Crown Royal Introduces Maple Finished Whiskey

GIMLI, Manitoba, Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/jm -- Crown Royal added another branch to the family tree with the announcement of the brand's first foray into the rapidly growing flavored whisky category – Crown Royal Maple Finished. Inspired by the heritage and authenticity of the maple tree, Crown Royal Maple Finished begins with the legendary taste of Crown Royal whisky. The liquid then incorporates a touch of natural maple flavor achieved through a proprietary maple toasted oak finishing process for added smoothness.

A unique offering to the expanding whisky category , Crown Royal Maple Finished is made with the perfect balance of whisky and natural maple flavors to create a high quality product for Crown Royal's consumers. The maple extension is a great fit for those who love the classic taste of Crown Royal DeLuxe, but are seeking interesting new options. As consumers across the country discover this exciting flavored whisky, Crown Royal reminds all adults to please enjoy responsibly.

The new installment is finished by running the whisky through maple toasted oak, resulting in an exceptionally smooth tasting experience that carries a genuine light maple-sweet flavor, followed by a warm, woody caramelized note on the end. Rich colors of amber and topaz blend to create a full-bodied appearance. The 80 proof (40% ABV) whisky's aroma incorporates the elegant bouquet of light, fresh maple combined with Crown Royal's signature caramel and vanilla nose.

"Crown Royal is a brand that values innovation and always strives to exceed our consumers' expectations." said Yvonne Briese, Vice President of Whiskey, Diageo North America. "We are excited to release new Crown Royal Maple Finished. Authentic to the brand image and Canadian heritage, consumers can be confident that it will deliver Crown Royal's signature smoothness, steeped in the quality and class that has come to be expected from Crown Royal."

To fully experience the liquid's versatile flavor, Crown Royal Maple Finished can be enjoyed as a shot, on the rocks or as the key ingredient in a number of cocktails.

Crown Royal Maple Finished will be sold at a suggested retail price of $24.99 for a 750 ml bottle and is currently available nationwide.

Crown Royal Maple Finished's regal packaging is a slight variation on the classic Crown Royal style, incorporating warm colors of copper and auburn into the label, which displays the traditional image of the maple leaf in the background. The iconic bag that accompanies the bottle flaunts a deep brown color with gold embroidery accents.

The launch of Crown Royal Maple Finished will be supported through a full marketing mix, including television, print and online advertising, as well as public relations, strong digital extensions and point of sale materials.

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Jim Beam - The Grand Salute

DEERFIELD, Ill., Nov. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/jm/ -- In honor of Veterans Day, Jim Beam is kicking off The Grand Salute, a digital program that allows fans aged 21 and older to join the Beam family in giving a virtual salute to America's servicemen and service women. Starting today, fans can learn the proper way to perform a military salute, submit a photo to www.JimBeamSalutes.com and share their patriotism among friends and family on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

To encourage participation, Jim Beam will donate $25,000 to Operation Homefront's Holiday Meals for Military Program to make sure military families get to enjoy a holiday meal. The latest military support campaign from Jim Beam, The Grand Salute reflects the company's passion for uniting its fans in standing behind the individuals who fight for America's freedom.

"The Beam family is proud of our country's servicemen and service women, and this is our way of honoring our nation's heroes," said Fred Noe, Jim Beam's Seventh-Generation Master Distiller and great-grandson of Jim Beam. "With The Grand Salute program, we hope our fans will join us in extending a small gesture of appreciation and inspire others to support our heroes across the country this Veterans Day."

Jim Beam employees across the country have also taken part in this patriotic effort, honoring veterans by offering their own Grand Salutes on the website.

Operation Homefront Partnership

For the past five years, Jim Beam has partnered with Operation Homefront, a nonprofit organization that provides emergency, financial, morale and other support to troops and their families while they serve and when they return home. Since 2008, the Beam family has helped raise funds and awareness for Operation Homefront through a number of national, regional and local philanthropic activations, resulting in nearly $1 million in cash and in-kind donations.

