Grangemouth bottling plant.
Eight jobs at four malt distilleries are also set to go.
And 15 sales jobs south of the Border and overseas will be axed.
The GMB and Unite unions voiced hopes that compulsory redundancies would be avoided but Beard said: "I think that's highly unlikely.
Whyte & Mackay, owned by billionaire Indian drinks tycoon Vijay Mallya, announced the restructuring after speculation the firm had been put up for sale but failed to find a buyer.
Whyte & Mackay reported a £25million profit for the 18 months to the end of March last year.
Last surviving relative of Johnnie Walker accuses Diageo of betraying whisky workers - and her family
JOHNNIE Walker's last direct descendant has begged whisky giants Diageo: "Please think again before you ruin hundreds of lives."
The heartfelt message came from the whisky legend's great-granddaughter Betty Heath, 77.
She pledged her support to the fight to save 700 jobs at Diageo's plant in Kilmarnock - the town where Johnnie Walker became a legend and a hero.
Betty said of her great-grandfather: "He will be turning in his grave."
She was shocked when the Record tracked her down to her home in the far north of Scotland.
But she begged Diageo not to destroy her family's history by closing the Kilmarnock plant in Ayrshire where he gave his name to the world famous whisky in 1820.
Betty said: "I am the last surviving member of the Johnnie Walker family and this is my life and my legacy and I will do everything in my power to protect it."
The keen hillwalker, who now lives in Thurso, Caithness, said she backed the workers' battle to stop the closure 100 per cent.
And she called for a meeting with Diageo bosses t o convince them to reconsider.
Betty said: "I cannot bear to think of all the men, women and children whose lives will be destroyed because of sheer greed. It makes me very upset.
"It is all down to money. Pure and simple. Diageo don't care about the history or about the people who worked their fingers to the bone to help make their huge profits.
"They are being tossed aside like old rubbish, the firm don't give a damn. Do they have no conscience? "I support the people of Kilmarnock 100 per cent.
"I never knew my great grandfather but I know he would be horrified by all this. What he worked so hard to establish in his home town is being destroyed.
"He was a very proud man and I am extremely proud to be part of his family and his legacy.
"As I am the only surviving direct ancestor, I will fight in his name to do all I can to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock and to help save those workers' livelihoods.
"Johnnie Walker is who I am, he is my life, my ancestor and my family history."
Betty sent this message to Diageo: "I urge you to please reconsider before you ruin hundreds of lives and destroy everything my ancestor worked to establish.
"You are ripping the heart out of a community who has built everything around Johnnie Walker.
"If you close the bottling plant, you will kill off a town which has Johnnie Walker running through its veins. It is the only remaining industry and if it goes, there will be nothing left. Please find it in your hearts to save those jobs and keep my ancestor's legacy alive.
"Since I heard the news about the closure, my heart has been broken as Johnnie Walker's would be if he were still alive."
In a message to the workers, Betty pledged: "If there is anything I can do for those people in Kilmarnock and Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow who are losing their jobs, I will do it.
"I think a strike would be a good idea because it's people power and it will make these very rich bosses realise their worth.
"Taking Johnny Walker out of Kilmarnock is like moving Ben Nevis to Westminster. It does not make sense."
Betty revealed she had handed over a treasure-trove of priceless Johnnie Walker memorabilia passed down through generations of her family to United Distillers. It included etchings of the famous man and original papers.
Betty said:"Twenty years ago, I decided to hand over everything I had belonging to my great grandfather to United Distillers for safe keeping. I always feared they might be destroyed in my attack by fire or damp or something.
"Now I wish I hadn't done that."
She first heard about her famous relative when she was 13.
She still remembers the day her mum Jessie, who worked for the Clydesdale Bank, spoke to her in the kitchen of their home in Prestwick. She laughed: "I remember it as if it were yesterday. There was an advert for the whisky and this striding man. I always thought he was a mythical character.
"My mum was working in the kitchen and she said, 'Did you know that man was your great-grandfather?' "I was shocked and didn't believe her at first. It was like someone saying that your great-grandfather was James Bond or someone like that.
"I thought she was joking. I remember thinking, 'How can that be, he is a fictitious person. This can't be true'.
"My mum said she could prove it and brought out old papers and original etchings of the great man himself as they didn't have photographs in those days.
"Then she talked to me about Johnnie Walker and how he was a grocer in Kilmarnock who began dabbling in blending whisky.
"My mum was very proud of her family background and association with Johnnie Walker.
"My parents, who were both bankers with the Clydesdale, were old fashioned and didn't talk much about the family history with their children.
"It took my mum quite a bit to convince me that Johnnie Walker on the TV was a real person and he was my great grandfather. I was thrilled to bits and have been ever since.
"I am very proud to be his only living direct blood relative. I never had any children to hand down the legacy or any brothers or sisters.
"So it is all down to me to keep his legacy alive and do what I can to help the people of Kilmarnock."
Although Betty moved to Thurso in the 1970s when she married Bernard, 80, a retired teacher, her heart still lies in Kilmarnock.
She worked for many years as a council milk officer in the Kilmarnock area and has many fond memories of her life in the town. Betty also knew generations of families in Kilmarnock who worked at Johnnie Walker.
She joked: "I am sure you expected us to be a bit more grand and live in a big house but I hope we haven't disappointed you."
Although Johnnie Walker made a success of his business and became a world famous name, he never made anywhere near the fortunes Diageo are raking in now.
Betty and her family never benefited financially from his legacy but she did inherit a box of black label Johnnie Walker which was bought before World War II by her mum. Her husband Bernard made the box into a bird house for their back garden.
The whisky is long gone - the couple cracked open the first bottle in the case of a dozen to celebrate their marriage.
Betty said: "I now wish I had kept the case because it would have been worth a bit of money now. "However, we did enjoy the whisky and thought about great grandfather with every drop so it wasn't wasted."
She joked: "I hope I don't have folk queuing outside my door for miniatures after this appears."
Whyte and Mackay confirms review of its organisation leading to cuts in staffing.
Up to 100 whisky jobs are to go after Whyte and Mackay confirmed a review of its organisation could lead to the loss of 85 jobs in Scotland and another 15 sales jobs out with the country.
The Glasgow based spirits company, which employs 574 people, has entered formal consultation for the next month to review its options and look at ways of minimising the number of compulsory redundancies.
The company has held meetings over the last week with the Scottish Government ministers and officials, including the First Minister Alex Salmond.
Opposition parties, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Development International, and Highland and Islands Enterprise have also been briefed.
Chief Executive John Beard said: "It is with regret that I have to announce this review and the planned job losses. It will come as no surprise to anybody that a combination of the world wide economic situation and the punitive UK legislative climate means that only the fittest alcoholic drink companies will survive.
"For Whyte and Mackay this means taking the painful decision to review our structures and costs.
He added: "I can confirm that whilst this impacts all of our seven Scottish locations there will be no site closure as a consequence of this decision."
The company hopes that the decision to cut the jobs will ensure the company's future.
Whyte and Mackay was founded in Glasgow in 1844 and as well as the internationally-known blend, it also owns brands including Dalmore and Isle of Jura single malts, Glayva whisky liqueur and Vladivar vodka.
The company is currently owned by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya.
The news comes after drinks giant Diageo announced in July its plans to shut the Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock and the Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow. These closures could see 900 workers lose their jobs.
Diageo Great Britain, seller of the UK's leading brand of blended Scotch Whisky Bell's, has announced it will be the official bat sponsor of leading English batsman, Ian Bell, who has been recalled to the England cricket team for the Ashes test match.
Ian Bell says: "This is such an exciting summer for English cricket and also for me personally. I cherish playing for England and couldn't be happier than to be playing in the Ashes again.
"It is great when your performances are recognised and rewarded not only by the selectors but also now by the makers of Bell's Blended Scotch whisky.
"I am delighted to be working with the UK's favourite scotch whisky and thank them for their support - of course it helps that they have such a good brand name!"
Johnnie Walker's: Cheeky Diageo bosses launch new Kilmarnock whisky
DIAGEO delivered a massive slap in the face to its workforce this week as it unveiled a new Johnnie Walker whisky - bottled here in Kilmarnock.
The drinks giant shamefacedly described 'The John Walker' blend as "a fitting tribute to its founder".
And at a huge bash in front of invited VIPs and guests in Singapore, Diageo's top man in Asia, Jay Woo, continuously referred to the company's deep respect for the brand's past.
The pre-launch address is guaranteed to fan the flames between furious Hill Street staff and their employers.
Jay Woo said: "The House of Johnnie Walker is built on foundations that are nearly 200 years old.
"It is with the utmost respect for this heritage and with constant endeavour to maintain these foundations that Johnnie Walker has progressed through the last two centuries to become the greatest whisky house in the world."
Incredibly, Woo went on to say that The John Walker was a celebration of the company's progress and 'a tribute to its history, tying together their passion for perfection and mastery of the art of blending fine whisky'.
The John Walker blended scotch whisky, which Diageo says is the pinnacle of the 'revered Blue Label' marque, isn't officially launched until September.
But the first bottle is up for auction at Singapore's Changi airport for the next two weeks with bidding STARTING at $3000 in aid of the Smile Train cleft palate surgery charity.
The company says that this latest and 'most exquisite' addition to its portfolio has been created from a small number of rare and exclusive whiskies from distilleries that operated in the 1800s during its namesake's lifetime.
