Friday, September 14, 2012

Inbox - September 14, 2012

Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has 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 aim to 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.  There is plenty of news this week, so we will keep it short and sweet for each item.  Grab your favourite dram and read on ...

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AnCnoc - Peter Arkle Part 2
The up and coming Highland single malt brand has just unveiled the second expression in a series created in collaboration with a renowned Scottish illustrator Peter Arkle. The partnership, which launched in April 2012, revolves around a series of limited AnCnoc expressions presented in packaging designed by the artist. This edition features images of casks maturing in the darkness of a warehouse at Knockdhu, where Ancnoc is made.

The AnCnoc Peter Arkle Edition No.2 is matured in 50% ex-sherry Spanish oak and 50% ex-bourbon American oak casks, and has been bottled at a strength of 46% ABV. The whisky is currently only available in the UK from www.ancnoc.com and selected whisky retailers, before being launched in Europe, Russia and the USA.  It is priced at £49.99.

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Arran - Robert Burns bottling
The independent island distillery of Arran have announced the launch of a Robert Burns inspired single malt - a whisky paying homage to Scotland's most famous poet, who lived within view of the island.  The distillery are patrons of the Robert Burns World Federation and the special whisky is a mix of different ages of Arran malt from ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks.  It has been bottled at 43% ABV, is priced at £28.99 and is available to buy from www.arranwhisky.com.

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Kilbeggan - Halfway Day
The popular Irish whiskey brand of Kilbeggan have launched a new campaign in the USA called Halfway to St. Patrick's Day. The brand are 'celebrating' on 17 September - the official halfway point to St. Patrick's Day in March 2013 - with a series of events across the country that call on fans to 'show their Irish pride'. The events will be held in Boston, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and San Francisco, and more details can be found on Kilbeggan's Facebook page.

The slight tenuous call for celebration is complimented by a new range of Kilbeggan based cocktails that will be available at each venue.  As a teaser, the brand has teamed up with comedy video studio Funny Or Die and produced a cool short trailer for the day and events, which is below.


Halfway Day - watch more funny videos

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Lagavulin - Jazz it up
As reported some weeks ago, the lagavulin distilelry are again sponsoring the Islay Jazz Festival.  To celebrate they are releasing a special limited edition single malt which will be on sale to festival goers from today until Sunday. The bottle, which includes a jazz piano motif on the neck and the signature of Lagavulin's legendary warehouseman Iain McArthur on the label, is limited to just 624 bottles.

The Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 2012 Edition has been matured in a single ex-refill sherry butt, which was filled in May 1997, and is bottled at the natural cask strength of 54.5% ABV.  The price is £85 and it is only available from the distillery shop to valid ticket holders.  Any bottles left after the weekend will remain on sale in the shop to distillery visitors, and be sold on a first come first served basis.

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Sullivan's Cove - Further expansion
The award winning Tasmanian distillery of Sullivan's Cove have announced their introduction to a another new market.  From November the single malt whisky brand will be available in the prestigious Le Clos store in Dubai Airport - the store known for attracting high spending customers. The brand is currently exporting to ten countries across Europe, plus Canada, Singapore and the USA.

Patrick Maguire, the Master Distiller at Sullivan's Cove distillery, comments “Tasmanian whisky is really taking off across the world, mainly because of its extremely high quality. We are seeing a growing cult following for our whiskies, and recognition such as this to be stocked next to the world’s best wines and spirits in a store of the caliber of Le Clos is further testament to that. I'm really proud that Sullivans Cove is leading the way for Tasmanian whiskies.” 

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