Success For Laphroaig In World Spirits Competition
LAPHROAIG WINS FIVE MEDALS AT THE 2019 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION
Laphroaig PX Cask Travel Retail Exclusive wins Double Gold alongside a further four medals for the iconic islay distillery
17th June 2019 – Beam Suntory’s Laphroaig® has been awarded a total of five medals at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, including a coveted Double Gold for its PX Cask Travel Retail Exclusive.
The awards, from one of the most significant global competitions, further cements Laphroaig’s famously divisive liquid as a true icon of the whisky world.
The top awarded expression was Laphroaig PX Cask Travel Retail Exclusive, which scooped the much-coveted Double Gold with its intense and rich flavour. Matured in three different types of cask – American oak, Quarter casks and finally Pedro Ximénez casks – the whisky is an explosion of peat with a heavy sherried oak dryness.
Gold medals were also awarded to Laphroaig’s 10-year-old, Select and Quarter Cask expressions, showing that the famed divisive whisky is still winning plaudits across the globe for its unique expressions.
Select is created from carefully selected casks of each of the distillery’s key styles. Mostly, these are historic styles, with one notable addition: the heart of the spirit is drawn from a final maturation in American oak casks – rarely used for scotch whisky. Bottled at natural colour, the result is an exquisite Laphroaig with the trademark ‘peat reek’ matched by an additional layer of complexity and depth brought about by the fusion of the maturation styles and different oaks.
Laphroaig 10-year-old is the original Laphroaig, distilled the same way today as when Ian Hunter invented it more than 75 years ago. Those enjoying the 10 Year Old will first notice the bold, smoky taste, followed by a hint of seaweed and a surprising sweetness. This full-bodied variant is the foundation of all Laphroaig expressions and comes with a long finish.
Laphroaig Quarter Cask offers an irresistible doubling of flavour due to the double maturation in two casks made of American oak. Still-maturing whisky from our standard ex-bourbon barrels is transferred to quarter casks and left to rest in our warehouse just a stone’s throw from the Atlantic shore. This process represents Laphroaig breathing new life into a once-defunct tradition: the use of the smaller cask size, which ensures increased contact with the oak, creating a soft and velvety edge to complement Laphroaig’s distinctive peatiness.
John Campbell, Laphroaig Distillery Manager, comments: “Our whisky has been dividing opinions since 1815 and we embrace every one of them – the good and the bad. But that doesn’t mean we’re not incredibly proud when our whisky picks up an award, even more so when five of our whiskies do.”
“The PX Cask Travel Retail Exclusive is an exceptional liquid that has only been in our range for a few years, so to have it award a Double Gold is a terrific achievement for the whole distillery team.”
Alongside the Double Gold award and three Gold medals, Laphroaig Lore also picked up a Silver medal to round off an impressive showing from one of Scotland’s most esteemed distilleries.
Since its introduction in 2000, the SFWSC has become one of the most respected and influential spirits competitions in the world. And that means that the award is one of the most reliable and universal indications of spirits excellence.
The 2019 Competition was the biggest in its history, featuring more than 3,000 entries. Judges of the 2019 Competition were established spirits-industry experts, including: Anthony Dias Blue (Executive Director), author, editor, publisher, and one of the most influential food, wine, and spirits writers and lifestyle personalities in the U.S.A; Tony Abou-Ganim (Director of Judging), the Master-Mixologist, one of the leading pioneers of America’s craft cocktail movement; David Wondrich, James Beard Award–winning author and longtime
Spirits Writer for Esquire Magazine; Julie Reiner, the renowned bartender who has brought New York’s Flatiron Lounge and Clover Club rave reviews and top rankings among the best bars in the world; and Jeffrey Morgenthaler, of Clyde Common at Portland’s Ace Hotel, named America’s Bartender of the Year and the country’s Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer at the 2016 Spirited Award.
The robust judging process includes four days of highly controlled blind tastings, where the experienced judging panels taste every product to decide if it is medal-worthy. Judges do not receive any information on producer or price point, ensuring each spirit is judged fairly, equally, and without bias.
