INDIA AGREES TO PROTECT IRISH WHISKY ALSO

INDIA GLOBAL LARGEST CONSUMER OF WHISKY

IRISH WHISKEY

Irish whiskey has been granted legal protection in India, the largest whisky market in the world, from September 2019.

According to trade body the Irish Whiskey Association (IWA), the registration of Irish whiskey as a certification mark will mean that the category “can fully compete against other whiskies by reinforcing the authenticity of the product for the Indian consumer”. India is the largest whisky market in the world by volume, with 2.3 billion bottles sold in 2018, the majority of which were domestically produced.

Last year, sales of Irish whiskey doubled to 34,000 cases in India with “further growth now being targeted”, mainly in “high-growth” cities such as Delhi. Securing the Geographical Indication (GI) status for Irish whiskey in India is another landmark for the Irish whiskey category, according to the IWA. Like similar registrations achieved earlier in the year in Australia and South Africa, this is another major success in the IWA's efforts to protect the integrity of Irish whiskey on a worldwide basis. They will now be able to take much tougher enforcement action against fake Irish whiskey products on sale in India.

This protection will also enable them to maximise opportunities to increase sales in this crucial whiskey market as it is an important selling point for the Indian consumer knowing they can enjoy Irish whiskey confident in the quality and authenticity of the product.

Last year, the IWA launched a major drive to combat the sale of counterfeit Irish whiskey around the world, tripling its legal budget for 2019.

SCOTCH WHISKY

India already recognises Scotch as whisky produced only in Scotland and over eight years ago, had agreed to formally accept 'Scotch Whisky' as a product that could only be made in Scotland.

The move followed the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai granting GI status to the famous Scotch Whisky of Scotland. As per the registry, Scotch Whisky is the 148th item in a list of 151 products that have been given GI status. The status denotes that a product belongs to a particular area, where a given quality, reputation or other characteristic of the product is essentially attributable to its geographical origin.

Commenting on the development, the Scotch Whisky Association spokesperson said: "India is one of our priority markets. There is a huge demand for Scotch Whisky from discerning Indian consumers. It is important that they have confidence in the quality and integrity of what they are buying. The IWA's move was inevitable".

Single Malt Scotch : Diageo's Game of Thrones Theme

DIAGEO’S GAME OF THRONES SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKIES

To celebrate the eighth and final season of the critically-acclaimed TV series, Game of Thrones, Diageo and HBO released a limited-edition collection of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies in 2017. The collection featured eight scotch whiskies, each paired with one of the iconic Houses of Westeros, as well as the Night’s Watch, giving fans an authentic taste of the Seven Kingdoms and beyond.

Westeros is one of the four known continents in the known world, the others being Essos, Sothoryos, and Ulthos. Most of the area of Westeros is covered by a political entity known as the Seven Kingdoms, while the far north beyond the Wall includes the free folk... To the south of Westeros lie the Summer Isles.

It's only called the Seven Kingdoms because the day that Aegon landed, that was how it was currently divided. There are nine kingdoms in Westeros. Clockwise they are The North, The Vale, The Crownlands, The Stormlands, Dorne, The Reach, The Westerlands, The Riverlands and The Iron Islands.

These whiskies had been paired with the great Houses and factions of Westeros, from Clynelish with the verdant, agricultural riches of House Tyrell in the south to Dalwhinnie and the open honesty of House Stark in the northern stronghold of Winterfell, and Oban with The Night's Watch at The Wall, to name a few.

If Scotch whisky is Westeros, then these distilleries are its great Houses. From the sweet, zesty flavours of Royal Lochnagar to the rich smoke of Lagavulin and the coastal tang of Talisker, the ice of Dalwhinnie Winter's Frost to the fire of Cardhu Gold Reserve – here you'll find the character of that world, distilled.

Whichever house your allegiance lies with, there is something in this set for you. Whether you live for fire like the Mother of Dragons, remain loyal like the Starks or fight tooth and nail for power like the Lannisters, there is a whisky to represent the spirit and essence of each House. The distilleries chosen for these whiskies are equally prestigious and have characteristics that align with the Houses of Westeros and the Watchers on the Wall.

