RECEIVING a bottle of whisky for your birthday is not unusual - but one famous Scot has had 250 bottles made especially for him.
Famous Grouse have created the special edition bottles to celebrate the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth and Homecoming 2009.
The bottles, one to signify each year since his birth, will be given to Burns Suppers across the globe and auctioned off for charity.
As well as containing a 37-year-old blended malt whisky, the bottles are decorated with a drawing of the famous bard by John Byrne, a Scottish artist and playwright.
Byrne has created album artwork for stars such as The Beatles, making him almost as famous as the bard himself.
He said: “It is an honour as a Scottish writer and artist, to create a picture to adorn the bottle commemorating Scotland’s National Poet. It is fantastic to see that 250 years on Robert Burns’ legacy is still being celebrated both at home and abroad.”
The bottles are a major part of the World Famous Burns Supper Celebration, where groups from around the world can register their Burns Supper plans and let others know what they’re getting up to.
They are also hoping to achieve a new World Record for the most Burns suppers ever held.
Once registered, the groups can then apply to get one of the special bottles to auction off at their event, raising money for a worthy cause.
As a group the bottles are valued at £400, but it is hoped that they can raise more than £10,000 for charity.
There are around 1,500 events already registered on www.burnssupper2009.com, including celebrations from all corners of the world.
Famous Grouse whisky is providing bars across Scotland with Burns promotional kits to help celebrate Burns Night in January.Each kit contains scratchcards and customers stand a chance of winning limited edition World Famous Burns Supper toasting glasses.
Sampling will also be taking place during January in key supermarkets across Scotland.
Assistant brand manager for Famous Grouse, Jen McLaren, said: “The 25 January marks the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns’ birthday and we will be providing bars and wholesalers with Burns Night tools to help them mark the occasion."
In addition to the kits and sampling, Famous Grouse is also the official sponsor of www.burnssupper2009.com.
The website has been developed by Homecoming Scotland 2009 to bring Burns’ devotees from around the world together online, calling on them to register their celebrations, big, small, traditional or unusual.
When people in Venezuela turned up at their New Year's Eve parties, many would have been carrying with them a bottle of the nation's favourite tipple: Scotch whisky.
Imported Scotch outsells local rums and other liquors in Venezuela by a ratio of almost two-to-one, making it the sixth biggest market worldwide. Indeed, Venezuelans claim to drink more Scotch than the Scots.
"It's effectively become the national drink," says Gavin Hewitt of the Scotch Whisky Exporters Association in Edinburgh, "and its popularity is still growing."
Whisky in Venezuela is certainly big business.
In 2007, Venezuelans consumed somewhere in the region of 3.4m boxes of whisky, and the trade is worth $151m (£104m) a year to the Scotch whisky industry.
In fact the only countries which consume more are the US, Spain, France, Singapore and South Korea.
"My sales of whisky tend to peak at Christmas and the New Year, as the wholesalers give us special offers which we can pass on to the customers," says Alejandro Castro of CeLicor, a liquor store in central Caracas.
"But over the course of the year, I always sell much more whisky than rum. If I had to choose between the two, I'd definitely pick whisky. It moves off the shelves more quickly and it's more expensive."
Rum rejected
Up in one of the trendiest bars in Caracas, The 360º, which boasts amazing panoramic views across the city, people are sipping tall glasses of whisky and ice on the rooftop bar.
Everywhere you turn, you can hear English being spoken - a clear sign that the place is aimed at an upper class clientele and not Venezuela's poor majority. The price of the drinks reflects that too.
"Between all of us, a bottle like this doesn't work out so expensive," says customer Fortunato Castellanos, who's drinking a 12-year-old blend with two friends.
"The way people drink whisky in Venezuela has been the same for years - you all chip in for a bottle, add lots of ice and then drink it before the meal, while you eat and afterwards. That's probably why we drink so much of it here."
Nevertheless, it still seems strange that, in the country which produces some of the highest quality rum in the Caribbean, Venezuelans who can afford it choose to drink imported whisky instead.
"I doubt it'd make any difference if the price went up," says Fortunato. "Most people would still choose it over rum. Whisky's a social thing."
Isn't there an irony in that an ostensibly socialist country is consuming more of a luxury good such as whisky than richer countries with much bigger populations such as Germany and Japan? Not really, says Alejandro Castro.
"Whisky is no longer the preserve of the rich. These days almost everyone in Venezuela is able to drink it. It's not just an upper class drink.
"A bottle of scotch ranges from 33 bolivars (around $15 at the official exchange rate) to about 10 times that, so there is a whisky for almost every budget."
Unscathed so far
However, one man who isn't as keen on the boom in whisky is President Hugo Chavez.
A well-known moderate when it comes to alcohol, Mr Chavez spoke of the huge whisky imports during one of his weekly televised addresses in 2007.
"Is this the whisky revolution?" he asked rhetorically, "or perhaps the Hummer revolution?" referring to the American-made SUV - another luxury item of which Venezuela is one of the world's leading importers.
At the time he announced a series of measures including increased taxes on imported alcohol and a curb on the consumption of whisky at state parties. But Gavin Hewitt says his industry has been relatively unscathed so far.
"At the time, I initially thought he was targeting the whisky exporters in Scotland with those comments. But I've been to Venezuela since, and I now think that Mr Chavez was referring to a whole category of luxury goods which don't necessarily fit with his social politics," he says.
"I think as long as import controls, quotas and various new taxes are not introduced deliberately against Scotch whisky, and at the moment I don't see that as being the case, then Venezuela will continue to be a very thriving market."
Trouble ahead?
Since Mr Chavez spoke publicly about whisky however, the world economic downturn has taken hold and the president has recently warned industrialists and businessmen to be ready for new economic rules in Venezuela in 2009.
Despite the gloomy predictions for the global economy and the president's suggestion that the consumption of imported whisky is anti-revolutionary, Mr Hewitt is confident that the sheer popularity of Scotch will insulate it from any new government controls.
"I think President Chavez understands that if Scotch whisky has effectively become the national drink of Venezuela, there might well be electoral consequences if people found themselves unable to purchase it."
In the end, though, it may not be the government which slows down the hold Scotch has on the Venezuelan liquor market, but rather the consumers themselves.
With inflation running at over 30%, and many Venezuelans bracing themselves for harder economic times in 2009, those local rums may look like a much more attractive option on the pocket by next New Year's Eve.