While tasting, judges evaluate each product on an individual basis—not compared to other entries in the flight. During this stage, judges determine which entries are worthy of a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal. Entries that receive a Gold medal from all judges on a panel earn a Double Gold award.
More information about the competition and the winners can be found here: http://sfspiritscomp.com/
Award Wins In San Francisco For Beam Suntory
Beam Suntory Announces Award Wins at San Francisco World Spirits Competition
BOWMORE WINS SEVEN MEDALS AT THE 2019 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION
BOWMORE 18-YEAR-OLD SCOOPED DOUBLE GOLD ALONGSIDE A FURTHER SIX MEDALS FOR THE FAMOUS ISLAY DISTILLERY
17th June 2019 – Bowmore® Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky has been awarded a total of seven medals at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, including a coveted Double Gold for its 18-year-old expression.
The medal haul, from one of the most significant global competitions, highlights Bowmore’s position as one of the top distilleries in the world, producing iconic single malts that continue to set the bar for the entire spirits industry.
The top awarded expression was Bowmore 18-year-old, which scooped the much-coveted Double Gold for its masterful combination of ripe fruit, dark chocolate and Islay smoke. Cosseted away in the finest, hand-selected oak casks and allowed to mature at its own sedate pace, this bottle is one of the most remarkable, perfectly balanced single malt scotch whiskies of its kind.
Gold medals were also awarded to Bowmore’s 12-year-old and 25-year-old expressions, demonstrating the breadth of quality in the distillery’s production from one of its youngest core offerings to one of its oldest.
The 12-year-old, which reflects the essence of Bowmore, is both complex and perfectly balanced with subtle lemon and sweet heather honey complementing Bowmore’s trademark peat smoke.
The 25-year-old offers a joyful union of toffee and hazelnut, bound together by sweet peat smoke. It is a whisky that has been patiently matured for a quarter of a century in North American bourbon and Spanish sherry casks and is exceptional even by Bowmore’s standards.
Alongside these awards for the core range, Bowmore’s 15-year-old and 18-year-old Travel Retail Exclusives also picked up gold medals.
Bowmore 15-year-old Travel Retail Exclusive is a golden and elegant whisky, exquisitely married in first fill Bourbon casks and hogsheads for a refreshing, inspired and uplifting character.
Bowmore 18-year-old Travel Retail Exclusive is deep and complex. Perfectly balanced, with a dignified maturity through time well spent in the depths of the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks.
David Turner, Bowmore® Distillery Manager, comments: “San Francisco World Spirits Competition is one of the top awards for the industry so it’s an honour to have picked up so many medals across our range. To have been awarded Double Gold for our 18-year-old core expression is a moment I will forever be immensely proud of – it’s superb whisky and having it recognised like this really makes for a rewarding moment for everyone at the distillery.”
Alongside the Double Gold award and four Gold medals, Bowmore 15-year-old and Bowmore 10-year-old Travel Retail Exclusive also picked up Silver medals to round off an impressive showing from one of Scotland’s most esteemed distilleries.
Since its introduction in 2000, the SFWSC has become one of the most respected and influential spirits competitions in the world. And that means that the award is one of the most reliable and universal indications of spirits excellence.
The 2019 Competition was the biggest in its history, featuring more than 3,000 entries. Judges of the 2019 Competition were established spirits-industry experts, including: Anthony Dias Blue (Executive Director), author, editor, publisher, and one of the most influential food, wine, and spirits writers and lifestyle personalities in the U.S.A; Tony Abou-Ganim (Director of Judging), the Master-Mixologist, one of the leading pioneers of America’s craft cocktail movement; David Wondrich, James Beard Award–winning author and longtime
Spirits Writer for Esquire Magazine; Julie Reiner, the renowned bartender who has brought New York’s Flatiron Lounge and Clover Club rave reviews and top rankings among the best bars in the world; and Jeffrey Morgenthaler, of Clyde Common at Portland’s Ace Hotel, named America’s Bartender of the Year and the country’s Best Cocktail and Spirits Writer at the 2016 Spirited Award.
The robust judging process includes four days of highly controlled blind tastings, where the experienced judging panels taste every product to decide if it is medal-worthy. Judges do not receive any information on producer or price point, ensuring each spirit is judged fairly, equally, and without bias.
