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BenRiach and GlenDronach look back over a unique award winning year
08.12.11
As 2011 draws to a close we have been looking back on our most successful year ever.
Managing Director Billy Walker said: "We have been very fortunate to win a number of top awards this year which reflect the passion our people bring to the art of whisky creation. “They are also testament to the huge amount of time and energy we dedicate to our wood management programme.”
Billy highlighted three awards of which he was especially proud this year. First, at the 2011 Malt Maniacs Awards, the company won two gold, four silver and three bronze medals. The GlenDronach 1972 bottling of cask 712 was the best overall whisky in the competition. 1972 cask # 712 was bottled earlier this year as part of the 4th batch of GlenDronach single cask bottlings. That meant that, for the second year running, a 1972 GlenDronach won best overall whisky; the previous year was a 1972 bottling from cask 700, a Taiwan exclusive.
Also at Malt Maniacs, of only eight gold medals up for grabs, GlenDronach won two while the recently launched GlenDronach 21 year-old ‘Parliament’ and the BenRiach 1976 cask # 6942 (from Batch 8) both won silver.
Second, Billy was also gratified by numerous excellent reviews in Jim Murray's 2012 Whisky Bible. "Jim made a number of very kind comments in his new book, but the highpoint was his singling out GlenDronach as the distillery with the most consistently impressive output throughout 2011. “He very generously concluded by saying: “If there was a Whisky Bible Scotch Malt Whisky Distillery of the year, GlenDronach would be it." "That was very special."
In the “Bible”, there were fantastic scores for two relatively new expressions - the BenRiach 12 year-old Sherry Matured and BenRiach 15 year-old Solstice. The GlenDronach 1992 bottling of cask 161 (from Batch 4) gained 96 points and was voted 'single malt - single cask of the year in the 16 - 21 year-old section'. The GlenDronach 18 year-old went one better and achieved 96.5 points as did the BenRiach 1971 cask # 1947 (Batch 8), while the GlenDronach 1972 cask # 712 (Batch 4) achieved 95.5 points. BenRiach 1976 # 6942 (Batch 8) gained 95 points and there were stunning performances from three of the five GlenDronach single cask bottlings from Batch Five, released only last week, which also scored 95 plus.
And finally, Sales Director Alistair Walker looked back on a phenomenal IWSC this year at which BenRiach and GlenDronach won an unprecedented nine awards including two trophies. "IWSC is the one every whisky producer wants to win. It's the most prestigious competition of its kind in the world and carries huge weight and credibility through its reputation and history. As you might expect, we were ecstatic to do so well.” Star of the IWSC show was the BenRiach 12 year-old sherry matured which won two trophies while the BenRiach 20 year-old also picked up a gold medal.
Said Alistair: "For a small independent distillery like BenRiach to win two trophies for the same single malt was astounding - especially when you consider all the big multi-nationals which also participated.”
GlenDronach releases latest batch of single cask bottlings
1.12.11
THE BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd. has today released the latest batch of single cask bottlings from its GlenDronach Distillery.
This is the fifth batch of GlenDronach single casks to be released by the award-winning Aberdeenshire distillery.The five casks were bottled over the last few weeks and are available as of today.
The batch comprises five outstanding casks from 1972 to 1993. Three have been matured in Oloroso sherry butts, one in an Oloroso sherry puncheon and the fifth in a Pedro Ximinez sherry puncheon.
All five casks have been hand-selected by The BenRiach Distillery Company’s Managing Director Billy Walker, and they all share GlenDronach’s typically luxurious, richly-sherried characteristics, plus huge layers of fruit ranging from stewed pears to prunes, cherry, plums, apples…and even rhubarb crumble!