The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection comprise:

Game of Thrones House Stark – Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost; ABV 43% 

Game of Thrones House Tully – Singleton of Glendullan Select; ABV 40% 

Game of Thrones House Targaryen – Cardhu Gold Reserve; ABV 40% 

Game of Thrones House Lannister – Lagavulin 9yo; ABV 46% 

Game of Thrones The Night’s Watch – Oban Bay Reserve; ABV 43% 

Game of Thrones House Greyjoy – Talisker Select Reserve; ABV 45.8% 

Game of Thrones House Baratheon – Royal Lochnagar 12yo; ABV 40% 

Game of Thrones House Tyrell – Clynelish Reserve; ABV 51.2%. 

House Lannister is represented by Lagavulin, known for its powerful smoky flavours, House Stark is represented by Dalwhinnie, whose whiskies are forged in the cold of the North, and House Targaryen is represented by Cardhu, whose history boasts strong female leaders in a male-dominated society. House Tully is represented by Glendullan, who used the power of water to create stunning whisky, House Tyrell is represented by Clynelish, whose floral tones and smoky kick represent the Golden Rose of House Tyrell, and House Baratheon is represented by Royal Lochnagar, whose reign outlived that of the Baratheons, but whose whisky just as lively and full of character as the fallen House. House Greyjoy is represented by Talisker, an island distillery which faces the harsh seas and survives, and the Night’s Watch and represented by Oban, who face the barren seas between the West Highlands and the Islands of Scotland.

Re-posted on public demand

THE SPIRITS BUSINESS ANNOUNCES ITS 2019 RESULTS

The Scotch Whisky Masters 2019 results

Run by The Spirits Business magazine, the Scotch Whisky Masters awards are judged by a panel of industry experts and cover both single malt and blended whiskies of various ages and regions. Whiskies are blind-tasted and judged on a number of categories, from appearance and palate to overall balance, with medals awarded for high scoring drams. Such is the quality across the board in Scotch whisky at the moment that the judges in this year’s dedicated blind-tasting competition had to award an outstanding 16 Master Medals.

Scotch whisky producers are bolder and braver today than ever before. And they need to be – the industry faces a pertinent challenge from other world whisk(e)y categories, notably Irish, Japanese, Indian, Taiwanese and American Bourbon, which are vying for mindshare. Even dark rum and aged Tequila are targeting sipping occasions where Scotch whisky historically reigned supreme, and as consumers become increasingly capricious, Scottish distillers can’t afford to rest on their laurels.

With so many appetising options, consumers won’t settle for anything less than excellent quality, which they are expecting at all price points. The imbibers’ thirst for innovation has also not gone unnoticed by the Scotch brands seeking to create experimental styles and flavour profiles that appeal to new audiences and also keep their long-­time fans engaged.