While tasting, judges evaluate each product on an individual basis—not compared to other entries in the flight. During this stage, judges determine which entries are worthy of a Gold, Silver, or Bronze medal. Entries that receive a Gold medal from all judges on a panel earn a Double Gold award.
More information about the competition and the winners can be found here: http://sfspiritscomp.com/
Limited Edition Release From Glen Scotia Distillery
Glen Scotia Unveil Limited Edition Rum Cask Finish Single Malt
Glen Scotia has introduced a new Limited Edition Rum Cask Finish Single Malt to celebrate its Campbeltown Malts Festival programme.
The festival, which was held last month, showcases all that is unique and special about single malts from the region. In the Victorian era the town was home to more than 30 distilleries and known as ‘whisky capital of the world’.
Today Glen Scotia is one of just three surviving local distilleries and its award-winning whiskies are known for their distinctive Campbeltown character.
To mark its biggest ever festival events programme, the distillery has released its Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2019 Limited Edition Rum Cask Finish.
A 2003 Vintage, this wonderfully peated single malt delivers sea spray and sweetness on the nose, with notes of melted brown sugar, pineapple and citrus fruits developing before delivering a long dry finish, with spice and sweet peat.
Non-chill filtered, it has been bottled at cask strength, 51.3% ABV, to ensure this exquisite single malt is enjoyed as nature intended. Around 9,500 bottles of this highly collectible limited edition release will be available worldwide.
Iain McAlister, Distillery Manager at Glen Scotia, said: “Our new limited edition rum cask single malt offers whisky fans something very special, bringing together the maritime influences associated with Campbeltown and the sweet, tropical notes of rum – another sea-faring spirit.
“As someone who was born and bred in Campbeltown, I am very proud of our distinctive history and heritage. I hope whisky lovers have fun discovering our latest exceptional single malt.”
Hundreds of visitors from all over the world took part in tours, tastings and more at Glen Scotia as part of its packed programme during the Campbeltown Malts Festival. Highlights included tastings at its historic dunnage warehouse and two sold-out whisky dinners held at the Ardshiel and Ugadale Hotels.
The distillery also hosted local MSP Michael Russell to launch its new campaign to recognise Campbeltown, the fifth and smallest of Scotland’s official malt-producing regions, as the ‘whiskiest place in the world’. Glen Scotia is has introduced new branding as part of the global campaign.
To find our more visit www.glenscotia.com.
Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky News
Whisky Category Set To Grow To £2.44 Billion by 2022
Inaugural
Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky Yearbook Forecasts
The whisky category will return to growth over the coming year and, by 2022, will be worth £2.44 billion (up from £2.31 billion in 2018) according to research in the inaugural Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky Yearbook.
The report, designed to be a guide to the trends in the UK whisky market, has been launched by Edrington-Beam Suntory UK to create a comprehensive guide to the key shifts in the category, as well as forecast the underlying trends and their impact.
The research shows that whisky as a whole will grow by £138 million in value in the coming three years – 6% growth over the period – and by over 200,000 cases.
|
2018 (actual) |
2022 (forecast) |
CAGR |
Total change |
Change |
|
|
Volume |
7.44m |
7.65m |
0.7% |
2.7% |
201k |
|
Value |
£2.31b |
£2.44b |
1.5% |
6.0% |
£138.37m |
Source: CGA & Nielsen sales data for 2018 and IWSR growth forecasts for 2019 and 2022. Volume of 8.4 litre cases and total whisky value
Mark Riley, Managing Director of Edrington-Beam Suntory UK said: “Whisky is one of the most diverse and dynamic of the spirits categories. Our forecast is that it is also one that will see growth over the next three years. Bartenders and retailers tell us that whisky is a key focus for them, with plans to invest in broadening their knowledge and range, ensuring they can accommodate the increasing appetite for the spirit from consumers in both on and off-trade.
“We would like the Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky Yearbook to become a vital resource to track the changes as they happen and to look at the underlying trends in the category – both as a way to understand the market today and to forecast what is to come – as well as to offer insight into how we navigate the challenges and opportunities presented to us.”
