Introducing TINCUP American Whiskey, a Rugged, Rocky Mountain Take on Whiskey

DENVER, Jan. 17, 2014 -- Proximo today announces the launch of TINCUP American Whiskey.  Created by distilling legend Jess Graber, founder of Stranahan's Colorado Whiskey, TINCUP is made from a unique blend of corn, rye and malt.  Aged in new charred American white oak barrels, it is bottled at 84 proof in Colorado using pure Rocky Mountain water.  On the nose, TINCUP evokes notes of citrus, black pepper and ginger snaps.  On the palate, TINCUP suggests rye spice, cinnamon and caramel.  TINCUP is rolling out in select markets at a suggested retail price of $27.99 (750 ml

TINCUP honors Colorado's first whiskey drinkers, the pioneering, hardscrabble miners of the mid-19^th century who sought their fortunes in the state's gold rush.  It is named for Tincup, an old mining town in Gunnison County, Colo., which itself was named for the tin cups used by miners.  TINCUP salutes this heritage with its rugged hexagonal bottle that is deeply embossed and suggests the Rocky Mountains.  Its closure is an actual tin cup that can be used for sipping and sharing.  TINCUP's high rye content makes it more assertive and flavorful than ordinary bourbons. 

"I wanted to create an authentic American whiskey that combines the best Midwestern grains with Colorado's incomparable pure water," says Graber.  "Given its high rye content, I think that TINCUP will appeal to whiskey drinkers who want a bolder, spicier taste.  It's a great sipping whiskey, neat or with a few ice cubes, and also makes a good base for classic cocktails like the Manhattan and the Old Fashioned."

Graber will tour local markets, including Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix and San Francisco, to conduct tastings and interact with consumers.   

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Crown Royal Introduces Extraordinary New Member to the Family

GIMLI, Manitoba, Jan. 16, 2014  -- Crown Royal is making an extraordinary craft addition to its product line with the introduction of Crown Royal XO, an ultra-premium blended Canadian whisky, handcrafted by Crown Royal Master Blender Andrew MacKay. The unique blend of more than 50 of Crown Royal's finest whiskies is finished in cognac casks from the French Limousin Forest, resulting in a complex expression of the signature blend.

A top-shelf craft addition to the Crown Royal portfolio, Crown Royal XO is an amber/topaz whisky deliciously balanced with hints of vanilla, spice and rich dried fruit, closing with an impeccably smooth finish.

Due to the brand's great craftsmanship and history – the whisky was originally created to commemorate a grand tour of Canada made by King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Great Britain in 1939 – Crown Royal has often been referred to as a noble spirit. MacKay pays homage to this distinguished tradition with his handcrafted approach to creating the Crown Royal XO blend. As consumers enjoy the unique take on the signature blend, Crown Royal reminds all adults to please drink responsibly.

"The ultra-premium nature Crown Royal XO and the smoothness of the liquid can be attributed to the handcrafted approach we took while creating the unique blend," said MacKay. "We're looking forward to sharing this special blend with adults across the country and encourage them to incorporate it into their celebrations of extraordinary moments and events."

Crown Royal XO can be enjoyed neat or on the rocks to fully experience the liquid's complex flavor, or as the key ingredient in a number of classic cocktail recipes. It will be sold at a suggested retail price of $49.99 for a 750 ml bottle and will be available nationwide in early January.

The packaging for Crown Royal XO displays premium colors of gray and gold paired with a variation on the iconic bag, gray with gold embroidery accents. The unique bottle displays an extraordinary smooth silhouette with gold accents. 

The launch of Crown Royal XO will be supported through print and online advertising as well as public relations, strong digital extensions and point of sale materials.
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Diageo Announces £30million Expansion Of Its Clynelish Distillery in Sutherland

Diageo, the world’s leading premium drinks business, has today announced plans for a £30million expansion of its Clynelish Distillery in Sutherland, in the North-East of Scotland.

In the latest major milestone in Diageo’s £1billion programme to increase Scotch whisky production, plans have been submitted to Highland Council for the major expansion of Diageo’s most northerly Scotch whisky distillery.