The bottle, and four more to be auctioned in the same way over the coming weeks, has been signed by master blender Jim Beveridge.
Beveridge said of the new whisky: "John Walker is watching over our shoulders as we blend."
Diageo's communications manager based in London, Rachael Shaw, would not comment on the poor timing of the unveiling but did say "all the people at Kilmarnock are extremely proud of this product."
She added: "This is a product that consumers have told us they want. It's aimed at our Asian market.
"The first run of this niche product was for just 330 bottles and it's of an excellent quality.
"We are investing in the Johnnie Walker brand and we want to create interest in Johnnie Walker so that it's a brand for the future."
Edinburgh's Scotch Whisky Experience visitor attraction has unveiled two new 'push and sniff' bus stops in the city centre.
The first of their kind in the Scottish capital, they give travelers the chance to smell each of the four distinctive scents from Scotland's main whisky regions by pushing colour coded pods.
Situated outside Princes Mall on Princes Street and on Leith Street beneath the St James centre, the bus stops are intended to reflect the sensory focus of the £3m new Scotch Whisky tour at the nearby attraction.
The four regions - Lowland, Highland, Islay and Speyside - are investigated further in an interactive nosing and tasting session within the new tour, which is designed to encourage visitors to challenge their preconceptions of Scotland's national drink.
The Scotch Whisky Experience tour also incorporates a state-of-the-art barrel ride through the production processes, commentary and a visit to the World's Largest Collection of Scotch Whiskies.
A single malt Scotch whisky is to go on sale for £10,000 a bottle, its distiller has announced.
The Glenfiddich Distillery described the 50-year-old single malt as "the pinnacle of our whisky-making excellence".
It will release just 50 bottles every year for the next decade.
They will be sold in selected airports across the world for the next few months, before being made available through a small number of retailers.
The whisky has been kept in two casks in the Banffshire distillery's warehouse for 50 years.
Each hand-blown, numbered bottle will be decorated in Scottish silver and presented in a hand-stitched, leather-bound case.
The bottles will be accompanied by a leather-bound book which details the history of the whisky. It will also have pages for the owner to make their own tasting notes.
Buyers will receive a certificate signed by four of the distillery's long-serving craftsmen.
Peter Gordon, chairman of Glenfiddich distillery owner William Grant & Sons, said the whisky was "flawless".
Mr Gordon, the great-great-grandson of distillery founder William Grant, said: "We're happy to wait as long as we need to - up to 50 years in this instance - to produce the perfect whisky.
"The Glenfiddich 50 Year Old is the pinnacle of our whisky-making excellence and epitomises my great-great grandfather's vision of creating the very 'best dram in the valley'.
"Every new year is important when it comes to making exceptional whisky - and Glenfiddich 50 Year Old is the ultimate expression of this pioneering foresight."
In 2006 a bottle of whisky believed to be the oldest in existence was auctioned in London.
The Glenavon Special Liqueur Whisky is said to have been bottled about 150 years ago at the Glenavon Distillery in Banffshire and was bought for £14,850.
Lib Dem says first minister's pricing plans could cost whisky industry 'great deal of money'
First Minister Alex Salmond has been accused of hypocrisy over his policies on the whisky industry.
At the weekend he joined 20,000 marchers in Kilmarnock protesting against plans by drinks giant Diageo to close the Johnny Walker bottling plant. When combined with the company's proposal to shut the Port Dundas distillery, in Glasgow, 900 jobs are at risk.
However, the Scottish Government is pressing ahead with plans for a minimum price on alcohol to combat binge drinking, despite the Scotch Whisky Association saying the move will push up prices and have worldwide repercussions for sales.
Chief executive Gavin Hewitt told the P&J that 70p per unit would nearly double the price of an average bottle of whisky, while 40p would push the price up by more than the last two whisky taxes combined.
North-east Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles said the government was failing to listen to what the industry was saying.
"I think it is absolutely appalling that we have Mr Salmond marching at the head of so many people trying to save the whisky industry in Kilmarnock when his own plans could cost the industry a great deal of money, if not millions," he said.
"It is sheer hypocrisy. Unfortunately, it brings all politicians into disrepute when we cannot have an open approach."
A spokesman for Mr Salmond said: "The two issues have absolutely nothing in common, and when everyone else in Scotland is coming together to fight for whisky jobs it is ridiculous that Mike Rumbles should break ranks in this way."
Own-brand whiskies represent 25-30% of domestic sales.
The association said in March that the average price of a 70cl bottle of blended whisky was £10.55, below 40p per unit.
At 40p per unit Sainsbury's and Asda's own-brand whiskies - both £10.18 - would go up by £1.02. A bottle of Clan MacGregor (£9.68 in Tesco) would go up by £1.52 and a bottle of High Commissioner (£8.79 in Asda) would go up by £2.21.
It said some people were talking of 50p a unit, which would make the average price of a 70cl bottle £14 and a litre £20.
Association director Campbell Evans said if ministers were successful in persuading the EU and World Trade Organisation to allow minimum pricing, it would undermine the principle of free trade which has protected sales of Scotch around the world.
"The long-term damage this would have on Scotland's economy needs to be appreciated by ministers," he said.
Mr Salmond's spokesman said: "Minimum pricing would actually stop premium products such as Scotch whisky being undermined by high-strength beers and ciders sold for pocket-money prices, which are the drinks that are being misused."
Whisky brand Whyte & Mackay has created customised blends for Scottish celebrities
The chosen few include Gordon Brown, Andy Murray and Sean Connery, who will enjoy their own whisky made by master blender Richard Paterson.
Paterson said: "Just like Scotland, whisky is packed full with a plethora of different characters and individual quirks.
"These whiskies are one-offs and so won't be available to buy but should their namesakes be keen to sample them I'd be more than happy to give them some tips on how to nose and taste their personal whiskies."
Based on the success of the Scottish celebrity whiskies, Paterson also selected some international stars to base a blend on.
He said: "Whisky is one of Scotland's greatest exports and is appreciated around the globe. Therefore, it seemed only right to pick some international names to name a new whisky after, such as Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela and even Homer Simpson."
Andy Murray's whisky is described as, "a young, vibrant, aggressive whisky which is likely to get even better with age as it mellows, but still has an incredibly focused flavour", while Sean Connery's blend, "brings in some of the well-aged malts and is matured in sherry casks (to reflect his Mediterranean looks)."
Others include a "feisty" Gordon Ramsay blend, and Alastair Darling's blend — "one of the most expensive whiskies ever created. This is a high brow dram that comes with a budget defying price tag".
Man retires after three decades nosing fine spirits
A whisky master blender is retiring after almost three decades smelling some of Scotland's finest spirits.
John Ramsay, 60, started in the industry in 1966 as a chemist and became a master blender in 1981 before joining his current employer the Edrington Group in Glasgow in 1991.
When asked how many whiskies he had "nosed" in his career, he said: "Obviously it must run into the millions but I haven't had the chance to sit down and do the arithmetic."
Mr Ramsay will work his last day on Friday as master blender.
He is responsible for overseeing the quality of the whisky portfolio, including best-selling blends such as The Famous Grouse and Cutty Sark.
Mr Ramsay, who lives in West Lothian, said he would be looking forward to "getting on top" of his garden, reducing his golf handicap and visiting wine-producing regions including South Africa and California during his retirement.
Gordon Motion will take over as the company's master blender.
Speaking about his career, Mr Ramsay said: "I'm most proud of receiving the International Spirits Challenge trophy award in 2007 for The Famous Grouse 30-year-old blended malt.
"Beating off competition from over 700 spirits, both single and blended malts, to be named best overall malt whisky by my fellow peers was a real honour.
"That was a very proud moment. After all it was my creation, my blend.
"I've had an immensely enjoyable career with Edrington, which has taken me all around the world, and I would like to extend thanks to all of my colleagues who have been such a fantastic support."
Portfolio
Mr Motion said: "It's an incredible privilege to be the successor to John, the doyen of blenders.
"John has been an inspiring mentor to me over the last 10 years working as his assistant and particularly over the last two and a half years as I've stepped into the master blender role.
"I am looking forward to continuing the tradition that has gone on for over a century and want to ensure that our enviable portfolio of blended and single malt whiskies continue to be enjoyed and respected around the world."
Drinks giant under fire over bottling plant closure plans
An estimated 20,000 people took to the streets of a Scottish town yesterday to protest over plans to axe 900 whisky jobs.
Thousands of people marched through Kilmar-nock, Ayrshire, where Johnnie Walker whisky is bottled. Drinks giant Diageo has announced plans to close the plant, along with its Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow, risking 900 jobs.
Workers at the plants yesterday joined politicians, union chiefs and former members of staff and others to take part in a protest against the closures.
Players from Kilmarnock FC also joined in the demonstration, which ended with a rally in the town's Kay Park.
Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This is the first time I can remember the entire football team squad demonstrating with the local community in support of a workforce under pressure."
Mr Salmond and Labour's Des Browne, the MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, were among the politicians who addressed the crowd.
The first minister said: "The tens of thousands at the demonstration today in Kilmarnock is a demonstration of the absolute willingness and determination in this town and this community to keep Johnnie Walker in this community. So let's have no more nonsense from anyone that these proposals are in any way socially acceptable to the people of Scotland."
Mr Salmond said politicians from all parties had come together with union leaders and others to form a "mighty coalition".
