Rob Draper of Singlemalt.tv just emailed to let me know that they'll have an interview with the Scotch Whisky Association's David Williamson on the Whyte and Mackay Purchase and Charlie MacLean clarifies the Indian Newspaper Story later this evening.
Unfortunately, I can't see it on my Mac:)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Unless something REALLY big pops up, this will be the only story this week.
A few months (September 6th) ago, I did one of my news wrap-up stories (Whisky Season = News Stories) which included a short clip on how Columba Cream was having issues with its plans to take on Diageo's
That story was a summary of a story from The Scotsman called Columba Cream Plan Hits The Rocks.
I just received a response from Jamie Morrison of the Scottish Liqueur Centre, who took some issues with my story and attempted to clarify some statements. It's great to get more information and I thank Jamie for writing me.
Below is his email, my response to some of his comments as well as the text of the original story.
Last Monday we asked Glen Barclay, Director of Legal Affairs for the Scotch Whisky Association about the legality of bottling Single Malt Scotch outside of Scotland - this led to a discussion about bottling Scotch blends outside of Scotland.
David Williamson, Director of Public Affairs, responds:
Hi Kevin,
Many thanks for your recent question asking why Scotch Whisky can be bottled outside Scotland.
As you are aware, there has never been a requirement in the legal definition of Scotch Whisky for it to be bottled only in Scotland. As Scotch Whisky has grown in popularity around the world over the last century, we have therefore seen Scotch Whisky, principally Blended Scotch Whisky, shipped for local bottling in certain export markets.
Mark Reynier of Bruichladdich took some time to expand on and respond to the issues I raised in the recent story "The Laddie" - specifically the discussion of whether or not there are simply too many Bruichladdichs in the market.
As always, Mark is blunt and to the point.
Read on...
On August 2nd I was the first to announce that Dave Robertson was leaving JMR.
On August 5th I let you all know that Dave was going to Whyte & Mackay to run the innovations group.
Today Whyte & Mackay finally got around to telling you what I told you over 5 weeks ago:
UK: W&M appoints Easy Whisky's 'Robbo'
11 September 2006 Source: just-drinks.com editorial teamWhyte & Mackay has appointed one of the founders of the Easy Whisky Drinking Co. to drive innovation at the UK spirits distiller.
On Monday I had a story about the effects of sherrry vs. Spanisk oak on sherried single malts.
The story resulted in a great comment from wine & sherry expert Beau Jarvis of Basic Juice.
Caspar MacRae, of The Macallan responds:
Hello Kevin,
Great - this is the sort of question that those of us involved with The Macallan can really get our teeth into!
Beau is largely right. The vast majority of sherry matured in the soleras of Jerez is matured in American Oak (Quercus alba) sherry butts. The oak is imported from the States prior to coopering and creating the large Bota Jerzana's sherry butts. A producer like Gonzales Byass will have in excess of 150,000 butts, of which the majority will be American oak.
Continue reading "UPDATE: Sherry; "Spanish Oak" - which is it?" »
UPDATE: I spoke with Laura Peet of Diageo, and the banner is indeed real.
She explained that Diageo is sensitive to their local markets, understand what is and is not acceptable in those markets, and they use their iconic advertising to connect with and support local consumers (and yes, admittedly, to advertise).
She mentioned that when looking at an ad like this with our eyes, we may question its taste, but in the local markets this ad has been viewed as being supportive of the area and the Lebanese people.
I did search around the Internet and it appears that web-sites which focus on Beirut and Lebanon have been receptive and appreciative of this particular ad.
It's also important to keep in mind that Lebanon has a substantial Catholic population and is not a wholly Muslim country as many people believe, so an ad for an alcoholic beverage is not beyond the pale.
32 Primary Aromas follow up
In the latest episode of WhiskyCast, Mark Gillespie did me one better on the subject of 32 primary aromas - not only interviewing me, he also talked to Charles Maclean - to whom I attributed as the seminal source of the 32 aromas myth.
Read the original The Scotch Blog article: 32 Primary Aromas? Myth Busting
Whisky Live Paris
I did not get a chance to attend last year's Whisky Live in Paris - I've been told it's one of the most interesting shows any where. I also believe that anything Martine is involved in would be top shelf.