The Clynelish expansion will take the on-going capital investment by Diageo in the Highland Council region alone to almost £150million, including major expansions at Glen Ord and Teaninich Distilleries and plans to build a new distillery at Alness.

Keith Miller, Diageo Director of Distillation and Maturation, said:

“The plan to expand Clynelish Distillery is another major milestone in Diageo’s £1billion investment to increase Scotch whisky production capacity to help meet the future growth in global demand for our brands.

“Clynelish is a very special distillery, producing spirit which is highly prized for its quality and character and is an important part of our Scotch whisky blending inventory, so this is an important part of our investment programme.”

Clynelish Distillery produces single malt whisky unique in both taste and texture which is highly prized by Diageo’s master blenders for use in world-leading Scotch whisky brands such as Johnnie Walker. Clynelish is also a highly regarded as a single malt whisky in its own right. The distillery is also home to one of Diageo’s 12 distillery visitor centres, welcoming more than 5,000 visitors each year. Clynelish is near the Sutherland town of Brora.

Doubling production capacity

Under the plans submitted, Clynelish Distillery will see the installation of an additional mashtun,  10 new washbacks and six new copper stills. This adds to the 10 washbacks and six stills which the distillery currently has, and will effectively double the production capacity to nine million litres of alcohol per annum, whilst retaining the unique character and quality of the spirit. A bio-energy plant is also planned for the site to provide non-fossil fuel energy to power the distillery.

As part of the planning process Diageo will hold a community engagement session in February to share further details of the Clynelish proposals with the local community.

Diageo announced its £1billion Scotch whisky investment programme in June 2012. As well as the distillery expansions the company is also investing in new warehousing to store the additional spirit, with a major new bonded warehouse site being developed at Cluny in Fife.

Expansion at Glen Ord too

The Clynelish announcement comes as six new copper stills were delivered to the Glen Ord Distillery as part of the £25million expansion plan which is doubling the size of that distillery to over 10million litres per annum. Diageo is also doubling the capacity at the Teaninich Distillery in Alness and is progressing plans to build a new malt whisky distillery and renewable energy plant on land adjacent to Teaninich. In total these projects represent a capital investment of nearly £150million across the Highland Council area.

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Clynelish 18 Year Duncan Taylor Dimensions Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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Ledaig 8 Year The Maltman Single Malt Scotch Whisky

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Jim Beam & Maker’s Mark Purchased By Japan’s Suntory

From CNBC:

Suntory said on Monday it plans to buy Beam for $16 billion, including debt, making the Japanese company the world's third-largest maker of distilled drinks.

The $16 billion transaction includes $2 billion in assumed debt.

Beam's brands include Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Sauza, Canadian Club and Courvoisier.

Suntory will pay $83.50 per share in cash, a 25 percent premium to Beam's closing share price of $66.97 on Friday.
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Johnnie Walker Introduces John Walker & Sons Odyssey To Its United States Portfolio

John Walker & Sons Odyssey Blended Scotch Whisky has completed its voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and is now available as part of the John Walker & Sons® portfolio of Scotch whisky in the United States. Inspired by Sir Alexander Walker's passion for epic journeys, John Walker & Sons Odyssey is crafted from three rare, handpicked single malts to create the first triple malt Scotch whisky from the House of Walker.

John Walker & Sons Odyssey stands proudly amongst the rarest of Scotch whisky blends in the House of Walker portfolio, which includes The John Walker®, Johnnie Walker® XR 21 and King George V® Blended Scotch Whiskies. Developed by Master Blender Jim Beveridge using Sir Alexander Walker's hand-written notes, it is a unique blend that captures the spirit of luxury and continues the House of Walker's passion for whisky excellence through supreme craftsmanship, quality, heritage and innovation. 

The lavish blend, which had previously only been available in select Asian and global markets, successfully balances hints of fresh citrus, smooth honey and creamy caramel flavors for a distinctive taste profile. It has been carefully blended and married in European oak casks to combine the flavors of the three rare malts and provide an expansive, multi-layered experience with exceptional smoothness. The blend is best enjoyed neat or with a dash of water, and always responsibly.