He vowed an alternative business case would "dispute Diageo's contention that their answer is the only answer" and would "demonstrate there is an economic alternative" to closure.
He also said, while the business plan was being produced, it was "far, far too early" to consider a boycott of Diageo products.
Mr Browne, the former Scottish secretary, hailed the turnout at the protest.
Describing how marchers had packed Kilmarnock's John Finnie Street, he said: "I am told it takes 20,000 people to fill it. It was filled today, we overfilled it."
Mr Browne added: "We have a message for Diageo today - you have got this wrong. You have underestimated the relationship between this community and wider Scotland and your industry." He then told bosses at the drinks company: "You have to think again."
The MP said he did not underestimate how difficult it would be to get Diageo to reverse its plans, but added: "There is a determination among all of us that we will come up with an alternative."
Union leader Len McCluskey insisted it was possible to force Diageo to rethink its plans.
Mr McCluskey, assistant general secretary of Unite, said: "I don't take the view that because a multinational company has made a decision we can't change it. We can, people power and organised labour can change it, and we intend to change it."
He hit out at the proposed closures and said: "Let's be absolutely crystal clear right from the outset, this decision is borne out of greed, nothing else. Greed is their creed and we need to expose that.
"This is a company that made £2.2billion profit last year and has already declared half yearly profits of £1.6billion. This is a company that does not need to take the drastic decisions that they have that will damage and destroy families."
Scottish Tory Leader Annabel Goldie said the event sent "a very powerful message to Diageo that there is anger and bewilderment at this decision".
She added there was throughout Scotland a "passionate determination to require Diageo to reconsider".
Andrew Morgan, the president of Diageo Europe, has already said the decision to close the Kilmarnock bottling plant was thought to be the best option for the company.
Earlier this month he said: "For the long-term health of the business I'm convinced it's absolutely the right thing for us to be doing."
Diageo has said it will "offset" the closures with 400 new jobs at its Fife packaging plant. As well as the Fife expansion the drinks firm has said a coopering centre will be created in Clackmannanshire.
Meanwhile Michael McMahon, Labour's Scottish business manager, has written to the Scottish Government calling on Mr Salmond to make a statement on Diageo's proposals when MSPs return to Holyrood in September.
Labour vowed if ministers did not make a statement on the matter, they would raise it in a members' debate. Labour urged Mr Salmond to make a statement in Holyrood on September 2.
If that does not happen Patricia Ferguson, the MSP for Glasgow Maryhill, will raise the issue in a members' debate the following day.
Ms Ferguson said: "It is right that the issue is debated in the Scottish Parliament so we can be satisfied that the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise are doing all they can to save the jobs.
"We want to maintain the cross-party consensus which has been the hallmark of this campaign, but if the SNP fail to bring forward a debate we will do it at the first opportunity open to us."
Doubles all round as whisky maker's pre-tax profits soar
Burn Stewart Distillers, the East Kilbride-based whisky maker, was yesterday in high spirits after almost doubling pre-tax profits on the back of significant growth in its international markets and the success of its turnaround strategy.
The company's upbeat news comes on the heels of its victory at the International Spirits Challenge 2009 earlier this month, where it scooped two gold and four silver medals across its brands, including its Bunnahabhain 25-year-old single malt.
Fraser Thornton, the distiller's managing director, told The Herald that pre-tax profits came in at £650,000 for the 2008 calendar year, compared with £380,000 the year before.
"We're very pleased - considering that back in 2005 we posted a £3m loss," said Thornton. "This is really a story of progress and I'm glad to say we're moving in the right direction."
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Thornton said that over the course of 2008, the company sold some 52 million bottles of whisky - around 10% better than the previous year - with some 80% of its sales now in international markets.
Over the past few years, the company has shifted focus from supplying own-label spirits to supermarkets to promoting its own brands at home and overseas.
Burn Stewart, which employs 250 workers, now only supplies own-label goods to Marks & Spencer.
Exports currently account for around 80% of sales by volume, compared with 50% five years ago.
While turnover slipped to £43m last year, compared with around £45m in 2007, Thornton said the accompanying rise in profits was a testament to the company's strategy and improved margins.
One of the key drivers in the progress is the continued growth of Scottish Leader in Taiwan.
Salmond offers an alternative to 900 whisky job losses
First minister meeting with diageo chief executive to discuss closure options
First Minister Alex Salmond said yesterday that there was a "powerful counter-argument" to drinks giant Diageo's proposals to axe 900 whisky jobs.
He was speaking ahead of a meeting today with Diageo's chief executive, Paul Walsh, to discuss the situation.
Earlier this month the company announced plans to shut its historic Johnnie Walker whisky bottling plant in Kilmarnock.
The Johnnie Walker closure will account for 700 of the threatened job losses in Scotland while the others will come if the Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow is closed.
Diageo argues that the redundancies would be offset by the creation of 400 jobs at its packaging plant at Leven, Fife.
A joint campaign against the closure has been launched by various bodies including the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow and East Ayrshire Councils, trade unions and local MPs and MSPs.
They are putting together an alternative business plan which will be presented to Diageo next month.
The first minister will be accompanied by Jack Perry, chief executive of Scottish Enterprise, at today's meeting.
Mr Salmond said: "This is a substantive meeting, and we are looking for assurances from Diageo that the alternative business case that will be presented by the joint campaign next month will be properly considered, and not in any sense dismissed out of hand.
"We are convinced that the joint campaign can present a powerful counter-argument to Diageo's proposals.
"We also think that, with goodwill on all sides, then movement is possible towards a position which would be better and more acceptable to Scottish opinion, as well as meeting Diageo's key financial objectives."
Diageo's managing director of global supply and global procurement David Gosnell will also be at the meeting, which will take place at the company's headquarters in London.
Mr Salmond said: "Scotch whisky certainly has challenges in the international marketplace at present, but it also has huge advantages, among which are provenance, loyalty and reputation.
"All of these would argue for a different outcome, which I believe is possible, and all the efforts of the joint campaign are focused on that key objective."
The campaign to stop the drinks giant Diageo closing the Johnnie Walker whisky bottling plant in Kilmarnock has received celebrity backing.
Musicians such as Eddi Reader and actor Gregor Fisher, who lives near the plant, are among the well-known faces offering support to the campaign.
Some are expected to take part in a march through the town on Sunday.
The support comes ahead of a meeting between First Minister Alex Salmond and Paul Walsh, chief executive of Diageo.
The march on Sunday is being held in support of the 700 packaging workers who would be put of work by the closure.
Mr Fisher said: "If the closure was forced because the company is losing money I could understand.
"But Diageo are raking it in. The closure is happening to due corporate greed.
"They care not a jot about Kilmarnock or Port Dundas, nor do they care about the generations of workers who have lined their shareholders pockets.
"I wouldn't normally get involved in any campaign to save a business or site, but this just stinks."
There is backing also from film actor Gary Lewis, who appeared in Gangs of New York and Billy Elliot.
The endorsements are being co-ordinated by East Ayrshire Council, which is also organising the weekend march.
It has gained support from The Proclaimers, The Trashcan Sinatras and Kilmarnock band Biffy Clyro.
Modernising operations
Diageo has explained its decision to close the bottling plant and end the link between Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock going back to 1817, while it also wants to close the Port Dundas distillery and cooperage in Glasgow, with the loss of 200 further jobs.
It wants to invest £100m in a packaging plant in Fife, along with a new cooperage near Alloa, which would involve creating 400 new jobs.
Its managers say that should make annual savings of £20m, and that this is necessary to modernise its operations to ensure Scotch whisky can compete in the global drinks market.
A joint campaign against the closure has been launched by various bodies including the Scottish Government, Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow and East Ayrshire Councils, trade unions and local MPs and MSPs.
They are putting together an alternative business plan which will be presented to Diageo next month.
The new owners of GlenDronach Distillery have selected five vintages for their first series of single cask bottlings since taking over the distillery last year.
In Batch One they have singled out malts from 1971, 1972, 1992, 1993 and 1996 in ages ranging from 38 to 13 years old.
All five are in the traditional GlenDronach style - richly sherried, from Oloroso Sherry Butts - and are being bottled this month.
Regional Sales Director Alistair Walker said: "Dating back to 1826, there have been few if any single cask bottlings from GlenDronach, so the launch of Single Cask Batch One is particularly significant and will be welcomed by our customers.
"We will repeat this exercise each year, hand-selecting a small number of the very best casks from the distillery warehouses to release as Single Cask bottlings."
Alistair added: "Each will be bottled at cask strength, at natural colour and non chill filtered. Bottles will be individually numbered by hand and will be housed in a deluxe gift box."
Batch One is being marketed in fifteen countries worldwide, with shipments to the UK, Europe, South Africa, Asia and New Zealand scheduled for the first week of August.
The full cask list is:
1971 cask 483, 38 years old
1972 cask 719, 37 years old
1992 cask 1140, 16 years old
1993 cask 523, 16 years old
1996 cask 193, 13 years old
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
17 July
2009
Moray whisky firm wins royal toast with Queen's award
Gordon and MacPhail honoured
A MORAY whisky firm has received royal recognition for its work to promote Scotland's national drink abroad.
Elgin-based Gordon and MacPhail was one of nine Scottish businesses to pick up a Queen's Award for Enterprise out of more than 1,000 companies from across the UK which applied.