The cask details are as follows:
1972 cask # 716 / 39 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 421 bottles
1978 cask # 1067 / 32 years old / Oloroso Sherry Puncheon / 417 bottles
1989 cask # 3314 / 21 years old / Pedro Ximinez Sherry Puncheon / 489 bottles
1991 cask # 2406 / 19 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 530 bottles
1993 cask # 1 / 18 years old / Oloroso Sherry Butt / 507 bottles
All five whiskies were reviewed by whisky writer Jim Murray in the recently published 2012 version of ‘Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible’, and three of them scored particularly well, with a stunning 95 points or more, as follows:
1978 cask # 1067 – 95.5 / 100
1989 cask # 3314 – 95 / 100
1991 cask # 2406 – 95 / 100
Additionally, in his annual ‘Review of the Year’, Jim Murray singles out GlenDronach as the distillery with the most consistently impressive output throughout 2011 – to quote Jim: “... if there was a Whisky Bible Scotch Malt Whisky Distillery of the year, GlenDronach would be it.”
If you would like to receive more information regarding Batch 5 releases, please contact us on info@glendronachdistillery.co.uk
BenRiach welcomes Scottish government enterprise minister Fergus Ewing to Newbridge bond and headquarters
21.11.11
THE BENRIACH Distillery Company was delighted to welcome Fergus Ewing, the Scottish Government’s Minister for Energy, Enterprise and Tourism, to its headquarters and bottling plant at Newbridge, Edinburgh, today (Monday November 21)
Billy Walker gave Mr Ewing a tour of its premises and a presentation on its activities worldwide.
Acquired last year, the Newbridge Bond, Scotland’s specialist contract bottling company, has five bottling lines including a purpose-built line for low-volume/high-value product and Scotland’s fastest miniature bottling line. Working with some of the world’s leading spirits brands, it has the capacity to produce 2 million cases per year, it can store 3 million litres in its vats and can accommodate up to 150,000 cases in its bonded warehouse.
The BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd. has three shareholders – industry veteran Billy Walker and two South Africans, Wayne Keiswetter and Geoff Bell.Our whiskies are available in over thirty countries. Mature markets include Europe, Scandinavia and the USA, while emerging markets are opening up in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, the Phillipines and Vietnam.
Over the years we have won a number of prestigious industry accolades. In 2007 BenRiach won “Distillery of the Year” at the Malt Advocate magazine whisky awards and in 2009 it was “Distillery of the Year” at the Whisky magazine Icons of Whisky Awards. And earlier this year the company won nine awards for GlenDronach and BenRiach – two trophies, and a total of seven gold, silver and bronze medals – at the International Wine and Spirits Competition in London.
Last month we augmented our award-winning range of whiskies by unveiling the new 21 year-old GlenDronach “Parliament”. Matured in a combination of the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry casks, we continue the GlenDronach tradition of offering fruit-laden intensity in our single malts. The new expression is named “Parliament” after the colony, or “parliament” of rooks that have been nesting in the trees overlooking the GlenDronach distillery for almost 200 years.
Born in Dumbarton in 1945, Billy Walker graduated from Glasgow University in 1967 with a BSc Honours Degree in Chemistry. After spells with Ballantine’s, Inver House Distillers and Burn Stewart, in 2004 he set up his own venture - the BenRiach Distillery Company – which led to the acquisition of BenRiach and GlenDronach distilleries.
Over the last seven years the company has resurrected “sleeping giants” BenRiach and GlenDronach, bringing a range of innovative and ground-breaking malt whiskies to the market. Billy is one of the most recognisable characters in the Scotch Whisky industry where he has now been involved for over forty years. He is a Master Blender and a Master of the Quaich - the highest honour the Scotch Whisky Industry can bestow.
Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing said: "Our whisky industry is a national success story and makes a huge contribution to Scotland. Exports are a large part of this and it’s encouraging to see the latest figures showing that they are up 22% in the first half of the year to stand at £1.8 billion.
"BenRiach is to be congratulated for playing its part in this and developing its brands so well over the last few years - and contributing to Scotland's sustainable economic growth in the process."