	RESULTS BY TYPE OF WHISKY
COMPANY	PRODUCT	MEDAL
	Blended- No Age Statement
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Blue Label	Gold
Distell	Scottish Leader Original	Gold
	Blended - Aged up to 12 Years
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Black Label	Gold
William Grant & Sons	Hazelwood 12 Year Old	Gold
	Blended - Aged 13-18 Years
John Dewar & Sons	Dewar's 18 Years Old	Gold
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Aged 18 Years	Gold
	Blended Malt - No Age Statement
Elixir Distillers	Elements of Islay Peat Full Proof	Gold
	Blended Malt - Aged up to 12 Years
Aldi Stores (Australia)	Highland Green Blended Malt	Gold
	Blended Malt - Aged 13-18 Years
Diageo	Johnnie Walker Green Label	Gold
	Blended Malt - Super Premium
Compass Box Whisky Co	Great King Street Artist's Blend	Gold
Berry Bros. & Rudd	Berry Bros. & Rudd Islay Blended Malt	Gold
Berry Bros. & Rudd	Berry Bros. & Rudd Sherry Cask Matured Blended Malt	Gold
Berry Bros. & Rudd	Berry Bros. & Rudd Peated Cask Matured Blended Malt	Gold
Wemyss Vintage Malts	The Hive Batch Strength 002	Gold
Wemyss Vintage Malts	Peat Chimney Batch Strength 002	Gold
Wemyss Vintage Malts	Spice King Batch Strength 002	Gold
	Blended Malt - Ultra Premium
Atom Brands	Blended Malt #4- Batch 1 - 6 Year Old (That Boutiquey Whisky Company)	Gold
	Single Malt: Highlands & Islands - NAS
Distell	Deanston Virgin Oak	Gold
Aldi Stores (Australia)	Glen Marnoch Highland Single Malt Sherry Cask	Gold
	Single Malt: Highlands & Islands -3 to 12 Years Old
Charles Edge London	Canmore 12 Year Old	Gold
International Beverage Holdings	Old Pulteney 12 Year Old	Gold
Loch Lomond Group	Loch Lomond 12 Year Old	Gold
Distell	Deanston 12 Year Old	Gold
Distell	Ledaig 10 Year Old	Gold
Distell	Deanston 10 Year Old Bordeaux Red Wine Cask Finish	Gold
Edrington	Highland Park 12	Gold
	Single Malt: Highlands & Islands 13-18 YO
Loch Lomdond Group	Loch Lomond 18 Year Old	Gold
International Beverage Holdings	Old Pulteney 15 Year Old	Gold
International Beverage Holdings	Balblair 18 Year Old	Gold
Distell	Ledaig 18 Year Old	Gold
Edrington	Highland Park 16	Gold
Edrington	Highland Park 18	Gold
	Single Malt: Islay - No Age Statement
Distell	Bunnahabhain Toiteach A Dhà	Master
Distell	Bunnahabhain An Cladach	Master
Kilchoman Distillery	Kilchoman Distillery Sanaig	Gold
Kilchoman Distillery	Kilchoman Distillery Machir Bay	Gold
Distell	Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair	Gold
Distell	Bunnahabhain Eirigh Na Greine	Gold
Distell	Bunnahabhain CruachMhòna	Gold
	Single Malt: Islay - Aged up to 12 Years
Elixir Distillers	Port Askaig 8 Year Old	Gold
Distell	Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old	Gold
Elixir Distillers	Port Askaig 10 Year Old Special Edition	Gold
	Single Malt: Speyside - Up to 12 Years
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich 12 Year Old	Gold
Speyside Distillers Co	Spey from Speyside Distillery - 10 YO	Gold
Atom Brands	Macduff - Batch 8 - 10 Year Old (That Boutiquey Whisky Company)	Gold
	Single Malt: Speyside - Aged 13-18 Years
Ian Macleod Distillers	Tamdhu 15 Year Old	Master
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich 18 Year Old	Gold
Angus Dundee Distillers	Tomintoul 16 Year Old	Gold
	Single Malt: Speyside - Aged 19-30 years
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich 21 Year Old	Gold
Atom Brands	Glenlossie - Batch 5 - 25 Year Old (That Boutiquey Whisky Company)	Gold
Angus Dundee Distillers	Tomintoul 21 Year Old	Gold
	Single Malt: Speyside - Premium
William Grant & Sons	Glenfiddich Project XX	Gold
J&G Grant	Glenfarclas 15 Year Old	Gold
	Single Malt: Speyside - Super Premium
J&G Grant	Glenfarclas 21 Year Old	Gold
International Beverage Holdings	Speyburn 15 Year Old	Gold
Ian Macleod Distillers	Tamdhu Batch Strength No 004	Gold
	Single Malt: Speyside - Ultra Premium
J&G Grant	Glenfarclas 25 Year Old	Gold
J&G Grant	Glenfarclas 30 Year Old	Gold
	Single Malt: Speyside - Cask Strength
Speyside Distillers Co.	Trutina Cask Strength	Master
Speyside Distillers Co.	Fumare Cask Strength	Gold
J&G Grant	Glenfarclas 105	Gold

Results of San Francisco World Spirits Competition: Scotch Whisky

THE 2019 SAN FRANCISCO WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition was founded in 2000 by Anthony Dias Blue. It assesses hundreds of entrants annually from 60+ countries with tastings involving panels of expert judges selected each year from the spirits industry including mixologists, spirits buyers, and media from across the United States. Producers must submit their product for the competition and pay a fee ~US$500 for its evaluation. 

