News 224
LAPHROAIG SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY UNVEILS LAPHROAIG SELECT
Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, proudly reveals Laphroaig Select, the newest edition to the award-winning Laphroaig portfolio.
Laphroaig Select’s unique character is derived from the special selection of casks chosen for maturation. The heart of the spirit is drawn from a final maturation in new American Oak casks, rarely used for Scotch whisky.
Representing a subtle blending of peat, oak and sweetness, Laphroaig Master Distiller John Campbell has selected the spirit from Laphroaig Quarter Cask, PX Cask, Triple Wood (European Oak casks) and a final addition of 10 Year Old to create Laphroaig Select.
Bottled at natural colour, the new single malt offers Laphroaig’s trademark ‘peat reek’ matched by an additional layer of complexity and depth brought about by the fusion of the maturation styles and different oaks.
Master Distiller John Campbell said; “Select is an exciting and unique expression that brings together the best of Laphroaig’s flavour profile. The inspiration for Laphroaig Select comes from perhaps our greatest family owner, Ian Hunter (1886-1954), one of the first distillers to experiment with both ‘new’ American and ‘traditional’ European oak maturation. As the world’s No.1 Islay malt whisky, we continue to stay true to our long and illustrious heritage, and this expression sits perfectly amongst our award-winning portfolio.”
Laphroaig Select is available in selected whisky specialists and retailers (RRP £34.99).
Tasting notes: Laphroaig Select (ABV 40%)
• Colour: Full sparkling gold
• Nose: Burning embers of peat in a crofter’s fireplace, hints of coconut and banana aromas
• Body: Full bodied
• Palate: Deep, complex and smoky yet offers and surprises the palate with a gentle sweetness
• Finish: Really long, dry with smoke and spice
To find out more information about Laphroaig or how to become a Friend of Laphroaig, please visit www.laphroaig.com. Please enjoy our brand responsibly www.drinkaware.co.uk
Curly Coo Bar Wins Best Whisky Bar in the 2014 Drammie Awards
At the recent Drammie Awards for 2014, Stirling whisky bar The Curly Coo came out on top being voted best whisky bar in the world for the second year running. Speaking afterwards, owner Mandy commented “Feeling very honoured to be voted ‘Best Whisk(e)y Bar in the World’, 2 years running in 2 different bars!! Last year when I won, I was very grateful to Crieff people who voted for me but was a sweet/sad experience. Won the Drammie awards on Wednesday then found out the Coo building was being put up for sale on the Friday… The award means so much to me this year. I opened Curly Coo Bar in Stirling at beginning of December and have had so much support from the Stirling folk and many of Stirling Students, Lecturers and Professors… Exciting times ahead, thanks to all who have supported me along the way… Mandy.
A big congratulations to Mandy and the Curly Coo. Be sure to drop in for a dram when next in Stirling.
Malt Marketing – Getting closer to the finest malt whisky bars, shops and events.
Throughout 2014/15, Malt Marketing will continue marketing and promoting the finest whisky shops, bars and events both here in the UK and overseas. After all, whisky is more the global product today than it’s ever been. With the whisky enthusiast knowing no boundaries when it comes to pursuing their passion, we feel it only right to enjoy that journey with them. Sold on the global stage and with collectors from every conceivable corner of that stage, whisky continues to captivate and intrigue both the curious novice to the most discerning of devotee’s. With all this in mind, Malt Marketing feels it’s only right to bring only the finest establishments and experiences together for all to enjoy in its very own be-spoke Whisky Bars, Shops and Distilleries Directory.
To market and promote with www.maltmarketing.com, contact: info@maltmarketing.com
LAPHROAIG DISTILLERY CROWNED WHISKY VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR
Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky, distributed by Maxxium UK, has been awarded the Whisky Visitor Attraction of the Year in Whisky Magazine’s global Icons of Whisky 2014 competition.
The annual industry awards, organised by Whisky Magazine, recognise the very best people and places in the whisky industry around the world. The awards involve country heats to find the best companies in the leading whisky nations of the world, which then compete against each other for the overall Icons of Whisky.
Laphroaig Distillery Manager, John Campbell said: “As the No.1 selling Islay single malt whisky we are thrilled to be recognised as one of Whisky Magazine’s prestigious global Icons of Whisky. For nearly 200 years, we’ve worked hard to ensure that the distillery reflects the same distinctiveness one would find in a bottle of Laphroaig. From guided tours to our Friends of Laphroaig loyalty program, we welcome visitors into the family by gifting a plot of Islay land they can call their own while offering a truly memorable experience.”
The Whisky Magazine editorial panel noted that the Laphroaig Distillery “offers a warm welcome to visitors from across the world. From a walk through tour to owning your piece of Islay, Laphroaig has stamped its mark on the visitor [centre] experience.”