Yesterday the firm's joint managing director, Michael Urquhart, said it was a great honour, and he paid tribute to the hard work of all his staff.
He said the firm won the award in the international trade category after almost doubling its export figures.
"Over the past six years we have increased our export sales by 94%.
"It's a great achievement and a great honour."
Mr Urquhart and his team spend about three months a year visiting clients in countries as far afield as Russia, Japan and the US.
He said: "We spend a lot of time going round customers doing whisky tastings across the world.
"We export to about 35 to 40 countries on an annual basis.
"But it's not just about the export department.
"We've got to make the whisky and mature it and, in the case of Benromach, distil it as well. It's a whole team effort."
Gordon and MacPhail is a family-owned company which has been involved in the whisky industry for more than a century.
Benriach distillery company wins ten awards at international wine and spirits competition
THE LARBERT-BASED Benriach Distillery Company is celebrating after winning an impressive ten top awards in the prestigious 2009 International Wine and Spirits Competition.
Founded in 1969, The International Wine and Spirit Competition is the premier competition of its kind in the world. Its aim is to promote the quality and excellence of the world's finest wines, spirits and liqueurs.
IWSC medals and trophies are the most highly regarded in the trade, representing the best of the best in the world of wine and spirits.
The Competition received more than 7000 entries from over 80 countries.
In results published today (July 16), the company entered 10 whiskies from both its BenRiach and GlenDronach brands, and won 10 medals - 1 Gold, 8 Silver and 1 Bronze.
GlenDronach has four expressions and all four won medals including a Gold and Best in Class for its 15 year-old 'Revival' while B enRiach won a further six awards including two Silver and Best in Class.
The company's awards were:
GlenDronach Medals
Gold Best in Class GlenDronach 15YO 'Revival'
Silver Best in Class GlenDronach 33YO
Silver GlenDronach 12YO Original (new 2009 version)
Silver GlenDronach 18YO Allardice
BenRiach Medals
Silver Best in Class BenRiach 'Maderensis Fumosus' 13YO Peated / Madeira Finish
Silver Best in Class BenRiach 16YO
Silver BenRiach 12YO
Silver BenRiach 'Curiositas' 10YO Peated
Silver BenRiach 'Authenticus' 21YO Peated
Bronze BenRiach 15YO Dark Rum Finish
The judges' Tasting Notes for the GlenDronach 15 year old "Revival" commented: "Great concentration of complex aromas on the nose including treacle toffee, chocolate, orange, toasted nuts and vanilla. Great depth in the mouth, with all the nose promised, plus some Demerara sugar, sweet malt and lots of toast. Great balance with firm tightness which is offset to a degree by lots of mellow notes. Long finish has distinct gingery note."
Managing Director Billy Walker said: "We are absolutely delighted that ten of our expressions have been recognised at such a prestigious competition. The award reflects the incredibly hard work of our team and underscores the outstanding quality of our two brands."
The company has won a number of awards in recent years. In February this year the BenRiach Distillery beat off competition from around the world to win the coveted "Icons of Whisky" award in London.
BenRiach was also "Distillery of the Year" in the 2007 Malt Advocate Magazine Whisky Awards.
Whisky Magazine named it the "Best Rare Speyside" (for BenRiach Authenticus 21 Year Old) at its World Whisky Awards, also in 2007.
And it won Gold Medal (for BenRiach 16 year old) at the 2006 International Wines and Spirits Competition.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
16 July
2009
Whisky expert to give up his prestigious position
He retires after 40 years in the industry
A WHISKY expert at Scotland's oldest working distillery is to retire after 40 years in the industry, it was announced yesterday.
John Ramsay, the 60-year-old master blender for the Edrington Group's Glenturret Distillery, Perthshire, will leave his prestigious post on July 31.
The position is one of only six among the major Scottish distillers and is considered to be one of the most important roles in the whisky industry.
Master blenders, who are known for their skill in the fine art of nosing whisky, check the quality and consistency of up to 600 samples a day.
In addition to an acute sense of smell, a master blender must not wear aftershave or eat garlic, which can impair the senses.
Since joining the Edrington Group in 1991, Mr Ramsay has worked between the distillery at Crieff and the group's sampling rooms in Glasgow.
His charges include The Glenrothes, The Macallan and Highland Park single malts, and The Famous Grouse.
Managing the sample rooms, stock management and cask selection are among the responsibilities of a master blender, while overseeing 8,735 quality checks from cask to glass.
After a two-and-a-half-year handover, Gordon Motion will take over as the company's new master blender.
Mr Ramsay said: "Looking back, there are a number of highlights that really stand out, from creating Highland Park 18, 25 and most recently 40-year-old expressions, and moving The Glenrothes whisky to a vintage.
"I've had an immensely enjoyable career with the Edrington Group which has taken me all around the world and I would like to extend thanks to all of my colleagues who have been such a fantastic support."
Mr Motion said it was an incredible privilege to be the successor to John Ramsay, the doyen of blenders.
He added: "I am looking forward to continuing the tradition that has gone on for more than a century and want to ensure The Famous Grouse continues to be enjoyed and respected as one of the finest whiskies in the world."
Two new Glendronach "fascinating and fabulous" casks snapped up by banff's parker's whisky
GLENDRONACH has made available two single cask bottlings to Banff-based Parker's Whisky, providing 1200 stunning bottles from 1992 and 1994.
One is a GlenDronach 1992 Single Cask, Cask # 401. It was distilled 10 July 1992, bottling July 2009, aged 17 years old, and matured in Oloroso Sherry Butt with a cask strength of 58.8%.
The other is a GlenDronach 1994 Single Cask, Cask # 2311. It was distilled 25 November 1994, bottling July 2009, aged 14 years old, and matured in Oloroso Sherry Puncheon with a cask strength of 58.5%.
They are the first single cask distillery bottlings to be made available in the UK since Glendronach was purchased last year by Billy Walker and his associates at the BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd.
Available from late July, each 70cl bottle is individually numbered by hand and contains personal Tasting Notes from the author of the Whisky Bible, Jim Murray.
GlenDronach Regional Sales Director Alistair Walker said: "Richard Parker approached us with his interest in bottling a cask of GlenDronach towards the end of last year, before we had even started looking at our own selection of single casks to bottle, so it's fair to say he was pretty quick off the mark.
"We were delighted to make these two casks available to Richard, as GlenDronach is the local distillery for Banff and Parker's has been a good supporter of both of our malt brands, GlenDronach and BenRiach, over the last three or four years. The casks were personally selected by Richard himself and he clearly has good taste, as the chosen casks are truly exceptional."
Richard Parker said: "This is a big coup for us. We sampled a number of different GlenDronach casks and found two we especially liked. But they were so good, we couldn't choose between them so we ended up bottling both! We just came along at the right time and I'm delighted to say they're pre-selling really well."
Concluding that the malts are "fascinating and fabulous", Jim Murray's tasting notes underline how special and extraordinary the bottlings are - apparently the drams he tasted almost brought tears to his eyes! Selected excerpts from Jim's tasting notes follow:
GlenDronach 1994 cask 2311
Nose - playfully light... fragile barley... lazy nuttiness...
Taste - mouth-watering barley pounds the tastebuds relentlessly from the start... a lively character...
Finish - minty chocolate... hazelnuts and vanilla... considerable length...
Balance - quite unique to this little-known distillery... fascinating and fabulous!
GlenDronach 1992 cask 401
Nose - Molasses sweetens the high roast Java...
Taste - the palate is swamped in luxuriant, lush sugar-coated burnt raisins...
Balance - ultra distinctive... unmistakable rum character on a sherry theme... a memorable and massive malt
Finish - excellent soft oils... a long fade... juicy barley finale...
Our pictures show the two bottlings.
For more information, contact sales@parkerswhisky.co.uk
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
15 July
2009
Family whisky firm profits rise
Ian Macleod Distillers, one of the largest independent family companies in the UK spirits industry, has announced a 53% rise in profits to £1.5m.
Based in Broxburn, the firm makes Glengoyne, King Robert II and Smokehead as well as gin, rum and vodka.
The group has combined total sales of more than one million cases, with 85% being exported to over 65 countries.
It said it had invested in its key brands as well as its Broxburn bottling plant and Glengoyne distillery.
Managing director, Leonard Russell, said: "We are also developing markets that have the best growth potential for our products, such as India and China."
The company said that because it was independent it could focus on the longer term, rather than short-term returns for shareholders.
Economic conditions have been challenging for the drinks group who said although trading overall was buoyant, the UK remained a difficult market.
The company which was founded in 1933, employs 185 people across three Scottish sites.
Unions, politicians and councils hold top-level meetings
The latest step to try to save whisky jobs at closure-threatened Scottish sites got under way yesterday.
Unions, politicians and councils met to discuss how to stop drinks firm Diageo's closure and redundancy plans.
The company wants to shut its Johnnie Walker bottling plant in Kilmarnock, and the Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow, threatening 900 workers with redundancy.
Diageo said it will "offset" the cuts with 400 new jobs at its Fife packaging plant.
Glasgow SNP MSP Bob Doris chaired the first of two meetings yesterday with economic development agency Scottish Enterprise on the future of the Port Dundas site.
He said: "Trade unions, politicians and the local authorities in Glasgow and East Ayrshire are united in fighting Diageo's job cuts across Scotland. This morning was a key step in bringing together the fight to secure jobs at Port Dundas and identifying key issues in this campaign."