Not all entries are given awards (those not judged of sufficient quality are not given an award) but most receive a bronze, silver, or gold award from the tasting panel. The fact that most entrants receive an award likely involves some degree of self-selection, as the spirits producers choose whether to enter each of their brands in the competition and pay to receive a rating. Those entrants that are given a unanimous gold medal by the panel are given the distinction of a "double-gold" medal. Additionally, a "best in show" designation is awarded in each main category of spirits.

The 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition was held at the Hotel Nikko, San Francisco from March 22nd through March 24th. The 2019 Competition was another record-breaking year that featured almost 3,000 entries from all corners of the world.

Best Other Single Malt Whiskey

Westland Distillery 5th Annual Peat Week Single Malt, Washington, USA

ABV: 50%      Retail Price: $100

Best Single Malt Irish Whiskey

Jack Ryan Toomevara 10 YO Single Malt Irish Whiskey (Château du Breuil Calvados Finish), Dublin, Ireland

ABV: 46%      Retail Price: $100

Best Blended Scotch - 16 Years And Older

Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old Blended Scotch, Scotland, UK

ABV: 40%      Retail Price: $85

Best Blended Scotch - No Age Statement

Cutty Stark Prohibition Blended Scotch, Scotland, UK

ABV: 50%      Retail Price: $30

Best Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

Wemyss Malts The Hive Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Campbeltown, Scotland, UK

ABV: 46%      Retail Price: $55

Best Distillers' Single Malt Scotch - Up to 12 Years

Lagavulin 9 Year Old Game of Thrones "House Lannister" Single Malt Scotch, Islay, Scotland, UK

ABV: 46%      Retail Price: $65

Best Distillers' Single Malt Scotch - 13 to 19 Years

The GlenDronach Revival 15 YO Single Malt Scotch, Highlands, Scotland, UK

ABV: 46%      Retail Price: $100

Best Scotch • Best Distillers' Single Malt Scotch - 20 Years And Older

BenRiach Temporis Aged 21 Years Single Malt Scotch, Speyside, Scotland, UK

ABV: 46%      Retail Price: $121

Best Distillers' Single Malt Scotch - No Age Statement

BenRiach Cask Strength Batch 2 Single Malt Scotch, Speyside, Scotland, UK

ABV: 60.6%   Retail Price: $70

Best Independent Merchant Single Malt

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Cask 72.62 Full-throttle Sophistication Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Speyside, Scotland, UK
ABV: 51.7%   Retail Price: $495

DIAGEO PRODUCTS:

Best in Class

Johnnie Walker 18-Year-Old – Best Blended Scotch

Lagavulin 9-Year-Old, Game of Thrones House Lannister – Best Distillers’ Malt Scotch, Up to 12 Years

Double Gold

Buchanan’s 18-Year-Old Special Reserve

Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection (packaging)

Johnnie Walker 18-Year-Old

Johnnie Walker Double Black Label

Lagavulin 12-Year-Old

Lagavulin 9-Year-Old, Game of Thrones House Lannister

Mortlach 16-Year-Old

Singleton 12-Year-Old

Talisker 10-Year-Old

Talisker Distiller’s Edition

HIGHLAND PARK VIKING LEGEND TRILOGY

WHISKIES FROM ORKNEY: HIGHLAND PARK VIKING

SERIES AS A TRIBUTE TO ODIN

     The Valkyries go weaving with drawn swords,

     Hild and Hjorthrimul, Sanngrid and Svipul.

     Spears will shatter, shields will splinter,

     Swords will knaw like wolves through armour.

Celebrating the Island's 600 years of Norse rule, this limited edition series was created in collaboration with Danish internationally renowned designer and true Viking soul, Jim Lyngvild, with each of the whiskies hand-selected by Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion.

HIGHLAND PARK VALKYRIE: 

According to the old Norse sagas, for Viking warriors, death was not an end but a glorious beginning. And it began with the Valkyries…Their whisky, like their island home, is shaped by a wild climate and stormy seas, and by the Vikings who settled here over 1,000 years ago, leaving their mark on the local people and culture.