Work on a £250,000 development of the GlenDronach malt whisky brand is getting under way.
The Aberdeenshire distillery was bought earlier this year from Chivas Brothers by the Larbert-based BenRiach Distillery Company.
BenRiach managing director Billy Walker said the investment was the beginning of a strategy to re-package and re-launch GlenDronach worldwide.
A major part of the investment is the development of a new visitor centre.
Regional sales director James Cowan said: "GlenDronach is a bit of a sleeping giant.
"But we have great plans for it in our markets in the UK, Germany, USA, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and China, amongst others.
"We're looking forward to breathing new life into it and giving it the attention and commitment it deserves."
Plans for Shetland whisky distillery not dead, as new firm emerges
Former Blackwood chief executive says Catfirth set to take proposals forward
Blackwood Distillers, the company behind plans for Shetland’s first whisky distillery, has re-emerged under a new name.
The venture continues as standalone business Catfirth after the sale of Blackwood Distillers’ white spirit subsidiary.
Details about the new firm were revealed yesterday by Caroline Whitfield, former chief executive of Blackwood Distillers who resigned from the post in July.
Ms Whitfield, who now lives at Nairn, told the Press and Journal: “A new company called Catfirth was set up as a shell company in June, ready for investment to take forward the whisky plan after the Shetland Spirit Company was sold to Blavod in May.
“This was what shareholders wanted.
“All previous shareholders now have shares in Catfirth, including me as a minority shareholder, although I am not a director of the new company.”
Shetland Spirit Company, which sold gin, vodka and vodka-based liqueurs, went into administration in May before its assets were sold to drink company Blavod.
The Catfirth company – named after the site at Nesting, 10 miles north of Lerwick, where the firm has plans to locate its distillery – had not put a date on construction of the distillery, Ms Whitfield said.
She said: “I can’t speak on behalf of other shareholders and I don’t want to say another date and see it flip again.
“I can say that a number of parties could be putting funds in and Catfirth is also looking at lower-cost options going forward.”
Blackwood Distillers, which first came on the scene in 2002, saw former executive chairman Tony Mair quit in June and international sales director Tara Benson leave in February, both to pursue other business interests.
The company had been through a tough time since launching in autumn 2002.
It originally said it wanted to have its £5million whisky distillery open by the end of 2004, but plans have suffered from continual planning and other delays, including in gaining the funding required.
Ms Whitfield said yesterday, however, that proposals for Scotland’s most northerly distillery were not dead.
William Grant releases Glenfiddich malt for Dubai Duty Free
The Glenfiddich Private Vintage 1983 was released to coincide with Dubai Duty Free's 25th anniversary
William Grant & Sons has produced an exclusive Glenfiddich Single Malt Scotch Whisky Private Vintage to celebrate Dubai Duty Free’s (DDF’s) 25th anniversary.
The Glenfiddich Private Vintage 1983, which was bottled exclusively for the travel-retailer and went on sale in the week leading up to the anniversary, is matured for more than 25 years in a European oak sherry cask.
William Grant & Sons’ business development manager Michel Aboujawdeh said: “We are delighted to offer our colleagues at DDF this exclusive Glenfiddich Private Vintage to mark 25 years of successful travel retailing and are confident that passengers travelling through Dubai airport will enjoy this rather special vintage.”
DDF managing director Colm McLoughlin said: “This is a very special anniversary for the operation and I am delighted that William Grant & Sons have produced this very special 1983 vintage to mark our 25th anniversary. I would like to thank all involved and am sure that our customers will appreciate this unique opportunity to buy this one of a kind vintage.”
Distillery toasts first cask of new spirit in 22 years
Glenglassaugh staff celebrate latest milestone following plant’s reopening last month
The first cask of new spirit produced at a north-east distillery in 22 years has been filled.
Staff at Glenglassaugh Distillery, near Portsoy, are celebrating the milestone less than a month after the plant was officially reopened. Managing director Stuart Nickerson said: “Glenglassaugh is one of Scotland’s best malt whiskies and we are proud we have helped resurrect the distillery. Today we are filling casks that we will nurture for many years before they are ready to be appreciated by our discerning consumers.”
The distillery, which was bought earlier this year by Dutch investment group Scaent, was opened last month by First Minister, Alex Salmond.
It was mothballed in 1986 during a period of retrenchment in the whisky industry, but Scaent have invested about £1million to bring the distillery back into operation.
It is hoped up to 20 new jobs will be created at the plant, along with a visitor centre.
At the opening ceremony, Mr Salmond claimed the distillery could be “an engine for the local economy”.
The first samples of the new spirit produced indicate it is of excellent quality and should mature to the high standard expected from Glenglassaugh.
Casks selected for the first filling are a mixture of butts and hogsheads and it will be some years before the whisky is mature enough to bottle.
While customers wait, the distillery plans to release limited quantities of 21-year-old, 30-year-old and 40-year-old whisky to the market.
Mr Nickerson said: “It has been a journey over the past year and to end 2008 on such a high is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the team here.”
New Zealanders will get a unique opportunity to meet seven of the world’s most knowledgeable whisky experts next year.
Representatives from seven of Scotland’s most prestigious whisky distilleries and independent bottlers are flying to New Zealand in late February for the second Dram Fest whisk(e)y festival. Between them they have over 200 years of experience in the industry.
“We think attendees will be delighted with the lineup at Dram Fest this year,” says organiser Michael Fraser Milne. “The stories and knowledge our experts will share comes from a wealth of history covering the spectrum of whisky-making. Ian McWilliam will be here from Glenfarclas, a distillery which has been operating since 1836 through six generations of family ownership. At the other end we have Anthony Wills from Kilchoman, the newest distillery in Scotland, and whose whisky will be tasted for the first time at Dram Fest 09.”
The festival is organised by Fraser Milne, owner of local whisky shop ‘Whisky Galore’. Stocking over 500 whiskies, the store opened in 2003 and is seriously dedicated to all aspects of the whisky public’s needs.
Distilleries and distributors represented at the festival will be Glenfarclas (Ian McWilliam) and Benriach (Billy Walker) from Speyside; Glengoyne (Jonathan Scott), Tullibardine (Michael Beamish) and Glenmorangie (Dr Bill Lumsden) from the Highlands; and Kilchoman (Anthony Wills) from Islay.
They are joined by some of the most-respected independent bottling companies in Scotland - Stewart Laing from Douglas Laing & Co.Ltd., Alex Bruce from Adelphi and Derek Hancock from Gordon and McPhail.