A second meeting chaired by Finance Secretary John Swinney, and expected to involve Scottish Enterprise, Glasgow and east Ayrshire councils, unions, MPs, MSPs and the Scottish Government, was being held in Edinburgh last night.
Kilmarnock and Loudoun SNP MSP Willie Coffey, said: "There should be no doubt that the workers and campaigners at Johnnie Walker will not let this plant close without a fight, and that while Diageo might be big they will never be bigger than Johnnie Walker and its connection to Kilmarnock."
MPs are due to debate the closure plans in Westminster today.
East Ayrshire Council has organised a protest in Kilmarnock for Sunday July 26. The march starts from Howard Park at 1pm.
Diageo said it will invest £100million in "restructuring", which will see 900 workers lose their job over two years. As well as the Fife expansion, Diageo said a coopering centre will be created in Clackmannanshire. There will be no compulsory redundancies at sites for one year, the firm has said.
Labour economy spokes-man David Whitton said: "I have constituents who work at Port Dundas and everything must be done to protect their jobs. My colleague Patricia Ferguson, the local MSP, has written to Richard Bedford, the grain distillery director, asking whether there is an alternative to the total closure of Port Dundas by mothballing the plant. We also need to know if Diageo are prepared to conduct an independent financial assessment of Port Dundas as at Kilmarnock."
Drinks gurus to clash online on how to drink whisky
Two of the world's great drinks experts are set to fight out the age-old dilemma of how to drink malt whisky live on the internet on Thursday night.
Richard Paterson, master blender at the Isle of Jura distillery, and Colin Field, head barman at The Ritz Paris, will debate their opposing views online at 7pm on July 16.
"For years I've been forced to stand by and watch as barroom dandies sully the world's greatest drink with a range of inappropriate mixers and sacrilegious frills, but enough is enough," said Paterson, who even considers ice an unnecessary distraction.
Field disagreed: "Single malt is a drink for anybody, anywhere, anyhow. The purists can complain about it as much as they like, but with the right mixers and a splash of imagination, it can be conjured into a world-beating taste experience that will knock the spots off anything the whisky snobs might offer."
He continued: "Their time is over, and I'm going to show the world how a new generation of drinkers takes theirs."
Fighting talk, find out if sparks fly on www.isleofjura.com on Thursday at 7pm or see the trailer on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwg9gSpqoy4
Plans for minimum alcohol prices could destroy the Scotch whisky industry, the Scottish Conservatives have warned.
Tory chief whip David McLetchie challenged ministers to "come clean" about what pricing levels would be set.
The proposals form part of the Scottish Government's strategy for tackling Scotland's drink problem.
A government spokesman said the Tory claims were "ridiculous" as the plans were aimed at cut-price promotions rather than "premium" products.
Mr McLetchie said a minimum price of 40 pence per unit could cost hundreds of jobs in the drinks industry.
He said: "He needs to come clean and tell Scotland what his plans are and how high drinks prices will go.
"Alex Salmond is the destroyer, not the saviour, of Scotch."
He said research by the British Medical Association and the University of Sheffield suggested the price should be at least 50 pence per unit of alcohol and that Mr Salmond was "terrified" of making a decision.
A spokesman for Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said Mr McLetchie's comments were "ridiculous and untrue".
He said: "Scotch whisky is a premium product which Scotland is proud of and belongs to an industry which this government fully supports.
"Minimum pricing will not affect such premium products and is instead aimed at ending the pocket money prices which are fuelling binge-drinking and adding to this nation's unbalanced relationship with alcohol."
Alcohol abuse costs the Scottish taxpayer around £2.25bn a year, he added.
DRINKS giant Diageo's plan to close its Johnnie Walker bottling plant is to be debated in the House of Commons, a MP said yesterday.
Last week the firm said it may shut the Kilmarnock factory and the Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow, which could see a total of 900 workers lose their jobs.
The Kilmarnock plant closure alone may see 700 jobs lost.
The Labour MP for the area, former Scottish secretary Des Browne, said he had secured a debate about the proposed closure.
Mr Browne, who represents Kilmarnock and Loudoun, said: "Diageo's proposals will have a devastating effect on my constituency - already East Ayrshire has one of the highest rates of unemployment and poverty in the country.
"It is right we are given the opportunity to debate the likely affects of this decision, the way it has been announced without consultation and the wider national implications of the severance of two centuries of links between Scotch whisky and Kilmarnock."
The Commons debate - scheduled for Wednesday - will give politicians the chance to unite in support of the workers facing redundancy, according to Mr Browne.
News of the parliamentary debate comes the day after Commons leader Harriet Harman said Diageo's plan, if implemented, will be a "body blow" to the Ayrshire town.
Diageo jobs axe threat 'could kill Scotch industry'
SCOTLAND'S whisky industry could die if Diageo go ahead with their plan to axe 900 Scots jobs, an MP claimed yesterday.
Des Browne, the MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, said: "If the industry is allowed to break the link between Johnnie Walker and its roots in Kilmarnock, I confidently predict that we will see within my lifetime the breaking of the link between Scotch whisky and Scotland itself.
"That would be unthinkable for any other nationally iconic product."
Senior politicians from the four main parties joined forces to step up the fight against the drinks giant's plans.
And they warned that other firms could follow suit by moving their business out of Scotland if Diageo get their way.
Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael said the plans could be the "thin end of the wedge".
He said: "What is being proposed here could do to Scotch whisky what happened to our steel and coal industries. We have to come together to say this is unacceptable."
Diageo want to shut their Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock with the loss of 700 jobs. That would cut all links with the town where the whisky was first made in 1820. They also want to close the historic Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow.
Johnnie Walker workers and union officials have suspected since last week that an odious whiff has surrounded the company's unexpected closure announcement.
Now concrete evidence is beginning to emerge which gives some credence to their scepticism.
For the firm have drawn up secret plans to convert part of the historic plant into luxury flats.
Diageo say the flats plan is not related to the closure announcement.
And the local council insist the closure plan has been like a bolt from the blue.
But try telling that to workers at the Kilmarnock plant, where Johnnie Walker has been bottled continually since its inception almost 200 years ago.
They believe the local authority should have smelled a rat when the planning papers were lodged with them.
However, there's no point in playing the blame game.
Rival factions from Holyrood and Westminster tried that last week while losing focus on the crucial point.
And that is to come up with a properly based alternative which will give Diageo reason to overturn their present proposals and give the plant a stay of execution and hope for the long-term future.
The company have agreed to consider any alternative.
No more time should be lost by infighting. The real fight lies elsewhere.
Diageo's dilemma: to tell its workforce first that they're getting sacked, or to let politicians in on the news beforehand?
The global drinks giant opted to give its employees priority, if only to tell them that they are being treated as dispensible.
So Diageo is paying the price of leaving Scotland's politicians to find out last week from the BBC.
Ministers, MPs and MSPs don't like it at all, as it leaves them scurrying around trying to look busy and in charge of events - when it's clear that they're not.
That's how you get to a political campaign to save the Johnnie Walker bottling and packaging plant in Kilmarnock, in which Diageo is cast as the villain.
But let's not pretend this is all about bad news presentation.
What lies behind politicians' and unions' irritation is a key challenge about jobs, about what government can do to save jobs, and the future of the whisky industry.
Depressed demand
The decision has a bit to do with the recession, in that whisky demand is depressed.
But this is much more about restructuring for the long-term - which, of course, is more easily achieved during a recession, when workers are under pressure and less able to kick back.
Recession allows managers, across all sectors, to drive change they might have had in mind for years.
It's also worth bearing in mind that whisky, more than any other industry, has to plan on production and then maturation, leading to sales so far off that these bottles might well be for sale during our next recession.
The closure at Kilmarnock (700 jobs to go) and Port Dundas distillery and cooperage in Glasgow (140 more redundancies) is part of a package that includes substantial investment in Fife and Clackmannanshire (400 jobs being created).
The idea seems to be that the company will develop more efficient production lines, while cutting transport costs between the distilled product, the bottling plant and the departure point for exports.
And not far behind this is a threat to move more bottling overseas.
Cheaper locations
Already, between 10% and 20% of output - at the cheaper end of the blends market and, for tax reasons, to Australia - leaves Scotland in bulk rather than bottles. Diageo sends less than half that proportion.
A rule is being introduced by law that would require single malts to be bottled in Scotland, when none are bottled elsewhere at the moment.
But for the dominant blended market, the cost advantages of overseas bottling, close to market and in cheaper locations, may prove much more damaging than the Kilmarnock news for the quarter of whisky jobs on those production lines in Scotland.
What has become a political battle to save jobs, mainly focused on Kilmarnock, raises lots of questions. Here are three...
What can any government do in the face of a large powerful global company that wants to restructure and shed jobs?
The main lever over which the Scottish Government has control is that of financial incentives to stay.
That is limited by European competition and state aid rules, and by a lack of government cash.
It's also debatable that taxpayer money should be poured into retaining a facility that doesn't have its owner's confidence.
Shed jobs
Second, is government well prepared for this challenge?
It used to be for Scottish Enterprise to know such a closure was on the cards, then to prepare and deliver the response.
That's not its role any more. The lead economic development agency is focused on the 2,000 or so companies with the best growth potential, rather than those most likely to shed jobs.
There were contacts with Diageo ahead of the announcement, but it clearly wasn't the kind of close, trusting relationship where plans were shared.