This year, the show serendipitously happens to occur the weekend before I'm attending the Bruichladdich Academy. So, it wasn't too much of a task to switch my plans to include a stop in Paris to attend this show.
Last year, the Whisky Live Paris show was completely sold out, attracting more than 1,800 private visitors and 1,200 professionals, this year the show will be spread out over three days, September 16, 17 and 18, to accommodate the expected crowds. I understand that one of those days will be for "professionals".
Co-sponsored by La Maison du Whisky and Whisky Magazine, Whisky Live Paris will host more than 50 distilleries (and 300 whiskies) from Scotland, Ireland, United States, Japan, France, Wales, and India. In addition, each day, there will be a tasting of rare whiskies that have been bottled especially for Whisky Live.
A rare whiskies tasting gives the opportunity to try three single casks selected by La Maison du Whisky: a Glenfiddich 1974, a Highland Park 1977, and an Ardbeg 1975. Apparently there will also be a special surprise - but that's all they will tell me.
If you are planning to attend the Paris show, please consider buying tickets via The Scotch Blog (by clicking here or on the Whisky Live graphic), since this will register the traffic as coming from this site. If you do not speak French you may, like me, need a translator.
Here's an idea - convince your (girlfriend/wife/boyfriend/husband/significant other) that a romantic autumn trip to Paris would be a great get-a-way for the two of you. Only upon reaching Paris do you "discover" that a whisky festival, of all things, happens to coincide with your trip.
How could he/she refuse you the pleasure of attending the show, after you were so considerate to take them to Paris? It could work.
In the coming months I will be giving you more information about the show, and I hope to see you there.
Italy's Campari seals whisky deal
Campari is keen to enter the whisky market
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Campari said it was buying Glen Grant, the world's second-biggest single malt whisky brand, as well as Old Smuggler and Braemar whiskies.
The deal sees the end of a series of assets sales at Pernod Ricard following its takeover of UK rival Allied Domecq.
Campari said the acquisition still needed European Commission approval.
Under the deal, it will take control of the whisky distillery in Morayshire, Scotland, where Glen Grant is produced.
"We are proud to have concluded another important deal that not only enables us to strengthen our position in the spirits segment further, but also to mark our entrance into the key Scotch whisky segment," said Campari chief executive Enzo Visone.
Pernod said it would keep control of its Glenlivet and Aberlour single malt whisky brands.
Back in early November I had an article called Membership has its rewards.
In the Glenmorangie Kindred Spirits section I wrote:
Kindred Spirits members are entitled to a free copy of Graham Eunson's notebook - I haven't received one yet, so I can't tell you exactly what it is.
Well, I received the notebook just the other day, and I must say it's a neat little item. I won't go into details, let me just say, it's worth signing up to get it. Especially if, like me, you are a big Glenmorangie fan.
By the way, Glenmorangie is pronounced "glen-MOR-angee" and rhymes with "orangey" - practice it a few times and you'll get it right.
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Free The Scotch Blog T-shirt
Last week in The happiest drink on earth I announced the new The Scotch Blog T-shirt as well as a contest where one lucky reader will win just by telling me why they deserve a free one.
Remember, the contest is open to entries until Monday December 12th, so there's still time to whip up your sob story and convince me and the judges that you deserve a free shirt.
For those of you who have already ordered or were thinking of doing so, the shirts should be ready to go out by December 6th - in plenty of time to make it under the Christmas Tree, Hannukah Bush, or what ever dead foliage you choose to decorate this time of year.
Believe me, once the "Cease and Desist" letter comes in, these babies will be red hot on eBay.
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Isle of Jura
Isle of Jura has revamped their packaging - it's sleek and modern and I like it.
To celebrate the new packaging Isle of Jura is giving away 12 bottles of their 10 year old Malt in December as well as a vacation on Jura!
Every second day throughout the month of December (starting today) a lucky winner will win a 70cl bottle of our Isle of Jura 10 year old, and at the end of the month one of those lucky 12 will win 2 nights accommodation, travel from Glasgow and a hearty welcome at the distillery.
It looks like you have to reregister for every competition (that's every 2 days), but that's not such a big thing to ask for free Scotch, is it?