“Dram Fest is a very friendly event, and our stars will be very accessible to attendees,” says Fraser Milne. “Most will have the chance to chat to our experts at some stage during the festival.”
The festival will include tastings and appreciation classes, a whisky cocktail demonstration, a nosing/tasting competition and an evening ‘Whisky Do’.
Scotland’s rarest show off joins its famous cousin in Christmas campaign
This Christmas, for the first time in 12 years one of the UK’s most recognisable brands,
The Famous Grouse, has a new playmate – The Black Grouse. The Black Grouse will cut a dashing figure when he arrives on our screens, boasting a more complex personality than his cousin to match the new whisky’s darker character. The first ad is due to air on Channel 4 at 9pm during Gordon Ramsay: Cookalong Live.
In keeping with the new whisky, The Black Grouse, the new advert brings to life a smooth yet smoky version of The Famous Grouse. Entitled ‘Stormy Night’, the advert still retains the humorous style in which The Famous Grouse ads have become known for.
The Black Grouse exemplifies a slightly cooler version of the Red Grouse who we are familiar with. He is masculine in a gallant sense, an independent maverick with a slightly roguish air.
According to Alan Foster, the creative director at AMV BBDO, who created the advert: “The Black Grouse adds a touch of mystery and is a natural show-off who loves to make an entrance in his signature black and white world. So he is a bit of a card. It goes with the territory – but his behaviour isn’t territorial. He prefers to appear unorthodox and unpredictable, to keep us guessing.”
Launched in the UK in May 2008, The Black Grouse whisky is a unique blend of
The Famous Grouse with added Islay malts to create a rich, smoky, peaty taste with a long, smooth finish.
Gerry O’Donnell, director of The Famous Grouse, said: “The Black Grouse whisky has proved to be a huge success since its launch into the UK earlier this year hence we felt it was the perfect time to introduce the new character via a television commercial.
“Every year we are inundated by emails and letters from consumers asking when the adverts will be aired and according to our consumers, Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without The Famous Grouse adverts. We hope they will enjoy our new, darker character just as much as we do!”
The new adverts are also part of wider campaign which The Famous Grouse has entered into with the RSPB to help save the black grouse from extinction. By donating 50p from every bottle sold being invested into urgently required conservation work on 85,000 hectares of land across Scotland, England and Wales.
The iconic Famous Grouse will also be returning to the screen this Christmas. The campaign will comprise of the brand’s three famous executions staring the smooth and charming Grouse character. The entertaining 20-second adverts are entitled A-List, Beautifully Balanced and Perfectly Composed.
The Black Grouse is now in pubs, clubs and bars throughout the country and is available exclusively at Sainsbury’s (priced at £15.49) before going on general release in January.
The new advert will be aired throughout December on terrestrial and satellite channels and is also be available to view online at: www.black-grouse.com
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
16 Dec
2008
The World’s Most Peated Whisky
Bruichladdich distillery announce the release of the world’s the most heavily peated whisky ever. One of four small-scale eclectic bottlings for the 2008/2009 season.
The inaugural bottling of Octomore, distilled at Bruichladdich from barley peated to 131 ppm, is three times more peaty than any other whisky ever produced.
PC7, the third bottling of the cult Islay whisky distilled from barley at 40 ppm, features six different tin designs of members of the Bruichladdich ‘family’ responsible for the whisky.
DNA is a ‘final hurrah’ bottling of near empty casks from the sixties and early seventies ACE’d in exceptional quality casks from Ch. Le Pin, arguably the world’s rarest wine.
X4 is a small, quirky bottling of 4 times distilled Islay spirit inspired by a 1695 tasting note. So pure is the new spirit Top Gear’s James May filmed a racing car running on it as ‘proof’.
“In Viking times they called it perilous whisky”, says MD Mark Reynier, “because of it’s exceptionally high distillation strength. At bottling we reduced ours to a safer 50%.
“It has way too much flavour to be a mere vodka substitute. It’s the original usquebaugh, the ‘water of life’ of our Hebridean forefathers. They didn’t waste time aging it, nor did we.”
As demand for a wee dram soars, an eco-friendly distillery is being built to improve production
Scotland's distillers are in hot water as they struggle to satisfy the world's growing demand for whisky. The global thirst for 'a wee dram' rose to an all-time high last year, with exports reaching £2.8bn, earning Britain £90 a second. And as the pound's slump continues, those heady numbers could rise further, say analysts.
But meeting this extraordinary demand has posed major problems and forced manufacturers to launch an urgent construction programme that will see the opening of Scotland's first major new distillery for more than 30 years.
Built on a vast industrial scale, the plant at Roseisle on Speyside will be one of the country's largest distilleries. More than 120 metres long and three storeys high, with 14 huge six-metre high copper stills, it will have a combined output of 10 million litres of whisky a year.
At the same time the distillery - financed by drinks conglomerate Diageo - has been built to stringent ecological standards, emitting only a fraction of the carbon dioxide produced by standard distilleries. Roseisle will be Scotland's first green distillery.
'Apart from emitting only 15 per cent of the carbon dioxide of a standard distillery of the same size, we have found a way to recycle all the water that passes through the Roseisle site,' the distillery's designer, Mike Jappy, said last week. 'The important point is that this technology could one day be used at distilleries around Scotland.'
The idea of making whisky in an ecologically friendly way could be crucial if the industry is to expand to meet the demand for Scotch. In 2007 overseas sales rose by 8 per cent on the previous year, accounting for 25 per cent of all Britain's food and drink exports. The first nine months of this year saw a further 10 per cent increase.
'We will have to see how that plays out over the next year, but the situation is very encouraging,' added a spokesman for the Scotch Whisky Association. 'Consumers round the world may be saying no to a new house and no to a new car, but they are continuing to say yes to bottles of whisky. There may some fluctuations in the near future, but the long-term expectation is growth.'
Whisky has become especially popular in emerging nations such as Brazil, China and India, where it represents prestige and social status. However, the sudden rise in global demand caught distillers by surprise and triggered investments of more than £500m to boost production. 'Everyone has ramped up,' said Brian Higgs, Diageo's malt distilling director.
Construction of Roseisle alone will cost £40m. 'We got a call one day from the board of Diageo and were told to build a new, very big, carbon-friendly distillery,' added Higgs. 'After 30 years of industry retrenchment, it was fantastic to get an order like that.'