Plunging down from the dark heavens, the Valkyries would descend like avenging angels on horseback to comb the battlefields for the bravest of the fallen warriors, heroes fit to enter the great Norse God Odin’s hall, Valhalla. 

VALKYRIE celebrates their rich Nordic ancestry here on Orkney, where they were once part of a vast Viking kingdom. Exquisitely balanced and delivering wave upon wave of warm aromatic smoke and richly ripened fruit, VALKYRIE is the first in a series of three special Viking Legend releases and has just been awarded the Chairman’s Trophy in the 2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, scoring 99 out of 100.

Natural Cask-Driven Colour: Fiery amber

Flavours:

Green apples | Sun-ripened lemons | Oriental spices | Vanilla | 
Preserved ginger | Dark chocolate | Salty liquorice | Warm aromatic smoke

Vol: 700/750ml depending on country; ABV 45.9%.

HIGHLAND PARK VALKNUT

According to legend, Vikings who met a fine and honourable death were marked out by the symbol of the Valknut and spirited away from the mortal world to the heavenly realm of Valhalla.

Created using a higher proportion of local peated malt and

predominantly matured in sherry seasoned oak casks to give this whisky its smoky, sweet flavour, VALKNUT is the second in the Viking Legend series, celebrating their rich Nordic ancestry here on Orkney.

Valknut means ‘knot of those slain in battle’ and its symbol of three interlinked triangles appears on numerous artefacts from the Viking Age. The symbol is closely associated with the Norse god, Odin, who guided the spirits of the dead to the underworld and back to the world of the living, and is believed to represent the transition from life to death or the connection between earthly life and heavenly life. 

Natural Cask-Driven Colour: Light and golden.

Flavours:

Toasted vanilla pods | Cracked black pepper | Oak shavings | 
Cloves | Aniseed | Aromatic peat smoke

Vol: 700/750ml depending on country; ABV 46.8%

The Norse sagas tell us that Odin, the mightiest of the ancient gods, takes on many guises and is known by many names. As VALFATHER – Father of the Slain – he presides over the golden hall of Valhalla.

The Highland Park Valfather completes the 2017 Viking Legend trilogy, following the Valkyrie and the Valknut, this third and final Viking Legend edition focusses on the Norse godfather Odin himself. With its 47% ABV, the last to be created Valfather presents the highest alcohol content of the trio.

The releases of the Viking Legend trilogy are more like cousins and not siblings  of the core assortment. For these three single malts, a larger proportion of heavily peated malt was used than usual in Highland Park whisky. And among the whiskies of the Viking Legend series, Valfather is the smokiest and uses whiskies matured in refill casks to reflect the “ethereal and lighter feel of Valhalla”, Odin’s hall. The new whisky’s high phenol count is said to display Odin’s power. 

HIGHLAND PARK VALFATHER – the final whisky in a series of three special edition Viking Legend releases – is the most peated whisky released to date; it is matured entirely in refill casks to give beautifully balanced layers of flavour and a character as complex as Odin himself.

Odin is associated with wisdom and knowledge; with sorcery and poetry; with battle, frenzy and death. The old legends also tell us of the tame beasts who bring him both protection and support – Sleipnir the eight-legged flying horse; the tame wolves, Geri and Freki; and Huginn and Muninn, his loyal ravens – but is at the jaws of the savage wolf, Fenrir, that Odin finally meets his end at Ragnarök.

Odin is called All-Father because he is the father of all the gods. He is also called Father of the Slain [Val-Father] because all who fall in battle are his adopted sons. With them, he mans Valhalla…

Natural Cask-Driven Colour: Bright gold

Flavours:

Sweet apple | Fragrant pear | Crème brûlée |

Toasted cedar wood | Smoked paprika | Aromatic peat smoke

Vol: 700/750ml depending on country. ABV 47%.

Highland Park Valhalla Collection

               THOR                                        LOKI                                       FREYA                                         ODIN

Highland Park’s Norse-inspired Valhalla Collection comprises four expression named after Nordic gods: Thor, Loki, Freya and Odin. The creators attempted to reflect the characterisations of each Norse God in the whisky’s appearance and flavour, from the “fresh, golden and seductive” Freya – the Goddess of Love – to the “intense, powerful and complex” flavours of Odin.

