Laphroaig broadcast live from Makers Mark, Kentucky, USA‏

We received this recent news from Laphroaig Distillery.

I have been talking to you for some time about our plans for the next live broadcast. Well I am extremely excited to announce that we have finally confirmed everything and this year’s broadcast will be live from the Maker’s Mark distillery in Kentucky, USA.

For those of you who know a lot about Laphroaig you will know that we mature our whisky in Maker’s Mark barrels so it is a fitting collaboration I think - plus it’s a bit sunnier there than here on Islay so it should be a lovely setting!

We will be holding the event on Friday 25th September 2009 at 20:00 (EST - Kentucky time!).

The broadcast will last around 40 minutes and will include a live question and answer session where you will be invited to put your questions to the panel. This will include Kevin Smith- master blender for Maker’s Mark, John Hansell - author of the famous Malt Advocate and of course myself. We will also have Simon Brooking, our US Ambassador on hand to answer any questions. ….

Slàinte,

John Campbell
Distillery Manager

Popularity: 78% [?]

Local content means whisky, too

By Ted Whipp, Windsor Star

An informal seminar at Hiram Walker’s Canadian Club brand heritage centre earlier this week on the merits of Canadian rye, Kentuck bourbon and, uh, Scottish scotch offered insight and interesting bits of information. Consider:

• Canadian Club actually contains most of its grain from U.S. farmers, about 60-40. The C.C. whisky is aged six years. But the premium versions aren’t just aged longer, but the formulation changed to improve the whisky. Hint: try the 10-year-old, which may not get as much attention as the 12-year-old reserve.

• The brand remains a big seller, here, there, worldwide. Almost three million cases annually.

• The ‘e’ in the American and Irish spellings of whiskey in contrast to the Canadian spelling sans ‘e’ relates to the heritage. Many Irish settled in the U.S. and brought their traditions with them, including the spelling of whiskey. In Canada, whisky’s heritage here connects with Scottish settlers.

• The rule of two applies to enjoying Canadian Club, says a brand manager, Dan Tullio. That is, two cubes of clean ice (see next note), two ounces of C.C. in a glass and let sit for two minutes. Sip, say ahh. Elegantly simple dontcha think?

• Clean ice. Fresh ice cubes are the best in drinks; that is, ice made within 24 hours. Otherwise, the ice can pick up freezer odours affecting flavour. Who knew?

• Yes, we did say whisky’s popular. That includes Kentucky bourbon in the great white North, says a brand person with Jim Beam. The market continues to improve in Canada for Jim Beam. And watch for the whiskey-maker’s new Red Stag, a bourbon with, of all things, black cherry flavour. Hint: no, it doesn’t taste like cough syrup. Promise, says the bourbon guy.

• Whisky can replace vodka. Of course, whisky brand people would say that. But they do encourage people to enjoy the flavour and difference, substituting whisky for vodka in drinks.

• And if you haven’t been to the Canadian Club brand heritage centre in awhile, well, it’s still worth a visit. Even if only for the distiller’s art collection alone. Hint: take a look at the marketing material from decades gone, the advertisements and layouts. Shades of Mad Men and the daze of the cocktail age. Wonderful.

Popularity: unranked [?]

Bracket Tournament of Scottish Blends… cont.

 The second match had the #7 seed Ballentine’s Finest going against the #2 seed Smokehead. This also proved to be closer than expected. Ballentine’s is very smooth and includes the whisky from over 50 single malts. It is regarded as the taste to satisfy a modern style.  The first thing you notice from Smokehead  is its clever marketing of tin and bottle. The second noticeable trait is the ‘nose’  WOW. A full bouquet of  everything that is an Islay malt.

Popularity: 43% [?]

Magic? Think Again

Popularity: 27% [?]

Gibson’s Canadian Whisky Contest

Enter  Here

Enter  Here

Popularity: 35% [?]

Thousands march in Scotland over whisky plant closure

(AFP) – Jul 26, 2009

LONDON — Thousands of people took to the streets of a Scottish town Sunday to protest against the planned closure of a whisky plant with the loss of some 700 jobs, organisers said.

Holding banners, 20,000 protesters, including politicians, workers and their families and members of the town football team, marched through Kilmarnock in western Scotland where Johnnie Walker started blending whisky in the 1820s.

The country’s First Minister Alex Salmond said the protest was another step in a campaign to try to keep open the bottling plant and a grain distillery in nearby Glasgow, both owned by drinks giant Diageo.

“The tens of thousands at the demonstration today in Kilmarnock is a demonstration of the absolute willing and determination in this town and this community to keep Johnnie Walker in this community,” Salmond told the crowd.

“So let’s have no more nonsense from anyone that these proposals are in any way socially acceptable to the people of Scotland.”

Diageo has said the closure of the Johnnie Walker bottling plant and Port Dundas distillery over a two-year period will lead to the loss of 900 jobs.

Link To Full Story

Popularity: 21% [?]

Whisky industry sheds more jobs

By Andrew Bolger, Scotland Correspondent; FT.com

The Scotch whisky industry suffered another blow yesterday when Whyte & Mackay announced it would cut up to 85 jobs from its 574-strong Scottish workforce.

The Glasgow-based spirits company said 15 sales staff outside Scotland might also be affected, but none of its seven Scottish locations would close.

The announcement came just weeks after Diageo caused a political storm in Scotland by announcing it would cut 900 jobs over the next two years - including 700 jobs at Kilmarnock, where Johnny Walker whisky has been bottled since 1820.

John Beard, chief executive of Whyte & Mackay, said: “It will come as no surprise to anybody that a combination of the worldwide economic situation and the punitive UK legislative climate means that only the fittest alcoholic drink companies will survive. For Whyte & Mackay this means taking the painful decision to review our structures and costs.”

Whyte & Mackay was bought two years ago for £595m by United Spirits of India, and has an annual turnover of £150m.

As well as its own blended whisky, it also produces the malt whiskies Isle of Jura, The Dalmore and Fettercairn, Vladivar vodka and Glayva liqueur.

Mr Beard said: “We are hopeful that this difficult decision will ensure Whyte & Mackay has a sustainable future going forward, leaving us in a strong position to grow when the UK and global economy improves.”

Harry Donaldson, of the GMB union, said the announcement was bitterly disappointing for the workforce.

Popularity: 24% [?]