Billy Walker said: “My colleagues and I were delighted to welcome Fergus Ewing to Newbridge in his capacity as Scottish Minister for Enterprise.
“Mr Ewing took a great interest in our activities during his visit. I took the opportunity to emphasise that whisky is Scotland’s greatest export and vital to the Scottish Government's number one priority - increasing sustainable economic growth. It plays a critical role in the Scottish economy, with producers employing over 10,000 workers, generating gross income of over £460m and contributing gross value added of £2.7 billion towards Scotland’s economy.
BenRiach and GlenDronach launch UK Exclusive single cask bottlings
10.10.2011
THE BenRiach Distillery Company Ltd. is delighted today (October 10) to announce UK EXCLUSIVE bottlings from two single casks – one from BenRiach and the other from its sister distillery at GlenDronach.
These limited release 1995 expressions, both bottled in August this year, were both matured in Pedro Ximinez sherry puncheons. These were originally used to store the characteristically sweet, full-bodied Spanish sherry that confers its distinctively rich and complex characteristics on the whisky. The result in both cases is fruit-laden heaven! First, the GlenDronach. From cask 4681, distilled in November 1995, this is a 15-year-old single malt bottled at cask strength – 56.2% vol. Its striking appearance is cherry-wood and russet mahogany. On the nose, there is chocolate orange and stewed plum while the palate delivers chocolate, toffee, spiced fruits, figs, raisins and dates. The cask out-turned 725 bottles, each of which is individually numbered.
Complementing this monster GlenDronach is an equally substantial offering from BenRiach. From cask 7164 distilled in May 1995, this is aged 16-years-old and bottled at a cask strength of 58.3% vol. Its appearance is bright amber with a late autumnal glow. On the nose, bananas, citrus fruits and oregano while the palate brings melons, bananas and lychee. The out-turn on the BenRiach was marginally smaller, at 695 bottles. Again, each bottle is hand-numbered.
Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “GlenDronach and BenRiach are both renowned for their idiosyncratic single cask bottlings, and we release a number of these each year. They have proven to be very popular, but with our ‘batch’ single cask releases being divided amongst all of our export markets as well as the UK, allocations can be quite tight. For that reason, we decided to select a couple of casks just for the UK to give our home-based retail clients the chance to get their hands on a reasonable quantity of each bottling.”
GlenDronach adds new 21-year old 'Parliament' to core range
10.10.2011
GlenDronach is augmenting its award-winning range of Highland single malts today (October 7) by unveiling its new 21 year-old “Parliament” expression.
Matured in a combination of the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry casks, the “Parliament” both complements our core range and continues the great GlenDronach tradition of offering fruit-laden intensity in its single malts.
The 21-year old – in appearance deep amber with a cherry wood sheen - joins our existing 12, 15, 18 and 31 year-old expressions.
The new expression is named “Parliament” after the colony, or “parliament” of rooks that have been nesting in the trees overlooking the GlenDronach distillery for almost 200 years.
At 48% volume, the “Parliament” offers an incredible concentration of aromas. On the nose, appropriately for an October launch, it’s a delicate mix of ripe autumnal fruits - notably blackberries and red plums with rich Oloroso sherry and candied orange segments. Spiced oatmeal biscuits and toasted oak fragrances add excellent weight and balance.
And on the palate, the taste is sublime. Billy Walker’s tasting notes detect flavours of fine Oloroso sherry and bitter chocolate sauce “which has been spread liberally over homemade plum pudding”.
He adds: “This is all infused with fabulous spicy notes - cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg.” Full-bodied with smooth tannins, the finish, he notes, is characteristically long and lingering.
Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “The “Parliament” was released after listening to our customers, who identified the opportunity for a premium GlenDronach positioned somewhere between our 18 year-old “Allardice” and our iconic 31-year old “Grandeur”. It’s a major release for the distillery – as well as being another hugely aromatic GlenDronach, it’s a perfect addition to our range of smooth, complex and full-bodied single malts.”