The local enterprise network is now disbanded.
East Ayrshire Council has responsibility for local economic development, and being one of the smallest local authorities in Scotland, it's poorly resourced for this kind of challenge.
Success story
Third, does it make any difference in this case that Scotch whisky has to be distilled and matured in Scotland?
This is not a widget that can be produced anywhere else in the world, where cost factors are cheaper.
Diageo has around 40% of the market, and benefits hugely from the extraordinarily successful branding of Scotch as a premium product.
Of course, Johnnie Walker and Diageo's own marketing have contributed to that success story.
But it is more vulnerable to bad publicity if this political campaign gathers momentum.
On Monday a small-scale Highland distiller suggested a boycott of Diageo products, which may smack of self-interest.
Broken promise
But it's a company which has been here before.
When Guinness bought out The Distillers Company Limited in 1986, the next year creating United Distillers from its merger with Bells, a broken promise that the new company's headquarters would be in Scotland led to a boycott by Scottish customers.
That would later become Diageo, and clearly, that boycott hasn't hurt its growth as a global drinks company.
But this protest is a reminder for the London headquarters that, even if you have offices in 80 countries and sell into 180 markets, having custody of such a large share of the Scotch whisky industry carries responsibilities beyond shareholder value.
The battle to save 700 whisky jobs is due to intensify on several fronts and across the political divide.
Finance Secretary John Swinney will visit Diageo officials and local council representatives in Kilmarnock, where the drinks giant is proposing to shed 700 jobs.
Labour MP Des Browne will visit the threatened packaging plant along with Mr Swinney.
And Kilmarnock Football Club will join forces with local SNP MSP Willie Coffey to launch a petition against Diageo's plan.
Club chairman Michael Johnston said: "Diageo's decision to close the Johnnie Walker plant in Kilmarnock must be reversed. Kilmarnock Football Club will support the employees whose jobs are under threat and our local politicians in their campaign to keep Johnnie Walker in Kilmarnock where it was founded in 1820."
Mr Coffey, MSP for Kilmarnock, said: "In the face of such a potential hammer blow to the local economy, it is vital that we all band together to force Diageo to reverse their decision.
"Johnnie Walker and Kilmarnock FC are both vital to the life of this town."
First Minister Alex Salmond has urged drinks giant Diageo to reconsider its plans, which would mean the loss of 900 jobs through the Johnnie Walker closure and the closure of the Port Dundas grain distillery in Glasgow.
The job losses would, however, be partly offset by the creation of 400 jobs at a packaging plant in Fife.
After a meeting in Edinburgh with Diageo managing director Brian Donaghey, Mr Salmond said the company had agreed to hand over the figures behind its proposals for the Government and unions to study.
Unions and politicians in scramble to protect workers
Scotland's whisky industry has suffered a devastating blow, with one of its leading players announcing plans to axe up to 900 jobs.
Diageo - the world's largest spirits firm and the name behind iconic whisky brand Johnnie Walker - said yesterday it was closing its Kilmarnock packaging plant, with around 700 posts going between now and the end of 2011. The group is consolidating packaging operations at sites in Glasgow and Fife.
It is also closing its Port Dundas grain whisky distillery in Glasgow, with the loss of up to 140 jobs.
Changes to working practices at Diageo's packaging plant at Shieldhall, in Glasgow, are expected to see a further 30 positions going, while around 200 Scottish workers are being re-deployed as the firm looks to cut costs in the recession.
The firm said there would be no compulsory redundancies at impacted sites for 12 months.
Diageo Scotland managing director Bryan Donaghey said the restructuring would help secure the sustainability of business in Scotland.
He added: "85% of our output from Scotland is exported to over 180 markets worldwide. We need to be competitive in a global context and the restructuring announced is a key part of this. We will do everything we can to support our employees through this difficult time."
Unions and politicians voiced shock at the job cuts, which will be partially offset by the creation of 400 posts at the packaging plant in Fife.
Grahame Smith, general secretary of the Scottish TUC, said the announcement had come as a total shock to the workforce, adding: "The impact on the Kilmarnock area is potentially devastating."
The Scottish Government described the move as "extremely disappointing" and said First Minister Alex Salmond would meet senior bosses at Diageo today.
Finance Secretary John Swinney added: "The government is asking the company to reconsider this course of action and to look at alternatives which protect employment."
Kilmarnock's plant is in the constituency of former defence and Scottish secretary Des Browne, who said he was devastated that the town's historic link with Johnnie Walker was ending.
Port Dundas falls within the Glasgow North East constituency, where a by-election is looming after the recent resignation of Commons speaker Michael Martin.
Diageo's whiskies also include Benmore, Haig, Spey Royal, Vat 69 and White Horse plus a host of single and classic malt brands.
Other drinks in the group's portfolio include Baileys liqueur, Captain Morgan rum, Guinness stout and Smirnoff vodka.
Scotland is one of Diageo's largest spirit supply centres, employing around 4,500 people and producing nearly 50million cases of Scotch whisky and white spirits.
The firm hopes to save an extra £40million a year from the changes in Scotland.
Rum deal helps whisky group to strong sales and profit growth
Edrington sees premium spirit markets holding up despite effects of global downturn
Whisky distiller Edrington Group has reported strong growth in sales and profits for the year to March 31, with its acquisition of a 61% stake in Dominican rum producer Brugal accounting for a substantial part of the growth.
Chief executive Ian Curle said yesterday the growth was despite a softening of demand in some of Edrington's main markets because of the global economic slowdown.
He said: "While this will affect our growth ambitions in the short to medium term, we remain confident about our long-term prospects."
Mr Curle said the trading environment changed significantly over the second six months of the year as the effects of the downturn affected both consumers and trade in many key markets.
He added: "During this period we have experienced trade destocking in a number of markets as wholesalers and retailers seek to reduce their working capital and debtor exposure.
"Consumers are also changing consumption patterns with a clear shift to the off-premise as they become more value conscious. While this makes for a tough trading environment, we remain confident about the prospects for premium spirit brands, and in particular our portfolio of premium Scotch whiskies and rum."
The privately owned group noted a strong performance from its core whisky brands, which include The Macallan and Highland Park single malts and The Famous Grouse blend - now the number one blend in the UK after having been the top choice in Scotland for 29 years.
Edrington said Brugal golden rum had added a new and exciting dimension to its portfolio as the leading spirit brand in the Dominican Republic with a market share of more than 80%, and showing good growth in Spain despite a significant slowdown in the Spanish economy.
Glasgow-based Edrington has reported group turnover up 44% on the year before at £419.9million and pre-tax profits excluding exceptional items up 30.5% to £94.8million. The figures include Brugal's trading results for the first time.
Edrington's annual accounts for the year show that its unnamed highest-paid director, thought to be Mr Curle, received emoluments, benefits and performance-related payments amounting to £677,000, compared with £839,000 the year before, when his performance-related payments were almost £300,000 higher.
Forsyths reckons previous year will be hard to beat
Rothes firm's bosses predict a more modest performance
Rothes-based Forsyths has entered its latest trading year with lower expectations after an "excellent" 2007-08, accounts from the engineering firm show.
Forsyths, a coppersmithing and steel-fabrication business serving the distilling and oil industries, saw pre-tax profits soar nearly 70% to £3.98million in the 12 months to October 31.
Gross profits jumped to £6.44million in the latest period, compared with £4.94million in 2006-07.
In a report with the accounts, released by Companies House, yesterday the directors said: "The performance for the year has been excellent."
The firm said 2008-09 growth was likely to be more modest, adding: "The current economic climate has inevitably introduced an element of uncertainty to the forecasting of future trading prospects.
"The directors do not anticipate that the increases in profitability seen in recent years will continue until there is a reversal in the current world economic cycle."
Forsyths' two main markets - whisky and energy - had already peaked after several buoyant years, chairman and managing director Richard Forsyth said yesterday. He added: "It will be a surprise if we can match last year's performance. The whisky market is still relatively buoyant but oil and gas business has leveled off."
Forsyths' accounts also reveal a large payout for a director who retired last July.
The MD's elder brother, William Forsyth, earned £2.15million from the sale to the firm of 88,481 shares: nearly half of the company.
The firm - part of Forsyths Group - gave its top earning director a salary and pension package worth £374,887 last year, against £223,194 for the best-paid boss in 2006-07.
The subsidiary employed 153 people, on average, during the latest period, up from 134 the previous year.
Forsyths Group, which also includes Forblast, Grants (Dufftown), G and A Construction and McCormacks, has shed about 5% of jobs from a total workforce of nearly 300 in recent months in response to the anticipated slowdown.
Drinks giant Diageo has announced it is to cut up to 900 jobs in Scotland.
The posts will go under a restructuring that will see the closure of its Port Dundas distillery in Glasgow and a packaging plant in Kilmarnock.
The company, which has its headquarters in Edinburgh, said the closures would take place over the next two years.
Diageo said the job losses would be offset by the creation of about 400 new jobs through the expansion of a packaging plant at Leven in Fife.
The firm said about 700 jobs would go over the next two years with the closure of the Kilmarnock packaging plant in East Ayrshire.
Diageo said the plant faced "infrastructure limitations" which were not issues at its other packaging plants at Shieldhall in Glasgow and Leven in Fife.
