WALSH WHISKEY ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION DEAL

Walsh Whiskey has announced a partnership agreement with drinks distributer Spirits Platform, for the distribution and management of its Irish whiskey brands in Australia.

Coinciding with the recent opening of Walsh Whiskey’s new distillery at Royal Oak in Ireland’s County Carlow and Spirits Platform’s first birthday, the deal will see the introduction of Walsh Whiskey’s The Irishman’s Founder’s Reserve, The Irishman Single Malt, The Irishman 12 Year Old Single Malt and The Irishman Cask Strength expressions into the Australian market for the first time.

Walsh Whiskey's - The Irishman whiskey range

Established in 1999 by husband and wife team Bernard and Rosemary Walsh , The Irishman has gathered a swathe of international awards including being named Irish Whiskey Brand of the Year at the New York International Spirits Competition in November 2015.

The Walsh Whiskey Distillery is the only independent Irish whiskey distillery producing all three styles of Irish whiskey; pot still, malt and grain from its two production lines using both pot stills and column stills.

The exclusive distribution agreement follows Spirits Platform CEO Ian Atherton’s visit to Ireland in June for the opening of the new €25 million Walsh Whiskey Distillery and visitor centre.

Commenting on the news, Bernard Walsh, Co-Founder of Walsh Whiskey Distillery, said: “We were delighted to seal our partnership with Spirits Platform during Ian’s recent visit to Royal Oak. Whilst Australia currently accounts for two percent of global Irish whiskey sales – this is a number I’m sure will grow under the stewardship of the Spirits Platform team.”

Walsh Whiskey’s Irishman and Writers Tears brands are currently sold in 40 countries. In June the company signed a partnership agreement with Helsinki based drinks distributor Altia, to supply Nordic markets.

Posted by Steve Rush

BENRIACH LAUNCHES BATCH 13 OF ITS SINGLE CASK BOTTLINGS

The multi-award winning, Elgin based BenRiach Distillery Company, has today announced the launch of its latest batch of single cask bottlings.

BenRiach Single Casks Batch 13, comprises of 12 single malts, ranging from 16 to 40 years old in age, which include a number of different finishes; Tawny Port, Burgundy, Pedro Ximenez , Claret, Madeira and Tokaj.

BenRiach Single Casks Batch 13 inc a 40 Year Old Peated Sherry Butt expression

All 12 casks were hand-selected by BenRiach Master Distiller, Billy Walker, before being bottled without chill filtration or colouring, then filled into individually hand-numbered bottles.

Full cask and bottling details of BenRiach Single Cask Batch 13:

1975 #7028 40yr - Sherry Butt – Peated - 53% ABV.
1976 #5462 39yr - Port Hogshead - Peated Tawny Port Finish - 53.8% ABV.
1977 #3111 38yr - Port Hogshead - Tawny Port Finish - 43.1% ABV.
1978 #3114 37yr - Port Hogshead - Tawny Port Finish - 48.8% ABV.
1986 #3183 30yr - Pedro Ximenez Hogshead - Peated Pedro Ximenez Finish - 55.6% ABV.
1986 #7569 29yr - Oloroso Sherry Butt - Peated Oloroso Sherry Finish - 51% ABV.
1991 #6896 24yr - Burgundy Barrel - Burgundy Finish - 50.6% ABV.
1993 #7937 22yr - Claret Hogshead - Claret Finish - 54.3% ABV.
1994 #4004 22yr - Tokaj Hogshead - Peated Tokaj Finish - 55.1% ABV.
1995 #5959 20yr - Madeira Hogshead - Madeira Finish - 53.9% ABV.
1998 #6401 18yr Pedro Ximenez Puncheon - Trip Dist Pedro Ximenez Finish - 57.3% ABV.
1999 #5043 16yr - Oloroso Sherry Puncheon - Oloroso Sherry Finish - 56.4% ABV.

Commenting on the launch, Billy Walker, said: “Our much-anticipated batches allow us to identify very special casks in our inventory and every single cask bottling is an exclusive limited release. I have selected these twelve casks because they are outstanding and full of personality.”

The BenRiach Distillery Company also announced this week, the release of two other BenRiach expressions; 17 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Sherry Wood Finish and a 21 Year Old Tawny Port Wood Finish, along with a new GlenDronach 14 Year Old Virgin Oak Wood Finish expression.

BenRiach Single Casks Batch 13, will be available globally later this month from specialist retailers. RRP’s to be confirmed.

Posted by Steve Rush

DUNCAN TAYLOR LAUNCHES THE LATEST BATCH OF ITS BLACK BULL 40 YEAR OLD BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY

Duncan Taylor & Company, has announced the launch of the seventh batch of its limited edition Black Bull 40 Year Old blended Scotch whisky expression.

Black Bull 40 Year Old – Batch 7 (47.6% ABV) is a blended Scotch whisky with a ratio of 86% malt to 14% grain, with competent parts including: Aberlour 1975, Macallan 1969 and Glenlivet 1968.

Black Bull 40 Year Old - Batch 7

This latest release from the multi award winning Scotch whisky merchant, is said to deliver a style of whisky that is rich and full bodied in character, with notes of toffee apples, milk chocolate, grapefruit and mango.

Black Bull was first released in 1864 and is blended to the same formula today as it was back then, using a large percentage of quality Speyside and Highland malts, matured in sherry and bourbon casks.

The Huntly based company has ownership of one of the largest privately held collections of rare Scotch whisky casks. 

Commenting on the news, Euan Shand, CEO at Duncan Taylor & Company, said: “Black Bull 40 year old is a world class whisky and it has been worth the wait to add it to our portfolio.  We are confident that it will take its place amongst the best luxury whiskies available today and cement our position in the market place.”

Limited to 1,500 bottles, Black Bull 40 Year Old – Batch 7, will be available later this month from specialist retailers for a RRP of £750.00.

Posted by Steve Rush