Glenfiddich Barrel Art

Glenfiddich have commissioned design agency Johnson Banks to bring their use of barrels to life with a series of artworks.

From PSFK:

"The creative team decided to use the barrel as their muse, exploring it in its singular parts, as a way of depicting the distinctive characteristics of Glenfiddich’s five signature whiskies, aged 12 to 30 years. The end result of the project is a stunning display of industrial pieces that give weight to the passage of time. The image pictured at right illustrates “the angel’s share,” the amount of whisky that evaporates during distillation, the words “For 21 Years We Take a Share” cut into the wood. With so many alcohol companies spending top dollar on advertising campaigns promoting vacuous experiences, it’s a nice change to see a celebration of tradition and taste which is ultimately the thing being sold anyway."

Here's a snapshot of some of the pieces:











For more images and an interesting glimpse into the creative process visit the Flcikr set here.

And for debate about the pros and cons of this project visit the Creative Review blog which is generally in favour of the idea, but many of the commenters feel that the creative execution wasn't radical enough. Maybe they should have commissioned an artist rather than a design agency? That said, I think the work is very impressive. It is something we have thought about for a number of our whisky and cognac brands in the past. Getting people to talk about whisky isn't easy and this project seems to have achieved it.

Teacher's - Create your Space

Teachers aspires to become the most relevant and accessible Scotch whisky for men aged 30 + by appealing to their need for ‘manspace’, a place where they can escape the pressures of the modern world, find inspiration and allow them to become an authority on subjects of their choice.

Teacher’s helps men identify this space under the ‘Create your space’ platform, developed in 2007, and evolved in April this year with the launch of the ‘Win an Airstream travel trailer’ or ‘1 of 250 Mountain bikes’ on-pack promotion. This was supported by a Press campaign and a uniquely illustrative website designed to challenge the ‘dusty’ brand perception and encourage interaction via an online quiz. The promotion finished last month with over 18,000 applications which gave an impressive 12% redemption rate





September launched phase 2 of the campaign with an offer to ‘Win a Classic Car plus an Expert Mate to help you look after it for 1 year’ OR ‘1 of 250 fully equip toolkits’ for runners up. The Classic Car promotion runs until the end of March next year.




For more information on the promotion visit the website www.teacherswhisky.com/space

Taking Luxury to New Levels

You can always rely on Johnnie Walker Blue to do things properly. So true to form, they have absolutely nailed this. It could barely be more luxurious. Great idea.

From Luxist

"Some special books come with online access codes bringing additional insight into the topic, a beautiful handmade bookmark or an original signature of the author but the 'By Appointment Only' diary from Johnnie Walker Blue Label is more than just a place to log your writings -- it is a doorway to exclusive events and services. Included in this expensive holiday package are tickets to the Monaco Grand Prix 2009 and Johnnie Walker Golf Championships, a bespoke blending experience with a Johnnie Walker Master Blender creating your very own whisky, and access to a premiere concierge service offering more Johnnie Walker experiences at your fingertips.

The leather bound diary, of which there are only three, is priced at an impressive £95,000 and comes from luxury stationer Aspinal of London. There are an additional twenty diaries available for £2,000 with access to the services and events above as well -- the difference in price I am sure accounts for less luxurious accommodations or some other discrepancy in experience but nonetheless would make a spectacular gift."

Good for getting talked about.

Chivas Regal Limited Edition with Alexander McQueen

Another great post from Luxist:

"British fashion star Alexander McQueen has designed a limited edition "couture" bottle of Chivas Regal 18-Year-Old Gold Signature Scotch for the holidays. McQueen's design features royal blue leather detailing and comes topped with a hand-enameled blue, red and gold cap.

"This is a piece of art which reflects the luxury and craftsmanship values of what haute couture is all about," McQueen tells Vogue UK. "You can see my signature 'stamp' with the blue leather 'dress' and the Union Jack colors. I have created a rare collector's item that those with an eye for design will want to keep."

Only 2,000 individually numbered bottles are being produced and will be available exclusively from deluxe UK department store Selfridges, for about $500."

Giant Nose Promotes New Whisky Book

From Luxist

"They say that when blending whisky it's all about the sniffer. Small wonder then that a new book by master whiskey blender Richard Patterson and Gavin D Smith features Patterson on the cover with his nose headed glassward and goes by the title "Goodness Nose." Cute, right? What's even cuter, although perhaps veering into the strange is that a six-foot high nose, based on Patterson's more modest proboscis has been spotted around Edinburgh as part the promotion for the book. The Edinburgh News reports that the nose has been spotted in the city's Multrees Walk, the Royal Mile and Princes Street Gardens. I'm hoping pictures surface soon, this I've got to see."

I am particularly interested in this... because of our Le Nez de Courvoisier project which is all about the array of aromas in our cognac.