He added: “The mood of the “Parliament” is definitely end-of-year. It’s a bracing breath of Aberdeenshire – best savoured in the warm while looking out over Highland snow-clad hills, magical lochs and deep frost-laden glens. Satisfyingly long and, like all GlenDronachs, the complex flavours linger on the palate. It's destined to become a classic.”
BenRiach appoints new regional sales manager
29.09.11
THE BenRiach Distillery Company has appointed Douglas Cook as Regional Sales Manager, it announced today (September 13, 2011).
Douglas (35), from Edinburgh, will have responsibility for Asia Pacific and European markets including France and Belgium.
A graduate of the University of Strathclyde with a degree in marketing and modern languages, Douglas is a keen linguist who speaks German, French, Spanish, Catalan, Italian and is currently learning Mandarin.
He started his career in exporting with United Wire, an Edinburgh-based wire manufacturer, before moving to Germany where he joined the export division of Dornbracht, a family-run manufacturer of high-end fittings and accessories for the bathroom and kitchen.
During his career with Dornbracht in Germany and the UK, he gained experience in the management of both retail and international project sales.
He developed his passion for whisky when he worked at the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh.
“I’m looking forward enormously to working with BenRiach,” he said. “It’s a fast-growing, innovative and dynamic company producing a fantastic range of award-winning, top-quality whiskies.
"My aim is to develop BenRiach and GlenDronach, through long-term partnerships in the premium-quality single malt segment of our established European markets and up-and-coming markets such as China, Taiwan, Japan, Vietnam, India and Australia.”
GlenDronach to supply 25 year-old single malt for Donald Trump's new £750m Scottish golf resort
29.08.11
GLENDRONACH Distillery has been selected by Donald Trump to supply the commemorative 25-year-old single malt that will mark the opening next summer of his £750 million golf complex on the Menie Estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.
The rare whisky chosen for the official Trump International Golf Links has been hand-selected by Master Distiller Billy Walker from the thousands of top-quality single casks maturing at GlenDronach’s warehouses at Forgue, near Huntly.
Mr Trump has chosen one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries to create a limited edition whisky for his eighteen-hole championship golf course. It will be known, quite simply, as “Trump Scotland Single Malt Scotch Whisky”.GlenDronach, founded in 1826, will initially supply 500 bottles to celebrate the grand opening.
Last year Mr Trump invited a handful of distilleries close to the course to create the finest whisky available for the resort. Billy Walker, Managing Director of The Benriach Distillery Company, owners of GlenDronach, said his team were "extremely proud" to be involved with the Trump golf resort. "As we are an Aberdeenshire distillery, we have close geographical proximity to the superb Trump development and as such see our award-winning whisky as a natural choice to commemorate the opening. “When it opens next summer, Mr Trump’s golf course will be a byword for excellence, as will the rare GlenDronach single malt we have specially selected for the occasion.”
Mr Walker would not be drawn on specific details of the single cask, but confirmed it would be a classic GlenDronach – a silky-smooth fusion of sherry sweetness and concentrated fruit. The whisky will be released during the first half of 2012 to coincide with the opening of the golf complex.
Spanning approximately 500 hectares of land on the north-east coast of Aberdeenshire, the Trump development comprises a world-class championship links golf course suitable for hosting major international events and a second 18-hole links golf course; an iconic hotel set amidst an array of luxury holiday homes; and a residential village formed within the unique setting of Menie Estate.
GlenDronach releases latest batch of single cask bottlings
03.08.11
The BenRiach Distillery Ltd is delighted to announce the launch of the new Single Cask releases from the GlenDronach Distillery. This is the 4th batch of GlenDronach single casks released by the distillery. The 6 casks were bottled in July and will be available as of today.