DIAGEO JOBS
# 700 lost at Kilmarnock packaging plant
# 140 lost at Port Dundas Distillery and Dundashill cooperage
# 30 lost at Shieldhall packaging plant
# 400 jobs created at Leven packaging plant
# 80 office jobs at Dundas House transferred
# 40 staff transferred from Carsebridge to Cambus sites
# 64 warehouse jobs at Hurlford transferred out
# 36 remaining Hurlford jobs relocated
# 16 jobs in Speyside transferred out
The closure of Port Dundas Distillery in Glasgow and the neighboring Dundashill cooperage will result in the loss of up to 140 jobs.
Diageo said work from Port Dundas could be met through the continued expansion of the Cameronbridge Distillery in Fife.
A further 30 jobs will also be cut at the Shieldhall packaging plant in Glasgow.
Although it is taking on work from the closure-threatened Kilmarnock packaging plant, Diageo said a £3m investment in the site and changes in working practices would allow for a reduced workforce.
The firm stressed that the net job losses would be about 500 posts in Scotland as the headline figure would be offset by jobs created elsewhere.
It aims to create up to 400 new jobs at the Leven packaging plant in Fife.
An £86m investment will see the construction of a new packaging hall to open in mid-2011.
Diageo said it hoped some of these jobs would be taken by employees transferring from Kilmarnock.
The restructuring plans will see about 80 office-based staff at Dundas House in Glasgow transfer to another location in central Scotland over the next two years.
" I am sorry for the impact this announcement will have on our employees and their families in Kilmarnock and Glasgow and the difficulty this will cause in Kilmarnock, where we are a major employer " Bryan Donaghey Diageo Scotland managing director.
Elsewhere, the company is planning a new £9m cooperage to be built at its existing Cambus site near Alloa by summer 2011.
This will result in the closure of Diageo's nearby Carsebridge cooperage.
The company envisages relocating 40 staff from Carsebridge to Cambus, together with some roles relocating from Dundashill Cooperage.
Diageo also plans to contract out operations currently undertaken at the Hurlford consolidation warehouse in Ayrshire and exit the site next year.
About 64 despatch warehouse jobs at Hurlford will be transferred under TUPE regulations to third party logistics company, Malcolm Group.
The 36 remaining Diageo jobs at Hurlford would be relocated to other sites.
The firm also said haulage of distillery "co-products" would be contracted out to a third party transport company, McPherson Ltd.
The 16 associated jobs in Speyside will be transferred under TUPE regulations.
Bryan Donaghey, managing director of Diageo Scotland, said: "These decisions have been extremely difficult to take. We have only reached them after an exhaustive review of all the possible alternatives.
"I am sorry for the impact this announcement will have on our employees and their families in Kilmarnock and Glasgow and the difficulty this will cause in Kilmarnock, where we are a major employer.
"We believe the plans announced today will help secure the sustainability of our business in Scotland.
"We will do everything we can to support our employees through this difficult time.
"We will also work closely with local political and community leaders in Kilmarnock so that together we can seek to address the impact this announcement will have on the town."
Labeling tradition
Kilmarnock and Loudoun Labour MP Des Browne said the closure of the packaging plant would have a "devastating" impact on the local economy.
"Every bottle of Johnnie Walker has a label which says that this whisky has been bottled in Kilmarnock since 1820," he said.
"The town of Kilmarnock and the people of Ayrshire have contributed to this business's profits for nearly two centuries.
"The company now needs to work with their staff in Kilmarnock and revise these proposals as they did 10 years ago to maintain this presence and these jobs. That's what I'll be working for from today."
Mr Browne added that he had called for a meeting with Diageo management.
A spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association said: "We've no doubt these will have been difficult decisions to take.
"The Scotch whisky industry is working hard to invest to secure its sustainability and competitiveness, which is so important to the Scottish economy.
"We continue to believe whisky has a strong long-term future, as shown by Diageo's own commitment to investing in new and expanded facilities in Scotland."
Last month Diageo, whose brands include Guinness, Smirnoff Vodka and Johnnie Walker whisky, said that markets around the world had weakened.
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It reported that sales were down 7% in the three months to the end of March.
Old Pulteney single malt whisky has announced the launch of their oldest and most exclusive super-premium whisky. This very rare 30 year old single malt was distilled at the most northerly distillery on the UK mainland and embodies the wind-swept and rugged character of the far north.
Matured at the distillery for 30 years in American White Oak, it offers connoisseurs of fine spirits and luxury scotch whisky enthusiasts an intensely complex single malt.
Already renowned for its 12, 17 and 21 year old whiskies, Old Pulteney’s 30 year old is perfect as an after dinner dram or to celebrate a special occasion. It is presented in a lacquered walnut burr box which is lined with sailcloth, reflecting the brand’s unique maritime heritage.
Old Pulteney’s senior brand manager, Iain Baxter: “We are really excited about the launch of our oldest ever Old Pulteney. This whisky has been looked after at the distillery for 30 years and the age contributes a huge amount of complexity. It has all the hallmarks of Old Pulteney; spice and green apples, and sweet vanilla and coconut notes from the American Oak. But unusually for such an old whisky there’s a remarkable touch of tropical fruit on the nose – some people have picked up guavas and mangos! I’d say that for a malt whisky with so much age and depth, it’s still incredibly approachable.”
To tie in with the launch of the whisky, Old Pulteney is running an online competition where visitors can win a bottle of this exclusive whisky. Each month for the next six months, visitors to the Old Pulteney website can guess where they think bottles of a missing crate of the 30 year old went missing around the coast of Wick where the distillery is based. You can find the competition at (www.oldpulteney.com/30yearold)
Old Pulteney 30 year old retails at £250 in the UK, and due to limited supply it will be available from specialist stores only.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
27 Jun
2009
Early malt signals plea rejected
Predicting cereals demand would be impossible, it is claimed
A plea for farmers to be given a better indication of forward demand for malting barley from distillers was rejected yesterday.
NFU Scotland cereals committee convener John Picken had called for more market information to be shared between distillers, their maltsters and the farmers who grow the malting barley and wheat that are key to the production of Scotch whisky.
He said this would help take some of the volatility out of the market and allow farmers to plan cropping as well as respond to the challenges of increasing production costs and dramatic swings in the costs of fuel and fertiliser.
He told a NFU Scotland whisky seminar at the show: “We need long termism back into industry. We need to know requirements for the years ahead.”
But Gavin Hewitt, of the Scotch Whisky Association, said it would be impossible for distillers to respond to Mr Picken’s challenge as it was “notoriously difficult” to predict annual cereals demand.
“We do not have a crystal ball,” he said. “I cannot give you the certainty that you desire. We have a growing dialogue between ourselves and I hope we can build on that because I want to give you the confidence that we have a future together.”
Mr Hewitt said the last year had been difficult for distillers because of the global economic downturn and the problems this had caused in some markets.
He was, however, optimistic about the long-term outlook for Scotland’s national drink, exports of which last year hit a record £3.1billion. He saw future opportunities in China and India as well as Brazil, Turkey and Vietnam.
Mr Hewitt used the seminar to renew the SWA’s longstanding plea for reductions in import tariffs, particularly in India where duties remain at around 150%.
Reducing that to zero could lead to soaring sales and catapult India to one of the top five markets for Scotch globally. The expectation was for an extra 6.5million cases of Scotch being sold, a figure that would equate to a 7% increase in production and 7% rise in cereal demand.
Mr Hewitt also expressed concerns about the Scottish Government’s proposals for minimum alcohol pricing, saying the plan needed to be urgently reviewed.
Mr Hewitt acknowledged the biggest challenge facing the whisky sector was ensuring that every part of the supply chain, including farmers, received “good value from it”.
New Fife distiller turns tradition upside down ...
by going to Tasmania to recruit a whisky expert
Tasmanian brings his expertise to Kingsbarns
IT IS the equivalent of selling sand to the Saudis or ice to the Inuit: a proposed Scottish distillery has gone to the bottom of the world for advice in making whisky.
The Kingsbarns Company of Distillers, based just outside St Andrews, Fife, has enlisted Bill Lark, founder and owner of the Lark Distillery in Tasmania and known as the "Godfather of modern Australian whisky-making", to help it cash in on the booming whisky tourism industry.
The plan is to convert a semi-derelict farmstead on the Cambo Estate between St Andrews and Crail and open it as a small-batch distillery, visitor centre and restaurant. The estate has been home to the Erskine family since 1688 and adjoins Kingsbarns Golf Links - where the dream of a new distillery was forged.
A second Australian, golf course and whisky entrepreneur Greg Ramsay, 32, is also involved, along with Abertay University graduate Doug Clement, also 32, who first met Ramsay while caddying at the Kingsbarns course.
The distillery project, which will cost between £1 million and £1.5m, will be launched tomorrow in the hope that funding will come from investors keen to get involved at groundfloor level with a new distillery where the rewards can be great. More than one million tourists visited distilleries last year and brought in more than £25m in revenue. And the number of whisky tourists was up 12% on the previous year, despite the recession.
Wearing a Royal Stuart tartan tie and sitting in the Royal & Ancient Golf Club in St Andrews yesterday, Lark told the Sunday Herald he had been "really nervous" about the prospect of "coming here to teach Scots how to suck eggs". But Lark has an impressive pedigree. For 20 years he has been making whisky in Tasmania and this year his Cask LD 100 won the Best Other Single Malt Whisky at the 2009 World Whiskies Award, organised by Whisky Magazine. That is, the best in the world outside Scotland and Ireland.
