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03/10/2023

Singapore’s first whisky makes handsome debut on 9 September

History is in the making as Brass Lion Distillery launches Singapore’s first-ever whisky that is distilled, barrelled and aged entirely in the Little Red Dot. Back in 2019, the homegrown distillery worked with local beer brewery The General Brewing Co. to tailor a wash that accommodates Singapore’s high humidity and equatorial climate. Now, it is ready to be unveiled after three years – adhering to international whisky standards and regulations – of maturing in an ex-bourbon barrel.

Jamie Koh, the founder of Brass Lion Distillery, is all about experimentation and has made the conscious decision not to control the environmental temperature to mimic the conditions of the Scottish highlands. Instead, she chose to allow Singapore’s natural climate to do its job and shape the whisky. The local tropical conditions, together with its high humidity and temperature, speed up the ageing process due to the accelerated contact between air, cask and spirit.

The limited release is set to produce only 427 bottles up for grabs

02/10/2023

How South Korea became the world’s fastest-growing whisky market

For Choi Gyu-Won, a 29-year-old Korean in a small village in South Gyeongsang, drinking whisky at home is a way to experience the good life on a budget.

“After tasting highballs at a bar, I decided to make them myself,” Choi said. He makes his own cocktail of soda, ice and whisky with Jack Daniel’s or Suntory Kakubin, which sells for about $35 (€32) a bottle in South Korea including taxes.

While that’s still cheaper than going out for drinks, it’s far pricier than Korea’s more common soju that sells for about $2 a bottle.

The higher price tag is worth it, according to Choi and many of his peers. South Koreans consumed 14.2 million litres of whisky in 2022, a small amount compared with other nations, but up 46 per cent from 2021, according to Euromonitor International, a London-based researcher. The pace was the fastest in the world.

“Millennials and Gen-Z consumers tend to reject the alcohol culture centred around excessive drinking in late-night gatherings and seek new ways to enjoy alcohol,” said Sunny Moon, research manager at Euromonitor. “With the prolonged spread of Covid-19, the concept of indulging in small luxuries with a small amount of money has risen.”

High taxes may be a barrier to growth, but producers still feel that there is scope to target the country’s image-conscious young drinkers

29/09/2023

Whisky imports surge 40% through August, suggesting record-breaking year

South Korea's whiskey imports surged by 40 percent year-on-year through August, signaling the potential for record-breaking annual inbound whiskey shipments this year.

Whiskey product imports totaled 22,799 tons in volume from January to August this year, marking a significant increase from 16,267 tons recorded during the same period in 2022, according to data from the Korea Customs Service.

If the current import trend continues, this year's volume is likely to surpass the 2002 record of 27,379 tons by the year-end.

The whiskey import volume had experienced a multi-year decline, dropping from 19,837 tons in 2019 to 15,923 tons in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, and further to 15,662 tons in 2021. However, it surged substantially last year, reaching 27,038 tons.

But the large leap in the volume of imports has not yet translated into a rise in the value.

Whiskey imports amounted to around $183 million in value in the first eight months, marking a 5.7 percent increase compared to the same period last year. This is small compared to the 40 percent rise in volume. This can be attributed to a significant rise in imports of low-priced products.

The rising popularity of highball cocktails among South Korean millennials and Generation Z, born between the 1980s and 2000s, where whiskey is mixed with carbonated water or tonic, has significantly fueled the importation of affordable whiskeys.

South Korea's whiskey imports surged by 40 percent year-on-year through August, signaling the potential for record-breaking annual inbound whiskey shipments this year. Whiskey product imports totaled 22,799 tons in volume from January to August this year, marking a significant increase from 16,267 t...

28/09/2023

'World's oldest whisky' going on sale at £10K per bottle after being found hidden in castle

The bottles are believed to have been distilled in 1833 and a young Queen Victoria may have been a fan.
Bottles of what experts say is "the world's oldest scotch whisky" are going up for sale at auction after being found hidden in a Scottish castle.
The Scotch is thought to have been distilled nearly 200 years ago and was discovered behind a cellar door at 750-year-old Blair Castle in Perthshire.
Distilled in 1834, each of the 24 bottles going on sale is expected to fetch around £10,000, according to Whisky Auctioneer, the company handling the sale.
The spirit may have been sampled by a young Queen Victoria who visited the castle and grew to like Atholl Brose, a mixture of whisky and honey.
Blair Castle is the ancestral home of the Dukes of Atholl.
The castle's trustee, Bertie Troughton, came upon around 40 bottles of the rare tipple in the cellar late last year.
They are believed to have been distilled in 1833 and bottled in 1841, and later rebottled in 1932.
Two dozen bottles are now going on sale individually via Perth-based Whisky Auctioneer, whose head curator, Joe Wilson, called the upcoming auction "a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence" to buy what he said is the "world's oldest scotch whisky".
Mr Wilson described it as "a transcendent discovery".

