Another one of those low key informal briefings this time revolving around the new Johnnie Walker expression: John Walker Private Collection 2014. As has become customary, held in London’s Soho, officiated over by Diageo’s head of whisky outreach, Nick Morgan and in the hot seat a jet and train-lagged master distiller, Jim Beveridge.
Dewar launches new Royal Brackla expressions
John Dewar & Sons has announced three new Royal Brackla expressions, a 12, 16 and 21 year old.
Dewars helps power Scottish homes
The Rothes CoRDe, part-owned by the Combination of Rothes Distillers, is a facility that is said to produce enough energy to power entire communities of neighbouring distilleries.
Bladnoch makes Macmillan master distiller and blender
Bladnoch Distillery has appointed Ian Macmillan, former head of distilleries and master blender with Burn Stewart Distillers, as its master distiller and blender.
The Macallan take up London residence
The Macallan single malt scotch whisky is taking over a London venue to create ‘The World of The Macallan'.
Scotch whisky exports down
Scotch whisky exports declined 7% to £3.95 billion in 2014, according to figures from the UK government’s HM Revenue and Customs published today (1 April).
Old Pulteney to help seafarers
Old Pulteney has announced a partnership to raise funds for the maritime charity, The Mission to Seafarers.
Scotch contributes £5bn on the UK
The scotch whisky industry, adds almost £5 billion in value every year to the UK economy, according to a report commissioned by the Scotch Whisky Association.
Bacardi launches Aultmore expressions
Bacardí has unveiled a new range of proprietary bottlings from its John Dewar & Sons’ Aultmore distillery.
John Walker Private Collection 2015 edition unveiled
The 2015 edition of the John Walker & Sons Private Collection was unveiled in London yesterday (December 9).
Johnnie Walker backs drink/drive campaign
Johnnie Walker is today (Dec 4) staging a driving spectacular in Edinburgh with some Formula 1 stars to encourage people to never drink and drive.
New Macallan distillery started
Edrington has marked the official start of works on its £100 million distillery and visitor centre for its The Macallan single malt scotch whisky brand.
SWA makes Pernod's Pringuet its new chairman
The Scotch Whisky Association has appointed Pierre Pringuet, CEO of Pernod Ricard, as its new chairman.
Michael Owen endorses scotch whisky
Michael Owen, the former Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester United and England striker is the latest footballer to sign up to a scotch whisky.
Diageo unveils Special Releases
Diageo has unveiled this year’s Special Release scotch whiskies.
David Beckham comes to Cannes
Football legend and global fashion icon, David Beckham, was in Cannes last Tuesday (October 28) for the the TFWA exhibition to promote Diageo’s new single grain scotch whisky, Haig Club.
Beam Suntory unveils peated malts range
Beam Suntory has launched a collection of whiskies from its Scottish and Irish distilleries.
Explorers Club and Diageo settle
The Explorers Club has announced that it has come to a settlement with Diageo over the use of its name in regard to the global number one scotch whisky brand, Johnnie Walker.
Scotch whisky exports decline in first half of 2014
Exports of scotch in the first half of the year were £1.77 billion, down 11% from £1.99bn in the same period of 2013, according to the Scotch Whisky Association.
SWA welcomes stability
Scotch Whisky Association chief executive David Frost has welcomed stability following the Scottish vote in favour of staying in the United Kingdom.
Rabobank says no to Scottish independence
Rabobank, the Dutch-based cooperative food and agricultural bank, believes the short term impact on the scotch whisky industry will be negative.
New Johnnie Walker houses at Mumbai and Taipei
Diageo Global Travel has announced the opening of two Johnnie Walker House retail showcase stores in travel retail – one in Mumbai, India and another in Taipei, Taiwan.
Kyndal to bottle, distribute and market Cutty Sark in India
Edrington and the Kyndal Group have announced a 50:50 joint venture to bottle, distribute and market Cutty Sark scotch whisky in India.
Wm Grant's Abrook to advocate whisky innovation
William Grant & Sons has appointed Kevin Abrook, currently global marketing manager innovation for whisky as its first ever global whisky specialist, innovation.