Balvenie Whisky Pairing

Balvenie is hosting a 5 course whisky matching dinner at:

Cliveden House, Taplow, Berkshire, SL6 OJF
Tuesday October 14th 2008
7.30pm
Dress code – Jacket & tie
Price - £95 per person (inclusive of five-course dinner and whisky)

Looks very stylish and I am sure will be great fun.

Here's the menu:

"Cured Scottish Salmon in citrus and black treacle on a veloute of fennel
Accompanied by a dram of The Balvenie Signature 12 Year Old

The Balvenie Signature 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky’s subtle citrus flavours and slight background spice contrast beautifully with the cured salmon which has slightly sweet yet salty flavour with hints of lemon, orange and lime. In addition, there is a lingering hint of treacle. This dish is truly a mouth watering experience.
Carpaccio of Wood Pigeon with marinated foie gras and a quince mousse
Accompanied by a dram of The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old

The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is wonderfully sweet and multi-flavoured. The Wood pigeon and foie gras, flavours enhanced with a little sherry in the marinade, bring out light touches of Game and berry notes, while the quince gently exposes cinnamon spiciness and warmth.
Roasted Scottish Lobster with a smoked pomme puree and star anise
Accompanied by a dram of The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old

The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is powerful yet subtle. The understated sweetness of The Balvenie Single Barrel is enhanced with the sweet lobster, while The Balvenie oak cask smoked potato offers a powerful and intriguing connection to one of The Balvenie Single Barrel flavours – ‘vanilla oak’. Finally, the whisky’s liquorice after taste is further enhanced by the Star Anise.
Balmoral Venison with root vegetables and sauce grand Veneur
Accompanied by a dram of The Balvenie Thirty

The Balvenie Thirty’s full and rich flavour drives straight to the heart of the rich flavoured venison. With its wonderful and naturally wild game flavour, it is a decidedly strong match to this big, thirty year old Malt.
Clafoutis of griottines and almonds with an almond ice cream and brute cocoa Accompanied by a dram of The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old

The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky. This whisky demands some pronounced flavours to ride alongside it. The griottines pack a punch with The Balvenie PortWood in which they have been uniquely preserved."

Sounds fantastic to me.

Monkey Shoulder Illustrations

From The Illustration Site:

"One of the world's most respected distillers, William Grant & Sons, has commissioned a series of illustrations from Jonathan Williams to help build an identity for a new triple malt whiskey called Monkey Shoulder.



Aimed at a younger generation, Monkey Shoulder challenges more traditional perceptions of the classic drink, rebranding it without losing any of its sense of heritage.



Monkey Shoulder is a vatting of three single malts (Balvenie, Glenfiddich and Kininvie), placing it somewhere between a blended and single malt. The smooth vanilla notes of Monkey Shoulder make it an ideal whisky for cocktails, drawing praise from critics and bar-tenders alike.



Williams can vouch for that personally: “I live about an hour from the distillery in the Highlands of Scotland so (unusually for me) I actually met the client and enjoyed a VIP tour of the distillery!”"

Snow Grouse Whisky

From the Moodie Report:

"The makers of The Famous Grouse have unveiled the first Scotch whisky specially created to be served chilled straight from the freezer. The Snow Grouse will be made exclusively available to international travel retailers for the first six months and distributed through Maxxium Global Travel Retail.

The new addition to The Famous Grouse portfolio is aimed at consumers seeking something new and different.

The Snow Grouse, which carries a recommended duty free retail price of €19.99, represents one of two innovative additions to the range in the past 12 months. The Black Grouse, with its dark, sweet and gently smoky characteristics, was launched in October 2007.

Made from grain spirit and matured in oak casks before being gently chill filtered, the light and vanilla-sweet Snow Grouse whisky has a smooth taste. With a "sweet gloopy mouth-feel, it has a cool taste sensation when served seriously chilled", Maxxium said.

In keeping with The Famous Grouse portfolio, the new whisky is aptly named after another Scottish game bird - the snow grouse or ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus). Living in the highest mountains of the Highlands of Scotland, the snow grouse has been described as “the toughest bird in Britain”. In the summer the snow grouse has a mottled brown plumage, while in winter it takes on an extra layer of white feathers for warmth – becoming completely white – to help it survive in the frozen, snow-covered conditions."

All seems a bit strange to me.

Prince Charles Visits Laphroaig

From Luxist:

"Yesterday Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, paid a visit to the home of his favorite Scotch whisky, the Laphroaig distillery on Islay. Laphroaig, established in 1815, is one of the richest, smokiest single malts and one of the very best Scotches ever produced. It holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales, which he confirmed while there, and bears his heraldic three-feather badge on its label. The kilt-clad Charles and Camilla - who are known as by their local title, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, while traveling in Scotland - toured the distillery, learned about (and leant a hand in) its production and nosed whiskies of different ages. The Prince also signed two barrels of maturing spirit and an ultra-rare 40-year-old bottle of Laphroaig, one of only a handful left in the world, all to be auctioned off for charity. The 40-year-old was worth about $5,000 before he applied the royal signature. The proceeds from the auctions will go to the charities of Charles' choice."