The bottles are believed to have been distilled in 1833 and a young Queen Victoria may have been a fan.

26/09/2023

Highland distillery Balblair has added a 21-year-old single malt whisky to its collection.

The whisky starts in ‘carefully selected’ American oak ex-Bourbon barrels, maturing for 15 years, before it spends an additional six years’ maturation in Spanish oak butts that were seasoned with oloroso wine.
The final stage of this ageing process creates spiced, fruity flavours, complemented by a golden amber hue, with a finish of dark chocolate and tropical fruit flavours.
John MacDonald, Balblair’s distillery manager, said: “Balblair’s 21 Years Old is the culmination of our commitment to craftsmanship and the timeless art of whisky-making.
“From the moment the spirit touches the cask until it reaches full maturity, every detail is carefully nurtured, resulting in a remarkable whisky that flawlessly captures the essence of Balblair.”
Balblair 21 Years Old has an ABV of 46% and will be available in a limited quantity. The expression will debut in the UK at the end of September, before being rolled out to Europe, North America and Asia in the coming months.

Highland distillery Balblair has added a 21-year-old single malt to its collection – the oldest single malt in the brand’s core range.

22/09/2023

Scotch whisky: "Extraordinary" 74-year-old malt goes on sale

Elgin-based Gordon & MacPhail has added an "extraordinary" 74-year-old whisky valued at £35,000 per bottle to its Private Collection range.

Gordon & MacPhail 1949 from Glenlivet Distillery was laid down in a refill Sherry butt on New Year’s Day 1949 and bottled on March 6, 2023. Retaining a cask strength of 49.3%, only 192 bottles of the ultra-rare whisky are available for sale.

Having been aged for more than seven decades, it is among one of the oldest Glenlivet released by Gordon & MacPhail. It is also the company’s last ever 1949 cask from Glenlivet Distillery.

“To find a whisky of this age is absolutely extraordinary," whisky writer Dave Broom said. "What comes across immediately is the fruit - there’s richness and there’s depth. You have this wonderful interplay of distillery character, of oak and oxygen. It’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Gordon & MacPhail 1949 from Glenlivet Distillery was laid down in a refill Sherry butt on New Year’s Day 1949 and bottled on March 6, 2023

18/09/2023

Asian Scotch whisky consumption overtakes Europe

Asia has taken the lead as the biggest consumer of Scotch whisky, surpassing Europe, with double digit growth.

According to the Japan Times, the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) reported sales growth throughout Asia in a trend that has seen spirits makers experience double-digit sales growth for the region.

The findings outlined how Chivas Brothers CEO Jean-Etienne Gourgues recently noted the extent of Chivas’ marketing efforts and revealed how it has worked with Chinese wedding planners to introduce the new tradition of whisky-sharing as a wedding day ritual.

Support also came in the fiscal year report from Pernod Ricard which indicated Scotch whisky sales increased by 17% reaching a 10-year high with Asia being the biggest contributor to this growth, passing 21% in regional sales. Chivas, owned by Pernod Ricard, additionally showed a sales increase of 32%, mostly driven by Asian consumption.

Meanwhile, Diageo highlighted in its sales report for its Johnnie Walker brand that there were only a 2% increase in Asian exports, but at the same time sales volume reportedly rose 7% showing that the category still has headroom.

Asia has taken the lead as the biggest consumer of Scotch whisky, surpassing Europe, with double digit growth.

