GEORGE DICKEL LAUNCHES NEW 17 YEAR OLD TENNESSEE WHISKY

Diageo has announced the launch of a new 17 Year Old expression from its George Dickel, Tennessee whisky brand.

George Dickel 17 Year Old (43.5% ABV) maintains George Dickel’s signature mash bill of 84 percent corn, 8 percent rye and 8 percent malted barley, and is said to offer a unique tasting experience due to the extended period of maturation in oak barrels.

George Dickel 17 Year Old

Incorporating George Dickel’s signature chill charcoal mellowing filtration and single story warehouse aging, this latest release is said to fit perfectly into George Dickel’s family of award winning whiskies.

When Allisa Henley, George Dickel’s Distiller first discovered the latest 17 Year Old addition to the portfolio, she wasn’t really even looking for it. At the time, she was searching George Dickel’s single story barrel warehouses for 9 Year Old whisky to use in their Hand Selected Barrel Program which she launched in 2014. However, after pulling a sample from a row of 17-Year Old barrels near the back of one of the warehouses, she knew it was too good not to share as the extra time in the barrel had resulted in a perfectly balanced, flavourful sipping whisky.

Commenting on the launch, Allisa Henley, said: “From the moment I first sipped it, I knew George Dickel 17-Year Old was special. People are going to remember where they were when they first tasted it, and I love knowing it will be right here in my home state of Tennessee.”

George Dickel 17 Year Old, will be available from their distillery visitors centre and specially selected retailers in Tennessee for a RRP $75.00.

Posted by Steve Rush

CHIVAS REGAL ANNOUNCES ITS 2016 MASTERS COMPETITION WINNER

Chivas Regal has announced Alejandro Millan Ponce de Leon from Instituto Culinario de Mexico and Bootlegger in Puebla, Mexico as its 2016 Chivas Masters competition winner.

The first major bartending competition to be held in Shanghai, saw Alejandro overcome fierce competition from 14 of the world’s most innovative bartenders over a five-day final.

2016 Chivas Masters Winner Alejandro Millan Ponce de Leon
with judges Chris Lowder, Naren Young, Leo Robitschek and Dre Masso

Alejandro also led a group of fellow finalists to victory who, as a team, were awarded the title of ‘Chivas Masters Collective’ for their pop-up bar, The Beach Brothers at Logan’s Punch. The team, comprising of Santiago Ortiz Jacome from Spain, Ben Rojo from the United States, Stanisław Domin from Poland, and Tomáš Melzer from Czech Republic will all embark on a once in a lifetime trip to the Tales of the Cocktail 2016 festival in New Orleans to learn from some of the industry’s most renowned bartenders.

Due to his team spirit, hospitality and outstanding drink creations Alejandro was awarded the overall Chivas Masters title. The expert panel of judges were impressed by Alejandro’s winning local cocktail, ‘El Jornalero’, which displayed a culinary connection with his region’s indigenous ingredients and showed a great authenticity tying it to the roots of his Mexican culture.

The 2016 Chivas Masters judging panel boasted some of the world’s top industry leaders: Chris Lowder, head bartender at the Four Seasons in Seoul; Naren Young, head bartender at Dante in New York City; industry legend Dre Masso; and Leo Robitschek, bar director of New York’s Eleven Madison Park, who each coached the finalists in a series of workshops and judged competitors on their bartending talent and ability to lead, mentor and inspire a team.

Commenting on the news, Alejandro said: “The global Chivas Masters final in Shanghai has opened my eyes and I hope that I have shown just what Mexico can do. It is a huge honour to hold the title of Chivas Master. The support of my team in Mexico and the amazing bartenders around me here at the global final has showed me that true brotherhood exists, and being able to work with these people is a great privilege.”

The accolade of Chivas Master will take Alejandro on a bespoke trip to one of the world’s most iconic bars in a city of his choice, to create a signature Chivas cocktail as a lasting contribution to the global competition.

Posted by Steve Rush

TEELING LANCHES SECOND BOTTLING OF ITS "THE RIVAL" IRISH SINGLE MALT WHISKEY

The Teeling Whiskey Company, has announced the launch of its second bottling of “The Revival”, a limited edition commemorative single malt, produced to mark the one-year anniversary of the Teeling Whiskey Distillery, the first fully operational distillery in Dublin for over 125 years. 

Teeling “The Revival” Volume II (46% ABV) is a 13 Year Old Single Malt Irish whiskey distilled in 2002, which has been matured initially for 12 years in ex-bourbon casks, before being given a further 12 months’ maturation in 250 litre ex-Calvados French apple brandy casks.

Teeling "The Revival" Volume II

The maturation provided by the Calvados cask is said to create a unique taste profile, reminiscent of floral baked apples and cinnamon rounded off with a toffee sweetness that’s perfectly balanced with a white pepper spiciness.

Commenting on their latest release, Jack Teeling, Founder and Managing Director of the Teeling Whiskey Company, said: “The one-year anniversary of our award winning distillery and visitor centre is a major milestone in the history of the Teeling Whiskey Company. We released Revival Vol I when the distillery first opened and one year on we are proud to unveil a second celebratory bottling – The Revival Vol II.”

He added: “Once again we selected a very special whiskey to celebrate the revival of distilling in Dublin with the first ever Calvados cask matured Irish whiskey. Our second bottling will be limited to only 10,000 bottles and sold both through our distillery as well as our domestic and international distributors.”

This latest release joins Teeling’s stable of award winning Irish whiskeys which have won over 75 International accolades over the last three years.

Limited to 10,000 bottles, Teeling “The Revival” Volume II, will be rolling out globally from the end of this month, for a RRP of €115.00.

Posted by Steve Rush