Below are a few of the more interesting press releases that have found their way to our inbox over the past week…
Laphroaig, the Whisky That Never Sleeps
Show date: Thursday 26th September
Show times:
- 8pm New York
- 1am (27th) London
- 8am (27th) Hong Kong
Laphroaig Live is now in its seventh year and this year’s show will be broadcast live from the city that never sleeps, New York.
The venue for the evening is an original Hudson River Barge which, at over 99 years old, has seen cargo come and go into New York for almost a century. While the barge was taking its cargo into port, Ian Hunter – the last family owner of Laphroaig – was introducing the world to the now famous whisky. Legend has it he even introduced it to the USA during Prohibition by convincing authorities of its “medicinal” purposes!
An expert panel of guests will explore the strong ties between America and Laphroaig, stepping back in time to the era of Prohibition and tracing its heritage through to the booming whisky cocktail scene it helped create.
They’ll look first to the fastest growing Laphroaig expression, Quarter Cask, matured in barrels similar to those used in the early days of the distillery. To contrast this, the panellists will sample the latest expression, Laphroaig QA, which uses the American style of maturation. They will compare it to the classic American bourbon from sister distillery, Maker’s 46. The final expression will be the remarkable Cairdeas 2013, bottled for the Friends of Laphroaig. This unique expression used Port Wood for part of its maturation, resulting in an extraordinary taste and color.
As the show is live from New York, the home of the cocktail, we will have one of the city’s finest bartenders creating some exciting cocktails using Laphroaig in a very different way.
As always, we’ll be joined by Distillery Manager, John Campbell. This year he’ll be accompanied on the panel by Bourbon Ambassador Adam Harris, the renowned Michael J. Neff, Mixologist and Founder of Ward III and cocktail and spirit enthusiast Kevin Sintumuang, web editor of GQ A studio audience of Friends of Laphroaig will join the tens of thousands of Laphroaig fans worldwide that tune in to our live show every year. So join us – and them – for what’s set to be a phenomenal event!
John Campbell, Adam Harris, Michael J Neff and Kevin Sintumaung join us live online at www.laphroaig.com/live to take part in this live tasting session on Thursday 26th September 2013 at 20:00 EST
Click here to submit questions before the show: www.laphroaig.com/live
___________________________________________________________
What’s In a Name… Public Chooses Identity of New Glenmorangie Single Malt Whisky
Industry world first sees whisky fans name single malt Taghta (Tuh-ta), Gaelic for Chosen
Crowdsourcing venture is part of Glenmorangie’s Cask Masters programme which gives enthusiasts the chance to help create a new whisky: from selecting the whisky, to naming, to designing the packaging and even influencing the launch event
Whisky fans worldwide have for the first time ever chosen the name of a new single malt. The whisky – which has spent a number of years extra-maturing in exclusive Manzanilla sherry casks – has already been selected by the public when three casks of whisky were put to a vote earlier this year.
Last month it was revealed that Glenmorangie had asked enthusiasts to choose the name of its new single malt whisky. Scotland’s favorite malt whisky producer received thousands of suggestions, which were whittled down to a shortlist of three, translated in to Gaelic by expert Dr Aonghas MacCoinnich, and put to an online vote.
The winner, announced today (Wednesday 18 September) is Taghta (Tuh-ta), Gaelic* for Chosen. Coileanta (Coh-lahn-tah), Gaelic for Mastery came second while Salainn (Sahl-ing), Gaelic for Salt came third. Glenmorangie is keen to maintain links with its Gaelic heritage. Many of Glenmorangie’s finest whiskies boast Gaelic names while Glenmorangie itself famously means “Glen of Tranquility”.
Dr. Aonghas MacCoinnich is a researcher in the history of the Highlands at the University of Strathclyde. He was formerly a tutor in Celtic and Gaelic at the University of Glasgow and grew up speaking Gaelic as a first language on the Isle of Lewis. Dr MacCoinnich helped Glenmorangie choose the shortlist and translated the names into Gaelic. He said:
As predicted, it was really difficult to pick out the best three names from the thousands of entries we received from across the world. The public have now chosen their favorite and I’m very pleased with the result. It really is a good “choice” in all senses of the word. “Taghta” is widely used in Gaelic meaning something that is “excellent”, “choice” or “chosen” and is used to convey the idea of something that is well done.
The initiative is part of Glenmorangie’s unique crowdsourcing Cask Masters whisky creation programme which aims to get members of the public involved in the whisky-making process. It was launched on 2 March 2013 and will run for 18 months with the new limited edition Glenmorangie whisky ready for release in the autumn of 2014. And from today (Wednesday 18 September) stage three of the five-step Cask Masters programme begins where members of the public can upload pictures and ideas to an online gallery to inspire the packaging of the new Limited Edition single malt whisky.
Working with packaging expert Jon Davies from leading London design agency Butterfly Cannon, Glenmorangie will then create three designs which again will be put to a public vote. Whisky fans can take part by logging on to www.glenmorangie.com/caskmasters. Cask Masters is being overseen by Glenmorangie’s Dr Bill Lumsden, together with an expert in every field of the five-step process. Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation at the Glenmorangie Company said:
This name truly resonates and I don’t think we could have done any better if we’d chosen it ourselves! Glenmorangie has already taken inspiration from Gaelic for the names of some of its most famous creations and we are delighted that this unique whisky has such an intriguing name. Stage three of Cask Masters is now open and it’s going to be very interesting. Have you ever wandered through Duty Free at an airport wondering just how companies come up with the wonderful designs on the packaging? We’re sure the public won’t disappoint: we’re certainly impressed with the results so far.
About Glenmorangie: Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation to create ‘unnecessarily well made whiskies.
___________________________________________________________
Master Distillers’ Unity, A One-Of-A-Kind Exclusive Bottling
Dear Friend,
Here at Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. and the Bardstown Whiskey Society, we are excited for you to be among the first to know about a new and unprecedented bottling. Recently, Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. Since being given this diagnosis, Parker is using his Bourbon legacy to bring awareness to the disease, including a special Parker’s Heritage Collection “Promise of Hope” release and a one-of-kind, exclusive bottling.
This exclusive bottling, entitled Unity, is a one-of-kind, never-before-done bottling, where the seven Kentucky Bourbon Distilleries have come together to marry their Bourbon into one. There exists within the Bourbon industry a very unique brotherhood among Master Distillers. So, when Parker was diagnosed with ALS, it was natural for him to reach out to this brotherhood and ask for their help. Immediately, he received an overwhelming positive response and some specially selected Bourbon from each.
The result is Master Distillers’ Unity…a skillfully crafted blend of seven Bourbon mashbills bottled unprocessed and unfiltered at 100 proof. It marks the first and only time that these distilleries have come together to produce a united product. Two elegant crystal decanters with silver closures of this rare Bourbon will be offered at the Bonham’s Whisky, Cognac and Rare Spirits auction in New York City on October 13th. These two decanters are enclosed in a specially designed wooden chest, which bears the signatures of all the participating Master Distillers.
All proceeds from the auction will go toward the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund, established to raise money for research and patient care by The ALS Association in honor of the 6th Generation Master Distiller.
Now, we ask for your help. Please spread the word about the Unity bottling by sharing this e-mail with your friends, family and fellow Bourbon lovers. Visit unitybottling.com for more details and the latest information.
Best,
Heaven Hill Distilleries, Inc. and the Bardstown Whiskey Society