12/09/2023

First UK standards on whisky production published
The British Standards Institution (BSI), the UK’s national standards body, has published the first guidelines on Welsh, English, Irish and Scotch whisky production, including details on elements from colour to packaging.
The voluntary standards (BS 8636) provide a specification on the production process for UK-made whisky being sold here or traded globally.
Details set out in the new guidelines include an outline on the desired colour of the whisky, which the should be caramel, ranging from a pale yellow/gold to deep amber/mahogany.
Whisky must be matured for at least three years in wooden casks, according to the guidelines, and cannot be sweetened or contain any additives.
They also sets the minimum ABV as 40%, and advises that every distillation should be carried out at less than 94.8% volume to ensure that “the distillate has an aroma and taste derived from the raw materials used”

The British Standards Institution has published the first guidelines on Welsh, English, Irish and Scotch whisky production.

11/09/2023

Fettercairn finishes whisky in Port casks

Highland distillery Fettercairn has released a 16-year-old single malt finished in Port casks as its fourth annual release.

The limited edition single malt was initially matured in ex-Bourbon casks for 14 years, followed by two years in ex-tawny Port pipes from the Douro Valley in Portugal.

Bottled at 46.4% ABV, the whisky offers an aroma of tropical fruit, with hints of berry fruits, rich cacao and sugared almonds.

Flavours of blackberries and raspberries follow on the palate with notes of plum, ginger cake, cherry and aged oak spice.

During the development of the recipe, distillery manager Stewart Walker was inspired by the garden of Fettercairn, where blackberries and raspberries are found.

He aimed to combine these flavours with the distillery’s ‘tropical fruit’ house style.

Highland distillery Fettercairn has released a 16-year-old single malt finished in Port casks as its fourth annual release.

06/09/2023

Glenfiddich launches exclusive 30-Year-Old on BlockBar

Scotch brand Glenfiddich has released a limited edition 30-year-old whisky on blockchain marketplace BlockBar, of which there are only 50 bottles available.

The new release is part of the Time Reimagined Collection of aged and exclusive single malt whiskies that come in a bespoke artwork-like case. The whisky itself has been matured in American and European oak for thirty years and is presented in a sleek cylindrical black case featuring cut-out windows, which is intended to create the illusion that the decanter is “suspended effortlessly in mid-air”, according to the William Grant & Sons Ltd-owned brand.

Glenfiddich Malt Master Brian Kinsman described working with a very old single malt that had developed its character and flavour over three decades as “a balancing act”, seeing his role to carefully select casks to blend together “in a way that elevates each cask to become a final expression greater than the sum of its parts”.

“Glenfiddich 30 is a marriage of American and European oak casks, and I hand-select each one to build the desired flavour profile,” he said.

BlockBar’s Jamie Ritchie said he was delighted that the legendary Scotch whisky maker Glenfiddich had chosen to bring its first ever Limited Edition 30 Year Old Suspended Time to the platform. “This unique spirit was laid down three decades ago. Today, we are proud to present our BlockBar community with this exquisite single malt in an elegant decanter with a striking black outer display, for a visual experience as captivating as the whisky itself” he said.

Scotch brand Glenfiddich has released a limited edition 30 year old whisky on blockchain marketplace BlockBar, of which there are only 50 bottles available.

04/09/2023

Charles Maclean MBE to raise £60,000 in rare whisky auction

Whisky writer Charles Maclean MBE has launched a rare whisky auction to raise money and awareness for clean water charity The Maclean Foundation.

The author, whose books include Whiskypedia: A Gazetteer of Scotch Whisky and Malt Whisky: The Complete Guide, enlisted the help of the Scotch whisky industry to donate a collection of “very rare and highly collectable” spirits for auction, in the hopes of raising £60,000.

Its 39 lots include a unique offering from Port Ellen, a 35-year-old bottle of Port Ellen from 1979, which is part of the Douglas Laing Old & Rare selection, and a 36-year-old Glengoyne from the Russell Family cask.

Charles Maclean MBE said that all the whiskies have “interesting stories”.
“Some are very rare and highly collectable, although some lots are easily affordable – appealing to consumers as well as collectors and investors. The provenance of every item is flawless,” he said.

Whisky writer Charles Maclean MBE has launched a rare whisky auction to raise money for clean water charity The Maclean Foundation.

