Press Release
JOHNNIE WALKER® LAUNCHES THE SPICE ROAD™, INSPIRED BY TRAVEL AND MADE EXCLUSIVELY FOR TRAVELLERS
JOHNNIE WALKER today unveiled the first of a portfolio of whiskies that take their inspiration from the travelling heritage of John Walker & Sons. Available only in duty free stores, JOHNNIE WALKER THE SPICE ROAD pays a unique homage to the global travellers of today.
The whisky of intriguing complexity, rich flavour and exceptional smoothness takes the John Walker & Sons tradition of blending for big, bold flavour inspired by influences from all over the world, into the 21st Century.
From the four corners of Scotland to the four corners of the world, JOHNNIE WALKER has always pushed boundaries to discover new horizons.
From 1820, the Walker family and their agents travelled the world, navigating their way down the famous trade routes: the Spice Road of Europe and Asia; the Royal Route from Europe to Persia; and the Gold Route of the Americas and the Caribbean, in pursuit of adventures bringing both new business and rich experiences.
Their efforts ensured that, by the 1920s, JOHNNIE WALKER had arrived in 120 countries and was being enjoyed on the great railways, luxury ocean liners and early transatlantic flights. Meanwhile, the striking image of the JOHNNIE WALKER Striding Man was becoming an icon all over the world.
Back in London, close to the shipping houses and docks from which the JOHNNIE WALKER agents travelled the world, Alexander Walker established the Travellers’ Room where his agents would convene to rest, talk strategy and exchange stories and samples from their travels. These colourful tales of exploration influenced the JOHNNIE WALKER Master Blenders, who began to create different styles of whisky to reflect these exotic stories
Today, this tradition continues as JOHNNIE WALKER launches a range of whiskies made exclusively for travellers – the JOHNNIE WALKER EXPLORERS’ CLUB COLLECTION™.
The first three blends in the collection collectively known as the Trade Routes Series are inspired by the richness that could be found along the great trade routes.
The first release, JOHNNIE WALKER THE SPICE ROAD is an evocative expression of the vibrancy, aromas and spices that the JOHNNIE WALKER agents would have discovered in the thriving markets around Asia.
It is a bold blend of intriguing complexity, rich flavour and exceptional smoothness. A spicy zestiness on the nose is balanced by fresh citrus. The smooth, rich and honeyed flavours on the palate – warmed by cloves, ginger and vanilla sweetness – give way to a smouldering finish of the JOHNNIE WALKER signature smoke.
“To create the intense spicy flavour profile of JOHNNIE WALKER THE SPICE ROAD, we used well-matured single malts and grains, presenting all their fresh vibrant distillery characters, aged in carefully selected, high quality American oak casks; and of course there is a trace of West Coast smoke in the background – revealing the classic JOHNNIE WALKER signature,” commented Master Blender Jim Beveridge.
Steve White, Marketing Director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said: “Travel is in the DNA of JOHNNIE WALKER and it is these credentials that we feel will resonate with today’s travellers who are undertaking bold journeys of their own.
“This travel heritage and pioneering spirit of adventure makes JOHNNIE WALKER the perfect companion for today’s travellers.”
With a recommended retail price of $43 / €36.90 / £26, JOHNNIE WALKER THE SPICE ROAD will be available in duty free stores in Europe, the Middle East and Australia in December. It will be available in duty free stores globally from January 2013.
The second and third releases in the Trade Routes Series – JOHNNIE WALKER THE GOLD ROUTE™ and JOHNNIE WALKER THE ROYAL ROUTE™ will be available in duty free stores in 2013.
Notes
Johnnie Walker Facebook: facebook.com/JohnnieWalker
Johnnie Walker Instagram: @johnniewalker
Twitter Hashtag: #JWSpiceRoad
ABOUT DIAGEO
DIAGEO is the world’s leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, wines, and beer categories. These brands include JOHNNIE WALKER, GUINNESS, SMIRNOFF, J&B, BAILEYS, CUERVO, TANQUERAY, CAPTAIN MORGAN, CROWN ROYAL, BEAULIEU VINEYARD and STERLING VINEYARDS wines.