Jim Beam's History of Support

The Grand Salute program is the latest example of Jim Beam's ongoing support of U.S. troops and veterans, something that has run deep in the hearts and heritage of the Beam family for seven generations. Beam may not exist as a Kentucky distillery if it weren't for the land grant given to the Beam Family for their service during the Revolutionary War.

Jim Beam's other military support efforts include:

• Live Music Series: For the past two years, Jim Beam's Live Music Series has continued its commitment to the troops in collaboration with musician, Kid Rock, donating more than $200,000 to the organization, a portion of which has been used to purchase musical instruments for soldiers both in the U.S. and overseas who have a passion for music.
• Salute Soldiers with the Spirit of America Program: In February 2010, Jim Beam launched a contest designed to honor America's military heroes with legendary experiences throughout the year, including VIP treatments at sporting and music events.
• Holiday Meals for Military: Since Thanksgiving 2009, Jim Beam has provided nearly 10,000 holiday meals to military families living on bases across the country, doubling the amount of meals given to military families each year.
• Back to School Backpack Drive: Jim Beam has also supported Operation Homefront's Illinois Chapter's Back to School Backpack Drive, providing school supplies for more than 500 local military families at the Great Lakes Naval Center.

To learn more and participate in The Grand Salute, visit www.Facebook.com/JimBeam, upload a photo on www.JimBeamSalutes.com or use #JimBeamSalutes to share a thank you salute via Twitter or Instagram.

For more information on Jim Beam and its involvement with Operation Homefront, please visit www.JimBeam.com/Operation-Homefront.

Jim Beam is committed to social responsibility and advises legal purchase age consumers to drink smart®. Through drinksmart.com, Beam Inc. educates legal purchase age consumers about how to make responsible choices about alcohol.

About Beam Inc.

As one of the world's leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company's brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker's Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher's Scotch Whisky, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, EFFEN Vodka, Pucker Flavored Vodka, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC, DeKuyper Cordials, and Skinnygirl Cocktails. Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,200 passionate associates worldwide generated 2011 sales of $2.8 billion, volume of 34 million 9-liter cases and some of the industry's fastest growing innovations.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index. For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

About Operation Homefront

Operation Homefront^® provides emergency financial and other assistance to the families of our service members and Wounded Warriors. A nonprofit 501(c)(3), Operation Homefront leads more than 4,500 volunteers with nationwide presence, and has taken care of more than 590,000 needs for military families since its inception in 2002. Operation Homefront is a four-star rated charity by watchdog Charity Navigator, nationally, and 94 percent of total revenue donated to Operation Homefront goes directly to support military families. For more information, please visit www.operationhomefront.net.

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Jack Daniels - Sinatra Select Whiskey

"Frank was a fiercely loyal, lifetime fan of the brand, and Sinatra Select was designed to be both a classic expression of style and an homage to two American icons. This exclusive outpouring of the distiller’s craft is matured in proprietary oak barrels for a bold flavor, timeless character and exceptional smoothness. Sinatra Select will be available at high-end retail stores and major airports worldwide, debuting in Las Vegas and later spreading to destinations including New York, London, Sydney and Singapore."

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Buffalo Trace Whiskies Named First And Second Best In World

From Buffalo Trace:

FRANKFORT, Ky., Nov. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire/jm/ -- Buffalo Trace Distillery has made history in the whiskey industry with not one, but two Whiskey of the Year Awards from esteemed whiskey reviewer Jim Murray. In the newly published 2013 Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible, the Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named "2013 World Whiskey of the Year" and the William Larue Weller was named "Second Finest Whiskey in the World."

The coveted number one and two spots were the result of Jim Murray tasting over 4,500 whiskies, in route to publishing his annual Whisky Bible. It is the first time in the book's ten year history that both the number one and two whiskies in the world have come from the United States, much less the same distillery.

About the Thomas H. Handy, Murray says, "This is enormous….Once off the ground it just doesn't stop traveling. Superb!" A 97.5 (out of 100) rating.

