Whiskey 15
RESTORATION FOR GLEN GARIOCH’S DISTILLERY
BEAM SUNTORY TO INVEST IN £6 MILLION RESTORATION AND UPGRADE OF GLEN GARIOCH’S DISTILLERY IN OLDMELDRUM
16 March 2021 – Beam Suntory, a leading global premium spirits company, is making a significant £6 million investment in Glen Garioch’s renowned distillery in Oldmeldrum. The renovation will see the distillery return to more traditional production processes, while also introducing new cutting-edge technology for direct-fired distillation. The planned changes will also reduce the distillery’s carbon footprint. Work began in 2020, and various stages are expected to be completed over the course of 2021.
The cornerstone of this transformation will be the reintroduction of floor maltings as well as the installation of direct-fired heating to the wash still – traditional methods still used by only a handful of whisky distilleries. The return to these traditional processes is a sign of Glen Garioch’s deep respect for its rich heritage, as well as the complexity and quality of its small batch, hand-crafted Highland single malt.
To complement this return to tradition, Glen Garioch has developed a state-of-the-art, highly efficient and safe method for direct fired distillation, which Beam Suntory anticipates will reduce the distillery’s carbon footprint by around 15%.
The first new make spirit will come off the stills later in 2021.
Kwanele Mdluli, Distillery Manager, commented: “We are proud to make this investment in Glen Garioch’s historic distillery, and we’re excited about the future. Although these traditional distilling and malting methods are rare in today’s industry, our teams have deep expertise and passion for these methods, and we’re all looking forward to bringing them back to our distillery. We are honoured to be a part of Glen Garioch’s long tradition of innovation and quality craftsmanship.”
Francois Bazini, Beam Suntory’s Managing Director – Scotch, Gin & Irish, added: “Coming from one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, Glen Garioch is a rare find – a complex, hearty Highland malt, produced only in small batches. Our whisky has always been made with extraordinary care, and by reinvigorating its distillery and tapping into the brand’s rich history, we’ll be able to build on the quality and complexity that Glen Garioch is already known for. Although we’re looking to the past for inspiration – we’re opening the next chapter in Glen Garioch’s future.”
Entrepreneur News in Conjunction With Glen Scotia
Glen Scotia Whisky Joins Great British Entrepreneur Awards as Partner
The Great British Entrepreneur Awards is delighted to announce Glen Scotia as its first Entrepreneurial Spirit Partner.
The scotch whisky brand, owned by Loch Lomond Group, is one of the few Campbeltown distilleries to have maintained production from the heady days of the 1830s when the region was known as the whisky capital of the world.
The brand continues to enjoy success, now backed by centuries of craftsmanship and experience and its award-winning whiskies are renowned for their distinctive maritime influence and Campbeltown character.
The partnership will see Glen Scotia sponsor the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award. GBEA and Glen Scotia will also recognise and reward a business owner who has shown particular entrepreneurial spirit each month.
Founded in 2013, the Great British Entrepreneur Awards acknowledges the hard work and inspiring stories of entrepreneurs and businesses in the United Kingdom. Central to its ethos is being more than just ‘an awards ceremony’ – it’s a sense of community, and a thriving ecosystem of support all year round that provide opportunities for winners and finalists to connect and showcase their business.
Francesca James, founder of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, said: “I’m delighted to announce this new and unique partnership with Glen Scotia. It has an incredibly long and inspiring entrepreneurial journey behind it, and I’m thrilled they share our passion for supporting entrepreneurs and celebrating their achievements.”
John Grieveson, Chief Marketing Officer at Glen Scotia, said: “The early entrepreneurial spirit shown by our founders back in 1832 is embedded in Glen Scotia’s DNA. Back then, our founders, along with many others at the time, rode the wave of entrepreneurialism seen in Campbeltown in the early 1800s, harnessing the abundance of natural resources needed to produce quality Scotch Whisky, as well as new technology including steam navigation which meant that whisky could be shipped directly to Glasgow in under nine hours from what is still one of the most remote parts of Scotland’s mainland.