Distilleries usually burn oil to distil fermented brews of malted barley and water. Roseisle will also burn the dried remains of its basic barley ingredient to generate that heat, halving its fuel bill.
In addition, liquids left over from distilling - known as top ale - will be piped into anaerobic fermenters to generate methane. This, in turn, will be burned to provide further heat. The distillery will be linked with two existing local maltings, where its waste water will be used to dampen and germinate the barley that is eventually used as its basic ingredient. This will mean there will be no overall increase in water consumption when the new distillery comes on line.
As for the distillery's output, that will be stored in wooden casks for a minimum of three years - more likely for at least five to six years - before it is ready to be mixed with grain whisky to make blended whisky.
Brands will include Johnnie Walker, the world's biggest-selling Scotch, sales of which broke the £1bn mark last year.
84% vote in favour of their new wage package Following ballot
The threat of further industrial action has been lifted at a Moray haulage company after drivers agreed to wage terms they were offered previously.
Drivers from McPherson of Aberlour were balloted this week and voted 84% in favour of the new wage package. The deal will see their wages increase by 4.25%.
Last month, about 25 drivers picketed the McPherson depot for a day and there were talks of further industrial action.
The company says the deal has ended the possibility of another strike in the near future.
Julie Benson, human resources manager for McPherson, said: “The company are pleased to announce that the impending industrial action has been cancelled following an acceptance of a three-year inflation-proof pay deal.
“Unite initially rejected the proposal but, following feedback and requests from the members, the union were compelled to give their drivers the opportunity to agree to the offer.”
McPherson has almost 100 drivers at Aberlour, and more than 400 vehicles operating across Scotland.
The firm specialises in distributing whisky and other spirits.
A spokesman for the whisky industry said the one-day strike had not affected the distilleries.
T&G Unite regional industrial officer Tommy Campbell said he was happy with the result of the ballot but added that the union would continue its national campaign to increase drivers’ wages to £12 an hour.
He said: “I am glad that the members managed to get what they wanted. Unite are proud of those who took a stand.”
WEALTHY whisky buffs are being offered the ultimate credit crunch busting Christmas gift – a £4million chance to create their own barrels of Scotland’s national drink.
The luxury personal distilling adventure is described as the perfect solution to the connoisseur who has everything, so long as they can wait at least 10 years for the end result.
Distiller Glenmorangie is behind the one-off event, which is being marketed among millionaire overseas drinkers.
The lucky recipient who opens an envelope addressed to “The 17th Man of Tain” on December 25 will probably wonder what he has received.
For starters, they will be flown by private jet from anywhere in the world to the Ozark mountains in Missouri to choose trees that will be used for casks.
Next is a flight to Scotland and a stay at the magnificent Glenmorangie House next to the famous brand’s distillery in Tain, Ross-shire.
Once there, they will learn the secrets of great malt from Dr Bill Lumsden, head of distilling and whisky creation.
They will learn how to flavour and perfect a dram before their very own malt is laid down in barrels of their choice. And the ultimate accolade will be an invitation to join the 16 Men of Tain, the chosen few who guard the secrets of Glenmorangie.
The one-off whisky will be laid down in 20 barrels and the first bottling will not take place until 2019, with others bottled over the following quarter century.
Dr Lumsden said: “I want the recipient of this gift to have ownership of the spirit all the way through.”
The offer features in this month’s The Robb Report, the US-based style guide for billionaires only.
Other luxury gift suggestions out of reach for most shoppers, include a personal Zeppelin airship priced at £11million and a £200million super yacht.
It’s estimated that £20m a year is poured into the UK’s rare single malt market by speculators
THE price of rare malt whiskies has soared to record levels as investors seek tangible alternatives to volatile stock and money markets.
Dramatic fluctuations triggered by the credit crunch have seen rich speculators move their money into items that hold their value including precious metals, works of art and vintage whiskies.
Single malts from distilleries that have since closed are commanding hefty premiums, with some doubling in value in a matter of weeks. Brokers predict that the first £100,000 bottle of whisky will be sold in the new year.
The latest figures from the World Whisky Index, an internet-based trading platform for whisky investors, show that prices have risen by an average of a third over the past month.
A bottle of Glenfarclas 1955, costing £2,000 last year, is now worth £6,000. Macallan 1947 has doubled in value to £3,000 over the same period. A 30-year-old bottle of Bowmore, bought for £165, sold for £390 just a month later, a record 137% increase.
It is estimated that £20m a year is now being invested in the rare single malt market in the UK along.
Sukhinder Singh, director of the Whisky Exchange, the UK’s biggest whisky broker, said that, contrary to expectations, the economic downturn had fuelled a rise in demand for the most precious bottles.
“We are busier than ever despite all the doom and gloom. The demand for top-end whisky is very strong,” said Singh.
“Whiskies are becoming more rare and therefore valuable because 80% of the products we sell are actually being drunk.
“Whisky is a good investment because so many people are crazy about it and it never goes off. It’s safer than stocks and shares in the long term.”
The current record price for a bottle of single malt whisky is £40,000 for a Dalmore 1942 but Singh expects that to be broken next year, when he intends to put a £100,000 bottle up for sale.
Michel Kappen, of the Dutch firm The Whisky Talker, which runs the World Whisky Index, said £1.5m had been invested in the spirit stock exchange since it was set up a year ago.
“People aren’t interested in buying stocks and shares anymore because the market is not strong,” he said.
“We predict that people who buy a bottle of rare single malt can make an average profit of 50% in three years’ time.”
Jacob-Jan Esmeijer, 36, a Dutch marketing executive, withdrew his money from the stock market and has invested £3,500 in bottles of rare malt whisky this year.
“It is a very uncertain time in the stock markets. I have a passion for whisky and I felt it was a safer long-term investment,” he said. “I have a portfolio of around 10 bottles and they are performing very well.”
Scottish distilleries said they had seen strong demand among investors wanting to buy casks, despite the fact that about 2% of their investment will evaporate every year.
“There’s been a lot more interest in barrels since people realised they can’t put their money in the banks, stocks and shares or houses,” said Mark Reynier, managing director of the Bruichladdich distillery on Islay.
“We have had a large amount of people wanting to buy shares in our distillery but because we are a private company that isn’t possible. Buying a barrel allows them to get involved in the success of the distillery.