OTHER Classics From Highland Park

FRESH DEVELOPMENTS
                                       

Highland Park teams up with Bayreuther Festspiele!

Highland Park announced in early June that it had agreed upon a new three-year partnership with the Bayreuther Festspiele. The festival, which is probably the most prestigiuos classical music festival in the world, was founded in 1876 by the German composer Richard Wagner.

Combining Nordic and Germanic myths and legends!

Why a collaboration between a German festival and the Scottish distillery Highland Park? Beam Suntory's press release has all the answers. Under the tagline “Combining legends" it states that the partnership recognises the shared passion for Nordic legends as much as it values its heritage and craftsmanship. The ancestors of the Highland Park team are Vikings, who once settled in the home of the Scottish distillery, Orkney. Even today, the myths of the warriors lie behind new bottlings from Highland Park, as well as Brünnhilde. The eponymous figure from the epic "The Ring of the Nibelung" by the founder of the festival, Richard Wagner, served as an inspiration for the name of the new single cask bottling. The German composer often used Nordic and German mythical and legend sources for his masterful pieces of music.

Three single casks will be released starting with Brünnhilde at the end of July this year. Highland Park describes Brünnhilde as a whisky thas been matured for eleven years in a sherry seasoned oak cask. Naturally dark amber in colour, it reveals notes of creamy vanilla, caramelised pineapple, sweet heather honey, fresh lemon zest and fiery ginger, shrouded in their trademark light peat smoke.

Tasting Notes: Highland Park Brünnhilde 56% ABV.

Colour: natural dark amber.
Nose: creamy vanilla, caramelized pineapple, creamy honey and light peat smoke.
Palate: sweet, light vanilla with hints of oak nuances, fruity lemon zest, a hint of ginger and peat smoke.
Finish: long-lasting sweet and light smoky notes.

From the end of July, it will be available exclusively through Spirituals, the exclusive partner of the Bayreuth Festival. The bottle and its sackcloth bag will be black in colour.

Johnnie Walker Releases Two More 'Game of Thrones' Whiskies to Join The White Walker

Johnnie Walker's Game of Thrones' “A Song of Ice" and "A Song of Fire” Launched in the USA 

 Due In October 2019 in Europe 

In an epic partnership with HBO series Game of Thrones(GoT), Johnnie Walker is to introduce a series of limited edition blended Johnnie Walker whiskies. GoT is a show clearly targeted at adults, and is best known for is its love of violence and nudity. With these mature themes, it is no surprise that GoT has done particularly well with its promotional tie-ins involving alcohol: like beer, three wines from Vintage Wine Estates and its first Scotch whisky from Johnnie Walker, The White Walker which made its debut in October 2018. The two new limited edition whisky blends, inspired by the iconic and powerful houses of Westeros – House Stark and House Targaryen – have reached the market as successors to the White Walker.   

THE WHITE WALKER

Created by whisky specialist and blender George Harper, the unique, limited-edition lead whisky was inspired by the most enigmatic and feared characters on the show – the White Walkers. Known by their icy blue eyes and led by the Night King, the undead army of White Walkers have emerged from the Frozen North bringing with them the chill of winter. This innovative whisky is best served directly from the freezer, echoing the chilling presence of the White Walkers and brings you right to the Frozen North with an icy white and blue design along with the iconic Johnnie Walker Striding Man now fashioned in armour to fit in among the ranks of the Night King’s forces.

The Scotch has notes of caramelised sugar and vanilla, fresh red berries with a  touch of orchard fruit and features Single Malts from Cardhu and Clynelish – one of Scotland’s most Northern distilleries. Harper used the Frozen North as his starting point for creating White Walker by Johnnie Walker believing that Whiskies from Clynelish have endured long, Scottish Winters, not dissimilar to the long periods endured by the Night’s Watch who have ventured north of the wall - so it was the perfect place to start when creating this unique whisky. 

         

Utilising temperature-sensitive ink technology, fans will be reminded that “Winter is Here” from an unexpected graphic icy reveal on the bottle when frozen.

