BUFFALO TRACE ANNOUNCES $1.2 BILLION DISTILLERY INVESTMENT TO INCREASE PRODUCTION

The Sazerac Company owned Buffalo Trace Distillery, has announced that it is investing $1.2 Billion in its Kentucky based distillery, in a bid to increase production and keep up with the demand for its bourbon brands.

Back in 2013, Buffalo Trace looked at its bourbon inventory, current sales, and 20-year sales projections and determined that it had a problem. Consumers were drinking more bourbon than the company had predicted. In short, the company was facing a bourbon shortage.


Buffalo Trace announces $1.2 Billion distillery investment to increase production


To help alleviate the situation, Buffalo Trace took a number of steps, including increased distillation, adding more bottling lines and putting bourbons most in danger of running out on allocation. But five years on, and even with more barrels coming of age over the next 12 months, the company still suspects it will not be enough to meet demand.

Buffalo Trace, has said that it now plans to increase production and will be replacing its boilers and adding a new bottling hall and a new cooling tower next summer. It also intends to build one new warehouse every four months for the next several years. Each warehouse cost $7.5 million to build and $21.0 million to fill with barrels. When complete, each of the new warehouses will hold 58,800 barrels of whiskey.

There’s good news for some of Sazerac’s other bourbon brands, including Eagle Rare, W. L. Weller, E. H. Taylor Jr and Blanton’s Single Barrel, as they will all see more barrels come of age and bottled in 2018.

Commenting on the news, Harlen Wheatley, Master Distiller at Buffalo Trace, said: “When I started with the company in 1995, we filled 12,000 barrels a year. Today the growth seems moderate, but when you think about how far we’ve come, it’s actually phenomenal, considering when we’re on track to produce 200,000 barrels this year.”

Buffalo Trace, has said it will continue to bottle other brand such as Van Winkle, George T. Stagg, Elmer T. Lee and Sazerac Rye as barrels mature, but unfortunately there will be little growth on these brands. It also expects the majority of its whiskeys will still be on allocation across the US.

Posted by Steve Rush

DEKANTĀ ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF PORT ELLEN CASK FINISHED THIRD ANNIVERSARY BOTTLING

Japanese whisky specialist Dekantā, has announced the launch of their first private label bottling, as part of their third anniversary celebrations.

Eigashima 2011 Kikou – Ki Series (58.4% ABV) is a six and half year old, single cask, single malt Japanese whisky, which was finished in a cask that previously held Port Ellen Islay Scotch whisky.

Eigashima 2011 Kikou - Ki Series

The Eigashima 2011 Kikou – Ki Series, is the first in the Ki Series of independently bottled Japanese whiskies from Dekantā, so called because each whisky in the series will explore an aspect of life imbued with the Japanese concept of Ki - one of the most meaningful words in the Japanese language.

The Kikou bottling is named after the Japanese word for ‘climate’, celebrating one of the most vital parts of Japanese whisky making. Drawing on the Ukiyo-e style of Japanese art, the label depicts a chrysanthemum, a flower local to Akashi City park, which is the home of the Eigashima distillery.

Commenting on the launch, Makiyo Masa, Company Director at Dekantā, said: “We have come a long way in three years and are delighted to present such a unique independent bottling of Japanese whisky to the dekantā family worldwide. Closed in 1983, Port Ellen is now an eminent name in Scotch whisky, the Karuizawa of the Scotch whisky world. Our first private cask bottling marries the characteristics of two internationally renowned distillers.”

Limited to 300 bottles, Eigashima 2011 Kikou – Ki Series, will be available exclusively from dekanta.com from June 15th, for a RRP of $650.00.

Posted by Steve Rush

JOHNNIE WALKER BLACK LABEL LAUNCHES NEW TRIPLE CASK TRAVEL RETAIL EXCLUSIVE

Diageo, has today announced the launch of a new Johnnie Walker Black Label blended Scotch whisky expression, exclusive to travel retail.

Johnnie Walker Black Label Triple Cask Edition (40% ABV) has been produced using three key Speyside malt whiskies, from Blair Athol, Cardhu and Strathmill, which have been matured in a combination of Bourbon, Caribbean rum and Scotch whisky casks.

Johnnie Walker Black Label Triple Cask Edition

This latest Johnnie Walker release, has been developed by the brands Master Blender Jim Beveridge and expert blender Chris Clark, and is said to be a rich Scotch whisky, with layers of sweet vanilla, ginger, toffee, brown sugar and a whisper of smoke.

Commenting on the launch, Roger Jackson, Commercial Director Europe & Middle East at Diageo Global Travel, said: "We're delighted to release Johnnie Walker Black Label Triple Cask Edition as part of an exclusive partnership with Dufry stores. Shoppers are set to be inspired and excited by the instore tasting opportunities and knowledgeable staff who will explore the creation of this brilliant new blend with whisky fans."

Last week, Diageo announced the launch of a new multi-million pound summer airport marketing campaign, to promote its Johnnie Walker blended Scotch whisky range across all Heathrow terminals in London and at Edinburgh airport.

Johnnie Walker Black Label Triple Cask Edition, will be available later this month exclusively from travel retail outlets, for a RRP of £28.00.

Posted by Steve Rush