Lark explained that he and Ramsay knew one another because of the latter's own Tasmanian business interests, including setting up the Nant distillery and building a golf course.
He said: "The Scotch industry tends to think it is a big business and that distilleries have to be big. We think small can be better and can really involve people who are excited about hand-crafted whisky.
"Doug and Greg believe the Kingdom of Fife is sadly lacking distilleries. While they were caddying here they knew people came to Kingsbarns or St Andrews for golf, but there was nothing very much else for them if they were also interested in whisky.
"I had tremendous support from the Scotch whisky industry when I was setting up the Lark Distillery and they have been very excited about us coming here to help with this distillery, so that made it easy for me to come across."
In another coals-to-Newcastle moment, the stills will be made in Tasmania by a boilermaker who has previously worked with Lark and has constructed 14 stills for the Australian whisky industry.
Kingsbarns will have a pair of stills: an 1800-litre wash still and a 600-litre spirit still. Barley will be grown in Fife and hand-turned in the distillery's own floor malting.
Lark added: "The distillery will be tourism-driven, of that there's no doubt, but it is vitally important that we are making top quality whisky. We want to get people involved in every aspect of whisky making and play a role in producing whisky."
Preliminary plans are with the council and the company is looking at beginning to produce spirit by early 2011. Lark said: "We will be looking at small cask ageing with quarter casks holding 1000 litres, which means the whiskies will mature more quickly - within five to six years."
To ensure a cashflow before the spirit can be sold as whisky - three years is the minimum - the distillery will also be making gin, a botanicals-based liqueur, and speciality spirits that don't need such a long maturation period.
The head of the Cambo Estate, Sir Peter Erskine, said: "It will be a fun and glorious adventure and will bring jobs to Scots people."
A Swede has the biggest collection of BenRiach malt whisky in the world. Magnus Fagerstrom (44) from Helsingborg in the south of the country started collecting BenRiach two years ago and now has 201 different bottles plus miniatures and toy trucks with the BenRiach logo on the side! Here, Magnus explains how his interest in BenRiach has grown over the years, how he has painstakingly put his collection together, the generosity of other fans, the detective work required to make the collection complete and, in Magnus’s opinion, the best BenRiach ever.
“Back in May 2004, I started to keep a record of which whiskies I tasted and over the next five years I evaluated almost 2800 different types. I then started to think about collecting full bottles but first I had to establish three important criteria.
“Number one is, of course, that it has to be a very good whisky. A friend of mine, Anders Melin, had given me some BenRiach, so that was the first criterion met. BenRiach it would be!
“Secondly, it had to be possible to get a complete collection. Before Billy Walker and his colleagues took over BenRiach, there was only one distillery bottling made, so that criterion was also met.
“In addition, I had to track down all the expressions and as I started collecting three years after the first new releases came, I had to investigate which ones had been issued and how to get hold of them. Two people gave me excellent help - Belgian collector Bert Bruyneel and Alistair Walker at BenRiach. The two most important criteria were therefore met.
“Thirdly, it had to be affordable and I thought it was.
“The final thing that convinced me I should collect BenRiach is that it was re-started in 1965 after 65 years of silence. I was born in 1965 so I thought that coincidence was an extra fun thing! Unfortunately, there were no casks from 1965 still in stock when Billy took over and I doubt whether there ever were any 1965 bottled as I haven’t heard of any.
“In collecting BenRiach, I’ve had excellent help from many friends around the world. I’ve been in contact with wonderful people in Taiwan, Japan, South Africa and all over Europe to get hold of different bottles for my collection. After a lot of research, there were just four bottles missing from the collection.
“I tried to buy them from Bert but initially he declined my offer. But then all of a sudden he said I could buy his whole collection of 80 bottles. His price was reasonable so I got a loan from my bank to fund the purchase. So now I have all the official bottlings ever made in my collection...as far as I know anyway!
“You might ask: why does a Swede get so excited about BenRiach? The answer is I like the fact that BenRiach has both peated and unpeated whisky. I also like the packaging and all the stuff that BenRiach does. And after I visited the distillery a few weeks ago I am even more excited. I had a great time with Stewart Buchanan that day.
“I’m often asked what is the oldest BenRiach I have. Age-wise, the oldest one is the BenRiach 40 year old but if we are talking about when it was bottled I have a BenRiach 1969 that was bottled in 1981.
“And the most I have ever paid for a bottle of BenRiach is £740 which I paid for the 40-year-old.
“Taste-wise, my favourite BenRiach bottling is the 1976, cask 3557, bottled for La Maison du Whisky in France. It is a fantastic dram. Very close behind is the 1976, cask 8079, bottled exclusively for the famous Craigellachie Hotel in Speyside. 1968 and 1976 seem to have been fantastic years for BenRiach.
“Another favourite is the 1980, cask 2535, Virgin Oak at 55%. It’s a very special whisky that has spent 26 years in a virgin cask. Actually, that is something that shouldn’t work but with BenRiach these virgin casks are excellent. There are some 1994 virgin casks released that are very good too.
“Collection-wise, my favourite bottlings are some of the special ones, like the “Cape Of Storms” bottles bottled for South Africa. A very special bottle is the 1994, cask 3244. It was bottled for Whisk-e in Japan and I have two different ones. One is made for Isetan (168 bottles) with the text “Exclusively for Isetan” on the label and the other doesn’t have that wording. Bottling dates are one month apart and there are only 60 bottles made without the Isetan text on the label.
“The fact is I have not tasted all of the BenRiachs in my collection, as some are just too valuable to open. I have not been able to afford to buy doubles of all of them, but I try to buy an extra bottle so I can taste them. I still have quite a few doubles that I haven’t opened yet, but there are a few bottles for which I don’t have doubles. I hope the distillery will provide me with samples of new bottlings so I can try them without having to buy double bottles. For independent bottlings, I only buy one of each as it is the distillery bottlings that are number one in my collection.
“I currently have 201different bottles of BenRiach: 45 are non-vintage distillery bottlings, 84 are single cask distillery bottlings and 72 are independent bottlings. I have ordered another 1 distillery bottling and 1 independent bottle but they haven’t arrived yet. I also have 9 miniatures and 12 toy trucks with BenRiach advertisements on the sides!
“I have some great stories about my collection. For example, I knew there was a 12-year-old called “Cape of Storms” exclusively bottled for South Africa. I had no idea how to get hold of one but a friend put me in touch with someone who had one. Unfortunately, after a lot of negotiations the guy backed out. I started to search the Internet and found a 16-year-old on WhiskyLive’s website in Cape Town. They forwarded my email to the importer in South Africa and he wrote back to say he had a special gift pack with both the 12 and 16-year-old! I emailed back, sent him a link to my webpage with my BenRiach collection, and the next day I got a very nice email. He had shown my collection to the two South African partners in BenRiach, Geoff Bell and Wayne Keiswetter, and they also liked what they saw. As it was close to my birthday, they sent me the two bottles as a gift! When the bottles arrived I had to pay Swedish tax, but I did that happily. And when I opened the box, inside was a “Happy Birthday” card signed by both Wayne and Geoff! I treasure that card almost as much as the “Cape of Storms” bottles!
“Another wonderful story relates to the time I picked up the bottles I bought from Bert Bruyneel. He kindly arranged a tasting which we finished with a 1976 bottled for the Craigellachie Hotel and then another 1976 for La Maison du Whisky. He told me to buy as many 1976 LMdWs as possible but at 195 euros I had only bought one; after tasting it I cursed myself for not having bought more. There was of course one in the collection I bought so I do have one extra for drinking. I tried to convince Bert to sell me another one as he had some unopened, but he refused. He said I was more than welcome to come and visit him and help him drink it but, as he put it: “This is the best BenRiach ever and I want it to last for the rest of my life”, so I totally understand that he holds on tightly to the ones he has!
“Everyone is different when it comes to how they drink BenRiach but personally I first taste everything neat. When evaluating, I always add a few drops of water to see what it does for the whisky. When I drink for pure pleasure I prefer it neat or sometimes with some water. Some whiskies are best neat even when they are very high in alcohol and others need some water to open them up a bit. But ice is an absolute no-no when it comes to my BenRiach!
“I’m often asked to sum up the unique appeal of BenRiach. I would say: “classic fruity Speyside with a peaty twist.
“I’m not a great fan of food with whisky as I prefer to have my whisky by itself. At tastings I use dark chocolate and crackers to cleanse the palate and sometimes coffee when it’s a big tasting, but I haven’t yet found any food with which I would like to drink whisky. A cigar once in a while with a nice whisky is good too.
“I have tasted BenRiach in many places but the best place was in Warehouse 13 at the distillery in the splendid company of BenRiach’s Distillery Manager Stewart Buchanan. Tasting BenRiach directly from the cask is unbeatable and I can’t wait for that 1970 sherry cask to be bottled!
“Probably the most memorable place I’ve tasted it was when I held my big BenRiach tasting with 32 guests, including Alan McConnochie from BenRiach / GlenDronach, and 21 different BenRiach single casks here in Helsingborg. Along one of the walls we set up shelves and on them was my whole BenRiach collection plus miniatures and toy trucks with the BenRiach logos. No-one else can set up a surrounding like that!
Here’s a full list of all the whiskies we tasted and the tasting order.