Two more themed whiskies, "A Song of Ice" and "A Song of Fire," have joined the family. Made in collaboration with HBO, the names are a nod to the Game of Thrones book series title, "A Song of Ice and Fire." Whether in conflict or harmony, this is a tale of two great houses represented by two ancient creatures. One is a house descended from the First Men. Rulers of the North and builders of the wall, they thrive in the icy-cold climate of the Direwolf. The other is a noble family of Valkyrian descent and the first royal house of the Seven Kingdoms. Fire courses through their veins and is made flesh in the form of their dragons.

"A Song of Ice," naturally, is inspired by House Stark and the 'unforgiving force of ice that shapes mountains,  stops rivers, and delivers the heat of fusion in frozen form from the cryosphere,"ringing in at 40.2 % ABV. As can be expected, it again features blends of single malt whiskies from Scotland's northern most distilleries like Clynelish and promises a crisp, clean taste with a cold, smooth finish. The bottle design shows snowy woods, a nod to The North's cold winters, with a fierce red-eyed Direwolf splashed across the front. If you get your hands on one, know that it's best enjoyed over ice, as is appropriate for a tribute to House Stark. 

  

On the other hand, "A Song of Fire," is inspired by none other than House Targaryen, with flavours of "subtle smoke from the heated malts of the Caol Ila distillery," on Islay, Scotland. This blend packs slightly more of a punch than its icy counterpart, with 40.8 percent ABV—it's also meant to be sipped neat instead of on ice, delivering a "full-bodied flavour which lends a warm, smooth finish," naturally so, for a whisky that tips its hat to the Mother of Dragons and her fiery house. The bottle, too, is Targaryen-level fierce, featuring fire, sparks, and a sinister dragon. Both this bottle and the "A Song of Ice" bottle also include the signature Johnnie Walker "striding man" logo; however, it faces backward on the "A Song of Fire" whisky, so that it's squaring off with the striding man on the "A Song of Ice" bottle." The face-off represents the complicated dynamic between the two houses, another angle to the complicated interactions between the two great houses in the show’s storyline.

ARDBEG DAY 2019 : CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL WITH A SURPRISE TWIST

THIS YEARS SPECIAL RELEASE : THE ARDBEG DRUM

Every year there is a special motto for the Ardbeg Day. 2018 saw the Peat & Love Festival, reviving the flower-power era with the Ardbeg Groove. The Ardbeg Day 2017 and its special bottling Ardbeg Kelpie were all about Kelpie and other mythical creatures. Storytelling and colourful goings on and this year the Scottish distillery celebrates a Caribbean carnival: The Ardbeg Day 2019 will take place on June 1st on Islay and the Ardbeg Drum will be launched, a whisky that was finished in American rum casks. 

Drum is the first whisky released by Ardbeg with a finishing period in rum casks! It was initially matured in ex-bourbon casks before being transferred over to casks that had previously held rum from the Americas. The result pits the classic savoury smoke of Ardbeg's spirit against the bright, fruity notes introduced by the rum casks - a wonderfully tasty juxtaposition!

Its not yet certain whether its "Drum" because a Caribbean Steel Drum is so important for that Caribbean feeling, or "Drum" because it’s Ardbeg DRum – a whisky with a special twist formed by the finish in rum casks. Anyway – this year’s Ardbeg Day promises was as colourful as last year’s.

And like every year, there was an Ardbeg Day Committee Release of the Ardbeg Drum, available only to club members and only available online directly from Moet Hennessy or in the distillery itself. On 01 June, collectors and Ardbeg fans were seen striving to stay hands-on to get a chance to get their hands on one of those Ardbeg Drum Committee Releases at 52% ABV.

Tasting Notes:

Nose: In Drum, fragrant pine resin and woodsmoke dance alongside ripe banana and pineapple in a downright wondrous paradiddle of aromas, before parading into smoked apples and dry cocoa powder. Distant ginger, spiced dates and cinnamon sway into floating notes of lavender.

Taste: On the palate, waves of smoke, tar and creosote cascade into a dry peppery mouthfeel. Clove, liquorice and ginger strut towards rich notes of dark chocolate and smoked vanilla.