“We’re proud to be one of the three surviving distilleries from this boom-town era, which has only been achieved by our ability to innovate and adapt the business over the centuries. Our new partnership with the GBEA is therefore very fitting, and we are very much looking forward to working with them to support the new generation of British entrepreneurs.”
Latest Brand Development News From Maker’s Mark
Nicole Sykes Appointed Maker’s Mark UK Diplomat
14th January 2021, London: In 1943 when Bill Samuels Sr. walked away from the whisky founded by his great, great grandfather by burning the only copy of 170 year old family recipe, he set off to personally create a whisky that he could proudly share with his friends and family. Collaborating with his wife Margie Samuels, their result was Maker’s Mark Bourbon Whisky.
To continue the tradition of proudly sharing this great tasting whisky with our friends and family, we are delighted to share the news that the award-winning UK bartender and drinks expert Nicole Sykes has joined Edrington Beam Suntory UK as Maker’s Mark Diplomat.
Nicole brings 5 years’ experience to the Bourbon Whisky brand, working in some of the world’s most iconic bars in London and Edinburgh including Lyaness, Voodoo Rooms and most recently at Satan’s Whiskers, one of the world’s leading independent cocktail bars.
Nicole has also received numerous awards and accolades for her creativity and commitment to quality. Nicole’s passion for handmade cocktails and crafted American whisky will be key to sharing Maker’s Mark remarkable story.
Commenting on Maker’s Mark new role Nicole Sykes said: “The most compelling part for me is the genuine story behind Maker’s Mark. Each step of the process has its purpose and is there to create the best tasting Bourbon Whisky. It’s much like when bartenders create cocktails, each ingredient and method is well thought out. We don’t use the cheapest or quickest methods; we use the best methods to achieve the best taste experience.”
In her new role, Nicole will share the unique hand-crafted story of Maker’s Mark with bartenders and Bourbon Whisky enthusiasts across the UK. She will also work to support the on-trade during their transition back into service as restrictions loosen in the coming weeks.
Nick Temperley, General Manager for London at Edrington-Beam Suntory UK also commented: “We are extremely excited to have Nicole join the team here at Maker’s Mark. Having proven herself as an outstanding bartender in some of London’s best bars, she will now bring her own sense of fun, energy and cocktail experience to help us grow our remarkable bourbon whisky and support all our customers in 2021.”
For more information visit: www.makersmark.com
Collaborative Festive Whisky Campaign Announced
The Macallan Reveals David Carson Collaboration
Shared Creativity and Craftsmanship Inspire Seasonal and Gifting Campaign
The Macallan has collaborated with globally acclaimed graphic designer David Carson to create a powerful and disruptive creative campaign for the festive season.
Featuring striking artwork in David Carson’s signature iconoclastic style, the campaign focuses on a selection of five distinctive single malt whiskies which reflect the uncompromised pursuit of excellence which has driven The Macallan since 1824.
Each of the expressions – The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old, Sherry Oak 18 Years Old, Sherry Oak 25 Years Old, Rare Cask and Estate – also share key characteristics with David Carson and his award-winning work including uniqueness, innovation, craftsmanship and complexity.
Crafted from the perfect partnership of American and European oak sherry seasoned casks, The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old embodies the innovation pursued by The Macallan and David Carson. Full-bodied and complex, The Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Years Old showcases mastery and craftsmanship while The Macallan Sherry Oak 25 Years Old is complex and distinguished, with exceptional character – just like David Carson’s inimitable work.
Selected from casks that exhibit a distinctive and unusual flavour profile The Macallan Rare Cask 2020 stands out and apart, in the manner of David Carson’s style and The Macallan Estate contains rare spirit distilled from barley grown on The Macallan Estate, creating a unique single malt like no other.
David Carson, born in Texas, 1954, is considered one of the world’s most influential graphic designers. Also a professional surfer, he began his career as a magazine designer, before in the 1990s becoming art director of the magazine Ray Gun where his experimental page layouts featuring pioneering use of typography revolutionised the field of graphic design.