Growth in Scotch single malt and US whisky
The principle drivers of this growth are set to be the Scotch single malt category which Edrington-Beam Suntory UK expects to see grow in value from £394 million in 2018 to £439 million in 2022.
The growth will come as a result of new “accessibly priced” single malts in the market and a closing of the price gap between single malts and blends – encouraging more blends drinkers to “trade up”.
At the same time, existing single malt drinkers are showing strong signs of trading up within the category as they explore limited bottlings and premium releases from the biggest names such as The Macallan and Bowmore amongst others.
Meantime, The Whisky Yearbook research also forecasts that American whiskies will see growth to 2022 – up from £688 million in 2018 to £742 million in 2022.
While there is uncertainty over the current tariffs imposed on US whiskies, the report is optimistic that growth will come from the growing “American premium” brands such as Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Bulleit and Woodford Reserve, which are helping to add value to the category.
Mark Riley said: “Our forecast is that Scotch single malt and American whiskies will drive future growth, continuing to attract new consumers to the whisky category and successfully appealing to existing customers with new expressions. Both are seeing customers trade-up as they explore the categories, which is supporting the increase in the value and volume of sales.”
Scotch and US Whiskies Volume Growth to 2022
|
2018 |
2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
2022 |
|
|
Scotch Blend |
4.78m |
4.77m |
-0.3% |
-14.3k |
4.57m |
|
US Whiskey |
1.72m |
1.72m |
0.1% |
1.7k |
1.81m |
|
Scotch Malt |
0.81m |
0.85m |
3.7% |
30.1k |
0.90m |
Source: CGA & Nielsen sales data for 2018 and IWSR growth forecasts for 2019 and 2022. Volume of 8.4 litre cases and total whisky value
Scotch and US Whiskies Value Growth to 2022
|
2018 |
2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
2022 |
|
|
Scotch Blend |
£1.05b |
£1.05b |
– |
– |
£1.01b |
|
US Whiskey |
£687.89m |
£694.77m |
1.0% |
£6.88m |
£742.23m |
|
Scotch Malt |
£393.86m |
£408.43m |
3.7% |
£14.57m |
£438.76m |
Source: CGA & Nielsen sales data for 2018 and IWSR growth forecasts for 2019 and 2022. Volume of 8.4 litre cases and total whisky value
Emergent categories in whisky
Further supporting the overall growth of whisky in the coming years will be the smaller sub-categories where growth will be substantial to 2022, according to Edrington-Beam Suntory UK forecasts.
Irish whiskey will grow by £28.5 million from its sales in 2018 to 2022 and is forecast to be worth £163.9 million. This has been largely driven by the category-leading brand, Jamesons, but the wider easing of supply of Irish whiskey into the UK market will support this growth yet further.
The growth of single grain whisky, meanwhile, has been one of the success stories of the last five years and growth will continue as the value of sales will almost double to £42.1 million in 2022 (from £21.5 million in 2018). As with Irish whiskey, a clear market leader – Haig Club – has led the increase, but there are now further brands joining the category which will increase the pace of growth.
Growth in sales of Japanese whisky will accelerate over the coming three years as there is greater volume available for export, as supply has been the only major barrier to its growth hitherto. The total value of sales will rise to £11.7 million by 2022 marking 44.4% growth. Canadian whisky also will grow to become a £9.0 million category over the next three years.
Mark Riley said: “Irish and single grain whiskies have been real success stories over the past twelve months – sharing rapid growth on an already strong base of both volume and value in the market. We expect both to play a greater role in shaping the wider market in the coming years.
“The supply challenges that have arguably held back growth in Japanese and Canadian whiskies have eased. While there remains a challenge securing enough liquid from leading brands from both nations to satisfy UK demand, there is far greater supply forecast and we predict we will see growth as a result.”
