Inbox > June 17, 2011

Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR type material that has found its way in to our email inbox. Sadly, we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece that we receive, so Inbox was born! It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we will write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information if you want to. Here's the news that caught our attention this week ...
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Auchentoshan > Father’s Day free tours
Looking for a last minute gift for Father’s Day? Well, look no further than the Auchentoshan Distillery, near Glasgow, where dads will go absolutely free on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June. This is for The Classic Tour, a one hour guided tour of the distillery that provides the perfect introduction to Auchentoshan’s triple distilled whisky. Under 18s years old will also go free. The tour includes a dram for dad at the end of the tour, with tours running every hour from 10am until 4pm. For £5, places can be booked on The Enhanced Tour, which includes the distillery tour plus tastings of three whiskies from the Auchentoshan range. The final exclusive offer is that a complimentary personalised label can be added to purchases of the 12 years old or Three Wood bottlings in the shop. To book your place, please visit www.auchentoshan.com.

Bowmore > Father’s Day free tours also!
Morrison Bowmore, the owners of Auchentoshan and Bowmore, have also extended the above Father’s Day offer to those traveling over to Islay. Dad’s will also go free at Bowmore , the oldest distillery on the famous whisky producing island. Tickets for this can be booked via www.bowmore.com.

Glen Ord > Singleton grows rapidly
The north Highland distillery on the edge of the Black Isle, owned by Diageo, has announced news of its recent sales figures. These show that The Singleton of Glen Ord 12 years old is the fastest growing single malt whisky in terms of sales in the Asia Pacific region. In 2010, sales grew by 40% in the region and were particularly strong in Taiwan and Singapore, with over 100,000 cases sold in total. The range has been added to with 15 and 18 year old versions, which have also proved popular. Mark Sandys, Diageo’s Category Director for Whisky in the region says, “We were confident from the outset that The Singleton of Glen Ord would be very well received in this vibrant and fast-growing region. Our consumers tell us that it’s the taste of The Singleton that appeals strongly to them, plus the strikingly elegant style and presentation”.

Jura > Festival bottling released
The Isle of Jura distillery again took part in the nearby Islay Whisky Festival this year and they have announced the release of the brand new Festival bottling – the Jura Boutique Barrel 1996 Vintage. One French Limousin oak cask was chosen by a select group of Jura residents, which has yielded just 493 bottles at a cask strength of 54% ABV. These will be sold exclusively on the island from the distillery shop and will cost £100 each. Whyte & Macakay, who own the distillery, have released the following brief tasting notes - This unique spirit has a rich body of creamy toffee and vanilla, ginger, spice and nutmeg with flavours of toffee apple and sweet marmalade, which complete a classic aftertaste. To order a bottle contact – shop@isleofjura.com.

Lagavulin > Bottle returns home
A 130 year old bottle of whisky has returned home. The whisky, which was distilled at Lagavulin on the island of Islay in 1881 and carrying the name Lagavulin Liqueur, was bottled on 2 June 1911 at the age of 30 years. The bottle was recently purchased at auction by Lagavulin’s current owners Diageo and to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of its bottling, it was returned to Lagavulin on 2 June this year. The bottle will now be on display in the visitor centre at the distillery and will form part of Diageo’s comprehensive Spirits Archive . The whisky is particularly rare as it was highly unusual to bottle Islay whiskies as single malts, especially ones of this age, in the early 20th century.