DIAGEO is a global company, trading in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit us at Diageo.com. For our global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit DRINKiQ.com.
INDEPENDENT DISILLERY BRINGS BACK BERE BARLEY
Independent Scotch whisky producer, Isle of Arran Distillers, has teamed up with the Agronomy Institute at Orkney College UHI, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, to produce a dramatic new single malt whisky made with Scotland’s oldest cultivated barley.
Thought to have been brought to the UK by the Vikings over 1,000 years ago, Bere barley is notoriously hard to grow, but for those willing to persevere it can produce a very fine quality of spirit.
Until the 19th century Bere was one of the most important Scottish crops and was widely grown by farmers and used by millers, brewers and distillers. Despite being a fundamental part of Scotland’s agricultural heritage, the crop is now only commercially grown on islands off Scotland’s North and West coasts as it has been replaced by higher yielding modern varieties.
To challenge this, the Agronomy Institute and Arran Distillers have worked together to revive the spirit of this barley which generates a unique taste of whisky as it used to be, a flavour which can be found in the new Arran Malt Orkney Bere.
Due to hit stores at the beginning of December, Orkney Bere has been matured for eight years in ex-bourbon barrels and the spirit developed quicker than anticipated. Just 5,800 bottles will be available for sale.
Euan Mitchell, managing director of Isle of Arran Distillers, said: “As an independent distillery we have the freedom to try different things and we’re constantly looking for new ways to interest and excite people who enjoy excellent malt whiskies.
“Due largely to lack of availability and difficulties with its cultivation, there are only a few distilleries which use Bere, but it can produce fantastic results and is part of Scotland’s heritage. We’ve worked with Orkney College to help raise the profile of this forgotten crop and offer our customers a taste of pure history with this limited edition malt.”
Peter Martin, Director of the Agronomy Institute at Orkney College UHI, commented: “Working with Arran Distillers on this Orkney Bere whisky has been very exciting and I hope its release will help to awaken interest in this historically important Scottish crop. Bere is an under-utilised Scottish food and drink resource – there are not many other ancient cereals still in cultivation which can be used for making whisky, beer and a wide range of bakery products!”
The Arran Malt Orkney Bere has a flavour of ripe apples, oak and rich spices. The spirit has an ABV of 46% and has developed in American oak barrels with no artificial colours and non-chill filtered. A true collector’s edition, you can buy the whisky online at www.arranwhisky.com and specialist whisky shops.
Notes:
The Arran Malt – Orkney Bere is released early in December and will be available in the UK, France, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Japan, Germany and Switzerland. RRP is £47.99 for 70cl.
For more information visit www.arranwhisky.com
* Current accolades for Isle of Arran Distillery include Winner for: Best New Exporter (2004), Queen’s Award for International Trade (2005), Scottish Distiller of the Year (2007) and Scottish Drinks Producer of the Year (2007.)
Product awards include: Best Whisky Liqueur (2007), ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 12 Years & Under’ for The Arran Malt Amarone Cask Finish (2008) ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for The Arran Malt Sherry Single Cask 1998 (2010) and ‘Best Single Malt Scotch 11-15 Years’ for the Icons of Arran Peacock (2011.)
More information on the Agronomy Institute at Orkney College UHI:
The Agronomy Institute is a research centre of the University of the Highlands and Islands and is based at Orkney College UHI which is an academic partner in the University. The Institute specialises in crop-based research and development activities aimed at promoting sustainable development within the Highlands and Islands region of Scotland. For more information visit www.agronomy.uhi.ac.uk
Panache Beverage Launches Alibi American Whiskey
NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwire – Nov 21, 2012) – Panache Beverage, Inc. (OTCQB: WDKA), an alcoholic beverage company specializing in the development, global sales and marketing of spirits brands, has announced the launch of Alibi American Whiskey, now debuting at a suggested retail price of $23.99 per 750ml bottle. A counterpoint to current mainstream bourbon market trends, Alibi has set out to demystify the category by offering a more accessible product as a return to the true American whiskey-drinking tradition, free of pretension.