The batch comprises of six exceptional casks from 1971 to 1994. Three bottles are matured in Pedro Ximinez sherry Puncheons while the other three are matured in Oloroso Sherry Butts.
The limited release includes;
Vintage |
Cask number |
Strength |
Age |
Cask type and size |
1971 |
1436 |
48.5% |
40YO |
Pedro Ximinez Sherry Puncheon |
1972 |
712 |
49.9% |
39YO |
Oloroso Sherry Butt |
1989 |
2917 |
54.1% |
21YO |
Pedro Ximinez Sherry Puncheon |
1990 |
1032 |
50.1% |
20YO |
Pedro Ximinez Sherry Puncheon |
1992 |
161 |
59.2% |
19YO |
Oloroso Sherry Butt |
1994 |
97 |
60.1% |
17YO |
Oloroso Sherry Butt |
Keep an eye on the website and Facebook page over the coming weeks for more information on these new releases and exclusive product photography. If you would like to receive more information regarding Batch 4 releases, please contact Alistair Walker – awalker@benriachdistillery.co.uk
BenRiach wins two trophies at 2011 International Wine & Spirits Competition
02.08.11
THE BENRIACH Distillery Company, owners of GlenDronach and BenRiach, has won an amazing two product trophies at this year’s International Wine & Spirits Competition – both for its BenRiach 12 years old Sherry Matured single malt Scotch whisky.
This is the first time in the company’s seven year history that it has been awarded a trophy by the IWSC.
The BenRiach 12 years old Sherry Matured won the following IWSC Trophies:
- The IWSC Single Malt Scotch whisky (15 years and under) Trophy
- The IWSC Single Malt Scotch whisky (Special Edition) Trophy
and was also awarded the following medal:
- Gold Medal / Best in Class (category - Scotch whisky, Single Malt, Speyside, Cask Finish, 12 – 13YO)
In total, the Edinburgh-headquartered company collected an impressive nine awards this year – two trophies, and various medals - one gold ‘Best in Class’, one gold, four silver and one bronze.
The awards were announced today (27th July) at a ceremony in London.
The company’s full list of awards is:
- The IWSC Single Malt Scotch whisky (15 years and under) Trophy - BENRIACH 12YO SHERRY MATURED
- The IWSC Single Malt Scotch whisky (Special Edition) Trophy - BENRIACH 12YO SHERRY MATURED
- Gold Medal / Best in Class - BENRIACH 12YO SHERRY MATURED
- Gold Medal - BENRIACH 20YO
- Silver Medal - BENRIACH ‘HEART OF SPEYSIDE’
- Silver Medal - GLENDRONACH 18YO
- Silver Medal - GLENDRONACH 12YO
- Silver Medal - GLENRONACH ‘GRANDEUR’ 31YO
- Bronze Medal - BENRIACH ‘HORIZONS’ 12YO TRIPLE DISTILLED
Founded in 1969, the IWSC is the most prestigious competition of its kind in the world. IWSC medals and trophies are the most highly regarded in the trade, representing the best of the best in the world of wines and spirits. The IWSC is judged by a panel selected from 300 fully qualified, experienced industry judges. Noted for its intense and unrivalled judging process, the IWSC is proud to be the only competition of its kind that conducts a full blind tasting with extensive technical analysis.
BenRiach’s Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We are delighted to have won these nine different awards today – particularly the two trophies. It’s a major achievement for a small independent to make the UK producer shortlist and to win any of the top awards when you consider all of the big multi-nationals which are also participating. Especially pleasing is the fact that there were only six trophies for whisky up for grabs, and we managed to win two of them with the same expression - that is quite special.
“These awards are a tribute to our people at BenRiach and GlenDronach distilleries, who lovingly craft the singular taste of our whiskies. It’s also testament to the time and energy we have dedicated towards our wood management programme – with our trophy-winning whisky having been created by combining BenRiach from both Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso sherry casks.