Highland Park Launches40 Year Old Single Malt

From Deidre Woollard the luxury spirits expert at Luxist...

"Scotch whisky is getting more and more popular.The Scotch Whisky Association has reported that the value of exports reached a new high of £2.8b billion last year. With the rise in exports comes the demand for more and more premium bottles inspiring whisky distillers to create more and more expensive bottles. Case in point, the latest from Highland Park, a 40-year-old single malt whisky which is the oldest in their portfolio. The whisky is described as a "a balance of toffee, dark chocolate, orange zest and heather peat smokiness" and comes in an oak stained wood box with a leather booklet explaining the history of the brand. The whisky will sell for £899 per bottle. Hopefully this whisky won't get lost in transit like some of their 32-year-old single malt recently did."

Photography competition featuring J&B Whisky

I found this on Coolhunting:

"Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Photography recently announced the editions for their 2008 Fine Print Program. The program offers the opportunity to collect contemporary photographs by internationally recognized artists while supporting the Museum. Definitely a win-win for all involved.

An exceptional standout in the group is “Boy with Stockings / Whiskey and Cigarettes” (pictured) by New Catalogue. Luke Batten and Jonathan Sadler are the two Chicago-Based artists whose collaboration forms New Catalogue. The artists' characterize their work as “a visual research project that mirrors a stock image bank." Their series of work have provided extensive examinations on subjects ranging from the mundane (suburbia) to the controversial (Hitler), all blended with satire creating imagery reflecting the postmodern world and all at once lyrical, sharp and humorous. To see more of New Catalogue, their first monograph entitled “Big Ten Co-Eds, Preppy Girls and The Lost Cheerleaders” is available through Nazraeli Press."

These photos won a photography competition and are on sale for $300 here.

What will J&B make of someone who looks under age, smoking and drinking J&B with hints of cross dressing being associated with their brand?

Persaonlly, I think it's pretty cool and adds to J&B's arty, irreverent feel. The concept of photograpy (and other creative) contests for premium, introspective spirits is, very interesting. Especially when you get to sell the work and bring out the best in artists as well.

The Whisky Network

Hicklin Slade & Partners have created an online educational tool for their sales teams, called The Whisky Network.

The site condenses useful information about whisky into digestible and engaging content for a young audience, so that they can better promote Diageo brands around the world. Short film clips are used throughout the site to illustrate key points.

According to the Hicklin Slade & Partners website, The Whiskey Network has been a great success:

"The programme has delivered a 97% take up rate and have been described by the Vice President of Trade Marketing as the "best education programme" he has seen in a 25 year career in the drinks industry. "

Whiskipedia

This is a great idea from The Whisky Channel.

A place for whisky enthusiasts to share their thoughts, feelings, knowledge and passion for their favourite types of whisky.

Visit wiskipedia here.

Whisky Amnesty

What a great idea from the Scotch Blog

"Attendees of the Glasgow Whisky Live will have the chance to participate in one of the best the best whisky marketing stunt in a long time.

What is a "Whisky Amnesty"?

The same idea behind a gun amnesty - something that is unfortunately a common occurrence here in America, whereby you turn in your illegal firearm and all is forgiven.

But this one is different and much better - it's like turning in a hand gun and getting a bazooka in return.

Got a bottle of some horrible Vodka? Crappy Blend left to you by a dead relative? Nasty Rum you picked up in Belize? Something unidentifiable you picked up in Bulgaria and are afraid to drink?

Turn it in and Highland Park will give you a bottle of their 18 year old in exchange.*

Jason Craig, Highland Park's Global Brand Controller, tells me:

"To be able to host a Whisky Amnesty in Scotland is both exciting and an honour, as never before has an event ever been run like this within the whisky industry.

Highland Park 18 years old is a multi award winning single malt which we have wanted to showcase as much as possible and what better way to do this than to give whisky lovers the chance to enjoy it for themselves. Over 140 people have already registered to take part so we know it is going to be very popular on the day."

The amnesty will begin at 3pm on Friday 2nd November at Highland Park’s stand within Whisky Live, held at the SECC, Glasgow."

Strange Japanese Whisky Ads from the 80s

From Alt Japan via Boing Boing:

"For relaxing times... Make it Suntory time, with these amazing Japanese whiskey commercials from the '80s. They just don't make 'em like this anymore.



Now they start getting weirder. This one's a circus sideshow, complete with a midget dressed like an angel, a corpulent fire-eater and a knife-thrower hurling blades into a volume of Rimbaud. It's downright Lynchian. This is what the inside of your head looks like after a couple of Suntory Royal highballs."