Glenfarclas extends Cheltenham Racecourse sponsorship

Glenfarclas continues steeplechase sponsorship.

Scotch whisky brand Glenfarclas has announced that it has extended its sponsorship of the cross country steeplechases at Cheltenham Racecourse for a further three years.

The brand has sponsored cross country steeplechase racing at the course since 2008, according to sportspromedia.com.

Charles Hamer of Glenfarclas said in a statement: “We have been delighted with the first three years of our sponsorship of the Glenfarclas Cross Country Series.

“We feel that we achieved many of our aims, particularly that of raising the public profile of the brand.

“Thus we are delighted to be renewing this relationship with Cheltenham for a further three years which will, we hope, go a long way to achieving our goal of making Glenfarclas the ‘turn to’ malt whisky of the racing world.”

Peter McNeile, Cheltenham’s director of sponsorship, added: “We are delighted that Glenfarclas is extending its support of cross country steeplechasing.

“In addition to sponsoring races at our three biggest meetings each season, the bonus is a fascinating and exciting twist to a unique pan-European series and the news that Glenfarclas will be a major supporter of cross country racing for a further three years is a welcome boost to the sport.”

Chivas Brothers brands continue to expand in the Middle East

Chivas
Middle East expansion

Chivas Brothers has said that the firm is continuing to see growth in the Middle East markets despite the recent political unrest in the region.

The company, which owns icon whisky brands Chivas Regal, the Glenlivet and Ballantine’s, confirmed that it is continuing to expand sales opportunities in countries like Dubai and Israel.

Chief executive Christian Porta told the Press & Journal that the firm is hoping to increase sales in other global markets.

He said: “We are achieving strong growth in places like Brazil, Russia, India and China, and we want to continue to build in those countries in the future.”

“Our biggest markets in the Middle East are … Israel, Lebanon and Dubai, and so far we have not been affected there. Tunisia, Libya and Egypt have been very small markets for us.”

“We are quite lucky in that Scotch whisky is a premium drink with a consumption that is well spread across the globe, so we are not just dependent on one region.”

“We expect more and more consumers to want to drink better products.”

He added: “Considering Chivas Brothers extensive inventory in these categories it is a very positive trend for us, and one which we are optimistic will lead to increased sales of our top brands.”

Richard Paterson named “Whisky Ambassador of the Year”

Whyte & McKay, Master Blender, Richard Paterson has been named “Whisky Ambassador of the Year” for 2011 at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky Awards.

Paterson, who celebrated 40 years in the whisky industry last year, told BourbonBlog.com that he felt privileged to work in the whisky industry.

Richard said: “It’s an honour to receive this award and it means a great deal to me that my fellow whisky peers respect the work I am doing.

“Over the last 40 years I have had the privilege to work in the whisky industry and travel the world over meeting many many whisky enthusiasts.”

Paterson said that he has had many memorable moments throughout his 40 years in the industry but confessed that tasting the ‘Shackleton’ whisky was a personal highlight.

He added: “I have created some very special whiskies along the way including the first whisky to break the £100,000 barrier.

“Just recently I got to sample the Shackleton whisky which has to be one of the greatest highpoints of my career.”

Rare malt auction at the Inverness Whisky Festival 2011

Inverness Whisky Festival
Inverness Whisky Festival: Rare malts, food and music.

Organisers have announced the full line-up of events at The Inverness Whisky Festival 2011.

The event will celebrate the finest whiskies from the Highlands and Islands in the rural surroundings of Bogbain Farm close to the outskirts of the city.

The Inverness Whisky Festival line-up includes exhibitions, whisky talks, ceilidhs and a performance by the Blazin’ Fiddles.

One of the highlight of the events for whisky collectors will be the auction of rare malts on the Saturday afternoon.

BBC Radio Scotland presenter Bruce MacGregor, who will be hosting some events at the festival, told the Press & Journal that there would be “worldwide interest” in the auction.

He said: “The interest in this part of the festival has been incredible.

“Whisky collecting is a major field and we are expecting bids in from around the world for some spectacular bottles that are up for auction.”

Festival manager Yvonne Murray added: “It’s not just music and whisky that the festival is celebrating.

“We have a former winner of Masterchef, Sam Carswell, coming to show how whisky and Scottish food can be married together in innovative ways.”

The Inverness Whisky Festival takes place over the weekend April 8 and 9 and tickets are now on sale.

Gordon & MacPhail unveil The Glenlivet 70 Years Old

Glenlivet 70yo
The Glenlivet 70 Years Old: ‘Voluptuous and smooth’.

Family-owned whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail have unveiled one cask of The Glenlivet 70 Years Old at a ceremony in Edinburgh Castle.

The firm is offering whisky lovers will get the chance to own one of Scotland’s most iconic whiskies for the princely sum of £13,000 a bottle.

The single malt, which has been described as ‘voluptuous’, is being released under Gordon & MacPhail’s Generations Label as a limited edition of only 100 full-sized bottles.

David and Michael Urquhart, joint managing directors of Gordon & MacPhail, said in a statement: “Following on from the phenomenal success last year of Mortlach 70 Years Old, we decided to release this ‘sister’ Generations cask as there is clearly an enormous demand for greatly-aged scotch malt whiskies.

“This cask of The Glenlivet was laid down on 3rd February 1940, on the instruction of our grand-father, John Urquhart.

“Since then, successive generations of the Urquhart family have been waiting for today – the day it would be ready to share with fellow whisky lovers.

They added: “The ‘Glenlivet Decades’ collection revisits this special malt throughout the years, allowing whisky enthusiasts to get a real sense of how the cask and the maturation process change the character of a whisky.”

Glenmorangie Signet wins “Highland Malt of the Year”

The Signet
The Signet: “Highland Malt of the Year”2011.

The single malt Glenmorangie Signet has won the coveted “Highland Malt of the Year”at the Whisky Magazine Awards 2011.

The Easter Ross dram received praise for its ‘regal finish’ and deep amber colour, says the Press & Journal.

Master distiller Bill Lumsden created Signet from a secret combination of the oldest and rarest Glenmorangie whiskies’, and a spirit made using heavily-roasted chocolate malted barley to give the whisky its unique character.

Lumsden said: “Signet is an icon in its own right having beaten competition from all over the world.

“Glenmorangie is all about going the extra mile and producing whisky that is unnecessarily well made.

“Glenmorangie Signet is a rich, super premium spirit that will appeal to those who seek character and depth.”

Lumsden was recently given an outstanding achievement award by the international wine and spirit competition for his work as a pioneer of wood management and cask selection.

Whisky festival to launch in Las Vegas

US entrepreneur and whisky enthusiast Mahesh Patel has announced that he will be hosting the inaugural Universal Whisky Experience at the Wynn Encore Resort and Casino in Las Vegas later this month.

The event, which takes place on March 18 and 19, will offer US whisky connoisseurs with an opportunity to sample some of the finest Scottish single malts.

He told Exec: “The purpose of this weekend is to gather the country’s most passionate whisky lovers for tasting experiences they would not normally have access to.”

“Our distillery partners are excited about reaching this ‘best of the best’ connoisseur and the opportunity to speak with them about their whiskies thoughtfully and in a one-on-one atmosphere.”