The Laphroaig Distillery also won the Scottish Icons of Whisky last year and is the current holder of the Drammie award for best distillery tour in the world, which it has won for two consecutive years.
To find out more information about Laphroaig or how to become a Friend of Laphroaig please visit www.laphroaig.com. Please enjoy our brand responsibly www.drinkaware.co.uk
THE MACALLAN UNVEILS MASTERS OF TASTE COLLABORATION WITH THE WORLD’S BEST RESTAURANT, EL CELLER DE CAN ROCA
The Macallan today unveils its latest exciting collaboration – The Macallan Masters of Taste – bringing together the supreme craft and innovation of two of the world’s leading masters to create the ultimate taste experience.
Sitting at the very top of the World’s Best 50 restaurants*, El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, Spain has come together with The Macallan, the world’s ultimate luxury single malt Scotch whisky, to collaborate and innovate in the field of taste and cuisine.
The Roca Brothers – Joan, Josep and Jordi – have combined their collective vision and diverse skills to extraordinary effect that saw them secure the world number one position in April 2013. A Catalan family restaurant at heart, El Celler de Can Roca’s philosophy is grounded in an evolutionary and modern approach.
The Macallan continues to sit at the pinnacle of single malt whisky, by combining an unwavering commitment to the highest quality with a passion and desire to innovate and challenge the traditions of whisky making.
Together these partners share the core values of craft, mastery, skill and innovation and have collaboratively crafted a new vision of bringing the worlds of whisky making and craft cuisine together to create something totally unique.
The Masters of Taste will see The Macallan and the Roca Brothers unite their creativity and thinking to create an ultimate experience in taste.
Ken Grier, Director of The Macallan, said, “We are truly excited and honoured to be collaborating with the Roca Brothers to launch this major new initiative. Joan, Josep and Jordi are not only inspirational; they are world-class innovators whose commitment to their craft is exceptional”.
Whisky and cuisine have a long-standing connection but never have any two partners come together to really explore what this could, and should mean. Our collaboration is set to break down classic perceptions of food pairing and enter into a whole new, awe-inspiring world of taste and flavour experience.”
Commenting on the collaboration, Josep Roca of El Celler de Can Roca said, “It is both a pleasure and an exciting challenge to work with The Macallan team. We combine knowledge, effort and hard work to improve in areas that individually we could have never imagined we could achieve, and all that with a strong commitment to innovation.”
The most immediate outcome of this exciting new collaboration will be “The Ultimate Dinner with The Macallan and Roca”, six prestigious charity dinners held at El Celler de Can Roca during June and July 2014.
The dinners are open to a very limited number of people globally at a cost of $10,000 per head. With a key focus on charitable giving, the net proceeds from the dinners, together with a further contribution from The Macallan will go to charity. The restaurant will open exclusively for these dinners on the six dates in June and July 2014**.
“The Ultimate Dinner with The Macallan and Roca” will involve the most exquisite combination of gastronomy and whisky making. From exclusively designed dishes, inspired by the flavour and character of The Macallan, to an outstanding range of The Macallan whiskies from unreleased single cask malts through to M, the world’s most expensive whisky, The Macallan in Lalique 62 year old and the oldest single malt ever released by The Macallan distillery. The combination of this menu and the collection of fine whiskies served are being exclusively created for these charity dinners and will not be served anywhere in the world aside from on these six occasions.
This exciting partnership is underpinned by Spain and the significance it plays in how both partners have evolved and are shaped today. For The Macallan its inherent connection with Spain is extremely strong through its commitment to Spanish oak sherry seasoned casks. This factor is the most influential in the final flavour and character of this single malt. For El Celler de Can Roca, their Spanish heritage has heavily shaped their ethos and enabled them to establish themselves as the leading force in Spanish cuisine.
For more information on booking “The Ultimate Dinner with The Macallan and Roca” please visit: www.themacallan.com, email themacallan@rocadinners.com, or call +34 93 222 33 44 (from 9:00 – 18:00 GMT+1 time).
* Organised by Restaurant magazine, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list is an annual snapshot of the opinions and experiences of over 900 international restaurant industry experts. What constitutes “best” is left to the judgement of these trusted and well-travelled gourmets. www.theworlds50best.com/list/1-50-winners/el-cellerde– can-roca/
** There are only six available dates: June: Sunday 29th and Monday 30th. July: Sunday 6th, Monday 7th, Sunday 20th and Monday 21st. The restaurant will be exclusively opened on these dates
for these charity dinners only as it is usually closed on Sundays and Mondays.
For more information please contact: Laura Hutchinson or Linsay Moore on firstname.lastname@bigpartnership.co.uk or via 0131 557 5252.
Follow us on Twitter: @The_Macallan, @CanRocaCeller, #macallanmasters
