THAT BOUTIQUE-Y WHISKY COMPANY LAUNCHES NEW 52 YEAR OLD SINGLE GRAIN SCOTCH WHISKY

Multi-award-winning independent bottler That Boutique-y Whisky Company (TBWC) has announced the launch of a 52 Year Old single grain Scotch whisky, featuring artwork of Black Rock’s Tristan Stephenson and Thomas Aske.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Carsebridge 52 Year Old (40.5% ABV) is a single grain Scotch whisky, from the Lowland grain distillery which closed in 1983.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Carsebridge 52 Year Old

Known for their fun graphic-novel style labels, as well as their award-winning whiskies, TBWC’s latest release features world-class bartenders, mixologists and whisky enthusiasts Tristan Stephenson and Thomas Aske.

The duo are best known as the folk behind top London cocktail bars such as the Worship Street Whistling Shop and Purl, but their latest exciting project is an innovative whisky bar in Shoreditch named Black Rock.

The label depicts the Black Rock duo sat at the bar’s extraordinary 18 foot long European oak tree trunk table, complete with two 17 litre channels for ageing whiskies and cocktails as well as taps for serving them

This latest TBWC release also comes with a voucher on the back of each bottle allowing consumers to exchange it (once empty) at Black Rock for a free secret off-menu cocktail.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company was established in 2012 by Master of Malt, and bottles small batch single malts, blended malts, blended whiskies, grain whiskies and bourbons. In 2015 it won the World’s Best Blended Whisky award for its Blended Whisky #1 at the World Whiskies Awards.

That Boutique-y Whisky Company Carsebridge 52 Year Old, will be available later this month from specialist retailers for a RRP of £231.95.

Posted by Steve Rush

DISTELL ANNOUNCES NEW DISTILLERY MANAGER FOR JAMES SEDGWICK DISTILLERY

Distell has announced the appointment of Jeff Green as the new Distillery Manager, at the James Sedgwick Distillery in Wellington, South Africa.

Jeff will be taking over from Andy Watts, who after 25 years is now taking lead responsibility for the entire Distell whisky portfolio, as their Global Head of Whisky.

New Distillery Manager at James Sedgwick Distillery - Jeff Green

Andy will now be responsible for Distell’s Bunnahabhain, Deanston, Tobermory, Black Bottle and Scottish Leader Scotch whisky brands, along with providing strategic guidance to the production of the Three Ships and Bain’s Cape Mountain whisky brands, which are produced at the James Sedgwick Distillery.

Commenting on the news, Jeff Green, said: “It is an incredible honour to be appointed as distillery manager, only the 7th in the 130-year history of the distillery. I have the deepest respect and appreciation for what Andy has achieved during his tenure, not only shaping the way whisky is made in South Africa, but also creating a demand for our whiskies abroad with the incredible international awards he managed to garner over the years. It certainly is big shoes to fill, but I’m looking forward to taking on the challenge of catapulting South African whisky to the next level!”

Jeff has been working at the distillery as process manager and distiller since 2009, and has worked alongside Andy for the past six years, taking lead responsibility for mashing, fermentation and distillation.

Posted by Steve Rush

BALVENIE MALT MASTER DAVID STEWART AWARDED MBE

The Balvenie’s Malt Master David Stewart has been presented with an MBE medal by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for services to the Scotch whisky industry at a ceremony held earlier today in The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh.

David has dedicated almost 54 years of his life to the Scotch whisky industry. His pioneering techniques have had a profound impact on Scotch whisky production methods, and he is renowned for his ground-breaking work particularly around cask finishes for The Balvenie.

Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart awarded MBE

David will also be honoured with a book of congratulations, carefully designed in the style of an original whisky store register. Over the coming months pages from the book will travel across the globe, gathering well wishes and messages of congratulations from whisky enthusiasts, before returning to Scotland to be bound and presented to David.

Commenting on his MBE, David Stewart, said: “I feel very humbled to receive this award. I started my career as a whisky stocks clerk in 1962 and I didn’t expect to become a malt master.  I feel incredibly proud. I’ve been very fortunate to work for a family run company and it has allowed me the freedom to experiment throughout my career. It’s a privilege working in this industry so to be rewarded and recognised in this manner is very humbling.”

He went on to say: “I’ve received a number of messages from people all around the world. I’d like to thank those who have been kind enough to congratulate me on the award and to all of the wonderful people I’ve worked with since I started almost 54 years ago.”

David has also been recognised with a number of high profile industry awards throughout his career, including the Grand Prix of Gastronomy by the British Academy of Gastronomes, and lifetime achievement awards from the International Wine & Spirit Competition and Malt Advocate magazine. He has also been named as an Icon of Whisky and a Master of the Quaich.

Posted by Steve Rush