Finish: Intense smoke, roasted coffee liqueur and a treasure trove of sweet spices come together in one deliciously complex crescendo.

ALSO TO RELEASE 19 YO: FIRST AGE STATED WHISKY IN 20 YEARS

Ardbeg is also all set to release a 19-year-old single malt Traigh Bhan, its first permanent age-stated whisky to be released in nearly 20 years.

Named after Islay’s Traigh Bhan beach, known locally as the Singing Sands, the whisky will be available in limited batches produced on an annual basis. The whisky’s recipe is set to change with each batch, creating ‘subtle differences’ between future iterations. Each batch of Ardbeg Traigh Bhan will feature a unique code on the carton and bottle, which drinkers can enter into the distillery’s website to find out more about the ‘story’ of the whisky.

Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s director of distilling, whisky creation and whisky stocks, said: ‘A new, permanent aged Ardbeg is a rare occurrence, and cause for celebration.’

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan: Singing Sands ‘a perfect reflection’ of the Islay beach

Matured in American oak and ex-oloroso Sherry casks before being bottled at 46.2% abv, Ardbeg Traigh Bhan’s 2019 expression is said to have ‘intense and rugged’ notes of ‘smoked chilli chocolate and paprika’ with ‘waves of toasted oak and roasted tea leaves’ on the palate.

The first batch of Traigh Bhan will be released in September, priced at £169 and available from specialist stores worldwide.

The last permanent age-stated expression to join the distillery’s range was Ardbeg 10 Year Old, which was introduced in 2000. Its core range currently features a series of no-age-statement single malts named after geographical features of the distillery’s island home, including Corryvreckan, Uigedail and An Oa, the last of which was introduced in September 2017.

ARDBEG DAY SPECIAL RELEASES 2016-18

Ardbeg DARK COVE recalls smuggling past Ardbeg Day 2016

Ardbeg released its Dark Cove expression as the brand’s annual Ardbeg Day turned to Ardbeg Night to remember the island’s smuggling activities. A no-age-statement, non-chill-filtered, limited edition whisky, Dark Cove is made from liquid matured in Sherry casks, married together with “hallmark” ex-Bourbon cask Ardbeg.

Dark Cove recalls how early distillers would smuggle whisky from Ardbeg Cove into black-painted ships. So substantial was the illicit whisky trade between the island of Islay and mainland Scotland that excise officers stationed a revenue cutter offshore to intercept smugglers’ boats.

Ardbeg KELPIE Launched on Ardbeg Day 2017

Named after the ‘Kelpie’ – a legendary water demon said to live in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Islay coast – the new expression is the first Ardbeg whisky matured in Black Sea oak casks. An Ardbeg that's said to be "as deep as the ocean," and bottled for Fèis Ìle 2017 at 46%, the Kelpie, when mischievous as a water spirit, might take the form of a horse, or a bull, and may have claws, or be a dog with the head of an ant that flies. 

Sourced from the Adyghe Republic in Russia by Dr Bill Lumsden, Ardbeg’s director of distilling, whisky creation and whisky stocks, the casks are said to impart ‘incredibly deep flavours’ to the whisky, which is then married with traditional Ardbeg, aged in ex-Bourbon barrels.

Ardbeg GROOVES Ardbeg Day Release 2018

As expected, the Islay-based distillers created a most intriguing expression, a mellow whisky that proves all you need is love – and peat. Ardbeg harked back to the 1960s ‘Summer Of Love’ with its latest Ardbeg Day limited release, Ardbeg Grooves.

For this year’s bottling, Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation and Whisky Stocks Dr Bill Lumsden has matured part of the whisky in re-toasted red wine casks. These casks were intensely charred to create heavy grooves in the surface of the wood, designed to produce more intense flavours of ‘smoked spices, distant bonfires and chilli-seasoned meats’.

Ardbeg Grooves is bottled at 46% and is a time-limited edition, priced in the £95-100 region. A presumably 6-10 YO that is not all that complex, but just right for the prey theme. A satisfying pour of whisky, in a lineup that’s tough to compete within. The wine-finished elements are shy, perhaps too shy! Ignoring the expectations of wine-influences, this is a pretty good modern scotch with plenty of spice and lots of sweetness.