01/09/2023

South Korea's whisky imports surge 50% to record high
South Korea's whisky imports surged by 50% in the first half of 2023, reaching an unprecedented peak, according to trade data the Korea Customs Service released on Wednesday.
The import volume of whiskys, including Scotch, Bourbon and Rye, hit 16,900 tons, a significant increase from the 11,100 tons recorded during the same period the previous year. This figure represents the highest volume since the authorities began tracking this data in 2000.
This surge in whisky imports largely stems from the burgeoning popularity of "Highball" among the MZ generation—those born between the 1980s and 2000s. Highball, a low-alcohol, refreshing cocktail made by blending whisky with soda or tonic water, has particularly captivated younger consumers due to its easy drinkability.
While whisky imports are soaring, the volume of wine imports has experienced a decline during the same period. The import volume of wine dropped by 10.8% to 31,300 tons, reflecting a wane in the pandemic-driven trend of home and solo drinking.
In contrast, beer imports bounced back for the first time in four years. The volume of beer imports grew by 7.1% to reach 127,000 tons, a rebound partly attributed to the easing of a boycott on Japanese beer and improved relations between Korea and Japan.

South Korea's whisky imports surged by 50% in the first half of 2023, reaching an unprecedented peak, according to trade data the Korea Customs Service release

31/08/2023

7 of the most expensive Scotch whiskies ever sold - including The Macallan and Ardbeg

While there are plenty of bargain whiskies to be enjoyed, some people are in the enviable position to spend a lot on a bottle or bottles of expensive whiskies - usually very old and rare liquid.

Most of these sales broke records at the time, and showcase how the industry is on the up, with more and more investment happening in recent years. Here's our guide to whisky as an investment.

From an eye-watering amount spent on a cask to a large sum for a small bottle (and a giant one for that matter), here are some of the most expensive Scotch whiskies sold (so far).

While there are plenty of bargain whiskies to be enjoyed, some people are in the enviable position to spend a lot on a bottle or bottles of expensive whiski ...

29/08/2023

These distilleries are making whisky in Singapore
The future of whisky in Singapore has never been more spirited. With some of the most avid drinkers and collectors in the region, it may seem natural for Singapore to produce its own drams — but that has not been the case until very recently.
Without a history or industry of distilling on the island, coupled with a resolutely tropical climate not suited for the long ageing process, the barriers to entry are daunting, to say the least.
It falls to a merry band of passionate craft distillers who are beginning to define what it means to have a true Singapore whisky, with all the benchmarks that would make us proud. It’s not a coincidence that all three distillers we spoke to eschewed shortcuts to complete all six processes from start to finish — malting, mashing, fermentation, distillation, maturation, and bottling.

Three homegrown distilleries are overcoming limitations to craft their single malt and single grain dreams from scratch.

28/08/2023

Whisky giant wins expansion plans green light despite concerns

Ambitious expansion plans from whisky giant Chivas Brothers have been nodded through by planning chiefs despite concerns about traffic problems and black mould appearing on neighbouring buildings.

Planning permission was sought for the development of an extension to an established bonded warehouse site on 14 hectares of farmland to the north-west of the existing boundaries of Balgray Bond, north of Barrmill.

The site comprises seven fields, currently used as grazing land, and the proposed development would extend Balgray up to two adjacent public roads.

It is proposed to erect a total of 19 new warehouses within two groups of ‘double’ and ‘triple’ blocks, giving a total internal floorspace of 47,500 sq. m. The warehouses would be used to mature scotch whisky or other spirits.

A farmer is selling the company his land, allowing the proposals to go ahead, a meeting of the planning committee heard.

Planning permission has been granted for the warehouse site on 14 hectares of farmland in North Ayrshire.

24/08/2023

South Korea's whiskey imports hit an all-time high for the same period In the first quarter of this year. It is the second-highest quarterly figure in history. This surge in whiskey's popularity, especially among millennials and Generation Z (those born between the 1980s and 2000s), is expected to continue after wine during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Korea Customs Service's trade statistics on Monday, whiskey imports such as scotch, bourbon and rye totaled 8,443 tons, a 78.2% increase from the same period last year.

This is the highest figure for the first quarter since 2000 when related statistics were first available. It is also the second-highest figure for any quarter, following the last quarter of last year (8,625 tons).

Whiskey imports have been on a sharp rise recently. From 4,738 tons in the first quarter of last year, it increased to 6,451 tons in the second quarter, 7,224 tons in the third quarter, 8,625 tons in the fourth quarter and surpassed the 8,000-ton mark in the first quarter of this year.