The praise doesn't stop there; for the second place William Larue Weller, Murray says, "WOW! This is becoming a must experience whiskey for hardcore bourbon lovers. Well, whisk(e)y lovers period, really! Majestic! Or, as it's American, perhaps I should say: Presidential." Also a 97.5 (out of 100) rating.

In regards to deciding between the first and second place, with both whiskies earning the same score, Murray says, "This was a very tough call to make on which of the two deserved top billing. Although from the same distillery they are very different animals. The enormity of the Weller was so apparent…I knew from the very first taste that it stood every chance of being World Whisky of the Year.

"But it was eclipsed by the Thomas Handy Rye, even though they both scored the same number of points. The Rye edged it, by the smallest of fractions, simply because of its extraordinary life and balance on the palate and its uncanny ability to just keep working on full alert for the longest imaginable time. It took a couple of days to decide between the two, but the Handy could not be denied."

In addition to the number one and number two finest whiskies in the world, Buffalo Trace Distillery also earned an astounding 35 additional awards from Jim Murray, including Bourbon of the Year for its William Larue Weller; Rye of the Year for its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye; Rye 11 Years or Older for its Sazerac 18 Years Old, and a host of Liquid Gold Awards, which are given only to those whiskies which score a "94" or higher, which is considered, "superstar whiskies that give us all a reason to live," according to Jim Murray.

Amongst those whiskies from Buffalo Trace Distillery that received Liquid Gold Awards were George T. Stagg; Buffalo Trace Bourbon; Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve 15 Years Old; Old Weller Antique 107 and Single Oak Project Barrels 63, 14, 132, 33, 61, 164, 191, 81 and 167.

"We were blown away when we heard the results from Jim," said Harlen Wheatley, master distiller, "To have one 'Best Whiskey in the World' is wonderful. To have the number one and the number two spots is just amazing; we're very proud of our team here at Buffalo Trace."

The 2013 Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible can be purchased at the Buffalo Trace Distillery gift shop, among other places, or online at www.whiskybible.com.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is a family-owned company based in Frankfort, Franklin County, Kentucky. The Distillery's rich distilling tradition dates back to 1787 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee. Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won seven distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. It was named Whisky Magazine 2010 World Icons of Whisky "Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year." Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 200 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com. To download images from Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracemediakit.com.

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The Glenrothes Extraordinary Cask Collection

Brandhouse design.

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Death’s Door–White Whisky

Death’s Door–White Whisky – 40% ABV, 750 ml.

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Dry Fly - Bourbon Whiskey

Dry Fly - Bourbon Whiskey – 50.5% ABV, 750 ml, Washington Bourbon 101.

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BenRiach–Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Aged 20 years

BenRiach–Single Malt Scotch Whisky – 46% ABV, 750 ml. Aged 20 years in Oak Casks, Speyside.

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Jim Beam–Black Double Aged Bourbon Whiskey

Jim Beam–Black Double Aged – 43% ABV, 1 Liter, 8 years in white oak barrels, Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey,

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World Premiere of 'Engineering a Bold, new, Whiskey Experience'

LONDON, November 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/jm/ --

New film celebrates game changing collaboration between JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ AND PORSCHE DESIGN STUDIO

To celebrate the JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Limited Edition Collection design by Porsche Design Studio, JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ today launches a new documentary film that goes behind the scenes to reveal the making of the new collection. Entitled 'ENGINEERING A BOLD, NEW, WHISKY EXPERIENCE', the film explores how this game-changing partnership between two modern day icons was conceived to reveal an exquisite collection of unrivalled whisky experiences.

    

The showstopper to the collection, featured in the film, is a limited edition Private Bar from £150,000, perfectly crafted for a bold new whisky experience and available to only 50 VIPs across the world, with one holding a special place in the exclusive JOHNNIE WALKER® House in Shanghai. Bespoke customisation options and a personal tasting with Jonathan Driver, JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ brand ambassador, are exclusive to every buyer.  The film features additional covetable items in the collection including the Carton, Chiller, Mini Cube and Cask Edition™; at the centrepiece is the JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Limited Edition Bottle, a unique take on the iconic bottle as designed by Porsche Design Studio.