Irish, single grain, Japanese and Canadian Whiskies Volume Growth to 2022
|
2018 |
2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
2022 |
|
|
Irish Whiskey |
304.33 |
330.20 |
8.5% |
25.87 |
366.41 |
|
Single Grain Whisky |
89.18 |
109.24 |
22.5% |
20.07 |
179.78 |
|
Japanese Whisky |
7.19 |
8.27 |
15.0% |
1.08 |
10.70 |
|
Canadian Whisky |
10.52 |
12.42 |
18.1% |
1.90 |
14.20 |
Source: CGA & Nielsen sales data for 2018 and IWSR growth forecasts for 2019 and 2022. Volume of 8.4 litre cases and total whisky value
Irish, Single Grain, Japanese and Canadian Whiskies Value Growth to 2022
|
2018 |
2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
2022 |
|
|
Irish Whiskey |
£135.42m |
£147.21m |
8.7% |
£11.78m |
£163.86m |
|
Single Grain Whisky |
£21.51m |
£26.03m |
21.0% |
£4.51m |
£42.15m |
|
Japanese Whisky |
£8.10m |
£9.20m |
13.6% |
£1.10m |
£11.69m |
|
Canadian Whisky |
£6.62m |
£7.86m |
18.8% |
£1.24m |
£9.02m |
Source: CGA & Nielsen sales data for 2018 and IWSR growth forecasts for 2019 and 2022. Volume of 8.4 litre cases and total whisky value
The Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky Yearbook will be published annually and can be accessed digitally at: www.thewhiskyyearbook.co.uk
ENJOY LAPHROAIG WITH PICTUREHOUSE CINEMAS
LAPHROAIG LAUNCHES PARTNERSHIP WITH PICTUREHOUSE CINEMAS
The UK’s Favourite Peated Whisky Will Be Featured In Bars Across The Picturehouse Network
June 2019: Single Malt Whisky brand, Laphroaig has partnered with cinema network, Picturehouse Cinemas in a unique collaboration that will bring together the worlds of whisky and cinema through the lens of Laphroaig’s iconic and award-winning ‘Opinions Welcome’ positioning.
Launching in June, this articulation of ‘Opinions Welcome’ is part of a long term strategy for the brand that will introduce the UK’s favourite peaty whisky to a host of new consumers and forms part of the biggest investment put behind the brand. With Laphroaig dividing opinions since 1815, the campaign is the latest to invite people to discuss and share their opinions of the whisky and its unique flavour.
#OpinionsWelcome content will form a key part of the partnership, with bespoke idents being shown on-screen ahead of Picturehouse members screenings. Alongside this, Laphroaig will be sampled with the thousands of passionate cinema-goers who visit the 25 Picturehouse venues across the UK, allowing them to enjoy a peaty dram in the cinema environment.
Visitors will be encouraged to leave their own opinion of this award winning and much-loved whisky, to feed into the ever-growing bank of unusual and poetic opinions of Laphroaig. Previous opinions include “the perfect gift for someone you love or hate… or haven’t made your mind up about” and “smells like medicine. Tastes like soil. My whisky of choice”.
Alongside sampling, a number of on-screen branded advertisements in 60 and 30 second formats will run across Picturehouse, Everyman and Curzon sites prior to feature length films. A bespoke launch film will air during the partnership both at member and public screenings, during which friends try Laphroaig for the first time and compare their opinions – whether positive or negative.
With Laphroaig listed across all Picturehouse venues, bar staff will receive expert training in all things Laphroaig, enabling them to create the perfect cocktail for consumers including smoky twists on classics with a Popcorn Old Fashioned and Laphroaig and ginger. Training will also enable bar staff to educate guests on this famously unique liquid.
Nick Ganich, Head of Beam Suntory Brands at Edrington-Beam Suntory UK said, “Partnering with Picturehouse Cinemas is a fantastic opportunity for Laphroaig as it gives us the chance to put our much-loved but divisive whisky into the glasses of new consumers, encouraging them to share their unique thoughts. Cinema always stokes healthy debate, so it felt the ideal match to include Laphroaig, which instils similarly strong but divided opinion. Luckily, we welcome them all and we can’t wait to hear what people think.”
XX, XX, Picturehouse Cinemas said, “TO BE ADDED BY PICTUREHOUSE”
There will also be brand inclusion within Picturehouse newsletters and the printed magazine. Additionally, digital panel support and members content will showcase the partnership on-site.
The partnership between Laphroaig and Picturehouse Cinemas will start in June 2019 and continue throughout the year.