“People are thinking, ‘Well if I put it in whisky at least I can drink the stuff at the end’, which you can’t do with a share certificate. Good quality single malt whisky does appreciate on an annual basis.”
Despite the burgeoning market, the Scotch Whisky Association does not offer advice but warns that “investment for resale is expensive and highly speculative and should not be entered into lightly.”
world-class honour for master craftsman not to be sniffed at
A whisky creator at a major Scottish distillery has been honoured for his contribution to the industry for the third time, it was announced today.
Bill Lumsden, head of distilling and whisky creation at The Glenmorangie Company, was named Industry Leader of the Year at the Malt Advocate Awards 2008.
The award, which honours the “best of the best”, was presented to him in recognition of his impressive contribution to the industry over the past year. The master creator has led his team to reveal three new products in 2008 – Glenmorangie Signet, Glenmorangie Astar and Ardbeg Blasda.
Mr Lumsden said: “It’s a great honour to receive this award for the third time. These awards are highly respected across the world.”
Mr Lumsden, who holds a PhD in biochemistry, joined the company in 1995 as Glenmorangie Distillery manager.
Since then he has focused on wood finishing and selects casks at various ages in order to experiment.
He tours wine regions around the world, searching for the best wood that will complement the whiskies and impart unique characteristics.
Mr Lumsden is a leading authority in whisky creation and in 2007 he was awarded the Global Ambassador of the Year and Scottish Distiller of the Year by Whisky Magazine for his worldwide work prom- oting The Glenmorangie Company’s portfolio of brands.
He also received the Malt Advocate Magazine Industry Leader of the Year Award in both 2001 and 2006 in recognition of his position as one of the most knowledgeable and forward-thinking distillers in the world.
Porta sees opportunities for growth in emerging markets, despite global woes
Chivas Brothers boss Christian Porta said yesterday he was confident of continued strong momentum for whisky exports worldwide despite the global economic crisis.
He said there were still plenty of good opportunities for growth, although some markets were becoming tougher.
Mr Porta added: “We will watch the situation carefully. There are certainly countries where sales are more difficult than 12 months ago and the UK is one of these.”
Spain – one of the top three markets for whisky exports – is another country where Scotland’s national drink was said to be struggling, with Chivas seeing a slight decline in sales recently.
“We have a good market share with Ballantine’s but the situation there is very tough,” said Mr Porta.
By contrast, he said, the smaller French market was a growth area for Chivas and other whisky makers, adding: “As a category, the whisky market in France is growing by around 5% a year.
“Some markets are slowing down but emerging ones such as eastern Europe, Russia, India and elsewhere in Asia are continuing to show positive trends and South America is very dynamic.”
Chivas brand The Glenlivet is still the top-selling single malt in the US but Mr Porta said Chivas Regal had seen a small fall in American sales.
The Glenlivet Distillery, near Ballindalloch on Speyside, is undergoing expansion to meet increased worldwide demand.
Recent figures from French parent Pernod Ricard showed worldwide sales of The Glenlivet had risen by 27% in value during the first quarter of its trading year, compared with the previous year.
Sales of Chivas Regal, produced at Strathisla distillery at Keith, rose by 11% and Ballantine’s – made and bottled near Dumbarton – grew by 9%.
Mr Porta, who took over the reins at Chivas in 2004, said there were good grounds to be optimistic about continued success, although this was tempered by a need to be careful in the current economic environment.
The Chivas boss also welcomed the UK Government’s about-turn over an 8% increase in alcohol duty announced in Chancellor Alistair Darling’s pre-Budget speech last week. The move sparked uproar in the whisky industry and Mr Darling later back-tracked.
Interest galore as shipwreck whisky sells for £2,200
A BOTTLE of whisky recovered from the wreck of a cargo ship which inspired the film Whisky Galore! sold at auction yesterday for £2,200 to a teenager fascinated by its remarkable story.
The bottle of Ballantine Scotch whisky was expected to fetch about £1,500 but strong competition from bidders pushed its price up.
The bottle was one of around 240,000 which sank with the SS Politician after she ran aground off Eriskay in 1941.
The sinking inspired the novel Whisky Galore! and the 1949 Ealing comedy of the same name, ensuring the tale of how the islanders raided a shipwreck for her cargo of whisky entered into legend.
At Gorringes Auctioneers in East Sussex, the bottle sold to the family of gap-year student Tam Burt, 18, from Dollar, Clackmannanshire.
Speaking from Paris, Tam said he enjoyed the novel by Compton Mackenzie and later studied the book for his higher dissertation. He said: “I read the book as a child and I really enjoyed it. Later I won a scholarship and on that I investigated the original story by travelling to Eriskay. When I saw the bottle up for auction I decided to go for it.”
In 1970 a newspaper commissioned divers, including Bob Pert, to find the wreck and the team retrieved six bottles including the one sold yesterday, which Mr Pert had been allowed to keep.
A Sussex diver who found a bottle of whisky on a cargo ship whose sinking inspired a film is hoping it will fetch more than £1,500 at auction.
Bob Pert retrieved the undamaged bottle in a search of the SS Politician, which sank in the Outer Hebrides in 1941 while carrying about 240,000 bottles.
Islanders celebrated with the looted alcohol, hiding the whisky before government officials could find it.
The 1949 comedy film Whisky Galore! was inspired by their raids on the wreck.
The Daily Mirror commissioned a team of divers including Mr Pert to find the SS Politician in 1970, and the team brought back six undamaged Ballantine Scotch whisky bottles.
Mr Pert, 61, of Seaford, was allowed by the Receiver of Wrecks to hold on to the only uncontaminated bottle, which has remained unopened ever since.
He said a couple of inches of whisky had evaporated through the cork, but it would still be drinkable because the seal was intact.
Mr Pert said: "We spent three weeks searching for the wreck in the Eriskay Bay and were just about to give up when we were given a tip by a local as to its whereabouts.
"Diving technology in those days wasn't anywhere as sophisticated as it is now so we had our work cut out to find anything.
"We were literally on the last roll of the dice when we saw this case just sitting there.
"It was definitely a moment to celebrate when we actually found some bottles and came triumphantly to the surface with them."
But he added: "I'm more of a red wine man."
Auctioneers at Gorringes have said the bottle could fetch more than £1,500 at the auction in North Street, Lewes, on Wednesday.
Multinational drinks company Diageo has no plans to sever its ties with the top formula one team McLaren.
To advertise its Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker, Diageo commenced a reportedly $23 million per year sponsorship deal with the Mercedes-powered team in 2005.