His work has been displayed in one-man shows across the world and he is a recipient of the AIGA, which is renowned as the design profession’s highest accolade. Since establishing his own studio, he has created campaigns for some of the world’s leading consumer brands including Nike, Levi, Pepsi and Ray Ban.
The American artist’s collaboration with The Macallan brings together bold, fractured typography with graphic illustrations of notable flavours present in the five featured whiskies and playful representations of the festive season. Straplines include: I love it; Nothing less will do; You don’t have to; and You know me so well.
The designs will be published digitally and in print, with David’s name and signature appearing on all communications throughout the course of the campaign.
Jaume Ferras, Global Creative Director for The Macallan, said: “David Carson is an extraordinary visionary whose ground-breaking graphic designs continue to excite and inspire to this day.
“Like The Macallan, he is renowned for his unique style and mastery of his trade. Working with him has been an incredible process and we look forward to revealing the results of our collaboration over the festive season.”
For further information, visit www.themacallan.com.
President of Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) Announced
Scotch Whisky Stalwart Michael Urquhart Appointed as 2021 President of the Prestigious IWSC
Former Gordon & MacPhail Managing Director to Take up High-profile Industry Position
Michael Urquhart, former managing director of family-owned Scotch whisky and premium spirits specialist Gordon & MacPhail, has been named 2021 president of the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).
The IWSC’s president represents the organisation’s objective to promote the production of quality wines and spirits throughout the world.
From the beginning, IWSC says it has placed special emphasis on the analysis and independence of its judging process and it is now one of the oldest and most respected industry competitions. It has hundreds of international experts – including buyers, producers, distillers, sommeliers, distributors and influencers – judging wines and spirits throughout the year.
Michael replaces 2020 president Tamara Roberts, CEO of English wine producer Ridgeview. He is the first Scotland-based president since former chair and chief executive of Edrington Sir Ian Good who held the position in 2009. Other iconic members of the wine and spirits industries who have been president include Baroness Philippine de Rothschild, Wolf Blass, Robert Mondavi and Napa Valley winemaker, Warren Winiarski.
Michael retired as managing director of Elgin-based Gordon & MacPhail, the fourth-generation business owned by the Urquhart family, in 2014 and stepped down from the board in 2017 after serving over 36 years in the company. He travelled extensively throughout the world promoting single malt Scotch whisky bottled by Gordon & MacPhail and also from the family’s owned distillery, Benromach.
Becoming president of the IWSC adds to the many accolades Michael has received as a result of his dedication to the Scotch whisky industry. In 1999 he was made a Keeper of the Quaich and in 2012 a Master of the Quaich in recognition of services to the promotion of Scotch whisky worldwide. At the end of 2013, The Whisky Advocate, one of North America’s leading drinks publications presented Michael with a Lifetime Achievement Award. He was also inducted to the Whisky Magazine Hall of Fame in 2014.
Michael Urquhart said: “It’s a real privilege, and I’m humbled, to be chosen as president of such a prestigious organisation as the IWSC. I believe this is a reflection of Gordon & MacPhail’s standing in the drinks industry and I thank all those involved in our family business for their support and contribution to our success over the years.
“I’ve always had the greatest respect for the IWSC and the excellent work it does in maintaining and developing the high-quality reputation of the global wine and spirits industry. I’m very much looking forward to getting behind the IWSC and ensuring it continues to work in the best interests of the entire industry.”
Christelle Guibert, IWSC CEO, said: “We’re delighted to be able to name Michael Urquhart as our new president. The president is chosen for their stature and reputation in the wine and spirits industry, and Michael perfectly fits this remit. He has dedicated his life to representing high quality sprits, in particular Scotch whisky, through his family’s business, Gordon & MacPhail. We’re sure Michael will continue to build the excellent, long-standing reputation of IWSC.”
Ewen Mackintosh, managing director at Gordon & MacPhail, said: “We have seen first-hand how hard Michael has worked for our family business and on behalf of the Scotch whisky industry as a whole. This is yet more well-deserved recognition for Michael, and Gordon & MacPhail, and we’re sure he will be an excellent president.”