“This is not for the aficionado that adds a dropper of mineral water to his whiskey glass and swirls. Alibi is a blended whiskey that does not require elaborate tasting notes or a half-day tasting seminar on its production,” noted Stephen W. Yorsz, Blend Master for Alibi. “This is more in the spirit of how whiskey was originally served in this country — in a shot glass or flask.”
Alibi is a corn-based whiskey that contains elements of rye and malted barley aged in first-fill American oak casks, distilled in Indiana and bottled and blended in Florida.
Advertising creative notes, “Alibi is an elixir for the flawed human spirit in all of us… Alibi is for real people, real drinkers and believes that at one time or another, everybody needs an alibi.”
Alibi American Whiskey will be available in New York, Florida and New Jersey by the Thanksgiving holiday and will be widely available nationally in 2013, including at retail and on-premise in Georgia, Illinois, Washington, Texas, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Arizona and Nevada.
This is the first foray into the brown spirits category for Panache, which markets and distributes Wódka Vodka. Considered a game-changer in the spirits industry, Wódka became the first super-premium vodka offered at a fraction of the cost of so-called “luxury” brand vodkas that have kept prices in the category artificially high through packaging, celebrity-oriented marketing and imposing triple-markup price tags.
About Panache Beverage, Inc.
Panache Beverage, Inc. (OTCQB: WDKA) based in New York, NY is an alcoholic beverage company specializing in the development, global sales and marketing of spirits brands. The Company’s expertise lies in the strategic development and aggressive early growth of its brands establishing its assets as viable and attractive acquisition candidates for the major global spirits companies. Panache intends to build its brands as individual acquisition candidates while continuing to develop its pipeline of new brands in to the Panache portfolio. Panache’s existing portfolio contains three brands: Wódka Vodka (www.welovewodka.com), Alchemia Infused Vodka (www.alchemiainfused.com) and Alibi American Whiskey (www.alibiamerica.com).
For more information visit: http://www.panachespirits.com
DAVIDOFF RELEASES 2013 “YEAR OF THE SNAKE” EDITION
November 20, 2012 (Basel, Switzerland) — At the start of the Chinese Year of the Snake (February 10, 2013), Davidoff is launching the new 2013 “Year of the Snake” Edition cigars with exclusive limited-edition accessories. In the Chinese calendar, the sixth of the twelve Chinese signs of the zodiac is characterized as wise and graceful. The Snake is the quintessential symbol for intelligence and profundity. Particularly delicate and fine when depicted in a figure of eight, it has become one of the most popular decorations in all of Asia, not only for its unique symmetry but also because it carries the promise of infinity, material prosperity and luck. It is said that Snake-people like to possess the finer things in life.
Premium cigar brand Davidoff is also synonymous with luxury and the total “crop to shop” concept. “Year of the Snake” is, therefore, not only the unusual name given to the new limited edition, but also the connection of quintessential wisdom and stylish quality awareness with Davidoff.
Integrating these characteristics into an aroma represents a challenge for the Davidoff Master Blender: namely, to combine particularly old tobaccos to successfully create three layers of flavor – from floral nuances reminiscent of honey, to caramel, and finally to peppery notes of wood or nut, whilst also providing a captivating quality…. highly aromatic, with light-medium strength and Cuban thickness, the cigar develops a charming creaminess due to the Ecuadorian binder. The impressive Churchill format makes for a long smoking experience punctuated with the delicacy and refinement of a cigar with charisma. The octagonal, red-lacquered wooden box containing eight cigars will provide pleasure in the coming year.
The cultural background of this 2013 “Year of the Snake” Edition is every bit as fascinating as its aesthetic appearance: The “White Snake Story”, the Chinese love story still extremely popular today, can trace its origins back to a legend from the Ming dynasty (1368 AD) and, amongst other things, has inspired Davidoff’s new cigar — a cigar that preserves its cultural heritage whilst using passion and attention to detail to unlock the spirit of a dynamic, global environment. Those who fall in love with this cigar have no sense of superficiality. The fine, profound 2013 “Year of the Snake” Edition is for aficionados who smoke intelligently.
The uniqueness of this luxurious edition with a double ring speaks for itself. It is limited to 4,500 pieces and is available at Appointed Merchants beginning in December 2012.