BENRIACH LAUNCHES ITS 15TH BATCH OF 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 15, is comprised of 17 casks: 11 unpeated and 6 peated, which have been matured in an eclectic mix of casks, including port pipes, moscatel hogsheads, sauternes barriques, virgin oak and rum barrels.

BenRiach launches its 15th batch of single cask bottlings

Each year, BenRiach’s Master Blender Rachel Barrie, selects a number of distinct casks which celebrate what the distillery describes as its ‘creative distilling and maturation heritage’. BenRiach holds some of the most experimental casks in Speyside, making it uniquely placed to offer a multi-faceted range of casks in both unpeated and peated styles.

The full cask and bottling details and release markets of the BenRiach Single Casks Batch 15:

1991 Cask #6898 - 26yr - Burgundy Baroque: 49.4% ABV (Europe)
1992 Cask #979 - 25yr - Port Hogshead: 53.9% ABV (Can, Asia, Aus, NZ)
1995 Cask #7383 - 22yr - Peated / Oloroso Sherry Butt: 51.1% ABV (Can, Asia, Aus, NZ)
1997 CASK #4437 - 20yr - Marsala Hogshead: 54.8% ABV (Can, Asia, Aus, NZ)
1997 Cask #7859 - 20yr - Virgin Oak Hogshead: 53.1% ABV (Europe)
2005 CASK #5014 - 12yr - Oloroso Sherry Butt: 58.1% ABV (Can, Asia, Aus, NZ)
2006 CASK #1855 - 11yr - Sauternes Barrique: 56.5% ABV (Can, Asia, Aus, NZ)
2006 CASK #2406 - 11yr - Port Pipe: 58.7% ABV (Can, Asia, Aus, NZ)
2007 CASK #8731 – 10yr - Moscatel Hogshead: 59.2% ABV (Europe)
2007 CASK #8737 - 10yr - Moscatel Hogshead: 58.9% ABV (Can, Asia, Aus, NZ)
2007 CASK #3236 – 10yr - Oloroso Sherry Butt: 58.5% ABV (Europe)
2008 CASK #5807 - 10yr - Sauternes Barrique: 59.7% ABV (Europe)
2005 CASK #2682 – 12yr - Peated / Port Pipe: 53.9% ABV (Can, Asia, Aus, NZ)
2007 CASK #7722 – 10yr - Peated / Virgin Oak Hogshead: 57.1% ABV (Europe)
2007 CASK #3071 – 10yr - Peated / Oloroso Sherry Butt: 58.3% ABV (Europe)
2007 CASK #7610 – 11yr - Peated / Rum Barrel: 59.5% ABV (Europe)
2008 CASK #2048 – 9yr - Peated / Port Pipe: 61.7% ABV (Europe)

Commenting on the launch, Rachel Barrie, said: “Batch 15 provides a rare opportunity to explore the many facets of BenRiach maturation in one batch, something us whisky makers are lucky to do every day. From the sweet side of Marsala wood to the exotic fruity side of Rum and the barbecued smokiness of charred American Virgin oak, there is a cask to suit every whisky lover’s palate. Now’s the time to explore, take your pick and find the cask you most enjoy!”

The BenRiach Single Casks Batch 15 bottlings, will be available in their selected markets later this month. RRP’s (tbc).

Posted by Steve Rush

JOHNNIE WALKER LAUNCHES NEW MULTI-MILLION POUND SUMMER AIRPORT MARKETING CAMPAIGN

Diageo, has announced the launch of a new multi-million pound summer airport marketing campaign, to promote its Johnnie Walker blended Scotch whisky brand.

This latest promotion, which continues the brands Keep Walking campaign, will feature prominently across all Heathrow terminals in London and at Edinburgh airport, where visitors will also be treated to what is described as an array of spectacular aerial photographs of some of Scotland's most mesmerising locations.

Johnnie Walker launches new multi-million pound summer airport marketing campaign

Drawing on the fact that Johnnie Walker whisky is crafted by bringing together some of the best individual whiskies from the four corners of Scotland, the new campaign celebrates what happens when great whiskies and great people come together and includes a series of feel-good films, digital and static advertising that emphasise this sentiment.

Commenting on the news, John Williams, Johnnie Walker Global Brand Director, said: "A commitment to making quality whisky for quality times has always been important to us. For the best part of 200 years we've sought out the best whiskies from all over Scotland for people to enjoy when they get together with those who matter to them. That's what really excites me about this campaign, it's a chance to put a spotlight on the fact that we bring together exceptional tasting Scotch Whiskies from every corner of Scotland. I'm particularly excited to see the campaign come to life in Global Travel as we know that Johnnie Walker is synonymous with millions of travellers across the world as a Scotch whisky that people can enjoy when they get together with friends and family."

The new Johnnie Walker campaign, which will also feature at airports throughout Europe, will be live in London Heathrow and Edinburgh Airport until September 2018.

Posted by Steve Rush

EDINBURGH ENTREPRENEURS LAUNCH NEW PERCEPTION CHALLENGING BLENDED MALT

A group of Edinburgh based entrepreneurs, have announced the launch of a new blended Scotch whisky, in a bid to shake-up the market and challenge traditional perceptions of Scotland’s national drink.

Black Tartan (40% ABV) is a blended malt Scotch whisky, comprised of single malts from four undisclosed Highland distillery’s.

Black Tartan Blended Malt Scotch whisky

Black Tartan, which takes its name from the “black” of the highly charred casks the spirits are matured in and “tartan” to represent the blend of whiskies, has been launched by Edinburgh-based entrepreneurs, Andrew Skene, Tom Melville and Alexander Harrison.

This new perception challenging blended malt Scotch whisky, is described by its founders, to have a slightly sweeter taste than is usually associated with Highland whiskies, due to its maturation in highly charred barrels. Black Tartan creators say this process releases a distinctive, sophisticated bourbon-like flavour which allows it to be at once robust enough for mixers, and smooth enough to be enjoyed neat or over ice.

Blended malt whisky, is a relatively untapped part of the market and Black Tartan believes it has great potential to grow by offering consumers something new and different. Official HMRC figures reveal that in 2017, blended malt Scotch whisky exports were only worth 1.8 per cent of total Scotch exports which reached £4.4 billion.

Commenting on the launch, Andrew Skene, said: “Black Tartan is a new, fun brand of blended malt Scotch whisky. It’s an authentically Scottish but modern, hand-crafted whisky. It’s designed, distilled, blended, bottled and owned in Scotland, by Scots. We find the traditionally held view that Scotch should never be mixed and should be tasted in a certain way, elitist, snobbish and cliched. It represents a barrier to some people to even trying whisky because they are put off by the ‘rules’ around it.”

He went onto say: “We’re trying to do our bit to change that misconception and reach out to new generations of whisky drinkers. We want to keep it real and let people drink Scotch any way they want to. It’s totally up to the individual drinker and that’s the point – if you only like it neat or with water then go for it, because that’s a great way to enjoy it. But it’s not the only way. It’s something we feel passionately about and it’s the reason we created Black Tartan.”

Black Tartan, will be available later this month from specialist retailers, for a RRP of £28.00.

Posted by Steve Rush