Rudy Paoli, Managing Director, Global Reserve, DIAGEO, said the film would showcase the modern design and innovative technology that are characteristic of the exclusive collection: "The film, 'ENGINEERING A BOLD, NEW, WHISKY EXPERIENCE', will open consumers' eyes to the depth of rare design, exquisite craft and exclusive personalisation possibilities which define this new, super deluxe, collection of whisky experiences.

"When the collection was realised, it became clear that that there were a series of untold stories of the craftsmanship underpinning this collection and the convergence of these two iconic luxury brands. Featuring the designers, artisans and experts behind the collection, the film documents a journey of craft, revolutionising the very principles of design."

View the film on the JOHNNIE WALKER® BLUE LABEL™ Limited Edition Collection
design by Porsche Design Studio Global YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/jwbluelabelofficial and follow the story at http://www.facebook.com/JohnnieWalker and at http://www.johnniewalker.com

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DEWAR'S®: The Drinking Man's Scotch New TV Campaign

From Dewar's:

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Nov. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/jm -- DEWAR'S® Blended Scotch whisky, the world's most awarded Scotch and the number-one selling premium blended Scotch whisky in the United States, announces a break from the tired conventions of the category for the launch of its new campaign – "DEWAR'S: The Drinking Man's Scotch." The tweed and tradition that dominate Scotch whisky will be subverted to reintroduce DEWAR'S to a new generation of modern and urban men. Just as the Dewar family revolutionized the Scotch category when it launched the brand in 1846, the new DEWAR'S campaign will once again challenge the norm by bringing sensual taste, intellectual stimulation, and a hint of irreverence to the world of men in television, print and digital mediums nationwide. The campaign, which will highlight DEWAR'S® WHITE LABEL® and DEWAR'S® 12 year old, is the first time that the brand will appear on television since 2007.

"The DEWAR'S campaign takes a never-before-seen approach," says Arvind Krishnan, VP, Brand Managing Director, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch Whiskies. "It speaks to the personality and motivations of men, and challenges them to rethink their Scotch selection. It has intelligence and wit, bringing the brand back to the independent spirit with which it was created."

The new campaign is delivered with a wink and a smile. The icon, a beautiful, alluring and mysterious Scottish woman has the presence of a queen and the mouth of a gangster. She draws the viewer in from the moment she is seen, enticing men and pulling them into her clandestine world. She is incredibly desirable yet unattainable. She offers sharp words of wisdom to the DEWAR'S man – advice on living life, on drinking Scotch, on women and on being a man. She has a strong, commanding grip over the edgy, underground world of the East End of Glasgow, Scotland – a post-industrial landscape littered with intrigue, mystique and secrets – and exudes her power through her piercing attitude, cutting tongue and entrancing beauty. By displaying her strength in an edgy, yet inescapably striking way, the icon entrances men to follow her lead and step up to DEWAR'S Blended Scotch.

The gritty, industrial setting of Glasgow – the same place where DEWAR'S bottles its award-winning Scotch – brings a new identity to the brand. "The Drinking Man" doesn't take life too seriously, but knows that his choice of Scotch is an important one. He is smooth and sociable, but with a sharp edge that carries him through his urban environment. Gone are the wood-paneled libraries, leather club chairs and cigar smoke: Glasgow is the home of DEWAR'S and the home of its cunning icon. While its image has evolved to reflect more modern times, the liquid has remained, and always will remain the same. DEWAR'S, the most awarded Scotch in the world, is renowned for its double barrel ageing process, unparalleled smoothness and character.

In the print campaign, stunning images of the icon are presented with her signature words of wisdom, such as "Serious is not always easy, but it comes with serious benefits" and "Speed is often the enemy of true pleasure." Upon seeing these striking images and listening to the icon's seductive words, the DEWAR'S man understands that he shouldn't take life too seriously, just his choice of Scotch.