He added: “There are a lot of wine & spirits competitions out there today, but the IWSC still carries a lot of weight in terms of its reputation and history. It has serious credibility, and as such I cannot stress just how delighted we are to receive these trophies and gold medals from the IWSC. We actually released the BenRiach 12YO Sherry Matured as an exclusive for the Taiwanese market a few years back, and only recently started rolling it out into additional markets. I have a feeling some of our local customers will be pushing for a UK release on the back of these awards!”
Tasting notes for the BenRiach 12YO Sherry Matured (46% vol)
Nose: Mocha, dark chocolate, sultanas and rich spices.
Colour: Deep gold-bronze.
Taste: The combination of Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks gives a wonderful balance of mocha and dark chocolate interwoven with figs, sultanas, vanilla, fruits and rich spices.
Luxury 2 Night Distillery Stay - Competition Winner
18.05.11
Congratulations to Amanda Dunbar who is the winner of our recent competition - ran through www.whiskymag.com! Amanda's name was selected at random from the database of entrants.
Amanda + 3 guests will be enjoying a luxury 2 night stay at the distillery, along with an exclusive distillery tour and tasting.
For more great competitions like this, keep an eye on the official GlenDronach Facebook page... :)
New for 2011 - The GlenDronach 21yo
11.05.11
In addition to this year's GlenDronach 15yo Tawny Port wood finish and the exclusive distillery Single Cask Bottlings, the team at GlenDronach are excited to announce a brand new product, which will be available later this year - The GlenDronach 21yo.
Bottled at 48% and matured in a combination of the finest Oloroso and Pedro Ximinez sherry casks, this expression is bursting with all the charm and character that The GlenDronach Distillery is famous for.
We wanted to give GlenDronach fans a sneak preview of our new bottling, so here are the tasting notes of this fantastic new expression:
Appearance:
Deep amber with a cherry wood sheen.
Palate:
Resolute flavours of fine Oloroso sherry and bitter chocolate sauce, which has been spread liberally over homemade plum pudding. This is all infused with fabulous spicy notes - cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg. Full bodied with smooth tannins.
Finish:
Long and lingering.
More information regarding the GlenDronach 21yo will be circulated nearer its release date, so keep an eye out on our website over the coming months for more info and details on where it can be purchased!
GlenDronach Launches New 15yo Tawny Port Finish
09.05.11
GlenDronach's burgeoning reputation for producing innovative, richly sherried expressions is boosted this month with the launch of its new 15yo GlenDronach Tawny Port finish.
This unique expression was initially matured in European oak and thereafter finished its maturation in a very small batch of Tawny Port casks, which have given the final whisky its own range of idiosyncratic flavours and aromas.
The 15yo is non-chill-filtered, of natural colour and is bottled at 46% abv. Released independently of any other wood finishes, only 1000 cases will be available in over twenty export markets, and in the UK through independent, specialist whisky retailers, as well as at the GlenDronach distillery shop.
The tasting notes make it clear that the rich infusion of port helps create a warming, sweet and satisfying dram.
Appearance: Prominent rose-wine hue, built around a light copper orange core.
Nose: Stewed damsons and plum conserve. Raisins, sultanas and fine grand cru chocolate provide lovely depth and structure.
Palate: Fruit shortcake drenched in vanilla custard, with a scattering of dried figs, dates and wild strawberries highlight a wonderfully long finish.
Finish: A fruit-laden whisky to enliven the taste buds.
Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “Last year we launched the first of our four wood finishes, which included a 20 year old Tawny Port finish. This whisky was a great success and sold out very quickly, therefore we decided to release a second bottling again this year. The new 15yo Tawny Port maintains our tradition of releasing wonderful non-sherry wood finishes of the highest quality.”
“We have carefully selected whisky that has been gently maturing in lighter casks so that aficionados experience the full impact of the port. The very pleasing result contributes extra depth and concentrated stewed fruit flavours.”