Diageo's chief executive Paul Walsh insists the deal is worth it.
"It is a lot of money but you have 400m people watching a two-hour grand prix and all the other races around the world, it's a great opportunity to promote the brand to the right demographic," he told The Times.
"And, of course, it's now part of the championship-winning team, and that's worth a lot in itself," Walsh added.
Burns Night 250th Anniversary: celebrate with Arran Whisky
Burns Night – traditionally celebrated on 25th January – will be the 250th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s national poet in 2009. To celebrate, award-winning whisky producer, Isle of Arran Distillers, has released a limited edition bottling of its Single Malt - 250th Anniversary Robert Burns Malt. Fifteen ex-Sherry casks were selected from the 1998 distillation by Distillery Manager, James MacTaggart, for the bottling, with just 1,800 bottles available in the UK.
The Isle of Arran Distillery is one of the last remaining independent distilleries in Scotland and is the only Distillery on the island of Arran. The distillery only uses traditional methods, with wooden washbacks and bespoke copper stills.
The only whisky entitled to the Burns name, Isle of Arran 250th Anniversary Robert Burns Malt is available at good whisky specialists, thedrinkshop.com and drinkon.com and retails at £49.99. Isle of Arran Distillers also produces the Robert Burns Blend & Malt which are available at £14.99 and £22.99, respectively.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
November 2008 Scotch Whisky News
28 Nov
2008
Whisky group staying focused on its portfolio
UK rights to Russian premium vodka latest addition to Edrington’s arsenal
The boss of a Scottish whisky company said yesterday it appeared that many world markets, including the UK, were in for a sustained economic downturn.
Edrington Group is to stay focused on producing and developing its strong portfolio, according to its chief executive, Ian Curle.
The comments came as his company said it had signed an agreement with SPI Group for the exclusive UK distribution rights to its leading Russian-made premium vodka brand, Stolichnaya.
Stoli, as it is known, is one of the world's best-selling Russian vodkas and is distributed in the UK by Pernod Ricard. It will join the portfolio of premium spirit brands distributed by Maxxium – in which Edrington has a 25% stake – in the UK.
About 90 people work for Maxxium in Stirling.
There had been a questionmark over these posts earlier this year after some of the joint venture’s partners announced a shake-up of their distribution arrangements but these jobs are now safe.
Edrington – maker of The Famous Grouse – said yesterday its board was generally cautious about the economic outlook.
Mr Curle said: “Economic cycles come and go, however, it does look as if we are in for a sustained downturn, not just in the UK economy but in many global markets.
“As we move through the next year or two, we must hope that the short-term fluctuations in financial markets will settle down, and that we can perhaps look forward to a more normal period of economic recovery and stability.
“In the meantime, our priority as a business is to stay focused on . . . our strong portfolio of premium international spirit brands.”
The company, which operates five distilleries in Scotland, lodged its annual report and accounts at Companies House yesterday.
In July, Edrington said pre-tax profits had jumped more than 9% to £75.6million for the year to March 31, 2008.
Turnover in the latest period totalled £291.5million, compared with £278.5million last time.
In the report and accounts, chairman Sir Ian Good said the scrutiny of alcohol's place in society had increased significantly, adding that those people who consumed it to excess were in the minority.
He said: “It is crucial that as an industry we are seen to be doing everything we can to promote sensible consumption and Edrington is playing its part in this campaign with a programme of education to our staff and consumers.”
The report showed that Mr Curle's basic remuneration was £303,000, against £290,000 the year before. Incentive plans added a further £409,000, compared with £185,000 the year before.
A Shanghai court has ordered a Chinese company to pay Rmb1.25m ($183,000) in damages to British drinks group Diageo for copying its packaging as part of a government crackdown on rampant piracy.
The court found that Blueblood (Shanghai) Wine copied the bottle design and packaging of Diageo’s popular Johnnie Walker Black Label whisky for its own brand of whisky, and continued to do so even after being fined by the Shanghai government, following a complaint from Diageo in 2006.
The award is unusually high and comes in the midst of a Shanghai government anti-piracy campaign, in which officials are trying to show their commitment to protecting intellectual property rights.
Lawyers who specialise in intellectual property cases say the Diageo ruling, although clearly part of a propaganda offensive, does signal the Chinese authorities are taking counterfeiting much more seriously than in previous years.
China is the biggest source of counterfeit goods in the world and intellectual property protection is a perennial issue at trade negotiations and diplomatic exchanges with other countries.
In Diageo’s case the Chinese company copied packaging rather than any registered patent, copyright or trademark, and the guilty verdict signalled a greater level of sophistication from the courts than most previous rulings, lawyers said.
Chinese courts dealt with over 17,000 intellectual property cases last year, compared with just over 400 handled by courts in the UK in the same period.
The vast majority of cases in China involve local companies suing other local companies as Chinese businessmen become increasingly willing to use the law to protect intangible assets.
But companies that win court cases in China often have difficulty getting the rulings enforced.
“Generally speaking, enforcement is still a big issue, especially outside the major centres of Beijing and Shanghai,” according to Luke Minford, head of China for Rouse, the intellectual property consultancy.
“Most foreign companies will try to get their case heard in Shanghai and Beijing in order to get more sophisticated and objective judges, but trying to enforce in other areas is still very difficult.”
Johnnie Walker is sold in 150 cities in China and earned Diageo Rmb320m in sales nationwide last year, according to state media reports of the court’s verdict.
Blueblood sold 37,000 bottles of its Polonius brand whisky, which used packaging that was nearly identical to the Black Label brand.
Blueblood has 15 days to appeal against the ruling but had not lodged an appeal by Thursday evening.
On the same day as the Diageo ruling, the Shanghai court handed down verdicts on 13 other cases, nine of which involved international companies, including 3M, Nippon Electric, New Zealand kiwifruit company Zespri and Rock Records, a Taiwanese record label, state media reported.
Chancellor Alistair Darling was forced to reverse his 29p tax rise on a bottle of whisky last night amid claims his mini-Budget has already started to unravel.
The move was welcomed by distillers, who had feared a “grim” new year in the wake of changes to the duty on the spirit earlier this week.
But last night the Scottish Whisky Association said it was “delighted” by Mr Darling’s sudden U-turn.
And Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson, vice-convener of the Commons all party Scotch whisky group, welcomed one of the fastest-yet Treasury climbdowns.
