Inbox > November 11, 2011

Welcome to Inbox - our weekly round up of whisky news and PR type material that has recently found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece that we receive. 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. It's 11/11/11, so here we go ...

Glenfiddich > Announces new Vintage Reserve selection

The famous and multi-award winning Glenfiddich distillery has announced the release of its annual Vintage Reserve bottling.  The new single malt was chosen by a select panel of 16 people, which included Glenfiddich's Malt Master Brian Kinsman, 14 of their Brand Ambassadors from around the globe and Hans-Henrik Hansen, who owns the largest collection of Glenfiddich in the world. In a change from previous years, the panel did not select a Vintage from a single cask. Instead they were presented with three vattings of premium casks - one from 1973, 1974 and 1975.  The 1974 was selected after rigorous analysis and will be available through specialist whisky retailers shorlty.  There will be just 1,000 bottles.

Jura > Win one of 42 special samples

The island distillery of Jura is offering the members of its fan club the unique opportunity to taste a new whisky before it is released. Jura are inviting members of The Duirach's (this is the name for an inhabitant of Jura) to tell them their secrets to a long and prosperous life in the 'comments' section of the Ambassador's blog. The best 42 answers will receive a free sample of a new whisky which is to be released in early 2012.  In return, Jura is asking each recipient to review the whisky (which is as yet un-named) on The Duirach's Facebook or Twitter page. Why 42? Apparently, someone at the distillery really likes The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  To become a Duirach and to enter the competition, visit the www.isleofjura.com.

Shackleton > Whyte & Mackay challenge 'City Explorers'

Following the airing of a new documentary about the Shackleton whisky adventure in the USA, the whisky's creators Whyte & Mackay are challenging 'City Explorers' to find and win 10 bottles of this unique whisky. These bottles will be positioned in major UK cities throughout November and December. One bottle will be located in each of the 10 cities involved.  To find each bottle, you will have to download the Repudo app on your iPhone, Blackberry or Android (it's free from the App Store).  For full instructions on the competition and how to track down the bottles, go to the Whyte & Mackay blog. A great idea but if you get stuck or start wondering what the hell is going on (like I did - Matt) then go to this useful 'Help' page on the Repudo website.

Teacher's > New Christmas packaging

The popular blended whisky has announced that it will be packaged in a presentation box for the forthcoming Christmas period.  The 70cl bottle will be sold in a carton for the first time since the 1980s.  Teacher's, which was first produced in 1830 and has one of the highest single malt contents of any regular blend, is in the Top 5 for sales of blended whiskies in the UK and the move is to strengthen its position in the market.  Peter Sandstrom, the Marketing Director of Maxxium UK, the brand's distributors, comments, “Teacher’s is one of the only blends to be in a gift carton this Christmas, which will provide an enhanced on shelf presence, and appeal to consumers looking for a premium and authentic blend this festive season".