The whiskey market had been sluggish due to the enforcement of a 5-day workweek, the 52-hour workweek, the anti-graft law and the growing trend of avoiding hard liquor, such as so-called "bomb cocktails."

South Korea's whiskey imports hit an all-time high for the same period In the first quarter of this year. It is the second-highest quarterly figure in history.

23/08/2023

Millennials in Korea drove whisky imports to record-high

South Korea’s millennials and Gen-Z’s love for whisky and high balls has driven the country’s whisky imports to record high, according to official data from the Korea Customs Service.

The country imported 8,443 tons of whisky from largely the UK and US in the first three months of this year, up 78% from the prior-year period, according to data from the Korea Customs Service. It marks the biggest first-quarter increase in the figures that go back to 2000 and the second-highest level after the end of last year, the data shows.

The change according to a Bloomberg report is reflective of the country’s younger consumers’ drinking habits. Whisky imports have been rising steadily since the end of Covid restrictions when young Koreans switched to the darker and heavier grain beverage that can be mixed with soda to make a highball or used in cocktails.

South Korea's millennials and Gen-Z's love for whisky and high balls has driven the country's whisky imports to record high, accordin to official data from the Korea Customs Service.

22/08/2023

Rare whisky collector Fah Mai Holdings seeking Nasdaq listing

Rare whisky collector Fah Mai Holdings seeking Nasdaq listing
Fah Mai Holdings, a company registered in the UK, US and Thailand is recruiting IPO investors for a unique flotation that will see the group’s high-end whisky collection traded on the Nasdaq.
In an email sent out to prospective UK investors, Fah Mai stated that the “world's first publicly traded whisky collection with its own bottling brand (and) distribution network” will IPO on January 26, 2024.
Shares are going for US$0.43 each with a minimum investment of £10,000 (US$12,700).
According to the email, funds raised will go to building a distillery. Further information on the IPO was unavailable, but Proactive has reached out for more details.

Fah Mai Holdings, a company registered in the UK, US and Thailand is recruiting IPO investors for a unique flotation that will see the group’s high-end...

21/08/2023

A 68-Year-Old Macallan and a Collection of Springbank Whisky Are Heading to Auction This Month

Single malt scotch continues to dominate rare spirits auctions, with ultra-aged bottles commanding anywhere from tens of thousands to over $1 million on the block. The latest rarefied haul, which comes courtesy of Bonhams Skinner, includes a set of whiskies from Springbank and a 68-year-old single malt from the Macallan that are collectively expected to sell for more than $140,000.

Springbank might be a lesser-known name to American whisky drinkers, but this centuries-old Campbeltown distillery is regarded as an excellent producer of single malt. It makes whisky under a few different brands, including the eponymous Springbank label, which offers expressions ranging from 10 to 30 years old. Springbank is also one of the few distilleries that still does its own floor maltings, meaning the barley is malted and dried on-site instead of being outsourced to one of the large malting houses that supply most distilleries in Scotland.

The prized single malts will go under the gavel at Bonhams Skinner this month.

16/08/2023

South Korea shows promise for spirits

With a burgeoning young middle class, South Korea looks set to be a hotspot for alcohol consumption in Asia Pacific. While soju might rule the roost, producers from other drinks categories are keen to make their presence felt.
K‐Pop – Korean popular music – has become the international face of South Korea. Groups such as BTS and Blackpink have become global icons – and, as a result, interest in South Korea has been piqued like never before over the past few years. K‐Pop may not have caused a spike in spirits interest in South Korea, but over the same period, international alcoholic beverage brands have been showing increasing interest in the Asian market.

Korean soju brand Jinro remains the world’s biggest‐selling spirit – and saw a serious sales increase in 2022. Its nine-liter-case sales rose from 94.5 million cases in 2021 to 100.9m in 2022, marking a 6.8% increase from an enormous starting point.
“As the Korean wave is spreading out to all around the world, Korean food and drinking culture is also having a great impact on overseas consumers,” says Kim Kang‐wook, overseas business headquarters global strategy team manager, at Hite‐Jinro, parent company of the Jinro soju brand. “Korean soju is also influencing overseas consumers, so the Korean market is a very important starting point for our company, as the competitive edge in the Korean market leads to overseas markets.”

With a burgeoning young middle class, South Korea looks set to be a hotspot for alcohol consumption in Asia Pacific.

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