Mr Darling said his revised proposals ensure that, overall, the tax will remain broadly the same as it was before he delivered his pre-Budget report on Monday.
His shift followed fury in the industry after the 59p rise in his last Budget and a 2% fall in sales and a £300,000 drop in the tax take from Scotch whisky since.
The Tories claimed a leaked Treasury document proved Mr Darling was planning to raise VAT to 18.5% after the next general election, 1% more than the 17.5% to which the tax will revert at the end of next year. Shadow chancellor George Osborne said the “secret” VAT rise, which the Treasury claimed Mr Darling ditched before the leak, was needed to fill a £500million black hole in the nation’s accounts.
Mr Osborne also said that despite Treasury claims that only those earning more than £40,000 will lose out, changes in national insurance contributions mean those on more than £19,000 will be hit.
Mr Darling told MPs he had made it clear on Monday he wanted to ensure taxes on alcohol and cigarettes remained “broadly the same” and his temporary reduction in VAT would be offset by increases in duty.
He admitted the original 8% increase in duty on spirits did not achieve that and slashed it to 4% last night.
Scotland Secretary Jim Murphy revealed he intervened as the row escalated and that he is pleased the UK Government’s aims for taxes on alcohol to remain broadly the same is being confirmed beyond doubt.
He said: “The chancellor has acted decisively.”
Scottish Whisky Association government and public affairs director Campbell Adams, who believes any increase in duty will only be a few pence, said: “We are delighted. Hopefully this will send a message to governments around the world to tax whisky fairly.”
David Urquhart, joint managing director of Gordon and MacPhail in Elgin, said: “We welcome the positive action taken by the UK Government to ensure that the overall duty on Scotch whisky remains broadly unchanged when the reduction in VAT is taken into account.”
Mr Robertson, who has 40 Speyside distilleries in his constituency, claimed the Treasury “buckled in the face of the outcry from the whisky industry and the SNP”.
He added: “The way in which the pre-Budget report is unravelling is indicative of the disgraceful and dithering way the UK Government is responding to the economic crisis, bringing chaos and confusion where we need certainty and clarity.”
Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart said: “The government realised they made a massive blunder.”
Liberal Democrat spokes-man on Scottish affairs, Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael, said the “embarrassing” U-turn would not have been necessary if the chancellor had been aware of the impact his original plans would have on a crucial Scottish industry.
And Argyll and Bute Lib Dem MP Alan Reid said it was “a scandal” the tax was raised in the first place, adding: “If the Treasury could not get this right it does not hold much hope for the rest of the economy.”
Mr Osborne said ministers had destroyed public trust in the government's motives – “confirming what everyone suspects that Labour's temporary giveaways now are dwarfed by permanent tax rises later”.
He added: “Normally it takes a week or so for the prime minister’s Budget to come unstuck. This one has completely fallen apart in just 48 hours.”
Mr Darling welcomed the opportunity for a debate on the pre-Budget report and said: “I believe that faced with the extraordinary economic circumstances we have today, there is a choice.
“There is a choice between supporting people, supporting businesses, supporting the economy as countries are now doing across the world, or walking away, saying we will do absolutely nothing and letting recession run its course.”
The chancellor is revising his alcohol tax plans to prevent a big increase in the cost of whisky.
Alistair Darling has ordered changes to the details of his pre-Budget report following an outcry from the industry.
The Scotch Whisky Association warned the average bottle of whisky would cost 29p more after the pre-Budget report.
Mr Darling said the increase in duty on sprits was only supposed to offset the cost of his cut in VAT. He has ordered Treasury officials to change the plans.
BBC Scotland understands new legal documents will go before the UK parliament to amend the pre-Budget report and ensure the whisky industry is not hit for more tax.
In his pre-Budget statement, the chancellor announced an 8% rise in excise duty on spirits, which would see the tax on a bottle of whisky rise by 47p to £6.45.
A temporary reduction in VAT, down 2.5 percentage points for the next 13 months, would see this rise reduced to about 29p on an average 70cl bottle.
This was on top of a 59p increase in March.
The duty increase was branded a "smash and grab raid" by the SNP MP for Moray, Angus Robertson.
He said the increase was the biggest in nearly four decades.
Mr Darling insisted his intention was to keep alcohol taxation "broadly" the same, but while VAT was charged on price, duty was charged on alcohol content so there was not an exact match.
He said: "When they see the detail they will see that broadly the effect of cutting VAT and changing the duty - one cancels out the other, because my intention is I don't want to raise any more or any less.
"I just wanted to hold the taxation on alcohol steady and we'll be laying the necessary orders to do that."
Campbell Evans from the Scotch Whisky Association said he was "delighted" that the issue was being revisited.
He said: "I'm sure this is an error that crept in and the government are taking quick steps to address that and the industry will welcome that very much."
Mr Evans added that there needed to be a "fundamental look" at duty in the longer term.
Mr Robertson said: "We need to see the detail of what Alistair Darling is proposing, but hopefully he is U-turning on this damaging tax hike on one of Scotland's key industries.
"It would be a huge blow to the chancellor's credibility if he is forced into a climbdown when the ink on the pre-Budget Report is barely dry, and it suggests that he didn't understand the impact of his own PBR measures on Scotland."
Grim new year forecast for distilleries in Scotland
The whisky industry forecast a grim New Year last night as the full extent of Chancellor Alistair Darling’s “reckless and damaging” tax raid on Scotch became clear.
Protests over the extent of the duty increase and the risk to home and overseas sales mounted on a day when Bank of England governor Mervyn King refused to rule out nationalising the banks if they fail to resume normal lending to keep businesses going and Commons Speaker Michael Martin ordered an emergency three-and-a-half-hour debate on the mini-Budget.
Mr Darling denied targeting the whisky industry in adding 29p to the 59p increase in the tax on a bottle he imposed in his last Budget – the biggest rise in a year since the 1970s – and insisted the tax on alcohol remains “about the same” after taking his VAT cut into account.
But SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson, whose Moray constituency includes 40 distilleries on Speyside, said: “This is the second smash-and-grab raid by the chancellor within a year.”
He said the industry was taking the hit just before Christmas during its busiest period of the year.
In an angry letter to Mr Darling he said: “It is clear that this damaging and reckless decision will impact on one of Scotland’s most important industries and I would ask the Treasury to think again.”
Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart accused the chancellor of not being open about the tax increase in his mini-Budget.