"I searched a number of distilleries in Scotland for the perfect three whiskies to blend for John Walker & Sons Odyssey," said Master Blender Jim Beveridge. "The extraordinary single malts I've chosen have the right provenance and pedigree to create the aromas, tastes, flavors and sensations that Sir Alexander was looking for when he created the original blend almost 80 years ago."

An ultra-modern interpretation of Sir Alexander Walker's legendary 1932 'nautical' decanter bottle created for Johnnie Walker® Swing® Blended Scotch Whisky, the crystal-grade glass decanter for John Walker & Sons Odyssey is a symbol of both the steadfastness and dynamic progression of the House of Walker. The bottle can rotate 360 degrees within the box and always rests in an upright position. It's inspired by a gyroscope, as the bottle always remains steady while the world revolves around it.

"John Walker & Sons Odyssey is the perfect choice for truly progressive individuals celebrating life's great journeys and most importantly, the potential of their next step," said Brian Radics, Director of Scotch Whisky, Diageo. "This introduction pays tribute to Sir Alexander Walker while embodying the brand's commitment to keep walking along its path of innovation and evolution. As with all of our blends, we encourage consumers to enjoy this unique triple malt responsibly."

John Walker & Sons Odyssey is now available nationwide with a suggested retail price of $1,100 (750ml). For more information about Johnnie Walker, please visit http://www.johnniewalker.com/en-us/. 

Johnnie Walker reminds you to please drink responsibly. 
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Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky Proudly Releases Companta, The Fifth Annual Release From The Award Winning Private Edition Range

Glenmorangie is proud to present Glenmorangie Companta, the newest release from Master Distiller, Dr. Bill Lumsden. The exclusive collection is comprised of unique and rare single malts, such as the critically acclaimed Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX and Ealanta, named 2011 and 2014 'World Whisky of the Year' in Jim Murray'sWhisky Bible.

Glenmorangie's renowned Director of Whisky Creation and Distilling, Dr. Bill Lumsden, has achieved a refined balance between bold spice and rich, smooth sweetness with this new expression born of Grand Cru casks from Clos de Tart and decadently sweet fortified wine from Cotes du Rhone. Glenmorangie Companta (Scots Gaelic for friendship) celebrates the shared pursuit of perfection between Glenmorangie and renowned French wine makers. Dr. Bill Lumsden explains why Glenmorangie Companta is truly special:

"As a true wine aficionado, some of my most memorable visits have been to France. The smaller vineyards work tirelessly to produce the very best wine, their dedication and attention to detail never ceases to amaze me.  In the same spirit as Glenmorangie, they stop at nothing in the pursuit of perfection. This shared philosophy inspired me to create the ultimate tribute to my longstanding love for French vineyards and the friends that I've had the pleasure to make throughout my travels.

"Selecting parcels of Glenmorangie which had been matured in traditional American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, I transferred the spirit into casks having previously contained Grand Cru wine from Clos de Tart, one of the most celebrated vineyards in Burgundy.

"To complement the bold, spicy character imparted from the Grand Cru casks, I selected a parcel of Glenmorangie which had been extra maturing in casks having previously contained a lusciously sweet fortified wine from Cotes du Rhone. It took some time, but with careful fine tuning we reached a harmonious assemblage which proved the perfect balance; neither too bold nor too tame!"

Companta exudes rich, 'autumnal' scents of red berries, and a hint of fragrant wood smoke with complementary notes of aromatic, nutty oak. The taste slowly reveals a spicy palate fragrant with cherries and stewed fruits, while notes of sugared plums, blood orange and rose-hip syrup emerge. Flavors of milk chocolate and brown sugar lead into a mouth-coating finish. Extra matured in French wine casks, Companta is bottled at a strength of 46%, and non chill-filtered for extra body and texture.

The latest incarnation in the Private Edition's award-winning range of expressions, Companta once again reaffirms the Glenmorangie Whisky Creation Team's pioneering spirit and commitment to sharing some of the world's most highly regarded single malts with a select audience of like-minded aficionados.

Glenmorangie Companta suggested retail price is $99 and is available globally beginning January 9^th until stocks are exhausted.
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