The DEWAR'S campaign will run in national and regional print publications, with the commercial airing on premium cable networks starting October 30, 2012. The campaign will also be available on www.dewars.com and www.facebook.com/dewars starting October 30, 2012.

About DEWAR'S^®

Founded in 1846 by John Dewar, DEWAR'S has grown from a small wine and spirits merchant shop in Scotland, to one of the largest Scotch whisky brands in the world. Best known for its iconic DEWAR'S White Label, the top selling Blended Scotch Whisky in the USA, it has expanded its family to create a portfolio of premium and super premium whiskies including DEWAR'S 12 Years Old, DEWAR'S 18 Years Old & the exclusive DEWAR'S Signature. These whiskies are crafted using the DEWAR'S double barrel ageing process. Pioneered by DEWAR'S in 1899, it involves returning the hand-crafted blend to vintage oak casks for further maturation. The result is a smoother taste with a long, lingering finish; a taste that wins medals and applause, making DEWAR'S the world's most awarded Scotch.

About Bacardi U.S.A., Inc.

Bacardi U.S.A., Inc. is the United States import and distribution arm of one of the world's leading spirits and wine producers. The company boasts a portfolio of some of the most recognized and top-selling spirits brands in the United States including BACARDI^® rum, the world's favorite and best-selling rum, as well as the world's most awarded rum; GREY GOOSE^® vodka, the world-leader in super-premium vodka; DEWAR'S^® Blended Scotch whisky, the number-one selling premium blended Scotch whisky in the United States; BOMBAY SAPPHIRE^® gin, the top-valued and fastest-growing premium gin in the world; CAZADORES^® 100 percent blue agave tequila, the number-one premium tequila in Mexico and a top-selling premium tequila in the United States; MARTINI vermouth and sparkling wines, the world's leading vermouth and the world's favorite Italian sparkling wines; and other leading and emerging brands. For additional information, visit www.bacardiusa.com.

THE DRINKING MAN DRINKS RESPONSIBLY.

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Rare Balvenie 50-Year Old Scotch Comes to Canada

With 88 bottles worldwide, valued at $35,000, Canada's only bottle for sale in Vancouver

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - Nov. 1, 2012/jm/)

One of the rarest Whiskies to come out of The Balvenie Distillery, The Balvenie Fifty was created to celebrate the 50^th anniversary of The Balvenie Malt Master, David Stewart. One of just a handful of malt masters in Scotland, Stewart has an incredible natural talent and is recognised as being behind some of Scotch whisky's greatest innovations earning him a lifetime achievement award from the International Wine and Spirits Competition. Known throughout the Scotch industry as the 'modest man of whisky', Stewart has dedicated his entire working life to the art of single malt making. He began working at The Balvenie Distillery as a 17 year old apprentice in 1962, a year before single malt whisky was officially exported outside Scotland, and served a lengthy 12 year apprenticeship before taking on the title of Malt Master. This incredible devotion is being recognized with the release of a rare The Balvenie single malt distilled in 1962. Just 88 bottles of The Balvenie Fifty will be available worldwide.

The Balvenie Fifty was matured in a European oak sherry hogshead, rarely used today in whisky making, filled with newly distilled spirit. Over the following 50 years, the spirit slowly matured into an outstanding single malt Scotch whisky. The particularly long maturation has created a wonderful fragrant and floral whisky, which is velvety sweet with a beautifully balanced combination of sweet citrus notes and gentle hints of honey, spice and oak. With an ABV of 44.1%, the nose is fragrant and floral with fruit and oak lusciously intermingled. The finish is velvety smooth with a delicious citrus sweetness.

The Balvenie Fifty is presented in a hand blown glass bottle surrounded by a wooden case, created by Scottish craftsman, Sam Chinnery, from Scottish grown timbers including Banffshire Elm grown on The Balvenie site.

For more information on The Balvenie: www.thebalvenie.com.

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