He said: “It is totally unacceptable that this vital industry should become a casualty to Alistair Darling's desperate attempts to resuscitate the UK economy.”
Perth SNP MSP Roseanna Cunningham said: “The Treasury should be supporting the whisky industry, not punishing it.”
Liberal Democrat MPs across the north signed a Commons motion by Argyll and Bute MP Alan Reid urging the Queen to annul the increase.
He claimed the tax rise would put distilleries at risk as “nobody is going to invest in an industry that this chancellor seems to enjoy clobbering”.
Scotch Whisky Industry spokesman Campbell Evans said sales had already fallen 2% since the last Budget and could fall further with the latest duty rise – which would mean the tax take would fall.
He warned: “I think what we will see is that after Christmas people will start to rein in. It will be a very difficult start to the New Year and we are very concerned.”
‘Misleading’
Meanwhile, the Scottish Tories claimed falling estimates for income tax revenue undermine the SNP’s case for a 3p Scottish local income tax, and Labour accused Finance Secretary John Swinney of making the “misleading” claim that he had asked the Treasury, in vain, to bring forward capital spending – only to find it has now brought forward £300million to be spent north of the border.
The SNP insisted their local income tax plans remain sound, released the text of a letter from Mr Swinney to the chancellor four days ago and accused Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray of “an embarrassing blunder”.
Mr King told MPs on Treasury committee the credit drought is the single biggest threat to the economy and it was of “over-riding importance” to get banks lending again.
He also signalled that more interest-rate cuts and bank bailouts could be on the way.
Tory MPs cheered as Mr Martin granted their call for an emergency debate in the face of government determination to make them wait a week or two.
Inver House Distillers Wins Distiller of the Year Award
Inver House Distillers, part of parent company International Beverage, is celebrating this week after winning one of the drinks industry’s highest accolades at the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) 2008 - the trophy for Scottish Distiller of the Year.
Announced at a ceremony in London’s Guildhall on Monday evening, the win in such a highly competitive category is recognition of the company’s impressive stable of Single Malt and blended Scotch Whiskies, which includes brands such as Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc, Hankey Bannister and Speyburn.
The announcement comes at the end of a highly successful year for these whisky brands, with Inver House being awarded International Distiller of the Year at the prestigious Icons of Whisky Awards, 13 awards at the Scotch Whisky Masters and 11 medals at this year’s International Spirits Challenge, an astonishing 15 awards at the International Wine and Spirits Competition – and a win for Balblair 1989 Vintage for Best Whisky at the annual Edinburgh 'Whisky Fringe'.
Says Malcolm Leask, Vice President Sales and Marketing of International Beverage Holdings: ‘Once again we are delighted to receive such a prestigious accolade from the industry, which is the perfect way to end a year in which our brands have been recognised on an unprecedented scale. My thanks and congratulations go to the devoted teams behind these great brands, and we now look forward to building on our success in 2009 and beyond.’
International Beverage, parent company of Inver House Distillers, made headlines in October this year by announcing a major £15 million investment plan to centralise global marketing operations in Scotland, with Airdrie becoming the new international marketing hub for all global activities. This was a major boost for the Scottish team, recognising their outstanding results in delivering brand success to date.
Furthermore a £1 million investment has been announced which will see a brand new bottling line established. This will expand Airdrie operations and increase Inver House Distillers growth and position within the International Beverage Holdings group.
Article Courtesy of Press Release
Press Release
25 Nov
2008
'Whisky sour' claim after Budget
The chancellor has been accused of slipping a "whisky sour" into his pre-Budget report, with an 8% rise in the excise duty on spirits.
The Scotch Whisky Association said, despite Alistair Darling's decision to cut VAT, the announcement would mean an extra 29p on an average 70cl bottle.
It said the move, announced in the footnotes to Mr Darling's speech, was "counter-productive".
Campbell Evans of the SWA said the rise was a "damaging blow" to the industry.
In his pre-Budget statement, the chancellor announced a rise which would see the duty on a bottle of whisky rise by 47p to £6.45.
A temporary reduction in VAT, down 2.5 percentage points for the next 13 months, will see this rise reduced.
Mr Evans told BBC Scotland: "This tax rise is likely to be permanent - the fall in VAT is only temporary.
"The high level of excise duty that applies on spirits means the rise will be 29p on a bottle of Scotch - that's a 4% rise, and they have failed to understand that this measure has a disproportionate affect on Scotch whisky compared to other sectors.
"The treasury's own model shows that if they put tax up on spirits they will see falling revenue. This measure was to try and keep revenues up - they're already losing money. It's not got any logic or any sense."
The chancellor defended himself on BBC Radio Scotland. He said the duty rise had to be seen alongside the cut in VAT.
He said: "I've not been able to pass on the VAT reduction in relation to alcohol, but what I've done is I have had a compensatory increase in the duty.
"Actually when you look at the whisky industry, I have helped that industry for many many years. I've got to balance the books - at the end of the day you've got pay for it and people understand that."
But the duty increase was attacked by SNP MP Angus Robertson as a "smash and grab raid".
Mr Robertson, MP for Moray, said: "The chancellor did not even have the decency to specifically mention his tax increase on the whisky industry.
"The bad news was buried deep in the pre-budget report."
He added: "It is totally unacceptable that this vital industry should be a casualty to Alistair Darling's desperate attempts to resuscitate the UK economy."
Glenglassaugh has officially opened its Scottish distillery, after having been out of operation for 22 years.
Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond, re-opened the 133-year-old Glenglassaugh Distillery, near Portsoy in Aberdeenshire today (24 November).
The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company, which is controlled by the Netherlands-based investment company Scaent Group, was created by Scaent earlier this year after the company bought the facility in February for around GBP5m (US$7.5m).
"This is a very exciting time for the whisky industry," said Derek McLennan, executive vice president of the Scaent Group. "With unprecedented demand in markets such as China, India, Russia, South East Asia and South America; we look forward to introducing the world to one of the very best single malt whiskies available today - Glenglassaugh."
Managing director Stuart Nickerson added: "We will initially be releasing a limited amount of 22yr, 30yr and 40yr old single malts. These whiskies are unique and have been very well received by those who have tasted them, including key whisky writers and knowledgeable whisky experts."
Scaent bought the distillery from The Edrington Group, which had closed Glenglassaugh in 1986. The site had previously been used in the production of blended whiskies such as Cutty Sark and The Famous Grouse.