Chairperson of Scotch Whisky Action Fund announced
Leading academic Professor Dame Joan K Stringer DBE FRSE is the new independent chairperson of the Scotch Whisky Action Fund, set up last year by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to tackle alcohol-related harm.
Glenfiddich 26-year-old launches
William Grant & Sons has unveiled a new Glenfiddich expression.
Beam Suntory to distribute Suntory brands
Beam Suntory has announced that it will begin distribution of the Suntory Japanese and scotch whiskies and Midori liqueur in the US and Germany beginning July 1.
SWA to visit Mexico
Senior representatives of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) are visiting Mexico next week (June 4-7) to promote the industry and to sign an agreement with the regulatory body for tequila.
As the Scottish referendum looms, Patience Gould ponders the possible fate of the scotch whisky industry if EU membership is lost
Special Lagavulin and Caol Ila for Islay Festival
Diageo has announced special cask strength bottlings of Lagavulin and Caol Ila for this year’s Islay Festival of Malt & Music.
Drambuie up for sale
Drambuie the scotch whisky liqueur is up for sale, according to the Financial Times newspaper.
Alliance Global buys Whyte & Mackay
The Philippines-based Alliance Global Group drinks group which owns the Emperador brand, has bought Whyte & Mackay US$726 million, including debt, according to unconfirmed reports.
Edrington completes Grouse Experience makeover
Edrington has announced that the £250,000 investment in the visitor facilities at the Famous Grouse Experience at its Glenturret Distillery, Scotland’s most visited distillery, in Crieff, has been completed.
Diageo GTME launches new John Walker
Diageo Global Travel and Middle East (GTME) has announced the launch of the John Walker & Sons Private Collection by Walker's master blender Jim Beveridge.
Berrys switches to Marussia in Russia
Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits has appointed Marussia Beverages RUS to distribute The Glenrothes Speyside Single Malt scotch whisky, No. 3 London Dry gin, The King’s Ginger liqueur and Pink Pigeon Mauritian rum from June 1.
Edrington establishes Edrington Americas
Edrington has announced the establishment of Edrington Americas, a wholly-owned sales, marketing and distribution company for the US.
Chivas expands Glenlivet Nàdurra
Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin division of Pernod Ricard, has announced it is expanding The Glenlivet Nàdurra brand.
Pernod hit by unfavourable foreign exchange rates
Pernod Ricard’s net sales for the first nine months of the 2013/14 financial year totalled €6,186 million – down 7% on the same period last year. The company says the results are in line with the first half-year and sales were stable excluding foreign exchange and group structure effects.
Scotch sales held back by Asia
Scotch whisky exports grew in 2013 according to figures published by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).
Diego Zamora appoints Turner to Licor 43
The Diego Zamora group has appointed Matthew Turner as its global brand director for Licor 43.
Diageo is distiller of the year
Diageo has been named Distiller of the Year 2014 by Whisky Magazine.
UK market for Scotch shrinks
The UK market for Scotch whisky declined by 3% last year.
Johnnie Walker concept store in T4
Diageo Global Travel and Middle East (GTME) and the World Duty Free Group have opened an “exclusive concept store” in the departures concourse of London Heathrow Terminal 4, for Johnnie Walker Explorers’ Selection, a major global marketing initiative that GTME says represents one of Diageo’s most significant investments in travel retail.
Chivas launches Masters bartender competition
Chivas Brothers has launched a major international bartender competition called Chivas Masters.
Memorial services and special expression for Charles Grant Gordon
William Grant & Sons has announced at international memorial services in New York and Scotland and a special expression, for Charles Grant Gordon, the man who gave the world Glenfiddich Scotch whisky.
The Pernod Ricard team were in London today (February 18) to flesh on the bones for their half year interim results which were announced last week.
Diageo World Class returns to UK
Diageo Reserve has announced that its ‘World Class’ mixology competition will be held in the UK from 28 July to 1 August.
Berrys launches Glenrothes Cask 1969 #11485
Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits announced the release of the second in its series of single cask bottlings of The Glenrothes from the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Pernod results
Pernod Ricard has reported net sales for the first semester of 2013/14 totalled €4.57 million.